Congressional Record — Senate, S10087 (December 22, 2022)
Summary
Pages S10087 and S10088 of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated December 22, 2022. The text opens with remarks on Iranian protesters, the song "Baraye" and Mahsa Amini. Under the heading Tribute to Retiring Senators, Reed speaks about Roy Blunt, Richard Burr, Rob Portman, Ben Sasse, Richard Shelby and Pat Toomey, citing health research funding, the Electoral Count Act, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act and cybersecurity work. Baldwin then pays tribute to William Finlayson, a Milwaukee physician who delivered over 10,000 babies.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, S10087 (December 22, 2022).”
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December 22, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S10087
the line. They know the nature of the I urge my colleagues to join me in en- We will miss him in the Senate and
regime they confront. And they go out suring quick passage of similar legisla- wish his wife Abigail and their children
into the streets anyway. They do it tion in the new congressional session. and grandchildren all the best.
today, even as the regime shuts down f TRIBUTE TO RICHARD BURR
internet access inside the country, so I thought I drove the most beat up
the world cannot see. But the United TRIBUTE TO RETIRING SENATORS car in the Senate until I saw Senator
States and the international commu- Mr. REED. Mr. President, as the BURR’s 1973 Volkswagen Thing, which I
nity cannot be silent in the face of 117th Congress winds down, I would can’t believe didn’t fully retire before
their courage. We cannot look away. like to offer some reflections on some he did.
Speaking up when we see the spilling As a Member of the House and the
of our departing colleagues: ROY
of protesters’ blood is the very least we Senate, RICHARD BURR has become an
BLUNT, RICHARD BURR, ROB PORTMAN,
must do. And that is why I rise today expert on healthcare policy, helping
BEN SASSE, RICHARD SHELBY, and PAT-
to express deep disappointment that shepherd countless public health and
RICK TOOMEY. Too often, the Senate is
my colleagues did not join me in pass- research bills into law. This includes
viewed through a partisan lens, but the
ing S. Con. Res. 47. The resolution calls important reauthorizations of the Na-
truth is that we all work together to
on the international community and tional Institutes of Health and the
serve the American people. We all
the private sector to look for every op- Food and Drug Administration. I have
swore the same oath to uphold and de-
portunity to support the protesters. It appreciated his help in clearing impor-
fend the Constitution. Although we
calls for cooperation to hold the re- tant legislation I have introduced, in-
may have differing views, we certainly
gime accountable as it represses, de- cluding measures to address childhood
have common values.
tains, and murders its citizens. This cancer, mental health, and suicide pre-
It has been my honor to serve with
resolution is not controversial. Indeed, vention.
these outstanding senators, as well as
it is the minimum message that the In the Senate, Senator BURR became
my good friends, Senator JIM INHOFE an ardent and outspoken leader in pre-
U.S. Congress should be sending. and Senator PATRICK LEAHY, whose
But we all need to do more. That is serving our public lands, parks, ref-
service I spoke about earlier. uges, and recreational areas. His quest
why I introduced this resolution to am-
TRIBUTE TO ROY BLUNT
plify the voices of Iranian protestors to permanently reauthorize and fund
around the world using social media ROY BLUNT knows how to get things the Land and Water Conservation
and other technologies, as well as done. Because of his efforts as the top Fund—LWCF—ultimately led to the
American surrogate networks. It is Republican on the Appropriations Sub- passage of the Great American Out-
why I think the United States needs to committee on Labor, Health, and doors Act, which permanently funds
be raising this issue in every inter- Human Services, and Education, we the LWCF at $900 million per year and
national forum—as we have success- have been able to make extraordinary provides dedicated funding to address
fully done in the UN Human Rights investments in healthcare research at maintenance backlogs at our major
Council and the UN Commission on the the National Institutes of Health and land management agencies. This was a
Status of Women. the Centers for Disease Control. I am huge accomplishment that will benefit
But we should not stop there. We grateful for the role he has played in future generations of Americans.
should be using the tools we have to helping to raise funding for key pro- Finally, as the chairman of the Sen-
help circumvent the regime’s efforts to grams like the Pell grant, adult edu- ate Intelligence Committee, Senator
jam communications of its own people. cation, the Library Services and Tech- BURR was unflappable and even-handed
And we should invoke the Global nology Act, and the Childhood Cancer in investigating and assessing the
Magnitsky Human Rights Account- STAR Act. Additionally, I have had the threats against this country posed by
ability Act and other provisions privilege of teaming up with Senator Russia and other malicious actors.
against those who are perpetrating BLUNT for many years on legislation to After a career of landmark legisla-
these heinous acts. increase our healthcare workforce with tive achievements, I wish RICHARD well
No one should underestimate the the Building a Health Care Workforce as he drives his signature Volkswagen
deep and real grievances of Iranian for the Future Act, which would help Thing back home to North Carolina.
protestors. Their chants against the incentivize people to go into the pri- TRIBUTE TO ROB PORTMAN
Iranian regime reflect decades of pent- mary care field. Senator ROB PORTMAN is one of the
up frustration. That sense of desperate He has been a champion for children. most prolific public servants in the Re-
longing for the kinds of things many of We have worked together on the Ensur- publican party, serving in the Senate,
us take for granted comes through in ing Children’s Access to Specialty Care the House, and senior posts as the Di-
the viral protest song ‘‘Baraye’’ by Act, to improve access to pediatric sub- rector of the Office of Management and
Shervin Hajipour, a musician that the specialists, including children’s mental Budget and as the U.S. Trade Rep-
Iranian regime also has detained. The health workers. resentative. He certainly has had a var-
Iranian protestors’ demands for justice I greatly admire his advocacy and ied and distinguished career.
and fundamental rights are inspira- success when it comes to strengthening Early in his Senate tenure, as the
tional, especially in the face of the Ira- mental health services and access to U.S. economy struggled in the wake of
nian regime’s response. care. That was reflected in the nation- the Great Recession, Senator PORTMAN
All they want is to live life in peace wide expansion of the Certified Com- and I teamed up to try to extend en-
and prosperity. So let’s keep standing munity Behavioral Health Clinics pro- hanced unemployment benefits for the
shoulder to shoulder with the pro- gram, which he worked so hard to ac- millions of Americans who had been
testers as they stand up to the regime’s complish. forced out of work. We made great
human rights violations and violence. Finally, as the chairman and ranking progress in the Senate, bringing to-
Let’s help them keep fighting against member of the Senate Committee on gether a core group of 10 Senators to
the senseless repression of women and Rules, Senator BLUNT has worked to shape a package of assistance. While
girls. Let’s keep the world’s eyes on safeguard the Senate community, and that package passed the Senate with a
Tehran’s ruthlessness. in partnership with Senator KLO- strong bipartisan vote, we could not
And remember the lyrics of Baraye: BUCHAR, he has worked to craft the bi- overcome opposition in the House.
Women. Life. Freedom. partisan Electoral Count Act to elimi- Nonetheless, that pattern of working
Because if we do, we not only honor nate any doubts about the process for with bipartisan groups of like-minded
the memory of Mahsa Amini and every tabulating electoral votes in Congress. Senators became the hallmark of Sen-
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
Iranian yearning for freedom and jus- This legislation will help eliminate the ator PORTMAN’s legislative career, pay-
tice, we honor our own democratic val- perceived ambiguities in current law ing off in this Congress with the enact-
ues and principles which we all hold so that President Trump sought to exploit ment of the Bipartisan Infrastructure
dear. on January 6, 2021. And it is yet an- Law, the Bipartisan Safer Commu-
We have not done that today. This is other example of Senator BLUNT’s prin- nities Act, and the Respect for Mar-
no time for hesitation or equivocation. cipled, bipartisan leadership. riage Act.
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S10088 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 22, 2022
On issues like addiction treatment, serve as staff director of the Senate over the years and for their service to
retirement security, and marriage Appropriations Committee. And it is the American people and the people of
equality, he became the maestro of or- fitting now that his former chief of their States.
chestrating bipartisan agreement. staff, Senator-elect Katie Britt, will be f
Senator PORTMAN has also become a his successor in the Senate.
leading voice in supporting U.S. efforts In wishing him well in his retire- TRIBUTE TO DR. WILLIAM
to assist Ukraine, helping to ensure ment, I also want to pay tribute to his FINLAYSON
that we bring the resources that Presi- wife Annette, who has been a partner Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise
dent Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian peo- in his service to the country. today to recognize the exceptional ca-
ple need in order to secure their free- TRIBUTE TO BEN SASSE reer and life of Dr. William Finlayson.
dom. During his tenure in the Senate, BEN Dr. Finlayson is a pillar of the Mil-
While Senator PORTMAN will be leav- SASSE has been a leader in addressing waukee Black Community and has left
ing this Chamber, I expect he will re- the threat of cyber attacks. With my an indelible mark on so many families
main engaged in policy debates and House colleague, Congressman JIM in Wisconsin’s largest city.
serving the community. And I hope LANGEVIN, Senator SASSE worked to Dr. Finlayson was born in 1924 in
that his bipartisan leadership and ef- create the Cybersecurity Solarium Manatee, FL. From a young age, he
forts to bring people together to find Commission in 2019. The goal of the studied and excelled at school, and at
common ground will endure. commission was to develop a strategic age 16 he started his collegiate career
TRIBUTE TO RICHARD C. SHELBY approach to defending the United at Florida A&M. At age 19, Finlayson
RICHARD SHELBY has been at the cen- States against cyber attacks of signifi- entered the U.S. Army and served as a
ter of addressing some of the most con- cant consequences. As a member of the first lieutenant from 1943 through 1946.
sequential events that have faced the commission, Senator SASSE helped During his time in the U.S. Army, he
country during his tenure. He was the craft a thoughtful report and impor- taught illiterate Black soldiers how to
top Republican on the Select Com- tant legislative recommendations that read, receiving a promotion to second
mittee on Intelligence in the imme- will guide our policy on cybersecurity lieutenant due to his work. He then
diate aftermath of the attacks of Sep- for years to come. served in the Army Reserves between
tember 11, 2001. He served as the chair- TRIBUTE TO PATRICK J. TOOMEY 1946 to 1953.
man and later ranking member of the Most States have two Senators, but While serving in the Reserves,
for the last 12 years, there have been Finlayson moved to Atlanta to attend
Senate Banking Committee during the
three Rhode Islanders serving in the Morehouse College. It was during this
Wall Street financial collapse and
Senate: Senator WHITEHOUSE, myself, time that he became classmates and
Great Recession. And as chair and vice
and Senator PAT TOOMEY—Republican fraternity brothers with the late Mar-
chair of the Appropriations Committee,
from East Providence. tin Luther King, Jr. Finlayson grad-
he helped guide us through the chal-
Growing up in a large working-class uated from Morehouse in 1948 with his
lenges of the Budget Control Act and
family with parents of Irish and Por- B.S and then attended Meharry Med-
the COVID–19 pandemic.
Always faithful to his conservative tuguese ancestry, Senator TOOMEY’s ical College in 1953.
background is familiar and shared by After graduating from medical
views, RICHARD has never been a par-
many Rhode Islanders, but his success school, Dr. Finlayson arrived to the
tisan firebrand. He has been a person
has been uncommon and evident al- city of Milwaukee in 1958, where seg-
committed to getting things done on regation was making it difficult for
behalf of all Americans and particu- most from the start. In fact, Senator
TOOMEY and I went to the same high Black physicians to get hired by the
larly the people of Alabama. When I city’s best hospitals. Ever determined,
school—the legendary LaSalle Acad-
was ranking member of the Banking Dr. Finlayson founded his own private
emy. We were a few years—actually
Subcommittee on Housing, Transpor- practice, along with Dr. Walter White,
several years—apart. I was a good stu-
tation, and Community Development, I Dr. Randall Pollard, Dr. George
dent. PAT was the valedictorian. He
was privileged to work closely with Hillard, and Dr. Gerald Poindexter. He
went on to Harvard and Wall Street
Chairman SHELBY to reauthorize our was eventually admitted as the first
and served in the House before coming
Nation’s transit programs under the Black doctor at St. Joseph’s Hospital.
to the Senate.
SAFETEA Act. In the midst of the As a member of the Senate Banking He built a successful practice, with
Great Recession, we worked together Committee and eventually serving as people often sitting on the steps out-
on the Banking Committee to pass the the top Republican on the panel, he side of his office just to see him.
Housing and Economic Recovery Act, was well-versed and well-prepared to However, his passion for helping the
which helped homeowners with debate the issues. As we worked to Black community did not stop there.
subprime mortgages avoid foreclosure. craft the CARES Act and other COVID– Dr. Finlayson participated in fair hous-
Important for today’s supply con- 19 pandemic legislation, PAT was rig- ing marches led by Alderwoman Vel
strained housing market, that law cre- orous and relentless in asking tough Philips and Father James Groppi. Dur-
ated the Housing Trust Fund to in- questions as we worked to develop this ing the civil rights era, it was Dr.
crease and preserve the supply of hous- legislation to keep the economy mov- Finlayson who was instrumental in
ing for people with the lowest incomes, ing. bringing MLK Jr. to the city of Mil-
including families experiencing home- Closer to home and his Portuguese waukee to speak.
lessness. roots, PAT was a champion for improv- Dr. Finlayson was a champion for fi-
And during his tenure at the top of ing U.S. relations with Portugal. Work- nancial literacy, cofounding the first
the Appropriations Committee and the ing with my colleagues SHELDON Black-owned bank in the city, North
Subcommittee on Defense, RICHARD has WHITEHOUSE and DAVID CICILLINE, he Milwaukee State Bank, wanting to
worked with Chairman LEAHY and pushed for the passage of the AMIGOS offer full-service banking to under-
Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski to fund Act—a bill to improve trade and in- served communities. He also founded
our national defense, invest wisely in vestment ties between the U.S. and the W.E.B Du Bois Club, educating
public infrastructure, and address the Portugal. I am pleased that thanks to high school students with the financial
challenges of the COVID–19 pandemic. PAT’s efforts we were able to include skills they needed to succeed while pre-
It is fitting that Senator SHELBY, this legislation in this year’s National serving Black history.
working with Senator LEAHY, is cap- Defense Authorization Act. In his life, Dr. Finlayson delivered
ping his career by passing an omnibus With PAT’s retirement, Rhode Island over 10,000 babies, served as president
appropriations bill, which bears the will have to make do with just two of the Cream City Medical Society,
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
mark of his work. Senators, but I hope that we will con- Milwaukee Gynecological Society, and
Finally, let me add this, RICHARD, in tinue to see him and his wife Kris and his local YMCA. He was a house dele-
a very understated way, has been a their children from time to time both gate to the Wisconsin Medical Society,
true champion in promoting women to in Washington and in the Ocean State. teaching at both the Medical College of
positions of authority in the Senate, Again I want to thank these extraor- Wisconsin and the University of Wis-
including naming the first woman to dinary colleagues for their hard work consin Medical School. He served as
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