S2422 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 11, 2019 The motion was agreed to. move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- confirm Mr. David Bernhardt as of Raul M. Arias-Marxuach, of Puerto f next Secretary of the Interior for the Rico, to be United States District Judge for United States of America. It was a EXECUTIVE SESSION the District of Puerto Rico. strong vote—56 to 41. Mitch McConnell, , , James E. Risch, , I want to begin my remarks this , James M. Inhofe, John Cor- afternoon by rising to express my grat- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR nyn, , Pat Roberts, Tim itude and appreciation to Mr. Bern- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Scott, , , hardt for stepping up to the plate to move to proceed to executive session to , Roy Blunt, Shelley continue to serve his country and to consider Calendar No. 33. Moore Capito, . continue to serve the Department of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The f the Interior now in the role of Sec- question is on agreeing to the motion. retary, the individual who is going to The motion was agreed to. LEGISLATIVE SESSION be running the Department of the Inte- The clerk will report the nomination. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I rior for the United States. The bill clerk read the nomination of move to proceed to legislative session. I thank my colleagues. It was a bi- Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II, of Florida, to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The partisan vote in the Senate, which I be United States District Judge for the question is on agreeing to the motion. think is important for voting for now- Southern District of Florida. The motion was agreed to. Secretary Bernhardt. Actually, I would like to be the first Senator to call him CLOTURE MOTION f Secretary Bernhardt. If you and your Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I EXECUTIVE SESSION send a cloture motion to the desk. family are watching, Mr. Secretary, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- thank you. I also want to mention that I have ture motion having been presented EXECUTIVE CALENDAR been listening to some of the speeches under rule XXII, the Chair directs the made by my colleagues on the other clerk to read the motion. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I side of the aisle. To be perfectly blunt, The bill clerk read as follows: move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 36. I find what we just witnessed a bit dis- CLOTURE MOTION heartening. I would like to say at the We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on agreeing to the motion. outset that we can and should disagree ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the on policy disputes. Certainly issues Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The motion was agreed to. move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- The clerk will report the nomination. like land issues are really important to nation of Rodolfo Armando Ruiz II, of Flor- The bill clerk read the nomination of me in my State, that is for sure. We ida, to be United States District Judge for Joshua Wolson, of Pennsylvania, to be can disagree about the direction of how the Southern District of Florida. United States District Judge for the we are going to move some of those Mitch McConnell, Deb Fischer, Mike Eastern District of Pennsylvania. policies forward. What is disheart- Rounds, James E. Risch, John Thune, ening, though, is when you have some- CLOTURE MOTION Rick Scott, James M. Inhofe, John Cor- one like Mr. Bernhardt, who is willing Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I nyn, John Hoeven, Pat Roberts, Tim to serve his country again—and I am Scott, Steve Daines, Richard Burr, send a cloture motion to the desk. going to talk about that—essentially John Boozman, Roy Blunt, Shelley The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- getting his reputation dragged through Moore Capito, John Barrasso. ture motion having been presented the mud on the Senate floor. It is not under rule XXII, the Chair directs the f a good thing. It doesn’t encourage peo- clerk to read the motion. LEGISLATIVE SESSION ple to want to serve. The bill clerk read as follows: So, Mr. Secretary, thank you. I know Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I CLOTURE MOTION this wasn’t an easy confirmation proc- move to proceed to legislative session. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- ess. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the When you look at his background, question is on agreeing to the motion. Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby this is actually one of the most quali- The motion was agreed to. move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- fied individuals to serve as the Sec- nation of Joshua Wolson, of Pennsylvania, to f be United States District Judge for the East- retary whom we have had in many EXECUTIVE SESSION ern District of Pennsylvania. years. He was the Solicitor General Mitch McConnell, David Perdue, Shelley under President George W. Bush, con- Moore Capito, John Barrasso, John firmed by the Senate; he was the Dep- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Boozman, , Richard C. uty Secretary for the last 2 years, con- Shelby, Mike Rounds, , firmed by this body; and now he is the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Roger F. Wicker, Pat Roberts, John Secretary. I would say those are very move to proceed to executive session to Thune, John Hoeven, Roy Blunt, Marco high qualifications. I just want to talk Rubio, , . consider Calendar No. 34. about him for a little bit. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous Why do I support Mr. Bernhardt? The question is on agreeing to the motion. consent that the mandatory quorum Secretary of the Department of the In- The motion was agreed to. calls for the cloture motions be waived. terior is really important to America. The clerk will report the nomination. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without It is critically important to my State, The bill clerk read the nomination of objection, it is so ordered. the great State of Alaska. We have Raul M. Arias-Marxuach, of Puerto Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- over 200 million acres of land under the Rico, to be United States District sence of a quorum. Department of the Interior’s control in Judge for the District of Puerto Rico. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Alaska—200 million acres. That is over CLOTURE MOTION clerk will call the roll. two times the size of California. In Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I The bill clerk proceeded to call the fact, one-quarter of all the lands that send a cloture motion to the desk. roll. the Department of the Interior man- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I ask ages for the United States reside in ture motion having been presented unanimous consent that the order for Alaska. Let me repeat that. One-quar- under rule XXII, the Chair directs the the quorum call be rescinded. ter of all the lands that the Secretary clerk to read the motion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without of the Interior manages in America are The bill clerk read as follows: objection, it is so ordered. in my State. CLOTURE MOTION CONFIRMATION OF DAVID BERNHARDT So we take this role of Secretary of We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, we the Interior very, very seriously, which ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the just voted in a very important vote on is why I wanted to come to the floor Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby the Senate floor—a bipartisan vote—to and again thank Secretary Bernhardt

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Apr 12, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11AP6.045 S11APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE April 11, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2423 and let him know that even though men and women in each State who watching, we would love for you to there were a lot of Senators down here manage fish and game like the Depart- come on up for a visit. You will love it. really ripping into him, the vast major- ment of the Interior. Here is what they It will be the best trip of your life. ity of us—56 of us, at least—think he is had to say: Right now, for example, what is hap- going to do a great job. The Association is appreciative of Mr. pening in Alaska is that it is a wonder- Why do we think that, Mr. Sec- Bernhardt’s continued support for the great ful time of the year. We are gaining retary? Well, certainly with regard to work of state fish and wildlife agencies in sunlight every day. The snow is melt- Alaska, sometimes Secretaries of the conserving our nation’s natural resources. ing. The birds are beginning their huge Interior understand our State and that The Congressional Sportsmen Foun- migration back to Alaska. Some flow- we are different and unique and that dation says: ers are even starting to bloom in parts Federal laws passed by this body say Mr. Bernhardt has demonstrated he is a of the State. It is a wonderful and in- so. Other Secretaries of the Interior true advocate for sportsmen and women credible time. don’t. They don’t understand that in across the country by working with the com- Like any State, and we all come Alaska you have to balance conserva- munity throughout his career in natural re- down here and like to talk about our tion with resource development and sources management, and implementing Sec- States, it is the people who truly make economic opportunity. Secretary Bern- retarial Orders that promote sportsmen’s ac- my State so special. It is generous peo- cess to public lands. hardt does understand this, and this is ple who work tirelessly day in and day refreshing. Secretary Zinke did. This That is a very big issue in my State. out to help one another. So each week, was refreshing. It was a refreshing Even a group like Ducks Unlimited I come down to the Senate floor and break from the previous administra- says: ‘‘His integrity in following the talk about one of these individuals, and tion, the Obama administration, where law is beyond reproach.’’ Let me say I call that person ‘‘Alaskan of the Secretaries of the Interior, like Sally that one again. ‘‘His integrity in fol- Week.’’ Jewell, went out of their way to tilt lowing the law is beyond reproach.’’ Today, that person is a wonderful Federal power in a way that disadvan- David Bernhardt is a champion of con- leader and a good friend of mine, Cyn- taged the State of Alaska, despite Fed- servation and the right person for the thia Erickson. As I mentioned, we live eral law saying you shouldn’t do that. job. in a great State—great State to raise a Well, we just had a U.S. Supreme When I was the commissioner of nat- family, build a good exciting life of Court decision 2 weeks ago saying that ural resources in the great State of service and meaning. But Alaska, like that practice of the Department of the Alaska—which actually is a job similar all States, has its share of challenges, Interior and their different officials to the Secretary of the Interior, where and one of the biggest and most per- tilting the law against Alaskans had to we manage an enormous portfolio of nicious challenges in Alaska is that we, stop. It was a huge case that I talked land, water, oil, gas, minerals, and tim- unfortunately, have some of the high- about on the floor last week, Sturgeon ber—I had the opportunity to actually est rates of domestic violence and sex- v. Frost, which says that in the laws of hire Mr. Bernhardt when he was in the ual assault in the country—as a matter the Federal Government, particularly private sector as an attorney helping of fact, in a lot of categories, the high- as they relate to Alaska—the Supreme the State of Alaska with a big com- est, including child abuse. Court stated it several times in a 9-to- plicated lands issue. He did a great job. Now, when I was attorney general, we 0 opinion—Alaska is unique and Alaska He was a hard worker. He was a man of made confronting this issue a very big is different. When it comes to the De- integrity. So the list goes on and on of priority. We are continuing to push partment of the Interior, it is very dif- the supporters. these initiatives in the Senate. Just ferent. So, again, Mr. Secretary, we just yesterday, Senator GILLIBRAND and I Well, Mr. Secretary Bernhardt knows want you to know that given your introduced a bill that would seek to that, and that is one of the reasons background as former Solicitor of the change the culture around sexual as- why I am so pleased to have voted for Department of the Interior and former sault and domestic violence through a him and supported his confirmation, Deputy Secretary of the Department of national ad campaign. We called that which we just saw on the Senate floor. the Interior and as someone who has bill the Choose Respect Act, and we in- It is not just me who supports him. Let gotten rave reviews from groups all troduced it yesterday. This is a bill me provide some quotes from letters across the country, and now as the Sec- that will be part of a whole series of and support groups, because, again, retary of the Interior, my view is that bills focused on trying to bring respect after listening to some of my col- you are actually one of the most quali- to our country with regard to these leagues the last couple of days, you fied individuals to hold this position. issues. Stay tuned on that. would have thought that everybody So congratulations. You certainly Here is a fact. We can do all of those was against him. Actually, most earned it. We appreciate your service kinds of important pieces of legislation groups who care about conservation to this great Nation of ours, your serv- here in the Senate on these kinds of were for him. Let me give one really ice to the Department of the Interior, critical issues, but as I think we all important group—the Alaska Federa- and your service to my State, the great know that it is really the work done on tion of Natives, an extremely impor- State of Alaska, and we certainly look the ground by members of the commu- tant group in my State. The Secretary forward to working with you as you nity and the grassroots that ultimately of the Interior has trust responsibil- continue your public service for our has the biggest and most lasting im- ities to lower 48 Indians and Alaska country, for Interior, and for Alaska. I pact on these critical issues—the big- Natives. This group had this to say just wanted to come to the floor to gest and most lasting impact on chang- about Mr. Bernhardt: commend you on a strong bipartisan ing the culture that we need to change, He listens well. He is articulate in his re- support, and we are going to look for- not just in Alaska but in the country, sponses. He draws reasonable conclusions. ward to working with you. on these issues of abuse and domestic Moreover, he has established a trusting rela- TRIBUTE TO CYNTHIA ERICKSON violence. tionship with the Alaska Native community Mr. President, it is Thursday after- around the issues of resource development I am happy to say that there are hun- and subsistence hunting and fishing. noon, and it is one of the times that I dreds, if not thousands, of people enjoy the most here in the Senate be- So they have been complimentary across my State—heroes all, no doubt— cause it is the time when I get to come and supportive. who have banded together using their The American Farm Bureau says: down to the floor and do a little brag- passion, creativity, and energy to be This President’s nomination of David ging about my State and, most impor- there for victims and survivors and to Bernhardt as Secretary of the Interior is tantly, do a little bragging about the help them break out of cycles of vio- great news for American agriculture. He un- people who make Alaska such a won- lence that often can be generational derstands the needs of America’s farmers and derful place and such a unique place. cycles. ranchers and is an excellent choice for Inte- Now, we have all heard the stories Let’s talk about one of those heroes, rior Secretary. about the grandeur, size, and beauty of a very special woman, Cynthia The Association of Fish and Wildlife the great State of Alaska, and they are Erickson, and today’s Alaskan of the Agencies—who are they? Those are the all true, as you know. To anyone Week, who has spent countless hours

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Apr 12, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11AP6.052 S11APPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S2424 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 11, 2019 helping to stop the generational cycle Why? Why did she call it ‘‘My Grand- pathy, her common sense, and her pas- by helping Alaskan children, one child mother’s House’’? Because every child sion to protect Alaskans—particularly at a time, who are victims of abuse that she spoke to who was having prob- our children—across the State. themselves and who are living in lems—and she spoke to a lot of them— Cynthia, from the bottom of my households where violence is prevalent. had fond memories of a grandmother’s heart, my friend, thanks for all the Confronting the abuse of children can home—a place where soup is served, great work you do. Thanks for your be a very difficult issue. It is so heart- bread is baked, mukluks are sewn, and courage. Thanks for your energy. breaking and so tragic that we often a place of love and safety. Currently, Thanks for being an inspiration for all don’t want to talk about it and you Cynthia’s ‘‘My Grandmother’s House’’ of us. Thank you for protecting our want to sweep it under the rug. But is a virtual space for kids in far-flung most precious asset, our most precious Cynthia, with a group of children she villages, but she envisions real houses resource—our kids in Alaska. Thank has gathered, is working to break that all across the State—houses where you for creating My Grandmother’s culture of silence one kid at a time. I children can go and be safe. House. Everybody needs a grand- can’t think of anything more impor- First, she had to raise awareness of mother’s house. Thank you. And con- tant than that. these issues that affect so many chil- gratulations on being our Alaskan of Before I talk about what she is doing dren in Alaska. In 2014 she and seven of the Week. and what she has been doing, let’s talk these brave kids went to the Alaska I yield the floor. a little bit about her background. Her Federation of Natives conference. That The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. family is from Ruby, in Western Alas- is the biggest gathering of indigenous BRAUN). The Senator from Wyoming. ka, on the mighty Yukon River. She people in North America every year. (The remarks of Mr. ENZI pertaining was raised in Tanana, a village of AFN comes together for the con- to the introduction of S. 1770 are print- about 300 people near the confluence of ference, usually in Anchorage or Fair- ed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘State- the Yukon and Tanana Rivers, where banks, and these young kids spoke on ments on Introduced Bills and Joint she has been living for the past 33 stage about what they had experienced. Resolutions.’’) years. I remember this. It was so powerful. Mr. ENZI. I suggest the absence of a Many years ago I had the oppor- The stories they told of abuse that quorum. tunity to visit with Cynthia and her they or their friends had experienced The PRESIDING OFFICER. The husband in Tanana. She hosted me and were heartbreaking and very difficult clerk will call the roll. some other State of Alaska officials. I to listen to. Importantly, they im- The legislative clerk proceeded to remember being so welcomed by her plored the elders in the audience to call the roll. and her family but also coming away stop turning a blind eye to the abuse. Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I ask thinking: This is a woman who is a That took so much courage from these unanimous consent that the order for leader and a woman of spirit and a children and their courageous leader, the quorum call be rescinded. woman of energy and a woman of pas- Cynthia. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without sion. When the presentation was over at objection, it is so ordered. We see that a lot in Alaska with Cyn- AFN, it received a standing ovation. NOMINATION OF DREW H. WRIGLEY thia. She received a degree in elemen- People cried, they thanked Cynthia, Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, in a lit- tary education from the University of and they thanked these courageous tle bit, we are going to have the oppor- Fairbanks. Her family owns a store young kids for at long last having the tunity to vote to confirm Drew Wrigley that she worked at, but she never lost courage to speak out—remarkable. as the next U.S. attorney for the Dis- her love for children. Her house was a Last summer, Cynthia and 11 chil- trict of North Dakota. First of all, I place where children throughout the dren and a doctor—a mental health want to thank Leader MCCONNELL and town in Tanana went. She had things therapist—traveled on a plane, a bus, a Leader SCHUMER for providing this op- for them to do, but it was also one of boat—we have a very big State—to portunity to vote to confirm this out- those homes—and we all know the Fairbanks and to the villages of Minto, standing candidate. homes we are talking about in different Tanana, Ruby, and Galena. It was a A little bit about Drew. First of all, communities throughout Alaska and healing journey, they called it. At the he is a good personal friend. Drew is a the country—that kids felt safe in. villages, the kids formed a talking cir- sincere public servant. He has served That was her home. cle to talk about their experiences. our State as our Lieutenant Governor About 5 or 6 years ago, when there Again, this is courage. It is not easy and previously as U.S. attorney for was a series of suicides in her village for young children to do this. They ate North Dakota under President George and in nearby villages, she knew she together, danced, prayed together, and W. Bush. He has a servant’s heart. had to do something. She called the talked some more. Cynthia said about The thing I like so much about Drew local politician. He talked her into this journey: is, besides being a professional pros- coming to Juneau, our State capital, to It’s empowering the children. It’s giving ecutor—and prior to even being a U.S. work for him. She did that for a few them a voice. It’s grassroots. There are so attorney, he was a longtime prosecutor months, and she gathered as much in- many programs out there to help kids, but there are not boots on the ground [on the in Philadelphia in the district attor- formation as she could about programs frontlines]. They aren’t grassroots. These ney’s office. He is good at his job. He is available to help children in crisis. But kids have had enough. They are sick of wait- smart. He is compassionate. He cares she wasn’t satisfied. She concluded ing for help. I tell them all the time, ‘We are as much as anything about the rule and that there wasn’t nearly enough being the ones we’ve been waiting for’ [for the the letter of the law and the victims of done. help]. crimes. But the thing I like the most When she got back home, she took That is a beautiful statement and a about Drew is that he is a courageous matters into her own hands. Amassing powerful statement: We are the ones prosecutor. He doesn’t just take the a group of children, she started a 4–H we have been waiting for. It is a grass- layups. He is willing to push to the club, which eventually morphed into a roots movement to do what we all edge for victims, for justice. He takes nonprofit called ‘‘Setsoo ‘Yeh.’’ That is know is right—to work to stamp out the tough cases, and he takes them on. Athabaskan for ‘‘My Grandmother’s this kind of horrible abuse. Win or lose, he fights as hard as he can House.’’ In Cynthia’s house, kids gath- We just learned last night that Cyn- for the cause of justice and for the vic- er to crochet, to sew, to cook, and to thia has been appointed to the Alaska tims of crimes. be. They glide on the snow outside in State Commission for Human Rights. So it is a great honor for me today to the winter, and they swim together in It is no surprise to me. This is a woman advocate for Drew’s confirmation, and the summer. She told a reporter re- of energy, passion, and inspiration who I look forward to the opportunity in a cently, when she was being honored: has done so much for these kids—and, little bit to vote for it. ‘‘Between all the swimming and the by the way, a woman of courage. I am I yield the floor. sewing and the beading—we all sewed confident she will do a great job in that I suggest the absence of a quorum. our own kuspuks—in between all that, new position—a very important posi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The we talk about our problems.’’ tion in Alaska. She will bring her em- clerk will call the roll.

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Miriam Zayed ported that April would be designated grew up in this community outside of f Arab Heritage Month by the State of Chicago. Illinois. There wasn’t a better place to EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Khalil Gibran once wrote, ‘‘I slept, make that declaration. and I dreamed that life is all joy. I Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I In May of this year, Miriam will be ask unanimous consent the Senate pro- woke, and I saw that life is all service. awarded the 2019 Najeeb Halaby Award ceed to the en bloc consideration of the I served, and I saw that service was for Public Service posthumously by the following nominations: Executive Cal- joy.’’ The call to service isn’t an easy Arab American Institute Foundation endar Nos. 108, 160, 161, and 206. path, and not nearly enough answer at the Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Human- this call, but there are times when you The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ity Awards. This award is given to meet someone who embodies the joy of objection, it is so ordered. those who promote greater under- service. This was Miriam Zayed. The clerk will report the nomina- standing and appreciation of diversity Miriam passed away last fall in Octo- and inclusion. Her decades of work for tions en bloc. ber after a lifetime of leadership. She The legislative clerk read the nomi- her students, the greater Chicago area, spent her life fighting for Arabs and and the many communities of which nations of Drew H. Wrigley, of North Muslims in the Chicagoland area and Dakota, to be United States Attorney she was a member make her more than the rights of everyone. worthy of the award. for the District of North Dakota for Born and raised in Chicago, Miriam Miriam’s joy in service and love for the term of four years; Wing Chau, of always had a love of politics and edu- her family and community will be Rhode Island, to be United States Mar- cation. She convinced her parents to missed. She is survived by her husband shal for the District of Rhode Island for let her go to Chicago State University, Refat Zayed; her children Hythem the term of four years; Ramona L. becoming among the first in her family Zayed, Belal Zayed, Holly (Zayed) Dohman, of Minnesota, to be United to attend college. But there was one Murad, and Lena Hussien; and by her States Marshal for the District of Min- stipulation. Her mother had to go with nesota for the term of four years; and her every day. Miriam’s thirst for brothers and sisters, Nancy, Zayid, Nick Edward Proffitt, of Virginia, to be knowledge would not be deterred by Adele, Heyam, Hanan, Cindy, and United States Marshal for the Eastern having her mom take her to and from Dena. District of Virginia for the term of four school and wait outside her classes. years. She went on to receive her master’s de- f Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to gree from National Louis University in consider the nominations en bloc. curriculum education. TRIBUTE TO JOHN OSTENBURG Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous Miriam was one of the first Arab Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, the late consent that the Senate vote on the Americans in the Chicagoland area to Pulitzer award-winning historian Studs nominations en bloc with no inter- run for public office when she ran for Terkel in his seminal book, ‘‘The Good vening action or debate; that, if con- District 230 School Board in the 1990s. War,’’ described how the Second World firmed, the motions to reconsider be As treasurer of the Arab-American War helped give birth to a new middle considered made and laid upon the Democrat Club, Miriam brought all class for America. The GI bill helped table en bloc; that the President be im- local politicians and candidates to at- make new things possible. One of those mediately notified of the Senate’s ac- tend the annual candidate’s forum things was the opening of the suburbs brunch and encouraged the Arab-Amer- tion; that no further motions be in for everyone and not just the exclusive ican Community to attend and be rec- order; and that any statements relat- domain of the upper class. Thanks to ognized as voting constituents. I have ing to the nominations be printed in the GI bill, new suburbs became places attended the AADC forums, and prom- the RECORD. for returning soldiers and their fami- ise you, it was always a full house, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there lies to earn a better way of life. This is Miriam was always working. She never objection? how Park Forest entered the lexicon of Without objection, it is so ordered. sat for the entire event. Those that attended AADC brunches, Americana. It was one of America’s The question is, Will the Senate ad- first ‘‘GI Towns.’’ vise and consent to the Wrigley, Chau, events at the United Holy Land Fund, or the Beitunia Club events knew the Park Forest has always been on the Dohman, and Proffitt nominations en frontlines of progress. The town won bloc? tireless work of Miriam Zayed. She never sought the limelight, but all who the All-American City award twice, The nominations were confirmed en first in 1953 and then in 1977, for its bloc. knew her respected her. When she wasn’t building her com- work in racial integration and open f munity, Miriam was teaching in the housing initiatives. For the last 20 years, my friend, Mayor John LEGISLATIVE SESSION Chicago Public School system in the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago. Ostenburg, has maintained this tradi- For decades, she taught at the Earle tion while leading Park Forest through MORNING BUSINESS Elementary School. She took her class- a new time of transition and anxiety. es to the Art Institute in Chicago, and Now, as John passes his leadership to a Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I for some students, it was the first time new generation, Park Forest has never ask unanimous consent that the Sen- they ever went downtown. She edu- been stronger. ate proceed to legislative session for a cated her students about State govern- John’s vocations and career high- period of morning business, with Sen- ment and introduced them to public of- lights were too numerous to count. ators permitted to speak therein for up ficials. Miriam purchased school sup- John was born and raised in Spring- to 10 minutes each. plies and clothing for her students too. field, IL. Graduating high school in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Miriam also somehow found time to 1963, he joined a Catholic seminary objection, it is so ordered. run her own business as a certified pub- called the Clerics of St. Viator, where f lic accountant, helping people in the he developed a lifelong sense of justice community with their tax preparation and humanity. His expertise and inter- REMEMBERING MIRIAM ZAYED and planning needs. She treated every- est in the studies of the Trappist monk Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, in the one as family. Thomas Merton earned the admiration early 20th century, hundreds of emi- The week before she passed away, a of so many, and John regularly is pub- grants left the Palestinian town of candidates’ forum and brunch that she lished discussing Thomas Merton.

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