E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 117 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 167 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23, 2021 No. 109 Senate The Senate met at 2 p.m. and was ator from the State of Nevada, to perform ernment should not intervene. Who called to order by the Honorable JACKY the duties of the Chair. said that? Southern Senators from the ROSEN, a Senator from the State of Ne- PATRICK J. LEAHY, Civil War all the way through said vada. President pro tempore. States’ rights—used as a tool to pre- Ms. ROSEN thereupon assumed the f vent particularly people of color from Chair as Acting President pro tempore. voting. And to invoke that in 2020? The PRAYER f majority leader is way off—way off The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME base. It is disgraceful that he would fered the following prayer: even invoke that. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Let us pray. Yesterday’s vote was another piece of Gracious God, today accept the love pore. Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. evidence that voter suppression is now and loyalty of our hearts. We are grate- part of the official platform of the Re- ful for Your loving kindness and tender f publican Party. But I want to be clear mercies. RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY about one thing. As I said last night, Lord, we desire to please You by liv- LEADER the fight to protect voting rights is far, ing for Your glory. Continue to bless very far from over. Yesterday’s vote our lawmakers. May they seek guid- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- pore. The majority leader is recog- was the starting gun, not the finish ance from Your holy Word, permitting line. sacred precepts to provide lamps for nized. their feet and light for their path. May f As the Senate majority leader, I re- serve the right to bring up this issue this light also illuminate the road FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021 ahead for others who walk in darkness, for debate again. Yesterday was the so that Your will for our Nation and Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, first time we tried to consider major world may be done. yesterday, the Senate was given an op- voting rights legislation, but it won’t We pray in Your merciful Name. portunity to begin debate on a subject be the last. Democrats will explore Amen. that by all rights should be beyond de- every option available to us for recon- bate: protecting the right to vote. sidering legislation on this topic. We f As we all know, Republican legisla- will leave no stone unturned. Voting PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE tures across the country are passing rights are too important. The fight some of the most draconian restric- against modern-day voter suppression The Presiding Officer led the Pledge tions on the right to vote in decades— is just beginning. of Allegiance, as follows: a throwback to Jim Crow. One other point. Some of them like I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the Every single Democrat yesterday to make this point: Oh, this is just a United States of America, and to the Repub- voted to begin debate on legislation to lic for which it stands, one nation under God, partisan fight. Bull. This is a fight for fight back against this assault—and indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the soul of America, and it shouldn’t be that is what it is, an assault on our de- partisan, and it never was in the past. f mocracy—every single one. It was the When legislatures try to prevent poor first time in this Congress that we APPOINTMENT OF ACTING people, people of color, urban people, have united all 50 Democrats on mov- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE and young people from voting, that is ing forward with strong and com- not a political fight; that is what The PRESIDING OFFICER. The prehensive voting rights legislation. clerk will please read a communication Senate Republicans, to the very last America is all about. So don’t try to to the Senate from the President pro Member, voted against allowing the hide under that guise. tempore (Mr. LEAHY). Senate to even have a debate on voting It is Republican legislatures doing The senior assistant legislative clerk rights. Not a single Republican voted this. But in the past, when legislatures, read the following letter: to move forward with a simple debate. usually in the South, tried to do these U.S. SENATE, In fact, the Republican leader went so things—and in other places—both par- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, far as to say that ‘‘regardless of what ties united to stop it. No more, sadly. Washington, DC, June 23, 2021. To the Senate: may be happening in some states’’— Shame, shame, shame, shame on my Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, voter suppression laws, phony audits, Republican colleagues. This is a very of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby or the partisan takeover of election bad day for them that history will rec- appoint the Honorable JACKY ROSEN, a Sen- boards—he believes the Federal Gov- ognize.

∑ 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 02:03 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.000 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4708 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS the White House to discuss the next working with Senator WARREN on ways Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, steps on this very topic. Here in the to provide even more comprehensive, now on another matter, this week, the Senate, Democratic members of the life-changing student loan forgive- Senate will continue restoring balance Budget Committee continue to build on ness—a policy, I believe, that will ex- to the Federal courts by considering the fruitful conversations we had last pand opportunity for millions, millions more of President Biden’s judicial ap- week. In fact, earlier today, I spoke of young Americans. pointments. with all of our committee chairs about I yield the floor. Over the next 2 days, we will consider a forthcoming budget resolution. I suggest the absence of a quorum. Deborah Boardman to serve as district As I have said, discussions about in- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- judge in Maryland and Candace Jack- frastructure are progressing along two pore. The clerk will call the roll. son-Akiwumi to serve as judge on the tracks. The first is bipartisan, and the The senior assistant legislative clerk Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. To- second incorporates elements of the proceeded to call the roll. gether, Ms. Boardman and Ms. Jack- President’s American jobs and families Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, son-Akiwumi have had over 20 years of plan. The second track is something we I ask unanimous consent that the order experience as Federal defenders. must support even if it doesn’t get any for the quorum call be rescinded. I believe that bringing professional Republican support. For several weeks, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- diversity as well as personal diversity the trains have been chugging down pore. Without objection, it is so or- to the bench should be and is now a top both tracks quite well. When the Sen- dered. priority. There are plenty of former ate returns after the July 4 work pe- f riod, it will be time to take the next prosecutors and corporate lawyers RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY step forward. wearing black robes. It is time that LEADER This summer, the Senate will begin some voting rights attorneys, civil The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- rights attorneys, and former Federal considering the fiscal 2022 budget reso- lution and a bipartisan infrastructure pore. The Republican leader is recog- defenders, like these two nominees, nized. bring their perspectives to the bench. bill on the floor. It is my hope to have A final vote on Ms. Boardman’s nom- both a bipartisan infrastructure bill f ination will come this afternoon, and and a budget resolution for the Senate RUSSIA to consider this summer. I believe the then we will proceed to the nomination Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, of Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi, which we will progress we have made in recent weeks will ultimately produce the result that for the first time earlier this month, finish before the end of the week. President Biden traveled to Europe. Again, the Senate will not leave for the will set our economy on a path to pros- perity for generations to come. The primary purpose for this trip was week until we finish considering these to engage with some of America’s clos- f judges. The Democratic majority in the est friends and allies, but the agenda Senate will continue to swiftly fill ju- STUDENT LOANS also included a one-on-one meeting dicial vacancies. Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, with a staunch adversary, Vladimir On a related note, today, Chairman one final matter: student loans. Today, Putin. PETERS will ask the Senate to approve I have joined Senator WARREN and a The President took office armed with two critical cyber security nominees: number of my House and Senate col- a great deal of tough talk on Russia. Jen Easterly to be the Director of the leagues to urge the Biden administra- He called his counterpart a ‘‘killer’’ Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Secu- tion to extend the pause on payments and a ‘‘KGB thug’’ and warned he rity Agency and Robin Carnahan to be and interest for the vast majority of would ‘‘pay [the] price’’ for inter- the Administrator of the GSA. Both of Federal student loans. ference in U.S. elections. The world these Agencies play a critical role in For millions of student borrowers, wondered whether this rhetoric would our Nation’s cyber security. one of the most difficult challenges is be underpinned by tough action. I cer- The threat of ransomware attacks balancing their debt with their dreams tainly hoped it would. and other cyber crimes is on the rise of starting a career, starting a family, Back in January, I made it clear that from State actors as well as cyber ban- and buying a home. When the pandemic if the Biden administration was serious dits who were given sanctuary by our hit, these challenges were magnified a about ‘‘imposing real costs on Mos- adversaries. We need people at the hundredfold. Job opportunities dis- cow,’’ it would ‘‘find willing partners helm on these important Agencies to appeared, and our economy came to a on Capitol Hill.’’ But so far, there have focus on hardening our Nation’s cyber halt. The pause on student loan repay- been few encouraging signs for those of security. This should be a completely ment during the pandemic was a life- us who take Russia’s threats very seri- nonpartisan issue, and my Republican altering policy that allowed tens of ously. friends should not object. millions of young people to escape fi- Remember, after less than a week in f nancial ruin. office, President Biden agreed to Rus- Right now, the current pause on re- sian requests for a full 5-year extension INFRASTRUCTURE payment of student debt is set to ex- of the New START Treaty, no strings Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, in pire on September 30. I believe that is attached. He gave it up for free, under- addition to our important work on ju- too soon. Our economy is still recov- mining our leverage to extract conces- dicial appointments, the Senate is ering. Americans are still pulling sions in future negotiations. moving forward on multiple legislative themselves up and dusting themselves Then, his administration rolled out a proposals to make historic investments off after one of the greatest economic budget proposal that would cut invest- in our Nation’s infrastructure. crises in our history. The October 1 ex- ment in defense, in real terms—short- We have a chance in this Congress to piration date could risk putting mil- changing the modernization we need to get something big and bold done on in- lions of student loan borrowers back keep pace with both Russia and China. frastructure—something we haven’t into financial hardship. And 2 weeks ago, the President left managed in a very long time. If we Very simply, I am urging the Biden for Europe, having already given the want America to prosper in the 21st administration to extend the pause on Kremlin two other gifts: a high-profile century, we can’t do it with infrastruc- student loan repayment by another 6 summit that experts predicted Putin ture that is stuck in the last century. months, until March 2022. Even as the would use to help legitimize his regime This is our chance to update, mod- economy recovers, young people, bor- at home and abroad and a waiver of ernize, repair, and rebuild for another rowers with a load of debt, will strug- sanctions on the Russian-owned com- century of American economic growth, gle more than most to get back on pany behind a lucrative gas pipeline creating thousands upon thousands of their feet. Why not give them a little project. good-paying jobs in the process. more breathing room? So I will repeat for President Biden Later today, Speaker PELOSI and I I urge the Biden administration to the same warning I offered to the pre- will meet with representatives from extend the pause, and I will continue vious administration: The Kremlin is

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.002 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4709 not our friend, and it is high time our been followed by a steady stream of only been a handful of times that they actions started reflecting that. radical proposals that illustrate just have had temperatures over 100 degrees Back home, of course, the Biden ad- how deep his administration is in in that city. It is going to happen again ministration has proven it knows per- thrall to the environmental fringe. this weekend, at least that is the pre- fectly well how to crack down on en- Under the guise of infrastructure, diction. That is the weather forecast. ergy pipeline projects when it wants to. they pitched trillions of dollars in Fed- It is not just confined to the blue In fact, on the day he left for Europe, eral spending, aligned so closely with coastal States, as some call them. We the firm behind the Keystone XL Pipe- most liberal interests in Congress that have a drought in the Midwest. I hope line project announced that the Presi- the authors—the authors—of the Green it ends soon, but when it comes to corn dent’s revocation of its construction New Deal boasted President Biden’s country—Iowa, Illinois, Indiana—we permit would be fatal. That is the end agenda had their manifesto’s DNA all are worried. I hope it doesn’t happen, of it. What a striking image. The Presi- over it: unprecedented spending on but it could, and we know it can hap- dent of the United States heads over- electric vehicles, huge increases in pen soon. And then in the southeastern seas and meets with a major adversary funds for transit projects that dis- part of the United States, there are ex- whom he has handed a major geo- proportionately benefit blue States on treme storms—rains they haven’t seen political win, and here at home, the the coast, and plans to pick winners before. last nail goes in the coffin of the job- and losers in the market for affordable, I just say that after listening to the killing crusade against reliable North reliable American energy. Republican leader describe the situa- American energy that he said on day So American workers know what a tion with the environment, wondering one was a priority. thriving energy sector looks like. It is if he reads the papers or talks to people It is a tale of two pipelines: the deci- exactly what Republicans spent 4 years back home because extreme weather is sive rejection of thousands of American working to encourage here at home. happening all over the United States, jobs here at home and the empower- As a matter of fact, if you hit pause and it isn’t just in Republican areas or ment of America’s adversaries abroad. on Washington Democrats’ radical cli- Democratic areas; it is virtually every- And it is only the latest sign that the mate rhetoric, you will notice that where. Biden administration’s strategic prior- smart energy policy isn’t limited by So when President Biden comes in ities are simply out of order. political stripe. For years, the liberal and says: Shouldn’t we do something Recall, this administration rushed to government up in Canada has recog- about this for the good of our children rejoin a climate agreement that has nized pipelines as a safe and efficient and our grandchildren? Shouldn’t we be failed to hold major signatories to way to connect people with affordable, willing to sacrifice a little bit? their commitments on reducing emis- reliable energy and grow what is al- Shouldn’t we be willing to change some sions, even as the United States re- ready the largest sector of United if it means that they are going to have corded multiple years of reductions on States-Canada trade. So it was hardly a planet that is worth living on—about our own. surprising to hear one Canadian official 10 years ago, I started asking my farm- This administration made it harder greet President Biden’s decision to ers who come and visit me from Illinois to cap our abundant and domestic en- sink the Keystone XL Pipeline as ‘‘an a couple of questions. These are good ergy, even at the risk of greater reli- insult’’—an insult—or to read that the people. They never vote for me, I know ance on imports from countries with Canadian firm behind the project is that, but I still like meeting with lower environmental standards. And, of now pursuing legal action to recoup its them. They are good people. They course, they proposed to squander investment. bring their wives. They dress up in years of accumulating economic pres- So capitulation to our rivals, painful their suits. They take it seriously. sure on Iran in exchange for no mean- blows to our neighbors, legitimizing They are coming to Washington. This ingful concessions on its nuclear ambi- corrupt foreign leaders, and jamming is before COVID–19, of course. And they tions or regional aggression. hard-working Americans—whatever his would sit upstairs in my conference So when President Biden elected to motives, and despite his own rhetoric, room. There would be about 20 or 30 of pass on another opportunity to check the consequences of President Biden’s them from organizations like the Farm the influence of a major adversary, we actions are already clear. Bureau or the corn growers or the soy- had heard this story before. It is not too late to impose real costs bean growers. And I would say to Here in Congress, opposition to the on Russia’s pipeline windfall and pro- them—this is 10 years ago—how many completion of the Nord Stream 2 Pipe- vide serious, lethal support to Ukraine of you believe that what we are doing line has been vigorous and bipartisan. and other vulnerable States on the on Earth is changing the environment Last year’s Defense authorization, frontlines of Putin’s aggression. It is of the Earth we live on? I mean that which earned 84 votes here in the Sen- not too late to get serious about the our human activity is having some- ate, expanded the scope of sanctions defense investment that bipartisan as- thing to do with it. And I would ask for against critical entities involved in its sessments say that we need—that we a show of hands. And the response was, construction. We are talking about a need—in order to compete with China not one hand would go up. project that would give Putin a new ar- and Russia. It is not too late to recom- And I finally said to them: Well, tery of influence in Western Europe mit to bipartisanship on infrastructure things are changing. What do you and rob Ukraine of critical leverage and on energy and show radical climate think is behind all of it? And one fellow over the way Russian energy currently activists the door. said—and he did this seriously, and I flows throughout the region. I hope the Biden administration believe he was speaking from the But, apparently, the Biden adminis- changes courses sometime soon. heart—he said: ‘‘Senator, some years tration’s own opposition to the project The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- God sends me a drought; some years was just rhetorical. When the chips pore. The majority whip. God sends me a flood; I got to deal with were down, the President used a waiver f whatever God sends me.’’ to avoid having to place sanctions on I respect him for that. That is his the biggest company behind the project CLIMATE CHANGE deep-hearted belief, and it is sincere. and its CEO—a Putin crony. According Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, what But I think there is more to the to reports, his decision even overruled is the weather like in Las Vegas? What story. And now when I ask these same the objections of senior diplomats and is it like in Reno? I am not sure, but I farmers the same question, I get a dif- the concerns of his very own Secretary will bet it is hot. And the reason I am ferent response. The Illinois corn grow- of State. sure that it is likely to be hot is the ers, looking around, thinking some- Oddly enough, the administration’s weather forecast. thing is happening here in this wonder- decision to snuff out union jobs in the I looked at that map, and it was solid ful, bountiful State that I live in. The energy sector here at home didn’t seem red in the western half of the United crops that are grown traditionally are to prompt as vigorous an internal de- States, with extreme high tempera- not producing what they did tradition- bate. In fact, President Biden’s Execu- tures at a level never recorded. They ally, unless some hybrid seeds and tive action to kill the Keystone XL has said in the city of Seattle, there have other fertilizers are being used. There

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.004 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4710 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 are new weather conditions and it is mayor—called me and said: Senator, I the people from the intelligence agen- changing every year and it is not get- think I have a buyer for the Mitsubishi cies to leave the room, and they would ting better. It is getting dryer and hot- plant. just play pat-a-cake. I mean, we know ter. I said: What kind of buyer? what was going on there. There was So when Joe Biden starts talking He said: There is a man who wants to some sort of political bromance be- about the next generation of energy in build electric vehicles. He came down tween the President and Vladimir America, I think about my grand- and took a look, and he liked that Putin. daughter, ‘‘Little Jo.’’ I think about plant. He said it was way too big for his I don’t believe that is ever going to Jo, and I am wondering what kind of purposes, but he is actually thinking of happen with Joe Biden. He is a realist. world she is going to live in and what building electric vehicles in the old He made it clear that he went in that I am going to do about it. Mitsubishi plant. meeting with Putin to lay down the One thing that President Biden said Darned if it didn’t happen. The com- law in terms of infiltrating our elec- was, we are moving toward electric ve- pany is called Rivian. They bought tions in the future and the activities hicles. You would think that it was that plant, and they started building that we have seen in hacking and cyber some Federal mandate that is bringing electric vehicles—just this month, offi- crimes. this on. But if you read the newspapers, cially, in production. That is the kind of leadership we you know it isn’t. General Motors has How many workers will they have? need in dealing with Vladimir Putin. accelerated the timetable to go to elec- Up to 4,000, maybe even 5,000. Will they f tric vehicles, Ford as well. They see be able to use the whole plant? They the writing on the wall. are now building an addition to the JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS What we currently use for transpor- plant. Is it a viable company? Is it Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, tation will not be what we use in 10 or going to last? Well, obviously Amazon today I want to speak about two really 15 years. It is going to change. We are thinks so because they have invested a highly qualified judicial nominees the going to move to electric vehicles for a billion dollars in Rivian. And the com- Senate Judiciary Committee came up variety of reasons, not the least of panies are coming from all around with through the White House. which is there are fewer emissions, thinking this is the future. The first is Candace Jackson- greenhouse gas emissions. So I say to the Senator from Ken- Akiwumi, who has been nominated to The country of Norway just an- tucky, yes, there will be transitions in an Illinois seat on the Seventh Circuit. nounced last week that over 50 percent jobs, but there are job opportunities at With her qualifications, temperament, of their vehicles are electric vehicles. Rivian and places just like that. Lion and range of experience, she is out- If you had been there in the recent Electric is another company. It came standing. past, you see Teslas in every direction, in from Canada. They build electric She is the daughter of two judges. electric vehicles in every direction. buses. One of the things we are envi- Her father, Raymond Jackson, is a I spoke to the Ambassador from Nor- sioning is moving toward electric Federal district court judge, and her way, and I said: How did that happen? schoolbuses across America. That is a mother, Gwendolyn Jones Jackson, is a How did you move to a point where big move. This is a company that retired State court judge. more than half the vehicles in Norway builds them. She went to Princeton and then Yale are electric vehicles? We need more just like it, and there Law School—not bad. She clerked for She said: Tax breaks. We gave them are going to be good-paying jobs associ- Judge David Coar on the U.S. District tax breaks. And all of a sudden, every- ated with it. Court for the Northern District and for one had a new lifestyle with electric EVBox is a company out of the Neth- Roger Gregory on the Fourth Circuit. vehicles. And they think that protects erlands, located in my State again. After her clerkships, she worked in them in the future or at least holds the They build the charging stations. private practice, and then she made an possibility of reducing the pollution Closing your eyes to the opportuni- interesting career decision, and not that they are dealing with, and I think ties here is very shortsighted. Things many people make it. She decided to they are right. So does Joe Biden. But are changing, and changing for the bet- stop practicing in the private practice when we get into an infrastructure de- ter. And because there is change, it of law and become a staff attorney at bate with Republicans, the first thing doesn’t mean it is bad for everybody. the Federal Defender Program for the they say is: Take electric vehicles off There are transitions, and we ought to Northern District of Illinois, rep- the table. We don’t want to even talk help with educating people, preparing resenting people who couldn’t afford about it. No subsidies, no encourage- them for the new jobs. counsel. ment for those. But if you look around at this world Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi spent 10 years Traditionally, we have been encour- and what is happening with the weath- as a Federal public defender. She de- aging oil companies, with all sorts of er patterns and the environment, how fended hundreds of indigent clients at tax breaks throughout their history, to shortsighted it would be for us to say every stage of the legal process. She is continue to explore and grow in size to our kids and grandkids: Well, we had a real lawyer. She knows that court- and make a lot of money. But the no- a chance back in 2021 to do something room inside and out, and she knows the tion of encouraging electric vehicles is about it, but we decided it just might legal process as well. somehow heretical to our friends on make people uneasy to think about Ms. Jackson-Akiwumi’s experience the Republican side. I think it is very that much change. and perspective on the criminal justice shortsighted. Well, I feel uneasy about the change system will be an asset in the Seventh I think we should look at the obvi- that is coming if we do nothing. It is Circuit. If she is approved, she will be ous. I tell this story, and it is worth re- going to be a dramatic change for the the second woman of color to be in that peating. Six years ago, we had an auto worse for our kids. circuit. It is about time. plant in Normal, IL—yes, that is the f Her skills and legal expertise will be name of it: Normal, IL. Six years ago, invaluable. She received a ‘‘well quali- Mitsubishi closed their auto plant. VLADIMIR PUTIN fied’’ rating by the ABA. There were more than 1,000 people Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, on She has a great temperament. One of working there, and there was that big another topic, this notion that Joe our Senators on the Judiciary Com- sprawling complex just off of Interstate Biden is being pushed around by Vladi- mittee tried to trap her with a ques- 55. Every time you took that interstate mir Putin—the Senator who made that tion, seeing just whether she knew and looked out there, you thought: statement on the floor, or one just like enough about the law. When it was all That is going to be there forever. That it, has he ignored what happened over over, I think he was satisfied that she building is just going to deteriorate the last 4 years? did. and be there forever. Every time the President of the She spoke to the fact that her moth- Well, guess what. A year after they United States, Donald Trump, would er taught her how important it is for closed, the mayor of Normal, IL, whose meet with Vladimir Putin, they would judges to listen and for litigants to be name is Chris Koos—a wonderful ask the translators to leave the room, heard. This is a fundamental principle

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.005 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4711 in our system of justice. She is going to the fight to preserve voting rights bridge and stop this assault on our de- to devote her life to defending the rule that has never ended. mocracy and put an end to the Big Lie of law in the future, as she has in the It didn’t start on that bridge in once and for all. past. I really think she is going to be Selma, and it won’t end in this Cham- I yield the floor. ber in Washington. This battle is going extraordinary. f The second nominee the Senate will to continue because there are those vote on this week has my strong sup- people who know that if you want to RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME port as well, Judge Deborah Boardman, control America politically, you have The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- nominated to the U.S. District Court got to control those who vote. pore. Under the previous order, the for the District of Maryland. We saw it after the Civil War, when leadership time is reserved. She serves as a U.S. magistrate judge we ended slavery and African Ameri- f in the Maryland District Court. Like cans initially had an opportunity to Jackson-Akiwumi, she has received a vote and lead in Southern States. And CONCLUSION OF MORNING ‘‘well qualified’’ rating from the ABA. then, sad to report, my political party, BUSINESS She, too, will bring diversity to the the Democratic Party at that time, was part of initiating the Jim Crow The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- courts. pore. Morning business is closed. She spent 11 years as a Federal public laws, which made it difficult, if not im- defender herself. She is bringing a per- possible, to vote. f And the battle was on, and it is being spective which is often not found in EXECUTIVE SESSION these court cases with sitting judges. I waged to this day, about whether or have nothing against former prosecu- not African Americans have a right to --- vote. Make no mistake. When Repub- tors. I have named a lot of them to the EXECUTIVE CALENDAR licans come to the floor and go through bench. But we ought to have diversity The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- in background, experience, and the these long, elaborate explanations of why a coordinated effort by Republican pore. Under the previous order, the like. Senate will proceed to executive ses- She has experience in private prac- legislatures in 20 different States is sion to resume consideration of the fol- tice. She is a dedicated public servant, just good government, I think they lowing nomination, which the clerk and I hope my colleagues will support know better. It is not good govern- will report. her. ment, and it is not good for the people of those States, particularly if you are The senior assistant legislative clerk f a minority. read the nomination of Deborah L. FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021 Well, this fight to prevent billion- Boardman, of Maryland, to be United Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I aires from buying elections and root States District Judge for the District watched television Sunday night with out corruption in government didn’t of Maryland. my wife. There was a movie called end with that filibuster yesterday. Re- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ‘‘Selma.’’ Oprah Winfrey had some- publicans succeeded in delaying this pore. The Senator has been recognized. thing to do with it because she was in debate for a time, but they are not DEMOCRATIC AGENDA it, and it was, as you might expect, a going to derail it. This is too impor- Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi- quality production. tant. Our democracy is on the line. dent, it seems that for the past month Five months ago—I am sure Madam It told the story of what happened in Senate Republicans have watched as President will never forget it, as I 1965 in Selma, AL. It showed the hor- our Democratic colleagues send up one won’t—a murderous mob—five people rific images of Americans being beaten partisan test balloon after another. died—a murderous mob attacked this and brutalized in Selma for daring to They threatened a battle over a so- Capitol and tried to overturn the Presi- protest peacefully. For what? For the called equal pay bill, which turned out dential election. to be chum in the water for the trial right to vote. Who sent them? Well, it is clear to lawyers but really not much else. Then Fewer people know about Turn- me who sent them: a vain, self-pitying they, once again, threatened the Sec- around Tuesday. That was the day, 2 former President who couldn’t accept days after Bloody Sunday, when many defeat or the will of the American peo- ond Amendment, but they couldn’t find of the same people who had been beat- ple. So Donald Trump created a Big Lie a friend across party lines to join them en on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on that the election was stolen. He used in that fight. So that trial balloon was Bloody Sunday went back to that that lie to incite that mob to attack popped. bridge to make it plain that they were this Capitol. He continues to peddle the And who could forget their promise going to come back again and again Big Lie from his exile at some country to bring the improperly named Equal- until every right of every citizen to club. ity Act to the floor for a vote? Well, vote was secured. That was Turnaround Now the party that coddled that that balloon didn’t take flight either. Tuesday. failed President when he was in power And, yesterday, the Democrats’ democ- I had a lucky experience. The late is weaponizing the Big Lie and using it racy-destroying election takeover bill John Lewis, who marched across that to justify a relentless attack on voting almost survived, but it too came crash- Edmund Pettus Bridge and almost gave rights across America. ing back to Earth after failing to clear his life in the process, took me, one Three weeks ago, Senate Republicans a procedural hurdle. foggy Sunday morning, for a walk used the filibuster to kill a bill cre- Still, they have made the most of across the Edmund Pettus Bridge, and ating an independent, bipartisan com- their time over the past month, hold- he told me what he remembered from mission to investigate who was behind ing up their string of failures as evi- that day. this January 6 insurrection. They dence that it is the filibuster and not I have seen pictures over and over killed it with the filibuster, just as the radically partisan nature of their again. There he is in his white rain- they tried to kill the voting rights bill agenda that is thwarting their coat, with a backpack, marching in the yesterday. That filibuster is an echo, progress. front of the line, and how he was sadly, of how it has been used in the As the Republican leader said at the bashed in the head by either a trooper area of civil rights for as long as it has beginning of this month, it was an or someone who came along trying to been in the Senate. agenda that was designed to fail. It stop them from marching. He almost This Big Lie is metastasizing; it is failed to bring them the power that died as a result of it. It was something growing. Instead of stopping it, Repub- they are craving to have over the lives I will never forget. I feel blessed that I licans are using all their leverage to of millions of Americans. It failed to had that experience. prevent us from confronting it. The fil- kill the filibuster, and it certainly And then there was the vote on the ibuster yesterday was day one of this failed the millions of Americans who floor yesterday. What a disappoint- fight. It wasn’t the end of the story. have been forced to watch, dumb- ment. Today, I want to say it is ‘‘wel- Welcome to day two. We mean to founded, as this circus played out in come back’’ Wednesday. Welcome back keep marching until we cross that realtime on their television screens.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.007 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4712 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 It was a complete waste of our time. unaccompanied minors through the [Rollcall Vote No. 247 Ex.] It is what one of my Tennesseans said Chattanooga Airport without the YEAS—52 this weekend, talking about these trial knowledge or the involvement of local Baldwin Heinrich Reed balloons, talking about this lurch to officials. Bennet Hickenlooper Rosen the left—and Madam President, this Meanwhile, my Democratic col- Blumenthal Hirono Sanders Booker Kaine was a friend of mine who is a Demo- Schatz leagues are treating this humanitarian Brown Kelly Schumer crat—as he said, it was a complete crisis as if it is nothing more than a lo- Cantwell King Shaheen waste of our time, the American peo- gistics challenge. But perhaps if we had Cardin Klobuchar Sinema Carper Leahy Smith ple’s time. He added: It was a complete spent more time on this in the past Casey Luja´ n Stabenow waste of my dime—for the tax dollars month, we could have convinced them Collins Manchin Tester Coons Markey that he sends to Washington, DC. He that until they get this crisis under Van Hollen went on to say: Think about the prob- control, they would have to admit, in Cortez Masto Menendez Duckworth Merkley Warner lems you could have solved if you had this country right now, every town is a Durbin Murphy Warnock been focused on making some progress border town; every State, a border Feinstein Murray Warren instead of creating chaos. State. Just ask your local law enforce- Gillibrand Ossoff Whitehouse Yesterday, the Commerce Committee Graham Padilla Wyden ment. They will tell you. Perhaps they Hassan Peters held a hearing on achieving broadband didn’t want to put the time there be- NAYS—48 resiliency. As you well know, this is cause they had been busy putting a one of the most important infrastruc- show on for the cameras and their Barrasso Grassley Portman Blackburn Hagerty Risch ture problems that not only faces our friends on the left. Blunt Hawley Romney committee but also faces this body. We Tennesseans noticed what went on Boozman Hoeven Rounds had a great discussion, and I thanked here this month. They are not happy Braun Hyde-Smith Rubio Chairman LUJA´ N for that hearing. But Burr Inhofe Sasse about it. They have been reaching out. Capito Johnson Scott (FL) I can’t help but wonder how much more They don’t have the luxury of playing Cassidy Kennedy Scott (SC) progress we would have been able to political games. They don’t have the Cornyn Lankford Shelby make on this issue if the 14 million spare resources to gamble on woke pol- Cotton Lee Sullivan Cramer Lummis Thune unserved rural Americans—yes, itics. They are trying to keep the doors Crapo Marshall Tillis unserved; they have nothing—think of their businesses and their churches Cruz McConnell Toomey about the progress we could have made and their schools and their factories Daines Moran Tuberville if those 14 million unserved Americans Ernst Murkowski Wicker open. Fischer Paul Young had taken precedence in the minds and We did a lot of talking this month, The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this in the agenda of our friends across the but the friends on the left chose not to vote, the yeas are 52, the nays are 48. aisle. It would have been great to focus take action to solve problems. I would on that. The motion is agreed to. encourage them to do a little soul- The Democratic whip. Speaking of infrastructure, perhaps searching over the next couple of UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.R. 1652 we could have focused more energy on weeks and address the agenda that the giving the needed authority to our Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, last American people would seek to have week, I told the story of a mother who local officials so they can fix crum- addressed. bling roads and bridges and getting received critical support from an orga- I yield the floor. nization called Life Span in Chicago regulations out of their way so they CLOTURE MOTION after her daughter was sexually as- can go to work helping people get to The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. saulted by the mother’s husband. The work and helping children get back to BALDWIN). Pursuant to rule XXII, the services provided by Life Span were school. Certainly, I know a few officials Chair lays before the Senate the pend- paid for by the Victims of Crime Act, in Memphis who would love to see us ing cloture motion, which the clerk VOCA. start thinking long term about prac- will state. This week, I want to tell you another tical infrastructure support that The legislative clerk read as follows: story that is even more troubling, but doesn’t include the Green New Deal CLOTURE MOTION it dramatizes the need for us to act fantasies that are favored by this We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- today, this afternoon. I am going to White House. use the name ‘‘Sasha,’’ not the real The American people have noticed ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby name of the woman involved. She is a this lack of focus and this freewheeling move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- mother of three kids, and she was liv- attitude when it comes to spending nation of Executive Calendar No. 172, Debo- ing with a man who was unpredictable taxpayers’ money. When they look rah L. Boardman, of Maryland, to be United and dangerous. around, they see real need. There are States District Judge for the District of He tried to kill her—not once but businesses and families who are still Maryland. three times. He tried strangling her, struggling to pull themselves out of Charles E. Schumer, Richard J. Durbin, and the third time, she passed out. Benjamin L. Cardin, Chris Van Hollen, the ashes of the pandemic. Policies When she woke up with the kids near- that are favored by the Democrats Jacky Rosen, John Hickenlooper, Tammy Baldwin, Richard Blumenthal, by, she knew that was it. She couldn’t would be policies that would bankrupt Kirsten E. Gillibrand, Raphael take it anymore. So she went to a hos- their businesses, that would drive up Warnock, Martin Heinrich, Christopher pital. She was scared to death. She the debt, and that would cause massive Murphy, Sheldon Whitehouse, Bernard heard about a group called Harbor inflation. Tennesseans know these poli- Sanders, Jeff Merkley, Patty Murray, House. Harbor House is basically a do- cies are not going to help them. What Margaret Wood Hassan. mestic violence survivors center. it does do is to frustrate them. Neither The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- I would tell my colleagues in the will the Democrats’ continued failure imous consent, the mandatory quorum Senate, if you have ever visited a do- to manage President Biden’s border call has been waived. mestic violence survivors center and crisis. The question is, Is it the sense of the met with any of the victims, you will In April, Customs and Border Protec- Senate that debate on the nomination never forget it. I swear, you will never tion apprehended 178,000 people at- of Deborah L. Boardman, of Maryland, forget it. I can remember the first time tempting to illegally cross our border. to be United States District Judge for I met with one of the victims in one of Fourteen thousand of these were unac- the District of Maryland, shall be the shelters. She was crying. Her eyes companied alien children. It is a record brought to a close? were red, one eye was blackened, and year for drug runners, for the cartels, The yeas and nays are mandatory she choked back the tears and told me for bootleggers, for human traffickers, under the rule. the story of what she lived through. and for sex traffickers. We caught the The clerk will call the roll. For some reason—and I am not a psy- Department of Health and Human The legislative clerk called the roll. chologist; I can’t explain it—she Services actually finishing the work of The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 52, blamed herself. And it happens so the cartels, trafficking many of those nays 48, as follows: often.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.009 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4713 What happens to these women who VOCA fix. Our bill would stabilize the posed substitute, and the proposed sub- are the victims of domestic violence depleted fund by redirecting monetary stitute intended to restructure the en- abuse? Where do they go? Some of penalties from deferred prosecutions tire appropriations process is incred- them can’t find anywhere to go and end and nonprosecution agreements to the ibly controversial.’’ up dying as a result of it. What hap- victims and service providers who need In other words, we are going to dive pens to their kids who witness these the help. into the deep end of the pool on budget acts of violence in the home when mom The reduced deposits into the fund process, budget rules, and budget regu- is getting strangled by this man? What have already had a devastating impact. lation while people are literally drown- happens to them? Well, luckily, we Victim assistance grants have been re- ing in violence—victims of domestic care enough in America to do some- duced by more than $600 million in this abuse. thing about it. Through VOCA and the year. And more cuts are coming if we For goodness’ sake, isn’t there a bet- Crime Victims Fund, we send money to don’t do something today. ter time and place and a better group Harbor House and Life Span and other Like Harbor House, advocates across to hold hostage? It shouldn’t be these agencies and say: Do your best. Help the State and across the country are domestic violence cases. them put their lives back together begging for help. We don’t have any I yield at this point to the Senator again. Protect them. time to waste. Every day that goes by, from Rhode Island. Well, I want to fast-forward and tell we miss an opportunity to help replen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- you that 6 months after Sasha’s experi- ish the fund and to put these services ator from Rhode Island. Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Madam Presi- ence, things are much better. She lives on the street. dent, I won’t speak long, but I wanted safely in an apartment. She still works So far this year, the fund has already to echo the comments of our distin- missed out on a total of nearly $550 with adult counselors and youth coun- guished Judiciary chairman, because I million in deposits that could be help- selors to get herself and her kids have had a similar experience. through this, and she knows that she is ing these agencies, and we are not even As we were going through COVID, I not alone. These VOCA-funded advo- halfway through the year. That is why was hearing from our domestic vio- cates stepped into her life at just the it is imperative that we pass this bill. lence groups in Rhode Island that two right moment and saved her life. They The House already did it in March, 3 things were happening at once. In- may have saved the lives of her chil- months ago—broad bipartisan support. stances were going up. People were dren too. Here in the Senate, we have a broad bi- trapped together. It was very difficult So when we cut back on funding for partisan coalition of Senators—36 to find sanctuary houses to go to, and whatever reason, we are jeopardizing Democrats and 21 Republicans. We all the experience of domestic violence the services that I just described that get it. We are all for crime victims. But was soaring. And while that was going are so critical. we have been stopped because of an ob- on, the funding coming into these With decreased VOCA funding—if we jection on the floor. agencies through VOCA was declining. do nothing today, with decreased Let’s end this today. Whatever the Now there is a pretty simple—well, VOCA funding, Harbor House will have merits of any budgetary argument, for first let me thank the Rhode Island Co- to cut its staffers, exactly the types of goodness’ sake, lives are at stake here. alition Against Domestic Violence and professionals who helped Sasha and her Unfortunately, this objection about Sojourner House, which provides sanc- family. moving forward was made last week, tuary services, and Progreso Latino, The executive director said: and it probably will be made again which works in this space in our If VOCA is cut, imagine being Sasha and today. It involves Senator TOOMEY’s Latino community, for their great having to go through all of that alone. concern about a budgetary issue. It is a work. There are a lot of organizations That is why we have to pass this bill. complicated issue about something in this space, and I want to start by ap- That is why it is so critical. called CHIMPs, for goodness’ sake, preciating them. As I noted last week, VOCA passed in which he can explain, and I am sure he The problem has nothing to do with 1984 to establish the Crime Victims will. domestic violence or domestic violence Fund. We can’t even count the number But after last week’s argument on victims as to the money. The problem of people who have been helped over this, I went to the advocates who are is that more and more of these cases the years. Three thousand applicants telling us that we should send this are resolved by deferred prosecution come through my State Attorney Gen- money as quickly as we can and said: Is and nonprosecution agreements, but eral’s Office in Illinois, and every State he right? Is this designed, without his the funding for VOCA comes out of has a similar story to tell of thousands amendment, so that this money will criminal sentences, criminal prosecu- of victims helped by service providers, not go to the people who need it? tions. So because of that change in the victims of domestic violence, sexual as- They said he is wrong. This is not way these cases are treated—which is sault, child abuse, trafficking, and going to happen. actually a good thing, generally—the drunk drivers. Here is their statement: ‘‘During money is diverted, and, as a result, the And the Crime Victims Fund doesn’t floor remarks for the unanimous con- Crime Victims Fund has reached its receive a dime of taxpayers’ dollars. sent [last week], it was represented the lowest level in 10 years. How about that? What I just described VOCA Fix Act fails to correct certain The victim assistance grants in for you doesn’t come out of the Treas- structural issues that prevent the Rhode Island fell 50 percent—5–0 per- ury. It is funded through criminal funds from reaching victims and their cent—cut in half from fiscal year 2016 fines, penalties, forfeited bail bonds, advocates. The premise of this state- to fiscal year 2021, from $7.6 million to and special assessments collected by ment—that these structural issues im- $3.8 million, which means that many of the Federal Government. pact the distribution of VOCA funds to these local organizations that put their Historically, most of the money survivors and advocates—is not accu- heart and soul into protecting these comes from criminal fines, but in re- rate.’’ victims at the worst time in their lives cent years, deposits have dropped off This is from the actual agencies have to deal with 50-percent cuts. significantly. That is why we are here themselves. This is simple. It will allow monetary at this moment. They need help, and ‘‘While the use of CHIMPS (Changes penalties in those deferred prosecu- they need it now. in Mandatory Programs) as budget off- tions and nonprosecution agreements Monetary penalties from deferred sets continues to be a contentious to flow the same way they flow when prosecutions and nonprosecution agree- issue, the claim that Appropriators traditional prosecutions take place. ments are currently deposited in the hoard money rather than releasing it This is endorsed across the board. Treasury instead of the fund. As a re- to victim service providers is false.’’ This is as noncontroversial as you sult, the shift has had a devastating Inaccurate and false. get—56 State and Territorial attorneys impact on the fund. That is why a bi- ‘‘In reality, Appropriators have sub- general, more than 1,700 local, Tribal, partisan, bicameral group of Members stantially decreased the size of the State, regional, and national advocacy, of Congress, working with advocacy or- budget offset by releasing far more government, and law enforcement or- ganizations, have come up with this than the amount required by the pro- ganizations.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:03 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.019 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4714 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 Just this year, $545 million has been So you have to ask yourself: Why President Biden in his budget asking us lost to the VOCA fund because we would somebody oppose the proposal to go right back to what we used to do. haven’t corrected this. So I would echo that this money actually be required to So, then, when I come down here and my chairman’s remarks and urge my go to victims and their advocates? Why I suggest one modification to the very friend, the Senator from Pennsylvania, would somebody oppose that? constructive idea that we add this set- to find another point of leverage, an- Maybe it is because there is some tlement money to the fund, and the other fulcrum, for his efforts to solve other place that some of this money is modification is that the money actu- unrelated problems, but let this prob- meant to go, and that is at the heart of ally has to go to crime victims and lem be solved and let these victims be this. See, under the ridiculous rules we their advocates, that is objected to. served. operate under, if the money doesn’t end People are insistent that we not have a I yield the floor. up going to crime victims and their ad- requirement that this money actually The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. vocates, then, it frees up additional be allocated. HICKENLOOPER). The Senator from Illi- money to be spent on whatever any- So someone might think that that is nois. body else wants to spend it on. The a pretty strong body of evidence that Mr. DURBIN. I thank the Senator money that is withheld from the people suggests that maybe all of this money from Rhode Island. who are supposed to get it, crime vic- isn’t going to end up where it is sup- As if in legislative session, I ask tims and their advocates, creates the posed to go. unanimous consent that the Senate opportunity to spend more on who Therefore, I ask unanimous consent proceed to the immediate consider- knows what. that the Senator modify his request to ation of H.R. 1652, which was received Now, would anyone actually do this include my amendment, which is at the from the House and is at the desk; fur- or is this just a theoretical construct desk; that it be considered and agreed ther, that the bill be considered read a that I have made up? Well, let’s take a to; and that the bill, as amended, be third time and passed, and the motion look at the recent history. The fact is, considered read a third time and to reconsider be considered made and since 2000, in the year 2000, over $80 bil- passed, and that the motion to recon- laid upon the table. lion that could have and should have sider be considered made and laid upon The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there gone to crime victims and their advo- the table with no intervening action or objection? cates was intentionally withheld so debate. The Senator from Pennsylvania. that more money could be spent in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Mr. TOOMEY. Mr. President, reserv- other categories. objection? ing the right to object, I have good What this chart shows is the amount Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, reserv- news for my colleagues from Illinois of money year in and year out. It starts ing the right to object, if you listen to and Rhode Island, and that is that the in 2000. You see these low bars. Well this explanation, there is one thing modification that I am suggesting to under a billion dollars was actually al- missing and it is critical. There is a the unanimous consent request prof- located to crime victims. suggestion that this money for the fered by the Senator from Illinois is There was much more money going Crime Victims Fund is being spent for into those accounts—much more not complicated. It has nothing to do another purpose. You never heard that, money—because, you see, how much with budget rules, and, in fact, it is the did you? It said it could be, maybe it going into the account isn’t the only simplest thing in the world. will be, it might be—but it hasn’t been. thing that matters. What is actually, Now, the Senator from Illinois wants Listen to what they say, these people ultimately, much more important is to put more money and money from a in the advocacy groups are jealously how much comes out of the account new source into the Crime Victims watching every penny. They want and goes to the crime victims. And Fund. I completely agree. I fully sup- every dollar, just as you do and I do. only when I and some of my colleagues port it. I have liked this idea from the And what do they say about your argu- started raising hell about this—the dis- first time I heard of it, and I supported ment? honesty, the deception, the fact that it. The premise of your statement that the crime victims and their advocates But there is something that is impor- these structural issues impact the dis- weren’t getting nearly what they were tant to note here. The Crime Victims tribution of the victims funds to sur- supposed to be getting—only then—this Fund is a Federal Government account, vivors and advocates is not accurate. It is the red line that represents when we and the Senator is very determined goes on to say that the claim that ap- started doing this—that is when the al- that more money go into that account. propriators hoard the money rather So what do we disagree on? Well, it is locations started to change. This graph represents the huge surge than releasing it to victims services is very simple. The Senator from Illinois in funds that we have been sending to false. This is from the very agencies re- seems to be equally determined that crime victims and their advocates in ceiving the money. there can be no requirement that the recent years because some of us were Are they in on the deal, Senator? money actually come out of that ac- no longer willing to tolerate this and I don’t think so. They are desperate count and go to crime victims and we were raising Cain about what had for these funds, and without them, they their advocates. That is the only thing been going on. are going to have a serious cutback in that I want to do differently. It is to Now, what I am simply trying to do services. insist that money going into that ac- is to prevent us from going back to The proposed substitute intended to count actually comes out and goes to what was routine around here, what restructure the entire appropriations the victims of crime and their advo- was standard operating procedure, process is incredibly controversial, and cates. which was to deceive people, pretend you know it and I know it as a member Now, if my concern that this money that money was going to end up going of the Appropriations Committee. Yet is not going to end up going where it is to the Crime Victims Fund when every- you are tangling up this relief for the advertised to go is not valid, then, I body knew it wasn’t. victims of crime, victims of domestic don’t know why my colleagues Now, why would I be concerned that abuse, women who are seeking shelter wouldn’t agree to my very narrow we might be going back in that direc- and hospital care and trying to care for amendment which, by the way, doesn’t tion? Well, I will tell you why. Presi- their children and what they are going have a thing to do with budget rules. I dent Biden has been very instructive through. You want to hold back on the don’t attempt to change budget rules about this. In his budget that he re- possibility—the possibility—that some- in this effort. We should change them, leased just months ago, he actually body is going to spend this on some- but this isn’t where I am trying to do specifies that in his budget he wants thing else, even though you have no it. What I am simply trying to do is to money to be diverted from the crime proof that it has been done—none. make sure that the money that goes victims fund, which is mentioned by And the people who are the advocates into the account—the increase, too— name, and one other fund, so that more for these groups are saying to you: actually goes to where it is supposed to money can be spent on other purposes. What you are saying is inaccurate and go, which is to the victims of crimes This is my concern. This isn’t some- false. and their advocates. thing that has been made up. This is And you won’t give it up.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.020 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4715 I would suggest: Pick another target. your mask to eat and drink. So why is experts at the Centers for Disease Con- Find some other group to make your it OK and totally safe to not have a trol and Prevention are continuing to budget point of order. Please don’t mask while you eat a snack but dan- update their mask requirements based take this out on these people who are gerous to be unmasked any other time? on the latest developments, including in the most desperate situations in The CDC itself has been clear that requirements related to travel. They their life. This is not the time and mask mandates aren’t needed. You need us to be reinforcing their science- place to raise this budget debate. I seri- don’t have to wear a mask in a res- based work to keep people safe, not ously hope that you will think about taurant. You don’t have to wear a overruling it. them for a moment. mask in a hotel. You don’t have to We cannot pretend this pandemic is I object to your modification. wear a mask at a school. You don’t over. This virus is still spreading; it is The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there have to wear a mask in a stadium. So still mutating; it is still costing lives; an objection to the original request? why is the CDC singling out airlines and it is still leaving survivors with Mr. TOOMEY. Reserving the right to and public transportation? It doesn’t long-haul symptoms. And the new object, this is an amazing argument make any sense. Delta variant is more contagious, more that the Senator from Illinois is mak- This isn’t a political argument. In likely to send people to the hospital, ing. He is saying: Don’t worry. He fact, during our Commerce Committee and already in our country. would never do what the Senator from markup of the surface transportation We have made great progress on vac- Pennsylvania is suggesting might hap- measure last week, both Democrats cinations, but there are still people pen and which, by the way, always used and Republicans expressed frustration who are not vaccinated, as well as peo- to happen, and, which, by the way, the at the continuation of the mask man- ple who cannot yet get vaccinated. We President is asking us to do. We would date. Republican and Democratic Gov- know masks remain a simple, effective never do it. Oh, but I will object to a ernors and mayors across the country way to protect everyone, especially in requirement that the money actually have followed the science and lifted small crowded spaces—in an airplane, go where we say it is going to go. mask mandates. on a bus, or a train. I think that tells us all we need to Just like the Federal Government Getting rid of mask requirements for know. So I object. should not be in the business of requir- travel before the experts tell us it is The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- ing Americans to turn over their vac- safe to do so is not going to get people tion is heard. cination records, the Federal Govern- to their destinations any faster, and it The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ment should not be mandating citizens ator from Florida. is not going to end this pandemic any wear masks on public transportation. faster. Instead, it will draw things out. UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 2084 That is why I introduced the Stop It will cost time, and it will cost lives. Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Mandating Additional Requirements To get everyone safely through this it has been a trying year for our Na- for Travel, or SMART Act, which pandemic, we need to listen to the ex- tion. Thankfully, the vaccine has would revoke the Federal requirement perts and let them do their jobs; there- brought so much hope and a semblance for Americans to wear masks on public fore, I object. of normalcy back to the lives of many transportation. Americans should be The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- Americans. free to make choices they feel are in tion is heard. As families and businesses in Florida the best interest of their own health and across the United States continue The Senator from Utah. and the health of their loved ones. Mr. LEE. Mr. President, I echo the to work hard to recover from the dev- If someone wants to wear a mask, remarks presented by my friend and astation of COVID–19, travel is critical they are absolutely free to do so, but colleague, the junior Senator from to get our economy fully reopened. the government has no right to tell Florida. I agree wholeheartedly with From the beginning of the pandemic, them what to do. If an airline or other his analysis. I think it is unfortunate I encouraged everyone to wear a mask private company decides it wants to that we missed this opportunity to as we learned more about this virus, implement a mask policy, so be it. This enact meaningful change today, change but now the science is clear that broad does not prohibit them from doing so. mask mandates aren’t necessary. Un- I have been clear. Private companies that is backed up by science. fortunately, the CDC has decided to should be able to make decisions that It was in January of this year that buck the science when it comes to they feel are appropriate for their em- the Centers for Disease Control ordered travel and is still requiring face masks ployees and their customers. And their the mandatory use of masks on planes, on public transportation. customer gets to make a decision. trains, buses, and other modes of public We have all heard the stories of how This bill is pure common sense, and I transit of every kind everywhere across this mandate impacts families: a moth- am glad to be joined today by my col- this country. If Americans failed to er and her six children traumatized by league from Utah, Senator LEE, and he comply with this mandate, they risked being kicked off a flight after her 2- will be speaking after I ask for the con- being fined or even criminally pros- year-old daughter refused to wear a sent. ecuted. mask; a New Jersey couple forced to The science just doesn’t support Six months later, the coronavirus deplane because their 2-year-old keeping the mask mandate in place. continues with the CDC refusing to rec- wouldn’t wear a mask; a Colorado We have to listen to the science and ognize its own research that the man- mother and their family booted off a work together to move America for- date is no longer defensible. It is now flight over fears their 3-year-old son, ward. I know Americans will do the June. The vaccine has been made avail- who has a disability, wouldn’t wear a right thing to stay safe, and I hope my able for months, COVID cases are mask; an Orthodox Jewish family colleagues join me in passing this im- plummeting, and the country is anx- kicked off a flight because their 15- portant bill. ious to return to the way things once month-old baby was not wearing a Mr. President, as if in legislative ses- were. The CDC has even said that vac- mask. sion, I ask unanimous consent that the cinated Americans don’t have to wear You can’t make this stuff up. It has Committee on HELP be discharged masks and can get their lives back to made traveling with children nearly from further consideration of S. 2084 normal. impossible. After a year of hardships and the Senate proceed to its imme- More than 45 percent of Americans and being apart from loved ones, these diate consideration. I ask unanimous are now fully vaccinated. States are families were denied the ability to re- consent that the bill be considered read lifting their restrictions, and in res- connect. It is awful and unnecessary. a third time and passed and that the taurants, stores, and workplaces across And I hear stories all the time about motion to reconsider be considered the country, it is no longer required, parents with young children deciding, I made and laid upon the table. mercifully, to wear a mask. If Ameri- am not getting on an airplane because The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there cans still want to wear one, they can I know I will get kicked off or I might objection? make that decision for themselves. get kicked off. The Senator from Washington. They are free to do so. But the CDC’s And to make guidelines even more Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, re- requirement that vaccinated individ- confusing, you are allowed to remove serving the right to object, right now, uals—even vaccinated individuals—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.021 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4716 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 must wear masks on all forms of public The science—the science shows that We shouldn’t prohibit them from want- transit now blatantly contradicts the wearing masks should not be Federal ing to do that, but we should not be Agency’s own policies and the Agency’s law, and we should act accordingly. We dictating this. own scientific research. It needlessly should, moreover, give Americans some So I am disappointed that my col- promotes fear and plays politics with reason to want to be vaccinated. When league from the State of Washington the lives of the American people, not to there is light at the end of the tunnel didn’t go along, but I think it is impor- mention it has imposed absurd expecta- and when they can see there is some tant for us to always make sure we are tions and serious consequences on chil- tangible, immediate benefit to them doing the right thing for the American dren and families, especially families getting vaccinated, they are more like- public and, right now, the right thing with children trying to travel. ly to do it. If they can safely enter a is eliminate the mask mandate on pub- You see, after the January mandate, place of mass transit without a mask, lic transportation. the CDC issued a corresponding man- if they choose to do so, many more peo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- date that exempted only children over ple will choose to get vaccinated if we ator from Michigan. the age of 2, in keeping with their give them that benefit or if we at least original mask-wearing guidance, guid- allow the operators of those modes of UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—EXECUTIVE ance that is among the most stringent transportation to allow people to do CALENDAR in the world and, I would add, the most that. Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise unrealistic in the world, when you con- We can assert our rightful authority today in support of two critical nomi- sider that they require it up to and in- and promote sound science and com- nations: Jen Easterly’s nomination to cluding children as young as 2 years mon sense by supporting the bill intro- be the Director of the Cybersecurity old. duced by my friend and colleague, Sen- So what have been some of the re- and Infrastructure Security Agency— ator SCOTT of Florida. We need this to commonly referred to as CISA—within sults of this guidance? Parents have pass. The American people have suf- been kicked off and banned from the Department of Homeland Security, fered through a very, very long COVID as well as Robin Carnahan to be the flights if their small children refuse to winter. It is time for them to be able to wear a mask. For parents of kids with Administrator of the General Services make their own choices. That is what Administration, or GSA. disabilities and many parents of espe- we do best as Americans because we be- Our country is under attack. Nation- cially small children, compliance has lieve in freedom. been nearly impossible. We also believe that whenever the co- state actors and criminal organizations We already know that children, espe- ercive power of government, especially are relentlessly targeting our govern- cially young children, are unlikely to the coercive power of the Federal Gov- ment, critical infrastructure, and key contribute to the spread of the virus. ernment is exercised, it must do so industries to infiltrate networks, steal What we do not know, however, is what with the authority of Congress. We information, conduct espionage, and scientific studies, if any at all, the CDC should never tacitly acquiesce to the demand ransom payments. happens to be relying on in reaching authority of overlords within a bureau- These cyber attacks pose a serious this guidance—in reaching the conclu- cratic Agency who are elected by no threat to our national security. As we sions underlying this guidance. saw from the SolarWinds hack, as well In fact, several of my colleagues and one and ultimately accountable only to as the Colonial Pipeline and JBS I sent a letter to the Agency with this themselves. ransomware attacks, cyber criminals very question more than 2 months ago, We are in charge here. We make the are constantly looking to exploit cyber on April 22, 2021. And now, more than 2 law. We shouldn’t blindly defer to any- security vulnerabilities and find the months later, we have yet to receive an one, certainly not the CDC when the weakest link. We must be vigilant answer. It is a very simple question, CDC ignores its own science. about preventing these attacks, and we and we have yet to receive any shred, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- need a strong, coordinated approach any semblance, any scintilla of an an- ator from Florida. Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, swer. I find that unacceptable. from across the Federal Government to If the CDC actually believes its own I thank my colleague from Utah for his better secure America’s networks. research, then it should act like it. And comments. I want to thank his contin- That means the Senate needs to con- if it believes in the vaccines, the very ued commitment always to make sure firm qualified cyber security nominees vaccines on which we have spent bil- that we, Congress, handles everything so that they can get to work imme- lions of taxpayer dollars, then it should we can. We don’t defer constantly to diately. act consistently and instill confidence the executive branch in making deci- CISA is the lead domestic Agency for in the American people, rather than sions that we should be making. cyber security in the Federal Govern- fear. This is a simple example of why we ment. It is responsible for ensuring And with the vaccine now free and should be making this decision. This is that Federal Departments and Agen- widely available, Americans should be following the science, and I am actu- cies—our private sector critical infra- able to weigh the cost of the options ally shocked that my colleague from structure partners—and the American before them and choose for themselves the State of Washington does not want people have the resources to detect, to whether to receive the vaccine, wheth- to follow the science. withstand, and to respond to cyber at- er to wear a mask, or whether to take I don’t understand why my colleague tacks. GSA provides a wide range of their own precautions free of any man- from the State of Washington wants support to Agencies across the govern- dates imposed by their government. government to be dictating things. ment. One of GSA’s key functions is to But if the Federal Government is Why do we want to dictate to Ameri- provide funding and expertise to help going to have a say in whether or not cans how to lead their lives? Why does Agencies both modernize and secure there should be a mandate, it should be she think that the government—why their IT systems and their networks. up to Congress, the sole branch of the has the government lifted mandates in We need Senate-confirmed leadership Federal Government empowered to States all across the country but not— at the top of these critical Agencies, enact law and, not coincidentally, the and why is the CDC fine with every and we need it today. branch elected by and held most ac- place but public transportation? It just countable to the people at most regular doesn’t make any sense. Ms. Easterly has served for over intervals. It should be up to this Americans will do the right thing. It three decades in the Federal Govern- branch of government, the legislative is not our job to dictate, to tell them ment and the private sector. branch, to enact such a mandate. how to lead their lives. If someone Since 2017, Ms. Easterly has led the To the extent that the CDC issued wants to wear a mask, so be it. They operations center for Morgan Stanley’s this mandate, it did so using authority should do it, but the government has cyber defense strategy. She was also a delegated to it from Congress. We, in no right to tell them that they have to critical member of the Cyber Solarium Congress, did not pass the mask man- wear a mask. If an airline or another Commission, which has made 80 rec- date, and we do not have to defer to private company decides it wants to ommendations for cyber deterrence, 25 those bureaucrats who did. implement a mask policy, have at it. of which have already become law.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.013 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4717 Prior to joining the private sector, dent Biden has shown a total lack of I remember my colleagues were say- Ms. Easterly served as the Special As- accountability when it comes to ad- ing: Oh, we don’t need the wall. We sistant to the President and Senior Di- dressing the border crisis. That is why have lights and cameras so they can rector for Counterterrorism, the Dep- I announced last month that I would be monitor from someplace else. uty for Counterterrorism at the Na- holding all of President Biden’s nomi- They are out there; they are just not tional Security Agency, and was in- nees for the Department of Homeland hooked up to electricity, intentionally. strumental in the design and creation Security from being approved through I mean, you can’t make this stuff up. of the U.S. Cyber Command. our expedited process until he and Vice It has been 3 months since I made On top of all of these incredible ac- President HARRIS visit the border and clear that President Biden and Vice complishments, Ms. Easterly is a two- they see for themselves the crisis their President HARRIS need to get to the time recipient of the Bronze Star and failed policies of open borders and am- border and see the crisis their adminis- retired from the U.S. Army after more nesty have created. tration has created. It has been 3 than 20 years of service in intelligence I understand the White House has months since they pledged to visit the in cyber operations. just announced that Vice President border. Since then, as you all know— Ms. Easterly is more than qualified HARRIS will be visiting the border later you look at all the numbers—apprehen- for this position, and this body needs this week. I hope that is true. The ad- sions at our southern border are at a to confirm her nomination today to ministration has made a lot of prom- record high. More than 180,000 illegal lead CISA. ises that they haven’t kept, like not aliens tried to cross our southern bor- Every day that this body delays con- raising taxes, reopening schools quick- der last month and were apprehended— firming critical leaders like Ms. Eas- ly, being tough on Communist China— the highest in 21 years. This is a crisis. terly and Ms. Carnahan leaves our Fed- the list goes on and on. It threatens our national security and eral system and our Nation vulnerable Trust me, I am glad the Vice Presi- the safety of American families. And to cyber attacks. We have already seen dent seems to be taking my advice and we don’t know how many people we the damage and the chaos from these finally listening to the American peo- didn’t apprehend. attacks. The Colonial Pipeline attack ple. I truly hope that she gets down to President Biden’s immigration poli- disrupted the lives of millions of Amer- the border to see the crisis firsthand cies are putting unaccompanied minors icans, created fuel shortages, and sad- that her administration and their at risk of human trafficking, violence, dled customers with high gas prices for failed policies have created. sexual abuse, and separation from their weeks. The next major breach could be I hope she meets with the National families. They are leading to an alarm- even worse. Border Patrol Council and hears from ing increase in human trafficking and I urge my colleagues to join me in them what our brave CBP agents are drug smuggling by cartels. supporting Ms. Easterly’s nomination going through every day to keep us FBI Director Wray said this month to lead CISA and to take on the vital safe. that there is ‘‘no question’’ that cartel mission of strengthening our defenses I hope she meets with border commu- activity from Mexico is ‘‘spilling over’’ and fighting back against the per- nity sheriffs who are responsible for into the United States. We are seeing it sistent cyber attacks that threaten our keeping our families safe. here in Florida. I talk to sheriffs. What Nation each and every day. Cyber secu- I hope she meets with ICE and CBP they are telling me is that unbeliev- rity and strengthening our Federal net- section chiefs so she can hear firsthand able amounts of fentanyl are coming works are not partisan issues. Cyber the impact on them. across the border and getting into our attacks put each and every one of us at I hope she takes an aerial tour, like State, putting Florida families in dan- risk. I did, and sees the gaps in the wall. ger. I was down at one lab, and they I would hope my colleagues will I hope she sees where the lights and were telling me that two people died allow these nominees to be confirmed cameras are sitting powerless, without that week from fentanyl. today so they can keep us safe. electricity, and unable to be used to But instead of securing the border With that, Mr. President, I ask unan- monitor our border. and finishing wall construction imous consent that notwithstanding I hope she meets with families who projects, President Biden is termi- rule XXII, the Senate proceed to the have been the victims of trafficking nating all of the wall projects. Why immediate consideration of Calendar and hears the horrific stories they have would you be doing this? No. 176, Jen Easterly, of New York, to and what they have been through be- The inaction by President Biden and be Director of the Cybersecurity and cause of this crisis. Vice President HARRIS is inexcusable. I Infrastructure Security Agency, De- I hope she visits border communities don’t know what they are waiting for. partment of Homeland Security, and that have been put in a position to Why can’t they acknowledge that a se- the Senate vote on the nomination house and care for the historic number cure border is the best thing for our without intervening action or debate. of people illegally crossing our border. Nation? If you talk to people around The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there I hope she talks with families who this country, they want a secure bor- objection? have tragically lost loved ones from der. Why can’t they stand up against Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President. the massive amounts of fentanyl that the radical left and say that open bor- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the cartels are moving across our bor- ders are dangerous to American fami- ator from Florida. der. lies? Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Reserving the I hope she talks to the ranchers im- Two weeks ago, the Vice President right to object, I want to make one pacted by people illegally crossing went to Guatemala and Mexico. While thing very clear. I am here today to en- their lands. she was there, she was asked by Lester sure accountability to the American More than anything, I hope this isn’t Holt when she was going to go to the people. a political stunt. If she truly goes to border, and she laughed. I mean, this is I voted to support Ms. Easterly’s con- see this crisis, I will lift all of my holds not a laughing matter. This is a crisis, firmation in committee last week, and of DHS political nominees. It is that and people are dying because of this if Senator SCHUMER filed for cloture, simple. crisis. It should make all of us furious. like he has done for dozens of other What is happening at the border is a People are dying. Children are being nominees this year, I would vote to crisis; there is simply no other word for exploited, and they are being aban- support her confirmation here on the it. It has been 3 months since I traveled doned in the desert. Earlier this week, Senate floor. This isn’t about Ms. Eas- to the southern border to see exactly two Ecuadorian children—two little terly. This isn’t about cyber security. how President Biden’s open borders and girls, 3 and 5 years old—were dropped Remember, we unanimously confirmed amnesty policies are wreaking havoc. I over a 14-foot section of the border the National Cyber Director just last took a tour with Governor Ducey. We wall. We all saw the pictures. They week. did an aerial tour. What you see is a were abandoned there in the middle of I am here today because families in wall and then all of a sudden, these the night, two innocent little girls, my State of Florida and across our Na- openings. They intentionally didn’t put just 3 and 5 years old. Can you imagine tion deserve accountability, and Presi- up the gates. how terrified they were? I mean, I

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.014 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4718 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 think of my daughters. I think of my Without objection, it is so ordered. HARRIS were inaugurated, more than grandchildren. We all do. We all think, The clerk will report the nomination. 65,000 unaccompanied children have en- how would our family deal with that? The senior assistant legislative clerk tered our country with no parent and It just breaks your heart. read the nomination of Robin Carna- no adult guardian, an absolutely dev- The Vice President claims the Vice han, of Missouri, to be Administrator astating figure. These children are President’s trip down to Guatemala of General Services. then placed with sponsors in the inte- and Mexico was to talk about the root Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to rior of the United States—sometimes a cause of immigration. I don’t believe consider the nomination. family member, sometimes a complete that. The Vice President’s trip wasn’t Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I ask stranger. Thirty days after these chil- anything more than a poorly executed unanimous consent that the Senate dren are placed with their American- political stunt. vote on the nomination without inter- based sponsor, not necessarily even an President Biden and Vice President vening action or debate and, if con- American citizen, a full 20 percent of HARRIS need to stop avoiding the crisis, firmed, the motion to reconsider be them don’t respond to a phone call or a stop laughing off this threat, get to the considered made and laid upon the wellness check when a person associ- border, and take real steps. As I said, table, all without intervening action or ated with the U.S. Government knocks once they actually go to the border and debate; that no further motions be in on the door. And we have no idea what actually see the crisis, I will lift my order to the nomination; that any happens to these children once they are hold. This is all to make sure they go statements related to the nomination lost to the system. to the border. But as long as they be printed in the RECORD; and that the The Border Patrol’s Rio Grande Val- refuse to help those risking their lives President be immediately notified of ley Sector is the epicenter of this every day to keep us safe, as long as the Senate’s action. human crisis. Between October and they refuse to visit the border and put The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without April, that is where nearly half of all an end to the humanitarian crisis they objection, it is so ordered. unaccompanied children were encoun- created, I am going to keep my holds The question is, Will the Senate ad- tered. In the 3 months since the Vice on. vise and consent to the Carnahan nom- President has been in charge of this Those two little girls and all the peo- ination? crisis, I have visited the Rio Grande ple who have been trafficked—they de- The nomination was confirmed. Valley Sector twice. I have spoken serve better. The millions of immi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- with law enforcement, elected officials, grants in our country going through a ator from Texas. and nongovernmental organizations legal process—they deserve better. Our BORDER SECURITY that try to be of assistance to the mi- Border Patrol agents—they deserve Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, after grants while they are in the country, better. All American families deserve months of unnecessary handwringing, and a long list of other people who are trying to do everything in their power better. Therefore, I object. Vice President HARRIS has finally an- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob- nounced that she intends to visit the to manage this overwhelming number jection is heard. U.S.-Mexico border. of humanity coming across our border. On Friday, Vice President HARRIS The Senator from Michigan. She was, as you will recall, tapped by won’t get to speak with these men and f the President to lead the efforts to stem the current humanitarian crisis women. Why is that? Well, she will be EXECUTIVE CALENDAR back in March. But 3 months in, she more than 1,000 miles away, down the Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I would has spent more time trying to figure border from the Border Patrol sector like to discuss Ms. Carnahan’s quali- out how to support Central American experiencing the worst of this crisis. I know there are probably folks who fications further before asking for con- countries than how to help American are not from Texas who think that the sent on her confirmation. law enforcement and community lead- whole border is exactly the same, but Ms. Carnahan has an extensive career ers in Texas. that is not true. I had the chance to spanning Federal and State govern- In the absence of any action from the travel to Tucson with Senator SINEMA, ment, as well as the private sector. administration—in fact, any acknowl- the Senator from Arizona, and I got a During the Obama administration, she edgement of the crisis, at all—the hu- chance to observe how different the founded and led the State and Local manitarian crisis has gotten nothing border is in the Tucson Sector from the but worse. In March, the first month of Practice at 18F, a technology Rio Grande Valley, which she traveled her heading up the administration’s re- consultancy within GSA. In this role, with me to see after we left Tucson. Ms. Carnahan worked with State and sponse, there were 173,000 migrants But since October, the Rio Grande Val- local government agencies to improve that crossed our southern border. Then, ley Sector has encountered nearly and modernize their digital services. in April, the number went up to 178,000 three times as many unaccompanied Prior to her tenure at 18F, Miss Carna- and, in May, 180,000 migrants. We are children as the El Paso Sector and han served as Missouri’s secretary of now on track to see the highest num- more than seven times more family state, where she focused on modern- ber of total yearly border crossings in units. izing IT infrastructure to improve serv- two decades, according to the Sec- The situation along the entirety of ice for hundreds of thousands of cus- retary of Homeland Security, Mr. the U.S. border is challenging, to be tomers. Mayorkas. sure, and El Paso has suffered during Ms. Carnahan is a nationally recog- At the center of this crisis are unac- the crisis too, no doubt. Law enforce- nized government technology leader companied children, who are brought ment, nongovernmental organizations, and in 2017 was named one of the Fed- to this country by cartels and human and community leaders in every border eral Government’s Top Women in Tech. smugglers. We know that the migrant sector are struggling to manage the I urge my colleagues to join me in children endure a long and dangerous massive surge of migrants. supporting Ms. Carnahan’s nomination journey to our border, often arriving When asked why she hadn’t visited to lead GSA. malnourished, abused, and in critical the border yet, the Vice President said From modernizing and securing Fed- health. Some of the young girls even she wasn’t interested in grand ges- eral networks to strengthening supply arrive pregnant, and we know that tures. Yet here she is planning a trip in chain security, GSA plays a critical many of them have been sexually as- a way that reflects, again, that she role in bolstering our national secu- saulted en route by these human smug- doesn’t really fully comprehend the rity. glers who care nothing for their wel- magnitude of the crisis and where it With that, I ask unanimous consent fare. All they care about is the cold, really exists on steroids, which is in that notwithstanding rule XXII, the hard dollar. I have talked to a number the Rio Grande Valley. It is not even Senate proceed to the immediate con- of these children and heard them retell fair to say that she is a day late and a sideration of the following nomination: their horrific stories about their jour- dollar short. She is nearly 100 days late Calendar 175. ney from their home to our border. and 1,000 miles short. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Since January, since the time that By ignoring the Rio Grande Valley, objection? President Biden and Vice President the busiest Border Patrol sector along

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.015 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4719 the U.S.-Texas-Mexico border, the Vice Presiding Officer knows Congressman Our committee interviewed everyone President is shifting the focus away CUELLAR from Laredo, TX, along with who submitted an application, which from the most serious problems of the TONY GONZALES, who represents one of involved several dozen interviews. Sen- crisis that she has failed to solve or the biggest congressional districts con- ator VAN HOLLEN and I personally even contribute any constructive ideas tiguous to the U.S.-Mexico border, and interviewed several finalists before to. It won’t surprise you to know that they are our cosponsors in the House. making our recommendations to the during my time in the Senate, because So a bipartisan, bicameral bill to ad- White House. my State does have a 1,200-mile com- dress the very crisis that Vice Presi- I strongly agree with President mon border with Mexico, I have spent a dent HARRIS and President Biden have Biden’s request that Senators consider lot of time listening to and learning been trying to avoid learning more nominating individuals whose legal ex- from folks who live and work along our about, at least until now—this legisla- periences have been historically under- border. Our border is a beautiful part of tion has the support, as I said, of Mem- represented on the Federal bench, in- our State, rich in a unique culture and bers of both parties and in both Cham- cluding those who are public defenders, a rich sense of community that you bers, as well as a diverse range of well- civil rights and legal aid attorneys, and can’t find in many parts of the coun- respected organizations. The U.S. His- those who represent Americans in try. panic Chamber of Commerce, the Na- every walk of life. Judge Boardman fits Through no fault of their own, these tional Border Patrol Council, the Na- that request. border communities are being over- tional Immigration Forum, and more Judge Deborah Boardman was born whelmed by the sheer number of mi- than a dozen other organizations sup- in Silver Spring, raised in Frederick, grants crossing the border, and the port this legislation. and lives in Baltimore. She received a local leaders are beyond frustrated I would be more than happy to sit B.A. from Villanova University. After with the failures of the Federal Gov- down with the President and the Vice graduating from college, she accepted a ernment to live up to its obligation to President to discuss our bill, which in- Fulbright scholarship to study in provide security along an international cludes the input of leaders who are Amman, Jordan. She received her J.D. border. dealing with the brunt of the crisis from the University of Virginia School The President and Vice President along the border. If the administration of Law. After law school, she clerked have, I have to acknowledge, verbally truly wants to address this crisis, they for a Federal judge in the Eastern Dis- encouraged migrants not to come to need to get serious about how to do so, trict of Virginia, known as the ‘‘rocket the United States. But those words and a photo op simply will not get the docket’’ for the speed of its caseload. mean nothing. They are hollow rhet- job done. Judge Boardman brings tremendous oric indeed when somebody can simply The Vice President, I think, would be experience to the courtroom as a sit- pick up the phone and call a family well served and would be serving the ting U.S. magistrate judge in Maryland member in the United States or watch people of this country well if she would since 2019, which is the same Federal visit the Rio Grande Valley and listen the evening news and see how easy it is judicial district in which she would be- to the law enforcement, elected offi- to make your way across the border, come a district judge, if confirmed by cials, NGOs, and other men and women not to mention the fact that the the Senate. She already handles a who are doing their best to try to deal human smugglers, the cartels who heavy caseload in our Federal court. with this crisis without much help charge thousands of dollars per head, As a magistrate judge, Judge from the administration. Boardman presides over civil cases by are whispering in their ear saying: We The administration has wasted too consent of the parties, resolves civil can get you across the border if you much time already. Now is not the discovery disputes, conducts settle- just pay us our fee. time for another empty gesture. The reality of the situation is we are I yield the floor. ment conferences, and presides over nearing a breaking point, and the Vice Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President. preliminary criminal proceedings. Ad- President and President could see that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ditionally, she administers the District if they were only willing to join me and ator from Maryland. of Maryland’s Social Security appeals others who would be more than happy NOMINATION OF DEBORAH L. BOARDMAN docket. to host them by visiting the Rio Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise In civil cases before her by consent of Grande Valley. The administration has this afternoon in support of the nomi- the parties, Judge Boardman rules on wasted valuable time that could have nation of U.S. Magistrate Judge Debo- motions to dismiss, resolves discovery been spent addressing the crisis. rah Boardman to be a U.S. district disputes, decides whether a case should This is a crisis in policy. This is not judge for the District of Maryland. proceed to trial, and presides over where building an additional physical Judge Boardman was favorably re- bench and jury trials. These cases have barrier would stop many of these mi- ported by the Judiciary Committee on involved claims of unemployment dis- grants. Some of that would, and the June 10. I have recommended Judge crimination in violation of title VII of Border Patrol said it has a part to Boardman, along with Senator VAN the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Ameri- play, but the truth is many of these HOLLEN, to President Biden, and I cans With Disabilities Act, the Reha- migrants are turning themselves over strongly support her nomination. bilitation Act; claims under 42 United to law enforcement authorities. They Judge Boardman was nominated to fill States Code 1983, the Fair Labor Stand- are not running away because they the future vacancy created when Judge ards Act, the Fair Debt Collection have figured out the gaps in our law Richard Bennett, appointed by Presi- Practices Act; qualified and sovereign better than we have. dent Bush in 2003, announced his inten- immunity defenses; and State law The administration has wasted valu- tions to take senior status upon the claims stemming from contract dis- able time that could have been spent confirmation of his successor. Presi- putes and personal injuries. addressing this crisis, and instead, it dent Biden nominated Judge Boardman As you can see, she has broad experi- has just gotten worse. Now the ques- for this position on March 30, and the ence in regards to her tenure as a mag- tion is, What are they going to do Judiciary Committee held her con- istrate judge. She has previously about it? If they are looking for ideas, firmation hearing on May 12. served as the First Assistant Federal I am happy to offer a suggestion. Shortly after the November 2020 Public Defender of Maryland. During There is already a grassroots plan Presidential election, I worked with her 11-year tenure with the Federal De- out there that was built from the bot- Senator VAN HOLLEN to establish a ju- fender’s Office, Judge Boardman rep- tom up by Senators and Congressmen dicial selection committee in Mary- resented individuals in both the Green- most familiar with this crisis. Last land. We used an open application proc- belt and Baltimore courthouses that month, Senator SINEMA, the Senator ess with public advertisement and com- were charged with Federal crimes. from Arizona, and I introduced the Bi- municated closely with the State, She also has experience in private partisan Border Solutions Act, a local, and specialty bar associations in practice, as she served as a litigation straightforward, commonsense way to Maryland. In particular, we sought out associate at Hogan Lovells, formerly address this crisis. We have been proud a highly qualified and diverse applicant known as Hogan & Hartson, in Wash- to work with two House Members. The pool. ington, DC, from 2001 to 2008. During

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.023 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4720 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 those years, Judge Boardman worked U.S. magistrate judge, Judge Commission approved an application exclusively on civil matters. She has Boardman has told me she understands by Ligado Networks to repurpose the experience both on the civil side and the absolute importance of adjudi- Federal spectrum in a way that will criminal side. She represented a wide cating disputes neutrally and fairly. drastically interfere with GPS and sat- range of corporate and individual cli- She clearly has the temperament for ellite communications. This a big deal. ents in State and Federal courts. Spe- this position. She has told me that she There are so many people who under- cifically, she counseled insurance com- is naturally curious and tries to avoid stand this situation. There is a list of panies, universities, and healthcare making assumptions. companies behind us that grows every and pharmaceutical companies, among Judge Boardman shared with me that day. Almost every company in America others, in business and contract dis- her internal compass directed her to- that you know of or have heard of— putes. ward service. Judges are first and fore- their name is on this list. As a fifth-year associate, the firm se- most public servants, but they hold The decision that was made will lected Judge Boardman to serve as the certain powers over individuals’ lives. threaten GPS and satellite commu- senior pro bono associate in its nation- She understands that. In her view, a nications reliability for millions of ally recognized pro bono department. district court judgeship is much more Americans who depend on it. The reli- She managed the firm’s largest pro than achievement; it is a serious public ability of GPS and satellite commu- bono cases full-time and appeared in responsibility which requires a judge to nications is necessary for safety of life put the public first as they uphold the Federal and State courts as the lead operations, national security, and eco- rule of law. attorney in several of these pro bono Numerous individuals wrote to me on nomic activity. I am going to pause here for a minute cases. Judge Boardman’s behalf, including She tried a wrongful eviction action several sitting judges, law firm associ- to drive home what this actually before a DC jury. She was lead counsel ates, and colleagues from her service in means for every American because peo- on a 3-day evidentiary hearing on ha- the public defender’s office. They ple don’t know this. They don’t know beas corpus petitions in the circuit unanimously praise Judge Boardman’s how important GPS is. Yet there is not court for the city of Norfolk. She ar- courtroom skills as a litigator, in par- an American I can think of by descrip- gued numerous discovery motions be- ticular praising her courtroom pres- tion who isn’t using it every day. So if fore the U.S. magistrate judge in the ence, sharp legal and analytical skills something happens to it, there is a se- District Court for the District of Co- in both written and legal advocacy, and rious problem. Here are some of the lumbia in an unemployment discrimi- her high level of professionalism, excel- day-to-day activities that would be dif- nation class-action lawsuit. lent temperament, and unfailing cour- ficult when experiencing GPS inter- The American Bar Association’s tesy to all parties. ference from Ligado. Standing Committee on the Federal As a person, I have repeatedly been A big one—using your credit card or Judiciary gave Judge Boardman its told by those who know her well that your debit card. When you are making highest, unanimous ‘‘well qualified’’ Judge Boardman is the best kind of a purchase or using an ATM, our finan- recommendation after evaluating her person to be a judge. She is smart, pa- cial systems rely on GPS timing in integrity, professional competence, and tient, kind, and tough when she needs order to work. judicial temperament. to be. She is a hard worker. She sees Another one—making a phone call. As Judge Boardman said at her con- all sides of an argument and is always Cell phone networks rely on GPS to firmation hearing, she is the daughter fair and professional in her treatment synchronize cell towers so calls can be of the American Revolution on her fa- of others. passed seamlessly. If they experience ther’s side and a first-generation Amer- I was delighted to recommend the interference, your call could be ican of Palestinian descent on her nomination of Judge Boardman to dropped when moving from one tower mother’s side. Her father was born in President Biden, along with Senator to another. New York and was drafted to serve in VAN HOLLEN. Judicial nominees must Another one that people are not the U.S. Army in the Vietnam war and meet the highest standard of integrity, aware of and don’t expect is energy, then went on to be a successful busi- competency, and temperament. Judge whether that is filling up your tank nessman. Her mother was born in Boardman will safeguard the rights of with gas at the pump or electrical grids Ramallah, a Palestinian city in the all Marylanders and all Americans, up- to light our homes. We rely on GPS West Bank. She immigrated to the hold the Constitution and rule of law, timing to safely operate underground United States in the 1950s with her par- and faithfully follow the judicial oath pipelines and our electricity grid. ents and eight brothers and sisters to do equal right to the poor and to the Farmers and ranchers—this is some- when she was just 13 years of age. She rich. I am confident that Judge thing that a lot of people are not aware spoke no English. When she began at- Boardman will serve the people of of, but they depend on GPS and sat- tending public school in suburban Maryland very well once she is con- ellite communications when planting Maryland, she then learned, of course, firmed. crops, applying fertilizer, and during English and went on to a successful ca- I urge my colleagues to vote for the harvesting operations to move large reer as a beautician. confirmation of Judge Boardman, who and critical machinery with precision. Judge Boardman has testified that is an outstanding judicial nominee Working out—a lot of people don’t. I her parents taught her the value of from Maryland. She is already a sitting don’t as much as I used to, but a lot of hard work, the importance of edu- U.S. magistrate judge on the U.S. Dis- people do. They say that one-fifth of cation, the value of family, and the trict Court for the District of Mary- the population, 20 percent of the popu- need to be generous to those who are land, where she has served with district lation, of all Americans, use a fitness less fortunate in life. judges. I look forward to her continued tracker or a smartwatch. The majority In my discussions and meetings with public service to Maryland and to the have used GPS to count steps to track Judge Boardman, I have some impres- Nation. distance. We all know that. You see With that, I yield the floor. sions that stand out from her as a per- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. them out there every day. They depend son. She is fully committed to public on GPS. SMITH). The Senator from Oklahoma. service through her diverse profes- Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, I ask Taking a flight—I have been involved sional career as a lawyer, law firm unanimous consent to speak as if in in aviation for over 70 years now and partner, public defender, and now a morning business for such time as I had occasion with three friends to fly U.S. magistrate judge. She regards shall consume. around the world in 1991 using GPS. At being a sitting judge as the ultimate The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without that time—it may have been the first— and highest calling of public service in objection, it is so ordered. the equipment I used was a Trimble the legal profession. She wants to in- f TNL 2000. Trimble is one of the big spire the public’s confidence in the ju- GPS companies. I was using one, the diciary and to hear parties’ concerns RETAIN ACT TNL 2000. At that time, that may have compassionately, while upholding her Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, last been—we are checking to see—the first duty to fairly apply the law. Now as a year, the Federal Communications time that had been used for private

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.024 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4721 aviation, flying all the way around the terference to GPS. We also directed the bill with no intervening action or world. Again, that is GPS, and that DOD—Department of Defense—and the debate. was 1991. National Academy of Sciences to con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Driving around right now, each day, duct an independent technical review objection? countless Americans rely on Google of the harmful interference that Ligado Mr. INHOFE. Reserving the right to Maps, Waze, Apple Maps, and any other can cause. object. navigation system to get them from Secondly, the FCC failed to require The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- point A to point B. While no one hopes that Ligado bear the costs of inter- ator from Oklahoma. to ever need a firetruck or an ambu- ference in State governments or pay Mr. INHOFE. I object. lance or the 9–1-1 operators, the EMS, for interference to devices owned by in- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- they use GPS on a daily basis. dividual users. Now, we are talking ator from New York. There is more—weather forecasting, about all Americans out there now— Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I rise for the 14th the movement of goods on our high- not just government, not State govern- time to call for every Senator to have ways, surveying maritime harbors, ment, not Federal government, but ev- the opportunity to consider and cast channels, and everything else. The list eryone else, these individual users. I their vote on the Military Justice Im- goes on and on. talked already about how many ways provement and Increasing Prevention How do we know that Ligado will we rely on GPS in everyday life. None Act, which would ensure that service- cause interference? The FCC told us of that would be protected from inter- members who have been subject to sex- when they approved the Ligado order. I ference under the existing Ligado ual assault and other serious crimes will read that now because people need order. get the justice they deserve. to understand. I guess you could say we That is why I am introducing legisla- For nearly a decade, the DOD has ar- were warned. tion—it is a long name, but I am going gued that removing convening author- The FCC said in their document— to say it anyway. It is called the Rec- ity from command, as our bill does, that was the document they used on ognizing and Ensuring Taxpayer Access would undermine military readiness their approval order. They said: to Infrastructure Necessary for GPS and good order and discipline. But yes- Ligado shall expeditiously repair or re- and Satellite Communications Act, terday, our Secretary of Defense Sec- place as needed any U.S. Government GPS 2021. Got that? All right. I call it the retary Lloyd Austin endorsed the Inde- devices that experience or are likely to expe- RETAIN Act. That is a little more ac- rience harmful interference from Ligado’s pendent Review Commission’s rec- curate and easy to understand. ommendation that sexual assault and operations. My legislation ensures that Federal related crimes be moved from the That is a quote. That is what they Agencies, State governments, and all chain of command to trained military said. That is what the FCC said at that others negatively impacted by the ac- prosecutors. time. tions of a private actor are not left It is historic. It is historic that we Over 21 organizations and companies holding the bag when it comes to costs, have, for the first time ever, a Sec- and industries filed petitions for recon- the amount of money it would cost to retary of Defense agreeing that good sideration after the order was released, rectify, and, worse, aren’t put in a posi- order and discipline does not rest on a documenting the damage they would tion where they have to push the costs commander deciding whether a case face from the Ligado interference. This onto the American consumers. thing right behind me is now up to 82; Why is this legislation necessary? goes forward or not. it was 78 this morning. The list goes on Reliable GPS and satellite communica- But we have to remember that the and on. You can hardly think of a cor- tions are important to everyone in the limited changes he endorsed come from poration in America that isn’t on this world and drive much of the Nation’s a panel that was only asked to look at list. So it is something that is a very economy. That is why I am going to one type of crime. They were specifi- serious problem and widespread. ask my colleagues to embrace, endorse, cally asked to look at ways to solve Here is one way to put the inter- and cosponsor this legislation. Other- the problem of military sexual assault ference into perspective. Because GPS wise, others may be forced to pay for and harassment. They drilled down on signals travel from satellite in space, damage that is done by the system. those issues of sexual assault, sexual by the time those signals get to Anyway, I am going to ask our col- harassment, domestic violence, and Earth’s surface, they are low power. leagues to join me in cosponsoring this child abuse, and they agreed that all of Because the FCC order allows Ligado legislation. If we don’t do this and those crimes must be taken out of the to repurpose spectrum to operate a ter- something happens, then it will be paid chain of command and put in the hands restrial-based network, Ligado’s sig- for not by those responsible parties but of specialized, highly trained military nals on Earth’s surface will be much by the taxpayers. prosecutors. They see no conflict with more powerful than GPS, causing sub- With that, I yield the floor. making those changes and retaining stantial and harmful interference. I suggest the absence of a quorum. command control. While the FCC required Ligado to re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The I remind my colleagues the mission pair damage to Federal Agencies that clerk will call the roll. we are tasked with is larger than the results from the interference, congres- The legislative clerk proceeded to mission that the IRC was tasked with. sional action is needed because the call the roll. Our job is to provide our servicemem- FCC’s Ligado order fell short in two Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam Presi- bers with a military justice system important ways. dent, I ask unanimous consent that the that is worthy of the sacrifices they First, the order did not provide an order for the quorum call be rescinded. make for our country every day. That adequate description of costs to the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without is why our bill addresses the funda- Federal Agencies that would result objection, it is so ordered. mental flaw in the military justice sys- from Ligado’s interference. The Senator from New York. tem that puts the fate of our service- We took bipartisan steps to correct UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 1520 members in the hands of commanders this last year in the NDAA. Mrs. GILLIBRAND. As if in legisla- who often know both the accuser and The NDAA is the largest bill of the tive session, I ask unanimous consent the accused and are not trained law- year. I happen to have been for several that at a time to be determined by the yers. years the chairman of this thing. The majority leader in consultation with Our reform draws a bright line and NDAA is the national defense author- the Republican leader, the Senate moves all serious crimes, which can ization bill. It does all the things that Armed Services Committee be dis- lead to serious consequences, to inde- we do in the military. So that is the charged from further consideration of pendent military prosecutors. bill we are talking about. S. 1520 and the Senate proceed to its Secretary Austin’s endorsement of We included in that bill a provision consideration; that there be 2 hours of the IRC’s reforms makes it clear that directing the Department of Defense to debate, equally divided in the usual he understands what we understand— produce an estimate of damages and form, and that upon the use or yielding convening authority is not necessary costs associated with the harmful in- back of that time, the Senate vote on for maintaining command control or

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.026 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4722 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 for maintaining good order and dis- This morning, Lupe said: ‘‘Someone a mandate for a radically progressive cipline. Right now, 97 percent of com- will always have to suffer for someone agenda, much less changing the thresh- manders maintain good order and dis- to care—but that stops now and it old for which minority rights are pro- cipline without having convening au- stops with us.’’ tected and bipartisan cooperation is thority for general court-martial. Only It is time for us to do the job right, promoted. 3 percent, level 06 and above, have that to prove Lupe right. Our servicemem- Should the legislative filibuster meet unique authority. bers, as Secretary Austin said, deserve its demise at the hands of this Senate Our allies have drawn a similar nothing less. because Democrats decide on a major- bright line. They decided that in their I suggest the absence of a quorum. ity vote, that the rules that have been military, serious crimes should be The PRESIDING OFFICER. The in place for decades should be changed taken out of the chain of command and clerk will call the roll. overnight on a whim, the august U.S. given to trained prosecutors. They The legislative clerk proceeded to Senate will be condemned to a partisan have told us, through letters and testi- call the roll. spectacle. mony, that they saw no diminution in Mr. MORAN. Madam President, I ask The idea that everything should be command control or good order and unanimous consent that the order for decided by one vote means that every- discipline. the quorum call be rescinded. thing here becomes political and that Good order and discipline rests not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the American people become even more on the commander’s ability to act as objection, it is so ordered. partisan. If every vote in the U.S. Sen- judge and jury but on their ability to FILIBUSTER ate—every outcome—is determined by do their job of instilling a culture of re- Mr. MORAN. Madam President, ear- one person, then politics become the spect between servicemembers and in- lier this week—in fact, yesterday—the passion of the American people by ne- stilling a command climate where Senate Democrats attempted an un- cessity. The 60-vote rule is designed to these types of actions aren’t tolerated. precedented power grab in the Senate moderate both sides of a question, to There is no reason to continue to that, in my view, clearly would have bring us together, to pull us to the subject servicemembers to a system affected the sanctity of our elections middle in something that is more ac- where commanders, rather than and violated our Constitution. ceptable to the American people than trained military prosecutors, are decid- S. 1 was one of the most monstrous anything we might decide if we could ing which cases go to trial. We must bills I have seen during my time in decide it on our own, Republican or Democrat. It means that every citizen move decisions about whether to move Congress, and it certainly didn’t meet would feel the need to lobby us. forward on cases dealing with serious my standard of doing things that are The normal course of life becomes constitutional. crimes to the most qualified, most much more about politics. While poli- In doing so yesterday, the Senate highly trained person. That would be tics is important to the country and Democrats underscored for me some- trained military prosecutors. That is while it is important for the American thing I thought I knew well, and they all that our bill does. That is what the people to be engaged, they send us here reaffirmed it, and that is the impor- Military Justice Improvement and In- to make decisions. That 60-vote rule al- tance of maintaining the legislative fil- creasing Prevention Act does. lows us to make decisions that are ibuster, the 60-vote threshold for legis- In addition to having a filibuster- more acceptable to them so they can lation. proof support in the Senate, this is now spend their lives living their lives, not I am sorry we went down the path of a bipartisan, bicameral piece of legisla- worrying about what, on any given changing the rules for judges, then for tion. This morning, I stood with Con- day, the U.S. Senate might pass. gresswoman SPEIER, Speaker PELOSI, the Supreme Court, and now, poten- I don’t think the motivation by the Congressman TURNER, and a bipartisan tially, for legislation. Sixty votes is a Senate Democrats is what it may seem group of Members in the House as they good thing. Sixty votes allow—people to some. The suggestion is that we introduced this version of the legisla- say they want us to work together—60 can’t seem to pass any legislation here. tion. The bipartisan support we have in votes require us to do that. In the ab- I read this week in the Wall Street the House includes Republicans with sence of 60-vote rule, everything be- Journal an editorial, an op-ed piece, by years of military service—former comes political. In the absence of 60- Mike Solon and Bill Greene, and this JAGs, former commanders. We had a vote rule, there is no certainty. was a comment that stood out to me: general from the Republican Party A party in power, one that has the The movement to end the filibuster is less stand up and support that bill this majority of the Senate, the President— about a Senate that doesn’t work than it is morning. the election changes, and there is a about a socialist agenda that doesn’t sell. Not only do they understand the im- new majority, and then we change The idea that everything is decided portance of having a military justice what we just passed 2 years before. on the margin of one means that we be- system that is impartial and highly There is nothing good for job creation come politics, that politics rules in trained but also the importance of and economic security. There is noth- this country. The freedoms and lib- command and what their role is. We ing good for families and trying to fig- erties that the American people enjoy have a great deal of bipartisan support. ure out what is next in their life when every day because they can rely on not This type of bipartisan, bicameral the law can change every time a new, a radical change but modest change—on support is rare. It speaks to the impor- different party has the majority in the improvements day by day, not im- tance of this reform, the importance of U.S. Senate and House or there is a provements overnight—means that we us meeting our obligation to provide new President. have a different country. We certainly oversight of our military, and the im- My view is that what happened yes- would have a different Senate, but a portance of serving those who serve our terday was not by design. As a matter consequence of having a different Sen- country in uniform. of fact, the vote, among others, was de- ate means America is not what it is This morning, we were also joined by signed to fail in order to pressure today. the sisters of Vanessa Guillen. Her Democratic Senators into altering the Again, I say this in a way that would, youngest sister Lupe talked about rules of the Senate and render this I hope, remind my colleagues on both what happened to Vanessa. She said: place a majority-run institution. sides of the aisle: I stand ready to work ‘‘The system that we have now failed Democrats achieved control—the vot- on many issues on which we can bring my sister, [and] it’s up to us to change ers gave them control of both Cham- ourselves together. I hope this week— [it].’’ bers of the Congress and the White tomorrow, today—that we learn there To change the system that failed House—and are convinced that they is an infrastructure agreement, a bi- Vanessa, moving just sex crimes out of have a mandate to erode the governing partisan agreement. This isn’t a belief the chain of command would not be norms of the Senate. By my count, the that I have the ability to dominate the enough. She was murdered. We must Senate stands at an evenly divided, 50– agenda of the U.S. Senate or that one move all serious crimes, including 50, and the majority, by a slight num- party should. It is a reminder that murder, to independent, impartial ber, Democrats have in the House of America is better when we work to- military prosecutors. Representatives. Surely, this is hardly gether and that eliminating the 60-vote

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.027 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4723 rule, ending the filibuster, changes Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, of Illinois, to be necticut think it is kind of a funny America for the worse. United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh thing to be proud of—being resistant to I yield the floor. Circuit. change—but honestly, in the North- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Charles E. Schumer, Richard J. Durbin, east, in the crucible of America, we Tina Smith, Sherrod Brown, Jon ator from New York. Ossoff, Alex Padilla, Jacky Rosen, know there is real value to consistency Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam Presi- Tammy Duckworth, Brian Schatz, and tradition. dent, I ask unanimous consent that the Chris Van Hollen, Catherine Cortez A nation as unique as ours—multi- scheduled vote proceed immediately. Masto, Robert Menendez, Richard cultural, democratic, ever expanding in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Blumenthal, Patty Murray, Martin scope and ambition—we probably can’t objection? Heinrich, Michael F. Bennet, Sheldon hold together unless there is some Without objection, it is so ordered. Whitehouse. agreement between all of our different VOTE ON BOARDMAN NOMINATION The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- peoples about the expectations that we The question is, Will the Senate ad- imous consent, the mandatory quorum have for each other in the conduct of vise and consent to the Boardman nom- call has been waived. our national business. Without tradi- ination? The question is, Is it the sense of the tion, our Nation’s defining dynamism, Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam Presi- Senate that debate on the nomination it might break us. dent, I ask for the yeas and nays. of Candace Jackson-Akiwumi, of Illi- Yes, it is wildly old-fashioned to hold The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a nois, to be United States Circuit Judge town meetings, where every citizen has sufficient second? for the Seventh Circuit, shall be to show up on one particular day, to There appears to be a sufficient sec- brought to a close? make decisions about how you spend ond. The yeas and nays are mandatory money or what rates you pay in taxes, The clerk will call the roll. under the rule. but that way of governing, created in The legislative clerk called the roll. The clerk will call the roll. New England some four centuries ago, The result was announced—yeas 52, The senior assistant legislative clerk is still the method of decisionmaking nays 48, as follows: called the roll. in many of our towns. It may not be The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 53, [Rollcall Vote No. 248 Ex.] the most efficient means of govern- nays 47, as follows: YEAS—52 ment, but tradition matters. It helps to [Rollcall Vote No. 249 Ex.] hold us together as a country. Baldwin Heinrich Reed Bennet Hickenlooper Rosen YEAS—53 I know and appreciate the value of Blumenthal Hirono Sanders Baldwin Heinrich Peters consistency. I don’t deny it. So earlier Booker Kaine Schatz Bennet Hickenlooper Reed this week, I read with interest an opin- Brown Kelly Schumer Blumenthal Hirono Rosen ion piece, penned by one of my friends Cantwell King Shaheen Booker Kaine Sanders in the Senate Democratic caucus, mak- Cardin Klobuchar Sinema Brown Kelly Schatz Carper Leahy Smith Cantwell King Schumer ing the argument that amongst the Casey Luja´ n Stabenow Cardin Klobuchar Shaheen most important reasons to preserve the Collins Manchin Tester Carper Leahy Sinema 60-vote threshold in the Senate is to Coons Markey Casey Luja´ n Van Hollen Smith Cortez Masto Menendez Collins Manchin advance the value of consistency and Warner Stabenow Duckworth Merkley Coons Markey tradition in American politics. Warnock Tester Durbin Murphy Cortez Masto Menendez I was glad to read it. I am proud of Feinstein Murray Warren Duckworth Merkley Van Hollen Gillibrand Ossoff Whitehouse Durbin Murkowski Warner my colleague because for too long, the Graham Padilla Wyden Feinstein Murphy Warnock punditry and the activists have had Hassan Peters Gillibrand Murray Warren near exclusive domain over the debate Graham Ossoff Whitehouse about the wisdom of changing the rules NAYS—48 Hassan Padilla Wyden Barrasso Grassley Portman of this body. So it has been strange, Blackburn Hagerty Risch NAYS—47 given how much this place means to Blunt Hawley Romney Barrasso Grassley Risch the 100 of us who serve here, that we Boozman Hoeven Rounds Blackburn Hagerty Romney have mostly left the dialogue over its Braun Hyde-Smith Rubio Blunt Hawley Rounds Burr Inhofe Sasse Boozman Hoeven Rubio future to those who don’t work inside Capito Johnson Scott (FL) Braun Hyde-Smith Sasse this Chamber every day. Cassidy Kennedy Scott (SC) Burr Inhofe Scott (FL) Yes, right now, there is a disagree- Cornyn Lankford Shelby Capito Johnson Scott (SC) Cotton Lee Sullivan ment amongst Senate Democrats and Cassidy Kennedy Shelby Cramer Lummis Thune Cornyn Lankford between the majority of Senate Demo- Sullivan Crapo Marshall Tillis Cotton Lee Thune crats and the majority of Senate Re- Cruz McConnell Toomey Cramer Lummis Tillis publicans about how the Senate should Daines Moran Tuberville Crapo Marshall Ernst Murkowski Wicker Cruz McConnell Toomey operate, but there is no merit in hiding Fischer Paul Young Daines Moran Tuberville this dispute. There is no valor in let- Ernst Paul Wicker ting others define the terms that lay The nomination was confirmed. Fischer Portman Young The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. out the conflicting arguments, which I OSSOFF). Under the previous order, the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. readily submit are compelling on both motion to reconsider is considered KELLY). On this vote, the yeas are 53, sides. So let’s have the debate. Let’s made and laid upon the table, and the the nays are 47. have it right here. No more shadow- President will be immediately notified The motion is agreed to. boxing. The stakes, I would argue, are of the Senate’s action. f too important. Let me start here. The argument to f EXECUTIVE CALENDAR keep the 60-vote threshold, to guar- CLOTURE MOTION The PRESIDING OFFICER. The antee policy consistency or to uphold The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant clerk will report the nomination. Senate tradition, is downright dan- to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the The senior assistant legislative clerk gerous because this argument essen- Senate the pending cloture motion, read the nomination of Candace Jack- tially prioritizes consistency over de- which the clerk will state. son-Akiwumi, of Illinois, to be United mocracy. The senior assistant legislative clerk States Circuit Judge for the Seventh At the very moment when Americans read as follows: Circuit. have less faith than ever before that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- CLOTURE MOTION this place has the capacity to imple- ator from Connecticut. ment the will of the people, the 60-vote We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- FILIBUSTER ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the threshold is a slap in the face of Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, my majoritarianism, which is the bedrock move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- State proudly calls itself the Land of principal of American democracy, the nation of Executive Calendar No. 128, Steady Habits. Some people in Con- idea that the majority of people get to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.029 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4724 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 decide the direction of this country— lapping, conflicting election schedules, of policy over direct democracy, is par- not elites, not oligarchs, like in other guaranteeing that it would be 100 per- ticularly insidious at this moment in nations; people, regular people. cent possible for the voters to sweep American history, first because the 60- To say that Americans can have an out all elected officials and replace vote threshold is being used in a very, election, choose leaders of a particular them with a new slate all at one mo- very different way today than it has view, and then watch while the rules of ment. anytime prior in our Nation’s history. democracy deliberately stop the vot- Fifth, the Founders built a few super- Up until the 1970s, cloture votes were ers’ will from being enacted is to majority requirements but only for se- almost nonexistent in the Senate. Leg- thumb our noses at the American elec- lective occasions: treaties, impeach- islative filibusters were used in those torate—at the very moment when they ments, constitutional amendments— days mostly by racist southern White are actively considering whether Amer- the stuff that could last forever. The Senators to stop civil rights bills. Be- ican democracy has anything left to Founding Fathers did want extra con- ginning in the seventies, that tactic be- offer them. sensus around that. came more widely employed but was My colleague argues quite powerfully All of that design has lasted. It is still used sparingly. that the requirement to achieve 60 still with us today. Consider this. In 1994, our colleague votes to pass legislation in the Senate There are other parts of the original Senator FEINSTEIN forced a vote on one guards against rapid policy change, design intended to protect the value of of the most controversial of all pro- giving several examples, including edu- consistency to protect against the dan- posals that come before this body—a cation and environment policy and vot- ger of faction that have not lasted. The ban on assault weapons. It received ing rules as areas where danger might Founders also believed that only White fewer votes than the Manchin-Toomey lie if one majority imposed the policy men should vote and that citizens background check bill did 30 years in one Congress that would be undone shouldn’t be trusted to directly select later. Senator FEINSTEIN’s proposal got by the next. I want to walk us through the Members of this body. That is all 52 votes; Manchin-Toomey got 54 votes. this argument. history because for all of the anti-fac- But the assault weapons ban became My first approach might be to post- tion design that we have kept, we law while the background checks bill pone the harder question of whether or changed just as much, and all of that did not. Why? Because in 1994, many not to value consistency over democ- change has moved in only one direc- important votes, even the assault racy and to simply accept for a mo- tion—toward more majoritarian de- weapons ban, were allowed to proceed ment the prioritization of consistency mocracy. on a majority-vote basis. Not so by Why? Well, because as our grand ex- and tradition. I do so knowing that our 2013. periment—the American experiment— Founding Fathers also prioritized con- I could make the argument that it matured, we saw proof of concept. The sistency. was Republicans who started this rapid people could be trusted to govern In Federalist 9 and 10, Hamilton and escalation of the use of the 60-vote themselves. They could choose leaders Madison discuss what they call the threshold, but who really cares? It who were more able, more honest, more problem of factions. Madison says that doesn’t matter because today both par- effective than any King or Queen, any a faction is ‘‘a number of citizens, ties use it almost without exception in Sultan or Emperor. So we extended the whether amounting to a minority or a way that looks radically different franchise universally. We directly majority of the whole, who are united from the way the tactic was utilized elected the Senate. and actuated by some common impulse As America expanded, the new States half a century ago. of passion, adverse to the rights of out West gobbled up even more democ- I would argue that if you want to do other citizens.’’ Now, notice here that racy. The West decided to not just an overview of the history of the 60- Madison doesn’t really care whether elect legislators but judges, prosecu- vote threshold, it doesn’t tell a story of the faction represents a minority or tors, dog catchers and commissioners. the value the Senate places on consist- majority of citizens; he simply defines Majoritarian rule became addictive, ency. No, it is the opposite. Watching it by its cause’s malevolence. This was and our country grew and it demanded the way the tactic has been used so dif- and still is tricky business—rich White more and more of it. ferently over time, it demonstrates the men defining for everybody else what That brings us to the 60-vote thresh- value the Senate places on change in cause is righteous and which cause is old. The 60-vote threshold in a country practice and tradition. Reforming this wicked. But our Founding Fathers built on the strength of direct democ- rule would, frankly, just pay heed to built a system of government to make racy stands out like a sore, rotting this reality. rapid policy change—even change sup- thumb—this anti-majoritarian drain The second danger of valuing consist- ported by the majority of voters—very, clog designed intentionally to stop the ency over democracy at this moment very hard to implement. majority of Americans from getting lies in the signal that it sends to an Now, how do they do this? I want to what they want from government. American public that is in, frankly, no lay this out because if you do care Proponents of existing Senate rules mood for the choices of the elites to be about preventing rapid policy shifts, it say that in the name of bipartisanship continually substituted for their own is important to understand why the 60- or tradition or consistency of policy, collective judgment. vote threshold isn’t necessary, is over- we should purposefully frustrate the Right now, Americans are in kind of kill given all the other barriers our changing will of the electorate. But a revolutionary mood, and for good system has to prevent rapid policy why? Why not trust voters? For in- reason. More Americans today than at shifts. stance, voters elected a President and a any time in recent history see them- First, our Founding Fathers estab- Congress in 2008 that promised to enact selves on the precipice of financial and lished a bicameral legislature as op- a system of universal healthcare. It sometimes spiritual ruin. They are posed to a unicameral parliamentary just so happened that at that moment, done with economic and political elites system. That meant that no change for the first time in 40 years, there jealously protecting the status quo. could be implemented until two dif- were 60 votes for the party of that view And the election of Donald Trump, al- ferent legislative bodies agreed to the in the Senate, so a universal though revealed by time to be a false exact same text. healthcare law was passed. prophet, was an unmistakable foot Second, they layered on top of that But why should it not be up to the stomp by an electorate tired of being bicameral legislative structure a uni- voters and not politicians to review the taken for granted. tary President with the power to veto efficacy of a major policy change like So why on Earth would our message, that legislation. that and, if they so choose, elect lead- amidst this growing populist tempest, Third, they put in place an unelected ers to rescind or revise it? I don’t want be to tell voters that rules in the Sen- body, the Supreme Court, that could the ACA repealed, but I am deeply un- ate are required to protect them from invalidate any statutory changes that comfortable that a 60-vote threshold their own bad judgment, to take from conflicted with the Constitution. robs from voters that decision. them, purposely, the ability to change Fourth, they put the House and the This preference for policy consist- policies whenever and however they Senate and the Presidency all on over- ency, intentionally blind to the merits wish?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.034 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4725 I submit to you that today, right sensus when two or three of the mem- quickly blossomed as settlers spread now, this replacement of popular will bers who hop on the firetruck when west into the Jackson Purchase to by anti-majoritarian rule-rigging could that alarm sounds aren’t intending to profit from the region’s fertile soil and destroy us. Today more than ever, vot- actually put out the fire when they ar- easy access to the Tennessee, Cum- ers want to know that their vote rive at the building. berland, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers. counts every election. And continuing Giving Republicans a veto power over By the time the Kentucky Dam was to give minorities here in the Senate legislation when they no longer believe completed nearby in 1944, bringing jobs power to stop change is dangerously in the same way the Democrats do or and hydroelectric power to the region, disconsonant with the current political Republicans used to in the sacredness the town was a flourishing center of mood of this country. Take power away of the vote is to risk the voluntary de- commerce. Today, Calvert City is home from the American people at your struction of our democracy. to numerous advanced chemical manu- peril. Consistency as a value has merit. It facturing facilities and continues to Finally, on this question of the value does. But in this business, consistency play a critical role in western Ken- we should place on consistency, I want is often put on an unhealthy pedestal. tucky’s economy. to raise the problem of the city fire- What is the value of being consistent In recognition of Calvert City’s pio- house. Firehouses are places that value when all of the circumstances around neer spirit, the town is celebrating 150 consistency and tradition. Firefighters you are changing? Where is the years of history with 150 events spend a lot of time in close quarters to- strength in sticking to your position throughout the calendar year. These gether. When that alarm rings, they when everything around you is in met- ceremonies are made especially poign- are required to work together in pre- amorphosis? When democracy itself is ant by the passing of Mayor Lynn Boyd cise and disciplined unison to get out being attacked in a brutal, coordi- Jones this January. He had dreamed the door in seconds in order to save nated, unprecedented volley of blows, about Calvert City’s 150th anniversary lives and property. Practices change in what is the good of holding to a posi- since the town’s centennial 50 years a firehouse but carefully and through tion just for the sake of being con- ago and was an early planner of this consensus decision making. Keeping sistent if the primary consequence is to year’s festivities. As Kentucky emerges from the everybody together matters when the simply green light the assault to con- COVID–19 pandemic, the celebration stakes are so high. tinue? But what would happen if inside that will be a uniquely joyous tribute. All Consistency and tradition and bipar- aspects of Calvert City’s storied his- firehouse, a sizable group of fire- tisanship—they matter but not at the fighters decided one day that the mis- tory will be on display, from railroad expense of democracy, not in a moment cars, to an auto show, to events at Oak sion of the department should no when millions of voters are questioning longer be to put out fires but maybe, Hill, the original home of town founder the wisdom of American democracy be- Potilla Calvert. instead, just to let them burn a little? cause no matter whom they elect, I want to give special thanks to the Wouldn’t then the value of consensus nothing seems to change, and not when Calvert City civic leaders who made decision making become a little less one party has increasingly abandoned this year’s sesquicentennial celebra- important? If you were a homeowner, the joint project to which all Members tion possible. It is through their hard wouldn’t you want to make sure that of this body swore an oath as a condi- work and dedication that the town con- the firefighters who still wanted to tion of our membership. tinues to prosper, so many years after fight fires were setting the rules and I yield the floor. its founding. On behalf of the Senate, I not the guys who are OK with the Mr. President, I know Senator MAR- share our congratulations with every houses in the neighborhood burning SHALL is ready to speak, and I apolo- Calvert City family and join them in down? gize for delaying him with my rather honoring 150 years of proud Kentucky I know this is a crude analogy, but to long remarks. traditions. value consistency or tradition above f everything else, I think you have to be f pretty certain that everybody in your LEGISLATIVE SESSION LGBTQ PRIDE MONTH club, everybody on your team is guided --- Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise in by the same foundational goal. MORNING BUSINESS recognition of LGBTQ Pride Month of In the case of the U.S. Senate, our 2021. For more than 50 years, Pride goal, our endgame has always been Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask Month has offered us a chance to cele- simple: the preservation of American unanimous consent that the Senate brate lesbian, gay, bisexual, democracy, the belief that every Amer- proceed to legislative session and be in transgender, and queer—LGBTQ— ican should have a say in who governs, a period of morning business, with Sen- Americans and to reflect upon the and the persons whom they choose and ators permitted to speak for up to 10 progress that our Nation has made in no one else should be seated in power. minutes each. how we treat this community in law, We have had fights—often vicious in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without policy, custom, and everyday life. It nature—over the course of our Nation’s objection, it is so ordered. also is an opportunity to redouble our history over how fast we should expand f efforts to end enduring discrimination the vote, how quickly we should reform based on sexual orientation or gender our Constitution to allow for more di- SESQUICENTENNIAL OF CALVERT CITY identity. rect democracy. But never before has President Biden promptly issued a one party actively advocated for the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, for Presidential proclamation recognizing lessening of democracy. Never before 150 years, Calvert City has been a cen- June of 2021 as Pride Month. With the has one party openly advocated for tral hub of the Jackson Purchase, serv- authorization of Secretary of State candidates who receive the smaller ing as a focal point for pioneers, farm- Antony Blinken, U.S. diplomatic mis- share of the vote to be made President ers, and railroaders from all over west- sions around the world are displaying of the United States. ern Kentucky. The town’s enduring the pride flag as a clear visual rep- In the last year, a democratic Rubi- legacy is a tribute to the enterprising resentation of American values. On the con has been crossed by one party, and demeanor of those trailblazing Ken- very first day of his administration, we can’t ignore this devastating blow tuckians who first called the Purchase President Biden issued an executive to our Nation. You cannot value con- home. In recognition of Calvert City’s order on preventing and combating dis- sistency in practice when a large fac- sesquicentennial, I am privileged to crimination based on gender identity tion of your group’s members don’t be- join this vibrant Kentucky community or sexual orientation. This decision has lieve in the underlying mission of your in celebrating 150 years of Bluegrass already driven new policies at the organization any longer. The firehouse heritage. agency level making an important dif- can’t just keep doing the same things Calvert City started off as nothing ference in real people’s lives, from pro- it always does year after year for the more than a depot alongside the Padu- tecting transgender individuals seek- sake of consistency or tradition or con- cah & Elizabethtown Railroad, but ing safe shelter to reversing the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.035 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4726 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 Trump-era ban that prohibited vidual. It takes no political deal to be leaving his post after nearly a half transgender people from serving in the give people freedom.’’ This Pride century of diligent, inquisitive jour- military. It is clear that LGBTQ Amer- Month, I urge my colleagues in the nalism that has kept our State’s citi- icans can count on the Biden-Harris ad- Senate to join me in supporting the zens better informed. At the beginning ministration to do everything possible Equality Act to ensure that we protect of July, Mal Leary will sign off for the to champion fundamental human the human and civil rights all Ameri- final time from Maine Public Broad- rights on their behalf. cans. Our government should do all it casting, concluding a 45-year career The bad news is that while we see can to promote equality, compassion, during which he became one of the progress at a Federal level, the Human and empathy—not discrimination, big- most trusted voices in Maine media. Rights Campaign assesses that 2021 is otry, and hate. When listeners heard Mal’s distinc- the worst year in terms of State-level f tive Maine rasp come across the air- anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent his- waves, they knew they were getting CONFIRMATION OF KIRAN tory. Governors have signed 17 anti- the straight news from a model jour- ARJANDAS AHUJA LGBTQ bills into law, already exceed- nalist. His integrity and intelligence ing the 15 anti-LGBTQ laws passed in Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I came through in every story, diving 2015, which held the previous record in rise to support the nomination of Kiran into the policy details in a measured, recent history. There are even more Ahuja to serve as the Director of the well-reasoned way that did not betray bills waiting Governors’ signatures or Office of Personnel Management. Mrs. a bias toward any ideology, political veto override votes. Most of these bills Ahuja is highly qualified and has a party, or elected officials. Most impor- shamefully target transgender chil- deep commitment to public service tantly, every time you finished listen- dren. These bills and laws are that will serve her well as the Director ing to a Mal story, you knew more untethered from trends in real public of OMB. I am confident that she has about your community and your State opinion. Recent polling from Gallup the skills to rebuild the civil service than you did just a few moments be- finds that support for same-sex mar- and restore protections for civil serv- fore. ants that were rolled back by the riage is at a new high of 70 percent of Mal wasn’t only held in high esteem Trump administration. all Americans. A PBS/NPR/Marist poll by listeners. I can tell you from per- Mrs. Ahuja spent her childhood trav- sonal experience that when Mal is in a published in April revealed that two- elling across the South with her par- room, elected officials notice his pres- thirds of all Americans oppose legisla- ents as they worked to provide des- ence. He loomed large among the tion to ban transgender student ath- perately needed mental health services Maine press corps, and his ability to letes from joining sports teams that to underserved communities. After unravel and explain a complicated pol- match their gender identity, a number graduating from Spelman College and icy question was only matched by his that barely changes across partisan the University of Georgia School of political instincts. While others, in- lines. Law, Mrs. Ahuja began her career in cluding legislators, were focused on the The American people clearly agree public service as a civil rights attorney questions of the day, Mal would look with the principle expressed in Presi- at the Department of Justice. She went two or three steps down the road to an- dent Biden’s executive order: ‘‘All per- on to lead the White House Initiative ticipate the pitfalls facing any given sons should receive equal treatment for Asian Americans and Pacific Is- proposal. I learned quickly that I al- under the law, no matter their gender landers and then serve as the Chief of ways needed to have my facts straight identity or sexual orientation.’’ It is as Staff for OPM as it responded to a data before I talked to Mal Leary. simple as that. breach that exposed the personal infor- His innate understanding of both pol- When it comes to human rights, civil mation of millions of Federal employ- icy and policymakers made Mal’s rights, and being treated with dignity ees and contractors. interviews one-of-a-kind. I would often and respect, everybody in this country, Kiran Ahuja will be tasked with lead- start a conversation with him, expect- regardless of where they live, should ing OPM as it faces a new set of chal- ing to discuss the issues of the day, receive equal treatment. The House of lenges. After 4 years of attacks by the only to be questioned on an issue that Representatives passed the Equality Trump administration on the protec- wouldn’t come up for another few Act in February to prohibit discrimina- tions at the core of our merit-based months or review a legislative hearing tion based on sexual orientation and civil service system, OPM needs a lead- from 3 weeks prior. Refusing to be a gender identity in education, employ- er who understands that Federal work- prisoner of the moment, he always ment, housing, credit, Federal jury ers serve our country, not the indi- looked at the big picture, and, criti- service, public accommodations, and vidual or political party currently oc- cally, he made sure that the elected of- with regard to receiving Federal finan- cupying the White House. ficials he covered did the same. cial assistance. These protections build OPM is an independent Federal agen- Maine will be poorer without Mal upon and align with the Supreme cy tasked with a vital mission: ensur- Leary roaming the State capitol, but Court’s landmark decision 1 year ago ing that the Federal workforce delivers he is leaving the Maine press corps in in Bostock vs. Clayton County, which top-notch service to the American peo- good hands that he had a part in train- affirmed that the sex discrimination ple. The next OPM Director must rec- ing. A fountain of institutional knowl- prohibition in the Civil Rights Act of ognize, as President Biden and Mrs. edge, Mal was always generous with his Ahuja do, that union organizing and 1964 also applies to discrimination time and his experience, filling in collective bargaining are in the public based on sexual orientation or gender young reporters on the historical con- interest and that these rights are vital identity. That ruling states, ‘‘it is im- text behind long-gestating problems or safeguards to protect the merit system possible to discriminate against a per- making sure folks were up to speed on principles of the civil service. The next son for being homosexual or legislative procedures. This next gen- OPM Director must also work to at- transgender without discriminating eration of reporters have each grown tract new talent to Federal agencies against that individual based on sex.’’ by absorbing Mal’s wisdom, working to that have lost valuable expertise and We still urgently need to pass the compete with him, or a combination of Equality Act, however, to apply this modernize OPM’s outdated information technology systems. I am confident the two, so although he may be leaving interpretation to all areas of civil that Mrs. Ahuja has the skills and for greener pastures, his lessons and in- rights law and to apply protections knowledge to meet these challenges fluence will remain. against discrimination based on sex, I find a bit of irony in these remarks and to carry out the agency’s mission. sexual orientation, and gender identity because even as I attempt to honor to a broader scope of entities. I am f Mal, I sense that he will have some dis- proud to be an original cosponsor of ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS comfort taking the compliment. The the legislation and will work to ad- definition of a model reporter, Mal vance it this Congress. --- wasn’t focused on befriending his sub- As Harvey Milk said, ‘‘It takes no TRIBUTE TO MAL LEARY jects or accumulating personal acco- compromise to give people their rights. ∑ Mr. KING. Mr. President, I rise today lades; he was always dead set on get- It takes no money to respect the indi- to honor a Maine legend who will soon ting to the truth and bringing that

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.017 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4727 truth back to the people of Maine. H.R. 983. An act to amend title 18, United By Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mrs. That is why he is so beloved by all— States Code, to provide an additional tool to CAPITO): OK, by most—even when he was asking prevent certain frauds against veterans, and S. 2191. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- hard questions; at the end of the day, for other purposes. enue Code of 1986 to exclude certain post- H.R. 1374. An act to amend the Energy Pol- graduation scholarship grants from gross in- Mal always told the story straight. He icy and Conservation Act to provide Federal come in the same manner as qualified schol- was always fair. financial assistance to States to implement, arships to promote economic growth; to the I have long believed that journalists review, and revise State energy security Committee on Finance. are people we, the public, hire to tell us plans, and for other purposes. By Mrs. GILLIBRAND (for herself, Mr. about priorities that we don’t have f SANDERS, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. PADILLA, time to attend to ourselves; instead, we and Ms. WARREN): rely on friends to give us the scoop. MEASURES REFERRED S. 2192. A bill to amend the Food and Nu- That is exactly who Mal was for thou- The following bills were read the first trition Act of 2008 to require that supple- mental nutrition assistance program bene- sands across Maine—a friend, who and the second times by unanimous fits be calculated using the value of the low- filled them in on the latest goings-on consent, and referred as indicated: cost food plan, and for other purposes; to the in Augusta, Washington, and every- H.R. 983. An act to amend title 18, United Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and where in between. As our friend rides States Code, to provide an additional tool to Forestry. off into the beautiful sunsets of Maine, prevent certain frauds against veterans, and By Mr. BRAUN (for himself and Mr. I want to express to him my best wish- for other purposes; to the Committee on the BURR): es and Maine’s enormous gratitude for Judiciary. S. 2193. A bill to ensure that an employ- his work to make our State better.∑ H.R. 1374. An act to amend the Energy Pol- ment relationship is not established between icy and Conservation Act to provide Federal a franchisor and a franchisee if the f financial assistance to States to implement, franchisor engages in certain activities, and TRIBUTE TO ISAIAH LEE review, and revise State energy security for other purposes; to the Committee on plans, and for other purposes; to the Com- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ∑ Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, today I mittee on Energy and Natural Resources. By Mr. CARDIN (for himself and Mr. recognize Isaiah Lee, an intern in my f GRAHAM): Rapid City, SD, office, for all of the S. 2194. A bill to authorize the Secretary of hard work he has done for me, my INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND the Interior, through the Coastal Program of staff, and the State of South Dakota JOINT RESOLUTIONS the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, over the past several weeks. The following bills and joint resolu- to work with willing partners and provide Isaiah is a graduate of Roosevelt support to efforts to assess, protect, restore, tions were introduced, read the first and enhance important coastal areas that High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Cur- and second times by unanimous con- provide fish and wildlife habitat on which rently, he is attending Northwestern sent, and referred as indicated: Federal trust species depend, and for other College in Orange City, IA, where he is By Mr. BARRASSO: purposes; to the Committee on Environment majoring in political science. He is a S. 2185. A bill to reauthorize certain Bu- and Public Works. hard worker who has been dedicated to reau of Reclamation programs, and for other By Ms. HIRONO: getting the most out of his internship purposes; to the Committee on Energy and S. 2195. A bill to require the Secretary of experience. Natural Resources. Veterans Affairs to make all fact sheets of I extend my sincere thanks and ap- By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. VAN the Department of Veterans Affairs available in English, Spanish, and Tagalog, and other preciation to Isaiah for all of the fine HOLLEN, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. CANT- commonly spoken languages, and for other work he has done and wish him contin- WELL, Ms. BALDWIN, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, purposes; to the Committee on Veterans’ Af- ued success in the years to come.∑ Ms. SMITH, and Mr. BLUMENTHAL): fairs. f S. 2186. A bill to support educational enti- By Mr. DAINES: ties in fully implementing title IX and re- S. 2196. A bill to require the Secretary of NOTICE OF INTENT TO OBJECT TO ducing and preventing sex discrimination in Homeland Security to expand the list of cat- PROCEEDING FROM JUNE 22, 2021 all areas of education, and for other pur- egories of essential travel into the United I, Senator CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, in- poses; to the Committee on Health, Edu- States at land ports of entry along the tend to object to proceeding to the cation, Labor, and Pensions. United States-Canada border, and for other By Ms. WARREN (for herself, Mr. MAR- purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Se- nomination of Kenneth Allen Polite, KEY, Mr. MURPHY, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. curity and Governmental Affairs. Jr., of Louisiana, to be Assistant At- SANDERS, Mr. KAINE, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. By Ms. ROSEN (for herself, Mr. SUL- torney General, dated June 22, 2021. BOOKER, Mr. CASEY, Mr. LIVAN, Mr. TESTER, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. f BLUMENTHAL, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Ms. LUJA´ N, and Ms. MURKOWSKI): DUCKWORTH, Mr. PADILLA, and Mr. S. 2197. A bill to amend title XIX of the So- MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT LUJA´ N): cial Security Act to increase the Federal Messages from the President of the S. 2187. A bill to establish the ‘‘Biomedical medical assistance percentage for States United States were communicated to Innovation Fund’’, and for other purposes; to that provide Medicaid coverage for tele- the Senate by Ms. Ridgway, one of his the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, health services; to the Committee on Fi- and Pensions. nance. secretaries. By Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself, By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Ms. f Mr. CARDIN, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MAR- DUCKWORTH): EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED KEY, and Mr. WHITEHOUSE): S. 2198. A bill to amend the Carl D. Perkins S. 2188. A bill to establish the Commission Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 In executive session the Presiding Of- to Study the Stigmatization, Criminaliza- to give the Department of Education the au- ficer laid before the Senate messages tion, and Ongoing Exclusion and Inequity for thority to award competitive grants to eligi- from the President of the United LGBTQ Servicemembers and Veterans; to ble entities to establish, expand, or support States submitting sundry nominations the Committee on Armed Services. school-based mentoring programs to assist which were referred to the appropriate By Mr. TUBERVILLE (for himself, Mr. at-risk students in middle school and high CRAMER, and Mr. HOEVEN): school in developing cognitive and social- committees. S. 2189. A bill to amend title 38, United emotional skills to prepare them for success (The messages received today are States Code, to direct the Secretary of Vet- in high school, postsecondary education, and printed at the end of the Senate pro- erans Affairs to furnish hyperbaric oxygen the workforce; to the Committee on Health, ceedings.) therapy to certain veterans with traumatic Education, Labor, and Pensions. f brain injury or post-traumatic stress dis- By Ms. ROSEN (for herself, Mr. order; to the Committee on Veterans’ Af- HOEVEN, Mr. KING, Mr. RISCH, and Mr. MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE fairs. TILLIS): At 2:03 p.m., a message from the By Mr. YOUNG (for himself, Mr. KING, S. 2199. A bill to require the Secretary of House of Representatives, delivered by Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. KENNEDY, and Mr. Energy to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense TESTER): program to test the cybersecurity of prod- Mrs. Alli, one of its reading clerks, an- S. 2190. A bill to establish the Task Force ucts and technologies intended for use in the nounced that the House has passed the on the Impact of the Affordable Housing Cri- bulk-power system, and for other purposes; following bills, in which it requests the sis, and for other purposes; to the Committee to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re- concurrence of the Senate: on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. sources.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.018 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4728 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 By Mr. HEINRICH: mize commercial disruption in the win- (Ms. SINEMA), the Senator from Mis- S. 2200. A bill to require the Secretary of ter months, and for other purposes. sissippi (Mr. WICKER) and the Senator Energy to establish a research, development, S. 659 from Kansas (Mr. MORAN) were added demonstration, and deployment program to as cosponsors of S. 1251, a bill to au- improve the efficiency, increase the dura- At the request of Mr. YOUNG, the bility, and reduce the cost of producing hy- name of the Senator from Kentucky thorize the Secretary of Agriculture to drogen using electrolyzers, and for other pur- (Mr. PAUL) was added as a cosponsor of develop a program to reduce barriers to poses; to the Committee on Energy and Nat- S. 659, a bill to require the Secretary of entry for farmers, ranchers, and pri- ural Resources. Transportation to promulgate regula- vate forest landowners in certain vol- By Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. tions relating to commercial motor ve- untary markets, and for other pur- JOHNSON): hicle drivers under the age of 21, and poses. S. 2201. A bill to manage supply chain risk S. 1396 through counterintelligence training, and for for other purposes. other purposes; to the Committee on Home- S. 692 At the request of Ms. BALDWIN, the land Security and Governmental Affairs. At the request of Mr. TESTER, the name of the Senator from New Mexico By Mr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. BOOZ- name of the Senator from Colorado (Mr. LUJA´ N) was added as a cosponsor MAN, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. CRAMER, and (Mr. HICKENLOOPER) was added as a co- of S. 1396, a bill to amend the Higher Mr. MARSHALL): sponsor of S. 692, a bill to award a Con- Education Act of 1965 to establish S. 2202. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- gressional Gold Medal to the female State and Indian Tribe grants for com- enue Code of 1986 to exclude from gross in- telephone operators of the Army Signal munity colleges and grants for Histori- come interest received on certain loans se- cally Black Colleges and Universities, cured by agricultural real property; to the Corps, known as the ‘‘Hello Girls’’. Committee on Finance. S. 697 Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions, and for f At the request of Ms. ROSEN, the name of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. other purposes. SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND ERNST) was added as a cosponsor of S. S. 1543 SENATE RESOLUTIONS 697, a bill to require the Secretary of At the request of Ms. HASSAN, the The following concurrent resolutions the Treasury to mint commemorative name of the Senator from Maine (Mr. and Senate resolutions were read, and coins in recognition of the Bicenten- KING) was added as a cosponsor of S. referred (or acted upon), as indicated: nial of Harriet Tubman’s birth. 1543, a bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide best practices By Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. S. 699 on student suicide awareness and pre- LEAHY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the COONS, Mr. KAINE, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. names of the Senator from Tennessee vention training and condition State BOOKER, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MARKEY, educational agencies, local educational (Mrs. BLACKBURN) and the Senator Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WARNOCK, Ms. agencies, and tribal educational agen- CANTWELL, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. from Maryland (Mr. VAN HOLLEN) were added as cosponsors of S. 699, a bill to cies receiving funds under section 520A HIRONO, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. SMITH, of such Act to establish and implement Mr. BROWN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. require a review of women and lung a school-based student suicide aware- PADILLA, Mr. SCHATZ, and Mr. REED): cancer, and for other purposes. S. Res. 283. A resolution reaffirming the ness and prevention training policy. S. 796 importance of the United States to pro- S. 1806 At the request of Ms. DUCKWORTH, moting the safety, health, and well-being of At the request of Mr. GRASSLEY, the the name of the Senator from Con- refugees and displaced persons; to the Com- name of the Senator from South Da- necticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) was added mittee on Foreign Relations. kota (Mr. THUNE) was added as a co- as a cosponsor of S. 796, a bill to codify f sponsor of S. 1806, a bill to amend the maternity care coordination programs Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS at the Department of Veterans Affairs, tax incentives for biodiesel and renew- S. 65 and for other purposes. able diesel. At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the S. 870 S. 1820 names of the Senator from Mississippi At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the At the request of Mr. COONS, the (Mrs. HYDE-SMITH) and the Senator name of the Senator from Pennsyl- names of the Senator from Wyoming from Hawaii (Ms. HIRONO) were added vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- (Ms. LUMMIS), the Senator from Geor- as cosponsors of S. 65, a bill to ensure sponsor of S. 870, a bill to amend title gia (Mr. WARNOCK), the Senator from that goods made with forced labor in XVIII of the Social Security Act to im- Kansas (Mr. MORAN) and the Senator the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Re- prove access to mental health services from Minnesota (Ms. SMITH) were added gion of the People’s Republic of China under the Medicare program. as cosponsors of S. 1820, a bill to in- do not enter the United States market, S. 1021 crease the number of landlords partici- and for other purposes. At the request of Ms. DUCKWORTH, pating in the Housing Choice Voucher S. 79 the name of the Senator from Wis- program. At the request of Mr. BOOKER, the consin (Ms. BALDWIN) was added as a S. 1872 name of the Senator from Kentucky cosponsor of S. 1021, a bill to ensure af- At the request of Ms. ERNST, the (Mr. PAUL) was added as a cosponsor of fordable abortion coverage and care for names of the Senator from Tennessee S. 79, a bill to eliminate the disparity every person, and for other purposes. (Mrs. BLACKBURN), the Senator from in sentencing for cocaine offenses, and S. 1106 Arkansas (Mr. BOOZMAN), the Senator for other purposes. At the request of Mr. BOOKER, the from Michigan (Mr. PETERS), the Sen- S. 247 name of the Senator from Vermont ator from Ohio (Mr. PORTMAN) and the At the request of Mr. LEE, the name (Mr. LEAHY) was added as a cosponsor Senator from Missouri (Mr. HAWLEY) of the Senator from Kentucky (Mr. of S. 1106, a bill to prohibit the sale of were added as cosponsors of S. 1872, a MCCONNELL) was added as a cosponsor shark fins, and for other purposes. bill to award a Congressional Gold of S. 247, a bill to amend the Fair S. 1125 Medal, collectively, to the United Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the States Army Rangers Veterans of compensatory time for employees in name of the Senator from Oklahoma World War II in recognition of their ex- the private sector. (Mr. INHOFE) was added as a cosponsor traordinary service during World War S. 576 of S. 1125, a bill to recommend that the II. At the request of Ms. BALDWIN, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Inno- S. 1930 name of the Senator from Pennsyl- vation test the effect of a dementia At the request of Ms. HIRONO, the vania (Mr. CASEY) was added as a co- care management model, and for other name of the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. sponsor of S. 576, a bill to amend title purposes. SCHATZ) was added as a cosponsor of S. 14, United States Code, to require the S. 1251 1930, a bill to amend the Personal Re- Coast Guard to conduct icebreaking op- At the request of Mr. BRAUN, the sponsibility and Work Opportunity Act erations in the Great Lakes to mini- names of the Senator from Arizona of 1996 to clarify that citizens of the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.012 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4729 Federated States of Micronesia, the were added as cosponsors of S. Res. 220, toxic stressors, as assessed through an evi- Republic of the Marshall Islands, and a resolution calling upon the United dence-based screening; the Republic of Palau who are lawfully States Senate to give its advice and ‘‘(M) lives in a high-poverty area with a high rate of community violence; residing in the United States are eligi- consent to the ratification of the ‘‘(N) has a disability; or ble for certain Federal public benefits. United Nations Convention on the Law ‘‘(O) shows signs of alcohol or drug misuse S. 1990 of the Sea. or abuse or has a parent or guardian who is At the request of Mr. SCOTT of Flor- f struggling with substance abuse. ida, the name of the Senator from ‘‘(2) DISABILITY.—The term ‘disability’ has STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED the meaning given the term for purposes of Oklahoma (Mr. LANKFORD) was added BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS section 602(3) of the Individuals with Disabil- as a cosponsor of S. 1990, a bill to es- By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and ities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1401(3)). tablish processes to control infla- ‘‘(3) ELIGIBLE ENTITY.—The term ‘eligible Ms. DUCKWORTH): tionary pressures and the Federal debt, entity’— during Federal debt emergencies. S. 2198. A bill to amend the Carl D. ‘‘(A) means a high-need local educational Perkins Career and Technical Edu- S. 2011 agency, high-need school, or local govern- cation Act of 2006 to give the Depart- ment entity; and At the request of Mr. COONS, the ment of Education the authority to ‘‘(B) may include a partnership between an names of the Senator from Arizona award competitive grants to eligible entity described in subparagraph (A) and a (Mr. KELLY) and the Senator from entities to establish, expand, or sup- nonprofit, community-based, or faith-based North Carolina (Mr. TILLIS) were added port school-based mentoring programs organization, or institution of higher edu- as cosponsors of S. 2011, a bill to award to assist at-risk students in middle cation. a Congressional Gold Medal to honor ‘‘(4) ENGLISH LEARNER.—The term ‘English school and high school in developing learner’ has the meaning given the term in the contributions of all those whose ef- cognitive and social-emotional skills forts led to the successful development section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec- to prepare them for success in high ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). of life saving vaccines to combat the school, postsecondary education, and ‘‘(5) FOSTER CARE.—The term ‘foster care’ novel coronavirus. the workforce; to the Committee on has the meaning given the term in section S. 2037 Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- 1355.20 of title 45, Code of Federal Regula- At the request of Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, sions. tions. ‘‘(6) HIGH-NEED LOCAL EDUCATIONAL AGEN- the name of the Senator from Arkansas Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask CY.—The term ‘high-need local educational (Mr. BOOZMAN) was added as a cospon- unanimous consent that the text of the agency’ means a local educational agency sor of S. 2037, a bill to amend title bill be printed in the RECORD. that serves at least one high-need school. XVIII to strengthen ambulance serv- There being no objection, the text of ‘‘(7) HIGH-NEED SCHOOL.—The term ‘high- ices furnished under part B of the the bill was ordered to be printed in need school’ has the meaning given the term Medicare program. the RECORD, as follows: in section 2211(b) of the Elementary and Sec- S. 2065 S. 2198 ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6631(b)). At the request of Mr. BROWN, the Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- ‘‘(8) HOMELESS CHILDREN AND YOUTHS.—The name of the Senator from Michigan resentatives of the United States of America in term ‘homeless children and youths’ has the (Mr. PETERS) was added as a cosponsor Congress assembled, meaning given the term in section 725 of the of S. 2065, a bill to amend title XVI of SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act the Social Security Act to update eligi- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Mentoring (42 U.S.C. 11434a). bility for the supplemental security in- to Succeed Act of 2021’’. ‘‘(9) SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING.—The term come program, and for other purposes. SEC. 2. PURPOSE. ‘school-based mentoring’ means a struc- The purpose of this Act is to make assist- tured, managed, evidenced-based program S. 2081 ance available for school-based mentoring conducted in partnership with teachers, ad- At the request of Ms. HIRONO, the programs for at-risk students in order to— ministrators, school psychologists, school names of the Senator from Pennsyl- (1) establish, expand, or support school- social workers or counselors, and other vania (Mr. CASEY) and the Senator based mentoring programs; school staff, in which at-risk students are from Virginia (Mr. KAINE) were added (2) assist at-risk students in middle school appropriately matched with screened and as cosponsors of S. 2081, a bill to im- and high school in developing cognitive and trained professional or volunteer mentors social-emotional skills; and who provide guidance, support, and encour- prove the structure of the Federal Pell (3) prepare such at-risk students for suc- agement, involving meetings, group-based Grant program, and for other purposes. cess in high school, postsecondary education, sessions, and educational and workforce-re- S. 2166 and the workforce. lated activities on a regular basis to prepare At the request of Mr. INHOFE, the SEC. 3. SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PROGRAM. at-risk students for success in high school, name of the Senator from Rhode Island Part C of title I of the Carl D. Perkins Ca- postsecondary education, and the workforce. ‘‘(b) SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING COMPETI- (Mr. REED) was added as a cosponsor of reer and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 TIVE GRANT PROGRAM.— S. 2166, a bill to provide that certain U.S.C. 2351 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall orders of the Federal Communications ‘‘SEC. 136. DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS FOR award grants on a competitive basis to eligi- Commission shall have no force or ef- SCHOOL-BASED MENTORING PRO- ble entities to establish, expand, or support fect until certain conditions are satis- GRAMS. school-based mentoring programs that— fied, and for other purposes. ‘‘(a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: ‘‘(A) are designed to assist at-risk students ‘‘(1) AT-RISK STUDENT.—The term ‘at-risk in high-need schools in developing cognitive S.J. RES. 10 student’ means a student who— skills and promoting social-emotional learn- At the request of Mr. KAINE, the ‘‘(A) is failing academically or at risk of ing to prepare them for success in high names of the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. dropping out of school; school, postsecondary education, and the SCHATZ), the Senator from Kansas (Mr. ‘‘(B) is pregnant or a parent; workforce by linking them with mentors MORAN) and the Senator from Colorado ‘‘(C) is a gang member; who— (Mr. HICKENLOOPER) were added as co- ‘‘(D) is a child or youth in foster care or a ‘‘(i) have received mentor training, includ- sponsors of S.J. Res. 10, a joint resolu- youth who has been emancipated from foster ing on trauma-informed practices, youth en- tion to repeal the authorizations for care, but is still enrolled in high school; gagement, cultural competency, and social- use of military force against Iraq, and ‘‘(E) is or has recently been a homeless emotional learning; and child or youth; ‘‘(ii) have been screened using appropriate for other purposes. ‘‘(F) is chronically absent; reference checks and criminal background S. RES. 220 ‘‘(G) has changed schools 3 or more times checks; At the request of Ms. HIRONO, the in the past 6 months; ‘‘(B) provide coaching and technical assist- names of the Senator from Connecticut ‘‘(H) has come in contact with the juvenile ance to mentors in each such mentoring pro- (Mr. MURPHY), the Senator from justice system in the past; gram; ‘‘(I) has a history of multiple suspensions ‘‘(C) seek to— Vermont (Mr. LEAHY), the Senator or disciplinary actions; ‘‘(i) improve the academic achievement of from Maine (Mr. KING), the Senator ‘‘(J) is an English learner; at-risk students; from Illinois (Mr. DURBIN), the Senator ‘‘(K) has one or both parents incarcerated; ‘‘(ii) reduce dropout rates and absenteeism from Delaware (Mr. COONS) and the ‘‘(L) has experienced one or more adverse and improve school engagement of at-risk Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER) childhood experiences, traumatic events, or students and their families;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.014 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S4730 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 23, 2021 ‘‘(iii) reduce juvenile justice involvement ‘‘(i) enrichment field trips to cultural des- administering and monitoring such pro- of at-risk students; tinations; and grams; ‘‘(iv) foster positive relationships between ‘‘(ii) career awareness activities, including (2) evaluate the role of mentors in pro- at-risk students and their peers, teachers, job site visits, informational interviews, re- moting cognitive development and social- other adults, and family members; sume writing, interview preparation, and emotional learning to enhance academic ‘‘(v) develop the workforce readiness skills networking; and achievement and to improve workforce read- of at-risk students by exploring paths to em- ‘‘(iii) academic or postsecondary education iness; and ployment, including encouraging students preparation activities, including trade or vo- (3) evaluate the effectiveness of the grant with disabilities to explore transition serv- cational school visits, visits to institutions program under section 136 of the Carl D. Per- ices; and of higher education, and assistance in apply- kins Career and Technical Education Act of ‘‘(vi) increase the participation of at-risk ing to institutions of higher education; and 2006, as added by section 3, on student aca- students in community service activities; ‘‘(E) conduct program evaluation, includ- demic outcomes and youth career develop- and ing by acquiring and analyzing the data de- ment. ‘‘(D) encourage at-risk students to set scribed under paragraph (6). (b) TIMING.—Not later than 3 years after goals and plan for their futures, including ‘‘(6) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec- making plans and identifying goals for post- ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 6 months retary of Education, acting through the Di- secondary education and the workforce. after the end of each academic year during rector of the Institute of Education Sciences, ‘‘(2) DURATION.—The Secretary shall award the grant period, an eligible entity receiving shall submit the results of the study to the grants under this section for a period not to a grant under this section shall submit to appropriate congressional committees. exceed 5 years. the Secretary a report that includes— f ‘‘(3) APPLICATION.—To receive a grant ‘‘(i) the number of students who partici- under this section, an eligible entity shall pated in the school-based mentoring program SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS submit to the Secretary an application that that was funded in whole or in part with the includes— grant funds; --- ‘‘(A) a needs assessment that includes ‘‘(ii) data on the academic achievement, SENATE RESOLUTION 283—RE- baseline data on the measures described in dropout rates, truancy, absenteeism, out- paragraph (6)(A)(ii); and AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE comes of arrests for violent crime, summer OF THE UNITED STATES TO PRO- ‘‘(B) a plan to meet the requirements of employment, and postsecondary education paragraph (1). enrollment of students in the program; MOTING THE SAFETY, HEALTH, ‘‘(4) PRIORITY.—In selecting grant recipi- ‘‘(iii) the number of group sessions and AND WELL-BEING OF REFUGEES ents, the Secretary shall give priority to ap- number of one-to-one contacts between stu- AND DISPLACED PERSONS plicants that— dents in the program and their mentors; Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. ‘‘(A) serve children and youth with the ‘‘(iv) the average attendance of students LEAHY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. greatest need living in high-poverty, high- enrolled in the program; crime areas, or rural areas, or who attend ‘‘(v) the number of students with disabil- COONS, Mr. KAINE, Mr. MURPHY, Mr. schools with high rates of community vio- ities connected to transition services; BOOKER, Mr. MERKLEY, Mr. MARKEY, lence; ‘‘(vi) data on social-emotional development Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WARNOCK, Ms. ‘‘(B) provide at-risk students with opportu- of students as assessed with a validated so- CANTWELL, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. nities for postsecondary education prepara- cial-emotional assessment tool; and tion and career development, including— HIRONO, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Ms. SMITH, ‘‘(vii) any other information that the Sec- ‘‘(i) job training, professional development, Mr. BROWN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. retary may require to evaluate the success of work shadowing, internships, networking, PADILLA, Mr. SCHATZ, and Mr. REED) the school-based mentoring program. resume writing and review, interview prepa- submitted the following resolution; ‘‘(B) STUDENT PRIVACY.—An eligible entity ration, transition services for students with shall ensure that the report submitted under which was referred to the Committee disabilities, application assistance and visits subparagraph (A) is prepared in a manner on Foreign Relations: to institutions of higher education, and lead- ership development through community that protects the privacy rights of each stu- S. RES. 283 service; and dent in accordance with section 444 of the Whereas June 20 is observed as ‘‘World Ref- ‘‘(ii) partnerships with the private sector General Education Provisions Act (com- ugee Day’’, a global event to acknowledge and local businesses to provide internship monly referred to as the ‘Family Edu- the courage, resilience, and determination of and career exploration activities and re- cational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974’) (20 individuals and families who are forced to sources; and U.S.C. 1232g). flee their homes due to persecution; ‘‘(C) seek to provide match lengths be- ‘‘(7) MENTORING RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY Whereas December 14, 2020, signified 70 tween at-risk students and mentors for at SERVICE COORDINATION.— years since the founding of the Office of the least 1 academic year. ‘‘(A) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Sec- United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- ‘‘(5) USE OF FUNDS.—An eligible entity that retary shall work with the Office of Juvenile gees; receives a grant under this section may use Justice and Delinquency Prevention to— Whereas July 28, 2021, is the 70th anniver- such funds to— ‘‘(i) refer grantees under this section to the sary of the Convention Relating to the Sta- ‘‘(A) develop and carry out regular training National Mentoring Resource Center to ob- tus of Refugees, signed in Geneva on July 28, for mentors, including on— tain resources on best practices and research 1951, which defines the term ‘‘refugee’’ and ‘‘(i) the impact of adverse childhood expe- related to mentoring and to request no-cost outlines the rights of refugees and the legal riences; training and technical assistance; and obligations of states to protect them; ‘‘(ii) trauma-informed practices and inter- ‘‘(ii) provide grantees under this section Whereas, in 2020, according to the United ventions; with information regarding transitional Nations High Commissioner for Refugees— ‘‘(iii) supporting homeless children and services for at-risk students returning from (1) there were more than 82,400,000 forcibly youths; correctional facilities and transition services displaced people worldwide, the worst dis- ‘‘(iv) supporting children and youth in fos- for students with disabilities. placement crisis in recorded history, includ- ter care or youth who have been emanci- ‘‘(B) COORDINATION.—The Secretary shall, ing 26,400,000 refugees, more than 48,000,000 pated from foster care, but are still enrolled to the extent possible, coordinate with the internally displaced people, and 4,100,000 peo- in high school; Corporation for National and Community ple seeking asylum; ‘‘(v) cultural competency; Service, including through entering into an (2) on average, 1 out of every 95 people ‘‘(vi) meeting all appropriate privacy and interagency agreement or a memorandum of worldwide was a refugee, an internally dis- confidentiality requirements for students, understanding, to support mentoring and placed person, or a person seeking asylum; including students in foster care; community service-related activities for at- (3) 11,200,000 people were newly displaced ‘‘(vii) working in coordination with a pub- risk students. due to recent conflict or persecution; lic school system; ‘‘(c) AUTHORIZATION OF FUNDS.—There are (4) 68 percent of the world’s refugees came ‘‘(viii) positive youth development and en- authorized to be appropriated to carry out from Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, South gagement practices; and this section such sums as may be necessary Sudan, and Burma; ‘‘(ix) disability inclusion practices to en- for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2027.’’. (5) 2,600,000 Afghan refugees were displaced sure access and participation by students SEC. 4. INSTITUTE OF EDUCATION SCIENCES worldwide, making them one of the world’s with disabilities; STUDY ON SCHOOL-BASED MEN- largest and longest-running displaced popu- ‘‘(B) recruit, screen, match, and train men- TORING PROGRAMS. lations; tors; (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Edu- (6) more than 50 percent of the population ‘‘(C) hire staff to perform or support the cation, acting through the Director of the of Syria, at least 13,500,000 people, were dis- objectives of the school-based mentoring Institute of Education Sciences, shall con- placed, either across the international bor- program; duct a study to— der or within Syria, which represents the ‘‘(D) provide inclusive and accessible youth (1) identify successful school-based men- largest displacement crisis in the world engagement activities, such as— toring programs and effective strategies for today;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A23JN6.016 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4731 (7) children accounted for 30 percent of the (5) reaffirms the goals of ‘‘World Refugee that following the prayer and pledge, world’s population but 42 percent of all forc- Day’’ and reiterates the strong commitment the morning hour be deemed expired, ibly displaced people, millions of whom were of the United States to protect the millions the Journal of proceedings be approved unable to access basic services, including of refugees who live without material, social, to date, the time for the two leaders be education; and or legal protections. reserved for their use later in the day, (8) 86 percent of all refugees were hosted by f developing nations, and less than 1 percent and morning business be closed; that of vulnerable refugees in need of resettle- AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO upon the conclusion of morning busi- ment had the opportunity to resettle because MEET ness, the Senate proceed to the consid- sufficient numbers of places do not exist; Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, I eration of S. 1251, the Growing Climate Whereas refugees are major contributors to have 8 requests for committees to meet Solutions Act, under the previous local economies and served as critical front- order; further, that all time on the bill line health professionals and essential work- during today’s session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority expire at 11 a.m.; that there be 2 min- ers combating the COVID–19 pandemic utes of debate equally divided prior to worldwide; and Minority leaders. Whereas the United States has an obliga- Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph each vote, with all provisions of the tion to provide humanitarian protection to 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- order remaining in effect; that upon refugees, as well as interpreters, translators, ate, the following committees are au- disposition of S. 1251, the Senate pro- and others in Afghanistan who served along- thorized to meet during today’s session ceed to executive session to resume side United States and NATO troops, dip- of the Senate: consideration of the Jackson-Akiwumi lomats, and development workers; nomination, with all postcloture time Whereas the United States supports the COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY expiring at 1:45 p.m.; finally, that if the United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- nomination is confirmed, the motion to gees to increase protection for LGBTQI+ ref- The Committee on Agriculture, Nu- ugees overseas and to support global reset- trition, and Forestry is authorized to reconsider be considered made and laid tlement of LGBTQI+ refugees; and meet during the session of the Senate upon the table with no intervening ac- Whereas the United States Refugee Admis- on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at 2:30 tion or debate. sions Program, which was established over 40 p.m., to conduct a hearing. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without years ago, is a lifesaving solution crucial to objection, it is so ordered. global humanitarian efforts, strengthens COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, for the TRANSPORTATION global security, advances United States for- information of Senators, there will be The Committee on Commerce, eign policy goals, supports regional host two rollcall votes starting at 11 a.m. countries, and assists individuals and fami- Science, and Transportation is author- and one vote at 1:45 p.m. lies in need: Now, therefore, be it ized to meet during the session of the Resolved, That the Senate— Senate on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at f (1) reaffirms the bipartisan commitment of 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT the United States to promote the safety, COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY health, and well-being of millions of refu- Mr. MURPHY. If there is no further gees, including the education of refugee chil- The Committee on the Judiciary is business to come before the Senate, I dren and displaced persons, who flee war, authorized to meet during the session ask that it stand adjourned under the persecution, or torture in search of peace, of the Senate on Wednesday, June 23, previous order, following the remarks hope, and freedom; 2021, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. of Senator MARSHALL and Senator (2) recognizes those individuals who have COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS BROWN. risked their lives working, either individ- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ually or for nongovernmental organizations The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and international agencies, such as the is authorized to meet during the ses- objection, it is so ordered. United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- sion of the Senate on Wednesday, June The Senator from Kansas. gees, to provide lifesaving assistance and 23, 2021, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. Mr. MARSHALL. I ask unanimous protection for people displaced around the SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE consent to use two scientific models as world; The Select Committee on Intel- props during my speech. (3) underscores the importance of the ligence is authorized to meet during The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without United States Refugee Admissions Program objection, it is so ordered. as a critical tool for the United States Gov- the session of the Senate on Tuesday, ernment to strengthen national and regional June 22, 2021, at 2 p.m., to conduct a f security and encourage international soli- closed hearing. CORONAVIRUS darity with host countries; SUBCOMMITTEE ON CYBERSECURITY Mr. MARSHALL. Mr. President, it (4) calls upon the Secretary of State and The Subcommittee on Cybersecurity United States Ambassador to the United Na- seems like every week, we get a new tions to— of the Committee on Armed Services is update on the timeline for the origin of (A) continue providing robust funding for authorized to meet during the session the COVID–19 virus. This week, we refugee protection overseas and resettlement of the Senate on Wednesday, June 23, learned that in October of 2019—Octo- in the United States; 2021, at 2 p.m., to conduct a hearing. ber 2019—that over 1,000 soldiers from (B) uphold the United States international SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY over 100 countries had gathered in leadership role in responding to displace- The Subcommittee on Energy of the Wuhan, China, for a military Olympics, ment crises with humanitarian assistance, Committee on Energy and Natural Re- and restore its leadership role in the protec- if you will. tion of vulnerable refugee populations that sources is authorized to meet during Then what we learned is that, several endure sexual violence, human trafficking, the session of the Senate on Wednes- weeks after that event, many of our persecution and violence against religious day, June 23, 2021, at 2 p.m., to conduct own athletes and our own military per- minorities, forced conscription, genocide, a hearing. sonnel became ill, as well as folks from and exploitation; SUBCOMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC POLICY other countries. We went back further (C) work in partnership with the inter- The Subcommittee on Economic Pol- and talked to some of those soldiers. national community to find solutions to ex- They told us that Wuhan, China, isting conflicts and prevent new conflicts icy of the Committee on Banking, from beginning; Housing, and Urban Affairs is author- looked like a ghost town during that (D) continue supporting the efforts of the ized to meet during the session of the event. A town of over 11 million people United Nations High Commissioner for Refu- Senate on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at looked like a ghost town. gees to advance the work of nongovern- 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. What I am frustrated about is that mental organizations to protect refugees re- f the CDC has not investigated this, that gardless of their country of origin or reli- the military has not investigated it, gious beliefs; ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 24, and that, during the proper times, we (E) continue to alleviate pressures on 2021 could have tested their antibodies. frontline refugee host countries that absorb the majority of the world’s refugees through Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask When we learned of this, maybe, per- humanitarian and development support; and unanimous consent that when the Sen- haps, in March or in April, they prob- (F) respond to the global refugee crisis by ate completes its business today, it ad- ably still had antibodies. Even today, meeting robust refugee admissions goals; and journ until 10 a.m., Thursday, June 24; we could investigate it, but we need

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

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:27 Jun 24, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G23JN6.038 S23JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE June 23, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4733 more people about the history of base- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY IN THE AIR FORCE ball integration. DAVID M. UHLMANN, OF MICHIGAN, TO BE AN ASSIST- THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICER FOR APPOINTMENT It is the kind of stories we need to ANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTEC- IN THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE TO THE GRADE INDI- TION AGENCY, VICE SUSAN PARKER BODINE. CATED WHILE ASSIGNED TO A POSITION OF IMPORTANCE tell more often. Our country is richer, AND RESPONSIBILITY UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTION as the Presiding Officer representing DEPARTMENT OF STATE 601: Arizona knows—the country is richer SHARON L. CROMER, OF NEW YORK, A CAREER MEMBER To be general when we tell people’s stories. OF THE SENIOR FOREIGN SERVICE, CLASS OF CAREER LT. GEN. ANTHONY J. COTTON MINISTER, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND THE FOLLOWING NAMED AIR NATIONAL GUARD OF THE Let’s honor James Timothy Grant, PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA UNITED STATES OFFICER FOR APPOINTMENT IN THE RE- TO THE REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA. Jr., by telling his story, by heeding his SERVE OF THE AIR FORCE TO THE GRADE INDICATED TROY DAMIAN FITRELL, OF VIRGINIA, A CAREER MEM- UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTIONS 12203 AND 12212: words. In his great poem ‘‘Life,’’ James BER OF THE SENIOR FOREIGN SERVICE, CLASS OF COUN- Timothy Grant Jr. wrote: SELOR, TO BE AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND To be brigadier general PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Life is like a game of baseball, you play it TO THE REPUBLIC OF GUINEA. COL. RICHARD G. ADAMS every day. It isn’t just the breaks you get, MARC OSTFIELD, OF PENNSYLVANIA, A CAREER MEM- IN THE MARINE CORPS but the kind of game you play. BER OF THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE SERVICE, TO BE AMBAS- SADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICER FOR APPOINTMENT James ‘‘Mudcat’’ Grant, rest in THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC OF IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS TO THE GRADE PARAGUAY. INDICATED WHILE ASSIGNED TO A POSITION OF IMPOR- peace. KENNETH LEE SALAZAR, OF COLORADO, TO BE AMBAS- TANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., I yield the floor. SADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF SECTION 601: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE UNITED MEXI- To be lieutenant general f CAN STATES. ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. JULIANNE SMITH, OF MICHIGAN, TO BE UNITED STATES MAJ. GEN. CHRISTOPHER J. MAHONEY PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVE ON THE COUNCIL OF THE THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICER FOR APPOINTMENT TOMORROW NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION, WITH THE IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS TO THE GRADE RANK AND STATUS OF AMBASSADOR EXTRAORDINARY INDICATED WHILE ASSIGNED TO A POSITION OF IMPOR- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under AND PLENIPOTENTIARY. TANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., the previous order, the Senate stands C.B. SULLENBERGER III, OF TEXAS, FOR THE RANK OF SECTIONS 601: AMBASSADOR DURING HIS TENURE OF SERVICE AS REP- adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow. RESENTATIVE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON To be lieutenant general THE COUNCIL OF THE INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION Thereupon, the Senate, at 7:48 p.m., MAJ. GEN. STEPHEN D. SKLENKA ORGANIZATION. adjourned until Thursday, June 24, CYNTHIA ANN TELLES, OF CALIFORNIA, TO BE AMBAS- f 2021, at 10 a.m. SADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE REPUBLIC OF f COSTA RICA. CONFIRMATIONS

NOMINATIONS NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD Executive nominations confirmed by the Senate June 23, 2021: Executive nominations received by DAVID M. PROUTY, OF MARYLAND, TO BE A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD FOR THE THE JUDICIARY the Senate: TERM OF FIVE YEARS EXPIRING AUGUST 27, 2026, VICE WILLIAM J. EMANUEL, TERM EXPIRING. DEBORAH L. BOARDMAN, OF MARYLAND, TO BE UNITED DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE STATES DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARY- LAND. KATHLEEN S. MILLER, OF VIRGINIA, TO BE A DEPUTY DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS UNDER SECRETARY OF DEFENSE. (NEW POSITION) GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION CELESTE ANN WALLANDER, OF MARYLAND, TO BE AN GUY T. KIYOKAWA, OF HAWAII, TO BE AN ASSISTANT ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE, VICE ROBERT SECRETARY OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (ENTERPRISE INTE- ROBIN CARNAHAN, OF MISSOURI, TO BE ADMINIS- STORY KAREM. GRATION), VICE MELISSA SUE GLYNN, RESIGNED. TRATOR OF GENERAL SERVICES.

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