S5550 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 11, 2014 notwithstanding rule XXII, following may be only a piece of the picture. The tive equipment for health workers, the vote on cloture on S. 2199, the Sen- ability of these countries to locate, di- funding through rapid and flexible ate proceed to executive session and agnose, isolate and treat patients, funding mechanisms, training and su- vote on cloture on Executive Calendar trace and monitor contacts, and safely pervision, laboratory services, commu- Nos. 1003 and 1004; further, that if clo- bury the dead cannot possibly keep nications resources, and management ture is invoked on either of these nomi- pace. and logistics support. Unfortunately, the lack of urgency nations, on Tuesday, September 16, at There is nothing new about this ap- exhibited by much of the international 2:15 p.m., all postcloture time be ex- proach. But it is required on a far larg- community was exacerbated by budget pired and the Senate proceed to vote on er scale than was used to control Ebola cuts at the World Health Organization, confirmation of the nominations in the outbreaks in the past. order upon which cloture was invoked; for which there is ample blame to go further, that there be 2 minutes for de- around. After the 2009 global financial The situation today is grave, but we bate prior to each vote, and all rollcall crisis, WHO’s budget dropped by rough- can prevent many of these deaths. And votes after the first vote in each se- ly 1 billion dollars, nearly 25 percent of as we do so we need to help build quence be 10 minutes in length; fur- their budget today. stronger public health systems that ther, with respect to the nominations By the time of the current Ebola out- can contain future disease outbreaks. in this agreement, that if any nomina- break, staff levels at WHO had been cut Past efforts to build capacity have tion is confirmed, the motions to re- by 35 percent, and their ability to pre- clearly been woefully inadequate. As consider be considered made and laid pare for and respond to health emer- public health systems in these coun- upon the table and the President be im- gencies suffered accordingly. tries have been overwhelmed by Ebola, mediately notified of the Senate’s ac- Today, the Ebola crisis has the full patients suffering from malaria, TB, tion. attention of the World Health Organi- pneumonia, and other illnesses are un- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without zation, the Centers for Disease Control able to get treatment. objection, it is so ordered. and Prevention, USAID, President We should all pay tribute to the cou- f Sirleaf of Liberia, and other govern- ments. They recognize that unless ag- rageous public health workers who MORNING BUSINESS gressive, coordinated actions are taken have risked their lives—and in many Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent immediately, there will soon be tens of cases, lost their lives—trying to save that the Senate proceed to a period of thousands of cases, the disease will others from this terrible disease. It is morning business, with Senators per- spread into much of Africa, and it will inspiring to read the stories of nurses mitted to speak therein for up to 10 be an ongoing global threat for many and doctors, and those who dig the minutes each. years to come. graves and bury the dead, who have la- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The challenges are immense: weak bored on as their colleagues have died, objection, it is so ordered. government institutions; dysfunctional who live with the daily reality that at f public health systems that cannot con- any moment they could be next. They duct reliable disease surveillance and are as brave as any soldier on the front THE EBOLA CRISIS response; lack of roads and other basic lines of battle. Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, over infrastructure; ethnic and political di- I also want to commend President the past several months the world’s at- visions in societies recovering from Sirleaf, her Minister of Defense, and tention has been focused on the Rus- war; misconceptions about the disease others who have tried their best to deal sian invasion of Crimea and fighting in and low levels of literacy; and inad- with this unprecedented emergency in the eastern Ukraine, the explosion of equate and uncoordinated inter- the face of woefully inadequate re- violence in Gaza, the flood of migrant national aid. sources. children from Central America, and the While the epidemic is finally begin- horrific death and destruction in Iraq ning to receive the attention it de- The United Nations says that $600 and Syria. serves, it is spiraling out of control. million is needed immediately to fight In each of these places vast numbers Huge numbers of cases are over- this disease. The has al- of innocent people have suffered ter- whelming local capacity to isolate and ready provided tens of millions of dol- ribly, and our own policies and capa- treat patients, trace their contacts, lars. USAID announced another $75 bility to respond have been severely and safely bury the dead. The cost of million last week. The White House has tested. personal protection gear is exorbitant requested additional funding for CDC, Yet one of the most urgent, difficult, and there is an acute shortage of which would bring the U.S. contribu- and frightening challenges facing the trained people. tion to over $250 million. world today is not the result of armed Also, the secondary effects of this The Department of Defense an- conflict or ethnic or religious extre- crisis are increasingly apparent. Food nounced that it will provide logistical, mism. It is the world’s first Ebola epi- insecurity is worsening and the econo- laboratory, and other support. The demic, and it poses a potentially dev- mies of these countries, already frag- World Bank has pledged over $200 mil- astating threat to Africa and people ev- ile, are facing collapse as imports and lion. Other governments are also com- erywhere. exports are plummeting. ing forward, as are private donors. The Before the August recess we were We and others have the knowledge Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation re- preparing to receive dozens of African and tools to contain and control this cently pledged $50 million to enhance heads of state to Washington. At that disease if cases are quickly isolated response efforts and accelerate re- time, Doctors Without Borders and and contacts identified, but actions to search on potential treatments and other nongovernmental organizations date have not been well coordinated vaccines. had been ringing alarm bells for weeks and have not always addressed the about the worsening Ebola outbreak in most urgent needs. The Congress has a role to play, and West Africa. Just as for a raging wildfire, the I am hopeful that as additional funds But the World Health Organization focus should be on deploying all avail- are needed we will act responsibly and and governments, including our own, able resources to provide immediate provide them. I am a cosponsor of S. were slow to respond to what was support for urgent needs identified on Res. 541, which recounts the history of viewed as a manageable, localized pub- the front lines to stop its spread, while this outbreak and the steps that are ur- lic health problem, rather than a crisis there is time. It will require mobiliza- gently needed to control it. I commend that could spin out of control. tion of the type and complexity as oc- Senators COONS, DURBIN, MENENDEZ No longer. Infections and deaths in curred after the Haiti earthquake. and others who introduced it. This is Liberia and Sierra Leone are increas- In West Africa, that means imme- not a partisan or political issue. It is a ing rapidly, with exponential accelera- diately scaling up staff, transport, iso- public health issue, a moral issue, and tion in these countries and potentially lation and treatment capacity, infec- one that should unite us all to do what in neighboring Guinea. Official reports tion control including personal protec- is necessary to defeat this epidemic.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 08:21 Sep 12, 2014 Jkt 039060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11SE6.075 S11SEPT1 bjneal on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with SENATE September 11, 2014 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5551 REMEMBERING JAMES M. me my political conscience,’ ‘‘ Post remem- Jeffords had Jeffords run for re-election in JEFFORDS bered Monday, the day Jeffords died. 2006. Jeffords did lose the primary, but he went ‘‘Vermonters admired him because of his Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, earlier on to serve seven terms in the U.S. House low-key and down-to-earth qualities, and be- this week, the Senate passed a resolu- and three in the Senate. In 2001, his con- cause of his obvious and strong love of the tion recognizing the life and career of science led him to leave the GOP, a stunning state and the way of life,’’ Sanders Senator Jim Jeffords. This Vermont move that shifted control of the chamber to said. ‘‘He was an effective champion of edu- icon passed away over the August re- the Democrats. cation, disability rights, the environment cess, nearly 8 years after concluding a Monday, Jeffords died shortly after 7 a.m. and the arts—and millions of Americans have benefited from his efforts.’’ decades-long career in public service. at Knollwood, a retirement home for mili- tary veterans in Washington, D.C. He was 80 Rep. Peter Welch, in an interview, spoke of That career, marked by historic mo- and the last Republican to hold federal office how Jeffords and his wife helped him during ments on the national stage, was one elected from Vermont. his successful run for the House in 2006, and in which Vermont came first. I ask ‘‘While we are saddened by our father’s then in Welch’s early months as a freshman unanimous consent that an article passing, we take comfort in the knowledge congressman. from the Burlington Free Press, ‘‘Trib- that he lived a full life, from the hills of ‘‘He spoke softly but got a lot done,’’ utes pour in for Vermont GOP giant Vermont to the halls of Congress,’’ Laura Welch said of Jeffords’’ career. ‘‘There are and Leonard Jeffords, the senator’s son and colleagues of his in the House who still re- Jeffords,’’ be printed in the RECORD at daughter, said in a statement. ‘‘We will miss member him with great respect.’’ the conclusion of my remarks. his kindness, his good humor, and his gen- Former Republican Gov. said Jim and I came to Washington to- erosity of spirit.’’ Jeffords ‘‘will be long remembered as a gether in 1975, he to represent Vermont Jeffords, afflicted with Alzheimer’s dis- Vermonter who gave his all and his best in as our lone Member in the House of ease, had been in declining health and had every season of his storied career. As a Representatives, and I as Vermont’s lived at Knollwood since retiring from his friend, I will miss him dearly.’’ first Democratic Senator. But our Senate seat in 2006. Jeffords was a veteran of Republican Lt. Gov. Phil Scott said he the Navy and the Navy Reserve, but never fashioned his career after the example set by years working together go back fur- Jeffords. ‘‘He did what he felt was right, not ther, to the days when I was a State’s served in combat. Jeffords’ wife, Elizabeth Daley Jeffords, died in 2007. what he felt would make him popular,’’ attorney in Chittenden County, and he News of Jeffords’ death Monday morning, Scott said. the State’s attorney general. Our fami- first reported by the Burlington Free Press, THE SWITCH lies knew each other. Marcelle and Liz quickly spread across the state and the na- Jeffords’ decision to become an inde- knew each other well, having both at- tion. pendent in 2001 rocked the nation. His move tended Cathedral High School in Bur- ‘‘Jim never lost the fiercely independent changed the balance of power in the Senate, lington. Both Jim and I would readily spirit that made Vermonters, and people which had been 50 Republicans and 50 Demo- acknowledge that our wives were the across America, trust and respect him,’’ crats. hearts and souls of our families. President Barack Obama said in a state- The move cost his GOP colleagues their ment. That longtime relationship served us committee chairmanships and, for Jeffords, ‘‘Whatever the issue—whether it was pro- the loss of several lifelong friendships. and Vermont well when Jim came to tecting the environment, supporting Ameri- ‘‘I have changed my party label, but I have the Senate in 1989. Together, we cans with disabilities, or whether to author- not changed my beliefs,’’ Jeffords said in his worked to protect Vermont’s dairy ize the war in Iraq—Jim voted his principles, May 24, 2001, speech at a jam-packed farmers, to preserve Vermont’s cele- even if it sometimes meant taking a lonely Radisson Hotel in Burlington where he an- brated natural landscape, and to give or unpopular stance.’’ nounced the switch. Vermont a strong and powerful voice in In Vermont, Gov. Peter Shumlin mourned ‘‘Indeed, my decision is about affirming the principles that have shaped my career. I Washington. Jeffords’ death. Flags at public buildings across the state were lowered at half-staff hope that the people of Vermont will under- I joined many Vermonters in cele- and will remain so through Saturday. stand it. I hope in time that my colleagues brating Jim’s life last month in his ‘‘The passing of Senator Jim Jeffords will will as well. I am confident that it is the home town of Rutland. Our sympathies be felt throughout Vermont and our coun- right decision.’’ are with his children Laura and Leon- try,’’ Shumlin said in a statement. ‘‘We need The move catapulted Jeffords to rock-star ard, and his grandchildren. more like Senator Jeffords. My heart goes national prominence, praised by Democrats Jim was a humble man, a Vermonter out to his children and extended family.’’ and vilified by Republicans. He wrote later that even members of his through and through, and a true friend. THE MAVERICK family opposed his decision. Sen. , His legacy is that he held Vermont in Jeffords’s maverick political instincts R-La., and a member of his heart, and worked to advance the served in him good stead as he navigated quartet along with Jeffords, fumed that Jef- best interests of his constituents on Vermont’s shifting political currents over 40 fords had carried out a ‘‘coup of one.’’ the national stage. years, emphasizing his moderate positions as In the aftermath, Jeffords appeared on the For that, this Vermonter will join the state leaned increasingly toward more covers of Newsweek and Time magazines in many others in simply saying, liberal, Democratic positions. the same week. He also was the subject of As a House member, he was the only Re- several death threats, requiring required him ‘‘Thanks, Jim.’’ publican to vote against President Ronald There being no objection, the mate- to receive Capital Hill police protection for a Reagan’s tax cuts in 1981. In 1991, he voted time. rial was ordered to be printed in the against George H.W. Bush’s nomination of Back home, he was treated as a flat-out RECORD, as follows: to the U.S. Supreme Court. hero. His decision to leave the GOP spawned [From the Burlington Free Press, Aug. 19, He supported President ’s health a popular ‘‘Thanks, Jim’’ bumper sticker and 2014] care reform and, in 1999, voted against his a special-edition beer called ‘‘Jeezum Jim,’’ impeachment. TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR VERMONT GOP GIANT a reference to his modest nature and ‘‘He was a partner in our work for JEFFORDS Vermonty accent. Vermont, and he was a friend,’’ Sen. Patrick ‘‘I have never been prouder of anything (By Sam Hemingway) Leahy said of Jeffords in a statement. ‘‘He I’ve done in my life than being with him at The Jim Jeffords For Governor campaign was a Vermonter through and through, that time, the time preceding the announce- camper was headed up U.S. 2 toward East drawn to political life to make a difference ment and the time after that,’’ said Eric Montpelier in the summer of 1972 with the for our state and nation. Part of his legacy Smulson, Jeffords’ spokesman for 15 years. candidate behind the wheel. will also stand as an enduring chapter of the ‘‘How he handled himself, how he stood for ‘‘He almost drove off the road,’’ recalled Senate’s history.’’ his principles. He was a great statesman, a Bruce Post of Essex, who was aboard the Leahy and Jeffords both won their first great Vermonter, but an even better per- camper as a just-out-of-college campaign elections to federal office in 1974 and were ri- son.’’ volunteer. ‘‘He was the world’s worst driv- vals for a time. They grew closer over the Others, including close friends and some er.’’ years as they worked on dairy issues and Vermont Republican leaders, were dis- What Post also remembers from that day others important to Vermont. traught about the 2001 decision. is that Jeffords, Vermont’s attorney general Sen. , I–Vt., who won the ‘‘I was very upset over it,’’ said James at the time, telling him about a decision Jef- election to replace Jeffords in 2006, said Jef- Johnston of Montpelier, a former Jeffords fords had made to give no special treatment fords was a common-sense Vermonter who campaign adviser and close personal friend. to a powerful Republican who had run afoul accomplished a lot. ‘‘But I know he had good reason to do it at of Vermont’s environmental laws. Sanders toyed with running against Jef- the time.’’ ‘‘He told me that day, ‘It might cost me fords in 2000 but decided against it and said Johnston became emotional describing the my political career, but it’s not going to cost Monday he would have passed on challenging loss of his old friend.

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