Congressional Record — Senate, June 14, 2022
Summary
Senate proceedings from the Congressional Record for Tuesday, June 14, 2022, Volume 168, No. 101. The Senate met at 11 a.m. with Mr. Padilla as Acting President pro tempore and a prayer by Chaplain Dr. Barry C. Black. A speaker on gun safety legislation says a bipartisan effort to draft meaningful legislation is something not seen since the Brady bill passed nearly three decades ago, and that the provision is part of the final negotiations. Another passage, in remarks on veterans' exposures, says burn pits have been recognized as harmful since 2009.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record — Senate, June 14, 2022.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-06-14-crec-2022-06-14-pt1-pgs2919-7-1ff430501e/
, SHA-256 3a659024c93efb7f37b422051bc892520d65aebf7bb55a76de062bcd2c62c97c.Full text
Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
IB NU
U U
S
117 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 168 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2022 No. 101
Senate
The Senate met at 11 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable ALEX PADILLA, a Sen- something not seen since the time we
called to order by the Honorable ALEX ator from the State of California, to perform passed the Brady bill I authored nearly
PADILLA, a Senator from the State of the duties of the Chair. three decades ago: a bipartisan effort
PATRICK J. LEAHY,
California. to draft meaningful gun safety legisla-
President pro tempore.
f tion.
Mr. PADILLA thereupon assumed For decades, the rhythms of the gun
PRAYER the Chair as Acting President pro tem- debate in Congress have followed a
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- pore. dispiriting pattern: a mass shooting
fered the following prayer: f takes place somewhere in America, in-
Let us pray. nocent people are slaughtered, families
Eternal God, help us to so live that RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
grieve and demand action, but gridlock
the generations to come will know of The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- takes over, and nothing—nothing—gets
Your mighty acts. pore. Under the previous order, the done. This was the cycle of inaction
Today, give our lawmakers the sin- leadership time is reserved. after Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, Orlando,
gularity of heart to seek, find, and fol- f Charleston, Parkland, El Paso, At-
low Your will so that their legacy will lanta, Pittsburgh, and so many others.
be exemplary. CONCLUSION OF MORNING But after Uvalde and Buffalo, perhaps—
Lord, guide them in the path You BUSINESS perhaps—this time could be different.
have created, inspiring them with the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- To many Senators on both sides, this
potency of your powerful presence. pore. Morning business is closed. debate certainly feels different. With
May they trust You in times of ad- f Sunday’s announcement of a bipartisan
versity and prosperity, knowing that framework for gun legislation, we are
they will reap a productive harvest if LEGISLATIVE SESSION further down the road to gun safety re-
they persevere. Keep them from under- form than we have been in a long time.
estimating the power of Your great I spoke with Senators CORNYN and
Name. HONORING OUR PROMISE TO AD- MURPHY this morning, and they up-
We pray in the Name of our re- DRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS dated me on their progress. They are
deemer. Amen. ACT OF 2021—Resumed working with the urgency the situation
f The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- demands, and they are hopeful the leg-
pore. Also, under the previous order, islative text can be finalized in the
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
the Senate will resume consideration coming days.
The Presiding Officer led the Pledge of H.R. 3967, which the clerk will re- I have assured my colleagues that
of Allegiance, as follows: port. once we get legislative text to a gun
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the The legislative clerk read as follows: safety bill, I will move to hold a vote
United States of America, and to the Repub- A bill (H.R. 3967) to improve health care on the Senate floor as soon as possible.
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic I hope that in the very near future,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. substances, and for other purposes. Democrats and Republicans can take
f Pending: the real momentum of the past few
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING Tester-Moran amendment No. 5051, in the weeks and translate it into something
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE nature of a substitute. that has escaped this Chamber for dec-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Schumer amendment No. 5065 (to amend- ades: voting on and passing long-
ment No. 5051), to add an effective date. sought gun safety reform.
clerk will please read a communication Schumer amendment No. 5076 (to the text
to the Senate from the President pro It is a rare opportunity for the Sen-
proposed to be stricken by amendment No. ate. So in order to reach our goal, we
tempore (Mr. LEAHY). 5051), to add an effective date.
The legislative clerk read the fol- have to keep working with the same
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER
lowing letter: urgency and good faith that has carried
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- us this far.
U.S. SENATE, pore. The Democratic leader is recog- For sure, the bipartisan framework is
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, nized.
Washington, DC, June 14, 2022. far from perfect, but if passed, it will
To the Senate: GUN VIOLENCE unquestionably save lives and would be
Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, as we the most significant action on guns
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby speak, the U.S. Senate is working on that the Senate has taken in nearly
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
®
S2919
Pdnted on recycled papfil.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A14JN6.000 S14JNPT1
S2920 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 14, 2022
three decades. If passed, it would en- day trash to hazardous and poisonous over the country. And most of all, it
hance background checks for those materials. After returning home, many hurts American consumers.
under 21. It will help States with their veterans developed terrible diseases be- Our shipping reform bill will fix this
red flag laws, preventing shootings be- cause of their exposure to these toxic by making it harder for ocean carriers
fore they happen. It will make it hard- waste dumps. But even so, nearly 80 to unreasonably refuse American goods
er for domestic abusers to acquire a percent of all disability claims related at our ports, while strengthening the
weapon by closing the boyfriend loop- to burn pits have been denied by the Federal Maritime Commission’s powers
hole. Veterans’ Administration. What an in- to stop abusive practices by foreign
Significantly, this framework also dignity. What an injustice. No veteran carriers.
calls for new punishment for gun traf- should ever have to carry the burden of I want to thank Speaker PELOSI and
fickers. We all know one of the biggest treating complications from toxic ex- my House colleagues who worked to
weaknesses in our country’s gun laws posure alone, and we can change that pass this bill. And special thanks goes
as they are today is that anyone can with this bill. to Senators KLOBUCHAR and THUNE for
buy a gun in one State and then simply There is every reason in the world to authoring the legislation, as well
smuggle it into another. We could get the PACT Act done quickly. Both Chairman CANTWELL who used her leg-
begin to fight against that with stiffer parties want it, our veterans deserve it, islative skills, which are indeed very,
penalties on gun trafficking. and the time is long past for us to very fine. She shepherded the bill
Of course, this framework will help make a change at the VA. through this Chamber. Because of the
lower crime and reduce gun violence in OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT hard work of these folks, shipping re-
our neighborhoods by increasing fund- Mr. President, on shipping, last form will now become law. American
ing for mental health as well. And even night, finally, the House overwhelm- consumers will soon feel the benefit.
on its own, funding for mental health ingly approved the Senate’s Ocean I yield the floor.
with great increases in mental health Shipping Reform Act—the most signifi- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
problems that we see after COVID is cant maritime reform law passed by The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
very much needed. Congress in years. pore. The clerk will call the roll.
Taken together, the policies outlined The inflation-fighting shipping bill The legislative clerk proceeded to
by the bipartisan framework would be now goes to the President’s desk for call the roll.
an important first step to saving lives. signature, finally providing relief to Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
It would lay the foundation for a more American exporters and consumers ask unanimous consent that the order
sensible approach to gun safety in the alike. for the quorum call be rescinded.
future. It certainly is not everything Shipping reform is exactly the kind The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
Democrats want, but if we can save of bill that can make a difference to pore. Without objection, it is so or-
even one life—one life—our efforts will the American people: It fights infla- dered.
have been worth it. tion. It relieves our supply chains. It RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
I hope that very soon the Senate can helps small businesses and consumers The Republican leader is recognized.
break the cycle of violence, grieving, alike. Not too much has been written CRIME
and gridlock that has held firm for far about this bill because, sadly, the way Mr. MCCONNELL. A few months ago,
too long. This is the best chance we our world and media work, if there is from this desk, I talked about the re-
have had in years to finally tell the not a big conflict, they don’t write sults of a recall election in San Fran-
American people that, yes, after the much about it. But this is very impor- cisco. In February, a multilingual,
horrifying tragedies of Uvalde and Buf- tant. multiethnic coalition in San Francisco
falo, this time—this time—will be dif- If high prices are our No. 1 nemesis, stood up for common sense and re-
ferent. one of the main reasons is the ships jected three members of the far-left
We have more work to do so I urge piled up at our ports. We have all seen school board who had prioritized woke
my colleagues not to let this precious the pictures outside the ports of L.A. lunacy over the basics of education.
opportunity slip away. and Seattle and Savannah and Norfolk Well, last week, these same fed-up
H.R. 3967 and New York, New Jersey. This is citizens provided a sequel. Even the
Mr. President, now on the PACT Act, causing people to pay more. It is no deep-blue Bay area decided they had
today, the Senate will continue consid- one’s fault. It is COVID-related, and had enough—enough—with their rad-
eration of the Honoring Our PACT now there is a big rush to make up for ical-left district attorney—a pros-
Act—the most ambitious and impor- the delays that COVID caused. ecutor in name only—who had become
tant expansion of veteran healthcare We have to do something about it, nationally famous for running a soft-
benefits that we have seen in decades. and we have. There are many frus- on-crime experiment.
Yesterday, we invoked cloture on the trating reasons why prices are going up As deaths from drug overdoses sky-
substitute amendment to the PACT right now, but one of the main ones is rocketed, his office chose to almost en-
Act with a very strong bipartisan vote, abuses from ocean carriers. tirely stop prosecuting drug dealing.
78 to 17. Seventy-eight votes, a clear Over the course of the pandemic—lis- Burglaries shot up 50 percent. Chain
indication that both sides want this ten to this, folks. Over the course of stores had to close locations because of
bill passed through the Senate. There the pandemic, unfair shipping practices rampant shoplifting. One person who
is no reason to delay that outcome. led carriers to increase prices by as had been arrested five times in 6
Today, we will continue working much as 1,000 percent—1,000-percent in- months in 2020 was let out every time—
with our Republican colleagues to see crease in prices in shipping. And who is every single time—until he killed two
if we can speed up consideration of this paying that? The average family in women with a stolen car. Liberals ac-
legislation. With Republican coopera- America and the average exporting tually bragged about how they had cut
tion, we could be done with the PACT business. down incarceration rates, even as dis-
Act as soon as tomorrow. Even worse, foreign carriers often- order swallowed up more and more of
We need to pass the PACT Act ASAP times refuse to even transport U.S. the city.
because our veterans have waited long goods overseas. And by now we are see- The citizens were fed up—fed up—
enough for their healthcare benefits to ing the results: backlogs at the ports of with being the far-left’s guinea pigs.
treat complications from toxic expo- L.A. and Seattle and Georgia and New They flocked to the ballot box, and
sure. Over the last two decades, an es- York and New Jersey and other major they voted for change.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
timated 3.5 million servicemembers hubs. This phenomenon is not only playing
were exposed to dangerous chemicals This is not just a problem for the out in San Francisco, it is nation-
while in the line of duty while risking coasts. When backlog occurs at the wide—nationwide. For years, the far
their lives for us. ports in Los Angeles, it hurts farmers left has zeroed in on local prosecutors
Burn pits were a common method of in Minnesota or Wisconsin. It hurts and district attorneys as juicy opportu-
eliminating all sorts of waste through- truckers and tech companies and man- nities to make America radically soft-
out Iraq and Afghanistan, from every- ufacturers in mom-and-pop shops all er on crime.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14JN6.001 S14JNPT1
June 14, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2921
According to recent news reports, for UKRAINE DPA to fast-track green energy boon-
example, one far-left billionaire do- Mr. President, now on a different doggles than to expand production ca-
nated more than $1 million each to the matter, the latest news from Ukraine pacity for critical weapons and muni-
political campaigns of soft-on-crime confirms that our friends need more ro- tions.
prosecutors in Chicago, New York, Los bust weaponry, and they need it fast. Our allies and our partners are inter-
Angeles, and Philadelphia. According ‘‘Outgunned Ukraine Needs More ested in buying American military
to one group’s analysis, the army of Weapons Fast as Russia Advances, Offi- technology. This should be a win-win:
soft-on-crime prosecutors supported by cials Say.’’ allies spending their own money to
this one donor—this one donor—and his ‘‘Ukraine Pleads for Weapons, Saying strengthen themselves by buying
networks oversees as much as 20 per- Russia Has Much More Artillery.’’ American and making our militaries
cent of the Nation’s entire population. The people of Ukraine have inspired more interoperable in the process. But
Once in office, many of these pros- the world with their resilience, but re- too often, our partners are hamstrung
ecutors set about abusing their author- sisting Russian aggression takes reli- by American constraints on the proc-
ity by basically unilaterally decrimi- able supplies of lethal force. ess, like the heel-dragging bureaucracy
nalizing various crimes that neither As the Biden administration con- that runs our military sales, and lag-
voters nor legislators have actually de- tinues to provide shipments and prod ging production schedules.
criminalized in reality. As the attorney our allies, they must adopt the kind of We must adequately stockpile weap-
general of Virginia put it recently, ‘‘In- strong and positive posture that has ons and munitions for our own military
stead of trying to change the law . . . eluded them at earlier points in the and have sufficient supplies and pro-
these groups are electing prosecutors conflict. duction capacity to arm our friends,
who simply ignore it.’’ As early as last November, I was urg- and we need to do this before it is too
ing sanctions for deterrence and push- late.
As this liberal campaign has been Building up our own stores and up-
playing out at the State and local ing for NDAA provisions to send en-
hanced lethal aid last November. grading our allies’ is the best way we
level, we have seen violent crime surge can avoid nightmare scenarios down
all across the country. Here are just a Throughout December and January, I
urged the President to bolster NATO’s the road where America could be forced
few recent news reports. into a terrible choice between commit-
From Minnesota: ‘‘Robberies, as- eastern flank with more U.S. forces
and get more weapons to Ukrainian ting U.S. troops to a conflict or doing
saults, and gun crimes are causing nothing. The remedy is to help our al-
waves of anxiety and fear among subur- forces before—before—Russia attacked.
In February, I called on President lies upgrade their military capabilities
ban residents across the Twin Cities.’’ in advance.
Biden to anticipate Russian manipula-
From Colorado: ‘‘Since the beginning Of course, this takes money. All the
tion of the energy markets and back
of the pandemic . . . murders had gone serious preparations and military mod-
off his own holy war against domestic
up 47 percent, some types of property ernization that it will take to compete
American production. But for months,
crime had nearly doubled, and [the] sei- with Russia and China require re-
the Biden administration seemed mute,
zures of fentanyl and methamphet- sources. Tomorrow, the Armed Serv-
seemed actually more focused on deter-
amine had quadrupled’’ in just the last ices Committee will mark up the Na-
ring itself than deterring Putin—too
year. tional Defense Authorization Act. This
much hesitation, too much hemming
Atlanta ‘‘saw a 30-year record in is a key opportunity to show that both
and hawing, too little preventive ac-
homicides last year [in 2021],’’ and 2022 parties are serious about the real
tion in advance.
has been looking actually even worse. The United States cannot make the growth in defense spending that it will
At least as of a few months ago, both same mistakes again with prolonged take to keep us on the cutting edge.
murders and rapes were way ahead of The Biden administration’s defense
dithering over whether to provide
even that 2021 pace. budget request was woefully insuffi-
longer range or more powerful weap-
Residents of Phoenix who try to use cient. The President has proposed a
ons. That is where we are now. It is
public transit to escape soaring gas real-dollar cut for defense spending
time to get Ukraine what it needs to
prices have found out that ‘‘assaults after President Biden’s own inflation.
finish this fight, including artillery
and drug crime in and around public Our colleagues on the committee
and long-range rockets, and strongly
transportation have risen over the last must help Congress to deliver an NDAA
and firmly push our European allies to
five years.’’ that provides for real, robust growth
do the same. The wealthiest European
Philadelphia is reporting an 80-per- above inflation so that we can mod-
countries need to move fast to do their
cent increase in assaults aboard buses. ernize our forces, ensure adequate in-
part—no more hesitation, and quit
In my hometown of Louisville, we are ventories of critical weapons and muni-
making excuses.
struggling as well. ‘‘Over the past sev- tions, and keep America safe.
This war has carried terrible human I suggest the absence of a quorum.
eral years, violent crime has sharply costs for the Ukrainian people. We can- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
risen across the city, breaking grue- not bring back the thousands who have pore. The clerk will call the roll.
some records including record homi- been lost, but with strong assistance, The legislative clerk proceeded to
cides and assaults.’’ And we have seen we can help Ukraine limit future call the roll.
carjacking ‘‘more than triple in the losses, reduce the risk of greater con- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask
[last] five years.’’ Last weekend flict, and create a deterring precedent unanimous consent that the order for
alone—last weekend alone—Louisville for other would-be aggressors, like the quorum call be rescinded.
saw 3 homicides and 10 nonfatal shoot- China. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
ings. Five teenagers and a 9-year-old There is another area where the pore. Without objection, it is so or-
were shot during a single altercation at Ukraine crisis has showcased the need dered.
my hometown’s Big Four Bridge. Vio- to take decisive action quickly while JANUARY 6
lent criminals turned a popular attrac- there is still time. That is with respect Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it is
tion for families and tourists into a lit- to our own defense industrial base and hard to believe it was 50 years ago this
eral war zone. our supplies of critical arms. week—50 years ago—when five men
Stable prices, border security, and Equipping Ukraine has seriously de- were caught breaking into the offices
public safety are three of the most pleted our own stockpiles of Javelins of the Democratic National Committee
basic deliverables that any government and Stingers. According to the Sec-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
here in Washington.
owes to its citizens—strike one, strike retary of the Army, the U.S. military Two years after that, the so-called
two, and strike three for Democrats at has ‘‘taken some risk to our own readi- Watergate break-in and the coverup by
the Federal, State, and local level. ness.’’ This sounds exactly like the sort the Nixon White House, it brought
That explains one last headline I will of situation that prompted the creation down the President.
mention this morning: ‘‘Americans are of the Defense Production Act, but For nearly half a century, the Water-
more worried about crime than at any thus far, we have heard far more from gate scandal really ranked as Amer-
other time this century.’’ Washington Democrats about using the ica’s greatest constitutional test since
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14JN6.003 S14JNPT1
S2922 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 14, 2022
the Civil War—then came January 6, He deliberately—the former Presi- Many of them languish in prison as po-
2021. dent of the United States—deliberately litical prisoners. Their captors often
An angry mob, summoned by a de- undermined America’s faith in our try to torment them by telling them:
feated President, attacked this Capitol election process to overturn the elec- The world has forgotten you; no one
building, attacked this Chamber, and tion and to hold onto power no matter knows you are here.
those of us who were in it knew it was what. Well, I want to make sure that that
an attempt to overthrow an election, He used the Big Lie to make big doesn’t happen by coming to floor of
an election which Donald Trump lost bucks. We learned that yesterday— the Senate and sharing some of these
but never admitted. quarter of a million dollars—quarter of stories. Today, let me tell you about a
How did we respond? a billion dollars in donations, including few of them.
Well, the proposal was made—the millions of dollars for an election de- Let me start with a Russian opposi-
right proposal—to create a bipartisan fense fund that didn’t exist. tion leader of remarkable courage:
commission to investigate what hap- In a coming hearing, the committee Vladimir Kara-Murza. He was poisoned
pened on January 6, 2021. Unfortu- will show how Donald Trump pressured twice by the Russian spy agency FSB,
nately, the Republicans, led by Senator the Justice Department into helping in 2015 and 2017. He not only survived
MCCONNELL in the Senate, filibustered him overturn the election. I know a lit- that, but he continued his work for a
the creation of an independent com- tle bit about that. Our Senate Judici- democratic Russia.
mission to investigate January 6. For- ary Committee, which I chair, docu- He was a close friend of Senator John
tunately, the House went forward to mented this attempt to subvert the McCain, who asked him personally to
proceed on its own on a bipartisan Justice Department in an 8-month in- serve as a pallbearer at his funeral.
basis to get to the truth. vestigation and report that we pro- I met Mr. Kara-Murza in March, 3
Now, after 11 months and 1,000 inter- duced last fall. We produced this report weeks before Russia invaded Ukraine.
views—more than 1,000—the bipartisan in a bipartisan fashion, inviting Repub- He was living in Washington at the
Select Committee to Investigate the lican and Democratic Members of the time with his wife and three children,
January 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol is
Senate Judiciary Committee to witness and he told me he was going back to
sharing its findings with America, and
the testimony of key individuals and to Russia. He had work to do.
the revelations are so damning.
In its first two public hearings, the ask questions themselves. On April 11, he was arrested in Mos-
We interviewed former Justice offi- cow, 1 day after giving an interview in
committee has shown that the attack
cials like Jeffrey Rosen and Richard which he called Vladimir Putin’s gov-
on the Capitol was not a demonstration
Donoghue, the then-acting Attorney ernment a ‘‘team of murderers.’’
that changed spontaneously and be-
General and Deputy Attorney General, His wife, Evgenia Kara-Murza, also
came a riot. The attack on our Na-
who resisted Donald Trump’s pressure an advocate for democracy in Russia,
tion’s Capitol, the attack on this
Chamber, was the result of a plan: a to take over the Justice Department. who I expect to meet with later on this
They told us how repeatedly they in- week, said: ‘‘He’s doing as well as you
violent effort to prevent the peaceful
formed the former President that his can do in a Russian prison that is noto-
transfer of power from the Trump ad-
bogus election claims were false. They rious for torture, humiliation, and mis-
ministration to the Biden administra-
told us how Trump, nevertheless, asked treatment.’’
tion, to stop the peaceful transition of
the Justice Department to ‘‘Just say Earlier this month, the Senate
power in America for the first time in
our history. the election was corrupt—and leave the unanimously passed a resolution I led
To quote Congresswoman LIZ CHE- rest to me and Republican Congress- with Senator MARCO RUBIO, calling on
NEY, the former President Donald men.’’ Russia to release Vladimir Kara-Murza
Trump ‘‘summoned the mob, assembled And they resisted Donald Trump’s immediately, along with Alexei
the mob, and lit the flame of this at- plan to replace Jeffrey Rosen with the Navalny, another Russian opposition
tack.’’ Big Lie lawyer Jeffrey Clark, who leader, and thousands of others—Rus-
When the mob beat our police offi- wanted the Justice Department to help sians jailed for speaking up against re-
cers and ransacked the Capitol—going overturn the election. pression, for even mentioning the pos-
through our desks here on the floor, The facts that the Senate Judiciary sibility of the murderous war in
posing for pictures where the Presiding Committee uncovered are damning. Ukraine.
Officer is now sitting, all sorts of The January 6 committee will unveil It is time for America to stand up for
things to make them look famous with those—many of their own discovery Mr. Kara-Murza and those like him
their friends at the expense of the in- and reporting and some that we sent to who have shown extraordinary cour-
tegrity of this building and this Cham- them from our testimony that we gath- age.
ber. ered in the Senate Judiciary Com- Senator Leila DeLima is a leading
They beat the police officers. Donald mittee. human rights advocate in the Phil-
Trump did nothing to stop them—noth- We came close to losing this democ- ippines. She is a state senator who just
ing. He wouldn’t order the National racy in America on January 6. I believe passed her fifth year in jail.
Guard to defend the Capitol, the Sen- that by laying out the truth for us and Here she is in her cell.
ate, the House. He watched the may- for future generations, members of the Why is she in prison for 5 years? She
hem on TV, rewinding it to watch it committee are performing a public criticized the repressive regime of
over and over again. He gloried in the service of heroic proportions. President Rodrigo Duterte.
moment. It is sad—sad—that given an oppor- From time to time, she writes to me
When the crowd threatened to hang tunity of a bipartisan commission, just from her prison cell. Let me share a
Vice President Pence, Donald Trump as we had with 9/11, that the Senate Re- short excerpt of a recent letter:
said, ‘‘He deserves it.’’ Deserves it. The publicans stopped it. Why? It is a ques- Warm greetings from my detention head-
Vice President of the United States de- tion they are going to have to answer. quarters . . . I do not know for how long I
serves it. POLITICAL PRISONERS will remain behind bars but there is one
His own advisers told him repeatedly Mr. President, on another topic, we thing that I am sure of—my will to fight for
that the voter fraud conspiracy theo- speak often in the Senate about what is right continues to be undeterred.
ries that he was pedaling were false. threats to peace and freedom around Recently, two key witnesses in the
They were called ‘‘idiotic,’’ ‘‘amateur- the world: Russia’s unprovoked inva- sham case against Senator DeLima re-
sion of Ukraine, China’s brutal repres- canted their testimony, proving what
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
ish,’’ ‘‘detached from reality.’’ Who
said that? The former Attorney Gen- sion of the Uighurs, the dismantling of we already know: The case against her
eral serving Donald Trump said it in democracy in Hong Kong, Nicaragua’s is contrived. It is a travesty of justice.
describing the false claims that Presi- repressive dictatorship, and more. Many Filipino Americans in Illinois
dent Trump continued to pedal. In each of these struggles, there are tell me they are deeply concerned
Donald Trump was told the truth some brave men and women who are about the accountability and democ-
over and over again, and yet he contin- prepared to risk their liberty and their racy and its prospects in the Phil-
ued to push his deadly Big Lie. lives to defend democracy and dignity. ippines.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14JN6.005 S14JNPT1
June 14, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2923
The incoming Marcos regime can knew how true those words were—and how dent said the other day that ‘‘[the
demonstrate its commitment to a important were international campaigns of economy] is strong as can be but for in-
democratic Philippines by ending the solidarity with prisoners of conscience. I now flation, but for gas and food.’’
feel it with my own skin. But for gas and food? Well, I have to
harassment of journalists and making
Senator DeLima’s release one of its To Vladimir Kara-Murza, Raif tell you, gas and food prices are two
first priorities. Badawi, Waleed Abulkhair, Senator pretty essential economic measures for
Let me now turn to Saudi Arabia— Leila de Lima, and Ahmed Mansoor, I families.
timely. say: You are not forgotten, and we will Moms and dads wondering how they
I have been troubled by the human continue to advocate for your freedom. can afford to fill up their cars to get to
rights record of this Kingdom, includ- Let me also close by acknowledging work or get their kids to baseball prac-
ing the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, for that a member of my staff, Chris tice don’t care how good the President
which there is no real accountability Homan, has really inspired me to take says the economy is when the price of
yet. on this cause, and he works at it dili- a tank of gas has more than doubled
This year brought a bit of welcome gently—our reward, an occasional po- since the President took office.
news. Writer Raif Badawi was finally litical prisoner makes it here to my of- I guess we can at least be glad the
freed from prison after completing a 10- fice here in Washington. One of them Democrats and the President have fi-
year prison sentence for dubious from Africa presented me with basi- nally started acknowledging our infla-
charges about his peaceful writings. cally a baton that he had made while tion crisis. For months last year, as in-
I hope that the Saudis will allow Raif in prison with my name on it because flation climbed, the administration
the dignity of reuniting with his brave he heard that I remembered him and dismissed those concerns. Even as it
wife, Ensaf Haidar, who I met in Wash- spoke of him on the floor of the Senate. became more and more clear that we
ington, and their three children, now I would say to my colleagues on both had a long-term problem on our hands,
living in Canada. sides of the aisle: Make this part of the President and congressional Demo-
Badawi’s lawyer, Waleed Abu al- your responsibility as a U.S. Senator. crats spent their time focusing not on
Khair, a leading human rights de- Find these people, these heroes who are solutions to our inflation crisis but on
fender, is still in prison. He was con- sadly wasting away in prison and re- a massive spending spree almost guar-
victed in Saudi Arabia’s Specialized member them on this floor. It can anteed to make our inflation problem
Criminal Court, usually reserved for make a difference. Some will be re- worse.
terrorists. That is right. Let’s remember how we
leased; all will remember the fact that
I appeal to the Saudi Government to got here. When President Biden took
you stood up for them at a time of office, inflation was at 1.4 percent, well
free Waleed and to allow Raif to be re- great need.
united with his family. within the Fed’s target inflation rate
I yield the floor. of 2 percent. And it might have stayed
These gestures would be particularly The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
notable in light of President Biden’s there had Democrats not decided to
ator from South Dakota. pass a massive and partisan $1.9 tril-
upcoming visit. INFLATION
Finally, let me turn to the United lion spending spree under the guise of
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, the latest COVID relief mere weeks after the Con-
Arab Emirates.
This is Ahmed Mansoor, one of the inflation numbers came out on Friday, gress had passed a fifth bipartisan
last major human rights voices in the and it has become par for the course in COVID bill that met essentially all
Emirates. the Biden economy that they weren’t current pressing COVID needs.
He was arrested in 2017 for using blog pretty. The Democrats’ so-called American
posts to advocate for reform and Inflation hit 8.6 percent in May, the Rescue Plan sent a lot of unnecessary
human rights in his nation. He was worst inflation since December of 1981. government money into the economy,
convicted of charges of threatening the Grocery prices increased nearly 12 per- and the economy overheated as a re-
UAE’s state security and social har- cent on average. Eggs were up 32 per- sult.
mony, they sentenced him to 10 years cent; chicken was up 17 percent; milk And you don’t have to take my word
in prison. He has been there for more was up 15 percent; and the list goes on for it.
and on. Here is what one Democratic econo-
than 5, at times, in solitary confine-
Gas prices were up 48 percent. Since mist who worked in the Obama admin-
ment, isolated from other prisoners, no
President Biden took office, the price istration had to say on the subject:
contact with his family. He has report-
of gas has more than doubled. Gas is at The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan
edly been tortured. passed in the early days of the Biden admin-
Despite the dismal conditions of his $5 a gallon, and the price of diesel, so
istration will go down in history as an ex-
incarceration, he remains steadfast in essential to our Nation’s farmers and traordinary policy mistake.
his commitment to human rights. He ranchers, is even worse. The problem
is, there is no end in sight. JPMorgan Let me just repeat that.
has conducted multiple hunger strikes The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan
to protest prison conditions. estimates that gas prices could exceed
passed in the early days of the Biden admin-
I appeal to the United Arab Emir- $6 a gallon by August. Other energy istration will go down in history as an ex-
ates’ new President, Muhammad bin costs have also increased with elec- traordinary policy mistake.
Zayed Al-Nahyan, to take this oppor- tricity up 12 percent and utility gas That is a direct quote from a Demo-
tunity early in his Presidency to dem- service up 30 percent. cratic economist who worked in the
onstrate compassion and courage by re- By one estimate, inflation is costing Obama administration.
leasing Mr. Mansoor. American households $460 per month. Democrats were warned that the
America’s strength around the world That is right: $460 per month. It is no American Rescue Plan ran the risk of
comes not only from our military and surprise that in a recent poll, 83 per- overstimulating the economy, but they
economic might but from the power of cent of respondents—83 percent—de- went ahead anyway. What is almost
our values. Over the years, I have scribe the state of the economy as worse was their subsequent decision to
heard from many political prisoners. ‘‘poor’’ or ‘‘not so good’’ or that just 27 pursue another massive spending spree,
They tell me the support this body, of percent said they have a good chance of their so-called Build Back Better plan,
Congress, of America, and so many oth- improving their standard of living. even after it had become clear that
ers in our government sustained them President Biden likes to talk about their first spending spree had helped
through the lonely, desperate times creating ‘‘an economy that works for plunge our economy into a serious in-
working families.’’ Well, I have news
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
they spent in jail for days and weeks flationary crisis.
and months and years. for the President. This economy is not Even now—even now—as Americans
I will close with the words of Vladi- working for working families. Working deal with the worst inflation in dec-
mir Kara-Murza. This is from a recent families can’t absorb an additional $460 ades, it is looking like Democrats are
op-ed he wrote for the Washington Post a month. They have to cut back. They trying to revive elements of their Build
from his Russian prison. He wrote: have to put off needed car repairs or Back Better plan and use reconcili-
The prisoner’s worst nightmare is the eliminate a family vacation or cut ation rules to pass yet another par-
thought of being forgotten . . . I always down on milk for their kids. The Presi- tisan spending spree. It is the triumph
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14JN6.006 S14JNPT1
S2924 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 14, 2022
of Big Government ideology over eco- are printed in today’s RECORD under what we are proposing would create a
nomic reality. If Democrats succeed in ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and national red flag law—no national red
passing another partisan spending Joint Resolutions.’’) flag law. Some have mischaracterized
spree using reconciliation rules, Amer- Mr. GRASSLEY. I yield the floor. this provision as an incentive for
icans’ economic situation is going to I suggest the absence of a quorum. States to pass a red flag law, but that
get even worse. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. is something I am aiming to avoid. I
Unfortunately, there is no easy solu- LUJÁN). The clerk will call the roll. trust the States to make their own de-
tion to the Democrats’ largely self-in- The senior assistant legislative clerk cisions, and 16 States have decided to
flicted inflation crisis, but the first pri- proceeded to call the roll. pass red flag laws. But that is fewer
ority is to do no more harm. That Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask than half of the States with red flag
means no more partisan spending unanimous consent that the order for laws on the books. Congress should not
sprees like the Democrats’ Build Back the quorum call be rescinded. only send Federal funding to those
Better plan. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without States but also other States that are
Another big priority should be objection, it is so ordered. doing things to deal with people in cri-
unleashing American energy produc- Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask sis. And as the agreement, in principle,
tion—in particular, the domestic pro- unanimous consent that I be allowed to said, what we are focused on is crisis
duction of oil and gas—to ease energy complete my remarks before the Sen- intervention.
prices. High gas and energy prices fuel ate adjourns for the lunch hour. But there are a number of different
higher consumer prices across the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
ways that this could be approached.
board—no question about it. objection, it is so ordered.
And I am fighting for this proposal to
Unleashing American energy produc- GUN VIOLENCE
include a grant program that gives
tion would not only help reduce the Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I want every State, regardless of whether it
price of gas, but it could also help rein to report that we are making serious has a red flag law or not, funding to ad-
in prices for other commodities. Unfor- progress in our bipartisan effort to re- minister programs that they do have
tunately, the President has dem- spond to the shooting in Uvalde, TX, that will reduce violence, increase pub-
onstrated a clear hostility to conven- and other places around the country. lic safety, and make sure that individ-
tional energy production, which is dis- Over the last few weeks, I have been uals in crisis get the help that they
couraging investment in American en- working, in particular, with Senator need.
ergy and prolonging the current gas MURPHY, Senator SINEMA, and Senator
There should be no requirement for
price situation. TILLIS on mental health and school
States that do not currently have a red
Another thing we should be doing to safety reforms, and we have narrowed
flag law to pass one. The existence or
help make life easier for consumers is the scope of our discussions to provi-
lack of a red flag law should not im-
trying to ease supply chain woes sions that we believe can earn broad bi-
pact on any States’ ability to receive
whether that involves removing bur- partisan support in the Senate, and a
funds for crisis intervention. And if a
densome trucking regulations or pass- number of our colleagues on both sides
State does want to use this money to
ing legislation like my Ocean Shipping have joined the discussion.
implement a red flag law, they should
Reform Act. Over the weekend, we announced an
not be able to do so unless their red
I am pleased that both Democrats agreement on principles for bipartisan
flag law contains a full set of due proc-
and Republicans have come together to legislation, 20 Senators—10 Repub-
ess and Bill of Rights protections in
support my bipartisan bill, which I in- licans and 10 Democrats. This included
the Constitution.
troduced, along with Senator KLO- a range of targeted reforms to keep our
children and our communities safe, So how can States without red flag
BUCHAR, earlier this year. I am particu-
from mental health resources to fund- laws use this money? Well, there are a
larly grateful to my fellow South Da-
ing to harden schools and make them range of evidence-based programs that
kotan, Representative DUSTY JOHNSON,
more safe. No parent should have to support our shared goal, which is, in
who helped usher this legislation
send their child to school wondering fact, to keep communities safe and to
through the House of Representatives.
whether they are going to be safe at save lives. One great example is the as-
The Ocean Shipping Reform Act
school, and certainly no student should sisted outpatient treatment programs.
would help ease supply chain pressures
be afraid to go to school for fear of These are sometimes just called AOTs.
by addressing unfair ocean carrier
their safety. These programs allow courts to order
practices, speeding up the resolution of
We also included a number of tar- people with serious mental illness to
detention and demurrage disputes, and
geted measures to prevent violence by receive outpatient treatment as a con-
improving the movement of goods at
people committing crimes and other dition of living in the community.
our Nation’s ports. It won’t solve our
dangerous individuals. I am proud of AOTs can be life changing for people
Nation’s inflation crisis, but it should
the work we have done so far, but, of who struggle to maintain consistent
help make life easier for U.S. export-
course, we are not at the finish line. mental health treatment.
ers, importers, and consumers alike.
I am very pleased that this legisla- We are still at the beginning when it Programs vary from State to State
tion passed the House of Representa- comes to drafting appropriate text. but typically include medication, along
tives yesterday and that it will soon be Our agreement is based on principles with a variety of other services includ-
on its way to the President’s desk, and alone. And translating this proposal ing counseling. AOTs rely on evidence-
I hope that we will be able to pursue into legislative language is no easy based treatment plans to help individ-
more bipartisan propositions to help task, as Members of the Senate under- uals live healthier, safer lives, and they
make life easier for American families. stand. Here is an example of the many have a successful track record. As-
Democrats’ big-spending, Big Govern- details that need to be ironed out: One sisted outpatient treatment programs
ment agenda has resulted in a lot of of the big pieces of this bill relates to are effective in reducing arrests and in-
pain for working families. If President State crisis intervention programs and carceration, violent mental crises, and
Biden and Democrats really want to initiatives. hospital stays and homelessness. I
make life better for ordinary Ameri- The idea here is pretty simple: Sup- think this is another way that States
cans, they will decisively reject any port programs that reduce violence, without red flag laws might be able to
further spending sprees and work with protect the public, and help individuals use the funding that we would provide
in crisis get the help they need. But under the provisions of this bill. At
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Republicans to do what we can to al-
leviate the inflation crisis the Demo- there are a number of different ways least that is what I am hoping we ulti-
crats have helped create. this provision could be drafted, and I mately will land on.
I yield the floor. am committed to ensuring that we get I think it would be kind of strange if
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- it done right. we passed a national law that said only
pore. The Senator from Iowa. But I want to be clear because there 16 States were going to be eligible for
(The remarks of Mr. GRASSLEY per- has been a lot of misinformation, mis- this money and you would only be eli-
taining to the introduction of S. 4393 understanding on this point. None of gible for it if you passed a red flag law.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14JN6.008 S14JNPT1
June 14, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2925
I think that would almost be like try- We know that on a sensitive topic less murder of 19 children and 2 teach-
ing to commandeer the States’ legisla- like this, a single word or the place- ers who died putting their very lives up
ture and government and force them to ment of a comma can make the dif- to protect those children in Uvalde,
accept something they decided not to ference between protecting and infring- TX. We have seen the pictures of those
do but because maybe they tried to do ing on rights. So I am laser-focused on kids in their confirmation-communion
something a little bit differently, like drafting text that reflects the common- dresses, in their sports uniforms, the
assisted outpatient treatment, mental sense, targeted proposal that we have Converse green sneakers, the glasses,
health courts, which have been very agreed to in principle. Again, we are the smiles. In some photos, they were
successful in my State and veterans working through the details, and I actually holding awards they had won
courts, in particular, to focus on our hope we will have legislative text later just that morning.
veterans community who has par- this week. But I am not willing to rush But today, after too many of these
ticular challenges. it for the sake of speed. tragedies to name, I rise with renewed
While I am talking about assisted I spoke with Senator SCHUMER, the hope that we are finally working to-
outpatient treatment, 47 States actu- majority leader, this morning, and he gether to help keep Americans safe
ally have those laws, and I would like said he would like to have this bill from gun violence. While there is so
the money that would be available ready to vote on next week. And I am much more work to be done, reforms
under this fund for crisis intervention certainly with him in terms of that as- outlined in the bipartisan framework,
to be able to be used for that. Again, I pirational goal. That means we are like encouraging States to enact risk
don’t support any prescriptive man- going to have to complete our work on protection orders, which are also
dates or national mandates at all, in- the text by the end of this week so Sen- known as red flag laws, expanding ac-
cluding a national red flag. Each State ator SCHUMER will have that legisla- cess to mental health services, and sup-
should be able to make their own tion available to take up next week. porting school violence prevention—
choices and use its share of funding in I yield the floor. Senator GRASSLEY and I led that bill
the best way it sees fit to protect the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- after Parkland that we passed with sig-
constitutional rights of somebody who ator from Minnesota. nificant funding for schools. Clearly,
is in mental health crisis or to provide Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Thank you, Sen- more must be done.
other resources, like assisted out- ator CORNYN, for the work you are As I noted, I am particularly pleased
patient treatment or mental health doing and working with Senator MUR- to see that the framework will include
court adjudications or veterans courts PHY and so many other Senators. You my bill to finally close the boyfriend
hearings, in order to help them address and I have done so many bills together, loophole. Every year, more than 600
their challenges. including the historic Save Our Stages American women are shot to death by
The great thing about the design of bill, which made such a difference. And intimate partners. We understandably
our country is that we have a national I am very pleased that we are finally focus on the horror of these mass
government, but we have sovereign advancing gun safety legislation. And a shootings, but think of those numbers:
States. Louis Brandeis once called lot of these provisions are things that 600 women shot every year by intimate
them the laboratories of democracy. we have been working across the aisle partners.
And, actually, it makes plenty of sense on for many years, the boyfriend loop- We know that preventing convicted
to me that we learned from the experi- hole—something that I introduced in domestic abusers from getting guns
ence of the States that have passed red 2013, 10 years ago—to close the boy- saves lives. We know that because we
flag laws and States that have passed friend loophole. That is a part of this have seen the numbers in the States
other types of ways to address people negotiation, part of the framework. We that have the laws in place.
requiring crisis intervention. This pro- have so many women killed, 1 every 14 Currently, Federal law only prohibits
vides the ability to innovate and to try hours, from domestic partners—1 every domestic abusers from buying a gun if
new ideas and to come up with best 14 hours from domestic partners—with they are currently or formerly mar-
practices that the Federal Government guns in this country. And, sadly, half ried—think about that: currently or
simply cannot do when you are consid- of those involve dating partners, people formerly married—or if they have ever
ering legislating for a country of 330 who aren’t married to someone, but lived together or if they have a child.
million people. they are in a romantic relationship That is despite the fact, as I noted,
So I personally do not support an with them in some way. And the way that half of these homicides—half of
overly prescriptive grant program that the law works in all but 19 States the women killed are killed by dating
favors only a few States over all 50 where it is fully closed, in many of partners. That is why in 2013 I intro-
States. And, of course, I won’t support these States, you get convicted of do- duced this bill to close this dangerous
any grant program that violates the mestic abuse, and you can still go out loophole, and now, I am so pleased that
Constitution or the requirement of due and buy a gun the next day. there is growing bipartisan support for
process of law when it comes to a con- So I am really pleased that we are the bill.
stitutional right like the Second moving forward on this provision. This By the way, we have shown that sup-
Amendment. isn’t the first time we have heard the port in the past. It was part of the Vio-
So I do believe there are a range of call to action from America when it lence Against Women Act that passed
options to improve public safety, and comes to guns. We heard it after 23 peo- in the House, and it had 29 Republicans
the States should have the funding and ple were killed at a Walmart in El vote for it. That included an even more
flexibility to invest in programs that Paso; after 17 people were killed at broad version of the bill, which also in-
they think best delivers the result—to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High cluded stalking and was broader than
save lives, to help people in crisis. And School in Parkland; after 59 people what we are going to see in this bill.
that is really what we are trying to do were killed at a country music festival, Obviously, I support my original bill,
with this legislation. just out there on a beautiful evening but the fact that we are making
So the details are still being worked enjoying the music; after 59 people progress to close the loophole in the
out. And we are drafting legislative dead in Las Vegas; and after 49 people States that so far have not gotten to
text, and, of course, that is sometimes were killed at the Pulse nightclub in where the other 19 are is incredibly
hard. Sometimes, I found that people Orlando. positive. It did not pass last time when
use the same word, and they mean Today, we hear calls for action be- we passed the Violence Against Women
something different by it, or they come cause of more tragedies: a White su- Act in the Senate. Sadly, it didn’t
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
to it with a sort of context that maybe premacist murdering 10 people who are make it in there. But, again, it got 29
isn’t apparent from a conversation simply shopping for groceries; one guy Republican votes in the House, and
about principles. And that is why going out buying a cake for his little boy, a that just shows the kind of growing
from the principles that 20 of us have birthday cake for his son, who never momentum we have for this.
agreed on into legislative text that we returned; 10 people killed. I come from a State with a proud tra-
can then vote on and pass is a chal- The American people are demanding dition of hunting and fishing, like
lenge. that we do something after the sense- yours. I always think about my Uncle
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14JN6.011 S14JNPT1
S2926 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 14, 2022
Dick and his deer stand, and I always I yield the floor. mittee with Senator Jeffords. His
ask, when I look at these proposals— f brother Patrick is the legislative direc-
from closing the boyfriend loophole to tor to Senator SASSE. He knows a lot
putting in better background checks, RECESS about this institution, and he knows a
to doing something about better check- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under lot about its processes. The first, real-
ing the records of 18- to 21 year olds— the previous order, the Senate stands ly, opportunity I got to see that in ac-
I think, does that hurt my Uncle Dick in recess until 2:15 p.m. tion was when he was responsible for
and his deer stand? Of course, the an- Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:52 p.m., moving Justice Gorsuch through the
swer is, it does not. recessed until 2:15 p.m. and reassem- nominations process.
This is our moment to act. It is not bled when called to order by the Pre- Ted has a great family—his wife
just one killing, and we all know that. siding Officer (Ms. SINEMA). Amy, his son Jackson, his oldest son,
It has happened in every single commu- his oldest daughter, Emma Claire,
nity. Every single Senator in this f
Sallye, and a young son now. Now, Ted
Chamber knows of a moment where HONORING OUR PROMISE TO AD- is not from North Carolina, and we
they thought ‘‘How could this happen DRESS COMPREHENSIVE TOXICS have speculated as to why he named
in my community?’’ when they meet ACT OF 2021—Continued his son what he did. He may say it is
with a family. related to some sort of family tradi-
What I remember the most, actually, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ator from North Carolina. tion, but I think it is no coincidence
is a case involving a police officer out that he named his son ‘‘Raleigh’’ after
of Lake City, MN. He was a good cop TRIBUTE TO TED LEHMAN
our State’s capitol.
doing his job. He was called to a domes- Mr. TILLIS. Madam President, I
Ted is an avid hunter, fisher, out-
tic violence incident. come to the floor today to sadly an-
What people don’t often know is that doorsman, baseball dad, soccer dad—all
nounce the retirement—or not retire-
for police officers, these domestic vio- those sorts of things—and he gets the
ment—my chief of staff’s decision to
lence calls can be some of the most right balance. He understands that
move on to another great opportunity,
dangerous because you have someone family is as important as work, and he
and I wanted to take a few minutes to
who is very angry, and you don’t know figures out how to strike that balance.
talk about Ted Lehman and not only
what you are walking into. It is in the But there is very seldom a morning
the 5 years he has been my chief of
moment. where he is not one of the first people
staff but the nearly 20 years he has
He gets there to the door. He has his in, and there are so many nights where
been working in the Senate.
bulletproof vest on, but the perpe- I am the last person he sees before he
Before I start, though, he attended
trator—clearly mentally ill—who had goes home.
the University of Pennsylvania, where
been beating up his young, young, I appreciate his service. I am going to
he got his undergrad, and then he went
young girlfriend, meets him with a miss him.
to Georgetown to get his law degree.
gun, shoots him in his head, and he He clerked for Thomas Hogan, who was Thank you, Ted.
dies. then the chief judge of the DC District I yield the floor.
I was there for that funeral. There Court. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
was an outpouring of support from the He came to the Senate about 20 years ator from Rhode Island.
community. The funeral was held in ago, in 2002. To give you some perspec- H.R. 3967
the very same church where the officer tive, I didn’t enter the legislature in Mr. REED. Madam President, I rise
and his wife and their three little kids North Carolina until 2007, so he has today in support of the Sergeant First
had gathered for the nativity play just years of experience on me. He has Class Heath Robinson Honoring our
a few weeks before for Christmas, those knowledge of the Senate that I will Promises to Address Comprehensive
two little boys and a little girl. The fa- Toxics Act, also known as the Hon-
never gain.
ther had sat in the front row to watch oring our PACT Act.
He started work with Senator Hatch.
his boys in that nativity play only a Our Nation asks a great deal of our
He worked for a couple of years with
few weeks before, and the next time servicemembers and their families. We
Senator Sessions, and then he worked
the family is in that church, it is the ask them to be ready to fight and to
for Senator GRASSLEY on the Judiciary
widow, the two little boys, and this lit-
Committee. He was the chief counsel of win against a wide range of security
tle tiny girl in a dress with blue stars
nominations and senior counsel for the challenges across the globe. Our Armed
on it walking down the aisle of that
Senate Judiciary Committee, and that Forces know and understand the
church at his funeral. That is a mo-
is where I met Ted. threats they may face on the battle-
ment I won’t forget.
I just shows you how domestic abuse I remember vividly, when my chief of field. Unfortunately, servicemembers
and those kinds of cases—yes, there is staff at the time, Ray Starling, told me also face threats that aren’t as appar-
one immediate victim—most likely the that he was going to be moving back to ent—exposure to toxic materials. These
woman—but it is a whole family who is North Carolina, I told him: Great. Now exposures can result in rare and some-
the victim. Kids who witness domestic find your replacement. times fatal medical conditions.
abuse through their lives are so much It was later that day that he came to From exposure to Agent Orange to
more likely to get into crime them- me and said: What about Ted Lehman? radiation from nuclear tests, veterans
selves. Statistics have shown it. But it I said: I think that is a fantastic have carried an extra burden because of
is even more than the family, it is the idea. their service. It has too often been a
whole community, as that family who Ted wasn’t looking for a job, and I struggle to recognize and address those
lost their dad and lost their husband wondered whether or not he would be impacts.
would tell you if they were standing in interested in working for a freshman Now, a new generation is dealing
here right now. Senator from the State of North Caro- with the long-term effects of toxic ex-
So I am so pleased we are finally lina. But he took that job, and he has posure. Indeed, during their service, up
moving on this. I thank Senator MUR- done extraordinary work, not only in to 31⁄2 million veterans have been ex-
PHY. I thank Senator CORNYN and all terms of the day-to-day institutional posed to toxic burn pits. As the name
those involved. I am also so grateful grind that a chief has to go through implies, burn pits are pits where all
that my 10 years of work leading this but his attention to staff—not only the forms of waste, including toxic waste,
DC staff but the North Carolina staff. I are disposed of by burning. Our service-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
bill with Representative DEBBIE DIN-
GELL in the House has not gone for think he is well-regarded among the members lived and worked in close
naught. We kept it moving. It is prob- staff, and he is going to be sorely proximity to these burn pits, often
ably a sign for anyone that persever- missed. without knowing the potential con-
ance matters in this place. I am very I also need to talk about Ted and his sequences to their long-term health or
pleased that it is part of the final nego- family. To say that it is in the Lehman any way to avoid it.
tiations, and it will make such a dif- blood is an understatement. His broth- Since 2009, the Department of De-
ference for saving lives. er Dirksen served on the HELP Com- fense has recognized the harm burn
VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:31 Jun 15, 2022 Jkt 029060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G14JN6.012 S14JNPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2022-06-14_crec-2022-06-14-pt1-pgs2919-7.pdf
- Size
- 406,022 bytes
- SHA-256
- 3a659024c93efb7f37b422051bc892520d65aebf7bb55a76de062bcd2c62c97c
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov