Senate Session of September 28, 2022, Page S5115 — Congressional Record
Summary
The Congressional Record, Senate, Vol. 168, No. 157, for Wednesday, September 28, 2022, beginning with the Senate meeting at 10 a.m. and Ben Ray Luján of New Mexico being appointed to perform the duties of the Chair. The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offers a prayer that mentions a hurricane. A Senator pays tribute to Ernie Mann on being named neighbor of the month. A speaker then states that the Senate agreed the night before, by a vote of 72 to 23, to advance a shell for a continuing resolution to keep the government open until December 16, with funding running out Friday at midnight. The Senate also resumes consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 6833, the Affordable Insulin Now Act.
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“Senate Session of September 28, 2022, Page S5115 — Congressional Record.”
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Congressional Record
E PL
UR M
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117 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE
Vol. 168 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2022 No. 157
Senate
The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was U.S. SENATE, ing the ‘‘TODAY’’ show. That is why I
called to order by the Honorable BEN PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, was late.
RAY LUJÁN, a Senator from the State Washington, DC, September 28, 2022. They have a surprise neighbor of the
To the Senate:
of New Mexico. Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3,
month, and when they come in and sur-
of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby prise him, all his neighbors are there
f appoint the Honorable BEN RAY LUJÁN, a because he is such a great neighbor.
Senator from the State of New Mexico, to Well, Ernie Mann—who is the father
PRAYER perform the duties of the Chair. of Steve Mann, who has been my dep-
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- PATRICK J. LEAHY, uty State director since I have been
fered the following prayer: President pro tempore. Senator for over 20 years—a teacher in
Let us pray. Mr. LUJÁN thereupon assumed the the community, a volunteer firefighter
Our Father in Heaven, as Hurricane Chair as Acting President pro tempore. for 60 years, and just a great guy and a
Ian wreaks havoc, protect those in f wonderful Yankee fan. They had Nestor
harm’s way. Lord, we thank You that RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME Cortes get on the phone and speak to
the winds and the waves obey Your him. He was just made the neighbor
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- of—I think it is of the month, but
will.
pore. Under the previous order, the maybe it is of the year. Anyway, he de-
Today, make us aware of our need for
leadership time is reserved. serves it. It was wonderful. It was
Your presence, and empower us to
reach out to others in Your Name. f beautiful to see.
Lord, teach us to pray, and sustain us CONCLUSION OF MORNING So, Ernie—and to all the Mann fam-
by the wonders of Your Word. Give us BUSINESS ily, including the great Steve, who has
truths that will strengthen our minds, done such a great job for me—con-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
souls, and hearts. In times of distress, gratulations. Good luck. It was beau-
pore. Morning business is closed.
grief, confusion, and misunderstanding, tiful. It was beautiful.
f
illuminate our paths with the light of CONTINUING RESOLUTION
Your companionship. LEGISLATIVE SESSION Mr. President, now let’s get to the
Guide our lawmakers in their chal- substance of the day.
lenging work, for You have promised Last night, by a vote of 72 to 23, the
AFFORDABLE INSULIN NOW ACT— Senate agreed to advance a shell for a
never to leave or forsake them.
MOTION TO PROCEED—Resumed continuing resolution to keep the gov-
We pray in Your merciful Name.
Amen. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ernment open until December 16 and
pore. Under the previous order, the avoid a needless government shutdown.
f Senate will resume consideration of As my colleagues know, government
the motion to proceed to H.R. 6833, funding runs out Friday at midnight,
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE which the clerk will report. whereupon a partial shutdown would
The Presiding Officer led the Pledge The senior assistant legislative clerk begin if we do not act. We must work
of Allegiance, as follows: read as follows: fast to finish the process here on the
Motion to proceed to H.R. 6833, a bill to floor, send a CR to the House, and then
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
amend title XXVII of the Public Health send it to the President’s desk before
United States of America, and to the Repub-
Service Act, the Internal Revenue Code of
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, the clock runs out. With cooperation
1986, and the Employee Retirement Income
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Security Act of 1974 to establish require- from our Republican colleagues, the
ments with respect to cost-sharing for cer- Senate can finish its work with keep-
f ing the government open as soon as to-
tain insulin products, and for other purposes.
RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER morrow. There is every reason in the
APPOINTMENT OF ACTING world to get to yes, and I look forward
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE to working with Leader MCCONNELL to
pore. The majority leader is recog-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The nized. make sure we can do that and not
clerk will please read a communication f bump up into the Friday midnight
to the Senate from the President pro deadline.
tempore (Mr. LEAHY). TRIBUTE TO ERNIE MANN I urge my colleagues on both sides to
The senior assistant legislative clerk Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, before work with us together to speed this
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read the following letter: I begin my remarks, I was just watch- process as quickly as we can through
∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
®
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S5116 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 28, 2022
the floor, especially since the CR con- A few weeks later, we passed the important issues like climate, when we
tains many things both parties sup- largest expansion of veterans’ benefits are unable to find common ground,
port. in a generation to help veterans suf- Democrats will hold firm in the defense
I am talking about billions in dis- fering from cancers, lung diseases, and of our values and show the American
aster aid to help communities in Ken- other ailments stemming from toxic people the choice before them in the
tucky, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, exposure. Again, it was a bipartisan coming election, as we did in the IRA.
Alaska, and Puerto Rico, battered by bill. Senators Tester and Moran led the Sadly, since the overturning of Roe,
floods and disasters over the past year; way. It was a really good bill, and that contrast has come into sharper
as well as help for New Mexico to re- thousands and thousands and thou- focus than we have seen in years.
cover from its worst wildfire in the sands of veterans who risked their lives One example is in Arizona. For dec-
State’s history. for us are now getting the help they al- ades, overturning Roe and eliminating
We must also renew the FDA user ways needed and deserved. the right to choose had been the North
fees for the next 5 years to prevent the And, as Ukraine fights for survival, Star for many in the Republican
slowdown of innovative drugs and med- we strengthened NATO—again, bipar- Party—for most, it seems—in orienting
ical devices so needed by our people tisan—by adding Finland and Sweden much of their legislation, their can-
and to prevent thousands of workers— to its ranks, sending Putin a clear mes- didates, and their nominees they ele-
good, hard-working workers—who help sage that he can’t intimidate America vate to the judiciary. All too often, Re-
approve these drugs and make sure or Europe. publican Senators and legislators—
they are safe from being furloughed. And, as the Chinese Communist even when they might not agree with
And, crucially, we must also approve Party continues its drive to the extreme MAGA position on abor-
critical emergency aid for the people of outcompete the United States, we tion—go along because they are afraid
Ukraine. Over the past few weeks, it passed the CHIPS and Science Act, the of the consequences in a primary.
has become clear that U.S. assistance largest manufacturing, science, and
has made an enormous difference in Well, we saw another horrifying con-
jobs bill we have seen in decades, bring- sequence of this late last week when a
helping Ukraine defend itself. ing jobs back to America in high-end
I want to salute President Biden. He judge in Arizona upheld a radical abor-
manufacturing and in research, to keep tion ban that dates back to the time of
has done a masterful job in helping the
us No. 1 on into the 21st century as the the Civil War—even before Arizona be-
Ukrainians and leading us. But the
leading economy, free and democratic, came a State. In the blink of an eye,
Congress in a bipartisan way has gone
in the world. the right to choose has been prac-
along in the past. We have not only got
Our efforts, of course, culminated in tically eliminated in Arizona, a dev-
along, but we enthusiastically sup-
the crowning jewel of them all, the In- astating blow to the freedoms of mil-
ported our help for Ukraine. I certainly
flation Reduction Act—a lions of Arizonan women.
enthusiastically support it, and we
groundbreaking bill that will lower The law held in Arizona is as cruel
have to continue. The conflict in
prescription drug costs, lower the price and radical as it comes. It dates all the
Ukraine is far from over and our obli-
of insulin for seniors on Medicare, and way back to the 1860s—the 1860s, not
gation remains to help them, however
help Americans save on energy costs the 1960s—and provides no exceptions
we can, to beat the brutal, nasty, vi-
cious Putin. with the largest clean energy invest- for rape and incest. It tells young
I want to also thank my colleagues ments in American history. women who are raped or who are sub-
on both sides of the aisle who worked I am so proud that my caucus stuck ject to incest: You have to carry the
day and night to put this CR together, together in getting this important bill baby all the way to term. You have to
especially my friend Senator LEAHY, done. We needed every vote, and we got carry the fetus all the way to term.
the chairman of the Appropriations it—and that is only what we have done
That is terrible. That is terrible.
Committee, and Ranking Member since June.
Over the past year, we have enacted It allows for the prosecution of doc-
SHELBY for his good work. They are tors and, even worse, of those who as-
both retiring. Let’s hope this is the the first infrastructure law in dec-
ades—the largest, biggest infrastruc- sist women in accessing abortion.
last CR they do so we get an omnibus In response, the MAGA state attor-
done in December. ture law in decades. We revamped our
post office, finally, and put it on a good ney general released a statement, say-
I also want to recognize all of my ing: We applaud the court for uphold-
other colleagues on the Appropriations track. We reinstated VAWA, the Vio-
lence Against Women Act, after years ing the will of the legislature.
Committee and in the Senate and all The 1860s. The 1860s.
their great staffs, who have worked of trying. We finally declared lynching
a Federal hate crime after a century of MAGA Republicans are making it
hard to make sure we don’t have a
delay, and we unanimously ended clear as day exactly where they stand
needless shutdown.
Twenty months into the Democratic forced arbitration for sexual harass- on the right to choose. They want to
majority, I want to take a moment to ment and assault in the workplace. make freedom of choice extinct across
highlight the many, many accomplish- Then, of course, we have confirmed the country—period.
ments we have secured in this Cham- over 80 qualified nominees to the Fed- The Arizona ruling is hardly the only
ber, the most in recent memory. This eral bench, including Ketanji Brown example of Republican State legisla-
is one of the most productive Con- Jackson as the first Black woman ever tures, as we see in places like Indiana,
gresses we have had in a very long to sit on the Supreme Court. Roughly South Carolina, and many others, that
time, and we have worked hard every three-quarters of the President’s nomi- have already introduced or enacted re-
step of the way to improve the lives of nees have been women and two-thirds strictions with few exceptions for rape
the American people, to help those in people of color. With one nominee at a and incest.
the middle class stay in the middle time, we are making our Federal bench Look, at the end of the day, this isn’t
class, and to help those struggling to a better reflection of our great coun- about States’ rights despite what Re-
get into the middle class, making it a try. publicans have claimed. This is about
little easier for them to get there. All of these accomplishments will getting rid of the right to choose in its
A few months ago, for instance, after echo for years in the lives of the Amer- entirety. If anyone has any doubts,
the tragedies in Uvalde, Buffalo, and so ican people. They were hard to get look no further than the national ban
many others, the Senate came together done, especially in a 50–50 Senate. that was introduced right here in the
on a bipartisan basis to break the grip While we have gotten so much done, Senate not 3 weeks ago.
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of the NRA and pass the first gun safe- there is a lot, certainly more, we have And while Republicans will try to de-
ty bill in three decades. It was the first to do. flect, distort, or mainly distract from
gun safety bill since the Brady Act, I have always said, from my first their record—they don’t like talking
which I was proud to author as a Mem- days as majority leader, that Demo- about this because they know the
ber of Congress, 30 years ago. It took 30 crats would be willing to work in a bi- American people are not on their side,
years to get some real progress made, partisan way to get things done when- but their hard-right, MAGA core is—
but we did, and we have to continue. ever we could, but of course, on such they are stuck. The fact is that every
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September 28, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5117
Senate Republican—every Senate Re- country, create jobs in our country, The same day the latest sky-high
publican—is already on record as vot- and unleash domestic energy in our monthly inflation report came out, our
ing in favor of a national ban—some- country. colleagues literally headed down Penn-
times more than once—here on the The problem was that the Schumer- sylvania Avenue to the White House
floor. Manchin language was not actual per- for a folk music concert—folk music
So the contrast has become clear— mitting reform by any stretch. It was a concert—celebrating additional hun-
clear, clear as could be: While Demo- phony figleaf. It was designed to create dreds of billions they had just
crats want to protect a woman’s free- the illusion of progress while sapping dumped—dumped—into ‘‘green’’ energy
dom to choose, MAGA Republicans the political will to tackle the issue in subsidies.
want to take away that right with pro- any meaningful way. The Democrats Do you know who isn’t partying?
posals to ban freedom of choice in its carefully tailored the bill to avoid Working families in Wisconsin who are
entirety and to punish women and doc- making any—any—impactful changes paying a ‘‘Democratic Inflation Tax’’
tors for carrying out abortions, even to permitting laws. In fact, we had pan- averaging $673 every single month just
past bans, with no exceptions for rape icked State-level elected officials from to tread water. In Georgia, that is $681
or incest. We are seeing it play out around the country writing the Senate every month and in Colorado, $953
across the country, and it is chilling to to explain how the Democrats’ bill every month.
the bone. would actually make the existing prob- None of this had to happen. It didn’t
Democrats will keep fighting these lems even worse. Fortunately, the Sen- have to happen. Democrats were lit-
ate saw through the political game, erally warned in advance that their
MAGA abortion bans—these radical
and the phony figleaf didn’t have the plans for far-left reckless spending
MAGA abortion bans—and make clear
votes. would send inflation through the roof
to all that we are the party fighting to So I am glad that our colleagues
protect people’s freedoms over their and crush normal Americans.
capitulated and abandoned their phony So what did our colleagues do? One
own bodies. figleaf. I look forward to a bipartisan
I yield the floor. gigantic party-line spending bill in
funding bill coming to the floor this 2021, another huge, reckless taxing and
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER week, and I hope our Democratic col-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- spending spree just this past summer,
leagues will push the liberal special in- and student loan socialism that has
pore. The Republican leader is recog- terests aside and let actual, robust per-
nized. cashiers and carpenters eating the
mitting reform become law someday
graduate school debt of doctors and
HURRICANE IAN soon.
lawyers. It adds up to nearly $3 trillion
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
of party-line waste—$3 trillion of
first, this morning, the Senate and the Mr. President, on another matter, 2 party-line waste. And it adds up to 13.2
entire country are watching the news years ago, the American people elected percent inflation and counting.
and praying for the people of the great a President who claimed he would gov- So Democrats wanted one-party con-
State of Florida, where a seemingly ern as a uniting moderate. In under- trol of Washington; they got it. They
massive, massive hurricane is poised to scoring that mandate, voters gave him promptly used that power to create a
make landfall soon. I understand the unusually small coattails—the slim- literal nightmare for American fami-
current forecast suggests that Hurri- mest possible majority—in Congress. lies.
cane Ian may be both extremely power- The all-Democratic government in-
TRIBUTE TO JOHN CALIPARI
ful and unusually slow-moving, a ter- herited an economy that was, by every
account, already primed and ready for Mr. President, now one final matter,
rible combination for the citizens and
economic recovery. Vaccines were al- in my home State of Kentucky, college
communities in its path.
ready flooding the country. A major bi- basketball ranks up there with horse-
Our colleague the senior Senator
partisan stimulus had just passed, lit- racing as one of our signature pas-
from Florida reported this morning
erally, days earlier. And remember, be- times. Our greatest players have be-
that State officials and the relevant
fore the temporary COVID shot, years come local heroes. Our greatest seasons
Federal Agencies have been working
of Republican policies had our eco- have become local legends. So it is no
well together and that, thus far, every
nomic fundamentals humming along surprise, then, that our basketball
request Florida has made of the Fed-
with low inflation, low unemployment, coaches are larger-than-life figures.
eral Government has been approved. Plenty of notable ones have passed
The bipartisan government funding bill and robust growth, an outstanding
trifecta for working families. To put it through the halls of our universities.
the Senate is on track to pass this But the University of Kentucky’s John
week will ensure that the Federal Dis- as plainly as possible, the Democrats
had one job: Just don’t mess things up. Calipari—Coach Cal to most of us—is
aster Relief Fund is fully resourced at already one for the history books.
this critical moment. But, alas, fast-forward to today.
Overall inflation is a staggering 13.2 Of course, there is his record with the
We are all keeping the people of Flor- program: 365 wins, 4 Final Four appear-
percent since President Biden and his
ida at the forefront of our thoughts and ances, and a National Championship.
party came into power; consumer
will stand ready to help our colleagues There is also his record of public
prices—through the roof; supply chain
from Florida, the Governor, and local service. During the past 13 years with
chaos left and right; the worst single
officials however we can. UK, Coach Cal has leveraged his posi-
year for both grocery inflation and
CONTINUING RESOLUTION
electricity inflation since the fallout tion in the public eye to transform the
Now, Mr. President, on a completely back in the Jimmy Carter era. The face of charitable giving in Kentucky.
different matter, the path to keeping stock market has plummeted below In recognition of his work, the organi-
the government open and funded has where it was when President Biden zation Multiplying Good presented
been clear for weeks now. The solution took office, cutting the value of Ameri- Coach Cal with their Jefferson Award
was always going to be a clean, bipar- cans’ retirement savings just as the for public service this year. Previous
tisan continuing resolution, negotiated cost of living has soared. America’s recipients of this prestigious award in-
by Senators SHELBY and LEAHY, with- real wages—our citizens’ buying power clude Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Colin
out any unrelated, partisan language after inflation—is lower today than it Powell. Coach Cal is the first men’s
jammed in. Our Democratic colleagues was the moment President Biden put college basketball coach to receive the
tried to complicate things by jamming his hand on the Bible. honor.
in a phony, partisan figleaf on the sub- The Democrats asked for total con- Sometimes Coach Cal’s efforts are
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ject of permitting reform. trol. They got total control, and they local. Every Thanksgiving, he helps
Republicans strongly support real, created a total disaster. The net effect folks around Lexington enjoy the fam-
substantive permitting reform. We are of this far-left policy experiment has ily meal they deserve. Every Christ-
actually leading that charge. Senator been the equivalent of all-out economic mas, he gathers presents for children in
CAPITO has an outstanding bill that warfare against the American middle need. But sometimes, Coach Cal’s ef-
would make significant changes to class. But alas, Democrats hardly seem forts touch every corner of the Com-
make it easier to build things in our to even much less care. monwealth. As Kentucky reeled from
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S5118 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 28, 2022
multiple crises in the past few years, We are united in our grief for those this while also respecting people’s con-
his assistance has proved invaluable. we lost and also in our gratitude and stitutional rights. We can take com-
During the pandemic, he helped Fay- admiration for the heroes that day who monsense, bipartisan action, like per-
ette County students access the re- worked to rescue and aid those in dan- manently banning bump stocks and
sources they needed to continue their ger. This dark day put on full display high-capacity magazines which allowed
schooling from home. the tight-knit community of southern the 1 October shooter to fire so many
When tornadoes hit Western Ken- Nevada that we all know and love. rounds and cause so much carnage.
tucky last winter, he rallied Kentuck- We came together to celebrate and Bump stocks, in particular, are modi-
ians to raise money through a tele- thank the heroism for those who fications that only make guns more
thon. And when heavy rainfall and helped: our law enforcement officers, deadly.
floods damaged communities in East- our first responders, our medical pro- The previous administration took
ern Kentucky this summer, he did the fessionals, and so many everyday peo- regulatory action to address this issue,
same, pulling our State together to ple. They just ran toward danger. They but the move to ban bump stocks now
help victims rebuild. In total—in ran toward danger to help to get people faces a wave of troubling legal chal-
total—Coach Cal’s telethons have to safety. lenges that threaten to reverse that
raised more than $12 million for chari- Hundreds lined up for blocks to do- progress.
table ventures in Kentucky and across nate blood. They offered their cars for That is why I call on this Chamber to
the world. people who were displaced by the finally pass legislation that will per-
So thank you. Thank you, Coach Cal, chaos. Our community—well, it rallied manently ban bump stocks—perma-
for your service to our State. And con- together not just in the immediate nently ban bump stocks—and cut off
gratulations on receiving this distin- aftermath but in the days, weeks, access to these deadly and unnecessary
guished award. months, and now years after. I know weapons devices.
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- why—because we are Vegas Strong, we Remember—remember this—with
pore. The Senator from Nevada. are Nevada Strong. these devices, a shooter can fire hun-
FIVE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF LAS VEGAS, Today, as we reflect on the 5-year an- dreds of rounds to end or damage lives
NEVADA SHOOTING niversary since this horrific event, I in mere minutes; 1 October, just 10
Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise stand here to honor the 60 individuals minutes.
today to honor the memories of the who lost their lives, the hundreds of Inaction is not an option. We owe it
lives we lost and all who were injured survivors, and all of those—all of to those who experienced the pain of
or impacted in Las Vegas on October 1, those—who experienced that traumatic gun violence to do more. We owe it to
2017. event. the future generations to keep up our
Five years ago, Nevada experienced I stand here today to honor the he-
tragedy on an unprecedented scale. In efforts.
roes—our first responders, our commu- At the end of the day, this is all
just 10 minutes—10 minutes—58 inno- nity members—those who risked their about keeping communities safe. We
cent lives were taken, hundreds of peo- lives to help others. must continue working to prevent
ple were injured by gunfire, and hun- In Nevada, the Vegas Strong Resil-
more tragedies like the one that
dreds more were injured in the chaos iency Center that supports those af-
brought so much heartbreak to my
that followed. fected by the 1 October tragedy, well,
Sadly, in the years since, two more hometown.
they launched a wide array of efforts to
victims of that night’s attacks died be- I ask all of my colleagues in this
help people heal from and cope with
cause of the injuries they received dur- Chamber to remember and honor the
the trauma and take action to honor
ing that shooting, bringing the death memory of the 60 victims of 1 October
the victims.
toll to 60. I have a floor chart here. I know it is as we mark this 5-year anniversary.
During the attack, scores of heroic I yield the floor.
a little hard to see, but one of the
first responders—police officers, fire- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
projects the Resiliency Center is orga-
fighters, paramedics, and others—ar- pore. The Republican whip.
nizing on this fifth anniversary is cre-
BIDEN ADMINISTRATION
rived at the scene in an attempt to ating a lantern. This is a picture of a
neutralize the threat and provide aid to lantern. It has an outline of the Las Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, we are
the victims. Then hundreds of doctors, Vegas skyline. coming up now on 2 years of Demo-
nurses, and other medical profes- This lantern is going to serve as a cratic governance here in Washington,
sionals—well, they worked nonstop to sign of solidarity and respect for vic- 2 years in which Democrats have con-
save the lives of those on the scene. tims, survivors, and responders to the trolled Congress and the White House,
That day, the attack on the Route 91 tragic shooting as it lights up the and the result of their 2 years in power
Harvest Festival became the deadliest night with hope, because the lanterns is not encouraging. Economic insecu-
mass shooting in American history. are a symbol, representing the fact rity is rampant; our energy security
Let me repeat that: the deadliest mass that out of the darkness of that night situation has worsened; and on the na-
shooting in American history. came the strongest light shining on tional security front, we are facing a
And to this day—sadly, even with all countless examples of heroism—big and raging crisis at our southern border,
of the mass shootings we have endured small—displayed by Nevadans. plus a disturbing increase in violent
over the past few years since then—1 But as we remember this fifth anni- crime across the country.
October—1 October—still remains the versary, we must also recommit our- If there has been one defining feature
single deadliest mass shooting in selves to action. of Democrat governance over the past
American history. In the nearly 5 years since 1 October, 20 months, it is inflation. When Presi-
All it took—all it took—was just 10 the epidemic of gun violence has im- dent Biden took office, inflation was at
minutes—10 minutes—for dozens of pacted even more communities and 1.4 percent—well within the target in-
lives to be cut short, hundreds more in- broke more families’ hearts all across flation rate of 2 percent—but then
jured and traumatized, with emotional our great Nation. Democrats decided to pass a massive
and physical scars they will carry with Finally, after the recent mass shoot- $1.9 trillion spending spree, the so-
them for the rest of their lives. ing at an elementary school in Uvalde, called American Rescue Plan Act. The
These were our friends. These were TX, Congress was able to finally come legislation flooded the economy with
our neighbors. For some, they were together and act. unnecessary government money, and
the economy overheated as a result. In-
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their family. And now there are 60 fam- We passed the most significant gun
ilies who will never be the same, 60 safety legislation in almost 30 years. flation quickly began climbing and
families who will forever have an This was a breakthrough, and we know then climbing some more and then
empty chair every night at their kitch- it will help save lives, keeping guns out some more after that.
en table. of the hands of dangerous people. But We have now spent 6 straight months
One October changed our community it cannot be an end point. with inflation above 8 percent—6
and the history of our State forever. It We can and we must do more to pre- straight months. The last time infla-
left a hole that can never be filled. vent these shootings. I know we can do tion was this bad, ‘‘E.T.’’ was about to
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September 28, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5119
hit theaters, and we still had more working for years in Congress to ad- ed that there is a ‘‘direct connection
than a year to wait for ‘‘Return of the vance renewable energy technology, between the high percentage of our vio-
Jedi.’’ For those who weren’t around but the fact of the matter is that we lent crimes [in Minnehaha County] to
then, that was 40 years ago, in 1982. are still a long way from being able to the use and distribution of illegal
Inflation, of course, has meant tre- rely exclusively on alternative energy drugs, in particular the drugs that are
mendous economic pain for the Amer- technologies. poisoning our community.’’ A substan-
ican people: huge grocery store bills, But that isn’t something that Demo- tial part of those drugs, he went on to
big utility bills, high prices at the crats seem able to accept. They want note, are coming from Mexican cartels
pump. Americans are dipping into their their Green New Deal future, and they across the southern border.
savings to make ends meet. They are want it now. So despite our continued Mr. President, there is a lot more to
cutting back on essentials or putting need for oil and gas resources, Presi- say about the way our Nation’s secu-
basic living expenses on their credit dent Biden has adopted an energy agen- rity has declined over the past 2 years.
cards. da that is hostile to conventional en- There is the increase in violent crime—
In the month of August alone, infla- ergy production: canceling the Key- an increase undoubtedly driven in part
tion cost the average American house- stone XL Pipeline—an environmentally by woke Democrat prosecutors’ lax at-
hold a staggering $715—$715, 1 month. responsible pipeline project that would titude toward serious crimes and
Even if prices stopped increasing to- have reinforced our energy infrastruc- Democrats’ willingness to accommo-
morrow, the inflation that we have al- ture; discouraging investment in con- date the ‘‘defund the police’’ move-
ready experienced will cost the average ventional energy; limiting oil and gas ment. There is our botched withdrawal
American household more than $8,500 leasing. The list goes on. And I haven’t from Afghanistan—a national security
over the next year—$8,500. That is a lot even mentioned Democrats’ latest debacle that weakened our standing
of money—a lot. That is a kid’s braces, measure: a round of tax hikes on oil internationally and emboldened terror-
essential car repairs, essential home and gas companies that will drive up ists and the Taliban. And there are the
repairs. It is the difference between Americans’ energy bills and continue President’s ill-conceived plans for a nu-
putting something away for the kids’ to discourage conventional energy pro- clear deal with Iran.
college or leaving the education sav- duction here at home. But I will stop here. Suffice it to say
ings account empty. It is the difference The result of all this, the result of that it has been a rough couple of years
between putting money away for re- Democrats’ attempt to force an alter- under Democrat governance on both
tirement or spending every penny on native energy future before that future the economic and the security fronts,
necessities. And for too many families, is fully ready, will be reducing our en- and if Democrats get a chance to con-
that is the difference between breaking ergy security and prolonging the high tinue with their policies, I expect the
even or finding themselves in debt or energy prices that are hitting families situation will continue to get worse.
worse. and businesses. Mr. President, I yield the floor.
Americans’ economic security has Our Nation’s energy security has de- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
taken a serious hit under Democrat clined under the Biden administration, pore. The Senator from Montana.
control in Washington, and there is lit- and so has our national security. I Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, inter-
tle evidence to suggest that things are came to the floor last week to talk yet esting time we have here in the U.S.
going to get any better anytime soon. again about another raging crisis at Senate. When the Democrats took over
Our economy is weakening. We have our southern border—a crisis the Presi- this body, we were coming out of a pan-
posted negative economic growth for dent and Democrats are apparently demic and not even close to being fully
each of the past two quarters, and esti- content to continue to ignore. The flow out of the pandemic yet. If you think
mates for third-quarter growth are not of illegal immigration across our back then, people didn’t have shots in
promising. Major companies have an- southern border has reached record lev- their arms, the economy was in tough
nounced job cuts, and the nonpartisan els. The Border Patrol and border fa- shape, and Democrats responded in a
Conference Board is projecting a reces- cilities are overwhelmed, and border way that helped turn this economy
sion in the coming months. communities are struggling. The Presi- around and helped put us on firm foot-
Unfortunately, the bad news is not dent and the Democrats, it would ap- ing as a leading economic driver in this
confined to inflation or slowdowns in pear, could not care less. world.
economic growth, neither of which, I Border security is an essential part It is interesting as I hear some of my
should note, will be helped by Demo- of national security. It is not just indi- folks on the other side of the aisle talk
crats’ misleadingly named Inflation viduals hoping for a better life who are about things like inflation as it applies
Reduction Act or by President Biden’s attempting to make their way illegally to food. I happen to have a couple of
massive student loan giveaway, which across our southern border; all sorts of bills that will deal with that issue, and
the Committee for a Responsible Fed- dangerous individuals are attempting hopefully we can take it up in the
eral Budget notes will ‘‘meaningfully to make their way across as well, from lameduck. I don’t think we are going
boost inflation.’’ gang members, to human smugglers, to to have time to take it up before the
One major driver of inflation is high possible terrorists. So far this fiscal election. But that will help not only
energy prices, and we are facing a con- year, the Border Patrol has encoun- our cow-calf producers but also con-
cerning situation on the energy front. tered 78 individuals on the terror sumers when it comes to meat prices. I
As every American who has paid an watchlist attempting to cross our would hope that we get a large number
electricity bill or filled up his or her southern border illegally—78. And that of folks from across the aisle to sup-
car is well aware, energy has gotten is the number of individuals the Border port us on that.
much more expensive in Joe Biden’s Patrol has managed to apprehend. When we talk about the southern
America. Gas prices are up 57 percent Given the incredible strain that Cus- border and we talk about national se-
since President Biden took office, and, toms and Border Protection is under, it curity—and I am going to approach na-
after a temporary decline, they are on is entirely possible that other individ- tional security in a little different vein
the rise again. Electricity prices were uals on the watchlist have entered the here with this CR—I think it is impor-
up 15.8 percent in August—the biggest country without our knowledge. tant to note that folks bring up a lot of
year-over-year increase since August of One thing we do know is that illegal things wrong, with few solutions.
1981. Utility gas service is up 33 per- drugs are flowing across our southern The bottom line is that we need more
cent. And Americans are facing high border and contributing to violent manpower and we need more tech-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
prices to heat their homes this winter. crime. My State is almost as far from nology on the southern border. I have
While there are multiple reasons for the southern border as it is possible to been down there, and I have seen how
high oil and gas prices, Democrats’ get, but the flow of illegal drugs across these folks bring drugs across the line.
hostility to conventional energy pro- the southern border has a direct im- They don’t put it in backpacks—some,
duction is contributing to this energy pact on crime in our communities in but very little. Most come across in
price crisis. I am a big supporter of al- South Dakota. The sheriff in my home cars and trucks and equipment. If we
ternative energy, and I have been county in South Dakota recently stat- have the technology to be able to, for
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S5120 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 28, 2022
lack of a better term, x-ray these vehi- ness, it is important for families, and it We have FEMA and we have the Red
cles, we can make a big inroad on what is important for our armed services. Cross, and we have everybody that is
is going on from a drug standpoint. If I know what it takes to craft these there, and it is all very important and
we have the manpower—which, by the bills because, quite honestly, we very well intended. But then the next
way, we are very undermanned as far worked on a pretty darned good appro- disaster comes. So maybe—I don’t
as Border Patrol and border protec- priations bill, but we weren’t allowed know—maybe, the people in New Mex-
tion—we could make inroads into ille- to bring it up. For the sake of our na- ico are thinking that we have forgotten
gal border crossings also. tional security and for our men and them. I don’t want the people of Alaska
CONTINUING RESOLUTION women in uniform, we need to work in to think that we have forgotten what
Mr. President, I am not here to talk a bipartisan way. happened in their communities.
about any of that stuff, per se. What I If you want to talk about what is Typhoon Merbok came up from
do want to talk about is a thing called wrong with this country, the main Japan, came across the gulf, up into
a continuing resolution because that is thing that is wrong with this country the Bering Sea, and impacted an area
what we are going to vote on hopefully is we point to the different issues and of land on the coast of Alaska in excess
today or tomorrow. Without this con- areas that we could do better on. The of 1,000 miles.
tinuing resolution, we will be shutting main thing that is wrong with this To put it into context, it is as if the
down the government, so I would en- country right now is dysfunction in entire west coast of the United
courage all my fellow Senators to vote Washington, DC, and the fact that this States—from the Canadian border all
for this continuing resolution. place is totally divided, and everything the way down to Mexico—were im-
I am going to approach it from my is about politics first and policy sec- pacted and inundated by one massive
position as chairman of the Appropria- ond. storm. That is the size and the scope of
tions Defense Subcommittee, the com- We need to find common ground. what we experienced: hurricane-force
mittee that funds our military. Our Failure to find common ground puts winds and, in the Bering Sea, waves as
Armed Forces need this funding, this our troops and our Nation and, quite high as 50 feet.
continuing resolution, for their pay- frankly, the whole world in danger. The impact to the land was extraor-
checks, along with the thousands of ci- I will close by saying that my col- dinary, with the strength of the wind,
vilian employees whom the Depart- leagues need to pass this resolution, but it was this massive storm surge
ment of Defense employs. and we need to make sure that this is that came. We get tough storms in the
The fact that we are debating a con- the last continuing resolution that we Bering Sea. We get really tough storms
tinuing resolution instead of a full gov- pass; that, in fact, we have full appro- in the Gulf of Alaska. But what we saw
ernment funding bill is truly dis- priations bills done in the proper this year was a storm that was earlier
appointing. It is disappointing because timeline, which is at the end of the fis- in its intensity than we have seen in
Federal Government funding is cal year, which is the end of Sep- previous years.
Congress’s primary job. People of Mon- tember. Anything less should be con- Oftentimes, people think about Alas-
tana did not send me to the U.S. Sen- sidered a failure. ka and think, man, it must be tough
ate to play politics and put off work I yield the floor. when the ice is formed out over the
that needs to be done to another day; I suggest the absence of a quorum. whole sea and everything is locked in.
they sent me here to get the job done. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Actually, that is when we have safety,
Failing to pass this CR would harm pore. The clerk will call the roll. because when there is ice, it takes you
families, businesses, agriculture all The legislative clerk proceeded to all the way up to the shoreline, and
across our great Nation. So step 1 is call the roll. these massive storms with the wind
passing this continuing resolution, not Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I can’t build the waves to that level to
kicking the can further down the road. ask unanimous consent that the order eat away at the shore, to cause the de-
But let’s do ourselves a favor. Let’s for the quorum call be rescinded. struction that we are seeing with,
make sure that this is the last CR be- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- again, the intensity of the impact of
fore we agree to fiscal year 2023’s fund- pore. Without objection, it is so or- this storm.
ing package. I can tell you that after dered. We in Alaska are lucky. There were
working for the last nearly 2 years as HURRICANE IAN AND TYPHOON MERBOK no people who were killed or injured.
chair of the Appropriations Defense Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, we Really, it is astonishing, given all that
Subcommittee, that this bill shouldn’t are all watching the news this morn- the area sustained. I think part of that
be about politics or partisanship; it ing, as a very, very threatening and fe- was just due to being prepared, know-
should be about national security, rocious hurricane is bearing down on ing that everybody had to hunker
keeping our Nation safe. But by con- Florida, a storm that is causing great down. But when your community then
tinuing to pass CRs, our military will anxiety. Hopefully, people are as pre- is, literally, separated in two, as they
be operating on outdated budgets, our pared as they can be, but the con- were in Hooper Bay, where on the old
troops will not have the resources that sequences of these storms, these disas- side of town you are cut off from your
they need to operate at the highest ters that we are seeing, are ravaging in evacuation center, which is the school,
level, and it will waste taxpayer ways that are seemingly more fero- because the waters have risen to the
money. cious than before. point where it is no longer accessible,
Make no mistake about it, there are We saw that last week in Puerto there is no way to get to safety, and it
countries out there that wish to do us Rico, and, just about 10 days ago, we is blowing 80 miles an hour in the mid-
harm. With every continuing resolu- felt the effects of Typhoon Merbok on dle of the night, the only place that
tion, we are giving our enemies—and I the western coast of Alaska. I would you can go to is the next house up, hop-
don’t need to bring them up per list— like to take just a few minutes here ing it is going to be a little bit higher
the ability to take a second breath and this afternoon because, as I was watch- above the water.
come after us: Russia in Ukraine; ing the news as this Hurricane Ian is And so it is a recognition that prepa-
China, which is rapidly modernizing approaching the coast of Florida, I ration is going to be key to saving
their military and threatening our can’t help but think about what the lives, but it is also making sure that
technological edge. This is happening, folks back home are facing as they our coastal communities that are so
along with a bunch of other stuff, while have lived through a very terrifying exposed, as the many in Western Alas-
disaster like the typhoon and then ka are, that they are able to push back
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
we are limiting our military’s ability
to assess emerging threats around the what happens next, because, unfortu- or hold back to the extent possible.
globe. nately—and you know in your State For some of the erosion, the threat
Without a full appropriations pack- very well with the fires that ravaged that comes their way, we have seawalls
age, our Armed Forces lack certainty New Mexico—disasters come through that are nothing more than boulders
needed to operate to their fullest po- and the attention of the country is fo- that are built up, dunes and berms that
tential—certainty that is so important cused on that, and we all want to be have been built over the years. But,
for everything. It is important for busi- there to be of help and of assistance. again, we recognize how minimal that
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September 28, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5121
is in terms of a protective barrier when the belly board of these homes and the Beluga nets, the gear that they
you have the extent and intensity of saturated the insulation underneath have for their fishing. If they are able
these storms. with water. But worse to the point is to get caribou or moose, this is where
This is where many Alaskans are that water was mixed with the diesel, they come and they process. They har-
feeling very exposed and very vulner- the diesel that had come from people’s vested their berries. Everything kind of
able, knowing we made it through this home heating fuel, their stove oil, the comes together at fish camp. Then you
storm, but what happens with the next fuel they may have had for their snow are ready for winter.
one, because now that berm in machines or their four-wheelers. You What happens when you have har-
Shaktoolik is completely eroded away. could smell, going into the homes, the vested and gathered and fished and you
For a good portion of the seawall in diesel that was below. What everyone put it all in your freezer and then the
Nome, the rocks are just jumbled and was doing was literally ripping the in- power goes out, as it did for multiple
scattered. What we saw in Elim, sulation out from underneath their days, and you lose everything in your
around their front street there, they homes and buckets full of—dozer loads freezer? The power went out here in
had a seawall of sorts. It was like a full of wet, soggy, contaminated insu- Washington, DC, when I was back in
giant had come in and just picked up lation was being hauled off to the Alaska in August, and I lost the stuff
those boulders and sprinkled them, dump. in my freezer. You know what? I am
threw them all around. The front So that is all the activity that is just fine. I can go down to the grocery
street there that had just been going on now, and it is fast and it is store here. Folks in Elim don’t have
asphalted a couple of years ago—the frenetic. And it needs to be because on that opportunity.
pieces of asphalt almost lifted up, the day that I was there in Golovin and The people in Golovin and Chevak
peeled back like a piece of taffy, just Elim, then 2 days later when I was in and Hooper Bay and Shaktoolik and all
curled over the beach there. You look Hooper Bay and Chevak, the weather the other places that have been im-
at that and you cannot comprehend the was kind of nice. It was decent. But in pacted—the outdoors is their grocery
strength of that storm surge, the about 2 weeks—in about maybe 3 store and the outdoor grocery store is
strength of what had caused that to weeks—winter comes. Winter is on its now shut down because salmon season
just buckle and heave and, literally, way. is over, fishing is pretty much over,
melt. When winter comes, you can’t move berries are gone, moose and caribou—
I had a chance over this weekend to around. When the ice comes down out maybe they will be able to get a little
go and visit the area. I flew up to of the north, you don’t have fuel barges bit of game, maybe not.
Nome, and we were able to go out to that return to the area until the Think about what that means when
Golovin and Elim on the first day. spring. That fuel barge comes in maybe your food source is now gone. You lost
Elim is a community of about 125 peo- May; in the upper river regions, June. your boat because that was swept away
ple—pretty small. It is pretty small Think about that. If you lost your fuel or demolished. You have lost your
but pretty important in terms of what and the last fuel barge has come and motor. This is not a recreational boat.
they do. They are trying to build a lit- gone and you weren’t filled up, it is a This is how you feed your family; this
tle subsistence harbor there. They are long wait. What do you do? If you can’t is how you live. The four-wheelers are
resilient people. But some of what we barge it in, you fly it in. Imagine what just thrown up and crumbled and
saw with the erosion and what that it means to fly in your fuel into these crushed. That is not recreation; that is
will mean to them and their commu- villages. how people move around. When you
nity—what it is going to mean to them Construction materials. How do we think about the ability then to—what
and their water supply. get the construction materials up do you do now? What do you do now?
Golovin is a little bit bigger of a there, whether it is the sheetrock or I am sharing this with people because
community, several hundred people. the plywood or the insulation? You put this is what has been keeping me up at
Golovin was impacted in a way and a it on the barge. Well, the last barges night and getting me up really early in
manner that was just almost mind-bog- are like the fuel trucks. Barges won’t the morning to figure out what more
gling. The surge from the storm came be back until the spring. Right now, we can do—what more we can do to
up over this isthmus there, literally people are planning on: I need to fix up help the people in these small commu-
lifting homes up off their foundation, my home, but I am not going to be able nities that lived through a very scary
floating them and depositing them in to get the materials until June. What natural disaster but who have looming
different locations. happens in the meantime? What hap- in front of them perhaps a very fright-
We went down a couple of different pens in the meantime as winter comes? ening winter—a cold winter, one where
streets, and you come around and there If you don’t have any insulation under their food resource is gone, where the
is a house literally in the middle of the your home, if you haven’t been able to expense of living has always been high,
road, and people are moving their four- get your home situated, you are going but now—we don’t even know how to
wheelers on either side of it because to be pretty vulnerable. account for how high it is.
the house is in the middle of the road. You may have made it through the I was talking about this with a guy
Another one on another corner that storm, but it may be a very, very dif- in Chevak who said he had ordered a
had been floated across was just kind ficult and cold winter. It may be that little bit of lumber. He was working on
of catawampus. These homes will never your family of eight is now going to something. He didn’t even say what it
be habitable again. have to move in with another family was. It was $1,500 worth of lumber, but
Sand—you look at it from the air, that is already in an overcrowded situ- it cost him $2,200 to get it there, to
and it is lovely golden sand, not some- ation. We don’t have extra housing. freight it up.
thing you would expect to see on the There is no extra housing. I went into the grocery store, as I do
coast of Western Alaska. But this sand Everybody is moving as quickly as in as many of the small towns and vil-
now has inundated the entire lower they possibly can to try to bring relief. lages as I can. I always price things
part of the community, making it a We have the National Guard that are like, What is a box of Tide? I know
thick, spongy, soft—interesting, but it doing amazing things. Red Cross was what it is in Anchorage, I know what it
is really very, very impractical in out there analyzing. We were out there is in Fairbanks, but in Chevak, it is $45
terms of how we move this wet, soggy with the FEMA administrator. I took before the tax is added on to it.
sand out of everything that has come her to Nome, was able to take her to But I had heard—I had heard this
into the community here. Golovin. She was able to see the de- crazy story that water, bottled water,
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
The areas underneath the homes—the struction that came to the fish camps was more expensive than fuel. That
homes in most of these western com- right outside of Nome. Fish camps are can’t possibly be. Fuel is $7 a gallon
munities are elevated on stilts, not not where people go for a holiday. Fish out there in Nome and probably more
very high but they are all elevated. camp is where people work. This is than that in Chevak. A 24-pack of bot-
They are elevated because you do have where they harvest and they process tled water—I don’t know what the
instances of flooding. But the flooding and they prepare their food, whether it label was, it was like generic bottled
was so high that it came up underneath is the salmon nets to catch the salmon, water you probably get at Costco—$91.
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S5122 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 28, 2022
That did include tax. It was $91 for bot- and there is no question that there are vention Team Association annual con-
tled water. And this is in a community big disagreements here and for good ference.
where they were still on a boil water reasons. But the media seems to miss It is a shining success story, and the
notice because they were just still the smaller but no less important bills Pharr Police Department is eager to do
checking out their water systems. that earn bipartisan support every day. more. That is why the Justice and
We are working hard. Nobody is sit- Over the last couple of years, the Mental Health Collaboration Grant
ting back and waiting for the Federal Senate has unanimously—unani- Program is important—because it pro-
Government to come in and help them mously—approved bills that I have in- vides additional resources.
because they don’t have time. They are troduced to support victims of child In the past, the mental health unit in
cleaning things up. abuse, provide tax relief to survivors of the city of Pharr received a $550,000
The FEMA administrator saw in human trafficking, strengthening our grant, which will be used to expand the
Nome—in fairness compared to where trade relationships with Canada and reach and impact of the program in the
she was in Puerto Rico, it probably Mexico, and building safer and community, and I introduced a bill
didn’t look that bad. But when you healthier communities. with Senator KLOBUCHAR, our colleague
peel it back and you look at the dam- It is no secret that our country is in from Minnesota, to ensure that these
age and you realize the vulnerability the midst of a mental health crisis. We grants can deliver even bigger benefits.
going forward into this winter, that is do not have a mental health delivery Our bill would allow grants to be
where it looks scary. system in America. We made some used for mental health courts and vet-
So we are using every resource that great strides recently with the Mental erans treatment programs—two incred-
we have—every volunteer, every agen- Health and Safe Communities Act that ible resources to provide individuals
cy. People are there and they are put- made an unprecedented investment in who are struggling with the treatment
ting their muscle into it. We have community-based mental health care. they need.
asked for the same support that Presi- We all know that the mental health Grant recipients could also use these
dent Biden has given to Puerto Rico crisis does not discriminate. It affects funds to improve officer training. As I
people of all ages, from all walks of said, most police officers aren’t trained
with a 100 percent cost-share waiver for
life, and it is creating serious chal- to deal with people in a mental health
the first 30 days to get things cleaned
lenges for law enforcement who are crisis, and things like deescalation
up. I am hopeful—I am desperately
often the first to respond when some- training are really important for the
hopeful—that the administration hears
one is experiencing a mental health safety of the person experiencing the
us on that.
crisis. Police officers will tell you that crisis as well as the law enforcement
For us, right now, it is this imme-
officer.
diacy of time to get things pulled back they don’t have the training or exper-
But these grants can also enhance
together as fully as we possibly can be- tise, ordinarily, to assist these individ-
services for substance use disorders and
cause we cannot—they cannot—be in a uals in the most effective way possible suicide prevention programs, and they
situation where, in the middle of win- because they are not mental health would be able to invest in 24/7, 365-day
ter, when resources may be there but professionals. We can’t expect the po- crisis response capabilities.
they are a long way away and they are lice to solve every problem that they All of these recommendations in this
very expensive, that we then realize face on the streets of our country, legislation came from the men and
that we have to provide additional sup- whether it has to do with mental women on the frontlines. They come
port and additional relief. health, drug overdoses, homelessness, face-to-face with America’s mental
There is a resilience in Alaska and, or the like. They have simply been health crisis every day, and these are
certainly, a resilience in Western Alas- asked to do too much without the re- the changes that they have suggested
ka. These people have lived in these sources or support they need, and that and asked for.
villages for thousands of years—maybe needs to change. But, obviously, I am not alone in sup-
not exactly the same place, but they That is where the Justice and Mental porting the program. As I said, this bill
are not going anywhere. They are not Health Collaboration Program comes was introduced with Senator KLO-
going anywhere. in. For nearly two decades, this pro- BUCHAR, and it has more than a dozen
And what I feel compelled to do is ev- gram has provided critical grants to bipartisan cosponsors, including the
erything in my power to make sure help law enforcement assist individuals chairman and the ranking member of
that they are not forgotten and that experiencing a mental health crisis. the Senate Judiciary Committee. And
they and their families are able to That includes mental health courts, the bill passed the U.S. Senate last
move forward in these next months. crisis intervention teams, and other summer with unanimous support.
With that, I just share that my programs that promote public safety So that is just one example of the bi-
thoughts and my prayers are not just and improve mental health outcomes partisan work we have done here that
limited to those in Alaska, but we and reduce recidivism. doesn’t get a lot of attention but will
think about all those who have suffered Communities across my State of go a long way to improve our criminal
due to disasters, whether in New Mex- Texas are working to bridge the gap be- justice system and how it deals with
ico, in Puerto Rico, or those who are tween criminal justice and mental people who are struggling.
very, very fearful in Florida right now. health, and I was able to hear about Last year, the Senate approved legis-
I yield the floor. some of that work during the August lation that I introduced with Senator
I suggest the absence of a quorum. recess. WHITEHOUSE, the Senator from Rhode
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- In the city of Pharr, in the Rio Island, to help incarcerated individuals
pore. The clerk will call the roll. Grande Valley, for example, I sat down break the cycle of addiction. This leg-
The legislative clerk proceeded to with local law enforcement officers and islation updates the Residential Sub-
call the roll. mental health professionals, as well as stance Abuse Treatment Program and
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask local civic leaders, to talk about the expands it to treatment in jails and
unanimous consent that the order for city’s innovative mental health unit. prisons across the country. The pro-
the quorum call be rescinded. The Pharr Police Department gram has already provided incarcer-
The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- launched this unit in 2020 to improve ated individuals with access to treat-
pore. Without objection, it is so or- the quality of outcomes for individuals ment for substance use disorders. That
dered. in crisis and the community as a treatment is coupled with programs to
whole. Mental health officers are
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
LAW ENFORCEMENT prepare these men and women for re-
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, despite trained to respond to these crises in entry and to provide community-based
the gridlock that occasionally grips the most effective and compassionate treatment once they are released,
this Chamber, the Senate has managed way possible, and the city of Pharr has hopefully, to help them lead produc-
to advance some great bipartisan bills experienced great results over the last tive, law-abiding lives.
since the beginning of this Congress. couple of years. The program has even Our legislation opens up even more
All of the attention seems to focus on been recognized as the ‘‘Organization opportunities for successful rehabilita-
our disagreements, not where we agree, of the Year’’ at the Texas Crisis Inter- tion and continued recovery, and it
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September 28, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5123
gives providers more options when it down with so many poison pills that it van, where eyewitnesses could hear the
comes to treating substance use dis- stands no chance of becoming law here police beating her. A few hours later,
orders. It requires program staff to be in the Senate. In short, they can now she was delivered to a local hospital,
trained on the science of addiction, evi- say they voted for a police funding bill, where she was declared brain dead. The
dence-based therapies, and strategies even though they know it is guaran- police shamelessly claimed that she
for continuity of care. And it ensures teed to go nowhere. had had a spontaneous heart attack.
programs are affiliated with providers Meanwhile, there are great bipar- Thousands upon thousands of Ira-
who can continue treatment after in- tisan bills that do support the police nians have poured into the streets
carceration. that are just one vote and a signature since. Protesters are calling for an end
We have done a lot of good work, if I away from becoming law. The dif- to the savagery that has made absurd
can say so myself, on a bipartisan ference is, these aren’t messaging bills. arrests and vicious beatings a regular
basis, to try to deal with things like These aren’t designed to provide people part of the rhythm of life in Tehran.
addiction, things like mental health with political cover or mistaken posi- They are demanding dignity for the
crises because typically what happens tions that they have taken in the past. millions and millions of people who
in the absence of these programs is law The goal was never to make a point or have lost it under Tehran’s maniac the-
enforcement ends up getting a 9–1-1 force a tough vote on our colleagues ocracy. This is no small thing, what
call, and they have nowhere to take across the aisle. they have done—the courage that is on
the person other than to the local jail. Bipartisan, good policy—these bills display as they pour into the streets.
Not that long ago, I met with a group give law enforcement the tools they Protests have erupted now in more
of major city police chiefs, and I was need in order to succeed at the very than 80 cities and in all 31 of Iran’s
asked by a friend of mine—one of the difficult job we know they have, and provinces. This is not a minor dem-
police chiefs—who said: Would you like both of them passed the Senate with- onstration.
to meet the largest mental health pro- out a single dissenting vote. The mullahs are facing one of the
vider in the country? He is the police So given the fact that America is fac- most significant challenges to their
chief of the Los Angeles Police Depart- ing a mental health crisis and an over- rule since they seized it 43 years ago, in
ment. dose epidemic, there could not be a 1979. How has the regime responded? As
So in the absence of these kinds of more important time to take up and expected—with more brutality, with
programs, these innovative programs, pass these bills. more repression, and with more sav-
what you are seeing is people So I hope if anybody in the House is agery. Human rights groups estimate
warehoused in jails or prisons, only to listening in the leadership, they will that 76 people have been killed so far
repeat their offenses again because the consider the fact that by one vote they by the authorities.
core problems that they are experi- can get these bills on the President’s Meanwhile, the crackdown has also
encing aren’t being addressed. That is desk, and we can’t let antipolice rhet- included a shutting off of social media
true in addiction. That is true with oric stand in the way of good policy or and the internet. They hope that a
mental health. helping those who deserve and need our country and a world that can’t see
So these changes that I am talking help. their thuggery won’t notice it, will pre-
about were not drafted in a vacuum. I yield the floor. tend it doesn’t exist, won’t know. Well,
We consulted with law enforcement, I suggest the absence of a quorum. they know, and we know. The Iranians
criminal justice specialists, and behav- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- know how this regime operates. We
ioral health experts. And, once again, pore. The clerk will call the roll. know that these pathetic cowards have
this bill passed unanimously in the The bill clerk proceeded to call the no regard for human dignity.
Senate. roll. Who are they?
Despite the fact that these two bills Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, I ask These bloodthirsty men are the goons
that I have talked about got support of unanimous consent that the order for who hang homosexuals from gallows,
100 Senators, both have hit a brick wall the quorum call be rescinded. who protect child rapists, who deny
in the House. The House has yet to The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. women education. The regime is rotten
schedule a vote on either one of those HICKENLOOPER). Without objection, it is to the core. The people who are suf-
pieces of legislation. It is not clear to so ordered. fering under it know, and we know.
me why the House won’t take up and IRAN These men have told the world exactly
pass these obviously nonpartisan, im- Mr. SASSE. Mr. President, the who they are again and again and
portant pieces of legislation. human spirit abhors tyranny. again.
These are two bills to improve the Since February, the world has wit- In 2009, Iranians erupted at the gro-
way our criminal justice system sup- nessed examples of extraordinary cour- tesque human rights abuses per-
ports people who are struggling and age. In Ukraine, we have watched ordi- petrated by then-President Mahmoud
gives them the best possible shot at nary men and women mount a defense Ahmadinejad. In an election riddled
healthy and productive lives. of their homes and their homeland with fraud, the world saw who he was
They were drafted here, as I said, on against overwhelming odds—people again. During the Green Revolution,
a bipartisan basis, based on feedback never having handled firearms before thousands of protesters, including key
and input of the people who know this who are getting training, getting arms, opposition leaders, were arrested and
topic best, and they will improve pub- getting munitions, and joining to- thrown in Iran’s dungeon prisons.
lic safety and individual outcomes. gether in the cause of defending their Many were tortured, and several dozen
So I hope the House will take up and homes and their homeland. We know were killed. A 26-year-old woman, a
pass these bills without further delay. I what it has cost them. Across the bor- student, was shot from a nearby roof-
hope there isn’t a resistance to these der, we have seen thousands and thou- top by pro-government militia men.
bills because some of this money goes sands of ordinary Russians challenge Her dying moments were recorded by
to fund police departments. the suicidal thuggery of Vladimir cell phone video and were broadcast
As we have seen over the last couple Putin. We know what it has cost them around the world.
of years, some of our Democratic col- too. We know who they are.
leagues reflexively oppose any effort to Today, I want to call our attention to Ten years later—3 years ago, in 2019—
send funding to police departments. We the courage on display in a different massive nationwide protests erupted
all remember the ‘‘defund the police’’ part of the world. I want to look to again. This time, it was following an
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
movement. Iran. announcement of massive,
When this became a major political Two weeks ago yesterday, on Sep- unsustainable hikes on gas prices. The
liability, though, obviously, those who tember 13, Iran’s so-called morality po- protests and the violence that followed
had advocated for defunding the police lice arrested a young woman named were the worst since 1979.
tried to run for cover. Mahsa Amini. They detained her on the Hundreds of people took to the
Last week, the House passed a par- grounds that she was wearing her hijab streets, and the government responded
tisan police funding bill that is loaded improperly. She was bundled into a with a campaign of systemic savagery,
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S5124 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 28, 2022
hoping to drive people back into their It is a good start, but it is far from unnoticed. They have imagined the
homes in order to hide the truth and to sufficient. It is far from the end. possibility of an Iranian future no
not admit to what this regime was and Right now, America’s policy toward longer under the thumb of Tehran’s
the ways that they failed. Protesters Iran is hopelessly schizophrenic. We bloodthirsty dictators. We should be
were shot from rooftops and heli- cannot stand on the side of Iranian pro- able to imagine that future too and to
copters by the Iranian Revolutionary testers at the same time that we are do more to make that a reality.
Guard. Their troops opened fire on un- trying to re-sign a nuclear deal with The Iranian people hate Tehran’s
armed protesters who were attempting the same mullahs who would release blood-soaked tyrants. This is not a re-
to block roadways and entrances. In billions of dollars back into their gime that has the consent of the gov-
one southwestern city, IRGC forces hands, help them shore up their power, erned. The American people are on
pursued several dozen, mostly young, and do nothing to prevent putting a freedom’s side. The administration
unarmed protesters into a march out- catastrophic weapon into their geno- should drop the fantasy of another nu-
side the city and then began mas- cidal hands. President Obama chased a clear deal, walk away from the table,
sacring them. Most reliable outside ob- flawed nuclear deal with Iran’s terror and turn the screws on these monsters
servers believe that about 1,500 pro- state instead of more aggressively by, first, telling the truth again and
testers were killed. standing with the Iranian people. again.
In 2019, Tehran also conducted a Today, the same hodgepodge of na- We ought to do everything we can to
near-total internet shutdown, plunging tional security advisers is at it again. celebrate the heroism of the Iranians
the country’s 83 million people into in- Newly announced sanctions against
in the streets and to expose Tehran’s
formation darkness for about 6 days. the leaders of the Ministry of Intel-
human rights abuses around the watch-
That practice, as we are seeing again ligence and Security, the Army Ground
ing world. And the best way to do that
right now, as we see this month, has Forces, and the pro-government mili-
is by making sure that the internet
become one more regular instrument of tias are good, but we cannot stand on
the side of the men and women of Iran stays on in Iran—more light, more
terror. These guys are scared of sun- truth, more information.
light. They are scared of information. who are in the streets at the same time
we refuse to sanction the leaders who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
They are scared of the truth. ator from Kansas.
We know that the despots in Iran matter most. Ayatollah Khomeini and
who brutalize their own people also ex- the circle of elites around him con- Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I
port their terror tactics. Look at the tinue to escape serious consequence. ask unanimous consent that Senator
last 2 months alone. We shouldn’t trick ourselves and MENENDEZ and I be permitted to com-
In July of last summer, 2021, a group should not delude ourselves into think- plete our remarks prior to the sched-
of Iranian spies tried to kidnap Masih ing that economic sanctions are a uled recess.
Alinejad—an Iranian-American jour- magic wand or that the mullahs them- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
nalist and human rights activist—at selves care very much about the eco- objection, it is so ordered.
her home in New York. In July of this nomic pain that the people under their UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 4914
year, she was the target of an assas- regime are suffering. We should not Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I
sination attempt again at her home in think that the mullahs care about elite rise in support of our legislation to for-
our country. opinion in Paris. We have to have a se- mally designate the major Mexican
We learned in August that a member rious top-to-bottom evaluation of our drug cartels as foreign terrorist organi-
of the IRGC had plotted to assassinate Iran strategy, and a coherent policy zations under Federal law.
former National Security Advisor John must begin by telling the truth over It would also require the State De-
Bolton on American soil. and over and over again. partment to issue a report to Congress
Former Secretary of State Mike We cannot stand on the side of the on additional cartels that meet the cri-
Pompeo and former Iran Envoy Brian people on the streets demanding dig- teria for foreign terrorist organizations
Hook still require personal security de- nity at the same time that we welcome designation and require the Depart-
tails everywhere they go because Iran Iran’s President—someone personally ment to designate them as such within
has put targets on their backs in our responsible for show trials and mass 30 days of the report. This bill would
country. executions and assassination attempts give us greater tools to push back
It was also just last month that, in- on our soil, in our country. We can’t against the cartels fueling the White
spired by the Ayatollah Khomeini’s allow him to spout lies and propaganda House’s deadly open border crisis.
1989 fatwa, an American man attacked on our same American soil as we did This past March, I was honored and
and nearly killed novelist Salman last week at the U.N. General Assem- proud to lead five Kansas sheriffs to
Rushdie during an appearance in New bly in New York. the border to meet with Border Patrol
York. Now is the time for a serious, coordi-
officers and survey the ongoing immi-
Then, in August, Vladimir Putin re- nated policy that admits the threat
gration crisis at our border. With our
ceived his first shipment of Iranian that Iran poses, not just to its people
own eyes, we saw the activities of the
drones—birds of a feather. and its neighbors but also to America,
major Mexican drug cartels that qual-
Inside its borders and beyond them, and to take seriously our commitment
to the rights and freedoms of all 7.8 bil- ify them for designation as a foreign
the regime in Tehran thinks nothing
lion people across this globe created in terrorist organization, as they are
but bloody thoughts. They think no
God’s image. transnational entities that engage in
one has dignity who doesn’t subscribe
We can start by helping illuminate textbook terrorist activity, such as
exactly to their theocratic views. It is
the government-imposed blackout so kidnapping, assassination, and endan-
long past time that American policy
that Iranians can see what their gov- gering lives with explosives and fire-
and the policies of our friends and al-
ernment and its blackshirts are doing— arms.
lies recognize these blunt facts. We
more light, more information. We can Additionally, these cartels are re-
should tell the truth.
expand and intensify the sanctions re- sponsible for the deaths of hundreds of
In 2009 and again in 2019, we had the
gime that has pushed Iran to the brink thousands of Americans, especially
opportunity to support and encourage
in the past, before we lost our nerve. young Americans in their prime.
protesters who were agitating against
a regime that is their enemy and is We can amplify the voices of the Ira- Fentanyl has quickly become the
ours, and in both cases, under adminis- nian protesters and stop providing leading cause of death among adults
ages 18 to 45. Last year, the number of
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
trations Democratic and Republican, platforms to the regime’s propa-
we failed the test. gandists. We can make sure that the drug overdose deaths in the United
Last week, President Biden told the voices of the Iranian people are heard States topped 100,000, with fentanyl
U.N. General Assembly: by keeping the internet on while being the cause of more than two-
Today, we stand with the brave citizens Tehran works to put the country back thirds of them.
and the brave women of Iran, who right now into the black box of despotism. The vast majority of fentanyl precur-
are demonstrating to secure their basic The courage of men and women on sors, as we all know now, are manufac-
rights. the streets of Iran today has not gone tured in China and then chemically
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September 28, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5125
turned into lethal fentanyl by the car- The unsustainable crisis at the bor- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
tels. Next, the cartels smuggle the poi- der has impacted not only Americans objection?
son into the United States via the but the migrants themselves, who have The Senator from New Jersey.
southwest border. In fact, the DEA re- often traveled hundreds of miles on Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, re-
ports that an astounding 80 percent of foot and can be exploited by these ter- serving the right to object—and I ap-
the fentanyl in America comes into our rorist organizations. preciate my friend—I do consider him
country through the U.S.-Mexico open Just yesterday, the Washington Ex- my friend—and colleague and his con-
border. aminer reported those being brought cern, which we mutually share on this
Last week, we introduced the Cooper across the border by coyotes are paying issue. But this legislation was intro-
Davis Act, a bill named after Cooper an average of $8,600 in total smuggling duced 7 days ago—7 days ago. Most of
Davis, a Johnston County, KS, teen fees this year, mimicking what Mafias our colleagues have not even had a
who tragically lost his life to fentanyl do who charge a fee—literally a tax—to chance to read it.
poisoning last summer after just tak- enter their territory and pass through. The Foreign Relations Committee,
ing one-half of one pill of fake Percocet The Biden open border surge has en- which I have the privilege of chairing,
that contained, unfortunately, a lethal riched these terrorist organizations, has not reviewed or marked up this bill
dose of fentanyl. and we must step up our defenses since it just got referred to us. And to
Sadly, Cooper Davis is not the only against them as they continue to my knowledge, my colleague has not
victim in Kansas from the actions of wreak havoc on communities all across made any effort to engage the com-
the Mexican cartels, as most every day, the country. It cannot go on any mittee.
we lose a young person in Kansas due longer. Especially in light of its sweeping
to the actions of these terrorist cartel Listen, designating Mexican drug and mandatory nature and the lack of
operations. And I know every single cartels as foreign terrorist organiza- any waiver—even if a waiver were in
one of my Senate colleagues have vic- tions will give our Federal Government our national interest—members with
tims from their States who have been new ways to fight back; that is, if the expertise in foreign affairs need to
poisoned and murdered from this same White House will allow them to. have the opportunity to scrutinize the
illicit fentanyl. A foreign terrorist organization des- bill.
That is right. Americans are dead, ignation provides additional tools for Regular order allows us to refine leg-
hundreds being murdered every day be- law enforcement and national security islation. It ensures we avoid unin-
cause of this administration’s open authorities to take action, including tended consequences, and that is need-
border policies and zero respect for bor- by providing additional investigation ed here.
der security. and intelligence resources and sanction As chairman of the Foreign Relations
Last year, the Border Patrol seized capabilities. Committee, I take the threat of Mexi-
at the southern border 11,000 pounds of For example, a foreign terrorist orga- can drug trafficking organizations seri-
fentanyl. That is over 5 tons of this nization designation would, No. 1, ously. During my 30 years in Congress,
poison. They seized over 5,000 pounds of make it unlawful for any person who I have made significant efforts to com-
heroin, nearly a ton of meth, and al- knowingly provides ‘‘material support bat drug trafficking in Mexico, Latin
most a thousand pounds of cocaine, or resources’’ to the cartel to enter the America, the Caribbean, and around
and, finally, 10,000 pounds of ketamine. United States. Next, it prevents any the world.
Of course, this is a fraction of how member of the designated cartel from Given the potential impact of this
much of this poison actually crossed legally entering the United States. legislation, I would just ask my col-
the border and was transported into And, finally, it would allow the Sec- league the following questions for his
our communities undetected, making retary of the Treasury to block all as- consideration—these are the questions
every State a border State. sets possessed or controlled by the car- I ask myself as I am looking at his re-
Regardless, this represents many, tels. quest: The U.S. Congress has developed
many multiples of amounts needed to The cartels are playing a massive a framework of sanctions specifically
kill every man, woman, and child in role in the ongoing crisis at the border. to target drug traffickers. It is called
the United States. Indeed, this sounds By exploiting Joe Biden’s open border the Kingpin Act. There is substantial
like a weapon of mass destruction. policies, the cartels have increased overlap between the Kingpin Act and
Joe Biden’s open border policies are their power and wealth at the expense what is being proposed today. Is this
responsible for the deaths of thousands of innocent lives that get in their way. redundancy helpful, or is it hurtful?
of young American men, women, and I encourage my colleagues to support Why is it needed?
children. this legislation to formally designate S. 4914 provides no new funding for
To anyone who knows the brutal tac- the major Mexican drug cartels as for- the management of our sanctions pro-
tics and extensive operations that car- eign terrorist organizations under Fed- gram targeting foreign terrorist orga-
tels use on both sides of our southern eral law and help stem the tide of dan- nizations, and we are deeply engaged in
border every single day, there is no gerous drugs and other illicit goods our whole-sanctions operation as it re-
question that they should be described, pouring across our open southern bor- lates to Russia and Ukraine. This
designated, and treated as terrorists. der. would be additional, but it has no addi-
These are people who hang, behead, Surely, this is an effort we can all tional resources. Do we want to stretch
and burn people alive to threaten and get behind, as every Senator in this the U.S. Government’s personnel and
control government officials in Mexico, body affirmed by oath that they would resources that target foreign terrorist
and now with cartel members in most support and defend the Constitution organizations? That is what the legis-
likely every State of the Union—yes, upon their swearing in. This, impor- lation would do.
even in Kansas—they actively engage tantly, includes providing for the com- Does my colleague want to explain to
in these same dangerous, murderous mon defense of our people. the American people why we should
tactics here domestically. Personally, I will not rest until we have less personnel and funding dedi-
For more than 10 years, Texas Repub- stop this war on the youth of young cated to countering Hezbollah, ISIS, al-
licans have been trying to label Mexi- Americans. Qaida, because, as it is, that is what
can cartels terrorists in an effort to try Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- the legislation would do.
and cripple their empires. sent that the Committee on Foreign The members of the Foreign Rela-
This week, Texas Governor Greg Ab- Relations be discharged from further tions Committee take the threat posed
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
bott made a declaration establishing a consideration of S. 4914 and the Senate by Mexican cartels very seriously. We
Mexican cartel division within the proceed to its immediate consider- know that the cartels are deeply in-
Texas Fusion Center at the Texas De- ation. I further ask that the bill be volved in the production and traf-
partment of Public Safety, which his considered read a third time and passed ficking of fentanyl. We know that this
office said will conduct multijuris- and that the motion to reconsider be is a substance so lethal it kills tens of
dictional investigations with local law considered made and laid upon the thousands of American citizens every
enforcement and other States. table. year.
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S5126 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 28, 2022
That is why in June, the committee I yield the floor. have all had a chance to bear witness
approved the FENTANYL Results Act, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- to the brutal reality of Russia’s inva-
legislation designed to strengthen the ator from New Jersey. sion as Ukrainian forces have recap-
United States response to fentanyl Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I tured territories like the city of Izyum.
trafficking—legislation that received can’t let the question rhetorically hang Soon after the city was liberated,
unanimous, bipartisan backing of all there. Ukrainian forces discovered mass
members of the Foreign Relations I would say to my colleague, first of graves filled with hundreds of bodies,
Committee, legislation that we hope all, for all of us who have been fighting including children. Some of the bodies
can be enacted into law before the end this issue on a bipartisan basis—I had their hands tied behind their backs
of this Congress. That is a serious leg- think his bill has only got Republican and their skulls crushed, and many
islative effort conducted through nor- sponsors on it, a few—that we have showed signs of torture. The images
mal order of the Senate. been fighting this, and this is a contin- that have emerged from Izyum prove
I would just say to my friend, if you uous fight. And, yes, every life that is what we have suspected for some time:
really want to address the impact that lost is a life that we mourn. But what The mountain of evidence of Russian
Mexican cartels and drug trafficking would I say to them? war crimes is sky high.
have on the American people, I urge I would say, well, if we get the These photos illustrate what the
you, respectfully, to work through the Fentanyl Results Act legislation Ukrainians are finding in recaptured
Foreign Relations Committee and join passed, which passed the committee on territory. They are sending out people
us in a meaningful legislative effort. a bipartisan basis, we would have a bi- to redig mass graves to find out just
Finally, before I object, I would just partisan approach toward dealing with what happened to members of their
say, I know that my colleague keeps this. family and neighbors and their friends.
talking about the Biden open borders. I appreciate that my colleague has The same thing is illustrated by this
Well, it is a little incongruous when declared war on fentanyl, but just be- photo as well. In the shadow of this
you self-designate and made in your cause he has declared war doesn’t mean beautiful church, they are finding mass
comments that it is the U.S. Customs that his view as to how you meet the graves left behind by the Russians.
and Border large catches of fentanyl challenge is the ultimate result, is the Today, I had the honor of presiding
and other drugs under the direction of ultimate solution. over a hearing of the Senate Com-
this administration that is making So in good faith, I offer our colleague mittee on the Judiciary, focusing on
those catches. It is either that we have to work with us. But you can’t end up the role we must play in the United
an open border and anything comes in, making the Senate the Committee of States in holding Putin and his thugs
or it is that the U.S. Customs and Bor- the Whole. If we want to do that, good, accountable for these heinous war
der Patrol that is actively engaged is let’s abolish all of our committees, and crimes. The message was clear: Our Na-
stopping the flow of significant let’s all sit here and we can bring up tion must continue the legacy we
amounts of drugs. legislation after legislation that was began with the Nuremburg trials by en-
For all of those reasons, at this point just introduced, where nobody has a suring that Russian war criminals are
in time, I will have to object. chance to read it and nobody has a brought to justice. And a critical step
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- chance to understand the unintended in doing that is to make sure that the
tion is heard. consequences, as noble as the intent perpetrators of these atrocities find no
The Senator from Kansas. might be. But that is what my col- safe haven anywhere in the world, let
Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I league has done on more than one occa- alone in the United States.
certainly do respect the comments of sion now. He introduces a piece of leg- That is why I have introduced the
the chairman. islation and, days after, comes to the Justice for Victims of War Crimes Act
I would ask him a question: What floor to seek its approval. Well, that with the ranking Republican Member,
would you tell the mother of Cooper bypasses the entire system that is Senator GRASSLEY. It closes a shameful
Davis? What would you tell the mother meant as a check and balance to get loophole in American law that has al-
of the hundreds of Americans who are the best legislation to accomplish a lowed war criminals to escape justice.
going to die today from fentanyl poi- common goal. Our legislation updates the War Crimes
soning? So that is what I would say. We need Act so foreign war criminals who try to
Whatever we are doing now is not to work on this together. We are com- flee to America can be prosecuted, even
working. This is a war. Just yesterday mitted to it. That is why we passed leg- years after their crimes were com-
morning, at 1 a.m., we were given 250 islation in the past. That is why we mitted. It is only a starting point, but
pages of legislation that we were asked just passed legislation recently. I hope I hope we can build on it to finally
to vote on that evening. This is a 3- or my colleague will join us, and maybe enact the law in this country prohib-
4-page bill. we can get it in the NDAA together. iting crimes against humanity. This is
I have declared war on fentanyl. With that, I yield the floor. an opportunity to send a clear signal to
Every day in Kansas someone is dying war criminals, like those in Russia
from fentanyl. Every day in the State f today who systemically attack civil-
of New Jersey probably several people RECESS ians, that America is going to hold you
are dying from fentanyl poisoning. accountable for your crimes.
I would ask the chairman: Whatever The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under
IMMIGRATION
we are doing, it is not working. What the previous order, the Senate stands
Madam President, on a related topic,
more can we do? What do I tell Cooper in recess until 2:15.
at our brightest moments, America has
Davis’s mom? What do I tell these peo- Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:48 p.m.,
not only held war criminals and ty-
ple out there whose babies are dying? recessed until 2:15 p.m. and reassem-
rants accountable; we have also pro-
They are young adults being taken bled when called to order by the Pre-
vided refuge to their victims. Many of
from the prime of their lives. Whatever siding Officer (Ms. ROSEN).
us in Congress can attest to that fact.
we have done is not working. This stuff f In fact, it is exactly how my family
is coming over by the tons. What we AFFORDABLE INSULIN NOW ACT— arrived in this country. Back in 1911,
have captured is a fraction of what is MOTION TO PROCEED—Continued my grandmother left Lithuania in
reaching America. That is why Kansas search of freedom. She boarded a ship
is no longer safe. It is not safe for any The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- carrying two things in her arms: a bag
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
of our young adults. This is why this jority whip. with her Catholic prayer book, pub-
Halloween we are going to have to put UKRAINE lished a year before the Czars outlawed
our kids on special watches as this can- Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, it its printing in Lithuania, and her 2-
died fentanyl comes across the border. has been a little more than 7 months year-old daughter, my mother, Ona.
I don’t see how anyone who cares about since Russia launched its illegal inva- The moment my grandmother
our youth and young adults could ob- sion of Ukraine, and the destruction stepped foot on American soil, her life
ject to this. that has followed is unbelievable. We changed. From that moment on, she
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