Congressional Record, Senate, September 6, 2022: Page S4419
Summary
Page S4419 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for September 6, 2022, in interleaved columns. A senator from Kentucky describes flood aid delays and says he spoke with FEMA Administrator Criswell, and criticizes the administration on border policy and auto theft in the speaker's hometown. Another speaker, who toured parts of Illinois over the August recess, defends a rescue plan and says no Republican voted for it, while a third passage says Democrats spent hundreds of billions of dollars on taxing and spending, including 87,000 new IRS agents. The page also notes a vote that day on the nomination of John Z. Lee.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, September 6, 2022: Page S4419.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2022-09-06-crec-2022-09-06-pt1-pgs4419-2-a0ddb57560/
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September 6, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4419
flood victims without the timely aid carjackings. My hometown of Louis- It took its toll—it still does—on
they need, often due to just simple ville is now averaging an auto theft American families, but to ignore what
clerical errors. I heard about these every 21⁄2 hours. President Biden’s we have been able to do is to really
issues firsthand from countless Ken- failed border policies have Customs and turn our backs on reality.
tuckians I met during my multiple vis- Border Protection encountering 200 What about that rescue plan, the
its. percent more fentanyl and appre- American Rescue Plan? I remember it,
Of course, I quickly called FEMA Ad- hending the most illegal immigrants and I remember there wasn’t a single
ministrator Criswell to say her Agency they have seen in more than 20 years. Republican voting for it.
needs to step it up. I visited the Ken- So there is no mystery about the cri- Almost 20 percent of the American
tucky Emergency Operations Center to ses facing our country. The American Rescue Plan went to State and local
review the joint State and Federal re- people know what needs to be ad- governments to deal with issues like
sponse firsthand. I convened leaders dressed. Republicans know what needs crime to make safer streets and safer
from our hardest hit counties, the to be addressed. But, unfortunately, neighborhoods for Americans across
State legislature, and Federal response the Democrats, who control the Sen- the board. That is the kind of money
Agencies so we have clearer lines of ate, the House, and the White House, well-spent, and yet the Republicans
communication moving forward. are still refusing to get with the pro- wouldn’t give us a single vote.
I hope and expect aid will begin to gram. You heard the Senator from Ken-
flow more smoothly to Eastern Ken- Democrats’ top priority for the en- tucky deriding it at this moment as a
tucky soon, and I will continue work- tire year was the multi-hundred-bil- waste of billions of dollars. It is money
ing around the clock here in Wash- lion-dollar reckless taxing and spend- well-spent, and I found out personally,
ington to try to help make that hap- ing spree they rammed through in Au- firsthand, when I went back in my
pen. gust. State over the August recess.
And I promise to keep standing Americans may want their leaders to I didn’t just confine myself to the
strong by Eastern Kentucky’s side as cut inflation, fight crime and drugs, blue areas of the State, and there are
our immediate efforts evolve into and secure the border, but Democrats big ones and a big part of our State,
longer term rebuilding. just spent hundreds of billions of dol- and I am happy to visit there. I went to
A long road—a very long road—to re- lars of the people’s money doing pre- some of the redder sections of our
covery lies before us, but Eastern Ken- State, the areas that voted for Donald
cisely none of that.
tucky will come back stronger than Instead, our big-spending colleagues Trump in the last election over Joe
ever. treated themselves to 87,000 new IRS Biden. I don’t do particularly well
agents, job-killing tax hikes, and the there either, but I wanted to visit with
THE ECONOMY
same kind of liberal energy policies them, and I felt that there were things
Now on another matter, American I needed to learn about what families
families are hurting, and they are very that now have California officials
and communities were facing.
clearly telling anybody who will listen warning—warning—about rolling
I went to Herrin, IL, in the southern
to them what our priorities ought to blackouts and begging people not to part of our State, where my family has
be. charge up their electric cars. its roots, and I went to Southern Illi-
Americans’ No. 1 concern—by a Oh, oh, and our Democratic col-
nois Healthcare, which is a major
mile—is the crushing inflation that leagues have given no indication that
healthcare consortium serving most of
Democrats spent us into. The share of cutting inflation, fighting crime, or se-
downstate Illinois—rural, smalltown
Americans who name inflation as our curing the border will be on the Sen- America, struggling with providing
most urgent problem is almost triple ate’s agenda for September either. professional medical care but doing a
the next closest issue. When our people are hurting this
fine job.
Democrats’ policies have working badly and speaking this clearly, it We have something called congres-
people paying a Democrat inflation tax takes a willful choice—a choice—for sionally directed spending now. It used
of more than 13 percent on top of their Democrats to ignore them. to be known as earmarks. I am
grocery bills, 15 percent extra on their Stable prices, safe streets, reliable unapologetic about it. I believe that if
electric bills, and on and on down the energy, and a secure border—four of you make a public disclosure of these
list of everything that families need to the most basic duties that any govern- earmarks to justify them, taxpayers
just stay afloat. ment owes its people; four things understand this is Federal money being
As a result, Democrats have presided Democrats have proven they cannot de- brought home from Washington to
over plummeting real wages for Amer- liver. their States and communities, where it
ican workers. The average American The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- is needed.
worker has gotten a raise on paper, but ator from Illinois. So I went to Herrin, IL, where we
their bigger paycheck buys them less THE ECONOMY were able to announce an earmark of $1
than their smaller paycheck bought Mr. DURBIN. Good news to report to million, which is going to provide for
them this time last year. my colleague from the Commonwealth about half the cost of a new physical
Now, this wasn’t inevitable. Inflation of Kentucky: a gallon of gasoline on rehab facility—critically important.
did not have to be nearly this bad. the way to the airport this morning— I met some interesting people there.
Democrats chose to spend so reck- $3.46 a gallon. I wish it were lower, but I met a little fellow, 4 years old, the
lessly. Democrats chose to wage this we have made progress from the days victim of cerebral palsy. His name is
economic warfare against the middle when it was over $5. We are moving in Maverick. Maverick had a big smile on
class, against their savings, against the right direction. his face. He was there at the rehab cen-
their financial stability, against the And, incidentally, this President has ter to introduce me to the nurse that
purchasing power and the lifestyles created more jobs than any President has been working with him, strong,
that workers and parents sacrificed, in a similar period in the history of the courageous little fellow—the pride of
literally, for years to build up. United States. his family, the kind of courage he is
Americans are also deeply concerned Do we have challenges? You bet we showing.
about the erosion of law and order on do. But to write this administration off Now, he has a rehab facility that is
our streets, in our cities, on our bor- as unproductive is to ignore the obvi- world-class in his region, in his neigh-
ders, and across our country. ous. borhood—the alternative, drive to St.
When you combine together crime We came out of this pandemic, and Louis. You hear that over and over
and immigration, the issue of law and when we did, we faced the problems again in that part of the State: We just
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
order ranks as the people’s clear No. 2 that nations around the world were don’t have any. We have to drive to St.
concern, second only to inflation. facing. Literally, could we deal with in- Louis.
Last year, the national murder rate flation? Demand was pent up, and it When it comes to rehab services for
reached its highest level in 25 years. overwhelmed the services and goods Maverick, kids like him, and adults as
Cities across the country are con- that were available and inflation start- well, they now have a fighting chance
tending with a historic surge in ed to rise. to get something local.
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S4420 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 6, 2022
And let me add, another fellow was with the local utility. I am going to try America has always been a can-do
there by the name of Riley Baird. Riley to do even more. My wife and I are de- nation. Faith in the future and in our
is a high school student, and he is an voted to showing—at least setting an ability to solve our problems, create a
amazing kid himself. He is a Boy example in this region, in this area. better future, has always been part of
Scout, and I used to be a Boy Scout a The bill we passed in reconciliation American DNA.
long, long time ago. He had that sash is going to create incentives for people It is hard to find common ground on
with all the merit badges on it. I think to put solar panels on their homes, to scorched earth. As President Lincoln
I had five of them when I finally quit. buy heat pumps, electric water heat- warned us long ago, ‘‘a house divided
He must have had 50, maybe 100. He had ers—things that will reduce the use of against itself cannot stand.’’
them all on his way and past as an fossil fuels and, instead, move us to- A few years later, as the Civil War
Eagle Scout. ward a more electric economy. ended and victory was in sight, Presi-
He decided to make that rehab clinic And, yes, automobiles are headed in dent Lincoln pleaded, just outside this
his project. He and his family built that direction too, and it didn’t take a room, on his inauguration, with the
some toys that the kids are using Federal mandate. The major car pro- people of the North and the South, and
there, and he was there to accept the ducers are headed that way, whether he said:
recognition and praise he deserved. we like it or not. They understand We are not enemies, but friends. We must
He has a brother named Corbin—twin where we need to go as a country and not be enemies.
brother named Corbin, also an Eagle where the consumers are headed, and I He said that after the deadliest war
Scout, who picked a different charity think that is a good indication as well. that America ever experienced. He
to provide help to. So when I hear the Republican leader knew that the work of rebuilding this
I just want to say for anybody who is come to the floor and say that things battered Nation and creating a better
despondent about the future of this are so awful, I don’t doubt that many future would only be achieved if we
country, you ought to meet Corbin and families are struggling, and we should were united—the United States of
Riley Baird. Those two young men are be sensitive and mindful of that every America.
going to be leaders, I am sure, in their single day, but a lot of good things are This week marks the 21st anniver-
community and beyond. happening too. The employment fig- sary of the September 11 terrorist at-
And it reminded me, too, that we ures are encouraging. Our move toward tack on America. I will never forget
ought to take a look at the positive dealing with climate change is encour- that day as long as I live.
things that are coming about. This no- aging, as well. The fact the pharma- I know, Mr. President, that you
tion of the reconciliation bill not serv- ceutical companies are going to be held won’t forget it either because it af-
ing America is ignoring the obvious. responsible and the fact that corpora- fected your State and many people who
How many of us in the Senate—Re- tions that have had a net profit of $1 live there.
publicans and Democrats—have had Those who are old enough to remem-
billion or more—listen to that close-
press conferences put on campaign ads ber not just the shocking grief of that
ly—net profit of $1 billion or more in
talking about the cost of prescription day will also remember the intense
the last 3 years are finally going to
sense of national unity that sustained
drugs? Guess what. We finally did have to pay some Federal income
us through the terrible days and weeks
something about it. After all these taxes. Americans are used to paying
that followed. We lost so much, but we
years and all these headlines and all their fair share of taxes. Why are these
found a common purpose. We under-
these brochures and all these ads, we corporations making over $1 billion in stood that we are one Nation, one peo-
finally did something. net profits each year not paying a ple, with one destiny. We rise or we fall
The reconciliation bill, which passed penny? That is going to change, and it together.
the U.S. Senate without a single Re- is in the bill too. And I know it is a As the Senate returns to the work of
publican vote—without one—will fi- bone in the throat of my Republican legislating, I hope that we will remem-
nally address the cost of prescription colleagues, but it is only fair. ber President Lincoln’s plea that ‘‘we
drugs for people on Medicare. And it This week we return after a 4-week must not be enemies.’’ Politics is not
starts reaching beyond that to say the recess. I was traveling around my war. It is where we resolve our dif-
pharmaceutical industry has to be re- State, listening to ideas and concerns. ferences without war, in a democracy.
sponsible. They have never been able to And you know what I heard over and People in Illinois are concerned
defend or explain why the same drugs— over again? And this is overwhelming, about our state of the economy. They
exactly the same drugs—made in particularly in the area of healthcare, are worried about inflation. I under-
America are charged in Canada for a but not exclusively: We just don’t have stand that. They are also feeling some-
fraction of what people have to pay in enough people to fill the vacancies and thing that many haven’t felt for a
this country; why Americans have to jobs in America. We have roughly 11 while, and that is hope. Why? Because
go without, while in other countries million vacancies and 5 million people of results. Inflation is, in fact, slowing.
there are discounts that allow families unemployed. That is the reality. Gas prices are falling. At $3.46 a gallon,
to afford the drugs they need to be And when it comes to healthcare I would have grabbed that a few weeks
healthy and to live. workers, it is a reality that means the ago, and I hope it can go lower. Gas is
Well, we have done something about cost of medical care is going up. If you down by more than $1.20 a gallon on
it. We passed a bill that will make a can’t find a local nurse to go on staff, the average since the start of the sum-
difference. on payroll, and be with you for a while mer.
And when we talk about issues like and you have to rely on contract Wages are up. People are back at
electricity—I am going to brag a little nurses, those who come and go, they work. We now have more than recov-
bit here—my wife and I decided 2 or 3 have all the skill and training, but ered all the jobs that our economy lost
weeks ago to start producing elec- they are looking for a pretty big pay- during the pandemic. Our economy has
tricity. We bought solar panels for our check, sometimes three times what the added more than 10 million new jobs,
roof in Springfield, IL. We are not the regular nurses are receiving. That including 600,000 manufacturing jobs,
first family to have them, but we are drives up the cost of healthcare. And under President Biden.
one of the few. I predict that is going hospitals and clinics are desperate for We are investing in infrastructure. I
to change in a hurry. Why? Because in these nurses to be there. remind myself over and over again:
that reconciliation bill, we started tak- I found all across my State—from the Don’t complain if construction on
ing an honest look at what it takes to city of Chicago to the smallest town highways just slowed you down. You
reduce climate change and to give our downstate—this is a challenge that we voted for it, Senator.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
kids a planet they can live on. It means face and need to do something about. And I would vote for it again.
that each of us has to change our life- But people, over and over again, de- President Biden said yesterday, on
style some. spite what we saw in many of the re- Labor Day, in one of his speeches, that
Well, I left this morning a little bit ports on television, really do still love when we make this investment in in-
of sunshine in Springfield, IL, and it this country. They are concerned about frastructure—a recordbreaking, his-
means that I am producing electricity the divisions we see every single day. toric amount—we will have the most
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September 6, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4421
modern infrastructure in the world. Outside of the Supreme Court, as I the nomination of Judge John Lee, who
Now, that is what a nation that is pre- mentioned, the Senate has confirmed was selected for the Illinois seat on the
pared to compete does. an impressive number of Federal Seventh Circuit.
We passed the CHIPS Act to preserve judges: 18 circuit court nominees, 57 If confirmed, Judge Lee will be the
America’s leadership in research and district court nominees. Why is that first Asian-American judge ever to
innovation and to produce semiconduc- important? Because the vast majority serve on the Seventh Circuit. His con-
tors and jobs and the industries of the of cases don’t make it to the Supreme firmation will mark yet another stride
future in America, not in China. As the Court. They are resolved by judges like forward in building a judiciary that re-
President also said yesterday, why these nominees, at the district and cir- flects the diversity of our Nation.
wouldn’t it be in America? We invented cuit court level. Judge Lee was born to Korean par-
the chip. Shouldn’t we be leading the Look at the most recent ruling yes- ents in Germany. His father was a coal
world still? terday, in terms of the judge in Florida miner. His mother was a nurse. He ar-
Well, with the passage of the CHIPS and the special master that has been rived in America at the age of 4 and
legislation in a strong bipartisan vote appointed for the records that were re- settled with his family in a one-bed-
on the floor, we are going to reclaim moved from Mar-a-Lago. That judge room apartment in the Albany Park
that lead. made a critical and historic decision. neighborhood of Chicago.
We passed the Inflation Reduction The judges we are approving are in the It wasn’t easy starting off in kinder-
Act, which includes the biggest ever in- same position to do that, and with each garten in a new land, but Judge Lee
vestment in climate change and cli- one of the judges we have confirmed, says he found the support of a nur-
mate resilience. It will reduce infla- the American people can trust that turing community of classmates and
tionary pressure by cutting energy they will apply the law to the facts, teachers. He quickly learned English
costs now and in the future, and it also follow the precedent, and defend the and excelled in school, graduating
reduces the cost of prescription drugs. rule of law. magna cum laude from Harvard College
We are investing in the American Now, these 76 judicial appointments and cum laude from Harvard Law
people on the basis of a shared, sustain- are more than a statistic. With each School.
able economic prosperity. confirmation, the Senate has taken a He began his legal career as a trial
Oh, one footnote that is well worth attorney in the Environment and Nat-
crucial step toward ensuring diversity
mentioning: The Federal deficit will ural Resources Division of the Justice
in the Federal judiciary. President
shrink by $1.7 trillion this year. All of Department before working in private
Biden and Senate Democrats have
the things that I have mentioned and practice in Chicago. His practice fo-
made it a priority to elevate judicial
all of the criticism we have heard from cused on complex litigation, including
nominees from demographically and
the other side of the aisle, and the def- antitrust and intellectual property.
professionally diverse backgrounds.
icit is going down. In 2011, President Biden nominated
Nearly all of these economic pros- Many times, Republican Senators have
joined us in this effort, and I want to Judge Lee to the District Court for the
perity proposals were passed with Northern District of Illinois. When he
Democratic votes only. Chips is an ex- give them credit where it is due.
During the 117th Congress we have was confirmed in 2012 by voice vote,
ception. Infrastructure is an exception. Judge Lee became the first Korean
But the American Rescue Plan and the shattered records when it comes to di-
versity on the Federal Bench. Of the 18 American to serve as an article III
inflation reduction plan were strictly judge in Illinois.
Democratic votes. It is our hope that circuit judges confirmed by Senate
Democrats, 14 are women and 13 are Since joining the bench, he has writ-
our Republican colleagues will now ten hundreds of opinions and presided
join us and help us get back to work in people of color. And of the 57 district
court judges we have confirmed, 42 of over 35 trials that went to verdict or
fighting the common challenges facing judgment. He also sat by designation
the Nation. the 57 are women and many represent a
historic first—the first Muslim Amer- on the Seventh Circuit, a number of
JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS times, writing several opinions for the
Mr. President, on another matter, I ican article III judge to the first Latina
article III judge in the State of Illinois. majority.
want to take a moment to speak about During his time on the bench, he al-
We have confirmed a record number
one of my highest priorities as chair of ways applied the law to the facts before
of nominees who have experience serv-
the Senate Judiciary Committee: the him in an evenhanded and fair fashion.
confirmation of highly qualified ing not only as prosecutors but also as
public defenders, voting rights experts, Given his impeccable record and im-
judges. This is one of the great shared pressive credentials, it is no surprise
successes of President Biden and the civil rights attorneys. For too long, the
perspectives that they represent have that the American Bar Association has
Senate Democrats and Republicans rated John Lee unanimously ‘‘well
who have stood with us on some key not been seen on our benches in Fed-
eral courts. Thanks to President qualified’’ for this circuit court posi-
votes. tion.
As of today, the Senate has con- Biden’s leadership and the work of the
He has the strong support of myself
firmed 76 judges to lifetime positions Senate Democrats, the Federal Judici-
and Senator DUCKWORTH. I urge my col-
during this 117th Congress. That figure ary now includes many dedicated pub-
leagues to join us.
includes Justice Ketanji Brown Jack- lic servants who will help bring balance I want to close by emphasizing this:
son, an outstanding jurist, the first to the Nation’s courts. And let me add Our work is not finished by a long shot.
Black woman to serve on the U.S. Su- that some of the key votes came from Judge Lee is one of ten circuit court
preme Court. a handful of Republican Senators who nominees awaiting action by the full
I would just state that I have been in have looked at these nominees in an Senate, and many more are still mov-
politics most of my adult life. I did not honest fashion. ing through the Committee. Each one
appreciate the impact that the selec- Every one of these jurists is highly
of these public servants will bring
tion of this African-American woman qualified to serve our Nation and the
much needed professional and demo-
would have on the people I represent. American people. That is a welcome
graphic diversity.
Some of the toughest, hardest bar- shift from the previous administration, The judges being confirmed by this
gaining African-American women that which often advanced nominees who Senate will ensure that the rule of law
I have known in politics have come up simply checked the box ‘‘Federalist So- applies to every single one of us with-
to me and, in a moment, broken down ciety.’’ Thankfully, the judges taking out fear or favor. They will work to up-
in tears to thank me for President the bench under President Biden are hold America’s most sacred promise—
Biden’s leadership and the fact that the impartial and evenhanded. All of them equal justice for all.
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Senate approved this new Justice. It will continue to administer equal jus- I yield the floor.
means that much to them. Her historic tice under the law. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
confirmation was a crowning achieve- NOMINATION OF JOHN Z. LEE The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
ment in our efforts to build a system of Mr. President, later today, we will pore. The clerk will call the roll.
justice that works on behalf of every add, I hope, one more name to this im- The bill clerk proceeded to call the
American. pressive roster. The Senate will vote on roll.
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