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

Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020 No. 115 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 24, 2020, at 2 p.m. Senate TUESDAY, JUNE 23, 2020

The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was THE JUSTICE ACT PROTESTS called to order by the President pro Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, we are taking a very important vote 2 weeks ago, I argued that civil dis- f tomorrow on a bill called the JUSTICE course in America faces a crossroads. Act. I am proud to cosponsor this po- A major newspaper had buckled PRAYER lice reform bill, and I also applaud Sen- under pressure from the social media mob. They apologized profusely for The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- ator TIM SCOTT for his leadership in fered the following prayer: improving police accountability while publishing a policy argument from a Let us pray. at the same time preserving the essen- U.S. Senator and made personnel O, God, our shield, look with favor tial service that law enforcement pro- changes to prove their penitence. I said upon our Senators today. Guide them vides. These are the people who main- that we could either recommit to our tradition of seasoned debate or let an around the obstacles that hinder their tain the peace in the respective com- angry mob run our culture. progress, uniting them for the common munities around the United States. good of this great land. Recent days have reminded us that it We are ready to work with Demo- Lord, free them from anxiety and is not just our present-day debates that crats on police reform. I hope the fear as they put their trust in You. En- far-left radicals want to overwhelm. Democrats finally are willing to come able them to go from strength to They also want to rewrite the past. to the table. strength, fulfilling Your purpose for Back in 2017, when people wondered their lives in this generation. Guide A successful vote to proceed to the whether our important conversations them to use their abilities and talents JUSTICE Act speaks volumes. A vote over Confederate monuments would to accomplish Your holy will. Striving against proceeding shows the American give the far left a broader taste for to please You, help them to stand for people that politics are more impor- pulling down statues, major news- right and leave the consequences to tant than people, talking points more papers and media figures literally You. important than change, and gridlock mocked that concern. They said there We pray in Your Holy Name. Amen. more important than solutions. were obvious differences between rebel generals and our Nation’s Founders. f Surely, Democrats want police re- They said nobody would come gunning form. I hope Democrats will vote in for Washington or Jefferson. Well, the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE favor of opening debate on the JUS- far left missed the memo. The President pro tempore led the TICE Act. George Floyd and countless A few days ago, in Portland, OR, a Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: others so murdered deserve the Sen- mob graffitied a statue of our first ate’s action and consideration of this I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the President, pulled it down, and burned United States of America, and to the Repub- bill. an American flag over his head. This is lic for which it stands, one nation under God, I yield the floor. George Washington. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Another Washington statue was de- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. f faced in Baltimore. A statue of Thomas HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Iowa. Jefferson was ripped down in Portland Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY also. This is the general and first Presi- ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 LEADER dent who built our Nation and the au- minute in morning business. thor of the Declaration of Independ- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- ence—genius statesmen who helped objection, it is so ordered. jority leader is recognized. begin this grand experiment that has

∑ 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 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.000 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3132 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 brought freedom to hundreds of mil- laws’’ means anything, it means may- These are the subjects that the coun- lions and saved the world a few times ors and Governors cannot selectively try needs us to address. Accordingly, for good measure. stand down because they would rather these are the subjects Senator SCOTT’s Yet, a crazy fringe is treating their not pay the political price for con- proposal does address. monuments like vanity statues of tin- fronting a particular mob. But that is The American people expect us to do horn tyrants. Our Founding Fathers precisely what we are seeing in Demo- our jobs, discuss, debate, and legislate are being roped to the ground like they cratic-governed cities all across our on this subject that has captured the were Saddam Hussein. country. Nation’s attention—discussion, debate, The list goes on: Saint Junipero In Seattle, for weeks now, a mayor and votes on amendments. Serra, the missionary settler whom has let bands of people ban police from Tomorrow, we will find out whether Pope Francis celebrated here in Wash- several square blocks. People have even these modest steps are a bridge ington a few years ago to bipartisan been shot. A teenager has died. But, ap- too far for our colleagues on the Demo- applause, sided with native people over parently, stopping this insanity has cratic side. soldiers; Ulysses S. Grant, the general been deemed less politically correct Earlier this month, Senate Demo- who crushed the Confederacy, the than letting it continue. Night after crats were telling everyone who would President who used Federal force to night, Governors and mayors have listen that we would be derelict in our fight the Klan. They, too, have been stood down and watched criminals duty if we did not have police reform placed on the historical hit list for this spray paint churches and topple stat- legislation on the floor of the Senate new Red Guard that nobody elected. ues. Public order is now totally op- this month. But then, as soon as the There are more monuments toppled up tional and depends on the lawbreaker’s junior Senator from South Carolina ac- and down the west coast. politics. tually published something concrete, There could be no clearer sign that Here in Washington, last night, local their tune changed rather sharply. these far-left radicals have severed any police protected one monument from a Now, suddenly, our Democratic col- connection to the righteous cause of memorial-hunting mob over near the leagues are reportedly agonizing and racial justice. They have literally tried White House. It is past time for that debating whether to let the Senate to succeed where Robert E. Lee failed courage to be replicated in every city, have this discussion at all or whether and bring General Grant to the ground. every night, until Americans have the to kill any chance of reform legislation Like any cultural revolution, this peace and the rule of law that all of our before it can even taxi onto the run- far-left anger is sparing some heroes of citizens deserve. way. their own. I understand that in Seattle, It is no surprise that people who The American people deserve better a large statue of Vladimir Lenin stands want to say our country is intrinsically than a partisan stalemate. The Amer- quite untouched. Apparently, people evil are so frantic to erase history that ican people deserve for the Senate to claim with a straight face that this they will break the law to do it. Eras- take up this issue at this time. Communist statue has survived be- ing history is the only way their Senate Republicans want to have this cause it is located—wait for it—on pri- claims could carry any water. discussion. We are ready to make a vate property. So the Founding Father Americans know that an imperfect law, not just make a point. of the mass-murdering Soviet Union nation built by imperfect heroes is still Tomorrow, we will find out whether watches over Seattle streets, but our the most perfect Union the world has our Democratic colleagues share our own Founding Fathers are dragged in ever seen. We are proud to build stat- ambition or whether they choose to the dirt. ues of the geniuses who fought to found duck the issue and leave the country in A small slice of our national elite has this country. We are proud to build the lurch. spent years cooking up highfalutin statues to the leaders who have pre- theories to justify the cheapest, basest served it. We are proud to build statues f forms of anti-Americanism. The absurd of prophetic civil rights leaders who RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME claim that America’s deepest founding made the country confront gross injus- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under principle is bigotry has escaped the tice. We thank God that all kinds of the previous order, the leadership time ivory tower and begun seeping into so- imperfect people have made us a more is reserved. ciety. perfect Union. The United States of America can When the dust settles, it is never— f and should have nuanced conversations never—the mobs or bullies whom we CONCLUSION OF MORNING about our complex past. We can and honor. It is the brave leaders who con- BUSINESS should have discussions about our fu- front them. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning ture. We can and should have peaceful f protests. But this lawlessness serves business is closed. THE JUSTICE ACT none of that. It is just an alliance of f convenience between angry criminals Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, who think it is fun to wreak havoc and on a totally different matter, last EXECUTIVE SESSION a slice of elite society that profits off week, Senator SCOTT of South Carolina saying that our country is evil and de- and a group of our colleagues rolled out serves the abuse. Enough. Enough. the JUSTICE Act—a serious set of pro- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR The vast majority of Americans posals to move the ball for police re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under know full well that imperfect heroes form across the country. the previous order, the Senate will pro- are still heroes, that our imperfect This legislation identifies a number ceed to executive session to resume Union is still the greatest Nation in of smart levers that Congress can pull consideration of the following nomina- world history. Americans know that to advance and encourage smart re- tion, which the clerk will report. our imperfect Framers built our Nation forms of law enforcement without The senior assistant legislative clerk on moral truths that fueled improve- steamrolling States’ and localities’ read the nomination of Cory T. Wilson, ment beyond anything their generation constitutional powers. of Mississippi, to be United States Cir- could have built themselves. The It would step up transparency in re- cuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. American people know this. They also porting and recordkeeping. It would ex- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, know that we cannot let angry mobs pand accountability and disciplinary I suggest the absence of a quorum. carrying ropes act outside the rule of measures needed to establish and re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The law. store community trust. It would di- clerk will call the roll. It was central to the 14th Amend- rectly address issues, such as choke The senior assistant legislative clerk ment and the civil rights movement holds and no-knock warrants, which proceeded to call the roll. that law enforcement and local au- have been in the news lately for rea- Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I thorities may not do their jobs selec- sons that nobody believes are accept- ask unanimous consent that the order tively. If ‘‘equal protection of the able. for the quorum call be rescinded.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.002 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3133 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without kept his knee on Floyd’s neck for near- that want nothing more than to see objection, it is so ordered. ly 9 minutes. The bill my Republican meaningful legislation—are urging the RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER friends have drafted would not even Senate to reject the Republican pro- The Democratic leader is recognized. completely ban the type of brutal tac- posal. They see this bill for the futile Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I tics that led to George Floyd’s death. and, maybe, cynical ploy that it is. ask unanimous consent that I speak for The Republican bill does not even fully Their opposition speaks louder than al- 10 minutes, the Senator from New Jer- prevent the kind of tactics that most any other. sey for 10 minutes, and then the Sen- sparked this whole debate in the first Who does America believe when it ator from California for 10 minutes. place. comes to dealing with these issues— The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Breonna Taylor, a first responder, Leader MCCONNELL, who seems to be objection, it is so ordered. was asleep in her bed in Louisville, KY, new to these issues, or the civil rights JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT when she was killed by police who were groups, which have been fighting for Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, executing a no-knock warrant. The Re- change for decades? Who does America the past few months have been publican bill does not ban no-knock believe? amongst the most wrenching and tu- warrants. It does not limit no-knock We Democrats are certain the multuous in recent memory. The warrants or require police departments McConnell plan will not—indeed, can- deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Tay- to provide more information before ob- not—result in any passing of legisla- lor, Ahmaud Arbery, as well as from taining them from a court. It calls for tion. It is clear the Republican bill, as the COVID–19 pandemic, have forced more data on the use of no-knock war- is, will not get 60 votes. There is over- our country to reckon with not only rants. After the tragic loss of Breonna whelming opposition to the bill in our the decades of long failure to reform Taylor, how could the Republican bill caucus, and because the bill needs such our police departments and prevent un- not even attempt to prevent the kind large-scale and fundamental change, warranted brutality against Black of events that led to her death? there is no conceivable way that a se- Americans but also the centuries-long Imagine if President Johnson, after ries of amendments strong enough to struggle against racial injustice. the bus boycotts and the march in cure the defects in the bill could garner Here in Congress, the Democrats Selma and the righteous movement for 60 votes either. So no bill will pass as have sought to turn the anger and frus- civil rights in America, had proposed a a result of this ploy by Senator MCCON- tration in our country—and, yes, some- bill that had called for more data on NELL. The Republican majority has times despair—into real and meaning- the effectiveness of poll taxes and given the Senate a bad bill and pro- ful action. The Democrats wish to seize other voter intimidation techniques. posed no credible way to sufficiently the moment. Three weeks ago, the Imagine if President Johnson, instead improve it. Democrats announced a bill that would of the Voting Rights Act, had proposed Simply put, Leader MCCONNELL has finally bring strong, comprehensive, a voting rights commission to have created a cul-de-sac from which no leg- and lasting change to police depart- studied the issue a little bit more. islation can emerge. Leader MCCON- ments across America—the Justice in There is no escaping the fact that the NELL’s plan appears to be designed to Policing Act, led by Senators BOOKER Senate Republicans have drafted a po- get the burden of dealing with policing and HARRIs. The House of Representa- licing bill that is deeply, fundamen- reform off the Republicans’ shoulders tives will pass that bill this week, but tally, and irrevocably flawed, and the by setting up a process which is guar- here in the Senate, we have a much dif- Democrats are not the only ones to say anteed not to result in successful legis- ferent story. so. lation. Senate Republicans have responded In this morning’s Washington Post, Again, Leader MCCONNELL is leading to our comprehensive legislation by the Floyd family lawyer, Reverend the Senate into a cul-de-sac—a process proposing a bill that is so much weaker Sharpton, and the NAACP Legal De- designed to fail. Yet there is a way out on nearly every single count and, worse fense and Educational Fund urged Sen- of this cul-de-sac. Yes, there is a way still, is completely silent on so many ators to oppose the GOP reform bill. out. It is the same process that has led issues that scream out for action. They called it a nonstarter. That is to success in the Senate time and Should police officers be held to great- what we believe as well. again. It is a simple word—‘‘bipartisan- er account if they violate Americans’ Last night, the NAACP Legal De- ship.’’ constitutional rights? The Republican fense and Educational Fund said that This morning, Senators BOOKER, bill is silent. Should police depart- it ‘‘cannot support legislation that HARRIS, and I are sending a letter to ments continue to have easy access to does not embody a strong account- Leader MCCONNELL, stressing the need military-grade equipment? The Repub- ability framework for police officers for bipartisan talks to get a construc- lican bill is silent. Should police de- and other law enforcement who engage tive starting point on policing reform. partments be forced to change their be- in misconduct.’’ If our two parties could get together to havior when it comes to racial The lawyer for the families of George draft a bipartisan proposal—and even if profiling? Should they develop a better Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Ben we don’t agree on everything, we can use of force standard? Should the Jus- Crump—one of the Nation’s most re- agree to invoke a real amendment tice Department be empowered and en- nowned civil rights attorneys—wrote process—then we might produce a bill couraged to investigate police depart- that the Republican legislation is ‘‘in that has a real shot of passing. If the ments that have bad patterns and prac- direct contrast to the demands of the Republican leader would acknowledge tices? Silent. Silent. Silent. people’’ who have been protesting, and the obvious need for these talks, there In the place of real change and ac- ‘‘the Black community is tired of the is a real chance we could produce legis- countability for police officers and de- lip service, and shocked that the [Re- lation that has a shot of passing. partments, the Republican bill pro- publican proposal] can be thought of as So we are pleading with Leader poses a slew of studies and commis- legislation.’’ That is from the lawyer MCCONNELL: Instead of pressing for- sions. We don’t need to study the prob- for the families of Breonna Taylor and ward with this partisan bill that is de- lem of police misconduct and vio- George Floyd. signed to make sure no bill passes, lence—we need to solve it. No doubt, Let me repeat: The attorney rep- Leader MCCONNELL, pursue a path that these issues are complex, multifaceted, resenting the families who are seeking is designed to produce real, meaningful and difficult, but the Republican legis- justice believe the Republican bill is policing reform. lation pretends as if the cancer of po- completely inadequate, lip service, and In the Senate, where 60 votes are re- lice brutality is, in reality, little more can hardly be thought of as legislation. quired to achieve almost anything, a than a runny nose. How does Leader MCCONNELL respond bipartisan process is the only way to The national conversation about po- to that charge? How does he respond move forward. licing reform, which has been ongoing when the families’ lawyer says his bill My friends, this could be a moment for several years, was renewed by the is a nonstarter? for the Senate to rise to the occasion. terrible killing of George Floyd—his Civil rights groups—the noble guard- There is certainly something hap- windpipe crushed by an officer who ians of these issues for generations pening out there in America. Hundreds

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.004 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3134 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 of thousands of protesters of every I am grateful for that aspect of our The problem with the bill that Lead- faith and color and age have taken to history, that this is a body that has er MCCONNELL wants to put on the the streets to demand change. acted multiple times to try and protect floor, it is not bold. It is not coura- If Americans out in the country can human life. geous. There is no great imagination together join in a righteous chorus Well, no one need watch a video of 8 about what we can be. It doesn’t chal- calling for change, we in the Senate minutes and 46 seconds again to under- lenge us to come together. What it does can at least try to come to deliver it, stand that this body now holds a true is guarantee that the cycle of violence but it is going to take more than typ- moral choice of how will we act. What in our country, the cycle of the abuse ical games here in the Senate that will we do in this moral moment in our of civil rights, the cycle of death that Leader MCCONNELL seems to be now country? Will we come together and has so moved so many Americans will playing. protect life and liberty or will we do continue. We are going to have to rise above nothing and allow the violence to hap- If we don’t implement real measures the take-it-or-leave-it legislating that pen, the cycle in our Nation, the name of accountability for police officers in has trapped us in the status quo on so after name after name after name that this country—as the Republican bill many issues. we know and the thousands of other fails to do—it is not if but when we will We were able to negotiate a $3 tril- names that we do not know—Black be back here again after another police lion emergency aid package before lives being abused, civil rights being officer kills another unarmed Black bringing it to the floor of the Senate. violated, lives being lost because we person and faces no fear of Federal ac- We have done it on budgets and crimi- have failed the moment in our Nation? countability in the courts. nal justice reform, on the Great Amer- A little over 2 weeks ago, Leader If we don’t establish real trans- ican Outdoors Act. A bipartisan group SCHUMER, Senator HARRIS, and I, along parency measures with a national reg- put together an immigration bill that with colleagues in the House, intro- istry of police misconduct—which passed the Senate with more than two- duced an act that was narrowly focused Leader MCCONNELL’s bill fails to do—it thirds votes on a very contentious on accountability. It zeroed in on what is not if but when we will be back here issue because it was bipartisan. we could do to create accountability, again, after another officer who has a So on even thorny issues like police to ensure oversight, to implement record of inappropriate use of force will reform, we can—we can and we must— transparency, and to ban actions that get fired from one town and hired in work with each other, and we need to, people in this country, in both parties, the next and end up hurting another in order to achieve a bill that can actu- widely believe should and must be citizen, violating their civil rights or— ally pass the Senate. banned. worse—killing them. So let me repeat my request to Lead- The bill that is being put forth by If we do not end those harmful prac- er MCCONNELL: Let us not retreat to Leader MCCONNELL is wholly unaccept- tices that Americans from all back- partisan corners on such a vital issue. able to bring accountability, trans- grounds know are wrong, like racial Let us appeal to the higher instincts of parency, and consequences when our and religious profiling, no-knock war- this Chamber and try to find a bill to- common values as a country are vio- rants in drug cases, and the use of gether. lated. This is not about partisanship— choke holds—which this McConnell bill I yield to the Senator from New Jer- a Republican bill and a Democratic sey. bill. It is about taking meaningful ac- fails to do—it is not if but when we will The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- tion that will create change. be back here again after another ator from New Jersey. The bill Leader MCCONNELL wants to Breonna Taylor is murdered in her own Mr. BOOKER. Madam President, I put on the floor is called the JUSTICE home after a no-knock warrant, after thank you for the recognition, and I Act. It belies its name because it does another Eric Garner is suffocated to thank the Democratic leader for his not—in any way—even serve as a start- death on a sidewalk with an inhumane words. ing point or even a baseline for nego- choke hold. The Democratic leader talked about tiations. If we do not create a national use-of- what is happening in our country. I The American people are not in the force standard in America—which this have never seen something like this be- streets chanting ‘‘We want more data; Republican bill, again, fails to do—we fore in all my years, where hundreds of we want more data.’’ The American will be back here again the next time thousands of Americans have been out people are not in the streets chanting another officer uses deadly force when in protest—and not just certain sec- ‘‘Give us a commission; give us a com- they could have used deescalation be- tors. In all 50 States, in large cities and mission.’’ cause that deadly force was ‘‘reason- small towns, Americans from every We know the data, and we have had able,’’ though not necessary. background, race, religion, and polit- commissions—from the Kerner Report I hear the voices. We all hear the ical party have joined together fol- all the way to the Task Force on 21st voices, the anguish, the agony, the lowing the gruesome capture of the Century Policing. What we are hearing pain, the trauma, the hurt. It has trig- torture and murder of a fellow Amer- a demand for, from voices all over our gered a nation to rise up like has never ican. country—including from leaders in po- happened in the last 50 years. This is a profound moment. It is a lice departments to mayors, to local We are in a moment of profound pos- moral moment. We know this is not a leaders, to activists—is real account- sibility, but what do we face? We face partisan moment because the good will ability; that if you do something wrong it being shut down here in the Senate of all Americans is evident, from na- in America, there will be consequences; over an impotent bill that fails to meet tional polling that shows that real re- that no one is above the law; that we, this moment. form is widely supported by people of in this country, will make sure that The American people are demanding both parties to just the voices of people those who represent law and enforce- accountability, not commissions; they who are saying that we are a nation ment do so in a way that accords with are demanding accountability, not formed around a fundamental idea of our common values and our common study; they are demanding account- life, liberty, and the pursuit of happi- ideals. ability, not data collection alone. We ness, to have it so fundamentally vio- In fact, we want to go further in this have to ask ourselves: Will we stand for lated. The call is for us to act, to come country. We have a greater moral a bill with zero accountability or will together as good men and women and imagination that does not have us we rise? do something to protect human lives. trapped in the quicksand of the present I am so frustrated because I have We have done that before on the Fed- but calls to us to rise to a higher been here now for 6 years, and I have eral level in a bipartisan way, coming ground; that we could be a nation that seen, from inside this body as a Mem- together to protect people against in- imagines ourselves having a larger def- ber to even before I came here, how the discriminate violence—from the Vio- inition of law enforcement, a larger leader has done bipartisan efforts. I lence Against Women Act to even the definition of public safety. We cannot saw it on immigration reform. A Gang historic, bipartisan work that went on get mired in this moment. This must of 8 was formed, discussions were had, to get 99 Members of this body behind be the start of climbing to that higher and they came to a bill. They put it on an anti-lynching bill. ground. the floor, and they voted for it.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.005 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3135 I have seen it in this COVID crisis. Emmett Till’s mother had the cour- me? Are you kidding me? We are re- People met and worked on solutions. age, as a leader, to say: The world will sponding to the cries in the street; we I have seen, time and again, when listen when they look at my baby’s are taking them seriously; and we have there is a sincere desire to come to a body in that casket. Yet here we are, proposed a prescription that actually bipartisan consensus, how it works. these many decades and generations responds to not just their demands but But this is not how Leader MCCONNELL later, and still we have not seen mean- the specific cases and the bodies which is acting now. ingful change in America on this sub- have just most recently been buried, Where is the good faith? Where is the ject. much less the generations of Black yearning for justice? Where is the de- It is time we act. It is time we act. bodies which have been buried because sire to get something real done? And let us be clear: Sometimes some of of this issue. So don’t anyone dare sug- There have been no hearings. He has the most courageous and important gest we are standing in the way of called for no discussions. He has called work that has happened in this U.S. progress. for no meaningful engagement—in the Congress has happened not because Let us all be clear about what is hap- way we have done in the past—from there was leadership in the body but pening in the politics of this moment. stakeholders and groups that have been because the people demanded it and The Republican bill has been thrown working on this issue. He has not sent they would not relent until their gov- out to give lip service to an issue with it to the appropriate committee of ju- ernment and elected leaders and rep- nothing substantial in it that would risdiction. resentatives listened to and answered actually save or would have saved any This is not what the American people their call for steps toward what we call of those lives. Let’s not be distracted want. This is not what this moment a more perfect Union. from the task at hand. I intend to vote calls for. This is shameful. This is a de- It has been many a time the case against a motion to proceed tomorrow. sire to turn a page, to point a finger of that it is because of the people march- I also intend to vote for a motion to blame, and to leave the calls for justice ing in the streets that we had the Vot- proceed with real reform. I am not in this country falling upon the mute ing Rights Act and Civil Rights Act against a motion to proceed. We should ears, the deaf ears, of a body that and the Fair Housing Act—because the proceed. Let’s proceed with action—not should be hearing, listening, and re- people would allow nothing less than gestures—with action. sponding. that we, as a government, be true to Let’s talk about the Republican bill. There is no easy fix for the problems our stated ideals. I am a former prosecutor. I have per- we face, but they do demand work. Yes, over the last 31⁄2 years in our sonally prosecuted everything from They don’t demand simple monologues; country, many of us have wondered low-level offenses to homicides. I they demand real dialogue. This is not whether the leaders of this country ac- worked almost my entire career with a time to retreat into our corners. It is tually pay homage to and have any de- police officers. What I can tell you is a time to engage each other. sire to institute and to get closer to this—and I am certain of it—police of- I cannot, in any way, give any justice those ideals. ficers will tell you how difficult their or sanction to what is going on in this This is a moment for the U.S. Senate job becomes when their colleagues and body now. We will be back here again. to say we, as a body, will do that; that other police officers break the rules We will see more video capturing the what is clear right now in this moment and break the law. They will tell you dark corners of our country that must and in this movement is that there is that. They will tell you that it affects be brought into the light and solved still work that can be done—not just the culture of their working environ- with the spirit of this Nation. should be done but can be done—to ment. It affects the morale of where I join CHUCK SCHUMER and KAMALA come closer to those words inscribed they work every day. It affects the in- HARRIS in urging Majority Leader across the street in the U.S. Supreme tegrity of their work. What they know MCCONNELL not to proceed in this way. Court, to effectuate ‘‘Equal Justice is bad cops are bad for good cops. It is not progress. It is an attempt to Under Law.’’ It is within our grasp to What we all know is that it is in the turn a page on history that we will do this. It is not just an imperative; it best interest of community safety and have to revisit. Every minute, every is within our grasp. In America today, harmony when the people trust their hour, every day we do not act, Black people from every State, all 50 States, government, and it is a reciprocal rela- lives are in danger; our fellow citizens and in every walk of life are demanding tionship. are in danger; we as a Nation, our prin- that we take the problem of police bru- In addition to what our bill proposes, ciples and ideals are in danger. tality seriously. We have this oppor- the Justice in Policing Act is about ac- It is time that we come together and tunity, and we should see it as such. countability and consequence. It is also provide hope from this body that Where before there may have been re- brought forward with a spirit of what serves, truly serves, to honor what the luctance to go against the strength of we know is in the best interest of grow- public is calling for, which is action— the status quo, which is always reluc- ing trust and the American people’s not retreat but for us to try, in this tant, if not hostile, to change, the peo- trust in their government. body, to rise together. ple in the streets of every race, every As a former prosecutor, I will also I yield to my colleague from Cali- gender, every age, from every State, say that in the criminal justice sys- fornia. are not only giving us permission but tem, we also talk about and use this The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- demanding that their leaders finally phrase ‘‘accountability and con- ator from California. make good on the American promise of sequence.’’ We use it all the time, ac- Ms. HARRIS. Madam President, the ‘‘Equal Justice Under Law.’’ They are countability and consequence. There murders of George Floyd, Breonna Tay- demanding this change; they are not must be accountability and con- lor, and Rayshard Brooks are the latest just asking for it. sequence. Almost every time that in a long history of violence against So we can’t answer the people’s de- phrase is invoked, it is directed at the Black people in America, but thanks to mand for accountability with watered- person who was arrested and hardly the advocacy, thanks to the courage of down politics and watered-down poli- ever is that phrase directed at the very their mothers and fathers and relatives cies and obstructionist tactics to dis- system itself and the actors in that and all of the civil rights leaders, the tract us from what we clearly know is system. lawyers, those who are marching in the necessary to meet the calls and the Where is the accountability and con- streets—and smartphones—everyone cries of this moment and this move- sequence when a system fails the peo- can finally bear witness to the violence ment. I will say that we cannot answer ple it is designed to protect? Where is that has been happening in our country their demands with this Republican at- the accountability and consequence at the hands of police. tempt to obstruct real progress and when people who have been invested by Now, let’s be clear. This behavior is real justice in our country. the people with a gun and a badge—it not new. Mothers have been crying And for all of the pundits out there is the power we give them—where is over their dead children’s bodies for who want to entertain a conversation the accountability and consequence generations, yet no one would listen. about whether Democrats actually when they abuse that power, one must No one would listen. want police reform, are you kidding ask. Our bill is designed to address just

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.006 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3136 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 that. I will tell you, there is not one The Republican bill does not even are 60-vote thresholds on the back end component of the Republican bill that provide a baseline for a discussion or so that if we get on the bill and you does the same. amendment on police reform in that don’t like the way it turns out, you can Let’s talk about the history of where there are no mechanisms to hold law block it on the back end; is the Senator we are today—just recent history, enforcement officers accountable in aware of those options you have? meaning in the U.S. Senate on this court for their misconduct. There is no Ms. HARRIS. Senator CORNYN, we are subject. On Monday June 9, in response transparency into police misconduct, honored to serve on the Senate Judici- to protests in all 50 States of these which is necessary, of course, to enable ary Committee, as does Senator BOOK- United States, Senator CORY BOOKER communities to hold officers account- ER and Senator DURBIN. We all serve on and I, along with our CBC and House able. There is no requirement of data the Judiciary Committee. The two Sen- Judiciary colleagues and a majority of collection on all use-of-force incidents ate officers serve with you on the Sen- our Senate caucus, announced the Jus- or on racial or religious profiling. ate Judiciary Committee. As you tice in Policing Act. Over 1 week later, There is no ban on harmful policing know, because we have been present the people are marching in the streets. policies and practices, such as racial during our most recent hearings, we Let’s just remember this. People are and religious profiling and no-knock have asked that there would be a marching in the streets every night, warrants in drug cases. We are not ban- meaningful discussion of the Justice in every day. Well, 1 week later, some- ning all no-knock warrants in drug Policing Act in that committee. None body got the memo, and then what did cases because Breonna Taylor would be has occurred. they do? They came up with what they alive today had that been the case. If we are going to talk about process, call the JUSTICE Act as a way to es- There is no reform to the issues of let us look at all the tools that are sentially show that they have some- choke holds or carotid holds in the Re- available to well-intentioned, well- thing but to basically obstruct what al- publican bill that is being offered. meaning legislators, if the goal is actu- ready had been put in place. They did There is no national standard for use of ally to solve and address the issue at it because they knew that the people force. hand. I have seen no evidence of that. were demanding something. What they I am happy to entertain the question I have seen no evidence. In fact, what I put up, instead of meeting those de- from the Senator from Texas. Then I have seen in reading some of the news- mands, was a tactic to obstruct the will conclude my comments. papers—sometimes they get things progress of the Justice in Policing Act. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. wrong, but if they got it right, the Sen- Then they are playing a political LOEFFLER). The Senator from Texas. ate leader says that he has no interest Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I game around here saying: ‘‘Look, the in engaging in that kind of discussion wonder if the Senator would tell me, Democrats won’t vote for policing re- or debate before putting the bill on the the JUSTICE Act that it sounds like form.’’ No. We are actually fully pre- floor for a vote tomorrow. pared to vote for policing reform, the Democratic conference intends to Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, may block tomorrow includes the anti- which is why a week earlier than you I ask one last question? lynching legislation that you and Sen- figured it out, we figured it out and put Will the Senator yield? ator BOOKER have championed; are you it on paper and presented it to the Na- What I am trying to fathom is why aware of that? tion. the Senator would rather have these Ms. HARRIS. The same one RAND Let’s not play political games today negotiations occur behind closed doors PAUL obstructed a couple of weeks ago? and tomorrow. Let us understand that as opposed to here on the floor of the Yes, I am aware of that. Senator MCCONNELL, the majority Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, so Senate with the American people to see leader, made it clear—you know, I say the Senators are going to block their broadcast on television? Don’t you to the Senator from New Jersey, Mr. own anti-lynching bill by their vote to- think that sort of interaction and de- BOOKER, I wasn’t here for those days morrow. bate and negotiation out in front of all when he saw a lot of that bipartisan Ms. HARRIS. Absolutely not. I think 330 million Americans would be bene- work. I did see it with other COVID it is important we not distract the ficial to healing our country and com- bills, and I am thankful that did hap- American people from the task at ing to some consensus about what the pen, but what I see most recently on hand. appropriate reforms should be? this issue is that Senator MCCONNELL We cannot pull out a specific compo- Ms. HARRIS. Indeed. That is the made it clear that he had no intention nent of this bill and leave everything beauty of the Judiciary Committee; of passing bipartisan comprehensive else in the garbage bin. That is the log- our meetings are public meetings. legislation on policing reform. What we ical and actual and practical conclu- I will conclude my remarks by saying have seen is that instead of an ability sion of where you are going with the that I do believe now is the time for for all of us in this Chamber to pass the suggestion that we would sacrifice Congress to pass legislation that will Justice in Policing Act—which has al- issues like no-knock warrants, issues bring real change and real improve- ready gained 227 cosponsors, enough to like a national standard for use of ment. It is time that we meet this mo- pass the House—instead, the Senate force, issues like the need for inde- ment and meet the movement that we leader has scheduled this vote tomor- pendent investigations of police mis- are seeing outside of these doors. We row, not to solve the problem of police conduct, issues like pattern and prac- are seeing people of every race, gender, brutality in America but to solve his tice investigations with subpoena age, and religion marching together in political problem, to which he has power for the Department of Justice unison as Americans. We are seeing taken no stand and that caucus has for the sake of one. It is like asking a people putting their bodies on the line taken no meaningful stand on an issue mother to save one of her children and in the face of more excessive force and that has people in our streets marching leave the others. tear gas to stand for equality for all for the last 3 weeks, and those march- Mr. CORNYN. Would the Senator people. ing folks will go on. yield for another question? The bill that is being offered for a The proposal was carefully crafted Ms. HARRIS. Absolutely. vote tomorrow does not, in any way, that is being offered tomorrow for a Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, the meet the needs of this moment and the vote. The Republican proposal was Senator certainly is familiar with the longstanding needs America has had carefully crafted to deflect from real rules of the Senate, which allow Sen- for reform. change by merely, as my colleague ators to offer amendments to improve I will, therefore, join Senators SCHU- Senator BOOKER outlined and Senator legislation once we get on it, but if the MER and BOOKER in not only sending a SCHUMER outlined—by merely offering Democratic conference is going to pre- letter to Senator MCCONNELL this to study the problem without doing vent the Senate from actually getting morning demanding the Senate vote on anything to solve it. on the bill, there is no opportunity for the Justice in Policing Act, but I will Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, any Senator, you or any one of us, to say I fully intend to vote against a mo- would the Senator yield for a question? offer amendments to improve it. tion to proceed until and unless we are, Ms. HARRIS. When I am finished, I I would further ask the Senator, as a body, prepared to offer meaningful will. aren’t you aware of the fact that there reforms upon which we can debate.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.007 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3137 I will say also that one of the other same thing: She called together hun- The NAACP Legal Defense Fund said: problems with what is being offered by dreds of people—in this case, some 350 ‘‘In this moment, we cannot support our colleagues across the aisle is it is on the courthouse lawn in Jerseyville— legislation that does not embody a not meeting the moment in terms of to celebrate Black Lives Matter. strong accountability framework for need for reform. It is simply, basically, I have never seen anything like this. police officers and other law enforce- they constructed a confessional, where I have never seen it reach this level of ment who engage in misconduct as well there can be a confession of misdeeds commitment. Trust me, these young as needed reforms to policing prac- after the fact, and that in no way women were doing this, knowing that tices.’’ meets the moment in terms of reforms some of the people standing on the pe- The group wrote in a letter, a copy of that are necessary. rimeter were not their friends, but which was sent to Members of the Sen- In the immortal words of my great they had the courage to be there be- ate, and they went on to say: ‘‘We urge Uncle Sherman, God rest his soul, cause they believed in what they were you to vote no on the motion to pro- ‘‘That dog don’t hunt.’’ doing. ceed with consideration of the JUS- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Do we have the courage at this mo- TICE Act’’—which is the Republican ator from Illinois. ment to speak up for real change? How bill—‘‘and instead advance reforms Mr. DURBIN. First, I want to thank many times in the history of this coun- that will hold law enforcement ac- my colleagues, Senators BOOKER and try can Senators come to the floor and countable and offer more transparency HARRIS. Thanks for your leadership and say that it is within our grasp? We can of policing practices such as those em- courage and the fact that have dedi- make America better, and we can per- bodied in S. 3912, the Justice in Polic- cated yourself to this moment. fect this great Nation to even be great- ing Act of 2020’’—a bill which I am hon- Some would say we are fortunate; er with courage. ored to cosponsor with my friends, Sen- others would say we are blessed to be What I hear from my colleagues— ators BOOKER and HARRIS. at this moment in this place in the Senators HARRIS and BOOKER—I could This morning I sat down and decided roles that we currently have. Can you not agree with more. I am going to to read in detail the analysis of these imagine across the United States of vote against this motion to proceed to- two bills. It is night and day in terms America how many people would like morrow. I believe, as they do, that we of the direction they take. Something to be standing where we are standing as a Senate can do better. We can do as fundamental as choke holds—does today? Despite the frustration, we have better in the Senate Judiciary Com- America know what a choke hold is? a voice. We have an opportunity. We, mittee, which throughout generations We saw it and will never forget it. We as U.S. Senators, have the power, if we has been the place to go, the forum to saw that knee on George Floyd’s neck, use it, to do something about what visit, the last stop, if you will, on the and we watched the minutes pass by threatens America. most important issues of our day—the and his life ebb away. Can we be any- Imagine how 8 minutes 46 seconds Senate Judiciary Committee—time and thing less than resolute on the issue of could have such profound impact on again. choke holds? Our bill is. It bans them. this Nation of over 300 million people I have been blessed to serve there for It bans them. The restriction of blood and the world, but then to realize that over two decades, and I look back on or oxygen or the carotid artery—we are 8 minutes 46 seconds merely reminded the history of that body before I ar- specific; we are specific. Sadly, the Re- us of all of the other issues, all of the rived, and I think to myself: DURBIN, publican bill is not. other cases, all of the other George you are a lucky man to be on the Sen- We also defined ‘‘deadly force’’ and Floyds who came before. ate Judiciary Committee of the U.S. what is less than ‘‘lethal force.’’ We I have just been stunned in my own Senate, particularly at this moment. specifically defined it. What does the home State of Illinois—which I dearly This is not only our issue; this is our Republican bill do? It calls on the At- love and know fairly well—by what I moment in the Senate Judiciary Com- torney General of the United States to have seen in the streets of towns large mittee and on the floor of the U.S. Sen- develop a policy—to develop a policy— and small. In the city of Chicago, just ate. That is why Senator MCCONNELL’s Attorney General William Barr. this last Juneteenth weekend, there tactic is so empty and so obvious. On no-knock—I thank Senator HAR- was an amazing display of unity on We understand how the Senate RIS for raising that—we have direct Black Lives Matter. The African-Amer- works. If you have been here 5 minutes, legal limits on the use of no-knock, ican ministers led it, but all the rest of you know. He is the majority leader. which was, in fact, the procedure fol- us were happy to be part of it because He calls the shots. He decides what is lowed that led to the death of Breonna it meant so much. coming to the floor, which amend- Taylor in Louisville, KY. What does Then you go downstate Illinois to ments will be offered, which will not be the Republican bill have? A reporting towns like our capital city, Spring- offered, which bills will move forward, requirement—a reporting requirement. field, or Jerseyville, IL, and attend and which bills will stop. It is his Body cameras? We require them. We Black Lives Matter rallies there that power to do it. It is a very powerful po- put penalties in the law for those who were organized by two young women, sition. don’t use them. We also require that African-American high school juniors. Instead of saying to us: Start in the they be on vehicles, law enforcement They organized 1,500 people in Spring- Senate Judiciary Committee, find a bi- vehicles. The Republican bill does not field for a Black Lives Matter rally. partisan measure to bring to the floor, require them. It offers grants to police Nykeyla Henderson and her twin sis- and then let’s work together to have departments that want to buy them ter Nykia Henderson said: Let’s call to- meaningful amendments but to have it, and then asks from those departments gether students and friends about in fact, enacted—instead of that, he ‘‘assurances’’ that they are using them. Black Lives Matter. Fifteen hundred said: Take our bill or leave it. If you On the misconduct registry, we es- people showed up. No windows were don’t want to vote for the Republican tablish public access to the misconduct broken, no looting, no screaming, no bill on this subject, go home and defend registry when it comes to police mis- shouting, no cursing. It was a textbook your vote. I am prepared to and I think conduct. But there is no public access display of constitutional authority my colleagues are too. in the Republican bill. that each of us as a citizen has, and Listen to what the National Associa- Yes, it is true, as was noted earlier they used it so well. I salute them even tion for the Advancement of Colored by the Senator from Texas, there is to this day. People Legal Defense Fund said about commonality on issues like anti-lynch- Then, to go down to Jerseyville, a this bill today. This organization is an ing—thank goodness—a mere century small rural community that I have rep- incredible organization, and if you after we started debating it in the U.S. resented over the years—which may or don’t know much about it, read ‘‘Devil Senate. We have reached that point, may not have a minority population at in the Grove,’’ a story of Thurgood and I am glad we have. all—and to have, from 20 miles away, a Marshall in the late 1940s and 1950s, When it comes to training, data, and high school junior, a young African- risking his life defending African demographics, there are many areas of American woman whose name is Americans who were facing criminal commonality, but there are specific Lay’lahny Davis, who did exactly the charges across the United States. areas that this bill—the one we have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:47 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.008 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3138 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 introduced—includes that are not in- discriminated against and was living as Trump Judge Andrew Brasher, Elev- cluded in the Republican bill: Criminal a second-class citizen. All of that, emo- enth Circuit, have argued for the right liability under the Civil Rights Act— tionally, came to mind. For me it was of businesses to discriminate against we changed the standard to make it a no-brainer decision. This was some- LGBTQ individuals. truly an attainable standard on the thing I had to fight for, and I had to do With the Federal courts stacked with Democratic bill; qualified immunity; my part.’’ Trump judges like these, it is critical civil rights investigations; the power of The courts in Hawaii agreed with Ms. that Congress act now to fully enshrine subpoena, which we give to the Depart- Dancel and Ms. Baehr. On May 5, 1993, equality and protections for LGBTQ in- ment of Justice; the use-of-force inves- the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a his- dividuals into law. tigation; grants for independent inves- toric decision that changed the course The Supreme Court has now made tigation; and—this is a measure I have of the LGBTQ rights movement. It clear that employers cannot discrimi- worked on for a while and am so glad it ruled that denying same-sex couples nate against LGBTQ people in the is included here—banning racial the right to marry violates the equal workplace. But other legal protections profiling once and for all. protection clause of the Hawaii con- against discrimination, such as in I want to salute a former colleague stitution unless the State could prove healthcare, education, housing, and fi- from Wisconsin, Russ Feingold. He was a compelling State interest. nancial credit, are at risk of being one of the earliest on this whole issue This ruling sparked a chain reaction eroded by the Trump administration of profiling, a courageous position on that eventually resulted in the U.S. and Trump judges. his part at that moment in history. Fi- Supreme Court’s 2015 decision in In fact, the Trump administration is nally, we include it in our bill. Obergefell v. Hodges, which affirmed doing just that. Just 2 weeks ago, it fi- It is not included in the Republican the right of same-sex couples to marry. nalized a rule that eliminated non- bill. Instead, what they offer are com- It was a hard-won victory for the discrimination protections under Fed- missions, data collection, and a couple LGBTQ community in its long fight for eral law for LGBTQ people receiving of other criminal offenses, each of equality. healthcare and obtaining health insur- which is worthy of consideration but In July 2017, the Trump administra- ance. should not be enough to divert us from tion sought to undermine this victory Last month, the Trump administra- our goal. for equality. It intervened in a court tion issued a letter ruling that title IX I am going to conclude by saying case to argue that LGBTQ individuals requires schools to ban transgender this. I feel blessed to be here in the are not protected from employment students from participating in school U.S. Senate at this moment in history. discrimination based on their sexual sports based on their gender identity. I feel fortunate to have a chance, with orientation. This position directly con- In 2002, Congress renamed title IX in my colleagues on both sides of the tradicted the position of the Equal Em- honor of my friend, Congresswoman aisle, to change the history of this ployment Opportunity Commission, Patsy T. Mink. Patsy was a champion country in the right direction. My which had made clear in 2015 that dis- for gender equality and nondiscrimina- goodness, it is so long overdue. After crimination based on sexual orienta- tion and would certainly be appalled by all of the 400 years of slavery, when it tion was illegal. the Trump administration’s interpreta- Last Monday, the Supreme Court re- first came to our shore, and the greed tion of title IX. jected the Trump administration’s ef- and racism that fed it as that insidious The Trump administration has al- forts and held that the Federal civil original sin of our country, now is our ready banned most transgender people rights statute prohibiting employment from serving in the military. It has re- chance to do something in our genera- discrimination—title VII—does protect scinded protections for transgender tion to make a difference for those fu- LGBTQ individuals. While the decision students that allowed them to use ture generations that march in the was another major victory for equality, bathrooms corresponding with their street and look to us for real change. the fight is far from over. I yield the floor. The Trump administration has not gender identity. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- only sought to undo protections for The Trump administration’s attacks ator from Hawaii is recognized. LGBTQ individuals before the court, against LGBTQ equality make it all Ms. HIRONO. Madam President, I the more urgent that Congress needs to but Donald Trump and Senator MCCON- share the strong words and position make explicit that Federal law pro- NELL have also been busy working to and perspective of my wonderful col- undermine LGBTQ equality through tects against discrimination based on leagues, colleagues who spoke before the judges—the judges whom this Sen- sexual orientation and gender identity. me just now—Senators HARRIS, BOOK- ate confirms—themselves. More than a year ago, the House did ER, and DURBIN—calling for real polic- Over the past 3 years, Donald Trump that by passing the Equality Act with ing reform, not the bill that is coming and Senator MCCONNELL have been bipartisan support. The Equality Act before the floor tomorrow. busy packing the court with judges would prevent the Trump administra- THE EQUALITY ACT who have demonstrated hostility to- tion from exploiting any ambiguity in Madam President, this morning I ward the rights of LGBTQ individuals. the law by adding clarifications in ex- would like to turn to another issue In fact, so far, about 40 percent—40 per- isting civil rights laws to make ex- that should concern all of us and that cent—of Trump’s circuit court judges plicit that sexual orientation and gen- deserves our attention. On December have anti-LGBTQ records, and another der identity are prohibited bases for 17, 1990, Genora Dancel and Ninia Baehr one, Cory Wilson, is set to be confirmed discrimination. This includes the Civil walked into the Hawaii Department of this week. As a State legislator, Wilson Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Health in Honolulu to apply for a mar- voted for a bill that would allow busi- Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, riage license. nesses and people to deny services to the Jury Selection and Services Act, They had met earlier that year in a LGBTQ individuals. The Human Rights and other civil rights statutes. Honolulu parking lot and felt an imme- Campaign called that bill ‘‘the worst The Equality Act would also amend diate connection. Their first date anti-LGBTQ state law in the U.S.’’ the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit lasted for 9 hours. They eventually fell Another example: Recently con- discrimination in public places and in love and got engaged, despite know- firmed to the Ninth Circuit, Trump services and federally funded programs ing that the law prohibited their mar- Judge Lawrence VanDyke previously on the basis of sex, including sexual riage. claimed that ‘‘same-sex marriage will orientation and gender identity. They faced a choice: Give up their hurt families, and consequentially chil- In addition, the Equality Act would dream of getting married or take their dren and society.’’ His actions have re- update the types of public spaces and fight to court to demand that they be flected these views. He has opposed services covered under current law to treated equally. Although, up to that same-sex marriages and supported expressly include stores, shopping cen- point, Ms. Dancel had led a private life businesses that discriminate against ters, online retailers, banks, and places and her family was unaware of her sex- same-sex couples. that provide legal services, transpor- ual orientation, for her the choice was Similarly, Trump Judge Stephen tation services, and other types of serv- clear. She later recalled: ‘‘I had been Menashi in the Second Circuit and ices.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.009 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3139 The Equality Act is a critical safe- A couple of weeks ago, our Demo- she is interested in going to conference guard against an administration deter- cratic colleagues introduced their between the House and the Senate on a mined to erode the rights of LGBTQ version of a police reform bill, and, last police reform bill. It is clear that our people. The Senate must do its job and week, the Republicans introduced ours. colleagues in the House are willing to pass the Equality Act without delay. While our colleagues on the other side work with us to come up with a con- I yield the floor. of the aisle seem interested in focusing sensus bill, but that means the ball is I suggest the absence of a quorum. on the differences, the truth is there is now in the Senate Democrats’ court. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The a whole lot in common, a whole lot of The way I see it, they have two op- clerk will call the roll. overlap. tions. One is to work with us on a bi- The legislative clerk proceeded to First are the changes in policing partisan basis. If the Democrats vote call the roll. practices. As I mentioned, a one-size- tomorrow to begin debating the JUS- Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask fits-all approach isn’t the right meth- TICE Act, we can spend time looking unanimous consent that the order for od, but in some areas, there is a clear at all of the areas in which we have the quorum call be rescinded. need for uniformity. One great example overlapping goals and nail down spe- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. is training. Many police departments cific solutions, and we can do what the CRUZ). Without objection, it is so or- already require deescalation training dered. and give them an array of tactics to Senate was built to do, which is to be Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask cool down a potentially dangerous en- a forum for debate, for offering amend- unanimous consent that I be allowed to counter. Both Republicans and Demo- ments, and for voting on those amend- complete my remarks before we recess crats agree this should be the standard, ments, which would, hopefully, im- for the lunch hour. and it is included in both bills. On the prove the product. If we are going to be The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without flip side, there are certain practices successful in getting a bill to the Presi- objection, it is so ordered. that should never be used, like choke dent’s desk and delivering on the re- forms we are after, we have to get on THE JUSTICE ACT holds. That is already the case in most Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, over the major police departments—they ban the bill tomorrow. last several weeks, Americans have choke holds. This bill ends that across Option No. 2 is for the Democrats to marched, protested, and demanded jus- the board. do nothing—to tell the American peo- tice not just for George Floyd but for Reforming police practices is only ple, even though they have said for Breonna Taylor and a long list of indi- part of the equation. In order to re- weeks that they are desperate for ac- viduals who, unfortunately, had been store the broken trust between law en- tion, that they themselves are the ones killed while in police custody. While forcement and our communities, we preventing that action. I think the the energy behind this movement is need accountability, and these two choice is pretty obvious, and I can’t not new, the problems that created it bills take similar steps there too. They imagine it is not obvious to our Demo- are also not new. We know that the ra- include a focus on diversity hiring so cratic colleagues. These past several cial injustices that have existed for that police forces look a lot more like weeks have shone a light on the prob- generations and that originated during the communities they serve. They im- lems that exist within some of our po- our country’s founding have created a prove hiring practices so that depart- lice departments, and we have an op- whole range of problems that have con- ments can move to effectively weed out portunity to work together and show tinued to persist in our society—in ev- weak or bad candidates and ensure that the American people we are capable of erything from education, to we have the best possible talent among working together to try to address this healthcare, to housing. our men and women in blue. national priority. We can officially While I hope and expect we will have Both of these bills take steps to bet- begin this process with a simple ‘‘yes’’ ongoing discussions about the most ef- ter educate officers on racial bias and vote here on the floor tomorrow. the systemic challenges that face com- fective way to root out these inequal- My simple request to our Democratic munities of color. They take steps to ities and provide equal justice, which is colleagues is to, please, please, work our Nation’s mantra and aspiration, promote transparency and to give the public greater access to information with us. Let’s debate the bill and con- one of the most important places to tinue to try to find common ground, begin delivering these reforms is in our about America’s law enforcement ac- tivities. and let’s get something we can be police departments. Both bills require public reporting on proud of on the President’s desk that Across America, we have about 18,000 use of force and require better informa- he can sign into law without there Federal, State, county, and local law tion on how law enforcement agencies being any more delay. enforcement agencies. Some of these are being run. They both prioritize re- Over the last several weeks, the agencies have one officer, and some lationship building between law en- American people have marched, pro- have as many as 30,000. It is safe to say forcement and the communities they tested, and demanded action. This that a one-size-fits-all approach would serve. week, we have an opportunity to de- not work for all of them. The policies While there are some differences in liver the changes they are requesting and practices that make sense for the the methods of achieving these shared and ensure that ‘‘Equal Justice Under Houston Police Department, for exam- goals, that doesn’t change the fact that the Law’’ is more than just a phrase ple, are going to look a lot different we largely agree on the problems that engraved on the Supreme Court build- than those of a small town out in West exist, and that alone is not insignifi- ing across the street. I am proud of the Texas. cant. work we have been able to do in work- Yet there are basic practices and Two weeks ago, Senator SCHUMER, ing with Senator SCOTT, who has led principles—best practices—that should the Democratic leader, called on Lead- our efforts in the Senate. I thank him be standard across the board, and they er MCCONNELL to bring a police reform and Senator MCCONNELL for their com- are something that Congress can help bill to the floor before July 4, and, to- mitment to taking action and for Sen- with. There are steps we can take to morrow, we will do exactly what Sen- ator MCCONNELL’s willingness to do make our police forces more trans- ator SCHUMER requested. Now I hear precisely what Senator SCHUMER re- parent, more accountable, and better that our colleagues on the other side of quested in getting a police reform bill trained so as to, hopefully, avoid en- the aisle aren’t interested in passing on the floor of the Senate before July counters like we saw with George the JUSTICE Act as is, and I get that, 4. Floyd and the Minneapolis Police De- but I have also been surprised by re- partment. While there are differences ports that suggest they may just block We will have the opportunity tomor- of opinion on the best way to deliver us from proceeding to the bill alto- row to begin debating the JUSTICE those changes, the good news—and gether, which, obviously, is not condu- Act. I can only hope our Democratic there actually is good news—is that cive to our passing any police reform colleagues will make the right decision both Republicans and Democrats share bill. and commit to working with us to de- this overarching goal. That is a strong Speaker PELOSI has made comments liver real reforms. start. that I view as encouraging. She said I yield the floor.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.010 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3140 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 RECESS disruptions in the daily lives of Ameri- they are the most vulnerable to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under cans. coronavirus. This is common sense. the previous order, the Senate stands In order to protect voters and poll This is why you see Republican Gov- in recess until 2:15 p.m. workers, this pandemic has forced us to ernors and Republican secretaries of Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:29 p.m., make changes to how we vote. Sixteen state joining Democratic Governors recessed until 2:15 p.m. and reassem- States postponed their Presidential and Democratic secretaries of state all bled when called to order by the Pre- primaries or have transitioned their across the Nation to ask for help from primaries to almost entirely voting by siding Officer (Mrs. CAPITO). Washington. mail. We have seen Democratic and Re- Today, in Kentucky, New York, and f publican Governors across the country Virginia, election officials are putting EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued issue waivers allowing all voters to more than $36 million of Federal fund- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cast their ballots by mail during the ing to good use—funding to recruit and ator from Mississippi. pandemic. This includes States like train new poll workers, to provide those workers with protective equip- NOMINATION OF CORY T. WILSON New Hampshire, with a Republican ment and sanitizing supplies; funding Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam Presi- Governor, and States like Ohio, where to pay for postage for mail-in ballots, dent, it is an honor to speak on behalf they have a Republican Governor who purchase additional equipment, and of Judge Cory Wilson of Mississippi and is focused on vote by mail, and States cover the costs of moving poll loca- in support of his nomination to the like Maryland, where the Governor has tions to accommodate more people. I Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. been devoted to vote by mail, and am proud of having fought to secure I have known Judge Wilson for many States like Missouri. While it is important that individual that funding. years. His experience and legal knowl- States are taking action to protect I appreciate Senator BLUNT, my col- edge make him an excellent choice to voters during this pandemic, we must league, who I know is going to be here serve on the appellate court. Numerous remember that, in the end, this is a na- shortly and is the chair of the Rules colleagues of Judge Wilson’s from dif- tional pandemic. It is not just a pan- Committee, for assisting in making ferent backgrounds and political affili- demic in Vermont or in Utah; it is na- sure that funding was designated, as ations have risen in support of his tional. well as Senator SHELBY, Senator nomination and spoken to his personal It is the responsibility of this Nation, LEAHY, Senator COONS, and so many qualities. of this Nation’s government, and of others who have worked on this impor- After his impressive nomination this Congress to ensure that States tant issue. hearing and an outpouring of support have the funds they need to make our It is a good first step, but let us re- from Mississippians, who know him elections more resilient and to make member these are still the primaries in best, there is no question that Judge sure voters don’t have to risk their a few States. If you talk to election of- Wilson will be a fair and impartial health to cast their ballots. ficials across the country, they will judge who follows the rule of law. When we have a national threat or tell you that it wasn’t enough and that Judge Cory Wilson will serve on the international conflict, we do not expect they desperately need more resources Fifth Circuit with honor, dedication, an individual State to be able to re- for the general election when so many and distinction. spond. In World War II, when Pearl more people vote. Support from the I am also pleased a judge from Mis- Harbor was bombed, we didn’t say: Oh, Federal Government is vital because sissippi will mark a historic day as the Hawaii, you go deal with that yourself. we have seen States struggle when it 200th Federal judge to be confirmed by We, in this Congress, have acknowl- comes to administering elections dur- the U.S. Senate during the Trump ad- edged that this pandemic has national ing the pandemic. We also know it is ministration. Judge Wilson’s confirma- consequences in how we responded with not as if they have a reservoir of fund- tion represents a pivotal point in the the CARES Act and how the House has ing right now to deal with, which is President’s work to ensure there are responded with the Heroes Act, which I one of the reasons we want to pass the more smart, conservative jurists in the hope we will consider very soon in this Heroes Act. Federal judiciary. Under the leadership Congress, and just the fact that, when Many of our State and local govern- of President Trump and Leader MCCON- it comes to voting, this Congress, with ments are struggling right now. That is NELL, the Senate has prioritized con- bipartisan support—this Senate voted why it is so important to designate firming bright, well-qualified men and to give over $400 million originally to funding as we move forward—and I women who will serve our country for the States. hope we will soon discuss the Heroes years to come. There were some issues with how Act—to be able to help pay for elec- I am proud to support Judge Cory that money was given out that we are tions. Wilson and urge my colleagues to ap- trying to fix, but, nevertheless, it was Support from the Federal Govern- prove his nomination. a downpayment on the fact that even ment is vital because we have seen I yield the floor. in the beginning of the pandemic, based States struggle when it comes to ad- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- on what we had seen in Wisconsin, we ministering elections. With fewer than ator from Minnesota. anticipated that there were going to be 6 months left before the general elec- UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 4033 problems for voting and that there was tion, Congress must act now to ensure Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, going to be a massive change in how that States have the resources and I come to the floor today to urge the our elections were held. funding that they need. Senate to address the threat the You have States like New York State A lot of times you hear: Well, it is coronavirus poses to our elections and where only 5 percent of people have only 6 months, so why would we do to take immediate action to pass my voted by mail in the past few Federal funding now? Look at the fact that we legislation to ensure voters do not have elections and States like my own State were able to at least assure the States to choose between their right to vote of Minnesota where, despite having the that the money was going to be out and their own health. highest voter turnout in the country, there for them a few months ago for Today is Election Day in Kentucky only 25 percent of people on average the primaries, and they were able ei- and in New York and in Virginia. There voted by mail. Now you are seeing ther to spend their own money because are runoff elections in North Carolina switch overs where 50 percent, 60 per- they knew that money was coming or and in Mississippi, as well. As we cent of the people in every single State to spend designated money. That is speak, voters in the States are experi- in the Nation are asking to vote from how this works. encing what it is to vote in the middle home or, in the alternative, they are We are no longer in a normal situa- of a global pandemic. If the past few asking for safe voting places by keep- tion. We are in a situation where months are any indication, for many, ing voting places open longer for early States are having to rearrange how casting a ballot today will not be safe, voting, by training poll workers so we they do elections all over the country and it will not be easy. The do not depend on our senior citizens to to make it safe and to allow people to coronavirus has caused unprecedented be staffing the polling locations when vote from home. We have seen the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:20 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.011 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3141 chaos and disenfranchisement that will and a number of people have voted noted that nearly everyone, in what he happen if we don’t act soon. from home. called his very Republican State of The Wisconsin primary will forever I think we also know, just based on Utah, votes by mail, and, in his words, be etched in the memory of our Nation. what we have seen in these other it works very, very well. Voters stood for hours in the cold and States—this is just based on facts, not Now is the time to reject efforts to rain, wearing garbage bags and home- on partisanship—that 200 polling loca- undermine our political system and made masks, just to be able to exercise tions in a State of that size will not be mostly undermining people’s attempts their right to vote. In Milwaukee, enough in the primary and certainly to exercise their fundamental right to there were just five polling locations will not be enough in a general elec- vote safely. What are you going to tell open instead of the usual 180. Almost tion. In order to protect the right to a veteran who has a preexisting condi- 600,000 people live in Milwaukee, in- vote, we have to learn from States that tion, like the guy who wrote me who cluding one-third of that State’s Afri- are taking steps to make voting safe served in Vietnam and said what is he can-American population. The closure and easy. supposed to do now? We have to allow of so many polling places made it even Primary turnout this year has bro- them to vote from home. harder for people without easy access ken records in many States, especially In the midst of this pandemic, we to transportation to get to a polling lo- when it comes to voting by mail. need to make sure no voter has to cation, and it caused unnecessary States like Nebraska, Iowa, South Da- choose between their health and exer- crowding, with lines to vote wrapping kota, New Mexico, Idaho, West Vir- cising their right to vote. That is why around blocks. As a result, voters were ginia, and North Dakota have all held I am urging my colleagues to support disenfranchised, and some even con- successful elections this year by rely- my legislation with Senator RON tracted the coronavirus. According to ing heavily on voting by mail. Again, WYDEN, which is cosponsored by 35 local health officials, nearly 70 people that is in a primary where some of other Senators, the Natural Disaster in Wisconsin who either voted in per- these States have fewer voters—not all and Emergency Ballot Act, to help son or served as poll workers con- of them—because they are smaller pop- State election officials meet this pan- tracted the virus as a result of that ulation States, and many of them are demic head-on. election. not dealing with a general election. Our legislation doesn’t require us to Earlier this month in Georgia, thou- In West Virginia, mail-in ballots in- reinvent how we vote. Instead, our bill sands of people went to the polls and creased from just 25,000 in 2018 to over would overcome the challenges posed were also met with long lines and con- 200,000 this year. In Pennsylvania, the by the coronavirus by expanding exist- fusion. Reports from Atlanta indicate number of mail-in ballots cast in- ing election practices like voting by voters faced malfunctioning machines, creased from 80,000 in 2018 to over 1.5 mail and early voting. It starts with and some voters never received the million this year. Voters and election guaranteeing every American the op- mail-in ballots they requested. Instead officials across the country in Red tion to vote by mail. Sixteen States re- States and Blue States are turning to of being able to safely vote from home, quire voters to provide an excuse if casting a ballot from home. many were forced to show up in person they want to cast a ballot by mail. But In addition to the five States that al- during the pandemic, 13 of these States on election day. I was particularly ready hold their elections mostly by are allowing all voters to cast a ballot struck by the words of Anita Heard, an mail, which are Utah, Oregon, Colo- 80-year-old woman from Atlanta who rado, Hawaii, and Washington—and I by mail without needing to provide an actually marched with Dr. King. She note that those States are not all Blue excuse—Democratic and Republican was the first person in line at her poll- States, including, particularly, Utah, Governors and secretaries of states. ing location at 6 a.m. waiting to vote and Colorado, which is known as a Pur- That is progress. I would say, while we still have three this year. Anita called the long lines ple State—three States, including Cali- and waits unfair and ridiculous. She is fornia, Nevada, New Jersey, and also States that are still denying all voters right. the District of Columbia have decided the option to vote by mail—forcing In Fulton County, one voter, who is a to send all voters absentee ballots for them to choose between their health mom, sat on a lawn chair holding her elections this year. There are 13 States and their constitutional right and go infant son in one hand and umbrella in that have decided to send all voters ab- through these hoops to do it—why not another. She waited more than 3 hours sentee ballot applications. put a standard in place on the Federal to vote. She wasn’t leaving because it These decisions weren’t made, as I level? That is what our bill does. was important to her and her son that note, on a partisan basis. Both Repub- Our legislation would also get help to one day she would be able to tell him lican and Democratic officials in the States. Again, my friend, Senator she waited to vote for him. States have decided to implement BLUNT, is here, and I appreciate—while In America, people should not have these policies to protect their voters. he hasn’t put a dollar amount on it, his to wonder if voting machines will be I will also note that none of the five interest in looking at funding for this operational or if they are going to be States that held their elections pri- beyond this bill, I think, is very help- able to receive their ballot on time to marily by mail this year have had ful. make it count. major voter fraud scandals since Our bill called for $3.6 billion, which Jose Andres—the remarkable chef transitioning to vote by mail. As the is what is in the Heroes Act, of funding who helps feed people in areas struck New York Times editorial board an- to safely administer elections. It would by natural disasters—announced a plan nounced, States who use vote by mail knock down barriers, this bill, to safely to provide food, water, and resources to encountered essentially zero fraud. vote, like the requirement to have your help people standing for hours in line Oregon, the pioneer in this area, has ballot signed by a witness or a notary. on election day. He is doing his part to sent out more than 100 million mail-in These are requirements that dispropor- address this issue, as are so many peo- ballots since 2000 and has documented tionately hurt minority voters—people ple across this country, including, as I only about a dozen cases of proven without as much money. mentioned, Democratic and Republican fraud. Rounded to the seventh decimal There is one story of a person sitting secretaries of state and Governors. point, that is 0.0000001 percent of all in a hospital room trying to get some- I appreciate that Senator BLUNT, the votes cast. one to notarize a primary ballot chairman of the Rules Committee, is We have all seen the President’s through a glass window—someone who here. As I said, he worked to help us tweets on this. We know these tweets has coronavirus. Are we really going to get that initial funding. Experts have are meant to hurt our democracy, and require them to do that? Are we really warned that today in Kentucky we may people shouldn’t fall for it because I going to do that? That is what you see a repeat of the chaos that we have just gave you the facts: 0.000001 percent have to ask yourself, colleagues. The seen in early primaries. Reports indi- of all votes cast in the States that have bottom line is, it shouldn’t be this hard cate fewer than 200 polling places are been using this forever involved any to vote. open in the entire State, down from the fraud. I am proud that this bill has been en- 3,700 in a typical election year. We are We must set the record straight. I ap- dorsed by more than a dozen organiza- glad that Kentucky has voted by mail preciate that Senator ROMNEY recently tions, including the group founded by

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.014 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3142 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 former First Lady Michelle Obama, in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there have changed their law to allow more cluding Voto Latino, including the an objection? access to absentee ballots in some Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, The Senator from Missouri. States—and as a matter of fact, not the National Urban League, Common Mr. BLUNT. Madam President, re- even absentee ballots. I got corrected Cause, the Leadership Conference for serving the right to object and with by that with one of our election offi- Civil and Human Rights. great consideration for Senator KLO- cials the other day. Really, now we call As I noted, the CARES Act included BUCHAR’s dedication on these issues, them mail-in ballots. In Missouri, up funding. It didn’t include the standards many of which, as she has pointed out, until now, we always called them ab- that I think are necessary but included we have worked together on, and I sentee ballots. Though, one of the ab- the funding. That is just the beginning. think we will continue to, I just don’t sentee excuses had always been ‘‘un- That was a downpayment—negotiating think this is the time to make this able to get to the polls because of in the middle of the night. I know that kind of fundamental change. health.’’ But in the mail-in ballot abil- because I was talking to my colleagues I will admit that at its very first leg- ity, in our State, to eliminate, for back then. islation after the 2018 elections, the some ballots because of COVID–19 or This is the real deal, to be able to House passed a bill, but, again, it was a health—eliminate the notary require- help States in the general election. bill that would provide the Federal ment, States have done this. They had This money was included in the Heroes Government with unprecedented con- a lot of time. They had a lot of notice. Act. Public health experts have warned trol over elections in this country, de- Most of them dealt with this. More im- over and over again of the possibility spite the fact that for almost 250 years portantly, if it works, they get the of a new wave of this virus in the fall. now, the States have been responsible credit. If it doesn’t work, they don’t We have to be ready. States are having for this particular government respon- have anybody else to blame. They are this happen anyway, and we should sibility. To quote yet another time, working really hard because of that to make sure that they have the funding Senator and then-President Obama, in make it work. to do it. October of 2016, pointed out that the The House bill was offered the first I know we are going to be discussing very strength of our system was the di- the National Defense Authorization time in this body not long after it versity of the system. I think one of Act in the next few weeks, at some passed. In March of 2000, I objected, the strengths of the system is the point. I think about that. Our defense again, to the federalization of the elec- amount of local responsibility and is important, but, remember, this is tion process—not the assistance, not local answerability, frankly, for how about the defense of our democracy. the help but the federalization of the the system works on election day. The simple idea that this was a democ- process. Senator KLOBUCHAR pointed out that racy; that it is not a dictatorship; that In May of 2020, the House passed yet we are fewer than 6 months until the people should be able to go out there another bill. I think that is the bill we election. As a matter of fact, in our and exercise their right to vote no mat- are talking about today or something committee, I intend to hold a hearing ter how they are going to vote, no mat- like it. This time, it was a bill that next month on the problems we have ter what party they are going to vote Democrats said would assist States seen develop with this move toward for, and this is the moment—and be- with the pandemic. First, we were more people wanting to vote not at the cause of this pandemic, we need to do going to assist States because of ballot polling place on election day and how it. security. Now we are going to assist The last thing I will mention, three some States have dealt with those States because of the pandemic. polls released in the last couple of problems effectively and how others There has been a real desire at the months show an overwhelming major- haven’t. Federal level to take over the election ity of voters—over 80 percent favor I will also say, to follow up on one of process again. I don’t think that is a measures to make voting safe and easy. Senator KLOBUCHAR’s points, I think good idea. If it was a good idea, it One of the polls conducted in six bat- funding is one thing. Helping the wouldn’t be a good idea 6 months be- tleground States showed that 74 per- States help themselves is something I fore the election. cent of voters wanted their Senators to think we can still do. We have done a The provisions in the new bill are support legislation in Congress to im- considerable amount of that up until about the same as the provisions in the plement voting reforms, including a now, since the 2016 elections, with a big old bill. They would provide the Fed- majority of Republican voters. Think commitment in the CARES Act to eral Government with unprecedented about that. Voters across party lines make money available for States to control over elections in this country. want Congress to pass legislation that regulate their elections and be able to This bill represents a one-size-fits-all would guarantee the right to vote by afford to do that. I think we can, will, Federal answer to a problem that I mail and provide funding to States and and should take another look at that, think the Federal Government is not make sure it is safe to vote. That is but 6 months before an election is a the best place to answer. what this is about. dangerous time to change responsi- The estimated money needs of the Again, I thank my colleague, Senator bility. States are something I am willing to, BLUNT, for all he has done and the fact I think, to be absolutely clear, that and think we should, continue to talk that he was able to work with us when at any time, this is a responsibility about. But funding to accept the new we did negotiate the CARES Act to that is better done at the local level. situation they find themselves in is dif- make sure there was some funding in- But when you implement a new voting ferent than centralizing the process. cluded, as well as I mentioned Senator system with a big first election, that is Instead of providing States with SHELBY, Senator COONS, Senator a problem. flexibility to deal with emergency situ- LEAHY, and others. Now is the time to We saw that in Georgia recently. ations, for instance, this bill does just prepare for what we have ahead; that Georgia was complying with the re- the opposite. This bill tells States how is, making sure everyone can vote safe- quest that both Senator KLOBUCHAR to run virtually every aspect of their ly. and I and others had made to get a sys- election. It takes away authority to Madam President, as in legislative tem in place that has an auditable bal- the States to determine their own session, I ask unanimous consent that lot trail—an absolutely worthy goal. process for voter registration. In fact, the Rules Committee be discharged Georgia followed up, but even then, it it requires all States to institute on- from further consideration of S. 4033, might have been better if they could line voter registration at a time when the Natural Disaster and Emergency have followed up on an election that we are more concerned than we used to Ballot Act of 2020, and the Senate pro- wasn’t quite the same high-profile, be about what can happen to elections ceed to its immediate consideration. I high-turnout election that their first online. further ask that the bill be considered experience had. This bill tells States how many days read a third time and passed and the The responsibility for changing the of early voting they must have and motion to reconsider be considered system is hard enough in the best of where the early voting locations need made and laid upon the table, with no times. I think the States have had lots to be. It requires that all States accept intervening action or debate. of time. My State and other States online absentee ballot requests. You

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.015 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3143 have online voter registration. Then have expanded absentee balloting; they priations Committee the funding as we you have online absentee ballot re- have expanded early voting; they have go into November. I think that is real- quests and offers the requirement for altered polling place procedures to en- ly going to be important for all voters, no-excuse absentee ballots, which I sure cleaning and sanitizing; and they whether in red, blue, or purple States. guess, according to my friend, the elec- have worked to recruit more workers. We know that so many people vote by tion administrator, would be mail bal- This bill, in my view, doesn’t ac- mail, including the President of the lots. I am going to get better at ex- knowledge the important responsi- United States with a ballot from Palm plaining that phrase. It tells States bility and answerability that local and Beach, FL. We all want to have that how and when their ballots must be de- State officials have on election day. ability and make sure people in our livered. It tells them when they have That was a job I had for about 20 years, States have an ability to either vote by to be counted. It requires States to per- part of that as the chief election offi- mail or vote safely at the polling mit ballot harvesting. cial in the State. I will just state that places this fall. Ballot harvesting is the only thing, I on election day nothing is more impor- Thank you very much. think in a decade, that a candidate tant than voters feeling like their vote I yield the floor. elected to the House of Representatives was cast in the right way and counted The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- was not seated because the House—this in the right way, and there was nobody ator from Wyoming. House, the current House of Represent- but me to blame at the county level THE JUSTICE ACT atives—decided that ballot harvesting and then again at the State level if Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I was the reason that person shouldn’t be that didn’t happen. come to the floor today on the eve of seated; that people went around, col- So I think my friend Senator KLO- what should be a routine vote in the lected ballots, apparently decided BUCHAR’s comments are well-intended U.S. Senate. Tomorrow the Senate is which ballots they were going to mail and well-motivated. I just think we scheduled to vote on a motion to pro- in and which ballots they were not have a fundamental difference on who ceed to the justice reform legislation going to mail in—if you look at the makes these decisions. I would rec- that we ought to be considering in the House determination that this person ommend to all of my colleagues that if U.S. Senate. It is important to point out to the wasn’t lawfully elected. But this bill we ever make these kinds of changes, American people what that means. actually requires States to allow indi- we should make them long before 6 This isn’t a vote yet on passage of the viduals to go and collect ballots and months before a Presidential election. bill. It is not a vote to end debate. It is turn them in, in groups rather than If this bill were law, State and local of- not a vote to amend the debate. Any some other way. ficials would not only lose the flexi- Senator can amend, vote no, or offer If States want to do that, they can do bility they now have, but they would different substitutes for the bill. This that. But apparently, it was not good have a new place to pass the buck. isn’t any of those things. The motion enough to seat a Member of the House This is one of the desks that Harry to proceed is a simple and rather rou- of Representatives from my party. It Truman used on the Senate floor, and tine agreement to begin debate on a tells States how they must authen- he didn’t have a ‘‘pass the buck’’ sym- bill. Yet, here we are. It has turned out ticate their ballots. It prohibits them, bol yet, but he famously had behind his to be anything but routine. however, from using any form of voter desk, as President, a sign that said Senators on the other side of the identification to authenticate who the ‘‘The buck stops here.’’ On these issues, aisle in this very Chamber are threat- person is. It tells States what kind of the buck stops with the person you ening to filibuster the motion to pro- envelopes they have to use to put their have chosen locally and statewide to ceed—filibuster even allowing us to de- ballots in. run your elections. I think that con- bate a bill of great importance to the What doesn’t it do? It doesn’t recog- tinues to be the best course for us to Nation. nize, again, that for almost 250 years, follow. In terms the American public might States have successfully run elections Madam President, I object. better recognize, the Democrats are in this country. If the returns were in The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. threatening to filibuster the very question, the people who were the local HYDE-SMITH). Objection is heard. issue—the very issue—that they claim election officials and the State election The Senator from Minnesota. to care about. If you listen to them on officials were the people who were Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, television, if you see them in the questioned. There was no ability to say I want to thank my colleague for his streets, talking to groups, they claim ‘‘Well, that is out of our hands’’ or work and his friendship. We obviously to care about it. Welcome to the bi- ‘‘Well, we don’t really have anything to don’t agree on every aspect of this. I zarre world of partisan politics and say about that. Some person in Wash- did enjoy hearing his desk story. I bankrupt leadership on that side of the ington tells us what we have to do didn’t know he had Harry Truman’s aisle. about that.’’ desk. When I got to the Senate, I asked On the same day that the minority States have successfully run elec- for the desk of Hubert Humphrey, the leader will come to the floor to urge tions during national disasters. States ‘‘happy warrior,’’ and about 8 months the Senate to pass justice reform legis- have successfully run elections during later, the desk arrived, and they had lation, he will also attempt to rally his pandemics. States have successfully accidentally given me the desk of Gor- Democratic caucus to block even start- run elections during wartime. don Humphrey, the former Senator ing a debate, and they seem to be fol- On March 3, 2020, on Super Tuesday, from New Hampshire, and I had it for lowing him, refusing to even debate an early that morning, a tornado struck quite a while. In a new Senate, I one issue which is so key in the minds of three counties in Tennessee. Election day opened up the desktop and saw the American people. He is telling his officials were able to use the flexibility that they had replaced it with the desk Members to filibuster the bill. they had as State officials to, No. 1, ad- of Hubert Humphrey. So I would give Madam President, the JUSTICE Act just the polling location and, No. 2, these comments in the spirit of the deserves a debate. It deserves a debate move election equipment and carry out ‘‘happy warrior’’; that is, while you and for the American people to see and to the primary election successfully and I disagree on setting these standards, hear and to watch on television. The without challenge. None of that, in my at this moment I think we should; I American people deserve that. What view would have been allowed if this think if not now, when? they don’t deserve is partisan obstruc- bill had been in effect. When it comes to things such as not tion. What they don’t deserve is a fili- Similarly, in response to the pan- having notaries for getting a ballot and buster. They need a debate. Amend the demic, many States, as I suggested things like that, I am heartened by the bill if necessary and then pass it. We Missouri has, have changed their law fact that, No. 1, we have a hearing, want to try to stop what happened to and looked for ways to make this proc- which has been asked for—I think it is George Floyd—a murder that we all ess work. They have had a chance to really important, and I appreciate witnessed—from ever happening again try—in most cases already in the pri- that—on this upcoming election. in America. mary or in some other elections, States No. 2, you continue to be open to dis- The American people know that. have changed their primary dates; they cussing with me and with the Appro- They took to the streets, and now they

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.016 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3144 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 are turning their heads to Washington, ally makes a difference—a difference in with the disappointment we feel when to the Capitol, and saying: What can communities all across the country we don’t reach those high goals, like you do to make sure that something and in the lives of people all around ‘‘all men are created equal.’’ like this never happens again? America. Ben Hooks, who was from Memphis We have a bill that addresses all of So Democrats will be asked to vote and a well-known citizen of our State these issues, a bill that is ready to tomorrow, and they have a choice to and a good friend and once president of come for a debate. Yet, again, the make. They can continue to filibuster, the NAACP, used to tell his students at Democrats are threatening and are to say ‘‘No, no, no, we don’t even want the University of Memphis: likely tomorrow to vote one after an- to get on the bill to debate it’’ or to Remember that our country, America, is a other after another to go up and vote offer amendments to improve upon it, work in progress. We’ve come a long way, no to even beginning debate on the bill. to look for common ground. Or they but we have a long way to go. Incredibly, they began knocking this can do what apparently they want to It is in light of those three comments bill authored by Senator TIM SCOTT of do, which is to continue the status quo, that I would like to discuss the effort South Carolina with many of us as which is not what we need in America that some people made last night to original cosponsors—they began today. They ought to be embracing bi- tear down President Andrew Jackson’s knocking this bill before they ever partisan reform. statue in Lafayette Square across from read it, before they knew what was in The JUSTICE Act is not—as one the White House. it. They attacked it before it was re- Democrat on this very Senate floor I believe it is always appropriate to leased. While the bill was still in the sadly described—a token. That is what review the monuments and the places process of being written, they were at- he said on this Senate floor. This re- that we name to see if there is a more tacking it. Then Senator TIM SCOTT form bill is serious. This reform bill is appropriate name in the context of to- unveiled the legislation, and almost significant. This reform bill is substan- day’s times. For example, in this Cap- immediately the Democrats decided to tial, and we should pass it. At a min- itol, every State has two statues. From agonize over whether to block it. They imum, we should at least debate it on Tennessee, it is Andrew Jackson and were agonizing over allowing a debate the floor of the U.S. Senate. John Sevier. on the floor of the U.S. Senate—agoniz- Democrats plan to filibuster simply Senator BLUNT, who is the chairman ing over a debate. I mean, you could debating the bill. They should be held of our Rules Committee, tells us that, hear them in the halls: I don’t know. accountable by the very American peo- at any given time, some of those stat- Should we get on it? Shouldn’t we get ple that they claim they are looking to ues are in rotation because the State of on it? help—claim they are looking to help. Mississippi or Tennessee or Oregon or What was the issue? Racial justice. Well, they have an opportunity to help some other State may have decided, in- We need to be focusing on that and dis- all American people when we vote to- stead of those two individuals, we cussing it and passing meaningful leg- morrow. would like to send up another statue. islation that will make measurable So I urge my Senate Democratic col- We would like, in the context of to- progress. It shouldn’t be a tough call. leagues: Do not filibuster this historic day’s times, to name somebody else. Senator SCHUMER came and said: We bill. This is a wonderful opportunity to As we think about statues that are should have a bill on the floor by July move our country ahead. We can build already named for generals in the Con- 4. Here we are; it is before July 4. We on the progress of the last 4 years—op- federacy or the Union—a war that was brought the bill. It has a 70-percent portunity zones, permanent funding for fought a long time ago—it is appro- overlap and agreement with what the historically Black colleges and univer- priate, I think, to keep in mind that we House has to offer. sities, the FIRST STEP Act. Let’s have had a lot of wars since then: two Here we are, yet Senator SCHUMER is build on this record. Let’s debate it. World Wars, Korea, Vietnam. We have telling his Democrats to line up, one by Let’s amend it as we see fit, and then had a lot of very distinguished gen- one by one, and say: No, we don’t want let us pass the JUSTICE Act and send erals. We have had courageous Congres- to debate or even discuss your bill even it to the conference committee that sional Medal of Honor winners. Maybe though it has a 70-percent overlap in Speaker PELOSI talks about, and then in the context of today’s times, there is agreement with what the House of Rep- send a bill to the President of the a place for Camp MacArthur or Camp resentatives is offering as a meaningful United States and have it signed into Eisenhower or Alvin C. York, who is a solution to a concern that all of us law and help our country move ahead. Congressional Medal of Honor winner have. Thank you, Madam President. and hero from Tennessee. It is always I don’t say this often, but Senator I yield the floor. appropriate to review the places that SCHUMER ought to listen to NANCY I suggest the absence of a quorum. are named and the monuments we put PELOSI because the Speaker knows we The PRESIDING OFFICER. The up to see if there should be a better are not that far apart. The Pelosi and clerk will call the roll. name or a better place for a monument the Scott bills share many of the same The legislative clerk proceeded to in the context of today’s times. goals—much of the same underlying call the roll. But what about Andrew Jackson, legislation. Senator SCOTT says that Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam President, whose statue is one that the State of they agree 70 percent of the time on I ask unanimous consent that the order Tennessee has sent here, whose statue the issues. At one point, Speaker for the quorum call be rescinded. is of him on a horse outside the White PELOSI said that she would love to go The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without House at Lafayette Square? The simi- to conference with what we have going objection, it is so ordered. lar statue is in Jackson Square in New on in the Senate. The Wall Street Jour- The Senator from Tennessee. Orleans. What about Andrew Jackson? nal, last Wednesday, published a chart, Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam President, Let’s make the case for Andrew Jack- and it showed just how similar the two I ask unanimous consent to speak for son. bills are—the JUSTICE Act in the Sen- as much time as I may require. Presidential historians, almost with- ate and the bill that the House is work- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without out exception, put him in the top 10 of ing on as well. objection, it is so ordered. America’s Presidents. They see him as The Scott bill ensures that both Afri- PROTESTS the sophisticated, often subtle political can-American communities and law en- Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam President, actor that he really was. What they re- forcement communities are protected. the late historian, Arthur Schlesinger, alize—and, unfortunately, what only This is precisely why the JUSTICE Act Jr., said this: ‘‘Self-righteousness in dedicated students of the American can and should become law. Without a retrospect is easy—also cheap.’’ The Presidency often realize—is that Jack- doubt, this is our Nation’s best chance late Samuel Huntington, who was a son was arguably the most important for change—best chance in 25 years. It Harvard professor of U.S. history and American President between Thomas is the best chance to put the 1994 Biden politics, wrote, in effect, that most of Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln be- crime bill in the rearview mirror. It is our politics is about setting great goals cause, much like Lincoln, he preserved a chance to pass meaningful reforms for ourselves—we, the American peo- the Union. If not for Jackson’s devo- and a chance to make a law that actu- ple—and then the struggle we have tion to the Union against his own local

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.018 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3145 political interest, the Union might well the Cherokees to Oklahoma. The Con- that there is on that desk what looks have fallen apart in 1832 and 1833. gress did. And they approved the laws like a chop mark. The story that is Jackson risked everything to keep requiring segregation. Congress did. told is that it was created by a Union our Union together instead of siding And what about the people who elected soldier who came into this Chamber with South Carolina’s U.S. Senator the Congress? They approved those when the Union soldiers occupied John Calhoun’s doctrine of nullifica- Members of Congress who approved of Washington, DC, and began to destroy tion. When a serious conflict of crisis segregation, who approved of the in- the desk of a man who was the presi- arose, when South Carolina decided ternment of Japanese in camps. dent of the Confederacy, Jefferson that, following Calhoun’s doctrine of What are we going to do about us, the Davis, until he was stopped by his com- nullification, it could decide which people of the United States? Do we pre- manding officer, who told him: Stop Federal laws it could follow, it was tend that we didn’t exist during that that. We are here to save the Union, Jackson who stood up and said: Our history, when decisions were made that not to destroy it. Federal Union must be preserved and we would not make today or we would What do we do with Jefferson Davis’s Jackson who had the political will and not approve of today, some of which desk? I say keep it there. I say to learn the skill to make sure it was preserved. would be abhorrent today? Do we try to from it, to learn from the fact that Jackson’s decisions as President gave burn down all the monuments, burn there was a Civil War; that there was a us an additional three decades to form down Mount Vernon, burn down the Confederacy; that Senators left this what Lincoln eventually called ‘‘the Jefferson Memorial, Hyde Park, home body; that Union soldiers were here; mystic chords of memory’’ in his first of Franklin D. Roosevelt? Do we try to that one wanted to chop it up and an- inaugural address. Surely—surely that erase all of that from our history? That other one would say, his commanding is worth recognition. is not what we should do. We should officer: Let’s bring a better future. Andrew Jackson was our first non- not try to erase our history. We should Stop that. We are here not to destroy aristocratic President. When he was not try to pretend it doesn’t exist. We the Union but to save it. born in 1767, it was not possible or shouldn’t ignore our history. There are lessons in American his- plausible that the young boy, orphaned Here is what I think we should do. tory. There are lessons that we should at 14, could someday rise in an emerg- No. 1, as I said earlier, recognize that it learn. The lesson of Ben Hooks: We are ing Republic. Jackson wasn’t born rich. is always appropriate to review the a work in progress. We have come a He wasn’t born into privilege. He places that we have named or the long way. We have a long way to go; fought for everything he had, and he monuments that we put up—just like the lesson of Samuel Huntington, that rose to our government’s highest office the monuments of States in here—to most of our politics is about setting through the sheer force of personality see if there is a more appropriate high goals for ourselves, that all men and political courage. That is the case monument or named place that is ap- are created equal, and then dealing for Andrew Jackson. propriate in the context of today’s with the disappointment, struggling Let us also recognize that Andrew times. Remember, as Ben Hooks said: with the disappointment of not reach- Jackson was not perfect. In fact, he America is a work in progress. It is al- ing those goals, deciding what to do was at the center of the two original ways changing, and our monuments or about it. sins of this country: slavery and the the places we name can change with Do we dishonor Andrew Jackson’s ef- treatment of Native Americans. But if that. That is an appropriate, healthy fort to keep our country together be- we are looking for perfection, we are exercise to go through. That is No. 1. tween Jefferson and Lincoln? Do we not likely to find it in American his- But, No. 2, with the history that in- dishonor Thomas Jefferson’s elo- tory or the history of almost any coun- cludes things we today abhor, we quence? Do we dishonor George Wash- try or in human nature. should try to learn from those things ington’s probity in character or Lin- The historian Jon Meacham, who and build a better future. Let me give coln’s courage or FDR’s grand leader- won a Pulitzer Prize for his biography an example. ship during World War II all because of Jackson and who wrote a biography Each year, I bring onto the floor of they weren’t perfect, all because they of Thomas Jefferson, said that when the Senate teachers of American his- did things and lived things and said Jefferson wrote the words, ‘‘all men are tory who have been selected to attend things that today we wouldn’t say? I created equal,’’ he was almost cer- the Academy for Teachers of American think not. Doing any of this would be a tainly writing about all White men. History that I helped to create when I terrible misunderstanding of American Those were the context of the times for first came to the Senate. I thought it history and of human nature. It would Thomas Jefferson. was important to learn American his- be ahistorical. So what do we do about Jefferson if tory so children can grow up knowing In his first inaugural address, Abra- he was writing that all White men are what it means to be an American. created equal in the context of those When they come to the floor, they ham Lincoln appealed to the better an- times? What do we do about Jefferson, look for the various desks because the gels of our nature. If there are better who—the only slaves that he freed, ap- desks of the Senate are what best de- angels of our nature, I guess that parently, were those that he fathered scribe them. They will go to find Dan- means there must be worse angels in us with his slave mistress, Sally Hemings? iel Webster’s desk, which is still there. as well, not just in Washington and What do we do about George Wash- They will go to the back over there and Jefferson and Jackson and Roosevelt ington and Mount Vernon and the find the desk that the three Kennedy and great men or great women but in slaves that he owned? What do we do brothers used, where they sat. The ones all of us. There are the better angels, about Abraham Lincoln, who some peo- from Tennessee will come here because and there are the worst angels. In this ple say was slow to act on emanci- Howard Baker had my desk and so did country, our goal is to bring out the pation? What about Franklin D. Roo- Fred Thompson, the desk I now have. best in us, which does not mean ignore sevelt and his internment of American They are interested in the desks of the worst. We need to be honest about our citizens who were Japanese in camps Senator MCCONNELL and Senator SCHU- weaknesses. We need to be proud of our during World War II or, more recently, MER because they are the leaders, and what do we do about Bill Clinton, who they go to Jefferson Davis’s desk. strengths. We need to learn from both signed the Defense of Marriage Act, Jefferson Davis was a U.S. Senator to create a better future for the United which would not be in the context of who had a great deal to do with the States of America. today’s times, if two recent Supreme building of this Capitol. But he, like I yield the floor. Court decisions are to be followed, as many other U.S. Senators in the South, I suggest the absence of a quorum. they will be? resigned from the Senate and joined The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Let’s not just pick on our Presidents. the Confederate Army. Jefferson Davis clerk will call the roll. What are we going to do about the Con- became President of the Confederacy. The legislative clerk proceeded to gress, the Senators, and the Members When I take them to Jefferson call the roll. of the House? They approved the Trail Davis’s desk, these teachers of Amer- Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. of Tears, Andrew Jackson’s removal of ican history, this is what I tell them; Madam President, I ask unanimous

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:47 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.019 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3146 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 consent that the order for the quorum you don’t trust the Democrats, you get State agencies. Our legislation does the call be rescinded. to watch the process play out right exact same thing. We go after local de- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without here, within the world’s greatest delib- partments and State agencies by with- objection, it is so ordered. erative body—you can watch it play drawing some grant dollars. THE JUSTICE ACT out right here, live on C–SPAN—and What theirs says about the ban on Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina. come to your own conclusions about choke holds applies only to Federal Madam President, I come to the floor the seriousness of this issue. Yet if we agents. That is really important. Why to continue a conversation, a dialogue, miss that golden opportunity—if we is that important? When you are about the importance of moving for- miss the opportunity to debate the un- watching at home, you hear there will ward on the motion to proceed on the derlying issues—all you will wind up be a ban on choke holds, but you don’t JUSTICE Act. with will be talking points and cam- necessarily make the correlation or It was just an hour and a half ago, in paigns. have the information to reach the con- front of the entire press corps, when I, You see, some believe that one side clusion that they are talking only Leader MCCONNELL, and the leadership would rather campaign on police re- about Federal agents. Why is that im- team on the Republican side had a very form than solve police issues. I believe portant? Because Eric Garner’s was not open conversation with the press about that both sides of the aisle have vast an incident with a Federal agent. It fact that voting for this motion to pro- majorities of people who are willing to was not. ceed is voting for an open process. He come to the table to have a serious de- For 700,000 of the 800,000 law enforce- said—and I agree—that this process bate on the underlying issues that have ment officers, the ban would not apply. must be open. I have asked that we brought combustion into this Chamber That is really important information have amendments, and the leader has and solve them, not have them explode. to share with the American people. said yes. All of us do not have to tackle the Why is this so? It is called the Con- So, to my friends on the other side issues like I did when I was 16 and 17 stitution. It is a pesky, little thing who believe that somehow—in some and 18 and 25 and 26 and 30. We are all sometimes, but it is a fact. The Con- way—this does not include an actual here now on this sacred ground, and we stitution does not allow for the Federal open process, wherein you have a have the ability to say to that young Government to dictate to those in local chance over several days, in the sight man and to that young lady: We didn’t law enforcement what they can and of the public, to talk about and offer just see you. We didn’t just hear you. cannot do. So they use the inducement your amendments, that is wrong. If you We acted on it. By doing so, I believe of resources at the Federal level. want a process whereby you will have we can make a difference in the lives of I talked to 10 Democratic Senators an opportunity to persuade those in Americans whom we actually save. today, and I told them all the same: this body and the American people There have been some criticisms. I Let’s get on the floor and amend the about the value of your amendments, sat in my office and listened to some of bill and see what happens. By the way, this motion to proceed is a motion you the criticisms about our JUSTICE Act our legislation says the same thing. We should vote for. More importantly, by my friends on the other side. One of instruct the AG to figure out how to rather than persuading the American the criticisms was that the JUSTICE ban it for Federal officers, and we re- people that this is a motion to proceed Act does not require new reporting duce money and take money away as a that you should vote for, if you really measures on use of force. What? I sat in penalty for those departments that want to get into police reform, we will my office, speechless, because our leg- have not banned choke holds. need a vehicle with which to get there. islation absolutely, positively, un- The President’s Executive order says The JUSTICE Act is that vehicle. equivocally requires more information. that the certification process must in- Speaker PELOSI herself said—and I do The House bill has a 10-percent pen- clude being certified by a governing not often quote Speaker PELOSI or even alty, and our legislation has a 20-per- agency that doesn’t look favorably on paraphrase Speaker PELOSI about cent penalty, or twice the penalty. choke holds. So whether you are in the something that she and I might agree I heard that our legislation does not House or whether you are a Senate on, but I agree here—that it would be ban no-knock warrants, which is criti- Democrat or Republican or are in the important for us to have a conference, cally important because, in Louisville, White House, we are all closing in on which would require this body to pass KY, the conversation around no-knock the same outcome. legislation. Then it would go to con- warrants took a drastic turn in the Here is what may be just as impor- ference with the House. The only way wrong direction that led to the killing tant as the distinctions that, I hope, I we will pass legislation in this body is of Breonna Taylor. My friends were have cleared up as to the differences for there to be a bipartisan coalition of talking about how the House bill— that are not necessarily the biggest dif- Republicans and Democrats, working their bill—bans no-knock warrants in ferences on the important issues of together, because a majority of the drug cases, but when you open the leg- what they said this morning was not Senate is not 51 out of 100. From a leg- islation and read the pages, what it what we were doing. I think selling islative purpose, the majority of the does ban are no-knock warrants for something is important, but you can Senate is 60 votes. That means we re- Federal agents. In Louisville, KY, sell by manipulating or you can sell by quire 60 votes to even start the process those were not Federal agents. So the motivating. I want to be clear that our of saying to little boys and girls in complaint and the concerns about what legislation says what it says, not what communities of color around this coun- actually helps situations in places like others say it doesn’t say. try: We see you. We hear you. Louisville, KY, aren’t answered by the Why am I so passionate about this I grew up in some impoverished com- House bill. issue? Beyond my 18 stops as a person munities and in a single-parent house- I will be honest. In our legislation, of color, beyond my issues here in the hold—mired in poverty. I understand we want to get the data around no- Senate, beyond the fact that I am the how it feels to leave your home, get in knock warrants so that we can actu- one who grew up in poverty, in a sin- a car, and be afraid of being stopped. I ally direct the resources and the deci- gle-parent household—beyond that get that. I have spoken about that too sions in the right way. So, yes, you point—in my legislation, which is the many times already. What I will say is could say ours allows for a more delib- Senate Republican legislation, and the that this body has a chance to say to erative process. Well, let’s debate that, House legislation, there is so much those kids: We see you. We hear your and let’s come to an agreement. common ground on which we can work, concerns. Next, I heard that the JUSTICE Act and to lose this moment for the kids A motion to proceed is simply a pro- would not end choke holds and that and the young adults who are watching cedural motion that says: Let’s debate their legislation would actually ban this process would be terrible. Let me the underlying bill. Let’s have a con- choke holds. Let’s take a closer look. give you a couple of examples of what versation in front of all of the Amer- That is false. With strict penalties fac- I mean by the things that we have in ican people about the importance of ing local police departments, they go common. doing police reform the right way. If after choke holds by holding off on Both sides agree on more deescala- you don’t trust the Republicans or if grant dollars for local agencies and tion training and on duty-to-intervene

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.021 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3147 training. Both sides agree on ending is not the way you bring together both lions and millions of Americans are de- choke holds. Both sides agree on pass- sides to address big, important na- manding more, that business as usual ing anti-lynching legislation. Oh, by tional challenges. is somehow acceptable. the way, I and Senator GRASSLEY—the Let me take just a few minutes to That video of the murder of George then-chairman of the Committee on talk about some of the specific short- Floyd at the hands of police stirred a the Judiciary—worked with Senator comings of the legislation that Senator part of America’s national conscious- HARRIS and Senator BOOKER to get it MCCONNELL wants to bring to the floor. ness. There have been peaceful protests passed not once in this Chamber but For example, how can 100 Senators not in all 50 States over the last few weeks twice. It stalled in the House before it agree that choke holds are wrong and calling for us to stamp out racial injus- stalled over here. We got it done twice, ought to be banned? That is what my tice—people of all ethnicities, of all and it is another area of agreement. Democratic colleagues and I have ages, all genders. It has been a rare dis- Both sides agree on the importance of called for: a nationwide ban on choke play of common purpose and common more minority hiring in law enforce- holds, period—full stop. engagement in America. ment. Both sides agree that more body- The Republican bill does not take As Senators, we have an obligation worn cameras are a good thing. We ac- that same strong, firm position. In my to respond to that call with something tually go further and have penalties for view, you cannot equivocate when it significantly better than business as not having the body cameras on, but comes to a reform as basic as banning usual. I know that Senator SCOTT both sides agree. Both sides agree on the choke hold. Anything short of a wants to get there. I know that my the creation of a National Criminal ban creates loopholes for the use of Democratic colleagues and I want to Justice Commission, which, by the choke holds, and that is the wrong way get there. I am proud to support Senator BOOK- way, was the No. 1 recommendation of to go for our country. ER and Senator HARRIS, who have been President Obama’s Task Force on 21st Second, this bill doesn’t create any doing outstanding work on this issue, Century Policing. real accountability for police mis- So why can’t both sides agree on a conduct. It doesn’t set up independent and I know that, regardless of the out- come of tomorrow’s vote, we are going motion to proceed? If there is that investigations for prosecutions of po- to keep working. much commonality in the underlying lice abuses. It doesn’t create national As for this week, the Senate would be standards for law enforcement. It does legislation, if we are all watching the wrong to just rush this process and just not end qualified immunity. same pictures that we have all found check the box with a partisan process, Those issues are right at the center disgusting and unbelievable, why can’t a partisan approach, before shrugging of the challenge of reforming policing we agree on tackling the issues in a its shoulders and moving on to the in America, and they are the issues the substantive way here on the floor of task of dealing with more far-right American people want to see addressed the world’s greatest deliberative body? judges. That is what we are supposed to do head-on. So I am going to vote against clo- here. We debate the issues. I want the A lot of what the majority’s bill— ture. I urge my colleagues to do the Nation to see; I want the public to see; Senator MCCONNELL’s bill—does with same. I want the world to see; I want all of respect to police conduct is essentially I yield the floor. America to see our debating this issue. collecting data. Nobody is protesting The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. I thank the Presiding Officer. collecting data. What people are pro- BOOZMAN). The Senator from Min- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- testing on is they want to save lives. nesota. ator from Oregon. The Senate ought to do better and VOTING Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, make those real changes that improve Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I across the country, there has been a public safety. rise today and thank my colleague national outcry for justice and for real Third, the extreme militarization of from Oregon and also thank him for his changes in law to address police bru- our police forces in recent years. It is work on the voting bill. We just had a tality and reflect the undeniable truth actually an issue that goes back more discussion with Senator BLUNT about that Black lives matter. than a few years, but the danger of a that, and while we didn’t agree on the This week should be our opportunity military mindset in domestic law en- bill, there is a discussion that is ongo- in the U.S. Senate to come together— forcement was never more clear than ing—as we head into another COVID Republicans and Democrats—to begin when Trump officials started talking package, possibly, which we really be- to fix our broken policing system, about ‘‘dominating the battle space.’’ lieve we need to—on working on some which is what so many people in big Our communities are not war zones; funding issues for the States as we look cities and small towns in Oregon and in our citizens are not enemy combatants; at more and more balloting from home every State across America are de- and our police officers should not be and how important that is. manding of us. Yet, instead of allowing occupying forces, so why has the I want to thank Senator WYDEN for that kind of bipartisan discussion, United States undergone this years’ his leadership for so long on that issue. Leader MCCONNELL is plowing ahead long military mobilization on its own I brought up his home State in a with partisan business, as usual, on a streets, against its own people? speech about an hour or so ago and the bill that falls very short of what the It is long past time for this to end work that Oregon has done with ballot- Senate ought to accomplish. and for all our communities to insti- by-home and, I think, ballots from I see my friend on the floor, Mr. tute 21st century community policing home. SCOTT, the distinguished Senator from policies, but the Republican bill does I actually think I used the number of South Carolina. I want to make it clear not do that either. percentage of fraud as 0.0000001, or that I have great respect for Senator The truth is, Senator SCOTT’s bill something like that, to show that what SCOTT. He is an important member of does take a few good steps, like estab- the President said is not true; that we the Senate Committee on Finance, on lishing the duty to intervene and mak- have had, actually, in many States which both of us serve. I appreciate ing lynching a Federal crime. Those across the country—including Utah, a every opportunity to work with him. In are issues that I and other Democrats redder State—a big success with voting fact, I think a fair number of people would like to work on with Senator from home. around the country will note the work SCOTT on a comprehensive bill, but JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT we have just done in the last few weeks that is not what Senator MCCONNELL Mr. President, I rise today on an- on nonprofit organizations. So we will has put on offer this week. other matter, and that is to urge the be working together, I know, in the My concern is that if the Senate Senate to consider meaningful, com- days ahead. takes up the McConnell bill, it is going prehensive legislation to make sys- Unfortunately, the majority leader is to just be business as usual under the temic changes to our justice system giving short shrift to this debate on Republican leader: a short debate cut that will save lives—save lives in the ending systemic racism by putting for- off arbitrarily, not enough votes, and Black community and save lives in all ward an inadequate bill and essentially not enough improvements to the actual communities of color that have experi- daring the other side to oppose it. That bill. I just don’t believe that, when mil- enced injustice for far too long.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.022 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3148 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 I am deeply concerned that the bill Floyd pinned down—pinned to the temic change we need in our criminal on the floor this week fails to meet ground. justice system. this moment. It has been nearly 1 I have called on the Department of Critically, the Republican proposal month since George Floyd was mur- Justice, with 26 other Senators, to con- does not include necessary changes to dered in my State. We all watched as duct a full-scale investigation into the hold individual officers accountable for his life evaporated before our eyes. It patterns and practices of the Min- misconduct, like making records of po- was a horrible thing. neapolis Police Department, and any lice misconduct public. Real change People who watched it, whether they bill that we consider should make sure comes with accountability and, as were in law enforcement or whether the Civil Rights Division has the au- drafted, the Republican bill does not they were just regular citizens who saw thority and the resources they need to provide it. That is why it is opposed by this, it hit home to many of them for conduct a thorough investigation. civil rights and criminal justice the first time—and many of them, By the way, our calls have still gone groups, and it is why the attorney for sadly, in the African-American com- unheeded. During the Obama Justice George Floyd’s family—and I had the munity for many, many times before Department time period, 25 of these honor of speaking with George Floyd’s that—how truly unjust this is and how cases—pattern-and-practice investiga- family—has said that this bill is ‘‘in di- immoral this is. tions—were brought. During the Trump rect contrast to the demands of the His death was horrifying and inhu- Justice Department time period, just people.’’ mane, and it galvanized a nationwide one unit of the Springfield, MA, Police So where do we go from here? Well, movement for justice. Department went through a pattern- we can start by calling up the bill that As Members of the U.S. Senate, we and-practice investigation. will be coming over from the House. We have a responsibility to respond to that I don’t know what more proof we can start by agreeing to work together. call with action, and that means, when need than the fact of the video and the Let’s have a bipartisan process to de- you have systemic racism, that you fact that there were other officers velop the consensus bill that we need must address it with systemic change. standing nearby, the fact that we have based on the bill that is going to be Some of that is happening in our called for this with 26 Senators but, coming over from the House. State and local governments. That is a still, we await any final word from the As a member of the Judiciary Com- good thing. But some of that must also Justice Department. mittee, I have seen what happens when happen here. This is not just an issue They have informed us that they are we work together to get something for one city or one State—my home still looking at this, but in the mean- done. That is how we passed the FIRST State—nor is it an issue at just the time, our Department of Human Rights STEP Act, which passed the Senate local level. There is a lot of work that in the State of Minnesota is stepping in with a vote of 87 to 12 by reaching needs to be done at the local level, and to fill the void. I don’t think that is across the aisle and by actually doing that has been acknowledged by mayors the ideal way to do it. You would like something—not just a bill full of plati- and police chiefs across the country. a Justice Department that has experi- tudes or studies but actually doing There is also really important work ence doing this in other jurisdictions, something, which is what the people that we must do here. I was proud to but our State’s Department of Human are calling out for now. join my colleagues in introducing the Rights is now stepping in and con- By the way, there are a lot of good Justice in Policing Act, led by Sen- ducting its own pattern-and-practice police officers out there, including ones ators BOOKER and HARRIS, which makes investigation. who work around us, and when you put comprehensive changes to our justice The bill on the floor fails to help strong standards in place, they meet system that are long overdue. States conduct their own investiga- those standards. These reforms—including police offi- tions, as I just mentioned, to address To allow that conduct that we saw on cers being held accountable for mis- systemic problems in culture, training, that video to go without national conduct, reforming police practices, and accountability at police depart- changes to our policing would be just and improving transparency—will be ments, like what the Minnesota De- to say, well, it is just this incident in good for our Nation. The Justice in Po- partment of Human Rights is now con- Minnesota, which, of course, is being licing Act will help to prevent more ducting. By the way, with the proper prosecuted by our attorney general, tragedies like those we have seen—pre- resources and the experience they are Keith Ellison. That is how you could vent murders. gleaning from former Justice Depart- resolve it if you thought it just hap- It is widely supported by groups like ment officials and the like, this is one pened once and it just happened in one the NAACP, the Leadership Conference way to handle some of this, in addition State, but we know that is not true, on Civil and Human Rights, and the to the Justice Department. my colleagues. We know that is not National Urban League. At a time when our Justice Depart- true. That is why it is so important to The House is expected to pass the bill ment has failed to take up these inves- take action and pass the actual bill. this Thursday. Then it comes over tigations, this provision that is in the We already started this process in here. But instead of taking up that bill, Justice in Policing Act is even more the Senate Judiciary Committee. Last the Justice in Policing Act, Leader critical. week, we held a hearing on these MCCONNELL has brought a different bill We must also take action to put an issues. We heard testimony from local to the Senate floor: the JUSTICE Act. end to practices that unnecessarily put leaders like St. Paul Mayor Melvin My problem with it is, despite the people’s lives at risk. I worked with Carter and law enforcement officers name and despite a lot of the words Senator GILLIBRAND and Senator SMITH from across the country. that we are hearing on the other side, of my State on provisions in the Jus- I heard a lot of agreement among it doesn’t get us to where we need to tice in Policing Act to ban Federal law many of those who testified—not all of be. In this moment, as people are still enforcement officers from using choke them but many of them: support for marching and demanding change, we holds and other neck restraints and to banning choke holds, establishing a na- cannot confront these urgent issues prohibit States from receiving certain tional use-of-force policy—these are with half measures or equivocation. Federal funding unless they have police chiefs—creating a public data- I have serious concerns that this bill passed laws to ban these practices. base of public misconduct, and ensur- does not respond to the nationwide call We have used this method in the ing independent investigations of po- for justice. Unlike the Justice in Polic- past, and if there is significant funding lice-involved deaths, something I ing Act that is going to pass the House, attached to it, States will react. pushed for in my former job. the bill we are considering here in the The bill on the floor this week from You cannot have the police depart- Senate lacks critical reforms to our Republican counterparts only bans ment that the officer works for inves- strengthen Federal pattern-and-prac- certain types of choke holds—those tigating this conduct. That is wrong, tice investigations, a reform that is ur- that restrict airflow but not blood as I said publicly years ago. gently needed after we all saw the flow—and only in certain situations. There are areas where we can find video of the police officers standing This does not go to the point that we agreement, but we have to mean it. right next to each other with George need it to go to get the kind of sys- Chairman GRAHAM said at the hearing

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.024 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3149 that he hopes the Judiciary Committee Just think about the big things we must be serious too. This is the mo- could consider what has been proposed have been able to get done in the past ment. This is the moment for us to be and ‘‘come up with something in com- decade or so. I am not trying to equate serious together and address this in a mon.’’ this current moment and this serious- big, profound, systemic way. Well, we start with the bill that is ness, but I know we know how to do Eric, Michael, Freddie, Breonna, going to be coming over from the other big things. The Presiding Officer George, Rayshard, and all of those who House, the bill that has been sponsored knows that too. We do things across are no longer with us, as well as all of in the U.S. Senate by Senators BOOKER the aisle. We work across the aisle those marching, marching, marching and HARRIS. when we want to get things done. and speaking out deserve nothing less Instead, Leader MCCONNELL is asking I think about passing a farm bill, a 5- than our best at this moment. They de- us to consider a bill that was drafted in year farm bill. A lot of people said we serve a serious bipartisan effort. That their caucus, yes, but without the couldn’t get it done because of all the is what I support. That is what my input of so many of us who have seen different interests—the interests of Democratic colleagues support. firsthand the damage that has been families and food assistance, the inter- We know it takes sitting down and done here. He is, then, moving that bill ests of farmers and ranchers and so on. listening to each other. It takes work- directly to the floor instead of letting I had my doubts during those times, ing out differences. That is the only the Judiciary Committee consider it. I but we kept on working in a bipartisan way change happens. We are willing to think that fails to make the kind of way, and in the end we got a bipartisan put in whatever time and effort it meaningful change we need in our sys- bill that was good for farmers and our takes to make this happen, and that is tem. families, good for our environment, what we are going to continue to fight This is a moment for urgent action, good for our economy. In fact, we for. but it is also a moment for funda- passed it with an 87-to-13 vote, which is I yield the floor. mental change. If we respond to all of the most votes we have ever had in the I suggest the absence of a quorum. those people out there and the family Senate for a farm bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The of George Floyd—whom I got to meet Police violence and the systemic rac- clerk will call the roll. and sat across the pews from at that ism that is behind it deserves at least The senior assistant legislative clerk memorial service—if we respond with the same bipartisan effort that we gave proceeded to call the roll. silence, then we are complicit. If we re- the farm bill. In much the same way, Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. President, I spond as the President has suggested, the Senate came together across the ask unanimous consent that the order with dominance and by waving a Bible aisle and got comprehensive immigra- for the quorum call be rescinded. in front of a church for a photo op, tion reform done. That only happened The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. CAS- then we are monsters. because people sat down together with SIDY). Without objection, it is so or- If we respond with action—meaning- different views—Republicans and dered. ful action—colleagues, then we are law- Democrats—and worked through the Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. President, if makers, and that is what the people of complicated issues that were standing you walk outside this building and our State sent us to do. in our way, and we got it done in the take a few steps toward the White I yield the floor. Senate. House, you can almost hear the cries The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Police violence and the systemic rac- for justice still ringing out through the ator from Michigan. ism behind it deserve at least that Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I air; you can almost still smell the tear same bipartisan effort. gas lingering over our Nation’s Capital. want to thank the Senator from Min- More recently, there was the CARES Listen closely and you might still be nesota for her ongoing leadership on so Act. Democrats and Republicans able to catch the echoes of the peaceful many issues and, certainly, this is one worked day and night to come together protesters chanting the name of of them. We greatly appreciate and in agreement on the most effective way Breonna Taylor, who was killed in her need your voice. to meet the needs of Americans during own home after police executed a no- Mr. President, for over the past an unprecedented health and economic knock warrant; or the name of George month, Americans in all parts of our crisis—which, by the way, we need to country and from all walks of life have do again because we are not done. Floyd, who was forced to beg for his once again been marching for the cause Police violence and the systemic rac- life until he couldn’t beg any longer, of justice. They are raising their voices ism behind it deserve at least that kind held down under the knee of a police and raising the names of those killed of effort. This is a huge crisis that officer who swore an oath to protect by police violence: Eric Garner, Mi- pulls at the very soul of America. This and serve; or Rayshard Brooks, who chael Brown, Freddie Gray, Breonna issue certainly deserves the best of all was shot in the back just 11 days ago, Taylor, George Floyd, and Rayshard of us right now, the best of what we even as this moment of national reck- Brooks. can do. oning over police brutality was already Americans aren’t marching because Systemic racism and related police under way. of politics. They are not marching be- violence certainly deserve, at min- For nearly a month now, Americans cause they want the Senate to pretend imum, the same kind of bipartisan ef- have been lying down, standing up, to address this issue and hope it goes fort we have focused on other issues kneeling, marching, and mourning in away. Americans aren’t marching be- that have not had the life-and-death the streets. They have been tugging at cause they want more studies and re- consequences of this issue. and prodding our country, trying to ports. No. Americans from all walks of The people who are marching and drag it forward until it lives up to the life—young and old, people of all back- who are crying out for justice deserve a words of its Pledge of Allegiance that grounds, religions, and nationalities— serious response at a serious moment. in this Republic, there is ‘‘liberty and are marching because they are sick and Leader MCCONNELL needs to take this justice for all.’’ tired of learning about more names. issue seriously and support a bipar- So far, this Nation has failed to make They want the people who represent tisan process, instead of just moving to the promise a reality for Black Ameri- them here in this Chamber to finally a weak, flawed, Republican bill just to cans. It has failed the families of confront this deadly serious issue with pretend that he tried to do something. Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and the seriousness it deserves. The House of Representatives are se- Rayshard Brooks. It has failed every It is time we meet their expectations rious. They are passing a bill this week Black child who knows that playing on in this historic moment. This really is and sending it over to us. It is a serious a jungle gym could be a death sen- a historic moment. It is a historic op- bill. I am proud to be a cosponsor of tence. It has failed every Black parent portunity for all of us to come to- the Senate version with our leaders who kisses the top of their child’s head gether. It is past time to do something Senator BOOKER and Senator HARRIS. before school each morning as their to stop the violence. It is time to come They are serious about passing the Jus- heart breaks with the knowledge that together and to do something big and tice in Policing Act. this time could be the last. consequential, and it is going to take Senate Democrats are serious. MITCH I know that I would never be able to all of us to be able to do that. MCCONNELL and Senate Republicans fully comprehend the fear and trauma

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.025 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3150 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 that Black Americans experience every try to pass legislation that would actu- people is less safe than another for no day. But what I do know is that the ally address the issues in question and reason other than the color of their burden of this pain can’t fall on them the crisis at hand. skin. We have to refuse to accept it, alone. The responsibility, the work of Look, next week our country will cel- but that is the country in which we bending the moral arc of the universe ebrate its Independence Day. What live. toward justice can’t just be put on the does freedom for any one of us mean if We have to acknowledge, finally, backs of those who have been feeling so many of our neighbors still are not what KAMALA HARRIS and CORY BOOKER its weight this whole time. Rather, it free to walk down the street or sleep in and others have been telling us, which is on all of us—Black, White, Asian, their own homes without fearing for is that our criminal justice system in Latinx, you name it—to help those their lives? Until every Black Amer- this country is broken. families and communities finally re- ican can breathe without a knee on Our long history of unequal treat- ceive the justice they deserve. their neck, no American should feel as ment of poor and minority criminal of- But I come to the floor today because if we are truly able to take a breath fenders—especially Black Americans— my Republican colleagues are trying to ourselves. has evolved into a system of mass in- force through a bill that barely even The Republican bill that we are ex- carceration unlike that of any other pays lip service to the crisis at hand. In pected to vote on tomorrow isn’t just a developed democracy. A network of some ways, it doesn’t even accomplish disappointment. It leaves Black Ameri- dystopian, privatized prison spreads that. In spite of its name, the JUSTICE cans in unnecessary danger. And set- across the land to house people who, in Act wouldn’t begin to bring any sem- tling for lip service when lives are at many cases, shouldn’t even be behind blance of real justice to the victims stake isn’t just inadequate. It is cruel bars, who were convicted for infrac- from Minneapolis to Atlanta to Louis- too. tions relating to things that are legal ville and beyond. I yield the floor. in the State of Colorado today. It should be obvious by now that the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- According to Ta-Nehisi Coates’ defin- itive article on the subject of the U.S. epidemic of police brutality will not be ator from Colorado. mass incarceration, our country ac- fixed by some bandaid bill. We need to Mr. BENNET. Mr. President, I want counts for less than 5 percent of the reckon with the real, deep, uncomfort- to thank my friends, KAMALA HARRIS world’s population but 25 percent of able realities and systemic biases that from California and CORY BOOKER from those who are incarcerated. Our closest have marred our country for years. We New Jersey, for leading us in this fight competitor—and it is hard to find one— need to bring systemic change to our for so many years. I remember well when I first went to is Russia, a virtual police state. law enforcement agencies. We need to In our country, there is nothing work for the city and county of Den- force a seismic shift in how we root out equal about who is incarcerated. Black ver. One of the first tragedies that we and respond to police brutality, includ- males between the ages of 20 and 39 are had in the city at that time was the ing banning choke holds and no-knock incarcerated at a rate 10 times the rate shooting of a young man named Paul warrants in drug cases at the Federal of their White peers. Every one of these Childs in Park Hill by police under cir- level. My friend Senator BOOKER has issues needs to be reexamined and introduced legislation that would do cumstances that should never have formed not by ideology but by prag- just that; the Republican bill would happened. That was almost 20 years matism and, most important, the not. ago, but these headlines haven’t moral commandments of a just society. We need to hold accountable officers stopped. If anything, matters have got- That is what the patriotic Americans who break the laws they were trusted ten worse. in our streets in downtowns demand. to enforce, ensuring that independent As the country has grappled with the They are not calling for one more com- prosecutors review police uses of force pandemic over the last few months, I mission. They are not calling for one and prosecute officers who act irre- heard a lot of people talk about how it more study. They are calling for real sponsibly, recognizing that local pros- has revealed a profound sense of in- reform. That is what people mean when ecutors often have a conflict of interest equality in our country, how it has ex- they say: This moment calls for real because they rely on the same police posed all this injustice in the United reform. That is what the people are departments to win other cases. I have States of America. saying in the streets. written legislation to do just that, We should not have needed a pan- With respect to my colleagues on the which has been included in the Demo- demic to expose the injustice that ex- other side, the proposal Senator cratic bill, but the Republican bill ists in the United Stated of America. It MCCONNELL has put forward doesn’t would not do anything close. should not have taken a pandemic to come close to meeting that test. His We need to amend Federal law on alert people to the injustice in our bill, his proposal, which is meant to qualified immunity so that officers country. If you have been paying any paper this over and get through to an- can’t just violate Americans’ constitu- attention, if you have listened at all to other chapter, not address the issue— tional rights with mere impunity, and the Black voices in the United States his bill still allows the use of choke we need to mandate anti-bias Federal of America, then you know these injus- holds, the same choke holds that suffo- law enforcement training. Democrats tices have been with us for generations. cated the life from Eric Garner. It have put forward policy that would do In the case of our law enforcement doesn’t ban no-knock warrants, the all of that. The Republican bill refuses system, they have literally had life- same practice that led police to break any such attempt at accountability and-death consequences for Black down Breonna Taylor’s door and shoot and wouldn’t even ban racial profiling. Americans, and it just keeps hap- her eight times in her own apartment. It comes down to this: Real justice, pening. One reason it keeps hap- It doesn’t make it easier for families real accountability requires these re- pening—the one reason it happened to like the family of George Floyd to seek forms. Yet the JUSTICE Act itself is Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, or justice when their loved ones have been silent on so many of them. The so- George Floyd—is that what happened victimized by police brutality. It called ‘‘reform’’ bill aims more at re- to them would never happen to my doesn’t even ban racial profiling. There forming public opinion than actually three daughters; what happened to is virtually nothing in this bill to re- reforming the policies that got us here. them would never happen to me. It has spond to the families calling for justice The families grieving today deserve never occurred to me once, when I am or to save lives from police practices better, as George Floyd’s family made walking around my neighborhood in that have no place in America in the it clear when they themselves spoke Denver, that what happened to them year 2020. out against the bill. They know that could happen to me or my children. This is not a time for half measures, those who had a loved one stolen from That is what is meant, in part, by for one more attempt to use talking them deserve more than just lip serv- White privilege—a privilege that al- points and legislative tricks to make it ice. They deserve for their Senators, most everybody in this Chamber en- seem like we are doing something when for the officials elected to represent joys. we are not. The idea that the country them in what is supposed to be the I think we can never accept that we isn’t ready for a comprehensive ap- world’s greatest deliberative body to live in a country where one group of proach is not true.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:56 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.027 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3151 I will yield to my colleague from borough, Trumbull, Windsor, Glaston- in drug cases so we can credibly tell Connecticut in just a minute. bury; and then places like Torrington, the American people we hear you, and Last week in Colorado—my State, a East Hartford, Danbury—all across the we will act. Western State, a purple State—we be- State, proud to be with people from Communities of color must be able to came the first State in America to pass Connecticut, led by our young people, trust that law enforcement will be held a sweeping police accountability bill as are many great social movements accountable if they commit criminal into law. It is almost exactly like the and revolutions of our time led by acts. The Republican JUSTICE Act one we have proposed here. We passed young people who have the audacity completely lacks any mechanism to that bill 52 to 13 in the State House and and hope to cast aside the normal and hold law enforcement officers account- 32 to 2 in the Senate—32 to 2. Only two say: There is no going back. There is able in court for their misconduct. It Republicans in the Senate voted no rolling back to the old normal. makes no change to section 242 of title against that bill. Every single Demo- What we need is action. XVIII, which makes it a Federal crime crat voted for that bill. And that is That has been the common theme in to willfully deprive a person of con- Colorado, out in the middle of the these cries for justice—the demands for stitutional rights. country. It sets a standard for what we accountability, the pleas for an end to This criminal statute can be used to need to do in Washington, which is to racism, generations of racial justice, hold officers accountable for the use of pass the Justice in Policing Act that and racism with historic roots in so excessive force—something we all Senator HARRIS and Senator BOOKER many of our institutions, including know led to the deaths of far too many have put forward because we will never some of our law enforcement. But they Black and Brown people in this coun- heal as a nation, as a country, unless are demanding more than just our lis- try. I believe that criminal liability is we confront and dismantle the sys- tening and more than just our speak- a critical tool in the law enforcement temic injustice and the systemic rac- ing. They are demanding action—real accountability toolbox but only if it is ism that still plagues America, running action, real reform, real change with used. as it does in a straight line from slav- real teeth and new laws. Right now, civil liability is available, ery to Jim Crow, to the redlining of The time has come for us in this Con- albeit an inadequate remedy so long as our housing and banking system, to the gress to heed those calls. We need leg- a qualified immunity is not reformed. mass incarceration that we have, to islation that honors the memories and But very often, in 99 percent of the the prisons that Ta-Nehisi Coates re- the lives of those who have lost their cases, any civil remedy involves indem- fers to as ‘‘The Gray Wastes.’’ futures: Michael Brown, Philando Cas- nification by the municipal govern- As I said on the floor the other day, tile, Sandra Bland, and countless oth- ment. Indemnification means the indi- anyone who studied the history of our ers added to George Floyd, Breonna vidual officer feels no financial penalty democracy knows how tough it is to Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and Rayshard and very often little other penalty. make progress. The struggle has al- Brooks. Some are in the headlines. Criminal liability involving potentially ways been a battle from the very begin- Some of their deaths have been caught prison concentrates the mind. It is a ning of our founding, between our high- on video—but so many thousands never strong deterrent. est ideals and our worst instincts as a on video, never publicized, and never As I said in a hearing that we con- country. More often than not, the ful- known to the public. ducted in the Judiciary Committee, we crum of that battle from the founding In their memory, but also for the need change to make it a real remedy until today has been race. Progress on sake of our future, we should move for- and a real deterrent. When Officer these lines has never been easy. It has ward with action. We are here today Chauvin held his knee on George never come easy. because, simply and starkly, the Re- Floyd’s neck for 8 minutes 46 seconds, Among us are still people whose poli- publican JUSTICE Act fails to meet he looked straight into those cameras tics are aimed at stripping some citi- this moment. It fails that test. with impunity because he assumed he zens of their rights and opportunity, I have been listening not only to the would never be prosecuted criminally. who despise pluralism, who succumb to folks in the streets and our commu- He never imagined that justice would fearful hatreds like racism or who care nities but also to my great colleagues find him, and justice still must find nothing for anyone but themselves. CORY BOOKER and KAMALA HARRIS. him in a criminal court. He ignored the Their presence means that the rest of Clearly, from what we have heard from pleas of bystanders telling him to stop. us, most of us, who Martin Luther them and the work they have done, He ignored George Floyd, as he begged King, Jr., called the great decent ma- along with many of us, to fashion the for his life. jority, must share an even deeper un- Justice in Policing Act, the Republican These kinds of actions by an indi- derstanding of our patriotic obligation proposal is a shadow of what it should vidual in a system that has shielded to our fellow Americans and to our Re- be—unacceptably weak, nibbling people like them simply encourage public. Right now, that obligation around the edges of this problem, with- more of them. Section 242’s change in means doing everything in our power out any guarantee that Black Ameri- the standard of criminal intent will to answer the call of Americans in our cans will not again ask us whether provide real criminal culpability for streets and downtowns, from DC to their lives are worth $20. police who deserve it. Denver, and beyond, who are calling for The JUSTICE Act fails completely to The Republican JUSTICE Act relies an America where no one is denied pro- address the harmful policing practices mainly on data collection, which may tection of the law or justice or their that we know have cost lives. The be used to inform policy proposal at own life because of the color of their deaths of Breonna Taylor and Eric Gar- some later time. It pushes down the skin. ner are not anomalies. Choke holds and road any real action. I yield the floor. no-knock warrants are known to be We already have statistics. Since The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- costly. They have cost Black lives. The 2015, there have been 5,000 fatal shoot- ator from Connecticut. JUSTICE Act ignores this truth. ings by on-duty police officers. In the Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I Americans are not marching in the past year, over 1,000 people have been have been doing a lot of listening over streets so we might ‘‘study’’ these phe- shot and killed by police. Black Ameri- these past months. Like Americans nomena. They are not begging us to de- cans account for less than 13 percent of across this country, I have been doing sign programs ‘‘disincentivizing’’ prac- the country’s population, but they are a lot of listening to the dedicated and tices that are literally killing Ameri- killed at more than twice the rate of passionate people, our fellow Ameri- cans—Black Americans—Americans White Americans. cans, who have marched in the streets who deserve justice. Data is important. In fact, I was the and our communities with passion, but The notion we could respond to this lead sponsor of the Death in Custody peacefully, in their cries for justice. In moment with a commission or several Reporting Act, passed about 6 years fact, I have marched with them in 15 or commissions and incentives to do bet- ago. Regrettably and inexcusably, that more demonstrations in Connecticut— ter is insulting to all of us. We need measure has never been enforced so big cities, Hartford, Stamford, New legislation that explicitly bans the use that it has never really been effective. Haven; smaller cities, Lyme, Marl- of choke holds and no-knock warrants We must make it so. But it shows the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.029 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3152 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 limitation of any data collection sys- but these reforms are an important critical needs of communities such as tem. The fact is, systematic racism law start to making policing in our coun- social services, mental health services, enforcement has gone unchecked for try more just. and education.’’ too long. The time for accountability is The Justice in Policing Act would The Urban League says this Scott now. It is long overdue. create real change in our justice sys- bill ‘‘dances around the edges in a show Let me say, finally, for most of my tem, and communities across the coun- of political posturing.’’ professional career, I have helped to try can’t afford for us to not act on We refuse to engage in that political enforce the laws. I have been a trial this meaningful legislation. What we posturing. We refuse to act like it is lawyer, yes, but I also served as the cannot do is pass something just called just a box we check and then we can chief Federal prosecutor—the U.S. at- police reform that does so little to ac- move on. We refuse to insult Black torney—for Connecticut for 41⁄2 years tually reform policing and then turn Americans by pretending—pretending— and then as attorney general of my around and tell Black mothers and fa- this is a serious effort. People have suf- State for 20. I have seen some of the thers whose children who have been fered too long for that. best in law enforcement and some of slain: See, we solved it. Our work here We have been here before. This isn’t the worst. is done. the first wave of protests or the second. We need a higher standard, not just I respect Senator SCOTT, and I appre- In 2014, after the murders of Tamir in words or paper but in fact. We need ciate his coming to the table and tak- Rice in my city of Cleveland and Mi- a standard that is worthy of the people ing on this issue. I know he is fighting chael Brown in Ferguson, MO, Presi- who have marched and cried for justice an uphill battle with his own caucus. I dent Obama’s legislation laid impor- throughout American history, who know that. So many on his side of the tant groundwork for reform. They have tried to dream of a better system aisle don’t want to do anything, but studied what reforms would be most ef- and a fairer country. There is so much they think they need to check the box. fective. They instituted consent de- work for us to do. At this moment, we I want to work with Senator SCOTT crees with cities to hold departments must seize the opportunity, a point of and with anyone of either party on real accountable, and they created a road- consensus, to come together and act in solutions. All of us on our side do. But map we could follow. But President a way that is worthy of this great Na- I am not willing to participate in a po- Trump undid much of the progress the tion. We have proposed exactly that ac- litical charade to vote on something Obama administration made. tion in the Justice in Policing Act. We that has no chance to lead to real The Urban League put out a plan for should be moving forward on it now, change. It just checks a box and pro- reform around the time of the murder not on a bill that is truly unacceptably vides politicians with a talking point. of Tamir Rice after Michael Brown’s weak and inadequate and unworthy of It is an insult to Black families who murder in 2014. Since then, nearly 1,300 this historic moment. have been fed empty promise after Black men and women—think of that— I yield the floor. empty promise, year after year, decade more than 1,300 Black men and women The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- after decade, generation after genera- have been fatally shot by the police ator from Ohio. tion. since the deaths of Michael Brown and THE JUSTICE ACT We need to listen to the communities Tamir Rice 6 years ago. This bill does Mr. BROWN. Thank you, Mr. Presi- that suffer the most at the hands of po- nothing to stop the practices that dent. Thousands of Americans are pro- lice violence. They all agree that the killed them. testing in communities across our Senate Republican bill is simply not Black Americans know their lives are country demanding that our country serious. It will not fix the problems. We put in danger by police every day. We be better. The protests are an expres- will be right back here sooner rather must listen to them. People all around sion of grief for Ms. Taylor and Mr. than later. Virtually every major civil the country—Black and White and Floyd and Mr. Arbery and Mr. Brooks rights group opposes this bill: the Brown, in small towns and big cities, and so many other Black Americans NAACP Legal Defense Fund; the Urban young and old—are listening, waking murdered by the people who are sup- League; the Young Women’s Christian up, and joining the calls for change. posed to protect them. They are an ex- Association, one of the most important The peaceful demonstrations and pro- pression of frustration and anger. It is civil rights and women’s rights organi- tests all over my State in Black and 2020. It is the year 2020, a century and zations in the country. White neighborhoods and integrated a half after the official end of slavery, It doesn’t ban no-knock warrants; communities and small towns and five and a half decades after the pas- the Justice in Policing Act does. It rural Ohio, in big cities, in suburbs ev- sage of the Civil Rights Act, and still doesn’t stop the militarization of po- erywhere—let’s follow their lead. Let’s Black Americans are fighting the same lice departments; the Justice in Polic- actually hear the voices that have been fight. They are also an expression of ing Act does. It doesn’t create a na- silenced for too long. hope against racism. We demand that tional misconduct registry; the Justice I urge my colleagues to vote no and, our country do better. Demanding that in Policing Act does. It doesn’t ban instead, to work with us on real, mean- we live up to our founding ideals is one choke holds; the Justice in Policing ingful reform to transform our public of the most patriotic things anyone Act does. These are all steps that civil safety system into one that actually can do. rights groups have said are critical to keeps people safe. We need to listen to the Black voices any reform effort. It is the bare min- I yield the floor. leading these calls for justice and take imum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- real action. That is what Democrats All this bill offers is more studies of ator from New Jersey. want to do, and my colleagues Senator questions we already know the answers Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I HARRIS and Senator BOOKER and the to. We don’t need more studies. We rise today to address the nationwide Congressional Black Caucus in the don’t need more task forces. We don’t call for reasonable, sensible police re- House have led bicameral efforts and need, as Senator MCCONNELL special- forms. Last month, the American peo- have a serious plan, the Justice in Po- izes in, more delaying tactics. We need ple watched in horror as a police officer licing Act. Everybody knows it is a se- accountability. The JUSTICE Act even kneeled down on the neck of George rious plan—everybody. It would imple- puts us in danger of moving in the op- Floyd for 8 minutes and 46 seconds, ment real, meaningful reform. It would posite direction by providing more killing him. actually hold police accountable. It funding for policing without adequate ‘‘I can’t breathe.’’ It was a slow exe- makes clear: no more choke holds, no rules and regulations and without a cution caught on video, a metaphor for more unchecked police misconduct, no similar investment in community sup- the systematic racism and injustices more militarization of police. port. Black and Brown communities endure Of course, we know this isn’t the only The NAACP says this bill ‘‘ignores every day. But unlike other horrific thing we need to do. Policing didn’t the public demands to reimagine public videos of police killings that have create institutional racism; it is a safety by shrinking the purview of law sparked protests, this feels different. product of it and often reinforces it. We enforcement and providing better fund- This is a moment when people of all have a lot of work to do beyond this, ing to agencies equipped to address the races and walks of life have taken to

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The American peo- The JUSTICE Act is also silent on bullets and tear gas just so that Con- ple are demanding real, meaningful racial profiling and the militarization gress could create another commission change—bold, comprehensive action of local police departments. It is silent and mandate another report. They de- that starts by reforming our police sys- on funding independent investigative mand that their elected officials in tem that has historically dealt a heav- channels to prosecute police mis- Washington meet this moment in his- ier hand toward communities of color. conduct and fails to strengthen pattern tory and actually do something that What did the Republican majority do and practice investigations. It fails to lives up to the American promise of a to answer the public’s plea? They have establish national standards for police nation where every man and woman, offered the American people the JUS- misconduct. While it would provide ad- regardless of their race, ethnicity, gen- TICE Act. They call it justice, but jus- ditional money to law enforcement, it der, or orientation, is treated equally— tice for whom? This bill fails to meet does so without actually requiring any equally under the law. this moment in history before us. It of- substantive change, so it fails us. The I will just close by saying that the fers only lip service to the families of JUSTICE Act fails to create a system Nation will rue the day it answered the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and of policing that is about community call for reform with business as usual. Tamir Rice and Eric Garner and all of safety and equal application of the law. There will be a rude awakening. Who those tragically lost at the hands of So, again, I ask my friends on the among us—who among us, if this were the police. other side of the aisle: Where is the ac- our daily experience, would be satisfied The Republican JUSTICE Act is tual justice? Where is the justice for with the counsels of patience and nothing more than a glorified sugges- Breonna Taylor, George Floyd? Where delay? Who among us? tion box filled with half measures and is the justice for those murders that The American people are calling for placations that sound good on paper were not captured on video? Where is real justice. We should listen. We but simply will not deliver the real the justice for thousands of Black men should act, and we should deliver real change the American people are de- sitting in prison, victims of over- justice. manding from this body. There is no policing and racial profiling? With that, I yield the floor. justice in the JUSTICE Act; rather, it Senator MCCONNELL would have us I suggest the absence of a quorum. is a wholly inadequate response to the think that the JUSTICE Act is our The PRESIDING OFFICER. The injustices faced by Black and Brown only option, that if we don’t acquiesce clerk will call the roll. communities at the hands of the police. to these half measures, then we don’t The legislative clerk proceeded to It merely asks, suggests, recommends, really want reform. That is simply not call the roll. and encourages. It says to law enforce- true. Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, I ask ment: Hey, would you mind? Could you It seems to me that the Republicans unanimous consent that the order for kindly? Do you think you might be and the President don’t want real re- the quorum call be rescinded. able? form. They want window dressing and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Nowhere in this bill does it compel, fresh paint instead of fixing the very objection, it is so ordered. require, mandate, or insist upon the foundation on which our policing sys- PROTESTS commonsense structural reforms the tem stands. They want to say that they Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, Mr. American people are demanding. The did something without actually doing Floyd’s horrific murder at the hands of JUSTICE Act calls for reports and a anything meaningful. They want to a man sworn to uphold the law, our Na- commission, but we have had 400 years blame Democrats for holding out for tion has seen justified anger. As I said to study the stain of slavery and insti- real justice and refusing to play these here 2 weeks ago, it is a moment that tutional racism in this country. We political games with people’s lives. calls for not just police reform, it calls don’t need a study to tell us that too The House is going to pass the Jus- for a full reckoning with racial inequi- many young Black men are dying at tice in Policing Act on Thursday. I ties that still plague our Nation. the hands of the police or that you are urge Senator MCCONNELL to take up There is, in my mind, nothing more more likely to be shot and killed by that bill so that we can have the mean- un-American than racial discrimina- the police if you are Black than White. ingful conversation on police reform tion. Our Nation was founded on the A commission will not save the life of our constituents and the Nation are de- revolutionary truth that every human the next George Floyd. manding. being is created equal and that our My Republican colleagues may think We know that reform can work. Cam- rights do not come from our govern- that the American people will praise den, NJ, offers us concrete evidence ment or from our leaders or even our them for passing an empty bill named about what we can accomplish when we laws; our rights come from our Cre- ‘‘JUSTICE’’ that does no justice to the get serious about making real changes. ator. deep-seated, systemic failures in our With one of the highest murder rates in It is true that the man who authored policing system. They are mistaken. the Nation, excessive force complaints these words and gave birth to the Indeed, I would encourage my Repub- were dramatically reduced, both in young Nation did not fully live up to lican colleagues to consider the Justice terms of homicides and excessive force these principles, but it is also true that in Policing Act, led by Senators BOOK- issues. every single great fight for equality in ER and HARRIS, which I am proud to co- So before I close, let me make per- this country’s history has come from a sponsor. It requires a comprehensive fectly clear the profound respect that I direct appeal to those powerful prin- set of reforms designed to increase po- have for the men and women in law en- ciples. Slavery, segregation, discrimi- lice accountability, improve trans- forcement. Policing is a very tough job, natory impediments to voting—all of parency, and invest in training. The and the vast majority of officers go out these came to an end, not from efforts Justice in Policing Act bans no-knock and perform their jobs every day with to overthrow our values but from de- warrants in drug cases, the kind that dignity and professionalism and care mands that we fulfill them, for these led to Breonna Taylor’s death. It estab- for the people in the communities in evils could not exist in a country, in a lishes a national public registry on po- which they serve. I am deeply grateful nation, built upon the idea that all lice misconduct so that the bad actors for their service throughout the State people are created equal with rights who make it harder for the good cops of New Jersey and, indeed, throughout granted to them by God. to do their jobs can’t just move from the Nation. These officers, who do their Slavery and racial discrimination department to department. Our bill re- jobs with dignity and respect for the are, indeed, a tragic part of our his- quires data collection and publication people they serve, share our demands tory, but the long and the steady and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.034 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3154 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 the perpetual march toward equality, Why would people trust public health they need to be prosecuted. But, no, we that is part of our heritage as well. experts who told them they had to lose are not going to abolish or defund po- Today, a new generation of Ameri- their job or their business, that their lice departments. cans is reminding us that while we kids couldn’t have a graduation, that Yes, racial disparities must be ac- have traveled far on the quest for a their grandmother couldn’t have a fu- knowledged, and they must be ad- more perfect Union, the final miles of neral but are afraid to say anything dressed but not by giving in to a bunch that journey still lie ahead. The over- about crowds of people setting fires and of crazy radicals who hate and want to whelming and vast majority of these looting businesses? destroy this country of ours. This is Americans on our streets are peace- Why would people trust local leaders what the overwhelming majority of fully reminding us that, yes, Black who will close your business for having Americans of every race and back- lives matter. They are not asking that too many customers or threaten to ar- ground believe, and this is what so we destroy America; they are demand- rest you for going to a park or to a many are afraid to say for fear of being ing that we be more American; that we church but who stand by and do noth- destroyed by an online mob and their more fully become a nation with lib- ing when a mob vandalizes a monu- accomplices. erty and justice for all. But it is now ment, tears down a statue, or takes For over 200 years, each generation of also clear that there are others with a over an entire section of a city? America has moved us ever closer to different agenda who have taken to our Why would people trust the media fulfilling the powerful truths upon streets as well. that will shame them for going to the which this Nation was founded. Now it They are the ones who argue that be- beach, for not wearing a mask in public is our turn to do the same, not by de- cause the men who wrote our Declara- but portrays a mob of White anarchists stroying America but by becoming tion of Independence and our Constitu- attacking African-American police of- more fully American, not by aban- tion were imperfect and, in some cases, ficers as just frustrated racial justice doning our founding principles but by racists, that the Nation their words activists? moving us closer to becoming the one gave birth to is beyond redemption; This radicalism is also dangerous be- Nation under God with liberty and jus- that America cannot be improved or cause, if it is OK for a violent mob to tice for all that we have pledged our al- saved; and that therefore it must come tear down a statue, then what is to legiance to. to an end. stop another violent mob from showing I yield the floor. These radical views are not new. up to defend it? If it is OK to set a po- I suggest the absence of a quorum. From the crazy professor whom no one lice car on fire, what is going to stop The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. took seriously to the nut job running someone upset at activist judges from CRAMER). The clerk will call the roll. for office with no chance of winning, burning down a courtroom? Where does The legislative clerk proceeded to they have operated on the fringes of it end? It will not end because there is call the roll. our politics for decades. The difference no way to satisfy radicals who only Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I is that, in recent years, they have seek destruction. ask unanimous consent that the order begun to move out from the fringes, Just ask a clergy at the historical St. for the quorum call be rescinded. and now these radicals are capitalizing John’s Episcopal Church. Three weeks The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without on a legitimate movement to force ago, they expressed their support for objection, it is so ordered. their madness even further into the and solidarity with the protesters, even f mainstream. Now their violence, their after some agitator tried to burn down vandalism, their anarchy are excused, the church. Last night, radicals van- LEGISLATIVE SESSION tolerated, sometimes even celebrated dalized their church, calling for an au- by some, and their radical agenda is tonomous zone here in Washington. MORNING BUSINESS shielded, increasingly, from scrutiny Just ask the mayor of Seattle. Just a by an emerging speech code that con- few days ago on national TV, she was Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I demns as hate speech and as racism saying that the so-called autonomous ask unanimous consent that the Sen- any criticism of these anti-lynching zone in her city would lead to a ‘‘sum- ate proceed to legislative session for a American radicals. mer of love.’’ Now they have an- period of morning business, with Sen- The self-proclaimed guardians of free nounced that they are going to move in ators permitted to speak therein for up speech in media now apologize for and retake the area after multiple peo- to 10 minutes each. printing the opinions of a U.S. Senator ple were shot over the weekend. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without and actively cajoled tech companies to The anti-American radicals don’t objection, it is so ordered. censor conservative voices. Social care about racial equality, and they f media companies, which owe their very will not stop as long as everyone is NOMINATION OF CORY T. WILSON existence to freedom of expression, now afraid to call them out for who and for threaten to block the accounts of what they are. As long as we fail to Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I American politicians in publications point out that those seeking racial rise today in opposition to the nomina- here at home, while eagerly complying equality and these radicals are not the tion of Cory Wilson to a Mississippi with the demands of totalitarian racist same people; that the people commit- seat on the Fifth Circuit. Judge Wilson regimes abroad. ting this violence and carrying out this has a troubling record on a number of Online mobs not only decide what is anarchy and this chaos are not the critically important issues. That acceptable speech but are empowered same people as the people who are record makes clear Judge Wilson is far to destroy the reputation and career of rightfully asking for us to address ra- outside of the judicial mainstream. I anyone they believe has violated their cial inequality, as long as we fail to believe that record is and should be dis- standards. Celebrities and large cor- point that out, they will continue to qualifying. porations are so eager to proactively hide behind this important and legiti- First, Judge Wilson has a long record shield themselves from being canceled mate movement. of working to undermine voting rights. that they raise money to bail out It is time we stop—we stop being He has been a longtime proponent of arsonists, but they do not raise a single afraid to express the common sense of voter ID laws—which disproportion- cent to help the small business owners, Americans of every race, of every back- ately harm communities of color, stu- oftentimes minorities themselves, ground. Yes, we must address racial in- dents, voters with disabilities, and the whose life work was looted and burned equality. Yes, Black lives must matter. elderly—and has made false claims to the ground by the radicals. But the vandalism, the arson, and the about the prevalence of voter fraud. This radicalism, this anarchy, isn’t anarchy on our streets have nothing to He has likewise expressed opposition just annoying; it is destructive, and it do with this important cause. to enforcement of the Voting Rights is dangerous. It is destructive to bed- Yes, some police departments need to Act and has made unsubstantiated rock institutions in our country and be reformed, and bad police officers claims that voter suppression is non- their legitimacy in the eyes of our peo- need to be fired. And if they committed existent. As I have noted before, Judge ple. crimes, they need to be arrested, and Wilson’s troubling record on voting

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:15 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.035 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3155 rights is highly relevant to his nomina- something to celebrate. After all, those Much too soon, Ed suffered a stroke, tion. The Fifth Circuit is a majority- who have gained healthcare because of which took a serious toll on his health minority circuit; 55 percent of those the ACA deserve the security of know- and quality of life. Abby and I were en- who live in the circuit are people of ing their coverage is not at risk from couraged by his early recovery from color. The Senate should not confirm a the Federal judiciary. those challenges and inspired by his nominee who would work to further re- And those who seek to vindicate family’s dedication to him as each of strict the right to vote from the bench. their rights—to vote, to make their them, with Carol in the lead, loved and Second, Judge Wilson has been a own reproductive healthcare decisions, cared for him. Much of his legacy will staunch opponent of the Affordable and to be free from discrimination on continue to live on through Carol and Care Act. He referred to the ACA’s pas- the basis of sexual orientation or gen- their children Angela, Tad, Amy, and sage as ‘‘perverse’’ and ‘‘illegitimate.’’ der identity—deserve a judiciary that Abigail. Ed also leaves behind nine He called upon the Supreme Court to will rule fairly and impartially. grandchildren, who were lucky enough strike down the law, writing: ‘‘For the I will vote against Judge Wilson’s to spend time with their grandfather sake of the Constitution, I hope the nomination, and I urge my colleagues who, despite his busy schedule, Court strikes down the law and rein- to do the same. Thank you. prioritized games, events, and school vigorates some semblance of the lim- f performances. ited government the Founders in- ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS I am grateful to have known Ed tended.’’ Pinegar and thankful for his impact on As of June 22, more than 120,000 my own life and that of those who Americans have died from COVID–19, REMEMBERING ED PINEGAR knew him.∑ and nearly 2.3 million have been in- ∑ Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I want to fected. Now is not the time to advance spend a few moments talking about a f a judicial nominee whose opposition to man who has been one of my closest the ACA would strip tens of millions of friends for a long time. Springfieldian Americans of healthcare, including Ed Pinegar passed away on May 23, PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS those with preexisting conditions. 2020, at the age of 74. He was the kind The following petitions and memo- Third, Judge Wilson has made ex- of person that many people will re- rials were laid before the Senate and treme partisan comments that call member as one of their best friends. were referred or ordered to lie on the into question his ability to rule fairly Ed loved his family, his church, and table as indicated: and impartially. In op-eds in a Mis- his community. He grew up in Willard, sissippi newspaper, he likened Presi- attended Missouri State University, POM–205. A concurrent resolution adopted dent Obama to ‘‘a fit-throwing teen- and became one of the most successful by the Legislature of the State of Louisiana urging the United States Congress to fully ager’’ and called him ‘‘King Barack’’ auto and truck dealers in the middle of fund the Corporation for National and Com- and ‘‘President Make-Believe.’’ In our country. Never forgetting his rural munity Service (CNCS) and its programs in tweets that he has kept public even roots, he eventually established fiscal year 2021; to the Committee on Health, while serving as a State court judge, Pinegar Land and Cattle and became Education, Labor, and Pensions. the leading breeder of Limousin Cattle Judge Wilson called Hillary Clinton SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 54 ‘‘Crooked Clinton’’ and said she was in North America. As with everything ‘‘criminal and clueless.’’ He also called he did, this was an extremely success- Whereas, the President’s 2021 federal budg- et proposal eliminates 99% of the funding to Congresswoman ALEXANDRIA OCASIO- ful business. Ed never forgot where he was from. the Corporation for National and Commu- CORTEZ a ‘‘claptrap.’’ The Senate nity Service which would remove funding for should not confirm a nominee who can- For the last several years, one of my Louisiana’s LaVetCorps program and similar not be trusted to put aside extreme favorite things was to go to Ed’s farm programs across the states of Washington partisanship to rule in an unbiased and with him early in the morning to see and Rhode Island, in addition to, all other impartial manner. what his plans were for the farm and AmeriCorps programs across this state, in- Fourth, Judge Wilson has sought to catch up on what was happening with cluding Teach for America, VISTA, City undermine the rights of LGBT Ameri- the business and his family and friends. Year, and Foster Grandparents; and cans. In 2016, while serving in the Mis- I will miss those visits, but I am so Whereas, the LDVA, in partnership with sissippi legislature, Judge Wilson sup- glad to have shared those times with the Office of Governor, Louisiana Board of ported HB 1523, a bill providing legal Ed. Regents, Louisiana Community and Tech- cover for businesses to deny services to Ed’s life of service is too long to list, nical College System (LCTCS), University of as are the recognitions he received Louisiana System, LSU System, and South- individuals on the basis of their sexual ern University System operates thirty orientation. In a 2012 op-ed, Judge Wil- along the way. He served on the Mis- LaVetCorps program veteran resource cen- son argued that ‘‘gay marriage is a souri State University board of gov- ters on campuses across the state, encom- pander to liberal interest groups and ernors and their board of trustees, was passing all four Louisiana public college sys- an attempt to cast Republicans as in- inducted into the Missouri Limousin tems and Xavier University of Louisiana; tolerant, uncaring and even bigoted.’’ Breeders Association Hall of Fame, and Judge Wilson’s past support for anti- honored by the Ozark Empire Fair Whereas, the mission of the LaVetCorps is LGBT legislation and his comments de- Ground Gold Buckle Gala for his dedi- to empower veterans, families, and campus meaning the fight for marriage equal- cation to youth, and with his wife communities to help veterans returning from ity raise questions about his ability to Carol received the outstanding Willard active duty military service to successfully Alumni Award. He recently received transition home to college and their local rule objectively on any case impli- community; and cating LGBT rights. the 2019 AFP Outstanding Philan- Finally, Judge Wilson has been an ar- thropist of the Year Award. Whereas, the centers assisted more than dent opponent of women’s reproductive Ed was dedicated to his family, his eight thousand student veterans in success- community, athletics, and his faith. He fully transitioning from active duty to com- rights, making it abundantly clear plete their college curriculum and return that he supports ‘‘the complete and im- was a loyal friend with a great sense of home; and humor and an even better perspective mediate reversal of the Roe v. Wade Whereas, at each LaVetCorps veteran re- and Doe v. Bolton decisions.’’ on life. He was a devoted Christian, ac- source center, an LDVA-trained LaVetCorps Judge Wilson will be the 200th Arti- tive in his church, and used the bless- navigator, who is also an AmeriCorps service cle III judge appointed by this Presi- ings of his work to invest in the places member, serves as a peer mentor/counselor dent and confirmed by this Senate. Un- and people he loved. He was generous to student veterans in transition, works to fortunately, Judge Wilson’s record of in his giving and generous in spirit. increase student veterans’ access to their hostility to voting rights, the ACA, the The Pinegar Arena is an indoor horse earned federal and state benefits, works to rights of LGBT Americans, and wom- center and classroom that is part of build a vibrant on-campus veteran commu- en’s reproductive rights is not unique Missouri State’s agricultural center. nity, provides training and support to col- lege faculty, staff, and administration to in- to him. In fact, it is clear that so many This is one of many examples of how crease awareness of student veterans’ needs of this administration’s judicial nomi- Ed gave of his time and resources in- and veteran culture, and organize commu- nees have been selected precisely be- vesting in people and things to help nity service projects benefitting both on- and cause of those viewpoints. This is not others. off-campus veterans; and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:47 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.031 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3156 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 Whereas, the impact of the LaVetCorps By Mr. BRAUN: certain entities; to the Committee on Bank- program is significant, providing practical S. 4036. A bill to amend the Revised Stat- ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs. assistance in life-changing ways as in the utes to reform the defense of qualified immu- By Ms. HARRIS (for herself and Mr. current year, LaVetCorps navigators have nity in the case of any action under section SCHATZ): served more than two thousand veterans and 1979, and for other purposes; to the Com- S. 4048. A bill to modify the deadlines for military-connected students, with more than mittee on the Judiciary. completing the 2020 decennial census of pop- one hundred of these referrals directly con- By Mrs. LOEFFLER: ulation and related tabulations, and for necting to earned federal VA benefits; and S. 4037. A bill to amend the Fair Credit Re- other purposes; to the Committee on Home- Whereas, LaVetCorps navigators have pro- porting Act to protect the credit of patients land Security and Governmental Affairs. vided direct assistance through the LDVA with substantial medical bills; to the Com- By Mr. INHOFE: and outside community agencies that has mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af- S. 4049. An original bill to authorize appro- prevented evictions, prevented unnecessary fairs. priations for fiscal year 2021 for military ac- student debt and provided critical immediate By Mr. BOOKER (for himself and Mrs. tivities of the Department of Defense, for support for veteran students in crisis; and CAPITO): military construction, and for defense activi- Whereas, LaVetCorps has raised military S. 4038. A bill to direct the Secretary of ties of the Department of Energy, to pre- awareness on campuses statewide while pro- Energy to establish a grant program for tree scribe military personnel strengths for such viding peer mentoring and has been respon- planting to reduce residential energy con- fiscal year, and for other purposes; from the sible for organizing more than two hundred sumption; to the Committee on Energy and Committee on Armed Services; placed on the Natural Resources. volunteers in various community service calendar. By Mrs. LOEFFLER: projects around the state; and By Ms. DUCKWORTH (for herself, Mr. S. 4039. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- Whereas, LaVetCorps is viewed by higher VAN HOLLEN, and Mr. KING): enue Code of 1986 to make permanent the education officials as an essential invest- S. 4050. A bill to require the Secretary of ment in veteran students and navigators pro- permissible first-dollar coverage of tele- health services for purposes of health savings Health and Human Services to use authori- vide a critical level of support to recruit, re- accounts; to the Committee on Finance. ties under the Defense Production Act of 1950 tain, and support veterans in their academic By Mrs. LOEFFLER: to prioritize contracts necessary to promote and personal journeys: Now, therefore be it S. 4040. A bill to amend chapter 44 of title pandemic preparedness and response, and for Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana 18, United States Code, to protect the rights other purposes; to the Committee on Bank- memorializes the Congress of the United of citizens under the Second Amendment to ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs. States to fully fund the Corporation for Na- the Constitution of the United States; to the By Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. COT- tional and Community Service (CNCS) and Committee on the Judiciary. TON, and Mrs. BLACKBURN): its programs in FY 2021; and be it further By Mr. CORNYN (for himself, Mr. BAR- S. 4051. A bill to improve the ability of law Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be RASSO, Mr. CRAMER, Ms. MURKOWSKI, enforcement agencies to access encrypted transmitted to the secretary of the United Mr. INHOFE, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. data, and for other purposes; to the Com- States Senate and the clerk of the United CASSIDY, Mr. LANKFORD, Mrs. CAPITO, mittee on the Judiciary. States House of Representatives and to each Mr. WICKER, and Mr. KENNEDY): f member of the Louisiana delegation to the S. 4041. A bill to assist the American en- United States Congress. ergy sector in retaining jobs during chal- SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND lenging economic times; to the Committee SENATE RESOLUTIONS POM–206. A resolution adopted by the on Finance. The following concurrent resolutions Mayor and City Council of the City of By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. Gautier, Mississippi relative to assessments and Senate resolutions were read, and BLUMENTHAL, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. HAR- on tenants, owners, or occupiers of the Sing- RIS, Ms. WARREN, and Mr. LEAHY): referred (or acted upon), as indicated: ing River Mall site; to the Committee on En- S. 4042. A bill to protect agricultural work- By Mr. GRAHAM: vironment and Public Works. ers from the impacts of the coronavirus pan- S. Res. 636. A resolution recognizing the POM–207. A petition from a citizen of the demic, and for other purposes; to the Com- 75th anniversary of the commencement of State of Texas relative to a constitutional mittee on Finance. continuous operations of the Stars and amendment on the subject and wording of By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Stripes newspaper in the Pacific and the in- bills or resolutions; to the Committee on the CORNYN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. valuable service of the Stars and Stripes as Judiciary. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. MARKEY, and Ms. the ‘‘hometown newspaper’’ for members of f ROSEN): the Armed Forces, civilian employees, and S. 4043. A bill to require the Secretary of REPORTS OF COMMITTEES family members stationed across the globe; Defense to develop a comprehensive database to the Committee on the Judiciary. The following reports of committees and repository on military aviators and con- By Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. MENEN- were submitted: duct a study on such aviators to determine DEZ, and Mr. SCOTT of Florida): the incidence of cancer diagnosis and mor- By Mr. WICKER, from the Committee on S. Res. 637. A resolution commemorating tality among such aviators, and for other Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the 35th anniversary of United States broad- purposes; to the Committee on Armed Serv- with an amendment in the nature of a sub- casting to Cuba; to the Committee on For- ices. stitute: eign Relations. By Mrs. MURRAY: By Mrs. LOEFFLER: S. 1640. A bill to require compliant flame S. 4044. A bill to improve the provision of mitigation devices to be used on portable S. Con. Res. 40. A concurrent resolution ex- financial literacy training and information pressing the sense of Congress that undue re- fuel containers for flammable liquid fuels, relating to the Blended Retirement System and for other purposes (Rept. No. 116–235). strictions on the right of law-abiding gun to members of the Armed Forces, and for owners to carry a firearm for self-defense By Mr. INHOFE, from the Committee on other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Armed Services, without amendment: outside of the home violate the Second Services. Amendment to the Constitution of the S. 4049. An original bill to authorize appro- By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for Mr.MARKEY priations for fiscal year 2021 for military ac- United States; to the Committee on the Ju- (for himself and Mrs. FEINSTEIN)): diciary. tivities of the Department of Defense, for S. 4045. A bill to reduce and eliminate military construction, and for defense activi- threats posed by nuclear weapons to the f ties of the Department of Energy, to pre- United States, and for other purposes; to the ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS scribe military personnel strengths for such Committee on Foreign Relations. fiscal year, and for other purposes. By Mr. MERKLEY (for himself, Mr. S. 123 f WYDEN, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. WARREN, At the request of Ms. ERNST, the Mr. HEINRICH, and Mrs. FEINSTEIN): name of the Senator from Oklahoma INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND S. 4046. A bill to direct the Administrator (Mr. INHOFE) was added as a cosponsor JOINT RESOLUTIONS of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to award grants to eligi- of S. 123, a bill to require the Secretary The following bills and joint resolu- of Veterans Affairs to enter into a con- tions were introduced, read the first ble entities to purchase, and as applicable in- stall, zero emissions port equipment and tract or other agreement with a third and second times by unanimous con- technology, and for other purposes; to the party to review appointees in the Vet- sent, and referred as indicated: Committee on Environment and Public erans Health Administration who had a By Mr. DAINES (for himself and Ms. Works. license terminated for cause by a State SINEMA): By Ms. HARRIS (for herself, Mrs. licensing board for care or services ren- S. 4035. A bill establish and provide for the GILLIBRAND, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. MAR- dered at a non-Veterans Health Admin- use of amounts in a Trail Stewardship for KEY, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. WARREN, Economic Recovery Fund, and for other pur- Ms. DUCKWORTH, and Mr. REED): istration facility and to provide indi- poses; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nu- S. 4047. A bill to permit the Secretary of viduals treated by such an appointee trition, and Forestry. the Treasury to provide direct funding to with notice if it is determined that an

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:47 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.002 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3157 episode of care or services to which Health Service Act to improve the re- uals with Alzheimer’s disease and re- they received was below the standard porting of abortion data to the Centers lated dementias. of care, and for other purposes. for Disease Control and Prevention, S. 3751 and for other purposes. S. 159 At the request of Mr. GRASSLEY, the At the request of Mr. PAUL, the name S. 2715 name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. of the Senator from Georgia (Mrs. At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the COLLINS) was added as a cosponsor of S. LOEFFLER) was added as a cosponsor of names of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. 3751, a bill to amend the CARES Act to S. 159, a bill to implement equal pro- ERNST) and the Senator from Maryland provide the Special Inspector General tection under the 14th Amendment to (Mr. CARDIN) were added as cosponsors for Pandemic Recovery with additional the Constitution of the United States of S. 2715, a bill to develop and imple- personnel authorities, and for other for the right to life of each born and ment policies to advance early child- purposes. preborn human person. hood development, to provide assist- S. 3874 S. 631 ance for orphans and other vulnerable children in developing countries, and At the request of Mrs. MURRAY, the At the request of Mr. CARPER, the names of the Senator from Minnesota name of the Senator from Washington for other purposes. (Ms. KLOBUCHAR), the Senator from (Ms. CANTWELL) was added as a cospon- S. 2920 Connecticut (Mr. MURPHY), the Senator sor of S. 631, a bill to provide for the At the request of Ms. ERNST, the from Connecticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL), admission of the State of Washington, name of the Senator from Georgia the Senator from Ohio (Mr. BROWN), D.C. into the Union. (Mrs. LOEFFLER) was added as a cospon- the Senator from Delaware (Mr. CAR- S. 1273 sor of S. 2920, a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, PER), the Senator from Maryland (Mr. At the request of Mr. KENNEDY, the and for other purposes. CARDIN), the Senator from Maryland name of the Senator from Mississippi (Mr. VAN HOLLEN), the Senator from Il- S. 3350 (Mr. WICKER) was added as a cosponsor linois (Ms. DUCKWORTH), the Senator At the request of Mr. TESTER, the of S. 1273, a bill to amend title 17, from Massachusetts (Mr. MARKEY), the name of the Senator from New Hamp- United States Code, to establish an al- Senator from Colorado (Mr. BENNET), shire (Ms. HASSAN) was withdrawn as a ternative dispute resolution program the Senator from California (Ms. HAR- cosponsor of S. 3350, a bill to amend for copyright small claims, and for RIS) and the Senator from Delaware title XVIII of the Social Security Act other purposes. (Mr. COONS) were added as cosponsors to deem certain State Veterans homes S. 1781 of S. 3874, a bill making additional sup- meeting certain health and safety At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the plemental appropriations for disaster standards as meeting conditions and name of the Senator from Colorado relief requirements for the fiscal year requirements for skilled nursing facili- (Mr. GARDNER) was added as a cospon- ending September 30, 2020, and for ties under the Medicare and Medicaid sor of S. 1781, a bill to authorize appro- other purposes. programs. priations for the Department of State S. 3876 for fiscal years 2020 through 2022 to pro- S. 3489 At the request of Mrs. MURRAY, the At the request of Mr. SCOTT of South vide assistance to El Salvador, Guate- Carolina, the name of the Senator from mala, and Honduras through bilateral names of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. Texas (Mr. CORNYN) was added as a co- compacts to increase protection of BROWN), the Senator from New Hamp- shire (Ms. HASSAN), the Senator from sponsor of S. 3876, a bill to make a women and children in their homes and technical correction relating to the communities and reduce female homi- Wisconsin (Ms. BALDWIN), the Senator from Oregon (Mr. MERKLEY), the Sen- treatment of refunds of merchandise cides, domestic violence, and sexual as- processing fees under the United sault. ator from Connecticut (Mr. MURPHY), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Im- S. 1938 BOOKER), the Senator from Rhode Is- plementation Act. At the request of Ms. DUCKWORTH, land (Mr. REED), the Senator from Vir- S. 3963 the name of the Senator from New ginia (Mr. KAINE), the Senator from At the request of Ms. HARRIS, the Mexico (Mr. HEINRICH) was added as a Minnesota (Ms. SMITH), the Senator name of the Senator from California cosponsor of S. 1938, a bill to provide from Alabama (Mr. JONES), the Senator (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a co- for grants for States that require fair from Illinois (Mr. DURBIN), the Senator sponsor of S. 3963, a bill to protect cer- and impartial police training for law from Pennsylvania (Mr. CASEY), the tain whistleblowers seeking to ensure enforcement officers of that State and Senator from Massachusetts (Ms. WAR- accountability and oversight of the Na- to incentivize States to enact laws re- REN), the Senator from Connecticut tion’s COVID–19 pandemic response, quiring the independent investigation (Mr. BLUMENTHAL), the Senator from and for other purposes. and prosecution of the use of deadly California (Ms. HARRIS) and the Sen- force by law enforcement officers, and S. 3985 ator from Oregon (Mr. WYDEN) were At the request of Mr. SCOTT of South for other purposes. added as cosponsors of S. 3489, a bill to Carolina, the name of the Senator from S. 1944 support children and students in re- Pennsylvania (Mr. TOOMEY) was added At the request of Mr. BLUMENTHAL, sponding to safety and health risks as a cosponsor of S. 3985, a bill to im- the name of the Senator from Nevada presented by qualifying emergencies, prove and reform policing practices, (Ms. ROSEN) was added as a cosponsor and for other purposes. accountability, and transparency. of S. 1944, a bill to fully fund the Pre- S. 3595 S. 3990 vention and Public Health Fund and re- At the request of Ms. ROSEN, the affirm the importance of prevention in name of the Senator from Pennsyl- At the request of Mrs. FISCHER, the the United States healthcare system. vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. S. 2233 sponsor of S. 3595, a bill to require a PERDUE) was added as a cosponsor of S. At the request of Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, longitudinal study on the impact of 3990, a bill to amend the Consumer Fi- her name was added as a cosponsor of COVID–19. nancial Protection Act of 2010 to make S. 2233, a bill to nullify the effect of the S. 3703 the Bureau of Consumer Financial Pro- recent executive order that requires At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the tection an independent Financial Prod- Federal agencies to share citizenship names of the Senator from Colorado uct Safety Commission, and for other data. (Mr. GARDNER), the Senator from Dela- purposes. S. 2585 ware (Mr. COONS) and the Senator from S. 4001 At the request of Ms. ERNST, the Arizona (Ms. SINEMA) were added as co- At the request of Mr. SCOTT of South name of the Senator from Georgia sponsors of S. 3703, a bill to amend the Carolina, the names of the Senator (Mrs. LOEFFLER) was added as a cospon- Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecu- from Georgia (Mrs. LOEFFLER) and the sor of S. 2585, a bill to amend title XIX tion Act to improve the prevention of Senator from Maryland (Mr. CARDIN) of the Social Security Act and Public elder abuse and exploitation of individ- were added as cosponsors of S. 4001, a

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.010 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3158 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 bill to amend title IX of the Social Se- China Lake have died of cancer. Each tary aviator associated with higher curity Act to improve emergency un- officer had completed thousands of incidences of cancer; employment relief for governmental flight hours in advanced jets. Potential exposures due to service in entities and nonprofit organizations. According to a study by the U.S. Air the Armed Forces that are not related S. 4012 Force in 2008 titled ‘‘Cancer in Fight- to aviation, such as exposure to burn At the request of Mr. WICKER, the ers,’’ six pilots and weapons systems pits or toxins in contaminated water; name of the Senator from Colorado officers for the F–15E Strike Eagle at and (Mr. GARDNER) was added as a cospon- Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, aged The appropriate age to begin screen- sor of S. 4012, a bill to establish a 33 to 43, were diagnosed with cancer be- ing military aviators for cancer based $120,000,000,000 Restaurant Revitaliza- tween 2002 and 2005. Each officer had on several variables. tion Fund to provide structured relief completed at least 2,100 flight hours. CONCLUSION A study by the U.S. Air Force in 2010 to food service or drinking establish- Military aviators take enough risks reported on a cluster of seven members ments through December 31, 2020, and while serving our country without also of the Air Force Special Operations for other purposes. having to worry about contracting can- Command diagnosed with brain cancer cer from radiation exposure. S. 4019 among crew members of the C–130 be- At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the tween 2006 and 2009. The individuals af- The high prevalence of cancer among name of the Senator from Nebraska fected were three C–130 pilots, two these pilots is deeply concerning, par- (Mr. SASSE) was added as a cosponsor flight engineers, one loadmaster, and ticularly the clusters of cases at China of S. 4019, a bill to amend title 5, one navigator assigned to different in- Lake. United States Code, to designate stallations around the world. We must determine why these avi- Juneteenth National Independence Day And yet, there has been no com- ators are getting cancer and if their as a legal public holiday. prehensive study conducted of cancer jobs are exposing them to dangerous S. 4021 rates among military aviators. carcinogens. At the request of Mr. WICKER, the One challenge of extracting findings The study is an important step to names of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. from previous studies by the Navy or help us understand what is happening MORAN) and the Senator from Missouri the Air Force on cancer rates is that and how we can better protect our (Mr. BLUNT) were added as cosponsors each study focused on pilots who are military men and women. I hope my of S. 4021, a bill to accelerate rural active duty members of the Armed colleagues will join me in support of broadband deployment. Forces and did not include the medical this bill. Thank you Mr. President. I yield the S. RES. 613 records of former pilots who are vet- erans, which is the population in which floor. At the request of Mr. COTTON, the name of the Senator from Georgia cancer most often appears. f Members of the Armed Forces who (Mrs. LOEFFLER) was added as a cospon- serve full military careers are not like- SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS sor of S. Res. 613, a resolution calling ly to be counted in data captured by for justice for George Floyd and oppos- the Department of Veterans Affairs. ing calls to defund the police. Members who served 20 years or more SENATE RESOLUTION 636—RECOG- f are eligible for health care under the NIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED TRICARE program, which is managed OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS by the Department of Defense. CONTINUOUS OPERATIONS OF Also, many members pursue private THE STARS AND STRIPES NEWS- By Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, sector jobs after separating from the PAPER IN THE PACIFIC AND THE Mr. CORNYN, Ms. CORTEZ Armed Forces and receive health care INVALUABLE SERVICE OF THE MASTO, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. outside of the Federal Government. STARS AND STRIPES AS THE MARKEY, and Ms. ROSEN): Those factors have made it difficult to ‘‘HOMETOWN NEWSPAPER’’ FOR S. 4043. A bill to require the Sec- see if the health issues that families of MEMBERS OF THE ARMED retary of Defense to develop a com- military aviators are experiencing are FORCES, CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES, prehensive database and repository on part of larger trend. AND FAMILY MEMBERS STA- military aviators and conduct a study HOW THE BILL WOULD HELP TIONED ACROSS THE GLOBE on such aviators to determine the inci- Our bill would require the Depart- dence of cancer diagnosis and mor- Mr. GRAHAM submitted the fol- ment of Defense in conjunction with lowing resolution; which was referred tality among such aviators, and for the National Institutes of Health, the other purposes; to the Committee on to the Committee on the Judiciary: National Cancer Institute, and the De- S. RES. 636 Armed Services. partment of Veterans Affairs to con- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I Whereas May 14, 2020, marks the 75th anni- duct a study across the United States versary of the commencement of continuous rise to speak in support of the ‘‘Mili- Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps to tary Aviators Cancer Incidence Study operations, in service to the military com- determine whether there is a higher in- munity of the United States, of Stars and Act,’’ which I introduced today. cidence of cancers occurring among Stripes in the Pacific, a military newspaper This legislation would require the military aviators as compared to simi- established in Honolulu to provide an inde- Department of Defense to conduct a lar age groups in the general popu- pendent, uncensored news source for mem- study to determine if there is a higher lation. bers of the Armed Forces fighting in World incidence of cancers occurring in mili- If the study determines a higher rate War II; tary aviators as compared to similar of cancer among military aviators, the Whereas Stars and Stripes was heralded for age groups in the general population. indispensable service when it was initially Department of Defense would then established during the Civil War and again It has been reported that the preva- move into a second phase of the study lence of cancer is particularly high during World War I, when General John J. and report to Congress on the fol- Pershing reestablished Stars and Stripes to among military aviators, particularly lowing: provide news and information as an impor- among fighter pilots in the United Carcinogens associated with military tant morale-building force for soldiers serv- States Air Force, Navy, and Marine flight operations; ing in the American Expeditionary Force; Corps. The operating environments where Whereas, after its permanent formation in There have been several alarming aviators might have been exposed to World War II, Stars and Stripes started clusters of cancer diagnoses at military increased radiation; printing in Tokyo, Japan, on October 3, 1945, installations, including at Naval Air Duty stations, dates of service, air- working in requisitioned space formally oc- Weapons Station China Lake in Cali- cupied by the Japan Times, and excelled in craft flown, and additional duties that its mission across every theater of war, lead- fornia and Seymour Johnson Air Force could have increased the risk of cancer ing President Harry S. Truman to say later, Base in North Carolina. for each affected military aviator; ‘‘In Africa, Europe and the Pacific, The Stars Four commanding officers who Locations where a military aviator and Stripes has established itself as a cher- served at Naval Air Weapons Station served or additional duties of a mili- ished and important soldier’s institution.’’;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:47 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.012 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3159 Whereas Stars and Stripes has continu- (USAGM) oversees Radio and Television SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLU- ously covered news ‘‘about the military, for Martı´; TION 40—EXPRESSING THE the military’’ in conflicts from World War II Whereas Radio and Television Martı´ are SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT to Korea to Vietnam to Bosnia and Kosovo multimedia hubs of news, information, and UNDUE RESTRICTIONS ON THE to Iraq and Afghanistan; and analysis that provide the people of Cuba with Whereas, while readership of newspapers RIGHT OF LAW-ABIDING GUN interactive programs 7 days a week through OWNERS TO CARRY A FIREARM has declined in recent years and technology satellite television, shortwave and AM radio, FOR SELF-DEFENSE OUTSIDE OF has evolved, Stars and Stripes has innovated and digital platforms, including its website, in finding new ways and products to deliver flash drives, emails, DVDs, and SMS text; THE HOME VIOLATE THE SEC- the ‘‘hometown news’’ to the broadest por- Whereas Radio and Television Martı´ aim to OND AMENDMENT TO THE CON- tion of the military community, and through inform and engage the people of Cuba by pro- STITUTION OF THE UNITED internet versions of the newspaper, social viding credible news and information rooted STATES media, and other products, Stars and Stripes is now reaching 1,300,000 readers each day: in respect for fundamental freedoms, demo- Mrs. LOEFFLER submitted the fol- Now, therefore, be it cratic principles, and universal human lowing concurrent resolution; which Resolved, That the Senate, on the occasion rights; was referred to the Committee on the of the 75th anniversary of the commence- Whereas the Office of Cuba Broadcasting Judiciary: ment of continuous operations of Stars and facilitates critical technology services, al- Stripes in the Pacific— lowing Cubans across provinces to connect, S. CON. RES. 40 (1) commemorates this important mile- and linking Cuban pro-democracy activists Whereas the Second Amendment to the stone in the history of an important institu- with an expanding worldwide network of ac- Constitution of the United States (referred tion of the United States; and tivists engaged in their own struggles for to in this preamble as the ‘‘Second Amend- (2) congratulates and honors the men and freedom and human rights in their respective ment’’) states, ‘‘[a] well regulated Militia, women of Stars and Stripes, past and countries; being necessary to the security of a free present, who have so diligently served the Whereas, on July 14, 2011, independent State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.’’; United States military community. journalist and former political prisoner Jose Whereas the right to ‘‘bear Arms’’, in plain f Daniel Ferrer said, ‘‘the particular stories, language, means the right to carry arms; the news selected for A Fondo [a joint Voice SENATE RESOLUTION 637—COM- Whereas, based on this plain language, the ´ MEMORATING THE 35TH ANNI- of America and Radio Martı program], is Second Amendment clearly provides indi- VERSARY OF UNITED STATES what gives the show its quality, very profes- vidual citizens with a right to carry arms for sional. I listened to the show in prison on a BROADCASTING TO CUBA the purpose of self-defense; daily basis.’’; Whereas the Supreme Court of the United Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. MENEN- Whereas Karen Caballero of Radio and Tel- States has held that the Second Amendment DEZ, and Mr. SCOTT of Florida) sub- evision Martı´ received the David Burke is incorporated under the Fourteenth mitted the following resolution; which Award in 2012 for her inspired coverage of the Amendment to the Constitution of the was referred to the Committee on For- ‘‘Lights of Liberty Flotilla’’, a small group United States and thereby protects the right eign Relations.: of boats with a mission to sail across the of an individual under the Second Amend- S. RES. 637 Florida Strait to bring attention to the soli- ment from infringement by State and local governments; Whereas the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba darity between Cuban exiles and those on the Whereas several States have enacted laws Act (Public Law 98–111) passed by a wide island, and to the human rights abuses per- that unduly inhibit and infringe upon the margin in the House of Representatives on petrated by the regime in Cuba; rights of a law-abiding individual to carry a September 29, 1983, and passed unanimously Whereas, on August 13, 2013, Afro-Cuban firearm outside of the home, unless the indi- by voice vote in the Senate on September 12, activist and former political prisoner Jorge vidual can demonstrate a special need to 1983; Luis Garcı´a-Pe´rez stated, ‘‘In the 17 years carry the firearm; Whereas, upon signing the Radio Broad- that I spent behind bars, Radio Martı´ was, at Whereas these State laws are inconsistent casting to Cuba Act into law on October 4, times, my ‘everything’. It was my lifeline.’’; with the plain meaning of the right to bear 1983, President Ronald Reagan said that the and arms and the rights granted to individuals law ‘‘responds to an important foreign policy Whereas, in 2017, Television Martı´’s ‘‘Alas by the Second Amendment; and initiative of my administration: to break de Libertad’’ (Wings of Freedom), which doc- Whereas established Federal processes and Fidel Castro’s monopoly on news and infor- umented the activities of the Brigade 2506 procedures regulating the right to purchase mation within Cuba’’, further explaining Air Force division during the 1961 Bay of and possess a firearm are sufficient to pro- that the purpose of providing impartial news Pigs invasion, received the Suncoast Re- vide for the interests of public safety: Now, to the Cuban people was so that they ‘‘will gional Emmy Award from The National therefore, be it be in a better position to make Cuba’s lead- Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: Now, Resolved by the Senate (the House of Rep- ers accountable for their conduct in foreign therefore, be it resentatives concurring), That it is the sense policy, economic management, and human of Congress that undue restrictions on the rights.’’; Resolved, That the Senate— right of law-abiding gun owners to carry a Whereas radio service into Cuba was (1) celebrates the 35th anniversary of Radio firearm for self-defense outside of the named ‘‘Radio Marti’’ after renowned 19th Martı´ and the 30th anniversary of Television home— century Cuban patriot Jose Martı´; Martı´; (1) violate both— Whereas, on May 20, 1985, the 83rd anniver- (2) recognizes the vital role that inde- (A) the intent of the Founding Fathers, as sary of Cuba’s Independence Day, Radio pendent broadcasting to Cuba has served in expressed by James Madison in The Fed- Martı´ began its first broadcast into Cuba; providing uncensored, reliable, and accurate eralist No. 46; and Whereas, in 1990, Congress passed and information to the Cuban people for the past (B) the clear meaning of the Second President George H.W. Bush signed into law 35 years; Amendment to the Constitution of the the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (3) honors the journalists, programming United States ‘‘to keep and bear Arms’’; and (Public Law 101–246), which expanded broad- editors, technical support, and many other (2) are unlawful infringements of the rights casting to include television, and ‘‘Tele- employees at Radio and Television Martı´, granted by the Second Amendment to the vision Martı´’’ commenced broadcasting later administered through the Office of Cuba Constitution of the United States. that year; Broadcasting, who commit to high journal- Whereas President William Jefferson Clin- istic standards, tenacity, and providing unbi- f ton signed into law the Omnibus Consoli- ased, objective information to the Cuban dated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of people; AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO 1996 (Public Law 104–134), which required the MEET relocation of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (4) remembers the deep and lasting con- from Washington, D.C., to South Florida; tributions that the free flow of information, Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I have 5 Whereas the Office of Cuba Broadcasting including broadcasting, to Cuba has provided requests for committees to meet during was relocated to Miami, Florida in 1998, to the Cuban people in bolstering Cuba’s pro- today’s session of the Senate. They ahead of schedule and under budget; democracy movement; and have the approval of the Majority and Whereas United States broadcasts to Cuba (5) reaffirms the importance of the United States strengthening policies in support of Minority leaders. were initiated to pierce the Castro regime’s Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph information blockade and to provide timely, promoting democracy, promoting freedom of accurate, uncensored, and reliable informa- the press, and supporting the transmission of 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- tion to the Cuban people; external, reliable, objective information to ate, the following committees are au- Whereas the Office of Cuba Broadcasting at some of the most repressed parts of the thorized to meet during today’s session the United States Agency for Global Media world. of the Senate:

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.006 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE S3160 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2020 COMMITTEE ON BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN WORLD ELDER ABUSE 24; further, that following the prayer AFFAIRS AWARENESS DAY and pledge, the morning hour be The Committee on Banking, Housing, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I deemed expired, the Journal of pro- and Urban Affairs is authorized to ask unanimous consent that the Com- ceedings be approved to date, the time meet during the session of the Senate mittee on the Judiciary be discharged for the two leaders be reserved for their on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., from further consideration and the use later in the day, and morning busi- to conduct a hearing. Senate now proceed to S. Res. 621. ness be closed; further, that following The PRESIDING OFFICER. The leader remarks, the Senate proceed to COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR, clerk will report the resolution by executive session to resume consider- AND PENSIONS title. ation of the Wilson nomination and The Committee on Health, Edu- The legislative clerk read as follows: that the time until 11:30 a.m. be equal- cation, Labor, and Pensions is author- A resolution (S. Res. 621) designating June ly divided between the two leaders or ized to meet during the session of the 15, 2020, as ‘‘World Elder Abuse Awareness their designees; that further notwith- Senate on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 10 Day.’’ standing rule XXII, I ask unanimous a.m., to conduct a hearing. There being no objection, the com- consent that the postcloture time on mittee was discharged, and the Senate the Wilson nomination expire at 11:30 COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY proceeded to consider the resolution. a.m. tomorrow; finally, that if con- The Committee on the Judiciary is Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous firmed, I ask that with respect to the authorized to meet during the session consent that the resolution be agreed Wilson nomination, the motion to re- of the Senate on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, to, the preamble be agreed to, and the consider be considered made and laid a 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. motions to reconsider be considered upon the table and the President be im- mediately notified of the Senate’s ac- SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE made and laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tion. The Select Committee on Intel- objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ligence is authorized to meet during The resolution (S. Res. 621) was objection, it is so ordered. the session of the Senate on Tuesday, agreed to. June 23, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a The preamble was agreed to. f closed hearing. (The resolution, with its preamble, is ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. printed in the RECORD of June 15, 2020, SUBCOMMITTEE ON REGULATORY AFFAIRS AND TOMORROW under ‘‘Submitted Resolutions.’’) FEDERAL MANAGEMENT f Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, if The Subcommittee on Regulatory Af- there is no further business to come be- fairs and Federal Management of the ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE fore the Senate, I ask unanimous con- Committee on Homeland Security and 24, 2020 sent that it stand adjourned under the Governmental Affairs is authorized to Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I previous order. meet during the session of the Senate ask unanimous consent that when the There being no objection, the Senate, on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., Senate completes its business today, it at 5:38 p.m., adjourned until Wednes- to conduct a hearing. adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, June day, June 24, 2020, at 10 a.m.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:32 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.016 S23JNPT1 ctelli on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE Tuesday, June 23, 2020 Daily Digest Senate Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and ad- Chamber Action journed at 5:38 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Routine Proceedings, pages S3131–S3160 June 24, 2020. (For Senate’s program, see the re- Measures Introduced: Seventeen bills and three res- marks of the Majority Leader in today’s Record on olutions were introduced, as follows: S. 4035–4051, page S3160.) S. Res. 636–637, and S. Con. Res. 40. Page S3156 Measures Reported: Committee Meetings S. 1640, to require compliant flame mitigation devices to be used on portable fuel containers for (Committees not listed did not meet) flammable liquid fuels, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 116–235) EXPORT-IMPORT BANK S. 4049, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for military activities of the Department of Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Defense, for military construction, and for defense Committee concluded an oversight hearing to exam- activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe ine the Export-Import Bank of the United States, military personnel strengths for such fiscal year. after receiving testimony from Kimberly A. Reed, Page S3156 President and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States. Measures Passed: World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: Committee IMPROVING PUBLIC SERVICE on the Judiciary was discharged from further consid- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af- eration of S. Res. 621, designating June 15, 2020, fairs: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Fed- as ‘‘World Elder Abuse Awareness Day’’, and the eral Management concluded a hearing to examine resolution was then agreed to. Page S3160 improving public service, focusing on a review of Wilson Nomination—Agreement: Senate contin- recommendations made by the National Commission ued consideration of the nomination of Cory T. Wil- on Military, National, and Public Service, after re- son, of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit ceiving testimony from former Representative Joseph Judge for the Fifth Circuit. Pages S3132–40, S3140–54 J. Heck, Chairman, and Shawn Skelly, Commis- A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached sioner, both of the National Commission on Mili- providing for further consideration of the nomina- tary, National, and Public Service. tion, post-cloture, at approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2020; that the time until COVID–19 11:30 a.m. be equally divided between the two Leaders or their designees; and that notwithstanding Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Rule XXII, the post-cloture time on the nomination Committee concluded a hearing to examine expire at 11:30 a.m. Page S3160 COVID–19, focusing on lessons learned to prepare for the next pandemic, after receiving testimony Petitions and Memorials: Pages S3155–56 from former Senator Bill Frist; former Utah Gov- Additional Cosponsors: Pages S3156–58 ernor Michael O. Leavitt, Salt Lake City; Joneigh S. Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Khaldun, Michigan Department of Health and Page S3158 Human Services, Lansing; and Julie L. Gerberding, Additional Statements: Page S3155 Merck and Co., Inc., Kentilworth, New Jersey. Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S3159–60 D519

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:33 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D23JN0.REC D23JNPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with DIGEST D520 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST June 23, 2020 FOREIGN SOVEREIGN IMMUNITIES ACT Law, Lexington, Virginia; and Chimene Keitner, AND CORONAVIRUS University of California Hastings College of the Law, Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a San Francisco. hearing to examine the Foreign Sovereign Immuni- INTELLIGENCE ties Act, focusing on coronavirus and addressing Chi- Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in na’s culpability, after receiving testimony from Lynn closed session to receive a briefing on certain intel- Fitch, Mississippi Attorney General, Jackson; Russell ligence matters from officials of the intelligence A. Miller, Washington and Lee University School of community. h House of Representatives H.R. 6395, the ‘‘National Defense Authorization Chamber Action Act for Fiscal Year 2021’’. H.R. 6395 was forwarded The House was not in session today. The House to the full Committee, as amended. is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 24, 2020. HEALTH AND WEALTH INEQUALITY IN AMERICA: HOW COVID–19 MAKES CLEAR Committee Meetings THE NEED FOR CHANGE MEMBER DAY TESTIMONY FOR FY21 Committee on the Budget: Full Committee held a hear- APPROPRIATIONS ing entitled ‘‘Health and Wealth Inequality in Committee on Appropriations: Full Committee held a America: How COVID–19 Makes Clear the Need for hearing entitled ‘‘Member Day Testimony for FY21 Change’’. Testimony was heard from public wit- Appropriations’’. Testimony was heard from Rep- nesses. resentatives Balderson, Barraga´n, Casten of Illinois, Finkenauer, Gonza´lez-Colo´n of Puerto Rico, Griffith, OVERSIGHT OF THE TRUMP Kevin Hern of Oklahoma, Keller, Sherman, Titus, ADMINISTRATION’S RESPONSE TO THE Wilson of South Carolina, and Yoho. COVID–19 PANDEMIC MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE Committee on Energy and Commerce: Full Committee Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tac- held a hearing entitled ‘‘Oversight of the Trump tical Air and Land Forces held a markup on H.R. Administration’s Response to the COVID–19 Pan- 6395, the ‘‘National Defense Authorization Act for demic’’. Testimony was heard from the following Fiscal Year 2021’’. H.R. 6395 was forwarded to the Department of Health and Human Services officials: full Committee, without amendment. Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Insti- tutes of Health; Admiral Brett P. Giroir, M.D., As- Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Mili- sistant Secretary for Health; Stephen M. Hahn, tary Personnel held a markup on H.R. 6395, the M.D., Commissioner, Food and Drug Administra- ‘‘National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year tion; and Robert R. Redfield, M.D., Director, Cen- 2021’’. H.R. 6395 was forwarded to the full Com- mittee, without amendment. ters for Disease Control and Prevention. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE R&D TO SUPPORT HEALTHY AIR TRAVEL Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readi- IN THE COVID–19 ERA AND BEYOND ness held a markup on H.R. 6395, the ‘‘National Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Sub- Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021’’. committee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing H.R. 6395 was forwarded to the full Committee, entitled ‘‘R&D to Support Healthy Air Travel in the without amendment. COVID–19 Era and Beyond’’. Testimony was heard MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE from Heather Krause, Director, Physical Infrastruc- Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on ture Issues, Government Accountability Office; and Seapower and Projection Forces held a markup on public witnesses.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:33 Jun 24, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D23JN0.REC D23JNPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with DIGEST June 23, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D521 VA TELEHEALTH DURING THE COVID–19 of the Interior to take certain land located in Pinal Coun- PANDEMIC: EXPANSION AND IMPACT ty, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, S. 3019, to protect access to water Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Tech- for all Montanans, S. 3044, to amend the American’s nology Modernization; and Subcommittee on Health Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 to expand the Indian held a joint hearing entitled ‘‘VA Telehealth During reservation drinking water program, S. 3099, to provide the COVID–19 Pandemic: Expansion and Impact’’. for the conveyance of certain property to the Southeast Testimony was heard from Jennifer MacDonald, Alaska Regional Health Consortium located in Sitka, M.D., Chief Consultant to the Deputy Undersecre- Alaska, and S. 3100, to convey land in Anchorage, Alas- tary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, ka, to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, 2:30 Department of Veterans Affairs; and public wit- p.m., SD–562. nesses. Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of David W. Dugan and Stephen P. THE CHILD CARE CRISIS AND THE McGlynn, both to be a United States District Judge for CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC the Southern District of Illinois, Hala Y. Jarbou, to be Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on United States District Judge for the Western District of Worker and Family Support held a hearing entitled Michigan, Iain D. Johnston and Franklin Ulyses ‘‘The Child Care Crisis and the Coronavirus Pan- Valderrama, both to to be a United States District Judge demic’’. Testimony was heard from Jennifer Sullivan, for the Northern District of Illinois, and Roderick C. Secretary, Family and Social Services Administration, Young, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern Indiana; and public witnesses. District of Virginia, 10 a.m., SD–226. Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold hearings to exam- ine the nomination of Peter Michael Thomson, of Lou- Joint Meetings isiana, to be Inspector General, Central Intelligence No joint committee meetings were held. Agency, 10 a.m., SR–325. f House COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on JUNE 24, 2020 Communications and Technology; and Subcommittee on (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Consumer Protection and Commerce, joint hearing enti- tled ‘‘A Country in Crisis: How Disinformation Online is Senate Dividing the Nation’’, 11:30 a.m., Webex. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: business Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intel- meeting to consider original legislation entitled, ‘‘United ligence and Counterterrorism, hearing entitled ‘‘Exam- States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020’’; to ining the Threat from ISIS and Al Qaeda’’, 11 a.m., be immediately followed by a hearing to examine S. Webex. 3894, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to develop Committee on the Judiciary, Full Committee, hearing en- a program to reduce barriers to entry for farmers, ranch- titled ‘‘Oversight of the Department of Justice: Political ers, and private forest landowners in certain private mar- Interference and Threats to Prosecutorial Independence’’, kets, 10 a.m., SDG–50. 12 p.m., CVC–200 and Webex. Committee on the Budget: to hold hearings to examine the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship, busi- nomination of Derek Kan, of California, to be Deputy ness meeting on Request for a Department of Homeland Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 2:30 Security Departmental Report on the Beneficiary of H.R. p.m., SR–301. 7146, ‘‘For the relief of Victoria Galindo Lopez’’, 5 p.m., Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: to CVC–200 and Webex. hold an oversight hearing to examine the Federal Com- Committee on Rules, Full Committee, hearing on H.R. munications Commission, 10 a.m., SR–253. 7120, the ‘‘George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: to hold hear- 2020’’; H.R. 1425, the ‘‘State Health Care Premium Re- ings to examine the impact of COVID–19 on mineral duction Act’’ [Patient Protection and Affordable Care En- supply chains, focusing on the role of those supply chains hancement Act]; H.R. 51, the ‘‘Washington, D.C. Ad- in economic and national security, and challenges and op- mission Act’’; H.R. 5332, the ‘‘Protecting Your Credit portunities to rebuild America’s supply chains, 9:30 a.m., Score Act of 2019’’; and H.J. Res. 90, providing for con- SD–366. gressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of the to hold hearings to examine the role of the strategic na- Comptroller of the Currency relating to ‘‘Community Re- tional stockpile in pandemic response, 10 a.m., VTC. investment Act Regulations’’, 11 a.m., Webex. Committee on Indian Affairs: to hold hearings to examine Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Con- S. 2165, to enhance protections of Native American tan- tracting and Infrastructure, hearing entitled ‘‘An Over- gible cultural heritage, S. 2716, to amend the Grand view of the Dynamic Between the Defense Production Ronde Reservation Act, S. 2912, to direct the Secretary Act and Small Contractors’’, 1 p.m., Webex.

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Next Meeting of the SENATE Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 24 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 24

Senate Chamber House Chamber Program for Wednesday: Senate will continue consider- Program for Wednesday: House will meet in Pro ation of the nomination of Cory T. Wilson, of Mis- Forma session at 2 p.m. sissippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and vote on confirmation of the nomination at 11:30 a.m. Following disposition of the nomination of Cory T. Wilson, Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3985, JUSTICE Act.

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