October 20, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6325 Any possibility that Russia is play- The work cannot stop there. Russia has faith and courage as he strived to make ing a hand in killing American and continued, will continue, and will con- the world a better place. Pennsylvania soldiers must be thor- tinue to succeed in undermining our Ambassador Schifter was successful oughly investigated. President Trump’s national security if we allow them. in this mission. After he graduated silence indicates not only that he The silence of Senate Republicans on doesn’t care about Russian threats to this issue of the President’s total def- from , he went on to national security, but apparently he erence to Putin has become, in my become an attorney, advocating for the doesn’t care that American lives might judgment, complicity. Those who fail rights of Native American Tribes fac- be at risk because of Russian aggres- to stand up and loudly express their ing discrimination at the hands of the sion. To date, the majority in the Sen- alarm are tacitly showing their ap- U.S. Government. Under Presidents ate has not taken appropriate action to proval. Their failure to take action is Reagan and George H.W. Bush, he hold this President accountable for his also its own danger to our democracy. served as Assistant Secretary of State failure to act or investigate these seri- Instead of prioritizing the unprece- for Human Rights and Humanitarian ous allegations. dented public health and economic cri- Affairs, U.S. Representative to the Ge- ELECTION SECURITY sis that is in front of us, some Repub- neva-based UN Human Rights Commis- Mr. President, despite these recent lican-led committees—not all but sion, and as Deputy U.S. Representa- failures abroad, one of the biggest chal- some—are prioritizing a partisan polit- tive to the UN Security Council. Under lenges we all face right now is the ical investigation, the basis for which President Clinton, he served as Special pressing threat to our democracy. stems directly from a known Russian Assistant to the President on the staff disinformation campaign. As Americans across the Nation are of the National Security Council and as currently casting their ballots by way In the face of intelligence reports Special Advisor to the Secretary of of voting early in person or voting by showing that the Russians are once State. As a diplomat and public serv- mail for the next President of the again seeking to influence this elec- , we are seeing increasing tion, Senate Republicans have refused ant, he fought against oppressive re- reports of Russian efforts to interfere to pass a single piece of substantive gimes around the world. He pressured in our election. election security legislation. the Soviet Union to release political The CIA has concluded that Vladimir There is still time. I will give one ex- prisoners, end the criminalization of Putin is likely directly involved in ample or one suggestion to the major- dissent, and allow the emigration of Russian efforts to promote ity. The SAFE Act, which requires Soviet Jews. After leaving the U.S. disinformation, sow discord, and carry paper ballots in Federal elections and Government, Ambassador Schifter out cyber attacks on the United would authorize $775 million in grants went on the lead the American Jewish States. I cite for this the New York to help States secure their voting sys- International Relations Institute, Times September 22, 2020, article. tems, passed the House 450 days ago, where he fiercely defended the State of Former Director of National Intel- but Majority Leader MCCONNELL would Israel and worked to ensure that other ligence Dan Coats, a former Republican rather let this bill gather dust on his people would never suffer his family’s Senator here from Indiana on two dif- desk than take meaningful action to fate under the Nazis. Until his last day, ferent occasions—he served his State protect our democracy, to protect our twice in that capacity—wrote in an op- election. The unwillingness to protect Ambassador Schifter fought to pro- ed recently: our elections from foreign interference mote fairness and democracy and to If we fail to take every conceivable effort is a dereliction of duty by the major- protect the security and freedom of to ensure the integrity of our election, the ity. others. winners will not be Donald Trump or Joe Finally, in conclusion, I call on my I would be remiss if I failed to com- Biden, Republicans or Democrats. The only colleagues to answer the call of duty to memorate Ambassador Schifter’s enor- winners will be Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping protect our election, protect our de- and Ali Khamenei. mous impact on our home State of mocracy, and protect our national se- Leaders, of course, of China and Iran. Maryland. Ambassador Schifter served curity against malign and persistent for 20 years on the Maryland State Despite clear evidence, President Russian influence and interference or- Board of Education, leading both the Trump continues to deny Russian mis- chestrated by the man President Governor’s Commission on Funding the conduct, and he continues to con- Trump has never criticized. tradict our intelligence community. Thank you. Education of Handicapped Children and We should ask, what is the obligation I yield the floor. the Governor’s Commission on Values of the Senate? I spent 4 years—as many Education. He was also the chairman of f people have—urging the President from the Montgomery County Democratic afar, at least, to actively demonstrate MORNING BUSINESS Committee. In all these roles, he to us that his love of country out- f worked to expand equality and oppor- weighs his affinity for Putin. At this REMEMBERING AMBASSADOR tunity for everyone in our State. Even point in time, I don’t expect his behav- as his professional responsibilities ior to change. But it is incumbent—in- RICHARD SCHIFTER spanned the globe, Ambassador cumbent—upon the U.S. Senate, as Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I part of a coequal branch of govern- mourn the loss of a tremendous cham- Schifter remained committed to build- ment, to call out the President and to pion for human rights and the State of ing a brighter future for his neighbors. hold him accountable when he engages Israel and one of my personal heroes Ambassador Schifter’s passing is a in these kinds of actions or inactions, and mentors, Ambassador Richard staggering loss, but his legacy lives on as the case may be. Schifter. Ambassador Schifter lived a and will serve as the true North Star The Senate has taken some actions. truly remarkable life. After escaping for all of us who share his devotion to This body has passed a number of sub- Nazi-occupied in 1938, he brave- human rights, democracy, and decency. stantive sanctions: the Countering ly returned to Europe just a few short His parent’s decision in 1938 to send years later as one of the U.S. Army’s America’s Adversaries Through Sanc- their 15-year-old son to a new country, tions Act—so-called CAATSA—against ‘‘’’, German-speaking offi- alone, saved not just his life, but also Russia for its aggression in Ukraine cers trained in counterintelligence at countless others on whose behalf Am- and interference in the 2016 election. Camp Ritchie in Maryland. While serv- That was the right thing to do and an ing in Europe, he learned that all of his bassador Schifter worked so indefati- appropriate thing to do. family had been killed in the Holo- gably throughout his illustrious career. The Senate Intelligence Committee caust. At just over 20 years old, Ambas- I extend my deepest condolences Am- and other committees of jurisdiction sador Schifter had experienced more bassador Schifter’s children and grand- have done important work docu- adversity than most of us see in a life- children and all those who were fortu- menting Russia’s interference in the time. Nevertheless, he spent the next nate enough to call Ambassador 2016 election, but that is not enough. seven decades demonstrating incredible Schifter a friend.

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