E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 116 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 165 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2019 No. 58 Senate The Senate met at 12:30 p.m. and was The senior assistant legislative clerk September 11, we stood together for called to order by the President pro read as follows: freedom. NATO allies remain with our tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). A bill (H.R. 7) to amend the Fair Labor troops in Afghanistan to this very day. f Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effec- It is essential that we keep the alli- tive remedies to victims of discrimination in PRAYER the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and ance healthy and strong. The threats for other purposes. we face are numerous, and not least The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- among them, in a kind of throwback to Mr. MCCONNELL. In order to place fered the following prayer: the alliance’s founding, is an assertive the bill on the Calendar under the pro- Let us pray. Russia that has barely even pretended O God, our hope for years to come, visions of rule XIV, I object to further proceedings. to honor international commitments, guide our lawmakers on each step of brazenly violated arms control agree- their pilgrimage. Make them supreme The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- ments, invaded and occupied Ukraine in compassion, mercy, and love, in fel- tion is heard. and Georgia, and conducted cyber oper- lowship with one another and their The bill will be placed on the cal- ations and so-called active measures constituents. endar on the next legislative day. against NATO allies. As President Lord, bring them more and more into f Trump has made it clear, keeping oneness with You and obedience to NATO NATO strong means that all allies Your commands. Fill them with the must commit to NATO’s collective se- spirit of Your peace. In their weakness, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, curity. give strength. In intenseness, give se- first I want to take a moment to thank renity. In discouragement, grant hope. NATO Secretary General Jens For our own part, after years of And in weariness, bring rest. Work Stoltenberg for his remarks at this President Obama’s defense cuts, the through them to fulfill Your will for morning’s joint session of Congress. I United States has turned the corner on our Nation and world. am proud that the Secretary General defense spending, investing more in We pray in Your mighty Name. could be here with us in Washington as readiness and modernization. We need Amen. the North Atlantic Treaty Organiza- to sustain that progress, but, of course, f tion celebrates its 70th anniversary NATO allies must live up to their this week. promises to invest in their own de- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE It is no exaggeration to say that over fense. This isn’t about meeting an arbi- The President pro tempore led the these seven decades, with steady Amer- trary budget number but about build- Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: ican leadership, NATO shaped world ing real capabilities that are needed to I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the history for the better. The proud his- meet real requirements identified by United States of America, and to the Repub- tory of alliance and solidarity has paid the alliance’s military commanders. As lic for which it stands, one nation under God, huge dividends to NATO’s member the Secretary General has pointed out, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. states and to the world. our allies are starting to follow our f NATO, with American leadership, lead. They are on track to contribute kept the peace and created the condi- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY an additional $100 billion in defense tions for an unprecedented period of spending. LEADER prosperity for the United States, as The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. well as its allies. It has deterred major There are also other ways NATO must adapt to meet the threats of the LANKFORD). The majority leader of the Soviet and Russian aggression and pre- Senate is recognized. vented a third world war. 21st century. It is essential that the al- liance follow through on the reforms f When communism’s Iron Curtain fell over much of the world, we stood to- championed by former Secretary MEASURE PLACED ON THE gether for democracy. When the post- Mattis. NATO must modernize its ca- CALENDAR—H.R. 7 Cold War transformation could have pabilities to address interoperability Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I roiled Eastern and Central Europe, we challenges, enhance military mobility understand there is a bill at the desk stood together for stability. When bru- across the continent, and improve the due a second reading. tal killers trampled human rights in speed at which it makes decisions. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the Balkans, we stood together for in- For today, I just want to thank the clerk will read the bill by title for the nocent lives. And when terrorist fanat- Secretary General for his address this second time. ics killed thousands of Americans on morning. Every American should be

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

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.000 S03APPT1 S2210 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 proud of what his presence in this Cap- This systematic obstruction is unfair want Republicans to enact every last itol Building represents about our Na- to our duly elected President, and, part of our conservative agenda with a tion’s vital role in NATO and NATO’s more importantly, it is disrespectful— mere 51 votes. What they are not vital role in the world. disrespectful to the American people thinking about is when the shoe is on f who deserve the government they the other foot. When the shoe is on the elected. The American people deserve other foot, and Republicans have a sim- NOMINATIONS the government they elected. ple majority of 51, and there is no legis- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, now This problem goes deeper than today. lative filibuster, what would happen? on an entirely different matter, the We are talking about the future of this They are only thinking about how it comprehensive campaign by Senate very institution and the future func- might enable them, but not thinking Democrats to delay Senate consider- tioning of our constitutional govern- ahead to the next time the shoe is on ation of Presidential nominations is ment. This practice is laying the foun- the other foot. In fact, I remember that now more than 2 years old. As I have dation for a dangerous new norm. We in 2013 I said, when our colleagues on explained in recent days, it is time for cannot set this new precedent that the the other side insisted on going to a this sorry chapter to end. It is time to Senate minorities will systematically simple 51 votes on the executive cal- return this body to a more normal and keep an administration understaffed, endar: You might not like what hap- reasonable process for fulfilling its down to the least controversial nomi- pens when the shoe is on the other fel- constitutional responsibilities, no mat- nees, anytime they wish somebody else low’s foot. ter which party controls the White had won the election. I would keep in mind—I would say to House. We need to act. We need to act. We my friends on the far left: Think about The Senate had to hold 128 cloture need to act so that in its third year, what might happen the next time the votes on nominations during President the current administration can finally people who are not for it have 51 votes. Trump’s first 2 years. That is 128, more get more of its team in place. We need We all know that both parties will pos- than 5 times as many as the equivalent to act to repair the institutional leg- sess future 51-vote majorities some- period for the previous 6 Presidents acy we are leaving and restore a func- where down the line. It will happen. combined. tional nominations process for future The Senate’s long traditions on legis- Now, 42 of those 128 were for posi- administrations of both parties. lation therefore need to remain in tions that had never, in the past, re- For most of the storied history of place. But what we are discussing this quired cloture votes, like the Assistant this institution, the traditions that week is restoring the different tradi- Secretary of Health and Human Serv- govern the Senate have combined two tions concerning nominations. The tra- ices, the General Counsel at the De- distinct things—on legislation, an iron- dition here is entirely different. There partment of Agriculture, or the Ambas- clad commitment to robust minority is no long tradition—none—of what sador to Luxembourg. It is not a rights, including extensive debate and amount to mass filibusters of personnel thoughtful investigation of a few high- the filibuster, and on nominations, a for administrations. There is no tradi- ly controversial nominees and not a tion of systematic, grinding delays reasonable process for considering the principled opposition in some rare cir- under threats of filibuster that extend individuals the President sends us. cumstances. These are part and parcel So let me be absolutely clear. The even to nominees whom nobody op- of Senate tradition. legislative filibuster is central to the poses. All of this is new. Until my But grinding, across-the-board sys- Democratic colleagues started us down tematic obstruction, under threat of nature of the Senate. It always has been and must always be the distinc- this road in 2003—this began in the first filibuster, sparing not even individuals administration of George W. Bush— tive quality of this institution. In the whom literally zero Senators opposed routine systematic filibusters of nomi- U.S. Senate, dissenting voices retain in the end—this is new. This is new, nations were a foreign thing. It just considerable power to shape the debate and it needs to stop. wasn’t done. Well-qualified civil servants, aca- on legislation. Pivotal moments have So we need to recover Senate tradi- demic and business experts, and exem- hinged on the strong convictions of a tion. The effort we will make later plary jurists with broad bipartisan sup- minority that has urged caution or in- today is about getting us back to what port are all subjected to weeks, if not sisted on an amendment. the tradition in the Senate was for a I know many of our colleagues on months and months, of pointless couple of hundred years, down to the delays, and then pointless cloture votes both sides share my view that this part Bush 43 first term. tying up floor time, not because a real of the Senate’s DNA must never be put Yesterday, we had a chance to do just debate was happening, not because in jeopardy or sacrificed to serve either that, working across the aisle and there is real due diligence requiring side’s momentary partisan whims. In through the same process that we over- months of delay but just because our fact, during the last Congress, 61 of our whelmingly agreed to with President colleagues across the aisle have chosen colleagues from both sides of the aisle Obama. But—stop me if you have heard to endlessly relitigate the 2016 election signed an open letter making their this one before—Senate Democrats rather than actually participate in commitment to the legislative fili- chose obstruction instead. governing, just because they wish our buster abundantly clear. Never mind that in 2013, a bipartisan President were not our President. I know many of us were disturbed to majority, including many Republicans, The Department of the Interior has read this week in the Washington Post passed a similar measure that imme- waited 631 days since President Trump that far-left activists are pushing ‘‘an diately benefited the Obama adminis- first nominated an Assistant Secretary abolish-the-filibuster litmus test on tration. In other words, to help Presi- for Policy, Management and Budget. the presidential campaign trail, and dent Obama, a significant number of That is 631 days. Her nomination was quite a few of the 2020 aspirants have Republicans joined with all of the voice-voted out of committee. After at least signaled a willingness to con- Democrats in 2013 to do something al- months of inaction, it had to be sent sider it.’’ I am glad that many of my most exactly like what we will be pro- back at the end of Congress last year. Democratic colleagues are on the posing later today. He had just gotten The Millennium Challenge Corpora- record opposing such a shortsighted reelected. Do you think we were happy tion has waited 450 days since its CEO disaster championed by the far left. about that? We weren’t. But we was nominated, and it has been more The commitment of both sides to pre- thought the Executive Calendar should than a year since the President nomi- serving the legislative filibuster is not be expedited for these kinds of nomina- nated a chair for the Advisory Council just a historical matter. It is also very tions that we are discussing today. on Historic Preservation. None of these practical. Neither party is particularly Never mind that the same Democrats are front-page news, just normal posi- keen to see the other side enact its en- who opposed this measure yesterday tions the President has been trying to tire, full-bore legislative wish list the have whispered in the ear to many of fill. In each case and in hundreds of next time they obtain 51 votes. us, including the occupant of the Chair, others, Democrats have made sure Republicans don’t want Democrats to that they would be more than happy to those chairs stayed emptied for far too enact an entire leftwing agenda with 51 support this, provided it didn’t take ef- long. votes, and Democrats certainly don’t fect until 2021. They are more than

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:09 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.001 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2211 happy to support it, provided it doesn’t p.m. will be equally divided between Back in 2013, a majority of Repub- take effect until 2021. Well, that cer- the two leaders or their designees. licans, including the Republican leader tainly concedes the reasonableness of Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I and me, supported a rules change to what we are going to achieve later suggest the absence of a quorum. streamline the process of approving today. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lower level administration nominees, Because bringing the Senate nomina- clerk will call the roll. such as district court judges and assist- tion process permanently back to The senior assistant legislative clerk ant secretaries. We voted for this rules Earth right now would help the Repub- proceeded to call the roll. change even though we knew it would lican administration, they weren’t in- Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask benefit only President Obama since it terested in doing the right thing—what unanimous consent that the order for would expire at the end of the 113th they did in 2013, what they are whis- the quorum call be rescinded. Congress, but we signed on because we pering in our ears now: Oh, no, we can- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without supported the principle behind the not do it now because we don’t like objection, it is so ordered. change. We believed that Presidents who is in the White House. S. RES. 50 should be able to staff their adminis- Republicans remain committed to re- Mr. THUNE. Yesterday afternoon, trations in a timely fashion, yes, even form. Look at the nomination cur- Senate Democrats voted against a if they weren’t Presidents from our rently before us—a textbook case study rules change that would have reduced party. We believed that whether the on the shameful state of the current needless delay in the Senate and ensure President was a Republican or Demo- process. Jeffrey Kessler of Virginia was that future Presidents of both parties crat, the American people deserved a first nominated as Assistant Secretary could staff their administrations in a fully functioning executive branch. So of Commerce in November of 2017. It timely fashion. we worked with Democrats to stream- took 7 months before Democrats on the Democrats chose partisanship over line consideration of lower level ad- Finance Committee allowed his nomi- principle and political advantage over ministration nominees. nation to be considered. When it was, the well-being of the Senate. How do I I am deeply disappointed that Demo- he was reported out on a unanimous know that this was a partisan decision crats chose to betray their principles vote. Nobody opposed him in the Fi- on Democrats’ part and not a prin- yesterday for short-term partisan gain, nance Committee. cipled one? Because 34 currently serv- and I hope the Democrats here in the The familiar story continues—an- ing Members of the Democratic caucus Senate will think better of their vote other 6 months of inaction. The nomi- supported a very similar rules change and work with Republicans to speed up nation was sent back to the White measure when President Obama was in consideration of lower level nominees House at the end of the last Congress. office. Yet not one Member—not one before Democrats’ historic level of ob- So the process started all over again. Member of the Democratic caucus— struction becomes a permanent stand- This time he got a voice vote out of the voted in favor of the rules change yes- ard here in the U.S. Senate. Finance Committee. Everybody just terday. I yield the floor. said aye. Yet here on the floor, Worse, privately, many Democrats I suggest the absence of a quorum. inexplicably, it still required a cloture had indicated a willingness to support The PRESIDING OFFICER. The motion to break through the obstruc- the rules change but only if the effec- clerk will call the roll. tion and give this nominee, whom no tive date were pushed to 2021, when The senior assistant legislative clerk one voted against, a vote. Democrats hope they will have a Dem- proceeded to call the roll. Later today, it appears that at long ocrat in the White House. Apparently, Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask last we will be able to take action to fi- it is reasonable for Democratic admin- unanimous consent that the order for nally advance Mr. Kessler’s nomina- istrations to be staffed up in a timely the quorum call be rescinded. tion, to do the responsible thing, to fashion, but Republican administra- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ROM- begin to unwind this partisan paralysis tions should have to suffer endless par- NEY). Without objection, it is so or- for the good of the Senate and for the tisan delays. That is a pretty offensive dered. future of the constitutional order each position. Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am of us has pledged to protect. It is disrespectful to the American going to use my time on the Senate people, who deserve a fully staffed ad- floor to address two related subjects. f ministration, even when their choice of The Republican leader is reportedly RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME President isn’t the Democrats’ choice. on the verge of going nuclear to speed through the confirmation of more far- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under It is disrespectful of our system of gov- right nominees. He says Democrats are the previous order, the leadership time ernment. Democrats apparently think the sys- guilty of extreme, unprecedented ob- is reserved. tem should be rigged in favor of their struction, and he claims that his hand f party, no matter what election results has been forced and that is why he is CONCLUSION OF MORNING say. Don’t like the fact that a Repub- required to change the Senate rules. In BUSINESS lican President got to choose Supreme the real world, I want to make clear Court Justices? Pack the courts. Don’t that I believe the facts tell a different The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning like the fact that your candidate didn’t story, and I am going to lay out briefly business is closed. win the election? Change our electoral why I think this is the wrong way to f system. go. In a democracy, you win some elec- When you look at the numbers, you EXECUTIVE SESSION tions and you lose some elections. see that the Republican leader’s argu- Sometimes you like the individual in ment is a fantasy. Let’s look at judges, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR the White House, and sometimes you and let’s compare the Trump adminis- don’t. Sometimes you succeed in pass- tration to the Obama administration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under ing your legislation, and sometimes The Obama administration started the previous order, the Senate will pro- you just don’t have the votes. That is with 53 judicial vacancies; the Trump ceed to executive session to resume the nature of life in a democracy. administration started with 112. That consideration of the following nomina- No one likes being in the minority. It increase didn’t occur because a whole tion, which the clerk will report. is not fun to lose votes or elections, lot of judges somehow magically quali- The senior assistant legislative clerk but that is the price of freedom. That fied for Social Security and quit some- read the nomination of Jeffrey Kessler, is the price of democracy. time in 2016; it was because Repub- of Virginia, to be an Assistant Sec- The other option is for one party to licans blocked nominees for years at a retary of Commerce. try to rig the system in its favor so time, and they kept those seats open. ORDER OF BUSINESS that everything goes its way no matter Senate Republicans even blocked their The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under what election results say. There is a own judicial selections during the pre- the previous order, the time until 2 name for that. It is called tyranny. vious administration. Put your arms

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.003 S03APPT1 S2212 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 around that. Senate Republicans even tremendous amount of great Federal and Human Services because I thought blocked their own. Only 22 judicial district court judges. We’ll be setting he was just about as corrupt as they nominees were confirmed in the final 2 records. We are setting records. Ap- came and seemed to be laser-focused on years of the Obama administration— peals court judges. A Supreme Court taking away people’s healthcare. the fewest in a Congress since Harry judge—fantastic.’’ I opposed the nomination of Steven Truman was President. The Vice President, March 2018: ‘‘The Mnuchin to be Treasury Secretary be- In 2015 and 2016, the Judiciary Com- President . . . set a record for the most cause I believed a history of profiting mittee considered only five circuit court of appeal judges confirmed in the off of the suffering of millions of Amer- court nominees. It considered that first year of an administration in icans ought to be disqualifying for that many in December of 2017 alone. There American history.’’ job. were nearly twice as many circuit Leader MCCONNELL said it all, speak- Now, what has been the record? Mul- judges confirmed in the first 2 years of ing about the confirmed judges. He said tiple members of the Trump Cabinet the Trump administration as there ‘‘including a record number of circuit have resigned under an ethical cloud. were in President Obama’s entire first court judges for a President’s first The rule change for which the Repub- term. Nominees are moving nearly year.’’ lican leader is pushing will cause the twice as quickly under this President. More recently, Leader MCCONNELL rushing through of even more unquali- Republicans even blew up a century- said: ‘‘We confirmed every circuit fied and corrupt nominees at the sub- old bipartisan practice of seeking input judge. We’ve now done 29 circuit Cabinet level. from Senators on judicial nominees judges. That’s a record for this quick in The bottom line is that all of the from their home States. It is based on any administration in history.’’ doomsday talk about the Democratic what has come to be known as the blue After November’s elections, when obstruction that is forcing the Repub- slip to consent to a hearing and a Democrats won control of the House, lican leader’s hand is simply out of markup of a nomination. It is a tradi- Leader MCCONNELL said: ‘‘I think we’ll touch with the facts. The Trump ad- tion, by the way, Republicans fought to have probably more time for nomina- ministration will find more support protect when a Democrat was Presi- tions in the next Congress than we’ve among the Democrats when it picks dent and they were in the minority. had in this one, because the areas of better nominees. It is a quaint idea— Under this President, they threw the legislative agreement will be more lim- pick better nominees, and then you blue-slip tradition out the window. ited between a Democratic House and a will get support. Instead, the nuclear Republican Senate. . . . I don’t think Republicans are also moving nomi- option Leader MCCONNELL is set to nees in huge batches and at paces that we’ll have any trouble finding time to trigger this week is a strategy that do nominations.’’ That is Leader prevent serious debate on their quali- will take us in the opposite direction. MCCONNELL. ‘‘I don’t think we’ll have fications. A few months ago, the Judi- It is going to make it easier to rush un- any trouble finding time to do nomina- ciary Committee held a markup and qualified and extreme nominees tions.’’ voted out 46 nominees, including 44 ju- through the Senate before anybody no- dicial nominees. That had never been Leader MCCONNELL said: ‘‘We intend to keep confirming as many as we pos- tices. done before. It is a head-scratcher how I oppose this change. I urge more of sibly can for as long as we’re in a posi- that can meet any reasonable defini- my colleagues on the other side to do tion to do so.’’ tion of ‘‘advice and consent.’’ the same. The way my colleagues on the other My colleagues on the other side can’t side talk about the issue, you would have it both ways, constantly talking NOMINATION OF DAVID BERNHARDT think Democrats delayed every nomi- about Democratic obstructionism and Mr. President, I conclude my re- nation for as long as possible. That just then, in effect, making all these state- marks by turning briefly to a related doesn’t remotely resemble the truth. ments about how they are setting subject that deals with, I believe, com- Setting judges aside, what about the records for getting people through. You promised, corrupt Trump nominees. executive branch? The President and can’t have it both ways. The Energy and Natural Resources his advisers will tell you right out in I am going to close on this. I am not Committee is scheduled to vote tomor- the open that they don’t want to nomi- going to apologize for opposing nomi- row on the nomination of David Bern- nate anybody. They have chosen to nees who are unqualified, corrupt, or hardt to be the Interior Secretary, but leave those positions vacant. That cer- simply outside of the mainstream. there is developing news—news re- tainly doesn’t meet a textbook defini- I opposed the nomination of Ryan vealed just last night—that ought to be tion of ‘‘Democratic obstructionism.’’ I Bounds to the Ninth Circuit because he enough to put this flawed nomination am the ranking Democrat on the Sen- concealed hateful writings to a bipar- on hold. ate Finance Committee. Our com- tisan committee—since I became the According to the Washington Post, mittee has zero nominees ready for a State’s senior Democrat, and now as ‘‘[t]he Interior Department’s Office of committee vote. It is not because any- the senior Senator, I have continued Inspector General is reviewing allega- body is blocking them; it is because the this committee. We have had a bipar- tions that acting secretary David Bern- Trump administration seems uninter- tisan selection committee that vets hardt may have violated his ethics ested in putting nominees forward. Our candidates. We had it when my former pledge by weighing in on issues affect- committee, on a bipartisan basis, has colleague, Senator Smith, who I know ing a former client, the office con- done its job. is a friend of the Presiding Officer’s, firmed Tuesday.’’ So, colleagues, you can’t look at the was here. We always worked in a bipar- I made it clear in Mr. Bernhardt’s record of nominees over the last 2 tisan way to address these issues. This hearing last week that I believed he years, particularly on judges, and con- was a nominee who concealed hateful had ethics problems owed to the ap- clude that the Democrats have broken writings from the bipartisan selection pearance that he had been working on the Senate. It is just not true. I believe committee that vetted his candidacy, behalf of former clients while he had a number of my colleagues on the other and he was forced to withdraw. served as a public official. I am also side know it. When they want to go nu- I opposed Neomi Rao because she also very concerned about the real possi- clear and change the rules, we get a pa- had put extreme views in writing, and bility that Mr. Bernhardt made false rade of horror stories about how Demo- those views closely mirrored the work statements under oath in his nomina- crats are obstructionists. It is a totally she had done as a Trump appointee at- tion hearing last week. I asked the In- different story when they prefer to tacking protections for women’s terior Department’s inspector general tout their record on nominations. health, for sexual assault victims on to look into these matters, but she has Let’s hear from Republicans, from campus, and for vulnerable commu- not had time to respond to my request. the President on down. nities across the country. The fact is that the inspector general Here is the President tweeting in late I opposed the nomination of Thomas is just at the very outset of this proc- 2017: ‘‘Judges at a record clip. Our Farr because he ruthlessly attacked ess. courts are rapidly changing.’’ the voting rights of people of color. Here is the prospect this body faces. The President at a rally last year: I opposed the nomination of Tom The Senate could be on its way to in- ‘‘We have the best judges. We put on a Price to lead the Department of Health stalling an Interior Secretary who

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.005 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2213 could almost immediately face an in- In February of 2018, President Trump to deal with nominees from this Presi- vestigation for corruption and lying nominated John Ryder to serve on the dent. under oath. These are serious allega- board of the Tennessee Valley Author- If Senate Democrats were delaying tions that face Mr. Bernhardt, so I feel ity. The work of the TVA is undeniably well-qualified nominees like Susan to strongly that the vote in the Energy important, but this isn’t the sort of make sure they had adequate oppor- and Natural Resources Committee high-profile job that typically leads to tunity to debate their nominations, we needs to be delayed until they can be a contentious nomination. In fact, wouldn’t have any disagreement with investigated fully. these board positions are normally con- that, but we know, by their actions, With all of the Trump nominees who firmed by voice vote. that they will stop at nothing to bring have resigned in scandal—by the way, Mr. Ryder was, by any account, well the work of this body to a screeching one being the predecessor of whoever qualified for the job. He received unan- halt, particularly during the time of will be the head of the Interior Depart- imous support from the committee of the Trump administration. ment, Ryan Zinke, who, when he came jurisdiction, the Committee on Envi- Over the last 2 years, our colleagues for his confirmation hearing, promised ronment and Public Works. Under nor- on the other side of the aisle have nine times he would be like Teddy Roo- mal circumstances, he would have been forced votes on nominees who in pre- sevelt and left under an enormous set quickly confirmed by the entire Sen- vious years would have sailed through of ethical clouds—it is clear this Re- ate. Our Democratic friends, instead, the Senate. During President Trump’s publican-controlled Senate has decided decided to delay and delay and delay first 2 years, we held more than five that it is going to confirm first, ask some more and forced the Senate to times the number of cloture votes on questions later, and maybe duck all of hold a cloture vote on the nominee, nominees as we did during the same the hard questions altogether. which caused him to sit in limbo for 400 time for the last six Presidents com- I believe that needs to change right days. bined. So to call this unprecedented is now. It is time to restore public trust I wonder how many Americans who not an exaggeration, and the long list in this process. I do not believe the want to serve their country in some po- of vacancies is growing. Senate should allow the Interior De- sitions that require Senate confirma- Our government is suffering, and the partment to turn into a revolving door tion can afford to put their lives on services that we provide to the Amer- of corruption and scandal. The vote on hold and wait for 400 days or more just ican people are being obstructed as the Bernhardt nomination, in my view, for the Senate to get around to doing well. The Senate’s duty of advice and should not proceed tomorrow in the something that should be somewhat of consent is important, but it is not our Senate Energy and Natural Resources a routine job. only job. We have a lot of other things Committee. With Mr. Ryder, in the end, the irony we are supposed to do here, and they I yield the floor. would almost be funny if it were not so are falling by the wayside while we try I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pathetic. Ultimately, he was confirmed to work through these, largely, non- clerk will call the roll. by voice vote. For 400 days, we waited controversial judicial and executive The legislative clerk proceeded to to achieve the result we all knew we branch nominees. call the roll. were to have all along if Mr. Ryder Unfortunately, our Democratic col- Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask were to hang in there long enough. For leagues’ delay tactics have brought us unanimous consent that the order for 400 days, the TVA waited for the va- to the point at which we really don’t the quorum call be rescinded. cancy to be filled without there being have many other options. We have The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without an end in sight, and for 400 days, Mr. tried negotiations. We have been told objection, it is so ordered. Ryder and his family waited and wait- they will be happy to limit postcloture The Senator from Texas. ed and waited with uncertainty. Sadly, debate time but that, oh, by the way, S. RES. 50 he is not alone. He is part of a long list they will not agree to that unless it Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, over the of nominees who have received similar starts in the year 2021. This is hardly a last 2 years, since the beginning of the mistreatment. principled position. This is simply Trump administration, our Senate There is one Texan, a friend of mine, about resisting President Trump, his Democratic colleagues have brought who had to wait even longer. Susan administration, and this administra- our work to a crawl over judicial and Combs is a fourth-generation rancher tion’s ability to do the job the Presi- executive branch nominees. It is as if from Big Bend who has led an impres- dent was elected to do. they have frustration and surprise over sive career in both the public and pri- What we have proposed is something the election of President Trump in the vate sectors and has gained the respect that will not make nominations easier first place and still haven’t gotten over of virtually every person who has to be confirmed. The process will be it. This is another way in which they crossed her path. largely the same, and the vote thresh- have sought to undermine the adminis- She served as a member of the Texas old will remain the same. It will sim- tration—to deny the President the House of Representatives, then as the ply keep us from wasting valuable time staff necessary to populate the various first female agriculture commissioner that we should be spending on debating executive branch Agencies as well as of Texas, and later served as the Texas and voting on other important policies, the judiciary. comptroller of public accounts. not widely supported nominees. The way you do that in the Senate is When she was nominated to be the This certainly isn’t as radical a by stringing out the amount of time it Department of the Interior’s Assistant change as many of our Democratic col- takes to confirm nominees who ordi- Secretary for Policy, Management and leagues are presenting it to be. In Jan- narily would have been confirmed by Budget, I was thrilled, and I was happy uary of 2013, current Majority Leader consent or by voice vote—certainly, to introduce her before her committee SCHUMER and then Majority Leader not by taking 3 days or so at a time to hearing. Less than a month after she Harry Reid led the charge to make generate a confirmation. It is not be- was nominated, Susan was unani- similar changes in order to process cause these nominees are unqualified mously approved by the Senate Energy President Obama’s nominees. or even controversial; it is simply be- and Natural Resources Committee. At that time, Republicans were in cause this is how the resistance oper- Again, I was hopeful that her nomina- the minority. What did we do then? ates at a time when President Trump is tion would sail through since it, clear- Well, we weren’t exactly fans of Presi- President of the United States. These ly, was not a controversial nomination. dent Obama’s, but he had just been nominees are being used as a weapon to Unfortunately, that was not the case. elected to his second term, and suffice slow the work of the Senate and, real- Here we are, 631 days later, and it to say that while we were hoping for ly, to deny us the floor time in which Susan Combs has still not been con- a different outcome, we weren’t about to do other things that we might be firmed. Again, it is not because she is to obstruct his ability to populate and doing that would be beneficial to the not qualified for the job or that she is staff the various Departments in the American people, and they have been a controversial nominee. Just the op- Federal Government. We didn’t ob- running this play repeatedly over the posite is true. This is simply the way struct nominees. We didn’t sulk. We last 2 years. our Democratic colleagues have sought didn’t try to prevent the President

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.006 S03APPT1 S2214 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 from filling these nominations use the so-called nuclear option to once ber. There were more vacancies at the throughout the entire government. again break the Senate rules. This is end of his term than there were at the This is our government. In fact, we going to be the latest episode in a se- beginning. took the opposite approach. Along with ries of decisions that have been made It has been a concerted strategy of several of my Republican colleagues, I around here—mostly by the majority Senator MCCONNELL’s for a decade—for joined Democrats in voting for a reso- leader but not only by the majority more than that—and he has succeeded. lution that would speed up the consid- leader—to degrade the Senate’s respon- He led the most famous blockade eration process for lower level nomi- sibility to advise and consent. that has ever happened in the Senate, nees. What has happened here is a trav- and that was the blockade he led of I have to give Senator ALEXANDER, esty. We have destroyed—this genera- Merrick Garland. the Senator from Tennessee, a lot of tion of American politicians has de- When Justice Scalia died 342 days be- credit for negotiating that in the first cided that somehow we have preroga- fore the end of President Obama’s place. But it has now expired, and we tives that the people who came before term, Senator MCCONNELL responded to are back to the status quo before that us didn’t exercise. that by saying: ‘‘This vacancy should temporary change went into effect. I think part of the problem we have not be filled until we have a new Presi- Like the changes we are talking about is that people are so sick and tired of dent.’’ He called President Obama a today, it didn’t change the threshold the dysfunction around this place, they lameduck President. There were 342 for nominees; it just made the process are not even paying attention to what days left in his term. He had an entire a little more efficient. It received votes is happening here even though, in the- year left in his term. from 78 Senators on a bipartisan basis. ory, it is happening in their name. Until that point, the Senate had So that is why it is a real head-scratch- Two days ago—on the first of April, never refused to consider an elected er that we find ourselves where we are fittingly—the majority leader wrote an President’s nominee because the va- today. Unfortunately, I think we know op-ed laying out his case. He wrote: cancy arose in an election year, which what the answer is. This is part of the Since January 2017, for the first time in they claimed over and over again anti-Trump resistance. Unfortunately, memory, a minority has exploited procedure wasn’t the case. Since the Nation’s it is not playing out just in social to systematically obstruct a President from founding, the Senate has confirmed 17 media or on TV; it is playing out right staffing up his administration. Supreme Court nominees in election here in the Senate—what used to be Let’s read that again. years; it has rejected 2. known as the world’s greatest delibera- Since January 2017, for the first time in The majority leader would later say: tive body. memory, a minority has exploited procedure One of my proudest moments was when I When our colleagues Senator BLUNT, to systematically obstruct a President from looked Barack Obama in the eye and said, chairman of the Rules Committee, and staffing up his administration. ‘‘Mr. President, you will not fill this Su- preme Court vacancy.’’ Senator LANKFORD of Oklahoma intro- Senator MCCONNELL went on to duced this resolution, I was surprised write: He did it because he knew he could that our colleagues across the aisle Crucial jobs are still being held empty out get away with it, and he thought he wouldn’t do what we did back in 2013. of political spite. would roll the dice. It was shameful. Back then, all but one Member of the He seems to have completely forgot- And it wasn’t true that it was con- Democratic caucus voted for the reso- ten the Obama administration when he sistent with our history; it was com- lution—again, something very similar was the leader of the minority, when pletely inconsistent with our history. to what we are proposing today—but he was systematically denying Presi- Whether you support Donald Trump yesterday, they refused to even proceed dent Obama the right not only to put or you don’t support Donald Trump, I to debate a similar change. They could people in his Cabinet and in his admin- think you can thank the majority lead- have offered amendments. They could istration but to put judges on the er for electing Donald Trump because have made changes to the resolution bench as well. by keeping that vacancy on the Court, where they thought it fell short. But Before President Obama arrived in he made that the issue in the election, no—their commitment to obstruction Washington, the filibuster had been and he galvanized the Republicans remains. It is clear they don’t really used 68 times on this floor—68 times around a candidate who otherwise oppose the resolution; they oppose sup- since that rule was created sometime wouldn’t have been very appealing to porting a resolution under the Presi- right before 1920. In the first 5 years of many of them. People say that he stole dent of another party. Indeed, they op- the Obama administration, the Repub- a Supreme Court seat. It is bigger than pose supporting this resolution under licans filibustered his nominees or used that—he won the Presidency for Don- President Trump. the filibuster in some other way 79 ald Trump. And we know what has hap- When 78 Republicans voted for a times. It had been used 68 times from pened since that time. similar change in 2013—as I said, we when the rule was created to when But it amazes me that in the name of didn’t vote for President Obama, but President Obama became President, things not moving quickly enough, he we understood the importance of pro- and then over the first 5 years of his can come out here and claim that the tecting the Senate as an institution administration, they used it 79 times. most significant thing he has ever done and allowing our valuable work to con- And they can’t remember a time when is what he did to Merrick Garland and tinue on behalf of the American people. a minority systematically denied a then the record he has set putting I wish our colleagues across the aisle President the ability to put judges on judges on the circuit courts and the had that same commitment today. the court or to staff their administra- district courts since Donald Trump was Just as I supported this modest tion. elected President. Nobody has ever had change in 2013, I will support it again When President Obama was Presi- this many judges put on the court as today. This will allow us to make dent, they filibustered the Secretary of fast as the majority leader has put meaningful progress in confirming the Defense nominee for the first time in them on the court. Now, for district long list of pending nominees without the history of America, and he was a court judges, he wants to do it in 2 impeding our ability to do our other former Senator and a Republican. His hours of time. He is just going to crank work, like legislation. name was Chuck Hagel. They filibus- the machine until it is not available to In particular, there are four district tered him. Secretary of Defense seems him anymore, and it has been clear court nominees from Texas I am eager like a pretty crucial appointment. that has been his objective from the be- to get off the Senate calendar and on In President Obama’s last 2 years, ginning. the Federal bench. the Republican Senate confirmed only But it is not just that the judges are I yield the floor. 22 judges. That is a smaller number conservative judges; it is that they are The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. than at any time since the Truman ad- not as good as they used to be. HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Colo- ministration. Twenty-two judges was You know, until the group of people rado. all he got. in this room—including me, by the Mr. BENNET. Madam President, President Obama left 100 vacancies to way—in 2013, out of desperation, I came later today, the majority leader will President Trump to fill—a record num- to this floor and voted to change the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:09 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.008 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2215 rules so that President Obama could gap as a Trojan horse for government the rule of law, of our responsibility to actually get some nominees confirmed, intervention. He was confirmed 50 to advise and consent, we have seen the some judges confirmed, and some ad- 47. This man would never have gotten same people support the President’s ministrative appointments confirmed. to this floor before we changed the extraconstitutional destruction of the I have said on this floor before that rules, and he now has a lifetime ap- rule of law when he claimed an emer- that is the worst vote I have taken as pointment. gency to fund his wall or to fund $5 bil- a Senator, and I apologize for that The Senate confirmed a nominee for lion for his wall, which, by the way, he vote. I share some of the responsibility the Eighth Circuit, even though the said had already been largely built. for where we find ourselves today. American Bar Association rated him Just like the majority leader today is The majority leader said at that unanimously as ‘‘not qualified’’—a saying, we have a record number of time: ‘‘You’re going to come to regret unanimous rating of ‘‘not qualified,’’ judges who have been confirmed since this decision.’’ And I will say this and he is now a circuit court judge President Trump has been put in office, about him: He was right. I do. Not for with a lifetime appointment. It has but we are not moving quickly enough me and not for the Senate but for the never happened in our history. The so I have to change the rules by using American people who are having their ABA questioned whether he ‘‘would be the nuclear option. judiciary infected by the mindless par- able to detach himself from his deeply I need to declare an emergency to tisanship of this place, which is hope- held social agenda and political loy- build the wall, even though it is almost fully temporary partisanship. But alty.’’ He was confirmed 50 to 48. They complete because of my excellent ad- those are lifetime appointments that said he was unqualified unanimously ministration. we are confirming that we can’t take 30 because they thought his ideology It is all gibberish, and it is all meant hours to confirm anymore, and now we would blind him, and now he has a life- just to get a result for partisan rea- are going to do them in 2 hours just to time appointment. sons. I think when the history is written make sure we populate the court with The Senate confirmed a second judge about this period of our political sys- conservative judges whose views are the ABA deemed unqualified for a dis- tem, this is all going to look like a consistent with the majority leader’s trict court in Oklahoma. According to tragic farce—all of it. People are going and the President of the United States. the ABA, this nominee frequently to know, when they write an op-ed But, as I said, it is not just about missed work, and when he did show up, piece on April Fools’ and say one thing, their point of view, their judiciary phi- it was often in the middle of the day. and they have spent the last 20 years losophy, it is also their quality, be- He was confirmed by 52 votes. doing something else, that is not going cause if you have to earn 60 votes for a Last December, the Senate confirmed to be lost to the pages of history. Peo- lifetime appointment or—when I was in a third judge the ABA found unquali- ple are going to know how the system law school and you were a qualified fied with 50 votes. He barely made it, worked when we arrived here, when the judge who was nominated by a Presi- but Vice President PENCE made a trip people who were in this Chamber ar- dent for the Supreme Court, you would from the White House to break the tie. rived, including myself, and maybe in then command 90 votes or 95 votes, and The partisan temper that is destroy- some tiny, little footnote there will be ing this place needs to come to an end, that gave the American people con- something that says: Well, at least fidence that the judiciary was insu- and we need to make sure, between BENNET was out here admitting the now and whenever that happens, that lated from politics, that it was insu- mistake he made to contribute to this we don’t take down the rest of govern- lated from partisanship. Now, because disaster. of what the majority leader has done to ment with us. For the life of me, I don’t know why the Supreme Court, we are going to put The Founders didn’t design the court we aren’t correcting course. We are people on that Court with lifetime ap- to be an extension of our partisan fool- free people. Everybody in this Cham- pointments by the barest partisan ma- ishness. The independent judiciary is ber, I think, should have an incentive jorities. It is impossible for me to see responsible for enforcing the rule of to try to be remembered well and to be how that is going to build confidence in law, which is at the heart of our demo- remembered as a good steward of this the judiciary. cratic Republic. It is what separates us place and of the work we did here. I So when he says he has just put it from so many other countries around doubt very much, when our careers are back to the way it was before anybody the world that have failing economies at an end, what people are going to say around here started to filibuster cir- because no one subscribes to the rule of is, the good news is, they broke the cuit court judges, that is not true be- law or that are filled with corrupt in- rules. cause before that, you would get 90 stitutions, where rules are bent, bro- I know what the result is going to be votes for somebody who was qualified ken, or ignored, with no thought about today. I know my friend from Okla- for the Supreme Court, and today, you what is going to be left for tomorrow homa has actually worked hard to see get whatever you get from the partisan but just the looting of the economy for if he could get a bipartisan result here, majority that happens to be in power. the benefit of people today. and today that has been impossible, By the way, I have absolutely no idea The Constitution makes it clear that but what I really hope is that we can what is going to happen when we have the Senate has a responsibility—we change what we are doing in the Sen- a President of one party and a majority have a constitutional responsibility— ate so we can protect and preserve the of another party and there is a vacancy to advise and consent on judicial nomi- independence of our judiciary and that on the Supreme Court, or two or three. nations. There is no one else assigned maybe we will even move beyond the If we don’t change our behavior around that responsibility. The House of Rep- bipartisanship that is bringing the Sen- here, those vacancies are just going to resentatives has nothing to do with it. ate to its knees today. remain until we have a President and a Through this decade-long—it is more With that, I yield the floor. Senate of the same party, however long than that—20-year-long series of pre- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- that takes. But if you only need to get emptive retributions, where one party ator from Oklahoma. 51 votes, I guess you don’t have to be says: If we don’t do it to them, they are Mr. LANKFORD. Madam President, that qualified. going to do it to us, we are now at the Republicans believe, regardless of who The Senate confirmed a nominee re- point where we are destroying the judi- the President is, they should be able to cently to the Sixth Circuit who wrote ciary, and I think we should pull back hire their staff. I can say we not only blog posts peddling conspiracy theories from the brink. I don’t think the ma- believe that, we practice that. about Barack Obama and compared jority leader should invoke the nuclear In 2013, there was an ongoing debate abortion to slavery. He was confirmed option today, should break another over nominations with President 51 to 47. He would never have survived rule around here. No one else in Amer- Obama. Democrats and Republicans the vet before. ica runs their operation by breaking came together to resolve the time issue The Senate confirmed a nominee to the rules. for nominations under President the Fifth Circuit who dismissed con- Just in this session alone, we have Obama. Democrats asked Republicans cerns about glass ceilings for women, seen not only this, not only this viola- to join them to say: Let’s fix the prob- sexual harassment, and the gender pay tion of our norms and our customs, of lem we have with the length of time on

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:31 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.009 S03APPT1 S2216 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 nominations because it is taking too I look forward to this dialogue, and I The question is, Is it the sense of the long, and so they made a proposal. It look forward to the day we can get this Senate that debate on the nomination was 2 hours, equally divided—so it issue resolved so we can get back to of Jeffrey Kessler, of Virginia, to be an would actually be 1 hour—for district the work of legislation because we Assistant Secretary of Commerce shall court judges, 8 hours for other nomi- can’t even get to legislation right now be brought to a close? nees, which again equally divided because we are blocked on nomina- The yeas and nays are mandatory would actually be 4 hours total for tions. So let’s get the nomination issue under the rule. other lower nominees, 30 hours for cir- resolved, as we have for two centuries, The clerk will call the roll. cuit court, Supreme Court, Cabinet of- and then let’s get on to legislation and The senior assistant legislative clerk ficers. finish the task. called the roll. Republicans joined with Democrats I yield the floor. Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is in 2013 and with 78 votes at the begin- I suggest the absence of a quorum. necessarily absent: the Senator from The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ning of President Obama’s second Mississippi (Mrs. HYDE-SMITH). term—and may I remind this body, Re- PERDUE). The clerk will call the roll. Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the The senior assistant legislative clerk publicans were not excited about Presi- Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is proceeded to call the roll. dent Obama’s second term—Repub- necessarily absent. licans joined with Democrats on this Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there one principle: Every President should any other Senators in the Chamber de- be able to hire their own staff and their the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there siring to vote? staff not be blocked. When the Amer- The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 95, ican people vote for a President, this objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. nays 3, as follows: body should respect the vote of the Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, we raise [Rollcall Vote No. 58 Ex.] American people and allow that Presi- this point today, not just because of dent to hire their staff. Now, when YEAS—95 what has happened to Donald Trump’s President Trump was elected, Demo- Alexander Fischer Peters nominees over the last 2 years, but we Baldwin Gardner crats have 128 times blocked President Portman reached this point because 16 years ago Barrasso Graham Reed Trump from getting his nominees—128 the Senator from New York started Bennet Grassley Risch times. Blackburn Hassan Roberts this Senate down a path that was un- I have, for now 2 years, met with my Blumenthal Hawley Romney precedented in 200 years. For 200 years, Blunt Heinrich Democratic colleagues, and I have Rosen any President’s nominees got an up-or- Booker Hirono Rounds asked, let’s put back into place exactly down vote. That was the custom, the Boozman Hoeven Rubio what Republicans voted with Demo- Braun Inhofe Sasse unwritten rule, if you will. Brown Isakson crats to do. I am asking Democrats to Schatz Burr Johnson Starting in 2003, specifically geared Schumer now vote with Republicans to do that. Cantwell Jones toward a brilliant young lawyer named Scott (FL) They have said no for 2 years. Capito Kaine Miguel Estrada, the Senator from New Scott (SC) So I simplified the proposal and said: Cardin Kennedy York warped those unwritten rules and Shaheen Let’s just make it straightforward and Carper King customs. That has brought us to where Casey Klobuchar Shelby simple, taken from the same principles Sinema we are today. So today Senator SCHU- Cassidy Lankford Harry Reid put forward under Presi- Collins Leahy Smith MER will reap what he sowed. I will call Stabenow dent Obama. Let’s make that perma- Coons Lee it Miguel Estrada’s revenge. Sullivan nent, no matter who the President is Cornyn Manchin I yield the floor. Cortez Masto Markey Tester now or in the future. Let’s make it I suggest the absence of a quorum. Cotton McConnell Thune Tillis consistent and straightforward. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Cramer McSally I was told no by every single Demo- Crapo Menendez Toomey clerk will call the roll. Udall crat, with this one exception. I will Cruz Merkley The senior assistant legislative clerk Daines Moran Van Hollen vote for that proposal as long as it proceeded to call the roll. Duckworth Murkowski Warner starts in January of 2021. I am glad you Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Durbin Murphy Whitehouse Republicans joined with Democrats, Enzi Murray Wicker ask unanimous consent that the order Ernst Paul Wyden they would say, to help President for the quorum call be rescinded. Feinstein Perdue Young Obama get nominees, but we will not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without NAYS—3 help President Trump and will block objection, it is so ordered. him all the way through. Now, if you Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous Gillibrand Sanders Warren want to open this up for 2021, we will be consent that the mandatory quorum NOT VOTING—2 glad to be able to help. call be waived. Harris Hyde-Smith I want to reiterate that Republicans The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there believe whoever the President is, when objection? The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this the American people select a Presi- Without objection, it is so ordered. vote the yeas are 95, the nays are 3. dent, they should be able to hire their CLOTURE MOTION The motion is agreed to. staff. I wish my Democratic colleagues The cloture motion having been pre- The Democratic leader. believed the same thing. Because of sented under rule XXII, the Chair di- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this is that, we are making a change today. I rects the clerk to read the motion. a very sad day for the Senate. At a have worked for months, meeting with The senior assistant legislative clerk time when Leader MCCONNELL brags Democratic colleagues, trying to find read as follows: about confirming more judges than some way we could come to an agree- CLOTURE MOTION anyone has done in a very long time, ment as was done in 2013, where Repub- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- he feels the need to invoke the terribly licans and Democrats came together to ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the destructive and disproportionate proce- resolve this. I have been rebuffed for 2 Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby dure of the nuclear option in order to years. Not a single Democrat has been move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- fast-track even more of President willing to join us in this, not a single nation of Jeffrey Kessler, of Virginia, to be Trump’s ultraconservative nominees to an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. one. That is unfortunate. the Federal bench. Mitch McConnell, Steve Daines, John Before I discuss that in greater de- At the end of the day, we will try to Thune, John Cornyn, James M. Inhofe, restore this body back to how it used Pat Roberts, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grass- tail, I want to note for the record that to function for two centuries, when ley, Richard Burr, John Barrasso, Democrats were prepared to confirm every President was allowed to get a Jerry Moran, Roy Blunt, Shelley the nomination of Mr. Kessler by unan- hearing for their nominees and get a Moore Capito, John Boozman, Johnny imous consent, so the cloture vote we vote in the Senate. For two centuries, Isakson, Thom Tillis, John Hoeven. had was unnecessary. we functioned that way. I think it is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The If you have been listening to Sen- not unreasonable to function that way mandatory quorum call has been ators debate this issue in recent days, again in this body. waived. you have heard a lot of claims and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.011 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2217 counterclaims about cloture votes, far-right Supreme Court nominees, and Two hours for a lifetime appointment . . . about rates of confirmation for circuit then have candidate Trump pledge to is unacceptable. and district courts in different Con- only nominate people on that list. And She said: gresses, about judicial vacancies and not just the Supreme Court—the Fed- Two hours for a lifetime appointment, with other arcane things that may not eralist Society is and continues to be a huge influence on people’s lives, is unaccept- sound very illuminating. So I want to huge influence on nominees to the cir- able. It’s ridiculous. It’s a mockery of how start by making clear what this debate cuit courts. this institution should work. is really all about. I want to issue a No other Presidential candidate had It is not just the courts. There are warning about what is at stake in this so willingly and openly outsourced ju- many examples in the executive branch fight. Underneath all of the statistics, dicial nominations this way, but it as well. Ann Marie Buerkle, nominated what Leader MCCONNELL, President mollified the hard right, and the Presi- to chair the CPSC—just today the Post Trump, and Republicans in the Senate dent has dutifully nominated people reported that this nominee blocked ac- are trying to do is use the courts to from the list to the Supreme Court. He tion at the Commission to recall hun- adopt the far-right agenda that Repub- has made similarly ideological choices dreds of thousands of potentially defec- licans know they cannot enact through for the circuit and district courts. tive baby strollers, even in the face of the legislative process. This is an alarming strategy because, reports that they caused ‘‘potentially Why can’t they? Because it is an over the last 2 years, President Trump life-threatening injuries.’’ She even agenda the American people reject, an has nominated and Senate Republicans kept Democratic Commissioners in the agenda set by the far right, which Re- have advanced the most unqualified dark about the investigation. Of course, there is Chad Readler, who publicans in the Senate follow. and radical nominees in modern times. led the charge to end preexisting condi- Senator MCCONNELL and Republicans Consider the nomination of Ryan in Washington understand that they Bounds, who misled the Oregon Sen- tion protections. President Trump and Senate Republicans, the self-declared will never persuade enough Americans ators’ bipartisan judicial selection ‘‘party of healthcare,’’ rewarded him to support backward goals like ending committee about his controversial by overwhelmingly confirming him to women’s reproductive freedom, taking writings in the past, writings in which a lifetime position as a circuit court away healthcare, rolling back civil he dismissed efforts to increase diver- judge. Despite Mr. Readler’s con- rights, making it more difficult to sity as mere ‘‘race-think,’’ criticized spicuous role in trying to curtail vote, or abolishing safeguards for clean Stanford University’s suggested pun- Americans’ healthcare, no Republicans air and clean water. ishment for students who defaced an were willing to stand up to President Instead, they decided there was an- LGBT pride statue, criticized a student Trump and vote against his confirma- other route to achieving their policy group for protesting against a hotel company that had fired workers trying tion. goals, one that requires neither public At this point, people listening to to unionize, and disregarded the value support nor legislation: the courts. So these proceedings might be asking of university disciplinary actions Republicans, pressured by the hard themselves: What happened when a against students accused of sexual vio- right and by wealthy, special interest Democratic President occupied the donors, launched a sustained effort to lence. Five of the seven members of Or- White House? pack the courts with very conservative egon’s in-State screening committee, The answer is that Republicans, led judges, preferably young ones, who including the committee’s chair, said by Senator MCCONNELL, remained would sit on the bench for decades. they would not have recommended undeterred. In such times, they chose These prospective judges were identi- Bounds had they known of his college to employ the extraordinary tactic of fied as early as law school, having sig- writings when they first interviewed denying confirmation to a Democratic naled their hard-right leanings through him. Fortunately, it became clear that President’s nominees in order to hold their writings or membership in con- a few Republicans would not support vacancies open until a Republican servative groups like the Federalist Mr. Bounds on the floor, and the nomi- could regain the Presidency. It was an Society. nation was withdrawn. audacious and insidious gambit, a way Nominees like these started to ap- Consider the nomination of Thomas to nullify a Democratic President’s pear during the George W. Bush admin- Farr, who has an extensive record de- power to fill judicial vacancies. istration. Take Miguel Estrada, a Bush fending discriminatory voting laws and We saw this tactic during the Clinton nominee with no judicial experience, racial gerrymandering in North Caro- administration, when Republicans on who held membership in the Federalist lina. He is also credibly alleged to have the Judiciary Committee killed a num- Society but had no writings and played a role in the voter suppression ber of President Clinton’s quite mod- claimed he had never even thought efforts of the Jesse Helms campaign, erate judicial nominees, even without about Roe v. Wade. including sending over 100,000 postcards the basic courtesy of a hearing. Or take William Pryor, another Bush to heavily African-American precincts We saw it again during the Obama nominee, who called Roe ‘‘the worst that ‘‘falsely told voters they could be administration, when Republicans used abomination in the history of constitu- found ineligible to vote based on sev- the filibuster and other forms of delay tional law’’ and who argued that States eral conditions involving place and to more than double the number of cir- should have the right to criminalize length of residence.’’ Amazingly, after cuit and district court vacancies. Dur- homosexuality. something as despicable as that, Presi- ing Obama’s last 2 years in office, the Or take Charles Pickering, who advo- dent Trump and Leader MCCONNELL Republican Senate confirmed fewer cir- cated a reduced sentence for a man pushed hard for his nomination, but it cuit court nominees than any Congress convicted of burning a cross in the could not withstand scrutiny by the in 70 years. front yard of an interracial couple. Senate and was ultimately withdrawn Then, in March of 2016, Senator Before the Republicans launched due to the united Democratic opposi- MCCONNELL and Senate Republicans their campaign to remake the courts, tion and a few conscientious Repub- took this maneuver to a new Machia- neither party would have dared put for- lican Senators. vellian low. They refused to even con- ward such radical nominees. I would note that in the cases of both sider President Obama’s nomination to Starting with his campaign and into Mr. Farr and Mr. Bounds, the Repub- the Supreme Court of the United his Presidency, President Donald lican concerns emerged only at the end States, Circuit Judge Merrick Garland, Trump has been captive—totally cap- of postcloture debate time, which Re- one of the most respected jurists in the tive—to the conservative campaign to publicans now propose to limit. Had we Nation, a man known not only for his take over the courts. Before he was a had only 2 hours, horrible nominees— judicial excellence and perfect judicial Presidential candidate, Mr. Trump had way beyond the bounds of normal nom- temperament but his moderation. In been a Democrat and a person with no ination and discourse, even from con- fact, Senator Orrin Hatch, a conserv- fixed judicial philosophy, so conserv- servatives—like Farr, like Bounds ative’s conservative and the former atives didn’t trust him. He and his ad- would be sitting on the courts today. chairman of Judiciary Committee, had visers came up with a solution: Ask the I agree with what my colleague Sen- previously endorsed Judge Garland for Federalist Society to produce a list of ator KLOBUCHAR has said: the Supreme Court.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.015 S03APPT1 S2218 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 But the merits didn’t concern Sen- dedicated public servants like former MCCONNELL’s debasement of the Sen- ator MCCONNELL. His cynical strategy NLRB Chair Mark Pearce to languish ate. To do this for such blatantly polit- required Republicans to block the Gar- for months or even years. ical ends is simply unworthy of this in- land nomination for almost a year It is actually a little surprising that stitution. until after President Obama’s second Leader MCCONNELL and his Republican I yield the floor. term ended, and that is exactly what colleagues would draw attention to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- they did. It was widely condemned as a subject of executive nominees now, jority leader. naked power grab that nullified the given the appalling history of incom- Mr. MCCONNELL. One of the advan- President’s constitutional authority. It petence, corruption, and venality tages of having been around the ‘‘ad- was a terrible, deeply lamentable mo- among President Trump’s so-called vice and consent’’ process for as long as ment for our democracy and our Con- ‘‘best people,’’ not to mention the fact I have is that I know a little history. I stitution. Yet, as the New York Times that there are hundreds of vacancies was actually here as a young staffer on reported, Senator MCCONNELL said it the President can’t even be bothered to the Judiciary Committee when Richard was one of his ‘‘proudest achieve- fill. Nixon appointed two Supreme Court ments.’’ Staffing the government is serious Justices who were defeated. During After President Trump took office, business and so is the system of justice most of those years, our Democratic Republicans sensed an opportunity to assigned to the courts by our Constitu- friends were in the majority here in the grease the conveyer belt even more. tion. They both deserve better than the Senate. They could have done whatever Senator MCCONNELL ordered the Judi- Senate Republicans’ cynical, partisan they wanted to on the executive cal- ciary Committee chairman to do away efforts to turn the Senate into a con- endar to slow down, obstruct, and pre- with the longstanding practice that veyer belt for ideological conserv- vent Republican Presidents from hav- Senators be consulted about district atives. ing nominations confirmed. The notion that President Trump’s court nominees in their home States. I can remember during the Clinton judicial nominees have been treated The blue-slip tradition ensured that ju- years the urging of both Senator unfairly is simply false. There is no dicial nominees reflected the ideology Daschle and Senator Lott—when my truth to it, as all of these statistics and values of the State to which they party was in the majority—to invoke that I have talked about have shown. were nominated. It provided some cloture on circuit court nominees What Republicans really want to see is healthy counterbalance against nomi- whom I opposed in order to keep the the elimination of yet another norm of nees who were outside the mainstream Senate from developing a process of the Senate so they can automate and from either party or were lacking in filibustering the executive calendar, expedite the nomination process with- proper qualifications. Thanks to Sen- which had never been done before. out a modicum of debate. They are all The clearest example of why it was ate Republicans, led by Senator for ‘‘consent’’ with no ‘‘advice.’’ With MCCONNELL, that protection is now his- never done before is the Clarence all undue haste, they want to pack the Thomas nomination—the most con- tory. courts with partisan warriors, not im- So when Republicans complain about troversial nomination for the Supreme partial jurists. It is outrageous. Court in history, with the possible ex- Democratic handling of nominees, Democrats have a different view of ception of Brett Kavanaugh. He came there is no other word for it but hypoc- who should sit on the Federal bench. out of committee with a dead-even risy. You don’t have to take my word We have a different view of the role of vote. They could have killed him in for it. According to the Congressional this Chamber. Our judicial system committee. He went to the floor and Research Service, more circuit judges works best when we hold nominees to was confirmed 52 to 48. We all know it have been confirmed in the first 2 years three simple standards: excellence, only takes one Senator, just one, to of the Trump administration than in moderation, and diversity. These are make us get 60 votes on something. the first 2 years of any Presidency not ideological litmus tests. They are Joe Biden and Ted Kennedy were since at least the Truman administra- the pillars of a healthy system of jus- hard over against Clarence Thomas, tion. tice. They are the benchmarks by but nobody—not one of the 100 Sen- The majority leader himself has cele- which we can rest assured that the men ators—said you have to get 60 votes. brated the pace of confirmations. He and women who are appointed to the bragged about it to the Heritage Foun- Federal bench will respect the rule of Clarence Thomas was confirmed 52 to dation. He said this to them a few law and execute their duties impar- 48 and has been on the Supreme Court months ago: tially. for 30 years. He would never have been We confirmed every circuit judge. We’ve It cuts both ways. When Republicans there if a single Senator—just one—had now done 29 circuit judges. That is a record are prepared to act in good faith and said you had to get 60 votes. My for this quick in any administration in his- advance nominees of high caliber, we friends, I call that a pretty firm tradi- tory. are ready to give them the consider- tion that you don’t filibuster the exec- Those are Leader MCCONNELL’s ation they deserve. For generations, utive calendar. Was it possible? Yes, it words, not mine. the Senate has done the work of the was possible. It just wasn’t done. Now we have to change the rules, American people through consensus, When did all of this start? Well, the even though you have confirmed more through compromise, and through co- junior Senator from New York got circuit court judges than anyone in operation. It has been a place where elected in 1998. George W. Bush gets history. That is a shame. That is a dis- seemingly impossible disagreements elected in 2000. The alarms go off. They grace. That is not the Senate we want. have found sensible solutions. Indeed, are going to appoint a bunch of crazy For Leader MCCONNELL to brag about the legacy of the Senate is the story of rightwingers to the circuit courts. confirming more judges than ever be- debate—ample debate—followed by So my good friend the Democratic fore and then to complain about Demo- compromise. It is in large part thanks leader, at a seminar or a meeting, in- cratic obstruction and say that the to the rules that govern how this vited a couple of people named Lau- process is broken so you have to Chamber works. It is crucial that those rence Tribe and Cass Sunstein—two change the rules is the height of hypoc- rules not be twisted or abused for par- rather famous liberal law professors— risy. tisan advantage. and they had a discussion about what Leader MCCONNELL and Senate Re- The majority, by taking yet another to do about these awful rightwing publicans also complain about the pace step to erode that legacy, risks turning judges who are going to be sent up. of confirmation for President Trump’s this body into a colosseum of zero-sum The conclusion was to open the tool- executive branch and independent infighting—a place where the brute box, take out whatever tool would Agency choices. They conveniently power of the majority rules, with little work, and save America from these omit Republicans’ sorry record of ob- or no regard for the concerns of the mi- kinds of people. And so they did. The struction of nominees to Democratic nority party, and where longstanding poster child for that was Miguel seats at important agencies like the rules have little or no meaning. Estrada, who they said openly they NLRB, the FDIC, and the SEC, which I am so sorry my Republican col- were afraid was going to give President have suffered as Republicans caused leagues have gone along with Senator Bush the opportunity to make the first

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.016 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2219 Hispanic appointment to the Supreme judge who comes out here on the cal- both parties down to 2000—not the leg- Court. We had all-night filibusters. We endar who doesn’t have two blue slips islative calendar but the Executive actually stayed up all night trying to returned from whomever the Senators Calendar. There is nothing radical make a point. are from the home State. What that about this. He is acting like it is a sad It didn’t make a difference. Ulti- means is that you guys are not irrele- day for the Senate. If you want to pick mately, we thought maybe we should vant on district judge appointments. a sad day for the Senate, go back to employ the so-called nuclear option. You are not irrelevant. For example, I 2003 when we started filibustering the We ended up not doing it after there tried to get my good friend the Demo- Executive Calendar. He started it. That was a gang of 14 that developed and cratic leader to approve a list of 30 dis- was a sad day. This is a glad day. We worked out an agreement, and some of trict judges last fall, and 14 of them are trying to end the dysfunction on the nominees were confirmed and some were from blue States. Oh, no. He was the Executive Calendar. weren’t. Yet what had been clearly es- not going to do any district judges on Let’s talk about dysfunction. There tablished was that now the norm in the a voice vote even if he were for them. were 128 cloture votes in the last Con- Senate was that you filibuster anybody So, look, all this proposal does that gress, many of them on nominees for that you want to on the executive cal- we are talking about today is reduce whom there were no objections at all— endar. That had then been established the postcloture time for sub-Cabinet 128. Goodness gracious. In the first 2 as a matter of practice, and that con- appointments—just like we helped you years of each of the last six Presidents, tinued through the Bush years. There all do in 2013—and for district judges, cumulatively, the majority leader of was actually an effort to keep Justice none of whom will even be on the cal- whichever party had to do that 24 Alito from being on the Supreme Court endar until both blue slips are returned times in order to try to advance a nom- by requiring a filibuster for the pur- positively. It is not exactly a radical ination. pose of defeating Justice Alito, but it change. So don’t hand me any of this ‘‘sad was not successful. A number of circuit Back to Merrick Garland for a day in the Senate’’ stuff. What has judges were stopped. minute. Look, I made the decision— been going on here is completely and When we fast-forward to the Obama and my colleagues on the Republican totally unacceptable. Do you know years, our side used the filibuster twice side joined me in making that deci- why I know that? It is because many of to defeat two circuit judges over a pe- sion—because I knew for sure, for abso- your Members, Mr. Leader, have told riod of 51⁄2 years. Majority Leader lute certainty, that if the roles were me privately that they would be happy Harry Reid decided, in his zeal, to pack reversed and there were a Republican to do this provided it would take effect the DC Circuit—that this had gone on President and a Democratic Senate, in January 2021. Oh, what might hap- long enough. So, in November 2013, I you wouldn’t have filled the vacancy. pen in January 2021? I can’t imagine. believe it was, the nuclear option was How did I know that? You have to go Well, it might be a Democratic Presi- employed. The threshold was lowered back to the 1880s to find the last time dent and a Democratic Senate. I can to 51 for everybody on the Executive a vacancy on the Supreme Court oc- understand—but, oh, not now. curred in the middle of a Presidential Calendar except for the Supreme Court. Look, we know you don’t like Donald election year and was confirmed by a The DC Circuit court judges were con- Trump, but there was an election. He is Senate of a different party from the firmed. At the time, I said I didn’t like at least entitled to set up the adminis- President’s—1880. the way it was done. I thought maybe tration and make it function. With re- Oh, but that was not enough. In 1992, those on the other side would rue the gard to the judiciary and circuit our friend Joe Biden, the chairman of day they did it. judges, every President of both parties Amazingly enough, about a year and the Judiciary Committee, with a Re- feels it is his prerogative. a half later, I was the majority leader. publican in the White House, a Demo- Senator ALEXANDER has pointed out Funny how these things change, isn’t cratic Senate, and no vacancy on the the history of the blue slip. There has it? Supreme Court, helpfully opined that if A number of my Members came up a vacancy occurred, he wouldn’t fill it. been a little confusion about that. He and said: Why don’t we change it back. Oh, but guess what. Eighteen months has noted that blue slips were not used I said: Look, I don’t think we like the before the end of the Bush 43 term, the as an absolute veto over judicial nomi- way they did it, but this is the way the majority leader of the Senate, Harry nees until—listen to this—the 1950s, Executive Calendar was handled for 200 Reid, and a fellow named CHUCK SCHU- when former Judiciary Committee years until Senator SCHUMER and his MER said that if a vacancy occurred, Chairman James Eastland of Mis- allies Laurence Tribe and a cast unseen they wouldn’t fill it. That was 18 sissippi afforded them the status be- said: Well, why don’t we use any tool in months before the end of the Bush cause he did not want Federal judges the toolbox to stop judicial appoint- term. who had been appointed by President ments? On the business of filibustering the Eisenhower to interfere with segrega- I discouraged our going back to 60 be- Executive Calendar, there is one thing tionist policies in the Jim Crow South. cause I had actually seen that both I left out, and I want to catch up here. When he became the Judiciary Com- sides had respected their using a simple Back in 2003, when my good friend the mittee chairman, our former colleague majority on the Executive Calendar Democratic leader started all of this Ted Kennedy restored blue slips to down to 2003, so we didn’t. that we have been wrestling with since their historical purpose of ensuring Now, look, with regard to these con- then, he said: I am the leader of the fil- consultation as opposed to serving as a tinued complaints about Merrick Gar- ibuster movement, and I am proud of one-Member veto of a qualified judicial land, that is not what this proposal is it. The Buffalo News, May 27, 2003. I am nominee. about. This proposal is about sub-Cabi- the leader of the filibuster movement, All we have done is restore blue slips net appointments and district judges. and I am proud of it. The Buffalo News. for circuit court nominees to the con- For those of you who were not here in CHARLES E. SCHUMER recommended sultative function they have played for 2013, it is almost identical to what al- using an extreme tactic—a filibuster— most of their history. most every one of you voted for in to block some of the Bush administra- I have been under Presidents of both 2013—a standing order that lasted 2 tion’s nominees for Federal judgeships. parties. They do not defer to us on cir- years and a good number of us giving Talk about being proud of something. cuit court judges. We don’t get to pick President Obama the opportunity to He started this whole thing that we them. We almost do get to pick them advance these sub-Cabinet appoint- have been wrestling with since 2003. He when they are district court judges and ments and district judges more quick- cooked it up and convinced his col- when we are of the same party as the ly. leagues to do it, and once it started, it White House. We have a lot of clout be- Let’s talk about district judges for a continued until 2013 when it was turned cause the chairmen honor the blue minute. Chairman GRASSLEY and off. slips for district court judges. They are Chairman GRAHAM honored the blue So, look, where are we? The Execu- entirely contained within our States, slip for district judges. There are 47 of tive Calendar is very close to being re- and none of them get out here on the you guys. There is not a single district turned to the way it was treated by floor unless the Senators approve

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.017 S03APPT1 S2220 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 them. There are 47 of these guys over The Senator from Missouri. the rules of the Senate to slow down here who are not toothless when it Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, in the the process of putting people in the comes to district judges. last vote today we established a new Cabinet. So this is not a bad day for the Sen- precedent. The rules of the Senate are In fact, several Presidents—and ate; this is a day we end this com- a combination of the rules of the Sen- Presidents in this century—had their pletely outrageous level of interference ate, the standing orders of the Senate, full Cabinet put in place within the and obstruction with this administra- and the precedents of the Senate. Sen- first day or two of their administra- tion. I don’t think anybody ought to be ator LANKFORD and I had hoped to do tion. That didn’t happen with this seized with guilt over any institutional this with a permanent standing order President, and it is obviously what damage being done to the Senate. that basically would have put the Sen- brought us to where we are today. POINT OF ORDER ate exactly where the bipartisan vote Usually, in the first couple of years Mr. President, I raise a point of order was in 2013, which included my vote, to of a new administration, the President that postcloture time under rule XXII have the same kind of rules that we are not only gets his Cabinet approved for all executive branch nominations encouraging now. This process is de- right away, but the President is also other than a position at level 1 of the signed to speed up not only nominees able to put people around those Cabi- Executive Schedule under section 5312 for Republican Presidents but also net officers who want to move the gov- of title 5 of the United States Code is 2 nominees for Presidents who are Demo- ernment in the same direction that the hours. crats. voters just said they wanted the coun- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- In the last 2 years, we have seen an try to go. TON). Under rule XXII of the Standing extraordinary use of every tool avail- The term of an administration is Rules of the Senate, the point of order able to the minority. The Senate is de- only 4 years. At the end of 2 years, if is not sustained. signed to be a place where the minority you are sending back 124 nominees who is heard. In fact, at one time, any Sen- APPEAL RULING OF THE CHAIR just simply didn’t get voted on—they ator could stop everything forever, and Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I got investigated, they got the back- appeal the ruling of the Chair and ask when Senators started doing that to ground checks done, they went through for the yeas and nays. excess, that rule was changed. The pro- the committee, and the committee The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a tections of the minority often have to voted to send them to the floor—that sufficient second? be looked at again when the minority was always supposed to be part of the There is a sufficient second. abuses those protections. That is what work of the committee, and that hap- The question is, Shall the decision of has happened in this case. pened for 124 people who never had a Now we have 2 hours of debate on the the Chair stand as the judgment of the chance to get voted on in the first 2 nominee we are debating right now. If Senate? years of this administration, many of we hadn’t just taken the vote we took The yeas and nays have been ordered. whom had been waiting in line for a that overruled the Chair, we would The clerk will call the roll. year. have 30 hours of debate. I guarantee The legislative clerk called the roll. Now, if you are appointed and have a that there will not be 2 hours of debate Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the short-term job in the Federal Govern- about this nominee. There may not be Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is ment and are willing to serve, the one 2 minutes of debate about this nominee necessarily absent. thing that does for sure is to put your if we see what we have seen happened The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there life in some chaos—coming up with the any other Senators in the Chamber de- in the last 2 years. The rules of the Senate currently say material that the Congress insists on, siring to vote? going through the background check, The result was announced—yeas 48, that if any Senator wants to hold up consideration of a nominee, then, the and getting your financial records out. nays 51, as follows: For most people, it also means putting [Rollcall Vote No. 59 Ex.] Senator can insist that we go through the process of invoking cloture. In the the way they make a living on hold. YEAS—48 first 2 years of the Obama administra- I had somebody whom I nominated as Baldwin Hassan Reed tion, that process was used 12 times, one of three people for the President to Bennet Heinrich Rosen choose from to be the district judge in Blumenthal Hirono Sanders and that was more than had been the Booker Jones Schatz case in the past. In fact, the previous 3 the Eastern District of Missouri. I Brown Kaine Schumer Presidents had cloture invoked on made that nomination roughly 24 Cantwell King Shaheen months ago. Twenty-two months ago, Cardin Klobuchar Sinema their nominees a total of 12 times. Carper Leahy Smith That is 24 times in 4 Presidencies. In the President told the person he chose Casey Lee Stabenow the first 2 years of President Trump’s that he was going to nominate that Collins Manchin Tester time in office, the majority leader had person. Last November, after a year Coons Markey Udall and a half of that person telling all his Cortez Masto Menendez Van Hollen to come to the floor 128 times and say Duckworth Merkley Warner we are going to have to invoke cloture law clients, ‘‘You know, I am about to Durbin Murphy Warren to have a chance to vote on this nomi- become a Federal judge; you may need Feinstein Murray Whitehouse to find another lawyer,’’ and after he Gillibrand Peters Wyden nee. It is the first week of April. Eleven closed his legal process, he hasn’t been NAYS—51 times this year already the Senate has voted on yet. That man was one of the Alexander Fischer Perdue had to invoke cloture on a nominee for people sent back from the White House. Barrasso Gardner Portman He had to be sent back up this year and Blackburn Graham Risch a government job—for a judgeship or Blunt Grassley Roberts some other government job. While that had to go through the Judiciary Com- Boozman Hawley Romney debate time was seldom used, occasion- mittee again. He had to get back in a Braun Hoeven Rounds ally, at the end of the week, we would line, where every single person took 30 Burr Hyde-Smith Rubio hours of debate, after the 1 day that Capito Inhofe Sasse say: Well, OK, we will just go ahead Cassidy Isakson Scott (FL) and do the last one. Each time, we had had to be debatable between the time Cornyn Johnson Scott (SC) to assume that 30 hours would be used the leader brings you up and you come Cotton Kennedy Shelby to the floor. Cramer Lankford Sullivan up for those people to be processed and Crapo McConnell Thune to have a chance to do the jobs that This sounds pretty complicated. That Cruz McSally Tillis they were going to do. is because it is, and it is made more Daines Moran Toomey The history of the Senate is exactly complicated by the fact that people Enzi Murkowski Wicker Ernst Paul Young as the majority leader described here have used it as a delaying tactic. earlier. In the first 200-plus years of the Now, as for the 128 people whom I NOT VOTING—1 Senate, while the Senate often used a mentioned—the 128 people whom the Harris delaying tactic to delay legislation and majority leader had to file cloture on— The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- require the Senate to think about it compared to 12, let’s be sure we are ate overrules the decision of the Chair. more, the Senate virtually never used comparing this the way this used to be,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.018 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2221 even in recent years to now—128 com- When you do get voted on, you may not I am not naive enough to stand up pared to 12. When those 128 people fi- actually be able to serve in that job for thinking that if I could have given my nally got votes, the support was sub- more than a few months if you serve speech before we took that vote, it stantial. When they finally got votes, the rest of the term of this Presidency. might have made any difference. I wish one-third of them got 70 votes or more. People will begin to say no, and we it would have. I wish I could have. But Thirteen percent got 90 votes or more. all know that. it didn’t happen that way. So you have 90 people voting for people Today we have 140 people who are Words cannot express how dis- that someone insisted we needed 30 waiting to be voted on for jobs they appointed I am—I truly am—to stand hours of debate for, and there wasn’t a have been nominated for. They are now here as the only Member of the Senate debate at all. out of committee. They have done all who voted against the nuclear option Twenty district judges had cloture the paperwork. They have cleared all of in 2013 when it was a Democratic pro- filed on them. Twelve of those district the days. They have done everything posal and in 2017, the Republican pro- judges had nobody vote against them they needed to do. posal, and now what we did today. I after 30 hours on the floor, where, in all When President Reagan was Presi- have consistently voted against this likelihood, nobody had anything to say dent, the average number of days be- because it is not who we are, and it is during those 30 hours. tween the time you were voted out of not about what we are about either. The average amount of time that we committee and the time you were For those who don’t know, the nu- spent talking about nominees during voted on on the floor was 5 days. By clear option is strictly a gimmick that the 30 hours that has been insisted on the time you had gotten out of com- allows the majority party to truly is less than 1 hour. The person who mittee, you had already been weeks, if steal the power of debate and the power generated the most discussion, at least not months, into this process. Five of the filibuster from individual Sen- this year, was the new Attorney Gen- days later, you would get to know ators. Why does it matter? Because so eral. That is a pretty important job. whether or not you were going to get much of our influence as Senators There should have been quite a bit of the job. comes from our power to filibuster. It With President Trump, the average discussion. In fact, it was our inten- is also the most powerful tool we have number of days between the time you tion—the intention of the standing to force compromise and to stand up got out of committee and the time you order that Senator LANKFORD and I for the people we represent. got voted on was 55. That is 55 days filed—and it will continue to be the in- In spite of the importance of this when you are waiting to do the job that tention, that that person will still have power, everyone else in the body who you have been willing to do, have an- 30 hours of debate if anybody thought has had the chance has voted to use the swered every question you have been that was necessary. nuclear option to lower the votes re- asked, have gone through all of the Supreme Court justices, Cabinet quired to end debate from 60 votes to a background checks you needed, and members, and circuit judges would all simple majority of 50 plus 1 on dif- you are still waiting. have 30 hours of debate. But even with ferent types of nominees. That is a This system cannot work that way. tragedy for our constituents. For this the Attorney General, less than 4 hours We would never get everybody con- was used to talk about what everybody country, it is even more of a tragedy. firmed that a President is required to For the institution of the Senate, it is listening would believe is one of the nominate, which means we also would most important jobs possible. a disaster. never have time to get the other things This debate is not new, and I would For the 10 other nominees who have done that the Senate needs to do. not be honoring the legacy of the late had cloture filed on them prior to this I think the step we took today was Senator Robert C. Byrd, whose seat I week, almost no debate time was used. an important one. We will talk about sit in, if I did not take the opportunity In fact, again, even in the case of At- another category of people to be con- to at least recite a little history here torney General William Barr, four- firmed later today—district judges. I on the floor of the Senate. thirtieths of the time was used. That believe we will be able to make that The Founding Fathers always in- means that twenty-six-thirtieths of the change as well. Again, the Cabinet, the tended the Senate to be deliberate, and time wasn’t used, but we couldn’t use Supreme Court, and the circuit judges we are known as the most deliberate it for anything else. We couldn’t use it would all still have 30 hours available body in the world. for another nominee. We couldn’t use it to them. George Washington himself was said for a piece of legislation. We couldn’t Our friends on the other side may to have told Thomas Jefferson that the use it to talk about how the govern- continue to insist on that, but if they Senate should serve as a ‘‘cooling sau- ment spends its money basically to de- do, I guarantee that if you run a clock cer’’ for legislation from the House. As bate an appropriations bill that would on this, in all likelihood nobody will you know, the House works on a simple be on the floor. It just couldn’t happen. ever use the 30 hours to talk about the majority; 218 Democrats or 218 Repub- Last week, we confirmed Bridget nominee. If we didn’t do it to talk licans can do anything they wish. The Bade to be a judge of the Ninth Circuit about William Barr, we are not hardly Senate is supposed to temper that Court of Appeals. We used less than 1 going to do it to talk about anybody down. minute of the 30 hours that the minor- else. This body was created to protect the ity insisted on—less than 1 minute of Debate is an important thing. Having rights of individual States—small the 30 hours—but nothing else could be the right people in the right job is an States in particular. In the Federalist done during those 30 hours. important thing. It is also important Papers, John Jay notes that ‘‘in this Every Member of the Senate knows to have them in the right job at the spirit it may be remarked, that the that the abuse of this process is done right time. Today, I believe the Senate equal vote allowed to each State, is at to delay and to keep us from con- is taking important steps to return once a constitutional recognition of firming not only other people who need back to the traditional role of the Sen- the portion of sovereignty remaining in to be confirmed but to keep us from ate in confirming nominees and giving the individual States, and an instru- getting to the work we need to get to. Presidents an opportunity to do the job ment for preserving that residuary sov- It prevents us from taking up other they were elected to do. ereignty.’’ legislation. It prevents us from doing With that, I yield the floor. The filibuster is essential to pre- our job. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. serving that residual sovereignty, and It has to be discouraging when you BLACKBURN). The Senator from West diminishing that power should matter talk to people in the future about this: Virginia is recognized. to anyone who comes from a small or Would you be willing to serve as the Mr. MANCHIN. Madam President, I rural State like my State of West Vir- Assistant Secretary of Commerce for thank my colleague. He has more insti- ginia. This power was also meant to something? Would you be willing to tutional knowledge, has been here empower individual Members, like me, serve as the Assistant Deputy Sec- longer, and understands this process. I who often find themselves in the mi- retary of Treasury for IRS? And, by the haven’t been here as long, but I am try- nority of their own party. way, you really can’t start anything ing to put a little common sense to it, That doesn’t mean we can’t make new, and you may never get voted on. and I am having a hard time. changes for efficiency. But today’s rule

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.020 S03APPT1 S2222 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 change and the two that came before it ting in the way of what they’d like to do. So go home and explain it. I don’t care if in 2013 and 2017 were not meant to they are trying to change the rules of the it is an idea that my friends on the Re- make this place more efficient; they game to get their way anyway. publican side have. It makes sense to were meant to take power from each This is precisely what the American me. My constituents understand it. I and every Senator. That means you people decided about Republicans in go home and vote and tell them why I and I have given up our power and our the 2018 election, and the Republicans voted with my Republican friends. If I ability to represent our States. have now gone down the same path vote with my Democratic friends and it Before 1917, there was no way to end Leader MCCONNELL warned us against. makes sense, I tell them the same. If I a debate in the Senate whatsoever, You would think that at least we would vote against something of my Repub- from our beginning, so one Member understand the definition of ‘‘insan- lican friends or Democrats, I explain to could grind this place to a halt for ity’’—doing the same thing over and them. It has nothing to do with poli- however long they felt necessary. over, thinking we are going to get a tics; it is policy. Does it make sense? Then, at the urging of President Wood- different outcome. It doesn’t work that Will it help the constituents of the row Wilson, the Senate adopted rule way. State of West Virginia? Will it make XXII that year, 1917, and first used it 2 Leader MCCONNELL went on to say: my country stronger and better? That years later to end a filibuster against ‘‘So look, I realize this sort of wishful is really what I care about. That is the thinking might appeal to the the Treaty of Versailles. purpose of my being here. uninitiated newcomers in the Demo- For the next 80-plus years, some For the life of me, I can’t figure out cratic conference who served exactly how anyone who voted for this can ex- tweaks were made to the rule and its zero days in the minority, but the rest plain it when they go back home, be- reach was expanded, but there was no of you guys should know better.’’ And cause we have given our power away. real threat to the existence of the rule. he is absolutely correct. Everyone Every time you do this, you continue In 2005, that all changed when then-Ma- should know better. Those of you who to erode the powers you have as a Sen- jority Leader Bill Frist made the first have been in the minority before ate by the Constitution of the United serious effort to change the rules of the should know better because what goes States of America and by the Founding Senate and reduce the power of every around comes around. Fathers who created this body. Now, Member of this body by deploying the His final warning, which I am dis- how we can do it in such a willing way nuclear option. None other than John appointed my Republican friends didn’t makes no sense. How do you look peo- McCain and Robert C. Byrd, our dear listen to, was this: ple in the eye and say: I gave up my in- departed friends, teamed up to form If you think this is in the best interest of dividual power to represent you. How the Gang of 14 that cut a deal on a the United States Senate and the American do I do that? I am not going to do it. I package of nominations that took the people, to make advice and consent mean ef- am not going to do it, and I haven’t nuclear option off the table—but only fectively nothing, obviously you can break done it, nor will I ever do it. for a little while. the rules to change the rules to achieve that. You can say it was because of ob- In 2013, when Harry Reid and Demo- That is what we have done. struction. Well, if there is an obstruc- crats—my side of the aisle—voted to But some of us have been around here long tion, there is a way around obstruc- end the filibuster for Presidential enough to know that the shoe is sometimes tions. You drive around obstructions. nominees, I was one of only three on the other foot. You have obstructions in your life Democrats to fight and vote against it. While the majority leader and minor- every day. You learn to work around The other two, Mark Pryor and Carl ity leader have flipped their positions obstructions. It is basically by commu- Levin, are no longer serving in the Sen- and their perspective today, the lesson nicating. It is basically by sitting down ate today, but we represented all wings is clear: Breaking the Senate for polit- and looking at the other side, the other of the Democratic Party—from the lib- ical expedience will, over time, hurt all point of view. eral end, to the conservative end, to of us and, most importantly, our con- I have always said that I am not al- the moderate centrist end. We stood to- stituents and the American people. ways right. I need help. But I am not gether despite our differences because I firmly believe the filibuster is a always wrong either. I have, hopefully, we knew that it would forever lessen vital protection of minority views and some input, and I try to make that as the institution of the Senate and that exactly why the Framers of our Con- a balance as I approach these things. it would come back to bite us when we stitution made the Senate the cooling And Republicans are—what they have weren’t in the majority. That was the saucer. Lately, both parties have lit done today is basically the same. We point we made at that time. That was the saucer on fire and thrown it out the don’t have obstructions we can’t over- the argument we made and pleaded window. The Senate was set up by our come if we respect each other. You with our colleagues. Founding Fathers to force us to work can’t blame everybody for everything. For the past 5 years, we have seen together. Think about that. They knew You can’t blame somebody else for the consequences of those actions. that whatever we receive from the something you are unwilling to do. You Today, our Republican friends are House would be hot as a firecracker. can’t blame somebody else if you don’t using the same excuse our Democrats Someone had to put out the flame. have the patience to sit down and talk used—historic obstruction. Democrats Someone had to know to say: That is through your problems and try to un- are using the same argument today not who we are as a country, and it is derstand better. You can’t blame some- that our Republican friends have not basically who we want to be as a body else if you are not willing to give used—unprecedented overreach. This is country. and take. That is what the whole proc- the hypocrisy that makes us under- We are not the House of Representa- ess is about if you are going to be suc- stand why people think Washington tives, and by golly, we are going there cessful in life—anyone who has been sucks. It is on both sides. No one is in- at a rapid pace—a rapid pace. It seems successful. It is not ‘‘my way or the nocent on this. that when people come from the House, highway’’; it is ‘‘our way going down In 2013, the current majority leader, they bring that House mentality— the highway together.’’ MITCH MCCONNELL, was furious about scorched and burned earth. That is not This move is a betrayal of the people what the Democrats were threatening what we were set up to be. This is a we represent, and everyone in this body to do. He called it breaking the rules to very different body. It is the most is complicit. It is a shame that we are change the rules. And I agreed with unique body in the world. going to go back and try to explain our him. He was right. I voted with him. As the late great Robert C. Byrd him- positions with the votes that were In 2013, I heard and listened to Lead- self said in the months before his made today. It is just a shame. It should never have come to this. For er MCCONNELL when he said: death, ‘‘While I welcome needed re- form, we must always be mindful of our hundreds of years, we have managed to The American people decided not to give the Democrats the House, or to restore the responsibilities to preserve this insti- overcome obstructions and preserve filibuster proof majority they had in the tution’s special purpose.’’ And we are our Founders’ vision for the Senate, Senate back in 2009, and our Democratic col- better than this, he said. but for the last 6 years, Members on leagues don’t like that one bit. They just I always tell people back home that I both sides of this aisle have decided don’t like it. The American people are get- can’t vote for something unless I can that is no longer possible.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.023 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2223 This abdication of our power and re- great insight of having two bodies in a tax bill passed, said that when they sponsibility is nothing more than bicameral, not a unicameral, branch were creating almost $2 trillion in def- weakness in the face of partisanship. that was supposed to work to help each icit, watch out because the next thing This is truly tribal. What tribe do you other and protect us from ourselves. will be a discussion to say: Oh. Oh my belong to? Do you belong to the Demo- Right now, we have become the worst gosh. We have a big deficit. We have to cratic tribe, or do you belong to the enemy of ourselves. I hope we change. cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Se- Republican tribe? I am sorry, I belong Thank you. curity, and the other things that di- to the American tribe, and I am going I suggest the absence of a quorum. rectly affect people, with healthcare at to stay right in the tribe I belong to, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the top of the list. and I am going to be loyal to the Amer- clerk will call the roll. So what happens? Well, the Trump ican tribe. The bill clerk proceeded to call the budget would cut $800 billion from This abdication of our power and re- roll. Medicare over the next 10 years. That sponsibility is truly, truly a weakness Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I is taking away healthcare from our in the face of partisanship, and my col- ask unanimous consent that the order seniors, people with disabilities. The leagues need to stand up to the leaders. for the quorum call be rescinded. Trump budget would cut $1.5 trillion We have given too much power to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without from Medicaid over the next 10 years. leadership here. objection, it is so ordered. That is taking healthcare away from I remember the day when people used The Senator from Michigan. half of all the babies born in America to talk about, oh, the committee chair- HEALTHCARE who are covered by Medicaid—them man had so much power. They could Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I and their moms. That is taking run a bill and make sure it got on the have come to the floor many times, healthcare away from two in three sen- floor and got voted on. Those days are and I come to the floor today to say iors who get their nursing home care gone. There is always a reason why something straightforward. Healthcare from Medicaid healthcare. That is tak- something doesn’t go to the floor, even is personal, not political. Despite all ing away healthcare from everyone if it goes through the committee proc- the debates, everything that has gone who has benefited from expanding Med- ess. Something comes out of the com- on around healthcare, for every family icaid, including low-income, minimum- mittee unanimously, and it still in Michigan and across the country and wage working people, working families, doesn’t come to the floor. Try to ex- for every one of us, healthcare is per- including more than 650,000 people in plain that one. sonal, not political. my State of Michigan covered by a To protect the powers of the Sen- If your child gets sick in the middle very successful program called Healthy ators as representatives for their of the night and needs to be taken to Michigan. States and to protect the institution of the emergency room, you don’t care Ninety-seven percent of Michigan the Senate, that is not that hard, and who the doctor voted for in the last children can see a doctor when they get I know because I have done it. I have Presidential election. sick or hurt now because of what has voted against my colleagues on my side If you are diagnosed with cancer or a happened with Michigan, with Healthy of the aisle. I was up front, and I was chronic condition, you are more inter- Michigan and other coverage, and the honest. I said: I am sorry; I can’t go ested in receiving the care you need number of people treated without in- home and explain that. It doesn’t make than the ins and outs of the insurance surance has dropped 50 percent, which means instead of folks dropping into sense at all, and I am not voting for it. plan that provides that care. If they want to get my vote, they are If your mom or dad needs to move the emergency room who can’t pay and going to have to sit down and say: into a nursing home, you want to make everybody else’s insurance rates go up What would it take to get your vote? sure they are happy and that they are to pay for it, people now have their And I would explain to them: You treated well, regardless of the specific own insurance, and those costs have have to adjust this or adjust this and Medicaid reimbursement rate. dropped by 50 percent—the number of make sense. Healthcare is personal to each and people walking in without insurance. What has that meant for the State of It is fair to the minority, and if we every one of us, not political, and it af- Michigan? Taxpayers had more than were in the majority, or vice versa, the fects each and every one of us, whether $400 million back into the budget in the majority should be fair to us. If you we watch MSNBC, CNN, FOX News, or State of Michigan last year because of can work through that, you can make don’t turn on the television. the savings because of Healthy Michi- it. You can make it on this side. If not, That is why, when this administra- gan. it is going to be a miserable 6 years for tion and Republicans in Congress try We should be building on this every Senator who just got elected, if to take away people’s healthcare over progress. Instead, Republicans are, we don’t come back to reality. and over and over again, I take it per- once again, trying to take your I know I keep calling it an individual sonally. You know who else takes it healthcare away. right, but it really isn’t. It is a trust personally? The American people. Cer- Between 2010 and 2018, the Repub- passed down from the Senators who tainly, I know the people of Michigan lican majority in Congress voted to re- preceded us. They had the will and do. peal or weaken the Affordable Care Act they had the determination to make Back in November, they sent a mes- more than 70 times—70—with no re- this place work, and we have given up sage at the ballot box. Unfortunately, placement. Now the Trump administra- on that. This belongs to our constitu- the administration and Republicans in tion has stepped in to help because ents, the power we have here, and we Congress missed the message. They they weren’t successful in Congress. We have no power to protect them now. could be working across the aisle right were able to stop that because people The solution to obstruction isn’t ru- now to expand access to care and im- rose up and said: My healthcare is per- ining the Senate. It is outreach. It is prove quality and reduce costs. This is sonal not political. People from across compromise. It is finding solutions something I work to do all the time. the country engaged and we were able that make a bunch of people on the far Instead, they are, once again, trying to to stop it in Congress. So now the left and the far right very uncomfort- take away your healthcare. Trump administration has stepped in able and mad sometimes. Until we are If you don’t believe me, just take a to do a number of things to sabotage willing to do that, the hard work of look at President Trump’s budget. This the Affordable Care Act. this institution is going to get worse. administration wants to pay for a huge Look at what has happened in the So it is not that we are fractured, we tax giveaway for the wealthiest among last year. Last February, the Trump are almost broken, and it was never in- us by taking away people’s healthcare. administration announced it would tended. I have never seen anything bro- Let me say that again. provide funding to States that want to ken that we couldn’t fix. I hope we They are asking us to pay for a budg- let insurance plans cover fewer serv- come to our senses. I hope we act as et-busting tax giveaway for the ices, encouraging fewer services to be Americans. I hope we understand basi- wealthy by taking healthcare away covered. cally the whole thought process from from people who depend on Medicare Last April, they issued a rule that, our Founding Fathers, who had the and Medicaid. Many of us, when this among other things, allowed insurers

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:45 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.024 S03APPT1 S2224 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 to hike premiums 15 percent without Ms. STABENOW. Thank you very for a position that includes health in- justification. much. surance. It would kill this awesome In June and August, they expanded It is estimated that comprehensive small business I work for. . . . This will access to Association Health Plans and health insurance costs 16.6 percent be a top priority for me when I vote in what are called short-term plans, more this year than it otherwise would 2020.’’ which we also call junk health plans because of all of this sabotage, up- Lisa and millions of other people are because they are a lot cheaper, but heaval, and chaos in the healthcare sending a message. The only question they don’t cover much, and people markets. is, Are folks listening? don’t realize that until they get sick. In case those sabotage attempts were Thank you. These plans don’t have to cover pre- too subtle, last week the Department I yield the floor. of Justice announced that it agrees— scription drugs or mental health or KESSLER NOMINATION the Trump administration now agrees maternity care. The PRESIDING OFFICER. All time By the way, as the person who led with the Federal judge in Texas who has expired. that fight in the Senate Finance Com- said that the entire Affordable Care The question is, Will the Senate ad- mittee, I can tell you that the vast ma- Act must be struck down. There would vise and consent to the Kessler nomi- jority of insurance plans prior to the be no more coverage for preexisting nation? Affordable Care Act did not cover ma- conditions, no more consumer protec- ternity care and prenatal care, which is tions, no more capacity to have your The nomination was confirmed. pretty basic as part of healthcare for child on your insurance until age 26, no The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- women. Remember when being a more capacity to be able to expand ator from Maine. woman was considered a preexisting what we are doing for minimum wage f condition? That is what we meant. workers, et cetera. These plans are bringing that back, In other words, if they can’t take CLOTURE MOTION which means if you are a woman, you away your health insurance through Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, I have to pay more to be able to get the legislative process, they are trying ask unanimous consent that the man- basic healthcare, and that is wrong. We to do it now through the courts, which datory quorum call be waived. did away with that 10 years ago. also goes to what is happening now in In July, the Trump administration terms of changing the rules so they can The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without slashed funding for programs that help more quickly put judges through and objection, it is so ordered. people enroll in health insurance cov- pack the courts with folks who will CLOTURE MOTION erage and began steering people toward agree with taking away people’s Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays the junk plans. So instead of giving healthcare. before the Senate the pending cloture people information through What is the Republican alternative motion, which the clerk will state. healthcare.gov and encouraging people to the ACA? Unfortunately, these folks The senior assistant legislative clerk to find out what would be the cheapest still don’t have one. Don’t worry. read as follows: plan that would be effective and cover President Trump now says that he is CLOTURE MOTION what they need, they made it harder to going to have a ‘‘really great’’ We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- sign up for comprehensive coverage and healthcare plan after he is reelected in ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the pushed people toward these junk plans. 2020. Just wait. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby In October, the Centers for Medicare By the way, to emphasize the fact move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- and Medicaid Services announced that that Senate Republicans support what nation of Roy Kalman Altman, of Florida, to healthcare.gov would be shut down for President Trump is doing, they passed be United States District Judge for the 60 hours during open enrollment season a budget resolution out of committee Southern District of Florida. for ‘‘maintenance,’’ so you couldn’t last week through a partisan vote— Mitch McConnell, Johnny Isakson, Roger only Republican votes—that includes F. Wicker, Chuck Grassley, John Booz- even get online to be able to sign up for man, John Cornyn, Mike Crapo, Shel- more affordable, comprehensive insur- repeal of the Affordable Care Act with ley Moore Capito, Pat Roberts, Roy ance that actually would cover things no replacement in place. Blunt, Deb Fischer, David Perdue, you and your family need. In the meantime, the Affordable Care Todd Young, John Thune, Rick Scott, In November, the Trump administra- Act could be struck down by the Mike Rounds, Marco Rubio. tion released information for States on courts, and more than 20 million people The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- how they could use waivers to under- who gained health coverage through imous consent, the mandatory quorum mine consumer protections. Consumer the Affordable Care Act could be out of call is waived. protections are things like not getting luck. The question is, Is it the sense of the Let me say, in conclusion, that just dropped if you get sick. Prior to the Af- Senate that debate on the nomination this week I heard from one of those 20 fordable Care Act, so many times peo- of Roy Kalman Altman, of Florida, to million people. Lisa from Norton ple said to me: I have paid for insur- be the United States District Judge for Shores graduated with a marketing de- ance all my life and never needed it. I the Southern District of Florida, shall gree in the middle of a recession and finally need it, and I got dropped after be brought to a close? worked a low-wage job at the local hos- I got sick. What do you mean it only The yeas and nays are mandatory pital for 8 years. When a part-time, covers 1 day in the hospital or doesn’t under the rule. temporary job opened up at a local cover maternity care? What do you The clerk will call the roll. marketing agency, the Affordable Care mean the insurance company can cap The senior assistant legislative clerk Act allowed Lisa to take the job and the number of cancer treatments I called the roll. get the experience she needed for a ca- need? Isn’t that up to my doctor? Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Well, it is now, and it has been under reer in her field. She was able to get Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is the Affordable Care Act. Instead, we healthcare separately from her job. necessarily absent. are in a situation where they are try- That job led to another marketing job The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ing to get States to waive consumer with a local company—this one with CRAMER). Are there any other Senators protections and put decisions back in benefits. in the Chamber desiring to vote? the hands of insurance companies. A few years later, the original mar- Thanks to all of this sabotage, it is keting agency offered Lisa a full-time The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 66, estimated that comprehensive health job. Once again, the ACA allowed her nays 33, as follows: insurance costs 16.6 percent more this to take it. Lisa wrote this: [Rollcall Vote No. 60 Ex.] year than it otherwise would. It was only through the Affordable Care YEAS—66 Madam President, I ask unanimous Act that I have been able to pull myself up Alexander Burr Cortez Masto consent to complete my statement, to be a contributing member of society. It Barrasso Capito Cotton has allowed me to rise to my capabilities. Blackburn Cardin Cramer which will be about 2 minutes. Blunt Cassidy Crapo The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without She added that if the ACA is over- Boozman Collins Cruz objection, it is so ordered. turned, ‘‘I will have to leave this job Braun Cornyn Daines

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.025 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2225 Duckworth Jones Rounds judicial nominees have been confirmed them try to do this without properly Durbin Kaine Rubio Enzi Kennedy Sasse at a record pace. vetting those same nominees, as in the Ernst Lankford Scott (FL) Through his first 2 years in office, case of Brett Talley, who failed to dis- Feinstein Lee Scott (SC) President Trump had more circuit close to the Judiciary Committee near- Fischer Manchin Shaheen court nominees confirmed than any ly 15,000 online comments, including Gardner McConnell Shelby Graham McSally Sinema other President had at the same point one in which he defended the founder of Grassley Moran Sullivan in their tenure—30 total. That is on top the KKK. Hassan Murkowski Tester of two Supreme Court Justices and 53 The Senate needs sufficient time to Hawley Perdue Thune district court judges. scrutinize the records of these nomi- Hoeven Portman Tillis Hyde-Smith Risch Toomey Further, the current administra- nees—nominees like Matthew Inhofe Roberts Warner tion’s circuit court nominees have been Kacsmaryk and Patrick Wyrick, who Isakson Romney Wicker confirmed nearly twice as fast as Presi- have led efforts to undermine the Af- Johnson Rosen Young dent Obama’s, 256 days for President fordable Care Act; nominees like Brian NAYS—33 Obama’s nominees versus 139 days for Buescher, who has argued that States Baldwin Hirono Reed President Trump’s nominees. should go after women’s reproductive Bennet King Sanders The rules change is also unnecessary rights ‘‘bit by bit’’; and nominees like Blumenthal Klobuchar Schatz Booker Leahy Schumer because Senate Democrats are in no Wendy Vitter, who refused to acknowl- Brown Markey Smith way obstructing confirmations. Senate edge that Brown v. Board of Education Cantwell Menendez Stabenow Democrats have not required cloture was correctly decided and who falsely Carper Merkley Udall votes on more than half of President claimed there is a connection between Casey Murphy Van Hollen Coons Murray Warren Trump’s district court nominees. the use of contraceptive pills and the Gillibrand Paul Whitehouse On average, the Senate has used only incidence of cancer. Heinrich Peters Wyden 3 hours of floor time for debate on Two hours is simply not enough time NOT VOTING—1 President Trump’s district court nomi- to scrutinize these nominees’ records, Harris nees. especially when so many of this admin- In addition, a higher percentage of istration’s judicial nominees fail to The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this President Trump’s district court nomi- disclose materials to the Judiciary vote, the yeas are 66, the nays are 33. nees have been confirmed by voice vote Committee. The motion is agreed to. as compared to President Obama’s dis- In conclusion, all Senators, and not f trict court nominees, 49 percent versus just those on the Judiciary Committee, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR 35 percent. In other words, Senate need adequate time to review the Democrats have not required the ma- records of these judicial nominees, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The jority to hold rollcall votes on nearly who, if confirmed, will serve for life. clerk will report the nomination. half of President Trump’s nominees to All Senators need adequate time to The legislative clerk read the nomi- the Federal district courts. make an informed decision about nation of Roy Kalman Altman, of Flor- Finally, Democrats have worked with whether these nominees are qualified ida, to be United States District Judge the Trump administration to identify to decide the fate of thousands of peo- for the Southern District of Florida. qualified judicial nominees. ple’s lives. After all, the American peo- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I For example, Delaware’s two Demo- ple deserve to know that, if they find understand the majority is considering cratic Senators, Senators CARPER and themselves in a Federal court, they another change to how judicial nomi- COONS, worked with the White House to will have an impartial, qualified, main- nees are considered. identify two qualified nominees to be stream jurist who has earned the right My understanding is the majority judges on the U.S. District Court for to sit on the bench. leader may move to break the rules of the District of Delaware. This decision to break the rules and the Senate and cut the time that Sen- Senators DURBIN and DUCKWORTH of reduce debate time on judicial nomi- ators can debate nominees after clo- Illinois worked with this administra- nees not only harms the institution of ture is invoked from 30 hours to 2 tion to identify two highly qualified the Senate, but also harms the Federal hours. nominees to be judges on the U.S. judiciary. Just yesterday, the Senate rejected Court of Appeals for the Seventh Cir- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- this change. The Lankford resolution cuit. Both of those nominees were con- jority leader. was voted on and did not receive 60 firmed unanimously. POINT OF ORDER votes, let alone the 67 votes required to In addition, we are right now in Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I change the rules. postcloture time on the nomination of raise a point of order that the The resolution would also have Roy Altman to the Southern District postcloture time under rule XXII for changed postcloture debate time on of Florida. Several Democrats voted all judicial nominations, other than circuit court and Supreme Court nomi- for Mr. Altman in committee, and circuit courts or Supreme Court of the nees from 30 hours total to 30 hours di- Democrats have not demanded a full 30 United States, is 2 hours. vided between the majority and minor- hours of debate time on Mr. Altman’s The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under ity leaders or their designees. This nomination. rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the means debate on a Supreme Court Despite all of this, Republicans are Senate, the point of order is not sus- nomination could be limited to only 15 nevertheless breaking the rules and tained. total hours of debate. pushing the Senate closer to a body APPEALING RULING OF THE CHAIR Despite bipartisan opposition to the that is governed simply by the whim of Mr. MCCONNELL. I appeal the ruling Lankford resolution, the majority is the majority. of the Chair and ask for the yeas and now considering limiting debate time All of this leads to an unmistakable nays. by breaking longstanding rules of the conclusion—shortening debate time is The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Senate. unnecessary. It is a response to a non- sufficient second? Changing the rules is not only unnec- existent problem, and it is simply a There appears to be a sufficient sec- essary, but also is dangerous, espe- power grab meant to stack the courts ond. cially when we are talking about life- at an even faster rate. The question is, Shall the decision of time appointments. Further, given this It is also important to stress why it the Chair stand as the judgment of the administration’s failure to properly vet is so dangerous to allow the Trump ad- Senate? its own nominees, the Senate should ministration to stack the courts in this The yeas and nays have been ordered. not restrict critical vetting and due way, without adequate debate time. The clerk will call the roll. diligence. We have seen this administration fill The legislative clerk called the roll. There is simply no need to limit de- lifetime positions with young, inexpe- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the bate on President Trump’s judicial rienced nominees who are often outside Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is nominees. In fact, President Trump’s the legal mainstream. We have seen necessarily absent.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.004 S03APPT1 S2226 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there Many ideas were put forward. We ex- provide an estimate of how much the any other Senators in the Chamber de- amined each of them carefully, includ- employee’s account would provide dur- siring to vote? ing through the work of the Finance ing retirement if the employee in- The result was announced—yeas 48, Committee’s Tax Reform Working vested the balance in an annuity. nays 51, as follows: Group on Savings and Investment, All of this is intended to help individ- [Rollcall Vote No. 61 Ex.] which did most of its work during the uals get on the path of saving for a se- YEAS—48 year 2015. cure retirement during their working Baldwin Hassan Reed The resulting proposals were brought years, but it is also with an eye toward Bennet Heinrich Rosen together to form this bill that we call making sure that their savings will Blumenthal Hirono Sanders RESA. It was unanimously approved by last once they retire. I should also note Booker Jones Schatz the Finance Committee in 2016. In the that this bill is paid for. Brown Kaine Schumer Cantwell King Shaheen last Congress, many of us worked This is the pay-for. The main offset- Cardin Klobuchar Sinema closely with former Senator Hatch, and ting provision involves an option under Carper Leahy Smith chairman at that time, to advance this current law for a person to pass along Casey Lee Stabenow Collins Manchin Tester package. We came very close to an his or her IRA or 401(k) account to a Coons Markey Udall agreement last December, but, as a lot family member or other beneficiary. Cortez Masto Menendez Van Hollen of times happens at the end of the year, Under current law, the recipient of Duckworth Merkley Warner it fell short due to politics and the that account can keep the inherited Durbin Murphy Warren Feinstein Murray Whitehouse process at that time. Passage of this funds in the tax-deferred account and Gillibrand Peters Wyden important bill remains a top priority save for their own retirement if they NAYS—51 for me. I have continued working close- take out a required minimum amount ly with Senator WYDEN, the ranking each year. That is often referred to as Alexander Fischer Perdue Barrasso Gardner Portman Democrat, other committee members, a ‘‘stretch IRA.’’ Blackburn Graham Risch and even colleagues in the House to The bill maintains this savings op- Blunt Grassley Roberts maintain the momentum from the end tion for people who inherit an IRA or Boozman Hawley Romney retirement account, but it places a Braun Hoeven Rounds of last year so that improvements in Burr Hyde-Smith Rubio this bill can be signed into law without limit on how large an account can be Capito Inhofe Sasse further delay. inherited on a tax-protected basis. This Cassidy Isakson Scott (FL) The RESA bill would reform our re- is a commonsense approach to encour- Cornyn Johnson Scott (SC) Cotton Kennedy Shelby tirement savings laws in several impor- age the next generation to save for re- Cramer Lankford Sullivan tant areas. For example, it would im- tirement while ensuring that the Crapo McConnell Thune prove on an existing type of plan called changes in this bill are fiscally respon- Cruz McSally Tillis a multiple employer plan, or as we say sible. Daines Moran Toomey Enzi Murkowski Wicker in finance, MEP. The bill would expand Retirement security is a very impor- Ernst Paul Young these plans so that employers can join tant topic that is already getting a NOT VOTING—1 together to sponsor a single retirement great deal of attention this year. The House Ways and Means Committee con- Harris plan for their workers. These open MEPs would make it far more feasible sidered a retirement savings bill yes- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- for businesses of all sizes, and espe- terday that is built on the provisions ate overrides the decision of the Chair. cially small businesses, to offer retire- included in RESA, and I look forward The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ment plans by harnessing economies of to working with Chairman NEAL of the ator from Iowa. scale and reducing unnecessary admin- House Ways and Means Committee to S. 972 istrative burdens on employers. reconcile our bills and to get a final Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, ear- More importantly, these open MEPs package to the President’s desk. lier this week I introduced the bipar- would open the door for millions of So, in closing, I want to sum by tisan Retirement Enhancement and Americans to save for retirement. stressing that increasing long-term Savings Act of 2019, and the acronym Speaking of small businesses, the bill savings in America is critically impor- for that is RESA, or R-E-S-A. includes provisions designed to make it tant. We know that there are ways that I am pleased to be joined by my col- easier and more cost-effective for we can improve our private retirement league, Ranking Member WYDEN of the smaller employers to sponsor a retire- system to make it easier for Americans Finance Committee, in introducing ment plan. Small businesses, farms, to save. The reforms in this bill rep- this very important piece of legisla- and ranches, are, of course, vital to our resent a very important step forward in tion. The workplace retirement system economy. We need to encourage a level improving Americans’ retirement secu- provides an effective way for employ- playing field so that workers and small rity. ees to save for retirement. Not all businesses throughout our country I know that there are other Members workers have access to retirement have equal access to retirement plans with additional ideas for improving re- plans, and some workers who have ac- as workers at Fortune 500 companies tirement security. I want those Mem- cess to a plan don’t always participate. have. bers to know that regardless of this The committee felt that we needed to RESA also would create a new fidu- bill’s passing, we are ready to consider do more to encourage and facilitate re- ciary safe harbor for employers that those proposals and advancing those tirement savings. That is why we are allow employees to invest in lifetime- that will build on RESA and will help providing new incentives for employers income arrangements like annuities. In to attain the goal of ensuring that all to adopt retirement plans. The bill also addition, the bill would expand the Americans achieve a security retire- helps to reduce costs of operating these portability of retirement plan assets, ment. plans and creates new provisions to en- including those annuities. That would I yield the floor. courage workers to plan and to save for allow workers, then, to keep their re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- retirement. tirement savings when they change jority leader is recognized. This bill has been a long time in the jobs throughout their career. ORDER OF BUSINESS making. Work on it actually began This bill encourages employers to Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I shortly after the passage of the Pen- provide the kinds of tools and flexi- ask unanimous consent that notwith- sion Protection Act of 2006. So when I bility that employees need to plan for standing rule XXII, the confirmation say a long time, if it actually started a financially secure retirement. RESA vote on the Altman nomination occur back there at that time, that is 13 also would help employees to add to at 11:45 a.m. on Thursday, April 4. years ago. their retirement savings each year The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Over several Congresses, the Finance through automatic increases in con- objection? Committee has held hearings on the re- tributions to 401(k) plans. Also, to help Without objection, it is so ordered. tirement system and reviewed a num- workers plan better for retirement, the The senior Senator from North Da- ber of proposals to improve the system. legislation would require employers to kota.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.005 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2227 S. RES. 50 by President Trump more than 77 days If you do what Lincoln used to do and Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I rise to ago. It has been about 230 days since say ‘‘I need to go out and get my pub- discuss why we needed to reform the Drew Wrigley, nominee to be U.S. at- lic-opinion baths’’ and if you see how confirmation process. It was absolutely torney for the District of North Dakota people live and you see that somebody necessary to ensure that the Senate is was originally reported by President is paying half their income in rent, and able to approve the President’s nomi- Trump—230 days. These are qualified their car breaks down and they don’t nees in a timely manner. nominees from my home State of have $600 to fix their car, what happens Delays and obstruction have pre- North Dakota and the Presiding Offi- is they can’t pay their rent. Then, if vented qualified nominees from being cer’s home State of North Dakota who something else happens and they get confirmed. In fact, at the pace the Sen- have been approved by the Senate Judi- evicted, their whole life turns upside ate has been going, it would take more ciary Committee with bipartisan sup- down. They have to give away their than 5 years to process the remaining port. Yet both are still waiting for con- pet, no matter what their kids think. nominees. Clearly, the process isn’t firmation by the U.S. Senate. They They have to move out of that apart- working. need to be out there doing their job. ment. They have to send their children In the Senate, we take our advice and They need to get confirmed. to a different school. They often have consent role very seriously. We all That is why we voted today to reduce to live in the basement of a neighbor’s want to ensure that we have capable debate from 30 hours to 2 hours for or a cousin’s home. They end up put- and qualified individuals serving in im- nominees like district court judges as ting their things in storage and losing portant positions. Delays in the con- well as many executive branch nomi- them. firmation process often have nothing nees, while retaining the 30 hours of de- I don’t think we understand what the to do with the qualifications of the bate for high-level nominees—for cir- housing crisis means to, literally, tens candidate. cuit court judges, Supreme Court of millions of Americans. It is not just These nominees have been vetted and judges, and for Cabinet positions. We in the city, as the Presiding Officer approved by the appropriate com- did not change the confirmation for knows. It is in rural areas. His State is mittee, only to spend weeks or months nominees to the highest levels of gov- pretty rural. Big parts of my State are waiting to be considered by the full ernment, including the Supreme Court, pretty rural. It is not just East Cleve- Senate. Currently, there are more than circuit court, and for Cabinet-level of- land or Over-the-Rhine in Cincinnati. 100 nominees awaiting confirmation on ficials. It is Appalachia, small towns, and the Senate calendar. That is because This reform does streamline the proc- small cities like Zanesville, OH, and our colleagues on the other side of the ess for other important nominees who Mansfield, OH—places where you can’t aisle have been using the filibuster to have languished on the Senate calendar pay the rent or you get your home delay all of the nominees—even rou- for far too long. This is a commonsense foreclosed and you lose your home; you reform to ensure that there is still de- tine, highly qualified nominees. get thrown out of your home, and your bate on nominees, while making the In past administrations, a cloture whole life turns upside down. That is process more efficient and effective so vote was only required for high-level or why this is so important. controversial nominations that re- we can get qualified nominees con- We are not only talking about rent- quired additional deliberation or de- firmed and working for the American ing but also about homeownership too. bate. Under President Trump, our col- people, as is our job. The homeownership rate among Afri- leagues on the other side of the aisle With that, I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- can Americans is at the same dismal have required cloture on hundreds of ator from Ohio. level it was before we had laws in place nominees, which means instead of ap- to protect against discrimination. proving these nominations in a timely NOMINATION OF MARK ANTHONY CALABRIA Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, as you Those laws are barely being enforced. manner, it often takes 3 days on the know and as we know, our Nation is The Secretary of Housing and Urban Senate floor before a final vote is facing an affordable housing crisis. Development seems to have little in- taken. That is because, following a Right now, we are considering the terest in enforcing housing discrimina- vote to invoke cloture, there is an ad- nomination of someone who will have tion laws. The Senate Banking Com- ditional 30 hours of floor debate after the power to do something about it— mittee majority seems to have little an intervening day. Mark Calabria, the President’s nomi- interest in enforcing anti-discrimina- During the first 2 years of the pre- nee to spend the next half decade head- tion laws. Hispanic households are vious 3 Presidencies, there were a total ing the Federal Housing Finance Agen- hardly better off than African-Amer- of 24 cloture votes. During the first 2 cy. He would be responsible for over- ican households. These are serious years of President Trump’s Presidency, seeing a $6.5 trillion housing market issues we have to solve. the Senate forced a cloture vote on 128 that provides homes for millions of As we face this crisis, Mark Calabria, nominations. Think about that—24 for American families, and $6.5 trillion is the President’s nominee for FHFA will the prior 3 Presidents and 128 cloture $6.5 thousand billion; that is how big a be on the frontlines. He will set poli- votes on President Trump’s nomina- trillion is. He would oversee a $6.5 tril- cies that determine how many families tions. For President Obama, during his lion housing market that provides can afford to buy a home and how first 2 years—to compare President homes for millions of families. much they pay. He will have the power Trump to President Obama’s first 2 Far too many Americans are left be- to promote or discourage building af- years—12 for Obama. There were 12 for hind in our housing policy. Think fordable apartments to serve the low- President Obama and 128 for President about this. One-third of all households est income renters. It is not just that Trump. spend more than 30 percent of their in- people’s wages are stagnant in the So let me provide another example. come on housing. A number that is Trump economy. Wages are flat. It is During the 8 years of the Obama ad- even more frightening is that one-quar- not just that. As prices go up, there ministration, the Senate confirmed 272 ter of American renters spend at least simply isn’t enough housing, so rental district court judges. Since President half their income on housing. units are getting more and more expen- Trump has been elected, the Senate has One-quarter of American renters sive. confirmed 53 district judges—272 to 53 spend half of their income on housing. If your wages are flat, no matter how district court judges. At that pace, What does that mean? hard you work—you might have two only 195 district court judges would be That is not something people around jobs, a job making $9 and a job making approved over a full 8-year period, far here, frankly, think about very much. $14, but it is not enough if your rent less than the 272 during the Obama ad- If you are a Senator, if you are a Con- keeps going up, as it does in far too ministration. gressman, if you are some of the highly many cases. These delays impact qualified indi- paid staff people, and many aren’t, but The record shows that Dr. Calabria is viduals across the Nation. For exam- if you are the chief of staff or legisla- exactly the wrong person for this job. ple, Peter Welte, the nominee to be the tive director or if you are a staff direc- He actually questioned the need for the U.S. district court judge for the Dis- tor, you don’t think about those 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. Think trict of North Dakota, was nominated things. about that. That is the primary tool

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.042 S03APPT1 S2228 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 families use to afford homes and build not to make it personal—or as hard as son thinks this way? What kind of per- wealth. I am guessing that almost most of us in the Senate work. These son says these things? What kind of every one of my colleagues, except are people working hard to try to get person is so hardhearted that he or she those born extraordinarily rich—I am ahead. Because of circumstances in would possibly take these positions if guessing that for most of us in this this global economy where wages are he or she knows any of these people? body, most people watching this, most flat, where the rich are getting richer, Maybe he needs to go out and get to of our staffs, and most Americans who where most of America is treading know some of these people. own homes, especially the first home water, Dr. Calabria calls these people We asked about his solution. He said they bought had a 25- or 30-year fixed deadbeats for something they didn’t we should just let prices fall. He would mortgage. Before people owned homes even do. Anybody who doesn’t think sit back and let homeowners suffer and much in this country, a century ago, families will do everything they pos- communities suffer because of Wall they had to pay off their home in 3 or sibly can to stay in their homes has Street’s greed. This is the man the 4 or 5 years, typically. Almost nobody clearly never met those who have actu- President of the United States and, ap- can do that. That is why we have the ally had their homes foreclosed on. I parently, the majority leader in the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage. have met those families. Senate—down the hall—want to lead in Dr. Calabria wonders whether we My wife, Connie, and I live in ZIP the overseeing of the housing finance need the 30-year mortgage at all. Presi- Code 44105 in Cleveland, OH. That in this country. dent Trump clearly doesn’t know. means nothing to anybody who is lis- In more than 100 blog posts, articles, President Trump knows how to build tening, but the ZIP Code in which we and papers, Dr. Calabria made his big apartment buildings and borrow lived in the first half of 2007 had more views clear. He said the goal of housing money from Deutsche Bank because no foreclosures than had any ZIP Code in reform should actually be to shrink our reputable bank in the United States the United States. We live in a develop- mortgage market, that we should will lend to him. But he doesn’t know ment of about 200 homes that are eliminate the GSEs and the Federal what it is like to pay off a mortgage priced at $100,000 to $200,000 to $250,000, Housing Administration. My colleagues and for people who think in terms of, but not far away, in the rest of this ZIP who plan to support his nomination ‘‘How am I going to pay off my mort- Code, there is home, after home, after today or tomorrow or whenever the gage?’’ He doesn’t understand what the home, after home that has been fore- vote comes should not act surprised if importance of a 30-year mortgage is. closed on. These homes are generally he raises costs for borrowers, if he Presumably, that is why President old. They are generally not in good makes it more difficult to develop af- Trump picked somebody like Dr. shape. They generally have very toxic fordable housing, or if he cuts off ac- Calabria to be in charge of housing. levels of lead that poison children in cess to homeownership for American Dr. Calabria has called for repealing their central nervous systems. families. That is exactly what he has the affordable housing goals. One-third He is saying that these people are advocated for in his entire career. of households are spending more than deadbeats—those who are working This is a critical job. It is why nomi- one-third of their income on housing, hard. They lost their jobs. That is the nees like him should be debated. Amer- and it is worse for renters. You would main reason most of them couldn’t icans should have the chance to make think making housing affordable would keep up with their mortgages. These their voices heard on a nominee like be one of Dr. Calabria’s top priorities, families aren’t deadbeats. They work him, who can make it harder for them but he doesn’t think we need the cur- hard. They work a lot harder than the to buy homes. rent affordable housing goals. He told Wall Street traders—that is t-r-a-d-e-r- My colleague down the hall is Sen- Congress that Fannie Mae and Freddie s, perhaps—who are taking big risks ator MCCONNELL. He has the office 100 Mac, which he would be in charge of, with other people’s money. feet or so down the hall in which you should be eliminated. He would be the Some of Ohio’s families were laid off, see high-powered, expensive, suited, one overseeing a housing finance sys- and they tried to find new jobs. They well-compensated lobbyists going in tem that has helped more than 28 mil- were making $22 an hour, and they and out all day, streaming in and out. lion American families become home- found new jobs at $14 an hour. They They are writing tax bills, fighting for owners. He has questioned the need for work just as hard, maybe harder, but the oil companies, enriching the phar- 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. He has the new jobs don’t pay as much. Some maceutical companies, and all of the called for the end of the entities he couldn’t find new jobs because the kinds of things that lobbyists down the would oversee that contribute to this economy was in a free fall. In 2010, one hall do who, I was going to say, work housing market. in five homeowners in Ohio was under- for Senator MCCONNELL. They don’t ac- It is pretty clear—over his years of water in his mortgage. Yet he calls tually work for Senator MCCONNELL, writing—whose side he is on. During them deadbeats? One out of five people but they help Senator MCCONNELL with the financial crisis, when Wall Street is a deadbeat because the worth of his part of what his political organization wrecked the economy and American home dropped, and he couldn’t keep up is. As a result, Senator MCCONNELL, in communities were left to clean up the with his mortgage? order to help these special interests, is mess, Dr. Calabria blamed homeowners At that time, Ohio had lost 375,000 changing the Senate rules. for this. He called homeowners who jobs. In that year, Dr. Calabria criti- It is not enough that Senator MCCON- were underwater on their mortgage cized one of the most important tools NELL blocked a Supreme Court Justice ‘‘deadbeats.’’ Think about that. The that States like Ohio had in trying to for over a year. It is not enough that guy who is going to oversee the whole help homeowners—the Hardest Hit Senator MCCONNELL supports all of the housing agency market for the U.S. Fund. The Hardest Hit Fund helps dark money in politics or that billion- Government said that the people who States like Ohio and Indiana and Ari- aires can put money into political cam- were underwater—what does under- zona and Florida. It helps us weather a paigns and nobody knows exactly water mean? Underwater means that crisis. The housing markets and the where the money comes from. It is not you have been paying your mortgage, workers in those States were dev- enough that the Supreme Court is now but because of a drop in the economy astated. The Hardest Hit Fund helped controlled by the corporate elite in or in your community, what you owe is more than 25,000 struggling home- this country. It is not enough that the more than what the house is worth. owners. It was not enough because the Senate is controlled by the corporate The house becomes devalued because of effort from the Senate was not enough, elite. It is not enough that the White the neighborhood, because of other but it helped in the tearing down of House looks like a retreat for Wall foreclosures, because of other people thousands of plighted homes; it helped Street executives except on the day it being evicted, and your home is worth to make neighborhoods safer; and it looks like a retreat for oil company ex- less than what you owe the bank for helped them to recover. ecutives, except on the day it looks your mortgage. That is called under- Dr. Calabria said the Hardest Hit like a retreat for big drug companies. water. Dr. Calabria called those people Fund was just subsidizing States be- That is not enough for Senator MCCON- deadbeats. Those people probably work cause their housing markets were get- NELL. So what is he going to do? He is every bit as hard as Dr. Calabria does— ting more affordable. What kind of per- going to change the rules. He is going

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.043 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2229 to give less time to debate nominees dinal would look upward gazing upon great country and for the opportunities who will have immense power over peo- the gymnastic feats of Sedat Acton. he has received here. One of Sedat’s ple’s lives. When the team and the crowd most prized possessions is a decades-old We talk about judges who serve life- needed his particular form of inspira- American flag. Throughout the years, time appointments. We talk about the tion, Sedat would leave his seat and he turned down many opportunities to heads of Agencies, like of the Con- head toward a railing on the second leave Kentucky because he loves the sumer Financial Protection Bureau, level. As the officials blew their whis- city of Louisville, its people, and is so who have the power to hold corpora- tles for a timeout, Sedat would lift his proud to call it home. tions accountable if they use that body off the ground into an impressive It wasn’t that long ago that polio power. Of course, we are talking about handstand, dozens of feet above the represented a real crisis. Through the Dr. Calabria, who is supposed to make arena’s floor. Then, as the fans concentrated efforts of many, the num- the housing market work for all Amer- cheered, he would stretch out his legs ber of polio cases worldwide has plum- icans, yet who isn’t sure we need the under his torso into an L. meted dramatically. Thankfully, we 30-year mortgage. Think about that. For so many Cardinals fans, Sedat’s are close to eliminating this disease for We shouldn’t be rushing these people iconic handstand became an essential good. through. We need time for the people part of the basketball game experience, I am grateful for the chance to honor we serve to make their voices heard. I but for this fan in particular, his story Sedat’s remarkable life today, With his would hope my colleagues would agree holds even greater significance. wife of 40 years, Teresa, their three that these nominees deserve thoughtful Like me, Sedat contracted polio at children, and their growing family, consideration; they deserve debates; an early age. As a child in Turkey, he Sedat is fulfilling the American dream. they deserve somebody who will defend endured bullying because of the dis- As the Louisville Cardinals look for- them to come to the Senate floor. Let ease’s lasting effects. Sedat would walk ward to the beginning of the next bas- my fellow Republicans from the Bank- the beaches and watch groups of acro- ketball season, I know my Senate col- ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs Com- bats. He was inspired by their skills leagues will join me in congratulating mittee—people with whom I get along and became determined to use gym- Sedat Acton on his lifetime of accom- well and personally like—make the nastics to gain his own strength, fend plishments. case for Dr. Calabria. Let them answer off bullies, and prove he had defeated f the terrible disease. why he is not for the 30-year fixed COLORADO RIVER DROUGHT CON- mortgage, why he calls people who are Under the caring and watchful eye of my mother, I was able to eventually TINGENCY PLAN AUTHORIZA- underwater in their mortgages dead- TION ACT beats. Why is that? get back on my feet. By practicing the I would hope my colleagues would gymnastics exercises he saw on the Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I come to this floor and debate. I would beach, Sedat overcame the disease as ask unanimous consent to enter into a hope that Senator MCCONNELL would well. Then, as a teenager, he joined a colloquy with my colleagues from the allow enough time for us to debate. I professional acrobatics club in Switzer- Colorado River Basin and with Senator would hope my colleagues would reject land. Sedat performed around Europe MANCHIN, the ranking member on the Dr. Calabria’s nomination and tell the for years and showcased his tremen- Energy and Natural Resources Com- President to send us a new nominee dous strength. mittee, regarding the Colorado River who will take the job at the FHFA seri- In his early 20s, Sedat came to Louis- Drought Contingency Plan Authoriza- ously and make it easier, not harder, ville to live with his sister. Joining a tion Act. for Americans to afford housing. local gymnastics squad at the YMCA I am pleased that we are considering I suggest the absence of a quorum. on 3rd and Broadway, they performed this bill so quickly on the Senate floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The with the cheerleaders at halftime dur- We need to act now as the historic clerk will call the roll. ing UofL men’s basketball games. Over drought conditions in the basin are a The bill clerk proceeded to call the the years, Sedat could be found per- real threat to the water supply of 40 roll. forming during several Cardinals’ bas- million people and 5.5 million acres of Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask ketball and football games and even for farmland. unanimous consent that the order for the Kentucky Colonels. As the chairman of the Committee on the quorum call be rescinded. Around 1980, he began a new type of Energy and Natural Resources, I think The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without act. This time, he was in the stands, it is important that we spend some objection, it is so ordered. where he earned the title of Handstand time clarifying the intent behind this Man. His daring stunt provoked shocks bill. We started last month with an f and cheers from those below as he re- oversight hearing in the Water and LEGISLATIVE SESSION newed the crowd’s enthusiasm and in- Power Subcommittee to examine the spired the players. Colorado River Drought Contingency Over the next 30 years, Sedat’s hand- Plan, which was chaired by my col- MORNING BUSINESS stands became a regular part of Car- league, the Senator from Arizona, Ms. Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask dinals’ basketball. I remember attend- MCSALLY. unanimous consent that the Senate ing many of those games, and right We also need to understand what the proceed to legislative session for a pe- when we needed it most, we would look legislation that we are passing today riod of morning business, with Sen- to the rafters to see Sedat. He provided does and does not do. As I read it, the ators permitted to speak for up to 10 a much-needed thrill, helping cheer on measure directs the Secretary of the minutes each. the Cards during important games, and Interior to implement the Drought The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without eventually to win conference tour- Contingency Plan agreements upon objection, it is so ordered. naments and even the NCAA national their execution by the seven basin f championship. States. The 2007 final environmental Sedat’s last performance at a UofL impact statement on Colorado River TRIBUTE TO SEDAT ACTON game was in 2009, but his legendary Interim Guidelines for Lower Basin Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, status among the people of Louisville Shortages and Coordinated Operations today it is my privilege to pay tribute remains. A local celebrity, Sedat is fre- for Lake Powell and Lake Mead en- to a Louisville, KY, legend, who is sim- quently recognized for his years of pas- ables the Secretary to do so imme- ply known as the Handstand Man. Like sion for the Cardinals. Now at the age diately as this document covers all of so many other University of Louisville of 74, he remains as dedicated a fan as the Federal actions contemplated in Cardinals fans, I have vivid memories ever. the agreements. of cheering on our men’s basketball Last year, Sedat and his family cele- I ask Senator MCSALLY, is that the team at Freedom Hall. During high- brated the 50th anniversary of his ar- correct reading of the bill? profile games, when the tension rival in the United States. He speaks Ms. MCSALLY. I thank Chairman reached its peak, the eyes of every Car- with such pride for the blessings of this MURKOWSKI. Yes, the Senator is exactly

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.044 S03APPT1 S2230 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 right. The Colorado River Drought Lower Basin Drought Contingency forward. Arizona takes a huge step to- Contingency Plan, or DCP, consists of Plans to address variable water supply wards securing its water future under the Agreement Concerning Colorado conditions in the face of an almost the Drought Contingency Plan. The River Drought Contingency Manage- two-decades-long drought that has no plan provides all Arizona communities, ment and Operations and additional end in sight. from Native American tribes to rural agreements that appear as attach- The Upper Basin Drought Contin- and agricultural regions to metropoli- ments Al, A2, and B to that agreement. gency Plan involves planning for how tan cities, with greater certainty for It is an emergency response to 19 years to move water from the Initial Units of reliable and secure water supplies. It of severe drought and is designed to get the Colorado River Storage Project shows what can be accomplished when us to 2026 without a serious crisis. In Act, otherwise known as the CRSP Ini- stakeholders work together. I thank the lower basin, this will be done by in- tial Units, to protect critical ele- my colleagues for the discussion here creasing the contributions and pro- vations at Lake Powell and subse- today and urge passage of this legisla- viding incentives to leave water quently recover storage at the Units. It tion to ensure all Colorado River Basin banked in Lake Mead as intentionally also provides a mechanism for the States are able to implement the DCP created surplus, among other things. upper basin to conserve water to help as soon as possible. My bill reflects the urgency of the situ- assure continued compliance with the Ms. MURKOWSKI. I thank all of the ation through its directive that the Colorado River Compact which will im- Senators for providing their views on Secretary of the Interior act without prove the resiliency of the entire Colo- the language and for sponsoring this delay to sign the agreements upon exe- rado River System. In the Upper Basin important legislation. cution by the seven Colorado River DCP, the ‘‘applicable Colorado River I ask Senator MANCHIN, has he heard Basin States. System reservoirs’’ include and are the discussion among the sponsors of As Chairman MURKOWSKI mentioned, limited to the Initial Units of the Colo- this bill? Is what he has heard from it is expected that the Secretary will rado River Storage Project Act, which them about the intent of the legisla- sign these agreements without delay include the Glen Canyon, Flaming tion in line with his understanding? since the actions to be undertaken are Gorge, Aspinall, and Navajo facilities. Mr. MANCHIN. It is. I thank my col- within the analyses and range of ef- This legislation enables the goals of leagues for their support of this crit- fects reviewed in the environmental the DCP to be met by authorizing the ical legislation and for participating in documents prepared pursuant to the storage and release of water in CRSP the discussion here today. Endangered Species Act, ESA, and in initial units, without charge, for a de- Ms. MCSALLY. I would like to thank the 2007 final environmental impact mand management plan approved by Chairman MURKOWSKI and Ranking statement, EIS, on Colorado River In- the Upper Division states and the Member MANCHIN for their time, atten- terim Guidelines for Lower Basin Upper Colorado River Commission. tion, and support of this critical legis- Shortages and Coordinated Operations This water will be delivered into such lation. I also associate myself with the for Lake Powell and Lake Mead; and storage pursuant to the law of, and at comments added by the bill cosponsors the EISs and ESA documents prepared the direction and control of, the State and thank them all for their work on for operation of the Colorado River from which the water is delivered, sub- this issue and their comments about Storage Project Act initial storage ject to approval of the Upper Colorado this bill’s effect. unit reservoirs. Additional environ- River Commission. Development of the Ms. MURKOWSKI. I thank my col- mental compliance is only applicable Demand Management Plan, which will leagues for this clarification and expla- should Federal actions be undertaken include water accounting mechanisms nation of the Colorado River Drought that are outside the range of effects and other operational factors, will re- Contingency Plan Authorization Act. analyzed in those documents or the ap- quire hard work by all four upper basin As we have just explained, the bill plicable records of decision. States, but once completed will be a sponsors, along with the chair and I ask Senator CORTEZ MASTO, does critical tool for these states to improve ranking member of committee of juris- she agree with this characterization of their water security. diction are unified in the expectation our bill? I ask Senator BENNET, who has been that enactment of this bill will lead to Ms. CORTEZ MASTO. I thank my col- involved throughout the development immediate action by the Secretary of league from Arizona. I agree with her of this bill, does he agree with my the Interior, and the DCP will be assessment. I would also add that this characterization? signed and implemented upon execu- legislation was developed to ensure Mr. BENNET. I thank Senator GARD- tion by the States. NER. I agree with his assessment and water conservation activities in the f Colorado River Basin are able to begin those of Chairman MURKOWSKI, Senator in 2019 and be built into the planning of MCSALLY, and Senator CORTEZ MASTO, ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS operations for 2020. For this to happen, about the urgency and path forward for there can be no delay between execu- DCP implementation. I would like to RECOGNIZING JEROME COUNTY tion of the DCP by the States and the reiterate that this bill does not exempt signing and implementation by the or waive any environmental laws. In ∑ Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, my col- Secretary of the Interior. drafting the DCPs, both the upper and leagues Senator MIKE CRAPO and Rep- I ask Senator GARDNER, is this also lower basin carefully considered the resentative MIKE SIMPSON join me his understanding from the upper basin environment and the existing environ- today in recognizing the 100th anniver- perspective? mental analyses and compliance docu- sary of Jerome County, ID. Mr. GARDNER. Yes, the statements ments. Additional NEPA compliance Established February 8, 1919, by the Senator CORTEZ MASTO and Senator would be needed if Federal actions are Idaho Legislature, the county was MCSALLY have made regarding the ex- outside the scope of effects analyzed in named for either Jerome Kuhn, son of isting environmental compliance docu- the existing compliance and decision William S. Kuhn, or Jerome Hill, who ments and actions contemplated in the documents. was commissioned by Kuhn to find a DCP agreements and the Secretary’s I ask Senator SINEMA, if this is also suitable town site north of the Snake expected immediate implementation of her understanding? River Canyon. With the city of Jerome those agreements once acted upon by Ms. SINEMA. I agree with my col- as the county seat, the small farming the basin states are consistent with my leagues’ statements and am proud to communities of Eden and Hazelton also understanding. continue the legacy of water policy make up the eastern portion of Jerome This legislation is an important step- leadership in Arizona. Water plays a County. pingstone to helping assure the long- pivotal role for the environment, eco- One of the early pioneers of Jerome term sustainability of the Colorado nomic development, and cultural herit- County, I.B. Perrine, was looking for a River. It enables the seven Colorado age of Arizona, and I am proud to have place to winter his cattle, and Charles River Basin States to take advantage worked closely with the State of Ari- Walgamott showed him a spot with of flexible water management tools zona and my colleagues on both sides beautiful clear blue lakes bubbling up they have created under the Upper and of the aisle to keep this process moving from an underground aquifer. Mr.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.008 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2231 Perrine settled this area and called it Japan, and Korea. He was an honor students at his school and look forward the Blue Lakes Ranch. These blue graduate of the Coast Artillery School, to hearing of his continued good work lakes continue to provide water for ir- European Air Transport Service’s in the years to come.∑ rigation, raising rainbow trout, and Flight Captain’s School, and the Air f pristine drinking water to the resi- Force Office of Special Investigations. TRIBUTE TO CAROLINE BUECHNER dents of this area. It also features the Bill flew combat missions in Indo beautiful Blues Lakes Country Club China in 1954 and aided the French at ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I with one of the most scenic 18-hole golf the Battle of Dien Bien Phu. recognize Caroline Buechner, the Santa courses in the State. In 1959, he retired from the U.S. Air Rosa County Teacher of the Year from Although not officially recognized, Force and enrolled at the University of Navarre High School in Navarre, FL. local historians have documented the Miami, graduating magna cum laude Caroline was named teacher of the Hudson Bay Trail as an alternate route with a degree in German. He then re- year after being selected among 33 of the Oregon Trail, which goes ceived a fellowship under the National teachers nominated from each school through Jerome County. The traders of Defense Education Act to attend Kent in her district. Santa Rosa super- the Hudson Bay Company seemed to State University, earning a master’s intendent, Tim Wyrosdick, visited her have preferred the trail going north of degree in German in 1964. classroom during one of her chorus les- the Snake River Canyon to make their Bill’s first teaching position was at sons to present the award. Caroline was way to Fort Boise in the West and Fort Hialeah High School, teaching German humbled to receive this honor and Hall in the East. and English. He taught at Stetson Uni- wished to convey a message to all edu- With water, Mr. Perrine saw the versity before moving to Satellite cators: ‘‘Join together to better the magic this area produced and, with the Beach in 1971, where he joined Satellite educational experience for students.’’ help of Eastern United States Fin- High School. While there, he developed Caroline considers her students the anciers, created the Milner Dam along the school’s German Student Program best she could ever ask for, many of the Snake River. The Milner Dam and and was named teacher of the year for them are training for an upcoming subsequent irrigation system opened southern Brevard County. His proudest singing competition. While she was the Southern Snake River Plain to achievement was establishing the shocked at the honor, her students farmers, ranchers, and new commu- school’s Fulbright Student Exchange knew she deserved the award and gave nities. As a result, the communities of program for German students before her a round of applause. She is credited Jerome, Eden, Hazelton, and Green- retiring from the school in 1979. for marrying academia and the per- In retirement, he continued to teach wood were established between 1905 and forming arts and growing the school’s French, German, and Spanish at 1911. choir program. Brevard Community College and co-au- In 1919, the Idaho Legislature took Caroline has been a choral music edu- thored four nonfiction books based on the south portion of Lincoln County cator at Navarre High School for the his life experiences, people he met at and the western portion of Minidoka past 9 years and is the coordinator of home and abroad, and events he wit- County to carve out Jerome County. the 2019 All State High School Concern nessed while serving in the military. Choir. Her chorus program is consid- As one of the youngest counties in Bill Braxton lived a full life and ered one of the more prestigious pro- Idaho, it is the 43rd county, out of 44, made a difference for his community grams in Florida. in the 43rd State. and his country. I express my sincerest I extend my sincere gratitude to A notorious part of Jerome County is condolences to his four children— Caroline for her dedication to teaching the Minidoka Relocation Center north Thomas Braxton, Douglas Braxton, her choir students and look forward to of Eden; it is one of the 10 Japanese in- Patty Braxton, and Susan Braxton—his hearing of her continued good work in ternment camps created by the U.S. seven grandchildren, and his three the years ahead.∑ Government during World War II. Cur- great-grandchildren. May God bless his rently, it stands as the Minidoka Na- family during this time of sorrow, and f tional Historic Site as a memorial of may they be strengthened by the mem- TRIBUTE TO EVAN GOULD the sacrifice and suffering of the Japa- ory of his life’s service.∑ nese-Americans during this period of ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I our history. f recognize Evan Gould, the Clay County Today, Jerome County boasts a TRIBUTE TO JEFF BECKER Teacher of the Year from Lake Asbury thriving economy lead by the dairy in- ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I Junior High School in Green Cove dustry, producing more than 100 mil- recognize Jeff Becker, the Lee County Springs, FL. lion pounds of cheese, whey protein, Teacher of the Year from Island Coast Evan regards it a tremendous honor and other dairy products. They also High School in Cape Coral, FL. to represent all school employees as produce the agricultural commodities Jeff believes building trust with his teacher of the year. He believes support of alfalfa hay, silage corn, barley, win- students is important for their future staff play a critical role in the success ter wheat, sugar beets, potatoes, beans, success. Every morning, Jeff greets of students and teachers. His col- and spring wheat. students as they walk into the building leagues note he leads, inspires, and Senator CRAPO, Representative SIMP- and spends his lunch break in the cafe- coaches his students to perform at the SON, and I are proud to recognize this teria getting to know everyone. highest level. Evan believes every stu- landmark anniversary. We congratu- Jeff is the digital media technology dent can succeed academically, artis- late Jerome County residents on this teacher, where he strives for his stu- tically, and socially. centennial, and we wish its commu- dents to learn video skills. He is cred- Evan currently teaches chorus and nities many more years of success.∑ ited with transforming the school’s drama classes at Lake Asbury Junior f news program, winning Best High High School. He has been a teacher for School News Show at the Lee County 30 years, with 22 years in Clay County. REMEMBERING LEON E. BRAXTON Film Festival Awards in his first year His chorus and drama programs are ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I of teaching. highly regarded in Florida, winning pay tribute to the memory of Leon E. He was previously in sales for 4 years awards and superior ratings at district ‘‘Bill’’ Braxton, a World War II veteran and noted that, while he was having a and State competitions. He also serves and teacher who dedicated his life in fun time, he felt as though he should be as chair of District 1 Junior Thespians, service to our Nation and educated doing something else with his life. He hosting more than 500 drama students countless students throughout his ca- became a guidance counselor at Cape from across the region for their annual reer. Coral High School in 2011 after earning festival. Bill Braxton was born near Hope his master’s degree in elementary and I express my sincere thanks and best Hills, NC, on May 1, 1917. After grad- secondary school counseling at Wil- wishes to Evan for his work to educate uating high school in 1934, he enlisted mington University. his students in chorus and drama. I with the U.S. Army in April 1935, serv- I extend my sincere thanks and grati- look forward to learning of his contin- ing in Panama, Austria, Germany, tude to Jeff for his dedication to the ued success in the years ahead.∑

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.010 S03APPT1 S2232 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 TRIBUTE TO DEBRA HARTLINE TRIBUTE TO TONYA MILES classes to sophomore and juniors at ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I Clewiston High School. He also coaches recognize Debra Hartline, the Manatee am honored to recognize Tonya Miles, cross country and junior varsity bas- County Teacher of the Year from the Putnam County Teacher of the ketball. He earned his bachelor’s de- Braden River High School in Bra- Year from William D. Moseley Elemen- gree in secondary education and social denton, FL. tary School in Palatka, FL. studies at the Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Debra works closely with her stu- Tonya was honored to receive this I extend my sincere thanks and grati- dents who need to improve their read- award, noting that she was over- tude to Bryan for his dedication to ing comprehension scores in order to whelmed with joy. Her colleagues com- helping his students succeed in school. meet the requirement for graduation. mended her on the difference she has I look forward to learning of his con- Each year, more than 96 percent of her made within the school district. tinued good work in the coming years.∑ students reach that goal. Her students Tonya’s students describe the culture note she spends many hours of work in her classroom and their school as f regularly reinstilling their confidence one of a big family. It is an atmosphere TRIBUTE TO TAMI PORTER in themselves and preparing them be- where everyone works to help others PARISH succeed. Her students feel like she is fore they take the reading test. ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I their biggest supporter, both in the Debra’s proudest moments are when recognize Tami Porter Parish, the classroom and in their extracurricular she watches her students walk across Washington County Teacher of the activities. the stage at their graduation. Many of Year from Vernon Middle School in Tonya has taught for 15 years and them thought they would never grad- Vernon, FL. has been a fifth grade math teacher at uate and credit Debra’s reading meth- Tami’s students find her more than William D. Moseley Elementary School ods with helping them improve their their academic influencer, she is also a for the past year and a half. reading comprehension. kind and admirable friend. Her stu- I extend my best wishes to Tonya for Debra has taught for 13 years, with dents view her as someone who is al- her dedication to her students and the last 8 years at Braden River High ways there for them and inspires them community and congratulate her on School as a reading and English teach- to achieve academic success. Tami con- this award.∑ er. She previously managed a law in siders herself blessed to teach her stu- Cleveland, OH, when she noticed her f dents, with many seeking her advice daughter was struggling with reading TRIBUTE TO MEREDITH NESS after class. comprehension. After she moved to Tami is an eighth grade teacher at ∑ Florida in 2000, she began to tutor at Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, I honor Vernon Middle School. She believes she her home and later became a volunteer Meredith Ness, the Walton County is fortunate to work in the Washington teacher at Braden River Elementary Teacher of the Year from Mossy Head County School District and would not School. Elementary School in DeFuniak trade a day of her teaching for any- I extend my sincere thanks and ap- Springs, FL. thing. preciation to Debra for her dedication Meredith’s colleagues describe her as I would like to express my sincere in helping students achieve the impor- possessing the skills and dedication of thanks and appreciation to Tami and tant steps of graduating from high a true leader and note that she is high- extend my best wishes on her contin- school. I look forward to hearing of her ly respected by all at her school. She ued success in the years to come.∑ views herself as a lifelong learner with continued success in the coming f years.∑ a love for teaching students. In Meredith’s classes, she uses her TRIBUTE TO ALANNA ROHLING f knowledge for research in education ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I and technology in designing lesson honor Alanna Rohling, the Escambia plans to teach her students. She cur- TRIBUTE TO ANGELA HRITZ County Teacher of the Year from Lin- rently serves as a professional learning coln Park Elementary School in Pensa- ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I facilitator, sponsor of Lego league and cola, FL. recognize Angela Hritz, the Okaloosa robotics club, a teacher mentor, and a Alanna’s colleagues describe her as a County Teacher of the Year from Da- member of the MHS school improve- teacher who embraces students with vidson Middle School in Crestview, FL. ment team. emotional challenges and helps them Angela received this award at her Meredith has been a teacher for 16 to succeed through her creative teach- school district’s annual banquet at the years, with the past 8 years at Mossy ing style. She has been credited as a Emerald Coast Conference Center. She Head Elementary School. She is cur- significant factor of the school’s turn- views teaching as a balancing act be- rently a fourth grade teacher. around model to improve students’ aca- tween challenging students and em- I express my sincere thanks and ap- demic success in recent years. She powering them, and believes the most preciation to Meredith for all of the dedicates her time not only to her stu- rewarding part of her job are the con- great work she has done for her stu- dents, but also to their parents, keep- nections she makes with her students. dents and congratulate her for winning ing them informed of their students’ In her classes, she incorporates this award.∑ progress throughout the school year. English language arts standards and f Her students’ parents are grateful for keeps her students engaged by using this dedication, noting she is always Socratic seminars to deepen their un- TRIBUTE TO BRYAN POEPPERLING willing to communicate, no matter the derstanding and develop communica- ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I time of day. They believe her efforts tion skills. She ensures that her class- recognize Bryan Poepperling, the have resulted in their young students room is a respectful environment for Hendry County Teacher of the Year being better prepared for future school- her students. from Clewiston High School in ing. Angela is a world history teacher and Clewiston, FL. Alanna is a kindergarten teacher and has taught at Davidson Middle School In Bryan’s classroom, his teaching of has been at Lincoln Park Elementary for more than 20 years. She earned a philosophy is based off a quote from School since 2015. She also serves as master’s degree in educational leader- Thomas Edison, ‘‘There is no sub- the STEM committee cochair, a mem- ship in 2008. stitute for hard work.’’ He works to in- ber of her school’s leadership team, and I congratulate Angela for receiving still this mentality to both his stu- works as a mentor to students outside this important recognition after dec- dents in the classroom, and the stu- of school. ades of teaching and extend my best dent-athletes he coaches. I extend my sincere thanks and grati- wishes to her. I look forward to hearing Bryan is the social studies depart- tude to Alanna for her work and look of her continued success in the years to ment lead and teaches advanced place- forward to hearing of her continued come.∑ ment U.S. history and U.S. history success in the years to come.∑

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.038 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2233 TRIBUTE TO LINDSAY SUMMERLIN hospital-acquired infections. In 2005, S. 725. An act to change the address of the ∑ Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, today I with Laura as Principal Investigator, postal facility designated in honor of Cap- tain Humayun Khan. recognize Lindsay Summerlin, the Gulf RIQI launched the Rhode Island Inten- County Teacher of the Year from Port sive Care Unit Collaborative to iden- The message also announced that the St. Joe Junior—Senior High School in tify ways to reduce the incidence of in- House has passed the following bill, in Port St. Joe, FL. fections among ICU patients. By 2012, which it requests the concurrence of Lindsay was shocked and over- Rhode Island ICUs had shown signifi- the Senate: whelmed with emotion to receive this cant improvement on several key types H.R. 540. An act to designate the facility of award in front of her students when her of infections. the United States Postal Service located at daughter presented her with a bouquet In 2004, Laura and RIQI joined the 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as the ‘‘Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office’’. of golden roses. She credits her stu- Rhode Department of Health to apply dents with making her a better teacher for Federal funding to build an ambi- f and was honored to receive Gulf Coun- tious, innovative statewide health in- MEASURES REFERRED ty’s support. formation exchange. RIQI took the Lindsay works to build relationships lead building and maintaining the re- The following bill was read the first with her students and seeks to help sulting system, CurrentCare. It took and the second times by unanimous others in need. Following Hurricane tremendous technical expertise to con- consent, and referred as indicated: Michael, she opened her home as a front the complex governance, busi- H.R. 540. An act to designate the facility of haven for neighbors and school district ness, privacy, and security challenges the United States Postal Service located at involved. Laura, with the assistance of 770 Ayrault Road in Fairport, New York, as personnel whose homes sustained dam- the ‘‘Louise and Bob Slaughter Post Office’’; age. a talented lawyer, Linn Freedman, to the Committee on Homeland Security and Lindsay is an exceptional student proved more than equal to the task. A Governmental Affairs. education teacher at Port St. Joe Jun- 2017 analysis shows that CurrentCare f ior—Senior High School. Her family returns millions of dollars in savings to moved from Georgia last year after her our healthcare system. MEASURES PLACED ON THE husband accepted the head baseball Over the course of the development CALENDAR coaching position for the high school’s of CurrentCare, RIQI became the only The following bill was read the sec- team, the Tiger Sharks. organization in the country to win all ond time, and placed on the calendar: three major health information tech- I express my best wishes and grati- H.R. 7. An act to amend the Fair Labor tude to Lindsay for her work and look nology grants under the American Re- Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effec- forward to hearing of her continued covery and Reinvestment Act, bringing tive remedies to victims of discrimination in success in the years ahead.∑ in a total of $27 million to Rhode Is- the payment of wages on the basis of sex, and f land. Federal agencies like the Centers for other purposes. for Medicare and Medicaid Services and f TRIBUTE TO LAURA ADAMS Office of the National Coordinator for ∑ Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, in Health Information Technology award- EXECUTIVE AND OTHER 2002, as Rhode Island’s attorney gen- ed RIQI substantial Federal grants to COMMUNICATIONS eral, I launched an organization aimed tackle difficult specialized challenges. The following communications were at helping Rhode Island’s healthcare RIQI has been recognized by govern- laid before the Senate, together with system reduce waste and improve care ment and healthcare leaders, chambers accompanying papers, reports, and doc- for our patients. The first hire at the of commerce, and leading business pub- uments, and were referred as indicated: new Rhode Island Quality Institute was lications for its numerous innovations. EC–840. A communication from the Acting Laura Adams. Convincing her to join It has also been consistently recog- Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report us as president and CEO was our ex- nized as one of the best places to work on the approved retirement of Lieutenant tremely good fortune. As Laura steps in Rhode Island. General Joseph Anderson, United States aside from those duties, I come to the In the process, Laura has won na- Army, and his advancement to the grade of floor today to recognize her many con- tional acclaim. This year, a leading na- lieutenant general on the retired list; to the tributions to our healthcare system, in tional hospital publication placed her Committee on Armed Services. EC–841. A communication from the Under Rhode Island and nationwide, and to on their list of ‘‘Female Health IT Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readi- wish her well in her next adventure. Leaders to Know’’ for her ‘‘significant ness), transmitting the report of two (2) offi- Lowering costs and improving qual- contributions to health IT advance- cers authorized to wear the insignia of the ity in our healthcare system is, to say ments, leading large teams, initiatives grade of brigadier general in accordance with the least, a vital purpose. The Rhode and companies focused on improving title 10, United States Code, section 777; to Island Quality Institute was estab- patient care.’’ She has delivered hun- the Committee on Armed Services. lished to tackle some of the main driv- dreds of keynotes and presentations in EC–842. A communication from the Prin- ers of America’s healthcare problems, 48 States and a dozen foreign countries. cipal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense to improve health and advance the (Comptroller), transmitting, pursuant to She has been named a cochair of the law, a report entitled ‘‘Department of De- quality and value of care in Rhode Is- National Academy of Medicine Health fense Annual Report on Audit for Fiscal land. Under the leadership of Laura Data Trust Initiative Steering Com- Year 2018’’; to the Committee on Armed Adams, that mission achieved national mittee, and she has been appointed to Services. recognition. As Laura prepares to numerous professional and corporate EC–843. A communication from the Direc- leave, the institute’s innovation and boards. tor, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protec- expertise is helping improve care Laura Adams has poured her consid- tion, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report around the country. erable talent, experience, and dedica- entitled ‘‘Consumer Response Annual Re- Laura got off to a very strong start. port’’; to the Committee on Banking, Hous- tion into making the Rhode Island ing, and Urban Affairs. In 2002, the RIQI collaborated with Quality Institute a national leader in EC–844. A communication from the Direc- Surescripts to pioneer a first in the Na- health innovation and transformation. tor, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protec- tion, end-to-end electronic prescribing I thank her for years of service to tion, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report system. Today, Surescripts has scaled Rhode Island and to our healthcare entitled ‘‘Bureau of Consumer Financial Pro- up to every state in the country, with system nationwide.∑ tection’s Office of Minority and Women In- clusion Annual Report to Congress’’; to the virtually every prescriber using it. In f 2007, Child Magazine pointed to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban State’s uptake in e-prescribing as a MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE Affairs. At 12:33 p.m., a message from the EC–845. A communication from the Assist- key reason for ranking Rhode Island ant General Counsel for Legislation, Regula- first overall on its list of the ‘‘Safest House of Representatives, delivered by tion and Energy Efficiency, Department of Places in the Nation to Raise a Child.’’ Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, Energy, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Laura then turned to another big announced that the House has passed report of a rule entitled ‘‘Cost Sharing: En- challenge for our healthcare system: the following bill, without amendment: ergy Policy Act of 2005’’ ((RIN1991–AC13) (2

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:57 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.037 S03APPT1 S2234 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 CFR Part 910)) received in the Office of the permitting vehicles traveling on interstate EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF President of the Senate on April 2, 2019; to highways in West Virginia to have the same COMMITTEES the Committee on Energy and Natural Re- maximum gross vehicle weight and axle con- sources. figuration as currently permissible for vehi- The following executive reports of EC–846. A joint communication from the cles traveling on United States routes in nominations were submitted: Acting Secretary of the Interior and the Sec- West Virginia; to the Committee on Environ- By Mr. RISCH for the Committee on For- retary of Agriculture, transmitting proposed ment and Public Works. eign Relations. legislation; to the Committee on Environ- SENATE RESOLUTION 78 John P. Abizaid, of Nevada, to be Ambas- ment and Public Works. Whereas, Federal law currently imposes a sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of EC–847. A communication from the Sec- maximum gross vehicle weight of 80,000 the United States of America to the King- retary of Education, transmitting, pursuant pounds on interstate highways, without any dom of Saudi Arabia. to law, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) tolerance, and with axle weight restrictions Nominee: John P. Abizaid. for the Department of Education’s fiscal and the bridge formula often reducing such Post: Saudi Arabia. year 2018 Annual Performance Report and (The following is a list of all members of maximum weight; and fiscal year 2020 Annual Performance Plan; to my immediate family and their spouses. I Whereas, West Virginia also has an 80,000- the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, have asked each of these persons to inform pound maximum gross vehicle weight limit, and Pensions. me of the pertinent contributions made by but permits a 10-percent tolerance, raising EC–848. A communication from the Sec- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- the permissible maximum weight to 88,000 retary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursu- formation contained in this report is com- pounds; and ant to law, a report entitled ‘‘Financial Re- plete and accurate.) Whereas, Vehicles transporting commod- port of the United States Government for Contributions, amount, date, and donee: ities through West Virginia often reach our Fiscal Year 2018’’; to the Committee on 1. Self: $0,00. state on interstate highways, but leave the Homeland Security and Governmental Af- 2. Spouse: $1000.00, May 30, 2017, Dean Hell- interstate highways system and switch to fairs. er. West Virginia’s local roads, taking advan- EC–849. A communication from the Assist- 3. Children and Spouses: Sharon Shaw: tage of the higher weight limit on such ant Secretary for Legislative Affairs, De- none. Robert Shaw: none. Christine Abizaid: routes; and partment of Homeland Security, transmit- see attachment. Jill Murphy: see attach- Whereas, Such practice increases traffic on ting, pursuant to law, the Department’s Fis- ment. David Abizaid: none. Joanna Abizaid: West Virginia’s mountainous country roads, cal Year 2018 Federal Information Security none. raises safety concerns, and limits economic Management Act (FISMA) and Agency Pri- 4. Parents: Ernest Abizaid—deceased; Fae avenues; and vacy Management Report; to the Commit- Williams Abizaid—deceased. Whereas, Interstates could safely support tees on Homeland Security and Govern- 5. Grandparents: Arthur Jepsen—deceased; the same weight restrictions as those on U.S. mental Affairs; Commerce, Science, and Elva Jepsen—deceased; Amin Abizaid—de- routes in West Virginia given that the design Transportation; and Appropriations. ceased; Martha Abizaid—deceased. standards used for both systems are identical EC–850. A communication from the Direc- 6. Brothers and Spouses: Arthur Q. Jepsen: and the weight increase would be minimal; tor, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protec- none; Gail Jepsen—deceased. and tion, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Bu- 7. Sisters and Spouses: Sandra Burk—de- Whereas, The West Virginia Department of reau’s fiscal year 2018 annual report relative ceased; Richard Burk—deceased. Transportation, Division of Highways, is to the Notification and Federal Employee poised to address any questions Congress or ATTACHMENT Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Fed- Contributor name, recipient, state, em- 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on eral Highway Administration, may have to ployer, receipt, date, amount: Homeland Security and Governmental Af- demonstrate the feasibility of this request; Murphy, Jill, Beto for Texas, VA, Federal fairs. and Government, 11/05/2018, $50.00. EC–851. A communication from the Sec- Whereas, Providing an exception to the ex- Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Federal Gov- retary to the Board, Railroad Retirement isting weight limits and restrictions in Title ernment, 11/05/2018, $50.00. Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 23 of the United States Code, including the Murphy, Jill, Beto for Texas, VA, Federal Board’s fiscal year 2018 annual report rel- bridge formula, for vehicles operating on Government, 11/03/2018, $25.00. ative to the Notification and Federal Em- interstate highways in West Virginia will Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Federal Gov- ployee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation allow more vehicles to travel the safer inter- ernment, 11/03/2018, $25.00. Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee state highways and expand economic access Murphy, Jill, Beto for Texas, VA, Federal on Homeland Security and Governmental Af- throughout West Virginia; and Government, 10/27/2018, $25.00. fairs. Whereas, Congress has previously provided Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Federal Gov- EC–852. A communication from the Chair- exceptions to the maximum gross vehicle ernment, 10/27/2018, $25.00. man of the Council of the District of Colum- weight on interstate highways for several Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Federal Gov- bia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report states of the United States; therefore, be it ernment, 10/27/2018, $2.50. on D.C. Act 23–47, ‘‘Sense of the Council Urg- Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia: Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Fed Gov, 09/25/ ing the Federal Government to Prevent Nu- That Congress is urged to allow vehicles 2018, $5.00. clear War Resolution of 2019’’; to the Com- traveling on interstate highways in West Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Fed Gov, 09/25/ mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- Virginia to have the same maximum gross 2018, $50.00. mental Affairs. vehicle weight and axle configuration as cur- Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Fed Gov, 09/19/ EC–853. A communication from the Assist- rently permissible for vehicles traveling on 2018, $50.00. ant Attorney General, Office of Legislative U.S. routes in West Virginia; and, be it fur- Murphy, Jill, ActBlue, VA, Fed Gov, 09/10/ Affairs, Department of Justice, transmit- ther 2018, $5.00. ting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ‘‘Uni- Resolved, That the Clerk of the Senate is Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 11/01/ formed Services Employment and Reemploy- hereby directed to forward a copy of this res- 2018, $50.00. ment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA) Quarterly olution to the President and Secretary of the Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 10/17/ Report to Congress; First Quarter of Fiscal United States Senate, to the Speaker and 2018, $100.00. Year 2019’’; to the Committee on Veterans’ Clerk of the United States House of Rep- Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 10/17/ Affairs. resentatives, and to the members of West 2018, $50.00. EC–854. A communication from the Chair- Virginia’s congressional delegation. Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 09/24/ man, Federal Maritime Commission, trans- 2018, $150.00. mitting, pursuant to law, the 57th Annual f Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 09/10/ Report of the activities of the Federal Mari- REPORTS OF COMMITTEES 2018, $100.00. time Commission for fiscal year 2018; to the Abizaid, Christy, Gina Ortiz Jones for Con- Committee on Commerce, Science, and The following reports of committees gress, TX, Dell, 09/01/2018, $350.00. Transportation. were submitted: Abizaid, Christy, Gina Ortiz Jones for Con- f By Mr. RISCH, from the Committee on gress, TX, Dell, 07/30/2018, $500.00. Foreign Relations, without amendment: Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 04/20/ PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS S. Res. 123. A resolution supporting the 2018, $5.00. The following petition or memorial North Atlantic Treaty Organization and rec- Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 04/20/ was laid before the Senate and was re- ognizing its 70 years of accomplishments. 2018, $50.00. By Mr. RUBIO, from the Committee on Abizaid, Christy, Elissa Slotkin for Con- ferred or ordered to lie on the table as Small Business and Entrepreneurship, with- gress, TX, se, 03/20/2018, $50.00. indicated: out amendment: Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 03/20/ POM–27. A resolution adopted by the Sen- S. 862. A bill to repeal the sunset for collat- 2018, $5.00. ate of the State of West Virginia urging the eral requirements for Small Business Admin- Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 03/20/ United States Congress to pass legislation istration disaster loans. 2018, $50.00.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.012 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2235 Abizaid, Christy, Elissa Slotkin for Con- Moore for U.S. Senate; $100.00, 11–20–2017, 6. Sisters and Spouses: Yvonne Annette gress, TX, se, 02/20/2018, $50.00. Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 11–04–2017, Schneckenberger—None; Donald Michael Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 02/20/ Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 09–23–2017, Schneckenberger—None; Cynthia Cleveland 2018, $50.00. Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 09–17–2017, Burnside—None; Sheldon John Burnside— Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 02/20/ Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 08–11–2017, None. 2018, $5.00. Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 08–11–2017, MARCH 4, 2019. Abizaid, Christy, Elissa Slotkin for Con- Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 11–18–2015, Hon. JIM RISCH, gress, TX, se, 01/20/2018, $50.00. Senate Conservatives Fund; $25.00, 10–08–2016, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Relations, Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 01/20/ Senate Conservatives Fund; $25.00, 10–08–2016, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC. 2018, $5.00. Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 10–08–2016, Hon. ROBERT MENENDEZ, Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 01/20/ Senate Conservatives Fund; $50.00, 10–08–2016, Ranking Member, Committee on Foreign Rela- 2018, $50.00. Committee to Elect Darryl Glenn; $50.00, 10– tions, U.S. Senate, Washington. DC. Abizaid, Christy, Elissa Slotkin for Con- 08–2016, Committee to Elect Darryl Glenn; DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN AND RANKING MEMBER gress, TX, self-employed, 12/20/2017, $50.00. $50.00, 08–17–2016, Senate Conservatives Fund; MENENDEZ: Please update my Committee Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 11/27/ $50.00, 08–17–2016, Senate Conservatives Fund; Questionnaire and my Federal Campaign 2017, $5.00. $50.00, 08–17–2016, Committee to Elect Darryl Contribution Report based on the informa- Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 11/27/ Glenn; $50.00, 08–17–2016, Committee to Elect tion outlined below. 2017, $50.00. Darryl Glenn; $50.00, 08–17–2016, Committee Committee Questionnaire: Part B. Question Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 11/20/ to Elect Darryl Glenn; $50.00, 07–10–2016, Sen- 6, entitled ‘‘Political Contributions’’ should 2017, $5.00. ate Conservatives Fund; $25.00, 04–19–2016, be amended to include the following con- Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 11/20/ Senate Conservatives Fund; $25.00, 04–19–2016, tributions: 2017, $50.00. Senate Conservatives Fund; $25.00, 04–19–2016, 1. Self: An Additional $2,700.00, 5/9/2018, Abizaid, Christy, Elissa Slotkin for Con- Senate Conservatives Fund; $25.00, 04–19–2016, Martha Roby for Congress. gress, TX, self-employed, 11/20/2017, $50.00. Senate Conservatives Fund; $25.00, 04–19–2016, Federal Campaign Contribution Report: The Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 10/27/ Stutzman for Senate; John Wilson (sp): ‘‘self’’ section of my Federal Campaign Con- 2017, $5.00. None. tribution Report should he amended to in- Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 10/27/ clude the following contributions: 2017, $50.00. Lynda Blanchard, of Alabama, to be Am- An Additional $2,700.00, 5/9/2018, Martha Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 10/20/ bassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Roby for Congress. 2017, $50.00. of the United States of America to the Re- Please note the FEC reflects six campaign Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 10/20/ public of Slovenia. contributions for 2018. I made two campaign 2017, $5.00. Nominee: Lynda C. Blanchard. contributions—one to Martha Roby’s cam- Abizaid, Christy, Elissa Slotkin for Con- Post: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plen- paign, and one to Trump Victory. Martha gress, TX, self-employed, 10/20/2017, $50.00. ipotentiary of the United States of America Roby’s campaign divided the contribution Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 09/27/ to the Republic of Slovenia. into two smaller amounts (one for the pri- 2017, $50.00. (The following is a list of all members of mary election and one for general election). Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 09/20/ my immediate family and their spouses. I I have confirmed with Elise Dickens, of the 2017, $5.00. have asked each of these persons to inform Republican National Committee, that there Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 08/20/ me of the pertinent contributions made by is one contribution filed under my name in 2017, $50.00. them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- 2018 to Trump Victory, the joint fundraising Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 08/20/ formation contained in this report is com- committee between the RNC and Donald J. 2017, $5.00. plete and accurate.) Trump campaign, in the amount of $125,000 Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 07/20/ Contributions, amount, date, and donee: on January 16, 2018. This came as a result of 2017, $50.00. 1. Self: $2,700.00, 11/5/2016, Martha Roby for a $250,000 joint check from myself and John Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 07/20/ Congress; $2,500.00, 10/31/2016, Reaching for a Blanchard, and $125K was allocated to each 2017, $5.00. Brighter America PAC; $5,000.00, 9/30/2016, person. Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 06/19/ Common Sense Common Solutions PAC; She further advised, once a check is re- 2017, $25.00. $1,500.00, 5/18/2016, Kay Granger Campaign ceived by Trump Victory, the RNC and Don- Abizaid, Christy, ActBlue, TX, self, 06/19/ Fund; $500.00, 5/13/2016, Gary Palmer for Con- ald J. Trump campaign can then transfer 2017, $2.00. gress; $1,000.00, 2/11/2016, Kay Granger Cam- their legally designated amounts. paign Fund; $40,725.00, 11/30/2017, Republican The Breakdown of the $125,000 Trump Vic- Stephen Akard, of Indiana, to be Director National Committee; $9,275.00, 11/30/2017, Re- tory contribution— of the Office of Foreign Missions, with the publican National Committee; $5,000.00, 10/26/ $2,700 to Donald J. Trump (primary) on 1/16/ rank of Ambassador. 2017, HALPAC; $1,500.00, 10/19/2017, Reaching 18 Nominee: Stephen J. Akard. for a Brighter America PAC; $24,625.00, 8/29/ $2,700 to Donald J. Trump (general) on 1/16/ Post: Office of Foreign Missions. 2017, Republican National Committee; 18 (The following is a list of all members of $85,700 to RNC (building fund) on 1/16/18 $1,200.00, 8/29/2017, Kay Granger Campaign $33,900 to RNC (general account) on 1/16/18 my immediate family and their spouses. I Fund; $2,700.00, 8/29/2017, Kay Granger Cam- **this has not been reported yet on FEC have asked each of these persons to inform paign Fund; $50,000.00, 8/1/2017, Strengthen since the RNC has not transferred it over me of the pertinent contributions made by Majority Committee ($25,000 went to NRSC from the Trump Victory account. them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- and $24,625 went to RNC, $1,200 to Kay $125,000 total to Trump Victory in 2018 formation contained in this report is com- Granger Campaign Fund, and $2,700 to Kay Thank you and the Committee for consid- plete and accurate.) Granger Campaign Fund); $25,000.00, 8/1/2017, eration of my nomination. Contributions, amount, date, donee: NRSC; $1,000.00, 5/16/2017, Mike Rogers for Sincerely, 1. Self: $250.00, 10–01–2016, Trump Make Congress; $1,500.00, 5/12/2017, Kay Granger LYNDA BLANCHARD. America Great Again Committee; $200.00, 09– Campaign Fund; $125,000.00, 1/16/2018, Trump 30–2016, Donald J. Trump for President; Victory; $2,700.00, 5/9/2018, Martha Roby for Joseph Cella, of Michigan, to be Ambas- $250.00, 01–18–2016, Friends of Kip Tom. Congress. sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of 2. Spouse: Kay Akard: None. 2. Children and Spouses: Christopher John the United States of America to the Republic 3. Children and Spouses: Julianne Akard: Blanchard: deceased. Benjamin Nicholas of Fiji, and to serve concurrently and with- None; Claire Akard: None; Hope Akard: Blanchard: $1,000.00, 8/11/2017, Kay Granger out additional compensation as Ambassador None. Campaign Fund. Haleyann Denise Blanchard: Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the 4. Parents: L. Philip Akard—Deceased; None. Keren Cesia Blanchard: None. Jennifer United States of America to the Republic of Julianne Akard—Deceased. Ruth Blanchard: None. Gracie Mae Blan- Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, the King- 5. Grandparents: William Akard—Deceased; chard: None. Lizbeth Lucero Blanchard: dom of Tonga, and Tuvalu. Flava Akard—Deceased; Johannes Herzog— None. Nominee: Joseph James Cella. Deceased; Dorothea Herzog—Deceased. 3. Parents: Peggy Cleveland Powell—None; Post: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plen- 6. Brothers and Spouses: John Akard: Dwight Merrill Cleveland—deceased. John ipotentiary of the United States of America None; Mark Akard: None; Matthew Akard: Miller Powell (step)—None. to the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of None; Maconna Akard (sp): None; Luke 4. Grandparents: Oscar Hale—deceased; Kiribati, the Republic of Nauru, the King- Akard: None; Carol Akard (sp): None. Stella Hale—deceased; Richard Scales dom of Tonga, and Tuvalu. 7. Sisters and Spouses: Dorothy Swartzell: (step)—deceased; Ann Scales—deceased; Mr. (The following is a list of all members of None; David Swartzell (sp): None; Sarah Wil- Cleveland—deceased when father was a child, my immediate family and their spouses. I son: $100.00, 10–07–2018, Senate Conservatives did not know him. have asked each of these persons to inform Fund; $100.00, 09–20–2018, Senate Conserv- 5. Brothers and Spouses: Mitchell Tyson me of the pertinent contributions made by atives Fund; $50.00, 12–17–2017, Senate Con- Powell (step)—$6,000.00, 7/19/2017, Kay them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- servatives Fund; $100.00, 12–03–2017, Senate Granger Campaign Fund; Michelle Brenny formation contained in this report is com- Conservatives Fund; $100.00, 12–03–2017, Roy Powell—None. plete and accurate.)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.051 S03APPT1 S2236 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 Contributions, amount, date, and donee: for Congress; $200,00, 09.30.2013, Gary G. Mil- $200.00, 05.12.2018, Texas for Jake Ellzey; 1. Self: $375, 5–12–06, Fidelis America PAC; ler for Congress; $2,600.00, 11.25.2013, French $1,000.00, 05.12.2018, War Veterans Fund bene- $250, 9–7–08, McCain-Palin Victory 2008; $250, Hill for Arkansas; $1,000,00, 02.27.2014, Edward fitting Mike Waltz, Dan Crenshaw, Clayton 9–29–08 Republican National Committee; $150, W. Gillespie for Senate; $2,600.00, 03.17.2014, Hinchman, Jake Ellzey and Lynne 3–31–12 Rick Santorum for President, Inc.; Friends of Jeb Hensarling; $500.00, 03.26.2014, Blankenship; $200.00, 05.12.2018, Lynne $100, 3–31–12, Rick Santorum for President, Texans for Dan Patrick; $500.00, 04.21.2014, Blankenbeker for Congress; $200.00, 05.29.2018, Inc. Sean Duffy for Wisconsin; $500.00, 05.23.2014, Michael Waltz for Congress; $50.00, 07.14.2018, 2. Spouse: Kristen Renee Cella: $500, 9–30– Chart H. Westcott; $2,600.00, 06.05.2014, Trump Make America Great Again Cam- 11, The American Way—Durant 2012. French Hill for Arkansas; $40.00, 07.12.2014, paign; $50.00, 07.19.2018, Trump Make Amer- 3. Children: Francesca Teresa Cella: $0; Libertarian Party of Texas; $5,000.00, ica Great Again Campaign; $25.00, 09.05.2018, John Paul Cornelius Cella: $0; Dominic Pas- 10.17.2014, Texans for Dan Patrick; $1,250,00, Republican Party of Texas. chal Cella: $0; Rita Rose Benedicta Cella: $0; 12.13.2014, Texans for Dan Patrick; $2,500.00, Elizabeth Secrest George, Spouse: $2,700.00, Mariana Lucia Cella: $0; Anthony Gilbert 12.15.2014, Morgan D. Meyer; $107.50, 06.30.2015, Rick Perry for President. Cella: $0. 03.23.2015, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Rais- Clement Roberdeau George, Son: $1,000.00, 4. Parents: Janice Jean Cella: $0; Robert ers; $2,200.00, 06.16.2015, Rick Perry; $2,700.00, 12.02.2015, Marco Rubio for President. Francis Celia: $0 (deceased). 11.13.2015, Ted Cruz for President; $2,700.00, Molly Cooper George, Spouse: None. 5. Grandparents: Irene Rose: (deceased) $0; 11.20.2015, Marco Rubio for President; $100.00, Elizabeth George Gosselin, Daughter: Emmett Rose: (deceased) $0; Angela Cella: 06.14.2016, Texans for Greg Abbott; $2,000.00, None. (deceased) $0; Joseph Cella: (deceased) $0. 08.17.2016, Trump Victory; $2,700.00, 08.24.2016, Chase Karl Gosselin, Spouse: None. 6. Brothers and Spouses: Robert Francis Trump Victory; $1,000.00, 08.29.2016, Donald B. Clement Enos George, Father: Deceased. Cella: $35, 11–1–16, Make America Great Huffines; $250.00, 08.31.2016, Dallas County Betty Suggett George, Mother: Deceased. Again PAC; Kelli Anne Cella: $0. Council of Republican Women; $2,500.00, Gransparents, Long Deceased. 7. Sisters and Spouses: Christina Marie 10.26.2016, Texans for Dan Patrick; $1,000.00, Meredith George Tinsley, Sister: None. Cella: $27, 2–13–16, ActBlue; $2.70, 2–13–16, 11.03.2016, Sid Miller; $5,000.00, 01.11.2017, Edward R. Tinsley, Brother-in-Law: ActBlue; $50.00, 3–16–16, ActBlue; $15.00, 3–31– Trump for America, Inc.; $2,700.00, 02.28.2017, $1,000.00, 05.22.2014, National Restaurant As- 16, ActBlue; $50.00, 4–18–16, ActBlue; John Friends of Jeb Hensarling; $1,000.00, sociation PAC; $500.00, 06.29.2015, Friends of Paul Nelson: $3.86, 11–5–16, ActBlue; $2.70, 11– 03.21.2017, Faith Johnson for Dallas County John Boehner; $1,000.00, 12.28.2015, National 5–16, ActBlue; $3.86, 11–5–16, ActBlue; $3.85, District Attorney; $2,700.00, 03.29.2017, Pete Restaurant Association PAC. 11–5–16, ActBlue; $3.86, 11–5–16 ActBlue; $3.86, Sessions for Congress; $1,000.00, 06.19.2017, Re- 11–5–16, ActBlue; $3.86, 11–6–16, ActBlue; publican Party of Texas; $1,000.00, 10.18.2017, Jeffrey Ross Gunter, of California, to be $15.00, 12–16–06, ActBlue; $5.00, 1–2–17, Faith Johnson for Dallas County District At- Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- ActBlue; $5,00, 1–24–17, ActBlue; $11.00, 1–30– torney; $1,000.00, 10.19.2017, Van Taylor for potentiary of the United States of America 17, ActBlue; $11.00, 2–27–17, ActBlue; $2.50, 4– Congress; $2,700.00, 10.20.2017, Trump Victory; to the Republic of Iceland. 17–17, ActBlue; $11.00, 5–25–17, ActBlue; $2.50, $2,700.00, 10.26.2017, Pete Sessions for Con- Nominee: Jeffrey Ross Gunter. 6–18–17, ActBlue; $2.50, 6–18–17, ActBlue. gress; $1,000.00, 10.30.2017, Republican Chal- Post: Ambassador to the Republic of Ice- lengers Fund; $2,500.00, 12.28.2017, Estes for land. Michael J. Fitzpatrick, of Virginia, a Ca- Texas; $2,500.00, 12.28.2017, Miller for Texas; (The following is a list of all members of reer Member of the Senior Foreign Service, $500.00, 12.31.2017, Bunni Pounds for Congress; my immediate family and their spouses. I Class of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambas- $2,500.00, 01.18.2018, Dallas County Republican have asked each of these persons to inform sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Party-Primary; $1,500.00, 03.27.2018, Jake me of the pertinent contributions made by the United States of America to the Republic Ellzey for Congress; $2,200.00, 05.23.2018, them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- of Ecuador. Bunni Pounds for Congress; $1,500.00, formation contained in this report is com- Nominee: Fitzpatrick, Michael Joseph. 05.23.2018, Jake Ellzey for Congress; $5,000.00, plete and accurate.) Post: Quito, Ecuador. 10.19.2018, Pete Sessions for Congress; Contributions, amount, date, and donee: (The following is a list of all members of $2,700.00, 10.22.2018, French Hill for Arkansas; Self: $177,563.00, 2013–present. my immediate family and their spouses. I $1,000.00, 10.22.2018, Lisa Luby Ryan, Texas Spouse (deceased): N/A, N/A, N/A. have asked each of these persons to inform State Representative Campaign; $2,700.00, Children and Spouses: Sophie Gunter: me of the pertinent contributions made by 11.05.2018, Van Taylor for Congress. None, N/A, N/A. Simon Gunter, None, N/A, N/ them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- Patricia Mast George, Spouse: $2,600.00, A. formation contained in this report is com- 09.30.2013, Pete Sessions for Congress; Parents: Milton Gunter (deceased): N/A, N/ plete and accurate. I have also compared this $2.600.00, 12.09.2013, French Hill for Arkansas; A, N/A. Sally Gunter (deceased): N/A, N/A, N/ data to that which is publicly available via $1,000.00, 02.20.2014, Texans for John Cornyn, A. FEC.gov website, and am aware of no incon- Inc.; $2,500.00, 06.30.2014, Friends of Jeb Hen- Grandparents: Seymour Mintz (deceased): sistencies.) sarling; $2,700.00, 03.31.2015, Pete Sessions for N/A, N/A, N/A. Jenny Mintz (deceased): N/A, Contributions, amount, date, and donee: Congress; $1,200.00, 09.02.2015, Committee to N/A, N/A. Jacob Gunter (deceased): N/A, N/A, 1. Self: none, N/A, N/A. Protect Prosperity and Free Enterprise; N/A. Sadie Gunter (deceased): N/A, N/A, N/A. 2. Spouse: Silvana V. Fitzpatrick: none, N/ $300.00, 09.02.2015, Bruce Poliquin for Con- Brothers and Spouses: N/A, N/A, N/A. A, N/A. gress; $300.00, 09.02.2015, Thomas Earl Emmer, Sisters and Spouses: Elyse Gunter: None, 3. Children and Spouses: Michelle N. Jr. for Congress; $300.00, 09.30.2015, French N/A, N/A. Fitzpatrick: none, N/A, N/A. Hill for Arkansas; $2,700.00, 11.07.2016, Friends Category, contributor, location, occupa- 4. Parents: John R. Fitzpatrick, Jr.—de- of Jeb Hensarling; $2,700.00, 11.07.2016, Pete tion, date, amount, recipient. ceased; Ruth M. Fitzpatrick: none, N/A, N/A. Sessions for Congress; $2,700.00, 06.30.2017, Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los 5. Grandparents: John R. and Elizabeth K. Pete Sessions for Congress; $2,700.00, Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 3/13/2014, Fitzpatrick—deceased. Joseph A. and Kath- 10.23.2017, Trump Victory; $500.00, 02.01.2018, $2,600.00, Collins, Susan M (R). erine D. McDonough—deceased. Van Taylor Campaign; $500.00, 02.19.2018, Vic Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los 6. Brothers and Spouses: John F. and Ellen Cunningham Campaign; $1,000.00, 05.08.2018, Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 3/13/2014, C.B. Fitzpatrick: none, N/A, N/A. War Veterans Fund benefitting Mike Waltz, $2,600.00, Collins, Susan M (R). 7. Sisters and Spouses: P. Kelly Dan Crenshaw, Clayton Hinchman, Jake Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Dr., Fitzpatrick: none, N/A, N/A. Ellzey and Lynne Blankenship; $500.00, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 4/30/ 05.15.2018, Bunni Pounds for Congress; 2014, $2,600.00, McConnell, Mitch (R). Kenneth S. George, of Texas, to be Ambas- $2,700.00, 07.04.2018, French Hill for Arkansas; Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of $1,000.00, 09.17.2018, Dallas Entrepreneurs— Angeles, CA 90049, Jeffrey Ross Gunter MD the United States of America to the Oriental Sessions 2018; $500.00, 09.24.2018, Morgan Inc., 7/18/2014, $2,600.00, Land, Terri Lynn (R). Republic of Uruguay. Meyer Campaign; $500.00, 10.14.2018, Crenshaw Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Nominee: Kenneth Suggett George. for Congress. Angeles, CA 90049, Jeffrey Ross Gunter MD Post, Ambassador, Uruguay. Kenneth Suggett George II, Son: None. Inc., 7/18/2014, $2,600.00, Land, Terri Lynn (R). Contributions, amount, date, and donee: Carolyn Dudley George: None. Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Kenneth Suggett George, Self: $1,000.00, Patrick Sarsfield George, Son: $2,700.00, Angeles, CA 90049, Jeffrey Ross Gunter MD 04.02.2012, Elizabeth Ames Jones for Texas 06.30.2015, Rick Perry for President; $1,000.00, Inc., 7/18/2014, $2,600.00, Land, Terri Lynn (R). Senate; $500.00, 04.02.2012, Christi L. Craddick 12.14.2015, Marco Rubio for President; Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los (Texas Railroad Commission); $2,500.00, $1,000.00, 05.31.2017, Republican Party of Angeles, CA 90049, Jeffrey Ross Gunter MD 02.08.2013, Friends of Jeb Hensarling; Texas; $25.00, 06.05.2017, Republican Party of Inc., 7/18/2014, $2,600.00, Land, Terri Lynn (R). $2,500.00, 05.29.2013, Republican National Texas; $25.00, 07.05.2017, Republican Party of Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Committee; $2,000.00, 08.16.2016, Republican Texas; $100.00, 07.14.2017, Ted Cruz for Senate; Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 10/8/2014, National Committee; $1,000.00, 09.06.2013, Dal- $25.00, 08.05.2017, Republican Party of Texas; $2,600.00, Strickland, Tory (R). las Entrepreneur PAC; $1,200.00, 09.09.2013, $25.00, 09.05.2017, Republican Party of Texas; Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Committee to Protect Prosperity and Free $25.00, 11.05.2017, Republican Party of Texas; Ross, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 3/3/ Enterprise; $200.00, 09.09.2013, Keith Rothfus $25.00, 12.09.2017, Republican Party of Texas; 2015, $2,700.00, Graham, Lindsey (R).

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.035 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2237 Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Mr., Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 5/29/2015, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 7/27/2016, geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/27/2016, $2,700.00, Kirk, Mark (R). $2,700.00, Cheney, Liz (R). $1,723.00, Republican Party of Minnesota (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Mr. Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 5/29/2015, Ross Mr., Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatolo- geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/27/2016, $2,700.00, Kirk, Mark (R). gist, 8/30/2016, $2,700.00, McCain, John (R). $1,723.00, Connecticut Republican Campaign Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Cmte (R). Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 6/24/2015, geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 9/6/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $900.00, Johnson, Ron (R). $1,723.00, Republican Party of Alabama (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/27/2016, Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los $1,723.00, Republican Party of Tennessee (R). Los Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 7/7/2015, Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 8/14/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $2,700.00, Nunes, Devin (R). $2,700.00, Burr, Richard (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/27/2016, Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,723.00, New Jersey Republican State Cmte Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/10/ geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, (R). 2015, $1,500.00, Ayotte, Kelly (R). $1,190.00, Republican Party of Mississippi (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/27/2016, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/13/ geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, $1,723.00, Republican Party of South Carolina 2015, $900.00, Ayotte, Kelly (R). $1,190.00, Republican Party of Virginia (R). (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Angeles, CA 90049, Av Dermatology, 3/30/2016, geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 12/20/ $1,000.00, Heck, Joe (R). $1,190.00, Republican Party of California (R). 2016, $2,700.00, Royce, Ed (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Mr., Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 5/31/ geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 12/20/ 2016, $2,700.00, Trump, Donald (R). $1,190.00, Republican Federal Cmte of Penn- 2016, $2,700.00, Royce, Ed (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Mr., sylvania (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 5/31/ Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Los Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 12/21/2016, 2016, $2,700.00, Trump, Donald (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, $2,700.00, Nunes, Devin (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey Ross $1,190.00, Republican Party of Illinois (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Mr., Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 5/ Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Los Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 12/21/2016, 31/2016, $19,600.00, Republican National Cmte geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, $2,700.00, Nunes, Devin (R). (R). $1,190.00, Republican Party of Kansas (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 4/24/2017, geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, $2,700.00, Granger, Kay (R). $1,723.00, Republican Party of Illinois (R). $1,190.00, Republican Party of North Dakota Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeff Dr., Los Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- (R). Angeles, CA 90049, Jeff Gunter MD, 6/2/2017, geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $2,700.00, McHenry, Patrick (R). $1,723.00, Republican Party of Kansas (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,190.00, Republican Party of Alabama (R). Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 9/12/ geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- 2017, $2,700.00, Royce, Ed (R). $1,723.00, Republican Party of West Virginia geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, (R). $1,190.00, Missouri Republican State Cmte Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 9/12/ Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- (R). 2017, $2,700.00, Royce, Ed (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, $1,723.00, Republican Party of Wisconsin (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, Los Angeles, CA 90049, Doctor, 9/30/2017, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,190.00, Republican Party of West Virginia $2,700.00, Hawley, Josh (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey R, $1,723.00, Republican Party of North Dakota Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Los Angeles, CA 90049, Doctor, 9/30/2017, (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, $2,700.00, Hawley, Josh (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,190.00, Republican Party of Wyoming (R). Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeff Dr., Los geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Angeles, CA 90049, Jeff Gunter MD, 11/13/2017, $1,723.00, Republican Party of California (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, $2,700.00, McHenry, Patrick (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,190.00, Republican Party of Louisiana (R). Total: $177,563.00. geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,723.00, Republican Party of Louisiana (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, Ronald Douglas Johnson, of Florida, to be Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,190.00, New York Republican Federal Cam- Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, paign Cmte (R). potentiary of the United States of America $1,723.00, Missouri Republican State Cmte Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- to the Republic of El Salvador. (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, Nominee: Ronald Douglas Johnson. Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,190.00, Republican Party of Arkansas (R). Post: Ambassador, Republic of El Salvador. geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- (The following is a list of all members of $1,723.00, New York Republican Federal Cam- geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/11/2016, my immediate family and their spouses. I paign Cmte (R). $1,190.00, Republican Party of Wisconsin (R). have asked each of these persons to inform Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- me of the pertinent contributions made by geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/17/2016, them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- $1,723.00, Republican Party of Virginia (R). $1,190.00, Connecticut Republican Campaign formation contained in this report is com- Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Cmte (R). plete and accurate.) geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Contributions, amount, date, and donee: $1,723.00, Republican Party of Wyoming (R). geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/17/2016, 1. Self: None. Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- $1,190.00, Republican Party of South Carolina 2. Spouse: None. geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, (R). 3. Children and Spouses: Robert Todd $1,723.00, Republican Party of Arkansas (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- Johnson, None; Lori Ann Johnson, None; Mi- Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/17/2016, chael Todd Johnson, None; Joshua Lee John- geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, $1,190.00, Republican Party of Minnesota (R). son, None. $1,723.00, Republican Party of Mississippi (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- 4. Parents: Irvin T. Johnson—Deceased; Be- Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/17/2016, atrice Johnson, None. geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/25/2016, $1,190.00, Republican Party of North Carolina 5. Grandparents: Herbert Johnson—De- $1,723.00, Republican Federal Cmte of Penn- (R). ceased; Ida Mae Johnson—deceased. sylvania (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- 6. Brothers and Sisters: James H. John- Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey Ross geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/17/2016, son—Deceased; Priscilla Jones, None; Chris Mr., Los Angeles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 7/ $1,190.00, New Jersey Republican State Cmte Jones. 25/2016, $13,800.00, Republican National Cmte (R). (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Argyle W. Patrick Murphy, of Vermont, a Career Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Mr., TX 76226, Retired, 10/17/2016, $2,380.00, Repub- Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class Los Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 7/27/2016, lican Party of Tennessee (R). of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Ex- $5,400.00, Cheney, Liz (R). Money to Parties, Gunter, Jeffrey, Los An- traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Money to Candidates, Gunter, Jeffrey Mr., geles, CA 90049, Dermatologist, 10/27/2016, United States of America to the Kingdom of Los Angeles, CA 90049, Physician, 7/27/2016, $1,723.00, Republican Party of North Carolina Cambodia. $2,700.00, Cheney, Liz (R). (R). Nominee: (Warren) Patrick Murphy, Jr.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.060 S03APPT1 S2238 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 Post: Cambodia. Henry Gordon: $258 (total), 20 periodic 18; Rick Scott, $5,400, 4/5/18; RAGA, $1,569.77, (The following is a list of all members of contribs. between 4/30/15 & 10/5/18, Act Blue; 4/11/18; Debbie Lesko, $2,700, 4/13/18; NRSC, my immediate family and their spouses. I $2.50, 5/25/16, Progressive Change; $1,007 (ttl.), $24,700, 5/13/18; Justin Olson, $2,000, 5/25/18. have asked each of these persons to inform 28 periodic contribs. between 4/30/15 & 5/25/16, 1. Spouse: N/A. me of the pertinent contributions made by Bernie 2016; $55.19 (ttl.), 4 periodic contribs 2. Children and Spouses: Tim & Sheri them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- between 1/21/16 & 10/21/16, Russ for Wisconsin; Tapia, None; Londa & Will Perkins, None. formation contained in this report is com- $27.69 (ttl.), 1/21/16 & 10/21/16, Catherine Cor- 3. Parents: Jessie Joseph Tapia—Deceased; plete and accurate.) tez Masto for Senate; $47.50 (ttl.), 4 periodic Constance Geraldine Snapp—Deceased. Contributions, amount, date, and donee: contribs between 4/13/16 & 10/21/16, Flores for 4. Grandparents: Thorthon Snapp—De- 1. Self: none. Congress; $35.19 (ttl.), 3 periodic contribs be- ceased; Myrtle Snapp—Deceased; Maria Me- 2. Spouse: Kathleen M. Norman: none. tween 4/13/16 & 10/21/16, Pramila for Congress; dina Tapia—Deceased. 3. Children and Spouses: Seamus B. Mur- $35.20, 3 periodic contribs between 4/13/16 & 5. Brothers and Spouses: N/A. phy, none; Meghan V. Murphy, none; Gillian 10/21/16, Zephyr Teachout for Congress; $27.70 6. Sisters and Spouses: Jessie Jane Cordell, L. Murphy, none. (ttl.), 10/21 & 23/16, Deborah Ross Senate; None. 4. Parents: Warren P. Murphy, Sr., none; $7.69, 10/21/16, Clements for Congress; $7.69, 10/ Margaret R. Murphy, none. 21/16, Commimttee to Elect Chase Iron Eyes; Kip Tom, of Indiana, for the rank of Am- 5. Grandparents: Robert Murphy—de- $7.69, 10/21/16, Nolan for Congress Volunteer bassador during his tenure of service as U.S. ceased; Theresa Murphy—deceased; George Committee; $7.69, 10/21/16, Berragan for Con- Representative to the United Nations Agen- Albert—deceased; Alice Albert—deceased. gress; $7.69, 10/21/16, Maggie for NH; $7.69, 10/ cies for Food and Agriculture. 6. Brothers and Spouses: Christopher A. 21/16, Carroll for Colorado; $7.69, 10/21/16, Nel- Nominee: Kip Tom. Post: U.S. Ambassador to the UN. Murphy, none; Andrew F. Murphy, none. son for Wisconsin; $7.69, 10/21/16, Katie (The following is a list of all members of 7. Sisters and Spouses: Jennifer Murphy— McGinty Senate; $10, 10/5/18, Heidi for Sen- my immediate family and their spouses. I deceased. ate. have asked each of these persons to inform Daniel N. Rosenblum, of Maryland, a Ca- Donald R. Tapia, of Arizona, to be Ambas- me of the pertinent contributions made by reer Member of the Senior Executive Serv- sador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- ice, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and the United States of America to Jamaica. formation contained in this report is com- Plenipotentiary of the United States of Nominee: Donald Ray Tapia. plete and accurate.) America to the Republic of Uzbekistan. Post: Ambassador to Jamaica. Contributions, amount, date and donee: Nominee: Daniel N. Rosenblum. (The following is a list of all members of 1. Self: $150,000, Apr–2016, Kip Tom for Con- Post: Republic of Uzbekistan. my immediate family and their spouses. I gress; $1,000, Dec–2017, Steve Braun for Con- (The following is a list of all members of have asked each of these persons to inform gress; $1,000, Jun–2016, Roger Marshall for my immediate family and their spouses. I me of the pertinent contributions made by Congress; $2,300, Jun–2016, Growth Energy have asked each of these persons to inform them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- PAC; $5,400, Mar–2015, Todd Young for Sen- me of the pertinent contributions made by formation contained in this report is com- ate; $5,400, Jun–2016, Todd Young for Senate; them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- plete and accurate.) $1,000, Apr–2014, Todd Rokita for Congress; formation contained in this report is com- Contributions, amount, date, and donee: $1,876.07, Aug–2014, Jackie Walorski for Con- plete and accurate.) Capito For West Virginia, $5,200, 3/25/2013; gress; $1,500, Sep–2016, Todd Young Victory Contribution, amount, date, and donee: Flake PAC, $5,000, 4/02/2013; Andrew Walter Fund; $1,500, Oct–2015, Ind. Republican Fund; 1. Self: None, N/A, N/A. For Congress, $2,600, 8/26/2013; Andrew Tobin $1,000 Oct–2017, Kyle Dukes for Sheriff. 2. Spouse, $2,700, 2/21 & 3/14 2016, Hillary for For Congress, $2,600, 10/28/2013; National Rep 2. Spouse: None. America (Primary); $1,750, 7/5 & 9/18 2016, Hil- Senatorial Com, $15,000, 10/31/13; National 3. Children and Spouses: Kyle and Angie lary Victory Fund (Primary); $1,675, 7/5, 8/17 Rep Senatorial Com, $6,413, 11/07/13; NRSC, Tom: $5,400, Sep–2015, Kip Tom For Congress; & 9/30/2016, Hillary for America (General); $15,000, 11/02/2013; Jeff Flake For Senate, Mark and Kandi Dunwiddie: $5,400, Sep–2015, $1,000, 9/18/2016, Hillary Victory Fund (Gen- $5,200, 11/19/2013; RNC, $70,000, 2014; Tom Cot- Kip Tom For Congress; Greg and Kassi Row- eral); $250, 12/23/2017, Tammy Baldwin for ton For Senate, $5,200, 3/19/2014; Flake PAC, land; $5,400, Sep–2015, Kip Tom For Congress; Senate; $250, 2/8/2018, Soderberg for Congress. $5,000, 3/31/2014; Corey Gardner For Senate, Kris Tom: $2,700, Sep–2015, Kip Tom For Con- 3. Children: Jonah Rosenblum: None, N/A, $5,200, 6/06/2014; Andy Tobin For Congress, gress; Jon and Katie Fussel: $5,400, Sep–2015, N/A; Liana Rosenblum: None N/A, N/A. $2,700, 4/20/2015; Marco Rubio for President, Kip Tom for Congress. 4. Parents: Louis Rosenblum: None, N/A, N/ $2,700, 4/21/2015; Portman For Senate, $2,700, 4. Parents: Everett and Marie Tom: $5,400, A. 4/24/2015; Salmon For Congress, $2,700, 6/10/ Sep–2015, Kip Tom For Congress. 5. Grandparents: Deceased. 2015; Carly For President, $2,700, 8/26/2015; Joe 5. Grandparents: Everett and Violet Tom— 6. Brothers and Spouses: None. Heck For Senate, $2,700, 9/18/2015; Marco deceased; Ellis and Francis Eby—deceased. 7. Sisters and Spouses: Janet Metz: None, Rubio For President, $2,700, 11/03/2015; Chris 6. Brothers and Spouses: Kevin Tom—de- N/A, N/A; Miriam Rosenblum: None, N/A, N/ Christie For President, $2,700, 11/25/2015; ceased. A; Sheldon Benjamin: None, N/A, N/A; Diane Marco Rubio For President, $2,700, 12/10/2015; 7. Sisters and Spouses: Melinda and Russell Rosenblum: $500 (total), 7 periodic contribs. Conservative Solutions PAC, $50,000, 2/22/2016; Woda: $5,400, Nov–2015, Kip Tom for Congress; between 12/20/15 and 5/7/16, Bernie 2016; $86 Biggs For Congress, $2,500, 3/31/2016; Friends Melodie and Scott Thompson: $1,000, Oct– (total), 16 contribs. between 12/29/15 and 10/11/ of John McCain, $5,400, 5/03/2016; Trump Vic- 2015, Kip Tom for Congress; Melissa and Ray 18, Act Blue; $50 (total), 9/28 & 9/30/16, Ameri- tory, $25,000, 6/14/2016; Trump Victory, $25,000, Gerber: none. cans for Responsible Solutions PAC; $165 6/28/2016; Volunteers For Nehlen, $1,000, 7/10/ Matthew H. Tueller, of Utah, a Career (total), 5 periodic contribs. between 10/16/16 2016; Trump Victory, $25,000, 8/03/2016; Ken Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class and 11/5/16, Deborah Ross for United States Bennett For Congress, $2,500, 8/12/2016; of Minister-Counselor, to be Ambassador Ex- Senate; $150 (total), 5 periodic contribs. be- Kiehne For Congress, $2,500, 8/18/2016; Marco traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the tween 10/17/16 and 11/5/16, Russ for Wisconsin; Rubio For Senate, $2,700, 9/24/2016; Marco United States of America to the Republic of $150 (total), 4 periodic contribs. between 11/ Rubio For Senate, $2,700, 9/24/2016; Paul Iraq. 15/16 and 12/3/16, Foster Campbell for United Babeu For Congress, $5,000, 9/24/2016; Winning Nominee: Matthew H. Tueller. States Senate; $15, 2/8/17, Elizabeth for MA, Women’s Committee, $10,000, 9/29/2016; Trump Post: Iraq. Inc.; $40 (total), 4/13 & 4/17, Jon Osoff for Con- Victory, $25,000, 10/12/2016; Trump Victory, (The following is a list of all members of gress; $50, 7/6/17, Friends of Bernie Sanders; $5,000, 11/01/2016; Trump Make America Great, my immediate family and their spouses. I $75 (total), 8/3/17, 5/3/18 & 6/28/18, Amy $752, 11/26/2016; Comstock For Congress, $966, have asked each of these persons to inform McGrath for Congress; $110 (total), 4 periodic 12/08/2016; Josh Mandel For Senate, $5,400, 2/ me of the pertinent contributions made by contribs. between 12/7/17 & 8/5/18, Doug Jones 08/2017; Regan, $5,100, 3/7/17; Marsha Black- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- for Senate; $80 (total), 1/29/18, 4/22/18 & 5/14/18, burn Victory Fund, $5,400, 3/30/2017; Roger formation contained in this report is com- Kamala Harris for Senate; $35 (total), 2/17/18 Wicker For Senate, $5,400, 4/05/2017; Paul plete and accurate.) & 6/27/18, Friends of Maria; $65 (total), 5/26/18, Ryan, $5,400, 4/25/17; Team Ryan, $12,500, 4/25/ Contributions, amount, date, and donee: 7/25/18 & 9/2/18, Courage Campaign PAC; $1250, 17; NRCC, $7,100, 4/25/17; RGA, $25,000, 5/5/17; 1. Self: none. 6/30/18, Sinema for Arizona; $190, 8/3/18, An- AZ Republican Party, $25,000, 5/12/17; George 2. Spouse: DeNeece G. Tueller: none. drew Janz for Congress; $12.50, 8/5/18, O’Con- P. Bush, $5,000, 6/29/17, Steve Smith For Con- 3. Children and Spouses: Marie Amara nor for Congress; $50, 8/9/18, Harder for Con- gress, $5,400, 6/26/2017; RGA, $25,000, 9/25/17; Tueller: none; Kyle Newkirk: none; Margaret gress; $100 (total), 8/9/18, 9/23/18 & 10/17/18, Jes- Trump Victory, $94,600, 10/3/2017; Donald Tueller Proffitt: none; Clark Proffitt: none; sica Morse for Congress; $50, 8/16/18, Audrey Trump For President, $5,400, 10/06/2017; RNC, David G. Tueller: none; Ayae T. Tueller: Denny for Congress; $75 (total), 10/5/18 & 10/24/ $94,600, 10/06/2017; Jeff Flake, $2,600, 11/7/17; none; Daniel B. Tueller: none; Christian M. 18, Heidi for Senate; $205 (total), 6 periodic Steve Ferrara, $5,000, 11/8/17; RGA, $25,000, 12/ Tueller: none. contribs. between 10/6/ & 11/4/18, Rosen for 6/17; Martha McSally, $5,400, 1/19/18; Moses 4. Parents: Blaine C. Tueller, none; Jean Nevada; $20, 10/11/18, Linda Coleman for Con- Sanchez, $3,175, 2/7/18; Matt Rosendale, $2,700, Marie H. Tueller, none. gress; $20, 10/11/18, Friends of Lucy Mcbath; 2/14/18; Andy Biggs, $2,700, 2/22/18; Schweikert, 5. Grandparents: Lamont Tueller—de- $20, 10/11/18, Lauren Underwood for Congress. $5,000, 3/29/18; Schweikert Victory, $5,000, 3/29/ ceased; Elva C. Tueller—deceased; Leland

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:36 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.047 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2239 Heywood—deceased; Marie E. Heywood—de- * Ann Marie Buerkle, of New York, to be S. 1001. A bill to amend the Indian Health ceased. Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Care Improvement Act to allow the Indian 6. Brothers and Spouses: James B. Tueller, Commission. Health Service to cover the cost of a copay- none; Beth D. Tueller, none. * Rick A. Dearborn, of Oklahoma, to be a ment of an Indian or Alaska Native veteran 7. Sisters and Spouses: Jan T. Lowman, Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors receiving medical care or services from the none; Winfield N. Lowman, none; Anna T. for a term of five years. Department of Veterans Affairs, and for Stone, none; Bernell Stone, none; Marie T. * Diana Furchtgott-Roth, of Maryland, to other purposes; to the Committee on Indian Emmett, none; Chad Emmett, none; Diane T. be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation. Affairs. Pritchett, none; Lant H. Pritichett, none; * Joseph Ryan Gruters, of Florida, to be a By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Ms. Martha T. Barrett, $150, 03/2016, Bernie 2016; Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors STABENOW, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. Jeff Barrett, $150, 03/2016, ActBlue; Elisabeth for a term of five years. BALDWIN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. T. Dearden, none; Kirk Dearden, none; Ra- * Heidi R. King, of California, to be Admin- SCHATZ, Mr. CARDIN, Ms. CORTEZ chel Tueller, none; Jeanne T. Krumperman, istrator of the National Highway Traffic MASTO, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, and Mr. none; Paul Krumperman, none. Safety Administration. WYDEN): * Barry Lee Myers, of Pennsylvania, to be S. 1002. A bill to amend the Higher Edu- Robert K. Scott, of Maryland, a Career Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and cation Act of 1965 in order to increase usage Member of the Senior Foreign Service, Class Atmosphere. of the Federal student loan income-based re- of Counselor, to be Ambassador Extraor- * Leon A. Westmoreland, of Georgia, to be payment plan and improve repayment op- dinary and Plenipotentiary of the United a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors tions for borrowers, and for other purposes; States of America to the Republic of Malawi. for a term of five years. to the Committee on Health, Education, Nominee: Robert K. Scott. * Coast Guard nominations beginning with Labor, and Pensions. Post: Malawi. Capt. Brendan C. McPherson and ending with By Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Ms. (The following is a list of all members of Capt. Todd C. Wiemers, which nominations HASSAN): my immediate family and their spouses. I were received by the Senate and appeared in S. 1003. A bill to amend title 38, United have asked each of these persons to inform the Congressional Record on January 30, States Code, to establish the Veterans Eco- me of the pertinent contributions made by 2019. nomic Opportunity and Transition Adminis- them. To the best of my knowledge, the in- * Nomination was reported with rec- tration and the Under Secretary for Vet- formation contained in this report is com- erans Economic Opportunity and Transition plete and accurate.) ommendation that it be confirmed sub- of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Contributions, amount, date, and donee: ject to the nominee’s commitment to for other purposes; to the Committee on Vet- 1. Self: None. respond to requests to appear and tes- erans’ Affairs. 2. Spouse: None. tify before any duly constituted com- By Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. 3. Children and Spouses: Jennifer Anne mittee of the Senate. CORNYN): Scott: None. Nicolas Kennet Scott: None. (Nominations without an asterisk S. 1004. A bill to increase the number of 4. Parents: Deceased. U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of 5 Grandparents: Deceased. were reported with the recommenda- Field Operations officers and support staff 6. Brothers and Spouses: Neil and Cindy tion that they be confirmed.) and to require reports that identify staffing, Scott, $100. 2016 H. Clinton. f 7. Sisters and Spouses: Leslie and David infrastructure, and equipment needed to en- Loomis, None. Pat and Carl Napor, None. INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND hance security at ports of entry; to the Com- Carol and Konstantin Magalow, None. JOINT RESOLUTIONS mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- mental Affairs. John Barsa, of Florida, to be an Assistant The following bills and joint resolu- By Ms. WARREN: Administrator of the United States Agency tions were introduced, read the first S. 1005. A bill to stop financial institution for International Development. and second times by unanimous con- crime, require certain officers of companies R. Clarke Cooper, of Florida, to be an As- sent, and referred as indicated: to certify that they have conducted due dili- sistant Secretary of State (Political-Mili- gence relating to criminal conduct or civil By Ms. WARREN (for herself, Ms. COL- fraud, create accountability in deferred pros- tary Affairs). LINS, Mr. KING, Mr. DAINES, Mr. MUR- Jane L. Corwin, of New York, to be Com- ecution agreements, and for other purposes; PHY, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. missioner on the part of the United States to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and HASSAN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. JONES, on the International Joint Commission, Urban Affairs. Mr. TESTER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. United States and Canada. By Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. BOOKER, and Mrs. SHAHEEN): Brett P. Giroir, of Texas, to be Representa- REED, Mr. MERKLEY, and Ms. WAR- S. 997. A bill to recognize and honor the tive of the United States on the Executive REN): service of individuals who served in the Board of the World Health Organization. S. 1006. A bill to amend the Truth in Lend- United States Cadet Nurse Corps during Mark Rosen, of Connecticut, to be United ing Act to empower the States to set the World War II, and for other purposes; to the States Executive Director of the Inter- maximum annual percentage rates applica- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. national Monetary Fund for a term of two ble to consumer credit transactions, and for By Mr. HAWLEY (for himself, Mr. years. other purposes; to the Committee on Bank- Robert C. Sisson, of Michigan, to be Com- WHITEHOUSE, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. KLO- ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs. missioner on the part of the United States BUCHAR, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. By Mr. CRAPO (for himself, Mr. WAR- on the International Joint Commission, BLACKBURN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. NER, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, United States and Canada. COTTON, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. HIRONO, and Mr. MARKEY, Mr. MORAN, Mrs. FEIN- David Stilwell, of Hawaii, to be an Assist- Mr. SCOTT of Florida): STEIN, Mr. CASEY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. ant Secretary of State (East Asian and Pa- S. 998. A bill to amend the Omnibus Crime DAINES, and Mr. TOOMEY): cific Affairs). Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to ex- S. 1007. A bill to amend the Horse Protec- Lance V. Yohe, of North Dakota, to be pand support for police officer family serv- tion Act to designate additional unlawful Commissioner on the part of the United ices, stress reduction, and suicide preven- acts under the Act, strengthen penalties for States on the International Joint Commis- tion, and for other purposes; to the Com- violations of the Act, improve Department of sion, United States and Canada. mittee on the Judiciary. Agriculture enforcement of the Act, and for Keith Krach, of California, to be an Under By Mr. COONS (for himself, Ms. COL- other purposes; to the Committee on Com- Secretary of State (Economic Growth, En- LINS, Mrs. CAPITO, and Ms. KLO- merce, Science, and Transportation. ergy, and the Environment). BUCHAR): By Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. WHITE- Keith Krach, of California, to be United S. 999. A bill to provide for Federal coordi- HOUSE, Mr. SULLIVAN, Ms. MUR- States Alternate Governor of the European nation of activities supporting sustainable KOWSKI, and Mr. CASSIDY): Bank for Reconstruction and Development. chemistry, and for other purposes; to the S. 1008. A bill to amend and enhance the Keith Krach, of California, to be United Committee on Commerce, Science, and High Seas Driftnet Fishing Moratorium Pro- States Alternate Governor of the Inter- Transportation. tection Act to improve the conservation of national Bank for Reconstruction and Devel- By Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Mr. sharks, and for other purposes; to the Com- opment for a term of five years; United SCOTT of Florida): mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- States Alternate Governor of the Inter- S. 1000. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- tation. American Development Bank for a term of enue Code of 1986 to allow the designation of By Ms. BALDWIN (for herself and Mr. five years. opportunity zones for population census CASSIDY): By Mr. WICKER for the Committee on tracts affected by Hurricane Florence, Hurri- S. 1009. A bill to establish a demonstration Commerce, Science, and Transportation. cane Michael, and the Mendocino, Carr, program to explore effective practices to im- * Ann Marie Buerkle, of New York, to be a Camp, Woolsey, and Hill wildfires; to the prove early detection and management of in- Commissioner of the Consumer Product Committee on Finance. juries indicative of potential abuse in infants Safety Commission for a term of seven years By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. under the age of 7 months, in order to pre- from October 27, 2018. ROUNDS): vent future cases of child abuse and related

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.058 S03APPT1 S2240 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 fatalities; to the Committee on Health, Edu- Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, tions and improve enforcement of sec- cation, Labor, and Pensions. Mr. BOOKER, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mrs. tion 227(b) of the Communications Act By Ms. WARREN: GILLIBRAND, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. of 1934, and for other purposes. S. 1010. A bill to amend title 18, United WYDEN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. REED, S. 169 States Code, to establish criminal liability Mr. SANDERS, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. BEN- for negligent executive officers of major cor- NET, Ms. SMITH, and Ms. KLOBUCHAR): At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the porations, and for other purposes; to the S. 1022. A bill to clarify the effect of cer- name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. Committee on the Judiciary. tain final rules and determinations of the RUBIO) was added as a cosponsor of S. By Mr. COTTON (for himself, Mr. Environmental Protection Agency relating 169, a bill to amend the Internal Rev- YOUNG, and Mr. JONES): to greenhouse gas emissions standards for enue Code of 1986 to provide an exemp- S. 1011. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- light-duty vehicles; to the Committee on En- tion from gross income for civil dam- enue Code of 1986 and the Employee Retire- vironment and Public Works. ment Income Security Act of 1974 to modify By Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. ages as recompense for trafficking in the requirements for multiple employer PETERS, and Mr. CASEY): persons. plans, and for other purposes; to the Com- S. 1023. A bill to amend title 38, United S. 179 mittee on Finance. States Code, to furnish hospital care and At the request of Mr. TESTER, the By Mr. MANCHIN (for himself, Mrs. medical services to veterans, members of the name of the Senator from Massachu- CAPITO, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. HARRIS, reserve components of the Armed Forces, setts (Ms. WARREN) was added as a co- Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. and dependents who were stationed at mili- sponsor of S. 179, a bill to direct the KING, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. tary installations at which they were ex- CASSIDY, and Mr. CRAMER): posed to perfluorooctanoic acid or other per- Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry S. 1012. A bill to amend the Public Health and polyfluoroalkyl substances, to provide out a clinical trial of the effects of can- Service Act to protect the confidentiality of for a presumption of service connection for nabis on certain health outcomes of substance use disorder patient records; to those veterans and members of the reserve adults with chronic pain and post-trau- the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, components, and for other purposes; to the matic stress disorder, and for other and Pensions. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. purposes. By Ms. STABENOW (for herself and By Ms. STABENOW (for herself and S. 192 Mrs. CAPITO): Mr. PETERS): S. 1013. A bill to amend the Public Health S. 1024. A bill to amend title 38, United At the request of Mrs. MURRAY, the Service Act to reauthorize school-based States Code, to furnish hospital care and name of the Senator from Pennsyl- health centers, and for other purposes; to the medical services to veterans, members of the vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and reserve components of the Armed Forces, sponsor of S. 192, a bill to provide ex- Pensions. and dependents who were stationed at tensions for community health centers, By Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself and Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, Michi- Mr. INHOFE): the National Health Service Corps, gan, and were exposed to volatile organic teaching health centers that operate S. 1014. A bill to establish the Route 66 compounds, to provide for a presumption of Centennial Commission, and for other pur- service connection for those veterans and GME programs, and the special diabe- poses; to the Committee on Environment and members of the reserve components, and for tes programs. Public Works. other purposes; to the Committee on Vet- At the request of Mr. ALEXANDER, the By Mr. BURR (for himself and Ms. KLO- erans’ Affairs. name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. BUCHAR): By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. MURKOWSKI) was added as a cosponsor S. 1015. A bill to require the Director of the RUBIO, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. Office of Management and Budget to review of S. 192, supra. CARDIN, Mr. CORNYN, Mr. KAINE, Mr. and make certain revisions to the Standard S. 206 YOUNG, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. GRAHAM, Occupational Classification System, and for Mr. BENNET, Mr. BARRASSO, Mr. At the request of Mr. TESTER, the other purposes; to the Committee on Home- COONS, Mr. CASSIDY, and Mr. name of the Senator from Michigan land Security and Governmental Affairs. HAWLEY): (Mr. PETERS) was added as a cosponsor By Mr. COTTON (for himself and Mr. S. 1025. A bill to provide humanitarian re- of S. 206, a bill to award a Congres- BOOZMAN): lief to the Venezuelan people and Venezuelan S. 1016. A bill to prohibit the sale food that sional Gold Medal to the female tele- migrants, to advance a constitutional and is, or contains, unsafe poppy seeds; to the phone operators of the Army Signal democratic solution to Venezuela’s political Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Corps, known as the ‘‘Hello Girls’’. crisis, to address Venezuela’s economic re- Pensions. construction, to combat public corruption, S. 209 By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. narcotics trafficking, and money laundering, At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the KAINE): and for other purposes; to the Committee on S. 1017. A bill to amend the Older Ameri- name of the Senator from Alaska (Mr. Foreign Relations. cans Act of 1965 in order to address the needs SULLIVAN) was added as a cosponsor of of caregivers, and for other purposes; to the f S. 209, a bill to amend the Indian Self- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Determination and Education Assist- SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND Pensions. ance Act to provide further self-govern- SENATE RESOLUTIONS By Mr. BOOKER (for himself, Mr. ance by Indian Tribes, and for other YOUNG, Mr. JONES, and Mr. COTTON): The following concurrent resolutions purposes. S. 1018. A bill to establish the Refund to and Senate resolutions were read, and S. 362 Rainy Day Savings Program; to the Com- referred (or acted upon), as indicated: mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the Pensions. By Mr. GARDNER (for himself and Mr. name of the Senator from Delaware By Mr. JONES (for himself, Mr. COT- COONS): (Mr. COONS) was added as a cosponsor TON, Mr. BOOKER, and Mr. YOUNG): S. Res. 140. A resolution urging the estab- of S. 362, a bill to amend the Internal lishment of a Cyber League of Indo-Pacific S. 1019. A bill to allow employers to offer Revenue Code of 1986 to reform tax- short-term savings accounts with automatic States to address cyber threats; to the Com- contribution arrangements for financial mittee on Foreign Relations. ation of alcoholic beverages. S. 427 emergencies; to the Committee on Health, f Education, Labor, and Pensions. At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the By Mr. YOUNG (for himself, Mr. BOOK- ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS names of the Senator from Montana ER, Mr. COTTON, and Mr. JONES): S. 151 (Mr. TESTER) and the Senator from S. 1020. A bill to provide for an additional Montana (Mr. DAINES) were added as nondiscrimination safe harbor for automatic At the request of Mr. THUNE, the contribution arrangements; to the Com- names of the Senator from Wisconsin cosponsors of S. 427, a bill to amend the mittee on Finance. (Mr. JOHNSON), the Senator from Flor- Public Health Service Act to enhance By Mr. MCCONNELL: ida (Mr. SCOTT), the Senator from Iowa activities of the National Institutes of S. 1021. A bill to amend the Intermodal (Mr. GRASSLEY), the Senator from Health with respect to research on au- Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of Delaware (Mr. CARPER), the Senator tism spectrum disorder and enhance 1991 with respect to a portion of the Wendell from New Jersey (Mr. MENENDEZ), the programs relating to autism, and for H. Ford (Western Kentucky) Parkway, and other purposes. for other purposes; to the Committee on En- Senator from Ohio (Mr. BROWN) and the vironment and Public Works. Senator from Montana (Mr. DAINES) S. 433 By Mr. MARKEY (for himself, Mrs. were added as cosponsors of S. 151, a At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the FEINSTEIN, Ms. HARRIS, Ms. WARREN, bill to deter criminal robocall viola- name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.039 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2241 ROBERTS) was added as a cosponsor of egon, Washington, and Wyoming as olution recognizing the 100th anniver- S. 433, a bill to amend title XVIII of the wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, sary of the founding of Easterseals, a Social Security Act to improve home wildland recovery areas, and biological leading advocate and service provider health payment reforms under the connecting corridors, and for other for children and adults with disabil- Medicare program. purposes. ities, including veterans and older S. 595 S. 846 adults, and their caregivers and fami- At the request of Mr. CASSIDY, the At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the lies. name of the Senator from Indiana (Mr. names of the Senator from Nebraska S. RES. 112 YOUNG) was added as a cosponsor of S. (Mrs. FISCHER) and the Senator from At the request of Mr. BOOZMAN, the 595, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Kansas (Mr. ROBERTS) were added as name of the Senator from Michigan Social Security Act to provide for the cosponsors of S. 846, a bill to amend (Mr. PETERS) was added as a cosponsor coordination of programs to prevent title 49, United States Code, to limit of S. Res. 112, a resolution expressing and treat obesity, and for other pur- certain rolling stock procurements, the sense of the Senate that the United poses. and for other purposes. States condemns all forms of violence S. 659 S. 861 against children globally and recog- At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the At the request of Mr. MARKEY, the nizes the harmful impacts of violence name of the Senator from Missouri names of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. against children. (Mr. HAWLEY) was added as a cosponsor BROWN) and the Senator from Michigan S. RES. 123 of S. 659, a bill to provide for certain (Mr. PETERS) were added as cosponsors At the request of Mr. RISCH, the additional requirements with respect of S. 861, a bill to establish in the Bu- names of the Senator from Indiana to patent disclosures. reau of Democracy, Human Rights, and (Mr. YOUNG) and the Senator from S. 679 Labor of the Department of State a Maryland (Mr. CARDIN) were added as At the request of Ms. BALDWIN, the Special Envoy for the Human Rights of cosponsors of S. Res. 123, a resolution names of the Senator from Hawaii (Ms. LGBTI Peoples, and for other purposes. supporting the North Atlantic Treaty HIRONO), the Senator from Mississippi S. 893 Organization and recognizing its 70 (Mr. WICKER), the Senator from Cali- At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the years of accomplishments. fornia (Ms. HARRIS) and the Senator name of the Senator from Tennessee f from Arkansas (Mr. BOOZMAN) were (Mrs. BLACKBURN) was added as a co- STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED added as cosponsors of S. 679, a bill to sponsor of S. 893, a bill to require the BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS exempt from the calculation of month- President to develop a strategy to en- By Mr. THUNE (for himself and ly income certain benefit paid by the sure the security of next generation Mr. ROUNDS): Department of Veterans Affairs and mobile telecommunications systems S. 1001. A bill to amend the Indian the Department of Defense. and infrastructure in the United States Health Care Improvement Act to allow and to assist allies and strategic part- S. 692 the Indian Health Service to cover the ners in maximizing the security of next At the request of Mr. TOOMEY, the cost of a copayment of an Indian or generation mobile telecommunications name of the Senator from North Caro- Alaska Native veteran receiving med- systems, infrastructure, and software, lina (Mr. BURR) was added as a cospon- ical care or services from the Depart- and for other purposes. sor of S. 692, a bill to amend the Inter- ment of Veterans Affairs, and for other nal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the S. 909 purposes; to the Committee on Indian excise tax on medical devices. At the request of Mr. SASSE, the Affairs. S. 696 name of the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask At the request of Mr. MERKLEY, the BRAUN) was added as a cosponsor of S. unanimous consent that the text of the name of the Senator from Colorado 909, a bill to amend title 5, United bill be printed in the RECORD. (Mr. BENNET) was added as a cosponsor States Code, with respect to the judi- There being no objection, the text of of S. 696, a bill to designate the same cial review of agency interpretations of the bill was ordered to be printed in individual serving as the Chief Nurse statutory and regulatory provisions. the RECORD, as follows: Officer of the Public Health Service as S. 910 S. 1001 the National Nurse for Public Health. At the request of Mr. WICKER, the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- S. 727 name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. resentatives of the United States of America in At the request of Mr. COONS, the MURKOWSKI) was added as a cosponsor Congress assembled, names of the Senator from Colorado of S. 910, a bill to reauthorize and SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Tribal Vet- (Mr. GARDNER) and the Senator from amend the National Sea Grant College erans Health Care Enhancement Act’’. Pennsylvania (Mr. CASEY) were added Program Act, and for other purposes. SEC. 2. LIABILITY FOR PAYMENT. S. 919 as cosponsors of S. 727, a bill to combat Section 222 of the Indian Health Care Im- international extremism by addressing At the request of Mr. CRUZ, the name provement Act (25 U.S.C. 1621u) is amended global fragility and violence and stabi- of the Senator from Florida (Mr. by adding at the end the following: lizing conflict-affected areas, and for SCOTT) was added as a cosponsor of S. ‘‘(d) VETERANS AFFAIRS COPAYMENTS.—The other purposes. 919, a bill to reduce regulatory burdens Service may pay, in accordance with section S. 821 and streamline processes related to 412, the cost of a copayment assessed by the Department of Veterans Affairs to an eligi- At the request of Mr. CRAMER, the commercial space activities, and for other purposes. ble Indian veteran (as defined in section 412) name of the Senator from Oklahoma for covered medical care (as defined in such (Mr. INHOFE) was added as a cosponsor S. 993 section).’’. of S. 821, a bill to amend the Federal At the request of Mr. MERKLEY, the SEC. 3. COPAYMENTS FOR TRIBAL VETERANS RE- Reserve Act to prohibit certain mem- names of the Senator from Massachu- CEIVING CERTAIN MEDICAL SERV- ber banks from using discount window setts (Mr. MARKEY) and the Senator ICES. Title IV of the Indian Health Care Im- lending programs, and for other pur- from Nevada (Ms. ROSEN) were added as provement Act (25 U.S.C. 1641 et seq.) is poses. cosponsors of S. 993, a bill to amend the amended by adding at the end the following: Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend S. 827 ‘‘SEC. 412. PAYMENTS FOR ELIGIBLE INDIAN VET- At the request of Mr. WHITEHOUSE, certain tax credits related to electric ERANS RECEIVING COVERED MED- the name of the Senator from New Jer- cars, and for other purposes. ICAL CARE AT VA FACILITIES. sey (Mr. BOOKER) was added as a co- S. RES. 85 ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: ‘‘(1) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON- sponsor of S. 827, a bill to designate At the request of Mr. BROWN, the GRESS.—The term ‘appropriate committees certain National Forest System land names of the Senator from Massachu- of Congress’ means— and certain public land under the juris- setts (Mr. MARKEY) and the Senator ‘‘(A) in the Senate— diction of the Secretary of the Interior from Pennsylvania (Mr. CASEY) were ‘‘(i) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; in the States of Idaho, Montana, Or- added as cosponsors of S. Res. 85, a res- and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.043 S03APPT1 S2242 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 ‘‘(ii) the Committee on Indian Affairs; and ‘‘(A) are eligible for assistance from the ‘‘(D) lead to providing targeted caregiver ‘‘(B) in the House of Representatives— Service; and support services to best benefit caregivers, ‘‘(i) the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs; ‘‘(B) have received health care at a medical where appropriate and available based upon and facility of the Department of Veterans Af- identified unmet needs, including through ‘‘(ii) the Committee on Natural Resources. fairs; referrals; ‘‘(2) COVERED MEDICAL CARE.—The term ‘‘(2) the number of veterans, disaggregated ‘‘(2) conduct a study on the best practices ‘covered medical care’ means any medical by State and calendar year, who— and potential considerations regarding man- care or service that is— ‘‘(A) are eligible for assistance from the datory use of comprehensive caregiver as- ‘‘(A) authorized for an eligible Indian vet- Service; and sessment tools standardized across a plan- eran under the contract health service and ‘‘(B) were referred to a medical facility of ning and service area by an area agency on referred by the Service; and the Department of Veterans Affairs from a aging, which shall examine— ‘‘(B) administered at a facility of the De- facility of the Service during the period— ‘‘(A) the current use of caregiver assess- partment of Veterans Affairs, including any ‘‘(i) beginning on January 1, 2013; and ments, as of the date of the study; services rendered under a contract with a ‘‘(ii) ending on December 31, 2018; and ‘‘(B) the efficacy and feasibility of manda- non-Department of Veterans Affairs health ‘‘(3) an update regarding efforts of the Sec- tory use of comprehensive caregiver assess- care provider. retary and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs ment tools standardized across a planning ‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE INDIAN VETERAN.—The term to streamline health care for veterans who and service area, including the value to care- ‘eligible Indian veteran’ means an Indian or are eligible for assistance from the Service givers and the older individuals to whom Alaska Native veteran who is eligible for as- and have received health care at a medical they provide care; and sistance from the Service. facility of the Department of Veterans Af- ‘‘(C) the potential impact on the aging net- ‘‘(b) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING.— fairs and at a facility of the Service, includ- work of using such assessments; and ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any ing a description of— ‘‘(3) prepare and submit to Congress a re- other provision of law, except as provided in ‘‘(A) any changes to the provision of health port regarding the study under paragraph (2) paragraph (3), the Secretary (or a designee, care required under this Act; and that provides recommendations for the ap- including the director of any area office of ‘‘(B) any barriers to efficiently streamline propriate use of comprehensive caregiver as- the Service), the Secretary of Veterans Af- the provision of health care to veterans who sessments standardized across a planning fairs (or a designee), and any tribal health are eligible for assistance from the Serv- and service area by an area agency on aging, program, as applicable, shall enter into a ice.’’. and a proposed budget, based on the Assist- memorandum of understanding, in consulta- ant Secretary’s professional judgment, for tion with Indian tribes to be impacted by the By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and appropriately implementing the rec- ommendations.’’. memorandum of understanding (on a na- Mr. KAINE): (2) ASSESSING NEEDS OF CAREGIVERS.—Sec- tional or regional basis), that authorizes the S. 1017. A bill to amend the Older tion 373(e)(3) of the Older Americans Act of Secretary or tribal health program, as appli- Americans Act of 1965 in order to ad- 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3030s–1(e)(3)) is amended by in- cable, to pay to the Secretary of Veterans dress the needs of caregivers, and for serting ‘‘assess the needs of family care- Affairs any copayments owed to the Depart- other purposes; to the Committee on givers or older relative caregivers and’’ be- ment of Veterans Affairs by eligible Indian Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- fore ‘‘provide’’. veterans for covered medical care. sions. (3) FAMILY CAREGIVER RESOURCE CENTER ‘‘(2) FACTORS FOR CONSIDERATION.—In en- AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—Section 202(b) of tering into a memorandum of understanding Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. under paragraph (1), the Secretary, the Sec- 3012(b)) is amended— retary of Veterans Affairs, and any tribal bill be printed in the RECORD. There being no objection, the text of (A) in paragraph (10), by striking ‘‘and’’ health program, as applicable, shall take after the semicolon; into consideration any findings contained in the bill was ordered to be printed in (B) by redesignating paragraph (11) as the report under subsection (e). the RECORD, as follows: paragraph (12); and ‘‘(3) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary, the Sec- S. 1017 (C) by inserting after paragraph (10) the retary of Veterans Affairs, and any tribal Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- following: health program, as applicable, shall not be resentatives of the United States of America in ‘‘(11) establish and operate the National required to enter into a memorandum of un- Congress assembled, Family Caregiver Resource and Technical derstanding under paragraph (1) if the Sec- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Assistance Center, which will— retary, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Supporting ‘‘(A) by grant or contract with a public or and any tribal health program, as applicable, America’s Caregivers and Families Act’’. private nonprofit entity, provide informa- jointly certify to the appropriate commit- tion and assistance to State agencies, area tees of Congress that such a memorandum of SEC. 2. ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF CARE- GIVERS. agencies on aging, and community-based understanding would— (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS FOR service providers funded under this Act, in- ‘‘(A) decrease the quality of health care FAMILY CAREGIVER SUPPORT.—Section 303(e) cluding— provided to eligible Indian veterans; of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. ‘‘(i) through technical assistance, research, ‘‘(B) impede the access of those veterans to 3023(e)) is amended by striking ‘‘$154,336,482’’ training, program analysis, and data collec- health care; or and all that follows through the period at tion; ‘‘(C) substantially decrease the quality of, the end and inserting ‘‘$360,000,000 for each of ‘‘(ii) activities described in section or access to, health care by individuals re- fiscal years 2020 through 2024’’. 411(a)(11); and ceiving health care from the Department of (b) IMPROVING CAREGIVER ASSESSMENT.— ‘‘(iii) dissemination of best practices, in- Veterans Affairs or beneficiaries of the Serv- (1) INCREASING USE OF CAREGIVER ASSESS- cluding best practices for conducting assess- ice. MENT TOOLS.—Section 202 of the Older Ameri- ments of caregiver needs using comprehen- ‘‘(c) PAYMENT BY SERVICE.—Notwith- cans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3012) is amended sive assessment tools standardized across a standing any other provision of law and in by adding at the end the following: planning and service area; and accordance with the relevant memorandum ‘‘(h) By not later than January 1, 2021, the ‘‘(B) directly or through grant or contract, of understanding described in subsection (b), Assistant Secretary shall— provide information, education, and assist- the Service may cover the cost of any copay- ‘‘(1) in consultation with caregivers, older ance to family caregivers in a manner that is ment assessed by the Department of Vet- individuals, the aging network, and other ex- accessible and understandable to the family erans Affairs to an eligible Indian veteran re- perts and stakeholders, develop and imple- caregivers.’’. ceiving covered medical care. ment a strategy to increase the use of com- (c) BUSINESS ACUMEN PROVISIONS.— ‘‘(d) AUTHORIZATION TO ACCEPT FUNDS.— prehensive caregiver assessment tools that— (1) ASSISTANCE RELATING TO GROWING AND Notwithstanding section 407(c), section ‘‘(A) are standardized across a planning SUSTAINING CAPACITY.—Section 202(b)(9) of 2901(b) of the Patient Protection and Afford- and service area; the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. able Care Act (25 U.S.C. 1623(b)), or any other ‘‘(B) assess the specific problems, needs, 3012(b)(9)) is amended— provision of law, and in accordance with the strengths, and resources of caregivers— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ relevant memorandum of understanding de- ‘‘(i) as identified by a recognized caregiver, after the semicolon; scribed in subsection (b), the Secretary of as appropriate, through voluntary participa- (B) in subparagraph (B), by inserting ‘‘and’’ Veterans Affairs may accept a payment from tion; after the semicolon; and the Service under subsection (c). ‘‘(ii) through direct contact with the care- (C) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(e) REPORT.—Not later than 90 days after giver, which may include in-person, phone, ‘‘(C) business acumen, capacity building, the date of enactment of this section, the or online contact; and organizational development, innovation, and Secretary and the Secretary of Veterans Af- ‘‘(iii) at appropriate intervals, including to other methods of growing and sustaining the fairs shall submit to the appropriate com- accommodate significant changes in the capacity of the aging network to serve older mittees of Congress a report that describes— caregiving situation; adults and caregivers most effectively;’’. ‘‘(1) the number of veterans, disaggregated ‘‘(C) determine whether a caregiver would (2) CLARIFYING PARTNERSHIPS FOR AREA by State, who— benefit from support services; and AGENCIES ON AGING.—Section 306 of the Older

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.037 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2243 Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 3026) is SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS National Intelligence: ‘‘We expect the heav- amended by adding at the end the following: ily sanctioned North Korea to use cyber op- ‘‘(g) Nothing in this Act shall restrict an erations to raise funds and to gather intel- ligence or launch attacks on South Korea area agency on aging from providing services SENATE RESOLUTION 140—URGING and the United States. . . . North Korean ac- not provided or authorized under this Act, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A tors developed and launched the WannaCry including through— CYBER LEAGUE OF INDO-PACIFIC ransomware in May 2017, judging from tech- ‘‘(1) contracts with health care payers; STATES TO ADDRESS CYBER nical links to previously identified North Ko- ‘‘(2) consumer private pay programs; or THREATS rean cyber tools, tradecraft, and operational ‘‘(3) other arrangements with entities or Mr. GARDNER (for himself and Mr. infrastructure. We also assess that these ac- individuals that increase the availability of tors conducted the cyber theft of $81 million COONS) submitted the following resolu- home and community-based services and from the Bank of Bangladesh in 2016.’’; supports in the planning and service area tion; which was referred to the Com- Whereas section 2(a)(8) of the North Korea supported by the area agency on aging.’’. mittee on Foreign Relations: Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of S. RES. 140 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9201(a)(8)) states, ‘‘The Gov- By Mr. MCCONNELL: Whereas the world has benefitted greatly ernment of North Korea has provided tech- from technological innovations under the nical support and conducted destructive and S. 1021. A bill to amend the Inter- coercive cyberattacks, including against modal Surface Transportation Effi- leadership of the United States in the post- World War era, including the creation of the Sony Pictures Entertainment and other ciency Act of 1991 with respect to a World Wide Web which has provided an en- United States persons.’’; portion of the Wendell H. Ford (West- tirely new platform for wealth creation and Whereas the United States has taken ac- ern Kentucky) Parkway, and for other human flourishing through cyber-commerce tion on its own against international purposes; to the Committee on Envi- and connectivity; cybercrime, including through— (1) the North Korea Sanctions and Policy ronment and Public Works. Whereas cybercrime affects companies large and small, as well as infrastructure Enhancement Act of 2016 (Public Law 114– Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I that is vital to the economy as a whole; 122), which imposed mandatory sanctions ask unanimous consent that the text of Whereas a 2018 study from the Center for against persons engaging in significant ac- tivities undermining cybersecurity on behalf the bill be printed in the RECORD. Strategic and International Studies, in part- nership with McAfee, estimates that the of the Democratic People’s Republic of There being no objection, the text of global economic losses from cybercrime are Korea; and the bill was ordered to be printed in approximately $600,000,000,000 annually and (2) criminal charges filed by the Depart- the RECORD, as follows: rising; ment of Justice on October 25, 2018, in which Whereas, according to the Pew Charitable the Department alleged that the Chinese in- S. 1021 Trust, 64 percent of people in the United telligence services conducted cyber intru- States had fallen victim to cybercriminals as sions against at least a dozen companies in Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- of 2017; order to obtain information on a commercial resentatives of the United States of America in Whereas, on July 9, 2012, General Keith jet engine; Congress assembled, Alexander, then-Director of the National Se- Whereas the March 2016 Department of SECTION 1. WENDELL H. FORD (WESTERN KEN- curity Agency, termed theft of United States State International Cyberspace Policy Strat- TUCKY) PARKWAY. intellectual property ‘‘the greatest transfer egy noted that ‘‘the Department of State an- of wealth in history’’; ticipates a continued increase and expansion (a) DESIGNATION AS HIGH PRIORITY COR- Whereas, on September 25, 2015, the United of our cyber-focused diplomatic efforts for RIDOR.—Section 1105(c) of the Intermodal States and the People’s Republic of China the foreseeable future’’; Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of announced a commitment that ‘‘neither Whereas concerted action by countries 1991 (Public Law 102–240; 105 Stat. 2032; 131 country’s government will conduct or know- that share concerns about state-sponsored Stat. 797) is amended by adding at the end ingly support cyber-enabled theft of intellec- cyber theft is necessary to prevent the the following: tual property, including trade secrets or growth of cybercrime and other destabilizing ‘‘(91) The Wendell H. Ford (Western Ken- other confidential business information, national security and economic outcomes; tucky) Parkway from the interchange with with the intent of providing competitive ad- and the William H. Natcher Parkway in Ohio vantages to companies or commercial sec- Whereas section 215 of the Asia Reassur- County, Kentucky, west to the interchange tors’’; ance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115– of the Western Kentucky Parkway with the Whereas the People’s Republic of China 409) calls for ‘‘robust cybersecurity coopera- Edward T. Breathitt (Pennyrile) Parkway.’’. nonetheless continues to contribute to the tion between the United States and nations in the Indo-Pacific region’’ and ‘‘authorized (b) DESIGNATION AS FUTURE INTERSTATE.— rise of cybercrime, exploiting weaknesses in Section 1105(e)(5)(A) of the Intermodal Sur- the international system to undermine fair to be appropriated $100,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to enhance co- face Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 competition in technology and cyberspace, including through theft of intellectual prop- operation between the United States and the (Public Law 102–240; 109 Stat. 597; 131 Stat. erty and state-sponsored malicious actions Indo-Pacific nations for the purpose of com- 797) is amended in the first sentence by to undermine and weaken competition; batting cybersecurity threats’’: Now, there- striking ‘‘and subsection (c)(90)’’ and insert- Whereas, according to the 2019 Worldwide fore, be it ing ‘‘subsection (c)(90), and subsection Threat Assessment by the Director of Na- Resolved, That the Senate— (c)(91)’’. tional Intelligence: ‘‘China, Russia, Iran, and (1) urges the President to propose and (c) NUMBERING OF PARKWAY.—Section North Korea increasingly use cyber oper- champion the negotiation of a treaty with 1105(e)(5)(C)(i) of the Intermodal Surface ations to threaten both minds and machines like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific to Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (Public in an expanding number of ways—to steal in- ensure a free and open Internet free from Law 102–240; 109 Stat. 598; 126 Stat. 426; 131 formation, to influence our citizens, or to economically crippling cyberattacks; Stat. 797) is amended by adding at the end disrupt critical infrastructure.’’; (2) calls for the treaty, which can be re- the following: ‘‘The route referred to in sub- Whereas, from 2011 to 2018, more than 90 ferred to as the Cyber League of Indo-Pacific percent of cases handled by the Department States (in this resolution referred to as section (c)(91) is designated as Interstate of Justice alleging economic espionage by or ‘‘CLIPS’’), to include the creation of an In- Route I–369.’’. to benefit a foreign country involved the formation Sharing Analysis Center to pro- (d) OPERATION OF VEHICLES.—Section People’s Republic of China; vide around-the-clock cyber threat moni- 127(l)(3)(A) of title 23, United States Code, is Whereas more than 2⁄3 of the cases handled toring and mitigation for governments that amended— by the Department of Justice involving theft are parties to the treaty; and (1) in the matter preceding clause (i), in of trade secrets have a nexus to the People’s (3) calls for members of CLIPS— the first sentence, by striking ‘‘clause (i) or Republic of China; (A) to consult on emerging cyber threats; (ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘clauses (i) through (iii)’’; Whereas experts have asserted that the (B) to pledge not to conduct or support and Made in China 2025 strategy of the Govern- theft of intellectual property, including (2) by adding at the end the following: ment of the People’s Republic of China will trade secrets or other confidential business ‘‘(iii) The Wendell H. Ford (Western Ken- incentivize Chinese entities to engage in un- information; tucky) Parkway (to be designated as a spur fair competitive behavior, including addi- (C) to introduce and enforce minimum of Interstate Route 69) from the interchange tional theft of technologies and intellectual criminal punishment for cyber theft; with the William H. Natcher Parkway in property; (D) to extradite alleged cyber thieves, con- Ohio County, Kentucky, west to the inter- Whereas the Democratic People’s Republic sistent with existing agreements and re- change of the Western Kentucky Parkway of Korea has also contributed to the rise of specting national sovereignty; with the Edward T. Breathitt (Pennyrile) cybercrime and according to the 2018 World- (E) to enforce laws protecting intellectual Parkway.’’. wide Threat Assessment by the Director of property, including patents;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:40 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03AP6.057 S03APPT1 S2244 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 (F) to ensure that government agencies today’s session of the Senate. They SUBCOMMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY comply with software license terms; have the approval of the Majority and The Subcommittee on Intellectual (G) to minimize data localization require- Minority leaders. Property of the Committee on the Ju- ments (consistent with the Agreement be- Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph diciary is authorized to meet during tween the United States of America, the 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- United Mexican States, and Canada, signed the session of the Senate on Tuesday, at Buenos Aires November 30, 2018 (com- ate, the following committees are au- April 2, 2019, at 2:45 p.m., to conduct a monly known as the ‘‘United States-Mexico- thorized to meet during today’s session hearing, ‘‘Trailblazers and lost Ein- Canada Agreement’’)); of the Senate: steins: Women inventors and the future (H) to seek cooperation with respect to the COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND of American innovation.’’ standards described in the Arrangement on TRANSPORTATION the Recognition of Common Criteria Certifi- The Committee on Commerce, f cates in the field of Information Technology Science, and Transportation is author- Security, dated May 14, 2014; ized to meet during the session of the ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 4, (I) to provide for public input when devis- Senate on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at 2019 ing legislation on cybersecurity; and (J) to cooperate on the attribution of 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing on pend- Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask cyberattacks and impose appropriate con- ing legislation. unanimous consent that when the Sen- sequences. COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ate completes its business today, it ad- The Committee on Foreign Relations f journ until 11 a.m., Thursday, April 4; is authorized to meet during the ses- further, that following the prayer and AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND sion of the Senate on Wednesday, April pledge, the morning hour be deemed PROPOSED 3, 2019, at 2:15 p.m., to conduct a hear- expired, the Journal of proceedings be SA 247. Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Ms. ing. approved to date, the time for the two ERNST, Mrs. FISCHER, and Mr. BLUNT) sub- COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS leaders be reserved for their use later mitted an amendment intended to be pro- The Committee on Indian Affairs is in the day, morning business be closed, posed to amendment SA 201 proposed by Mr. authorized to meet during the session and the Senate proceed to executive SHELBY to the bill H.R. 268, making supple- of the Senate on Wednesday, April 3, session and resume consideration of mental appropriations for the fiscal year 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing the Calabria nomination. ending September 30, 2019, and for other pur- entitled, ‘‘Enhancing Tribal self-gov- poses; which was ordered to lie on the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ernance and safety of Indian roads.’’ objection, it is so ordered. f COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP f TEXT OF AMENDMENTS The Committee on Small Business SA 247. Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, and Entrepreneurship is authorized to ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 11 A.M. Ms. ERNST, Mrs. FISCHER, and Mr. meet during the session of the Senate TOMORROW BLUNT) submitted an amendment in- on Wednesday, April 3, 2019, at 2:45 Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, if there tended to be proposed to amendment p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled, is no further business to come before SA 201 proposed by Mr. SHELBY to the ‘‘Reauthorization, of the SBA’s access the Senate, I ask unanimous consent bill H.R. 268, making supplemental ap- to capitol programs.’’ that the Senate stand adjourned under propriations for the fiscal year ending SUBCOMMITTEE ON SEAPOWER the previous order. September 30, 2019, and for other pur- The Subcommittee on Seapower of There being no objection, the Senate, poses; which was ordered to lie on the the Committee on Armed Services is at 6:42 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, table; as follows: authorized to meet during the session April 4, 2019, at 11 a.m. On page 3, line 16, strike ‘‘milk’’ and insert of the Senate on Wednesday, April 3, ‘‘milk, on-farm stored commodities, crops 2019, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. f prevented from being planted in 2019,’’. SUBCOMMITTEE ON STRATEGIC FORCES f The Subcommittee on Strategic CONFIRMATION Forces of the Committee on Armed Executive nomination confirmed by AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO Services is authorized to meet during the Senate April 3, 2019: MEET the session of the Senate on Tuesday, DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I have 7 April 2, 2019, at 2:30 p m., to conduct a JEFFREY KESSLER, OF VIRGINIA, TO BE AN ASSISTANT requests for committees to meet during hearing. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE.

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