Congressional Record, Senate, March 8, 2022 — Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, H.R. 3076
Summary
This is the Congressional Record, Vol. 168, No. 41, for Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Senate, from S1023, in a document titled Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, H.R. 3076. The Senate met at 10:30 a.m. and resumes consideration of H.R. 3076, a bill to provide stability to and enhance the services of the United States Postal Service, with Schumer amendment No. 4955 pending. Mr. Schumer, under the heading Emmett Till Antilynching Act, says the Senate passed the Act the night before. Under the heading Government Funding and Coronavirus, Mr. Schumer says Republicans and Democrats continue making progress toward a deal and discusses the possibility of a new variant, with the views attributed to Mr. Schumer.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, March 8, 2022 — Postal Service Reform Act of 2022, H.R. 3076.”
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Congressional Record
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117 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 168 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, MARCH 8, 2022 No. 41
Senate
(Legislative day of Monday, March 7, 2022)
The Senate met at 10:30 a.m., on the appoint the Honorable TAMMY BALDWIN, a introduced, only to be promptly buried
expiration of the recess, and was called Senator from the State of Wisconsin, to per- into obscurity. In 2018, Congress came
to order by the Honorable TAMMY form the duties of the Chair. closer than ever to finally passing
PATRICK J. LEAHY,
BALDWIN, a Senator from the State of antilynching legislation before it was
President pro tempore.
Wisconsin. thwarted at the eleventh hour.
Ms. BALDWIN thereupon assumed But last night, finally—finally—after
f
the Chair as Acting President pro tem- more than 200 failed attempts to de-
PRAYER pore. clare lynching a Federal crime, the
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- f Senate succeeded in taking long, over-
fered the following prayer: due action by passing the Emmett Till
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
Let us pray. Antilynching Act.
Eternal God, Your majestic Name The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Hallelujah. Congress has finally de-
fills the Earth. Nature testifies to Your pore. Under the previous order, the clared lynching a Federal crime, as it
might, wisdom, and love. Lord, Your leadership time is reserved. should have done more than a century
glory is higher than the Heavens. f ago. That it took so long is a perma-
As our lawmakers depend upon Your nent, bitter stain on American history;
strength to silence the enemies of free- LEGISLATIVE SESSION
but, finally, a century’s worth of ef-
dom, deliver us all from evil. Defend forts has now paid off.
the righteous who cry to You even in POSTAL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF To say this is a historic accomplish-
the night seasons. Send Your angels to 2022—Resumed ment is impossibly inadequate. Genera-
protect those who stand up against the tions of civil rights leaders and advo-
fury of their enemies. Arise, O Lord. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- cates dedicated their lives to getting
Wake up, and bring justice to our Na- pore. The clerk will report the bill by Congress to recognize the humane, ob-
tion and world. title. vious truth: that lynching was an in-
We pray in Your powerful Name. The senior assistant legislative clerk tolerable injustice inflicted primarily
Amen. read as follows: on disenfranchised Black Americans.
f A bill (H.R. 3076) to provide stability to Thousands upon thousands of Black
and enhance the services of the United Americans have been victims of lynch
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE States Postal Service, and for other pur-
mobs across the country, and indif-
The Presiding Officer led the Pledge poses.
ferent States have rarely responded, if
of Allegiance, as follows: Pending: ever. Many of the sworn officers of
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Schumer (for Peters) amendment No. 4955, these States and localities not only ig-
United States of America, and to the Repub- to modify the deadline for the initial report nored but often participated when
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, on the operations and financial condition of
these atrocities occurred.
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the United States Postal Service.
Despicable. Horrible. America should
f RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER
be so ashamed of this chapter in her
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- history. And while no single congres-
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE pore. The majority leader is recog- sional action can fully erase the injus-
nized. tices committed against victims of
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
clerk will please read a communication
EMMETT TILL ANTILYNCHING ACT lynching, last night was an important
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, in step in the never-ending work of per-
to the Senate from the President pro
1922, the first robust antilynching bill fecting our Union. Only by confronting
tempore (Mr. LEAHY).
was successfully passed by the House of the darkest elements of our history can
The senior assistant legislative clerk
Representatives. Once it came to the we make straight the path toward a
read the following letter:
Senate, a block of Southern seg- brighter and more just future.
U.S. SENATE,
regationists mounted a filibuster to I want to really applaud Senator
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE,
Washington, DC, March 8, 2022. kill it in its tracks. BOOKER. He has been diligent and hard-
To the Senate: Over the decades, similar bills met working and valiant in getting this to
Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, similar fates. Throughout the 20th cen- happen. He had a great partner in Sen-
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of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby tury, scores of antilynching bills were ator SCOTT—bipartisan. And on the
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
®
S1023
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S1024 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 8, 2022
House side, the person who lit this can- mal, the last thing we can afford to do and delivered for the American people.
dle and kept it glowing even in the is let our guard down, lest a new vari- I look forward to getting this done and
most disappointing of times was BOBBY ant comes back with a vengeance and thank my colleagues, especially Sen-
RUSH. He never gave up. catapults us all back to square one, a ators PETERS and PORTMAN, for their
Congress has finally taken action, place where we all do not want to be. bipartisan work.
and this bill now heads to President Sadly, we know from experience that COSTS
Biden’s desk, finally—finally—for sig- another variant is a very real possi- Madam President, on costs—the costs
nature. bility. No one can say for certain how that the American people face when
GOVERNMENT FUNDING AND CORONAVIRUS the virus will mutate, but today we they buy things weekly through their
Madam President, now on COVID, have the tools and know-how to fight daily lives—yesterday, we saw another
Republicans and Democrats continue this virus the minute it hits our shores, instance of Republicans going out of
making good progress toward reaching while preserving as much of normal life the way to show the American people
a deal to fund the government. We are as possible. where their priorities lie.
almost there. We are very, very close, All that is needed is the Federal A few months ago, the junior Senator
and, hopefully, it will be done in the funding, and $15 billion of that funding from Florida callously called inflation
next few hours. will be in the omnibus bill. So that is a ‘‘gold mine’’ for the Republican
This bill, the spending bill, comes at why I pushed so hard to get COVID Party. People are suffering and paying
a consequential moment. War in Eu- funding into the spending bill. I am en- more, and the Senator from Florida
rope has focused the energies of Con- couraged to see that Members have says it is a ‘‘gold mine’’ for the Repub-
gress into getting something done and come around to recognize its impor- licans?
getting it done fast, quickly. But one tance, and I hope we can get it done A few weeks ago, we saw what he
crucial element of the funding bill is very, very soon. meant. That same Senator released a
getting less attention, and it is as im- Furthermore, I am pleased that we party platform that openly called for
portant as just about anything in this are likewise close—very close—to pass- raising taxes on millions of American
bill. That is approving a new round of ing a strong and ample aid package families, potentially by more than
COVID preparedness funding. that will help the people of Ukraine $1,000 a year.
For all the important priorities we fight against Putin’s immoral war. People can’t afford that.
must address in this spending bill, I be- They desperately need humanitarian And, yesterday, the junior Senator
lieve the COVID funding will go down aid, as millions of people are without from Wisconsin called for the GOP to
as one of the most important—one of food, without heat, without shelter, revive their failed efforts to rip away
the most important—elements of the without medicine. They desperately affordable healthcare for tens of mil-
omnibus, and I have been pushing real- need the arms to defend themselves lions of Americans—a fresh reminder of
ly hard to get it done, working across against brutal Russian aggression, an old desire that Republicans have
the aisle to convince our Republican often viciously aimed at civilians who harbored for over a decade.
colleagues that we need it. are escaping. We pledged to get some- Cheerleading inflation, raising taxes
Now that all the Federal COVID aid thing big done, and in the coming on working Americans, repealing af-
under the American Rescue Plan has hours I expect we will be able to an- fordable healthcare: Is that the plat-
run out, approving new COVID funding nounce that we have followed through. form of today’s Republican Party? At
is about insurance—far better to pre- H.R. 3076 this point, perhaps the Senator from
pare for new variants today than to Madam President, on another mat- Wisconsin should join the Senator from
play a frantic game of catchup tomor- ter—a lot is going on in the Senate this Florida in creating a new ‘‘Hurting
row, when it would be too late. We can- week—I am pleased to report that as Working Families Caucus’’ so we can
not let it be said that America, after soon as today the Senate is set to de- more easily track their truly repres-
the third or fourth variant hits our liver for the post office. The post office sive vision for the American people.
shores, is unprepared; does not have usually delivers for us, but today we Meanwhile, Democrats believe we
adequate testing, therapeutics, vac- are going to deliver for them. should be lowering costs for Ameri-
cines. We cannot let that be said again. Every single day, tens of millions of cans, not raising them. We should be
The first time it happened, of course, Americans rely on the post office for working on a bipartisan basis to fight
we were unprepared. We didn’t know life’s daily essentials. Seniors and vet- inflation, not root for it to go up. So,
what had happened. But, unfortu- erans rely on it for their medication. tomorrow, Democrats will hold our an-
nately, even in the second and third, Small business owners rely on it to nual DPCC retreat to discuss our plan
President Trump’s administration was keep their operations going. Small to lower costs, building on historic job
not very eager to move forward, trying towns and rural Americans use it to growth, and expand opportunity for the
to ignore it, saying it didn’t really stay connected, and every time we re- middle class.
present a danger, which, of course, it ceive a wedding invitation, birthday Over the next few months, my col-
has. message, or postcard from a relative, it leagues will be holding hearings and
So now Democrats and Republicans, is almost always the post office at markups on many of our cost-cutting
thankfully, have come together, and work, making us happy, receiving proposals. Among the ideas we are
both sides of the aisle have come to re- those nice letters and birthday cards working on are included bills to cap in-
alize that new COVID funding today is from brothers and sisters and relatives sulin costs at $35 a month, lowering the
about insurance—far better to prepare and friends from far-flung places. cost of meat at the grocery store, re-
today than play a frantic game of But we all know the frustrations of forming unfair shipping practices that
catchup tomorrow, when it is too late. waiting on packages that fail to arrive raise the costs of American goods for
The funding will support more vac- on time. We all know that when the everybody, and fixing domestic supply
cines, testing, therapeutics, and post office is forced to cut hours of op- chains.
healthcare workers, and that is why I eration or delivery routes or lay off These are issues that the American
have been pushing so hard to get it workers, the rest of us are worse off. people need help with. It is what Demo-
done. Thankfully, for the past few months, crats will maintain a focus on. And I
Across the country, life is returning Democrats and Republicans have been thank my Republican colleagues for
to normal, thankfully. Cases are fall- working together in good faith to re- helping us remind the American people
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ing. More people are going about with- form some of the most troubled parts which party truly stands in their cor-
out masks. Restaurants, churches, and of the Postal Service. Now, we are only ner.
stores are filling up. I see that in my one rollcall vote away from sending I yield the floor.
hometown of New York. Most impor- this bill to the President’s desk, and I suggest the absence of a quorum.
tantly, classrooms are full; schools are that vote is likely to come today. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
staying open. After the Senate votes on this bill, pore. The clerk will call the roll.
Now that we are turning the corner, we will happily be able to say that, fi- The senior assistant legislative clerk
now that we are getting back to nor- nally, postal reform is signed, sealed, proceeded to call the roll.
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March 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1025
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, our eastern flank NATO allies in the just an extension of Russia and its peo-
I ask unanimous consent that the order supplemental appropriations bill, along ple are really Russians, we now know
for the quorum call be rescinded. with funding for loan guarantees to for certain that Russians and Ukrain-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- help eastern flank countries buy Amer- ians do have, in fact, at least one thing
pore. Without objection, it is so or- ican weapons to shore up our collective in common: Vladimir Putin considers
dered. defenses. their lives equally disposable.
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER I appreciate the Democratic leader BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
The Republican leader is recognized. working in good faith to accommodate Mr. President, now on a related mat-
UKRAINE my request that the funding bill sig- ter, the price of gas jumped more in the
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, nificantly increase the security assist- past week than any week on record.
as I mentioned yesterday, Senators had ance drawdown fund available to the This, of course, began long before Rus-
the chance to hear directly from President and to backfill our DOD sia invaded Ukraine. Even before that,
Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy over stockpiles that are helping our friends families across America were paying
the weekend. He and his constituents— in harm’s way. I hope we finalize those dramatically higher gas prices than
the brave people of Ukraine—have won steps soon. they faced when President Biden took
the hearts and minds of all of us all This supplemental is urgent, but the office. I expect our Democratic friends
across the world. fact is, the White House has, thus far, will now try to blame the entire in-
Their pain, of course, is Putin’s fault, taken steps to limit their own options crease in prices on our efforts to punish
but as I and others warned for weeks and made them miss the window to on Russia, but don’t be fooled. This is
before the invasion, that pain has been provide impactful assistance. This ad- more than a year in the making.
compounded by the West’s hesitation ministration not only reportedly re- Back in November, President Biden’s
and sluggishness in helping Ukraine fused a request prior to the conflict to Secretary of Energy was asked about
prepare for this onslaught, which we increase the number of U.S. military any efforts—any efforts—to ramp up
could all see coming. This crisis was trainers in the country but moved the production of our own abundant Amer-
advisers we had to the far west of the ican energy, and she literally laughed
not only foreseeable; it was, in fact,
country and then pulled them from the at the question. ‘‘That is hilarious,’’
foreseen.
Republicans spent months urging country entirely, like they also pulled Secretary Granholm said.
President Biden to put more lethal aid out our entire diplomatic mission. The Secretary suggested that in-
These noncombat advisers could have creasing domestic production would be
in Ukrainian hands before Russian in-
helped facilitate more shipments of futile because the market for oil is
vasion made those deliveries much
weapons to the field and more training global. Well, it sure is. But right now
more difficult. We urged the adminis-
to teach Ukrainians how to use them. the free world is considering making
tration to reinforce our eastern flank
They could have laid important this market a little bit less global to
NATO partners before Putin escalated logistical groundwork to ensure weap- punish Russia for its brutal conquests
his war against Ukraine rather than ons could continue to flow through the
playing catchup. We called for heavier in Ukraine.
frontlines after the conflict began. So it would sure be nice if America
sanctions before Putin had fully com- In area after area, the record shows had gone into this crisis with more
mitted his forces and his pride. We the Biden administration pulled their headroom on supply and on gas prices.
warned repeatedly that the Biden ad- punches, even though everyone knew— Just 3 years ago, under Republican
ministration must not let these actions knew—that the war was coming, and policies, we had become a net oil ex-
be slowed down to the speed of bu- even so, the Ukrainians are mounting porter for the first time since World
reaucracy. But that is, of course, what an incredible and brave resistance. War II.
happened. Imagine where these brave people But Democrats are completely com-
As President Zelenskyy himself said might be now if the administration had mitted to their ideological holy war on
publicly last week, while he appre- moved at the speed of necessity rather affordable energy. From the campaign
ciates all the Western help, much of it than the snail’s pace of bureaucracy. trail, then-candidate Biden promised,
is ultimately arriving ‘‘too late.’’ Now we must commit to keep lethal ‘‘I guarantee you we are going to end
The Biden administration is now fi- aid flowing. fossil fuel.’’ And in office, the Biden ad-
nally doing many of the things they We have to continue strengthening ministration has used its considerable
slow-walked months ago as too provoc- NATO and deepening our security part- Executive authority to actively target
ative or too escalatory: providing nerships and interoperability with affordable American-made oil and nat-
Stingers, sharing intelligence, deploy- other European partners. We need to ural gas.
ing more forces to NATO’s eastern encourage more commitments like the On his first day in office, the Presi-
flank, finally, getting out of the way of German Chancellor’s recent announce- dent canceled the pipeline project that
sanctioning Nord Stream 2. ment that they will massively step up would have sped the safe transport of
Now, as supplies dwindle and safe re- their investment in their own defense reliable fuel. The very next week, he
supply and transit corridors narrow, and in NATO. And perhaps most impor- suspended all new Federal leases on oil
friends of Ukraine will have to work tant of all, we cannot have Washington and natural gas exploration.
even harder to help the citizens and politicians in the business of short- So Washington Democrats spent
their government stay in the fight. changing our own defense spending at months trying to pass policies that
It has been obvious for some time the very time when we are pleading would drive the most affordable, reli-
that Ukraine would benefit from re- with Western Europe to increase able, and abundant forms of America
ceiving Soviet-era aircraft and air de- theirs. energy—and the jobs they support—lit-
fense systems from our eastern flank We have to lead by example and erally into extinction.
NATO partners that still maintain in- make the kind of robust investments Just yesterday, as even our Western
ventories of such weapons. The United needed for long-term competition with European friends are realizing that
States can help these allies worried Russia and China. green fantasies can’t fuel their coun-
about giving up such capabilities by In the meantime, the sobering reality tries and are trying to turn back to-
helping to backfill with American- is that Ukraine is very likely to see ward nuclear, coal, and domestic nat-
made and NATO-standard weapons. I more and escalating brutalities in the ural gas, Biden administration officials
understand the administration may be days and the weeks ahead. The world gave a press conference where they re-
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finally coming around to support this remembers the butchery in Grozny and peated the same—the very same—plati-
but, again, at the stately pace of bu- the cold-blooded targeting in Aleppo, tudes about renewables.
reaucracy. This needs to get done and and the world will remember this mo- You really can’t make this stuff up.
get done yesterday. ment as Russia sics conscripts on The Democrats in charge of the United
(Mr. PADILLA assumed the Chair.) Ukrainian civilians and arrests its own States of America want us to embrace
Meanwhile, the Congress is acting; people when they object. the same failed strategies from which
that includes additional security as- For all of the Kremlin’s lies about our European friends are frantically
sistance funding for Ukraine and for Ukraine, about how it is supposedly backpedaling as fast as they can.
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S1026 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 8, 2022
So while the Ukrainians are fighting week. But, unfortunately, while Demo- taxes on anyone making less than
Russia, Democrats are trying to fight a crats may finally be talking about in- $400,000, but that is not actually the
war on the law of supply and demand. flation, they still don’t seem to under- case. Analysis of Build Back Better
They only want to have to look at stand how we got here, and they are proposals reveals more than one tax
solar panel and windmills here at continuing to push a whole raft of ter- hike would hit Americans with in-
home. So they want to get our oil and rible proposals that would hurt work- comes below $400,000. And then there
gas from everywhere else, but many of ing families and make our inflation are the indirect costs.
the biggest players in the global mar- crisis even worse. A centerpiece of the President’s tax
ket are countries that don’t much care So how did we get here? Why are plans is increasing taxes on corpora-
for the United States. And now the Americans currently struggling with tions. While that may sound like a tax
Biden administration’s green hostility huge grocery bills and big price in- hike on the uber rich, the truth is that
to domestic energy production has creases on essential goods? It is true the burden of corporate tax hikes
been going hat in hand begging our an- that supply chain issues and the re- would fall heavily on ordinary workers
tagonists to increase production. After opening of economies after COVID in the form of lower wages, decreased
spending a year hammering America’s shutdowns created certain inflationary job opportunities and retirement sav-
own energy producers, the Biden ad- pressure, but a big part of the reason ings, and a less vibrant economy.
ministration appears to be com- things are so bad in the United States The President likes to talk about tax
mencing a world tour to try to buy oil right now is because of the American fairness, about hiking taxes on cor-
from people who don’t like us. Rescue Plan spending spree the Demo- porations and wealthy Americans so
As I mentioned yesterday, the admin- crats passed last March. that they pay ‘‘their fair share.’’ Of
istration appears close to a deal that When Democrats took office last Jan- course, he ignores the fact that
would help Iran enrich more nuclear uary, inflation was at 1.4 percent, well wealthy Americans pay a dispropor-
material and enrich its economy by within the Fed’s target inflation rate tionately large share of taxes in this
lifting oil export sanctions. of 2 percent. And it might have stayed country and that the Federal Govern-
Reports also suggest U.S. officials there had Democrats not decided that ment has seen a huge increase in cor-
have met with the Maduro regime with they needed to pass a massive partisan porate tax receipts, thanks in part to
the aim of relaxing sanctions on Ven- $1.9 trillion spending spree under the business growth in the wake of the Tax
ezuelan oil as well. This administration guise of COVID relief—mere weeks, I Cuts and Jobs Act.
wants to ramp up energy imports from might add—after Congress had already All that aside, I find the President’s
Iran and Venezuela? That is the world’s passed a major COVID bill. That is call for wealthy Americans to pay their
largest state sponsor of terror and a right. President Biden and congres- fair share highly ironic considering the
thuggish South American dictator, re- sional Democrats took office right Democrats managed to include a tax
spectively. after Congress had approved a fifth— break for wealthy Americans in their
So they would rather buy from these fifth—bipartisan COVID relief bill, and Build Back Better plan. That is right.
people than buy from Texas, Alaska, or The Democrats’ SALT proposal would
it was abundantly clear that we were
Pennsylvania. Just let that sink in. overwhelmingly—overwhelmingly—
not in immediate need of trillions more
The administration is also appar-
in government spending. benefit affluent taxpayers in high-tax
ently making similar overtures to
But that didn’t matter to Democrats. States. Apparently, making wealthy
Saudi Arabia. Obviously, the Saudis
Now that they were in control of Con- Americans pay their fair share only ap-
are not an adversary like these other
gress and the White House, they want- plies to wealthy Republican Americans
countries, but I doubt the American
ed to take advantage of the COVID cri- or until wealthy Democrats start ask-
people are thrilled to see President
sis. So in the name of COVID relief, ing for tax breaks.
Biden trying to increase our depend-
they pushed through a massive par- On the corporate tax side, in the
ence on Middle Eastern oil and OPEC
tisan piece of legislation filled with un- State of the Union Address, the Presi-
while declaring America’s own re-
necessary spending and handouts to dent highlighted the corporate min-
sources off limits.
A green light for the Arabian Gulf Democratic interest groups. imum tax he is proposing. What he
And, of course, the results were pre- didn’t mention was that his corporate
and a red one for the Gulf of Mexico—
dictable. The bill flooded the economy minimum tax isn’t actually a min-
what sense does that make? The polit-
with unnecessary government spend- imum tax at all. Thanks to the clean
ical left thinks that affordable energy
ing, and the economy overheated as a energy and affordable housing tax cred-
is dirty and bad so they are happy to
result. In the words of Jason Furman its the President is advocating, among
export the dirty work and import the
in a January New York Times article, other credits, companies that take ac-
oil. Let’s ask our friends in Europe how
‘‘ ‘The United States has had much tion on Democrats’ preferred policies
that plays out.
Outsourcing even more production to more inflation than almost any other could end up completely evading
dictators and theocrats is not the an- advanced economy in the world,’ said Biden’s so-called minimum tax. So
swer. Dumping more subsidies into Jason Furman, an economist at Har- much for making corporations pay
solar panels and charging stations, vard University and former Obama ad- their fair share.
praying everything works out, is not ministration economic adviser. The In his State of the Union Address, the
the answer. The answer is to let Ameri- difference, he said, comes because ‘the President highlighted ‘‘the revitaliza-
cans produce American energy. United States’ stimulus is in a cat- tion of American manufacturing.’’ He
I suggest the absence of a quorum. egory of its own.’ ’’ said, ‘‘Companies are choosing to build
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Unfortunately, Democrats seem un- new factories here when just a few
clerk will call the roll. able—or unwilling—to recognize that it years ago, they would have gone over-
The legislative clerk proceeded to was their policies that helped push us seas.’’ He said that in the State of the
call the roll. into our current inflation crisis. In Union speech.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask fact, the President used his State of The revitalization of American man-
unanimous consent that the order for the Union Address to push for even ufacturing is, indeed, something to cel-
the quorum call be rescinded. more—more—excessive government ebrate. But, unfortunately, President
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without spending, a sure way of making our in- Biden wants to undo the very tax poli-
objection, it is so ordered. flation crisis even worse—and not just cies that helped create the conditions
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INFLATION increased in spending but major new for this manufacturing renaissance in
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, it took entitlements. the first place.
several months and the worst inflation Yes, our Nation is massively in debt, Before Republicans passed the Tax
in 40 years, but finally—finally—Demo- inflation is soaring, and Democrats Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, we were ex-
crats are acknowledging that we have think now is a good time to create periencing a wave of inversions, which
an inflation problem. major new entitlements, and, of course, is a wonky way of saying that compa-
The President actually acknowledged to raise taxes to pay for them. The nies were moving their headquarters
inflation in the State of the Union last President claims that he won’t raise overseas. Why were companies moving
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March 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1027
overseas? Because of the punishing cor- Let me get this straight. We are to the Senate as a treaty, requiring our
porate tax system we had in the United working hand in glove with Vladimir advice and consent under the U.S. Con-
States. Prior to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Putin to reach a deal that will help stitution. But because the Obama ad-
Act, the United States had the highest Russia evade sanctions being imposed ministration refused to follow the Con-
corporate tax rate in the developed for its aggression in Ukraine and work stitution, Congress was compelled to
world. That put American businesses with its ally Iran. enact the Iran Nuclear Agreement Re-
at a real disadvantage next to their This is not the way to protect the view Act, or INARA. INARA passed the
foreign counterparts, and it created a safety and the interest of the American Senate in a 99-to-1 vote—99 to 1. This is
significant incentive for U.S. compa- people. nearly unanimous, a bipartisan vote
nies to move jobs or their entire com- This is what Russia’s chief nego- that reflects how frustrated the Senate
panies overseas. The Tax Cuts and Jobs tiator to the Iran talks had to say is that the executive branch was trying
Act addressed this problem by lowering about what he has accomplished for the to circumvent Congress on such an im-
our Nation’s massive corporate tax Biden administration: portant matter. INARA clearly re-
rate and bringing the U.S. inter- I am absolutely sincere in this regard when quires that any agreement—I repeat,
national tax system into the 21st cen- I say that Iran got much more than it could any agreement—related to the nuclear
tury. expect, much more. program of Iran should be submitted to
How did it work? Well, in the wake of He recently told reporters, adding: the Senate and to the House for con-
the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, inversions Realistically speaking, Iran got more than, gressional review, including for an up-
stopped—stopped—and as the President frankly, I expected or others expected. This or-down vote.
pointed out, companies are building is a matter of fact. It is beyond debate that the Biden
here in America. To quote the Presi- Again, this is Russia’s chief nego- administration is required by law to
dent of the National Association of tiator making this statement. submit any new agreement for reviving
Manufacturers: Most alarmingly, this revived deal the Iran deal to Congress for congres-
Reducing tax rates drove historic growth would pave Iran’s path to a nuclear
in the manufacturing sector.
sional review, but the Biden adminis-
weapon. News reports also suggest that tration has not clearly committed that
Unfortunately, if the President has the revived deal would quickly unleash it will submit whatever agreement it is
his way, this manufacturing renais- $90 billion in frozen funds to Iran— negotiating in Vienna for our review
sance would likely drastically slow or again, the world’s biggest state-sponsor and an up-or-down vote by Congress.
come to an end altogether. Hiking of terrorism. Moreover, Iran can expect If the Biden administration refuses
taxes on American companies, as the to earn roughly $50 billion annually in to submit its new Iran agreement to
President wants to do, would once renewed oil exports. Congress, it will be ignoring the law
again put American companies at a It is unconscionable that the Biden and undermining the role of this body
competitive disadvantage next to their administration appears more eager to in foreign policy.
foreign counterparts. unleash the energy production in Ven- Last year, I was concerned this
If the President hikes corporate
ezuela and Iran than right here in might happen. That is why I intro-
taxes, we won’t be seeing a surge of
America. The Biden administration is duced the Iran Sanctions Relief Review
new building in America or companies
so stubborn and blinded by its ideolog- Act of 2020. My bill borrows a provision
keeping jobs here at home. Instead, we
ical green energy fantasies that it from the Countering America’s Adver-
will be seeing fewer American jobs and
would rather work with terrorists and saries Through Sanctions Act, or
more jobs and companies heading over-
seas. Democrats have already wreaked dictators—folks with some of the worst CAATSA, an act that overwhelmingly
a lot of economic harm on American human rights records in history—than passed Congress in 2017.
admit it was a mistake to abandon The CAATSA provision allows for
families with their American Rescue
America’s energy independence. This congressional review and an up-or-
Plan spending spree. And the other
policies that they are pushing and the administration would rather work with down vote on any Presidential waiver
tax hikes and new entitlements the killers than with American drillers. of Russia’s sanctions. My bill takes
President outlined in his State of the As before, the Iranian regime will use word-for-word that same provision and
Union Address would prolong our infla- this massive windfall of sanctions re- applies it to any Presidential waiver of
tion crisis and do further damage to lief to fund terrorism and aggression Iran sanctions. This is important be-
our economy and to American workers against our ally Israel, against our cause any new agreement to revive the
and families. Arab partners, and against Americans Iran deal will require once again the
I am glad the Democrats are finally serving in the Middle East. executive branch to waive Iran sanc-
recognizing that inflation is a problem, Let me be clear. The Trump adminis- tions. In other words, my bill protects
but it would have been nice if they tration was right to withdraw us from the role of Congress if the executive
could also recognize how their spending the Iran nuclear deal in May of 2018. branch ignores INARA and refuses to
helped get us into this mess in the first But I am not here today to debate the submit the new agreement to the Sen-
place and how their current tax hike pros and cons of resurrecting the Iran ate and to the House.
and spending plans would hurt Ameri- deal. We will likely have that debate in So far, 37 Senators have cosponsored
cans and result in a less prosperous the days to come, probably sooner than the Iran Sanctions Relief Review Act
economy in the future. most people think. with me. This number is significant be-
I yield the floor. Rather, I am here today to argue for cause 37 Senators would be more than
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- preserving the role that Congress— enough to deny the Senate’s advice and
ator from Tennessee. amid concerns that the Biden adminis- consent if the executive branch actu-
IRAN tration will not submit their new Iran ally followed the Constitution and pre-
Mr. HAGERTY. Mr. President, much nuclear deal for review and for an up- sented a new Iran agreement to the
of the news media today is focused on or-down vote—that Congress must Senate as a treaty.
Russia’s unprovoked invasion of maintain its role as required by U.S. I urge my colleagues who have not
Ukraine—and rightfully so—but not law. yet cosponsored the Iran Sanctions Re-
enough attention is being paid to nego- If news reports are to be believed, the lief Review Act to join me and to do so.
tiations that are happening today and Biden administration may be nearing We must protect the first branch of
have been happening in Vienna. the end of negotiations for an agree- government from an executive branch
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The Biden administration seems dead ment to resuscitate the Iran deal. As that seeks to encroach upon it or even
set on reviving, at any cost, the Iran Reuters reported recently: to ignore it.
nuclear deal. Worse, President Biden’s The draft text of the agreement, which is I also remind the Biden administra-
chief negotiator Rob Malley—who, I more than 20 pages long, stipulates a se- tion, the Iranian regime, and the world
observe, is not a Senate-confirmed offi- quence of steps to be implemented . . . of a fact that should be patently obvi-
cial—outsourced our negotiations for In 2014 and 2015, many lawmakers ous by now: Any agreement to revive
reviving this flawed Iran deal to the passionately argued that the original the Iran nuclear deal that lacks the
Russians. This is outrageous. Iran deal should have been submitted Senate’s advice and consent under the
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S1028 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 8, 2022
Constitution—that is, that lacks the Our phones ring in our offices around USPS would then have 6 months to put
support of 67 Senators—will not sur- the State because a small post office in place PRC-approved changes that
vive multiple Presidential administra- has been closed for a period of days be- will fix whatever faults may have been
tions. It will be ripped up just like it cause the postmaster has left, and found.
was the last time. And I have zero there is no replacement available. The bill will also do what many of us
doubt that, as before, the next Presi- I hear about the long lines to pick up have advocated for, which is reform the
dential administration will end this mail, the long lines to just even buy a cost of healthcare for USPS employees
deal again and will snap back sanc- stamp in some of our smaller commu- and their retirees.
tions—with a vengeance—against the nities that get inundated by tourists in So it provides needed stabilization
Iranian regime and those countries the summer. for the USPS health benefits system,
that were foolish enough to trade with So we know. We hear the strains on and, hopefully, it will relieve the pres-
it. our Postal Service. Despite postal sure on their budget and support sus-
I yield the floor. workers’ dedication, the fact of the tainable benefits for employees and re-
I suggest the absence of a quorum. matter is that the Agency is in trouble, tirees. This is a key provision.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The and it needs the reforms that are con- The bill also codifies an appropria-
clerk will call the roll. tained in the bill that is pending before tions rider that has long required the
The legislative clerk proceeded to us. USPS to integrate the delivery of let-
call the roll. While many Americans believe the ters and packages for 6-day delivery
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I Postal Service is supported by the and includes a fair compromise on the
ask unanimous consent that the order American taxpayer, that is not the attribution of costs for processing and
for the quorum call be rescinded. case. Congress only reimburses it for delivering packages.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without mailing audio books to the blind and One of the—I guess—top complaints
objection, it is so ordered. ballots to overseas voters. That is it. that I hear from Alaskans is that the
POSTAL SERVICE REFORM ACT The Postal Service has to meet its cost of shipping via commercial pack-
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I payroll and fund retiree health bene- age services is oftentimes more than
have come to the floor to speak in sup- fits; maintain its facilities, equipment, the price of the item itself. Integrated
port of the Postal Service Reform Act, and vehicles; deliver the mail to its delivery of mail and packages saves the
which is now pending before the Sen- destination on time with its own rev- U.S. Postal Service money by allowing
ate. enue from the sale of postage. But
The mission of the U.S. Postal Serv- it to be more efficient.
their financial instability is making And while UPS and FedEx charge
ice since the Continental Congress ap- those responsibilities harder and hard-
pointed Benjamin Franklin as our Na- most Alaskans extra for delivering
er to fulfill. their packages, these companies then
tion’s first Postmaster General in 1775 So we are debating this legislation on
has been to ‘‘bind the Nation to- drop their packages off in Anchorage at
the floor today to give the Postal Serv-
gether.’’ that hub and let the Postal Service
ice the tools that it needs to be suc-
So it sounds kind of like a pretty take care of what we call last mile de-
cessful and to fulfill its essential mis-
quaint, outdated idea, but it is actually livery. Well, in Alaska, that often
sion and to hold the USPS accountable
serious; it is actually statutory. means the last several hundred miles.
for improved performance because we
And 39 U.S.C. tasks the Postal Serv- Now, some are concerned that USPS
all want to see that.
ice with binding our Nation together So this legislation that we will hope- subsidizes the cost of packages with
by delivering all of our mail to every fully vote on later today is not without revenue derived from delivering let-
American promptly, reliably, and effi- controversy. Reform legislation is ters. But in fact, the law that we
ciently, no matter where we live. never without controversy, but that is passed in 2006, the Postal Account-
The Postal Service Reform Act will why I appreciate the opportunity to ability and Enhancement Act, forbids
improve the Agency’s ability to meet outline what I think are some of the the Postal Service from cross-sub-
that requirement, including in large, positive provisions. sidizing revenue to make sure that it is
geographically remote places, like Importantly, the bill increases the competing fairly with commercial
Alaska, where it certainly has a sig- Postal Service’s accountability for on- package carriers.
nificant impact on our lives. time delivery and requires greater Current law also requires that pack-
We count on the Postal Service to de- transparency in achieving the goal. age delivery covers all of its attrib-
liver not only the letters and the mag- The bill requires that mail delivery not utable costs, and while the Postal Reg-
azines and the bills, but also neces- only be prompt and economical but ulatory Commission and the Federal
sities of life: food, medicine, business also consistent and reliable and pro- courts have examined and upheld the
inventory, spare parts. Just about any- vided in a manner that increases oper- cost attribution methodology, the
thing you could possibly think of for ational efficiency. Postal Service Reform Act requires yet
daily life comes to us in Alaska It requires the USPS to develop a another look, which I think is probably
through the mail service. new, searchable public performance a fair compromise.
The Postal Service is unique in its dashboard that is updated weekly so Importantly for Alaskans and for me,
universal service obligation and the both Congress and the public can keep this legislation will not result in cost
fact that it delivers both mail and a close eye on whether or not they are increases for the essential bypass mail
packages to Americans in every com- living up to our expectations. program. This is what it says it is. It is
munity, whether you live in Key West, It also requires new regular reporting essential. It is a program that allows
FL, or Utqiagvik, AK. No other Federal to the Postal Regulatory Commission, rural Alaskans who live in commu-
Agency or commercial enterprise does the PRC, and to Congress on a variety nities that are not connected by
this. of indicators, including the impacts of roads—about 80 percent of our commu-
But it is becoming more and more price changes and information about nities are in that situation—but allows
difficult for the Postal Service to ac- reliability, efficiency, and cost effec- them to receive pallets of food, what-
complish the swift completion of their tiveness, Postal workforce recruitment ever necessary mailable matter that
appointed rounds, as we recall. and retention, and how investments in comes from stores in Anchorage or
And believe me, I certainly hear equipment and infrastructure are im- Fairbanks, without millions of indi-
about the Postal Service’s decreasing pacting service. vidual boxes of goods going through
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ability to provide its services prompt- In addition, the PRC and the Postal Postal facilities. And that benefits the
ly, reliably, and efficiently. I hear Service’s inspector general must iden- consumer, and it saves the Postal Serv-
about it as soon as I get off the air- tify why there are inefficiencies in the ice tens of millions of dollars a year in
plane when I get back home. I hear collection, sorting, transportation, and operating costs and untold millions in
from individuals all over the State, delivery of large envelopes, news- facility costs.
telling me the concerns that they have letters, and magazines. While the Postal Service Reform Act
about mail that is late or perhaps not These findings will be reported to directs the PRC to engage in another
delivered at all. Congress and the Postmaster General. review of attributable costs, I have
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March 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1029
been assured by both sides of the and who knows what the conditions are But this isn’t a day that we just look
Homeland Security and Governmental going to be like a week from now. And back and recognize those who have
Affairs Committee, by the PRC, and by so it takes an extraordinary individual. made great accomplishments. It is also
the Postal Service that this provision And to know the strength of women, a day that we look ahead at the work
will not impact bypass mail, and I cer- as they have taken on the Iditarod— that we have to do to continue to ad-
tainly intend to hold them to their when award-winning or world-re- vance equality and justice for all
word. nowned winner Susan Butcher first women.
Another concern that I want to ad- won that race—she has won that race Just down the hallway from here in
dress over this bill is allowing USPS to four times—but when she ran it about the Rotunda is the Portrait Monument.
partner with State, local, and Tribal three decades ago, there was a popular We all see it; we walk by it; and maybe
governments to provide nonpostal serv- bumper sticker that was going around we don’t even notice it anymore but
ices. Now, I understand where this the State at the time. It was, ‘‘Alaska, take a look at it next time. We know
comes from, but this legislation spe- where men are men and women win the the pioneering women who are rep-
cifically requires that any nonpostal Iditarod.’’ We were pretty proud of resented on it: Lucretia Mott, Eliza-
services must cover their own costs Susan Butcher. We are hoping that our beth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. An-
without any degradation to regular women do well and all of our mushers thony.
Postal services. do well. But we need to look at it more care-
So, in my view, if the U.S. Postal But like these female mushers who fully, and we need to remember there is
Service can help deliver additional are racing, women leaders are virtually a fourth bust that Adelaide Johnson
services to the American public under in every field, from healthcare to re- did not sculpt, and the base of the
these two caveats, then they should be source development, to fishing, to our monument is also unfinished. It is a re-
allowed to do so. universities, and everything in be- flection of the unfinished struggle for
So H.R. 3076 is a big step forward in tween, and many of us are very proud women’s rights and equality.
helping the Postal Service achieve fi- to know that they have become some- So for all the progress that we have
nancial stability. It will enable the what household names, some of them. made, and we know it has been consid-
Agency to continue to bind the Nation This year, we were able to celebrate erable, Madam President, as you are
together with efficient and cost-effec- Emma Broyles, a young woman from sitting in that chair and this woman
tive universal service and allow postal Anchorage, 20 years old. She became from Alaska is addressing you—we
employees to achieve the swift comple- the first Alaskan and the first Korean have made great progress, but the
tion of their appointed rounds. It is American to ever be crowned Miss struggle is unfinished.
supported by a wide array of busi- America in the 100-year history of that The data documents the gaps in gen-
nesses, both large and small, all who event. So we are very proud of her. I der equality in our country, and too
rely on our Postal Service. It is sup- was able to celebrate with her this many women feel it firsthand in their
ported by Postal employees, by retired weekend at the Iditarod itself. daily lives. So on International Wom-
Federal employees, and the Postal Another young woman that we have en’s Day, I also want to remind the
Service itself. celebrated this past year is Lydia Senate of a couple important ways that
It has received overwhelming bipar- Jacoby. Lydia is from Seward, AK, and we can help further women’s rights.
tisan support in the House of Rep- at 17, she competed in her first Olym- And I am pleased that my colleague
resentatives. I certainly hope that it pics. She brought home the gold medal Senator CARDIN is on the floor at this
will draw the same here in the Senate, for this country, winning the 100-meter moment because we have been working
and I want to commend the chairman breaststroke race. So we were all eyes together. We have been working to-
of the Committee on Homeland Secu- on Lydia. So proud of her. gether to try to do this unfinished
rity and Governmental Affairs, as well And there are so many who deserve business when it comes to ratification
as Ranking Member PORTMAN, for the our thanks and our gratitude. I always of the Equal Rights Amendment, to en-
good work that they have done in like to give a shout-out to an excep- sure women’s equality is expressly rec-
bringing this bill to us today. tional leader in our State, who has pro- ognized in our Constitution.
(Ms. ROSEN assumed the Chair.) vided critical leadership and guidance Three-quarters of the States have
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY throughout the pandemic, Dr. Anne now ratified that amendment. Alaska
Madam President, now, while I am Zink. did it back in 1972, Virginia most re-
still here on the floor, I want to take It is so important to know that it is cently in 2020. I am hopeful that its
just a moment and acknowledge that not necessarily finishing at the end of time has come.
today, March 8, marks International a race or a crown or a medal. It is just And to help facilitate that, Senator
Women’s Day. the endurance that goes with the day- CARDIN and I have introduced a resolu-
This is a day for us to recognize the to-day completion of your work. tion to remove the arbitrary ratifica-
achievements and the contributions I was on the floor just last month to tion deadline from the ERA so it can fi-
that women are making in commu- recognize the work of Native civil nally take effect. I think the Senate
nities across the globe, and, as an Alas- rights advocate Elizabeth Peratrovich, needs to take this resolution up and
kan, I am going to start local first, be- who pushed the Territory of Alaska, pass it like the House of Representa-
cause I have got so many, many phe- our legislature at the time, to pass the tives did last year.
nomenal women in my State who are first antidiscrimination act in the Na- Another step—a critical step—that
doing incredible things, and I am ex- tion. We did this in 1945. We are so we must take now is the reauthoriza-
ceptionally proud of them. proud of how she, as a Native woman tion of the Violence Against Women
I was home over the weekend. We leader, made our State and our Nation Act to help ensure that there is a path
were celebrating the start of the 50th a more inclusive and more representa- to justice for survivors of interpersonal
running of the Iditarod race. This is an tive democracy. violence.
extraordinary feat of just strength and So, today, on International Women’s I was very proud to introduce the
grit and determination and resilience. Day, it gives us an opportunity to rec- new VAWA bill with Senator DURBIN,
There were 49 mushers that left Wil- ognize the impressive feats that women Senator ERNST, and Senator FEINSTEIN
low on Sunday; 17 of those mushers have taken on and have accomplished. last month. I am pleased—so pleased—
who will make the trek to Nome are It is a day to thank women for their that we have 22 total cosponsors, 11
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women—17 women. So we have got a daily contributions—again, both big, from each party.
very, very strong field, but running a where they win the awards and they Our bipartisan bill modernizes the
race like this, where it is the musher make the headlines, but also for those nearly three decades’ old Violence
and your team of dogs going through day-to-day contributions that they Against Women Act, and it reauthor-
the wilderness of Alaska—we have got make to raising healthy, strong chil- izes important programs that provide
deep snow throughout. The moose are dren, to being the fabric in the family, services to survivors. It directs re-
not in a very cooperative mood right to being that contributor in the work- sources to prevent further violence and
now. There are dangers along the trail, place. hold perpetrators accountable for their
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S1030 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 8, 2022
actions. And it takes needed and im- tive in regard to gender equity issues, freedom indicate an alarming openness
portant steps to address domestic vio- including the reauthorization of the to overturning the precedents that
lence, sexual assault, dating violence, Violence Against Women Act and the have given women control over their
and stalking. passage of the Equal Rights Amend- own bodies and futures for decades.
I mentioned dating violence. We have ment. So I thank her for her leader- Among many other very important
a provision that I have included and we ship, and I am glad to be her partner on reasons, full reproductive autonomy is
have named after an Alaskan victim of many of these issues. essential in ensuring that women are
dating violence, and that is Breanna So today, we can celebrate the able to participate fully as citizens in
Moore. progress that has been made and call all facets of our democracy.
We focused on improving access to attention to the obstacles that exist. I am pleased that President Biden es-
medical forensics for victims of vio- Throughout our Nation’s history, gen- tablished the first Gender Policy Coun-
lence, including through training for erations of women have won hard- cil to advance gender equity across the
medical professionals that will allow fought battles in pushing closer and entire Federal Government and that
them to provide evidence-based and closer toward securing full citizenship the Gender Policy Council issued the
trauma-informed care. and all that entails. first-ever national gender strategy to
We have a strong Tribal title in this Our Nation today is stronger from support the full participation of all
VAWA bill. It builds on VAWA 2013 by this progress, reaching new milestones people, including women and girls in
closing the gaps in the law to protect in gender equality. President Biden an- the United States and around the
Native people. The Tribal title also in- nounced earlier this month his historic world.
cludes an Alaska pilot program which selection of Judge Jackson to fill the Yes, we have unfinished business in
provides a targeted solution to help role of the retiring Supreme Court Jus- regard to gender equity issues. I am
empower Tribes in a way that recog- tice Breyer on the highest Court in our committed to working to advance the
nizes the unique and complex jurisdic- land. Judge Jackson would be the first Equal Rights Amendment that Senator
tional landscape that we have in my Black woman to serve on the Court and MURKOWSKI talked about. The two of us
State. It is a recognition that Tribes only the fifth woman to serve as a Jus- are the lead sponsors of the resolution
are valuable partners. They are critical tice of the total of 115 who have served in this body that would remove the ar-
partners that can play a larger role in on the Supreme Court throughout our bitrary time limit.
providing public safety while reducing history. This simple amendment, the Equal
the burden on my State. I was pleased, along with Senator
Rights Amendment, first written by
As I have said many times before, VAN HOLLEN, to recommend Lydia
Alice Paul in 1923, states:
there should be nothing—nothing—par- Griggsby to serve on the U.S. District
Equality of rights under the law shall not
tisan about keeping people safe from Court for the District of Maryland. She
be denied or abridged by the United States or
violence. And our VAWA reauthoriza- is the first Black female judge to serve any state on account of sex. The Congress
tion is a result of many years of hard in the State of Maryland. shall have the power to enforce, by appro-
Yes, we have a lot to celebrate during priate legislation, the provisions of this arti-
work and negotiations by advocates
Women’s History Month here in March. cle.
and stakeholders alike. I hope that we During President Biden’s recent
can consider this and pass this very, I can’t understand any objection to
State of the Union Address, which I at-
very soon. including that fundamental protection
tended, I was struck by the image of
I recognize the great work of Senator in the Constitution of the United
House Speaker NANCY PELOSI and Vice
ERNST on our side and Senator DURBIN States.
President KAMALA HARRIS flanking
and Senator FEINSTEIN on the other As President Biden stated in his
President Biden. Vice President HARRIS
side of the aisle. It has been an effort Presidential Proclamation during this
is our first woman and first woman of
that is timely, is needed, and is nec- Women’s History Month, ‘‘But despite
color to hold the second highest office
essary. the progress being made, women and
in the land. Though they undoubtedly
So I am happy to be able to recog- girls—especially women and girls of
both experienced significant challenges
nize, for just a few moments on this color—still face systemic barriers to
and obstacles on their career path due
International Women’s Day—as we cel- full participation and wider gaps in op-
to their gender, they are now serving
ebrate the many, many incredible portunity and equality . . . The Con-
in two of the highest ranking offices in
women in our lives and in our country, our government. gress sent the Equal Rights Amend-
we also recognize that our work for President Biden has appointed one of ment to the States for ratification 50
true equality remains unfinished, but the most diverse Cabinets in history, years ago and it is long past time that
we have got some good paths forward if including the first women to serve as the principle of women’s equality
we can just try. Treasury Secretary and Director of Na- should be enshrined in our Constitu-
I yield the floor. tional Intelligence. tion.’’
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- We have a lot to celebrate on our And as Senator MURKOWSKI said, the
ator from Maryland. path for gender equality in America, requisite number of States have rati-
Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, first, but we still have more that needs to be fied the Equal Rights Amendment to
let me thank Senator MURKOWSKI for done. the Constitution. The arbitrary time
her leadership on behalf of women’s At the same time, structural dis- limit that was put on by Congress is
issues here in the U.S. Senate. I join advantages and inequalities on account the only reason we haven’t had a cer-
her in calling for the reauthorization of of gender persist across so many areas tification process.
the Violence Against Women’s Act. I here in America. As one example, as The vast majority of Americans
am glad that she mentioned that. I join chair of the Small Business Entrepre- agree with this principle today. A 2020
her as her partner in the ratification of neurship Committee, where the Pre- AP poll found that 74 percent of Ameri-
the Equal Rights Amendment. We have siding Officer also serves, I have been cans—74 percent—favor the Equal
to pass a resolution here extending the working over the course of the COVID– Rights Amendment. A second spring
date. Senator MURKOWSKI has been a 19 pandemic to understand the eco- poll conducted by Pew found that 78
leader on all these issues. nomic effects on small businesses and percent of respondents were in support
During Women’s History Month, I am to help provide needed resources. In of adding women to the Constitution.
using this time to point out the this role, I have seen firsthand the In a nation as divided as ours has be-
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progress we have made. Senator MUR- structural disadvantages experienced come, a principle with this level of sup-
KOWSKI mentioned that we have made by women-owned small businesses and port on this important topic compels
tremendous progress on behalf of gen- how they have been compounded by the our attention and our action.
der equality in the United States, but challenges of this pandemic. We need Given that so much has changed
we still have a path in front of us. I was to take action to help in regard to that since this amendment was first written
pleased to see Senator MURKOWSKI issue. and since it was first proposed by Con-
point out the challenges that still exist Further, the Supreme Court actions gress to the States, it is worth explain-
and the reason why we need to be ac- to date in cases related to reproductive ing some of the practical effects it
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March 8, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1031
could have if formalized today. First, it key leader in the abolition and wom- As we reflect on the achievements of
would expand legal recourse against en’s suffrage movements. She embodied women and girls across the centuries and
gender discrimination. Second, it extraordinary courage and took im- pay tribute to the pioneers who paved the
would empower those of us in Congress measurable risks as a soldier, spy, and way, let us recommit to the fight and help
realize the deeply American vision of a more
to enact stronger laws preventing gen- conductor on the Underground Rail- equal society where every person has a shot
der discrimination across a wide array road, leading her family and commu- at pursuing the American dream. In doing
of issues. Third, it would require the nities to freedom. In an unjust country so, we will advance economic growth, our
Supreme Court—or courts—to use a to her race, she was there, working for health and safety, and the security of our
higher standard of review than is cur- America’s future and helping to lib- Nation and the world.
rently applied in the cases of gender erate the enslaved people. I yield the floor.
discrimination. In Maryland, this year also marks
The ratification of the ERA could be f
the 5-year anniversary of the Harriet
expected to have effects across such di- Tubman Underground Railroad Visitor RECESS
verse areas as pay discrimination, Center, which opened its doors to the Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I ask
LGBTQ rights, gender-based and do- public in 2017. In its first year, it drew unanimous consent that the Senate
mestic violence, sexual harassment, nearly 100,000 visitors from every State now recess until 2:15 p.m.
and more. This constitutional amend- and more than 70 countries, exceeding There being no objection, the Senate,
ment would provide a firmer founda- all expectations. It is inspirational to at 12:19 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m.
tion for existing laws and create new see this visitor center and to see her and reassembled when called to order
authority for Congress to pass laws in journey through life and what she was by the Presiding Officer (Ms. SINEMA).
areas in which it has historically able to accomplish. One person can
lacked a constitutional prerogative. make a difference. As Dr. Martin Lu- f
Our Constitution is a framework of, ther King, Jr., told us frequently, POSTAL SERVICE REFORM ACT OF
by, and for the people. It must be able ‘‘Each one of us in this world can make 2022—Continued
to evolve to meet the changing views a difference.’’ Harriet Tubman made
and beliefs of the people. Already a ma- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sen-
such a difference throughout her life-
jority of the U.S. Senate has cospon- ior Senator from Arkansas.
time.
sored the bipartisan resolution that I The visitor center houses exhibit HONORING SERGEANT JOSHUA CAUDELL
referred to, S.J. Res. 1, that Senator space that shares Tubman’s compelling Mr. BOOZMAN. Madam President, I
MURKOWSKI and I introduced to remove story, surrounded by landscape and wa- have the privilege of being with my fel-
the procedural deadline that Congress terways preserved to resemble how low Senator, TOM COTTON, as we rise
once set to honor the clear will of the they would have appeared to her over today to honor two Arkansans who
people and to make the legitimacy of 200 years ago in her early life as an gave their lives in service to others re-
our 28th Amendment clear beyond a enslaved child, young woman, and free- cently.
doubt. dom seeker. The Harriet Tubman Un- Arkansas Department of Corrections
The House of Representatives has al- derground Railroad National Monu- Officer Sergeant Joshua Caudell was a
ready passed this resolution twice. It is ment and National Historical Park pre- member of the department’s K–9 team
time for us to do the same. I look for- serve these characteristics in her early who responded to a call to assist his
ward to the opportunity to bring this home on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. fellow law enforcement officers with a
resolution to the floor in the coming The visitor center serves as an ori- disturbance call.
months and would strongly urge every entation center to the national monu- During the course of searching for a
one of my colleagues to support that ment and historical park and gateway suspect, Sergeant Caudell was shot and
resolution. Thirty-eight States have al- to the larger Harriet Tubman Under- later died from his injuries. Born in
ready ratified it. Most Americans al- ground Railroad Scenic Byway, which Little Rock and raised in Redfield and
ready think it is in our Constitution. includes the Brodess Farm, where Har- White Hall, Sergeant Caudell was a
Let’s get that job done. riet Tubman lived as a child; Bucktown White Hall High School graduate of the
BICENTENNIAL BIRTH OF HARRIET TUBMAN General Store, where she first stood up class of 2011.
Madam President, March 8, as has against the oppressors as a young girl; Service was something that defined
been pointed out, is International and other places that were part of the his life. In high school, he participated
Women’s Day. It happens during the Underground Railroad in Dorchester, in the school’s ROTC program. He then
month of March, which is Women’s His- Talbot, and Caroline Counties. went on to serve in the Army National
tory Month, here in the United States. I recently introduced legislation with Guard and is a 10-year veteran of the
I wish to commemorate the bicenten- my colleagues in the Baltimore con- Arkansas Department of Corrections
nial birth of one of Maryland’s most gressional delegation, S. 3744, reauthor- with a variety of units.
iconic leaders, a true American hero izing the designations of the Baltimore He also served his family with deep
who has inspired global human rights’ National Heritage Area, which encom- care and devotion. As a loving husband
defenders, and that is Harriet Tubman. passes listings on the Underground and father, Sergeant Caudell put his
As we close this year’s chapter of Railroad network. wife and children above all else. They
Black History Month and ring in Wom- Harriet Tubman was not only a fierce shared a special bond and never left
en’s History Month, what better way to defender for freedom from slavery but any doubt about how much they meant
celebrate these annual observances also for the women’s rights movement, to each other.
than by honoring the valor, journey, particularly for Black women. Fol- His friends describe Sergeant Caudell
and life of Harriet Tubman and her lowing her treacherous journey to free- as a kind, generous person who was a
fight for freedom, which intersects dom, Harriet Tubman spoke on the im-
real-life hero. He loved to fish and
with our modern-day fight for civil portance of women’s suffrage in New
grill, cheer on his daughter’s softball
rights, climate action, and environ- York, Washington, and Boston. In 1896,
team, ride horses with his fellow De-
mental justice. she was one of the first guests to speak
Harriet Tubman was born Araminta partment of Corrections field officers,
at the National Association of Colored
Ross in Dorchester County, MD, along and support the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Women and was hailed a strong advo-
our Eastern Shore, around 1822. She His sacrifice in the name of pro-
cate. Women secured the right to vote
was the ‘‘Moses of her people,’’ person- tecting the community and enforcing
in 1920 with the 19th Amendment, but
the rule of law will never be forgotten.
rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE
ally leading at least 70 enslaved people it wasn’t until 1965 that voting rights
to freedom. She is a cherished daughter We are so grateful for his example
became a reality for Black women.
of Maryland. She did this at great per- Let me conclude my comments on and willingness to do the tough and
sonal sacrifice to her own safety and Women’s History Month by once again dangerous job of ensuring public safe-
freedom on the Eastern Shore of Mary- quoting from President Biden. ty.
land. As President Biden proclaimed Wom- HONORING JASON LANG
This year, in 2022, we observe the bi- en’s History Month this month, he Madam President, sadly, the Natural
centennial of the start of her life as a said: State lost another first responder in
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