E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2017 No. 172 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable RAND PAUL, a Senator fort to take more money out of Wash- called to order by the Honorable RAND from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, to ington’s pockets and put more in mid- PAUL, a Senator from the Common- perform the duties of the Chair. dle-class pockets. It is also clear we are wealth of Kentucky. ORRIN G. HATCH, all excited about this once-in-a-genera- President pro tempore. f tion opportunity to get America going Mr. PAUL thereupon assumed the again and growing again. PRAYER CHAIR as Acting President pro tempore. So we are watching our friends in the The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- f House with anticipation as they con- fered the following prayer: RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME sider the comprehensive, responsible Let us pray. budget that cleared the Senate last The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Almighty God, the foundation of true week. We anticipate they will pass it pore. Under the previous order, the wisdom, You extend Your powerful do- by the end of the week. Once they do, leadership time is reserved. minion over the universe. Stand by our we will have important legislative lawmakers, and protect them with f tools to move tax reform forward. That Your might. Lord, refresh them with CONCLUSION OF MORNING is something everyone can look for- Your wisdom as You prepare them not BUSINESS ward to. More importantly, that is only for time but eternity. Lord, we The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- something the American people de- praise You for ethically congruent law- pore. Morning business is closed. serve, especially after so many years of makers, who, in their inmost beings, an economy that failed to reach its po- f are true and honest. Give us more Sen- tential—an economy that, so often, ators who are as true to duty as the EXECUTIVE SESSION failed them. needle to the pole. Give us more legis- Tax reform represents the single lators who are not afraid to call sin by most important thing we can do today EXECUTIVE CALENDAR its right name. Lord, provide us with to get the economy reaching for its full more patriots who will stand for right The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- potential. We are looking forward to regardless of the consequences. pore. Under the previous order, the taking the next steps very soon to get We pray in Your sovereign Name. Senate will proceed to executive ses- it done. Amen. sion and resume consideration of the Mr. President, on another matter, I f Palk nomination, which the clerk will would like to again commend Presi- report. dent Trump for the outstanding judi- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The legislative clerk read the nomi- cial nominees he has sent us this year. The Presiding Officer led the Pledge nation of Scott L. Palk, of Oklahoma, So far, every nominee we have brought of Allegiance, as follows: to be United States District Judge for to the floor has been confirmed by a I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the the Western District of Oklahoma. majority vote in the Senate. In some United States of America, and to the Repub- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- cases, those majority votes have been lic for which it stands, one nation under God, pore. Under the previous order, the bipartisan and massive, like 95 to 1, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. time until 10:30 a.m. will be equally di- like 97 to 0. Yet almost every time a ju- f vided between the two leaders or their dicial nominee is brought to the floor— APPOINTMENT OF ACTING designees. even nominees with votes like these, PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER nominees whom both parties support— The majority leader is recognized. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democrats throw up partisan proce- clerk will please read a communication TAX REFORM dural roadblocks. For what reason? to the Senate from the President pro Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, Certainly, it is not to change the out- Senate Republicans had a productive come. No. Like I said, in many cases, tempore (Mr. HATCH). The legislative clerk read the fol- discussion with President Trump yes- Democrats actually support the nomi- lowing letter: terday about our shared agenda. We nees. They are just wasting more of the were particularly focused on how to Senate’s time because they can. They U.S. SENATE, bring tax relief, economic growth, and are doing it again now. Let’s take the PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Washington, DC, October 25, 2017. jobs to the middle class through tax re- two judicial nominees who are cur- To the Senate: form. rently before the Senate. Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, It is clear we share a lot of the same First, there is Scott Palk. After near- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby goals. It is clear we are united in an ef- ly two decades as a State and Federal

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.000 S25OCPT1 S6778 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 prosecutor, Mr. Palk has the legal skill temporary. He is certainly right. It ers State income so that whether or and community support to excel as a should comfort him, however, that his- not you use the State and local deduc- U.S. district judge for the Western Dis- tory will judge Senator FLAKE and Sen- tion, your school board, your road trict of Oklahoma. The Senate Judici- ator CORKER as two men of the greatest building, your police, and your fire de- ary Committee approved his nomina- conscience to have graced this Cham- partments will be hurt as they will be tion by a large, bipartisan vote of 17 to ber on either side of the aisle in a long creating a huge deficit. 3. time. This Senate will be much poorer So a compromise doesn’t work here. I Then there is Trevor McFadden. Mr. for their departures. have named some of my Republican McFadden’s sterling record of public THE BUDGET AND REPUBLICAN TAX PLAN colleagues in New York. One of them service makes him an ideal candidate Mr. President, last week the Senate got very mad yesterday. All I say is for the U.S. District Court for the Dis- passed one of the worst budgets in our this: In 1986 there was a Democratic trict of Columbia. Not a single Mem- Nation’s history. It excuses one of the tax reform bill led by Senator Bradley ber—not one—of either party opposed most massive expansions of the na- and Congressman Gephardt. I had the him. tional debt ever—$1.5 trillion. It directs same conviction and with the same These nominees should have sailed to the committees to take a sledge- strength and velocity opposed their confirmation yesterday. Instead, hammer to Medicaid and Medicare, taking away State and local, even Democrats are forcing us to waste time again to the tune of $1.5 trillion, and it though they were of my own party. We so we can again arrive at the exact sets up the same awful, partisan proc- worked hard and we succeeded. Tax re- same conclusion, but simply later this ess that Republicans used to try to jam form passed in 1986 with Ronald Rea- week. healthcare through for tax cuts. gan’s blessing. I supported it. It was This really has to stop. The budget is now before the House. real tax reform. We closed loopholes In President Obama’s first year in of- I hope every House Member is taking a and lowered rates. We did not just give fice, Republicans forced this procedural close look at it, and Republican Mem- massive tax breaks and let the deficit hurdle for a single judicial nominee, bers who come from States such as go up. But State and local was re- and it was a controversial one. New York, New Jersey, Washington, moved, and the bill still passed. Let me say that again. In President California, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Illi- So I would simply ask my Republican Obama’s first year in office, Repub- nois, and Minnesota should pay par- colleagues to oppose their party leader- licans forced the procedural hurdle we ticular attention to the issue of State ship when it hurts their States and have had to endure many times for one and local deductibility. There is no constituencies, as I did back in 1986 nominee, and that nominee was con- doubt the elimination of State and when I was a fourth-term Member of troversial. local affects States and congressional Congress. In President Trump’s first year in of- districts over the entire country. Now a few Members of the New York fice, Democrats have forced this proce- For instance, one of the States that and New Jersey delegation—a whole dural hurdle for every single judicial pays the highest rates and gets the bunch in New York—have come out nominee except one, even if they actu- highest tax break from State and local against the elimination of State and ally supported him or her in the end. is Utah. Thirty-five percent of Utahns local deductibility. I salute them. They This is just the kind of partisan game take it because it is such a large per- have done what they should do. In the that Americans are so sick of. centage tithe, and they don’t use the eyes of the Founding Fathers, they President Trump should be com- standard deduction. It affects middle- have represented their States and their mended for his strong judicial picks. class families in every State. In the constituents. They have not rep- The Senate is going to keep working State it has the lowest effect on, West resented these hard-right, corporate, hard to confirm them, and we are going Virginia, it will still affect 17 percent wealthy interests that just want their to succeed. The only question is wheth- of families. I don’t have the numbers in taxes reduced. Are the remaining Mem- er the Democrats are going to keep front of me, but my guess is that Ken- bers of the Republican delegation from wasting more of the Senate’s time get- tucky, the home State of our Acting New York and New Jersey, as well as ting there. I hope they won’t. I hope President pro tempore, is probably in Members from Washington State, Cali- they will end these pointless games so the twenties. But in many States, the fornia, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Min- that the Senate can keep its time and State and local deduction is claimed by nesota, Illinois, and all the other focus where it belongs. over one-third of taxpayers and States going to stand up now because I suggest the absence of a quorum. amounts to tens of thousands of dollars they know this hurts middle-class con- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- a year in deductions. stituents? This is not a tax break for pore. The clerk will call the roll. In California, 34 percent of taxpayers the rich. The rich have lots of other big The legislative clerk proceeded to take the deduction for an average of tax breaks, and the property taxes that call the roll. $18,400. In New Jersey, 41 percent of they pay are not that much in terms of Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask taxpayers claim State and local with their income. I hope they will stand up unanimous consent that the order for an average deduction of $17,850. Faced as some of my courageous colleagues the quorum call be rescinded. with this, some of our colleagues are have in New York State and in New The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- looking for a compromise. They say: Jersey. pore. Without objection, it is so or- Well, let’s just take away the deduc- Here is another reason we don’t want dered. tion for the people who earn above to eliminate the State and local deduc- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER $200,000, $300,000, or even $400,000. Or tion. A recent study by The Democratic leader is recognized. they say: You can choose between tak- PricewaterhouseCoopers found that Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, good ing the State and local deduction or under the Republican tax plan, any morning. the mortgage deduction. That is like homeowner with an income of between COMMENDING SENATORS FLAKE AND CORKER saying: Taxpayer, we will chop off your $50,000 and $200,000 would see an annual Yesterday we all learned that our left hand or your right hand, but we average increase of $815. colleague Senator FLAKE will be retir- will give you the choice. Here is the amazing part of their ing at the end of his term. After Sen- Even without the mortgage trade, a study. They say that home prices ator CORKER’s announcement a few compromise doesn’t work. It doesn’t would fall 10.2 percent in the short weeks ago, this was another blow to work for a few reasons. No. 1, it is dou- term. That makes sense. If you are a this body. Senators FLAKE and CORKER ble taxation. You are being taxed on new homeowner or buying another are both men of principle, decency, and paying tax. No. 2, for States like New home, you calculate: How much is my conscience. York, particularly my upstate col- mortgage? How much are my property In his address here on the floor short- leagues, it chases away businesses. taxes? What deductions will I get? If ly after his announcement, Senator Companies don’t want to locate in a you don’t get the deduction, you have FLAKE alluded to the great figures of place where their top executives are less money to pay the mortgage be- history who toiled at these desks to re- going to pay a lot more, because they cause you are paying higher taxes. So mind us that our time here is only can’t deduct their taxes. No. 3, it low- the demand for homes goes down, the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.001 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6779 price new home buyers are willing to a good idea. I know some of you truly like it. The number—low enough as it pay is less, and home prices go down. believe—the Senator from Pennsyl- is—in support of the Trump tax plan So my Republican colleagues, par- vania, a Republican, has spent his life- will get lower. ticularly those in the House who have time, when he was at the Club for Listen to this: In the same poll, near- to vote on this bill tomorrow, are going Growth, advocating that cutting taxes ly two-thirds of Republicans said that to hit their middle-class and upper on the biggest corporations and deficit reduction was more important middle class constituents with a double wealthiest individuals fuels the econ- than tax cuts for corporations. Two- whammy if they vote for this bill. They omy. Talk directly about it. thirds of Republicans said that deficit will pay more taxes, their home values I hear the words ‘‘middle class’’ com- reduction was more important than tax will go down, and home values are the ing out of our Republican colleagues’ cuts for corporations. That is not what rock of the middle class. That is what mouths but not ‘‘wealthy’’ or ‘‘big cor- the bill says. The poll also showed that people work for their whole lives. The porations.’’ And let me just say it three-quarters of Republicans said that happiness someone 45 or 50 years old doesn’t prove to be true. deficit reduction was more important has when they pay off their mortgage The corporate tax rate was much than tax cuts for the wealthy. Again, and their home is theirs is great. Why lower than the official tax rate. Ac- the bill does the opposite. delay that? Why impede that? Why im- cording to Goldman Sachs, our big cor- The Republican plan balloons the def- pugn that? porations have more money than they icit by $1.5 trillion to do those two Are our Republican colleagues will- have ever had and are paying a lower things—tax cuts for the wealthiest cor- ing to go home and explain to their tax rate than they ever have, and they porations and tax cuts for the rich. The middle-class constituents why their are not creating jobs. Give me one rea- more Republicans find out about the taxes are going up and their home val- son why giving them a tax break will plan, the less they will like it. ues are going down? Because if they are now have them starting to create jobs In conclusion, as the House debates not willing to confront that, they when they are already flush with cash. the Senate budget this week, I urge shouldn’t vote for this bill. How about the example of Kansas, them to consider first and foremost The budget is a betrayal of the mid- and I say this particularly to my two what the plan would mean for their dle-class men and women who sent friends. Both are my friends. When I constituents. I would tell them, should House Members to Congress, who sent see them both in the gym—I used to they vote down this budget, there are a all of us to the Senate and the House. play basketball with one. I would say large number of Democrats, including For many in the middle class, as I said, to my two friends, the Senators from the minority leader, who want to sit it raises taxes and erodes property val- Kansas, look at what happened to your down with Republicans and come up ues. And why? To lavish tax breaks on own State, the home of Charles Koch. with a nice, mainstream plan, not a big corporations and the superrich. Its Big tax breaks, huge tax breaks will plan to please the thousand wealthiest main focus is to give a tax cut to cor- make Kansas the growth center of families in America who have so much porations and the top 1 percent. America. What happened? They gave say over the Republican Party and I would say to the average American: huge tax breaks. They predicted that shouldn’t. But we want to work with Is your No. 1 goal reducing taxes on big income would go up in the Kansas you on a real, bipartisan plan. Defeat corporations and the richest people in State treasury by $300 million. It went this plan, and we will, just as we prom- America? Well, that is the Republican down by $700 million. They had to actu- ised on healthcare, and we have. Party’s No. 1 goal. They say they must ally consider schools going from 5 to 4 I yield the floor. have tax reform. It is their No. 1 pri- days. And job growth, this great engine The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- ority. And this bill, the core of it, the of job growth—Kansas grew last year TON). The assistant Democratic leader. raison d’eˇtre for it, is to cut taxes on by 0.2 percent. The American economy Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want big corporations and the wealthiest grew by 1.6 percent. It was a total flop. to thank my colleague and the Demo- people. Kansas not only rejected the proposal cratic leader, Senator SCHUMER, for his Again, to the American people: Is by raising taxes after they had cut statement on this Trump tax plan. I your No. 1 goal the same as the Repub- them so deeply, they also threw out a think he really has summarized in his lican Party’s here in the Senate and in lot of the more conservative Repub- statement the concerns many of us the House—to cut taxes on the richest licans, and there was a rebellion within have. corporations, to cut taxes on the the Republican Party itself. We are concerned that the Trump tax wealthiest individuals? I don’t think Trading middle-class deductions for a plan will do several things. It will cut so. Do you, Mr. and Mrs. American, tax cut for the rich is not a fair trade. funds for education in America at a think that is what Congress should be Raising taxes on so many middle-class time when we need it now more than gearing up to do when it has done so people so you can pay for tax cuts for ever to prepare our people for the jobs little? I don’t think so. The Republican the rich makes no sense, and it makes of the future. It endangers Medicare, a Party is making a huge mistake. no sense particularly now that the program that for almost 50 million It is not that there shouldn’t be tax scales are tipped more in favor of the Americans is critical for the reform. There should be—but real re- wealthy and powerful than ever before. healthcare they receive. At the same form. Big corporations pay a real rate That is why the American people, time, it is going to dramatically in- of 16 percent. If we were to lower those now that they realize we are getting crease the deficit. For so long, we have rates and close loopholes, we would be close here, despite all the distracting heard from the Republicans that their doing the economy a favor. As I said, I issues the President tweets about—by No. 1 issue was cutting the deficit, and helped pass that in 1986 once they the way, I hear that in the Republican now they come up with a tax plan that abandoned State and local deduct- caucus, he talked about no details on will increase the size of our deficit. Fi- ibility. If it is simply to give a huge the tax plan; he just said get it done. nally, of course, all of this is being tax cut to the wealthiest people and No details. I know why—they are done to create tax breaks for the biggest corporations, the recent polling afraid to talk about it. The President wealthy and the biggest corporations data has shown that the vast majority may not know the details, but our Re- in America. of Americans are against it. A majority publican colleagues do, and they are Here are the simple facts: As a per- of Americans say: If it means a small afraid to talk about the details in pub- centage of our gross domestic product, tax break for me and a big tax break lic. corporate profits in America have for the wealthiest, I am not for it. The bottom line is that the American never been higher. Corporate profits So I am going to challenge my Re- people are learning what this plan is have never been higher. As a percent- publican colleagues: Go out there and about, and they don’t like what they age of the gross domestic product, cor- speak plainly and honestly about your see. In a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll, porate Federal taxes paid have never plan. Don’t hide behind fake talking fewer than one-third of all Americans been lower. Profits never higher, taxes points and fake math. It is a massive supported it. And just like healthcare, never lower, and the Trump tax plan tax cut for corporations and the I believe that the more Americans says: Let’s cut corporate taxes even wealthy. Defend it, why you think it is learn about the plan, the less they will more, and then let’s cut taxes on the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.002 S25OCPT1 S6780 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 wealthiest people even more. That is Now, with President Trump’s an- wants to be part of America’s military. not a fair tax plan. It is not a fair tax nouncement that he is going to elimi- Then, after serving his country, he reform. nate this program, the clock is ticking. wants to be an officer with his local po- The Trump tax plan sadly rewards By March 5, 2018, every workday for the lice department. Thanks to DACA, he the biggest corporations and the following 2 years, approximately 1,400 is on his way. wealthiest individuals at the cost of of these Dreamers protected by DACA Last year, he enlisted in the Army cutting education, endangering Medi- will lose their work permits and will be through the MAVNI Program. In this care, and unfortunately increasing the subject to deportation. Mr. President, photo, he is shown with his recruiter deficit, to be paid for by our children. 1,400 a day who signed up for this pro- from his enlistment ceremony. The The tax break for the wealthiest people gram, as of March 5 next year, will MAVNI Program allows immigrants in the Trump tax plan doesn’t go to the hear the clock ticking. Teachers will like him, who are vital to the national rich. It doesn’t even go to the very be forced to leave their students, interest, to enlist in the Armed Forces. rich. It goes to the superrich—the nurses to leave their patients, first re- More than 800 DACA recipients with superrich. Who am I talking about? sponders to leave their posts, and sol- these critical skills have had their The one-tenth of 1 percent. The highest diers who are willing to fight for their dream come true. They have volun- incomes in America—way beyond the country will be forced to leave the teered to serve America in our mili- rich. It is not a person who drives a big Army if this happens. It is an outcome tary. limousine; it is a person who is never that none of us want to see, I hope. Some Trump administration officials going to drive the rest of their lives It isn’t just a looming humanitarian have claimed that DACA recipients are and owns a big yacht. Those folks—the crisis; it is economic too. The non- taking jobs away from Americans. But one-tenth of 1 percent—get 40 percent partisan Institute on Taxation and William and hundreds more like him of all the tax breaks in the Trump tax Economic Policy says that DACA-eligi- have vital skills that our military des- plan. That may be good news for the ble individuals contribute about $2 bil- perately needs, and they want him to President and his colleagues and lion a year to our economy. They are serve our country. William, along with friends and even his family; it is not working. They are going to school. many Dreamers, is now waiting to ship good news for working Americans. To These are productive people who to basic training. He continues his un- think that we would cut education, en- against the odds have succeeded in life dergraduate studies and is working full danger Medicare, and increase the def- and want to do more. time while waiting for his first chance icit to give that level of income, the The Cato Institute—no liberal think to serve. wealthiest people in our country, such tank—estimates that ending DACA and He wrote me a letter, and here is a tax break is hard to imagine. deporting DACA recipients would cost what he said: ‘‘My desire to serve this Sadly, one of the provisions in the $60 billion and result in a $280 billion nation and help people, to pay back my Trump tax plan creates an incentive reduction in economic growth over the dues for everything I have received for companies to move jobs overseas, next 10 years. from this great country, and to lead by because they will have a lower tax rate Poll after poll shows overwhelming example by showing my fellow DACA if they do. Think about that. A Presi- bipartisan support for the Dreamers. members that anything is possible with dent who has told us over and over Even FOX News—no liberal media out- hard work, perseverance, and dedica- again that we want to ‘‘make America let—recently found that 79 percent of tion.’’ great again’’ creates a tax program to Americans support a path to citizen- Is there any doubt in anyone’s mind incentivize businesses to locate over- ship for Dreamers—79 percent. What that this young man, William, des- seas and make their profits overseas. percentage of Republicans support it? perate to serve our country and to be a That makes no sense whatsoever, but According to the FOX poll, 63 percent law enforcement officer, will be an that is the Trump tax plan. I am glad of Donald Trump voters believe that asset to the United States, a source of Senator SCHUMER brought that up. Dreamers should be given a chance at pride for all of us? Of course not. If DACA citizenship. DACA goes away and is not replaced, if Mr. President, let me address the The answer is clear: We need to pass this young man loses that opportunity, issue of the Dreamers. It is one that I the DREAM Act, and we need to do it America will lose an important part of have spoken to many times before, and before we leave Washington in the next its future. I would like to address it at this point. few weeks. It was 16 years ago that I I was at the Phoenix Military Acad- On September 5, about 7 weeks ago first introduced it. We have had our emy, one of six military academies today, Attorney General Jeff Sessions ups and downs. We have passed it at within the Chicago public schools, just announced the Trump administration’s some time on the floor of the Senate last week. I am proud to say that our repeal of the Deferred Action for Child- and then again in the House of Rep- Chicago public school system hosts the hood Arrivals Program, better known resentatives but never quite at the largest ROTC Program in America, as DACA. same moment so that it became the with 10,000 cadets from school to DACA provided temporary legal sta- law of the land. school. It turns out that many of them tus to immigrant students if they reg- Over the years, I have told over 100 are DACA Dreamers. They want to istered with the government, paid a stories about the Dreamers. This is an- serve our country just like William. I fee, went through a criminal back- other one I want to share with you. was joined by COL Daniel Baggio, who ground check and a national security This is a story about William Medeiros. runs the Junior ROTC Program. His check, and did that on a renewable William was 6 years old when his fam- grandfather was an immigrant who basis every 2 years. ily moved to the United States from served in the U.S. Army during World The young people protected by that Brazil. He grew up in Boston and then War I. Colonel Baggio certainly under- Executive order are known as Dream- moved to Florida. In high school, he stands the important role immigrants ers. They came to the United States as was an honor student. He graduated play in our Armed Forces. children, brought here by their par- with a 3.8 GPA. He was an athlete, William Medeiros and other Dream- ents. They grew up in our schools, sing- playing high school soccer and football. ers have so much to give America, but ing our ‘‘Star-Spangled Banner,’’ pledg- He is now a student at the University without the Dream Act, William and ing allegiance to the only flag they of Central Florida. He has a 3.5 GPA. hundreds of other immigrants with have ever known. Seven years ago, I He will graduate in the spring of 2019 skills that are vital to the national in- asked President Obama, in a letter with a bachelor’s degree in criminal terest will literally be kicked out of that I sent with then-Republican-Sen- justice. the Army. Thousands of Junior ROTC ator Dick Lugar, to create a program He is working full time to support cadets in Chicago will never realize to protect these young people and give himself. Because he is a DACA recipi- their dream of volunteering to enlist in them a chance to earn their way into ent, he isn’t eligible for any Federal fi- America’s military. They want to legal status. The President responded nancial assistance to go to college. He serve. They are willing to risk their to our request, and almost 800,000 have has to work his way through school, lives for our country. How can we let signed up. and he is doing it. His dream is that he them down?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.004 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6781 When we introduced the Dream Act, Allow me to explain what I mean by use tax reform to catch up, to boost Senator LINDSEY GRAHAM, Republican that. Federal investment in our roads, our international competitiveness, to of South Carolina, said: ‘‘The moment our bridges, our railways, and our wa- lower costs for consumers, and to put of reckoning is coming.’’ It is coming terways would be a shot in the arm for our economy back on track to 3 per- in a manner of days and weeks. I im- the American economy. It would pay cent-plus growth, which the American plore my colleagues and both sides of dividends for decades. Companies need people expect and deserve. the aisle: Don’t let that young man good roads and bridges and shipping I suggest the absence of a quorum. down. Don’t let down the hundreds of channels to transport their products The PRESIDING OFFICER. The thousands who just want a chance to and to ensure that they aren’t sitting clerk will call the roll. prove themselves and earn their way in traffic for hours—sometimes it The bill clerk proceeded to call the into legal status. We can do this. seems like days—which eats away at roll. Many people are skeptical as to profits and raises costs for our people. Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask whether Congress can get anything But for too long, Washington’s spend- unanimous consent that the order for done on a bipartisan basis. I am not ing priorities have been to grow the the quorum call be rescinded. skeptical. I believe it can. I believe Federal bureaucracy instead of growing The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without that we can work together. I have sat our capacity for economic expansion objection, it is so ordered. down with a lot of conservative Repub- and development through infrastruc- CLOTURE MOTION lican Senators in my office—Senators I ture upgrades. We know the result. Our Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays never dreamed I would be sitting with, Department of Transportation now es- before the Senate the pending cloture discussing this issue, and now we want timates that we have a backlog of con- motion, which the clerk will state. to make sure we get this job done. struction and repairs that would cost The bill clerk read as follows: I yield the floor. $926 billion to clear. It would cost near- CLOTURE MOTION The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ly a trillion dollars, and that is just ator from Louisiana. the backlog. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- I have a simple solution that I would ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the PROVIDING FOR A CORRECTION IN THE Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby ENROLLMENT OF H.R. 2266 respectfully suggest to get us back on move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask track. According to the Congressional nation of Scott L. Palk, of Oklahoma, to be unanimous consent that, as in legisla- Research Service, $2.6 trillion in cor- United States District Judge for the Western tive session, the Senate proceed to the porate profits made by American com- District of Oklahoma. immediate consideration of H. Con. panies are parked overseas, and some Mitch McConnell, Orrin G. Hatch, John Res. 85, which was received from the outside estimates say $4 or $5 trillion. Cornyn, Chuck Grassley, Thom Tillis, Pat Roberts, John Barrasso, Johnny House. This money is overseas, and it will not be brought back to America as long as Isakson, Roger F. Wicker, John Thune, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Marco Rubio, James Lankford, Richard clerk will report the concurrent resolu- our antiquated corporate tax system is Burr, Steve Daines, Mike Crapo, John tion by title. going to charge those American compa- Boozman, James M. Inhofe. The bill clerk read as follows: nies 35 percent in tax just to bring The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 85) them back. imous consent, the mandatory quorum Congress is already discussing repa- providing for a correction in the enrollment call has been waived. triation as a part of the move to a ter- of H.R. 2266. The question is, Is it the sense of the ritorial tax system, which would use a There being no objection, the Senate Senate that debate on the nomination competitive tax rate to encourage com- proceeded to consider the concurrent of Scott L. Palk, of Oklahoma, to be panies to bring their dollars back to resolution. United States District Judge for the the United States and keep them here Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask Western District of Oklahoma, shall be and invest them here in American unanimous consent that the concur- brought to a close? products and American businesses and rent resolution be agreed to and the The yeas and nays are mandatory motion to reconsider be considered American employees. When tax reform passes—and it will— under the rule. made and laid upon the table with no and we get a one-time surge in tax rev- The clerk will call the roll. intervening action or debate. enue as a result of this $3 to $5 trillion The bill clerk called the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without being brought back to the United Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the objection, it is so ordered. States, we are going to get only one Senator from New Mexico (Mr. HEIN- The concurrent resolution (H. Con. chance to spend that money wisely. In- RICH), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Res. 85) was agreed to. stead of blowing those repatriated dol- LEAHY), and the Senator from New Jer- f lars on an already bloated Federal bu- sey (Mr. MENENDEZ) are necessarily ab- sent. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued reaucracy, we ought to invest that money solely and exclusively in des- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SUL- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- perately needed infrastructure up- LIVAN). Are there any other Senators in ator from Louisiana. grades. Even a one-time target invest- the Chamber desiring to vote? TAX REFORM ment in clearing the industrial backlog The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 79, Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, as the will create jobs and stimulate the nays 18, as follows: Senate irons out the details of our economy for decades. [Rollcall Vote No. 250 Ex.] comprehensive tax reform plan to get Let’s face it, too many of American YEAS—79 the American economy back on track, roads today are axle-breaking insults Alexander Crapo Johnson I want to draw attention today to what to the 21st century. They are holding Baldwin Cruz Kaine I believe is one of the greatest obsta- our economy back. Barrasso Daines Kennedy Bennet Donnelly King cles in our path as we pursue 3-percent Let me be clear. We are talking Blunt Durbin Klobuchar annual growth. That obstacle I am re- about hundreds of billions of dollars Boozman Enzi Lankford ferring to is our aging national infra- flowing into infrastructure if we just Brown Ernst Lee structure: our roads, our bridges, our make good use of those repatriated dol- Burr Fischer Manchin Cantwell Flake McCain airports, our water systems, our sew- lars. For example, just in my State of Capito Franken McCaskill age systems, and our waterways that Louisiana, this could mean building a Cardin Gardner McConnell desperately need dredging, especially new bridge through Lake Charles. It Carper Graham Moran Casey Grassley Murkowski in my State. could mean widening the interstate in Cassidy Hassan Murray If our tax plan is going to be pro- Baton Rouge. It could mean closing the Cochran Hatch Nelson growth, then we need to take advan- gaps in I–49 between Lafayette and Collins Heitkamp Paul tage of this once-in-a-generation Shreveport and New Orleans. We have Coons Heller Perdue Corker Hoeven Peters chance to use Federal revenues to in- neglected our highways and bridges for Cornyn Inhofe Portman vest meaningfully in our economy. far too long, and this is our chance to Cotton Isakson Reed

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.005 S25OCPT1 S6782 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Risch Shaheen Toomey of public service as a State and Federal May 8, and it is now the end of October Roberts Shelby Udall prosecutor. He graduated in 1992 from when we can finally get him to the Rounds Strange Warner Rubio Sullivan Wicker the University of Oklahoma College of floor to be able to move him. Sasse Tester Young Law, where he began his legal career as This delay tactic, this stalling tactic Schumer Thune a legal intern for the district attor- that is out there, this resist movement Scott Tillis ney’s office of district 21, serving in to try to prevent the President of the NAYS—18 Cleveland, Garvin, and McClain Coun- United States from getting his staff in Blumenthal Harris Schatz ties. every agency and to prevent judges Booker Hirono Stabenow After graduating and passing the bar, from being able to actually go on the Cortez Masto Markey Van Hollen Duckworth Merkley Warren he became an assistant district attor- bench is delaying good people who are Feinstein Murphy Whitehouse ney for Cleveland County, where he not controversial to be able do the job Gillibrand Sanders Wyden prosecuted a variety of crimes and that is needed in each district. He is an NOT VOTING—3 death penalty cases. In 1994, he became individual who passed 79 to 18 on a clo- Heinrich Leahy Menendez the multicounty drug task force coor- ture vote, and I am confident we will The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this dinator, initiating and directing the not consume the next 30 hours of de- vote, the yeas are 79, the nays are 18. district’s first wire-interception drug bate about him. The hours will now ex- The motion is agreed to. investigation and coordinating Federal pire as we sit in silence on the Senate The Senator from Oklahoma. and local resources, culminating in the floor, waiting for us to be able to have Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I rise successful prosecution of a significant a final vote—just delays. to speak to the Senate about the nomi- multicounty methamphetamine dis- I have made a proposal to my col- nee that is currently in front of this tribution organization. leagues. It is not a radical proposal. body and on whom we should vote in The Association of Oklahoma Nar- Quite frankly, it was a proposal in 2013, the next few hours. We just finished a cotics Enforcers awarded him the Pros- first proposed by a Senator named cloture vote to actually start 30 hours ecutor of the Year award in 1993. In Harry Reid: to be able to move the of debate. In the past, we wouldn’t 1992, he became the first assistant dis- nominations time period from 30 hours have had 30 hours of debate for a dis- trict attorney for district 21 and served of just wasted time on the Senate floor trict court nominee, especially a dis- in a dual prosecutorial and administra- to 2 hours—2 hours for district court, 2 trict court nominee like this. This tive role. hours for the Deputy Assistant Sec- would have been something that would In 2002, he joined the U.S. attorney’s retary of whatever agency it may be, have been done by consent. We would office in the Western District of Okla- having 2 hours of debate. These are for have had a vote on this individual, homa, where we are pushing him to be individuals who have already gone rather than burning up 30 hours of time a judge now, as an assistant U.S. attor- through committee, already gone in debate on a single individual who ney, prosecuting violent crimes, gangs, through extensive vetting, already just passed a cloture vote 79 to 18. This and domestic terrorism. moved to the floor, and who most cer- is not a controversial nominee. In 2004, he became the deputy crimi- tainly will pass because it is a simple Let me introduce you to Scott Palk. nal chief of the U.S. attorney’s office majority to be able to move these indi- Scott Palk was actually reported out and served in the additional roles of viduals based on the change of rules of the Judiciary Committee on June 15 violent crime, national security coordi- that at that time Senator Reid led. of this year. He was nominated by nator, anti-terrorism, advisory council Let’s also do the same rule on time. President Trump on May 8. He has been coordinator, and crisis management co- Instead of 30 hours of wasted time on pending since June 15 to get a vote on ordinator. the floor when we could do other things this floor because of the ongoing delays That same year, in 2004, the Okla- for the American people, let’s go back for each nominee as we go through the homa Gang Investigators Association to the 2-hour agreement that we had in process. awarded him the Prosecutor of the the past. It was a simple rule of 2 hours Why do I say Scott Palk is not a con- Year award. The Executive Office for for individuals like for district courts troversial nominee? It is not just the U.S. Attorneys awarded him the Direc- and other individuals and agencies, 8 fact that he passed the cloture vote 79 tor’s Award for Superior Performance. hours for higher tier individuals, who to 18. Scott Palk, if you remember his In 2005, the Drug Enforcement Ad- may be for a circuit court and such, name in this body, was also a nominee ministration awarded him the Certifi- and 30 hours for Cabinet officials. of President Obama for the U.S. Dis- cate of Appreciation for Outstanding I don’t think that is an unreasonable trict Court for the Western District of Contribution in the Field of Drug Law request to make. It is a rule that we Oklahoma. He is now a nominee of Enforcement. have done in the past, and it is a rule President Trump for the U.S. District In his most recent role at the U.S. at- that we need to go back to. The Amer- Court for the Western District of Okla- torney’s office, he supervised adminis- ican people are frustrated with the homa. trative staff and assistant U.S. attor- block in timing on moving people, es- There may be five things total that neys, handling a criminal caseload pri- pecially people with wide bipartisan President Obama and President Trump marily consisting of national security support. No one understands why some- agree on. Scott Palk is one of those and organized crimes and coordinating one who President Obama nominated five. This is not a controversial nomi- efforts with the FBI Joint Terrorism and President Trump nominated has to nee, and he will be a great judge for us. Task Force, the FBI foreign counter- take up 30 hours of time on the floor on He will also be a great judge in Western intelligence squad, and the National debate when no one will really debate Oklahoma. Security Division of the Department of him and it is certain what the outcome He currently serves as the assistant Justice. of these people will be. dean for students and the assistant His work in national security mat- The American people are expecting general counsel at the University of ters included both traditional criminal us to debate and to engage on issues. I Oklahoma College of Law in Norman, investigations, as well as investiga- recommend again to this body: Let’s go OK, a position he has held since 2011. tions utilizing provisions of the For- back to the Harry Reid rule—2 hours of He has the strong support of the presi- eign Intelligence Surveillance Act. debate for individuals like this in dis- dent of the University of Oklahoma, In 2011, the FBI awarded him the Di- trict courts, 8 hours of debate for high- who happens to be former Senator rector’s Certificate of Appreciation for er tiered courts, and 30 hours of debate David Boren, a Democratic Senator Assistance to the Joint Terrorism Task for Cabinet officials and the Supreme from this body, who is now leading the Force. Court. We can do that again. We have University of Oklahoma and has done Scott Palk is eminently qualified for done that in the past, and I recommend that with great excellence for the past this task. He shouldn’t be a controver- that we move back to that, not just for two decades. He is also strongly behind sial nominee, and he should already be a single congressional body but as a this nominee as well. a judge. We are missing three judges in change in the rules of the Senate, so Scott Palk joined the University of the Western District of Oklahoma. that, permanently, we are able to be Oklahoma College of Law after 19 years President Trump nominated him on more functional again. A body that is

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.001 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6783 dysfunctional can be fixed by its own do want to focus on some really impor- through the Senate, get it signed into Members, moving us to a functional set tant points. law, and then continue the bipartisan of rules. That is what I hope we would First of all, this bill would restore discussion on healthcare in the coun- achieve in the days ahead. the out-of-pocket cost reduction pay- try. I look forward to voting for Scott ments that President Trump has an- I will also take some time to talk Palk, whenever we finish with a 30- nounced he will be ending for this year about another pressing healthcare hour clock of time—of wasted time—to as well as for 2018 and 2019. This means challenge, and that is the immediate be able to move on a nominee and to that some serious sabotage—something need to extend Federal funding for the see wide bipartisan support again for a that experts say would raise premiums historically bipartisan, expired pri- good nominee. Scott is going to do a by double digits for millions of fami- mary care cliff programs, like the great job on the bench. We need him lies—would be off the table. Community Health Center Fund, the there to be able to get started. Second, this bill would make signifi- National Health Service Corps, and, of I yield back. cant investments when it comes to course, the Children’s Health Insurance The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- healthcare outreach and enrollment to Program, or CHIP. ator from Washington. make sure that families know about It has now been almost 25 days since Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask their insurance options. the Federal funding of these primary unanimous consent to speak as in Third, this bill makes some changes care cliff programs and CHIP were al- morning business. to give our States more flexibility lowed to expire by the Republican ma- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without when it comes to developing plans and jority, and in that time, I have heard objection, it is so ordered. offering options while maintaining es- from thousands of people in my State HEALTHCARE sential health benefits, like maternity and nationwide who are urging Con- Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I come care and protecting people with pre- gress to act. Each day that passes is a to the floor today to talk about what existing conditions or protecting the day that we are failing to meet our my bipartisan healthcare bill with elderly—and all of this while making commitment to these families and put- Chairman ALEXANDER means for the sure that costs go down for families ting the health and well-being of near- people we are all here to serve, what it and preventing insurers from ly 9 million children, including more means for patients and families in my doubledipping and padding their profits than 60,000 children in my home State home State of Washington and across with both cost reduction payments and of Washington and the 25 million pa- the country who are worried about higher premiums. tients who, at great harm and great being able to afford the healthcare Put simply, this bill is an important risk, get care from the community they need, and what it means for step in the right direction of pre- health centers. States and communities and hospitals venting premium increases, stabilizing In Washington State, as in so many that are administering and providing healthcare, and pushing back against other States, notices to families about care. President Trump’s recent actions. gaps in their children’s healthcare are Negotiations of this magnitude are This bill reflects the input of pa- about to go out as soon as December 1, always tough. There are some things tients, Governors, State commis- and in my State, we will run out of you agree on, and sometimes there is sioners, experts, and advocates, and it Federal funds for CHIP in November. Let me be clear. Parents in my home common ground that emerges early, has strong support from a majority State and across the country should but there is no question that you also here in the Senate. So far, 24 Sen- not be up at night, worrying about find areas of strong disagreement. You ators—12 Democrats and 12 Repub- their children’s healthcare because have to work your way to each answer licans—have cosponsored this bill. I Congress cannot get the job done. That step by step. know there are a lot of others who is so unacceptable. One issue that Chairman ALEXANDER agree that we need to act and that we There is a bipartisan deal in the Sen- and I agreed on from the very start of must do so in our working together ate right now that was negotiated be- our negotiations, where we worked our under regular order, as with our bill, tween the chairman and ranking mem- hardest, and what we had the most dis- rather than doubling down on partisan- ber of the Finance Committee that cussions on was the goal of putting pa- ship and dysfunction. would provide certainty for this vital tients and families first and that it I am focused on moving our bill for- program. I understand that extreme would be families who would benefit as ward as quickly as possible, and I cer- House Republicans have chosen, in- much as possible from our efforts to re- tainly hope that the majority leader stead, to take an irresponsible path in store stability to our markets. That will listen to the Members on both their trying to ram through a partisan was the crux of our debate. It was our sides of the aisle who also want this bill that will jeopardize the efforts in guiding star. bill to be brought up for a vote without the Senate and in the House to come to I am very proud to say that our bi- delay. an agreement as soon as possible. partisan bill does just that. Here is Let me be clear. As this bill moves To be clear, this delay has not been what is at stake. Here is what we forward, I am certainly open to without serious consequences, but we know. Patients and families across the changes that expand access to quality can still act. It is up to Republican country are looking ahead to next care, put families ahead of insurers, leaders now to reverse course, come to year. They are rightly worried about and maintain those core patient pro- the table, and join with Democrats to their healthcare—premiums, benefits, tections that I have been clear all get this done. It should not have to be and coverage—and they are realizing along have to be protected. I am cer- said, but there should not be any place that they are about to pay the price for tainly not interested in changing our for partisanship or politics when it the uncertainty and partisanship we bipartisan agreement to move comes to protecting the children and have seen on healthcare over the last 9 healthcare in the wrong direction. families we represent. I hope that we Chairman ALEXANDER and I have a months. get this done and get it done quickly, Like all of my colleagues, I have lis- record of seeing tough legislation and I hope that all of our Members will tened and I have talked with many of through to the end together, whether move forward on this. these families in my home State, at that is K–12 education, FDA user fees, I yield the floor. hospitals, schools, roundtables, and in mental health reform, or opioid use I suggest the absence of a quorum. meetings with patients, doctors, pro- disorders, which is why I am confident The PRESIDING OFFICER. The viders, and veterans. They have all that we can do the same with this sta- clerk will call the roll. made it very clear that enough is bilization bill. The legislative clerk proceeded to enough with playing politics with peo- We have negotiated a strong agree- call the roll. ple’s healthcare. ment that has the support of 60 Sen- Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I Here is how our bipartisan bill would ators, and the support is growing. The ask unanimous consent that the order protect those families and restore cer- President has also expressed his sup- for the quorum call be rescinded. tainty to the markets. I will not go port for our effort, so I see no reason The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without into all of the details, of course, but I why we should not move this bill objection, it is so ordered.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.011 S25OCPT1 S6784 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I spending by $3.8 billion. Not only does dividual markets. The 350,000 Ten- see the Senator from New Hampshire it not cost anything, but it saves the nesseans in individual markets in Ten- on the floor. I ask through the Pre- taxpayers money. nessee would be terrified by the pros- siding Officer if she is about to speak They then wrote a second thing, and pect of not being able to buy any insur- or if I may speak after her. What I this is quoting the Congressional Budg- ance or by the skyrocketing premiums. would like to do is to give a brief re- et Office: ‘‘CBO and JCT expect that in- I thank Senator CORNYN and the Sen- port on the Congressional Budget Of- surers in almost all areas of the coun- ator from New Hampshire, Mrs. SHA- fice’s report of the Alexander-Murray try would be required to issue some HEEN, for allowing me to interrupt and proposal, of which the Senator from form of rebate to individuals and the make a brief statement. New Hampshire is a cosponsor. I would federal government.’’ Let me go to the bottom line once like to do that either before or after Let me say that again. This is the more. The President has said repeat- she speaks. Either way would be fine. CBO talking, the nonpartisan Congres- edly, Senator MURRAY has said repeat- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- sional Budget Office, with respect to edly, and I have said repeatedly that ator from New Hampshire. the Alexander-Murray proposal that the Alexander-Murray amendment, the Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, my has been cosponsored by a total of 24 short-term bipartisan plan to reduce understanding is that Senator CORNYN Senators—12 Republicans, 12 Demo- premiums and avoid chaos, must not was about to come to the floor, but I crats: ‘‘CBO and JCT expect that insur- bail out insurance companies. We have would be happy to have the Senator ers in almost all areas of the country written language to make sure it does give the CBO report on this legislation, would be required to issue some form of not, and now the Congressional Budget which I very enthusiastically support. rebate to individuals and the federal Office says it does not. It does not bail The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- government.’’ out insurance companies. It does ben- ator from Tennessee. The Congressional Budget Office has efit consumers. It does benefit tax- Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, in found that our proposal benefits tax- payers to the tune of $3.8 billion. That respecting Senator CORNYN’s preroga- payers and consumers, not insurance is very important information. tive, I will stop when he comes to the companies. The specific benefit to the I am encouraged by the President’s floor. taxpayers is $3.8 billion. The exact ben- comment yesterday. He thanked me at I believe that Senator MURRAY has efit to consumers has not been deter- the luncheon for working in a bipar- come to the floor and has reported that mined yet because that will be done tisan way on this. I am encouraged the Congressional Budget Office has State by State. Under our proposal, that Senator HATCH and KEVIN BRADY just finished an evaluation of the Alex- ander-Murray proposal to the U.S. Sen- every State would come up with a plan have introduced a bill recognizing the ate that would be for the purpose of re- to say, in 2018, because of the cost- importance of continuous cost sharing. ducing premiums and avoiding chaos in sharing payments, premium rates need The ball is in the hands of the White the individual insurance markets dur- to be lower than they are already set. House right now. They have our rec- ing the years 2018 and 2019. Then, in that State, they would be, and ommendations. They made some sug- The Senator from New Hampshire is as a result, there would be rebates to gestions. That is the normal legislative a strong sponsor of that legislation. It individuals. process. is unusual, in fact, that it has 12 Re- The CBO also found that there is a I am hopeful that something that has publican Senators and 12 Democratic provision in the law for a catastrophic this kind of analysis; that it doesn’t Senators. Not many pieces of legisla- plan. That is a new insurance plan for bail out insurance companies, that tion come to the floor with that sup- people over the age of 29 that would avoids a big increase to the Federal port. The reason we accelerated work have lower premiums and higher debt, that makes certain that people on it was that President Trump called deductibles, but it would allow people will be able to buy insurance for the me and asked me to work with Senator to afford an insurance policy so that a next couple of years, that begins to MURRAY to try to develop such a pro- medical catastrophe would not turn lower premiums, that almost all Demo- posal. So now it is being considered by into a financial catastrophe. crats want and that Republicans in the the President, by the House of Rep- ‘‘CBO estimates that making cata- House have all voted for once this year resentatives, and by other Members of strophic plans part of the single risk when they voted for their repeal-and- this body. pool would slightly lower premiums for replace bill—something like that An important piece of information, other nongroup plans, because the peo- sounds like something that might be- as Senator MURRAY has said, is what ple who enroll in catastrophic plans come law before the end of the year, the Congressional Budget Office writes tend to be healthier, on average, than and I believe the sooner the better. about the impact of our proposal on other nongroup market enrollees.’’ I thank the Presiding Officer, Sen- the Federal taxpayers and on the con- A major objective, I think, of all of ators CORNYN and SHAHEEN. sumers across the country. us is to attract more young, healthy I yield the floor. President Trump has been very clear people into the pool as a way of low- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- on one thing he wants, which is that we ering rates for everybody. ator from New Hampshire. do not bail out insurance companies if, ‘‘As a result of the slightly lower es- Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I am in 2018, we pay cost-sharing payment timated premiums, CBO and JCT ex- delighted to follow Senator ALEXANDER reductions, which are payments to pay pect that federal costs for subsidies for and was very pleased to hear the news for deductibles and copays for low-in- insurance purchased through a market- from the CBO that this Alexander-Mur- come Americans. place established under the ACA would ray proposal not only doesn’t bail out I 100 percent agree with President decline by about $1.1 billion over the insurance companies, as we all agree Trump on that, and Senator MURRAY 2019–2027 period.’’ we should not do—we want to make 100 percent agrees with President We have already said what the Con- sure savings go to consumers—but it Trump on that. We have language in gressional Budget Office has reported also will save taxpayers $3.8 billion. our proposal to make sure that benefits earlier; that if we don’t pass something This is a bipartisan agreement. I ap- go to consumers and to taxpayers and like the Alexander-Murray proposal, plaud the work of Senator ALEXANDER not to insurance companies. We asked this is what happens: If the cost-shar- and Senator PATTY MURRAY to craft the Congressional Budget Office to re- ing payments are not paid, premiums this bipartisan agreement to address view that, and this is what it wrote: in 2018 will go up an average 20 percent. the challenges we have in the short ‘‘On net, CBO and the staff of the Joint They are already up. Our proposal will term with healthcare. Senators ALEX- Committee on Taxation (JCT) estimate take them down. The Federal debt will ANDER and MURRAY have given us a that implementing the legislation increase by $194 billion over 10 years, if template for bipartisan negotiations would reduce the deficit by $3.8 billion we don’t pass our proposal, due to the not just on healthcare but on other over the 2018–2027 period relative to extra cost of subsidies to pay higher critical matters that are going to come CBO’s baseline.’’ premiums, and up to 16 million Ameri- before this Senate—tax reform, reau- In other words, the Alexander-Mur- cans may live in counties where they thorizing community health centers ray proposal would reduce Federal are not able to buy any insurance in in- and the Children’s Health Insurance

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.013 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6785 Program, reaching an agreement on they were also in the Senate bill ear- dent’s comments yesterday because we the 2018 budget. These are all major lier this year. need to restore certainty and stability issues facing this country and issues In recent months, I have heard from to the marketplaces. Instead of par- we should be working on in a bipar- hundreds of people across New Hamp- tisan efforts to undermine the law and tisan way. The Senate is at its best shire about the enormous difference take health insurance away from peo- when we observe regular order and we healthcare reform has made in their ple, we should embrace the spirit of the follow the committee process, when we lives. We are a small State; we have Alexander-Murray agreement. Let’s work across the aisle and make prin- just about 1.3 million people. Nearly work together in a good-faith, bipar- cipled compromises to get things done 94,000 Granite Staters have gotten indi- tisan effort to build a healthcare sys- for the American people. I believe that vidual healthcare coverage through the tem that leaves no American behind. is exactly what this health insurance marketplaces. Nearly 50,000 have got- Thank you. bill does. ten coverage thanks to the Medicaid I yield the floor. In a Senate that is nearly equally di- expansion program in New Hampshire. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- vided between Republicans and Demo- That has been a bipartisan effort, with jority whip. crats, this is the only productive way a Republican legislature and a Demo- SAFER ACT forward for us to address the chal- cratic Governor, to get that program in Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I know lenges that face this country. Too place, and it continues to enjoy the people watching and perhaps reading often we have seen people use bipar- support of the Republican legislature the newspaper, watching cable TV, and tisan negotiations as a last resort, but and the Republican Governor. listening to talk radio think nothing bipartisanship should be the Senate’s Because of the Affordable Care Act’s ever happens here in Washington, DC, first resort, not the last resort. It increased access to care, we also have and they would be wrong. Certainly, we should be the foundation of our work in 11,000 Granite Staters who have sub- can always do better, and I am dis- this body. This is how the great major- stance use disorders and who have been appointed we haven’t been more suc- ity of Americans want us to conduct able to get treatment for the first cessful, but there are some measures the Senate’s business. time. New Hampshire has the second we can make in the right direction in When I travel around New Hamp- highest rate of overdose deaths from important pieces of legislation that shire, this is the consistent comment I the heroin and opioid epidemic. Having make a very profound difference in hear everywhere I go: Why can’t you treatment available through the ex- people’s lives. all work together to get things done panded Medicaid Program has made a Today I want to talk about a problem for this country? This is especially true difference for thousands of people in that, thanks to a bill passed by the on matters like healthcare and tax re- New Hampshire and their families. Senate on Monday, we are helping to form, which affect families throughout Hundreds of thousands of Granite solve. This has to do with the untested rape kit backlog in our country. the country. Staters with preexisting conditions no Years ago, thanks to a courageous I am encouraged that the Alexander- longer face discrimination resulting in woman named Debbie Smith, I became Murray bill has earned strong bipar- denial or sky-high premiums. These are a lot better informed about the nature tisan support and, as Senator ALEX- important achievements, and this leg- of this problem: rape kits, the forensic ANDER said, has 24 original cosponsors. islation will allow us to continue down evidence that is taken in sexual assault That number is equally divided be- that road to make sure people have cases but which remained in evidence tween Republicans and Democrats. healthcare coverage they can afford. lockers in police stations untested or This is a balanced agreement that has For people across New Hampshire was sent to laboratories and never been negotiated by both parties over and across this country, healthcare processed. At one point, it was esti- many months, and I think it is our best coverage is often a matter of life or mated that there were as many as bet for stabilizing marketplaces in the death. It is about being able to take a 400,000 untested rape kits in our coun- short run so we can continue to work sick family member to a doctor. It is try. on long-term issues around healthcare. about knowing that a serious illness As the Presiding Officer knows, this I am especially pleased this agree- will not leave a mountain of debt. is powerful evidence because of DNA ment provides for the continuation of I am very pleased to be able to join in testing. We can literally almost say cost-sharing reduction payments for 2 the bipartisan efforts led by Senators with certainty whether there is a years. These payments are necessary to ALEXANDER and MURRAY to strengthen match between the DNA of a suspect keep premiums, deductibles, and co- the parts of the healthcare law that are and that in a rape kit. This forensic payments affordable for working peo- working and to fix what is not work- evidence is collected following a sexual ple. Without these payments, the cost ing. The other provisions in this legis- assault. Similarly, we can decide and of coverage will skyrocket, insurers lation will allow States more flexi- determine whether there is no match will leave the marketplaces, and mil- bility through the 1332 waiver process. whatsoever and, frankly, exclude some- lions of people will lose their The Alexander-Murray agreement ex- body who is a potential suspect from healthcare coverage. I have been work- pedites waiver approval so States can being the guilty party by using this ing on this issue of cost-saving reduc- implement smart fixes to stabilize same powerful forensic evidence. tion payments since earlier this year, their marketplaces, for instance, by es- It is also important not just to solve when I introduced a bill that would tablishing a State-based reinsurance the crime at hand but also to get sex- permanently appropriate funds for the program. The agreement also includes ual predators off the streets because we CSRs. a restoration of funding for open en- know this type of offender is likely to As the CBO said, the language in the rollment outreach in educational ac- strike time and time and time again. Alexander-Murray bill ensures that tivities, and it protects four protec- The experts tell us that when opportu- these CSRs are not a bailout to insur- tions related to insurance afford- nities don’t provide themselves for sex- ance companies, but they are a way to ability, coverage, and plan comprehen- ual offenders to go after adults, fre- help people with the cost of insurance. siveness. All of these changes are posi- quently they will even go after chil- They are orderly payments that are tive steps forward, steps that I hope dren. So this is very important evi- built into the law that will go directly will set us on a bipartisan path, dence. to keeping premiums, copays, and strengthening elements of the Afford- As we know, there is typically a stat- deductibles affordable for lower income able Care Act that are working well ute of limitations that after a period of Americans. Both Democrats and Re- and fixing elements that need to be time a case cannot be prosecuted, but publicans recognize that these pay- changed. it is really important, as I mentioned, ments are an orderly, necessary sub- I am hopeful the Alexander-Murray to continue to test as many rape kits sidy that keeps down the cost of health agreement can gain the bipartisan sup- as we possibly can to get serial offend- coverage for everyday Americans. As port it needs to pass in Congress, that ers off the streets and to determine Senator ALEXANDER said, we saw that it can gain the President’s signature, whether somebody has been charged or these payments were in the bill the and I am encouraged by Senator ALEX- suspected of a crime and is in fact in- House voted for around healthcare, and ANDER’s comments about the Presi- nocent.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.014 S25OCPT1 S6786 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Thanks to courageous people like often we find the case, there is not Next, it allows inmates who success- Debbie Smith, for whom we have much reporting on it, much attention fully complete recidivism-reduction named the Debbie Smith Act, as well paid, but it is worth noting here on the programs to earn credit toward time in as great bipartisan cooperation in the Senate floor that bipartisan progress prerelease custody, while eliminating Senate, we have provided funding for on important legislation that helps eligibility for inmates convicted of se- the testing of rape kits at the State people’s lives become better is being rious crimes. and local level, which has been supple- done here in the Senate. Additionally, the bill requires the mented by the Texas Legislature and CORRECTIONS ACT Department of Justice to implement other State legislatures. Mr. President, I also want to bring up inmate reentry pilot projects across In Houston a few years ago, our another important piece of legislation the country and to study their effects mayor felt so strongly about this that I reintroduced this last week, the Cor- so that we can gain a better under- they took this on as a citywide project, rections Oversight, Recidivism Reduc- standing of what works and what with incredible results. They found a tion, and Eliminating Cost to Tax- doesn’t work when it comes to offend- number of hits of previously unsolved payers in Our National System Act. ers’ reintegration into society. crimes, and they were able to bring Let me call it the CORRECTIONS Act Finally, the CORRECTIONS Act cre- peace of mind to a lot of people who for short because that is a mouthful. I ates a national commission to review had been living under a cloud of un- am grateful to my Democratic cospon- every aspect of our criminal justice solved crime when they processed these sor, the junior Senator from Rhode Is- system. The last review of this type unprocessed rape kits. land, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, for joining me was done in 1965. And while I think Nationally, the problem is still big, on what is, like the SAFER Act, sig- Congress—certainly this is within our with as many as 175,000 rape kits that nificant bipartisan legislation. wheelhouse, but we probably don’t still haven’t been analyzed, and this is My home State of Texas has a well- have the bandwidth to do this, which is something we need to continue to at- deserved reputation for being tough on why this national commission is so im- tack. It is down from 400,000 at one crime, but we have also learned over portant to be able to report back to point, was the estimate, down to time that it is important to be smart Congress and make recommendations 175,000, but that is still unacceptable. on crime too. We successfully imple- to us. Victims of sexual assault, scarred by mented statewide criminal justice re- We know one thing for sure: that painful memories and physical trauma, forms that help low-risk offenders be- when people serve their sentence and can’t afford to wait for funding that is come productive members of society they are released from prison, they are easier to come by. They need their sto- once they reenter civil society from going to reenter society. Why wouldn’t ries to be heard, the evidence to be prison, and the State is focused on the we want to make sure those who are tested, and the results expedited. Fed- important role rehabilitation can play. willing to deal with their addiction, to eral, State, and local officials owe I am not naive enough to think that learn a skill, to get a GED, and to oth- them those things. If we dawdle, those every person who is imprisoned behind erwise improve their lives—why cases go cold, and they are the ones bars, having been convicted of a crimi- wouldn’t we want to make sure they who bear the scars and the pain of nal offense, is going to take advantage are better prepared when they reenter these unresolved crimes. of the opportunity to right their path civil society? Otherwise, they are left That is why the Sexual Assault Fo- and to get on with their life, but some with this turnstile of crime where they rensic Evidence Reporting Act, called will, and given the proper assessments go from prison, to the community, to the SAFER Act, is so important. That and incentives, we have found that this committing another crime, to another is the bill I mentioned a moment ago sort of approach works. conviction, and back to prison again. that we passed in the Senate on Mon- The CORRECTIONS Act that Senator Our focus should be on helping indi- day. It reauthorizes a program created WHITEHOUSE and I have introduced viduals find a productive path as con- in 2013 that has helped law enforcement builds off of the State models that have tributing members of society, and that reduce the national rape kit backlog. I worked in Rhode Island, Georgia, involves making sure returning to pris- thank my friend and colleague, Rep- Texas, Louisiana, and elsewhere, and it on doesn’t happen because there is no resentative TED POE over in the House, requires the Bureau of Prisons to pro- alternative. By implementing job for sponsoring the House version. vide programs that partner with faith- training, drug rehabilitation, and men- The original legislation increased the based and community-based organiza- tal health treatment, we can focus and amount of funds spent on untested kits tions to better prepare these men and save taxpayer dollars, lower crime and by 35 percent and allowed 5 to 7 percent women to become law-abiding and ac- incarceration rates, decrease recidi- of them to be used on audits of existing tive members of society. I hope the vism, and most importantly, we can law enforcement programs. These au- Senate can follow Texas’s lead and im- help people change their own lives for dits, in turn, uncovered tens of thou- plement these commonsense, bipar- the better. sands of untested kits across the coun- tisan reforms. Joining State and local officials at try, each with evidence that could be This bill achieves a number of objec- the forefront of this are groups like used to bring an offender to justice. tives, which I will mention briefly. Prison Fellowship and the Texas Public The new bill passed by the Senate this First, it requires the Department of Policy Foundation, which create pro- week goes further. It ensures that pedi- Justice to develop risk-assessment grams for inmates, such as the Prison atric forensic nurses are available for tools to evaluate the recidivism poten- Entrepreneurship Program—or PEP for training so that, once they complete it, tial of all eligible offenders. short—which teaches prisoners how to they are better equipped to respond Second, it refocuses resources on start and manage their own businesses promptly and appropriately to children those offenders most likely to commit when they begin life on the outside. suffering from abuse. future crimes and allows lower risk in- You would be amazed by individuals Finally, the bill extends the sunset mates to serve their sentences under who started their own businesses provision of the SAFER Program, less restrictive conditions, thus reduc- through the PEP program and turned which will ensure the longevity of a ing prison costs, so the taxpayer wins their lives around in the process program with a proven history of suc- too. through the mentorship and fellowship cess. Third, the bill expands program- that these programs provide. I am grateful to have a wide range of ming—such as substance abuse treat- I hope we can learn from the labora- bipartisan support, including the sen- ment and vocational training—that has tories of democracy, known as the ior Senator from Minnesota, as well as been proven to reduce recidivism. States, where we implemented success- the senior Senators from Nevada and Fourth, it requires the Bureau of ful criminal justice reform programs— Colorado, who are original cosponsors. Prisons to foster partnerships with this time, in our prison system—where This is a good example of legislation faith-based and nonprofit and commu- we will all benefit. Taxpayers benefit that is bipartisan and that makes nity-based organizations in order to de- because we will have to incarcerate progress toward solving a very real liver a broad spectrum of programming fewer people because they won’t con- problem in our country. But, as so to prisoners. tinue this cycle of release, offend, and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.015 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6787 reincarceration—at least a certain per- We are into the first year of this new Doubling the standard deduction centage of them won’t. We can help administration. We are looking at 3 helps a lot when people look at the people whose lives are in a tailspin be- percent annual growth after 8 years in $12,000 deduction they have now. For a cause of drug or alcohol addiction or which growth didn’t exceed 2 percent. couple, as they look at that deduction who feel as though they are on a dead- Anytime you begin to talk like an and realize that deduction, that stand- end street because they simply don’t economist, people begin to wonder: ard deduction, has doubled, suddenly, if have the job skills or the education in Well, what does that have to do with you are a couple filing jointly, you are order to compete in the economy. me? Let me just say that for taxpayers not paying any taxes on the first I hope we can follow the lead of suc- generally, for working families gen- $24,000 you earn. If you are a single in- cessful experiments in our States, such erally, the more growth you have, one, dividual, you are not paying any taxes as Texas, and implement these com- the more revenue that comes in that on the first $12,000 you earn. Keeping monsense, bipartisan reforms in our takes care of problems like the deficit. enough of the family-benefiting exemp- Federal prison system. The way you take care of those prob- tions helps make the family do what Mr. President, let me say in conclu- lems—the best way—is to grow the the family would like to do. What if sion that I know the administration is economy. Two, people are much more they would like to give to their church very interested in engaging on criminal focused on keeping the workforce they and charity? There is no discussion justice reform. Last year, we worked have, getting the best of the workforce saying we wouldn’t keep the standard on a sentencing and prison reform bill that is coming on board as their work- charitable deduction as a deduction. that unfortunately seems to not be force moves on for retirement or relo- There is no discussion that we wouldn’t going anywhere. While the prison re- cates or does other things. keep home mortgage as a deduction so form component of it seems to have a Three percent economic growth is we are encouraging homeownership or consensus of support here in the Con- not good enough. The post-World War looking at how to make the child tax gress and I think could pass and be II average—that is more than seven credit bigger rather than smaller. signed into law, the sentencing reform decades now of average—is, I think, al- Many of the early analyses of what piece is a little more controversial and most 31⁄2 percent. There are very few this Tax Code would do say that for a I know divides even the Republican economic problems in our country that family of four, they would pay more conference, and I am not sure what it wouldn’t be made substantially better, than they are paying now up to certain does with the Democratic conference. including our own Federal deficit, if we income level. Generally, that will turn But I believe we ought to start on a see growth exceed or even get to the 70- out not to be the case—certainly, at step-by-step basis, get what we can get year average. There is no reason to be- the middle-income levels and below if done, and get it to the President for his lieve that can’t happen. you factor in the child tax credit, signature, while providing these tools Yesterday, the President was talking which hasn’t been determined yet. to inmates who are incarcerated about the two ways to immediately re- Our tax-writing committee will be through the Bureau of Prisons, and lieve pressures on families. One is more looking at that child tax credit as an then keep working on the other parts take-home pay, and two is a better job important addition to the individual on which we perhaps have not yet been that also increases take-home pay. But exemptions because it costs money to able to build consensus. the first step we can achieve imme- raise kids. The Congress surely should I hope our colleagues will work with diately by the kind of tax relief we understand that, appreciate that, and us on this important piece of legisla- need. factor that into the deductions. Just tion as we work to reform our criminal There have been 8 years of stagnant like we are doubling the deduction for justice system in ways that make sense wages. Half of the families in the coun- individual earners, we also have to and that save taxpayer dollars. try are living paycheck to paycheck. look at what that child tax credit I yield the floor. Very few families can face an emer- should look like. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- gency that is even $500 without having Tax policies that benefit homeowner- ator from Missouri. to restructure what they are doing and ship, tax policies that encourage con- TAX REFORM how they are doing it. We can do a bet- tributing to charities and community Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, yesterday ter job at this. We need more jobs. We activities and church and synagogue in the middle of the day, the Presiding need higher wages. And the two prin- and mosque—your religious activities— Officer and I and the Senator from cipal goals of this tax bill should be to all would continue to be a part of this Texas and others had a chance to meet do exactly that—create more wages Tax Code. with the President and talk about tax now, more take-home pay now, and Also, when talking about sending relief. It seemed to me very clear that create an environment in which we are kids to school, one way to not have the President and those of us who are going to be more competitive. Simpli- student debt is to encourage families advocating tax cuts right now are on fying the Tax Code is one way to meet to have ways to better prepare for what the same wavelength, which is, let’s that first impact, having a tax code they, in most cases, would hope would have tax cuts for hard-working fami- that people understand better, that be a goal or an expenditure their fam- lies, and let’s do the other things we they think is fairer. ily would make. We can do things like need to do in the Tax Code to ensure A tax code where people think they expanding the Pell grants for poor fam- that those very same families have bet- are being treated fairly is much more ilies, but for families who don’t qualify ter jobs. likely to be complied with than a tax for that, we can do things that allow As I said on the floor of the Senate code where people see that somebody the deduction early on for putting last week, there are two ways to in- else who makes the same amount of money in a fund that prepares people crease take-home pay. One is to start money as they make is paying a lot to go to school. taking less out of the paychecks people less taxes than they are paying. The Keeping well-paying jobs at home are getting now, and another one is to American tax system is probably the and encouraging more jobs to come give them an even better paycheck in greatest voluntary compliance. Sure, here is also an important part of the the future. We need to look at both of there are laws that require people to goal. You can’t have the highest cor- those ways to increase the opportunity comply, but most people are never im- porate rate in the world and expect for working families and working indi- pacted by those laws. They know they that you are going to be as competitive viduals. could be, but the American people have as you would be with other countries. We are now into the eighth year of shown a willingness to pay their fair A corporate rate of 35 percent, in 1986, almost no economic growth. If there is share if they know that their fair share was fairly near the middle when that no economic growth, there is very lit- is, in fact, their fair share. A simpler rate was arrived at with President tle incentive for your job to be a better tax system, a more easily understood Reagan and others working on it the paying job than it was the previous tax system, a system that has fewer last time we did a tax rewrite, and year no matter what has happened to than the seven different tax brackets right in the middle is about where we your other costs, and we clearly see that people pay today are things we should be. However, now the situation that happening. can and should achieve. is we see that right in the middle is no

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.017 S25OCPT1 S6788 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 longer 35 percent; it is about 20 per- to 18. That is really strong bipartisan on TV or in the Gallery. Why are you cent. Ireland just revised its 15 percent support. It just happened about an hour doing this? Does it help the country? rate to 8 percent. Great Britain is re- ago on the Senate floor. Whether you are a Democrat or Repub- ducing their rate to a little less than 20 So what are we doing? Well, we are lican, it doesn’t help the country. That percent. They have been, I think, a lit- still going to be debating for 30 hours. is the whole point, but nobody wants to tle more than 20 percent. We need to be We are not really debating the nominee come down and explain their delay tac- sure the products we make here and because he is well qualified. That is tics. The press will not write about it the jobs that are created here—that what we are doing in the Senate, sup- because some of them like it, I think. there is a competitive ability to sell posedly. Anyone watching, you know Here is the truth. When we are spend- that same product anywhere in the we are not debating him because he is ing all this time all week on this judge world, with the advantage, obviously, very well qualified, but we are still who will get voted on—and he will pass of being made by our great workforce going to burn 30 hours. Why is this? because he is very well qualified. Sen- but also an advantage where our tax Well, this raises a much broader issue ator LANKFORD laid out his resume. He system doesn’t work us out of the mar- of the tactics that are happening on was previously nominated by President ketplace, doesn’t make us less com- the Senate floor right now. The minor- Obama. We are going to vote for him petitive. ity leader and his colleagues will not after this 30-hour period, and he will A territorial tax system will be one come down and explain what they are pass with a strong bipartisan vote. of the things we are going to hear up to. What is the challenge? What happens talked about a lot. For most of us, that I gave a speech on this a couple of to the other issues we need to address doesn’t seem to have any impact. We weeks ago, and I just asked: Come on in this country—in this body? We can’t earn our money here, we pay our taxes down. Let the American people under- get to them, if we wanted to turn to here, but we also want to be sure that stand why we are spending all this other issues to start moving them. if American companies sell products time on nominees who are very well My colleague from New Hampshire somewhere else and earn money there, qualified and have enormous bipartisan was just on the floor. She talked about that they can, should, and would bring support. Why are we being required to all the things we have to do. I agree that money back to the United States go an additional 30 hours? Those are with her 100 percent: tax reform, to reinvest it in the kinds of things the rules, but normally there would be healthcare, budget—we never do the that create jobs here. unanimous consent to move forward. budget here anymore—National De- I think this doesn’t have to be all What is happening now hasn’t been ex- fense Authorization Act, growing the that complicated. We need to under- plained, but it definitely hurts the economy, as my friend from Missouri stand what the core principles are. We American people, whether you are a talked about, infrastructure, immigra- need to get to those core principles. We Democrat or Republican. What is hap- tion, and the Dreamer issue. We have need to get this done this year so peo- pening now is, every single nominee so much to do, let alone getting Trump ple are planning, in the first months of from the Trump administration, administration officials confirmed and next year, on how to take advantage of whether Federal judge or Assistant judges confirmed. That is a big list, but a new, simpler, fairer, and more com- Secretary for Health and Human Serv- because we are spending 30 hours on a petitive Tax Code. This needs to be job ices, is being delayed. Here are the debate, which really isn’t a debate on one of this Congress for the next few numbers. Eight years ago, President the judge, and we can’t get consent weeks. We need to get that done so job Obama had about 66 percent of his from the other side to actually work on one for the country, beginning at the nominees confirmed at this period in these other issues, this is what we are end of this debate, is what we can do to the fall of his first term. People were doing. We are just burning time. create more and better jobs and create working through them. If you didn’t The minority leader will not come more take-home pay for hard-working like the nominee, you would just vote down and explain it. I don’t know if he families. against them, but you wouldn’t say we can explain it, but that is what we are I am joined by some of my colleagues are going to burn half the week of the doing. Again, if the shoe were on the who are going to talk about this same Senate to debate somebody who is not other foot, the press would be going topic, I hope, and others. We need to be even controversial. This judge, when crazy. Right now, they just let it hap- focused. I can tell, with the President’s we finally get through the 30 hours, is pen. My view is, it would be great if comments yesterday, he is focused on going to pass with 80 Senate votes, but one of my colleagues from the other this. We are focused on this. This is a we are burning through it anyway. side of the aisle would come down and job we need to get done. President Obama, 8 years ago, had 66 say: Here is why we are wasting all of I yield the floor. percent confirmed. The number for this time. Just let us know. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. President Trump 8 years later is 33 per- As Senator LANKFORD mentioned, ERNST). The Senator from Alaska. cent. Imagine our friends in the this judge was nominated by the Presi- Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I media—the New York Times—if Repub- dent in May. Now we are going to wanted to reinforce and underscore licans were doing this to President spend most of the week ‘‘debating’’ some of the comments made by my col- Obama during his first few months in him, when that is not what is going on. league from Oklahoma, Senator office. There would be front-page sto- It is just a delay tactic. My view is, we LANKFORD, on what is happening in the ries every day. The Republican Party is should just say: OK. You want to play Senate right now. It is actually really trying to undermine the new Presi- ball like that? We will stay here 24/7 important for the American people to dent—delaying, delaying, delaying. and keep the Senate open 7 days a understand what is going on. Maybe we You don’t hear a peep from our na- week. Let’s get to work. Let’s stay would finally get the press, who sit up tional press. They don’t write about it. here until Christmas. See if the minor- there above your chair, Madam Presi- It is a problem because we have work ity leader and his team keep doing dent, to write about this topic. to do in this country. I have asked the that, keep delaying. I think we should Right now, we are debating a very minority leader to just come down and call their bluff. well-qualified district court judge tell the American people why you are Right now, the delay tactics—which nominee—a Federal district court doing this. We have had numerous nobody on the other side wants to ex- judge nominee from Oklahoma. Sen- judges, very noncontroversial, very bi- plain—in my view, are not defensible, ator LANKFORD was down here, and he partisan, where we essentially spent and they are not helping the country. obviously knows the nominee, Scott the whole week ‘‘debating’’ them. We Whether you are a Democrat or Repub- Palk. He is so qualified that the vote are not debating this judge, but we are lican, you want to seat the govern- for cloture to move forward on this going to spend 30 hours on him. ment. You want to get good people nominee—who, by the way, was nomi- Why are they doing that? And why working for the American people. nated by President Trump for a Fed- are my colleagues on the other side of Right now, that is not happening. eral district court position but was pre- the aisle agreeing to it? I asked them I just wish the other side would ei- viously nominated by President Obama to come on down and explain it to the ther explain it or stop doing it. Let’s with fairly bipartisan support—was 79 American people, the people watching get to work for this Nation.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.018 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6789 Thank you. Senator from Texas is here—and say: those meetings in my office before. At I yield the floor. What could we do to be more competi- the end of the day, every single one of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tive with Texas? We looked at Iowa. those folks who wanted to pick apart ator from North Carolina. What could we do as a matter of tax one exception or an exemption have Mr. TILLIS. Madam President, I policy that would make us more com- come back into my office and said: You fully associate myself with the com- petitive with Iowa on, let’s say, agri- know what; you have protected us from ments just made by the Senator from culture? Those were our peer competi- ourselves, because if you had listened the great State of Alaska. We have to tors. As a State leader, I am looking at to us, you would have done far less get to work here. my peer competitors in their States. than you were capable of doing. TAX REFORM For our corporate tax policy, we look There is nobody who follows State Mr. President, I am here to talk at China, at Russia, at Europe, and we politics that would question what was about one of the most pressing issues look at our competitors and make it done in North Carolina. It has been an we have to deal with. Yesterday, we very clear that we are out of step. As extraordinary turnaround. Now it is had lunch where the President spoke Senator BLUNT said, years ago we time to do the same thing for this about why tax reform was so critical weren’t out of step, but we are today. great Nation. for healing the economy and really We are not competitive with people I hope that all of my colleagues having our Nation rise to its full capa- with whom we should be cleaning their would set aside the distractions, mute bilities in terms of economic perform- clock in terms of economic expansion. the voices of the special interests that ance and global competitiveness. You You only get that done if you lower the will want their special exemption or read the headlines. The headlines read corporate tax rate. If you actually get exception and fulfill the promise that like: Republicans are for the big guy, people who will invest that capital and we made to the American people. for the corporations, not for the little hire more people, provide more oppor- I yield the floor. guy. tunities for working families, and cre- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- You will hear them talk about poli- ate more demand for jobs so that wages ator from Texas. cies that will have us drowning in red go up, that is how you ultimately get ink. You will hear them talk about Mr. CRUZ. Madam President, I rise this economy moving to a point where today at a time of extraordinary oppor- unsustainable economic policies. I saw we create the resources to also ulti- all of those headlines before, about 6 tunity. The American people have en- mately pay down the debt. I still con- trusted us with something that, his- years ago, in the North Carolina state- sider that to be the single greatest house when we inherited a disaster for torically, is quite rare: a Republican threat to our national security. President, Republican control of every an economy. It was after the 2008 cri- Along the way, the reason I know our executive agency, and Republican ma- sis. We had a State that was drowning tax policy was about right where it jorities in both Houses of Congress. in red ink, with a $2.5 billion structural needed to be was that virtually every Now it is incumbent on us to stand up deficit. We had a tax code that was ab- lobbyist in Raleigh was mad at me— and lead, to deliver on the promises we solutely out of sync with our competi- and I mean all of them. tion, and we set about to fix it. If you look at 1986, the last time we made to do what we told the American This is what we ended up doing. All did meaningful tax reform, virtually people we would do. of the headlines looked exactly the way every lobbyist on Capitol Hill was mad We have before us right now an op- the headlines looked today, but we had at the folks who voted for the bill, and portunity for historic tax cuts. Just members on both sides of the aisle, that was on a bipartisan basis. So we last week, this body voted out a budget Democrats and Republicans, who rec- have to have Members who are willing resolution that is the vehicle for adopt- ognized that North Carolina should be to go big, who are willing to actually ing tax cuts. I urge every Member of one of the fastest growing, most com- reduce the corporate tax rate, to work this body to come together in support petitive States in the Nation. So we on the tax burden for working families, of a strong, bold tax plan that cuts went about trying to figure out how to and to recognize that it is on us. taxes on every working man and make that happen. We determined, for We are in a historic opportunity to women and that brings back jobs and one thing, that there was an undue bur- turn this economy around and to take economic growth. den on individuals and working fami- advantage of the fact that other coun- Growth is really fundamental to lies. So we had to simplify the tax tries are not heeding the call. They are every other challenge we have in this code, and we had to reduce the tax bur- heaping more regulations on their busi- country. If you look historically, since den on the individuals. We also recog- nesses. They are adding more taxes in World War II, our economy has grown nized that our corporate tax rate was some cases. This is a historic oppor- on average about 3.3 percent a year. preventing us from getting the job ex- tunity for us to just blow past the com- Yet, from 2008 to today, we have grown pansion opportunities. The States like petition and ultimately create the re- only 1.2 percent a year—about a third South Carolina, Tennessee, Alabama, sources to retire our debt and provide of the historic rate of growth. and Virginia were winning time after the critical resources we need for so If we don’t turn that around, none of time after time. many other things that we need to get our other problems are solvable. If you By the time I came in as the speaker here, like strengthening our inter- care about the national debt, if you of the house, there had been a long national defense, making sure our care about the deficit, if you care time before we had any major eco- homeland is safe, and securing the bor- about rebuilding and strengthening our nomic development opportunity in der. All of these kinds of things can be military, if you care about strength- North Carolina. So we were able to put done, but they can only be done if we ening and improving Social Security together a corporate tax cut, an indi- have the courage to move forward with and Medicare so that they are there for vidual income tax cut, and, in our case, tax cuts and tax reform. the next generations, we have to have even a sales tax cut, which all of the I hope that all of my Members, before growth. With economic growth, every pundits said was going to be a disaster. Thanksgiving, are in this Chamber and one of those is possible. Without It ended up engineering and serving as have an opportunity to vote for a bold growth—if we stay mired in the stag- the basis for one of the most signifi- reform package but, more importantly, nant Obama 1- and 2-percent GDP cant economic turnarounds of any for the fulfillment of a promise that we growth, none of those problems are State for over the past 30 or 40 years. It made to the American people if we had solvable. went from a zero rainy day fund to a $2 majorities in the Senate, in the House, Growth is foundational. I would like billion rainy day fund, putting more and in the White House. We have it, to lay out three principles and then money into education, putting more and it is time for us to act. seven key elements that I think should money into Medicaid, and creating the I don’t care what the headlines read guide this body in tax reform. No. 1 is resources that would allow us to do the because I have seen those headlines be- growth. When we are adopting tax cuts, other things we wanted to do. fore. I don’t care what the special in- we should focus directly on jobs and When I was speaker, I had to go look terests want in terms of exemptions economic growth and focus on the re- to see what Texas was doing—I see the and exceptions because I have had forms that produce jobs, that expand

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.019 S25OCPT1 S6790 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 economic growth, that grow our econ- We need to cut everybody’s taxes. means that Congress can’t add a bunch omy, that create more opportunity, Last week, I debated BERNIE SANDERS of new things. Even if we tried to put it and that raise wages. on CNN on tax reform. BERNIE, to his in four-point font, eventually you will Working men and women in this credit, was very candid. He said he run out of space on the postcard. The country are hurting. We need wages wanted to raise your taxes. If you are a reason a postcard is so important is it going up. We need more jobs. We need taxpayer, your taxes are going up imposes a discipline on the Federal young people coming out of school with under BERNIE and the Democrats’ vi- Government that it can’t carve out a two, three, four, or five job opportuni- sion. special loophole for every favored or ties. That is what tax cuts are all My vision is every bit as simple on disfavored group because it is simple about. No. 1, we start with growth. the other side. If you are a taxpayer, I and flat and fair for everybody. I will point out that we can do this. want to cut your taxes. That is what No. 3, allow immediate expensing. From 2008 to 2012, the economy grew 0.9 we need to do—to cut taxes fairly, What does expensing mean? It means percent a year—less than 1 percent a across the board for every American, to that if a business makes a capital ex- year on average. If you look back in reduce the burden from Washington, penditure, right now, they physically history to the previous 4-year period and to create jobs and economic oppor- have to amortize it over a number of when growth averaged less than 1 per- tunity. years. Instead, what we should do is cent a year, it was 1978 to 1982. It was I would note that, in that debate allow full and immediate expensing. coming out of the Jimmy Carter ad- with BERNIE, there was one exchange If a farmer in the Presiding Officer’s ministration. It was the same failed that I thought was particularly nota- home State of Iowa buys a new tractor, economic policies—high taxes, high ble. BERNIE, as you know, when he ran that farmer should be able to expense regulation, high spending, and high in Vermont did not run as a Democrat. it immediately, that year. If a steel debt. Rather, he ran telling the voters he factory buys new equipment and hires In 1981 Ronald Reagan came into the was a socialist. I asked a simple ques- new workers to operate that equip- White House. The Reagan Presidency tion: What is the difference between a ment, that steel factory should be able focused front and center on tax cuts, socialist and a Democrat on taxes? to expense that new equipment imme- with major tax cuts in 1981, and then He sat there for several seconds in si- diately. If a diner buys new kitchen following it up in 1986 with major tax lence and said: I don’t know the answer equipment and hires new cooks and reform. to that. waiters and waitresses, the owner of And what happened? When Reagan My response was: Neither do I. that small business should be able to came in 1981 with across-the-board tax One side of this Chamber wants to expense that capital expenditure. And cuts and tax cuts for everybody, Demo- raise your taxes if you are a taxpayer. why is that? The reason is the first crats screamed, the media screamed, The other side of this Chamber wants principle I started with—growth. and yet the economy took off. to cut your taxes if you are a taxpayer. If you care about jobs and economic The fourth year of the Reagan Presi- That is a simple choice for the Amer- growth, expensing is a powerful engine dency, GDP growth wasn’t 3 percent. It ican people. for jobs and economic growth. It cre- wasn’t 4 percent. It wasn’t 5 percent. It What are the elements that should ates millions of new jobs because that wasn’t even 6 percent. It was 7.2 per- reflect those principles? There are cent in 1984—7.2 percent, those are capital has to be spent in the United seven critical elements: No. 1, I believe numbers you hear in the developing States. It has to be spent here. That we should create a simple, low, flat world. Those are numbers you hear in tractor is in the United States; that rate. Currently, there are seven indi- China and India. steel equipment is in the United All of our learned economists who vidual rates with the top rate at nearly States; that diner with the cooking are so world weary and all of our media 40 percent. Ideally, what I believe we equipment is in the United States, reporters who are so world weary tell should have is one simple, low, flat tax. which means those jobs are in the us: No, no, no, that kind of growth is When I was campaigning for Presi- United States. not possible in America anymore. Ac- dent, I campaigned on a simple, flat I would note, by the way, the people cept the new normal of 1 and 2 percent tax of 10 percent for every individual who particularly benefit from imme- of stagnancy, of young people buried in and every family in this country, 16 diate expensing are the working men student loans, of people hurting. Ac- percent as a business flat tax, and to and women of this country—the men cept that as the new normal. abolish every other Federal tax, to and women with callouses on their That is nonsense. If we want to see abolish the corporate income tax, to hands, the men and women, frankly, Reagan-style growth, we need a abolish the death tax, to abolish the al- who gave Donald Trump the victory in Reagan-style tax cut—an unapologetic, ternative minimum tax, and to abolish November of 2016 or the union workers unabashed tax cut that focuses on jobs. the payroll tax. Everyone pays a sim- whom, sadly, the Democratic Party has The second big principle is sim- ple, flat 10 percent for individuals and abandoned. plicity. There is an old rule, KISS, or 16 percent for businesses. Simplicity There was a time when the Demo- ‘‘keep it simple, stupid,’’ which is par- has power. cratic Party styled themselves as the ticularly powerful when it comes to tax It may be the case that we don’t have party of the working man and woman. reform. Bold simplicity has enormous the votes to go to a simple, flat tax That time has been long since forgot- power and, in particular, allowing today. If that is where we are, if we ten. The Democratic Party now listens every American to fill out their taxes don’t have the votes to do it today, to California environmentalist billion- on a postcard. I believe that should be then the closer we get to that the bet- aires and ignores the plight of steel- an integral element of what we pass. It ter. If we can’t get to a simple, flat tax, workers, oilfield workers, farmers, is what I have been pressing for many then going from seven brackets to ranchers, taxicab drivers, truckdrivers, years, and what I would continue to three is an improvement, and going waiters, and waitresses—the men and urge my colleagues here in the Senate from three to two is even better, and women who are working hard for their and in the House to do, which is to sim- going from two to one would be even families. That is who the Republican plify the Tax Code so that we don’t better than that. We need to press con- Party should be fighting for—the work- spend millions and millions of hours sistently for a low, simple, flat rate ing men and women of this country. and paperwork wasted on compliance. that is fair for everyone. Immediate expensing impacts working Make it a postcard. Make it simple. The second element, which we talked men and women, particularly in heavy Then the third objective is fairness. about just a minute ago, is filing your manufacturing. We want a tax system that is fair, that taxes on a postcard. Let me tell you The fourth element is a lower cor- isn’t arbitrary, that isn’t Washington the most wonderful aspect of that sim- porate rate. We are seeing, and we have picking winners and losers and decid- plicity. It is not the billions of hours, seen over the last 8 years, companies ing: OK, this industry we like; so you it is not the billions of dollars that are leaving America and moving their can do OK. This industry we don’t like; saved. The best aspects of filing your headquarters, moving their legal domi- so you are going to hurt. We are going taxes on a postcard are actually the cile to other countries. Why is that? to pick between them. physical dimensions of the postcard. It Because the United States has the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.021 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6791 highest corporate tax rate of any devel- they do with the money overseas? It We see farms that are sold, that are oped country in the world. We have means they build factories in China, in broken up; we see ranches that are created a tax environment that tells Mexico, in India, and countries over- sold, that are broken up; we see small American businesses: If you simply get seas that aren’t America, and then businesses that are sold, that are bro- the heck out of Dodge, if you simply they hire people overseas. Why? Be- ken up because the next generation move somewhere other than America, cause if they bring the capital back that wants to run the small business, immediately your profitability will here and hire Americans, our tax pun- wants to keep the jobs, suddenly has a jump because our corporate tax rate is ishes them. That doesn’t make any massive Federal tax bill. They don’t higher and, in some instances, more sense. have the fancy lawyers and account- than twice as high as our competitors. I want to see that $2.7 trillion come ants who, like the superrich, help them Look at Ireland. Ireland used to have back to America. I want to see that avoid the tax. So they get hit with the high corporate taxes. They cut their money back in this country. I want to full force of the death tax. corporate tax rate. Then they cut it see new factories, I want to see new If you care about jobs and economic again, and they are seeing businesses stores, I want to see new businesses, growth, why do you want a small busi- flood into Ireland because of the low and I want to see new jobs. We need to ness owner to be forced to sell the fac- corporate tax rate, and they bring with encourage repatriation, not put a puni- tory just to pay the tax bill? This them jobs. tive tax on the money coming back. Do means the employees all get laid off; Our focus should be jobs. If we cut you want to talk about patriotism? they lose their jobs. It is much better the corporate rate so that it is low—so There is a reason it is called repatri- to have those small businesses grow- that it is at least as low as our com- ation. It is patriotic to use that money ing, to have those farmers prospering, petitors and ideally even lower—we to hire Americans. and to have those ranchers prospering. will create an environment where more Our Democratic friends just want to The final element is that we need to businesses want to do business in yell and scream and insult them. That end the alternative minimum tax. The America where there are more jobs. is not the right answer. People are AMT is a totally second set of tax- I am reminded of Hillary Clinton, going to respond to rational incentives. ation. Every year, it is growing the who said during the Presidential cam- If you punish companies for bringing number of people who are hit by it, and paign season: Don’t let anybody tell money back to America, they are going it just adds complexity to the code. you that corporations or businesses to respond rationally by not doing We should focus on growth, sim- create jobs. Even in the world of poli- that. Let’s change our tax system so plicity, and fairness. If we do that, if tics, that was a particularly asinine we don’t punish them for bringing jobs we focus on bringing back jobs, we statement. The last time I checked, back to America. have the ability to have a tremendous The sixth element, end the death tax. you get a job from going to work for a impact on our country. The death tax is one of the most unfair business—unless you start your own Finally, I want to make a plea to the aspects of the Federal tax system. The business. You either start your own Members of our conference, to the Re- death tax also happens to be the very business or you go to work for another publicans. We may get some Democrats favorite tax our friends on the Demo- business. That is what gives you jobs. to support us on tax reform. It is pos- cratic side of the aisle love to dema- We need to create that environment. sible. We may get one or two. Sadly, we gogue. I have heard over past weeks at- In recent years, we have talked about are in a different world than we used to tack after attack after attack on the corporate inversions, companies fleeing be. In 1981 and 1986, Democrats actually death tax—that it is about the America. Our friends on the Demo- superrich. used to be willing to work with Repub- cratic side of the aisle have all these Here is a secret that the Democrats licans on taxes. ideas to punish the companies that flee will never tell you. The superrich don’t Tip O’Neill, a Democrat, was Speaker America. Their approach is: We are pay the death tax. By and large, they of the House when Reagan passed mas- going to tax you so high that you can’t manage to avoid the tax with remark- sive tax cuts. Bill Bradley in this body, do business in this country, and then, able success rates. They hire armies of a liberal New Jersey Democrat, helped when you try to survive, we are going accountants and lawyers. Do you think lead the effort for tax reform. There to punish you on top of that with fines George Soros will pay the death tax? are no Tip O’Neills or Bill Bradleys and penalties. It is actually reminis- Hold your breath, and let me know how left. There is not a single Democrat cent of their approach to ObamaCare, that works out. It doesn’t impact the leading the fight for tax reform—not a where they fine people who can’t afford superrich. one. insurance after driving premiums The death tax actually generates You may get one or two Democrats through the roof. very little revenue for the Federal Gov- at the end of the day who cast a vote It is a much better idea to cut our ernment. Who gets hit by the death after everything is done because they corporate tax rate. Let’s create a tax tax? It is the farmers, it is the ranch- are afraid of the electoral consequences and regulatory environment in Amer- ers, and it is the small business owners. in November. But I will make a pre- ica so that businesses want to be here In the debate last week with BERNIE diction right now that if we don’t have and create jobs. It is my hope that 3, 5, SANDERS, BERNIE said that this doesn’t 50 votes on this side of the aisle, not a 10 years from now, other countries— affect farmers at all. single Democrat will provide the 50th European countries and Asian coun- The Presiding Officer and I have both vote. They might be the 52nd or 53rd tries—are complaining about corporate spoken with an awful lot of farmers in vote, but we ain’t getting vote No. 50 inversions because their companies are Iowa and in Texas. I have heard farmer from that side of the aisle, which fleeing their countries and coming to after farmer after farmer lament the means that for tax reform to happen, American, because there is no place on death tax because of what happens our conference has to get our act to- Earth better to do business than Amer- when the patriarch, when the farmer, gether. We have 52 Republicans, and we ica, because we will have honored our passes away and passes the farm on to have to get 50 on the same page. commitment on tax reform and cut the next generation. Over and over Listen, we are at a time when we are taxes and created an environment again, the next generation is forced to seeing personality battles, and we are where businesses can thrive. sell the farm just to pay Uncle Sam. seeing nastiness. This is a strange time No. 5, encourage repatriation. Right They have already paid taxes once; in politics. Any three Republicans can now, Federal tax law subjects Amer- they pay taxes when they earn their torpedo tax reform. I am making a plea ican businesses to punitive double tax- money. The death tax says that for to all 52: Don’t be selfish and petulant. ation at the highest rates in the devel- having the temerity to die, we are Don’t put personal animosities above oped world if they bring capital back going to tax you again at a punitive the good of the country. here from overseas. U.S. companies rate. Death should not be a taxable We were elected by the voters to do a have roughly $2.7 trillion in capital event. That is not fair. It shouldn’t be job. Let’s do the job. Let’s honor the overseas, and our tax system inex- the case that when you die, the two promises we made. Let’s cut taxes, tricably incentivizes them to keep the people you get to see are the under- bring back jobs, bring back economic money overseas, which means—what do taker and the taxman. growth, and demonstrate to the voters

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.022 S25OCPT1 S6792 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 there is a reason they elected Repub- themselves in and that Puerto Rico uated by a Congress that can afford to lican majorities. should just pull itself up by its boot- ignore a big part of the United States If we don’t, if we can’t get our act to- straps. The rewriting of history ignores that has no voice in Congress to object. gether, then I fear the consequences the fact that the Federal Government For over six decades, the U.S. Navy will be catastrophic, both as a policy and Congress have had our hands tight- pummeled the island of Vieques, just matter and a political matter. ly wrapped around those very boot- off Puerto Rico’s coast, with ordnance, I urge my colleagues: Let’s do what straps since 1898. using it as a bombing range for mili- we said we would do. Let’s cut taxes. The United States acquired Puerto tary exercises. Those weapons alleg- Let’s bring back jobs. Rico from Spain through the Treaty of edly contained uranium, napalm, and I yield the floor. Paris in 1898, when the United States Agent Orange. Today, people who live The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- defeated Spain in the Spanish Amer- on Vieques are eight times more likely ator from Connecticut. ican War. Puerto Ricans didn’t ask to to have cardiovascular disease and PUERTO RICO be part of the United States; we ac- seven times more likely to die of diabe- Mr. MURPHY. Madam President, I quired the island. A century ago, Con- tes than others in Puerto Rico. Cancer rise today to talk about the dire hu- gress extended U.S. citizenship to rates on Vieques are much higher. manitarian situation in Puerto Rico Puerto Ricans. In 1950, Congress recog- If you want to know why Puerto Rico and to challenge this country to end a nized the island’s limited authority has been in a decade-long recession, century of discrimination against the over internal governance, and Puerto look no further than Congress. More Puerto Rican people. Rico became formally known as the than 50 years ago, the U.S. Government While the fleeting media attention Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. launched several initiatives to help may have waned, the desperation of the Being a commonwealth or a territory spur economic growth on the island. It people of Puerto Rico has not. The is permanent second-class status. With- was a good thing. Ironically enough, lackluster response from the Trump out access to the same healthcare re- the initiatives were collectively called administration is an outrage. It has imbursement, the same infrastructure Operation Bootstrap. One of the tools been more than a month since the hur- funding, the same education dollars as that were used to spur economic ricane, and 80 percent of the island’s other States, Puerto Rico starts every growth was a tax break to allow U.S. electricity is still out. Roads and single race 50 feet behind the rest of manufacturing companies to avoid cor- bridges have collapsed. Homes have America. These built-in disadvantages porate income taxes on profits that been destroyed. Of the 67 hospitals that are designed to hold Puerto Rico back. were made in Puerto Rico. Manufactur- are open, less than half of them are op- They have been in place for 100 years to ers descended on the island in droves, erating with electricity. Families are keep Puerto Rico from being a true and the entire economy in Puerto Rico searching far and wide for clean drink- economic competitor with the main- became oriented around those compa- ing water, and some have been drink- land. nies. But what Congress gives, Con- Believe me, the Puerto Rican people ing water from wells at a Superfund gress can take away, especially if the have done everything they can to over- site. entity you are taking from has no come this discriminatory treatment. This kind of inhumane response meaningful representation in Congress. There is an entrepreneurial, never-say- would never ever be permitted in a U.S. In 1996, Congress phased out the tax die spirit in Puerto Rico. I know this State. But one doesn’t even have to breaks. Guess what. It sucked the is- because no State has a greater percent- look at other States to evaluate this land’s tax base away, cratering Puerto age of residents with Puerto Rican response; we can look abroad. Within 2 Rico’s economy for the next two dec- roots than Connecticut. But despite weeks of the earthquake in Haiti, there ades. the strength of the Puerto Rican peo- were 17,000 U.S. military personnel on It is worth noting that Puerto Rico is ple, they are stuck because Washington the ground in that country. Two weeks not blameless for the financial situa- has tied their hands behind their backs tion that it is in. There definitely has after Hurricane Maria made landfall in by taking away the right to vote in been a fair share of mismanagement on the United States, the United States Federal elections, virtually guaran- the island. Bad decisions have been had deployed only 10,000 troops to re- teeing that Puerto Rico’s economic dis- made. Saying that Puerto Rico is only spond to the disaster in both Puerto advantage will never ever be remedied. a victim of schemes of the mainland is Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It is a black hole from which Puerto not true. But the same can be said of News broke yesterday that the state- Rico and the other four U.S. territories fiscal mismanagement and bad deci- owned electric company on the island, can never escape. PREPA, refused to operationalize mu- Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens—de- sions in other U.S. States. But a cen- tual aid agreements with electric com- spite the fact that recent polling sug- tury of underinvestment in Puerto panies on the U.S. mainland. That is a gests that half of Americans don’t Rico has been a big part of the story as standard step in normal disaster re- know this—but they can’t vote for to how they arrived at this situation. sponse. Fault lies with PREPA, but President. They have no voting rep- And unlike all those other U.S. States, how on Earth did FEMA and the Trump resentation in Congress. Think about it Puerto Rico has no way of rectifying administration allow that to happen, this way: Americans with a mainland the past misdeeds because its toolbox leaving millions of Puerto Ricans in address can vote if they move to Mon- to reckon with its past is limited to the dark and in danger for almost a golia or Sierra Leone, but if they tem- what Congress sticks in the toolbox, month? It is beyond comprehension, porarily take up residence in a U.S. and that toolbox doesn’t provide access and it speaks to the failure of the U.S. territory like Puerto Rico, they mirac- to the Bankruptcy Code. Government’s response. ulously lose their right to vote. As a result, Congress passed The truth is that Hurricane Maria There are real, practical con- PROMESA, which created this finan- exposed far more than just immediate sequences to this lack of representa- cial oversight board on the island. physical damage; the hurricane also tion. We are watching the most egre- Puerto Rican bondholders on Wall laid bare a very simple truth that is gious example right now. Do you really Street, who bought the bonds for pen- plain to every resident of the island think that if Puerto Rico had two U.S. nies on the dollar, are now challenging and every Puerto Rican living in my Senators, 80 percent of the island the current oversight board’s legit- State. The truth is this: The United would still be without power a month imacy, with the hope of being paid be- States has been screwing Puerto Rico after the hurricane? By the way, Puer- fore the island gets relief. These prac- for over 100 years, and this is just the to Rico has more citizens than 21 tices of the bondholders, who have been latest, most disgusting chapter. States that have a total of 42 Senators circling the island for years, are made There is an undercurrent in the dis- in this body. Do you think a President more menacing because they are spend- course about Puerto Rico that is as would denigrate and insult Puerto Rico ing boatloads of money lobbying Con- pernicious as it is ahistorical. You will the way President Trump has if it had gress. Just watch TV at night in Wash- hear people, like President Trump, say electoral votes? ington, DC, to see their ads. They know that Puerto Ricans are wholly respon- The botched response to Maria is just that the people of Puerto Rico have no sible for the financial mess they find the latest attack on the island, perpet- voice here, have no votes here.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.023 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6793 Now it looks as though other preda- come from the disaster of Hurricane CHIP has been a lifesaver for some tors are circling. News came out this Maria, maybe it is that. families. This is Colton. He is from the week that a small, two-person com- I yield the floor. small town of Anthony, NM. Colton pany in Whitefish, MT, somehow, some The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- was 8 years old when he was diagnosed way, got a no-bid $300 million contract ator from New Mexico. with cancer. Fortunately, the cancer to restore power in Puerto Rico from HEALTHCARE was treatable, and he was insured by the island’s power authority—the same Mr. UDALL. Madam President, Re- CHIP. So the cost of his treatment and power authority that refused the help publicans have spent months trying to medications were covered. Without of experienced electric companies that repeal the Affordable Care Act. They CHIP, Colton’s family would have had actually know how to turn the power knew that tens of millions of Ameri- to have paid hundreds of dollars a back on. How does something like this cans would lose their care, they knew month for his treatment, which is the happen? It turns out that the little it would betray our Federal trust re- cost of a month’s rent. town in Montana is the home of the sponsibility to Native Americans, and Families should not have to choose new Secretary of the Interior. they knew it would throw one-fifth of between lifesaving care for their chil- Get ready, because this is just the our economy into chaos. TrumpCare dren and a roof over their heads. start. President Trump and his billion- failed because the American people op- Colton’s father wrote to the Santa Fe aire cronies are going to use this dis- posed it. Americans spoke out against New Mexican, and it read: aster to enrich themselves. The White- it in record numbers. TrumpCare failed Watching my son battle for his life was al- fish power contract given to a friend of to pass four times. We hope that now most more than I could bear. I couldn’t the Secretary of Interior—with two we have put that to bed and we can imagine dealing with the stress of scraping move on. together everything we had to cover the people employed at that company—is medical bills if we didn’t have coverage. Hav- just a scratch on the surface of what is But rather than listening to millions of Americans, President Trump has re- ing [CHIP] allowed us to focus on what was to come. truly important—Colton’s future and being Puerto Rico has been getting screwed sponded by sabotaging the Affordable there for my family as we went through this for decades. None of this is new. None Care Act. His reckless behavior is al- life-changing experience. of this is unpredictable. If you think ready causing chaos in the market- But, now, States are looking at con- place. His actions have hyped up the this is just one century-long string of tingency plans. New Mexico has re- cost of premiums. He has sent out-of- rough luck, you are ignoring the last serves but only until next spring. Some pocket costs through the roof. Instead critical aspect of Puerto Rican history. States will be forced to cover all of the of helping Americans get better Back in 1901, when the U.S. Supreme cost in just a few months, and others healthcare, he has put it out of reach Court decided that even though resi- are preparing to send notices to fami- dents of the territories lived in the for millions. I commend my colleagues Senator lies that their coverage will end. No United States, they shouldn’t be able parent who is already in crisis because to enjoy full constitutional protec- ALEXANDER and Senator MURRAY. They have found a bipartisan solution to this of a sick child should have to go tions, the Supreme Court was pretty through that. CHIP was a bipartisan explicit about why these citizens in new healthcare crisis caused by our President. I urge Leader MCCONNELL to success story. I hope that we can get places like Puerto Rico deserved this back to working together on this. second-class treatment. Justice Henry put it onto the floor. The Affordable Care Act isn’t the The 50-year-old Community Health Brown, who authored the separate but only healthcare program at risk. The Centers Program delivers comprehen- equal doctrine, held that Puerto Rico President and Republicans are letting sive healthcare services to some of our and the other territories didn’t need to funds run dry for other critical health Nation’s most vulnerable individuals— be afforded full rights under the Con- programs. Last month, the Children’s schoolchildren, people experiencing stitution because the islands were ‘‘in- Health Insurance Program expired. homelessness, agricultural workers, habited by alien races, differing from CHIP insures almost 9 million children and our veterans. In New Mexico, 17 of us in religion, customs, laws, methods across the country, including over these clinics serve 333,000 patients in 90 of taxation, and modes of thought.’’ 11,000 kids in my home State of New underserved and rural communities. That, my friends, is racism defined. Mexico. The Community Health Cen- The Community Health Centers are And it is both past and present when it ters Program also expired last month. also important to the economy in rural comes to the rationale for the histor- Republicans failed to extend the Ma- communities. In New Mexico, they em- ical and continued mistreatment of the ternal, Infant, and Early Childhood ploy almost 3,000 people across the people of Puerto Rico. Home Visiting Services. That is one of State. These clinics cannot sustain a It is time for that mistreatment to the most effective health programs 70-percent funding cut if Federal sup- change—not just by doing right by that we have. Without it, more than port is canceled. Many would be forced Puerto Rico at this moment, at their 1,000 New Mexico parents could miss to shut their doors. hour of need. Yes, it is time for Presi- out on home visits. They will not get I recently visited one of these clin- dent Trump to command that FEMA crucial information about how to nurse ics—the De Baca Family Practice Clin- and the U.S. military and the powers their newborns, recognize healthy be- ic in Fort Sumner, NM. It provides that be in Puerto Rico turn the lights havior in infants, and teach basic skills high-quality medical services to over back on right now. Congress should to their children. The Special Diabetes 3,000 patients. Over one-fifth of its pa- give Puerto Rico every cent they need. Program for Indians is also set to ex- tients are children, and another one- I am glad that we came together this pire in December. fifth are seniors, but if funding runs week to approve the latest round of I urge Republicans to work with us to out, the De Baca Family Practice Clin- emergency aid, but it is long past time reauthorize these critical healthcare ic will be forced to start laying off es- that we addressed the second-class programs. We need to act urgently. We sential medical staff and to reduce its treatment we have given the people of can get this done by Thanksgiving or hours. Puerto Rico for decades. Even that rac- earlier if we work together. Clinic director Lisa Walraven told ist 1901 Supreme Court decision con- Madam President, I want to talk me: ‘‘You simply cannot reduce fund- templated that the territories’ unequal about CHIP first. ing by 70 percent from a small frontier status could only be justified tempo- CHIP provides comprehensive health healthcare facility and expect anything rarily. It is time to untie the hands of insurance for kids whose families do other than a significant loss of access the Puerto Rican people and ensure not quite qualify for Medicaid but who to care.’’ that they have full economic and polit- cannot afford private insurance. CHIP Both CHIP and community health ical rights. covers basic medical care, like immu- centers provide preventive care to un- I hope my colleagues will join me in nizations, prescriptions, routine check- derserved communities throughout this conversation in the coming ups and dental visits. Thanks to CHIP, New Mexico. They are supporting our months. It is just as important as the the rate of uninsured kids in America healthcare system to ensure that we one we are having on emergency re- has dropped from 14 percent to 4.5 per- don’t let any families fall through the sponse because if anything good can cent. cracks.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.025 S25OCPT1 S6794 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Indian Country also depends on these Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask 364 nominees in place. The Democrats programs and others like them to pro- unanimous consent that the order for have blocked judges, Cabinet Secre- vide vital care to their communities. the quorum call be rescinded. taries, and other high-ranking officials. The Federal Government has a trust The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Now, it is interesting because you and treaty obligation to provide objection, it is so ordered. have seen this. Many of these nominees healthcare to Native Americans. Yet Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, even have Democrat support, and they the Indian Health Service is severely President Trump has been in office now are not controversial at all, but Demo- underfunded. CHIP and similar pro- for more than 9 months. For this entire crats are doing everything they can to grams help to supplement care that the time, Senate Democrats have been try- slow down the process. During Presi- Indian Health Service cannot provide. ing to obstruct him from doing the dent Obama’s first 9 months, he had 364 CHIP currently covers more than 1,400 very job that he was elected by the confirmed. So President Obama had Native American children in New Mex- American people to do. The President gotten 2 for every 1 that President ico. Allowing these programs to expire has laid out his agenda to create jobs, Trump has gotten confirmed. would betray our treaty obligations. to grow the economy, and to help hard- There are 81 of President Trump’s Another program cited that is crit- working American taxpayers. Yet nominees who have gone through the ical to Indian Country is the Special Democrats will do everything they can committees and another some number Diabetes Program for Indians. It pro- to stop the President from putting his today. They are 81 people who have vides grants to Native communities for team in place to accomplish these been nominated by the President for diabetes treatment and prevention. goals. positions in the government who are Without proper treatment, diabetes They have tried to stop the Presi- just waiting right now for a vote on the can lead to limb amputation and kid- dent’s legislative agenda because they Senate floor. Many of these people got ney failure. The disproportionate im- know that his policies will actually through the nomination process in pact on Native Americans is a public work. When Republican policies be- June but are still waiting and being health problem that we cannot ignore. come law, Democrats know that the blocked by Democrats in the Senate. It This program is making real people will see how successful these is outrageous. Republican policies are. I think Demo- progress. It helps to fund over 300 Na- Do Democrats really think that these crats are worried that they may never tive health programs in 35 States, in- are not important jobs—that they do win another election again once we get cluding 29 programs in New Mexico. not need people in those jobs to do the these policies into place. That is why They help educate communities about important work that they have been we have seen a record number of delays how to prevent diabetes and provide assigned to do? and obstructions by the Democrats in care so that Native patients can man- I believe that we should confirm as the Senate. They have done it on legis- age their diabetes more effectively. many of them as possible today. There It is one of the most effective public lation, and they have even blocked the are 13 judges waiting for confirmation. health initiatives ever undertaken by President from filling some of the most There are 8 U.S. attorneys waiting, in- the Federal Government. Diabetes-re- basic jobs within his administration. cluding the U.S. attorney from my lated kidney failure has dropped 54 per- It started on day one. Normally, on home State of Wyoming. These are im- cent among Native Americans. In some Inauguration Day, the President gets a portant jobs. States, like Alaska, leg amputations substantial number of people con- We all understand that there is a among Native people with diabetes firmed to his Cabinet. The idea is to let process that we need to go through to have decreased more than 68 percent. the President get his team in place so fill these positions—to make sure the This program literally saves life and that it can hit the ground running. people are vetted and to make sure limb. President Obama had six of his Cabinet Program directors across Indian Secretaries confirmed on Inauguration they are the right people for the jobs. Country tell me that without this Day, and President Bush had seven All of these people have followed the funding they will have to start laying Secretaries confirmed on Inauguration process. They have been doing every- off staff and limiting their diabetes Day. These confirmations were by thing they have been asked to do in programming. We need to provide fund- voice vote, but that was not the case that they have filled out the paper- ing to Tribal communities so that they with President Trump—just two with work, filled out the disclosures, and can invest in projects that will be more rollcall votes on Inauguration Day. have gone through the committees. effective in preventing diabetes over Republicans in the Senate did not do Now it is time for the Senate to get its time. anything to try to block the Cabinet work done. I would say let’s do it Congress must act to allow this suc- Secretaries for President Obama, for today. cessful program to reach its full poten- we understood that it was best to give Interestingly enough, in August, the tial. We cannot allow diabetes to be- a new President a chance and for all of Democrats finally allowed a significant come a death sentence in Indian Coun- us to work together when we could. number of people to be confirmed. try once again. With George W. Bush, it was seven. More than 60 people were confirmed by The failure to fund CHIP, the failure That is how it usually works, but not voice vote on one day. That is the kind to fund the community health centers, anymore—no, not with this group of of thing that used to be very routine in home visiting health services, and the Democrats in the Senate. They really the Senate—letting a large number of Special Diabetes Program will force were never interested in giving Presi- noncontroversial nominees be approved families into another health crisis. dent Trump a chance. They really do all at once. It is now time to do it Every day that we neglect these pro- not seem to be working together. Last again. There is a significant backlog. grams, more people will suffer. These January, President Trump had two So I want to get these folks confirmed programs have years—sometimes dec- people confirmed to the Cabinet on In- now. It is time to clear the deck and ades—of proven success. auguration Day—the Secretary of De- let these people get to work who have The American people want Congress fense and the Secretary of Homeland been nominated and vetted, who have to work together to come up with bi- Security. They were the only two jobs gone through the committees and been partisan solutions. Most of these pro- that the Democrats allowed the Presi- approved. grams were created through bipartisan dent to fill. We need to move these nominations cooperation. Let’s get back to that In President Trump’s first 9 months because we have more nominations on spirit and work together for the Amer- in office, Democrats have continued to the way. We are going to have to deal ican people again. block the way. They have allowed just with the nominations of two Cabinet I yield the floor. 185 of his nominees to take their jobs. Secretaries for positions that are cur- I suggest the absence of a quorum. That is how ridiculous the Democrats rently vacant. President Trump has The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. have been in trying to keep President nominated Kirstjen Nielsen to be Sec- TILLIS). The clerk will call the roll. Trump from putting his team in place. retary of Homeland Security. It is an The bill clerk proceeded to call the By this far into the administration at important job, and she is very qualified roll. the same time, President Obama had for it.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:25 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.026 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6795 Do the Democrats plan to block her fires, as if they are some ordinary package, the third tranche of assist- confirmation to be Secretary of Home- event because there is currently no ance for the disasters this year. We land Security? Do the Democrats plan FEMA-style reaction to terrible forest need $200 million to fund the repair and to obstruct this qualified woman from fires. replacement of infrastructure and trail doing the important job she has been We respond with FEMA for tornadoes infrastructure damaged—the buildings nominated by President Trump to do? and for floods and for tidal waves and and the trails that were damaged by The President deserves to have his for hurricanes and for earthquakes but these forest fires. Now, that $200 mil- team in place. The Senate has an obli- not forest fires. Well, the result is, the lion, that goes half to trails and infra- gation to get that work done. The De- Forest Service runs out of funds to structure that were damaged by the partment of Homeland Security de- fight the fires in a bad year, and then hurricanes and half to those impacted serves to have a Secretary in place to they have to drain all the other pro- by the fires. Essentially, the damage keep us safe. That is how it has worked grams they are working on, including was roughly equally split. Without this in the past and how it should be work- the programs to prepare for future tim- type of funding, the Forest Service will ing now. ber cuts, the programs to thin the for- be forced to postpone or cancel projects These people manage major Depart- ests, the programs to repair the infra- in fiscal year 2018 to accommodate the ments of the government. They man- structure in the Federal forests, all recovery. It will compromise the work age many career workers. We know these other efforts, and then they can’t to remove hazardous trees for public that the Washington bureaucracy has resume those efforts until we have re- safety, road and trail maintenance, re- grown tremendously over the years and stored their funding, which can come storing vegetation in watersheds, and that it is very difficult to eliminate often far later. rehabilitating wildlife and fish habitat. people who aren’t doing their jobs This fire borrowing has to end. That The third thing we have to do is seize properly. We have seen it in the scan- is why we absolutely need to support the moment and invest in fire resil- dals over the years. Remember the the bill Senator WYDEN, Senator ience. Every single time we have a fire Gold King Mine disaster? President CRAPO, and others have been working season like this—and this season we on to say: Let’s create a FEMA-like Obama’s EPA—the group who is sup- spent almost twice as much, on aver- structure for these worst fires so we posed to protect the environment—ac- age, to fight the fires—people ask: Why end this fire-borrowing devastation of tually dumped 3 million gallons of don’t we do more on the front end to the fire accounts. That absolutely toxic wastewater in a river in Colo- reduce the risk of these fires? needs to happen. Well, that is such logical thinking to rado. Remember the scandals involving Right now, there are three funding do more on the front end. What do they bureaucrats in the Department of Vet- issues we need to address. First, we mean by that? We have millions of erans Affairs, the IRS, and the General need to help out the communities that acres of second-growth forests. We Services Administration during the have been impacted economically by clearcut them. Some of them regrew Obama administration? We need Presi- these devastating fires. Some have naturally. Others were replanted. We dential appointees in place overseeing been scorched directly, others have these Federal workers to make sure been profoundly affected by the smoke replant virtually everything now. After that the government of the people is in the community, others have been af- 10 or 20 years, the trees are very close accountable to the American people. fected by highways being shut down, together. The branches are very close The Senate needs to be involved in and others have been impacted by tour- to the ground. This is prime territory providing oversight through our power ism dropping dramatically. So it is for fires. Fires love this. Disease loves of advice and consent. Democrats don’t very important that we send a message this. So it becomes a real problem un- want that to happen. They have been to the Department of Agriculture, the less you go in and thin the trees enor- keeping the Senate from providing that Small Business Administration, and mously—take out a lot of those trees— oversight, dragging out the process, the Department of Housing and Urban and proceed to get rid of the hazardous making sure that the bureaucrats Development to say: Use your emer- fuels of branches that accumulate on whom they seem to have more faith in gency programs to assist these commu- the ground and so forth. But if you do are accountable to the American peo- nities. We really should make sure those two things, those forests become ple rather than those whom the Amer- they are at the front of the line, along much more resistant to fire. ican people voted for on election day. with those who have suffered the disas- When you are doing this on a stand These are important jobs, and we ters in Texas, Florida, and Puerto that is a bit older—20 or 30 years have qualified people ready to do the Rico, for emergency loans and assist- older—you also get a significant supply work. Democrats have delayed for 9 ance from the Small Business Adminis- of sawlogs for the mills. So this is a months. It is time to break that logjam tration and for an augmented share of real win-win situation. You get a forest today. community development block grants that is better in resisting fire, you get I thank the Presiding Officer. to assist them in a very flexible fash- a forest that is better in resisting dis- I yield the floor. ion. ease, you get a forest that is better for I suggest the absence of a quorum. I had the chance to meet this week- timber stands, and you get a forest The PRESIDING OFFICER. The end with leaders in the Rogue Valley to that is better in terms of being an eco- clerk will call the roll. talk about how smoke had affected system. With all that winning, we need The legislative clerk proceeded to them, and company after company to do more to make it actually happen. call the roll. after company had been dramatically In my State of Oregon, there are 1.6 Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask impacted. Some you would say was ob- million acres that have already gone unanimous consent that the order for vious. If you have a zip line company through the environmental process. the quorum call be rescinded. and tourists aren’t coming because the They are ready to be thinned and have The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without smoke is very thick, you are going to the hazardous fuels removed. In Wash- objection, it is so ordered. be impacted, but others are a little less ington State, it is at least 400,000 acres. WESTERN WILDFIRES obvious; for example, the production of There are probably hundreds of thou- Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I am wine and the potential impact of the sands of acres in every State from coming to the floor to talk about the smoke and the fires directly on the Montana and Idaho to California, Ne- challenge we have with forest fires that harvest but then also on perhaps taint- vada, and New Mexico. have been raging in the West, in Mon- ing the flavor of the wine, which will This picture shows the difference. tana and Idaho and Washington and Or- have an impact down the road. This road right here had a stand on the egon and California, and periodically So we need to make sure we do all we left that had not been thinned. If you we have devastating fires in Colorado, can to assist these communities just as can make out the colors, these trees New Mexico, and Nevada. we are assisting the communities that are dead. They are all brown—dead We have to figure out how we do a have been devastated by Hurricanes trees because of the heat of the fire better job in a multitude of ways. Harvey, Maria, and Irma. when it swept through. This side of the First, it is very important that we quit The second thing we need to do is, we road had been treated. The trees had treating terrible fire years, enormous need to include $200 million in the next been thinned. The brush had been

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.027 S25OCPT1 S6796 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 taken out from below. They often call partisan support and would improve the administration to commit to pro- that mowing. It has had prescriptive issues with our healthcare system by viding stability for health insurance fire in it, which means after you have stabilizing the individual marketplace markets and to working together on bi- thinned it, you may go 10 or 15 years, and lowering premiums for Americans. partisan solutions that reduce and then let fire burn up the shrubs at This is what I have long pushed for. healthcare costs and ensure access to the base. Therefore, on this side of the Today, it is more important than ever quality medical care. road, the forest is undamaged. that we act to pass this bipartisan leg- Over the past several months, I have In fact, I went out to this area out- islation. I would like to take a few engaged in bipartisan conversations in side of Sisters, OR, this last weekend. minutes to explain why. meetings with my colleagues to discuss It is just remarkable how the area that Beginning next week, on November 1, ways we can partner together to sta- had been thinned and treated with millions of Americans, including Hoo- bilize our healthcare markets. We have mowing and prescription fire became siers, can sign up for healthcare cov- talked to a range of healthcare experts. very resistant to the fire that was erage through the individual market- There has been a good-faith effort to sweeping toward Sisters. It really place. Unfortunately, as consumers find common ground on steps we can helped the Forest Service fight the fire prepare to shop for health insurance take to lower costs for families. That is because they could easily maneuver plans, there is uncertainty and insta- what we should be doing. through the area that had been bility in the marketplace and confu- After participating in this effort, I thinned, much more than the area that sion and higher prices for consumers. was pleased that Senators LAMAR hadn’t been thinned. So that Milli fire That wasn’t the case earlier this year, ALEXANDER and PATTY MURRAY was stopped before it got to Sisters, as both public and private analyses reached a bipartisan agreement last thankfully. In other places where the showed that individual marketplaces week. It makes improvements to our forest hadn’t been thinned, the out- were relatively stable and improving. healthcare system and helps reduce come might have been very different. For the last 10 months, though, the costs for our families. Let’s invest now in this win-win. administration has worked to make it I am proud to cosponsor this legisla- Let’s not succumb to the traditional harder for Americans to access afford- tion. It continues cost-sharing reduc- timber wars of the past. After fires like able healthcare and destabilized the tion payments that reduce consumers’ this, there are those folks who come markets. For many months, the admin- deductibles. It also reduces copays for along and say: We just need to clearcut istration refused to commit to con- two years and restores funding to help everything. Let’s do a 10,000-square- tinuing important cost-sharing reduc- Americans navigate signing up for foot timber sale with no environmental tion payments that reduce costs for health insurance. It enables more flexi- review and allow everything to be cut. consumers and, even worse, played pol- bility for States without undermining That was the 1950s. In fact, we have a itics with these payments. This cul- essential health benefits or harming bill in this Chamber that says: Do ex- minated with the administration’s an- people who have preexisting condi- actly that, and you can take out the nouncement earlier this month that it tions. old growth and the big trees. The irony would discontinue cost-sharing reduc- If this legislation came to a vote of that is those are the trees that are tion payments. This decision came today, I am confident it would receive actually fire resistant. Those are the only weeks before open enrollment. more than the 60 votes needed to pass trees you want to leave. There is no disputing a simple fact: in the Senate. It has wide-ranging sup- This is a solution that brings the en- port from both Democrats and Repub- vironmental world and the timber The administration’s actions created world together and provides a supply of uncertainty for insurers, causing some licans. It has bipartisan support, not sawlogs for our mills. Let’s make that to significantly raise rates and others only in the Senate but also from Re- type of vision happen. But to do that, to leave the market altogether. As a publican and Democratic Governors all we have to fund the effort. We have to result, many Americans will be forced across the country. We have heard have the funds to be able to go in and to pay more for healthcare plans from groups, including the American do that thinning and mowing and fire through the individual marketplace. Medical Association, the U.S. Chamber prescription. That is why we are asking For example, CareSource, an insur- of Commerce, and AARP, urging Con- for about $600 million to help thin the ance company that offers insurance to gress to move forward on this proposal forests of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Hoosiers through the individual mar- because it is common sense. It benefits Oregon, California, Nevada, New Mex- ketplace, told me earlier this year that families. It helps stabilize the insur- ico, and wherever else there is a forest rates would rise 2.2 percent if the Fed- ance markets. that has gone through that environ- eral Government committed to con- It is our job to protect families from mental review. It is ready for action. tinuing cost-sharing reduction pay- unnecessary increases in the cost of Let’s put Americans to work in those ments. Because the administration re- healthcare, particularly those within forests in this win-win strategy. fused to do so, rates for CareSource our control. We have an opportunity to Three things we need to do: Help our plans are on average now 20 percent do that with the bipartisan Alexander- communities that are scorched, pro- higher for Hoosiers than last year. Murray agreement that we achieved by ceed to invest in emergency repair of Centene, the other insurer offering working together. the damaged infrastructure on our for- coverage in the marketplace, will have The healthcare debate should not be est lands, and invest a significant $500 average rate increases of nearly 36 per- a political game. The stakes are way to $600 million in thinning the forests cent. In addition to higher rates, it will too high for that because healthcare that have already gone through envi- be harder for Hoosiers to find help en- impacts the well-being and the eco- ronmental review. rolling in healthcare plans because the nomic security of millions of Ameri- Thank you. administration slashed 82 percent of cans. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Navigator Program funding for my I have said over and over that the ator from Indiana. home State of Indiana—the deepest cut American people expect us to work to- HEALTHCARE of any State in the country. gether to try and make life a little bit Mr. DONNELLY. Mr. President, for Consumers also have a shorter period better. At the very least, we should do years, I have been calling on Demo- to enroll than in past years. The ad- no harm. The Alexander-Murray agree- crats and Republicans to work together ministration plans to do maintenance ment not only provides relief for fami- to improve the healthcare law. There and shut down HealthCare.gov for 12 lies, it actually helps put them in a are some, like me, who recognize the hours on all but one Sunday through- better place. There is no doubt we have benefits of the existing healthcare law, out the open enrollment period. more work to do, but this proposal is as well as the areas that need fixing, It does not have to be this way. As I an important first step. Let’s strength- and I have proposed that we partner to- have said for years, there is another en the healthcare system and make gether to strengthen our healthcare path—a bipartisan path. We should healthcare more affordable with this system. work in a bipartisan manner to im- bipartisan solution. For the first time, we have legisla- prove our healthcare system, all Amer- I yield back. tion in the Senate that has broad bi- icans working together. I have pressed I suggest the absence of a quorum.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.030 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6797 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The Burmese military has conducted Let me apply this observation about clerk will call the roll. a deplorable campaign of violence the linkage between our values and our The senior assistant legislative clerk against the Rohingya Muslim minor- interests—not just domestically but proceeded to call the roll. ity, including the systematic use of internationally—to the situation in Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask arson, murder, and rape. Our State De- Burma. We know the past and present unanimous consent that the order for partment tells us that nearly 300 vil- Burmese Governments have systemati- the quorum call be rescinded. lages have been either partially or cally deprived the Rohingya population The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- completely destroyed by fire just since of their most fundamental human TON). Without objection, it is so or- August 25 of this year by the Burmese rights. Not surprisingly, this has com- dered. military. That is more than half of the pelled a small number to join the ROHINGYA HUMANITARIAN CRISIS approximately 470 Muslim villages in Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army, Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I northern Rakhine State. ARSA. thank my colleague from Indiana for Ambassador Haley has indicated that The most recent wave of ethnic joining me on the floor today to raise the Burmese military’s actions con- cleansing began after ARSA conducted awareness of the ethnic cleansing that stitute a sustained campaign to cleanse a coordinated attack on Burmese secu- has been occurring on the other side of the country of an ethnic minority— rity outposts, and the Burmese mili- our planet, ethnic cleansing by the ethnic cleansing. The U.N. High Com- tary responded with disproportionate Burmese military against the missioner for Human Rights has re- military actions and deplorable at- Rohingya Muslim minority. ferred to this situation as a textbook tacks on civilians. Just last week, together we sent a example of ethnic cleansing. Here is a point the Burmese Govern- We have seen more than 600,000, who letter to U.N. Ambassador Nikki ment and the Burmese military must are mostly of the Rohingya ethnic mi- Haley. It was signed by 21 of our col- understand. By refusing to treat the nority, flee the violence in the Rakhine leagues. It called for ‘‘tangible actions Rohingyas as full, equal citizens and by State and seek refuge in Bangladesh. against the Burmese government to attacking their own people who just They travel on foot for days, carrying end the violence, to help the Burmese want to live in peace, the Burmese what they can of their belongings, car- people and make clear that there will military is only going to increase the rying their young children. It is mostly be consequences for those who commit number of Rohingyas who will be women and children who make this such atrocities against civilians.’’ radicalized, exacerbating the very trek. Upon arrival in Bangladesh, we I am pleased to partner with my col- problem the Burmese military says it have been briefed that many of them league on this. I think he will share is trying to address. So this is not in require immediate lifesaving assist- some remarks, and then I will follow ance. Burma’s interest. I can’t emphasize up with some remarks of my own. To put this severity in some measure that enough. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- of context, yesterday, our Department Before the most recent iteration of ator from Indiana. of State and U.S. Agency for Inter- this crisis, in December 2016, the Inter- Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, I thank national Development characterized national Crisis Group—an inter- my colleague for his leadership on this the resulting population movement as national nongovernmental organiza- issue. It has been a pleasure to lead a ‘‘almost unprecedented’’—almost un- tion—issued a report titled ‘‘Myanmar: subcommittee in the Foreign Relations precedented—amidst all of the other A New Muslim Insurgency in Rakhine Committee with Senator MERKLEY. We challenges we have seen in recent State.’’ The report said a number of have always worked in a constructive years, including the migrant crisis things, among them that the ‘‘contin- fashion on some consequential issues coming out of the Middle East and ued use of disproportionate force that and none more consequential than the across the shores of the Mediterranean. has driven tens of thousands from their one before us today. Some research suggests the refugee homes or across the border to Ban- With respect to the crisis in Burma, flow from Burma has been swifter than gladesh . . . could create conditions for we recently met with the lead person the exodus from Rwanda in 1994. further radicalizing sections of the on an international NGO who just re- Many Americans will say: You know, Rohingya population that turned from camps in Bangladesh. He honestly, we have a lot of challenges in transnational jihadists could exploit.’’ briefed us on some of the horrible cir- the world. Why should I care about this As we saw in Syria—to choose just cumstances facing these individuals one? Well, here is why: In Burma, we one comparative example—when the who have been forced out of Burma. see a group of people—the Rohingya— government fails to respect the basic This last Friday, as Senator being systematically targeted because human rights of their citizenry, then MERKLEY indicated, we also led a letter of their ethnicity. This, of course, runs conflict ensues. It can lead to far wider to Ambassador Haley regarding the afoul of our basic values, the principles radicalization. The conflict becomes a Burma crisis. I would also note that we upon which our country was founded. magnet, a magnet for international had an important hearing on this topic These principles inform the rules of the terrorists. It becomes a factory that yesterday in the full Foreign Relations international order that has existed for creates more international terrorists. Committee. I commend our leadership some number of decades now. These In short, when governments commit for putting that together. rules are the mortar that holds the systematic and large-scale violence, I want to share some of my thoughts order together. We simply cannot allow oppression, and injustice against its about this crisis. Before I do, I would certain rules of international behavior own people, it creates a fertile ground like to acknowledge folks back home to be violated or that will encourage for Islamist terrorist recruitment and in the State of Indiana. I happen to other bad actors, and they will con- radicalization. This is contrary to the represent a significant number of Bur- tinue to be undermined, thus, under- interests of everyone, including the mese Americans. These are patriotic mining our national interests. Burmese Government. fellow Hoosiers, who have played an in- Recent history demonstrates that Further, if left unaddressed, the hu- strumental role helping to educate me the systematic violation of funda- manitarian and security situation in and members of my team on this crisis, mental human rights sooner or later Burma and Bangladesh will worsen and and I am happy we can be responsive to engenders security threats to Ameri- increasingly threaten regional sta- their concerns. cans, to our allies, and to our collec- bility and U.S. national security inter- It is important for all Americans to tive interests—think of Tunisia, think ests. understand what is happening in Amer- of Syria, think of the countries of The United States must continue to ica and everything outside our shores. Yemen or Nigeria. There are almost lead. There has to be an international Burma is a country that doesn’t typi- countless examples just in recent his- response in Burma. We need other part- cally capture the imagination or atten- tory where we have seen or are seeing ners to step up and participate in that tion of people in the United States, right now the depravation of basic response, but the United States must but, right now, in light of this humani- human rights. That, in turn, is under- continue to lead. Part of leading comes tarian crisis, it requires all of our at- mining our values and our national in- down to clarity. What do we want of tention. terests. the Burmese Government? I see at

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.031 S25OCPT1 S6798 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 least four things the Burmese Govern- I thank my colleague from Indiana main refugee camps are. International ment must do. for being deeply in this conversation. It aid groups are working to quickly get First, the Burmese Government and is a real pleasure to work on the For- as many resources as they can into this their military must immediately end eign Relations Committee together. area so that people do not starve and its ethnic cleansing campaign against We must address this situation. Ac- so that medical wounds can be ad- the Rohingyas. Second, the Burmese cording to a report from the U.N. High dressed. But there is still a significant Government must address the root of Commissioner for Human Rights, ‘‘gov- lack of food, a lack of clean water, and this conflict by implementing the rec- ernment forces and Buddhist extrem- a lack of sanitary bath and toilet fa- ommendations of a U.N. panel, the so- ists in Burma have carried out ‘a well- cilities. That condition is ripe for called Advisory Commission on organized, coordinated and systematic’ spreading disease—diseases like chol- Rakhine State. Third, the Burmese campaign of human rights violations era. Government must permit safe access against the Muslim Rohingya in When I was home in Oregon, I met for journalists, for humanitarians, and Myanmar’s Rakhine State,’’ with a with a group of Rohingya refugees who for a United Nations fact-finding mis- strategy to ‘‘instill deep and wide- came and settled in Oregon. As we can sion and all of their personnel so we spread fear and trauma—physical, emo- imagine, they have a very personal can figure out precisely what is going tional and psychological—among the connection to what is happening. Some on and who is responsible. Finally, the Rohingya population.’’ This comes of them have distant relatives still Burmese Government must facilitate after the commissioner’s statement there. Some have immediate family the safe and voluntary return of all that this ‘‘security operation,’’ as they members. They don’t know exactly these individuals who have been dis- refer to it, in Burma was ‘‘a textbook what has happened to everyone in the placed. example of ethnic cleansing.’’ middle of this chaos. When I leave the Senate floor today, As we ponder international relations, We also heard about villages that I am scheduled to immediately visit we see from time to time that one didn’t get burned down but where the with Burma’s Ambassador to the group, somewhere in the world, will re- military was blockading people from United States. The points I just men- spond to deep tribal impulses and prej- leaving the village to go to the fields to tioned are points I intend to reiterate udices and seek to wipe out another secure food and blocking them from directly to that Ambassador. group. These are horrific moments in leaving the fields and going back into Moving forward, the United States history, and we have seen this movie— the village, probably responding to should lead efforts to document atroc- this situation—occur time and again. international outrage over villages ities in Burma however we can so the After such atrocities, the world has being burned and essentially resorting perpetrators can be held accountable. I said ‘‘never again’’—‘‘never again,’’ to a strategy of starving out the vil- also support the administration’s an- meaning that we will respond when we lages to drive people away. Imagine nouncement yesterday that it is ex- see this happening. We will apply great being trapped in one of those villages, ploring accountability mechanisms pressure. We will coordinate with the knowing what is happening to village that are already available under U.S. world to make sure it stops, because after village after village, knowing law, including the so-called Global such effort to wipe out another ethnic children have been slaughtered, women Magnitsky targeted sanctions. have been raped and often killed, and I call on countries like China and group is so unacceptable and it is such Russia to support the suspension of all a crime against humanity. men have been shot. The desperation is But here we are, and it is happening international weapons sales to the Bur- enormous. I heard firsthand accounts of condi- mese military. They should not be right now in Burma. It is happening tions of refugees from Reza Uddin, who transferring weapons to this murderous with a Buddhist nation. We normally associate the Buddhist had just returned from a 2-week trip to regime. religion with a main emphasis on visit them. He told powerful and mov- In conclusion, as Senator MERKLEY and I stated in our letter on Friday to peaceful conduct. Yet this tribal im- ing stories about children who had Ambassador Haley, now is the time. pulse—these deep prejudices are so been brutalized, children who had been Now is the time to take bold and effec- powerful that they overcome whatever separated from their parents, children tive actions against the Burmese Gov- peaceful impulse there is, and they who might possibly now be orphans be- ernment to end the violence, not just have resulted in a massive effort to cause it is not clear if their parents are to help the Burmese people but to help wipe out the Rohingya people. In the still alive or, if alive, where they are. stabilize the region and protect U.S. course, there have been a massive num- The world collectively has not done national security interests. Now is the ber of rapes. There have been children enough. The community of nations has time to uphold our fundamental values, killed right in front of their mothers. not done enough to address this un- the values, frankly, of civilized na- There have been villages surrounded by speakable brutality. Bangladesh should tions. Now is the time to work with soldiers and then the village huts set be complimented for accepting these this administration and colleagues on on fire, and then they have been shot refugees fleeing for their lives. They both sides of the aisle to make sure we as they flee. This is about as inhumane have been cooperative. It is a challenge can reach as peaceful and as positive a as it can get. for them, and we should acknowledge resolution to this horrible situation as Something close to 300 villages have that. We should continue to ask them possible. burned to the ground. By some esti- to do everything possible and to give I want to close by once again ac- mates, 3,000 civilians have been killed. the U.N. High Commissioner for Refu- knowledging the tremendous leader- A few weeks ago, we were talking gees and various aid organizations full ship of Senator MERKLEY. I thank him about 400,000 refugees pouring into opportunity, full access, and full au- for his partnership in this effort. Bangladesh. Now, the number is 600,000 thority to be in and assist those in I yield the floor. Rohingya refugees. these refugee camps. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Roughly half the Rohingyas live in The United States, the United King- ator from Oregon. Burma, and those refugees include dom, and the United Nations have con- Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ap- 300,000 children. Think about the type demned the actions of the Burmese, preciate the comments of my colleague of trauma those children have just ex- and that is certainly appropriate, but and the opportunity for us to work to- perienced and the challenges they will we haven’t done enough. We have not gether to help shine a light on this mo- have regaining a foundation to thrive. taken the steps to which my colleague ment of great atrocities in the world. A Then there are those who are inter- referred to strengthen sanctions or co- great deal of what we are calling for is nally displaced inside of Burma, who ordinate international countries to all for America to do more to shine a light have been driven out of their villages weigh in. The only thing that will on it and for the world to work to- but haven’t been able to make their make a real difference here is pressure gether, not just to shine a light on it way to Bangladesh. This is the chal- on the Burmese military. They are in but to end it and to proceed to have as lenge we face. charge. We can criticize the civilian much healing as can possibly take There is an area of Bangladesh called government in Burma, and many have, place. Cox’s Bazar. That is where these two and they have been unable to stop what

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.033 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6799 is going on and sometimes often reflect from the civilian government in door, he treated them as though they the prejudices that contributed to this, Burma: We will let them come back if were Senators. I also have the flags in but it is the military that makes the they show they are citizens. No. 1, they my office from his Senate office. Every decisions. have never been granted citizenship. day, they are a reminder for me of Paul We had testimony from the State De- No. 2, after a horrific situation like and all that he did for the people of our partment yesterday, and one of the of- this, if they did have papers, they State. ficials used the term ‘‘vigilantes’’ for wouldn’t have papers now. They would Paul and Sheila were always on the what the vigilantes are doing in this have been burned along with the vil- move. They were full of joy. They were oppression. That is not the right term lages. There needs to be a change in at- persistent in their fight against injus- to use. This is not uncoordinated ac- titude, a change of heart among the tices, small and large. During his life- tion. This is action coordinated Burmese civilian leadership, and cer- time as an educator, as an activist, and through the military decision-making tainly among the military, to lead an as a U.S. Senator, Paul Wellstone process. You don’t surround camps, you effort in the peaceful tradition, the touched the lives of people throughout don’t have significant planning that Buddhist tradition, of embracing this Minnesota and across the country. goes into it, and have it just be vigi- diversity and returning these people to That is because his philosophy was lantes. Vigilantes may be involved, but their land. simple. A lot of people, he said, would they are not the driving force. They Former U.N. Secretary General Kofi have people paid to represent them in might be assisting the soldiers in some Annan now serves as chairman of the Washington, but he was going to rep- cases, but this is a coordinated act of Advisory Commission on Rakhine resent the other people. As he said in the military of Burma, and it is impor- State. He and his team have laid out a one of his famous campaign ads, he tant that the community of nations report with very specific actions—ac- wasn’t there to represent the Rocke- convey to the military how unaccept- tions that will help end the cycle of fellers; he was there to represent the able this is and that there will be sig- radicalization and the cycle of vio- ‘‘little fellers.’’ nificant consequences. lence. We need to work to try to make If you go to any local mental health My colleague has referred to the fact sure those things are implemented, to group, they remember Paul. If you go that in this situation no military sales show oppressive governments and the to any Somali event in our State, they should be made to such a military. rest of the world that the world will remember Paul. If you go to any com- That is important, but that takes a not stand—that the world will respond, munity on the Iron Range in Min- conversation among nations, and the and respond aggressively, in a coordi- nesota, they remember Paul—both the United States needs to be deeply en- nated, forceful way when ethnic cleans- man and then what he did. Paul was my friend and mentor. He gaged in this. ing occurs. That is the best deterrent told me that I should run for office, There is a lot of international fund- we could have for future atrocities. and, as he did with so many others, he raising going on. There was a donors Again, I thank my colleague for taught me that politics should have a conference held on Monday to assist being in this dialogue and for his sup- purpose. the refugees. It raised about $200 mil- port to shine this light and to take a lion or a little more in new funds. That He also taught me how to campaign compelling more forceful action. Like on city buses. This is how he would do is about $400 per refugee. That is not him, I look forward to meeting with it. At Nicollet Mall—being from a near- nearly enough to provide for shelter or the Ambassador from Burma later by State, the Presiding Officer is aware care in a situation with complete lack today. of Nicollet Mall in the city of Min- of access to fields or farming or sup- I suggest the absence of a quorum. neapolis. We would get on a city bus at port. It is going to take more than The PRESIDING OFFICER. The one end of the mall, and we would work that. We should be involved in working clerk will call the roll. it as though we had just got on the bus: with the United Nations, UNICEF, The senior assistant legislative clerk Meet everyone on the bus, go to the World Health, UNHCR, or the U.N. proceeded to call the roll. end, get off, and then get on another High Commissioner for Refugees, and Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order bus going the other way and meet a the World Food Program to step up and whole group of people. I have no idea assist. I certainly believe it would be for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. what the busdrivers thought after an very helpful to have President Trump hour of this, but that is what we did. ROUNDS). Without objection, it is so or- take this issue on and speak from the Paul Wellstone worked it bus by bus, dered. heart of our Nation to this dark and block by block, precinct by precinct, evil deed that is happening—that we REMEMBERING PAUL AND SHEILA WELLSTONE and he made a lasting impression on reject it and we will partner with the Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I people in a way that made them believe rest of the world to end it. wish to speak this afternoon to honor and know that getting involved in poli- I do feel that there is a history in the memory of Paul and Sheila tics could make a real difference in which we have helped lead nations in Wellstone. Today marks 15 years since their lives. He had an unending sense of these situations. We haven’t always we lost Paul and Sheila, their daughter optimism—optimism that maybe peo- been there. I know that President Clin- Marcia, and staff members Tom Lapic, ple he didn’t agree with in this Cham- ton said that the biggest regret of his Mary McEvoy, and Will McLaughlin. ber would eventually change their administration is that he didn’t re- Because Paul was such a memorable views. spond quickly in Central Africa when and incredible person, it is hard to be- He made a lot of friends here, on both the Tutsis and Hutus went to battle lieve that it has been 15 years since we the Democratic and Republican sides of against each other, slaughtering each lost all of them. the aisle. That was the message Paul other with machetes. This is a chance For me, as for so many Minnesotans, took to new citizens, new voters, and for us to really respond—to respond ag- it is impossible to forget the moment everyone looking to get involved. He gressively, to have that moral clarity, that we first heard about their plane told them that working in public serv- and to exercise that leadership in the going down. It is impossible to forget ice can make a difference, and he world. I join my colleague in calling the wait to get the final news that showed them through his actions. for such action for more assistance, there were no survivors. That is how He had many passions. He fought for with the aid to both Burma and Ban- much Paul and Sheila meant to the everything from campaign finance re- gladesh, for the moral clarity to take people of our State. form to improving our rural economies. action that pressures the Burmese I get my own special reminders every He fought against veteran homeless- military in a significant and compel- day. First, I get a reminder from the ness, to protect the environment, and, ling way and to provide assistance in employees at the Capitol who were of course, he fought for the rights of the right of return—the ability of these around when Paul graced these hall- workers. individuals to be able to return to their ways. They remember him because he He truly believed, as he famously villages. treated everyone with dignity. Whether said, that ‘‘we all do better when we all Traditionally, this group has been de- it was the tram operator, the elevator do better’’ and that politics is simply nied citizenship. Early on, we heard operator, or the police at the front about improving people’s lives.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.035 S25OCPT1 S6800 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Anyone who ever met or talked with Paul. Sheila and I had been asked to Over the last few months, commu- Paul found out that he had a special speak to a group of new citizens, immi- nities around the country have been passion for helping those struggling grants from Russia. It was a very small devastated by natural disasters. We with mental illness. That was shaped group, and we were there to talk about have had terrible hurricanes in Texas, by his own family. As a young child, our own immigrant experiences, our Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Vir- Paul watched his brother Steven’s own relatives. I remember she talked gin Islands, as well as tragic wildfires traumatic descent into mental illness. about her relatives in Appalachia, and across the West. These communities In college, his brother suffered a severe I talked about my relatives on the Iron need immediate help, and that is why mental breakdown and spent the next 2 Range coming over from Slovenia. The the disaster supplemental appropria- years in hospitals. Eventually, he re- event was winding down. It was a tions bill we passed yesterday is so im- covered and graduated from college small, small event in a synagogue with portant. I am glad this bill provides with honors, but it took his immigrant these new immigrants, and, all of a nearly $19 billion to replenish FEMA’s parents years to pay off the hospital sudden, a big surprise—in walked Paul. emergency disaster accounts that help bills. He wasn’t supposed to be there. It was communities start to rebuild, but it is Paul would always talk about how, just a few weeks, a month away, from just a downpayment. As we know, it when he grew up, his house was dark one of the biggest elections he had ever will take a lot more Federal assistance. because no one wanted to talk about faced in the U.S. Senate. But he had One thing we need to focus on is the mental illness back then because it had gotten on an early flight and had come electric grid. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, so much stigma. He wanted to get it home from Washington. There he was— and Maria demonstrated the risks the out in the sunlight. He knew that there he and a group of immigrants and us— electric grid faces from extreme weath- were far too many families going with no press, no TVs, not even a big er. The communities hardest hit in through the same experience, too many crowd, all just a few weeks before his Texas and Florida underwent days— devastated by the physical and finan- election. sometimes much longer—without any cial consequences of mental illness. He He came for two reasons. He loved power, and when this happens, it is a knew that we could and we should do Sheila, and he wanted to be there to serious risk to the safety and health of better. For years as a Senator, he support her. But he was also there be- everyone in the area. fought for funding for better care, bet- cause he loved the immigrant experi- Now, American citizens in Puerto ter services, and better representation ence. He embraced it. His family, like Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are for the mentally ill, and he fought for so many Minnesota families, was an ex- facing a major humanitarian crisis, mental health parity in health insur- ample of how you can come to Amer- and the Federal Government needs to ance coverage. ica, succeed in America, and then, in do everything it can to assist. Even years after his death, Paul’s turn, help America succeed. More than a month after Hurricane voice was heard loud and clear. Con- That is my last memory of Paul as he Maria hit, only 25 percent of Puerto gressman Ramstad from Minnesota, a stood before those immigrants, telling Rico has access to electricity, and it Republican Congressman at the time, about his own story, embracing them. I will take many months to get power took up the cause in the House. I will remember him in that way, but I back to those communities. That is helped. Ted Kennedy led the way and, will also remember the joy he felt for completely unacceptable. Without elec- of course, Pete Domenici, who had politics, how he would run around that tricity, pumping stations can’t supply paired up with Paul on this important green bus of his, with people running drinking water to households. In fact, bill. alongside him on the parade routes. 25 percent of the island still lacks ac- Finally, in 2008, we passed the Paul In the last year of his life, he told the cess to potable water. Without elec- Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental public he had MS, and he couldn’t run tricity, wastewater treatment facili- Health Parity and Addiction Equity like that anymore. So he would stand ties can’t operate, which means raw Act. The bill requires insurance compa- in the back of the bus with Sheila and sewage is contaminating rivers and nies to treat mental health on an equal wave. What was so amazing about it streams. Without electricity, cell tow- basis with physical illness. For Paul, was that he had energized so many peo- ers cease to function, making commu- this fight was always a matter of civil ple in those green Wellstone shirts to nication with first responders difficult. rights, of justice, and of basic human run around that bus that you didn’t Without a stable electric grid, hos- decency, and that landmark legislation even notice he wasn’t running. He had is one fitting way we honor him. pitals have to rely on backup power to given them the energy and the hope to keep lifesaving equipment working. Sheila, of course, also dedicated her- carry on his work, and they were doing self to helping others, especially sur- That backup power is often diesel gen- it for him. erators that require fuel, which is in vivors of violence. I had the oppor- Now, 15 years after we lost Paul and short supply. tunity to work closely with Sheila Sheila, it is our job to carry on and run when I served for 8 years as Hennepin Given the dire situation, it is no sur- around that bus. That is organizing, prise that we have already seen tens of County Attorney. She focused on do- that is politics, and that is the gift of mestic violence and was instrumental thousands of Puerto Ricans leave the joy in improving people’s lives that island, with nearly 60,000 arriving in in creating and getting the funding for Paul, Sheila, Marcia, and those other the Hennepin County Domestic Abuse Florida alone. beloved staff members left for us. The majority of the transmission and Center. That center is an international Thank you. distribution lines were destroyed in model for serving victims of domestic I yield the floor. violence by bringing together a full I suggest the absence of a quorum. Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Is- range of services and resources in one The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lands. We need to rebuild them, and I central location. Victims of domestic clerk will call the roll. think we can all agree they should be violence don’t have to go through the The assistant bill clerk proceeded to rebuilt to withstand the next disaster. redtape that would be difficult even for call the roll. So let’s rebuild the electric grid in a a lawyer to figure out. Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, I ask more resilient and sustainable way Of course, one of Paul’s greatest leg- unanimous consent that the order for that reduces future threats and future islative achievements was the work he the quorum call be rescinded. costs. I have been talking with my Re- did, along with Vice President Biden The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. publican colleagues and members of and others, to pass the original Vio- STRANGE). Without objection, it is so the administration, and everyone lence Against Women Act. It was a ordered. agrees this is a good idea. That is why team effort, and Sheila was right there PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS I want to work with my colleagues on on the frontlines with Paul. RECOVERY EFFORT both sides of the aisle to include lan- Together, they accomplished so Mr. FRANKEN. Mr. President, I rise guage in the next supplemental dis- much. Their commitment to others to talk about the devastation in Puerto aster aid package that does exactly never wavered, and neither did they. Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands and this. It was just a few weeks before that the need to rebuild the electric grid in I am talking about investing in a tragic crash that I last saw Sheila and a more resilient and sustainable way. more modern and more decentralized

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.036 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6801 grid so that not everyone is relying on with the special interests of the fossil links. ‘‘About 15 mentions of the words a handful of powerplants that can go fuel industry. climate change have been removed down. Decentralized energy resources There is a word for that. It is called from the main page alone. . . .’’ operating in microgrids are more like- corruption, at least as the Founding It is not just at EPA. Here is today’s ly to remain functioning during and Fathers knew the meaning of that exclusive headline: ‘‘The Interior De- after storms. There are many instances term. It starts at the top. Trump partment scrubs climate change from of distributed energy keeping impor- named Scott Pruitt head of the EPA. its strategic plan.’’ I mean, they act as tant facilities online after natural dis- Pruitt has a long record of dark money if this is the Soviet Union and the gov- asters, including the Texas Medical fundraising and long, cozy relation- ernment is allowed to tell scientists Center, which is the largest medical ships with Big Energy industry polit- what they can say and not say and put complex in the world, which has a com- ical donors. In effect, he is a tentacle of phony propaganda onto official bined heat and power plant that kept the fossil fuel climate denial operation, websites and keep scientists from going running during Hurricane Harvey. That wiggling and wriggling in the Adminis- to meetings because they might actu- is because during extreme weather, trator’s chair, near his new $25,000 ally tell the truth about climate these technologies can go into island ‘‘cone of silence’’ secret communica- change. mode or operate independent of the tions booth that he built so no one I am the son and grandson of Foreign grid. would hear him checking in with his Service officers. I grew up serving in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands masters. countries that did that, where the gov- have some of the highest electricity Results are as expected. The New ernment could tell the scientist: No, prices in the United States, and that is York Times has reported: ‘‘How you don’t say that. No, you don’t go because they rely on oil, coal, and gas Rollbacks at Scott Pruitt’s EPA are a there. No, this is the party line. I never that must be shipped from the main- Boon to Oil and Gas.’’ No surprise. In thought that would happen in the land. While these islands do not have the 4 months that followed his appoint- United States of America—and here we fossil fuels, do you know what they do ment, Pruitt moved to undo, delay, or are. have? Lots of Sun. And the rapidly de- otherwise block more than 30 environ- To aid Pruitt in his fossil fuel indus- clining costs of distributed clean en- mental rules benefiting his fossil fuel try crusade, our President has nomi- ergy technologies such as solar, wind, friends. This regulatory rollback, larg- nated a parade of fossil fuel lackeys, energy efficiency, and battery storage, er in scope than any over so short a lobbyists, and operatives whose main in many instances make them more af- time in the Agency’s near-half century qualification seems to be allegiance to fordable than existing power genera- history, went straight into the pockets their corporate clients and benefactors. tion, which means these clean energy of the fossil fuel industry. It is not just the fossil fuel industry technologies could help reduce prices. Longtime Pruitt benefactor Devon that gets their hacks planted in gov- These investments will also save Energy is cashing in dividends on its ernment offices. money in the long run. In 2005, the Na- investment in Scott Pruitt’s political Do you remember in the ‘‘Cat in the tional Institute of Building Sciences career, as Pruitt is working to elimi- Hat,’’ where they had Thing One and completed a study for FEMA that nate rules on the leaking and flaring of Thing Two running around? Let’s look found that every dollar invested in dis- methane, and has rescinded require- at Hack One and Hack Two, who just aster preparedness and resilience saves ments for reporting methane emis- cleared committee today in the Pruitt $4 in future avoided losses. We know we sions. Devon, as you may recall, is that ‘‘EPA for Sale’’ roster. are going to see more hurricanes and company whose letter to the EPA Pru- Hack One is a toxicologist who extreme weather events, so let’s re- itt put on his own Oklahoma attorney consults for major chemical corpora- build in such a way that impacts are general letterhead to mask Devon’s tions and has spent the better part of not as severe the next time around. hand and submit their work as his own his professional life fighting regulation Let’s protect people and save taxpayer official work as attorney general of his of potentially toxic compounds in con- money. State. sumer goods. His name is Michael That is my message: Let’s protect So this hand-in-glove relationship be- Dourson. President Trump nominated people, and let’s all save taxpayer tween Devon as the hand and Pruitt as him to run the EPA Office of Chemical money and do the thing that makes the glove goes back a long way. The Safety and Pollution Prevention. A sense. EPA has career scientists and legal ex- lobbying group for sellers of pesticides, Thank you. perts who bring decades of experience fungicides, and rodenticides called I suggest the absence of a quorum. in environmental law and science to Dourson ‘‘a perfect fit’’ for the job—the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the EPA who are all being cut out as perfect industry hack for that job, clerk will call the roll. the Administrator takes drastic steps more like. The senior assistant legislative clerk to undo environmental protections. Hack Two is William Wehrum, nomi- proceeded to call the roll. Just this week, EPA scientists were nated to run the EPA Office of Air and Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I yanked from a conference in Rhode Is- Radiation. Wehrum is a lobbyist who ask unanimous consent that the order land where they were going to talk has represented a host of major indus- for the quorum call be rescinded. about climate change. The matter of trial and energy corporations, and the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without climate change on Narragansett Bay in Rubber Manufacturers Association, the objection, it is so ordered. Rhode Island is pretty significant. This American Forest and Paper Associa- CLIMATE CHANGE is the day’s Providence Journal, our tion, and the American Petroleum In- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, it leading newspaper in Rhode Island. stitute. President George W. Bush ac- is nice to see the distinguished Senator Headline: ‘‘Will climate change negate tually nominated this guy to the same in the chair presiding. I am not sure, in Bay cleanup?’’ It has a big map of Nar- post in 2006, but the White House with- my 183 ‘‘Time to Wake Up’’ speeches, I ragansett Bay with all the facilities at drew his nomination because it was so have yet had the pleasure of speaking risk of being flooded and overwhelmed. controversial. while the Senator was presiding. It is front page news. Well, that was 2006. That was before I am here to once again call for us to It is a matter of extreme importance Citizens United. That was before that wake up to the corporate capture of in Rhode Island, and EPA yanked out decision amped up industry power to Congress and this administration—the its scientists. They weren’t allowed to the point where it can now ram capture of governance by the fossil fuel come down and talk at an event where through conflicted and objectionable industry that keeps us from honestly they were going to talk about climate candidates with—as happened this addressing climate change. There is a change. It is not just yanking the sci- morning—unanimous Republican sup- saying that ‘‘personnel is policy.’’ Well, entists. Here is a New York Times arti- port. Not one Republican Senator on the Trump personnel for positions at cle by Lisa Friedman from October 20. the committee would voice an objec- the Environmental Protection Agency Headline: ‘‘EPA scrubs a climate tion. reflect a policy to undo the public wel- website of ‘climate change.’ ’’ An EPA When Senators asked questions for fare mission of the Agency and align it website has been scrubbed of scores of the record in the Environment and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.039 S25OCPT1 S6802 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Public Works Committee nomination of what we can expect from him if con- Congress. So good luck getting an hon- hearing on Wehrum and Dourson, these firmed. His predictable dodging falls in est look at this mess through congres- captured nominees played dumb about lockstep with Administrator Pruitt, sional oversight. the central issues and programs they who has stated he does ‘‘not agree that Over and over, appalling nominees will oversee if confirmed. [carbon dioxide] is a primary contrib- get through confirmation with no Re- For instance, I asked Dourson if he utor to the global warming that we publican dissent, more ‘‘see no evil.’’ It agreed that ‘‘the tobacco industry ma- see.’’ That puts him in a very small cir- is just wrong. nipulated and obfuscated scientific re- cle of people, every one of whom I For now, the American public will search into the dangers of smoking for think is connected by money to the pay the price of dismantling these reg- decades.’’ Dourson, who conducted sci- fossil fuel industry. ulatory safeguards. They will pay the entific studies designed, reviewed, and I asked Mr. Wehrum what he believes price in poisonings and carcinogenic paid for by the tobacco industry and is a healthy standard for ozone. Now, exposures, in rising seas and raging whose name is all over, in hundreds of bear in mind that one of the goals of wildfires, in childhood asthma and places, the discovery records of the to- the Clean Air Act is to set national northbound tropical diseases. Mark my bacco industry’s denial operation, re- ambient air quality standards for words, one day there will be a reck- plied: ‘‘I do not have firsthand knowl- ozone, that the office to which he is oning for all of this. edge to comment.’’ nominated oversees this ozone stand- When captured EPA officials put pay- I ‘‘do not have firsthand knowledge ard, and that the EPA has had ozone back to their donors first and clean air to comment’’? This is the President’s standards in place since 1971, more and public health a way distant second, selection to run the office that protects than 45 years. it stinks. It is crooked by any reason- Americans from dangerous chemicals In response to my question, Wehrum able definition of the term. It is cor- who doesn’t know the tobacco indus- answered: ‘‘I am not familiar with the rupt in exactly the way the Founding try’s history of falsifying science? current science on the health effects of Fathers understood corruption. The fossil fuel industry will one day Please. He worked for them. He was ozone, so I cannot comment on your be held to account for this binge of cor- part of it. question as to the appropriate level of ruption and manipulation. ExxonMobil, Remember that the tobacco industry the standard.’’ Really? was taken to court by the U.S. Depart- I asked Wehrum whether he agreed Koch Industries, Arch Coal, Murray Coal, Peabody Coal, you own this just ment of Justice—back when the De- with EPA’s 2009 finding that the cur- as the Republican Party does. partment of Justice would take an in- rent and projected concentrations of I yield the floor. dustry to court—and the Department greenhouse gases in the atmosphere The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- of Justice won a judgment declaring threaten the public health and welfare ator from Colorado. that tobacco had engaged in a fraud of current and future generations. I HEALTHCARE conspiracy to deny tobacco’s harms. asked if he would commit not to nar- Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I Dourson sees no evil. He knows noth- row or weaken the EPA’s come to the floor this afternoon to talk ing. endangerment finding. Wehrum wrote about the Healthcare Tax Relief Act, I asked him whether he believes that back that he had not read the legislation I introduced to delay the hydrofluorocarbons are greenhouse endangerment finding or the record health insurance tax that was created gases and about the global warming po- prepared in support of the finding; by the Affordable Care Act. tential of methane. His response: I am therefore, he said: ‘‘I currently do not This tax is often referred to as the not sufficiently familiar with the defi- have a view.’’ I currently do not have a HIT tax. The HIT tax imposes fees on nition of greenhouse gases and do not view? That is funny. health insurance coverage to con- have the expertise to answer these I bet he had a view when he was sumers. It is a pretty simple business questions. being paid by the Rubber Manufactur- concept that this HIT tax results in. If He is not familiar with the definition ers Association, the American Forest & a fee increases on an insurance policy of greenhouse gases? This is basic high Paper Association, and the American and the fee goes up—there is a fee school science. Every one of us has a Petroleum Institute. I guess it was the charged to the company that issues home State university that teaches miraculous, evaporating view. this insurance policy—then that fee this stuff. This has been science for Maybe these ‘‘see no evil’’ nominees, gets passed on to the consumer. It is more than 100 years. Dourson and Wehrum, don’t know the the consumer, then, who pays the fee On to Hack Two, Bill Wehrum. When basics of the problems they would con- in the form of higher health insurance I asked Wehrum about carbon dioxide’s front. Maybe they just don’t know, but costs. role in the observable effects of climate let’s not be fooled here. Polluters have As is the case with most excise taxes, change, he replied: ‘‘The degree to paid these nominees well for their serv- whether it is an excise tax on food or which manmade greenhouse gas emis- ices over the years. They were expert beverage or any other item of personal sions are contributing to climate enough to be hired by industry groups good, if this health insurance tax takes change has not been conclusively de- as lobbyists and consultants. We know effect, costs will be passed on to con- termined.’’ This claim just doesn’t where their allegiances lie. We know sumers directly in the form of higher match the scientific record. who has been paying them. We know premiums. That is confirmed by the The EPA—the very Agency to which whom they will serve. Congressional Budget Office. Mr. Wehrum is nominated, along with A preview of coming attractions, This is one of the cost drivers that NOAA—states that ‘‘carbon dioxide is coming up before the EPW soon is An- was built into the Affordable Care Act. the primary greenhouse gas that is drew Wheeler, Trump’s nominee for the This health insurance tax would di- contributing to recent climate EPA’s second in command. Wheeler rectly increase the premiums of the change.’’ This consensus is held by pub- was a top lobbyist for the coal mining consumer’s insurance product. This tax lished climate scientists, by scientific behemoth, Murray Energy. Not only was supposed to begin a few years back agencies and societies, by all of our Na- did this company support Trump’s in 2014. It was going to start at $8 bil- tional Laboratories, and by univer- campaign and provide $300,000 to help lion, and by 2018 the tax would reach sities in America and around the globe. pay for his inauguration, Murray En- $14.3 billion. However, Congress recog- As I said, every one of us in this ergy has also donated to Pruitt-affili- nized that this tax was going to have a room—I haven’t found an exception ated political action committees to the significant impact on the price of cov- yet, and I have looked, but I expect tune of hundreds of thousands of dol- erage and, as a result, suspended the every Senator has a home State uni- lars. I can’t wait to hear his answers on tax from taking effect in 2017. Without versity that doesn’t just know this to the role of coal in climate change, congressional action to delay or stop or be true, but it teaches it in its cur- childhood asthma, and mercury poi- prevent this ObamaCare tax from tak- riculum. But Hack Two sees no evil. He soning. ing place again, this tax will take ef- knows nothing. The sad part of all of this is, the pol- fect in 2018. Wehrum’s disregard for well-estab- luting interests that own these nomi- According to nonpartisan actuarial lished science provides a grim preview nees also throw their weight around in analysis conducted by Oliver Wyman,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.042 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6803 an estimated 157 million Americans speak, of the Affordable Care Act. At a sity’s enduring legacy as a center for will be affected by this massive tax. time when we know that almost half of scientific research and discovery. Even more middle-income earners Americans could not shoulder a $400 The university has paved the way for across this country, 157 million Ameri- emergency expense, it would simply be future innovation with many firsts cans and working Americans, are ex- irresponsible to allow this ObamaCare throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. pected to shoulder the weight of this HIT tax to take effect. It was the first university with a chem- tax. Furthermore, the impacts of this tax ical laboratory, the first to own and Oliver Wyman estimated that pre- touch our seniors who have earned operate a hospital, the first to teach miums will rise by 3 percent in each their benefits as well. For seniors en- aeronautical engineering, the first pub- year; 2018, 2019, and 2020. That is 3 per- rolled in Medicare Advantage plans— lic university with dental and phar- cent each year. That is 9 percent over and Medicare Advantage is one of the macy schools, and the first with a pro- 3 years. most popular aspects of Medicare—pre- gram in human genetics. Perhaps the To put this in simple perspective, in miums are expected to rise by roughly most game-changing first—it was the Colorado alone, premiums in the indi- $370 a year per enrollee if Congress first large State university to open its vidual market rose by 34 percent from doesn’t find a resolution. In many doors to both men and women. plan year 2017 to plan year 2018. Adding cases, these are fixed-income individ- Today, faculty and students continue an additional 3 percent every year for uals who would see their premiums in- to reach new firsts by answering im- those 3 years would leave those on the crease $370 a year because of the portant research questions that will af- individual market paying nearly 43.3 ObamaCare HIT tax. fect future generations. Take, for in- percent, on average, more year to year In addition, seniors enrolled in Medi- stance, how the university has laid the if combined with the 2018 increases at care Part D prescription drug plans can groundwork for breakthroughs in the end of that 3-year, 9-percent in- expect their premiums to increase as American mobility. crease run. well. Hit them on their Medicare plans In 2015, Mcity, a public-private part- What is more, according to the De- and hit them on the prescription drug nership led by the University of Michi- partment of Health and Human Serv- plans—higher costs due to this gan, became the world’s first con- ices, the average individual market ObamaCare HIT tax. trolled environment designed to test premiums have increased by 105 per- Even more, the impacts of the health connected and automated vehicle tech- cent from 2013 to 2017. Think about insurance tax have large-scale con- nologies. The 32-acre simulated urban that. When the Affordable Care Act sequences in the workplace as well. A and suburban landscape is designed to passed, when ObamaCare was passed, a study by the National Federation of support rigorous, repeatable testing of promise was made that the average Independent Business found that allow- self-driving car technologies before family would see a decrease in their ing the HIT tax to take effect could re- they are tested on public roads and healthcare costs of $2,500 per family, sult in job losses for as many as 283,000 highways. This hub of innovation re- but, instead, from 2013 to 2017, they saw people by 2023. This tax could have the flects our State’s legacy as the heart of a 105-percent increase in costs. If the impact of costing 286,000 jobs by 2023. the American auto industry and will health insurance tax takes effect, as Research and analysis from our most help lead our country into the next era planned by ObamaCare, then we would respected actuaries continue to vali- of transportation. see another 9-percent increase over the date the negative consequences of the A similar nexus between our past and next several years on top of that. health insurance tax. future is true across nearly every dis- Without congressional action to On behalf of all hard-working Ameri- cipline that U of M’s research touch- delay this tax, estimates show that cans, I call upon my colleagues in the es—engineering, medicine, social costs will rise between $200 and $300 an- Senate to join me in cosponsoring this sciences, humanities, and more. Stu- nually for individuals and $500 annu- commonsense piece of legislation, the dents and faculty are developing new ally for families. That is a $200 to $300 Healthcare Tax Relief Act. Healthcare cancer treatments, creating energy-ef- increase for individuals and a $500 in- plans are being finalized right now for ficient batteries, engaging in cutting- crease annually for families. the 2018 rate year, and it is urgent for edge environmental science to protect To put that into some perspective, 25 Congress to take action so that con- the Great Lakes, and building proto- percent of Americans don’t have ac- sumers are not saddled with yet one types of engines to take us to Mars. cess—emergency access—to $100. In an more cost that they can’t afford. That is just to name a few. emergency, 25 percent of Americans Mr. President, I yield the floor. Tied with the University of Michi- don’t have immediate access to $100. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- gan’s drive to pursue knowledge is its Yet here we are talking about a man- ator from Michigan. drive to put that knowledge into action dated law—you have to have insurance RECOGNIZING THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN’S for the greater good. At its core, the coverage under the Affordable Care BICENTENNIAL university’s mission is to serve society. Act—but this law would then increase Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise This has been demonstrated by its his- costs $200 to $300 on an individual and today to recognize the bicentennial of tory of activism and civic engagement. $500 annually for families. the University of Michigan. The uni- The university commemorates one Statistics from the Federal Reserve versity has adopted the motto ‘‘Always such event that occurred on October 14, show how much of a hardship this Leading, Forever Valiant’’ for its bi- 1960. Senator John F. Kennedy, whose would create. The Federal Reserve centennial year—a motto that captures former desk is just a few feet in front found that 46 percent of Americans did its 200 years at the forefront of Amer- of me here today, delivered an un- not have enough money to cover a $400 ican academic excellence. planned speech on the steps of the emergency expense. Yet the The genesis of the University of Michigan Union at 2 a.m. He chal- ObamaCare HIT tax would increase Michigan predates the founding of my lenged University of Michigan students family insurance costs by $500. Forty- home State of Michigan. to work abroad in developing nations six percent of Americans don’t have ac- On August 26, 1817, Lewis Cass, Gov- in an effort to promote peace. These re- cess to $400 in an emergency. Yet the ernor of the Michigan territory, en- marks laid the blueprint for the U.S. ObamaCare HIT tax would increase it acted a charter to create the Univer- Peace Corps, which was established in by $500. sity of Michigania, aligned with terri- 1961. This tax has the potential to push tory judge Augustus Woodward’s envi- The University of Michigan con- over half of Americans into financial sioned System of Universal Science. tinues to have a truly global reach. It ruin, and it would be negligent for Con- In 1852, the university’s first presi- provides a world-class education to a gress to allow this tax to take effect. dent, Henry Philip Tappan, pioneered a diverse student body of 63,000 students The financial threat this tax imposes model of higher education in which on its Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint on hard-working families is a far cry scholars do not settle for existing campuses, educating instate, out-of- from that bold promise that was made knowledge but actively pursue new state, and international students alike. to reduce costs by $2,500 per family— knowledge through rigorous science. They are drawn to the university’s one of the biggest Pinocchios, so to This approach solidified the univer- unfaltering endeavor to expand our

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:47 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.043 S25OCPT1 S6804 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 base of knowledge and empower indi- through, all in an attempt to break She said: viduals to leave a lasting and positive down the stigma of addiction, push for By the time our worst fears were con- impact on the world around them. solutions, and hope that they can help firmed, he was using heroin, we basically With more than 572,000 living alum- others by making their voices heard. lost the soul of our son. ni—including my daughter Madeline, Earlier this year, Greg and Linda of Greg’s last few years were filled with who just graduated this past May—the Derry, NH, reached out to my office to back-and-forths. He had overdosed, his University of Michigan has one of the share the story of their son, who was brother finding him in the bathroom of largest alumni networks, full of art- also named Greg. They wrote to say: their home. Tired of being dependent ists, astronauts, business and govern- If you were to put a name and face to this on heroin, he sought help, signing up ment leaders, entrepreneurs, and hu- disease, it would be that of the devil. Let’s for a methadone clinic, entering rehab, manitarians, as well as Nobel laureates change that. Let’s put a face of hope and hu- and giving his parents hope that he in economics, medicine, and science. manity to the disease of addiction. If by doing so, even if just one life is saved, it is would make progress. The University of Michigan’s many worth it. Unfortunately, he started to use illustrious alumni include U.S. Presi- I would like to share some of Greg’s again but was getting ready to enter a dent Gerald R. Ford, Swedish diplomat story today. Greg was born on Novem- drug court program. After joining his and humanitarian Raoul Wallenberg, ber 16, 1985. He and his younger brother family on a vacation to visit an ailing Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Ar- Neil were raised in a caring and loving relative, he decided to clean up his act, thur Miller, actor James Earl Jones, home, where their parents did their going to the gym and eating right. civil rights leader Mary Frances Berry, best to teach them right from wrong, Tragically, though, his mom wrote: Google cofounder Larry Page, and au- stressing the importance of being con- This was short lived however, as the demon thor and scholar Robin Wright. Many snuck into his room and stole him from us. siderate, polite, and kind. more alumni will follow in these foot- All he left for us was a lifeless body on the When Greg was 15, his parents moved floor behind a locked door. steps. They share a drive to make what to Derry, where he attended Pinkerton is affectionately known as the Michi- Academy and graduated with honors in Greg’s death and his heartbreaking gan Difference and, of course, cheer for 2004. During his senior year, like so story is the story of far too many peo- the Maize and Blue. many other students his age, he ap- ple in New Hampshire and across the I would like to congratulate the Uni- plied for college, eventually deciding country, of people with dreams, hopes, versity of Michigan on its bicentennial on Keene State College, pursuing a and aspirations, whose lives are cut as we look forward to a future driven major in biochemistry. He had a dream short as a result of this illness. Greg by Michigan innovation. of becoming a physician. wanted to be a doctor. He wanted to be With that, I will close with some- He excelled academically, but his a husband and a father. He loved dogs thing very simple: ‘‘Go Blue!’’ mom Linda said that during his transi- and video games, and he loved to watch Mr. President, I yield the floor. tion between his freshman and sopho- Patriots games on Sunday with his I suggest the absence of a quorum. more year, something began to appear mom, his dad, and his brother. As his The PRESIDING OFFICER. The off. She wrote: mom put it: clerk will call the roll. Brilliant and head strong, he was to be The bill clerk proceeded to call the I saw firsthand that something was off about him. He was very quiet and withdrawn. reckoned with, and as his parents, we will roll. He was showing obvious signs of depression never stop trying, on his behalf, to see that Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I ask which runs in both sides of the family. there is an end to this epidemic. unanimous consent that the order for Even as his depression progressed, His parents wanted to make clear the quorum call be rescinded. Greg battled through. He graduated that his substance use disorder really The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in grew as a result of the opioid he was GARDNER). Without objection, it is so biochemistry. After graduating and prescribed following surgery, a pain- ordered. moving back home, his parents urged killer that was originally manufac- OPIOID EPIDEMIC him to seek help, but Greg held back. tured for terminally ill patients. They Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I rise During this time, he had an outpatient believe that pharmaceutical companies today to discuss an issue that is dev- surgery, after which he was prescribed marketed this drug at the expense of astating families and communities in an opioid-based painkiller. His mom their son, saying: ‘‘Given to ease pain my home State of New Hampshire and said that after he was prescribed that and suffering, ironically, it has caused across the United States: the fentanyl, opioid, he went from bad to worse. irreparable pain, suffering, and death.’’ heroin, and opioid crisis. This crisis is Eventually Greg sought help. He saw We can never thank families who the most pressing public and safety a physician and was prescribed an anti- have lost loved ones enough for speak- challenge that New Hampshire faces. It depressant. His mom said he seemed to ing out about this issue and for work- does not discriminate. It affects people be coming back around; he seemed ing tirelessly and courageously to try in every community and from every happier. He took steps to advance his to prevent others from suffering as walk of life. career, hoping to find a job with his they have. Nor can we forget to thank In 2016 alone, 485 people in New biochemistry degree that would offer law enforcement and first responders Hampshire lost their lives as a result of him a reimbursement on tuition so who are on the frontlines of this epi- this epidemic. The rising use of syn- that he could continue to pursue a ca- demic. thetic drugs like fentanyl is making reer in medicine. Though the job mar- I want to make a special mention of matters worse, killing people faster ket was tough, his mom said: Greg’s father, Greg senior, who is a with smaller amounts. Last year, 72 Hands down, I have to say that one of the firefighter in Nashua, witnessing as a percent of drug-related deaths in New happiest days of my life was when he finally first responder every day the havoc Hampshire involved fentanyl. Behind got a decent job. . . . The dark cloud was that this crisis wreaks on other fami- those numbers are real people—moms lifted—temporarily. lies and living with the reality of his and dads, sons and daughters who are Unfortunately, Greg eventually lost own family’s loss too. dying. Their loss reverberates in pain that job, and then things spiraled out Greg’s mom said that at the moment and suffering for the family and friends of control. His mom wrote: of his death, she vowed that she would whom they have left behind. The years following were a nightmare to ensure that his life would not be in The people of my State have a long- remember. Just imagine a loved one slowly vain. His family reached out because standing tradition of sharing their sto- losing all sense of themselves. Legal trouble, they wanted to make a difference. I am ries and their priorities with their bouncing from one job to the next, losing his grateful for their efforts to do this be- elected officials who represent them. license more than once while we drove him cause they do, in fact, have the ability Everywhere I go, I hear stories from back and forth from jobs—some an hour to make change. away. those families and friends of people A restraining order here, a night in jail Speaking up helps break down the who have been affected by this crisis. there. Debts that weren’t getting paid. Fits stigma that prevents too many from Granite Staters are stepping forward of rage, fights, a lack of interest in family, seeking help and prevents too many and explaining what they have gone friends, and basic hygiene. others from offering it. It provides a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.044 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6805 voice to the voiceless, making those The days continue to tick by—24, 25. may have to decrease enrollment, turn- who have died more than just a sta- Tomorrow Members of Congress will ing away sick little kids who qualify tistic. It gives us a perspective from leave for the weekend, 26 days past the for coverage but don’t make it through which we can learn, and it pushes us to deadline, and still there will be no vote the door on time. They could start take action. to fund this critical program. kicking kids off of their insurance say- While thanking these families for Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator ing: Sorry, we just can’t help anymore. their bravery is appropriate, it is sim- ORRIN HATCH, a Democrat and Repub- Or they could be forced to make tough ply not enough. Their bravery and lican, wrote this legislation together calls on benefits: We can’t cover the their struggle must be marked by con- back in the late 1990s. The Children’s wheelchair you need to get around. stant vigilance and urgent action. We Health Insurance Program, also called There is no physical therapy or no pre- must continue to focus on an ‘‘all CHIP, provides health insurance to natal care until the funding comes hands on deck’’ approach at all levels low-income children and to pregnant through again. of government and with those on the women. Senator Kennedy and Senator That is just flat out immoral. Tax frontlines in order to make progress, HATCH created this program because cuts for billionaires shouldn’t come be- save lives, and end this epidemic. they knew that providing healthcare fore making sure that a sick kid gets I am going to continue fighting and coverage for children would make them the help he or she needs. Mothers are working with Members of both parties healthier as children and healthier lying awake at night. Fathers are toss- to combat this crisis, and I will con- even after they grew up. They knew ing and turning, worrying about their tinue sharing the stories of the people that some children were slipping healthcare coverage. What is the Re- of my State. It is up to all of us to stop through the cracks, and this was their publican leadership doing? Tomorrow this from happening to more families. solution. The children covered by CHIP they will be heading home for the I suggest the absence of a quorum. didn’t qualify for Medicaid, they weekend without lifting a finger to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The weren’t covered by employers, and they fund a bipartisan program that has clerk will call the roll. couldn’t afford to buy private insur- been reauthorized four times over the The bill clerk proceeded to call the ance. past 20 years. roll. In 1997, 15 percent of all the children If that isn’t bad enough, September Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, I ask in this country lacked any form of 30 wasn’t just the deadline for Congress unanimous consent that the order for health insurance coverage. Today, be- to reauthorize CHIP. We also blew past the quorum call be rescinded. cause of the CHIP program and the Af- the deadline on several other The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without fordable Care Act, that number has healthcare programs to help children, objection, it is so ordered. shrunk to 5 percent of children. CHIP to help pregnant women, to help older HEALTHCARE works with Medicaid to provide health Americans, and to help the chronically Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, on Sep- insurance for one out of every three ill. We blew past the deadline to reau- tember 30, the Children’s Health Insur- kids in this country. thorize the Community Health Center ance Program expired. It has now been States choose whether or not they Fund and the National Health Service 25 days since the Congress has put our want a CHIP program. Here is the deal. Corps, which funds health centers and children’s health and well-being on the Every single State has chosen one be- supports healthcare workers that pro- back burner. My colleagues and I do cause every single State recognizes the vide children with high-quality pri- not think that children’s health be- value of providing their children with mary care. We blew past the deadline longs on the back burner. So we have healthcare coverage. In Massachusetts, to reauthorize the Maternal, Infant, come to the floor of the Senate to the percentage of children with and Early Childhood Home Visiting spend the afternoon speaking up for healthcare coverage is even higher Program, which funds home visits to kids. than the national average. It is at 99 new and expectant parents to give Thank you to everyone who joins me percent. We are doing something right them help keeping a new baby healthy today to say that we should not wait here. and safe. We blew past the deadline to any longer to make sure that children, The original program was set for 10 reauthorize the Special Diabetes Pro- community health centers, and new years, and since then, every few years, gram, which funds diabetes research mothers have access to the healthcare Congress has had to act to reauthorize that could offer hope to many children programs that they need. the program so that children can con- living with diabetes. Republicans control Congress. It is tinue to get healthcare coverage. The When a kid is sick, moms and dads up to them what we vote on and when CHIP program has been reauthorized move Heaven and Earth to get them we do it. So what was more important four times since 1997, and not one of the care they need. They don’t wait 25 to the Republican leadership than the those times has Congress missed the days to go to the doctor and check to health of little kids? Republican lead- deadline—not one—until now. In fact, see if something is wrong. They stay up ers blew through the days before the in past years, Congress has made sure all night to make sure their little ones children’s healthcare deadline by try- to reauthorize the program many are all right. They wait outside the ing to repeal healthcare for millions of months ahead of its expiration in order hospital room, pacing until they get an Americans. to give States the time they need to answer, but Republican leaders in Con- Once the Children’s Health Insurance plan their budget. It sounds like a pret- gress just don’t seem to care. They Program had already expired, Repub- ty sensible thing to do—but not this don’t seem to care if these families lican leaders burned through more year. We are 25 days past the deadline have the health insurance coverage time by holding a series of votes on a for reauthorizing CHIP—25 days and they need so they can get an x ray or budget with giant tax cuts for billion- counting. This isn’t fair to States, to pay for an antibiotic or run some tests. aires and giant corporations that kids, or to their families. Twenty-five days, 26 days, 27 days—it would also gut Medicare, Medicaid, and So what actually happens now? just doesn’t seem to matter to Repub- a bunch of programs that help working Well, the money runs out. Eleven lican leaders, but it sure matters to families. Republicans jammed through States are set to run out of their CHIP moms and dads and kids in Massachu- their terrible budget without a single funding by the end of 2017, and the oth- setts and all over this country. Democratic vote last week, 19 days ers, soon after. Our Republican Gov- Senator Kennedy used to say: ‘‘The after blowing past the deadline to fund ernor in Massachusetts sent me a let- test of greatness for a nation is how it healthcare for kids. ter on day 3 past the CHIP deadline, cares for its children.’’ Right now Re- Last night, 24 days past the deadline and he wrote: publican leaders in Congress are failing to make sure the kids had healthcare Parents are already afraid that their chil- that test. My colleagues have come to coverage, what were Republican lead- dren’s insurance may be lost in the near fu- the floor today to say that time is up. ers doing? Republican leaders stayed ture. With each passing week, their fears We are here to fight for kids. up late into the night holding a vote to continue to grow. I yield the floor. make it easier for financial institu- My Governor is right. States have to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tions to cheat people. start making tough decisions. They ator from Delaware.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.047 S25OCPT1 S6806 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I rise in for funding for community health cen- children and all of those families. support of my colleagues who have ters, such as the bipartisan bill that There is no reason for CHIP to have ex- come to the floor to urge the Senate to Senator BLUNT of Missouri and Senator pired and no reason why we shouldn’t quickly pass funding for the Children’s STABENOW of Michigan have intro- pass the bill right now, if not in the Health Insurance Program, known as duced, the Community Health Invest- next couple of days—certainly, in the CHIP. ment, Modernization, and Excellence next 2 or 3 weeks—to ensure that not CHIP provides comprehensive health Act of 2017, S. 1899, which I am proud to one single child loses his or her health insurance to 9 million low-income chil- support. insurance. dren who don’t qualify for Medicaid, in- Folks, I urge that we work together We have taken important steps to ex- cluding 18,000 children in my home in a bipartisan way. We should not be tend the program. The Finance Com- State of Delaware. Lots of other States using children’s access to healthcare as mittee marked up the bipartisan Keep would say that 18,000 children is a a bargaining chip. We should be taking Kids’ Insurance Dependable and Secure small number, but in Delaware that is up these two bills to provide reauthor- Act of 2017, known by the acronym K- a significant population. Bluntly, ization, funding, and certainty imme- I-D-S, or KIDS. The KIDS Act came whether it is 1 or 100 or 1,000 or 18,000, diately for both CHC and CHIP funding out of the Finance Committee, which how can we allow inaction in this now and without hesitation. reauthorizes CHIP for 5 years, and that Chamber to put at risk the healthcare With that, I yield the floor. happened some 3 weeks ago. I am proud of millions of children across our coun- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- to be a cosponsor of that bill. try? ator from Pennsylvania. So it is time to act. We have a com- It has now been more than 3 weeks Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, as you monsense, bipartisan, successful bill in since funding for CHIP expired. While know, the Children’s Health Insurance the Senate that is ready to go. It is out some States have enough money in Program expired on September 30, in of the Finance Committee. So I would their accounts to carry them through large part because we spent much of urge my colleagues to join me and to to the end of the year or just beyond, this year and the days leading up to join others who have come to the floor the uncertainty about when or if CHIP that date debating the repeal of the Af- today and on earlier days to take swift funds will be reauthorized is causing fordable Care Act, instead of focusing action to pass the KIDS Act. chaos, concern, and anxiety across the on bipartisan priorities like the Chil- I yield the floor. country. Some States will have to dren’s Health Insurance Program. As a I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. LEE). start issuing notices to households result, the program known as CHIP ex- that they will face the loss of CHIP The clerk will call the roll. pired and the health of 9 million chil- coverage. Imagine the unnecessary fear The senior assistant legislative clerk dren, including some 340,000 Pennsyl- this will bring to parents and families proceeded to call the roll. vania children, are now at risk. Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask and struggling households across the CHIP is not just a bipartisan pro- country as they are facing other chal- unanimous consent that the order for gram but a successful program with a lenges in their life. the quorum call be rescinded. Pennsylvania history. It was modeled This is totally unnecessary. We can The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without stop this uncertainty right now and after a State program in Pennsylvania objection, it is so ordered. bring needed stability for parents, chil- that was signed into law by my father Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, dren, and States and show some kind of when he served as Governor in the healthcare for our Nation’s children is leadership from our Federal Govern- early 1990s. The program provides af- something we ought to be able to all ment. I am a proud cosponsor of the bi- fordable health insurance to children come together on, but this Congress, partisan KIDS Act, S. 1827, being led by whose family incomes mean they don’t which has not done much of anything, qualify for Medicaid but still struggle Senator ORRIN HATCH of Utah and Sen- is always able to find a way to help ator RON WYDEN of Oregon. This KIDS to find affordable health insurance op- Wall Street. Think about the middle- Act would extend funding for CHIP for tions. It is a program that working of-the-night vote last night, where the 5 years. I urge the Senate to do right families rely upon and that provides Vice President of the United States by America’s children and America’s peace of mind to parents. came to the rescue of Equifax and the working families and swiftly take up Many families turn to CHIP during rescue of Wells Fargo and the rescue of and pass this bill. times of economic hardship, such as Wall Street overall. Think of the cele- While we are on the topic of pro- when a parent loses his or her job. At brations last night on Wall Street be- grams desperately in need of reauthor- such a stressful time, I have heard cause of that tie vote, which stripped ization, I also want to draw attention from parents over and over how they consumers of their days in court. It to the expiration of the Community have peace of mind knowing that their stripped consumers of their consumer Health Center Fund, which ensures ac- children will get the healthcare they rights. cess to cost-effective primary and pre- need. This Congress, when it came to the ventive care for 26 million patients Some parents who rely upon CHIP for Children’s Health Insurance Program, across the country. In my home State their children are, in fact, students, allowed it to expire at the end of last of Delaware, about 50,000 Delawareans working and going to school so they month. It left millions of families benefit from several community health can make that leap into stable, middle- afraid they will lose healthcare for centers that are widely respected, well class life. They may not have a job their kids. Think about what this un- run, and provide affordable, accessible, with health insurance or they may not certainty means for parents. Trying to and preventive healthcare in commu- be able to afford the insurance, but make sure your children are safe and nities up and down my State. Funding they know their children will get the healthy is enough to worry about. for this critical program also lapsed healthcare they need. Families shouldn’t have to fear los- more than 3 weeks ago, and now, sadly, Regardless of what drives families to ing coverage for their kids because of community health centers across my the CHIP program, it is thanks in large some politicians in Washington. All of State and across the country are strug- part to CHIP that the United States of us have taxpayer-funded health insur- gling to make key decisions—decisions America has the highest rate of insured ance. Some politicians in Washington like signing new leases or signing on children in our Nation’s history. Ac- don’t seem to care much about these new medical personnel to positions. cording to the Census Bureau, 95.5 per- kids. Without certainty that the Federal cent of children had health insurance In my State, more than 200,000-plus Government will authorize their fund- in 2016. CHIP is also a popular program, children have insurance under CHIP. ing, how can we expect health centers as repeated studies have demonstrated. So even if something happens to their to plan, to provide services, and to pro- Parents think CHIP is a valuable pro- parents—even if they lose their job or vide preventive healthcare that im- gram, and they are satisfied with the their insurance—those 200,000-plus chil- proves health and strengthens our com- coverage and with the care their chil- dren in Ohio have insurance because of munity? dren receive. CHIP. But it expired on September 30. We should do everything we can to Unless the Senate acts and acts very Governor Kasich is a Republican. I swiftly pass a 5-year reauthorization soon, we will have betrayed all of those am a Democrat. We stand together on

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.050 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6807 this, as we stand together protecting preventing a costly ambulance ride and Committee, with the exception of one. Medicaid and as we stand together pro- emergency room visit. CHIP means I thank Senator HATCH and Senator tecting the Affordable Care Act. He getting vaccines and shots. It means WYDEN and my colleague from Ohio, tells us that there is still a little bit of having dental coverage. We know what Senator PORTMAN, and so many of our money left over in Ohio to get us happens to low-income kids who don’t colleagues for their help with that. through these next few weeks until get good dental care. But this process is taking too long. Congress does its job. But that doesn’t The State of Ohio probably has Josh and Noble and the 209,000 Ohioans mean parents don’t worry about their enough money to help protect CHIP and 9 million children across the coun- children possibly losing their health in- kids through the end of the year, but try are in a situation in which their surance. Congress needs to act now. parents are unsure of whether they will Kids on CHIP are a little more likely I have met with CHIP families across have insurance through the end of the to have asthma or a little bit more Ohio. Let me tell you some stories. year and next year and the year after. likely to have an illness, in part be- Josh, whom I met in Cleveland—his It is time for us to come together to cause they are low-income kids and children were covered by CHIP when he ensure that the families we work for they may live near a bus line and the was laid off from his job. He said, ‘‘The have the healthcare they need for their air they breathe may not quite be so ability to take health insurance out of children. good. Or they live in Appalachia, where the equation, feeling confident that my I yield the floor. they might not be able to get to the family will continue to get the same I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The doctor quickly. Those kids are more at quality of care they had while I was clerk will call the roll. risk, and those parents are worried, working, was a huge weight lifted.’’ The legislative clerk proceeded to even though Governor Kasich assures Think about that. call the roll. them and I assure them we are going to This father, knowing that he has in- Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, I ask do this. surance—he had plenty of things to unanimous consent that the order for Congress worked into the middle of worry about. He lost his job. Who the quorum call be rescinded. the night last night and debated for knows what that means about their The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without hours on a giveaway to Wall Street. home and their lifestyle and their fam- objection, it is so ordered. They debated for hours on helping ily? But at least he knew he could rely Ms. HIRONO. Mr. President, Donald Equifax, which abused the public trust on insurance—until now. Look what Trump and the Republican Congress of 145 million people—5 million in my this Congress has failed to do. have spent most of the past year push- State. They bailed out Wells Fargo, Think about Noble from Columbus, ing their misplaced priorities, no mat- which fraudulently attacked, for want who came to my office earlier this year ter the direct and collateral damage it of a better term, 3.5 million customers. with his mom to talk about how impor- causes for millions of Americans across Congress can bail them out, but it tant CHIP is. Noble relies on CHIP for the country. can’t pass the Children’s Health Insur- coverage for the five pediatric special- There are many examples to choose ance Program? ists he sees at one of America’s great from to illustrate this point. Just last Because of CHIP, 209,000—I said more hospitals, Nationwide Children’s Hos- night, the Vice President had to come than 200,000 before; more precisely, pital in Columbus. in and break a tie to protect huge cor- 209,000 Ohio children have access to af- My colleagues need to think about porations from the victims of the fordable healthcare today—healthcare Josh and his kids in Cleveland and frauds they perpetuated. Now they are they may not have received otherwise. Noble and his mom in Columbus. We putting together a huge tax cut for the That is the importance of this pro- need to think about the mother of a wealthiest people in our country, and gram. It used to be bipartisan until son with diabetes, worrying about they are trying to sell it as a raise for this Congress, always in its rush to whether her son will be able to see the the middle class. In Hawaii, we call help Wall Street, forgot about these same doctor next year or about a fa- this shibai—or B.S. children. ther with a daughter with asthma, But there is perhaps no issue in This program provides peace of mind praying she doesn’t lose her inhaler on which Donald Trump’s dangerous agen- for parents. Regardless of income, the playground because in a few da has caused more harm than his when a parent knows that a daughter months they might not have insurance quest to deprive millions of Americans or a son has health insurance, it pro- to pay for that inhaler. the healthcare and the health insur- vides peace of mind. They know if their My wife has asthma, and I know what ance they need. His first attempt at re- child has a sore throat or earache, they that means. She had a father who had pealing the Affordable Care Act would don’t have to wait until the child is so health insurance through his union have thrown as many as 30 million peo- sick they take her to the emergency plan with the Illuminating Company in ple off of their health insurance. room. They won’t have to hesitate or Northeast Ohio. He worked mainte- Thanks to the combined efforts of so wonder if they can afford the doctor nance. It was a good blue-collar job. It many people—active people, engaged visit or antibiotic. They get the care didn’t pay enough to send her to col- people across the country—we defeated their kids need. lege, but it did pay enough with good this proposal. Most of us in this body are parents. insurance that it gave them a decent A few months later, continuing the Most of us in this body have insurance lifestyle. They didn’t have CHIP back assault on healthcare, Donald Trump provided by taxpayers. Wouldn’t you then. More people had union plans. renewed his attack on our healthcare think that this would be important More people were protected. system under the so-called Graham- enough to Leader MCCONNELL and the We used to have CHIP until Sep- Cassidy bill. But once again, the com- leaders of this body and to President tember 30, when this Congress didn’t bined outrage of millions kept the bill Trump and to Speaker RYAN? Wouldn’t care enough to provide it. We should from coming to the floor. you think it would be important not be playing politics with families’ In the time they spent on their sin- enough? lives. gle-minded, unrelenting quest to repeal We all talk about loving our kids. We Two years ago, I led the fight in this the Affordable Care Act, Donald Trump talk about grandchildren. Most of us body to protect CHIP. Because of that and Republicans in Congress have al- are at the age where many of us have work, with the support of advocates all lowed authorization for the Children’s grandchildren. We don’t care enough across Ohio—and there are so many of Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, to about these children as we get insur- them across the country—we extended lapse. Nearly 30,000 children in Hawaii ance from taxpayers. We don’t care funding for CHIP for 2 years. Again, and more than 9 million across the enough about these kids to do this? this was with bipartisan support, back country depend on CHIP for their It has already been 3 weeks now since when Congress operated that way. healthcare. You heard just now my col- CHIP expired. CHIP means a child in We have already come a long way league from Ohio tell you stories about Cincinnati or Dayton or Portsmouth or this year. We passed a 5-year extension the children in Ohio—children with Akron or Youngstown or Mansfield can of CHIP out of the Senate Finance asthma. In Hawaii, we have children see a family doctor when they need it, Committee. It had every vote in that with asthma, children with diabetes.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.056 S25OCPT1 S6808 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 Nearly 30,000 children in Hawaii who cusing on reauthorizing this critical vide certainty and stability to States, rely on CHIP for their healthcare are healthcare lifeline, Republican leader- to providers, and to reassure families being affected by our inaction. Pri- ship chose to waste months of time by reauthorizing CHIP. When President marily covering children from low-in- trying to repeal the Affordable Care Trump says he wants to make the come families who earn too much to Act. They let just one of these success- healthcare system in America better, qualify for Medicaid, CHIP provides ful programs lapse while they tried un- when President Trump says he wants critical and much needed care for chil- successfully to end another. They were to make sure families are able to take dren with complex medical conditions. more interested in ripping healthcare care of their children, we have a pro- Although existing funding has al- coverage away from millions of Ameri- gram that does that already. It is suc- lowed States to stretch budgets to keep cans and taking a machete to Medicaid cessful, and families and the States the program in place, money is quickly rather than protecting our Nation’s love it. All we need is Republicans in running out. If we don’t take action children. the Senate to work together in order to soon, as many as 4 million children We should not forget that CHIP make sure that program continues for could lose their health insurance en- stands on Medicaid’s shoulders. Any the health of all children in our coun- tirely—4 million children. fundamental changes to how Medicaid try. Congress cannot and should not be operates—whether it is block-granting I yield the floor. complicit in what I would call gross or capping the program—will ham- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, the negligence. It is not negligence; it is string CHIP’s ability to serve children Senate is currently considering the gross negligence. as effectively and efficiently as it was nomination of Scott Palk to a lifetime CHIP has traditionally enjoyed bipar- intended to do, but instead of imme- appointment as a Federal district court tisan support. In fact, it emerged from diately returning attention to ensuring judge on the Western District of Okla- the committee with bipartisan support. that this lapsed deadline is not effec- homa. I voted against Mr. Palk’s nomi- I am glad Senators Wyden and Hatch tive, House Republicans have further nation in the Judiciary Committee, have come together to create the KIDS delayed action by inserting partisan and I will oppose his nomination on the Act, which I have cosponsored. This policies to pay for the program. This floor. bill would extend CHIP’s authorization has not only caused an unnecessary While his nomination was pending for and funding through 2022 and provide delay in passing a bill to reauthorize a lifetime appointment to be a Federal judge, Mr. Palk changed his member- much needed certainty to millions of CHIP, but it has dragged CHIP onto the ship with the National Rifle Associa- families across the country. political game board, turning it and tion to take out a life membership in If we brought this bill to the floor our children into pawns in their ruth- the organization. When I asked Mr. right now, it would pass. It would less game of partisan chess. Palk about this change, he asserted he clearly have the votes to pass. The CHIP has historically been and expects to maintain this ‘‘lifetime only question is, Why don’t we do it? should be above such games because member’’ status, even if he is con- Why don’t we provide healthcare to CHIP is not just an insurance program, firmed, and he refused to commit to millions of children in our country, for it is a reassurance program. It reas- recuse himself from any cases where Heaven’s sake? sures States that they can provide the National Rifle Association has I cannot believe that my colleagues comprehensive healthcare coverage to taken a legal position. on the other side of the aisle are afraid some of their most vulnerable, it reas- What I find disconcerting about this to risk incurring the wrath of a venge- sures doctors that their patients will is Federal judges must be impartial. ful President. I cannot believe that is be able to access care and treatment, it Federal judges must not have any ap- what is keeping them from doing the reassures teachers that their students pearance of conflicts of interest. When right thing. can be healthy enough to learn, and it individuals come before a court, they I encourage the majority leader to reassures Mom and Dad that their chil- need to trust that their case will be bring this bill to the floor for a vote as dren can still get well in the face of fi- heard fairly and on the merits. soon as possible. nancial hardship. Every American must believe that I yield the floor. Continued inaction on CHIP is dan- they will get a fair, unbiased hearing I suggest the absence of a quorum. gerous and damaging. Every day we no matter who their judge is. Federal The PRESIDING OFFICER. The delay reauthorizing CHIP is another judges must follow applicable laws and clerk will call the roll. day parents across the United States regulations that severely limit the The legislative clerk proceeded to live in fear that their children may kinds of organizations they can partici- call the roll. soon lose their health insurance. They pate in. Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I ask panic at the thought of leaving their For example, the code of conduct for unanimous consent that the order for child’s asthma untreated, skipping a Federal Judges says, ‘‘[A] judge should the quorum call be rescinded. trip to the dentist, or delaying a doc- not participate in extrajudicial activi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tor’s visit because they can’t afford to ties that detract from the dignity of objection, it is so ordered. pay for the treatment or medication the judge’s office, interfere with the Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, this that may be prescribed. If we don’t act performance of the judge’s official du- summer the Children’s Health Insur- soon, this fear may become a terrible ties, reflect adversely on the judge’s ance Program, or CHIP, turned 20 years reality for families. In Massachusetts, impartiality, lead to frequent disquali- old. CHIP funding will expire early next fication, or violate the limitations set I served on the House committee that year. This could impact coverage for forth below.’’ created this bill and was proud to sup- 160,000 children in the Commonwealth, That is why members of the Senate port providing the affordable com- potentially delaying access to treat- Judiciary Committee often ask judicial prehensive health insurance to low-in- ment and services that could have nominees at their hearings what steps come children and pregnant women. It ramifications into adulthood. they will take to prepare for the bench. is a bipartisan program, and it is an ef- In Congress, we are celebrating the It is the committee’s duty to deter- fective program. Last year alone, CHIP 20th birthday of a successful children’s mine whether a nominee is prepared to covered nearly 9 million children insurance program by effectively leave their former roles and personal throughout the country. In Massachu- threatening to end it. That is what beliefs at the door and instead serve in setts, CHIP has been instrumental in Congress is now doing to the State of an impartial arbiter. achieving near-universal coverage for Massachusetts. That is what they are In fact, when nominated for lifetime our children in the Bay State. saying to the State of Massachusetts; appointments, most nominees try to Yet, instead of celebrating CHIP’s that they are going to effectively try rid themselves of conflicts and limit successes over the last two decades, to shut down a program that for 20 their affiliations, especially with advo- congressional Republicans have placed years has served the children in our cacy organizations. However, Mr. Palk CHIP in programmatic purgatory. That State. That makes no sense. not only chose to maintain his mem- is because they allowed CHIP to expire I urge my Republican colleagues to bership with the NRA, he chose to ex- at the end of September. Instead of fo- put their partisan games aside to pro- tend his membership for life.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.057 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6809 The fact that we are considering this EUCOM, CENTCOM—and talked to I have to remind people that the per- nominee, given this issue with his them about the threats in all these re- sons who are responsible for advising background, just 3 weeks after the Las gions. the Secretary of State, who at that Vegas shooting, should really give us At a time when I hear colleagues time was Hillary Clinton, and the all a reason to pause. Las Vegas is now across the aisle and political pundits President, who was President Obama at the deadliest mass shooting committed ask the question, Why do we have that time, are the DNI—that was by an individual in the United States. troops in various places like Africa, it James Clapper at that time—the Sec- It has only been a year since the Pulse is important to remember the strategic retary of Defense and Chairman of the Nightclub massacre in Orlando, which importance of Africa. Joint Chiefs of Staff. When the was previously the deadliest mass I remember 10 years ago we didn’t Benghazi event happened, the annex shooting in our Nation’s history. It has have a command for Africa. It was part was blown up. They all said at that been only 5 years since 20 6-year-olds of three commands: Pacific Command, time—they advised us, the President, and 6 adults were murdered at Sandy Central Command, and European Com- and the Secretary of State—that they Hook Elementary School in Newtown, mand. Now we have AFRICOM. It is its were forewarned by more than a month CT. What happened after each of those own command. It seemed a little un- that on the anniversary of 9/11 things shootings? reasonable that we were treating Afri- would blow up, and it was going to be After Sandy Hook, the NRA opposed ca as somewhat of a stepchild when an organized attack. any legislation that would have re- that is the breeding ground out there Right now there is an investigation stricted high-capacity magazines or for a lot of the things happening in going on to determine whether or not military-style assault rifles. terms of terrorism. there is any way that we could have After the Pulse Nightclub shooting, Despite our military’s reach and in- anticipated that in Niger this would be the NRA opposed any legislation to ex- fluence, our Nation’s shrinking defense happening, and so far, that hasn’t come pand background checks on gun buyers budget has put AFRICOM at risk dur- up. or to prevent gun sales to people on ing a time when commanders are say- Despite the best of intentions, many terrorist watch lists. ing we face the most dangerous world of our partners in the region lack the After the Las Vegas shooting, the we have ever faced, and we have. capacity and the effectiveness to ade- NRA, despite initial statements to the I have often said that I look wistfully quately defend themselves. People say: contrary, has come out opposed to any back at the days of the Cold War, when What do we have to gain there? This is legislation to ban ‘‘bump-fire stocks,’’ we had two superpowers and they were exactly the same situation that we saw even though such devices allow guns to predictable. We knew what they had. in Afghanistan prior to the war there. function as machineguns, which are al- They knew what we had. You have peo- The terrorists have to have a safe har- ready banned under the law. ple from all over the world who are bor to train in, and that is what has The NRA has never supported any putting together equipment that we happened. commonsense gun legislation. The never dreamed they would have. During my travel, I had the oppor- NRA’s views on gun control issues We have just gone through 8 years of tunity to meet Prime Minister Ben- could not be clearer, which is why it is another administration. I don’t say jamin Netanyahu. I have to say this so problematic that a judicial nominee this critically of him, but one thing about him. I have never seen him so ec- chose to double-down on his NRA mem- about President Obama was that he static. A lot of us were looking back at bership while his nomination was pend- was a committed, sincere liberal. Lib- what they were trying to do during the ing, rather than extricate himself from erals generally don’t pay a lot of atten- Obama administration. It was disheart- his prior commitments and then refuse tion to the military. Now we find our- ening to think that they put together to commit to recusing himself on cases selves in a situation where we are hurt- this Iran deal, and our Secretary of where the NRA has made its views ing. A lot of people assume that we State at that time, John Kerry, talked abundantly clear. This should trouble don’t have any problems militarily. about how great it was and all of these all of us. Sometimes I remind people that up concessions that were made when, in Our job in evaluating judicial nomi- until about 1962, we spent more than fact, that wasn’t the case. Nonetheless, nees is to ensure our Federal courts are half—52 percent in 1962—of all of our when our President came out and said an independent part of our system of revenues on defending America. What that he was not going to recertify the checks and balances. To do that, we is it today? It is 15 percent. When I tell Iran deal, that was kind of neat be- need confidence that judicial nominees people that, they are in shock that we cause people don’t realize that it takes will safeguard their own impartiality. I are in the situation we are in. We have a recertification every 30 days by the think all of my colleagues feel that terrorist groups in Africa—such as President in order to keep the Iran deal way. ISIS, al-Shabaab, and Boko Haram— together. He has not done that. That is not what Mr. Palk has done. and they are all growing in capability Shortly after that, I happened to be Instead of taking steps to separate and have expanded their areas through- talking to Prime Minister Netanyahu. himself from strong political views, he out Africa. This year we have seen hor- It was an incredible relief to him that has proactively taken steps to increase rific events occurring at the hands of we were going to be looking at this. his commitment to specific views of these extremists. On October 14, a Still today, I think we all understand the law. truck bombing killed 300 people in So- that Iran is the one that is financing I will vote against Mr. Palk’s nomi- malia’s capital. In Niger—it just hap- terrorism all around the world. We dis- nation and urge my colleagues to do pened—we had four of our U.S. soldiers cussed the shortcomings and looked the same. who were killed in action on October 4 forward to working with my colleagues Mr. MARKEY. I suggest the absence by an ISIS group. in the future so that Iran does not be- of a quorum. We know that we have serious prob- come a nuclear nation, not now or The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lems. I think it is a great disservice for ever. clerk will call the roll. people to say that we must have known What is perhaps the most encour- The bill clerk proceeded to call the that we had the threat that was out aging is the message that this ap- roll. there in Niger, when in fact we didn’t proach sends to the rest of the world, Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask know it. They even compare it some- specifically to North Korea. President unanimous consent that the order for times with Benghazi. I remember Trump’s approach shows me—and, the quorum call be rescinded. Benghazi. I was there at the time. I re- more importantly, shows Kim Jong The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without member Chris Stevens. Chris Stevens Un—that an America-first foreign pol- objection, it is so ordered. was the Ambassador who went there. icy means that we refuse to take a sin- AFRICOM, FOREIGN POLICY, AND OUR MILITARY He was in my office right before he left, gle-minded approach to global threats. Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I came talking about the threats that were I recall the changes taking place 8 back just a week ago from visiting our there, talking about the Taliban, his years ago when our new President, troops stationed all around the world, training there, and talking about orga- President Obama, started his appeasing in all the commands—AFRICOM, nized terrorist activity. tour by going over and talking about

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.022 S25OCPT1 S6810 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 how America hadn’t been doing the care of these shortfalls we have had. ical of what is happening right now in right thing. Now, all of a sudden, we Our forces are smaller now. We actu- the Environmental Protection Agency. have changed that around. That is ally had a Readiness Subcommittee I feel I have to talk about this because, what is taking place now. At that time hearing, and we had the Vice Chiefs of first of all, I was chairman of the com- we didn’t have the threats that are out all of the services there. They came in mittee that had jurisdiction over the there today. and said that right now we are in the Environmental Protection Agency for We look at North Korea. North Korea same situation we were in when we had about 8 years. I see the things that are is run by a questionable person, totally the hollow force following the Carter happening now, improvements that are unpredictable, according to our own administration in the 1970s. being made. military leaders. He is rapidly getting In January of this year, the Vice One is by a guy named Scott Pruitt. the capability not just of an ICBM—he Chief of Staff of the Army, General Scott Pruitt happens to be from Okla- has already proven he has an ICBM— Daniel Allyn, said: What it comes down homa. He is doing things now, and I but with a range not just of Alaska and to is that we are going to be too late. don’t know of anyone who has ever some of those areas but of the entire Our soldiers arrived too late. Our sol- been abused during a confirmation continental United States. diers required too much time to close process like he was. Poor Scott sat On July 4 he launched his first suc- the manning, the training, and the there. As a general rule, after a com- cessful ICBM. If that were fired on a equipment we have, and the end result mittee gets through with that process, standard trajectory, that missile could is extensive casualties to civilians and they have questions for the record. have reached Alaska. Some experts to our forces. Normally, they are somewhere between We are talking about death. That is think it could have reached even fur- 15 and 20 questions for the record. Do what is at stake right here. Just last ther, into the continental United you know how many questions Scott week, I met with the Secretary of the States. In light of that test, the De- Pruitt got? He got 675 questions for the Air Force, Heather Wilson, to discuss fense Intelligence Agency updated record. Anyway, he sustained that. He aviation readiness. Right now we are their assessment of the timeline by is now doing great things. 1,500 pilots short, and 1,300 of those are which North Korea would have the ca- Over the last 8 years, I have had lit- fighter pilots. Only 50 percent of the pability of hitting an American city. tle, if any, chance to praise the work of Air Force’s squadrons are actually Instead of being 2 years out and 3 years the EPA, but I can do it now. After 8 trained and ready to conduct all of out, it is now down to 1 year out. Some years of being relentlessly targeted by their assigned missions. One-third of people say they have it right now. We the Obama administration to shut out our ground brigades don’t work. They have that threat that is out there. It is our farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, are not ready for combat. As to the the greatest threat, in my opinion, and energy industries, we have an ad- aviation brigades, it is the same thing. that we are facing now or that we have Right now, as we know, the Marines ministration that will listen to them ever faced. use our fleet of F–18s. Sixty-two per- and work with them. This is what jobs Following this, on September 3, cent of them don’t work. They don’t are all about. North Korea tested what is believed to have the parts for combat. We have There is a lot of talk about the visit be a hydrogen bomb. That would be this situation. That is going to have to that was made to our conference by seven times the power of what was be direct. This year’s bill will increase President Trump yesterday. What he dropped on Hiroshima. Even if deliv- the troop levels. We will do what is talked about most of the time was jobs. ered by a relatively inaccurate ICBM, necessary to correct these problems. We are in the position to correct it. there would be horrible damage im- We need to get moving on that and What have we done to do that? A lot posed on our continent. make people aware that help is on the of the overregulations have been elimi- It is important to remember that all way. nated. There is the caricature of busi- of this power is being wielded by an er- By the way, here is one of my con- nesses referred to as greedy, loony ratic despot, Kim Jong Un. North Ko- cerns in this bill. A lot of people are in- boogeymen. But in reality, businesses rean officials have stated that they are terested in the BRAC process. We do are run by people who want what is not interested in diplomacy until they prohibit base realignment closings to best for America, for their families, have an ICBM capable of reaching the take place for another year. The reason and for the stockholders. east coast of the United States. for that is not that there may be excess Now, like any sector of society, you What does that tell you? It tells you capacity right now or excess resources are going to find a few bad actors, but that they are on their way. This out there, but when we are in a rebuild- we have laws and remedies in place to stresses the need for the United States ing mode, we would rather be able to make sure we go after those individ- to enhance and accelerate our ballistic use those resources that aren’t being uals. The last administration treated missile defense systems and to con- used now rather than build new ones. those they regulated as the enemy, not tinue to put pressure on North Korea One thing is true about a BRAC; it al- as partners in ensuring that the envi- through every other means we can, dip- ways loses money the first 3 years. ronment was taken care of, which led lomatic and otherwise. Right now we can’t afford to lose any to very harmful, unworkable regula- My recent travels enforced again of the money that goes to defending tions. what I have been saying for some time; America. All of that is changing right now that is, that this is the most dangerous Anyway, of the additional funding, with President Trump and his adminis- situation we have had, certainly in my there is going to be $8.5 billion for the tration. The administration realizes lifetime. We have an opportunity to missile defense that has been suffering, that working with those they regulate counter that threat right now. We are and we are going to be doing some good will produce better outcomes than only in the midst of our NDAA. One thing things. As we continue the conference listening to those who wish to drive about the National Defense Authoriza- process, which started today—we had the industry into the ground. Adminis- tion Act is that this act is going to our first conference meeting today—we trator Pruitt has been meeting with pass. It has passed for 55 consecutive need to focus on where we are. farmers, ranchers, energy producers, years so we know it is going to pass Again, I repeat, the threat is there. and other industries to listen to and now. But we need to go ahead and get We understand that. We know what is learn about how regulations affect it done. It is important because the pri- happening in Africa. By the way, the them and how a worthwhile regulation mary constitutional responsibility that number of troops we have over there— might be implemented in a way that is we have is to provide for the common you have to quit using this number of producing an unintended harm. defense of our great Nation. about 6,000—is really 1,300 troops for I really cannot see why this is a bad We have serious readiness issues that the entire continent who are not com- thing, as the goal of the EPA is not to are going to have to be addressed, and mitted or working in some of the Em- put companies or farmers out of busi- they are being addressed in this bill. I bassies. We need to get busy on that. ness; it is to put forward policies that am the chairman of the Readiness Sub- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY protect the environment and do not committee, and we have fought hard to Mr. President, I have another issue I have a heavy cost, but just meeting ensure that this year’s NDAA takes wish to visit. A lot of people are crit- with those who have been shut out of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.060 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6811 the process in the past has extremists would see double-digit increases, and from court cases in other States, not in on the left seeing red. I guess they are these increases would be shouldered by Oklahoma, as Oklahoma was not even just upset that they have lost their American families, many of whom al- part of it or aware of it. They do that monopoly and their ability to write ready have to choose between making to overrule the State’s Regional Haze rules for the EPA. rent payments and paying their power Plan to impose EPA’s own costly plan Pruitt and the EPA are also moving bills or choosing between putting food on Oklahoma electricity ratepayers. forward to repeal the unlawful waters on their tables or paying their power Now, the plan the EPA has pushed on of the United States. This is one of the bills. The plan would also see the clo- this State costs an estimated $282 mil- things, if you talk to the farmers sure of 66 powerplants and eliminate lion each year. That is just in our throughout not just Oklahoma but over 125,000 jobs in the coal industry— State of Oklahoma, and it is something throughout America, they will say, of an industry that has already been we would have to pay for. all of the rules and regulations, this is struggling in recent years. The regional haze problem has noth- the most harmful. This is No. 1. That is The goal of this rule was to effec- ing to do with health. It is all visi- what they say. In fact, Tom Buchanan tively end the use of coal-fired power- bility. So this was ruining the theme of is the head of the Farm Bureau in the plants, which is a cheap and bountiful the Obama EPA. Never mind that re- State of Oklahoma, and he says that is energy. What benefit would we get out gional haze is entirely a visibility issue the problem. of this? It would be more expensive en- and not a health issue, never mind that People are not aware. In my State of ergy. Congress specifically gave States the Oklahoma, when you get out into By the way, the whole idea of the authority to regulate regional haze Western Oklahoma, it is dry out there. Paris thing was not just the Clean under the Clean Air Act in the amend- I mean, it is about as arid as any part Power Plan put forth by our President; ments I strongly supported when they of the United States. Yet we know, if it was also what other countries were went through because it is a visibility they were to move that jurisdiction of forced to do. For example, in signing issue and not a health issue. Yet be- water away from the States and to the on to this deal in Paris, which every- cause an environmentalist group did Federal Government, as was proposed one was so upset about, China com- not like how Oklahoma was handling in a rule that was promulgated by the mitted, for the next 10 years, to con- its own business, it sued the EPA in previous administration, that area in tinue to increase, every 10 days, an ad- court outside of Oklahoma and did not Western Oklahoma would be considered ditional coal-fired powerplant. Then include Oklahoma as a party in the a wetland before it is over. Anyway, they would try to reduce them after case. The EPA capitulated and entered that is probably, singularly, the best of that. into an agreement with some of the ex- the rules that he changed. What kind of a deal is that? They tremists that conveniently required By the way, if anyone wants to see look back at the United States and the EPA to impose its own expensive the rules—a lot of people say the Presi- think they know what is going to hap- plan on my State of Oklahoma. dent has not been doing anything. Most pen to our manufacturing base. They So I am glad Administrator Pruitt of these rules and regulations—there would go to China if we had to do this has announced an end to this policy, are up to 48 now—that have been cost- thing. and I urge my colleagues to take up S. ing jobs and putting people out of busi- The most ridiculous thing about this 119. It is the Sunshine for Regulatory ness have now been addressed by this is, the President’s commitment under Decrees and Settlements Act, of which administration, by the Trump adminis- the Clean Power Plan was to reduce I am an original cosponsor, to ensure that this practice is ended across the tration, and very successfully. Right our CO2 emissions by somewhere be- now, we are in the process of getting tween 26 and 28 percent by 2025. The government and cannot be imple- some of these things done. problem with that is, it cannot be mented by future administrations. The waters rule is going to take a done. We even called in the EPA so Finally, I would like to encourage while to get done because that is going they may tell us how this could be the EPA to move ahead with a hinted- at, pending directive that would re- to take some hearings and so forth. An- done, and they agreed it could not be strict scientists who receive EPA other of the rules the EPA is working done. grants from serving on the Agency’s on repealing is the Clean Power Plan. Anyway, that is something that is scientific advisory committees. I have Now, this is the thing that came from behind us now. I commend Scott Pruitt previously expressed concerns over the for realizing the legal footing of this the Paris show. In fact, I have done composition of the Agency’s advisory rule and seeing that the costs the this before. I have talked about the his- committees for many reasons, includ- American people will bear under this tory of these things that have been put ing highlighting the fact that many forth for 21 consecutive years now by rule is not going to happen. science advisers under the Obama EPA, Just last week, the EPA announced the U.N., which is that they have these including a majority of those on the meetings. They get 196 countries to- that it will end its controversial policy Clean Air Scientific Advisory Com- gether, and they try to see what they known as sue and settle. This is a good mittee—that is called CASAC—have re- one. It is a policy that has cost the tax- can do to get them to reduce CO2 emis- ceived considerable financial support sions, when, in fact, they have not been payers an estimated $67 billion in new from the EPA. They are calling into able to do this. regulations that stemmed from this question their independence and the Besides that, 87 percent of the power practice. How this works is that some overall integrity of panels on which the that is developed to run our country is extremist group will come in and sue advisers sit. either from fossil fuels or it is nuclear. the EPA for not doing something, and The National Academy of Sciences If you extract those, as they tried to so they go into a settlement agreement and the EPA’s own ‘‘Peer Review Hand- do, how do you run the machine called with the EPA, and the EPA is in con- book’’ state that grants can constitute America? The answer is, you can’t. cert with them to come up with the a conflict or a lack of impartiality. We Anyway, as far as the Clean Power very thing they were not able to get are not talking about small grants ei- Plan, that was put together by Presi- through legislatively. It is called sue ther; we are talking about millions of dent Obama, and it was something you and settle. You have heard the Presi- dollars in grants. During the last year could talk about as long as you wanted dent talk about ending that practice. It of the Obama administration, CASAC to, but the fact is, it was not good for is one that needs to be ended, and it is had six of seven members receiving the country. The rule was so unpopular going to be. This practice cir- these. Keep in mind, six of the seven that 27 States, 37 rural electric co-ops, cumvented the Administrative Proce- members received a total of $119 mil- and 3 labor unions challenged it in dure Act and usually ended up in set- lion in grants—in EPA research court. The cost of the rule was esti- tlements that were extremely bene- grants—and three of the members re- mated to be $292 billion, but I have ficial to extremist groups and got them ceived in excess of $25 million each. seen estimates that are well in excess exactly what they wanted all the time. These are the scientists who are mak- of $400 billion. My State of Oklahoma was a victim ing the decisions. There were 22 of the The plan would raise electricity of this practice. In 2011, the EPA used 26 members of the CASAC Sub- prices in 47 States; 40 of those States consent agreements that stemmed committee on Particulate Matter who

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.062 S25OCPT1 S6812 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 received more than $330 million in EPA Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask tracts for credit cards, debit cards, pre- grants. unanimous consent that the order for paid bank cards, payday loans, and The scientists who receive vast sums the quorum call be rescinded. even cell phones. The 2015 CFPB report of money from the very agencies they The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without found that 93 percent of consumers are advising certainly constitute a con- objection, it is so ordered. whose credit cards included forced ar- flict of interest and, at a minimum, Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I have bitration clauses did not know that give an appearance of a lack of impar- remarks that I wish to make, but I will they could not sue their credit card tiality. As such, I welcome the news yield at this time in order for the Re- companies. that Administrator Pruitt will be seek- publican leader to be recognized after The CFPB rule enhanced protections ing to limit this worrisome practice. which I will seek recognition. for consumers in the military. That is I have laid out only a few of the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- why the American Legion, the Nation’s many great things the EPA is doing jority leader. largest wartime veterans service orga- right now and what Administrator Pru- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I nization, which represents 2 million itt is doing. I got to know him a long thank my friend from Illinois. veterans, and the Military Coalition, time ago. In fact, I flew him around the f which represents 5.5 million current State in my airplane back when he ran and former servicemembers and their for the first statewide office. He is a LEGISLATIVE SESSION families, supported the protections guy who is a tiger and who is doing the provided under this rule. right thing. I am very proud of what I have cosponsored the Military Con- they are doing. MORNING BUSINESS sumer Protection Act led by Senator After this morning, the EPA is now Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I REED, which would put the enforce- advancing five EPA nominees for the ment of the Servicemember Civil Relief EPA general counsel and for the Offices ask unanimous consent that the Sen- ate proceed to legislative session for a Act under the CFPB so that the agency of Enforcement and Compliance Assur- responsible for protecting servicemem- ance, Air and Radiation, Water, and period of morning business, with Sen- ators permitted to speak therein for up bers and their families is also able to Chemical Safety and Pollution Preven- enforce those protections. tion. Each of these nominees is needed to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Our servicemembers and veterans for the issues I have talked about and face challenges that are different from for the many others that are on the objection, it is so ordered. (At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the civilian consumers, especially during Agency’s plate. deployment. We need to make sure Scott Pruitt has been working on so following statement was ordered to be that they have all the protections they much of the President’s conservative printed in the RECORD.) earn through their service. That is why agenda alone, and he needs help to run f I voted against H.J. Res. 111, the reso- these policies. I call on my colleagues and the leadership to prioritize these VOTE EXPLANATION lution of disapproval with respect to the CFPB arbitration rule, and I will nominations. You cannot get this stuff ∑ Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I continue to fight for our servicemem- done unless you have help. We have was unavailable for rollcall vote No. bers, veterans, and consumers to get never seen a time when we have gotten 250, on the motion to invoke cloture on the protections they deserve. this far into an administration and Scott L. Palk, of Oklahoma, to be have had this large of a number of peo- United States District Judge for the f ple who have not been confirmed. Western District of Oklahoma. Had I TRIBUTE TO RICHARD LINCOLN Mr. President, I do want to mention ∑ been present, I would have voted nay. Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, one other thing because, for some rea- f throughout our Nation’s history, young son, the Democrats have decided they Americans have left the comfort and are going to run out the whole 30 hours CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT security of home in order to preserve on the confirmation of a guy named RESOLUTION Scott Palk. I have to say, Scott Palk our freedom and to extend the bless- Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, has been doing a great job. In fact, on ings of freedom to others. We set aside today I wish to discuss the vote in the the vote that just took place on him, Veterans Day to express our gratitude. Senate last night to overturn the Con- he received 79 votes in the U.S. Senate. One such veteran is Mr. Richard Lin- sumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Yet, just to be obstructionists, they are coln of Wayne, ME. Although the story rule regarding forced arbitration that still demanding 30 hours. of his service in Italy during World War Scott Palk is an experienced pros- would protect consumers and make II is extraordinary, the virtues of cour- ecutor with a decade of service. He was sure they get their day in court when age, sacrifice, and devotion to duty it the assistant district attorney for financial institutions violate the law. demonstrates describe the character of Cleveland County in my State of Okla- The floor schedule did not allow me to American patriots in all places and at homa and spent 9 years as an assistant give these remarks before the vote, so all times. U.S. attorney in the criminal division I am giving them today. This rule Now 91 years of age, Mr. Lincoln en- of the Western District of Oklahoma. would have restored the ability of serv- tered the U.S. Army in 1943 when he He has a reputation for honesty, integ- icemembers, veterans, and other con- was just 17. He served with the leg- rity, and a commitment to fairly ap- sumers to join together and seek relief endary 88th Infantry Division, the first plying the law. Mr. Palk will serve through class action lawsuits. I op- all-draftee division to serve in combat Oklahoma with distinction as a prin- posed this rule repeal. during the war. The 88th, known as the cipled jurist who will uphold the Con- In 2010, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Fighting Blue Devils, proved that with stitution. Reform and Consumer Protection Act rigorous training, able leadership, and He is going to be confirmed. We know included a provision instructing the unflagging determination, peace-loving he is going to be confirmed because he CFPB to study mandatory arbitration Americans could stand up to a battle- already received 79 votes. There is no and write a rule based on what they hardened, militaristic enemy. reason to delay it, other than to hold found. After several years of careful The 88th played a key role at the people here and be obstructionists. I study, the CFPB released a 728-page re- Battle of Anzio, the long, costly, and would urge my friends on the other port in 2015. This year, the CFPB final- critically important amphibious land- side of the aisle to go ahead and con- ized its arbitration rule mandating ing on the Italian coast in January of firm the guy. He is going to do a great that consumer financial product con- 1944 that eventually led to the libera- job. tracts no longer include language bar- tion of Rome. Mr. Lincoln served as a I suggest the absence of a quorum. ring class actions. first scout, an extremely dangerous as- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. This rule was an important step for- signment in a forward position under TILLIS). The clerk will call the roll. ward in protecting consumers from the constant fire, to locate enemy artillery The senior assistant legislative clerk fine print arbitration clauses included positions. When the Allies liberated proceeded to call the roll. in all sorts of contracts, including con- Rome on June 4, 1944, the all-draftee

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.063 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6813 88th was the first division to enter the senior sergeant on a special forces de- In her memory, I would ask that we city. It was Mr. Lincoln’s 18th birth- tachment, Owen led his team on three take a moment to reflect on her exem- day. He later was awarded the Bronze tours to Afghanistan until being seri- plary life and model of service. It is a Star for his heroism during that gruel- ously wounded. In 2013, Owen was se- privilege to honor Marjorie ing campaign. lected to serve as first sergeant for the Counsilman, and I want to offer my Victory came at a steep price. Be- headquarters company of the advanced condolences to her two daughters, tween the Battle of Anzio and the Ger- skills training battalion at Fort Bragg. Cathy Counsilman and Jill Morris, and man surrender in May of 1945, the After an extremely admirable career to the many friends and family mem- Fighting Blue Devils spent 344 days in serving his country, Owen will retire bers she leaves behind. We will con- combat, with nearly 3,000 killed and on October 30, 2017. tinue to honor her legacy and generous more than 9,200 wounded. Owen received multiple awards dur- spirit.∑ After returning home, Mr. Lincoln ing his 27 years with the Armed Forces, f raised a family, served his community, including the Bronze Star Medal, Meri- and never forgot his comrades. Until he torious Service Medal, Purple Heart, MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE suffered a stroke that hampered his Army Commendation Medal, Armed At 10:28 a.m., a message from the mobility, he marched in 58 consecutive Forces Expeditionary Medal, Good Con- House of Representatives, delivered by Memorial Day parades in his home- duct Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- town. He never rode in a ceremonial Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global nounced that the House has passed the car; he always marched. War on Terrorism Expeditionary following bills, in which it requests the In a speech to the Association of the Medal, Global War on Terrorism Serv- concurrence of the Senate: U.S. Army on October 9, Defense Sec- ice Medal, and Korea Service Medal. H.R. 732. An act to limit donations made retary James Mattis discussed the seri- I ask my colleagues to join me as I pursuant to settlement agreements to which ous current threats to peace and secu- proudly recognize the service and the the United States is a party, and for other rity facing our Nation and the world. sacrifice of MSG Owen Lawler, a dear purposes. ∑ H.R. 2142. An act to improve the ability of He told the story of Richard Lincoln to friend, patriot, and American hero. U.S. Customs and Border Protection to underscore his point that Americans f interdict fentanyl, other synthetic opioids, are always willing and able to meet REMEMBERING MARJORIE and other narcotics and psychoactive sub- stances that are illegally imported into the any challenge. ‘‘MARGE’’ COUNSILMAN On October 14, family and friends United States, and for other purposes. gathered around Mr. Lincoln at the ∑ Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, I am sad- H.R. 3101. An act to enhance cybersecurity Maine Veterans’ Home in Augusta, dened to report the recent passing of information sharing and coordination at ports in the United States, and for other pur- where he was presented with a personal Marjorie Counsilman, a treasured member of the Bloomington and Indi- poses. letter from Secretary Mattis and a H.R. 3898. An act to impose secondary sanc- book on the Battle of Anzio, inscribed ana University community. Mrs. tions with respect to North Korea, strength- by both Secretary Mattis and former Counsilman passed away on August 17, en international efforts to improve sanctions Defense Secretary William Cohen, 2017, at the age of 93. I join her family enforcement, and for other purposes. Maine’s former Senator. and friends in mourning the passing of H.R. 3972. An act to clarify that family of- Secretary Mattis’s handwritten note a beloved Hoosier, who was a dedicated fices and family clients are accredited inves- tors, and for other purposes. to Mr. Lincoln includes these words: mother and mentor to countless Indi- ‘‘You have the respect and affection of ana swimmers. ENROLLED BILL AND JOINT RESOLUTION SIGNED today’s military. You and your broth- Mrs. Counsilman, or ‘‘Marge,’’ as she At 4:43 p.m., a message from the ers-in-arms are the pride of our coun- was affectionately known by her col- House of Representatives, delivered by try.’’ I am honored to join Secretary leagues, friends, and family, helped Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- Mattis and all grateful Americans in lead IU’s swim team to a string of na- nounced that the Speaker has signed thanking Mr. Richard Lincoln and all tional and Big Ten titles. Marge was the following enrolled bill and joint of the men and women who serve our the wife of the late IU swimming resolution: country. coach, James ‘‘Doc’’ Counsilman, who S. 504. An act to permanently authorize the led the Hoosiers to six consecutive Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Business f NCAA championship victories, 23 Big Travel Card Program. ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS Ten titles, 52 broken world records, 154 H.J. Res. 111. Joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of American records, and 106 individual title 5, United States Code, of the rule sub- NCAA records. In 2013, Marge and Doc mitted by Bureau of Consumer Financial TRIBUTE TO MASTER SERGEANT were inaugurated into the Monroe OWEN LAWLER Protection relating to ‘‘Arbitration Agree- County Sports Hall of Fame. Trophies ments’’. ∑ Mrs. ERNST. Mr. President, today I aside, Marge was best known for her The enrolled bill and joint resolution wish to honor a living example of an compassion towards her fellow coaches, were subsequently signed by the Presi- American hero. MSG Owen Lawler has customers at her family-owned res- dent pro tempore (Mr. HATCH). spent a lifetime in service, committing taurant in Bloomington, and the ENROLLED BILL SIGNED nearly three decades to defending U.S. countless young swimmers she encoun- At 5:31 p.m., a message from the national security at home and abroad. tered over her decades of service. Her House of Representatives, delivered by Owen began his military service as impression on the sport stretches well Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- an infantryman with the Iowa National beyond the swimming lanes of Indiana. nounced that the Speaker has signed Guard in 1990 and attended basic train- In 2004, she was honored by the Inter- the following enrolled bill: ing at Fort Benning in Georgia. He en- national Swimming Hall of Fame as a H.R. 2266. An act making supplemental ap- tered Active service in 1993 and served ‘‘Grande Dame’’ for her leadership and propriations for disaster relief requirements in the 2nd Infantry Division in Korea, influence. for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, among other roles. In 1999, Owen was In 2012, Mrs. Counsilman received the and for other purposes. selected for special forces training, and Bill Orwig Award, which recognizes ex- The enrolled bill was subsequently in 2001 he was assigned 5th Special ceptional contributions made by non- signed by the President pro tempore Forces Group at Fort Campbell in Ken- alumnus to IU’s athletic program. (Mr. HATCH). tucky. Shortly after the 9/11 attacks, Marge was constantly hosting team f Owen participated in the invasion of dinners, running swim meets, and Afghanistan and went on to serve four keeping the official records. Through- MEASURES REFERRED more tours in Iraq. In 2009, Owen was out her husband Doc’s 33 years at IU, The following bills were read the first assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Marge acted as a substitute mother for and the second times by unanimous Group at Fort Bragg, where he served all the collegiate swimmers, either pro- consent, and referred as indicated: as a team sergeant for a special forces viding help with assignments or offer- H.R. 732. An act to limit donations made A-team. During his assignment as the ing her famous lasagna and pecan pie. pursuant to settlement agreements to which

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.053 S25OCPT1 S6814 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 the United States is a party, and for other mitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to life of those that could truly benefit from its purposes; to the Committee on the Judici- the Strategic Plan for the Department of use; Now, therefore, be it ary. Health and Human Services for fiscal years Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of H.R. 3101. An act to enhance cybersecurity 2018 - 2022; to the Committee on Health, Edu- the State of California, jointly, That the Legis- information sharing and coordination at cation, Labor, and Pensions. lature urges the Congress of the United ports in the United States, and for other pur- EC–3274. A communication from the Direc- States to pass a law to reschedule marijuana poses; to the Committee on Commerce, tor of Regulation Policy and Management, or cannabis and its derivatives from a Sched- Science, and Transportation. Department of Veterans Affairs, transmit- ule I drug to an alternative schedule, there- H.R. 3898. An act to impose secondary sanc- ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- fore allowing the legal research and develop- tions with respect to North Korea, strength- titled ‘‘Veterans’ Mortgage Life Insurance— ment of marijuana or cannabis for medical en international efforts to improve sanctions Coverage Amendment’’ (RIN2900–AP49) re- use and allowing for the legal commerce of enforcement, and for other purposes; to the ceived in the Office of the President of the marijuana or cannabis so that businesses Committee on Foreign Relations. Senate on October 23, 2017; to the Committee dealing with marijuana or cannabis can use H.R. 3972. An act to clarify that family of- on Veterans’ Affairs. traditional banks or financial institutions fices and family clients are accredited inves- f for their banking needs, which would result tors, and for other purposes; to the Com- in providing a legal vehicle for those busi- mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af- PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS nesses to pay their taxes, including, but not fairs. The following petitions and memo- limited to, payroll taxes, unsecured property f rials were laid before the Senate and taxes, and applicable taxes on the products sold in accordance with state and local laws; EXECUTIVE AND OTHER were referred or ordered to lie on the and be it further COMMUNICATIONS table as indicated: Resolved, That the Legislature urges the The following communications were POM–124. A joint resolution adopted by the President of the United States to sign such laid before the Senate, together with Legislature of the State of California rel- legislation; and be it further accompanying papers, reports, and doc- ative to federal rescheduling of marijuana Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate from a schedule 1 drug; to the Committee on transmit copies of this resolution to the uments, and were referred as indicated: the Judiciary. President and Vice President of the United EC–3267. A communication from the Presi- SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 5 States, to the Speaker of the House of Rep- dent of the United States, transmitting, pur- resentatives, to the Majority Leader of the suant to law, a report relative to the Whereas, Marijuana and its derivatives re- main classified as a Schedule I drug by the United States Senate, to each Senator and issuance of an Executive Order that amends Representative from California in the Con- Executive Order 13223 of September 14, 2011; United States Drug Enforcement Adminis- tration (DEA); and gress of the United States, and to the author to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and for appropriate distribution. Urban Affairs. Whereas, Schedule I drugs, substances, or chemicals are defined as drugs with no cur- EC–3268. A communication from the Sec- POM–125. A joint resolution adopted by the retary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursu- rently accepted medical, use and a high po- tential for abuse and include heroin, lysergic Legislature of the State of California rel- ant to law, a six-month periodic report on ative to the California Nonmotorized Trails the national emergency that was declared in acid diethylarnide (LSD); marijuana or can- nabis, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine Master Plan, to the Committee on Environ- Executive Order 13712 of November 22, 2015, ment and Public Works. with respect to Burundi; to the Committee (ecstasy), methaqualone (Quaalude); and pe- SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8 on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. yote; and EC–3269. A communication from the Chief Whereas, Marijuana or cannabis and its Whereas, California established significant of the Competition Policy Division, Wireline congeners have been studied worldwide out- greenhouse gas emission reduction targets Competition Bureau, Federal Communica- side the United States for years and have for 2020 through the California Global Warm- tions Commission, transmitting, pursuant to shown efficacy for various conditions, such ing Solutions Act of 2006 and for 2050 through law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Modern- as wasting syndrome, as an antinauseant in Executive Order S–3–05; and izing Common Carrier Rules’’ ((FCC 17–112) those taking chemotherapy, Glaucoma (re- Whereas, In 1974, the California Rec- (WC Docket No. 15–33)) received during ad- duces intraocular pressure), Epilepsy (anti- reational Trails Act was enacted to increase journment of the Senate in the Office of the seizure properties), migraine headaches and accessibility and enhance the use, enjoy- President of the Senate on October 20, 2017; other types of pain, and anxiety; and ment, and understanding of California’s sce- to the Committee on Commerce, Science, Whereas, The medical and recreational use nic, natural, historic, and cultural resources; and Transportation. of marijuana in the State of California has and EC–3270. A communication from the Dep- been authorized by the voters through initia- Whereas, The act and the California Rec- uty Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits tives; and reational Trails System Plan, which is pre- Security Administration, Department of Whereas, Marijuana or cannabis is pres- pared and continuously maintained by the Labor, transmitting, pursuant to law, the re- ently classified by the DEA as a Schedule I Department of Parks and Recreation pursu- port of a rule entitled ‘‘Moral Exemptions drug wherein the possession, sale, or utiliza- ant to the act and in cooperation with the and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain tion can trigger federal prosecution statues, Department of Transportation, provides for Preventive Services Under the Affordable including federal forfeiture provisions; and both motorized and nonmotorized accessi- Care Act’’ (RIN0938–AT46) received in the Of- Whereas, Concerns about the criminality bility and use; and fice of the President of the Senate on Octo- and forfeiture provisions in federal law im- Whereas, In order to help meet those ber 16, 2017; to the Committee on Health, pede traditional banking institutions from greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, a Education, Labor, and Pensions. doing business with potential clients culti- California Nonmotorized Trails Master Plan EC–3271. A communication from the Chief vating, researching, selling, or utilizing is urgently needed to create a statewide plan of the Publications and Regulations Branch, marijuana or cannabis and its derivatives, and timeline for a coordinated network of Internal Revenue Service, Department of the therefore making marijuana commerce very California trails for walking, hiking, biking, Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the difficult; and horseback riding, and other forms of non- report of a rule entitled ‘‘Religious Exemp- Whereas, The inability to use traditional motorized transportation in both urban and tions and Accommodations for Coverage of banking institutions impedes local and state rural regions; and Certain Preventive Services Under the Af- government from adequately monitoring Whereas, Human-powered, nonmotorized fordable Care Act’’ ((RIN1545–BN92) (TD true marijuana or cannabis utilization and transportation can serve the dual purposes of 9827)) received in the Office of the President shortchanges the respective taxes owed to providing healthy exercise for citizens and of the Senate on October 16, 2017; to the Com- taxing agencies, potentially costing state transporting them from one location to an- mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and and local governments hundreds of millions other with a zero-carbon footprint; and Pensions. of dollars in lost tax income; and Whereas, Many of California’s local enti- EC–3272. A communication from the Chief Whereas, Since marijuana, or cannabis ties, including municipalities, public agen- of the Publications and Regulations Branch, businesses are unable to legally use tradi- cies, private organizations, and individual Internal Revenue Service, Department of the tional banking institutions, many vendors citizens, are currently in the process of de- Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the resort to the black market and involvement veloping their own local trails master plans report of a rule entitled ‘‘Moral Exemptions of organized crime making communities less in their neighborhoods, cities, counties, or and Accommodations for Coverage of Certain safe; and regions that are designed to create avenues Preventive Services Under the Affordable Whereas, Marijuana or cannabis and its de- for environmentally friendly methods of Care Act’’ ((RIN1545–BN91) (TD 9828)) re- rivatives cannot be legally studied by re- nonmotorized transportation and that are ceived in the Office of the President of the search institutions if it remains a Schedule I likely to expand rural economic development Senate on October 16, 2017; to the Committee drug, thereby prohibiting newly discovered benefits and outcomes; and on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. and verifiable pharmacological attributes of Whereas, According to a 2014 report issued EC–3273. A communication from the Sec- marijuana or cannabis and its deriatives, by the Governors Highway Safety Associa- retary of Health and Human Services, trans- which otherwise may enhance the quality of tion, 338 cyclists were killed in collisions

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.003 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6815 with motor vehicles in California between fornia, and a staple of Native American Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of 2010 and 2012, the most in any state; and diets, since time immemorial; and the State of California, jointly, That the Legis- Whereas, Other states, including New Whereas, The California salmon fishery is lature urges state departments and agencies, York, have found that a coordinated non- among the oldest and most important his- including the Natural Resources Agency, the motorized trails network offers myriad toric commercial fisheries in California, and California Environmental Protection Agen- health benefits and valuable experiences, in- among the most iconic commercial, rec- cy, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, the cluding hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, reational, and tribal fisheries in the United Wildlife Conservation Board, the Depart- taking short nature walks, touring, includ- States; and ment of Water Resources, the Central Valley ing agricultural touring, exploring green- Whereas, The California Bay-Delta eco- Flood Protection Board, and the State Water ways, parklands, and rural agricultural system, including the rivers that flow into Resources Control Board, to make collabo- lands, and other nonvehicular experiences in it, is the most important salmon-producing rative, statewide salmon fishery restoration the unique settings of local communities, system south of the Columbia River; and an urgent and high priority; and be it further and that these related activities bring com- Whereas, The Klamath and Trinity Rivers Resolved, That the Legislature urges fed- mercial opportunities to those communities; are home to culturally and commercially im- eral departments and agencies, including the and portant, and biologically unique, salmon Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Whereas, The federal Recreational Trails runs; and Reclamation, the United States Fish and Program is a Federal Highway Administra- Whereas, The California salmon fishery an- Wildlife Service, and the National Marine tion assistance program that provides fed- nually draws a vast amount of trade and Fisheries Service, to make collaborative, eral funds to states to develop and maintain tourism to California; and statewide salmon fishery restoration an ur- recreational trails in both urban and rural Whereas, A decade ago, the California gent and high priority; and be it further regions for motorized and nonmotorized rec- salmon fishery supported 23,000 jobs and $1.4 Resolved, That the Legislature urges the reational trail use; and billion in economic activity; and federal government to undertake all appro- Whereas, California’s rural regions have Whereas, California salmon contains high priate measures to provide necessary dis- limited access to networks of nonmotorized levels of omega–3 fatty acids, offers abun- aster relief for California salmon fisheries recreational trails; and dant health benefits for Californians, includ- for 2016 and 2017; and be it further Whereas, There is currently no deadline to ing lower cholesterol and lower risk of skin Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate complete and connect the state’s many di- and breast cancer, and is delicious; and transmit copies of this resolution to the Sec- verse and separate trails into a statewide co- Whereas, Salmon runs are responsible for retary of the Natural Resources Agency, to ordinated nonmotorized transportation net- the largest transfer of biomass from the the Secretary for Environmental Protection, work in both urban and rural regions: Now, oceans to the land on the planet and are to the Director of Fish and Wildlife, to the therefore, be it vital to the healthy functioning of eco- Executive Director of the Wildlife Conserva- Resolved by the Senate and the Assembly of systems from the coast to the mountains; tion Board, to the Director of Water Re- the State of California, jointly, That the Legis- and sources, to the President of the Central Val- lature requests the Governor to designate Whereas, Salmon spawned in California ley Flood Protection Board, to the Chair- the Department of Parks and Recreation and rivers are caught by fishermen in Oregon, person of the State Water Resources Control the Department of Transportation, in part- Washington, British Columbia, and as far Board, to the Secretary of the Interior, to nership with the National Park Service and away as Alaska; and the Commissioner of Reclamation, to the As- other relevant federal, state, regional, and Whereas, The health of a salmon popu- sistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and local agencies, private organizations, and in- lation is an important benchmark of the Parks, to the Assistant Administrator for dividual citizens, to accelerate the planning, health of its native rivers and ecosystems; Fisheries, to the President and Vice Presi- creation, and completion timelines for a and dent of the United States, to the Speaker of California Nonmotorized Trails Master Plan Whereas, The Fish and Game Code and the the House of Representatives, to the Major- for urban and rural regions to expand oppor- State Water Resources Control Board Bay- ity Leader of the Senate, to each Senator tunities for all Californians to benefit from Delta Water Quality Control Plan establish and Representative from California in the new recreational, tourist, and economic de- the doubling of wild salmon populations as Congress of the United States, and to the au- velopment options in their daily lives, which state policy; and thor for appropriate distribution. will reduce the overall usage of fossil-fuel Whereas, The California salmon fishery powered vehicles for public transportation was closed from 2008 to 2009 due to declining POM–127. A resolution adopted by the Sen- and create a safer environment for pedes- populations and fish kill of salmon resulting ate of the State of Michigan urging the trians and bicyclists who use nonmotorized from decreased river flows and warm water President of the United States and the transportation trails networks to walk or conditions that caused direct mortality, United States Congress to recognize the Re- ride; and be it further leading to dramatic impacts on the fishing public of Nagorno-Karabakh, also known as Resolved, That the Legislature requests the industry and fishing-dependent commu- Artsakh, to establish economic and cultural Governor to request the President, Members nities; and ties with the nation, and to support the of Congress, and the Federal Highway Ad- Whereas, Salmon populations have de- peace and stability of the South Caucasus; to ministration, through its Recreational clined during California’s historic drought; the Committee on Foreign Relations. and Trails Program, to dedicate increased fund- SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 99 ing to California to accelerate and support Whereas, Depressed salmon populations in Whereas, The region of Artsakh is located the planning and development of the Cali- 2015 and 2016 have resulted in a shorter fish- in the South Caucasus and has historically fornia Nonmotorized Trails Master Plan as ing season, a reduction in landed fish from been Armenian territory. The region is popu- an expanded network of nonmotorized rec- 981,000 annually from 1986 to 1990, inclusive, lated by an overwhelming majority of Arme- reational trails in rural and urban regions of to 92,000 in 2016, and severe hardship to the nians; and the state and to accelerate the completion of fishing industry and fishing-dependent com- Whereas, Despite its historical and cul- existing nonmotorized recreational trails, munities; and Whereas, Many salmon populations in Cali- tural ties to Armenia, in 1921, Joseph Stalin including the California Coastal Trail; and fornia are listed as endangered or threatened arbitrarily severed Artsakh from Armenia, be it further under the California Endangered Species Act and in violation of the national, territorial, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate or the federal Endangered Species Act of and human rights of the Armenian people, transmit copies of this resolution to the 1973, or both, including Central Valley win- the severed region of Artsakh was placed President and Vice President of the United ter-run and spring-run Chinook salmon, Cali- under the administration of Soviet Azer- States, to the Speaker of the House of Rep- fornia Coastal Chinook salmon, and all coho baijani; and resentatives, to the Majority Leader of the salmon; and Whereas, For decades, the Armenian peo- Senate, to each Senator and Representative Whereas, The United States Secretary of ples’ peaceful demonstrations for national from California in the Congress of the United Commerce determined a commercial fishery independence, for individual freedom, and in States, and to the author for appropriate dis- failure for the Yurok Tribe Klamath River opposition to the Soviet Azerbaijani repres- tribution. Chinook salmon fishery in 2016 due to a fish- sion and discrimination were met with acts ery resource disaster; and of violent repression by Soviet Azerbaijani POM–126. A joint resolution adopted by the Whereas, On May 24, 2017, the Governors of forces who refused to allow the self-deter- Legislature of the State of California urging California and Oregon urged the Secretary of mination of the people of Artsakh. Soviet state and federal departments and agencies Commerce to expedite declaration of a fish- Azerbaijani’s bloody response resulted in the to make collaborative, statewide salmon ery resource disaster for California and Or- deaths of ethnic Armenians in Sumgait (Feb- fishery restoration an urgent and high pri- egon for the 2016 and 2017 seasons; and ruary 1988), Kirovabad (February 1988), and ority; to the Committee on Commerce, Whereas, It is critical that further com- Baku (January 1990) and the forced deporta- Science, and Transportation. mercial fishery failure determinations be tion of more than 350,000 Armenians from Az- SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 7 made, fishery resource disasters declared, erbaijani. In the aftermath of the Sumgait Whereas, Salmon has been a fundamental and disaster relief provided, for California tragedy, the United States Senate unani- and irreplaceable part of the cultural tradi- salmon fisheries for 2016 and 2017: Now, mously passed Amendment 2690 to the Fiscal tions of Native American tribes in Cali- therefore, be it Year 1989 Foreign Operations Appropriations

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.006 S25OCPT1 S6816 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 bill (H.R. 4782), concerning the Karabakh EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF S. 2007. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- conflict and called on the Soviet government COMMITTEES enue Code of 1986 to increase the exclusion to ‘‘respect the legitimate aspirations of the for educational assistance programs; to the Armenian people...’’ and noted that ‘‘doz- The following executive reports of Committee on Finance. ens of Armenians have been killed and in- nominations were submitted: By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Ms. jured during the recent unrests...‘‘; and By Mr. BARRASSO for the Committee on HASSAN): Whereas, The people of Artsakh over- Environment and Public Works. S. 2008. A bill to combat the opioid epi- whelmingly voted to support independence. *Michael Dourson, of Ohio, to be Assistant demic and drug sample backlogs; to the On December 10, 1991, despite continued vio- Administrator for Toxic Substances of the Committee on the Judiciary. lence against the people of Artsakh, a pop- Environmental Protection Agency. By Mr. MURPHY (for himself, Mr. *Jeffery Martin Baran, of Virginia, to be a ular referendum proclaiming an independent BLUMENTHAL, Mr. MARKEY, Mrs. Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commis- republic took place during the disintegration GILLIBRAND, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. HEIN- sion for the term of five years expiring June of the Soviet Union. Under the watchful eye RICH, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. WARREN, of more than 50 international observers, and 30, 2023. *Matthew Z. Leopold, of Florida, to be an Mr. BOOKER, Mr. CARPER, Mrs. MUR- in full compliance with international stand- RAY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. CASEY, Mr. ards for a free and fair election, more than 80 Assistant Administrator of the Environ- SCHUMER, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. HIRONO, percent of eligible voters cast a ballot, and mental Protection Agency. Ms. HARRIS, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. the measure passed with 98 percent in favor. *David Ross, of Wisconsin, to be an Assist- DUCKWORTH, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. On January 6, 1992, the democratically-elect- ant Administrator of the Environmental SANDERS, Mr. BENNET, Mr. CARDIN, ed Parliament of Artsakh adopted the Dec- Protection Agency. *William L. Wehrum, of Delaware, to be an Mr. REED, Mr. UDALL, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. laration of Independence of the Nagorno- Assistant Administrator of the Environ- WYDEN, Mr. KAINE, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. Karabakh Republic; and Whereas, Despite a cease-fire agreement mental Protection Agency. MENENDEZ, and Mr. NELSON): *Paul Trombino III, of Wisconsin, to be Ad- between the Republic of Artsakh, Azer- S. 2009. A bill to require a background ministrator of the Federal Highway Admin- baijani, and Armenia that ended years of in- check for every firearm sale; to the Com- istration. tense fighting, the security and sovereignty mittee on the Judiciary. By Mr. ISAKSON for the Committee on By Mr. BURR: of Artsakh continue to be threatened by re- Veterans’ Affairs. gional tension and hostile acts. The Arme- *Melissa Sue Glynn, of the District of Co- S. 2010. An original bill to extend the FISA nians of Artsakh remain resolute in their ef- lumbia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Vet- Amendments Act of 2008 for 8 years, and for forts to exercise the right to self-determina- erans Affairs (Enterprise Integration). other purposes; from the Select Committee tion and live free from violence and repres- *Cheryl L. Mason, of Virginia, to be Chair- on Intelligence; placed on the calendar. sion, and by recognizing the government of man of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals for a By Mr. SANDERS (for himself, Mr. Artsakh, the international community can term of six years. REED, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, help put to rest this century-old conflict; *Randy Reeves, of Mississippi, to be Under Ms. HARRIS, Mr. FRANKEN, and Ms. Now, therefore, be it Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial WARREN): Resolved by the Senate, That we urge the Affairs. S. 2011. A bill to amend title XVIII of the President and Congress of the United States *Nomination was reported with rec- Social Security Act to provide for the nego- to recognize a free and independent Republic tiation of lower covered part D drug prices of Artsakh; and be it further ommendation that it be confirmed sub- ject to the nominee’s commitment to on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries and the Resolved, That we memorialize the United establishment and application of a for- States government to strengthen and solid- respond to requests to appear and tes- mulary by the Secretary of Health and ify our country’s economic and cultural rela- tify before any duly constituted com- Human Services under Medicare part D, and tionship with the Artsakh Republic and its mittee of the Senate. for other purposes; to the Committee on Fi- citizens and continue to promote the human- f nance. itarian and economic rehabilitation of the INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND By Mr. HOEVEN (for himself, Ms. MUR- region; and be it further KOWSKI, and Ms. HEITKAMP): Resolved, That we support the Republic of JOINT RESOLUTIONS S. 2012. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- Artsakh’s continued efforts within the inter- The following bills and joint resolu- national community to reach a lasting solu- enue Code of 1986 to make permanent the In- tion to the existing regional problems and tions were introduced, read the first dian Employment Credit and the deprecia- establish peace and stability in the strategi- and second times by unanimous con- tion rules for business property on Indian cally important region of South Caucasus; sent, and referred as indicated: reservations, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance. and be it further By Mr. HATCH: Resolved, That copies of this resolution be S. 2003. A bill to modernize the regulation transmitted to the President of the United of cosmetics; to the Committee on Health, f States, the President of the United States Education, Labor, and Pensions. Senate, the Speaker of the United States By Mr. CASEY (for himself, Mr. MAR- SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND House of Representatives, and the members KEY, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. HEINRICH, Mrs. SENATE RESOLUTIONS of the Michigan congressional delegation. SHAHEEN, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. The following concurrent resolutions POM–128. A resolution adopted by the KING, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. WARREN, Mr. and Senate resolutions were read, and Alpena County Board of Commissioners, BROWN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. HARRIS, Alpena, Michigan, opposing slashing federal referred (or acted upon), as indicated: Mr. UDALL, and Mr. NELSON): By Ms. WARREN (for herself, Mr. funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Ini- S. 2004. A bill to increase funding for the GRASSLEY, and Ms. HASSAN): tiative; to the Committee on Environment State response to the opioid misuse crisis and Public Works. and to provide funding for research on addic- S. Res. 303. A resolution expressing support for the designation of October 2017 as ‘‘Na- POM–129. A resolution adopted by the tion and pain related to the substance mis- use crisis; to the Committee on Health, Edu- tional Audiology Awareness Month’’; to the Eaton County Board of Commissioners, Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Charlotte, Michigan, opposing slashing fed- cation, Labor, and Pensions. By Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. Pensions. eral funding for the Great Lakes Restoration By Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself and MORAN, Ms. STABENOW, Mr. GARDNER, Initiative; to the Committee on Environ- Ms. HIRONO): ment and Public Works. Mr. BENNET, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. KING, Ms. COLLINS, and Mr. HEIN- S. Res. 304. A resolution expressing the f sense of the Senate that entrepreneurship on RICH): REPORTS OF COMMITTEES S. 2005. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- the part of minority women-owned busi- The following reports of committees enue Code of 1986 to extend the publicly trad- nesses should be fully supported and encour- ed partnership ownership structure to energy aged; to the Committee on Health, Edu- were submitted: cation, Labor, and Pensions. By Mr. THUNE, from the Committee on power generation projects and transpor- tation fuels, and for other purposes; to the By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Ms. Commerce, Science, and Transportation, DUCKWORTH, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. with an amendment in the nature of a sub- Committee on Finance. By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself and KAINE, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. HELLER, stitute: Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. S. 763. A bill to improve surface and mari- Mr. HELLER): CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. time transportation security (Rept. No. 115– S. 2006. A bill to require breast density re- BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, Mrs. MURRAY, 178). porting to physicians and patients by facili- By Mr. BURR, from the Select Committee ties that perform mammograms, and for Mr. DURBIN, Ms. HARRIS, Ms. KLO- on Intelligence, without amendment: other purposes; to the Committee on Health, BUCHAR, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. S. 2010. An original bill to extend the FISA Education, Labor, and Pensions. SCHATZ, and Mr. FRANKEN): Amendments Act of 2008 for 8 years, and for By Mr. FLAKE (for himself and Ms. S. Res. 305. A resolution recognizing the other purposes. CORTEZ MASTO): month of October 2017 as Filipino American

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:24 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.008 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6817 History Month and celebrating the history the Federal Pell Grant program, and (Mr. DONNELLY) and the Senator from and culture of Filipino Americans and their for other purposes. Mississippi (Mr. COCHRAN) were added immense contributions to the United States; S. 1161 as cosponsors of S. 1899, a bill to reau- considered and agreed to. thorize and extend funding for commu- By Mr. FRANKEN (for himself, Mr. At the request of Ms. DUCKWORTH, HATCH, and Mr. WICKER): the name of the Senator from Wis- nity health centers and the National S. Res. 306. A resolution recognizing the consin (Ms. BALDWIN) was added as a Health Service Corps. month of October 2017 as ‘‘National Prin- cosponsor of S. 1161, a bill to amend S. 1942 cipals Month’’; considered and agreed to. title 38, United States Code, to elimi- At the request of Ms. HEITKAMP, the By Mr. HOEVEN (for himself, Ms. nate copayments by the Department of name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. HEITKAMP, Mr. PETERS, Mr. ROBERTS, Veterans Affairs for medicines relating MURKOWSKI) was added as a cosponsor Mr. TESTER, and Ms. WARREN): to preventative health services, and for S. Res. 307. A resolution designating Octo- of S. 1942, a bill to direct the Attorney ber 26, 2017, as ‘‘Day of the Deployed’’; con- other purposes. General to review, revise, and develop sidered and agreed to. S. 1361 law enforcement and justice protocols f At the request of Mr. CRAPO, the appropriate to address missing and name of the Senator from South Da- murdered Indians, and for other pur- ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS kota (Mr. ROUNDS) was added as a co- poses. S. 109 sponsor of S. 1361, a bill to amend title S. 1953 At the request of Mr. GRASSLEY, the XVIII of the Social Security Act to At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the name of the Senator from Wisconsin allow physician assistants, nurse prac- name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. (Ms. BALDWIN) was added as a cospon- titioners, and clinical nurse specialists MURKOWSKI) was added as a cosponsor sor of S. 109, a bill to amend title XVIII to supervise cardiac, intensive cardiac, of S. 1953, a bill to amend the Tribal of the Social Security Act to provide and pulmonary rehabilitation pro- Law and Order Act of 2010 and the In- for coverage under the Medicare pro- grams. dian Law Enforcement Reform Act to gram of pharmacist services. S. 1503 provide for advancements in public S. 194 At the request of Ms. WARREN, the safety services to Indian communities, At the request of Mr. WHITEHOUSE, name of the Senator from Maine (Mr. and for other purposes. KING) was added as a cosponsor of S. the name of the Senator from Wis- S. 1967 1503, a bill to require the Secretary of consin (Ms. BALDWIN) was added as a At the request of Mr. COTTON, the the Treasury to mint coins in recogni- cosponsor of S. 194, a bill to amend the name of the Senator from Arkansas tion of the 60th anniversary of the Public Health Service Act to establish (Mr. BOOZMAN) was added as a cospon- Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of a public health insurance option, and sor of S. 1967, a bill to amend the Inter- Fame. for other purposes. nal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide ad- S. 1674 S. 292 ditional exemptions to the individual At the request of Mr. REED, the name At the request of Mr. REED, the mandate, and for other purposes. of the Senator from Illinois (Ms. names of the Senator from Nebraska S. 1979 DUCKWORTH) was added as a cosponsor (Mrs. FISCHER) and the Senator from of S. 1674, a bill to provide grants for At the request of Mr. MURPHY, the Minnesota (Mr. FRANKEN) were added the repair, renovation, and construc- name of the Senator from New Mexico as cosponsors of S. 292, a bill to maxi- (Mr. UDALL) was added as a cosponsor mize discovery, and accelerate develop- tion of public elementary schools and secondary schools, to establish a school of S. 1979, a bill to block the implemen- ment and availability, of promising tation of certain presidential actions childhood cancer treatments, and for infrastructure bond program, and for other purposes. that restrict individuals from certain other purposes. countries from entering the United S. 1753 S. 301 States. At the request of Mr. HELLER, the At the request of Mr. LANKFORD, the name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. S. 1997 name of the Senator from North Da- PERDUE) was added as a cosponsor of S. At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the kota (Mr. HOEVEN) was added as a co- 1753, a bill to amend the S.A.F.E. Mort- name of the Senator from Minnesota sponsor of S. 301, a bill to amend the gage Licensing Act of 2008 to provide a (Mr. FRANKEN) was added as a cospon- Public Health Service Act to prohibit temporary license for loan originators sor of S. 1997, a bill to amend the For- governmental discrimination against transitioning between employers, and eign Intelligence Surveillance Act of providers of health services that are for other purposes. 1978 to protect privacy rights, and for not involved in abortion. S. 1790 other purposes. S. 497 At the request of Mr. BURR, the name S. RES. 250 At the request of Ms. CANTWELL, the of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the name of the Senator from Wisconsin MERKLEY) was added as a cosponsor of name of the Senator from Pennsyl- (Mr. JOHNSON) was added as a cosponsor S. 1790, a bill to amend the Internal vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- of S. 497, a bill to amend title XVIII of Revenue Code of 1986 to improve col- sponsor of S. Res. 250, a resolution con- the Social Security Act to provide for lege savings under section 529 pro- demning horrific acts of violence Medicare coverage of certain grams, and for other purposes. against Burma’s Rohingya population lymphedema compression treatment S. 1827 and calling on Aung San Suu Kyi to items as items of durable medical At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the play an active role in ending this hu- equipment. name of the Senator from Hawaii (Ms. manitarian tragedy. S. 989 HIRONO) was added as a cosponsor of S. S. RES. 297 At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the 1827, a bill to extend funding for the At the request of Mr. FRANKEN, the name of the Senator from New Hamp- Children’s Health Insurance Program, name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN) was added as a co- and for other purposes. COLLINS) was added as a cosponsor of S. sponsor of S. 989, a bill to amend the S. 1870 Res. 297, a resolution supporting Lights Public Health Service Act to provide At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the On Afterschool, a national celebration for the participation of pediatric sub- name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. of afterschool programs held on Octo- specialists in the National Health Serv- MURKOWSKI) was added as a cosponsor ber 26, 2017. ice Corps program, and for other pur- of S. 1870, a bill to amend the Victims poses. of Crime Act of 1984 to secure urgent f S. 1136 resources vital to Indian victims of At the request of Ms. HIRONO, the crime, and for other purposes. STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED name of the Senator from Illinois (Mr. S. 1899 BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS DURBIN) was added as a cosponsor of S. At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself 1136, a bill to improve the structure of names of the Senator from Indiana and Mr. HELLER):

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.012 S25OCPT1 S6818 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 S. 2006. A bill to require breast den- info, Tigerlily Foundation, Prevent SENATE RESOLUTION 304—EX- sity reporting to physicians and pa- Cancer Foundation, Facing Our Risk of PRESSING THE SENSE OF THE tients by facilities that perform mam- Cancer Empowered, Don’t be a Chump! SENATE THAT ENTREPRENEUR- mograms, and for other purposes; to Check for a Lump!, Sharsheret, Na- SHIP ON THE PART OF MINOR- the Committee on Health, Education, tional Association of Nurse Practi- ITY WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES Labor, and Pensions. tioners in Women’s Health, Black SHOULD BE FULLY SUPPORTED Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I Women’s Health Imperative, and Men AND ENCOURAGED rise today to introduce the ‘‘Breast Against Breast Cancer. Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself and Density and Mammography Reporting I look forward to working with my Ms. HIRONO) submitted the following Act,’’ a simple, yet potentially life-sav- colleagues on this important issue, and resolution; which was referred to the ing solution to ensure that women re- I urge my fellow Senators to cosponsor Committee on Health, Education, ceive their own medical information. I the Breast Density and Mammography Labor, and Pensions: thank Senator HELLER for working Reporting Act. Thank you Mr. Presi- S. RES. 304 with me on this bipartisan bill and I dent and I yield the floor. Whereas the number of women-owned appreciate Representatives DELAURO small businesses increased by 3,500,000 from and FITZPATRICK for introducing a f 2007 to 2016; House companion to this legislation. Whereas, for every 10 women-owned busi- We have accomplished so much in the SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS nesses launched since 2007, 8 were started by treatment and diagnosis of breast can- women of color; cer, and it still continues to be the sec- Whereas women are now majority owners ond leading cause of death for women of 38 percent of all businesses in the United in the United States and the leading SENATE RESOLUTION 303—EX- States; cause of cancer death among Hispanic PRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE Whereas there are currently almost women. Mammograms have aided tre- DESIGNATION OF OCTOBER 2017 5,000,000 minority women-owned small busi- nesses; mendously in early detection efforts, AS ‘‘NATIONAL AUDIOLOGY AWARENESS MONTH’’ Whereas minority women are the fastest helping many more women survive this growing group of entrepreneurs in the United diagnosis. Ms. WARREN (for herself, Mr. States; For women with dense breast tissue, GRASSLEY, and Ms. HASSAN) submitted Whereas African-American women own however, a mammogram may not be the following resolution; which was re- fully 49 percent of all African-American- capturing the whole picture. Dense ferred to the Committee on Health, owned businesses; breast tissue and cancer tumors look Education, Labor, and Pensions: Whereas Latina-owned firms employ 550,400 workers; similar on a mammogram and make S. RES. 303 cancer harder to detect in women with Whereas there are currently 922,700 Asian- Whereas, according to the Centers for Dis- American women-owned small businesses; higher breast density. Unfortunately, ease Control and Prevention, hearing loss is Whereas Native American and Alaska Na- many women are never told about their the third most common chronic physical tive women-owned small businesses gen- tissue density on the report they re- condition in the United States; erated $10,500,000,000 in revenues; and ceive after their screening, even Whereas the National Institute on Deaf- Whereas the number of Native Hawaiian though it is assessed and reported to ness and Other Communication Disorders and Pacific Islander women-owned small their health care provider. This leaves and the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- businesses more than doubled between 2007 women unaware their mammogram vention have found that 24 percent of adults and 2016: Now, therefore, be it in the United States, or 40,000,000 individ- could be missing signs of cancer. If a Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate uals, may have noise-induced hearing loss in that— patient doesn’t have information to 1 or both ears; (1) October has been designated ‘‘National begin with, how would she know to ask Whereas, although the prevalence of hear- Women’s Small Business Month’’ by the her doctor about what additional ing loss increases with age, approximately 40 Small Business Administration; screening might be right for her? percent of individuals with hearing loss are (2) minority women often work in low-pay- There is currently no Federal re- under the age of 60; ing jobs in the traditional workforce, which quirement for women to receive notice Whereas people with hearing difficulty fre- means the gender salary gap, child care ex- that they have dense breast tissue on quently delay seeking assessment and treat- penses, and a lack of paid family leave im- their mammogram report. This bill ment for their hearing loss; pact women of color more severely than Whereas audiologists, whose academic and would require that women be informed other populations, and expanding access to clinical training provides the foundation for opportunities for entrepreneurship can help on the mammogram report, something patient management from birth through women of color get ahead economically, they already receive, if they have dense adulthood, are dedicated health care profes- serve their communities, and care for their breast tissue, as well as a recommenda- sionals who diagnose, treat, and manage families; tion that they talk with their health hearing loss and balance disorders; (3) minority women entrepreneurs are pav- care provider to discuss any questions Whereas audiologists treat patients in ing the way for women-owned businesses; and if they might benefit from addi- many different settings, including private (4) minority women entrepreneurs are an tional screening. The bill also requires practice, hospitals, schools, Veterans Health important segment of the domestic economy Administration hospitals, and otolaryn- the Department of Health and Human of the United States as well as the global gology offices; economy; and Services to focus on research and im- Whereas October 2017 would be an appro- (5) in order to sustain the economy of the proved screening for patients with priate month to designate as ‘‘National United States, Congress must fully support dense breast tissue. Audiology Awareness Month’’; and and encourage the growth of minority The bill does not impact State laws Whereas there is a need for greater aware- women-owned businesses. ness on the part of the public regarding and simply sets a minimum Federal f standard on a report that women al- issues related to the hearing and balance ready receive. Any State wishing to care provided by audiologists, including— SENATE RESOLUTION 305—RECOG- (1) the diagnosis and treatment options have additional reporting requirements NIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER available to the public; 2017 AS FILIPINO AMERICAN HIS- would be able to do so. Withholding (2) the research needs of audiologists; and from women their own medical infor- TORY MONTH AND CELEBRATING (3) the public policy implications of THE HISTORY AND CULTURE OF mation just does not make sense. Hav- changes in the field of audiology: Now, there- ing access to your breast tissue density fore, be it FILIPINO AMERICANS AND THEIR could mean the difference between Resolved, That the Senate— IMMENSE CONTRIBUTIONS TO catching breast cancer early and sur- (1) supports the designation of October 2017 THE UNITED STATES viving, or waiting until it’s too late. as ‘‘National Audiology Awareness Month’’; Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Ms. and This bipartisan bill has the support DUCKWORTH, Ms. MURKOWSKI, Mr. (2) applauds the actions of audiologists, in- of major cancer organizations, includ- cluding clinicians, researchers, and others KAINE, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. HELLER, ing American Cancer Society Cancer who strive to raise public awareness of hear- Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. Action Network, Are You Dense Advo- ing and balance care by advancing the pro- CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. cacy, Susan G. Komen, DenseBreast- fession of audiology. BOOKER, Mr. BROWN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.014 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6819 DURBIN, Ms. HARRIS, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Whereas Filipino Americans play an inte- school, middle school, and high school prin- Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. SCHATZ, and Mr. gral role in the healthcare system of the cipals, and recognize the importance of prin- FRANKEN) submitted the following res- United States as nurses, doctors, and other cipals in ensuring that every child has access olution; which was considered and medical professionals; to a high-quality education: Now, therefore, agreed to: Whereas Filipino Americans have contrib- be it uted greatly to music, dance, literature, edu- Resolved, That the Senate— S. RES. 305 cation, business, journalism, sports, fashion, (1) recognizes the month of October 2017 as Whereas the earliest documented Filipino politics, government, science, technology, ‘‘National Principals Month’’; and presence in the continental United States the fine arts, and other fields that enrich the (2) honors the contribution of principals in was October 18, 1587, when the first ‘‘Luzones landscape of the United States; the elementary schools, middle schools, and Indios’’ arrived in Morro Bay, California, on Whereas, as mandated in the mission state- high schools of the United States by sup- board the Nuestra Sen˜ ora de Esperanza, a ment of the Filipino American National His- porting the goals and ideals of National Manila-built galleon ship; torical Society, efforts should continue to Principals Month. Whereas the Filipino American National promote the study of Filipino American his- f Historical Society recognizes 1763 as the year tory and culture because the roles of Filipino in which the first permanent Filipino settle- Americans and other people of color have SENATE RESOLUTION 307—DESIG- ment in the United States was established in largely been overlooked in the writing, NATING OCTOBER 26, 2017, AS St. Malo, Louisiana; teaching, and learning of the history of the ‘‘DAY OF THE DEPLOYED’’ Whereas the recognition of the first perma- United States; nent Filipino settlement in the United Whereas it is imperative for Filipino Mr. HOEVEN (for himself, Ms. States adds a new perspective to the history American youth to have positive role models HEITKAMP, Mr. PETERS, Mr. ROBERTS, of the United States by bringing attention to to instill— Mr. TESTER, and Ms. WARREN) sub- the economic, cultural, social, and other no- (1) the significance of education, com- mitted the following resolution; which table contributions made by Filipino Ameri- plemented by the richness of Filipino Amer- was considered and agreed to: cans to the development of the United ican ethnicity; and S. RES. 307 States; (2) the value of the Filipino American leg- Whereas the Filipino American community acy; and Whereas more than 2,000,000 individuals is the second largest Asian American and Pa- Whereas it is essential to promote the un- serve as members of the Armed Forces of the cific Islander group in the United States, derstanding, education, and appreciation of United States; with a population of approximately 4,000,000; the history and culture of Filipino Ameri- Whereas several hundred thousand mem- Whereas, from the Civil War to the Iraq cans in the United States: Now, therefore, be bers of the Armed Forces rotate each year and Afghanistan conflicts, Filipino Ameri- it through deployments to 150 countries in cans have a longstanding history of serving Resolved, That the Senate— every region of the world; in the Armed Forces; (1) recognizes the celebration of Filipino Whereas more than 2,900,000 members of Whereas more than 250,000 Filipinos fought American History Month in October 2017 as— the Armed Forces have deployed to the area under the United States flag during World (A) a testament to the advancement of Fil- of operations of the United States Central War II to protect and defend the United ipino Americans; Command since the September 11, 2001, ter- States in the Pacific theater; (B) a time to reflect on and remember the rorist attacks; Whereas 20,000 Filipino World War II vet- many notable contributions that Filipino Whereas the United States is kept strong erans were granted United States citizenship Americans have made to the United States; and free by the loyal military personnel from as a result of the Immigration Act of 1990, and the total force (the regular components, the which was signed into law by President (C) a time to renew efforts toward the re- National Guard, and the Reserves), who pro- George H.W. Bush on November 29, 1990; search and examination of history and cul- tect the precious heritage of the United Whereas, effective June 8, 2016, the Filipino ture so as to provide an opportunity for all States through their declarations and ac- World War II Veterans Parole Program al- people of the United States to learn more tions; lowed for Filipino World War II veterans and about Filipino Americans and to appreciate Whereas members of the Armed Forces certain family members to be reunited more the historic contributions of Filipino Ameri- serving at home and abroad have coura- expeditiously than the immigrant visa proc- cans to the United States; and geously answered the call to duty to defend ess allowed at that time; (2) urges the people of the United States to the ideals of the United States and to pre- Whereas on December 14, 2016, President observe Filipino American History Month serve peace and freedom around the world; Barack Obama signed into law S. 1555 (114th with appropriate programs and activities. Whereas members of the Armed Forces per- sonify the virtues of patriotism, service, Congress), the Filipino Veterans of World f War II Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2015, duty, courage, and sacrifice; to award Filipino veterans who fought along- SENATE RESOLUTION 306—RECOG- Whereas the families of members of the side troops of the United States in World NIZING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER Armed Forces make important and signifi- War II the highest civilian honor bestowed 2017 AS ‘‘NATIONAL PRINCIPALS cant sacrifices for the United States; and by Congress, a recognition for which Filipino MONTH’’ Whereas the Senate designated October 26 World War II veterans have waited more as ‘‘Day of the Deployed’’ in 2011, 2012, 2013, than 70 years; Mr. FRANKEN (for himself, Mr. 2014, 2015, and 2016: Now, therefore, be it Whereas the presentation of Congressional HATCH, and Mr. WICKER) submitted the Resolved, That the Senate— Medals of Honor pursuant to such Act will following resolution; which was consid- (1) designates October 26, 2017, as ‘‘Day of take place on October 25, 2017, in Emanci- ered and agreed to: the Deployed’’; (2) honors the deployed members of the pation Hall in the Capitol Building; S. RES. 306 Whereas Filipino Americans continue to Armed Forces of the United States and the Whereas the National Association of Sec- demonstrate a commendable sense of patri- families of the members; ondary School Principals, the National Asso- otism and honor; (3) calls on the people of the United States ciation of Elementary School Principals, and Whereas 9 Filipino Americans have re- to reflect on the service of those members of the American Federation of School Adminis- ceived the Congressional Medal of Honor, the the Armed Forces, wherever the members trators have declared the month of October highest award for valor in action against an serve, past, present, and future; and 2017 to be ‘‘National Principals Month’’; enemy force that may be bestowed on an in- (4) encourages the people of the United Whereas principals are educational vision- dividual serving in the Armed Forces; States to observe the Day of the Deployed aries, instructional and assessment leaders, Whereas the late Thelma Garcia with appropriate ceremonies and activities. disciplinarians, community builders, budget Buchholdt, born in Claveria, Cagayan, on the analysts, facilities managers, and adminis- f island of Luzon in the Philippines— (1) moved with her family to Alaska in trators of legal and contractual obligations; AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO 1965; Whereas principals work collaboratively MEET (2) was elected to the House of Representa- with teachers and parents to develop and im- tives of Alaska in 1974; plement a clear mission, high curriculum Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I have 8 (3) was the first Filipino woman elected to standards, and performance goals; requests for committees to meet during a State legislature; and Whereas principals create school environ- today’s session of the Senate. They (4) authored a comprehensive history book ments that facilitate great teaching and have the approval of the Majority and entitled ‘‘Filipinos in Alaska: 1788–1958’’; learning and continuous school improve- Minority leaders. Whereas Filipino American farmworkers ment; Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph and labor leaders, such as Philip Vera Cruz Whereas the vision, actions, and dedication and Larry Itliong, played an integral role in of principals provide the mobilizing force be- 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- the multiethnic United Farm Workers move- hind any school reform effort; and ate, the following committees are au- ment, alongside Cesar Cha´ vez, Dolores Whereas the celebration of National Prin- thorized to meet during today’s session Huerta, and other Latino workers; cipals Month would honor elementary of the Senate:

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.018 S25OCPT1 S6820 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 COMMITTEE COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND of the Senate on Wednesday, October NATIONAL HEALTH INFORMATION TRANSPORTATION 25, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD–562 to TECHNOLOGY WEEK The Committee Commerce, Science, conduct a hearing entitled ‘‘Working Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I and Transportation is authorized to and Aging with Disabilities: From ask unanimous consent that the Com- meet during the session of the Senate School to Retirement.’’ mittee on the Judiciary be discharged on Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 10 f from further consideration of S. Res. a.m., in room SR–253 to conduct a hear- 280 and the Senate proceed to its imme- ing entitled ‘‘The Commercial Satellite PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR diate consideration. Industry: What’s Up and What’s on the Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Horizon.’’ unanimous consent that my intern, Sarah Finley, be granted privileges of objection, it is so ordered. COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC The clerk will report the resolution WORKS the floor for the remainder of the day. by title. The Committee on Environment and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The assistant bill clerk read as fol- Public Works is authorized to meet lows: during the session of the Senate on Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 10 a.m., unanimous consent that Radhika A resolution (S. Res. 280) designating the Gharpure, who is currently serving as a week of October 2 through October 6, 2017, as in room SD–406 to conduct a hearing on ‘‘National Health Information Technology the following nominations: Michael legislative fellow in my office, be granted floor privileges for the remain- Week’’ to recognize the value of health infor- Dourson, of Ohio, to be Assistant Ad- mation technology in transforming and im- ministrator for Toxic Substances, and der of this Congress. proving the healthcare system for all people The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without William L. Wehrum, of Delaware, Mat- in the United States. objection, it is so ordered. thew Z. Leopold, of Florida, and David Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I ask There being no objection, the Senate Ross, of Wisconsin, each to be an As- unanimous consent that floor privi- proceeded to consider the resolution. sistant Administrator, all of the Envi- leges be granted to Tessa Rebholz, a Mr. MCCONNELL. I further ask ronmental Protection Agency, Paul fellow on my staff, for the remainder of unanimous consent that the resolution Trombino III, of Wisconsin, to be Ad- the session. be agreed to, the preamble be agreed ministrator of the Federal Highway The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without to, and the motions to reconsider be Administration, Department of Trans- objection, it is so ordered. considered made and laid upon the portation, and Jeffery Martin Baran, of f table with no intervening action or de- Virginia, to be a Member of the Nu- bate. clear Regulatory Commission. APPOINTMENTS The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC The PRESIDING OFFICER. On Tues- objection, it is so ordered. WORKS day, October 24, 2017, the Chair, on be- The resolution (S. Res. 280) was The Committee on Environment and half of the President pro tempore, and agreed to. Public Works is authorized to meet upon the recommendation of the ma- The preamble was agreed to. during the session of the Senate on jority leader, pursuant to Public Law (The resolution, with its preamble, is Wednesday, October 25, 2017, at 10 a.m., 96–388, as amended by Public Law 97–84, printed in the RECORD of October 3, in room SD–406 to conduct a hearing and Public Law 106–292, reappointed 2017, under ‘‘Submitted Resolutions.’’) entitled ‘‘The Wildfire Prevention and and appointed the following Senators f Mitigation Act of 2017.’’ to the United States Holocaust Memo- RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS rial Council: the Honorable ORRIN G. The Committee on Foreign Relations HATCH of Utah, The Honorable MARCO Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I is authorized to meet during the ses- RUBIO of Florida, and The Honorable ask unanimous consent that the Sen- sion of the Senate on Wednesday, Octo- TIM SCOTT of South Carolina. ate now proceed to the en bloc consid- ber 25, 2017, at 10 a.m., to hold a hear- f eration of the following Senate resolu- tions, which were submitted earlier ing entitled ‘‘Nigeria Security Up- VETERANS’ COMPENSATION COST- date.’’ today: S. Res. 305, S. Res. 306, and S. OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF Res. 307. COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS 2017 The Committee on Indian Affairs is There being no objection, the Senate Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I proceeded to consider the resolutions authorized to meet during the session ask unanimous consent that the Com- of the Senate on Wednesday, October en bloc. mittee on Veterans’ Affairs be dis- Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous 25, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD–628 to charged from further consideration of consent that the resolutions be agreed conduct a hearing on: S.1223, Klamath H.R. 1329 and the Senate proceed to its to, the preambles be agreed to, and the Tribe Judgment Fund Repeal Act. immediate consideration. motions to reconsider be considered COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without made and laid upon the table, all en The Committee on Indian Affairs is objection, it is so ordered. bloc. authorized to meet during the session The clerk will report the bill by title. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without of the Senate on Wednesday, October The assistant bill clerk read as fol- objection, it is so ordered. 25, 2017, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD–628 to lows: The resolutions were agreed to. conduct a hearing on: S.1870, Securing A bill (H.R. 1329) to increase, effective as of The preambles were agreed to. urgent resources vital to Indian Em- December 1, 2017, the rates of compensation (The resolutions, with their pre- powerment Act 2017; S.1953, Reauthor- for veterans with service-connected disabil- ities and the rates of dependency and indem- ambles, are printed in today’s RECORD ization of the Tribal Law and Order under ‘‘Submitted Resolutions.’’) Act of 2010; and S.1942, to direct the At- nity compensation for the survivors of cer- tain disabled veterans, and for other pur- f torney General to review, revise, and poses. develop law enforcement and justice ORDER OF PROCEDURE There being no objection, the Senate protocols appropriate to address miss- proceeded to consider the bill. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ing and murdered Indians. Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous ask unanimous consent that notwith- COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS consent that the bill be considered read standing the provisions of rule XXII, at The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs a third time and passed and the motion 12 noon on Thursday, October 26, all is authorized to meet during the ses- to reconsider be considered made and postcloture time be considered expired sion of the Senate on Wednesday, Octo- laid upon the table. on the Palk nomination, and that fol- ber 25, 2017, off the Senate floor to con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without lowing disposition of the Palk nomina- duct a hearing on nominations. objection, it is so ordered. tion, the motion to reconsider be con- SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING The bill (H.R. 1329) was ordered to a sidered made and laid upon the table, The Special Committee on Aging is third reading, was read the third time, the President be immediately notified authorized to meet during the session and passed. of the Senate’s action, and the Senate

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25OC6.021 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6821 vote on the motion to invoke cloture by the Burmese military is not epi- to implement any of the Commission’s on the McFadden nomination. sodic, it is systematic. recommendations and further con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without In Bangladesh, aid groups have been tinues to deny access to the Rakhine objection, it is so ordered. unable to keep up with the influx of State to other U.N. investigators, jour- f refugees. The unprecedented scale of nalists, and NGO groups. Some officials the crisis and the lack of infrastruc- have even accused the Rohingya of fak- ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER ture in the makeshift camps have cre- ing rape and faking the burning of 26, 2017 ated significant gaps in access to food, their own homes. What a preposterous Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I medical care, and even safety and shel- claim. ask unanimous consent that when the ter. I recognize the dramatic progress Senate completes its business today, it The international community has Burma has made over the years. It will adjourn until 10 a.m., Thursday, Octo- condemned the violence against the take a long time to overcome many of ber 26; further, that following the pray- Rohingya, and rightly so. the challenges in such a young democ- er and pledge, the morning hour be Countries around the world—rep- racy, and I understand that Aung San deemed expired, the Journal of pro- utable international human rights or- Suu Kyi, as State Counselor, has a lim- ceedings be approved to date, the time ganizations such as the Human Rights ited role under the power-sharing for the two leaders be reserved for their Watch, Amnesty International, and agreement with her military, which use later in the day, and morning busi- even the U.N.—have denounced the has largely been responsible for the vi- ness be closed; finally, that following military’s campaign against the olence I have described. But I would leader remarks, the Senate proceed to Rohingya. urge her to live up to her own words executive session and resume consider- In a speech to the U.N. Human Rights upon delivering her Nobel Peace Prize ation of the Palk nomination under the Council in Geneva last month, the U.N. lecture in 2012 to address the historic previous order. High Commissioner for Human Rights, and brutal suppression of the Rohingya The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, called the Bur- and support ethnic reconciliation in objection, it is so ordered. mese military operation against the Burma. In fact, Aung San Suu Kyi Rohingya people ‘‘a textbook example quoted the following passages from the f of ethnic cleansing.’’ preamble to the Universal Declaration ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT Many of my colleagues in this Cham- of Human Rights, which was adopted ber joined me when I introduced S. Res. by the U.N. General Assembly in 1948, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, if 250 to condemn these atrocities, and a as the answer to why she fought for de- there is no further business to come be- large group of us also wrote to the ad- fore the Senate, I ask unanimous con- mocracy and human rights in her home ministration recently to urge Sec- country in Burma. She said: sent that it stand adjourned under the retary Tillerson and Administrator previous order, following the remarks [D]isregard and contempt for human rights Green to help resolve the crisis and have resulted in barbarous acts which have of Senator DURBIN and Senator WYDEN. provide critically needed aid. outraged the conscience of mankind, and the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Just yesterday, in a Senate Foreign advent of a world in which human beings objection, it is so ordered. Relations Committee hearing, my shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and The Senator from Illinois. friend and colleague, Senator BEN freedom from fear and want has been pro- claimed as the highest aspiration of the com- f CARDIN of Maryland, labeled the crisis mon people, a ‘‘genocide.’’ Yet Aung San Suu Kyi, ROHINGYA HUMANITARIAN CRISIS [I]t is essential, if man is not to be com- the de facto leader of Burma, the Nobel pelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the laureate, has largely done and said too rebellion against tyranny and oppression, Rohingya are one of many ethnic little. that human rights should be protected by groups, largely Muslim, who have been I have followed Aung San Suu Kyi the rule of law. living for centuries in Burma and now over the years. I joined many of my These are wise words used by Aung in Myanmar, with the majority of colleagues in praising her struggle for San Suu Kyi when she received her them in the western coastal Rakhine democracy. After 15 years under house Nobel Prize. They are words that apply State. arrest, she and the National League for today to this crisis within her own Deep-seated misconceptions about Democracy won a landslide victory in country. their roots and faith have led to dec- the first national vote since Burma’s I am committed to doing what I can ades of discrimination, about which transition to civilian rule in 2015, more in Congress to hold those in the Bur- many of us are aware because of press than two decades after her party was mese military personally accountable reports. They have been denied citizen- denied its victory in the 1990 election. for the reprehensible human rights vio- ship, had their movement restricted, I admired her so much for her non- lations against the Rohingya. and have been deprived of basic violent struggle for political freedom I want to note that I have also had healthcare. It is no wonder that the and human rights. And while I recog- the opportunity over the October re- Rohingya people are considered to be nize she still has a fragile relationship cess to meet with some members of the one of the most persecuted minorities with the Burmese military, which still Rohingya community who have reset- in the world. has considerable power, I am sadly dis- tled in my home State of Illinois over Today, as a result of a military appointed in her lack of leadership the years. crackdown against them in the when it comes to the plight of the About 1,500 Rohingya people live in Rakhine State—an overzealous, dis- Rohingya people—her fellow country- the Chicagoland area. Among them is proportionate response to attacks on men—men and women who are in a des- Nasir Zakaria. He helped found the security outposts by some militants perate situation. Rohingya Culture Center in Chicago— last October and then again this Au- She claims she is committed to re- the first Rohingya community center gust—countless Rohingya have been storing peace and the rule of law. Yet in America. The center helps provide a brutally killed, and more than 600,000 she has spoken of so-called allegations safe, familiar space for Rohingya peo- have fled to overwhelmed and des- and counterallegations instead of ad- ple new to the country, as well as criti- perate camps in neighboring Ban- dressing the widespread, well-docu- cally needed resources, such as trans- gladesh. mented abuses by her own country’s se- lators, ESL and computer classes, help The scorched-earth tactic by the Bur- curity forces. with paperwork, and much more. mese military has left hundreds of vil- I was glad that Aung San Suu Kyi in When I met Nasir and the other lages literally burned to the ground, 2016 appointed investigators, led by members of the community about a and the reports of rape, starvation, former U.N. Secretary General Kofi week ago with my wife, they told me mass killing—even reports of security Annan, who recommended this summer about the phone calls and photos they forces burning people, babies, alive— that Burma review a 1982 law that receive late at night from family and have been horrifying. Satellite images strips most Rohingya of citizenship. friends fleeing the violence, looking for and maps indicate that the destruction Yet the Burmese Government has yet safety in Bangladesh.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.066 S25OCPT1 S6822 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 I also heard from community mem- dishwasher in a hotel near Chicago, I thank him. I enjoyed listening to bers who recently returned from a med- supported his wife and three children, him again. You don’t really enjoy it be- ical mission to Bangladesh. They met others in the community, and cause you hear about the suffering, but showed me the photos they brought helped to create the Rohingya Center I am so glad that Senator DURBIN has back. One food line to feed refugees was that I visited. made this case, and I thank him for it. literally 1 mile long. Healthcare is lim- Here is a picture of Nasir Zakaria f ited. Safe drinking water is limited. with his son, Mohamed, in their Chi- WILDFIRE DISASTER FUNDING Cholera is detected. It is a horrible sit- cago apartment. You can see the Amer- ACT uation for these people who have been ican flag in the background. He is very tossed out of Myanmar and now are proud of this Nation that he now calls Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, across trying just to survive nearby Ban- home. the West, 2017 will be long remembered gladesh. The stories are horrific, and The Rohingya Culture Center pro- as the year when fire was seared into they are all the same. vides critical resources to more than our collective consciousness and ash Here is an image of this exodus that 400 families in the Chicago area, one of rained down on homes and cars. There was printed in the New York Times. It the largest concentrations of Rohingya were mass evacuations, and scores just shows families fleeing Burma across refugees in America. More than three lost their hopes and dreams. the border to Bangladesh with smoke decades after Nasir first escaped Devastating fires have hit my home rising in the background from the vil- Burma, the Rohingya continue to be State of Oregon, but Idaho, California, lages that they lived in being burned. attacked and demonized. Washington, Colorado, Montana, Ne- The stories I heard were of helpless, Let me close by saying that we met vada, and more all were hit by fires poor families walking on foot through today with the Myanmar Ambassador. that always seemed bigger and hotter jungles, crowding in boats along the Seven Senators sat down with him and and more powerful than what we have Naf River, leaving behind everything expressed the sentiments that I have seen in the past. These are not our grandfathers’ fires. with accountings of rape, killing, and included in this statement. First, let me give Mr. U Aung Lynn, There are a whole host of reasons be- arson by the Burmese military. They the Ambassador, credit for coming to hind this, and today I just want to talk arrive in Bangladesh sick, exhausted, the meeting. He knew what we were a bit about what happened, what it has and desperately in need of the most going to raise. Yet he came, he took meant, and at least a commonsense ap- basic things—food, clean water, medi- notes, and he assured us that he would proach that Senator CRAPO and I have cine, a safe space to rest their heads. respond to this; that we would be able advocated for moving forward on a bi- Here is another image, which is to come back in a week or two for a partisan basis. heartbreaking. It is an indication of progress report on what is being done; The fact is, in the West, dozens of what happens in the refugee camps that he would allow or plead for access lives have been lost. Entire commu- when food arrives, this time in a camp of U.N. personnel, as well as NGO nities have been wiped out. An iconic known as Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh. groups, into the northern Rakhine area national treasure in my home State, a A UNICEF report last week stated currently being denied access; that he place that Oregonians have always re- that 58 percent of the refugees who would personally make it clear to his garded—a special love for our Columbia have poured into Cox’s Bazar are chil- government we want those responsible River Gorge is practically in our chro- dren, noting that they are in hell on for these atrocities held accountable. mosomes—it was burned over this year. Earth. They are acutely malnourished, We want to make certain, as well, that This month, a huge part of Northern they need clean water and vaccines, those who are repatriated have a fair California was burned. We talked to and they are at risk of exploitation by chance to return to a safe atmosphere our colleagues Senator FEINSTEIN and traffickers. This is unacceptable. in Myanmar and, ultimately, for citi- Senator HARRIS about that. It is not I understand that Bangladesh and zenship. just rolling hills and unoccupied land; Burma have discussed a repatriation It was a long list of requirements and the fires swept through entire cities. plan recently, but many refugees don’t requests that we gave to the Ambas- Some of the stories about those whose have any documents. They were lit- sador. He took them all in a positive lives were lost in California just break erally burned out of their homes. We way and told us he would be back to us your heart. School has been disrupted need to call on the U.N. High Commis- in a matter of a week or two with a for more than a quarter million chil- sioner for Refugees. Filippo Grandi was progress report. dren. In some cases, it could be weeks in my office last week, and he stressed Let me close by appealing to Aung before classes are back up and running. how important it is for us to speak up San Suu Kyi to help resolve this crisis. In my home State, more than 600,000 and to help on this issue, that we en- I am counting on her. I do believe she acres were burned, nearly a third of sure the voluntary right of return and is a good person. I hope that she will that in the Chetco Bar fire that burned we ensure the safety of those who do respond to this crisis in her own coun- through southwestern Oregon. I was return and we make sure that the try the way she stood up with so much there to visit with folks in the commu- paper requirements for return are rea- courage before. nity and the volunteers. There were sonable for people who are literally I plan to meet with this Ambassador volunteers from all over the country homeless and stateless at this moment. in a few weeks to chart the progress, who were stepping up to help us deal Many are wary of returning without and I look forward to working with my with these fires. It sure was needed be- an assurance of full citizenship, given colleagues on a bipartisan basis to end cause, nationwide, almost 9 million the risk of further persecution or the this ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya acres burned. It is an area bigger than threat of being placed in camps in people in Myanmar. We cannot allow the size of eight States in our coun- Myanmar when they return. I don’t the Burmese military to commit these try—all of it up in flames. Compare blame them, because the atrocities atrocities. that to the 1980s and the 1990s, when an committed against the Rohingya over I yield the floor. average of around 3 million acres the past months and weeks are not new The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- burned per year. by any means. ator from Oregon. A brandnew report is out from the Nasir Zakaria in Chicago told me Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, before Department of the Interior forecasting that more than three decades ago, Senator DURBIN leaves the floor, I just how much the cost of fighting these when he was only 14, he was kidnapped want to commend our colleague from fires is going to climb in the near fu- by militants targeting the Rohingya in Illinois. He and I have worked together ture. The agency predicts a jump of 20 Burma. He never saw his parents again. for many years, and throughout that percent from fiscal year 2018 to 2019, Nasir eventually escaped to Ban- time, the Senator from Illinois has and they believe that is a conservative gladesh, made his way to Malaysia, constantly been a voice for those who estimate. If conditions are dry and where he worked for 18 years in con- have no voice on these human rights temperatures are high, it could be even struction before he finally made it to concerns, laying out why the effort to worse. the United States with a green card in step up is what we are all about as I am of the view—and it is something 2013. He learned English, worked as a Americans. Senator CRAPO and I have worked on

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.072 S25OCPT1 October 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6823 together for years now. Sometimes we In our Columbia River Gorge that I deal with them through the disaster believe it is the longest running battle mentioned, we saw a fire leap the river. fund. Then you don’t raid the preven- since the Trojan War. It is based on the It used to be that rivers were a break. tion fund. And what the government proposition that Congress should no They were a break to ensure that the scorekeepers have said in the past is longer sit back and accept that these communities were safe. Now, in my that not raiding the prevention fund fires can only get larger, cost more, home State, we have seen a fire actu- through fire-borrowing will, in their and that somehow the Forest Service is ally leap the river. judgment, means fewer fires in the first not all that big a problem. We just call So what is happening is, as preven- place; hence, there will be fewer nat- it the fire service, which is the way a tion gets short shrift, these big fires ural disasters if you end fire-borrowing lot of people describe it in our part of break out, the Federal Government once and for all. the world. borrows from the prevention fund to Now, the way the Federal budget put the fires out, and the problem just My view is that we are going to go works for these fires is a broken, com- gets worse. Common sense is defied. forward this year on the disaster relief monsense-defying policy, and it lit- There is absolutely irrational budg- issue, and I want it understood that I erally adds fuel to the fires and in ef- eting that ripples not just through the am going to work with Senators of fect disrupts not just the West but the West but through communities all both political parties to finally see this rest of the country because the con- across the country, producing what I matter wrapped up and an end to fire- sequences of this broken budgeting think most colleagues would say they borrowing. process for fighting fires takes a toll on would never expect, which is forestry I think anyone who has kept an eye communities across the country. personnel—when Senator SCHUMER vis- on the news or has read stories or seen A few years ago, I came back from its in New York—having challenges reports about natural disasters under- Oregon for a visit, and I learned that paying for local forestry matters. stands that unfortunately disasters our colleague and friend, the distin- Fire prevention programs help thin have visited too many of our commu- guished senior Senator from New York, out dead and dying material from for- nities—hurricanes flooding Houston, Mr. SCHUMER, had signed on to legisla- ests and clear dried grasses from open tion that I am going to describe short- landscapes—the kindling that goes up violent winds and rain in Florida. Weeks after Maria made landfall, mil- ly that Senator CRAPO and I have been in flames when lightning strikes or working on. When I heard Senator when a small ground fire grows out of lions of American citizens in Puerto SCHUMER had signed on to it, I, of control. Those are the very real prob- Rico are still in desperate need of help. course, was very pleased to have some- lems we have in the West. The pro- Our neighbors to the south suffer with one of his influence. I said to my col- grams we need to deal with this are the aftermath of a massive earthquake. leagues: What am I missing here? I being robbed because of the cycle I just Tornados are a threat across much of don’t remember there being a lot of described. Fire-borrowing. Prevention. the country. In our part of the world, Federal forests in Brooklyn. Short shrift. The government borrows these wildfires are our natural disas- Well, it turns out that at that time, from the prevention fund to put the ters. Senator SCHUMER, because he goes all fire out, and the problem gets worse. The Congress can’t get up one day, over his State, was I believe in Upstate That is fire-borrowing in our part of come to the floor of the Senate, and New York. There was a company that the world. just say: We are going to stop all the made baseball bats. As a result of this You can look at the recent fires in hurricanes and the earthquakes. There broken system of fighting fire, when California to see how dangerous this is. is something that Congress can do Senator SCHUMER’s constituent had a If fire prevention had gotten a fair about preventing so many wildfires. problem with the baseball bats because shake, lives could have been saved, and We, with our legislation, want to build there was an invasive species that was businesses and property might have a new ethic of fire prevention. That is eating its way through these baseball been spared. Western communities what ending fire-borrowing is really all bats, the local Forest Service folks would not be trying to recover from about. It is saying that we are in effect didn’t have the money to help him deal the ravages of summer and fall 2017. going to take—it is almost like an old with this economic issue. Many of our colleagues of both par- It might seem like a small thing to ties and now 205 groups—timber com- stage with a dilapidated set on it, and some people, but when you are talking panies, scientists, environmentalists, you just pull it out because it is out- about these smaller communities, if academics, and people from all across dated. That is what we are talking they don’t have the resources because the political spectrum—are joining about with fire-borrowing. It is like an they are victims of this broken system Senator CRAPO and me in saying that old stage that is dilapidated. It doesn’t of fighting fire, this is a problem. It is what is needed is a clean fix for the make sense for the times. We are talk- a problem that Senator CRAPO and I wildfire budgeting system and a com- ing about replacing fire-borrowing with have taken on now to ensure that, once plete end to fire-borrowing. We have a modern policy so that we can deal and for all, we substitute common been working on this, as I said, for with the big fires as the natural disas- sense for a system that is everything years. ters they are and get back in the busi- but common sense. We know some of our colleagues want ness of putting fire prevention first and What I am going to describe now is to see a variety of other policies at- replacing a commonsense-defying Fed- something called fire-borrowing. It tached, particularly policies dealing eral budget plan that has caused so starts like this: Over the years, preven- with forest management. One of the much harm to folks in the West. tion, which everybody talks about— reasons I wanted to come to the floor I hope my colleagues will support the Smokey is the symbol of prevention. tonight was to say that I take a back Wildfire Disaster Funding Act. Senator Prevention gets short shrift. It gets hot seat to no one when it comes to finding CRAPO and I want to work with every and dry in our part of the world in the the right approach to forest manage- single Senator in this Chamber to get West, and if you don’t go in there and ment. I have written bipartisan forest across the finish line. We are not say- do the preventive work, if you don’t management laws. But let’s make sure ing that ending fire-borrowing is going thin out the forests and it gets hot and that as we go forward on this issue, we to mean there will never be another dry, and then all of a sudden you have understand that we cannot let other fire in this country. What we are say- a lightning strike on your hands, you matters get in the way of stopping the ing is that it is past time to replace will have what amounts to an inferno. cycle of fire-borrowing once and for all. such an illogical, commonsense-defying It just whips through the area. It What Senator CRAPO and I have pro- budget system as that presented by knows no boundaries. Federal land is posed is essentially to say that the affected. Private land is affected. State really big fires, once and for all in fire-borrowing. With that, we can re- land is affected. There are bigger and America, will be treated like what they duce the risk of major wildfires to more expensive fires, and I can tell you really are—natural disasters. And you communities across the West. that what we have seen are unprece- can look at that relatively small num- With that, Mr. President, I yield the dented fires. ber of fires and say: We are going to floor.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:29 Oct 26, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25OC6.070 S25OCPT1 S6824 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 25, 2017 ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. Senate stands adjourned until 10 a.m. Thereupon, the Senate, at 7:10 p.m., TOMORROW tomorrow. adjourned until Thursday, October 26, The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. 2017, at 10 a.m. PERDUE). Under the previous order, the

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