S3066 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 17, 2020 ‘‘Maximizing Use of American-Made Goods, SENATE RESOLUTION 626—UP- in the relationship between the United Products, and Materials’’ (84 Fed. Reg. 34257), HOLDING THE CIVIL LIBERTIES States and : Now, therefore, be it which would enforce the Buy American Act AND CIVIL RIGHTS OF IRANIAN Resolved, That the Senate— (1) condemns bigotry and acts of violence of 1933 (41 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.) to the greatest AND CONDEMNING extent permitted by law; or against any American, in- BIGOTRY, VIOLENCE, AND DIS- cluding ; Whereas American-made products are de- CRIMINATION veloped under strict regulations and undergo (2) declares that government leaders and testing to ensure their compliance with the Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and law enforcement personnel should ensure that the civil rights and civil liberties of all highest safety standards; Mr. KAINE) submitted the following Americans, including Iranian Americans, are Whereas American-made products are pro- resolution; which was referred to the fully protected; duced by workers under a regulatory frame- Committee on the Judiciary: (3) encourages local, State, and Federal work that supports fair wages and safe work- S. RES. 626 elected officials to engage Iranian Americans ing conditions; to share their experiences with their commu- Whereas purchasing American-made prod- Whereas Iranian Americans serve as gov- ernment officials, in the military, and in law nities to end stereotypes, correct misconcep- ucts not only bolsters American manufac- enforcement, working to uphold the Con- tions, and convey instances of abuse against turing, it also supports communities and stitution of the United States and to protect the Iranian American community; families throughout the United States; all Americans; (4) calls upon local, State, and Federal law Whereas, according to the Manufacturing Whereas Iranian Americans uphold demo- enforcement authorities to investigate and Institute, each dollar spent in sales of manu- cratic values and believe in the pillars of vigorously prosecute crimes committed factured products supports $1.33 in output America—life, liberty, and the pursuit of against all Americans, including Iranian from other sectors of the economy; happiness; Americans, that are based on actual or per- Whereas, according to a 2019 report by the Whereas Iranian Americans are vibrant, ceived race, color, religion, national origin, Economic Policy Institute titled ‘‘Updated peaceful, and law-abiding citizens of the or ethnicity; employment multipliers for the U.S. econ- Baha’i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoro- (5) urges the Office of Civil Rights and omy’’, every direct durable manufacturing astrian faiths, or are nonreligious; Civil Liberties in the Department of Home- job supports more than 7 indirect jobs in Whereas Iranian Americans have contrib- land Security to conclude a thorough and other areas of the economy, and every direct uted greatly to the social and economic fab- timely investigation into detentions of Ira- nondurable manufacturing job supports more ric of American society; nian Americans at the border; and (6) calls on Customs and Border Protection than 5 indirect jobs in the economy; Whereas the Small Business Administra- in the Department of Homeland Security to Whereas, according to a 2017 poll conducted tion finds Iranian Americans among the im- migrant groups with the highest rates of halt immediately any orders that encourage by Reuters and Ipsos, when buying products, discrimination on the basis of nationality or nearly 70 percent of Americans find it impor- business ownership in the United States; Whereas Iranian Americans are award-win- religion, including those targeting individ- tant that the products they buy were made uals of Iranian heritage. in the United States; ning artists, scientists, and athletes; Whereas the United States condemns acts f Whereas strengthening American manufac- of bigotry, violence, and discrimination; turing improves both the quantity and the SENATE RESOLUTION 627—RECOG- Whereas dozens of Americans of Iranian quality of employment in the United States, heritage were detained for several hours at NIZING JUNE 2020 AS ‘‘LGBTQ produces innovation and the seeds for future the Peace Arch Border in Washington State PRIDE MONTH’’ industries, and supports the global competi- in January 2020 based on their ethnicity or Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. FEIN- tiveness of the United States; national origin; STEIN, Ms. SMITH, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. Whereas a strong American manufacturing Whereas a directive was published appear- MARKEY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. base is essential to both a healthy economy ing to show that the Seattle Field Office di- and to revitalizing the United States econ- rected border patrol agents to target Ira- JONES, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. SINEMA, Mr. omy as it recovers from the global COVID–19 nian, Lebanese, and Palestinian nationals MENENDEZ, Mr. KAINE, Mr. CASEY, Mr. pandemic; born between 1961 and 2001 for additional vet- BENNET, Mr. CARPER, Mr. KING, Mr. Whereas a strong domestic supply chain is ting; WHITEHOUSE, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. critical to national security and public safe- Whereas Customs and Border Protection in MERKLEY, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. CANT- ty; the Department of Homeland Security ini- WELL, Mr. TESTER, Ms. WARREN, Mrs. Whereas the global COVID–19 pandemic tially denied that there was any directive or- MURRAY, Ms. ROSEN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, dering the detainment of Iranian Americans; presented significant challenges for the glob- Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. COONS, Mr. WARNER, ally interconnected supply chain of medical Whereas many Iranian Americans have been deeply shaken by this discriminatory Mr. DURBIN, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. MUR- products and has heightened the need for PHY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. supply chain security of a variety of critical treatment, with some members of the com- CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. LEAHY, materials and products; munity stating that they will not travel out- side of the country for fear of being unfairly Mr. PETERS, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. UDALL, Whereas the United States should targeted based on their national heritage; strengthen and diversify the security of crit- Ms. STABENOW, Mr. CARDIN, Mrs. GILLI- Whereas the Office of Civil Rights and ical supply chains by prioritizing American BRAND, Mr. SCHUMER, Mr. REED, Mr. Civil Liberties in the Department of Home- manufacturing and production, and when BOOKER, and Mr. HEINRICH) submitted land Security has opened an investigation the following resolution; which was re- necessary work closely with trusted allied into the detention of Iranian Americans at nations to ensure global cooperation in the border; ferred to the Committee on the Judici- times of need; and Whereas the United States Commission on ary: Whereas, regarding the manufacturing of Civil Rights, established by the Civil Rights S. RES. 627 critical medical supplies and products essen- Act of 1957, said that it ‘‘expresses deep con- Whereas individuals who are lesbian, gay, tial to national security, the United States cern over the treatment of Iranians and Ira- bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to must decrease its dependence on foreign na- nian Americans in airports, and calls on the in this preamble as ‘‘LGBTQ’’) include indi- tions and boost domestic manufacturing to Department of Homeland Security to take viduals from— increase the national stock piles to ensure all necessary steps immediately to ensure (1) all States, territories, and the District the United States has a healthy domestic in- equitable treatment of all people at Amer- of Columbia; and dustrial base that can handle any future ica’s borders’’; (2) all faiths, races, national origins, socio- surge in need for these supplies: Now, there- Whereas according to a survey commis- economic statuses, education levels, and po- fore, be it sioned by the Public Affairs Alliance of Ira- litical beliefs; nian Americans, the percentage of Iranian Whereas LGBTQ people in the United Resolved, That— Americans who say they have personally ex- States have made, and continue to make, (1) it is the policy of the United States to perienced discrimination because of their vital contributions to the United States and ‘‘Buy American’’; ethnicity or national origin was 49 percent in to the world in every aspect, including in the (2) the Senate supports American manufac- 2018; fields of education, law, health, business, turing and strengthening our American man- Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investiga- science, research, economic development, ar- ufacturing base; and tion’s 2019 Hate Crime Statistics reveals that chitecture, fashion, sports, government, (3) the Senate encourages Americans to the most common bias motivation of single- music, film, politics, technology, literature, ‘‘Buy American’’ products and materials to bias incidents is due to race, ethnicity, or and civil rights; the greatest extent possible. ancestry bias at 59.6 percent of all incidents; Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (re- and ferred to in this preamble as ‘‘COVID–19’’) Whereas Iranian Americans have long pandemic compounds the systemic inequal- faced discrimination in times of turbulence ity that LGBTQ people face in the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:33 Jun 18, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17JN6.041 S17JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3067 healthcare, employment, and housing sys- (3) becoming victims of bullying, violence, Whereas, in June 2020, the Supreme Court tems in the United States, leading to a dis- and human trafficking; and of the United States affirmed that existing parate impact on LGBTQ people; (4) developing mental health illnesses, in- civil rights laws prohibit employment dis- Whereas the persistent failure of Federal cluding anxiety and depression; crimination on the basis of sexual orienta- and State officials to collect full and accu- Whereas only 13 States and the District of tion and gender identity, a landmark victory rate data on sexual orientation and gender Columbia have explicit policies in place to for the LGBTQ community; and identity, particularly in the current COVID– protect foster youth from discrimination Whereas LGBTQ people in the United 19 pandemic, causes tremendous harm to based on both sexual orientation and gender States remain determined to pursue full LGBTQ people in the United States, who re- identity; equality, respect, and inclusion for all indi- main largely invisible to the government en- Whereas LGBTQ youth of color are over- viduals regardless of sexual orientation or tities entrusted with ensuring their health, represented in child welfare and juvenile jus- gender identity: Now, therefore, be it safety, and well-being; tice systems; Resolved, That the Senate— Whereas LGBTQ people in the United Whereas the LGBTQ community has faced (1) supports the rights, freedoms, and equal States serve on the front lines during the discrimination, inequality, and violence treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, COVID–19 pandemic as doctors, nurses, med- throughout the history of the United States; transgender, and queer (referred to in this ical professionals, law enforcement officers, Whereas LGBTQ people in the United resolution as ‘‘LGBTQ’’) people in the United firefighters, and first responders in all States States, in particular transgender individuals, States and around the world; and the District of Columbia; face a disproportionately high risk of becom- (2) acknowledges that LGBTQ rights are Whereas LGBTQ people in the United ing victims of violent hate crimes; human rights that are to be protected by the States serve, and have served, the United Whereas members of the LGBTQ commu- laws of the United States and numerous States Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, nity have been targeted in acts of mass vio- international treaties and conventions; and Marines honorably and with distinction lence, including— (3) supports efforts to ensure the equal (1) the Pulse nightclub shooting in Or- and bravery; treatment of all people in the United States, lando, , on June 12, 2016, where 49 peo- Whereas an estimated number of more regardless of sexual orientation and gender ple were killed; and than 100,000 brave service members were dis- identity; charged from the Armed Forces of the (2) the arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June (4) supports efforts to ensure that the United States between the beginning of United States remains a beacon of hope for World War II and 2011 because of their sexual 24, 1973, where 32 people died; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United the equal treatment of people around the orientation, including the discharge of more world, including LGBTQ individuals; and than 13,000 service members under the States face persecution, violence, and death in many parts of the world, including State- (5) encourages the celebration of June as ‘‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ policy in place be- ‘‘LGBTQ Pride Month’’ in order to provide a tween 1994 and 2011; sponsored violence; Whereas in the several years preceding lasting opportunity for all people in the Whereas LGBTQ people in the United United States— States serve, and have served, in positions in 2019, hundreds of LGBTQ people around the world were arrested and, in some cases, tor- (A) to learn about the discrimination and the Federal Government and State and local inequality that the LGBTQ community en- governments, including as members of Con- tured or even executed, because of their ac- dured, and continues to endure; and gress, Governors, mayors, and city council tual or perceived sexual orientation or gen- (B) to celebrate the contributions of the members; der identity in countries and territories such LGBTQ community throughout the history Whereas the demonstrators who protested as Chechnya, Egypt, Indonesia, and Tan- of the United States. on June 28, 1969, following a law enforcement zania; raid of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ club in Whereas, in May 2019, Taiwan became the City, are pioneers of the LGBTQ first place in Asia to extend marriage rights f movement for equality; to same-sex couples; Whereas, throughout much of the history Whereas, since June 2019, Ecuador, North- NOTICE OF INTENT TO OBJECT TO of the United States, same-sex relationships ern Ireland, and Costa Rica have extended PROCEEDING were criminalized in many States and many marriage rights to same-sex couples, the LGBTQ people in the United States were most recent country-wide extensions of I, Senator CHUCK GRASSLEY, intend forced to hide their LGBTQ identities while those rights in the world; to object to proceeding to S. Res. 625, a living in secrecy and fear; Whereas policies such as the Migrant Pro- resolution entitled Encouraging the Whereas, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme tection Protocol and safe third country Government and the people of the Court of the United States ruled in agreements with the countries of the North- United States to ‘‘Buy American’’ and ern Triangle of Central America force Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, that for other purposes, dated June 17, 2020 same-sex couples have a constitutional right LGBTQ asylum seekers to remain in dan- to marry and acknowledged that ‘‘[n]o union gerous conditions without adequate protec- for the reasons as stated in the is more profound than marriage, for it em- tions; RECORD. bodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, de- Whereas the LGBTQ community holds Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I votion, sacrifice, and family.’’; Pride festivals and marches in some of the have notified the Senate majority lead- Whereas Acquired Immunodeficiency Syn- most dangerous places in the world, despite er of my intent to object to proceeding drome (referred to in this preamble as threats of violence and arrest; to S. Res. 625, a resolution encouraging ‘‘AIDS’’) has disproportionately impacted Whereas, in 2009, President the Government and the people of the signed the Matthew Shepard and James LGBTQ people in the United States, due in United States to ‘‘Buy American.’’ The part to a lack of funding and research de- Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (divi- voted to finding effective treatment for sion E of Public Law 111–84; 123 Stat. 2835) resolution, though well-intentioned, AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency into law to protect all people in the United would have implications on trade and Virus (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘HIV’’) States from crimes motivated by the actual manufacturing policy that require fur- during the early stages of the HIV and AIDS or perceived sexual orientation or gender ther study. It could further invite our epidemic; identity of an individual; trading partners to take similar ac- Whereas gay and bisexual men and Whereas LGBTQ people in the United tions that would negatively impact transgender women of color have a higher States have fought for equal treatment, dig- U.S. farmers, businesses, consumers, nity, and respect; risk of contracting HIV; and workers. Whereas the LGBTQ community has main- Whereas LGBTQ people in the United tained its unwavering commitment to ending States have achieved significant milestones, the HIV and AIDS epidemics; ensuring that future generations of LGBTQ f Whereas LGBTQ people in the United people in the United States will enjoy a more States face disparities in employment, equal and just society; AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO healthcare, education, housing, and many Whereas, despite being marginalized MEET other areas central to the pursuit of happi- throughout the history of the United States, ness in the United States; LGBTQ people in the United States continue Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have 8 Whereas 28 States have no explicit ban on to celebrate their identities, love, and con- requests for committees to meet during discrimination based on sexual orientation tributions to the United States in various today’s session of the Senate. They and gender identity in the workplace, hous- expressions of Pride; have the approval of the Majority and ing, or public accommodations, and 34 States Whereas Pride is a celebration of visibility Minority leaders. have no explicit ban on discrimination in spite of marginalization, and the LGBTQ Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph community will continue to observe this sig- against LGBTQ individuals in education; 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- Whereas LGBTQ youth are at increased nificant cultural practice even though phys- risk of— ical Pride celebrations may be compromised ate, the following committees are au- (1) suicide; in June 2020 due to the health and safety thorized to meet during today’s session (2) homelessness; needs of all individuals involved; of the Senate:

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