June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4731 (7) children accounted for 30 percent of the (5) reaffirms the goals of ‘‘World Refugee that following the prayer and pledge, world’s population but 42 percent of all forc- Day’’ and reiterates the strong commitment the morning hour be deemed expired, ibly displaced people, millions of whom were of the United States to protect the millions the Journal of proceedings be approved unable to access basic services, including of refugees who live without material, social, to date, the time for the two leaders be education; and or legal protections. reserved for their use later in the day, (8) 86 percent of all refugees were hosted by f developing nations, and less than 1 percent and morning business be closed; that of vulnerable refugees in need of resettle- AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO upon the conclusion of morning busi- ment had the opportunity to resettle because MEET ness, the Senate proceed to the consid- sufficient numbers of places do not exist; Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I eration of S. 1251, the Growing Climate Whereas refugees are major contributors to have 8 requests for committees to meet Solutions Act, under the previous local economies and served as critical front- order; further, that all time on the bill line health professionals and essential work- during today’s session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority expire at 11 a.m.; that there be 2 min- ers combating the COVID–19 pandemic utes of debate equally divided prior to worldwide; and Minority leaders. Whereas the United States has an obliga- Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph each vote, with all provisions of the tion to provide humanitarian protection to 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- order remaining in effect; that upon refugees, as well as interpreters, translators, ate, the following committees are au- disposition of S. 1251, the Senate pro- and others in Afghanistan who served along- thorized to meet during today’s session ceed to executive session to resume side United States and NATO troops, dip- of the Senate: consideration of the Jackson-Akiwumi lomats, and development workers; nomination, with all postcloture time Whereas the United States supports the COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY expiring at 1:45 p.m.; finally, that if the United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- nomination is confirmed, the motion to gees to increase protection for LGBTQI+ ref- The Committee on Agriculture, Nu- ugees overseas and to support global reset- trition, and Forestry is authorized to reconsider be considered made and laid tlement of LGBTQI+ refugees; and meet during the session of the Senate upon the table with no intervening ac- Whereas the United States Refugee Admis- on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 2:30 tion or debate. sions Program, which was established over 40 p.m., to conduct a hearing. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without years ago, is a lifesaving solution crucial to objection, it is so ordered. global humanitarian efforts, strengthens COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, for the TRANSPORTATION global security, advances United States for- information of Senators, there will be The Committee on Commerce, eign policy goals, supports regional host two rollcall votes starting at 11 a.m. countries, and assists individuals and fami- Science, and Transportation is author- and one vote at 1:45 p.m. lies in need: Now, therefore, be it ized to meet during the session of the Resolved, That the Senate— Senate on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at f (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT the United States to promote the safety, COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY health, and well-being of millions of refu- Mr. MURPHY. If there is no further gees, including the education of refugee chil- The Committee on the Judiciary is business to come before the Senate, I dren and displaced persons, who flee war, authorized to meet during the session ask that it stand adjourned under the persecution, or torture in search of peace, of the Senate on Wednesday, June 23, previous order, following the remarks hope, and freedom; 2021, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. of Senator MARSHALL and Senator (2) recognizes those individuals who have COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS BROWN. risked their lives working, either individ- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ually or for nongovernmental organizations The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and international agencies, such as the is authorized to meet during the ses- objection, it is so ordered. United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- sion of the Senate on Wednesday, June The Senator from Kansas. gees, to provide lifesaving assistance and 23, 2021, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. Mr. MARSHALL. I ask unanimous protection for people displaced around the SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE consent to use two scientific models as world; The Select Committee on Intel- props during my speech. (3) underscores the importance of the ligence is authorized to meet during The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without United States Refugee Admissions Program objection, it is so ordered. as a critical tool for the United States Gov- the session of the Senate on Tuesday, ernment to strengthen national and regional June 22, 2021, at 2 p.m., to conduct a f security and encourage international soli- closed hearing. CORONAVIRUS darity with host countries; SUBCOMMITTEE ON CYBERSECURITY Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, it (4) calls upon the Secretary of State and The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity United States Ambassador to the United Na- seems like every week, we get a new tions to— of the Committee on Armed Services is update on the timeline for the origin of (A) continue providing robust funding for authorized to meet during the session the COVID–19 virus. This week, we refugee protection overseas and resettlement of the Senate on Wednesday, June 23, learned that in October of 2019—Octo- in the United States; 2021, at 2 p.m., to conduct a hearing. ber 2019—that over 1,000 soldiers from (B) uphold the United States international SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY over 100 countries had gathered in leadership role in responding to displace- The Subcommittee on Energy of the Wuhan, China, for a military Olympics, ment crises with humanitarian assistance, Committee on Energy and Natural Re- and restore its leadership role in the protec- if you will. tion of vulnerable refugee populations that sources is authorized to meet during Then what we learned is that, several endure sexual violence, human trafficking, the session of the Senate on Wednes- weeks after that event, many of our persecution and violence against religious day, June 23, 2021, at 2 p.m., to conduct own athletes and our own military per- minorities, forced conscription, genocide, a hearing. sonnel became ill, as well as folks from and exploitation; SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC POLICY other countries. We went back further (C) work in partnership with the inter- The Subcommittee on Economic Pol- and talked to some of those soldiers. national community to find solutions to ex- They told us that Wuhan, China, isting conflicts and prevent new conflicts icy of the Committee on Banking, from beginning; Housing, and Urban Affairs is author- looked like a ghost town during that (D) continue supporting the efforts of the ized to meet during the session of the event. A town of over 11 million people United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- Senate on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at looked like a ghost town. gees to advance the work of nongovern- 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. What I am frustrated about is that mental organizations to protect refugees re- f the CDC has not investigated this, that gardless of their country of origin or reli- the military has not investigated it, gious beliefs; ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 24, and that, during the proper times, we (E) continue to alleviate pressures on 2021 could have tested their antibodies. frontline refugee host countries that absorb the majority of the world’s refugees through Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask When we learned of this, maybe, per- humanitarian and development support; and unanimous consent that when the Sen- haps, in March or in April, they prob- (F) respond to the global refugee crisis by ate completes its business today, it ad- ably still had antibodies. Even today, meeting robust refugee admissions goals; and journ until 10 a.m., Thursday, June 24; we could investigate it, but we need

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:47 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.017 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4732 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 the FDA to do its job as well. We need would suggest that it was made in a the singing group ‘‘Mudcat and the Kit- the FDA to pass a T-cell test so we can laboratory. It is just too mean. It is tens’’ to make up the income he was go back and see if these soldiers who too angry. It is just too perfect. It is denied that other players had, that became ill after this event—to see if, too infectious. The unique thing about White players had, in advertising and indeed, this was from the COVID–19 it is, though some would make us be- endorsements. Companies wouldn’t virus. lieve that this virus comes from bats, hire a Black player. They toured the Certainly, the timeline, by all ac- this virus doesn’t like bats. country during the off-season, per- counts, is going backward every It only took American scientists and forming with Johnny Carson and in month, but I think it is time to update Chinese scientists 4 months to discover places a little less known. the American public, too, on what I the origin of the original SARS virus, I remember Grant in later years serv- feel are the lab origins of this virus. that it came from a bat and then it ing as an announcer for In- Certainly, this is just a theory, but I went to another animal, an inter- dian games with a southern drawl that think we need to look into and discover mediate host. It only took us 4 months was unmistakable. and talk more about the biological ori- to discover that virus. The MERS He didn’t just use that voice, though, gin of this virus. virus, on the other hand, it took us for entertainment or commentating on This is a model of COVID–19, the about 9 months. Here we are 18 months plays; he used it to speak out for civil virus that has killed millions of people later, and we don’t have any type of an rights. across the world. It looks very much intermediate host. All of the mapping During the national anthem at one like the original SARS virus, with an that we are seeing points to this virus game, predating Colin Kaepernick, exception, and that exception is a pro- being made in a laboratory. Mudcat Grant—in the 1960s, before civil tein spike. The protein spike that I am Now, the Wuhan lab could disprove rights and voting rights had passed talking about is composed of two units. me. They have the data to prove me this Congress, he said this during the We will call those two units S–1 and S– wrong, but I am afraid that the data is national anthem. He said: 2, and this is a model of that COVID–19 now gone. It is gone forever—most This land is not free. I can’t even go to protein spike. It is very special. It is likely destroyed—unless, of course, we Mississippi and sit down at a lunch counter. very unique. can find it in a cloud somewhere. A Major League player. Let’s talk about the S–1 spike just It is outrageous that a comprehen- In 1958, he and his White teammate for a second. The S–1 spike looks very sive investigation on the origins of roomed together for away similar—it looks exactly like viral COVID–19 has still not been carried games, becoming the first time—play- gain-of-function research that was con- out. Now, I am proud that this body ers, in those days, when they were paid passed a resolution that Senator GILLI- ducted between a lab in North Carolina less than management, charged less, BRAND and I put together that calls for and with Dr. Shi, the ‘‘bat lady’’ from whatever, players roomed together. a transparent investigation of the the Wuhan Institute of Virology. That Two players would room together. COVID–19 outbreak, mandated by the S–1 spike sticks to lung cells like glue. Gary Bell and Mudcat Grant were the World Health Assembly. It unani- Again, this is NIH-funded research, the first Black and White roommates in mously passed this body, and that reso- North Carolina lab, and the Wuhan In- the major leagues in 1958. lution demands a full and transparent stitute of Virology. While running for President, Senator investigation to include the United What we did is we took the basic, John F. Kennedy invited Mudcat Grant States and our allies and our partners original SARS virus, and we slapped a to breakfast. Grant didn’t hold back. protein spike on it that made it stick around the world. Now, it is time for the Senate to do He talked openly with Senator Ken- to human cells like glue. Think of it as our job. It is time for the Senate to nedy, with the future President, about being like a key in a lock. Think fully investigate the origins of this the poverty he grew up in, the racism about, if you have a human cell as the virus as well. It would be utterly irre- he endured every day—this was 1960—as lock, that there needs to be a special sponsible to suffer through the worst a player. key. So they invented a special key pandemic in a century and not have Of course, it wasn’t only his activism that would impact and go into only the origins fully investigated. we remember Mudcat Grant for. We human cells. That was done in about I yield the floor. know his talent on the field. He was 2015, but then, after that, things go The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Minor League’s Rookie of the Year in dark. We don’t know what happened, ator from Ohio. 1954, only 7 years after baseball was in- but, somehow, this COVID–19 virus has tegrated. f another part of this protein spike, and In 1965, he was the first Black player we will call it the S–2 unit. REMEMBERING JAMES TIMOTHY to win 20 games in the American The theory is that, in the Wuhan In- ‘‘MUDCAT’’ GRANT, JR. League. He should have been the first, stitute of Virology and, possibly, in the Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, last but listen to this: For years, major Wuhan CDC Lab, further research was week, America lost a baseball legend, a league managers conspired to prevent done. They developed a special part of pioneer in civil rights, Jim ‘‘Mudcat’’ Black from becoming 20-game this spike—again, the S–2 unit. This is Grant. winners. That almost doesn’t make what is so special about it: It has what He joined the in sense. we call a furin cleavage site. The furin 1958. He spent 14 years in the Major Well, Grant said some catchers would cleavage site is—and don’t take it from Leagues. I remember watching him tell the hitters, the opposing hitters, me; take it from Nobel Laureate Dr. play when I was a kid growing up in while they were catching, what was David Baltimore. Cleveland in the 1960s. coming because they didn’t want you Dr. Baltimore said that the furin Cleveland has been, more than any to do well as a . cleavage site with its double arginine other franchise, perhaps, a pioneer for Other managers, when a player was codon—and I am paraphrasing here—is change in baseball. Cleveland had the reaching—a pitcher was getting close the smoking gun for the lab origin of first Black player in the American to 20 games, other managers sat the the virus in that this double arginine League, , Hall of Famer. He player down so he couldn’t win 20 codon just doesn’t occur in nature and came into the league only about 2 games as a Black man. that only human cells have the ability months after Jackie Robinson inte- After Black players pass away, we to use that furin cleavage site and grated the National League. Cleveland often hear about how they were among break this into two separate units. had the first Black manager, Hall of the underappreciated talents of the That is what allows this virus to dump Famer Frank Robinson. Cleveland also game. That is not a coincidence. In ad- its genetic material into human lung had ‘‘Mudcat’’ Grant, who refused to be dition to being a singer, Grant was also cells and replicate. silent in the face of segregated hotels a writer. He published a book in 2007 As a physician, as a person who has and racist slurs and discrimination called ‘‘The .’’ It is about studied virology a bit, this protein from management. the great African-American pitchers. spike just doesn’t look like it comes Grant was an accomplished singer Part of his project is to tell more sto- from nature. Everything about it with a beautiful voice. He organized ries about Black players and to teach

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