January 24, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S549 Murkowski Sasse Thune The senior assistant legislative clerk passed; and that the motion to recon- Murphy Schatz Tillis read as follows: sider be considered made and laid upon Murray Schumer Udall Perdue Scott (FL) Van Hollen CLOTURE MOTION the table with no intervening action or Peters Scott (SC) Warner We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- debate. Portman Shaheen Warren ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the The PRESIDING . Is there Reed Shelby Whitehouse Standing Rules of the Senate, hereby move objection? Roberts Sinema Wicker Romney Smith to bring to a close the debate on amendment The Democratic leader. Wyden Rounds Stabenow No. 6 to H.R. 268, a bill making supplemental Young Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, re- Rubio Sullivan appropriations for the fiscal year ending serving the right to object, President Sanders Tester September 30, 2019, and for other purposes. Trump is responsible not only for thou- NAYS—8 , , Ben sands of Coast Guard personnel not Cardin, , , Chris Alexander Enzi Lee Van Hollen, , Sheldon getting paid but also for hundreds of Booker Hoeven Toomey thousands of other Federal employees Cotton Kennedy Whitehouse, , , , Bob Casey, Jr., not getting paid. NOT VOTING—4 Tom Udall, , Debbie Stabe- Last week, I met with Coast Guard Inhofe Risch now, , . Commandant Schultz, and I told him Paul Rosen Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, to press Secretary Nielsen, who could The motion was agreed to. I ask unanimous consent that the man- press the President to stop holding in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. A datory quorum calls be waived. nocent Federal employees hostage in quorum is present. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without wall negotiations. The . objection, it is so ordered. Last month, as we all know, the Sen- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, f ate voted unanimously to keep the gov- I withdraw my motion to proceed to S. ernment open into February so all Fed- 1. STRENGTHENING AMERICA’S SE- eral employees would get paid and the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- CURITY IN THE President and Congress could sepa- ator has that right. ACT OF 2019—MOTION TO PRO- rately negotiate border security. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, CEED Today, the Senate will again have a what is the pending business? Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, chance to vote on the same measure f I move to proceed to S. 1. that we passed unanimously in Decem- SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ber. I expect that those who care about ACT, 2019 clerk will report the motion. getting our Coast Guard paid will sup- The senior assistant legislative clerk port passing H.J. Res. 31, a continuing The PRESIDING OFFICER. The read as follows: resolution for the Department of pending business is H.R. 268, which the Motion to proceed to S. 1, a bill to make Homeland Security, and H.R. 648, clerk will report. improvements to certain defense and secu- which are the conference bills for The senior assistant legislative clerk rity assistance provisions and to authorize FSGG, Interior, Environment, Agri- read as follows: the appropriation of funds to , to reau- culture, T-HUD, SFOPS, and CJS. A bill (H.R. 268) making supplemental ap- thorize the -Jordan Defense Co- Will the Senator from Louisiana propriations for the fiscal year ending Sep- operation Act of 2015, and to halt the whole- modify his request to include the unan- tember 30, 2019, and for other purposes. sale slaughter of the Syrian people, and for other purposes. imous consent that the Senate proceed Pending: to the immediate consideration of H.J. McConnell (for Shelby) Amendment No. 5, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Res. 648 and H.J. Res. 31 en bloc; that of a perfecting nature. ator from Louisiana is recognized. the measure be considered read a third Schumer Amendment No. 6, of a perfecting UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.J. RES. 1 time and passed en bloc; and that the nature. Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, as motion to reconsider be made and laid CLOTURE MOTION my colleagues know, we have about upon the table with no action or de- Mr. MCCONNELL. I send a cloture 41,000 Active-Duty servicemembers in bate? That will pay all Federal employ- motion to the desk for Senate amend- the U.S. Coast Guard. They are running ees who deserve to be paid. ment No. 5. vital missions right now in the South The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- Sea. They are protecting our air- Senator so modify his request? ture motion having been presented space and ports along about 12,000 Mr. KENNEDY. Madam President, re- under rule XXII, the Chair directs the miles of coastline. They are performing serving the right to object, I am smil- clerk to read the motion. search and rescue missions that in- ing because of the great admiration The senior assistant legislative clerk clude nearly 1,200 Active-Duty Coast and respect I have for the senior Sen- read as follows: Guard personnel in my home State of ator from . I love to hear him CLOTURE MOTION Louisiana, the Eighth Coast Guard Dis- talk. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- trict. For that reason, I think the Mr. SCHUMER. If the Senator would ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the members of our Coast Guard need to be yield, it is mutual. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby paid during this shutdown until we re- Mr. KENNEDY. I love to hear him move to bring to a close debate on Senate solve our differences. We need to re- talk. He can talk the ears off a jack- amendment No. 5 to H.R. 268, a bill making solve our differences. rabbit. supplemental appropriations for the fiscal There are some good Members of Mr. SCHUMER. If the gentleman will year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes. Congress, but right now, the American yield, we don’t do that in . Mitch McConnell, , John people are wondering what they are Mr. KENNEDY. He has waxed elo- Thune, , Johnny good for. It seems to me that we ought quently many times in this Chamber. Isakson, , , to be able to reach an agreement that I remember back in 2005, 2006—I was , , Roy secures the border—which I happen to a mere lad—that we had a bill before Blunt, Perdue, , Bill believe can’t be done without a bar- this Chamber that was called the Se- Cassidy, , , rier—and that also opens the govern- cure Fence Act of 2006. Senator SCHU- , John Kennedy. ment. MER and then-Senator Obama—a rising CLOTURE MOTION For that reason, Madam President, I star—and Senator Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, ask unanimous consent that the Coast talked passionately and eloquently I send a cloture motion to the desk for Guard be paid; that the Senate proceed about how it was impossible to secure Senate amendment No. 6. to the immediate consideration of Cal- a 1,900-mile piece of real estate without The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- endar No. 6, H.J. Res. 1; that the having barriers. They talked elo- ture motion having been presented Wicker amendment at the desk be quently. I remember agreeing with under rule XXII, the Chair directs the agreed to; that the bill as amended be them wholeheartedly that legal immi- clerk to read the motion. considered read a third time and gration makes our country stronger,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:47 Jan 25, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A24JA6.002 S24JAPT1 S550 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2019 that illegal immigration undermines that the President has said he will sign East right now. I am not getting paid’’ legal immigration, and that one way to and to do the right thing by paying or ‘‘I don’t want to get on that ship to stop illegal immigration—not the only members of this uniformed service. I save an Alaskan crabber whose life is way but one way—was with a border regret that the Senator has objected, at risk,’’ they get court-martialed. So barrier. That was then. This is now. and I appreciate at least having a the Coast Guard is in a very unique sit- Now, my esteemed colleague knows chance to explain why this mere carve- uation right now. full well that his resolution will not ac- out is different from a larger solution Here is the process we just witnessed. complish either border security or the that may be coming soon. A number of us—again, it was very bi- opening up of this government because The PRESIDING OFFICER. The partisan—went to the President and President is going to Democratic leader. said: Mr. President, we know it takes veto it. It will be a futile, useless exer- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate and the House and the cise. We can go through it if the Sen- once again, I would simply remind my White House to pass a bill. People are ator wants to. He can spend all day try- dear friend from Mississippi that we working on the broader issue. We are ing to teach a goat how to climb a tree, could do a whole lot more good by all working on the broader issue and on but he is better off hiring a squirrel in funding and opening up the govern- the compromises we need. Hopefully, the first place. There is a measure be- ment for everyone. President Trump we can get there this afternoon. In the fore this Senate, and the President has has claimed 25 times he wants to shut meantime, let’s try to get something put a proposal on the table that will down the government for his wall, and to pass as we have almost one-quarter satisfy many of the concerns of our he has gotten this Chamber to reverse of the Senate in agreement—more Democratic friends and will ensure bor- itself when it had originally passed Democrats than Republicans—on this der security. funding for the whole government. We bill that Senator KENNEDY just men- For that reason, I object. could do a lot more good if my amend- tioned. Would you support this? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- ment to the proposal by my friend from A number of us have had ongoing tion is heard. Louisiana were adopted. That is how it conversations with the President of the Is there an objection to the original is. United States. I have raised this a request? Now, on a different issue, I ask for number of times with him and his ad- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I the yeas and nays on the motion to ministration over the last 2 weeks. In a object to the original request because proceed to S. 1. meeting I had with him on Wednesday, the Senator from Louisiana has not al- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a he said: I am 100 percent behind that lowed the rest of the Federal Govern- sufficient second? bill. ment to get paid. I would remind him, There is a sufficient second. This is really important because, as whether it is squirrel, jackrabbit, or The yeas and nays are ordered. to some of what the armadillo, that we are the article I The Senator from Alaska. has said we should be bringing up, the branch of government, and because Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, White House has said: We are not going President Trump says no, we have veto let me explain a little bit about what to support. OK. It is difficult to pass a override power, and we could get the we witnessed on the Senate floor. Actu- bill when you are not going to get the workers paid even if he will not sign it. ally, it may be a little bit confusing, President to sign it. Yet the President I object. but it is an important issue. will sign this bill, and almost 25 per- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- With regard to the Coast Guard, my cent of the Senate has said it is already tion is heard. colleagues from Louisiana and Mis- a cosponsor of it. The Senator from Mississippi. sissippi have been working on this So what just happened for everybody Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I issue for a while. It is not going to watching, particularly the Coast Guard was going to ask the distinguished solve the whole partial government members? Democratic leader to have yielded shutdown, but we have been working When I learned that the President under his reservation. with a number of our colleagues on the was supportive last Thursday, we Might I be recognized for just a mo- other side of the aisle. Right now, this brought this bill to the Senate floor, ment? The objection has already been bill for which my friend from Louisiana and we hotlined it, which means we heard, and we will not get this done. asked to have unanimous consent has were trying to move it through the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the 23 cosponsors, and there might be Senate very quickly. Every Republican Senator from Louisiana yield the floor? more. Actually, almost one-quarter of cleared that hotline. Essentially, it Mr. KENNEDY. Of course. the whole Senate—more Democratic means we all voted yes. When we took The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cosponsors than Republican cospon- it to our colleagues on the other side— ator from Mississippi is recognized. sors—is cosponsoring this bill to pay look, I know my colleagues, Democrats Mr. WICKER. Madam President, I ap- the Coast Guard. and Republicans, care a lot about the preciate the Senator from Louisiana. Again, we are working on the broader Coast Guard—it was stalled. His unanimous consent request would issue of getting our government back We kept asking: Come on. Don’t you have done one simple thing—gotten the to the work of paying Federal workers, want to support this? You have a bunch uniformed servicemembers in the Coast but as my colleagues mentioned, the of cosponsors. Right now, the men and Guard paid just like we are paying Coast Guard is in a rather unique situ- women of the Coast Guard are very today for members of the Army, Navy, ation because it is the only military unique in terms of the military’s not Air Force, and Marines. The Coast service right now that is not getting getting paid, but there was just a Guard members are the only service- paid. Those in the Army, Navy, Air delay. men out there now who, under the Uni- Force, and Marines are all getting paid. Senator KENNEDY said: I am going to form Code of Military Justice, are re- Right now, as we speak, the Coast ask for a live unanimous consent. Let’s quired to perform their duties under Guard’s men and women are out in my just bring it up and pass it. The White pain of penalty, and they are not being great State of Alaska and are risking House would sign it. We could fix this paid as the others are. It would also their lives for Americans, as they al- issue today. I bet most of the House protect survivors’ benefits for the re- ways do. They are also out in other would certainly vote for it. tirees and their survivors in the Coast places like the Middle East and in the So he brought it up for unanimous Guard, as is being done with the other Persian Gulf. They are literally run- consent, and the minority leader ob- uniformed services. ning patrols in the gulf, side by side, jected. We may be getting close to a solution with marines and sailors. The marines My colleagues on the other side of on this. I certainly hope so. In the and sailors are getting paid. The mem- the aisle like to talk a lot about hos- meantime, I think it would be a signifi- bers of the Coast Guard are not getting tage-taking with regard to Federal em- cant gesture on the part of the Demo- paid. ployees. I think they need to think a crats and the Republicans in this Sen- By the way, if the members of the bit harder about what just happened ate and in the House of Representa- Coast Guard say: ‘‘Do you know what? with the men and women of the Coast tives to pass this one small change I don’t want to deploy to the Middle Guard. You heard it from the minority

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Jan 24, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.020 S24JAPT1 January 24, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S551 leader. He said he is not going to do think it is important for the American If you are serving in the Coast Guard anything about the Coast Guard right people to understand what just hap- in any of our 50 States, let me say: No. now even though the President said he pened here because it is highly con- 1, thank you for your service. Thank would sign it. We could fix this to- sequential. It is easy for things to get you for your heroism. Thank you for night. lost in procedural gobbledygook and to the amazing difference you make. You Here is the point. We are all working assume: Well, this is some back and deserve to be paid. You will be paid. on the broader issue, and we are going forth about the shutdown and about But if you want to know why you to vote on some things. If they fail this the wall. It has nothing to do with any aren’t being paid right now, it is be- afternoon, there are numbers of us who of that. cause the Democratic leader objected are working on compromises to fix this What Senator KENNEDY did was to to your getting a paycheck. whole problem. In the meantime, why bring forward a bill to pay the Coast It is my hope that the Democratic shouldn’t we all be working on the im- Guard. The bill did nothing else. It Senators will go to their leader and portant issue—it might not be with re- didn’t address any aspect of the shut- say: This is a bad idea for Democratic gard to the whole government—of tak- down. It didn’t address any aspect of Senators to hold hostage the pay- ing care of the men and women of the the wall. It simply said: Let’s pay the checks of the men and women of the Coast Guard? People are literally risk- men and women in the Coast Guard— Coast Guard. ing their lives right now for Ameri- yes or no. That means you can be a yes We should pay the Coast Guard, and cans, not just in Alaska or in but on that, whether you think we need to that ought to be something that com- all over the world, and they are the secure the border and have a steel bar- mands unanimous, bipartisan support. only members of the military who are rier or whether you support open bor- I yield the floor. not getting paid. We could fix it to- ders. It doesn’t say anything either The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- night—the President will sign it—as we way. It just says that the men and ator from Alaska. are working on the broader issue. women in the Coast Guard deserve pay- Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I I don’t understand why that is not an checks. want to make one other point after the acceptable path forward. In talking to We could have passed that right here eloquent comments of my good friend the men and women of the Coast today. There is one reason and one rea- from Texas. Guard—certainly, in my State—they son only that we didn’t. It is because We have already done something don’t understand either. Yes, we have the Democratic leader stood up and similar here. We are all breaking for to come to a compromise on this broad- said: I object. lunch right now. My Democratic col- er issue that ends the partial govern- I note that if there are Democrats on leagues are going to go do their strat- ment shutdown—that gets all of our the Democratic side of the aisle who egy sessions, and we are going to do Federal workers back and that secures are not comfortable with that, who the same. I implore my Democratic our border. We are all working on that. agree that the Coast Guard should be colleagues to go back to their leader In the meantime, had the minority paid, let me encourage my Democratic and say: Hey, come on. Let’s rethink leader of the U.S. Senate not objected, colleagues to say so because it is their this. Here is why. We have already everybody here—I guarantee you it party’s leader who has lodged an objec- done something similar. would have included my Democratic tion on behalf of, effectively, every I was on the floor when two of my colleagues—would have voted for this Democratic Senator. Democratic colleagues from Virginia bill to pay the Coast Guard. It just The Democrats are fond of using the asked for unanimous consent on a bill. doesn’t make sense. phrase ‘‘hostage-taking.’’ They are, Remember, the whole government was I certainly hope my colleagues and quite literally, holding the men and partially shut down. There was a par- my good friend from New York will re- women of the Coast Guard hostage be- tial government shutdown. They asked consider their blocking of this bill, be- cause they want to win a political vic- for unanimous consent on a bill to cause we could fix at least one element tory against the President. Their ob- make sure that when the partial gov- of this. We need to fix it all, but in my jective here is to have the President ernment shutdown was over, everybody view this is a very unique element. The back down and to have not a single would receive backpay. We are actually men and women who raised their hands mile of border wall built—never mind doing work on smaller but very impor- to support and defend the Constitution that the Democratic leader and every tant issues. I was on the floor when and possibly die for this country are Democrat in this Chamber voted in 2013 they did that. I certainly voted yes. not getting paid. Yet those in the to build and fund 350 miles of border By the way, that went to the Presi- Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines wall. That was 350 miles that every dent. He said he was going to sign it, are. Let’s fix it tonight. We can fix it Democrat in this Chamber voted for. and he signed it. That became a law tonight. Unfortunately, we just had an We are in a shutdown today because just about 2 weeks ago, as we have been objection to doing that. I think it is a they are now unwilling to fund 234 debating and trying to find a com- mistake, and I am hopeful my col- miles of border wall, which is less than promise. leagues will reconsider. they voted for in 2013. So the notion that we are not doing The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- We understand that politics rears its any work and that we are not passing ator from Texas. head in this business, and the Demo- any laws that are impacting Federal Mr. CRUZ. Madam President, I rise crats want to defeat the President po- workers until the whole thing is over is to strongly support the Senator from litically, and so the substance is sec- actually not true. We have already Alaska and the Senator from Louisiana ondary to trying to get the partisan done it. and the Senator from Mississippi. victory over the President. Let me sug- This would be analogous to what we We should pay our Coast Guard. It is gest that this ought to be an issue. We did 2 weeks ago, and that was led by not right that we aren’t paying the keep fighting back and forth on wheth- the Democrats. The thing about this Coast Guard. Right now, every other er securing the border or having open Coast Guard bill right now is that it is military branch is being paid. The borders is a good idea, but this ought very, very bipartisan. Army is being paid. The Navy is being to be an issue that should be real sim- Mr. CRUZ. Would the Senator from paid. The Air Force is being paid. The ple. Alaska yield for a question? Marines are being paid. Those in the Senator KENNEDY brought forward a Mr. SULLIVAN. Yes. Coast Guard are not being paid even as clean bill that does one thing and one Mr. CRUZ. Did the bill that Senator they are risking their lives. thing only. It pays the salaries of the KENNEDY brought forward do any- Many of us in Texas and along the men and women in the Coast Guard. If thing—anything else—beyond simply gulf coast saw the incredible heroism the Democratic leader hadn’t objected, paying the men and women of the of the Coast Guard in the wake of Hur- that would have passed right now. The Coast Guard? ricane Harvey, during which so many President could have signed it tonight. Mr. SULLIVAN. No, it just made it brave men and women risked their The paychecks could have gone out so there was parity between the brave lives to save thousands upon thousands right now for every man and woman in men and women of the Coast Guard and of innocents. They should be paid. I the Coast Guard. the brave men and women of the Army,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Jan 24, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.021 S24JAPT1 S552 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2019 Navy, Air Force, and Marines—all of of the United States couldn’t keep and here because they came legally and whom are risking their lives for our that America is not interested in hav- overstayed. We still can’t do that in country and our citizens. ing him keep. This idea that he was America because that bill passed the Right now, the men and women of going to build a medieval wall across Senate, but it couldn’t get a vote in the Coast Guard are the only ones who the southern border of Texas, taking it the House because of the stupidest rule are not getting paid. from the farmers and ranchers who ever created, called the Hastert rule, Mr. CRUZ. So if the Democrats had were there, and have the Mexicans pay named after somebody who is in prison. not objected and it had passed and the for it isn’t true. That is why we are That rule has allowed a minority of ty- House had passed it and sent it to the here, because he is now saying the tax- rants in the Congress to bring a Demo- President, could we get the men and payers have to pay for it. That is not cratic President low—President women of the Coast Guard paid right what he said during his campaign. Obama, whom they didn’t let do any- now, today, and get that passed into Over and over he said that Mexico thing—to ruin the speakership of John law? would pay for the wall—over and over Boehner, and to allow to al- Mr. SULLIVAN. I think as soon as again. most accomplish nothing while he was possible we could get it passed. I was going to talk about what he Speaker, except leaving this place in a I talked to the President on Wednes- said about the junior Senator’s father, government shutdown. day. He said he was 100 percent behind but I am going to let that alone. It was The so-called Freedom Caucus has this bill, the way he was behind that after that. had a veto around this place for 10 other bill to provide backpay to every- Now we are here with the govern- years and completely distorted the Re- body else who has been affected by the ment shut down over his broken prom- publican Party here, if I do say so my- partial government shutdown. ise, while the Chinese are landing self. That may sound presumptuous, Mr. CRUZ. So the only thing that is spacecraft on the dark side of the but I know a lot of Republicans in Col- necessary to pass a clean bill, paying moon. That is what they are doing, not orado who don’t agree with almost the salaries of every man and women in to mention what they are doing in anything or anything that the Free- the Coast Guard, is for the Democratic Latin America and with their One Belt, dom Caucus has stood for. Yet they Senators to withdraw their objection; One Road Initiative in Asia. That is have had a veto on good, bipartisan what they are doing while we are shut is that correct? legislation passed by the U.S. Senate. Mr. SULLIVAN. That is correct. down over a promise he never thought So I am not going to stand here and Mr. CRUZ. Thank you. he could keep and didn’t keep. take it from somebody who has shut Finally, this idea that my colleague The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- down the government while my State from Texas—and I am sorry to say this ator from Colorado. was flooded or from a President who because I respect him. He is obviously Mr. BENNET. Madam President, as says that he wants $5 billion to build a very intelligent person, but this idea you know, I seldom rise on this floor to some antiquated, medieval wall, which that Democrats are for open borders is contradict somebody on the other side. he said Mexico would pay for, when I gibberish, and it is proven by what the Over the years, I have worked very helped write and voted for a bill that Senator from Louisiana said, which is hard to work in a bipartisan way with actually would have secured the border the Presiding Officer and with my Re- that time after time, we have sup- ported real border security, not a wall of the United States of America, that publican colleagues, but these croco- would have secured our internal de- dile tears that the Senator from Texas that Mexico pays for that gets you at- tention at campaign rallies from some fenses as well. is crying for the first responders are This is a joke, and the fact that it people in America and that gets talked too hard for me to take. consumes the cable networks all night, They are too hard for me to take be- about on at night. In 2013, the Senator from Texas every night, and all the rest of it—this cause when the Senator from Texas didn’t support it. I did. In 2013, we government should be open. We can de- shut this government down in 2013, my passed a bill here in a bipartisan way. bate whatever it is we want to debate. State was flooded. It was under water. It got 68 votes. It had $46 billion for Do you think the Chinese don’t know People were killed. People’s houses border security in it—$46 billion, not $5 that we can’t land a spaceship on the were destroyed. Their small businesses billion for his rinky-dink wall that he dark side of the moon? Do you think were ruined forever. Because of the is talking about building. There was the Russians don’t know that for the Senator from Texas, this government $46 billion for border security. To be first time since John Glenn was sent up was shut down for politics. precise about it, it had 350 miles of to orbit this planet, America cannot He surfed to a second-place finish in what the President now refers to as put a person into space without asking the Iowa caucuses but was of no help to steel slats. the Russians to do it? Do you think the the first responders, to the teachers, By the way, America, do you hear rest of the world doesn’t know that we and to the students whose schools were him not calling it a wall anymore? are not investing in our infrastructure; closed with a Federal Government that Now it is steel slats. Now it is a bor- that we are not investing in the young was shut down because of the junior der barrier. There were 350 miles of so- generation of Americans; that we are Senator from Texas. called steel slats in that bill. willing to lose the race for artificial in- It is his business—not my business— Do you know what else was in that telligence to the Chinese; that we are why he supports a President who wants bill? I think the Presiding Officer voted going to break all of our longstanding to erect a medieval barrier on the bor- for that bill. In that bill, we doubled alliances since World War II at a mo- der of Texas, who wants to use eminent the number of border security agents ment when China is rising; that Chi- domain to build that wall, and who on the border. They could practically na’s GDP has quadrupled since 2001, tri- wants to declare an unconstitutional hold hands on that border. There were pled since 2003, doubled since 2009? Do emergency to build that wall. That is so many border security agents in that we think that no one in the rest of the the business of the Senator from Texas. bill. We had billions of dollars of drone world knows all of that about us? I can assure you that in Colorado if a technology so that we could learn what We should reopen this government President said that he was going to use we have learned in and in today. We should reopen it today. eminent domain to erect a barrier other places, to see every single inch of Then, what I hope much more than across the State of Colorado, across the that border—every inch. that is that we actually come together Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and he We had internal security in that bill to figure out how we are going to gov- was going to steal the property of our so that small businesses, farmers, and ern this country again and stop playing farmers and ranchers to build his me- ranchers don’t have to be the immigra- petty, partisan politics, which is going dieval wall, there wouldn’t be an elect- tion police, and so that, finally, in to do nothing to educate the next gen- ed leader from our State who would America we could actually know who eration of Americans, which is going to support that idea. came here legally on a visa but over- do nothing to fix the fiscal condition of That comes to my final point—how stayed their visa. this country. ludicrous it is that this government is Forty percent of the people in this For 10 years—for 10 years, I have shut down over a promise the President country who are undocumented are heard the junior Senator from Texas

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Jan 24, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.023 S24JAPT1 January 24, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S553 and I have heard the Freedom Caucus I am sorry to say this, but there is an I would say that our country, in in the House of Representatives talk answer. If you think you have been many ways, has eclipsed any expecta- about how important it is to get the sent here to dismantle the Federal tion they ever had of what America fiscal condition of our government Government—and I have lots of prob- would become. For the moment, we are fixed. In fact, that has been the pretext lems with this Federal Government. I the richest country in the world. We for shutdowns and for fiscal cliffs and think it does a lot of things very well, have the greatest capacity for self-de- for all of this stuff that does nothing and, as a westerner, I certainly believe fense of any human population in the but denigrate our democratic Republic. we need to not be in the business of de- history of the world. We are far more Now, for the first time almost in his- fending bad government. We need to be democratic and far more free, with all tory—it happened once before during improving the government. But if you of our imperfections, than they would the Vietnam war—we are actually hav- think your job is to dismantle it—as have ever imagined and probably than ing our deficit shooting through the the Freedom Caucus does, in my view— most of them would have ever wanted. roof while unemployment has fallen. It then a 9-percent approval rating suits We are the longest lived democracy in has never happened before. These are you just fine because you get to go human history. But, for some reason, the people who called a home and say ‘‘See how terrible all of there is a generation of politicians in Bolshevik and a socialist at the depths those guys are? See what idiots all of America today who don’t think it is of the recession, when we had a 10-per- those guys are?’’ while you are taking necessary to live up to the standard cent unemployment rate, and didn’t your pay while the Federal workers are that they set and the standard lots of lift a finger to do anything. They have not getting paid, while you are keeping other people have set from the found- now given us a fiscal condition where your job while they are losing their ing of our country 230 years ago until our deficit is going up while our unem- job. today. ployment rate is falling. Do you know There has been an effort not just to I don’t even know what day it is any- how hard it is to accomplish that? Do dismantle the Federal Government but more of this record-long shutdown, but you know how irresponsible you would to separate it from the American peo- the pretext for it is an invention. It is have to be to accomplish that? Yet ple, to claim that it is someone else’s a creation of something in the Presi- that is what has been accomplished. or that it is corrupt. In many ways, I dent’s mind. It was something we have When I was first here—it was actu- think it is; I believe it is. I believe this ally a little after I was first here—I learned from reading the press that place is one of the most corrupt parts was a mnemonic device used during the used to walk through Denver Inter- of the whole thing. But because it is national Airport, which we are very campaign to remind him to talk about corrupt or because it can’t get its act immigration in an effort to divide proud of in Colorado. By the way, it is together or because it is too far away the most recent airport that has been Americans from one another instead of from the people or, I think I would say, an effort to bring us together, in an ef- constructed in America. While we have because it is populated by a bunch of been closed, other airports around the fort to turn what just 3 years ago was self-interested politicians who don’t a bipartisan issue in the Senate—secur- world—new airports have been opened care about the priorities of the Amer- just while we have been closed. ing our southern border with $46 bil- ican people—whatever the reason is, it lion—into a cudgel to be wielded at Denver International Airport is the is not separate. It is not separate. The campaign rallies. most recent airport in the country to reason that is important is that we live be opened. It was opened 25 years ago— In any case, the least we could do in a democratic Republic, and the while we have these shabby disagree- a quarter of a century ago—and during Founders of this country did two ments that are not worthy of our pred- moments like those when the Senator things that had never happened in ecessors, that are not worthy of the from Texas shut down the government human history: They led a successful State I represent—which is one-third while Colorado was underneath floods armed insurrection against a colonial Democratic, one-third Republican, and and people had lost all of the things I power in one generation, and they talked about earlier—their houses, formed a democratic Republic whose one-third Independent—that are their jobs, and their lives—I used to Constitution was ratified by the people threatening to make our generation want to walk through that airport with who would live under it. the first generation of Americans to a paper bag over my head because I was What they knew because they were leave less opportunity, not more, to so embarrassed to be part of this. enlightened thinkers—or I should say the people coming after us, a genera- I often wondered why anyone in their not what they knew but what they be- tion of politicians who are openly sug- right mind would want to work in a lieved because they had only bad exam- gesting that America’s role in the place that has a 9-percent approval rat- ples from which to draw when they world should be diminished—the least ing. In fact, I brought a chart—two there in Philadelphia writing that Con- we could do is reopen our government charts—one day to the floor, one that stitution—but what they knew was and stop pursuing this self-inflicted showed we hadn’t always had a 9-per- that in a Republic, we would have dis- harm that it creates in having hun- cent approval rating, to remind people agreements. That was their expecta- dreds of thousands of Federal workers how far we had fallen in the public’s es- tion, and their belief was that out of out of work and not being paid, not timation over the time that the Sen- those disagreements we would—and, by able to support their families while we ator from Texas and I have been here. the way, they knew we would have dis- continue to stand on this floor, having Then I brought out another chart that agreements because they had disagree- mindless arguments that are going to looked at who else has a 9-percent ap- ments, and they had failed on some do nothing to advance the future of our proval rating. I can’t remember all—it very important things. It has to be country. has sort of been lost in the mist of said. They perpetuated human slavery We shouldn’t shut the government time—but I do remember that the IRS because they couldn’t come to an down, as it has been in this case, for a had a 40-percent approval rating; there agreement about that, and other peo- campaign promise the President, I am was an actress who had a 13-percent ap- ple, whom I think of as Founders—just sure, knew he could never keep. proval rating; more people wanted as important, just as significant as With that, I yield floor. America to be a Communist country— those Founders—ended the enslave- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. 11 percent—than approved of this Con- ment of human beings in America and ERNST). The Senator from Texas. gress; and Fidel Castro had a 5-percent did other important things, such as Mr. CRUZ. Madam President, there is approval rating, which was lower than make sure my daughters had the right an old saying in Texas among Texas our 9-percent approval rating. He was to vote. Those people also are Found- trial lawyers. If you have the facts, you the only one who had a lower rating ers. But what they believed at their bang the facts. If you have the law, you than that. core was that through our disagree- bang the law. If you don’t have either So my question, often, was this: Why ments, we would forge more imagina- one, you bang the table. We have seen would anybody want to work in a place tive and more durable solutions than a whole lot of table banging right here that has such a low approval rating, any King or tyrant could come up with on this floor. and why would they want to behave in on their own. That was their belief. The Senator from Colorado spent a a way that only made matters worse? That was their expectation. great deal of time yelling, spent a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Jan 24, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.024 S24JAPT1 S554 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2019 great deal of time attacking me per- Border Patrol agents. We have miles didn’t say, yes, we should fund the sonally. He did at one point briefly rise and miles of wall right now that are Coast Guard, and, you know what, my to the defense of my father. I appre- working. I have been to those walls— leader was wrong when he held the pay- ciate that gesture, but he spent a lot of not once, not twice but over and over checks of the Coast Guard’s men and time yelling. again. women hostage because he wants to I will say, in my time in the Senate, One of the rich things about this win a political fight with the Presi- I don’t believe I have ever bellowed or Chamber is, Senators from States no- dent. yelled at one of my colleagues on the where near the border presume to lec- By the way, I would note to the Sen- Senate floor, and I hope in my time be- ture border States about what it is like ator of Colorado, it is not the end of fore me, I never do that. I think we on the border and what works securing the world to stand up to your party’s should discuss issues and substance and the border. Walls are effective. I will leader. Some of us have a history of facts and not simply scream and yell at tell you, every single Border Patrol having done so in the past. each other. agent I have asked——and I have asked We are now in the longest govern- Let’s go over some of the facts. In dozens, probably hundreds of Border ment shutdown in history. This shut- the angry speech of the Senator from Patrol agents—are walls effective, un- down needs to end—the American peo- Colorado, he did not dispute, No. 1, questionably, they say yes. ple want it to end—but we also need to that he and every other Senate Demo- Let’s not destruct the straw man. secure the border. crat in 2013 voted for 350 miles of bor- Walls are not the only thing. You need I have to say, the contrast between der wall. That is a fact. He has voted technology. You need boots on the the two parties could not be clearer. for 350 miles of border wall, as did ground. You need all sorts of other The President has repeatedly said he every other Democrat in this Chamber tools. The critical point in intercepting wants to negotiate and compromise. He at that time. someone crossing over illegally is the says he is willing to meet in the mid- No. 2, he did not dispute that in De- time between detection and intercep- dle. He hasn’t insisted on every mile of cember of last year, the then-Repub- tion, and what a wall does is slows border wall he asked for. He hasn’t in- lican House of Representatives voted to down the traffickers to give the Border sisted on every single dollar of border fund the government—to fund the en- Patrol time to intercept them. security. He said: Let’s meet and com- tirety of the government—and to se- By the way, we have seen it over and promise. Republicans on this side of cure the border, and the Senator from over again in San Diego. When they the Chamber have said: Let’s com- Colorado, and I believe every other built the wall, the illegal traffic plum- promise in the middle. The position of Senate Democrats is Democrat, filibustered that bill and meted. In El Paso, when they built the that they will not negotiate; they will caused the shutdown. wall, the illegal traffic plummeted. not compromise, period. Their position, I voted to take up that bill. You Now the Democrats’ position is not how many miles of wall can be built? voted to take up that bill. Had we substantive. They voted for 350 miles of Zero. They are not to 1 yet. When it taken up the bill, had we simply passed wall. So why are they shutting the gov- comes to negotiating, their position is the bill the House of Representatives ernment down over 234 miles of wall? It not an inch of wall can be built, even had passed funding the government and is not substantive; it is political. though we the Democrats already securing the border, the government We get that they hate Donald Trump. voted for 350 miles of it. Why? Because If anyone in America had missed that would never have shut down. Donald Trump is President. It takes some degree of chutzpah to point—that they really don’t like this That is an extreme and radical posi- stand up, after filibustering funding for man—their yelling and screaming and tion. Look, I understand, folks watch- the government, as the Democrats did, bellowing has made that abundantly ing at home, it is hard to tell—you are and blame the shutdown on the oppos- clear. Just because you hate somebody reading the news. It seems like both ing party. doesn’t mean you should shut down the parties are bickering. It is hard to tell The Senator from Colorado did not government. I voted to keep this gov- what is happening, particularly be- dispute the Republican House voted to ernment open, right now, today. The cause on the Senate floor, there is a lot fund the government, and he and his Democrats are filibustering funding for of procedural mumbo jumbo. Democratic colleagues filibustered the government. If you want to understand what is that, which caused the shutdown. Let me tell you something else the going on, the exchange between Sen- No. 3, the Senator from Colorado did Senator from Colorado didn’t dispute. ator KENNEDY and Senator SCHUMER il- not dispute that the stated reason the We had a whole colloquy with the Sen- lustrates it all. Senator KENNEDY’s bill Democrats filibustered that bill is be- ator from Louisiana and the Senator did one thing and one thing only. It cause it authorized the funding of 234 from Mississippi and the Senator from paid the salaries of the men and women miles of wall. Alaska about funding the Coast Guard. of the Coast Guard. It didn’t touch any I have to say, I find it amusing that Did you notice, in that entire bel- other issue. a new adjective has crept in. It is now lowing speech, the words ‘‘Coast Every Republican agrees with that not 234 miles of wall; it is medieval Guard’’ were never uttered? Not once. bill. The Democrats objected and said: wall. I don’t know if there is something What Senator KENNEDY asked this We will not pay the Coast Guard. in there that has a moat and has cata- body to do was pass a clean bill to pay Had they not objected, we could put pults that are throwing burning tar— the paychecks of the Coast Guard. Sen- that bill on the President’s desk today, medieval wall now. ator KENNEDY’s bill doesn’t mention a and they could get their paychecks It is kind of an odd thing. It does wall—whether you like one or not, it right now. That is emblematic of the raise the question: Well, if walls are doesn’t mention a medieval wall or any approach of Senate Democrats. medieval, why did the Senator from other kind. It simply says: Pay the When the Senator from Colorado Colorado and every other Democrat in Coast Guard—yes, no. stopped screaming at me, he then en- 2013 vote for 350 miles of medieval wall? Every Republican agrees, pay the gaged in a bit of historical retrospec- To the extent walls are medieval, they Coast Guard right now. It is not fair to tive about the great Framers of our presumably were medieval in 2013, just treat the Coast Guard differently than Constitution, which I enjoyed and very as much as they are now. we are treating the Army and Navy and much agree with. I am someone who The President has a good observa- Marines and Air Force. spent a lifetime devoted to the Con- tion. He said: I will tell you something The Senator from Colorado didn’t ad- stitution. I am inspired by the Framers else that is medieval, the wheel. There dress that because it is indisputable, it who gave us this extraordinary demo- is a reason the wheel is medieval—be- is a fact that the reason that didn’t cratic Republic. The Senator from Col- cause it rolls things, and it works. pass right now is because the Demo- orado called for Members of this body Walls are effective. cratic leader stood up and made an ob- to aspire to be more like the men and Unlike the Senator from Colorado, I jection. women who gave us this country, gave live in a border State. We have 1,200 By implication, every Democratic us this Republic, if you can keep it, as miles of border. I have spent a great Senator presumably agrees with it. The Benjamin Franklin put it. I concur deal of time down at the border with fact that the Senator from Colorado with that.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Jan 24, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.026 S24JAPT1 January 24, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S555 What I urge the Senator from Colo- as citizens and I would say as found- dering important investigative work rado do is to reach out to his Demo- ers—to keep the Republic they created. and criminal prosecutions. The Trans- cratic colleagues and counsel com- That is what is at stake here. That is portation Security Administration, promise. I am urging my colleagues on what is at stake when the government TSA, has employees who are calling in this side to do the same. The difference has been shut down for politics, when sick in record numbers after a month is, the Republicans are willing to com- we have a President who doesn’t be- of being on the job with no paycheck. promise, have offered to compromise, lieve in the rule of law, who attacks Some even say they cannot pay for the and, in fact, just now sought to pay the judges whose decisions he disagrees gas to get to the job. These are the peo- Coast Guard, and the Democratic posi- with, who attacks the free press, who ple charged with detecting dangerous tion is: No, no, no. We object. have that freedom because of the Con- threats at our Nation’s airports. In- That is partisan, it is extreme, and it stitution and the Bill of Rights. stead, they are stressed and frustrated. is not behavior that would bring pride It is that Republic which is at risk Everybody knows that is not a very to the Framers of our Constitution. I when we are not educating the next good combination. Long lines are form- hope this body can do better. generation of Americans, when we are ing at airports. A lack of TSA employ- I yield the floor. not investing in our infrastructure, ees has forced some major airports to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- when we have the unbelievable and un- close screening areas, causing further ator from Colorado. precedented fiscal hypocrisy that has delays. Mr. BENNET. I thank the Senator resulted in a ballooning deficit while I could go on and on, but we know from Texas for having this conversa- the unemployment rate is going down. the Trump shutdown is hurting our Na- tion. I don’t think I was yelling—but I It is a farce. It is a farce. tion and our citizens. Overseas, it will go watch the tape—or screaming My closing word is to say that I will makes the United States of America at you. I also have never called any- work with anybody—including the Sen- look weak and foolish. This great coun- body on this floor a liar, as you did, in ator from Texas, if he will work with try is made to look weak and foolish by 2015. I get the theatrics of all of this. me—to put this sorry episode behind the Trump shutdown. I guess I want to say two things. One, us. And I don’t mean this sorry episode We can end it right now, today, and I appreciate the fact that you, at least, of this government shutdown, although for the sake of the country, we should. seem to be accepting the fact that that is a sorry and pathetic episode, The McConnell amendment, the so- every Democrat who is here, on that but this episode of American political called End the Shutdown and Reopen immigration bill in 2013, voted for it— history where we have done so little for the Government Act, we all know is a voted for the 350 miles of wall you are the next generation of Americans and nonstarter. I came to the floor yester- talking about. You didn’t vote for that done almost nothing to honor the leg- day, and I detailed why. I am not going bill or the Senator from Texas didn’t acy of our parents and grandparents to repeat that here today. vote for that bill, and I assume you had and the people who came before them. It is the height of irresponsibility to your reasons. That would be worth doing around this use the pain and suffering of the Amer- By the way, I wouldn’t presume to place before we all die. ican people as leverage to force the think what the Senator would think With that, Madam President, I yield U.S. taxpayers to fund the President’s about as a person from a border State. the floor. bumper-sticker, campaign slogan My State is not far from the border. We The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- southern border wall—on his solemn see the effects for ill and for good of ator from Vermont. promise that Mexico would pay for it— immigration in my State. GOVERNMENT FUNDING or to enact his hard-line, anti-immi- I do know this. There were two Sen- Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, let’s grant agenda. That is what the bill ators from a border State—the border put this in realistic terms. I have been does. It is not a compromise. It is not State of Arizona—who were on that here through eight Presidents. I am a deal. I hope my fellow Senators op- Gang of 8 bill, with whom I sat, day now in my 45th year. I have never seen pose it. If we give in to these tactics after day, negotiating the provisions anything like the Trump shutdown now, where will it stop? What is the for months. They didn’t have to just from the day it began 34 days ago until next thing the President will shut vote for the bill or against it, but they now. down the government over? had to go home to Arizona—John I hear from people every day about H.R. 268, which is what the Schumer McCain and Jeff Flake did—and ex- the pain and suffering this shutdown amendment contains, is a bipartisan plain why they supported it and why it has caused. Certainly I hear from my bill that we should all support. It was the right thing to do for Arizona, home State of Vermont. We know that would reopen the government by ex- which, as the Senator from Texas tomorrow hundreds of thousands of tending funding for the seven remain- knows, is a border State. public servants will miss their second ing appropriations bills through Feb- The idea that there is a problem to paycheck since this shutdown began. ruary 8, 2019. Remember, those are ap- be solved here because Democrats in Many of these public servants have had propriations bills that Chairman this Chamber are for open borders is to work the entire time. They are SHELBY and I worked very hard on and false, as the Senator indicated. The angry. They are confused about why that passed through the committee vir- second point is, the Senator from their paychecks are being held hostage tually unanimously. We ought to ap- Texas referenced Ben Franklin. by the President in what he appears to plaud that. The passage of the bill will Ben Franklin was standing outside view as a political game. Many of these ensure that Federal employees are paid the steps of Constitution Hall, and people can no longer pay their bills. and that critical services are restored somebody who was passing by—this is They are worried about what tomorrow and provide time for negotiation and while they were writing the Constitu- will bring, and all of us should worry. debate on border security without the tion—said: Mr. Franklin, what kind of We know that our basic government American people being held hostage to government are you creating—a mon- services are no longer functioning. Our the President’s ill-considered, anti-im- archy or a republic? Federal courts will run out of money migrant agenda. I urge Senators to That was the question. As Senator by the end of this month. Important vote for it. CRUZ has said, his answer was ‘‘a Re- scientific research has been put on On December 19, in this Chamber, we public, if you can keep it’’—if you can hold. Think of the cost to turn it back passed the bill to fund the government keep it. His answer was not ‘‘a Repub- on. The fishing industry is in turmoil until February 8. We did it unani- lic’’; it was ‘‘a Republic, if you can because they cannot get the Federal mously by a voice vote. Republicans keep it,’’ because he knew that the permits or inspections required to take were in charge of both the House and words written in the Constitution out their boats. In the wake of a the Senate at that time. In other weren’t going to preserve themselves, record-setting fire season, the Forest words, the Senate was for keeping the that this exercise in democratic self- Service has curtailed thinning and fire- government open. The President’s own government, a democratic republic, prevention projects. Federal law en- Republican leaders supported it. Sud- would require generations of women forcement and prosecutors are sound- denly, he changed his mind, and the and men—not just in this Chamber but ing the alarm that the shutdown is hin- Republican leaders had to back off.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Jan 25, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.027 S24JAPT1 S556 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2019 H.R. 268 also provides $14 billion in The Senate is an independent, co- The President, for his part, has pro- assistance to help communities and equal branch of government. We should posed a serious and, I think, a reason- families impacted by natural disasters act like it. Let’s end this national able compromise—a comprehensive so- recover and rebuild. It provides assist- nightmare. Let’s vote to open the gov- lution. I commend him for that. He is ance to the victims of Hurricanes Mi- ernment now for our fellow Americans. doing what the American people ex- chael and Florence, the Let’s do it now, today. pect, I think, showing a willingness to wildfires, the volcanic eruptions in Ha- I yield the floor. work together to find common ground. waii, the recent typhoons in the Pa- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I encourage my Democratic col- cific, and other natural disasters. It ator from Alabama. leagues to reciprocate here. We have in will also continue assistance for Puerto Mr. SHELBY. Madam President, just the past. If this proposal today is unac- Rico, which is still recovering from the a few months ago, we stood here on the ceptable, I ask my colleagues on the category 5 Hurricanes Maria and Irma. Senate floor celebrating the progress other side to put something on the The McConnell amendment contains we had made together in the appropria- table that could help move us off the a disaster package nearly identical to tions process, as Senator LEAHY has dime. Work with us. Propose a com- H.R. 268, but to appease the President, just alluded to. I believe we are all prehensive solution to get us moving in it eliminates all disaster assistance for tired of lurching from crisis to crisis the right direction. But simply saying Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico is part of amid partisan bickering. Both sides re- no, demanding that we deal with bor- America. I know the President referred solved then to put aside partisan dif- der security later, is not going to cut it to it as an island surrounded by water, ferences and work together for the today. as though that is the only island that good of the American people, and it What do we do about solving our cri- is surrounded by water. The McConnell worked. sis? This is a real crisis. If not now, Together, we funded 75 percent of the amendment eliminates $1.3 billion in when? When will be the time to secure government on time. While we would funding for clean and safe drinking the border? What good will more time have preferred to have funded 100 per- water grants, community redevelop- or talking do? cent, it was considerably more progress ment funds, and nutrition assistance The American people have been than we had made in decades. Yet we that would help the American citizens promised that border security will find ourselves here today more than 1 of Puerto Rico continue their recovery. come later since the Simpson-Mazzoli month into the longest partial shut- Hurricanes Maria and Irma dev- amnesty in 1986. Look at where we are down of the government in American astated Puerto Rico and destroyed the today—still waiting, still talking. The history. It is enough to give you - island’s homes and infrastructure. Hur- drug smuggling, the human trafficking, lash. ricane Maria caused the deaths of 2,975 Funding the remaining 25 percent of and the chaos are a real crisis. We Americans. It is one of the deadliest government is a task before us here know what must be done. It is a ques- hurricanes this country has ever seen. today. Homeland security, border secu- tion of what will be done. While Congress has provided Puerto rity, is the linchpin. We know that. Are I say this afternoon in the Senate, Rico with assistance in past disaster our differences really as insurmount- let’s come together. Let’s put the bit- bills, they still have unaddressed needs able as they seem? They should not be, terness behind us and do what is right that have to be met. Absent supple- and I want to discuss why. for the American people—end the shut- mental assistance, it is estimated that Last May, the Appropriations Com- down and secure the border. The real 140,000 Puerto Ricans—and I have to re- mittee considered the fiscal year 2019 question before us today is this: Is this emphasize that they are all U.S. citi- Homeland Security bill. That bill in- the beginning of the end or is it just zens—are going to lose nutrition assist- cluded money for a physical barrier at the end of the beginning? We shall find ance at the end of March. This in the the southern border. In fact, it in- out. United States of America? Is there any cluded an increase in funding over the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- wonder that the rest of the world looks 2018 level for a physical barrier. ator from Vermont. at us and says: What are you doing? We Our Democratic colleagues made no Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I sug- are supposed to take care of all of our attempt to strike this funding, just as gest the absence of a quorum. citizens when there is a crisis, not pick Republicans made no effort to strike The PRESIDING OFFICER. The and choose based on who we are or who funding for Democratic priorities in clerk will call the roll. we are aligned with politically. the bill. The bill passed with over- The senior assistant legislative clerk Just as I voted for disaster aid in whelming bipartisan support in the proceeded to call the roll. States represented by Republicans, Re- committee—a vote of 26 to 5. There Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I publicans have voted for disaster aid in were no fireworks or histrionics in the ask unanimous consent that the order my State when it has been represented hearing room that day. There was no for the quorum call be rescinded. by Democrats. The President’s dis- demand to delay the Homeland Secu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without regard for the victims of Hurricane rity bill until the rest of the Federal objection, it is so ordered. Maria is shameful. Government was funded. Rather, the Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, in I urge Senators to vote aye on the committee simply decided together, on a moment, the Senate will proceed to Schumer amendment. It provides much a bipartisan basis, to increase funding two amendments: one on the Presi- needed assistance to disaster-affected for a project that Congress funded the dent’s proposal and one on a 2-week communities, and it immediately al- previous year. The fireworks and de- that opens up lows us to send this bill to the Presi- mands for delayed consideration came the government, with disaster assist- dent to reopen the government. It has later. ance. gone on long enough. It boggles the mind at times how we Let me be clear: The two votes are The President and the people in his return so quickly to a standoff mode— not alike. The President’s proposal Cabinet are billionaires. They do not to a zero-sum mentality—after making makes radical changes to our asylum care about the harm he has inflicted on so much progress together. It is par- laws and demands that American tax- this country, but I know Members of ticularly perplexing to me considering payers fund a border wall in exchange this body, both Democrats and Repub- bipartisan support is exactly what for reopening the government. The sec- licans, do. We know what it means to underpinned the very thing that now ond vote demands nothing—no partisan govern. We have a responsibility to do divides us so bitterly. demands, no ransom. It reopens the it now. Just a few months ago, funding for a government for 2 weeks and provides Senator SHELBY, whom I admire, is a physical barrier in the southern border long overdue disaster aid, and then it friend of mine. He and I worked to- was part of a bipartisan deal, and now leaves room for us to debate how to gether last year in a bipartisan way. we cannot even really discuss it. That best secure our border. We got the appropriations process back was then. I understand that. But where My Republican friends can fall in line on track. We showed that this is the do we go from here? Who is offering behind the President if they choose, way to get things done. But then the real solutions, comprehensive solutions but it does not have the support of the President decided to take us off course. to end this impasse? House or the Senate. Contrary to what

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:12 Jan 25, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G24JA6.029 S24JAPT1 January 24, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S557 the Republican leader says, that there American government. This is what Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby is only one bill that will become law, the President could be saying in this move to bring to a close debate on Senate that is not so. His bill will not pass the bill: Give me everything I want in ex- amendment No. 5 to H.R. 268, a bill making Senate and will not pass the House. It change for reopening the government. supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other is not the only way for us to make a A vote for the President’s plan is very purposes. law. simply an endorsement of government Mitch McConnell, Josh Hawley, John After the first vote fails, Republicans by extortion. Enough is enough. Thune, Shelley Moore Capito, Johnny will have a chance to vote with us to I know that many of my colleagues Isakson, Mike Crapo, Richard Burr, reopen their government. The second on the other side of the aisle agree James Lankford, Tom Cotton, Roy vote determines whether you want to with me. They understand that holding Blunt, , Mike Rounds, Bill reopen the government or not. The sec- our government workers hostage for a Cassidy, John Cornyn, Rob Portman, ond vote determines whether you are policy goal is no way to govern. I know Steve Daines, John Kennedy. willing to reopen the government with- they feel that way. I urge them to vote AMENDMENT NO. 5 out taking hostages, without hurting yes on the second vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- 800,000 workers, and without hurting Supporting our amendment doesn’t imous consent, the mandatory quorum America but open the government with mean you don’t support stronger bor- call has been waived. no conditions. We can send that bill to der security. To the contrary, it starts The question is, Is it the sense of the the President’s desk. It has already funding that effort once again. Voting Senate that debate on amendment No. passed the House. for this amendment means you agree 5, offered by the Senator from Ken- The President may choose to veto it, with the vast majority of the American tucky [Mr. MCCONNELL] to H.R. 268, a just as we may choose to override that people that the government should bill making supplemental appropria- veto. My dear friend from Louisiana open without precondition. Voting for tions for the fiscal year ending Sep- missed that point. If we act with 67 this amendment means you recognize tember 30, 2019, and for other purposes, votes, even if the President doesn’t like that holding millions of Americans shall be brought to a close? it, it can pass. hostage is not a way to run our govern- The yeas and nays are mandatory We all know it was the President who ment. Voting for this amendment under the rule. threw us into this turmoil when he means that you believe members of the The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk changed his mind and opposed a bill to Coast Guard, the TSA, the DHS, and called the roll. reopen the government without condi- the FBI should be paid for their work Mr. THUNE. The following Senators tions—just like the one we offered in protecting our country. Voting for this are necessarily absent: the Senator December and the House wouldn’t go amendment means you support our air from Kentucky (Mr. PAUL) and the forward with, even though the Senate traffic controllers, food inspectors, and voted for it unanimously. Senator from Idaho (Mr. RISCH). the men and women who work at our Further, if present and voting, the Our bill should not be controversial. national parks. And yes, voting for this Senator from Idaho (Mr. RISCH) would Our amendment is nearly the same bill amendment means that you support Republicans all voted for a month ago. have voted ‘‘yea’’. border security. It means you support a Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the It shows that the one cause of this way out of this shutdown where we can Senator from Nevada (Ms. ROSEN) is shutdown is the one person who sit down and rationally hash out our necessarily absent. bragged he wanted it—President Don- differences. If we can’t do that, if we The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ald Trump. can’t agree today that the way to solve BRAUN). Are there any other Senators Last month, the Senate unanimously disagreements over policy is through in the Chamber desiring to vote? passed the short-term bill to keep the debate and consideration in Congress The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 50, government open. It was Leader where it belongs, then we are staring nays 47, as follows: MCCONNELL’s idea. Everyone thought down a very long and very dark tunnel. [Rollcall Vote No. 9 Leg.] the President would support it, but Our system of government was de- YEAS—50 President Trump buckled to the most signed to allow space for disagree- extreme voices in his party and re- ments, even vociferous ones, but when Alexander Fischer Perdue versed his position at the eleventh Barrasso Gardner Portman one side—in this case, the President— Blackburn Graham Roberts hour. That is how the government uses the basic functioning of our gov- Blunt Grassley Romney shutdown began, sadly and unfortu- ernment as leverage to extract policy Boozman Hawley Rounds nately. Since then, we tried to nego- Braun Hoeven Rubio concessions, our entire system of gov- Burr Hyde-Smith tiate with the administration to no Sasse ernment breaks down. It is a recipe for Capito Inhofe Scott (FL) Cassidy Isakson avail. When the President’s deputies gridlock, dysfunction, and paralysis, Scott (SC) Collins Johnson made offers, the President almost im- Shelby not only now but on into the future. Cornyn Kennedy Sullivan mediately retracted them. The Presi- I believe there are men and women of Cramer Lankford dent even rejected an idea by Senator good faith on both sides of the aisle Crapo Manchin Thune Tillis GRAHAM, one of his staunchest allies in Cruz McConnell who want to see this senselessness Toomey the Senate, to reopen government tem- Daines McSally come to an end today. Let the Senate Enzi Moran Wicker porarily while we debate border secu- come together now. Let the Senate rise Ernst Murkowski Young rity. to the occasion as it has done so often NAYS—47 Now the President is back with a in the past. Vote yes on the second ‘‘straw man’’ proposal, as the Senator Baldwin Harris Reed amendment. Open the people’s govern- Bennet Hassan Sanders from called it, that makes ment. Blumenthal Heinrich Schatz the same demand he has been making I yield the floor. Booker Hirono Schumer Brown Jones all along: $5.7 billion taxpayer dollars f Shaheen Cantwell Kaine Sinema for a border wall he promised Mexico Cardin King would pay for, and it adds a new rad- SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS Smith Carper Klobuchar Stabenow ACT, 2019 Casey Leahy ical change to our asylum laws. What Tester Coons Lee the President calls concessions to CLOTURE MOTION Udall Cortez Masto Markey Van Hollen Democrats are the protections for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Cotton Menendez DACA and TPS recipients that the to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Duckworth Merkley Warner Warren President himself rescinded and have Senate the pending cloture motion, Durbin Murphy Feinstein Murray Whitehouse been subsequently protected by the which the clerk will state. Gillibrand Peters Wyden court. The senior assistant bill clerk read as Calling this a reasonable compromise follows: NOT VOTING—3 Paul Risch Rosen is laughable. It is a starkly partisan CLOTURE MOTION proposal that perfectly encapsulates We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this the President’s hostage-taking of the ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the vote, the yeas are 50, the nays are 47.

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