S7838 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 19, 2018 passage of the historic progrowth, mid- conference about 5 weeks ago when he couldn’t have been done without the dle-class tax reform, the most signifi- endorsed this legislation. stalwart commitment by a somewhat cant tax reform in a generation. His ac- The FIRST STEP Act will help keep unlikely cadre of colleagues and advo- complishments also include confirma- our streets safe, and it offers a fresh cates. We have had to compromise to tion right here in the Senate of con- start to those who put in the work make this possible, to seek to under- servative judges to the Federal bench— when they were in prison to get right stand the other’s points of view. In so hundreds and hundreds—including with the law while paying their debt to doing, I think we made the bill better, playing an instrumental role in the society. It also addresses unfairness in and we accomplished something of his- confirmation of Supreme Court Jus- prison sentencing and revises policies toric significance that will reduce tices Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas, that have led to overcrowded prisons crime, make our system more just, and Samuel Alito, and Brett Kavanaugh, as and, of course, ballooning taxpayer ex- improve lives for generations to come. well as, as I said, scores, if not hun- penses. Senators DURBIN and LEE, as I pre- dreds, of district and circuit court Several decades ago, Congress passed viously stated, were instrumental in judges. well-intentioned laws imposing harsh this effort. Their interest in criminal One of Senator HATCH’s particularly mandatory sentences to stop the flow justice reform dates back beyond my noteworthy achievements, among oth- of drugs into our communities, and it getting involved in it in 2014. The exact ers, on the Judiciary Committee is the happened that I voted for those laws, date, I don’t know, but probably after Religious Freedom Restoration Act of but they have also had some unin- Senators LEE and DURBIN joined hands, 1993, a bill he authored and cosponsored tended consequences. Our prison popu- probably soon after Senator LEE came with the late Senator Ted Kennedy. It lation has exploded, and the taxpayers’ to the Senate. Their efforts inspired was landmark legislation allowing burden to house inmates has followed the Senate to take a fresh look at our Americans to live, to work, and to wor- suit. Today, taxpayers pay more than sentencing and prison laws. ship in accordance with their beliefs. $7 billion a year on our Federal prison Senator GRAHAM, the incoming chair- Senator HATCH’s reputation as a population; however, despite that high man of the Judiciary Committee, Sen- statesman and his record of fiscal re- cost, nearly half the inmates released ator CORNYN, and Senator WHITEHOUSE sponsibility even earned him the nick- today are rearrested. have also been with us since the very As a member of the Senate Judiciary name ‘‘Mr. Balanced Budget’’ from beginning of this effort. Committee for the last 38 years, I con- Senators BOOKER and SCOTT both President Reagan. sider myself—then and now—a law-and- share a passion for criminal justice re- Senator HATCH is also widely known order Republican. I am also a taxpayer form and have been vocal advocates, for his musical career and film appear- watchdog, and I believe in the redemp- shining a light on the shortcomings ances. He plays the violin, the piano, tive power of rehabilitation. So in 2015, and societal impact of our current sys- and the organ. Think of the talent this I began to take a closer look at our tem. man has. prison and sentencing laws. We needed Credit is also due to our House col- Senator HATCH and his wife, Elaine, to make the system work better for the leagues—Chairman GOODLATTE, Rank- have been married for more than 50 taxpayers, help law enforcement fight ing Member NADLER, and Congressmen years. They have 6 children, 23 grand- crime, and put a stopper in the revolv- COLLINS and JEFFRIES, who introduced children, and many great-grand- ing prison door. I was led to that effort the FIRST STEP Act in the House. And children. Think of a lifetime achieve- by the efforts of Senator LEE and Sen- thanks to Speaker RYAN for his support ment, and he has, I believe, many years ator DURBIN, who had been working on and pledge to bring this to the House left. similar legislation for probably 3 to 4 floor so quickly. He will be truly missed here in the years before my entry into this debate. At every step along the way, we have Senate, and I wish him all the best in Several States across the country stuck together. We pitched this bill to the next chapter of his life. have developed these education, treat- our colleagues and made changes based I yield the floor. ment, and training programs. The re- on their suggestions. We also relied on I suggest the absence of a quorum. sult has been a significant decline in input and expertise from a variety of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The recidivism. This means fewer crimes, groups from across the political spec- clerk will call the roll. fewer victims, and fewer tax dollars trum. In the end, this campaign earned The senior assistant legislative clerk spent housing inmates. the support of several top law enforce- proceeded to call the roll. The FIRST STEP Act is carefully ment and tough-on-crime champions, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- crafted to provide opportunities at re- such as President Trump. ator from Iowa. demption for low-risk inmates, while I think it is important to acknowl- Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask ensuring that dangerous and career edge the President’s leadership on this unanimous consent that the order for criminals stay behind bars. It does this issue. When he got involved, he closed the quorum call be rescinded. through a multilayer system that fil- the deal, and we got this done. He was The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ters out dangerous criminals and those helped in that effort by Jared Kushner. objection, it is so ordered. likely to commit new crimes. Early in President Trump’s adminis- f The bill rewards those who take per- tration, I happened to be in the Oval FIRST STEP ACT sonal responsibility for their mistakes Office of the new President. Jared and want to put in the time and will Kushner was there, and we discussed Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, put in the time and effort to turn their taking up criminal justice reform. I today is a good day for representative lives around. just asked him if he was interested in government, it is a good day for the It improves fairness in sentencing it. I wanted to give him a phone call, so taxpayers, and it is a good day for safe while preserving important law en- we had that phone call. He took the streets and strong families. It is also a forcement tools. issue and ran with it and helped find a good day to emphasize that many It reduces some mandatory minimum way forward to accomplish something times Congress acts in a bipartisan sentences, but it also expands their ap- previous administrations had tried and way, and probably not enough so we plication to include violent felons. failed to do. Brooke Rollins and Ja’Ron get credit for it. But last night, one of It grants judges additional discretion Smith at the White House were also in- these bipartisan pieces of legislation to sentence low-level, nonviolent of- strumental in this effort, working with passed by a vote of 87 to 12. That hap- fenders to less lengthy sentences as Jared Kushner. pened when the Senate adopted the long as they fully cooperate with law I would also like to thank the major- FIRST STEP Act. enforcement. Finally, it eliminates the ity leader for staying true to his word Today, the House is expected to send disparity in sentences for crack and and bringing this bill to the floor when it to the President, who is waiting with powder cocaine offenses, which dis- we demonstrated the support for our a pen in hand to enact once-in-a-gen- proportionately impacts communities effort that he demanded. In the end, I eration criminal justice reform. I am of color. appreciated his vote for this bill. confident that the President is ready Passing these reforms has been a Thanks also is due to the Senate to do that because I attended the news team effort years in the making. It floor staff on both sides of the aisle

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:24 Dec 20, 2018 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19DE6.029 S19DEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE December 19, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7839 who helped us successfully navigate tion of Chiefs of Police, the National Institute for Prison Ministries; International the bill to final passage. Organization of Black Law Enforce- Community of Corrections Associations; I want to thank my Senate staff, who ment Executives, the National District Fairness, Dignity & Respect for Crime Vic- tims & Survivors; Crime Survivors for Safety helped make this possible. Bipartisan Attorneys Association, the Association and Justice; Just Detention; Justice and Se- compromise is not for the faint of of Prosecuting Attorneys, and Law En- rious Mental Illness; Lifted from the Rut. heart, and they have stayed true to the forcement Leaders. National Conference of State Legislatures; commitment that Senator DURBIN and I am getting to the end. I would also National Criminal Justice Association; Na- I made to each other to move forward like to thank the groups that made tional Governors Association; National In- step-by-step in complete agreement this effort possible. A diverse group carceration Association; Progressive Na- and broad coalition of other groups, tional Baptist Convention; Returning Home; about the path we should take and the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference; Society path we had to take. from the ACLU to the American Con- of St. Vincent de Paul; Sojourners; The Epis- I would like to thank my Judiciary servative Union, supported this bill. I copal Church; The Sentencing Project; U.S. Committee staff director, Kolan Davis. can’t list all the groups that offered Conference of Mayors; U.S. Conference of Kolan’s steady hand and sound judg- their key support, but they include Catholic Bishops; Valor Village Foundation; ment improves everything he is in- FreedomWorks, Justice Action Net- Wesleyan Church. volved in. I value his counsel today, work, Americans for Tax Reform, Her- US Chamber of Commerce; Business Roundtable; National Retail Federation; The just as I have for the last 33 years. itage Action, the Due Process Insti- Associated General Contractors of America; By my side today is Aaron Cum- tute, Faith & Freedom Coalition, R Associated Builders & Contractors; National mings, my chief Constitution counsel Street, Right on Crime, Texas Public Association of Homebuilders; National Elec- and crime counsel. He led the effort to Policy Foundation, Prison Fellowship, trical Contractors Association; Job Creators negotiate this bipartisan deal in my of- and members of the Interfaith Crimi- Network; National Restaurant Association; fice and worked hard to see it through nal Justice Coalition. Asian American Hotel Owners Association; and to organize a vast coalition of sup- To treat everybody fairly, I ask Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council; National Association of Broadcasters; port. Of course, he also worked closely unanimous consent that a complete Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Asso- with other committee staff members in list of support be printed for the ciation; National Grocers Association; Inter- that direction. RECORD. national Franchise Association; U.S. Black I would also like to thank Brian There being no objection, the mate- Chamber of Commerce. Simonsen for his diligent work on this rial was ordered to be printed in the Justice Action Network; (Alliance of Auto- important bill. RECORD, as follows: mobile Manufacturers; National Association Our Department of Justice detailees of Home Builders; U.S. Chamber of Com- The Heritage Foundation; American Enter- merce; Arizona Free Enterprise Club; Connie to the Judiciary Committee, Tom Sul- prise Institute; Right on Crime; Americans Wilhelm, CEO, Home Builders Association of livan and Erin Creegan, provided very for Tax Reform; FreedomWorks; Independent Central Arizona; Don Finkel, CEO, American good technical advice. Women’s Forum; ALEC Action; Bridges to OEM; Gene Barr, President & CEO, Pennsyl- My sincere thanks also goes to my Life; Calvert Institute for Policy Research; vania Chamber of Business & Industry; Guy talented communications team—Tay- American Conservative Union; Common- Ciarrocchi, President, Chester County Cham- wealth Foundation; Faith and Freedom Coa- ber; Kalamazoo Probation Enhancement Pro- lor Foy, Judiciary Committee commu- lition; The James Madison Institute; Florida nications director, and George Hart- gram; Kansas Chamber of Commerce; Kevin Tax Watch; Pelican Institute; R Street Insti- Schmidt, Executive Director, Ohio Cast Met- mann, Judiciary Committee press sec- tute; Rio Grande Foundation; Texas Public als Association; Lincoln Trail Home Build- retary, as well as Michael Zona—for Policy Foundation; Fraternal Order of Po- ers; Louisiana Association of Business and their dedication to this effort and their lice. Industry; Matt Smith, President, Greater successful campaign to educate and International Association of Chiefs of Po- Pittsburgh Chamber of Commerce; Michigan persuade so many to support this bill. lice; International Union of Police Associa- Association for Community Corrections Ad- tion AFL–CIO; National District Attorney’s I am also thankful for my personal vancement; Saginaw County Chamber of Association; Sixty Sheriff’s Letter—Led by Commerce); National Football League; FOX; office staff, led by my chief of staff, Sheriff Hodgson of Bristol County, Mary- Jill Kozeny. Jill has been my trusted US Travel Association; Realtors; The GEO land; National Organization of Black Law Group, Inc.; National Association of Manu- adviser for over 30 years. She is leaving Enforcement Executives; Law Enforcement facturers. Leaders to Reduce Crime & Incarceration; my staff, and I will be sad to see her Mr. GRASSLEY. This was a com- go. She has been an exceptional leader, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Kan- sas; Rockingham County Sheriff’s Depart- bined effort, one on a scale not often solving problems that I didn’t even seen in Washington these days. I am know I had, and she has done it all ment, North Carolina; Families Against Mandatory Minimums; Center for American grateful for everyone’s work to bring with matchless grace and what I like Progress; Prison Fellowship; #cut50; Latinos about these historic reforms. Together, to call Iowa nice. for Tennessee; Bernice King; 2000 Faith Lead- we have taken steps to reduce crime I am also grateful to Jennifer Heins, ers Letter of Support; Brother Franklin Gra- and recidivism, to strengthen faith and who keeps me on track and provides ham. fairness in the criminal justice system, sound strategic advice. Pastor Paula White; Pastor Jentezen and to signal to those willing to make Their contributions and those of Franklin; Pastor Jack Graham; Alveda King; Pastor Darrell Scott; Rabbinical Alliance of amends that redemption is within their every staffer who was part of this ef- reach. Together, we have taken an im- fort have been invaluable. America; Skvere Community; Young Israel; Satmar Community; Catholic Charities USA; portant step to live up to the commit- I would like to thank Senator DUR- The Kairos Group; Move the Earth Min- ment we make every time we pledge al- BIN’s staff, particularly his chief coun- istries; Aleph Institute; Christian Commu- legiance to the flag of the United sel, Joe Zogby, and his counsel, Rachel nity Development Association; City Gate States: to provide liberty and justice Rossi. Working with my staff, the Network. for all. White House, and others, they must Council for Christian Colleges & Univer- I yield the floor. have helped us close the deal more sities; National Association of Evangelicals; The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. National Hispanic Christian Leadership Con- than a dozen times. That is an exam- HYDE-SMITH). The assistant Demo- ple—maybe it is 10 times; maybe it is ference; Kingdom Mission Society; National Latino Evangelical Coalition; Louisiana cratic leader. 20 times. But closing deals many times Family Forum; Southern Baptist Ethics & Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, let is what it takes to get to the biparti- Religious Liberty Commission; American me first say how grateful I am to Sen- sanship that it took to get 87 votes on Bus Association; American Clergy Network; ator GRASSLEY for his friendship, No. this bill. Of course, in the end, their American Correctional Association; Amer- 1., and his leadership, No. 2. It has been dedication—and that includes cre- ican Jail Association; Association of Pros- one of the highlights of my Senate ex- ativity and every effort they could put ecuting Attorneys; Association of State Cor- perience to work with him on this bill. forth—got the job done. rections Administrators; Baltimore Ravens; We trust one another. It reached a I want to give particular thanks to Bread for the World. CAN-DO Foundation; Circle of Protection; point where he said: I am not going to the law enforcement groups whose sup- Citygate Network; Douglass Leadership In- make a big decision unless you tell me port and input were key to the bill’s stitute; Due Process Institute; Evangelical it is all right, and I hope you will feel success, including the Fraternal Order Lutheran Church in America; Flikshop; the same way when it comes to deci- of Police, the International Associa- Friends Committee on National Legislation; sions affecting me. And I did, and it

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:15 Dec 20, 2018 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19DE6.030 S19DEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S7840 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 19, 2018 paid off because we came to trust one No matter what assignment I give to ly become a valuable asset, not just to another. We worked together to reach Joe Zogby, whether it is the most tech- my office but to the Senate when we a point last night where we passed a nical, difficult, and challenging immi- consider the options under the Senate bill which I think will be judged in a gration issues or coming up with a new rules. positive way in the history of our coun- system of criminal justice or improve- Having been parliamentarian in the try. ments to our system criminal justice, Illinois State Senate for 10 or 12 years, I might add that Senator MIKE LEE of he always rises to the occasion. I am I can tell you that those who work in Utah was an early ally in this effort, truly blessed to have him as my chief the parliamentarian’s office, as well as but our team wasn’t putting together a counsel. I may get the headlines, but, those in support staff who are inter- winning record until CHUCK GRASSLEY believe me, Joe Zogby deserves the ested in Senate procedure, are abso- joined the squad—not only joined it credit. lutely essential to the successful con- but led it. Then we brought in CORY By his side was Rachel Rossi. Rachel sideration of important bills. Reema is BOOKER, who was a valuable spokes- is a detailee to our office. She comes in a unique position of helping to ma- person and ally when it came to bring- from the public defender’s office. She neuver and whip the bill on both the ing groups together on the left and in told me this morning that they had Democratic and Republican sides of the the center to achieve this bill. Last warned her ahead of time this was aisle. She certainly did her job last night, the four of us celebrated a vic- probably going to be a pretty lack- night with 87 votes in favor of our leg- tory. But the victory was not ours; it luster and boring experience, and noth- islation. was a victory for the American people ing serious was going to be considered MJ Kenny is by her side. He is the and for those who want to make sure or passed during the time she was a deputy floor director. He was always in we have a just system when it comes to detailee. Well, quite the opposite was the cloakroom and always on the floor criminal law and prison terms that fol- true. She was here to be an integral to ensure the FIRST STEP Act had a low from those convicted. part of the construction of this legisla- fair shot of consideration and passage. For those three Senators who joined tion and its passage. She is leaving as MJ and Reema are an incredible floor me, I can’t thank you enough. I really detailee at the end of the year, and I team. I am lucky to have them, and I hope we can get the band back together am going to miss her. While she will be thank them both. sometime for another issue. Maybe it is missed, she is leaving our office on the Corey Tellez is my legislative direc- the second step. Whatever it is, I would highest possible note. tor. She ensured that all of the staff like to continue to work with this Rachel, I wish you the best. You were worked together to finalize the bill. group and expand it to those who would an important part of the legislation She kept our office and other offices like to be part of our effort. that passed last night. well informed every step of the way. I think we showed something last Stephanie Trifone is our office coun- Emily Hampsten, my communica- night that most American people sel. She is involved in every issue that tions director, has been sending out wouldn’t believe: that a bipartisan goes through the Senate Judiciary messages from my office on a bipar- group of Senators from across the po- Committee. She played a supporting tisan basis from the beginning. She is litical spectrum could tackle one of the role to ensure that the bill was prop- always there with a smile and does pro- toughest political issues of our day; as- erly written and fielded countless calls fessional work, and I thank her so semble an array of support—left, right, and emails to keep our Senate staff and much for her work. and center—from Members of the Sen- other staff well informed. She has been Claire Reuschel is my director of ate, as well as organizations devoted to a steady hand, and we needed her every scheduling. She controls my life more law enforcement and civil rights; and step of the way. than anyone other than my wife. She at the end of it, have something we all The rest of my team has its own as- sends me places when she thinks it is felt was a fair product to send over to signments. Some of them worked tan- right, and she usually has good judg- the House, which I hope will act on this gentially on this bill, but I really ment in those decisions. She has navi- very quickly. couldn’t function without Dan Swan- gated thousands of meetings and phone I will say a few words about how we son. He takes another agenda in the calls on this legislation and so many reached that point in a moment, but I Senate Judiciary Committee, pri- other things. To say that she is an im- want to take time now, as Senator marily on the civil side, and there is portant part of this process is a gross GRASSLEY has, to honor the staff of my none better. There are times when peo- understatement. office, who have done such an excep- ple who were so-called experts would Finally, Pat Souders is my chief of tional job to bring us to this moment. visit my office and say: Where does this staff. He has been with me from the be- Joe Zogby. Joe has been my chief Swanson learn all of these issues in ginning. He started off in the House counsel for several years now. For 6 such detail? and now has assembled, I think, the years, he has worked tirelessly to get Well, he is a pretty bright guy, and I best team on Capitol Hill. I thank him this legislation through the Senate— am lucky to have him. His day in the for not only finding these talented peo- and I mean tirelessly. He fielded calls hot seat will soon come when we face ple but making sure that they get to negotiate the provisions of this bill another issue. along with one another and that in at the same time he was coaching his Debu Gandhi is an associate counsel. their cooperation we can serve the peo- sons in baseball and trying to take care He is relatively new compared to the ple of Illinois first and the Nation in of his family responsibility. Joe was others, but I like his style and his de- the most effective way. I couldn’t do it available every hour of the day and termination. I have never asked any- without Pat Souders. night. thing of him that he hasn’t produced Let me say that this moment in his- A special word of thanks to his wife, the very best quality project in a time- tory arrived because we had an idea Lamece Baligh, and their sons, James, ly way. that was due; it is an idea whose time Elias, and Luke. I want to apologize to Manpreet Kaur Teji is the legislative was due. It was due for a number of them for taking their dad away so correspondent who has to field all of reasons. many times for lengthy conversations, the mail when I get up and give speech- Thirty years ago, in the war on but we would never have reached suc- es that either make people happy or drugs, we were so frightened by crack cess last night without that input from angry. I thank her for her commitment cocaine that as a House Member, I their father and husband. to our office. ended up casting what I considered one This win would not have happened I want to say a word about my floor of the worst votes in my career. I voted without the dogged determination of staff. Reema Dodin has been with me for the 100-to-1 crack to powder dis- Joe Zogby. He is a rabid Phillies fan, so since she was an intern in my office in parity in sentencing. It meant what it he is always looking forward to the Chicago. She went on to graduate law said: You would get 100 times the pen- next season and the next victory. Last school and came to join my staff and alty for the same amount of crack co- night, finally, we won the World Series eventually became my floor director. I caine as you would have in powder co- and passed this bill on the floor of the didn’t realize how much she was study- caine—the same narcotic, different Senate. ing Senate procedure, but she has real- form, dramatically different results.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:24 Dec 20, 2018 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G19DE6.031 S19DEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE December 19, 2018 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7841 We tried this in an effort to scare That is something our opioid legisla- such a big burden in these areas of vic- America straight, to let them know we tion of several weeks ago moves toward tims’ rights and child protection. were serious. We would get tough and solving. During my tenure as chairman of the use all of the political muscle we could The other thing we have come to un- Senate Judiciary Committee, I have find to stop the spread of crack co- derstand is, the cost of the current sys- made it a top priority to champion bi- caine. It was cheap. It was easily pro- tem is unsustainable. We cannot con- partisan initiatives to enhance vic- duced. It was deadly, especially to the tinue to fill our prisons at great ex- tims’ rights and to protect our Nation’s fetus being carried by the addicted pense and not put money into things at-risk children. In the 115th Congress, mother, and it scared us. I voted for that count in terms of protecting our as an example, I introduced and led the that bill and have regretted it ever communities. Arresting someone after Senate in approving multiple bills to since. the crime is, of course, part of a just prevent crime, identify missing chil- I know what happened; it didn’t society, but it doesn’t stop that origi- dren, enhance services to crime vic- work. You couldn’t scare people nal crime from happening. We have to tims, and reform our juvenile justice straight. We ended up with more people think about the crime prevention that system. addicted. The price of drugs on the makes our homes and neighborhoods I am proud of what we have achieved street went down, and we started fill- and towns and cities safe all across on the Judiciary Committee during ing our prisons, primarily with Afri- America, and that was part of the cal- this period of time, as we sent a half can-American and Latinos inmates culation last night in this embarkation dozen of the measures I just described who were convicted under these crimes. on a new approach. to the President’s desk after both We knew in our heart of hearts that Finally, I want to say that virtually Chambers passed them, surprisingly, like so many other laws, it was unfair. every major issue that passes on the on a unanimous basis. For example, The majority—majority—of users of floor of the U.S. Senate—virtually last October, we passed, and the Presi- narcotics and dealers of narcotics are every single one of them—has someone dent signed, the Elder Abuse Preven- White. Seventy-five percent of those backing it, pushing for it with a per- tion and Prosecution Act. This meas- who are convicted and sent to prison sonal passion on the issue. I feel—not ure, which I sponsored with Senator for crimes related to drug dealing and personally but having visited so many BLUMENTHAL, increases penalties for use are African American and Latino. prisons and worked with so many peo- the fraudsters who target our senior This disparity on its face tells us ple who have served time in those pris- citizens. It requires Federal agencies to that our system was fundamentally un- ons—that we need to have a more just collect more data on financial exploi- fair and ineffective. I believe that is system, a more effective system. tation of the elderly, which is, of the reason we decided last night to I want to give credit where it is due. course, a terribly underreported crime. stop trying to muscle our way through Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son- It also calls for specialized training of the drug war and start using our in-law, spoke to me about his feelings Federal investigators and prosecutors brains: What is it that will work, that on prison reform the first time we ever who handle these cases. will make certain those who are truly met. I know it is personal to him, and The second measure, which I intro- guilty pay a price and those who can be I know it means a lot to him and his duced and the President signed last rehabilitated get that chance? It is as family. Because he cared and because January, is Kevin and Avonte’s Law. basic as that. he mobilized the conservative side of This new law is named in honor of two There is a second thing that has hap- the political equation, we had an amaz- boys with autism who tragically died pened in America in recent years, and ing vote last night with 87 Members of after wandering away from their care- it is heartbreaking when you see the the Senate supporting the bill. All of giver. It calls for the Justice Depart- results. We are facing the worst drug the Democrats and then, on top of that, ment to award grants to equip school epidemic in our history. For the first 39 of the Republicans were also sup- personnel, caregivers, and first re- time in decades—maybe in modern portive of the bill. I might add, Senator sponders with training to help identify memory—we are being told that life ex- LINDSEY GRAHAM was absent. Now that missing persons with autism or Alz- pectancy in the United States is going he is back from Afghanistan, he told us heimer’s disease. It also permits grant down. It is because of the opioid drug he would have made it 88 if he were funds to be used for technologies that epidemic. Thousands of people are here. advance the search for missing children dying because of overdoses of opioids, I will close by saying thank you with developmental disabilities. heroin, and fentanyl. again to Senator GRASSLEY. Thanks to This legislation is important because The opioid epidemic has opened our Aaron Cummings. I thanked him per- research suggests that at least one- eyes to something else. Narcotics and sonally last night. He worked so close- third of the children with autism re- their problems are not confined to the ly with Joe Zogby and with Rachel peatedly wander away from safety. inner city. They are not confined to Rossi during the course of this; they Since 2015, we have seen a doubling in people of color, and they are not con- really became a team. I think it was the number of wandering-related fined to the poor. This opioid epidemic one of the reasons we closed this deal deaths, according to SafeMinds, a non- has touched every corner of America in and sent it to the House. It is, however, profit organization that advocates for every State. There is no suburb too the first step. We have to start think- these children. wealthy, no town so small that it can ing about the second step, and we need I thank Senators SCHUMER, TILLIS, avoid this opioid epidemic. What it has the help of all of our colleagues. done, sadly, is educate all of us in what I yield the floor. and KLOBUCHAR for joining as cospon- happens with addiction and what we The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- sors of Kevin and Avonte’s Law. need to do to fight it. ator from Iowa. Third, I introduced, and both Cham- We now look at drug addiction not as Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I bers this week cleared, legislation to a moral curse but, rather, as a disease thank Senator DURBIN for his kind re- extend the important victim services that needs to be treated. That doesn’t marks—more importantly, for 3 years programs that the Trafficking Victim mean we should give up on prosecuting of working together on this legislation, Protection Act established. kingpins and doing everything we can and it is great that it paid off. I led our Judiciary Committee in to stop the flow of narcotics, but we f clearing this measure and a com- have come to realize that just sticking plementary bill introduced by Senator someone in jail, if they lived long VICTIMS’ RIGHTS AND CHILD CORNYN. Our bills, which were cospon- enough to reach that point in their PROTECTION sored by Senators Feinstein and Klo- lives, is no guarantee they are going to Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I buchar, soon will go to the President’s come out of jail without that addic- come to the floor to speak about the desk for signatures. tion. We have to be thoughtful. work of the Senate on victims’ rights Both measures will help us to combat We also have to have rehabilitation and child protection measures and also modern human slavery which, unfortu- that is available for people across the to highlight the work of Evelyn nately, is alive and well today in this board, whether they are rich or poor. Fortier, staff member, who has carried country. It exists in the form of sex

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