December 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7317 they have specific needs, then we need For that reason, I urge all of our col- NOT VOTING—4 to know that because if these aren’t leagues to support these resolutions of Harris Perdue going to come online for some time, disapproval so that we may have more Loeffler Rounds maybe their needs are more consequen- time to assess for ourselves the nu- The motion was rejected. tial and they need to be dealt with in ances of these sales and the repercus- VOTE ON MOTION TO DISCHARGE—S.J. RES. 78 a different way. sions they may have in the region for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under How might the Iranians react to the decades to come, to ensure technology the previous order, the question occurs increase of stealth fighter aircraft in transfer doesn’t take place, and to en- on the motion to discharge S.J. Res. 78. their neighborhood? We have no anal- sure that the national security inter- Mr. MENENDEZ. I ask for the yeas ysis of that. ests of the United States are preserved. and nays. Finally, the timeline. When will the I urge you to support these resolutions The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a letters of offer and acceptance be con- to stand up for those propositions. sufficient second? cluded? Why was there an initial artifi- Both are critical to protecting U.S. na- There appears to be a sufficient sec- cial deadline? Why the rush to cut tional security interests. ond. short the normal, monthslong inter- The clerk will call the roll. VOTE ON MOTION TO DISCHARGE—S.J. RES. 77 agency review process by the Congress The legislative clerk called the roll. and national security professionals? Madam President, I ask unanimous Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Why? Why? Are they trying to lock in consent that all debate time on S.J. are necessarily absent: the Senator the sale before President-Elect Biden is Res. 77 and S.J. Res. 78 be yielded back. from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), the inaugurated, regardless of the possible The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Senator from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE), cost to U.S. and Israeli national secu- objection? and the Senator from South Dakota rity? We have no answer to that. Without objection, it is so ordered. (Mr. ROUNDS). As I have said before, the United Under the previous order, the ques- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Arab Emirates has been an important tion occurs on agreeing to the motion Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is partner for critical U.S. interests, in- to discharge S.J. Res. 77. necessarily absent. cluding the fight against terrorism and Mr. MENENDEZ. I ask for the yeas The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there in our efforts in Afghanistan. But ac- and nays. any other Senators in the Chamber de- cording to the United Nations and to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a siring to vote? the Department of Defense’s own in- sufficient second? The result was announced—yeas 47, spector general, at the same time, the There appears to be a sufficient sec- nays 49, as follows: UAE also seems to be working against ond. [Rollcall Vote No. 262 Legislative] our stated interests in other areas. A The clerk will call the roll. YEAS—47 trusted partner would be in collabora- The senior assistant legislative clerk Baldwin Heinrich Reed tion and in cooperation with us. Bennet Hirono Rosen called the roll. Blumenthal Jones Sanders Look, I wish we could have had these Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Booker Kaine Schatz discussions in more appropriate set- are necessarily absent: the Senator Brown Kelly Schumer Cantwell King tings. That is what we normally would from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER), the Shaheen Cardin Klobuchar Smith have done. Senator from Georgia (Mr. PERDUE), Carper Leahy Stabenow This is, of course, not the first time Casey Manchin and the Senator from South Dakota Tester the administration has subverted Coons Markey (Mr. ROUNDS). Udall Cortez Masto Menendez Congress’s important oversight role in Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Van Hollen arms sales. Last May, the administra- Duckworth Merkley Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is Durbin Murphy Warner tion notified more than $8 billion of Feinstein Murray Warren necessarily absent. Whitehouse weapons to Saudi Arabia and the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gillibrand Paul United Arab Emirates. It cited a bogus Hassan Peters Wyden CRAMER). Are there any other Senators ‘‘immediate’’ threat from Iran, despite NAYS—49 in the Chamber desiring to vote? the fact that most of the sales, like The result was announced—yeas 46, Alexander Ernst Risch these F–35s, would take years—years— Barrasso Fischer Roberts nays 50, as follows: to reach their intended recipients. Blackburn Gardner Romney [Rollcall Vote No. 261 Leg.] Blunt Graham Rubio So, colleagues, at the end of the day, Boozman Grassley YEAS—46 Sasse we must assert our congressional pre- Braun Hawley Scott (FL) rogative, not for the sake of preroga- Baldwin Heinrich Rosen Burr Hoeven Scott (SC) tive in and of itself but to safeguard Bennet Hirono Sanders Capito Hyde-Smith Shelby Cassidy Inhofe Blumenthal Jones Schatz Sinema the U.S. national security interests Collins Johnson Booker Kaine Schumer Sullivan that we are all collectively and individ- Brown King Cornyn Kennedy Shaheen Thune ually entrusted to do. Cantwell Klobuchar Smith Cotton Lankford Cramer Lee Tillis We must demand answers to the very Cardin Leahy Stabenow Crapo McConnell Toomey serious and very reasonable questions Carper Manchin Tester Casey Markey Cruz Moran Wicker Udall many have of this sale. Perhaps with Coons Menendez Daines Murkowski Young Van Hollen due diligence, we will find that this Cortez Masto Merkley Enzi Portman Warner sale will indeed bolster U.S. national Duckworth Murphy NOT VOTING—4 Durbin Murray Warren security, but right now, the truth is, Feinstein Paul Whitehouse Harris Perdue we do not have clarity on that most Gillibrand Peters Wyden Loeffler Rounds fundamental question. Hassan Reed The motion was rejected. Colleagues, do you really want a sale NAYS—50 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- of this magnitude to go through with- Alexander Ernst Portman jority leader is recognized. out the appropriate vetting measures? Barrasso Fischer Risch f Voting against these resolutions Blackburn Gardner Roberts sends a message to the executive Blunt Graham Romney NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- branch—I don’t care who is sitting Boozman Grassley Rubio TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR Braun Hawley there; the present occupant, a future Sasse 2021—CONFERENCE REPORT Burr Hoeven Scott (FL) occupant—whoever is sitting in the Capito Hyde-Smith Scott (SC) Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Cassidy Inhofe White House, that we are willing to Shelby ask that the Chair lay before the Sen- Collins Johnson Sinema give up our congressional responsibil- Cornyn Kelly ate the conference report to accom- Sullivan ities. It is hard to bring that back once Cotton Kennedy pany H.R. 6395. you let it go. It says that we will not Cramer Lankford Thune The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Tillis stop arms sales in the future that have Crapo Lee Chair lays before the Senate the con- Cruz McConnell Toomey not gone through the appropriate re- Daines Moran Wicker ference report to accompany H.R. 6395, view process. Enzi Murkowski Young which will be stated by title.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Dec 10, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G09DE6.046 S09DEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE S7318 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 9, 2020 The legislative clerk read as follows: Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, time to delay. We cannot lose sight of The committee of conference on the dis- I rise to speak again today about the the fact that Nicolas Maduro is killing agreeing votes of the two Houses on the crisis in Venezuela, a defining human his citizens. We need to take every ac- amendment of the Senate to the bill (H.R. rights issue of our time. tion we can to say to Maduro that the 6395), to authorize appropriations for fiscal Nicolas Maduro is starving his own United States will not stand and let year 2021 for military activities of the De- people, and innocent children are this continue. partment of Defense, for military construc- dying. It is a genocide right here in our Even though my bill was blocked tion, and for defense activities of the Depart- hemisphere. Every day that passes, the today, I will never stop fighting until ment of Energy, to prescribe military per- sonnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for situation in Venezuela grows more Venezuela and all of Latin America can other purposes, having met, have agreed that dire. begin a new day of freedom. the House recede from its disagreement to This weekend, the world watched as I yield the floor. the amendment of the Senate and agree to Maduro orchestrated a sham election. I suggest the absence of a quorum. the same with an amendment and the Senate No one was fooled by this pathetic at- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The agree to the same, signed by a majority of tempt. The appearance of democracy is clerk will call the roll. the conferees on the part of both Houses. not democracy. Maduro is a murderous The bill clerk proceeded to call the Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to dictator who doesn’t respect human roll. consider the conference report. rights or the will of his people. He Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I (The conference report is printed in must be stopped. ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. the House proceedings of the RECORD of The Trump administration has taken The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without December 3, 2020.) decisive action to hold Maduro ac- objection, it is so ordered. CLOTURE MOTION countable, sanction the Venezuelan re- gime, and cut off the funds Maduro CLIMATE CHANGE Mr. MCCONNELL. I send a cloture Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I motion to the desk for the conference uses to hold on to power. But the United States and all freedom-loving mentioned recently in one of these report. speeches that an identity-laundering The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- countries around the world must do more. group called Donors Trust decided to ture motion having been presented do a letter to the editor of my home under rule XXII, the Chair directs the As Governor, I strictly prohibited the State of Florida, including all State State paper asserting that they were clerk to read the motion. just as innocent as newborn lambs. The legislative clerk read as follows: agencies, from investing in any com- pany that did business with Maduro’s The Center for Media and Democracy CLOTURE MOTION repressive regime. has recently obtained the IRS form 990 We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- It is simple. Why would we ever use for calendar 2019 for this little lamb, ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the taxpayer money to support a regime Donors Trust, and it has some fas- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby that is killing its own people? cinating findings. move to bring to a close debate on the con- Donors Trust took in a total of $312 ference report to accompany H.R. 6395, an My bill, the Venezuelan Contracting Restriction Act, does the same thing million in donations in 2019—nearly a Act to authorize appropriations for fiscal third of a billion dollars—up from $198 year 2021 for military activities of the De- on the Federal level by prohibiting partment of Defense and for military con- Federal agencies from doing business million in 2018. Of that, more than two- struction, to prescribe military personnel with anyone who supports Maduro. thirds came from two huge donations— strengths for such fiscal year, and for other Last year, we included a targeted two—one for $150 million and another purposes. version of this measure in the NDAA for $69 million. Mitch McConnell, John Thune, Shelley Out of the $312 million they received, that prohibited the Department of De- Moore Capito, Thom Tillis, Roy Blunt, $219 million came in two donations, fense from doing business with anyone Cory Gardner, Roger F. Wicker, Mar- and both of the donations were anony- supporting Maduro’s regime. sha Blackburn, John Cornyn, Mike mous. Now, who makes anonymous do- Now it is time for us to be clear and Crapo, Pat Roberts, Cindy Hyde-Smith, nations of that size? Most people mak- Kevin Cramer, Richard Burr, James M. united in our support for the Ven- ing a donation that big want their Inhofe, Steve Daines, Deb Fischer. ezuelan people and prohibit every agen- name on the building at the university. cy in the Federal Government from The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- What is going on? Who has that kind of doing anything that would support ator from Florida. money to give away and a desire to UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 1151 Maduro and his genocide. Mr. President, I ask consent to ad- hide themselves? One wonders. Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Donors Trust gave out $162 million in I ask unanimous consent that the Sen- dress the Senate in Spanish. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without anonymized grants in 2019—mostly to ate proceed to the immediate consider- objection, it is so ordered. rightwing groups. This is up from $142.3 ation of Calendar No. 189, S. 1151. I fur- Mr. SCOTT of Florida. (English million in 2018. I should actually prob- ther ask that the committee-reported translation of the statement made in ably not say that Donors Trust gave substitute amendment be agreed to; Spanish is as follows:) them out but, rather, that they trans- that the bill, as amended, be considered I stand with the people of Venezuela mitted the funds for the anonymous read a third time and passed; and that and will always fight for freedom and donors because a donor can tell Donors the motion to reconsider be considered democracy in Latin America. Trust where the money is to go. Donors made and laid upon the table. Mr. President, what I have proposed Trust then provides the expedient serv- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there is a simple action we can take as ice of hiding the donor’s identity. objection? Americans to help end Maduro’s geno- So where did this anonymous money The Senator from Connecticut. cide. go? Well, grants of interest include $7 Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, reserv- I am completely disappointed with million to the Federalist Society—1 ing the right to object, this is a sub- my Democratic colleague’s objection year, $7 million—up from last year’s stantial proposal, one that merits full to my request today. This bipartisan $5.9 million. Yes, this is the same Fed- consideration on the floor of the Sen- proposal cleared the Homeland Secu- eralist Society that has selected judges ate with the opportunity to debate and rity and Government Affairs Com- and Justices for the Trump administra- amend to understand how many gov- mittee with unanimous consent. tion. ernment agencies would be affected, to I am eager to resolve my colleague’s Is it not obvious that big special in- understand whether it merits a sunset concerns quickly, and I hope that he terests might buy their way to the date, to understand what the effects and the other Senator who objected be- Federalist Society judicial selection would be, not just on the regime of fore will work with me to get this table with big, anonymous donations? Venezuela but the people of Venezuela, done. Unfortunately, they have not When you farm out to secretive private and for that reason I will object. been willing to meet with me to fix organizations the power to select Su- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- this and to get this done. preme Court Justices and the secretive tion is heard. I am not giving up and plan to bring organizations take big, anonymous do- The Senator from Florida. this up again and again. We don’t have nations, what else are you to expect?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Dec 10, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G09DE6.048 S09DEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE December 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7319 It would be interesting to know who national climate denial organizations. ment’ of wealthy donors.’’ Sweet in- paid for a voice in selecting Supreme These include the Heartland Institute, deed. Court Justices, and it would be inter- notorious for comparing climate sci- So when we look at this Charles Koch esting to know what business they may entists to the Unabomber and sending Foundation, we are looking at some- have before the Court. But all of that is 200,000 fake, climate-denying textbooks thing interlinked with Donors Trust, shrouded in secrecy and anonymity. It to school teachers around the country. and sure enough, there is also overlap would be logical to assume that $7 mil- On this graphic prepared by a re- in where the money goes. lion bought a seat or two at that table; searcher into the climate denial enter- In 2019, this Koch Foundation gave we just don’t know for whom or what prise, Donors Trust is front and center, out $141 million, up from $127 million their interests were. right here, right in the middle of the in 2018. For the State-level climate de- Relatedly, Donors Trust transmitted web, and that Heartland Institute is nial State Policy Network we talked $10.5 million to something called the 85 right here, part of the network. about, it gave $2.5 million across 13 so- Fund, a Leonard Leo shell group for- The other organization that it funded called think tanks, and it gave nearly merly known as Judicial Education is the Competitive Enterprise Insti- half a million dollars to that same Project. Who is Leonard Leo? Leonard tute, which planted noted climate de- ALEC—American Legislative Exchange Leo ran the Justice-picking, Court- nier Myron Ebell to lead the Trump Council—we talked about. packing scheme for the Federalist So- transition at EPA and usher in the dis- Other Koch grants of note include ciety for years until an expose by the graced Scott Pruitt as Administrator. over $22 million to George Mason Uni- Washington Post made it prudent for On a personal note, I should thank versity, whose role as a hothouse for the operation to bring in a new face Donors Trust for transmitting $769,000 developing deregulatory and climate named Carrie Severino. It is a little bit from some anonymous donor or donors denial theories is well documented in like replacing a burned agent in a cov- to a dark-money opposition research Nancy Maclean’s terrific book, ‘‘De- ert operation with a new agent. group called Capital Research Center, mocracy in Chains.’’ This $22 million The logical conclusion is that this $10 which has as one of its tasks to feed continues a relationship that helped million is also related to packing the misinformation about me to rightwing put Koch operative Neomi Rao from courts with special interest-chosen media outlets. I think that is my re- George Mason into the Trump White judges and Justices, and if so, that ward for calling out this whole crooked House and then onto the DC Circuit brings the total for that project to over dark-money operation. And wouldn’t Court of Appeals to do the Koch oper- $17 million, counting the Federalist So- you know—they send out a dark-money ation’s business from behind robes. ciety money—$17 million in 1 year just group to defend their dark-money oper- Remember those special interest through Donors Trust. ation. I appreciate the attention and front groups that tee up legal cases for Of course, once you have packed the the irony. the judges and Justices who have been Court with agreeable Justices, you Others in the Donors Trust dark- ushered onto the courts? The Koch need to tee up agreeable cases for money creep show include $4 million to Foundation turns up there too. The them. And guess what. Donors Trust Project Veritas, which cooked up de- Koch Foundation has spread $6.2 mil- also transmitted $2.7 million to advo- ceptive sting videos in Minnesota and lion around 10 separate amici curiae— cacy groups that bring those cases, in- other States to feed the false election friends of court, so-called—that showed cluding the groups that presented to fraud narrative of Donald Trump and up in a case called Americans for Pros- the Supreme Court Janus, the anti- the far right, and also $1.5 million to a perity v. Becerra. And what do you labor case, and Shelby County, the beauty called VDARE Foundation, know? Yes, Americans for Prosperity is anti-voting rights case. These are just whose website is a vector for anti-Sem- that Koch political operation’s main two of the more infamous of the 80 5- itism, xenophobia, and White nation- front group—such a small world. to-4 partisan decisions giving big wins alism. I can see why someone would Why would Koch political interests to Republican donor interests—just the want to hide giving a million dollars to want to fund amici in a case where a kind of interests that have the money that. Koch front group is already the plain- to push millions through Donors Trust Donors Trust has a tag-along entity tiff? Well, let’s look at that case. The and the motive to use Donors Trust to that sends a lot of money into the ‘‘Becerra’’ in Americans for Prosperity cover their tracks. same places—the Charles Koch Founda- Foundation v. Becerra is the California When this dark-money-funded enter- tion. In fact, it is a little hard to tell attorney general, a nominee for HHS prise is not busy at the task of packing where this Koch Foundation ends and Secretary now, I gather. The case is an the Court, it is busy propagating cli- where Donors Trust begins. abstruse technical challenge to how mate denial and obstruction. It has Donors Trust has provided signifi- the IRS shares tax information with been at that particular scheme for cant financial support to the Koch po- States. years. Climate denial and related polit- litical operation’s major front group Why this gathering of the Koch-fund- ical obstruction, packing the courts, through the Americans for Prosperity ed clan of front groups around this lit- and electing Republicans are the three Foundation, which is here on the tle technical case? Because the life- primary purposes of this dark-money graphic. It is like a reunion going blood of all this dirty operation is dark enterprise. through this research. And Donors money. Indeed, today, our Supreme To keep climate denial cooking, Do- Trust, in turn, has received financial Court is the Court that dark money nors Trust transmitted nearly $19 mil- support from the Charles G. Koch built. So the dark money operation lion to rightwing local so-called think Foundation. So money out to the Koch sees a chance to enshrine dark money tanks, collectively called the State political operation and in from the in the American Constitution. The Policy Network—a group that propa- Koch Foundation. I don’t know why dark money forces that built this gates climate denial and obstruction at the Koch Foundation couldn’t just Court want the Court to expand the the State government level—and to have given the money directly. First Amendment to protect anony- ALEC, the American Legislative Ex- It has been reported that the Koch mous, dark money political spending change Council, which drafts up right- network has provided Donors Trust by secretive billionaires and corporate wing and climate denial and obstruc- with most of its backbone, even to the interests. This is the case where they tion legislation for State legislators. point of being described as part of the intend to make their move. It is wait- This ALEC group is so reprehensible Koch network, and the Donors Trust ing in the Supreme Court right now. that even ExxonMobil withdrew its employees have extensive histories Who knows, maybe it has been waiting support for it—or maybe they just within the Koch network of political for Justice Barrett. laundered their support through Do- front groups. Lined up as amici curiae in this oth- nors Trust. We don’t know. The Center for Public Integrity re- erwise nondescript case, in the order of Not content with climate denial and ported this gem: ‘‘At a private Koch their Koch Foundation funding, are: obstruction at the State level, Donors fundraising meeting in the summer of the Cato Institute—I can’t read this Trust also transmitted $4.5 million in 2010, Donors Trust hosted cocktails and well enough to point them out, but anonymous money to eight different dessert for . . . a ‘target-rich environ- these are inhabitants of this graph as

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Dec 10, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G09DE6.051 S09DEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE S7320 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 9, 2020 well—$2.4 million from the Koch Foun- of opinion, I want to say a few things million people off of food stamps. That dation; Texas Public Policy Founda- about our President just to remind peo- is what happened, and that is why we tion, $1.5 million; Pacific Legal Foun- ple. They have forgotten what has hap- had the economy that we had. I hate to dation, $1 million; New Civil Liberties pened. Now, I know there are differing think of where we would be today if we Alliance, $1 million; Buckeye Institute, opinions on that, partisan opinions and had started with an average economy. $104,200; Independent Women’s Forum, all that. We started with the best economy we $100,000; Pacific Research Institute, Right now, my very close friend from had in my lifetime, and that was be- $100,000; Philanthropy Roundtable, the Democratic aisle and I are going cause of the President and the support $30,000; Institute for Justice, $12,584; to, hopefully, have a vote tomorrow he had from our party. and National Right to Work Legal De- that will take place, the Defense au- The second thing I hold up—now, fense Foundation, $8,156. When you thorization bill—the biggest bill of the keep in mind, I am from Oklahoma. We look at the kind of money that is being year, the most significant bill of the are an oil State. We renewed—during doled out, I think the Institute for Jus- year. Senator REED and I have an the Obama administration, there was a tice and the National Right to Work agreement on almost every element of war on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are Legal Defense Foundation have some it. And we have both come to the con- coal, oil, and gas, and it was an effort cause to complain that they got treat- clusion that it is a tremendous bill. It to try to get it back into renewables. ed so poorly with such small donations is one you really can’t justify opposing. Someday we may have the develop- from such a big operation. A lot of things have been said that ment of renewables. They are not there The gathering of that clan is not the are not true, but I want to just men- now. In spite of what the previous only clue that something is up. Big tion a couple of things because this is speaker said, they are not there and players in the dark money racket, like a good time to do it. available now. So what this President the fossil fuel titan Marathon Petro- We have a President who has done did was he stopped the war on fossil leum and the massive climate things that just have never been done fuels. obstructer that calls itself the U.S. before in terms of accomplishments, As a result of that, we had—and this Chamber of Commerce, are already ob- positive accomplishments. I remember is in the first 2 years—a 277-percent jecting to requests for information 2 years ago, I wrote this little card be- growth in crude exports, 132-percent in- about their dark money operations by cause I was keeping track of all these crease in coal exports, and a 52-percent asserting that such a right exists. They goods things that have happened. I re- increase in natural gas exports. A lot are already asserting that such a right member showing it to the President at of that translated into the economy exists, while the dark money schemers that time. He read that, and he was that we were enjoying. are lining up in this case to make that very excited about the way that we had In terms of illegal immigration—I push to the Supreme Court. Wouldn’t it composed them. Keep in mind, this was know this became very controversial— be convenient if they helped build a 2 years ago. the wall. People didn’t like the idea of Court willing to agree with them and Look at these 10 things that this the wall. I can remember a conversa- establish this new right to dark money President has done: First of all, the big tion I had with Netanyahu when I was influence? tax cut that he had. By the way, when in Israel once, and he said he didn’t un- This whole dark money mess smells we look at the fact that he did such derstand how a modern State can have to high heaven. Why big donors feel great things for the economy—prior to borders that are not secured. He said: they have to hide? Why this com- the pandemic, we had the best economy You can’t do that. That doesn’t work. plicated network to play Whac-A-Mole we have had in my lifetime. The pan- Well, he has now gotten that done with different groups who can show up? demic changed all of that. But he did against a lot of opposition—we all Why the orchestration of Supreme this by looking back at history—and it know that—in Israel. Court briefs with groups that purport was not a Republican; it was a Demo- How many Presidents—every Presi- to be separate? Why the whole scheme? crat. It was President Kennedy who dent I can think of in my career here in It is a recipe for corruption. It prevents had the wisdom to say, when he was Washington has said we need to move citizens from understanding what is working on the Great Society pro- the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jeru- going on in their own democracy. It grams that were going to cost so much salem, but they don’t do it. So this empowers the worst forces in politics. money: Well, we have to raise our rev- President just went ahead and did it. It is the mechanism through which cli- enue, and the best way to increase rev- He is a little abrupt—we understand mate denial has been effectuated, and enue is to decrease tax rates. So he de- that—but he got these things done. it is wrapping its tentacles more and creased tax rates. We all remember The WRDA bill—the Water Resources more tightly around our U.S. Supreme that. While it worked, unfortunately, Development Act—right now and, actu- Court. the President died before he could real- ally, the FAA reauthorization were And Donors Trust—that sweet little ly take advantage and enjoy the bene- both booming successes. They were his lamb—is at the center of the web fits of the work he had done by his tax efforts. dolling out hundreds of millions of dol- cuts. It has been tried since that time, And then the judges. I don’t know lars—some lamb. Donors Trust is a and it has worked. that it is a record, but in the period of wolf in lamb’s clothing or perhaps bet- But what this President did in addi- time, the 4 years that this President ter to say Donors Trust provides the tion to that, he didn’t have just tax has been in office, we have had about lamb’s clothing that cloaks the wolves cuts; he had regulation cuts. I call it 220 judges who have been confirmed. so that they can feed more voraciously the golden day of regulation relief, the These are all judges who have one and anonymously on America’s body best economy we have had in that pe- thing in common: They really believe politic. riod of time. They say that full em- in the Constitution. They are Constitu- I yield the floor. ployment is 4 percent unemployment, tionalists. In addition to that, he has The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- when, in fact, we actually got down three of the U.S. Supreme Court Jus- ator from Oklahoma. below 3 percent. That was something tices. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION that has not been done in my memory, Then, on the repeal, if you talk to Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I was lis- and all these things happened and good anyone in business in America—this tening to the previous speaker from benefits came from that. was a couple of years ago—about the Rhode Island, and I figure it is time to There is a difference of opinion be- biggest problem they had was the clarify a few things that are said about tween Democrats and Republicans, and Dodd-Frank effort. That was the over- our President. we understand that. I have always felt regulation of business and industry. I know that right now a lot of people the best thing and indicator of success And so he relaxed those rules, and that are believing that we are going to have in the economy is to see how many created a lot of prosperity, a reason for a change; that we will have a Demo- people you get off of food stamps, and the economy that we have today, and cratic President. A lot of decisions are a lot of liberal friends say that they the record employment that he has being made, talk is being made. But to measure it by how many people get on given us of 157 million jobs. show you that there is a big difference food stamps. Nonetheless, we have 5 This is back 2 years ago.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Dec 10, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G09DE6.053 S09DEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE December 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7321 Now, I would say, if you single out knows that, as a loyal friend of ours, ing we can get this out so that people one thing—I don’t say this critically of we want to make sure that we do for will be aware of it. the Obama administration. We all have them what we should be doing for Now, back to the bill that we are different priorities, and I have consid- them. going to have. I know that my partner, ered President Obama to be a friend. During that timeframe he rescued 55 who is the ranking member on the However, his top priority was not a hostages in 24 countries. That is a big Armed Services Committee, is going to strong national defense. He had other deal. want to be heard concerning some of priorities. We all know that. So, anyway, all these things have the great things that we are going to As a result of that, if you will take been going on—and getting tough. I be doing in that bill. I will be doing the the last 5 years—that would have been know people are upset with his atti- same thing tomorrow morning. from the year 2010 to 2015—in the last 5 tude toward NATO. He believes in So this is a bill that we can all be years, he reduced the funding of the NATO, but he believes that the part- proud of. I have never seen it misrepre- military by 25 percent. It has never ners in NATO need to start carrying sented as much as this bill has been been done before. their fair share. And it worked. It in- misrepresented. But that is something that this creased their share by about $130 bil- With that, I am anxious to hear my President came in and immediately— lion. partner talking. and I chair the committee, so I was That is something that, when you I will yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- very much involved in this. But we talk to real people—when you get out ator from Rhode Island. ended up with all these things that— of Washington and you talk to the peo- the lifting of that and putting it back ple on the street, they say: Why are we H.R. 6395 Mr. REED. Mr. President, I also want in the position that it should be. in NATO when they are not carrying Now, this is interesting because their end of it? Well, that is all chang- to thank the chairman for his extraor- somebody reminded me—John Bonsell ing. dinary leadership in getting us to this point. reminded me this morning. He said: Anyway, that is what this President For 59 years straight we have passed What you ought to do is get a list of has done. But there is one thing that is the National Defense Authorization happening that I think is maybe the these things that have happened since 2 Act, and I think, honestly, without the most significant thing that this Presi- years ago. So real quickly, just to say, chairman’s leadership we would have dent has accomplished. He came out identifying China as the No. 1 adver- failed this year. So he is owed a great with something. I don’t know who sary in the NDS—that is the National debt of gratitude by all of us and appre- thought of the words ‘‘Warp Speed’’ be- Defense System, which has worked ciation, particularly from the men and cause I have had a hard time remem- very successfully. That is a program women of the military. that is put together by six Republicans bering that. I have to write it down be- Let me speak a bit about this year’s and six Democrats, all experts in the cause I forget it. bill: the William M. (Mac) Thornberry field. But he came out with something National Defense Authorization Act for I talked about national defense, and where—General Perna is a real expert Fiscal Year 2021. he stuck with that and has identified and has been monitoring what is going We reached a conference committee China for the problems that they are on and getting the medical equipment report which was fair and bipartisan. giving us right now. necessary to defeat this thing that we In fact, I think the best testimony of He had new investments in the fu- have been under now for almost a year. that was the vote last evening by the ture. Hypersonics is a good example. And he said—keep in mind, this is back House of Representatives—335 to 78, After the last administration, China in June. In June, he said, by year-end— with 1 Member voting present. That is, and Russia both surged ahead of us in by December, maybe as early as No- by definition, bipartisan, substantive, the research on hypersonics. That is vember, but by December we are going overwhelmingly supported by both one of the most recent developments of to have the decision made and have a sides as a fair—not only fair but ex- modern equipment. That has worked, way to stop the pandemic that has traordinarily beneficial piece of legis- and we are not quite there yet, but we been plaguing us for so long. lation for the country. are catching up in the cyber world. He We had a hearing—and the Presiding You don’t get that vote on something is advancing it in that area. Officer knows this because he was in that is partisan and narrowly defined Then as far as the terrorist leaders attendance at that hearing—and we and divisive. This bill is bipartisan. Baghdadi and Soleimani, both of them looked at the things that General Again, Exhibit A: the vote last night in were considered to be the worst terror- Perna was coming up with that showed the House of Representatives. ists on the planet, and he has taken us conclusively that we were going to We have passed it for 59 years. There both of them out. have a vaccine that was going to work should be no exception this year. This He established the Space Force. The by year-end and then it would take is the 60th. And I hope we complete Space Force is something that we real- about 3 months after that to get the that and I expect we will complete that ly needed to do not because so much distribution going. tomorrow. that we were behind in anything but So we are talking about having this And, indeed, this whole effort, like the fact that our competition—Russia thing over by April. Now, the inter- everything else in this country, has and China—were in their particular esting thing—that happened in June, been twisted and exacerbated by the space forces, and we wanted to make yet that is still, today—we are right on COVID virus. We have to deal with sure everybody knew and our partners schedule for that to happen. that, but we recognize that, despite all knew that we were right there with My fellow Senator from Oklahoma, the complications, despite all of the them. JAMES LANKFORD, gave a speech yester- issues that come before us, one of our Then, of course, he eliminated the day. It was fascinating. He took a long most important constitutional duties widow’s tax. We remember that. time to do it, but he went into all the is to provide for the security of this And the Abraham accords—this is indicators that were out there, and you Nation and provide for the men and really interesting. We have Arab coun- come to the conclusion that this women who wear the uniform of the tries right now that are working close- plague is going to be over and we are United States. This bill does that. ly with Israel. This hasn’t happened be- going to be able to get back to normal. This important bipartisan legislation fore. The UAE is right now working And that will be certainly good. enhances our national security, with them. And the Israelis didn’t have So I just want to mention that those strengthens military readiness and de- to give up anything, so that is a major things are happening, and those things fense capabilities, protects our forces advancement that we are enjoying. are things that were on behalf of our and their families, and it supports the Then, of course, one of the issues we President. There are, out there, a lot of defense industrial base. are working on right now is on the people—I have never seen the media This bill authorizes the active and re- arms sales. We feel that we need to be turn against someone like they have serve component end strength nec- selling arms to our allies, and we want our President. So people don’t even essary to meet national defense objec- to make sure that the whole world know these good things, but I am hop- tives, provides a 3-percent across-the-

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Dec 10, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G09DE6.057 S09DEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE S7322 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 9, 2020 board pay raise for the troops, and au- rounding the bill this year, and that is To reduce barriers and encourage vic- thorizes a number of bonus, special, the conference agreement inclusion of tims of sexual assault to report that and incentive pay authorities nec- the Senate provision renaming mili- they were assaulted, the conference re- essary to retain and recruit the highest tary installations that are named after port requires the Secretary of Defense quality individuals for military serv- Confederate leaders. to establish a safe-to-report policy that ice. This provision establishes a commis- would allow victims to report sexual The conference report, as I indicated, sion to make recommendations for the assault without being punished for passed by an overwhelming margin in renaming or removal of names, sym- minor misconduct related to the as- the House, and I hope and believe we bols, displays, monuments, and para- sault. will have that same outcome tomorrow phernalia that honor or commemorate We are also concerned about the in the Senate. the Confederacy or any person who issue of domestic violence affecting our Despite everything in this bill to sup- served voluntarily with the Confed- military families. The conference re- port our forces and bolster our national eracy. The provision also requires the port requires the Defense Department security, there have been threats to Secretary of Defense to rename and to contract with a private sector inde- veto the bill by the President. That is implement the commission’s plan with- pendent entity to assess the Depart- his prerogative as President of the in 3 years of enactment. ment’s domestic violence program and United States, but our responsibility Now, I know the President recalls to recommend improvements to en- and our prerogative is to pass legisla- this, but this passed our committee by hance the prevention of and response tion which is sound, we hope bipar- voice vote with one, I recall, objection to domestic violence in the military. tisan, and serves the needs of the Na- by the Senator from Missouri. It came Let me turn to the requirements of tion and, particularly in this case, the to the floor, and there were some at- specific military services. The con- troops. And I believe we have done tempts to make changes, but changes ference report supports a number of that. were not made. The bill passed over- programs necessary for modernization, There has been some discussion by whelmingly for—I believe over 80 including robust funding for the the President of a repeal of section 230 votes—including the precise language Army’s Future Vertical Lift Program of the Communications Decency Act of that is in this conference report. and long-range precision fires. 1996. Obviously that is not in our juris- So we went from committee to the For the Navy and Marine Corps, the diction. It is a complicated issue. To floor, to the conference with the same bill would add roughly $3 billion to au- simply, at the end of this process, stick language that was not objected to sig- thorize a number of unfunded priorities it in does a great disservice to the com- nificantly by anyone. I think that identified by the Chief of Naval Oper- mittees of jurisdiction, as well as to should be pointed out. ations and the Commandant, including the complexities involved in taking The senior Department officials at funding for the CNO’s top unfunded pri- away a major factor in the operation of the Department of Defense are all open ority, the 10th Virginia-class submarine social media companies all across this to changing these names. There is bi- in the current multiyear procurement country. partisan support and cooperation on program. It also mandates changes in So, once again, I think it was wise to this issue, and I think it will be some- the oversight and execution of ship- resist trying to insert a repeal of sec- thing that will be implemented and building and unmanned systems devel- tion 230 into the bill. Indeed, our na- will be appropriately implemented. opment programs—changes that should tional security and our troops should The conference agreement also in- help instill more rigor and discipline not be held, in a sense, hostage to a cludes a number of provisions aimed at within the Navy’s efforts. very specific business concern, and our increasing diversity and inclusion With respect to the Air Force, the legislation does not do that. within the Department of Defense and bill helps improve oversight of the De- As I mentioned a moment ago, the military services, including the cre- partment by requiring the Secretary of crisis affecting every citizen is an ex- ation of a Chief Diversity Officer with- Defense to submit an annual 30-year ponential spread of the COVID–19 virus, in the Department and the inclusion of plan for the procurement of aircraft and our military is not immune. As of programs at the Department to re- across the services—all the services— last Wednesday, more than 31,000 mili- spond to White supremacist, extremist, which is similar to the 30-year ship- tary personnel were infected. If you and criminal gang activity within the building report that is already in stat- add their families and Defense Depart- Armed Forces. ute. The bill also supports the Depart- ment civilians, the number is over I say with some sense of remorse and ment’s efforts to achieve reduced oper- 48,000. These infections undermine our regret that, unfortunately, there are ating and support costs of the F–35 pro- readiness, including the ability to train some—I don’t think significant num- gram. and to deploy safely. bers but some of these individuals. We Turning to science and technology, I To respond to this health crisis— have to respond to them, and we are re- am pleased that the bill increases fund- again, the most serious crisis we have sponding to them. ing for important research activity faced in 100 years, with respect to the The conference report also includes such as artificial intelligence and pandemic—the conference agreement the Elijah Cummings Anti-Discrimina- quantum computing. It also includes requires the Department to develop a tion Act of 2020, which expands and en- several provisions that strengthen our strategy for pandemic preparedness hances anti-discrimination employee domestic manufacturing and industrial and response, maintain a 30-day supply protections for Federal workers. base, including in critical sectors such of personal protective equipment, and Also, the conference agreement as microelectronics, pharmaceuticals, to have the capability to resupply such strengthens the Department’s civilian and rare earth materials. equipment rapidly and review the Mili- workforce by including technical fixes The conference report adopts a large tary Health System’s response to and improvements to the Paid Parental number of recommendations from the COVID–19. Leave Program authorized in last Cyberspace Solarium Commission, The conference agreement also re- year’s Defense bill. which was cochaired by Senator KING. I quires the creation of a registry of As the Presiding Officer recalls, last must applaud him for his extraordinary TRICARE beneficiaries diagnosed with year was a major breakthrough, giving work. They did remarkable work, Sen- COVID–19 and provides transitional Federal employees the incentive of ator KING and his colleagues in the health benefits for National Guard paid parental leave. It has been ex- Senate and the House of Representa- members and their families. tremely well received. Now we have tives. I can’t think of a more timely and made sure that no one has been left The conference report establishes the necessary provision than this provision out. National Cyber Director position with- in our legislation, which addresses this We are all, I believe, disappointed in the Executive Office of the President pandemic that faces us today. that, as we look at the record of all the to provide national leadership for cyber Now, there has been one very high services dealing with sexual assault in security, which cuts across many dif- profile—there are several high profile the military, they have not made the ferent agencies and jurisdictions. This but one high profile issue that is sur- progress I think we all deem necessary. is one of the key recommendations, but

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:11 Dec 10, 2020 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G09DE6.058 S09DEPT1 ctelli on DSK11ZRN23PROD with SENATE December 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7323 we have many more recommendations Taliban is in compliance with the com- this work, our staff is extraordinary. included in the report. mitments made on February 29, 2020, John Bonsell and Liz King—the staff As we turn and look at the world out- and to address current and projected directors—did superb work. Let me rec- side of the United States, particularly threats to the homeland emanating ognize my staff, my Democratic staff: with regard to Russia and Europe, the from Afghanistan. Jody Bennett, Carolyn Chuhta, Jon conference report enhances our ability The key commitment is that we Clark, Jonathan Epstein, Jorie Feld- to deter Russian aggression, maintains would be able to maintain a counter- man, Creighton Greene, Ozge Guzelsu, strong support for Ukraine, and reaf- terrorism presence that would be ade- Gary Leeling, Maggie McNamara Coo- firms our commitment to the Trans- quate and sufficient to suppress any per, Kirk McConnell, Bill Monahan, atlantic Partnership by calling for a threat emanating from Afghanistan, Mike Noblet, John Quirk, Arun strong U.S. force posture and capabili- and that has to be confirmed. We are Seraphin, Fiona Tomlin, and last but ties in Germany. still waiting for that confirmation. not least, Elizabeth King. The conference report also expands I am also pleased the conference Again, this Fiscal Year 2021 National sanctions on entities engaged in the agreement includes several provisions, Defense Authorization Act conference construction of the Nord Stream 2 collectively known as the United report is the culmination of months of Pipeline and a requirement to impose States-Israel Security Assistance Act, hard work. It is a good bill. I would sanctions under the Countering Amer- to extend foreign assistance, coopera- say, in fact, it is one of the best bills ica’s Adversaries Through Sanctions tive development programs, and other that we have had in many, many years, Act, CAASTSA, on Turkey for its pur- support to Israel. These provisions and it will provide for our national se- chase of the Russian S–400 air defense demonstrate our unwavering commit- curity and our men and women in uni- system. ment to Israel. form and their families. I urge my col- Turning to China, our other major Turning to our nuclear triad, the leagues to support it. adversary—and as the chairman point- conference report authorized the Presi- I yield the floor. ed out the two major features in the dent’s request to continue the mod- I suggest the absence of a quorum. new national defense strategy authored ernization of our nuclear deterrent, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The under the guidance and direction of which is quickly nearing the end of its clerk will call the roll. President Trump—turning to China, use life, and the President recognizes The senior assistant legislative clerk the bill established the Pacific Deter- that very precisely. The conference re- proceeded to call the roll. rence Initiative, a new authority for port will also ensure the continuation Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask the Department of Defense modeled of much needed modernization efforts unanimous consent that the order for after the European Deterrence Initia- to continue to rebuild our aging Na- the quorum call be rescinded. tive, and authorizes an additional $150 tional Nuclear Security Administra- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without million in funding. And I give great tion infrastructure. The conference re- objection, it is so ordered. credit to the chairman because it was port does not support additional test- Mr. INHOFE. Let me first of all say his idea, and he asked me to partici- ing, as the directors of our weapons that my colleague, ranking member of pate with him. But it is a great rec- labs have assured us and certified that the Armed Services Committee, Sen- ognition of the world as it is today— it is not necessary at this time. ator REED, is absolutely right. I think China in an adversarial position—and The bill before the Senate is bipar- about the people that he was praising, we responded to it. tisan, with strong support in Congress. the staff people. I believe this is one of our strongest This bill is critical to our national se- You don’t very often hear people bills yet on countering the threat that curity, but more importantly, it pro- back in the real world really appre- China poses to the United States and vides the resources our troops need in ciating the time and effort that comes our partners and allies, including order to do their job and return home from the staff. In this case, the two in- India, Taiwan, and other countries in safely to their loved ones. Any discus- dividuals that Senator REED talked the region. sion of vetoing this bill undermines the about, John Bonsell, Liz King—I don’t With respect to countering the con- commitment, I believe, that we have remember one weekend that they have tinued threat posed by ISIS, the con- made to our servicemembers and had off during this whole thing. ference report extends the Iraq and should be off the table. Vetoing this They are just workaholics. They Syria train-and-equip programs at the bill would send the wrong signal to our know how significant this is. They requested funding level, while ensuring forces, our allies, and our adversaries know we had a defense authorization appropriate congressional oversight of at exactly the wrong time. It is not bill for the last 60 years, and the worst the use of such funds. necessary, and it should be avoided. thing we could do to our kids in the Specific to Iraq, the conference re- Let me close in the way that I began. field who are risking their lives is not port continues efforts to normalize se- Let me commend Senator INHOFE. He send them the resources necessary that curity assistance to Iraq by has worked this bill tirelessly, and I are in this bill to defend America. transitioning funding to enduring au- believe he has been fair and trans- f thorities and not other temporary au- parent throughout the process. As I thorities we have been using over the said before, the reason we have this bill MORNING BUSINESS last several years—many years, frank- for the 60th year—assuming our vote is ly. strong tomorrow—is because of the STOP THE WAIT ACT For Afghanistan, the bill extends the chairman and several others, but it is authority to train and equip Afghan se- the chairman principally. Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I curity forces and enhances congres- I would also like to take a moment rise to discuss the dangerous practice sional oversight. It requires an assess- to commend MAC THORNBERRY. The bill we have in this country that forces ment of the progress made on such is named after Mac. He is an extraor- people with disabilities to wait for ben- issues as anti-corruption, recruitment dinary gentleman. I had the privilege efits and healthcare coverage. I would and retention of security forces, and of serving with him for 2 years in the first, however, like to congratulate my commitments made by the Afghan House of Representatives. He is an in- colleague, the senior Senator from Government in support of intra-Afghan dividual whose wise counsel, whose in- Rhode Island, for his diligence and per- negotiations. It also includes a restric- tegrity, whose decency, and whose sistence in working to eliminate the 5- tion on funding to reduce U.S. forces in dedication to the men and women of month waiting period for those who Afghanistan until the administration the armed services is unparalleled. He have amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, submits an assessment of the impact of is an extraordinary gentleman. I can’t known as ALS. His perseverance is ad- such actions on U.S. interests. think of a more fitting tribute and a mirable, and I congratulate him for In addition, the bill includes a provi- more apt tribute than naming this bill eliminating this misguided policy for sion to enhance congressional over- after MAC THORNBERRY. people with ALS. sight of the administration’s negotia- I have to conclude by saying that de- My hope is we can expand this vic- tions with the Taliban to ensure the spite the appearance we have done all tory to eliminate the waiting periods

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