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

Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 No. 160 House of Representatives The House met at 9 a.m. and was Maryland, serving Prince George’s July when she was diagnosed with mul- called to order by the Speaker pro tem- County, Calvert County, and Anne tiple myeloma and departed Maryland pore (Mr. CUELLAR). Arundel County. Earlier, she had to seek treatment closer to family at f worked for former Maryland State Sen- the University of Rochester Medical ator Ulysses Currie. Center. We had all hoped to welcome DESIGNATION OF SPEAKER PRO Mr. Speaker, she knew the Fifth Dis- her back soon, but sadly, Daryl’s condi- TEMPORE trict and its communities better than tion worsened quickly last week, and The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- almost anyone, and she cared deeply she passed away on Saturday morning fore the House the following commu- about the people who called, emailed, with her family by her side. nication from the Speaker: and wrote to us asking for assistance Mr. Speaker, Daryl was a true friend with Federal agencies and help access- and partner in service to the people of WASHINGTON, DC, ing government services. In particular, Maryland’s Fifth District. She will September 16, 2020. I hereby appoint the Honorable HENRY Daryl was a fierce advocate for our dis- long be remembered by those she CUELLAR to act as Speaker pro tempore on trict seniors, but she was also a mentor helped and by those of us who worked this day. to countless young people, including closely with her. NANCY PELOSI, interns who came to our district office Her passing is a great loss to my con- Speaker of the House of Representatives. and learned lessons from Daryl, not stituents, our office, to this House, and f only about serving our constituents to our country. I hope my colleagues but how to approach life through perse- will join me in offering her family the MORNING-HOUR DEBATE verance, faith, and positive thinking. condolences of the whole House and the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Daryl drew heavily on her personal thanks of a Nation grateful for patri- ant to the order of the House of Janu- faith as a member of the Evangel Ca- otic Americans like Daryl Ann Pen- ary 7, 2020, the Chair will now recog- thedral in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, nington who serve their country and nize Members from lists submitted by for more than a quarter of a century, communities so dutifully and so well. the majority and minority leaders for and as a partner with Dr. Corinthia Mr. Speaker, now Daryl rests in morning-hour debate. Ridgely Boone of the International peace with God, whom she served so The Chair will alternate recognition Christian Host Coalition organizing the faithfully throughout her life. between the parties, with time equally National Capital Region’s Day of Pray- f allocated between the parties and each er for many, many years. Mr. Speaker, she believed strongly MEMORIALIZING REVEREND BILLY Member other than the majority and that prayer was a powerful tool, not GRAHAM minority leaders and the minority only to connect with her creator, but The SPEAKER pro tempore. The whip limited to 5 minutes, but in no to connect with others here on Earth, Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from event shall debate continue beyond 9:50 to communicate her love for others, North Carolina (Ms. FOXX) for 5 min- a.m. and to spread peace and joy to those utes. f around her, which she surely did. Her Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. IN MEMORY OF DARYL ANN sense of humor, her wit, her warmth Speaker, I am proud to announce that PENNINGTON will be sorely missed not only by her a familiar figure within North Caro- colleagues in my office, but by all who lina’s history will soon be featured The SPEAKER pro tempore. The knew her. here in the United States Capitol. Chair recognizes the gentleman from I and all of us who worked so closely On July 22, I came to the floor and Maryland (Mr. HOYER) for 5 minutes. with Daryl will miss her very, very spoke about how the first Republican Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, it is with much. Daryl had so many spiritual majority in the North Carolina legisla- profound sadness that I share the news daughters and the many young women ture in over 40 years voted in 2015 to re- that a great friend and public servant who looked up to her over the years as place the current statue of Charles has passed away. a mentor and friend, but her pride and Aycock in the Capitol with a statue of Daryl Ann Pennington was a dear joy were her five children: Laura, Billy Graham. A week later, on July 29, friend, trusted member of my staff, and Christie, Toi, Peter, and Lenny, as well a committee within the North Caro- a tireless advocate for Maryland’s as her grandchildren to whom, of lina’s General Assembly unanimously Fifth District. course, she was devoted. approved a model of Reverend Gra- For the past 12 years, Daryl served as A native of Rochester, New York, ham’s statue and commissioned a a caseworker in my office in Greenbelt, Daryl made her final journey home in sculptor to create a life-sized model.

b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.000 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4432 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 The level of expediency in this proc- In 1980, she won election to the board blessing so many people with enough ess is a true testament to how Rev- of education, which she served for 8 foolishness to believe that we can erend Graham was revered not only in years. make the impossible possible. North Carolina, but also across the Equity in education was always at f world. Recently, President Trump has the forefront of what she did, because expressed his support for a statue of even though the courts declared sepa- CONSERVATISM DURING COVID Reverend Graham to be commissioned, rate but equal was unequal, too many The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and he even suggested that Reverend schools in Charlotte were still both Chair recognizes the gentleman from Graham would be memorialized in a separate and unequal. North Carolina (Mr. BUDD) for 5 min- new statuary park known as the ‘‘Na- What she did made a difference. In utes. tional Garden of American Heroes.’’ 1984, halfway through Miss Sarah’s ten- Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today Reverend Graham came from humble ure on the school board, President Ron- to set the record straight. beginnings in Charlotte, North Caro- ald Reagan made a campaign stop in The American people are wondering lina, where he was raised on a dairy Charlotte at the height of his popu- what Congress is doing to help folks farm in the early 1920s. larity. President Reagan had a line in who are still struggling from the ef- During his lifetime, he counseled for- his stump speech that won thunderous fects of COVID–19 on their health and eign dignitaries, numerous Presidents, applause in cities across the country, on all of our economy. They see no members of the Royal family, and and in Charlotte, he repeated it, saying movement in negotiations, and I have many other significant public figures. that school busing was a failed social had folks back home ask me, What are However, his work was not solely experiment that nobody wants. you all doing up there? Well, sadly, the consigned to the upper echelons of gov- The crowd went silent. There was, at answer is, Not much, really. ernment or politics. His life’s work was best, scattered applause. That is be- Some in this Chamber claim that it dedicated to the millions of people cause in Charlotte, activists like Sarah is us, the Republicans, who have no so- around the world who sought Jesus Stevenson worked hard so that Black lutions on COVID. Nothing could be Christ as their one true Lord and sav- and White parents could come together further from the truth. Let me just speak for myself. I have introduced ior. in support of Charlotte’s ‘‘finest more than a dozen bills with my col- He once described being a Christian achievement’’—school integration. as, ‘‘more than just an instantaneous She lost reelection to the school leagues. Some of these bills are bipar- conversion. It is a daily process where- board in 1988 because she continued to tisan, and they apply time-tested con- by you grow to be more and more like value equity and integration even as servative principles to help people im- Christ.’’ the political winds changed. Her values pacted and hurt by COVID–19. These are bills that expand In 2018, Reverend Graham passed were more important to her than win- healthcare access. They support work- away at the age of 99, and to say that ning votes. And that is an example ers. They incentivize telework. They he left an indelible mark on society that we can all learn from. assure safe public housing. They sim- would be an understatement. For While on the school board, she co- plify PPP loans. Mr. Speaker, they years, I have advocated for Reverend founded the Tuesday Morning Break- stop stimulus payments to dead people, Graham to have a place within the hal- fast Forum, a group she continues to of all things. They explore temperature lowed Halls of the Capitol, and I am so convene to this day. The Forum can checks at airports. They establish pleased that the millions of people who best be described as the pulse of the flexible funding for States and local- visit the Capitol every year will soon community in Charlotte. The Forum ities; a bill that holds China account- be able to view his statue. has met on most Tuesdays for the past able, and helps incentivize a safe re- f 40 years and is a required stop for can- opening of our country, and much, didates for public office in Charlotte IN HONOR OF SARAH M. much more. Each and every one of STEVENSON and those running statewide. For these and many other achieve- these bills has been denied a vote in The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ments, it goes without saying that this House. Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Mr. Speaker, I understand the poli- Sarah Stevenson has earned numerous North Carolina (Ms. ADAMS) for 5 min- tics of being less than 50 days away awards and commendations over the utes. from an election. And I get the polit- course of her life. I was honored to be Ms. ADAMS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this ical calculation that has been made. with her in 2007 as the Charlotte-Meck- morning to speak in honor of the first The Speaker started this year—right lenburg Housing Partnership opened Black woman to serve on the Char- there—by ripping up the President’s the 130-unit Stevenson Apartments in lotte-Mecklenburg School Board. State of the Union. And she seems in- One of the cofounders and conveners her honor. But perhaps the greatest honor she tent on ending it by smearing Repub- of the Tuesday Morning Breakfast continues to bestow on us, the entire licans as enemies of the State and Forum, not only a queen of the Queen Charlotte community, is her wisdom. blocking any meaningful bills to help City, but one of the crown jewels, Miss Not only her wisdom, but the wisdom hardworking Americans. Sarah Stevenson. But the American people deserve to of the Forum and its 40 years of guest Sarah Belle Mingo was born in Heath know that my Republican colleagues speakers and attendees. Springs, South Carolina, in 1925, the and I, we stand ready to govern and first of 14 children. As is said in a Fourfold Franciscan blessing that often starts the Forum: ready to pass commonsense conserv- Her life quickly led her to Charlotte ative policies that will help them make May God bless us with discomfort at easy where, like many African-American it through this pandemic. women of her time, she worked as a answers, half-truths, and superficial rela- tionships, so that we may live deep within f housekeeper and did domestic work so our hearts. that she and her family could achieve a May God bless us with anger at injustice, WILDFIRES RAVAGE WEST COAST brighter future. oppression, and exploitation of people, so The SPEAKER pro tempore. The In Charlotte, she successfully inte- that we may work for justice, freedom, and Chair recognizes the gentleman from grated the school district’s parent- peace. California (Mr. PETERS) for 5 minutes. teacher associations, and as an activist May God bless us with tears to shed for Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise and mother of four, helped lay the those who suffer from pain, rejection, starva- today to address the wildfires cur- tion, and war so that we may reach our foundation for one of the most inte- hands to them to comfort them and turn rently ravaging the West Coast of the grated school districts in the Nation. their path pain into joy. United States. You could have found her across the May God bless us with enough foolishness More than 85 major fires, spanning street from us on October 12, 1970, when to believe that we can make a difference in from Washington State to Southern she attended oral arguments at the Su- this world, so that we can do what others California are burning, as I speak. preme Court for the Swann v. Char- claim cannot be done. Thirty-five people have died, only lotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education I thank Miss Sarah, for working for ashes remain in hundreds of commu- case. justice, freedom, and peace, and for nities, tens of thousands have fled their

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.002 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4433 homes and many individuals are still Alice Johnson was born on Sep- A champion for education in Ten- missing. Some survivors compare the tember 12, 1920, in Cambridge, Massa- nessee, Dolores Gresham presided over site of the flames to the gates of hell. chusetts. She completed her nursing and led the Tennessee State Education This year alone, California has seen education in 1941. Committee during a time of great im- over 2,600 more fires and a nearly 2,000 After Pearl Harbor, she enlisted in provement in academic achievement in percent increase in the acres burned the U.S. Army Nurse Corps. Her unit the history of the Volunteer State. compared to this time last year. That arrived in Okinawa, Japan, on Easter Senator Gresham has proved to ev- is according to the California Depart- Sunday in 1945, where she helped estab- eryone that citizens can make a dif- ment of Forestry and Fire Protection, lish a field hospital ahead of the U.S. ference by being involved in commu- or Cal-Fire. invasion of Japan. nity service and by leading by example. The frequency and intensity are no A few months later, eight Japanese Roberta and I wish her and her hus- accident. We used to refer to early fall Kamikaze planes descended upon the band, Will, the best in their retire- as ‘‘wildfire season’’ but the threat of island, and U.S. troops attempted to ment. We appreciate her friendship, these fires is now present throughout shoot them down. Alice was injured in and we greatly appreciate her public the year. the crossfire and evacuated to Hawaii service to the Volunteer State. In San Diego and in other areas of for surgery. She was awarded a Purple HONORING ANDY HOLT FOR HIS STRONG SERVICE Southern California, dry and arid con- Heart after her service overseas. TO WEST TENNESSEE ditions, paired with high temperatures, Later in life, Alice served as a flight Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. can make for a deadly combination. attendant for United Airlines, back Speaker, I rise today to recognize my The Valley fire in eastern San Diego when flight attendants were required friend and Tennessee State Representa- County, which is now 87 percent con- to be nurses. tive Andy Holt. Andy is retiring this tained, burned almost 18,000 acres of Always interested in nursing and year from the Tennessee State legisla- land and prompted the closure of the travel, she accepted a nursing position ture. Cleveland National Forest. at a hospital in Aruba. There, she met Representative Andy Holt has been a and married John Johnson, and to- leader and an outspoken voice in the b 0915 gether, they had four children. Tennessee State House since his first That fire started 10 days ago, but Alice moved back to the U.S. and term began in 2011. smoke and haze across the county are continued her nursing career at a pri- Representative Holt’s work on the barely now beginning to clear. The air vate cancer practice, at a burn hos- Agriculture and Natural Resources quality continues to pose a risk for pital, and as a public health nurse for Committee, his involvement with the sensitive groups. This fire is only the vision and hearing tests in schools. Tennessee Farm Bureau—and I can’t latest in a long history of destructive After her retirement, Alice settled in forget his famous Hogfest—were all fires in San Diego County. Rancho Bernardo, California, near her critical in bringing national attention I call on my fellow Members of Con- family, and remains active, attending to west Tennessee’s agricultural com- gress to accept and recognize this Hope United Methodist Church, square munity. truth: Our actions don’t exist in a vac- dancing with friends, and playing mah- Andy has served as a member of the uum. The consequences of our actions jong at the Poway Senior Center. Finance, Ways and Means Sub- lead to rising temperatures and more Her daughter, Elaine, and son-in-law, committee, which is a vital committee extreme natural events, including hur- Bill, reached out to me to share her life that helps craft the Tennessee State ricanes, droughts, and flooding. stories worthy of celebration as she be- budget. It is not a matter of belief. Yearly comes a centenarian. Andy Holt has also been a strong patterns show us how these changes I am overjoyed to wish Alice Johnson voice in the Tennessee State Capitol aren’t natural. They are man-made. the very happiest 100th birthday. On and has never shied away from speak- They are climate change. behalf of the constituents of Califor- ing and living out his values. We owe it to every single firefighter nia’s 52nd District, we honor her self- He was part of numerous monu- and first responder to act on this issue less service in World War II, her dedi- mental pieces of legislation, such as now. Every day, they risk their lives in cated career as a nurse, and the joy she the enhanced concealed carry permit the blistering heat, not knowing if continuously brings to all who know and the heartbeat bill, and helped suc- they will make it back home. We are her. cessfully repeal a portion of the Ten- beyond grateful for their bravery and I wish a happy 100th birthday to nessee professional privilege tax. their unwavering dedication to public Alice. She is a treasure to us all. No matter the politics of an issue, safety. f Andy Holt always stood up for what he These conditions leading to the dev- believed in and always put his west astation on the West Coast are pre- HONORING DOLORES GRESHAM Tennessee family values first. ventable, but the only way forward is FOR HER REMARKABLE SERVICE I am honored to call Andy Holt a through bipartisan partnerships to ad- TO WEST TENNESSEE friend of mine. He truly understands dress the key drivers of climate The SPEAKER pro tempore. The and cares about the needs of Ten- change. Saving lives, infrastructure, Chair recognizes the gentleman from nesseans, and he will be sorely missed and our lands from the effects of severe Tennessee (Mr. KUSTOFF) for 5 minutes. in the Tennessee State legislature. weather require concrete and swift ac- Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. Roberta and I wish Andy, his wife, tion on the climate crisis now. Speaker, today, I rise to honor a ter- Ellie, and his entire family well as he RECOGNIZING ALICE JOHNSON ON HER 100TH rific Tennessee leader, State Senator leaves the stage of public service. I BIRTHDAY Dolores Gresham, who will be retiring thank Andy for his faithful service to Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise to from public service this year. west Tennessee, to Tennessee State celebrate the birthday of an extraor- My friend, Senator Dolores Gresham, government, and to the State of Ten- dinary constituent and American hero. has been a strong leader in west Ten- nessee. She is a World War II veteran, a U.S. nessee for many years, and I have great HONORING MRS. SUZETTE MINK’S PUBLIC Army Corps nurse, a Purple Heart re- respect for her strong career of service SERVICE TO WEST TENNESSEE cipient, a proud American patriot, an and her tireless leadership in edu- Mr. KUSTOFF of Tennessee. Mr. activity community member, and a cation. Dolores Gresham has been high- Speaker, I rise today to recognize Su- birthday card enthusiast. ly influential in the political, social, zette Mink, from Millington, Ten- She is the remarkable Alice Johnson and civic life in west Tennessee. nessee, for her strong service to Shelby of Rancho Bernardo, California. I com- Before she entered public service as County government as she is set to re- mend her service to our country, love an elected official, Senator Gresham tire in a few weeks. of adventure, dedication to the well- proudly served our country as a mem- Suzette’s service to Memphis and being of others, and fun-loving spirit as ber of the United States Marine Corps Shelby County started in 1985 when she she reaches this momentous milestone and retired at the rank of lieutenant began working for the Shelby County of 100 years. colonel. Trustee’s Office. From there, she

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.004 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 worked for the Shelby County general better serve the needs of the commu- demic, American doctors, nurses, tech- sessions court clerk, the general ses- nity. nicians, and first responders have cared sions criminal court judges’ office, and Salud’s mobile unit travels mostly for patients day in and day out. On the then the general sessions civil court rural areas during the evenings to pro- front lines, medical teams have worked judges’ office, where she will retire vide quality healthcare to seasonal and tirelessly to care for the coronavirus after 17 years of faithful service to migrant workers. In its 50 years, Salud patients under extraordinary cir- these judges. has served 2 million patients. cumstances. In 2019, Shelby County Mayor Lee I am proud to have Salud Family Across the country, we formed a Harris awarded Suzette with the Health Centers serving the people of united front against an invisible enemy Shelby County Shining Star Award. the Sixth Congressional District. as medical professions of all stripes This award is given to someone who APPLAUDING AURORA MOBILE FOOD PANTRY pitched in to help, from volunteering has shown exemplary dedication to Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today their time to donating valuable per- their job within Shelby County govern- as we observe Hunger Action Month sonal protective equipment to the ment, and this award was much de- throughout September to applaud the emergency rooms, the hospitals, and served. work of the Aurora Mobile Food Pan- the organizations that needed it the I know I speak on behalf of all of try. most. Memphis and Shelby County, and the While the food pantry is a crucial As Americans were asked to stay at judges, when I thank Suzette for her support system to our community at home, teams quickly transitioned to service to our community. When I the best of times, it has been a lifeline telemedicine to provide vital care to think of true public servants, we talk to those experiencing hunger during vulnerable populations. They took the about people like Suzette. the COVID–19 pandemic. initiative and developed creative solu- I wish her and her husband, Derrick, This summer, Aurora Mobile Food tions to ensure that patients could re- the best in their retirement. Pantry and its community partners, ceive the care that they so much need. f along with over 750 volunteers, pro- During this crisis, America’s medical vided more than 475,000 meals to our community has stepped up during and HONORING VETERANS COMMUNITY community. In addition to providing throughout to provide care and save LIVING CENTER AT FITZSIMONS healthy food, more than 30,000 commu- lives. They truly, too, are heroes. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The nity members who visited the mobile Now, the work continues. We must Chair recognizes the gentleman from food pantry received 37,000 pounds of acknowledge a secondary healthcare Colorado (Mr. CROW) for 5 minutes. pet food, 2,800 books for children, 5,400 crisis that is occurring in our Nation. Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today water bottles, and $47,000 worth of dia- Beginning in March, many hospitals, to recognize the staff and residents of pers and baby wipes. under the direction of national, State, the Veterans Community Living Cen- All told, the Aurora Mobile Food and local authorities, postponed elec- ter in Aurora, Colorado. This Colorado Pantry has provided more than $1 mil- tive procedures with the goal of slow- veterans home has cared for veterans, lion in food to our community during ing the spread of the virus and saving veteran spouses, and Gold Star parents COVID–19. It serves as a reminder of the precious PPE and supplies for those for over 18 years. what can happen when Coloradans who needed it the most. The staff at Fitzsimons has acted he- come together to support one another Americans, following stay-at-home roically during this pandemic, risking in times of need. orders, delayed important medical exposure, facing fears, and continuing RECOGNIZING HEROISM OF MANJIT SINGH care, and subsequently, too many have to show up for their residents and co- Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today suffered negative healthcare outcomes workers. Since March, 26 employees to recognize Manjit Singh. that could have been prevented. have tested positive, and most have re- Manjit Singh immigrated to my dis- Earlier this spring, I wrote a letter to turned to work. trict from India in 2018 in search of the Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf, urg- This dedicated team has pioneered American Dream. On Wednesday, Au- ing him and his administration to new ways of connecting veterans to gust 5, Manjit died a hero. prioritize the comprehensive health their communities, including drive-by After his first day of truck driving needs of all Pennsylvanians during this vintage car shows and coordinating school, Manjit was with his family and crisis. phone calls and Skype visits with fam- friends at Reedley Beach near his new In my experience alone, I have heard ily and friends. home in California. He saw three chil- tragic stories from colleagues whose We do mourn the loss of 25 veterans dren caught in the current of the Kings patients have died from cardiac emer- who lost their lives to the virus and River and selflessly rushed in to help gencies, from drug overdoses, and from celebrate the lifetime of selfless service them. other negative outcomes that could all veterans who live at Fitzsimons Manjit did not know how to swim, have been prevented. have made. but he knew bravery. Witnesses say he Six months into this crisis, we are It is with pride that I recognize the helped pull one of the three children to facing an imminent need to restore staff and residents at the Veterans safety and endeavored to assist an- America’s full access to care, including Community Living Center at other. preventive screenings. Fitzsimons. While all of them have recovered, an My good friend and colleague, Dr. RECOGNIZING SALUD FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS’ 8-year-old girl named Samantha would Bruce Waldholtz, is a gastro- 50TH ANNIVERSARY later lose her life. I grieve for her and enterologist and also a longtime volun- Mr. CROW. Mr. Speaker, I rise today her family. teer leader of the American Cancer So- to recognize the Salud Family Health I stand amazed by Manjit’s sacrifice, ciety. Dr. Waldholtz, as a cancer sur- Centers on its 50th anniversary. and I am grateful to his community for vivor himself, understands firsthand Salud was founded in 1970 to serve recognizing the heroism he dem- that a doctor, a patient, needs prevent- the migrant and seasonal farmworker onstrated that day. I am inspired by ative healthcare. population living and working in and the humanity and compassion that As he told me this week: ‘‘Due to the around Fort Lupton, Colorado. Today, link all of us together. COVID restrictions, all nonemergency Salud operates 13 clinics and a mobile f colonoscopies were canceled for several unit in 10 predominantly rural commu- months. Literally, hundreds of patients nities throughout northern and south- DELAYED DIAGNOSIS DUE TO in our practice had their colonoscopies eastern Colorado, serving over 82,000 COVID–19 PANDEMIC canceled. This delay, compounded na- patients annually. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The tionally, will result in less screening Salud has grown to provide medical, Chair recognizes the gentleman from and an increase in colon cancer cases dental, behavioral health, women’s Pennsylvania (Mr. JOYCE) for 5 min- right now and in years ahead.’’ care, pediatric care, and on-site phar- utes. Colonoscopies and other preventative macy services. Prior to COVID, Salud Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. screenings save lives. Elective proce- also operated 11 school-based sites to Speaker, during the coronavirus pan- dures are not unnecessary, and in

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.006 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4435 many cases, they find disease early be- are putting their lives on the line try- I think that I shall never see fore they can become metastatic and ing to protect us and trying to protect A poem as lovely as a tree. cancerous and spread. our forests. A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed Today, many doctors are playing Last Friday, I toured the devastation Against the Earth’s sweet flowing breast. A tree that looks at God all day catch-up as they seek to safely provide firsthand and spent 6 hours in the And lifts her leaf-filled arms to pray. care to their patients. As I said, the southern perimeter of the Creek fire in A tree that may in summer wear work continues. the Shaver and Huntington Lake areas. A nest of robins in her hair. I urge Americans: Talk to your doc- I witnessed the devastating damage Upon whose bosom snow has lain, tors and schedule the lifesaving that has been done, not only in this Who’s intimately lived with rain. screenings that can definitely make a picture that is illustrated here, but the Poems are made by folks like me, difference in your healthcare. many homes that have been lost, as But only God can make a tree. As we continue to combat the you see here, 1400-degree tornado Mr. Speaker, trees are truly amazing. coronavirus crisis and its many rami- firestorms that literally melted homes, Through the remarkable process of fications, I thank our medical teams such as this one here, and many, many photosynthesis, trees take in carbon for their unwavering dedication to other structures. dioxide. They store the carbon in the American patients. Despite the obsta- This summer alone, clearly, has indi- wood, and they release the oxygen back cles we face, together, we can improve cated that the numbers of fires that we for us to breathe. Trees provide us with Americans’ access to the quality see, not only in California, but clean air. healthcare and, together, we can save throughout the West, are growing both But just as important as clean air, lives. in quantity and the scope of the devas- trees provide us with clean water. Their roots hold the soil together, and f tation. This summer alone, with record heat and extreme conditions made as water percolates through, they clean b 0930 worse by climate change, California the water. Forests also provide wildlife habitat. RECOGNIZING TOM SEAVER has experienced 6 of the largest 20 wildfires in its history—and, sadly, They provide us places for outdoor The SPEAKER pro tempore. The recreation. Trees provide amazing most of those wildfires are still burn- Chair recognizes the gentleman from green building products, like mass tim- ing. California (Mr. COSTA) for 5 minutes. In the foothills in the high Sierra Ne- ber. Trees provide packaging for ship- Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I rise today ping. And let us not forget where toilet vada outside my home in Fresno, Cali- to pay tribute to one of the greatest paper comes from. fornia, the Creek fire continues to baseball players to ever play the game, No wonder trees are so admired, as ‘‘Tom Terrific’’ Seaver, a member of grow, and we only have, as of today, they should be. However, our beloved the Miracle Memorable Mets cham- about 15 percent containment. But that trees and forests in the West have a dif- pionship season in 1969 that won the is similar not only in California but Or- ferent image today, one not of gran- World Series. He passed away peace- egon and Washington and other States, deur and amazing beauty, but one of fully earlier this month. and it is making the air quality some- fuel in an apocalyptic inferno that is A native of my hometown, Fresno, thing that you have to see to under- killing people, destroying homes and California, that has had a lot of terrific stand and believe. When I left Monday, property, and leaving barren land- baseball players, no one ever played the air index was 304. scapes below and choking smoke above. So, what must we do? the game any better than Tom Terrific. Mr. Speaker, unlike the mythical We must learn the lessons from these He was a graduate of Fresno High and Ents of middle-earth in the ‘‘Lord of devastating fires, these wildfires. And I Fresno City College. During that time, the Rings,’’ our trees cannot speak for think, first of all, it requires much bet- he became a first-round draft pick in themselves. I don’t claim to be Dr. ter forest management. We have tried 1966. But in between that time, he Seuss’ Lorax, but if trees could talk, I to make changes within the U.S. For- served in the United States Marine believe they would be crying out: Hey, est Service, but much more needs to be Corps. humans, stop loving us to death. Hey, done in terms of resources to better Of the many seasons that he played humans, we need some relief, and you manage our forest. in baseball, he had 12 All-Star appear- are supposed to be taking care of us. We also must do better land manage- ances, won multiple Cy Young Awards, Hey, Congress, you are killing us, and ment planning. We have hundreds and and was voted into the Baseball Hall of if we die, you die. Please work together thousands of people in the last 30 years Fame when he first became available and apply your husbandry skills to give living where they didn’t live before, on a near-unanimous decision—a gifted us a chance. When trees win, humans and it requires better land use plan- and once-in-a-lifetime player. win. ning. As I said, he served honorably in the Mr. Speaker, even as the climate And, finally, we must address the changes and fire threats increase in the Marine Corps. issues of climate change. When we have Last year, he retired from public life West, there is hope if we will just do extended draught periods and dry con- the right thing. That right thing is for- after being diagnosed with dementia. ditions, the beetle bark and other fac- His passing has been a terrible loss for est management, and it looks different tors play into a situation which, in on different sites. the community of Fresno and all base- California, from Lassen down to Lake Here is an example of how it looks in ball fans across the country. Isabella, we have over 100 million dead my home State of Arkansas. This is Please join me in celebrating the life trees, and that creates the fuel that the Felsenthal National Wildlife Man- and career of one good person, Tom adds to the problem. agement area. You can see an Seaver. These are among the lessons that we unmanaged forest, the control site. DEVASTATING CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES must learn to better manage our for- You see the thick underbrush, the Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I also rise ests for future generations to come. midstory and the understory that is today to draw attention to the dev- f too thick. You see the simple manage- astating wildfires burning in the West, ment practices of thinning out the un- throughout Washington, Oregon, and TREES ARE TRULY AMAZING derstory, doing controlled burns, and California, and other Western States, The SPEAKER pro tempore. The at the bottom you see what a beautiful, and, more precisely, this fire, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from healthy forest looks like. Creek fire, that is burning near my dis- Arkansas (Mr. WESTERMAN) for 5 min- Here is an example of how it looks in trict in the central Sierra Nevada. utes. California. This is an aerial shot from Let me first salute the incredible Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I the devastating Camp fire near Para- men and women, the firefighters, the rise today on behalf of the trees, the dise. This red hatched area, that is first responders, all of those volunteers forest they call home, and all Ameri- where the fire burned. This dark red who are doing their best, over 14,000 of cans who live near there. line, that is where the fire was stopped. them throughout California, and many In the words of the poet Joyce Kil- You can see this little band right more throughout Western States. They mer: here. That was actually a firebreak

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.008 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4436 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 that was put in place by a private for- b 0945 Mr. Exley was a selfless leader in estry company to stop the spread of HONORING HEALTHCARE HEROES every area of his life who was loved by fire onto their land because public AND FRONTLINE WORKERS many. lands are so mismanaged. Mr. Exley worked for the Savannah Here is what that firebreak looked The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Sugar Refinery for 40 years and retired like. It was a thinned area where the Chair recognizes the gentleman from in 1997. fire came in from this direction. It Georgia (Mr. CARTER) for 5 minutes. Preston loved the Lord, and his life went down to the ground, and firemen Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speak- was a testament to that. Preston was were actually able to put it out and er, I rise today to honor our valiant an active member of Holy Trinity Lu- save the forest on the other side. frontline workers and healthcare he- theran Church and served in a variety That is what sound forest manage- roes who have taken care of their of roles, including Sunday school su- ment looks like. This is not clear-cut- neighbors and saved countless lives perintendent, president of the Men’s ting. It is commonsense, science-based during the COVID–19 pandemic. This Group, and a member of the Church management that works. includes nurses, doctors, pharmacists, Council. Mr. Speaker, now is the time to act— grocery store workers, truck drivers, Preston was committed to serving not after the election, not the next and anyone who has risen to the occa- his country through his service with Congress, but now. In the Trillion sion to help others during these un- the Georgia Army National Guard for Trees Act, we have outlined policies to precedented times. 23 years, and he retired as a captain. implement the most basic forest man- In particular, Jane Spence, Larisa Preston was also dedicated to im- agement practices to the four most Barnes, Bobbie Sumner, Amanda King, proving education in his community critical areas: and Lynn Reynolds have exemplified during his time serving on the The wildland urban interface where remarkable selflessness and courage as Effingham County School Board from fire can start, but where breaks can be they work to save lives in the South- 1980 until 1994, and he later went on to created and we can thin; east Georgia Health System. serve as Effingham County Chief Mag- Energy transportation corridors. We Throughout my time in Georgia’s istrate Judge for 12 years. know fires can start from electric arcs; First Congressional District, I have Included in his long list of pursuits, Transportation corridors, where visited and met countless heroes serv- Preston was a farmer for many years in trains and cars can create sparks and ing at Saint Joseph’s Candler Hospital, his home place in Clyo. where more humans are near the for- Liberty Regional Medical Center, Impressively, Preston was past presi- est; Clinch Memorial Hospital, Memorial dent of the Effingham County Young And last but not least, in critical wa- Health Center in Savannah, Wayne Me- Farmers, a member of the County tersheds where the damage is felt long morial Center, and Winn Army Medical Board of Directors, and served as the after the fires are out. Hospital. This has allowed me to gain Springfield Chapter President. For the sake of our forests, our envi- insight into the daily sacrifices they Preston was also a loyal family man, ronment, and all Americans, I urge make and their commitment to serving who prioritized his family above all Congress to act. Pass the Trillion Trees their communities. else. Doctors and nurses who serve at our Act, and let’s be the good stewards that I am thankful for the selfless life Veterans Affairs Health Systems are the trees deserve. Preston lived, and I know his legacy deserving of recognition for their out- will continue in Springfield for years f standing work, as well. to come. My thoughts and prayers go In addition to our healthcare heroes, out to his family, friends, and all who STAND UP FOR SCIENTIFIC I also want to honor leaders and local knew him during these challenging INTEGRITY businesses in our communities. times. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Individuals like Tom and Rita Boland Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from converted their Island Drapes and Up- f Texas (Ms. JOHNSON) for 5 minutes. holstery business to manufacture thou- RECESS Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Mr. Speaker, sands of face masks a week. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- we woke up this morning to another I was also encouraged to see the local ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair 1,000 souls lost to coronavirus and the nonprofits in Georgia’s First Congres- declares the House in recess until 10 Western States are ablaze. Our most sional District rise up to address the a.m. today. powerful weapon for combating these many challenges from the COVID–19 Accordingly (at 9 o’clock and 48 min- threats is rigorous, unbiased science. pandemic. utes a.m.), the House stood in recess. And yet this administration continues Specifically, the Computers for a to suppress and misrepresent the work Cause movement was formed thanks to f of our Federal scientists. the beautiful work of United Way of b 1000 HHS officials appear to be tampering Coastal Georgia, Keep Golden Isles with public health bulletins to suit Beautiful, Communities in Schools, AFTER RECESS their political narrative. EPA is mis- and Coastal Outreach partnering with The recess having expired, the House representing its own analysts’ work to Coastal Computer Consulting to gather was called to order by the Speaker at absolve polluters. And just yesterday, and donate computers for children who 10 a.m. the President claimed that science don’t have access to one. f doesn’t know about the impacts of cli- This allowed countless children to mate change. continue their education when schools PRAYER If science doesn’t know, who does? were closed. These folks were working The Chaplain, the Reverend Patrick This cannot go on. My committee has day in and day out risking their own J. Conroy, offered the following prayer: been fighting back. Among other ini- health and safety and spending time Lord, merciful God, we give You tiatives, we have passed the Scientific away from their families and friends to thanks for giving us another day. Integrity Act to make sure that Fed- serve us. We ask Your blessing upon those eral science is not distorted by politics I want to express my deep gratitude throughout our country who are suf- or special interests, no matter who is for the work that they do to make fering so much, more each day. Keep in the White House. America great, and I am honored to safe the firefighters out West. Keep As we work to make this bill a law, call them my friends and neighbors. safe those who are responding to the I commend all of our Federal scientists HONORING PRESTON G. EXLEY destruction of Hurricane Sally on the who remain objective, exacting, and Mr. CARTER of Georgia. Mr. Speak- Gulf Coast. Listen to the cries of those transparent in their research: Don’t er, I rise today to remember and honor who have lost so much as a result of quit. Continue to stand up to scientific the life of Mr. Preston Exley of Spring- these natural disasters, even as the integrity. Your country needs you. We field, Georgia, who passed away at the COVID pandemic wreaks its havoc in all do. age of 81 on September 10. our communities.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.009 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4437 Here in the Capitol, impel with Your J. Wickham, Jr., pursuant to section I think that is unacceptable by all spirit the Members of Congress who, 287(a) of title 2, United States Code, the standards. I think we have plenty of more than any others, have the oppor- Chair appoints as Parliamentarian of opportunity to stand with our law en- tunity to address our Nation’s needs. the House of Representatives Jason A. forcement officers who risk their lives, Give them the wisdom and courage to Smith to succeed Thomas J. Wickham, the law-abiding citizens who are having do so, working as a united force for resigned. their rights trampled, and say no more. good in these times. Lord, have mercy. With congratulations to Jason Smith I have the David Dorn Act and the May all that is done this day be for and thanks and gratitude to Thomas Patrick Underwood Act. Both men Your greater honor and glory. Wickham. Thank you. died, being murdered in cold blood by Amen. f these violent protesters. This would in- f crease penalties and accountability for ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER THE JOURNAL the folks who consider even thinking The SPEAKER. The Chair will enter- about doing that in the future. The SPEAKER. Pursuant to section tain up to 15 requests for 1-minute We also have a resolution to condemn 4(a) of House Resolution 967, the Jour- speeches on each side of the aisle. this lawlessness. I hope my colleagues nal of the last day’s proceedings is ap- can join me on that. proved. f f f HONORING JAMES BUTLER III MARKING ADDICTION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (Ms. SLOTKIN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 RECOVERY MONTH The SPEAKER. Will the gentle- minute.) (Mr. TRONE asked and was given woman from Michigan (Ms. SLOTKIN) Ms. SLOTKIN. Madam Speaker, permission to address the House for 1 come forward and lead the House in the today, I rise to remember James Butler minute and to revise and extend his re- Pledge of Allegiance. III of East Lansing, Michigan. marks.) Ms. SLOTKIN led the Pledge of Alle- Mr. TRONE. Madam Speaker, one in giance as follows: Lovingly known as the Godfather of Lansing, Mr. Butler lived a life of serv- seven people will experience addiction I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the ice that began when he was born into a in their lifetime. United States of America, and to the Repub- Last year, over 70,000 people died lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Navy family in 1943. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. His achievements speak for them- from a drug overdose. Over the last 3 years, it is over 200,000 people. f selves. He was called to serve in the Army, finishing top of his class as a Addiction is a national crisis for RESIGNATION AS PARLIAMEN- noncommissioned officer at Fort which we will not find a vaccine. TARIAN OF THE HOUSE OF REP- Benning. He served in Vietnam, earn- Last week, I spoke with patients in RESENTATIVES ing two Purple Hearts and four Bronze recovery across western Maryland. The The SPEAKER laid before the House Stars for heroism in combat. reality of COVID–19 is making recovery the following communication: However, if you really want to know much harder. Today, we are coming together in HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, who James Butler was, listen to the Congress as Team America for a day of OFFICE OF THE PARLIAMENTARIAN, words he promised while serving: ‘‘If I Washington, DC, September 11, 2020. make it back, I will give back.’’ action we are calling Congress Goes DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: I am writing to in- Well, he made it back, and he spent Purple. form you of my retirement as Parliamen- Together, we are wearing purple to the next 30 years working at IBM, mov- tarian of the House, effective September 30, show our support for those in recovery. ing to Michigan and breaking barriers 2020. It has been a great honor to serve the Together, we are raising awareness to as the first Black man to hold an exec- House for more than 25 years. I am especially combat the stigma around addiction. grateful for the privilege of working with a utive-level position at the company. And together, we will do everything we professional and inspiring team of col- Even in retirement, Mr. Butler an- can to support those in recovery. leagues. swered the call to serve, working under In addition to the daily counsel provided in Madam Speaker, to those in recov- the chamber of this august body, our office’s former Governor Granholm as the di- ery, never be afraid to speak up and role in assisting the invaluable work of the rector of the Michigan Broadband De- ask for help. House Democracy Partnership is a source of velopment Authority. f particular pride. The contributions of the In short, Mr. Butler lived a life of HDP to legislative strengthening and demo- giving back. For his work, he was rec- RECOGNIZING NATIONAL PROS- cratic reform have made a lasting impact ognized by too many organizations to TATE CANCER AWARENESS across the globe. The support provided by list at this time. MONTH successive Speakers and the tireless work of Representative Price and the other members But for those who knew him best, (Mr. WILLIAMS asked and was given of the HDP are manifested in the remarkable Rishan, his wife of 52 years, his three permission to address the House for 1 strides witnessed in the now 21 partner coun- kids and seven grandkids, he was a minute.) tries. good and kind man, and he will be Mr. WILLIAMS. Madam Speaker, I I have been humbled to be part of the of- dearly missed by all. rise today to recognize September as fice’s tradition of nonpartisan education and f National Prostate Cancer Awareness scholarship about the procedures and history of this House—the body closest to the people CONDEMN LAWLESSNESS AND Month. This year, an estimated 191,930 men in our Federal government. From complying STAND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT with the statutory requirement to publish in our Nation will be diagnosed with the parliamentary precedents to hours spent (Mr. ARRINGTON asked and was prostate cancer. in the Hall of the House with Members, stu- given permission to address the House As a survivor of this disease, I know dents, and visitors, the office has been stead- for 1 minute.) firsthand the challenges families face fast in our commitment to transparency in Mr. ARRINGTON. Madam Speaker, I when they decide which testing, treat- the ‘‘People’s House.’’ This commitment is cannot believe that this week, under ments, and coverage options are right the bedrock of our democratic tradition. the leadership of my colleagues on the for them. Finally, I thank my wife and family for Democrat side, under Speaker PELOSI, their love and support during my tenure. That is why I proudly support legis- Sincerely yours, we are actually going to vote on a reso- lation like the Preexisting Protections THOMAS J. WICKHAM, Jr. lution condemning people for using the Act to ensure those with preexisting f place of origin to distinguish this novel conditions have access to affordable virus. We are going to use our time and care. APPOINTMENT AS PARLIAMEN- the formal declaration of this great Prostate cancer is the most common TARIAN OF THE HOUSE OF REP- body to do that instead of condemning cancer among American men, but the RESENTATIVES the lawlessness and the violence that is good news is that as innovation and The SPEAKER. With great apprecia- ravaging our once-great American cit- technology continue to evolve, fewer tion to our Parliamentarian, Thomas ies. men are dying after the diagnosis.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:25 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.012 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4438 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 Identifying signs from the outset is lenge and accomplish his objectives de- At 6 years old, he was told he had critical so that it can be treated and spite daunting obstacles. Ewing sarcoma, a deadly, aggressive stopped before further spread. I am im- In 2010, after spending time in the form of childhood cancer. He never mensely grateful to be alive today, State senate, Ed returned to lead the complained or asked, ‘‘Why me?’’ He thanks to early detection. Economic Development Corporation of was thankful to God for the gift of life. I encourage all men in the 25th Dis- Warren County, where he had been When his family and friends felt trict to talk with their healthcare pro- working tirelessly throughout the down, he picked them up with his viders and participate in regular COVID–19 pandemic. trademark line, ‘‘Let’s go with the screenings. Ed Bartholomew was an extraor- flow.’’ Faris and his mom, Asha, going I am committed to helping win the dinary leader for the Warren County with the flow. fight against cancer, and together, we community and beyond. He was an ab- He knew his short life was going to can beat this disease. solute joy and privilege to work with, make this world better, and that life In God we trust. and he will be sorely missed. became the force behind his Ewing Sar- f I am honored to recognize his leader- coma Center at Texas Children’s Hos- ship in the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD on pital that bears his name. BEING BETTER STEWARDS OF behalf of New York’s 21st Congres- He was frustrated that every Sep- NATURAL ENVIRONMENT sional District. Our prayers go out to tember Childhood Cancer Awareness (Mr. HIGGINS of New York asked and his friends and family during this dif- Month and its gold color were largely was given permission to address the ficult time. forgotten by the American people. He House for 1 minute.) f said: ‘‘Mom, when I grow up, I will let Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Madam there be gold.’’ Speaker, natural disasters ripping CELEBRATING PHILADELPHIA GAY Faris, we hear you and, in unison, we through the Nation today are urgent NEWS say, ‘‘Let there be gold.’’ reminders that we must be better stew- (Ms. SCANLON asked and was given In closing, Madam Speaker, I will ards of the natural environment, in- permission to address the House for 1 say, in memory of Faris, please, let cluding the Great Lakes. minute.) there be gold. Celebrate this young Yet, recent actions of the Trump ad- Ms. SCANLON. Madam Speaker, I man’s life. ministration’s Environmental Protec- rise today to celebrate one of the long- God bless Faris Virani. tion Agency do just the opposite. est running weekly newspapers in f In August, the EPA issued a rule al- Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Gay RECOGNIZING THE LIFE AND lowing the release of toxic metals, like News, which has been dedicated to lift- arsenic and mercury, into lakes, rivers, SERVICE OF NORMANDIA ing the voices of the LGBTQ commu- MALDONADO and streams near power plants that use nity since 1976. them. PGN was founded by a pioneer for the (Mr. ESPAILLAT asked and was This is the wrong strategy and is bad LGBTQ community, Mark Segal, and given permission to address the House for America and bad for Americans. has provided reliable and accessible for 1 minute.) For decades, communities across west- news ever since. Mr. ESPAILLAT. Madam Speaker, I ern New York have been working to- PGN has been at the heart of the rise in recognition of a great lady, gether to bring back waterways, like fight for equality, diving into the chal- Normandia Maldonado, an icon in Do- the Buffalo River, that were once de- lenges facing LGBTQ people and lifting minican culture, and my bill, H.R. 3870, clared ecologically dead due to toxic up their vices. which renames the post office located industrial pollution. At the height of the HIV/AIDS epi- at 511 West 165th Street in Washington Successful efforts like the Great demic, PGN was vital to ensuring peo- Heights, New York, in her name. The Lakes Restoration Initiative solidified ple had the information and resources bill passed unanimously on this floor. the Federal role to improve water qual- they needed to make informed deci- Maldonado is renowned for her dec- ity in the Great Lakes, restore aquatic sions about their safety, health, and ades of artistic leadership within the habitat, and provide new recreational well-being. Dominican diaspora in New York City. opportunities for all. Today, PGN is the largest East Coast She founded Club Civico y Cultural Madam Speaker, I strongly oppose LGBTQ newspaper, with over 25,000 Juan Pablo Duarte and Centro Cultural the EPA’s destructive policies, and I weekly readers. In a recent interview, Ballet Quisqueya, as well as helped es- urge my colleagues to recommit them- Mr. Segal said that this journey was tablish the first Dominican parade in selves to prioritizing long-term sus- not without struggle. ‘‘At times, we New York City. tainability of the natural environment. had to fight to keep the doors open,’’ In the wake of the administration’s f but PGN pressed on. unprecedented attacks on the Postal In March, PGN was awarded a histor- Service, I am honored to enshrine Ms. HONORING EDWARD M. Maldonado’s altruistic spirit, fortitude, BARTHOLOMEW, JR. ical marker to honor the remarkable impact this paper has had. Just last commitment, and community service (Ms. STEFANIK asked and was given week, PGN was awarded the best over- with this designation. She was the permission to address the House for 1 all nondaily newspaper by the Society queen of merengue, the queen of dance minute and to revise and extend her re- of Professional Journalists. and folklore. marks.) We are grateful for the leadership of f Ms. STEFANIK. Madam Speaker, I Philadelphia Gay News and its founder, rise today to honor Edward M. Bar- PRESIDENT TRUMP KEEPS PEACE Mark Segal. tholomew, Jr., for his life of service to PROMISES To the entire PGN family, congratu- the city of Glens Falls, Warren County, (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina lations, and keep making good trouble. and the entire north country region. asked and was given permission to ad- Ed served in many important roles f dress the House for 1 minute and to re- over the course of his over-40-year ca- b 1015 vise and extend his remarks.) reer. He was elected mayor of the city Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. of Glens Falls at the age of 28. He set REMEMBERING THE LIFE OF Madam Speaker, yesterday marks an to work revitalizing the community, FARIS VIRANI historic turning point for the Middle making the civic center a success, (Mr. OLSON asked and was given per- East and north Africa. For the first building a modern baseball park, im- mission to address the House for 1 time, Arab nations have pursued peace proving critical infrastructure, and es- minute and to revise and extend his re- with the Jewish state with the motive tablishing the Greater Glens Falls marks.) of friendly relations with Israel—no Transit System. Mr. OLSON. Madam Speaker, in his 9 land for peace, no confidence-building He cemented his reputation as some- years with us, Faris Virani used his measures, simply peace in exchange for one who can grasp all aspects of a chal- short life to paint a masterpiece. peace for the very first time.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.014 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4439 I was grateful to be at the White materials on H.R. 2574, the Equity and title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. House for the signing of the landmark Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019. 2000d et seq.) and inform individuals of their agreements brokered by President Don- The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. rights under such Act, including the dissemina- tion of information, technical assistance, and ald Trump between the United Arab DINGELL). Is there objection to the re- coordination of research activities, in a manner Emirates, Bahrain, and Israel. Seeing quest of the gentleman from Virginia? consistent with such Act. The Special Assistant Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu There was no objection. shall advise both the Secretary and Deputy Sec- alongside UAE Foreign Minister Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam retary on matters relating to compliance with Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. and Bahraini Foreign Minister Dr. 1107, I call up the bill (H.R. 2574) to 2000d et seq.).’’. Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani was amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act The SPEAKER pro tempore. The bill, inspiring. of 1964 to restore the right to indi- as amended, shall be debatable for 1 Under the leadership of President vidual civil actions in cases involving hour equally divided and controlled by Trump, the Middle East is a new chap- disparate impact, and for other pur- the chair and ranking minority mem- ter, an opportunity for peace and pros- poses, and ask for its immediate con- ber of the Committee on Education and perity. sideration. Labor. Thank you to President Trump, Sec- The Clerk read the title of the bill. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. retary of State Mike Pompeo, Jared The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- SCOTT) and the gentlewoman from Kushner, and all others who achieved ant to House Resolution 1107, the North Carolina (Ms. FOXX) each will this historic advance for peace. amendment in the nature of a sub- control 30 minutes. In conclusion, God bless our troops, stitute recommended by the Com- The Chair recognizes the gentleman and we will never forget September the mittee on Education and Labor, modi- from Virginia. fied by the amendment printed in part 11th in the global war on terrorism. Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam A of House Report 116–502, is adopted Speaker, I yield myself such time as I f and the bill, as amended, is considered may consume. read. HONORING THE MEMORY OF Madam Speaker, I rise in support of The text of the bill, as amended, is as CARLTON HASELRIG the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement follows: (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania Act. This legislation will restore the asked and was given permission to ad- H.R. 2574 right of students and parents to ad- dress the House for 1 minute and to re- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- dress racial inequities in public vise and extend his remarks.) resentatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, schools. Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. This legislation comes over 66 years Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Equity and In- after the Supreme Court ruled in 1954, the memory of an amazing Johnstown, clusion Enforcement Act of 2019’’. in the Brown v. Board of Education Cambria County native, Carlton SEC. 2. RESTORATION OF RIGHT TO CIVIL ACTION case, that in the field of education, the Haselrig. IN DISPARATE IMPACT CASES doctrine of separate but equal has no An incredibly accomplished athlete, UNDER TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL place. Separate educational facilities Carlton excelled in both wrestling and RIGHTS ACT OF 1964. are inherently unequal. football. In high school, he was an Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) is amended by adding at This comes just 4 years after the undefeated wrestler and State cham- the end the following: General Accountability Office found pion. ‘‘SEC. 607. The violation of any regulation re- that racial segregation in public At the University of Pittsburgh- lating to disparate impact issued under section schools is now as bad it was in the 1960s Johnstown, Haselrig became the most 602 shall give rise to a private civil cause of ac- and getting worse. decorated wrestler in NCAA history, tion for its enforcement to the same extent as For almost 40 years, the courts inter- with a total of six NCAA national does an intentional violation of the prohibition preted the Civil Rights Act of 1964, of section 601.’’. championships. title VI, as granting students and par- In 1989, Haselrig was drafted by the SEC. 3. DESIGNATION OF MONITORS UNDER TITLE VI OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT ents the right to bring discrimination Pittsburgh Steelers, despite never hav- OF 1964. claims against public schools and any ing played in a college football game. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 other entities receiving Federal funds Haselrig returned home to coach U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) is further amended by add- for discriminatory policies and prac- football and wrestling at Greater ing at the end the following: tices. Johnstown, his high school. He dedi- ‘‘SEC. 608. (a) Each recipient shall— ‘‘(1) designate at least one employee to coordi- Victims of federally funded discrimi- cated his time to the youth in his com- nation could use title VI to challenge munity, openly talking about his past nate its efforts to comply with requirements adopted pursuant to section 602 and carry out both discriminatory policies and prac- struggles with addiction and mentoring the responsibilities of the recipient under this tices that were created with the intent hundreds. title, including any investigation of any com- to discriminate and policies and prac- His wife said: ‘‘He never wanted to be plaint alleging the noncompliance of the recipi- tices that, while neutral on their face, the star that he became. He just want- ent with such requirements or alleging any ac- had the effect of discrimination on the ed to be Carlton Haselrig from Johns- tions prohibited under this title; and basis of race, color, or national origin. ‘‘(2) notify its students and employees of the town—a family man, a husband, and a To be clear, the mere presence of the dad.’’ name, office address, and telephone number of each employee designated under paragraph (1). policy’s disproportionate impact does Sadly, Haselrig passed away this ‘‘(b) In this section, the term ‘recipient’ means not alone constitute a violation of title summer. Even in death, Haselrig con- a recipient referred to in section 602 that oper- VI, but allowing communities to use tinues to give back, having donated his ates an education program or activity receiving disparate impact analysis equipped brain for chronic traumatic Federal financial assistance authorized or ex- them with an important tool to combat encephalopathy research. tended by the Secretary of Education.’’. systemic inequities for decades. May God bless Carlton and his fam- SEC. 4. SPECIAL ASSISTANT FOR EQUITY AND IN- Unfortunately, in its 2001 decision in ily. CLUSION. Section 202(b) of the Department of Education the case of Alexander v. Sandoval, the f Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412(b)) is amend- Supreme Court stripped private citi- zens, including students and parents, of EQUITY AND INCLUSION ed— (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as para- their right to bring disparate impact ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2019 graph (5); and claims against schools and other feder- GENERAL LEAVE (2) by inserting after paragraph (3), the fol- ally funded programs. While this ruling Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam lowing: did not invalidate the use of disparate ‘‘(4) There shall be in the Department, a Spe- Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that cial Assistant for Equity and Inclusion who impact analysis to prove discrimina- all Members may have 5 legislative shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Special tion, it reserved that power to pursue days in which to revise and extend Assistant shall promote, coordinate, and evalu- such claims to the Federal Government their remarks and insert extraneous ate efforts to engender program compliance with through administrative enforcement of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.016 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4440 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 title VI. In other words, this long- VI compliance. History has shown that primary jurisdiction any opportunity standing protection against discrimi- we cannot support historically dis- to debate or consider this bill. That is nation in federally funded programs, advantaged students or close persistent a really important point to consider, including education, can now only be achievement gaps without robust civil Madam Speaker. enforced if the administration in power rights enforcement. This is particu- As the Republican leader of the Edu- so chooses. larly true as public schools become cation and Labor Committee, the con- The effect of this ruling on anti- more segregated, more segregated than sequences of this legislation within the discrimination enforcement has been they were in the 1960s and as the education community are very clear. particularly acute in education. Since COVID–19 pandemic exacerbates in- The creation of a private right of ac- 2001, we have seen an increase in racial equitable access to quality education tion would lead to additional burdens isolation in public schools and a de- for underserved students. on already taxed State and local agen- crease in resource equity. As a result, Today, we have the opportunity to cies, especially school systems who African-American and Hispanic chil- restore and strengthen critical civil would have to defend themselves dren disproportionately attend schools rights protections by passing the Eq- against tenuous allegations advanced that are both majority minority and uity and Inclusion Enforcement Act. by parents and activists. Through such underresourced. Nearly seven decades after the Su- lawsuits, these activists could require Whether this trend has been inten- preme Court’s landmark decision in State and local governments to adopt a tional or not is immaterial, but we do Brown v. Board of Education which myriad of policies that Congress and know that discrimination in 2020 is not struck down school segregation, this State and local lawmakers never au- the same as it was in 1964. Discrimina- bill would bring us one step closer to thorized or intended and cost those en- tion increasingly comes in the form of delivering on its promise of equity in tities a lot of money paid to trial law- coded terminology, structural inequal- education. yers. ity, and implicit bias rather than ex- Madam Speaker, I urge my col- H.R. 2574 also creates a new special plicit bigotry. So students and parents leagues to support this legislation, and assistant for equity and inclusion at must be empowered to hold schools ac- I reserve the balance of my time. the Department of Education. Rather countable for policies and practices Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam than create multiple siloed positions that deny students access to quality Speaker, I yield myself such time as I competing for resources and attention, education based on their race, color, or may consume. committee Republicans believe an inte- national origin whether or not they Madam Speaker, I rise today in oppo- grated approach to the Education De- can prove the discriminatory policies sition to H.R. 2574, the Equity and In- partment’s equity and inclusion efforts were intentionally imposed. clusion Enforcement Act. would lead to better results. Understandably, parents and stu- My Republican and Democrat col- Republicans and Democrats largely dents have been expressing confusion leagues agree that separate is not and agree on the importance of equality and frustration because they can no never was equal; racism is wrong; seg- and integrated schools. Unfortunately, longer use the Civil Rights Act to chal- regation is wrong. I am going to repeat instead of working toward a bipartisan lenge discriminatory policies and prac- that. My Republican and Democrat col- solution, H.R. 2574 is the result of tices in their schools. leagues agree that separation is not Democrats’ choosing a partisan path. and never was equal; racism is wrong; The question is whether in the long 1030 b segregation is wrong. Although this run these ideas will have helped or hurt By ceding this right to the Federal body has taken measures to ensure rac- the ongoing effort to achieve greater Government, the Supreme Court ma- ism and segregation are not to be toler- equality for children. H.R. 2574 fails on jority in Sandoval opened the door to ated, its lingering effects still persist. this front. Committee Republicans be- civil rights enforcement becoming a We continue to strive toward a future lieve no effort to erase the evil legacy political issue instead of a right. While where all students, regardless of race of segregation and discrimination can the Office of Civil Rights, the OCR, at or color, have the chance to succeed. be complete without eliminating the the Department of Education is staffed While there is more work to be done, State’s ability to trap students in low- with career attorneys, it is led by a po- the bill before us takes the wrong ap- performing schools. litical appointee. This department has proach. This bill seeks to create a pri- Instead of debating this bill, we repeatedly shown its reluctance to en- vate right of action for disparate im- should look at bipartisan solutions force and defend the civil rights of all pact claims under section 602 of title that help expand educational freedom students. VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Title for all families. We know that school Our core civil rights protections VI protects federally funded programs choice gives parents and families the should not be up for a vote every 4 and entities from discriminating on the opportunity to break the cycle of pov- years. To that end, the Equity and In- basis of race, color, or national origin. erty and enroll their child in an insti- clusion Enforcement Act would restore While the Democrats will falsely tution that challenges them, develops the private right of action of students characterize this bill as restoring a their skills and intellect, and encour- and parents to bring a title VI dis- right—and, indeed, my colleague has ages them to reach higher. crimination claim based on disparate just done that—in reality this bill radi- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- impact and hold schools accountable cally alters civil rights law without ance of my time. for providing equal access to quality giving any consideration to its poten- Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam education for all students. tial ramifications. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I The legislation also requires school The leftist Center for American may consume. districts and institutions of higher Progress called title VI and disparate The gentlewoman is exactly right. learning to appoint a title VI monitor income impact claims the ‘‘sleeping This will have ramifications that to ensure that at least one employee is giant of civil rights laws’’ that are a school districts will have to defend responsible for ensuring compliance ‘‘potentially powerful tool’’ to advance longstanding policies where they have with the law. This includes, at a min- liberal goals through activist litiga- a clear, provable disparate impact imum, investigating complaints of dis- tion. against minority children but the par- crimination based on race, color, or na- While title VI is most used in the ents can’t prove that it was imposed tional origin. This provision in the bill context of education, the law itself is with discriminatory intent, and this is modeled after title IX officers in not confined to that issue. Title VI ap- administration won’t do anything school settings. The legislation’s aim is plies to any program or entity that re- about it until they are just stuck. for title VI monitors to foster a culture ceives Federal funding, which would in- Yes, if this bill passes, the parents of compliance, similar to what we now clude education, policing, employment, will be able to come forth and say that have under title IX. and healthcare, the list goes on and on. the Black children are stuck in woe- Finally, the bill creates an assistant This is more than an education bill. fully inadequate schools while the secretary in the Department of Edu- Despite its far-reaching implications, White children are not. Yes, they cation to coordinate and promote title Democrats deprived the committee of should have to defend themselves if

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.018 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4441 you can prove it. They ought to have Madam Speaker, I think the question relates to the issues of Black and their day in court. They can prove that is clear. We have a lot of schools where Brown students in our country, and the the policy is having a disparate impact the distribution of resources is done power that we need to push back on their children, and according to the clearly along racial lines, and because against systemic racism and really Sandoval decision they have to wait for you can’t prove that it is with dis- what it is, is creeping school segrega- this Department of Education to do criminatory intent, you can’t do any- tion. something about it. thing about it. So that is why you need Madam Speaker, I rise in total sup- On school choice, the recent studies the bill, and I would hope that we port of H.R. 2574, the Equity and Inclu- have shown that when you don’t very would pass the bill to let those who can sion Enforcement Act. carefully regulate it, you can actually prove that they are being discrimi- Just a little bit of history of myself. have more school segregation in school nated against have their day in court. I was born and raised in El Paso, Texas, choice than you have now. Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- and schools were segregated when I The question on achievement is ance of my time. started school. My family fought with mixed. There are some studies a few Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam the NAACP, and I believe El Paso was years ago that said on average school Speaker, I yield myself such time as I the first city in Texas to desegregate choice produced results that were aver- may consume. public schools. age. More recent studies have shown Madam Speaker, I have before me Fast forward, my mother, Mildred that on average school choice produces some very, very excellent results in Parish Massey, she was one of the first achievement numbers that are worse terms of freedom of choice programs, 12 students to integrate into the Uni- than average. So that is not a road we and I would like to share those with versity of Texas at El Paso. I know should be going down. We should make the body. from personal experience the struggles sure that people, if they prove dis- The largest private school choice pro- and the fights that all of us mounted crimination, have their day in court. gram in America got more solid evi- just so we could have access to public Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- dence of its effectiveness Monday. The education. And now, fast forward to 2020, seg- ance of my time. lower-income, mostly minority stu- Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam regation in our Nation’s schools is dents using the Florida tax credit Speaker, I yield myself such time as I growing. scholarship to attend private schools may consume. We have turned the clock back im- Madam Speaker, our colleagues say are up to 43 percent more likely to en- measurably. It can no longer be ig- that this administration is doing noth- roll in 4-year colleges than White stu- nored. Over the last three decades, Af- ing to help minority students. One of dents in public schools and up to 20 rican-American students have increas- the biggest things that we could do to percent more likely to earn bachelor’s ingly found themselves in intensely help minority students is to give them degrees according to a new study re- segregated schools, and we knew un- a choice about where to go to school. leased Monday by the Urban Institute. raveling segregation in schools was We talked about this yesterday, and we I don’t think the Urban Institute is a going to be a long struggle. This seg- are talking about it again today. Mi- conservative group. regation, though, is a product of a nority students thrive in charter The outcomes are even stronger for number of factors, including housing schools. Recent test scores show these students who use the scholarship 4 or segregation, economic inequality, all students doing much better. more years. Those students are up to 99 tied to structural racism in our coun- Our colleagues are saying that choice percent more likely to attend a 4-year try. creates segregation. I don’t believe college than their public-school peers But while structural racism pervades that, Madam Speaker. Choice creates and up to 45 percent more likely to so many elements of our society, it is the opportunity for success, and we earn bachelor’s degrees. The new find- really especially appalling in edu- know that. The research shows that ings build on a 2017 study that was the cation, because we know that inte- over and over again. We can look at first of its kind, but also more limited. grated schools help reduce racial preju- New York City and the results that The previous study found scholarship dice and tension over the years. Success Academy is getting for the stu- students were more likely to enroll in Public education is supposed to be dents there. They are primarily minor- college and earn associate’s degrees, the great leveler in our society. ity students—but it is because minor- but not significantly more likely to Schools are supposed to be the pathway ity parents are choosing to send their earn 4-year degrees. However, the 2017 where hard work and knowledge pro- children there—and they are suc- study included only data from public vide new pathways of opportunity. In- ceeding. They are graduating at a very colleges in Florida, and the researchers stead, this growing segregation fuels high rate; they are going to college at cautioned that as a result our results the perpetual worsening systemic ra- a very high rate. So giving choice to may understate the true impact of FTC cial and ethnic wealth gap that exists children of all races and all economic participation on college enrollment in our Nation. It robs students of their groups results in better achievement. and degree attainment. future, and it makes a mockery, really, That cannot be denied. Madam Speaker, this is solid evi- of the values of opportunity and the Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- dence that having programs like the hard work that we hold dear. ance of my time. Florida Student Scholarship Program And what I think many of us weren’t Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam is working for minority and low-in- prepared for was the idea that we were Speaker, I yield myself such time as I come students. And I find it incredible going to have to fight tooth and nail may consume. that our colleagues continually come now, which was a battle we fought in Madam Speaker, the question of seg- out on the side of teacher unions, trial the 1950s and 1960s. We are fighting regation of school choice is not what lawyers, and others who want to see those battles again to make our own the Democrats are saying; it is what gains for themselves but no gains for Federal Department of Education take the studies have shown, that there is the children they should be serving. this issue seriously. My God. more likely to be segregation when you Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- Madam Speaker, for three-and-a-half give people the choice. That is why ance of my time. years, from my seat on the Committee freedom of choice was thrown out by on Appropriations, I have asked Sec- the Supreme Court as an answer to b 1045 retary DeVos over and over and over Brown v. Board of Education many Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam again to take this issue seriously. But years ago. Speaker, I yield such time as she may after years of dissembling and delay You have Whites choosing the White consume to the gentlewoman from from the Secretary, I have begun to schools, Blacks choosing the White California (Ms. LEE). question her commitment to ensuring schools, social isolation taking place, Ms. LEE of California. Madam the rights of equal education for kids and nature taking its course. That is Speaker, let me thank Chairman SCOTT in America—that includes Black and why you need the right to integrate the for his tremendous leadership in put- Brown kids. And I asked her, does she schools, and you can’t do it with school ting forth this legislation. But also, really care about the civil rights of choice. just for his staying very vigilant as it these young people?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.020 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4442 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 And it is really the refusal by Sec- What it is is a gift to trial lawyers. port of the constitutionally protected retary DeVos to acknowledge the clear And the implication is, from what we use of race in admission or assignments evidence of increasing segregation. are hearing, is to go back to unequal to improve diversity and higher edu- This is part of the reason why this bill opportunity. That is not what we want cation and K–12. is so important, and we need to act for low-income and minority children, Also, in 2018, Secretary DeVos re- today. or any children in this country. scinded 2014 school discipline guidance The Equity and Inclusion Enforce- Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- packages, which provided local edu- ment Act is one piece of the puzzle to ance of my time. cational agencies with technical assist- start pushing back on segregation in Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam ance through reform, discipline poli- schools. It allows parents of children Speaker, I reserve the balance of my cies, and practices that, although ra- most adversely affected by this grow- time. cially neutral, disproportionately im- ing racial and ethnic segregation to Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam pacted students of color in violation of pursue legal action against a local ju- Speaker, I yield myself such time as I title IV. And it goes on and on to talk risdiction to fix the problem. may consume. about what has been going on in this Without a private right of action, Madam Speaker, Democrats have administration. students of color face countless forms made a habit of letting bipartisan solu- Madam Speaker, the ranking mem- of irreparable damage without any tions fall by the wayside in lieu of par- ber talked about school segregation remedy that they can use to seek jus- tisan politics in an attempt to help yesterday. We had the opportunity to tice. those who help them. The Equity and do something to help those localities The bill would further provide that Inclusion Enforcement Act is no excep- that wanted to voluntarily desegregate education programs that receive Fed- tion. Republicans and Democrats agree their schools. And it was a bipartisan eral financial assistance must des- on the importance of equality and inte- result—21 Republicans joined Demo- ignate at least one compliance coordi- grated schools. I am going to repeat crats in providing resources to local- nator to focus on reducing segregation that again. Republicans and Democrats ities that wanted technical assistance and investigate complaints. agree on the importance of equality in how to voluntarily desegregate their And so if we truly want to turn the and integrated schools. Unfortunately, schools. corner, turn the corner on the legacy of instead of working toward a bipartisan That can be complicated, because in school segregation and unequal oppor- solution, H.R. 2574 is the result of the Supreme Court case involving two tunity, we have a responsibility to put Democrats choosing a partisan path. localities, Louisville, Kentucky, and power back into the hands of parents The creation of a private right of ac- Seattle, Washington, voluntary school and students to fight injustice and tion could lead to additional burdens desegregation initiatives were found claim their right to a quality public on school systems who would have to unconstitutional. The Court said you education. Madam Speaker, I hope my col- defend themselves against tenuous al- can do it, but in this case, you didn’t leagues will vote for H.R. 2574, and I legations advanced by activist lawyers do it right. So technical assistance, thank the chairman for bringing forth and does nothing to eliminate the legal advice, is necessary to make sure this very important bill. I am so sorry State’s ability to track students in that you can have an effective policy that we have to do this once again. low-performing schools. that can withstand constitutional chal- Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam This bill is designed to score political lenge. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I points rather than build on a history of Regrettably, 160 Republicans voted may consume. I stated in my opening bipartisan and bicameral solutions to ‘‘no’’ to give those resources to those comments, Republicans do not believe racial inequality and discrimination. localities that want to voluntarily de- in segregation. Segregation was not For these reasons, I urge a ‘‘no’’ vote segregate their schools. good for this country. But segregation on H.R. 2574, and I yield back the bal- I mentioned the research on school was settled, we believe, despite what ance of my time. choice. This is a very simple bill. It has been said by our colleagues, by Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam just gives the right of those who can Brown v. Board of Education. Speaker, may I inquire how much time prove discriminatory impact on their I find it very interesting that this I have remaining? school systems—they can prove it, it bill is about a private right of action The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. just gives them the right to come to and, yet, it has become the discussion TORRES of California). The gentleman court to prove that they have been dis- about segregation and about, again, from Virginia has 161⁄2 minutes remain- criminated against to vindicate their Secretary DeVos and what she has or ing. rights. has not done. My knowledge of the Sec- Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam It is a very simple bill, and I hope retary is that she has worked all her Speaker, I yield myself such time as I that the House will pass it so their life to expand opportunities for low-in- may consume. civil rights will be protected. come and minority students. That is Madam Speaker, I want to say a few Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- what giving choice to those students words about what the U.S. Commission ance of my time. and those parents is all about—expand- on Civil Rights found, since the rank- Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, ing opportunities for them to choose ing member mentioned the Secretary today I rise in support of H.R. 2574, the Equity where to go to school. And we even of Education, Betsy DeVos, by name. and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2019. This know that when we expand opportuni- It found that the Secretary of Edu- bill will take a meaningful step forward to en- ties and we have school choice, that cation, Betsy DeVos, has rescinded sure that programs receiving federal funding even the public schools get better. critical guidance to protect students’ are upholding a high standard of equality and I just read statistics about what is civil rights, narrow the scope, and re- inclusion—similar to that which our country happening in Florida, the largest place duced the number of investigations strives for. for school choice and for scholarships conducted, and decreased the budget In 2001, the Supreme Court, in its ruling in for low income and minority students and staffing capacity of the Office of Alexander v. Sandoval, stated that only the to choose where they want to go to Civil Rights at the department. Department of Education can challenge school. It shows what a great gift that The Commission’s report indicated schools and other programs over discrimina- has been to them, and how poorly, un- that OCR issued 38 guidance documents tory practices. In the majority opinion written fortunately, the students in the public to improve program understanding of by Justice Antonin Scalia, supported by the schools are doing. and compliance with civil rights stat- court’s conservative bloc, he claimed that stu- Consigning students to public schools utes under the Obama administration. dents and parents did not own the right to and not giving them a choice is not a By comparison, the OCR under the challenge schools and other programs on their good thing. It is totally unfair. But Trump administration has issued few practices and policies. Let me repeat that—the this bill is about a private right of ac- guidance documents and has instead Supreme Court ruled that instead of allowing tion, which the Supreme Court has said rescinded critical guidance documents. those directly and adversely affected by dis- does not exist in this legislation—the Specifically, in 2018 Secretary DeVos criminatory practices and policies to initiate legislation that already exists. rescinded guidance documents in sup- legal proceedings, the responsibility would be

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.021 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4443 placed on government bureaucrats. Now, at a We cannot achieve true racial equality with- color, or national origin, are given an equal time when the Department of Education lacks out addressing the systematic discrimination in chance to learn and excel. competent leadership, it is more important our education system. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the than ever before to reverse the Supreme For example, in December of 2018, Andrew aisle to recognize the opportunity we have Court’s decision. Johnson, a Black high school wrestler, in New here today to rectify some of the inequities in H.R. 2574 rectifies the Court’s ruling and Jersey was forced to make an impossible our schools and, more importantly, positively would allow students and parents to hold fed- choice when a referee told him to either cut change the educational experience for stu- erally funded programs, like schools, account- his dreadlocks or forfeit the wrestling match. dents of color across the country. able for any discriminatory practices and poli- Although Johnson wore a hair covering for The SPEAKER pro tempore. All time cies that impact people of color through a pri- the match, as dictated by wrestling guidelines, for debate has expired. vate right to action within the Civil Rights Act the referee rejected the covering and gave the Pursuant to House Resolution 1107, of 1964. It also creates an Assistant for Equity student 90 seconds to cut off his dreadlocks. the previous question is ordered on the and Inclusion position in the Department of In 2016, a Black teenager was escorted out bill, as amended. The question is on the engrossment Education, tasked with guiding and advising of his high school graduation ceremony in and third reading of the bill. the agency as to the best practices and poli- Sacramento, California by three deputies after The bill was ordered to be engrossed cies for students in every classroom across refusing to remove his kente cloth, a tradi- and read a third time, and was read the the country. tional Ghanaian silk and cotton fabric that third time. Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to symbolizes national cultural identity. support this important legislation and ask for Earlier this year, the Barbers Hill Inde- b 1100 its immediate in consideration in the Senate. pendent School District in Texas refused to MOTION TO RECOMMIT Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, as a change its grooming policy that led to the sus- Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam senior member of the Judiciary and Homeland pension of two Black students. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit Committees, I rise in strong support of H.R. Despite public backlash against the policy, at the desk. 2574, the ‘‘Equity and Inclusion Enforcement which forbids male students from keeping their The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is the Act of 2019,’’ which restores the power of stu- hair at ‘‘a length below the top of a t-shirt col- gentlewoman opposed to the bill? dents and parents to challenge discriminatory lar, below the eyebrows, or below the ear Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. I am in policies and practices in schools and other lobes’’, the school board voted unanimously to its present form. federally funded programs. keep the policy in place. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The In 2001, the Supreme Court decided in These instances of continued discrimination Clerk will report the motion to recom- Alexander v. Sandoval to overturn four dec- against minority students in our public-school mit. ades of statutory protections against discrimi- system create a learning environment that is The Clerk read as follows: nation by stripping victims of discrimination of far from equal. Ms. Foxx of North Carolina moves to re- the right to bring disparate impact claims It is imperative to recognize that the exist- commit the bill, H.R. 2574, to the Committee under Title VI. ence of these Eurocentric policies in our edu- on Education and Labor with instructions to However, this bill ensures that victims of cational system have a disparate effect on report the same back to the House forthwith, with the following amendment: discrimination no longer have to rely on the Black students, who are either forced to sup- Page 4, line 11, strike the quotation mark Department of Education to take legal action press their cultural heritage and Black identity and period at the end. in order to challenge discriminatory practices or forfeit their right to equal educational and Page 4, after line 11, insert the following: in their schools. extracurricular opportunities. ‘‘(c) ANTISEMITISM CONSIDERED DISCRIMINA- Instead, individuals will once again have the While on the surface, such policies do not TION.—In carrying out the responsibilities of ability to address instances of racial inequities seem directed at specific races or ethnicities, the recipient under this title, the employee or employees designated under this section themselves. in practice, they often discriminate against a shall consider antisemitism to be discrimi- The Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act Black person or person of color based on nation on the basis of race, color, or national further protects students by making positive characteristics associated with them. origin as prohibited by this title.’’. and substantive changes to Title VI, which It is also well known that Black students are Ms. FOXX of North Carolina (during prohibits discrimination based on race, color, more often over-disciplined at school than the reading). Madam Speaker, I ask or national origin in programs or activities that their white counterparts. unanimous consent to dispense with receive federal financial assistance. Between 2015 and 2016, Black children ac- the reading. For example, the bill creates Title VI mon- counted for 15 percent of all students, yet they The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there itors to ensure that every school district and made up 31 percent of referrals to law en- objection to the request of the gentle- institution of higher education has at least one forcement and school-based arrests, perpet- woman from North Carolina? employee who is specifically responsible for uating the school-to-prison pipeline. There was no objection. investigating any complaints of discrimination In Texas, black students in the Houston The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- based on race, color, or national origin. Independent School District (HISD) were four ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from It also establishes an Assistant Secretary in times more likely to receive a law enforcement North Carolina is recognized for 5 min- the Department of Education to coordinate referral, which includes citations, tickets, court utes in support of her motion. and promote Title VI enforcement in edu- referrals, and school-related arrests, than their Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam cation. white peers. Speaker, as you have heard throughout In 1954, the Supreme Court’s landmark de- According to the Texas Education Agency, this debate, Republicans agree that dis- cision in Brown v. Board of Education struck HISD is also known for its stark disparities be- crimination and segregation are repug- down the ‘‘separate but equal’’ premise that tween black and white students in school dis- nant and immoral. had allowed segregation in our public-school cipline, with black students being seven times Unfortunately, this bill does nothing system. more likely to get an out-of-school suspension. to address these problems. Instead, It has been 66 years since that monumental These instances create a culture of inequal- Democrats are trying to sneak in a ruling, yet we still have not been able to fulfill ity and reinforce barriers to education for stu- radical partisan rewrite of civil rights the promise of equity in education for our chil- dents of color. law under the guise of an education dren. Without a private right of action to challenge bill. However, before the House takes Over the past few months, the United States these patterns and policies, students of color action on this legislation, we have one has experienced seismic shifts in social con- face countless forms of irreparable harm, in- final opportunity to address one par- sciousness regarding racial inequities that cluding missing countless hours of instruction, ticular flaw in this bill. have permeated every aspect of American so- educational opportunities, and relationship de- On September 11, 2019, President ciety. velopment that promotes pro-social growth Trump issued an executive order estab- As the names of George Floyd, Breonna and positive life outcomes. lishing the policy of the executive Taylor, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile, and so Madam Speaker, by creating measures that branch to consider discrimination many others, become synonymous with to- give agency to individuals to identify, chal- against Jews to be illegal discrimina- day’s civil rights movement, I believe this bill lenge, and change discriminatory practices in tion under title VI when such discrimi- marks a step forward in the fight for equal their own communities, we are creating an en- nation is based on an individual’s race, rights. vironment where all kids, regardless of race, color, or national origin.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.003 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4444 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 If this House is going to radically re- Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Madam child care services while there is community write title VI, as this bill does, we Speaker, on that I demand the yeas transmission of COVID-19. Such technical as- should use this opportunity to show and nays. sistance shall include information about— commitment to combating anti-Semi- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- (A) the prevention of COVID-19 trans- tism. mission in child care provider settings, in- ant to section 3 of House Resolution cluding the use of face masks and other per- With anti-Semitism on the rise 965, the yeas and the nays are ordered. sonal protective equipment in such settings, around the world, the need for this Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- (B) training and professional development amendment is clear. In fact, here in the ther proceedings on this question are on health and safety practices related to the United States, we have seen horrific postponed. prevention of COVID-19 transmission in child acts of violence against our Jewish care provider settings, f friends over the last few years. (C) the acquisition and use of personal pro- In October 2018, 11 congregants lost ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER tective equipment, and their lives at a synagogue in Pitts- PRO TEMPORE (D) modifications of child care provider burgh, the worst killing of Jews in settings and services to prevent COVID-19 The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- transmission, such as optimal staff-to-child American history. In December of last ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair year, a gunman targeted a Jewish ko- ratios across such settings and the use of will postpone further proceedings mental health supports. sher deli, leaving six dead. (2) MATERIALS.—As part of such technical This motion does one simple thing. today on motions to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays are or- assistance efforts, the Secretary shall— The underlying bill requires recipients (A) publish educational materials related of funding from the Department of dered. The House will resume proceedings to the prevention of COVID-19 transmission Education to designate title VI compli- in child care provider settings, including by ance coordinators. My motion inserts on postponed questions at a later time. posting such materials on a website, language into this provision directing f (B) update any such materials as necessary to reflect advancements in the science of such compliance coordinators to con- ENSURING CHILDREN AND CHILD sider anti-Semitism to be illegal dis- COVID-19, and CARE WORKERS ARE SAFE ACT (C) provide a mechanism through which crimination on the basis of race, color, OF 2020 or national origin under title VI. States may exchange best practices relating Madam Speaker, we have an oppor- Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I to the safe operation of child care providers. tunity with this amendment to achieve move to suspend the rules and pass the (b) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO CHILD CARE bill (H.R. 7909) to facilitate access to PROVIDERS.— an important goal. We can ensure that (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may make recipients of Federal education funding child care services safely and securely grants to lead agencies designated under sec- are doing all they can to protect mem- during the COVID–19 pandemic, as tion 658D(a) of the Child Care and Develop- bers of our communities from horrific amended. ment Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. anti-Semitism. The Clerk read the title of the bill. 9858b(a)) to provide guidance, technical as- I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on my amend- The text of the bill is as follows: sistance, and support to child care providers, ment, and I yield back the balance of H.R. 7909 either directly or through resource and refer- my time. ral agencies or staffed family child care net- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- works, regarding the safe operation of child Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam resentatives of the United States of America in Speaker, I rise in opposition to the mo- care providers while there is community Congress assembled, transmission of COVID-19. tion. SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. (2) RESERVATION.—The Secretary shall re- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Ensuring serve 2.75 percent of funds appropriated to tleman from Virginia is recognized for Children and Child Care Workers Are Safe carry out this section to make payments to 5 minutes. Act of 2020’’. Indian Tribes, Tribal organizations, or con- Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam SEC. 2. FINDINGS. sortia of Indian Tribes and Tribal organiza- Speaker, anti-Semitism is religious Congress finds the following: tions. discrimination. As the motion reflects, (1) Child care is an essential service that (3) ALLOTMENTS.—From amounts appro- religion is not covered by title VI. It supports children’s early development and priated to carry out this section and not re- covers discrimination based on race, allows parents to work. served under paragraph (2), the Secretary color, or national origin. It doesn’t (2) At least 1 out of 2 child care providers shall allot to Guam, American Samoa, the cover religion. closed at some point during the COVID-19 Virgin Islands of the United States, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Is- While we are picking just one reli- pandemic, and 2 out of 5 face the possibility of permanent closure. lands and to the remaining States amounts gious kind of discrimination, anti-Sem- (3) The lack of access to child care services in accordance with subsections (a)(1) and itism, what about the other religions? can prevent parents from returning to work subsection (b) of section 658O of the Child Wouldn’t they deserve attention, too? and can prevent children from accessing crit- Care and Development Block Grant Act of This is just a political attempt to in- ical services, including meals. 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858m), except that none of sert religion into title VI. That is con- (4) Ensuring the safe re-opening and oper- such remaining States shall receive an allot- troversial. Might get support for that, ation of child care service settings during pe- ment of less than $10,000. but that is not part of this bill. riods of community transmission of COVID- (4) REQUIREMENTS.—Each lead agency that This motion just diverts attention 19 will require child care providers to adopt receives a grant under this section shall en- from the core provision of the bill, and new measures and practices in order to re- sure that— that is to open the courts so that those duce the likelihood of COVID-19 trans- (A) guidance, technical assistance, and support are available to child care providers who can prove discrimination can have mission. (5) Such measures and practices must en- regardless of such providers’ settings, sizes, their day in court if their proof is sure the safety of children as well as child or administrative capacities, and based on disparate impact. care workers, who may be at high risk of in- (B) guidance, technical assistance, and sup- Now, let’s not divert attention away fection. port are available in the languages most from that core idea that people who (6) Ensuring that working families have ac- commonly spoken in the State, Indian Tribe, have been discriminated against ought cess to safe child care service options is crit- or Tribal organization. to be able to get into court. Let’s let ical to supporting young children’s develop- (c) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than them have their day in court. Defeat ment and to returning the economy back to 60 days after funds are appropriated to carry this motion and pass the bill. its pre-pandemic levels. out this Act, the Secretary shall provide to I yield back the balance of my time. SEC. 3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON THE SAFE the Committee on Education and Labor of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Without PROVISION OF CHILD CARE SERV- the House of Representatives and to the objection, the previous question is or- ICES. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and (a) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO STATES.— Pensions of the Senate a report that in- dered on the motion to recommit. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Health cludes— There was no objection. and Human Services (in this Act referred to (1) recommendations for how to ensure the The SPEAKER pro tempore. The as the Secretary), in consultation with the safe provision of child care services while question is on the motion to recommit. Director of the Centers for Disease Control there is community transmission of COVID- The question was taken; and the and Prevention, shall provide technical as- 19, including recommendations that address Speaker pro tempore announced that sistance to States, Indian Tribes, and tribal each of the issues described in subparagraphs the noes appeared to have it. organizations related to the safe provision of (A) through (D) of subsection (a)(1),

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.025 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4445 (2) recommendations for how to ensure the viders to rebuild and to serve the num- State’s 2,200 licensed or certified supply of child care services meets demand ber of children they need to childcare centers still haven’t re- during periods when providers implement the sustainably run their business and sur- opened. recommendations described in paragraph (1), vive the pandemic. In order to reopen for families, including whether it will be necessary to ex- pand the number of child care providers to It is worth noting that even before childcare providers must follow certain meet such demand and, if so, recommenda- the pandemic, this industry operated guidelines and modify their normal tions for how to expand the number of child on razor-thin margins and faced major routines in order to create a safe envi- care providers, and difficulties. ronment for children. Now more than (3) the estimated cost of implementing the According to a recent report from the ever, childcare providers need assist- recommendations described in paragraphs (1) American Institutes for Research and ance interpreting and implementing and (2). Early Edge California, of the 278 Cali- CDC and State guidelines designed to SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. fornia childcare providers surveyed, 52 keep children safe. The terms ‘‘State’’, ‘‘Indian Tribe’’, and percent reported that it was too dif- My bill, along with Representative ‘‘Tribal organization’’ have the meanings ficult to understand or follow new re- given such terms in section 658P of the Child FINKENAUER, H.R. 7909, requires the De- Care and Development Block Grant Act of quirements during COVID–19, and 79 partment of Health and Human Serv- 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858n). percent reported a significant need for ices to work with States to provide SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. guidance on how to implement new technical assistance for childcare pro- There is authorized to be appropriated to COVID–19 health and safety protocols. viders as they reopen across the coun- carry out this Act, $5,000,000 for fiscal year This important bipartisan bill before try. 2021. Funds appropriated to carry out this us today, introduced by my colleagues In a recent study on technical assist- Act shall remain available until expended. Representative FINKENAUER and Rep- ance, the Government Accountability The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- resentative GUTHRIE, will help meet Office found that the current COVID–19 ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from this need by requiring the Department pandemic underscores the importance Oregon (Ms. BONAMICI) and the gen- of Health and Human Services, in con- of Federal agencies providing technical tleman from Kentucky (Mr. GUTHRIE) sultation with the Centers for Disease assistance to grantees to ensure the each will control 20 minutes. Control and Prevention, to issue edu- continuity of operations of grant pro- The Chair recognizes the gentle- cational materials and guidance on grams and the effective use of funding. woman from Oregon. how to provide childcare services safe- b 1115 GENERAL LEAVE ly during the pandemic. Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I Critically, this bill authorizes fund- While it is common for Congress to ask unanimous consent that all Mem- ing that will enable States to provide require technical assistance, it is crit- bers may have 5 legislative days in direct outreach, technical assistance, ical that we tailor these directives which to revise and extend their re- and support to childcare providers. carefully to ensure grantees are receiv- marks and include extraneous material I urge my colleagues to support this ing necessary and timely support. We on the measure under consideration. bill, and I reserve the balance of my in Congress hear the concerns of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there time. childcare providers and are sending the objection to the request of the gentle- Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I assistance they desperately need. woman from Oregon? yield myself such time as I may con- Additionally, this bill authorizes $5 There was no objection. sume. million for 1 year for HHS to issue Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I Madam Speaker, before I begin, I was grants to States so they can provide yield myself such time as I may con- talking to my friend from Oregon ear- guidance and technical support to sume. lier—and also, I know, your home childcare providers, and it requires Madam Speaker, I rise today in sup- State—and our thoughts and prayers HHS to provide recommendations to port of H.R. 7909, the Ensuring Children are with everybody on the West Coast. Congress on how to ensure there is an and Child Care Workers Are Safe Act. I know some of us have friends on the adequate supply of safe childcare dur- Access to high-quality, affordable Gulf Coast. We have citizens of our ing COVID–19. It is critical, and not childcare has always been fundamental country, Madam Speaker, that are only to children and childcare pro- to the well-being of families and chil- going through some tough times, and viders, but also to families who need dren, so it is not surprising that our thoughts and prayers are with access to childcare while they return childcare has emerged as one of the them. to work. most urgent issues facing families and Madam Speaker, I rise in support of Madam Speaker, I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote communities during this pandemic. H.R. 7909, the Ensuring Children and on H.R. 7909 so that we can help put I have spoken with parents who are Child Care Workers Are Safe Act. It is our country on the path forward. I ap- struggling with how you balance kids a bipartisan piece of legislation that I preciate working with my colleague at home with work at home. I have introduced with my colleague, Rep- from Iowa, and I reserve the balance of heard from business owners, economic resentative FINKENAUER from Iowa, my time. development leaders, and local elected which will provide childcare providers Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I officials who are worried about the resources and information on how to thank my friend and colleague, Mr. workforce and the economy, and safely operate during the COVID–19 GUTHRIE, for his kind remarks. childcare has always been an impor- pandemic. Madam Speaker, I yield as much tant part of all of these conversations Without childcare options, parents time as she may consume to the gen- because it is a key factor in reopening can’t return to work, which is a key tlewoman from Iowa (Ms. FINKENAUER), our communities safely. component to our Nation’s economic the author of this important bipartisan Many, and in some places most, recovery. Additionally, childcare bene- legislation. childcare providers across the country fits and a child’s health and develop- Ms. FINKENAUER. Madam Speaker, were closed during the early months of ment are critical to building a strong I rise today in support of my legisla- the pandemic. But now, they are re- foundation for future success. tion, aptly called the Ensuring Chil- opening and working hard to restore Childcare providers, however, are dren and Child Care Workers Are Safe confidence and provide a safe place for currently grappling with safely reopen- Act. I introduced this commonsense bi- the children in their care. ing and staying open. A recent article partisan bill to help ensure our Unfortunately, providers have told us in U.S. News and World Report noted childcare providers have the informa- that they have received little direct tens of thousands of childcare pro- tion and resources they need to provide guidance about how to modify their viders shuttered across the U.S., 4,500 a safe environment both for the kids practices for COVID–19 to keep chil- in the Washington, D.C., area alone. they serve and also their caregivers dren, families, and workers safe and In my home State of Kentucky, they employ amid the ongoing COVID– that the guidance they have received thanks to the CARES Act, many of our 19 pandemic. keeps changing and is oftentimes unre- childcare centers have been fortunate You see, parent and childcare pro- alistic. This makes it difficult for pro- to reopen. However, one-third of the viders were having a tough time even

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.007 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4446 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 before this pandemic hit our country. Thank you to the great group of bi- leadership on these issues. Thank you In my district, for example, parents partisan colleagues who are joining me so very much for allowing me this can’t find enough people to provide in tackling this problem and who time. As well, to the chairman of the quality and affordable childcare, and worked with me to craft this bill. This committee, ranking member, and to there is an overwhelming demand and includes my colead, Congressman Ms. FINKENAUER and the gentleman just not enough care available. This is BRETT GUTHRIE of Kentucky. from Kentucky, let me thank them for an industry struggling with a shrink- There is an understanding here that their leadership, and I thank the gen- ing workforce, low wages, and razor- if parents don’t have access to quality tlewoman for the time. thin margins. and affordable childcare, then they will Madam Speaker, let me indicate how And for myself personally, growing start passing up economic opportuni- important this legislation is. Twelve up in Iowa, I went to college in Iowa; ties. Sometimes it is turning down a Utah childcare students were infected and I saw, after college and even after promotion or, in other cases, that with COVID–19. They infected another high school, a lot of my friends move means leaving the workforce alto- 12; one of them was a parent who had away and go to States where they gether. We see this far too often, espe- to go to a hospital. could make more money and pay off cially in rural districts like mine. The Ensuring Children and Child their student loan debt. It is clear that the childcare industry Care Workers Are Safe Act of 2020 is Right now they are in their thirties, is critical to recovering from this pan- vital and long overdue. This bill re- around my age, getting married, want- demic and the economic situation it quires the U.S. Department of Health ing to have kids, wanting to move back created. Providing help and technical and Human Services to provide edu- home, and one of the barriers to doing assistance now will take a burden off cational materials and technical as- it is access to childcare. our providers amid the many chal- sistance to States related to the safe So, again, this has been an issue that lenges, again, that they face during the provision of childcare services during we have dealt with for a long time, be- pandemic. COVID–19. fore this pandemic even hit. But now, This bipartisan bill before you today With this bill, childcare facilities not on top of everything, we are asking our is common sense, and it is something only receive information on COVID–19 childcare providers to keep our kids that folks across the country are ask- prevention, but also professional devel- safe during this pandemic. In my State, ing for. So I urge you to vote ‘‘yes’’ on opment for providers on health and cases continue to rise, but many folks the Ensuring Children and Child Care safety, as well as guidance on the ac- have no choice but to return to work. Workers Are Safe Act. quisition and use of personal protective Right now, I am worried that we are Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I equipment. We heard this a lot in my district: No headed in the wrong direction. Roughly yield 1 minute to the gentleman from 60 percent of childcare providers have PPE. Pennsylvania (Mr. KELLER), a member It also instructs HHS to recommend actually closed their doors because of of the committee and a good friend. additional steps to Congress about en- the pandemic, and there is a chance Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I urge suring the safe provision and adequate that up to half of those closures will my colleagues to join me in supporting supply of childcare during COVID–19, actually be permanent. America’s childcare providers and the including whether and how to expand Earlier this year, we passed legisla- essential services they provide to our the supply of childcare to meet de- tion to create a $50 billion childcare Nation’s families. mand. There is a demand. It is crucial. stabilization fund, which passed with As millions of families have learned In addition, according to The Wash- bipartisan support. This will help ad- during the COVID–19 pandemic, ington Post, before the coronavirus dress some of the intense financial childcare is a critical component of our pandemic, approximately one-third of pressure facing our providers right national economy. In addition to the all children under age 5 attended a paid now, but the problem is still more com- significant benefits that childcare pro- care facility, daycare center, pre- plicated. We must give the providers vides for children’s social and emo- school, or prekindergarten. In 2019, the guidance and also the support that tional development, access to reliable there were 15 million-plus children liv- they need to protect the health and childcare continues to play a vital role ing with a single mother and approxi- safety of our children, families, and in America’s economic recovery. mately 3 million children living with a frontline workers. As parents return to work, they need single father. That is where the Ensuring Children to be sure that their children will be This is crucial because, as things and Child Care Workers Are Safe Act looked after and kept safe. The Ensur- open up, children and schools are all comes in. We want to make sure ing Children and Child Care Workers going to be intermingling, and these childcare providers are equipped to Are Safe Act of 2020, H.R. 7909, would childcare workers are vital to what we keep kids safe and prevent the spread make these assurances to families by do and how we provide for these hard- of COVID–19. We are going to do that equipping childcare providers with the working parents and to protect these by ensuring there is practical safety resources they need to perform their children. guidance and technical assistance from jobs safely and effectively. And now we know. It has been dis- the U.S. Department of Health and This legislation would provide fund- abused that at any point children are Human Services. ing for States to implement technical not infectious. That is no longer a fact. We also want to make sure that this support and training programs to as- It is not a fact. It is not true. They are guidance actually reaches childcare sist childcare providers in meeting infectious and they can transmit providers and that providers get the safety guidelines and acquiring per- COVID–19. help they need in implementing best sonal protective equipment. Let me take a moment to speak practices. That is why our bill would Childcare providers have supported quickly to H.R. 2574, the Equity and In- also create grants so States can reach millions of American families, pro- clusion Enforcement Act of 2019. out to providers and provide the tech- viding an essential service during good That bill passed, but it restores the nical support they need to succeed. times and bad. I urge my colleagues to power of students and parents to chal- This bill recognizes the unprece- support H.R. 7909. lenge discriminatory policies and prac- dented demands being put on our Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, tices in schools and other federally childcare providers. We simply cannot may I please inquire how much time funded programs. We know what hap- expect them to do this alone when they remains on each side. pened to this young man who wanted are already up against so much. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gen- to wrestle. What a humiliating situa- When it comes to addressing the tlewoman from Oregon has 13 minutes tion when, on the wrestling floor, in childcare crisis which existed, again, remaining. the competition, a coach had to cut his well before COVID–19 hit our country, I Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I hair off. am happy to say that I have found yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman I ask my colleagues to support H.R. many partners on both sides of the from Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE). 7909. aisle who are willing to tackle this Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I also rise to support H.R. 3659, issue for hardworking families. I really thank the gentlewoman for her Danny’s Law, that deals with bullying,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.029 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4447 and, as well, H.R. 8162, 21st Century that childcare providers receive guid- requirements for child care staff mem- Community Learning Centers ance and assistance to safely operate bers to improve child safety, as amend- Coronavirus Relief Act. so that parents can return to work and ed. Madam Speaker, I thank my col- our economy can continue to recover. I The Clerk read the title of the bill. leagues and ask my colleagues to sup- think most of the people, when I am The text of the bill is as follows: port the legislation. back home, are just looking to return S. 2683 Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor and to normal, and this moves that for- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- Founding Chair of the Congressional Chil- ward. resentatives of the United States of America in dren’s Caucus, I rise in strong support of H.R. For these reasons, I strongly urge my Congress assembled, 7909, the ‘‘Ensuring Child and Child Care colleagues to vote ‘‘yes’’ on H.R. 7909, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Workers Are Safe Act of 2020,’’ which re- and I yield back the balance of my This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Child Care quires the U.S. Department of Health and time. Protection Improvement Act of 2020’’. Human Services (HHS) to provide educational Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, I SEC. 2. TASK FORCE TO ASSIST IN IMPROVING materials and technical assistance to states yield myself the balance of my time. CHILD SAFETY. related to the safe provision of child care serv- (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a Madam Speaker, I wish to once again task force, to be known as the Interagency ices during COVID–19. Despite their vital role thank Representatives FINKENAUER and Task Force for Child Safety (referred to in during the pandemic, child care providers GUTHRIE for their leadership in crafting this section as the ‘‘Task Force’’) to iden- have received insufficient actionable guidance this urgently needed bipartisan bill and tify, evaluate, and recommend best practices on how to prevent the spread of COVID–19 all of my colleagues who have spoken and technical assistance to assist Federal while providing high-quality care. in support of the Ensuring Children and State agencies in fully implementing the With this bill, child care facilities not only re- and Child Care Workers Are Safe Act. requirements of section 658H(b) of the Child ceive information on COVID–19 prevention but This is such an important issue. Care and Development Block Grant Act of also professional development for providers on 1990 (42 U.S.C. 9858f(b)) for child care staff Today’s children are tomorrow’s members. health and safety as well as guidance on the leaders. This bill will help make sure (b) COMPOSITION.—Not later than 60 days acquisition and use of personal protective that childcare providers who are en- after the date of enactment of this Act, the equipment. It also instructs HHS to rec- trusted with the health, safety, and de- President shall appoint the members of the ommend additional steps to Congress about velopment of our Nation’s very future Task Force, which shall— ensuring the safe provision and adequate sup- have the support they need to succeed. (1) consist of only Federal officers and em- ply of childcare during COVID–19, including I also want to note, as my colleague ployees; and whether and how to expand the supply of child from Iowa noted, that the consider- (2) include— care to meet demand. (A) the Director of the Office of Child Care ation of this bill comes after the House of the Department of Health and Human As an increasing number of states open up passage of the Child Care is Essential Services (or the Director’s designee), the As- and more individuals return to work, parents Act, which will provide $50 billion in sociate Commissioner of the Children’s Bu- are relying on child care facilities once again, direct grant funding to help childcare reau of the Department of Health and making the need for proper guidance to pre- providers cover operating expenses, Human Services (or the Associate Commis- vent the spread of COVID–19 at child care purchase PPE and cleaning supplies, sioner’s designee), and the Director of the services more essential than ever. As of this pay providers through the pandemic Federal Bureau of Investigation (or the Di- morning, the United States has over 6,606,859 and beyond, and, importantly, give rector’s designee); and cases of coronavirus and over 195,961 related (B) such other Federal officers and employ- struggling parents relief from high-cost ees (or their designees) as may be appointed deaths. Adequate and updated information is copayments and tuition. by the President. key to getting control over this disease, and This is a good investment in our chil- (c) CHAIRPERSON.—The chairperson of the we must ensure that this guidance is easily dren, our families, our economy, and Task Force shall be the Assistant Secretary and readily accessible to all. our future. I continue to urge Senator of the Administration for Children and Fam- It is no secret that the child care sector pro- MCCONNELL and the full Senate to take ilies of the Department of Health and Human vides an immense public value to our society up the Child Care is Essential Act, as Services. and our economy. According to the Wash- well as this excellent bipartisan bill. (d) CONSULTATION.—The Task Force shall consult with representatives from State ington Post, before the coronavirus pandemic, Madam Speaker, I urge all of my col- approximately one-third of all children under child care agencies, State child protective leagues to support the legislation be- services, State criminal justice agencies, age 5 attended a paid care facility, day-care fore us today, H.R. 7909, and I yield providers of child care services, including center, preschool or prekindergarten. back the balance of my time. providers in the private sector, and other rel- Child care plays a crucial role in the lives of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The evant stakeholders on identifying problems working parents, especially in single parent question is on the motion offered by in implementing, and proposing solutions to households. In 2019, there were about 15.76 the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. implement, the requirements of section 658H(b) of the Child Care and Development million children living with a single mother and BONAMICI) that the House suspend the Block Grant Act of 1990, as described in that approximately 3.23 million children living with rules and pass the bill, H.R. 7909, as a single father in the United States. We must section. Such consultation shall include con- amended. sultation with State agencies that are at dif- never forget that child care is often a lifeline The question was taken. ferent stages of such implementation. to single, working parents that allows them to The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the (e) TASK FORCE DUTIES.—The Task Force balance both their parenting and professional opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being shall— responsibilities. in the affirmative, the ayes have it. (1) develop recommendations for improving I am proud to be a leader on this critical Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Speaker, on implementation of the requirements of sec- piece of legislation, and I urge my colleagues that I demand the yeas and nays. tion 658H(b) of the Child Care and Develop- from both parties to join me in voting to pass ment Block Grant Act of 1990, including rec- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ommendations about how the Task Force H.R. 7909. ant to section 3 of House Resolution Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I and member agencies will collaborate and 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. coordinate efforts to implement such re- yield myself such time as I may con- Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- quirements, as described in that section; and sume. ther proceedings on this motion are (2) develop recommendations in which the Madam Speaker, in these challenging postponed. Task Force identifies best practices and times, childcare providers, especially evaluates technical assistance to assist rel- those who run small operations, are at f evant Federal and State agencies in imple- risk of shutting their doors. The call b 1130 menting section 658H(b) of the Child Care for Congress to act is loud and clear. and Development Block Grant Act of 1990, With the additional health and safety CHILD CARE PROTECTION which identification and evaluation shall in- requirements providers are expected to IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2020 clude— (A) an analysis of available research and navigate, it is important to help them Mrs. MCBATH. Madam Speaker, I information at the Federal and State levels implement these requirements so the move to suspend the rules and pass the regarding the status of the interstate re- children in their care remain safe and bill (S. 2683) to establish a task force to quirements of that section for child care free from harm. H.R. 7909 will ensure assist States in implementing hiring staff members who have resided in one or

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:32 Sep 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD20\SEPTEMBER\H16SE0.REC H16SE0 abonner on DSK9F5VC42PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE H4448 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 more States during the previous 5 years and The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there a task force at HHS. The task force in- who seek employment in a child care pro- objection to the request of the gentle- cludes the FBI and respective CCDBG gram in a different State; woman from Georgia? Federal agencies, as well as those who (B) a list of State agencies that are not re- There was no objection. are operating State background check sponding to interstate requests covered by Mrs. MCBATH. Madam Speaker, I that section for relevant information on systems in order to determine the child care staff members; yield myself such time as I may con- issues with the current systems. (C) identification of the challenges State sume. By establishing a task force, Con- agencies are experiencing in responding to Over 75 percent of preschool-age chil- gress can take action to improve the such interstate requests; dren attend some form of early care operability and preserve the resources (D) an analysis of the length of time it and education before reaching kinder- of the grantees who are already bur- takes the State agencies in a State to re- garten. For this reason, it is impera- dened by the red tape in the interstate ceive such results from State agencies in an- tive that we ensure we are providing background check system. other State in response to such an interstate our children with the best educators Approximately 1.3 million children request, in accordance with that section; that will give them the best education (E) an analysis of the average processing receive a childcare subsidy from the time for the interstate requests, in accord- possible. Child Care and Development Fund ance with that section; The 2014 reauthorization of the Child every month. Their parents deserve the (F) identification of any fees (and entities Care and Development Block Grant—or peace of mind that their children’s responsible for paying any such fees) associ- as we will say today, the CCDBG Act— caretakers have gone through com- ated with the interstate requests in each made changes to the original 1990 bill, prehensive background checks. State to meet requirements, in accordance including adding background checks to While good-faith efforts toward com- with section 658H of the Child Care and De- ensure that childcare centers receiving pliance have been shown and incre- velopment Block Grant Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. funds through the CCDBG are employ- mental improvement has been dem- 9858f), including identification of— (i) the extent to which such fees are con- ing quality professionals. onstrated, more can be done to expedi- sistent with subsection (f) of that section; However, in the 6 years since the re- ently implement these crucial safety and authorization, barriers to background measures for our children. The task (ii) information regarding factors that im- check information have hindered the force established in this bill is a prom- pact such fees; hiring process for quality childcare ising step to achieving criminal back- (G) a list of States that are participating providers. ground check implementation in every in the National Fingerprint File program, as So as of right now, there is no uni- State. administered by the Federal Bureau of Inves- form process to share this information I thank my colleagues for working tigation, and an analysis of reasons States across States. Each State has its own across the aisle in crafting this legisla- have or have not chosen to participate in the set of laws and policies, making it program, including barriers to participation tion. I thank Chairman SCOTT of the such as barriers related to State regulatory harder for childcare providers to gather Education and Labor Committee and requirements and statutes; and the necessary information for the em- Republican leader FOXX for helping (H) a list of States that have closed record ployees that they are hiring. bring this bill to the floor today. laws or systems that prevent the States from S. 2683, the Child Care Protection Im- Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to sharing complete criminal records data or provement Act of 2020, would create an the gentleman from North Carolina information with State agencies in another interagency task force that will iden- (Mr. MURPHY), my friend and an impor- State. tify the obstacles in the background tant member of our committee. (f) MEETINGS.—Not later than 3 months check process and recommend best Mr. MURPHY of North Carolina. after the date of enactment of this Act, the Task Force shall hold its first meeting. practices to overcoming them. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support (g) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year When children attend safe, high-qual- of S. 2683, the Child Care Protection after the first meeting of the Task Force, the ity, early care and education programs, Improvement Act. Task Force shall submit to the Secretary of they develop the skills that help them As a father of three and a member of Health and Human Services, the Committee succeed in school and in the future. the Education and Labor Committee, on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions of Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- the issue this legislation seeks to im- the Senate, and the Committee on Education ance of my time. prove is near and dear to me. and Labor of the House of Representatives a Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I final report containing all of the rec- After reauthorizing the Child Care ommendations required by paragraphs (1) yield myself such time as I may con- and Development Block Grant in 2014, and (2) of subsection (e). The report shall sume. which passed with broad bipartisan also include a list of the members of the I rise in support of S. 2683, the Child support, Congress added a requirement Task Force, the agencies such members rep- Care Protection Improvement Act of for States to implement background resent, and the individuals and entities with 2020, the same bill offered by my col- checks for any childcare employee put whom the Task Force consulted under sub- leagues Representatives MCBATH, KEL- section (d). in charge of supervising children. LER, TAYLOR, FINKENAUER, and AXNE. (h) NO COMPENSATION FOR MEMBERS.—A Childcare is an essential service as member of the Task Force shall serve with- In 2014, Congress passed the Child well as a source of employment for out compensation in addition to any com- Care Development and Block Grant Re- many Americans, so safety and care pensation received for the service of the authorization Act with broad bipar- are of the utmost concern. Parents member as an officer or employee of the tisan support and it required that want to know that their children are in United States. States conduct specified comprehen- a good, honest, and safe environment. (i) EXEMPTION FROM FACA.—The Federal sive criminal background checks for all Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) However, since this reauthorization, shall not apply to the Task Force. childcare staff members. implementation has been very prob- (j) SUNSET.—The Task Force shall termi- As part of this crucial requirement, lematic. Many States have experienced nate 1 year after submitting its final report interstate checks must be completed in a great amount of difficulties actually under subsection (g). any State where the prospective em- performing robust background checks. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- ployee lived over the last 5 years. How- In fact, as of March 1, 2020, only three ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from ever, given the variation of individual States have been able to fully imple- Georgia (Mrs. MCBATH) and the gen- State laws and practices, interstate ment the required background checks. tleman from Kentucky (Mr. GUTHRIE) background checks have proven dif- If passed, this bill will establish a each will control 20 minutes. ficult for many States to complete. task force at the Department of Health The Chair recognizes the gentle- With only three States able to fully and Human Services to monitor back- woman from Georgia. implement the Child Care and Develop- ground checks and to make rec- GENERAL LEAVE ment Block Grant background checks ommendations for improving imple- Mrs. MCBATH. Madam Speaker, I ask as of March 1st, 2020, it is time for Con- mentation at childcare businesses. unanimous consent that all Members gress to determine the root causes of Keeping children safe from harm is a may have 5 legislative days within the roadblocks to interstate back- parent’s number one concern when which to revise and extend their re- ground checks. they leave them in someone else’s care. marks and include extraneous material The Child Care Protection Improve- Parents will be more assured when on the measure under consideration. ment Act does just that by establishing they know their caretaker and all of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.011 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4449 its employees have histories absent of I urge my colleagues to support S. (3) parent and student education on bul- criminal activity, sexual abuse, or any 2683. We must do everything that we lying and bullying prevention policies; other forms of neglect. can to ensure the safety of our chil- (4) instances of student violence as a result We are facing so many challenges in of bullying; dren. Families deserve to know that (5) instances of student self-harm as a re- this Nation at this time, but regard- their kids are being cared for by quali- sult of bullying; less, we can never stop working to fied providers. (6) preventative measures in place at State make our children safe. Before we close out, I thank my col- and local levels; and I thank my colleague, Senator BURR leagues, Representatives VAN TAYLOR, (7) instances of cyberbullying and practices from North Carolina, for leading this CINDY AXNE, FRED KELLER, and ABBY for addressing cyberbullying. initiative in the upper Chamber. I FINKENAUER for working with me to in- (c) MEMBERSHIP.— thank my colleagues in the House for troduce the House companion for this (1) IN GENERAL.—The Roundtable shall be composed of 15 members, appointed as fol- doing the same. I look forward to its bipartisan legislation. lows: passage here in the House. It is so great that we were able to (A) 3 members shall be appointed by the I urge my colleagues to vote for this work together to keep our children Secretary of Education, and those 3 members legislation. safe, set them up for educational suc- shall represent 3 different categories of Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I cess, and ensure our qualified childcare stakeholders described in paragraph (2). yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from providers have access to the opportuni- (B) 6 members shall be appointed by the Pennsylvania (Mr. KELLER), who has ties they have worked so hard for. Speaker of the House of Representatives, 3 of been an architect of this piece of legis- I also thank the Education and Labor whom shall be appointed on the rec- ommendation of the majority leader of the lation. Committee staff for their hard work of Mr. KELLER. Madam Speaker, I rise House of Representatives, and 3 of whom helping us advance this legislation. shall be appointed on the recommendation of today in support of S. 2683, the Child Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- the minority leader of the House of Rep- Care Protection Improvement Act, leg- ance of my time. resentatives. The Speaker, the majority islation that is essential to the safety The SPEAKER pro tempore. The leader, and the minority leader of the House of millions of American children. question is on the motion offered by of Representatives shall each select individ- I am a proud original cosponsor of the gentlewoman from Georgia (Mrs. uals who represent at least 3 different cat- H.R. 3986, which is almost an identical MCBATH) that the House suspend the egories of stakeholders described in para- companion bill in the House. rules and pass the bill, S. 2683, as graph (2). Childcare services play an integral (C) 6 members shall be appointed by the amended. President pro tempore of the Senate, 3 of role in our society. Families across the The question was taken; and (two- whom shall be appointed on the rec- Nation entrust childcare providers thirds being in the affirmative) the ommendation of the majority leader of the with the well-being of their children on rules were suspended and the bill, as Senate, and 3 of whom shall be appointed on a daily basis. Every parent deserves the amended, was passed. the recommendation of the minority leader peace of mind of knowing that their A motion to reconsider was laid on of the Senate. The President pro tempore, childcare providers are passionate, car- the table. the majority leader, and the minority leader of the Senate shall each select individuals ing, and above all, qualified. f While this is the case with a great who represent at least 3 different categories DANNY’S LAW of stakeholders described in paragraph (2). many providers, it is imperative for (D) In appointing members of the Round- States to be able to effectively conduct Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I table, the Secretary of Education, the background checks, especially across move to suspend the rules and pass the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and State lines. bill (H.R. 3659) to establish an Anti- the President pro tempore of the Senate, to Faults in our criminal background Bullying Roundtable to study bullying the extent practicable, shall take into ac- check system can leave our children in elementary and secondary schools in count all the other nominees to the Round- vulnerable to bad actors. No child the United States, and for other pur- table to ensure as many as possible of the should ever be placed in the care of an poses, as amended. categories of stakeholders described in para- unqualified or dangerous person. The Clerk read the title of the bill. graph (2) are represented. S. 2683 will help States address chal- The text of the bill is as follows: (2) REPRESENTATION.—The members of the Roundtable shall include, to the extent prac- lenges in implementing background H.R. 3659 ticable, at least one representative of each of checks required under current law, en- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- the following: suring our children receive the safest resentatives of the United States of America in (A) Teachers. and highest quality of care possible. Congress assembled, (B) School leaders. I urge my colleagues to support this SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; FINDINGS. (C) Parents of schoolchildren. commonsense legislation. (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as (D) Individuals who are at least 16 years of Mr. GUTHRIE. Madam Speaker, I ‘‘Danny’s Law’’. age and who have experienced bullying. (b) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the fol- yield myself such time as I may con- (E) Physicians. lowing: (F) Child psychologists. sume. (1) This Act is named in honor of Daniel Madam Speaker, the childcare indus- (G) Paraprofessionals. Fitzpatrick, who, in August 2016, when he (H) School resource officers or other appro- try is critical to the well-being of was 13 years old, tragically took his own life priate professionals responsible for school se- American families, and each family as a direct result of bullying. curity. across our Nation deserves to know (2) According to the Centers for Disease (I) Specialized instructional support per- that those who are caring for their Control and Prevention, bullying is among sonnel. children have gone through thorough the most commonly reported discipline prob- (J) Other staff. and necessary criminal background lems in public schools. (K) Other individuals with expertise work- (3) Potential effects of bullying include so- checks. ing with bullied youth. cial and emotional distress, physical injury, (3) CHAIR.—The members of the Roundtable The Child Care Protection Improve- and increased risk for lowering academic ment Act helps protect children and shall elect one individual to serve as chair. achievement. (4) TERMS.—Each member shall be ap- gives parents peace of mind when it SEC. 2. ANTI-BULLYING ROUNDTABLE. pointed for the duration of the existence of comes to sending their children to a (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established the Roundtable. childcare facility. an independent commission to be known as (5) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Round- This legislation is a perfect example the ‘‘Anti-Bullying Roundtable’’ (in this Act table shall be filled in the manner in which of what Congress can accomplish when referred to as the ‘‘Roundtable’’). the original appointment was made under bipartisanship and meaningful collabo- (b) DUTIES.—The duties of the Roundtable paragraph (1) and in accordance with the re- ration take priority over politics. shall be to study and report on bullying in quirements of paragraph (2). elementary schools and secondary schools in (6) PAY.—Members of the Roundtable shall I encourage a ‘‘yes’’ vote on S. 2683. the United States by consulting with State Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- serve without pay. educational agencies and local educational (d) TIME FRAME FOR FORMATION.—Not later ance of my time. agencies regarding— than 180 days after the date of enactment of Mrs. MCBATH. Madam Speaker, I (1) current policies on bullying; this Act, the designated Members of Con- yield myself such time as I may con- (2) teacher education on bullying and bul- gress and the Secretary shall appoint the sume. lying prevention policies; members described in subsection (c)(1).

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.035 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4450 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 (e) POWERS OF ROUNDTABLE.— GENERAL LEAVE One-third of the world’s youth are (1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Round- Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I bullied. This is a saddening statistic. table may, for the purpose of carrying out ask unanimous consent that all Mem- According to the Centers for Disease this section, hold hearings, sit and act at bers may have 5 legislative days within Control and Prevention, students who times and places, take testimony, and re- ceive evidence as the Roundtable considers which to revise and extend their re- are bullied are more likely to experi- appropriate. marks and include extraneous material ence low self-esteem and isolation, per- (2) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—Upon re- on the measure under consideration. form poorly in school, have fewer quest of the chair of the Roundtable, the The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there friends, have a negative view of aca- Secretary of Education shall work with the objection to the request of the gentle- demics, and experience physical symp- heads of appropriate departments or agencies woman from Michigan? toms and mental health issues. to furnish requested information to the There was no objection. We all agree that no child should be Roundtable. bullied in any school, and as elected b 1145 (3) MAILS.—The Roundtable may use the representatives, we are in a position to United States mails in the same manner and Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I coordinate on our efforts to support under the same conditions as other depart- yield myself as much time as I may ments and agencies of the United States. our schools in preventing such mis- (4) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.— consume. treatments. Upon request of the Roundtable, the Sec- I was proud to co-introduce this im- The legislation before us today is retary of Education shall provide to the portant legislation with my colleague, named in honor of Daniel Fitzpatrick, Roundtable the administrative support serv- Congressman MAX ROSE, and I would a 13-year-old boy who tragically died ices necessary for the Roundtable to carry like to start by thanking him for his by suicide in August 2016 after being out its responsibilities under this Act. work and leadership on this bill and on bullied by his peers. (f) REPORTS.— behalf of Danny and his family. Before taking his own life, Daniel (1) BEST PRACTICES REPORT.—Not later than In 2016, 13-year-old Daniel 270 days after the date on which the Round- wrote a note to his family detailing the table has been formed, the Roundtable shall Fitzpatrick took his life as a direct re- struggles he faced with bullying and submit to the Secretary of Education, and sult of bullying at school. the lack of response by his teachers. the Secretary shall make public, a report on To honor Danny and to help save This is heartbreaking, and it is unac- best practices concerning bullying, including countless other young lives, his family ceptable. cyberbullying, in elementary schools and committed to advocacy and established Unfortunately, devastating stories secondary schools in the United States that the Danny’s Angel Network Nurturing like Daniel’s are becoming far too com- contains, among other items— Youth, DANNY, foundation to raise mon throughout our country and have (A) recommendations for how to prevent awareness and end bullying in schools. bullying; lasting impacts on American families (B) recommendations for how to best edu- One out of every five kids in this and our communities. cate educators, administrators, and all rel- country experiences bullying. The Today, we are here to act. evant school staff on recognizing bullying; problem has grown and moved from be- Under Danny’s Law, Members of Con- (C) recommendations for how parents can yond the playground to the internet as gress and the Secretary of Education best address and discuss with their children students spend more and more time on- will appoint 15 individuals representing the early warning signs of bullying; line. a variety of community members with (D) recommendations for addressing under- Bullying contributes to emotional insight into bullying and its effects on lying causes of bullying behavior; and mental health problems for chil- children. These parents, school leaders, (E) recommendations to address bullying dren across this country and, in far too of at-risk students, including students who teachers, school security, and psy- are at greater risk of self-harm; and many cases, has driven kids to suicide. chologists will serve on an antibullying (F) examples of successful evidence-based In fact, a recently released CDC report roundtable to consult with State and bullying prevention programming. stated that suicide of youth ages 10 to local educational agencies regarding (2) FINAL REPORT.—Not later than 1 year 24 has increased by nearly 60 percent in the growing issue of bullying and to after the date on which the Roundtable has the last 10 years. discuss prevention measures to reduce been formed, the Roundtable shall transmit This is an issue that deserves our its increasing toll on our Nation’s a final report to the Secretary of Education consideration, deserves research, and youth. and the Congress containing— deserves action. We simply must do (A) a detailed statement of the findings By addressing the mistreatment and and conclusions of the Roundtable; and more to prevent bullying and its dev- harassment of school-age children, we (B) recommendations for lawmakers re- astating consequences. can help create a safe learning environ- garding effective bullying prevention poli- Danny’s Law would establish an ment for students. They are our future. cies. antibullying roundtable, a commission We have a vested interest in giving (g) TERMINATION.—The Roundtable shall tasked with studying bullying in ele- families, schools, and communities the terminate upon submission of the final re- mentary and secondary schools and tools they need to shape young Ameri- port pursuant to subsection (f)(2). producing a report with best practices cans to be successful leaders. (h) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—No data ob- to address it. tained under this Act from State educational Madam Speaker, I thank my col- agencies, local educational agencies, Federal While we cannot bring back those we leagues on both sides of the aisle for departments or agencies, or other sources, have lost to bullying and suicide, this taking action to combat bullying in including information described in sub- commission will give schools and edu- our Nation’s elementary and secondary section (e)(2), shall include or reveal person- cators the tools to end bullying—some- schools, and I urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on ally identifiable information about any indi- thing I hear from my constituents far H.R. 3659 for children like Danny and vidual. too often, from my schools, from my millions of others who face bullying (i) DEFINITIONS.—In this Act, the terms educators—and it will ensure that every single day. ‘‘elementary school’’, ‘‘local educational every student can grow and learn in a Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- agency’’, ‘‘paraprofessional’’, ‘‘parent’’, ‘‘other staff’’, ‘‘school leader’’, ‘‘secondary safe and welcoming environment. ance of my time. school’’, ‘‘Secretary’’, ‘‘specialized instruc- Madam Speaker, I urge my col- Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I tional support personnel’’, and ‘‘State edu- leagues to join me in supporting this yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from cational agency’’ have the meaning given legislation, and I reserve the balance of New York (Mr. ROSE), the author of those terms, respectively, under section 8101 my time. this bill. of the Elementary and Secondary Education Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I Mr. ROSE of New York. Madam Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). yield myself such time as I may con- Speaker, I thank, of course, the chair- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- sume. man of this committee and my wonder- ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from I rise today in support of H.R. 3659, ful colleague from Michigan for her Michigan (Ms. STEVENS) and the gen- Danny’s Law, bipartisan legislation friendship and her extraordinary lead- tleman from New Jersey (Mr. VAN that would establish an antibullying ership. DREW) each will control 20 minutes. roundtable to examine bullying in ele- I rise today to urge my colleagues to The Chair recognizes the gentle- mentary and secondary schools in the vote in favor of H.R. 3659, otherwise woman from Michigan. United States. known as Danny’s Law.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.009 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4451 This bill will establish a roundtable Across our communities, a national ommendations for combating bullying of experts and stakeholders to study epidemic of suicide has devastated far and educating school officials in recog- and report on the problem of bullying too many families. One of the most nizing it. in our schools. heartbreaking aspects of this crisis I know how hard school officials This isn’t a new problem, but it is concerns the loss of children to suicide, work. I talk to my superintendents and one that is increasingly more prevalent often a result of pervasive, over- teachers all the time. But they miss and increasingly more complex. Kids whelming bullying by their peers. these things, and that means the child today don’t just face bullying at Danny’s Law was named for Daniel suffers alone. school. They bring it home with them Fitzpatrick, a 13-year-old boy whose This bill is named after Daniel as well, home on their phones, home on experiences with bullying led him to Fitzpatrick, a 13-year-old boy who died their computers. It is all over social take his own life. on August 11, 2016. He was a loving and media. By directing the President to estab- generous kid who embodied kindness Addressing this problem will require lish an antibullying roundtable to and empathy to all. a head-on commitment nationwide to make recommendations pertaining to He was also the victim of relentless end bullying, one that involves not just bullying in elementary and secondary physical, mental, verbal, and emo- lawmakers as ourselves, but every sin- schools, this legislation would make tional bullying. No child should have gle person in this Nation, private sec- ending bullying a national priority. to go through that. tor, public sector, everyone. People of all ages, including children, I have worked on this for a very long I hope this bill will be a first step to- suffer from the effects of unmet mental period of time. In 2019, I was able to ward instilling emotional literacy in health needs, with consequences that pass H.R. 494, the Tiffany Joslyn Juve- our young people so that they can see can be dire. In taking the issue of sui- nile Accountability Block Grant Reau- the common humanity amongst each cide among children out of the shad- thorization and Bullying Prevention other and grow to be empathetic ows, we can begin to overcome the stig- and Intervention Act. adults. ma around mental health challenges, I think these bills need to be passed I sincerely hope that we can model which remain far too prevalent in our immediately by the United States Sen- that behavior as well for them. In society. ate and, really, go to the President of times like this, when our country is In addition to the sometimes extreme the United States. growing ever more divided, we need to consequences of pervasive bullying, A child is bullied every 7 seconds. Ap- be teaching our children not the art of students who are bullied by their class- proximately 11 percent of students sim- division but how to accept one another, mates are not able to fully pursue their ply do not go to school at least 1 day respect each other, work with each education or receive equal access to during the school year because they other. the academic and social opportunities feel unsafe. Danny Fitzpatrick was one of those their schools provide. Preventing and The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. people. He was a boy who loved to love. ending bullying will remove this major DELBENE). The time of the gentle- He accepted each person as they are barrier. woman has expired. and always found in them a shared hu- Together, Republicans and Demo- Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I manity. crats alike, let us pass this bill in re- yield an additional 30 seconds to the Society, our society, allowed a beau- membrance of Daniel Fitzpatrick and gentlewoman from Texas. tiful young boy like Danny to be in support of his family. Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, bullied so horribly that he took his To every young person in our com- I thank the gentlewoman for her kind- own life at 13 years old. munities who may feel judged or alone, ness. This should not happen in America. you will never be alone. You are free to In the last year alone, an estimated This cannot happen in America, not to be who you are. 160,000 students across the country any family. But his mother, Danny’s Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I skipped school because they feared mother, took her pain and she made it have no other speakers, and I reserve being bullied. her mission to ensure that no other the balance of my time. I started out by saying, and let me family experiences this agony. Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I specifically note, in 2018, 7.1 percent of We cannot get Danny back. We can- yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman LGBTQ students were verbally bullied not erase his family’s pain. from Texas (Ms. JACKSON LEE). because of their sexual orientation. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, Twenty-eight or 30 percent of those time of the gentleman has expired. I thank the gentlewoman for her lead- students were physically bullied. Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I ership, and I thank the outstanding co- Let me just say this. This is an excel- yield an additional 30 seconds to the sponsors of this legislation, my friend lent bill. It brings us all together. It gentleman from New York. Mr. ROSE and my colleague from New announces our attempt to respond to Mr. ROSE of New York. Madam Jersey, for coming together around a Danny’s mother, to attack an epidemic Speaker, we cannot get Danny back. concept that I have had the disappoint- of bullying in our schools. We cannot erase his family’s pain. But ment and sadness to work on for most We don’t know where it starts. We what we can do right here is give of my tenure in the United States Con- don’t know where these children come Danny’s life meaning and protect all of gress, and that is bullying. from. But we have to help them be- America’s children, our children, by I am so saddened that we have to cause bullying destroys the lives of the passing this bill. name bills after young people, precious bully and of the one bullied. Madam Speaker, I once again want to young people, who have taken their Madam Speaker, as a cosponsor and senior thank the staff, Chairman SCOTT, and lives. member of the Judiciary and Homeland Com- Ranking Member FOXX for bringing Bullying—breaking news—destroys mittees, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3659, this overdue bill to the floor. I urge my our children. It not only destroys the ‘‘Danny’s Law,’’ which requires the President colleagues, on behalf of America’s chil- person that is bullied—many times, un- to establish an Anti-Bullying Roundtable to dren, to vote ‘‘yes.’’ beknownst to their friends or their study bullying in elementary and secondary Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I family so that someone could provide schools in the United States. reserve the balance of my time. them comfort and reaffirm their dig- The 13-member roundtable will consist of Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I nity and their worth because that is relevant stakeholders, including but not limited yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman what bullying does, it says that you to teachers, parents of schoolchildren, and from Pennsylvania (Ms. WILD). are not worth anything—but it also de- guidance counselors, who will submit a report Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I rise to stroys the bully. to Congress on best practices concerning bul- speak in support of H.R. 3659, Danny’s So, I am excited about a commission, lying upon 270 days of convening. Law, and I thank my friends and col- a roundtable established by the Presi- This report will provide recommendations for leagues, MAX ROSE and HALEY STE- dent to study bullying in elementary combating bullying, educating school officials VENS, for introducing this important and secondary schools in the United on how to recognize bullying, as well as help- bill. States. Their report will make rec- ing parents to address the early warning signs

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.038 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4452 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 of bullying with their children, so that we can I am proud to be a leader on this important should provide certain waivers to com- take a well-informed step forward in the fight legislation that will undoubtably improve the munity learning centers, and for other against childhood bullying. educational experiences of the next genera- purposes, as amended. This bill is named after Daniel Fitzpatrick, a tion, and I ask all members from both parties The Clerk read the title of the bill. 13-year-old boy who died by suicide on Au- to join me in voting to pass H.R. 3659. The text of the bill is as follows: gust 11, 2016. b 1200 H.R. 8162 Danny was a loving and generous kid who Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- embodied kindness and empathy to all. Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I resentatives of the United States of America in He was also the victim of relentless phys- yield myself the balance of my time. Congress assembled, ical, mental, verbal, and emotional bullying at Today, we are here for one reason, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. school. and that is to take action to ensure This Act may be cited as the ‘‘21st Century Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have that children like Danny never feel as Community Learning Centers Coronavirus been an active advocate for anti-bullying initia- if they have nowhere to turn. No child Relief Act of 2020’’. tives. should be subject to cruel treatment SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING FLEXI- In January 2019, I was able to achieve from his or her peers under any cir- BLE USE OF SUBGRANT FUNDS. broad bipartisan support for my bill, H.R. 494, cumstances, especially in the class- It is the sense of Congress that for school year 2020–2021, notwithstanding each provi- the Tiffany Joslyn Juvenile Accountability room. H.R. 3659, Danny’s Law, is a uni- fied effort to combat bullying and to sion in part B of title IV of the Elementary Block Grant Reauthorization and Bullying Pre- and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 vention and Intervention Act, which was later ensure students have a safe and U.S.C. 7171 et seq.) that requires activities passed in the House. healthy environment to learn and to under such part be carried out during non- Although some people may dismiss bullying grow. school hours or periods when school is not in as a normal part of growing up, bullying can I would like to thank my colleagues session, the Secretary of Education should be detrimental to a child’s education and have on both sides of the aisle for taking a carry out the exceptions included in the no- lifelong consequences. stand against bullying for our Nation’s tice entitled ‘‘Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; 21st CCLC It is an epidemic that plagues our country children. I strongly urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on H.R. 3659 so we can move this bill 4201(b)(1) Waiver Request’’, published by the and too often claims the lives of our youth. Department of Education in the Federal Reg- In Houston, Texas, a child is bullied every swiftly through the legislative process ister on September 3, 2020 (85 Fed. Reg. 55002) seven seconds and approximately 11 percent and to President Trump’s desk for sig- by providing that each eligible entity that is of students do not go to school at least one nature. awarded a subgrant under section 4204 of day during the school year because they feel Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- such Act (20 U.S.C. 7174) for community unsafe. ance of my time. learning centers may use such subgrant On a national level, 90 percent of students Ms. STEVENS. Madam Speaker, I funds— (1) to carry out activities described in sec- between the fourth and eighth grades report yield myself the balance of my time. I urge my colleagues today to sup- tion 4205 of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7175), regard- being victims of some type of bullying. less of whether such activities are conducted In the last year alone, an estimated 160,000 port H.R. 3659. in-person or virtually, or during school hours students across the country skipped school Once again, I want to thank and com- or when school is in session; and because they fear being bullied by their peers, mend my colleague, Congressman MAX (2) to provide in-person care during— and many more attended school in a state of ROSE, for his incredible leadership. He (A) the regular school day for students eli- anxiety and depression, affecting their ability has taken tragedy and turned it into gible to receive services under part B of title to effectively learn. action. IV of such Act (20 U.S.C. 7171 et seq.); and Students who are chronically absent be- Our colleagues are absolutely right (B) a period in which full-time in-person that this deserves the full attention of instruction is not available for all such stu- tween grades 8 and 12 are over seven times dents served by such eligible entity. more likely to drop out before graduation and our government, and it is why we are The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- long-term consequences include poverty as taking this to the highest level of our ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from well as diminished mental and physical health. government, to combat bullying. Furthermore, students who identify or are This bill honors the life of Danny Pennsylvania (Ms. WILD) and the gen- perceived as LGBTQ are often at an in- Fitzpatrick, and it recognizes what so tleman from New Jersey (Mr. VAN creased risk of being bullied. many families are working to prevent, DREW) each will control 20 minutes. In 2018, 70.1 percent of LGBTQ students what so many families and commu- The Chair recognizes the gentle- were verbally bullied because of their sexual nities across this country never want woman from Pennsylvania. orientation while 28.9 percent of LGBTQ stu- to see happen. It will help end bullying. GENERAL LEAVE dents were physically bullied. It will protect students across this Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I ask Youth with disabilities and those who are country, and I look forward to seeing unanimous consent that all Members socially isolated are also considered as vulner- this bill become law. may have 5 legislative days in which to able populations when it comes to being tar- Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- revise and extend their remarks and in- gets for bullying. ance of my time. clude extraneous material on the meas- Cyber bullying adds an additional layer of The SPEAKER pro tempore. The ure under consideration. complexity when trying to build a safe environ- question is on the motion offered by The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there ment for all youth. the gentlewoman from Michigan (Ms. objection to the request of the gentle- In today’s world, our children are exposed to STEVENS) that the House suspend the woman from Pennsylvania? technology at a much younger age, which rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3659, as There was no objection. raises the likelihood of them being subjected amended. Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield to cyberbullying. The question was taken; and (two- myself such time as I may consume. Over 80 percent of teens use a cell phone thirds being in the affirmative) the I rise to speak in support of passing regularly, making it the most popular form of rules were suspended and the bill, as the 21st Century Community Learning technology and a common medium for cyber amended, was passed. Centers Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020, bullying. A motion to reconsider was laid on which I recently introduced. According to the i-SAFE foundation, over 50 the table. This pandemic and economic crisis percent of adolescents and teens have been f have disrupted every aspect of life in bullied online. our society. As a result of the pan- Yet, well over half of young people do not 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY demic, many school districts will pro- tell their parents when they are being bullied LEARNING CENTERS vide academic instruction through re- online. CORONAVIRUS RELIEF ACT OF mote or hybrid learning models this By passing Danny’s Law today, we are tak- 2020 school year. Estimates suggest that ing a tremendous, nonpartisan step towards Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I move this fall, nearly 24 million workers eliminating childhood bullying and promoting to suspend the rules and pass the bill with children between the ages of 6 and more inclusive and tolerant environments for (H.R. 8162) to express the sense of Con- 14 will have no at-home childcare op- the next generation. gress that the Secretary of Education tion.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.012 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4453 For parents struggling to care for The 2020–2021 school year looks very Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield their children while maintaining their different for parents, teachers, and stu- such time as she may consume to the professional responsibilities or trying dents. Schools are operating on vary- gentlewoman from Nevada (Mrs. LEE). to return to the workforce, this time ing schedules of in-person, remote, and Mrs. LEE of Nevada. Madam Speak- has been an unprecedented challenge. hybrid instruction to ensure that stu- er, on behalf of the people of Nevada’s Those of us who have the honor of rep- dents remain safe while not falling be- Third Congressional District, I rise resenting our communities in Congress hind academically. today in support of the 21st Century must act. My commonsense, bipartisan Most students will be saddled with Community Learning Centers legislation offers a path forward. the challenges of beginning a new year Coronavirus Relief Act. My bill expresses a sense of Congress of school while making up for lost We are now over 3 weeks into the that the flexibility provided to States learning caused by the disruptions school year in my district, and it is through the Department of Education’s from COVID–19. clear that we need to do so much more recent waiver for 21st Century Commu- Working parents of school-aged chil- to support our students, parents, and nity Learning Centers, the only feder- dren face unique challenges during the schools. ally funded initiative dedicated to sup- pandemic. Finding childcare when in- Whether it is at-home or in-person porting after-school, before-school, and person instruction is not offered has learning, the pandemic is throwing summer learning programs, allows sub- become a burdensome task for many challenges at our kids that make learn- grantees to provide virtual program- families, especially low-income fami- ing more difficult and, in some cases, ming and school-aged childcare during lies. nearly impossible. This isn’t just a the workday to help meet the need of If these hardworking families aren’t struggle for students, but also for par- students and families during the able to return to work, our Nation’s ents who are also juggling work while COVID–19 pandemic. economic recovery will be severely im- supervising remote learning for their These learning centers, which typi- peded. Today, we are here to address kids. cally operate out of Boys & Girls Clubs, this growing problem by passing the bi- We can’t just ask parents to make YMCAs, schools, and other community partisan 21st Century Community the best of a bad situation. It should be centers, have existing trusted partner- Learning Centers Coronavirus Relief on Congress to help our working fami- ships with the school districts that Act. lies. Whether in a school building or in they serve. The flexibility expressed in The 21st Century Community Learn- a living room, we need to create a sup- my legislation will help school dis- ing Center, CCLC, program, is a feder- portive, engaging environment for our tricts leverage these partnerships to ally funded after-school program. The students, while giving parents the create options for families and to cul- grantees are locally operated, often by flexibility to still work and provide for tivate environments in which K–12 stu- school districts and community-based their families—and that is what this dents could receive additional aca- organizations, and primarily serve stu- bill does. demic support, school-aged children dents attending schools with high con- It will provide additional academic could receive safe care during the centrations of low-income families. support for K–12 students by offering workday, schoolday, and working par- Students at 21st CCLCs participate in access to safe, supervised learning dur- ents would be able to return to and academic and enrichment programs, ing the day to take some weight off the stay in the workforce. receive support services such as tutor- shoulders of working parents. This will Over the last several months, I have ing and mentoring, and their families heard from dozens of parents across my be done by bringing together schools, are encouraged to actively participate community who are concerned about community organizations, nonprofits, in their children’s studies. how they are going to tackle this local government, and after-school pro- Since after-school program staff have viders to expand access to academic re- school year, how they will find afford- established relationships with students able childcare, how they make sure sources and create flexibility for fami- and have experience providing sup- their children don’t fall behind aca- lies. portive services, they are uniquely demically, and how they will stay in I urge my colleagues to vote for the qualified to assist students during the the workforce. I am proud that my leg- 21st Century Community Learning 2020–2021 school year. islation supports flexible, affordable, Centers Coronavirus Relief Act to give Under current law, 21st CCLCs must school-aged childcare options to create our students and parents the flexibility operate during ‘‘non-school hours,’’ safe, structured learning environments and the resources they need to make such as before and after school or dur- for students to thrive and to enable this school year count. ing summer breaks. The Department of parents to get back to work. Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I Right now, families need options and Education announced plans to address reserve the balance of my time. flexibility. Without it, our students, this by offering waivers to States to Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I yield our workers, and our economy will all allow 21st CCLCs to expand their hours such time as he may consume to the pay the price. Putting forward solu- of operation during the 2020–2021 school gentleman from Rhode Island (Mr. tions to these issues is a national pri- year. CICILLINE). ority, not just for the sake of children The legislation under consideration Mr. CICILLINE. Madam Speaker, I and families across our communities, today expresses Congress’ support for rise today in support of H.R. 8162, the but also for businesses trying to retain the Department of Education to grant 21st Century Community Learning employees or hire new workers. flexibility for 21st CCLCs to operate Centers Coronavirus Relief Act. I urge my colleagues on both sides of outside of this year’s constraint for the As the coronavirus pandemic con- the aisle to join me in passing this leg- upcoming school year. tinues, schools throughout Rhode Is- islation with a resounding, bipartisan With these new flexibilities, 21st land and all across America have been vote. CCLCs will be able to provide program- forced to close their doors, some for Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- ming during regular school hours and the rest of the year. offer in-person care to students who ance of my time. 1215 Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I cannot be in school throughout the b yield myself such time as I may con- regular day. Further, 21st CCLCs will This trend means that high-quality sume. be able to serve students in person or after-school and summer programs will I rise today in strong support of H.R. virtually in order to better accommo- be even more necessary to provide 8162, the 21st Century Community date the various needs of the families young people with a safe, enriching Learning Centers Coronavirus Relief during the year. place to learn and grow. We have an ob- Act, bipartisan legislation that ex- I thank Representative WILD for ligation to ensure that these programs presses Congress’ support for actions leading this important legislation, and have the resources and flexibility need- the Department of Education is taking I strongly urge a ‘‘yes’’ vote on H.R. ed to meet the needs of America’s chil- to expand access to in-person care and 8162. dren. academic support for students during Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- Currently, more than 2 million chil- the COVID–19 pandemic. ance of my time. dren and families rely on NITA M.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.043 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4454 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 LOWEY 21st Century Community Learn- Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise school with this readiness gap, and it grows ing Centers for after-school and sum- to speak in support of H.R. 8162, the ‘‘21st as they get older. mer learning programming. With Century Community Learning Centers Children feel alienated from society; suffer schools across the country closing, Coronavirus Relief Act’’. insecurities because of their socioeconomic many students are unable to obtain H.R. 8162, expands the allowable uses for status; fear the consequences of their poverty; services provided by out-of-school pro- subgrants provided under the 21st Century endure feelings of powerlessness; and are grams, including academic assistance, Community Learning Centers Program for the angry at society’s inability to aid in their strug- a safe place to be when their parents 2020–2021 school year. gles. are working, and access to a hot meal Specifically, the bill allows eligible entities Children from lower-income families are or healthy snack. that are awarded program subgrants for com- more likely than students from wealthier back- We know after-school programming munity learning centers to use these sub- grounds to have lower test scores, and they provides one of the most effective ways grants to: (1) carry out activities that advance are at higher risk of dropping out of school. to keep children safe in the late after- student academic achievement and support Students with low income backgrounds who noon and early evening hours and student success, regardless of whether such complete high school are less likely to attend keeps them on the right path to com- activities are conducted in person, virtually, college than students from higher-income fam- pleting school. These programs help during school hours, or when school is in ses- ilies. students develop essential life skills sion; and (2) provide in-person care during the For some children, the effects of poverty on such as problem-solving, critical think- regular school day and when full-time in-per- education present unique challenges in break- ing, and healthy living. son instruction is not available to students. ing the cycle of generational poverty and re- Additional flexibility for 21st Cen- (Currently, the program only supports aca- duce their chances of leading rewarding, pro- tury Community Learning Centers will demic enrichment opportunities for children ductive lives. help improve access to these critical during non-school hours or periods when In addition to these challenges’ children liv- programs and will make sure that school is not in session.) ing in poverty often do not have access to after-school programming is available Because of the ongoing COVID–19 threat to necessary computer technology, broadband to students and families to keep chil- health, the spring of 2020, saw the forced clo- internet connection to participate in remote dren safe and engaged and to strength- sure of all K–12 and post-secondary education learning, or the nutritional support that pro- en families and communities through- institutions in the Nation. vides adequate food, which is essential to out the pandemic. There is an urgent need to meet the edu- learning. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of cation crisis the Nation is facing with an ade- We know that this crisis created by COVID– the bill, and I thank the gentlewoman quate response. 19 was difficult for the Nation’s approximately for yielding me the time. Data from the National Center for Education 56.6 million students, 3.5 million full- and part- Mr. VAN DREW. Madam Speaker, I Statistics shows that one out of every four time public school teachers, and parents. yield myself the balance of my time to households in Texas does not have access to This bill is necessary as the beginning of close. broadband internet, and some 8 million homes the fall school year continues to pose chal- Madam Speaker, working parents do not have a computer or a smartphone. lenges to educating the nation’s children. across the country are currently grap- Because of this bill, Community Learning To meet the challenges created by COVID– pling with the challenge of finding af- Centers will provide academic enrichment op- 19, the HISD school board passed a budget fordable childcare as COVID–19-related portunities during school and non-school hours amendment earlier this month to spend $31 school closures force many students to for children, particularly students who attend million on devices for students. By the end of stay home. Parents are eager to return high-poverty and low-performing schools. the year, the district says it plans to have dis- to work, but without reliable, afford- The program helps students meet state and tributed nearly 125,000 devices and hotspots able childcare options, students, work- local student standards in core academic sub- to students. The statute being amended only allows ers, and the economy will be impacted jects, such as reading and math; offers stu- learning centers and related grants to be fund- significantly. dents a broad array of enrichment activities ed when schools are in session. H.R. 8162, the bipartisan 21st Century that can complement their regular academic At a time when learning centers are more Community Learning Centers programs; and offers literacy and other edu- important to education because COVID–19 is Coronavirus Relief Act, supports the cational services to the families of participating impacting schools’ functioning as the primary Department of Education’s efforts to children. source of full time learning we need to act to extend a commonsense solution that Technological difficulty is just one of the support this education resource. will help parents return to the work- reasons students could become disengaged Children are depending on Congress to force by increasing access to safe, sup- from the virtual learning environment. make education possible during COVID–19. portive environments for students. By Learning Centers are needed because de- There are: 50.8 million students in public giving 21st CCLCs greater flexibility to spite being one of the most developed coun- schools, and 5.8 million students in private provide normal programming during tries in the world, the United States has one schools. school hours and in-person care to stu- of the highest rates of childhood poverty glob- Among the 50.8 million students enrolled in dents during the regular school day, ally. elementary and secondary public schools: 1.4 parents can return to work with peace Preliminary data on the Huston Independent million were in prekindergarten; 3.7 million of mind, knowing that their children School District (HISD) from the Texas Edu- were in kindergarten; 35.5 million attended el- are in good hands and not falling be- cation Agency shows 23.4 percent of students ementary through middle school (K and 8th hind academically. lost contact or stopped engaging with learning grade); and 15.3 million attended high school Again, Madam Speaker, I thank Rep- during the Spring. (9 through 12th grade). resentative WILD for introducing this This is more than twice statewide average, Through 2028, enrollment is projected to in- legislation. I strongly urge a ‘‘yes’’ the total statewide for unengaged students is crease to 51.4 million. vote on H.R. 8162, and I yield back the nearly 500,000. In 2018, 3.3 million students graduated from balance of my time. One key factor is poverty, children born or high school, marking nearly a 1 percent in- Ms. WILD. Madam Speaker, I thank raised in poverty face a number of disadvan- crease from 2017; 3.7 million were expected my colleague across the aisle, Mr. VAN tages, most evidently in education. to graduate in 2020; 3.3 million from public DREW, for supporting this very impor- Poverty reduces a child’s readiness for high schools; and 0.4 million from private tant piece of legislation. school because it leads to poor physical schools. Madam Speaker, I urge my col- health and motor skills, diminishes a child’s The average per-student expenditure in leagues on both sides of the aisle to ability to concentrate and remember informa- public schools is $13,440. support H.R. 8162. It is legislation that tion, and reduces attentiveness, curiosity and In 2019, there are approximately 16,800 will provide vital support for students, motivation. school districts in the United States. for parents, for employers, for schools, Children in poverty are also finding the chal- 13 percent of all public school students and for our economy as we all grapple lenge of keeping up with school work more dif- were served by the Individuals with Disabilities with the effects of this pandemic. ficult due to COVID–19. Act for the 2015–2016 school year. Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- One of the most severe effects of poverty in Between 2000 and 2016, total public school ance of my time. the United States is that poor children enter enrollment increased for 32 states.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:36 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.045 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4455 The following saw increases of 15 percent ‘‘60607. Pilot program for obtaining commer- weather services in support of aviation and or more: Florida, Delaware, North Carolina, cial sector space weather data. for coordination of these requirements with Idaho, Georgia, Colorado, Arizona, Texas, ‘‘60608. Space weather benchmarks. the International Civil Aviation Organiza- ‘‘§ 60601. Space weather tion, and integrates space weather data and Utah, and Nevada. products into the Next Generation Air The following states saw decreases of 10 ‘‘(a) FINDINGS.— ‘‘(1) SPACE WEATHER.—Congress makes the Transportation System. percent or more: Michigan, Maine, New following findings with respect to space ‘‘(b) COORDINATION BY OFFICE OF SCIENCE Hampshire, and Vermont. weather: AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY.—The Director of In 2018, 7 million or 13.7 percent of public ‘‘(A) Space weather phenomena pose a sig- the Office of Science and Technology Policy school students received special education nificant threat to ground-based and space- shall— services. based critical infrastructure, modern techno- ‘‘(1) coordinate the development and imple- logical systems, and humans working in mentation of Federal Government activities In 2017, 9.6 percent of public school stu- conducted with respect to space weather to dents were learning English as a second lan- space. ‘‘(B) The effects of severe space weather on improve the ability of the United States to guage. the electric power grid, satellites and sat- prepare for, avoid, mitigate, respond to, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting ellite communications and information, recover from potentially devastating im- H.R. 8162. aviation operations, astronauts living and pacts of space weather; and The SPEAKER pro tempore. The working in space, and space-based position, ‘‘(2) coordinate the activities of the inter- question is on the motion offered by navigation, and timing systems could have agency working group on space weather es- the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania significant societal, economic, national secu- tablished under subsection (c). rity, and health impacts. ‘‘(c) SPACE WEATHER INTERAGENCY WORKING (Ms. WILD) that the House suspend the GROUP.—Not later than 90 days after the date rules and pass the bill, H.R. 8162, as ‘‘(C) Space-based and ground-based obser- vations provide crucial data necessary to un- of enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the Na- amended. derstand, forecast, and prepare for space tional Science and Technology Council shall The question was taken; and (two- weather phenomena. establish an interagency working group on space weather (in this chapter referred to as thirds being in the affirmative) the ‘‘(D) Clear roles and accountability of Fed- the ‘interagency working group’) to coordi- rules were suspended and the bill, as eral departments and agencies are critical nate executive branch actions that improve for efficient and effective response to threats amended, was passed. the understanding and prediction of and posed by space weather. A motion to reconsider was laid on preparation for space weather phenomena, ‘‘(E) Space weather observation and fore- the table. and coordinate Federal space weather activi- casting are essential for the success of ties. f human and robotic space exploration. ‘‘(1) MEMBERSHIP.—The following entities ‘‘(F) In October 2015, the National Science PROMOTING RESEARCH AND OB- shall be members of the interagency working and Technology Council published a National SERVATIONS OF SPACE WEATH- group: Space Weather Strategy and a National ‘‘(A) The National Oceanic and Atmos- ER TO IMPROVE THE FORE- Space Weather Action Plan seeking to inte- pheric Administration. CASTING OF TOMORROW ACT grate national space weather efforts and add ‘‘(B) The National Aeronautics and Space Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, new capabilities to meet increasing demand for space weather information. Administration. I move to suspend the rules and pass ‘‘(C) The National Science Foundation. the bill (S. 881) to improve under- ‘‘(G) In March 2019, the National Science and Technology Council published an up- ‘‘(D) The Department of Defense. standing and forecasting of space dated National Space Weather Strategy and ‘‘(E) The Department of the Interior. weather events, and for other purposes. Action Plan to enhance the preparedness and ‘‘(F) Such other Federal agencies as the Di- The Clerk read the title of the bill. resilience of the United States to space rector of the Office of Science and Tech- The text of the bill is as follows: weather. nology Policy deems appropriate. ‘‘(2) INTERAGENCY AGREEMENTS.— S. 881 ‘‘(2) ROLE OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Congress makes the following findings with respect to ‘‘(A) The members of the interagency Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- the role of Federal agencies on space weath- working group may enter into one or more resentatives of the United States of America in er: interagency agreements providing for co- Congress assembled, ‘‘(A) The National Oceanic and Atmos- operation and collaboration in the develop- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. pheric Administration provides operational ment of space weather spacecraft, instru- This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Promoting space weather monitoring, forecasting, and ments, technologies, and research to oper- Research and Observations of Space Weather long-term data archiving and access for civil ations and operations to research in accord- to Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow applications, maintains ground-based and ance with this chapter. Act’’ or the ‘‘PROSWIFT Act’’. space-based assets to provide observations ‘‘(B) The Administrator of the National SEC. 2. SPACE WEATHER. needed for space weather forecasting, pre- Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic (a) POLICY.—It shall be the policy of the diction, and warnings, provides research to United States to prepare and protect against support operational responsibilities, and de- and Atmospheric Administration shall enter the social and economic impacts of space velops requirements for space weather fore- into one or more interagency agreements weather phenomena by supporting actions to casting technologies and science. providing for cooperation and collaboration improve space weather forecasts and pre- ‘‘(B) The Department of Defense provides in the development of space weather space- dictions including: sustaining and enhancing operational space weather research, moni- craft, instruments, and technologies in ac- critical observations, identifying research toring, and forecasting for the Department’s cordance with this chapter. needs and promoting opportunities for re- unique missions and applications. ‘‘(3) INTERNATIONAL, ACADEMIC COMMUNITY, search-to-operations and operations-to-re- ‘‘(C) The National Aeronautics and Space AND COMMERCIAL SECTOR COLLABORATION.— search collaborations both within and out- Administration provides increased under- Each Federal agency participating in the side of the Federal Government, advancing standing of the fundamental physics of the space weather interagency working group es- space weather models, engaging with all sec- Sun-Earth system through basic research, tablished under this subsection shall, to the tors of the space weather community, in- space-based observations and modeling, de- extent practicable, increase engagement and cluding academia, the commercial sector, veloping new space-based technologies and cooperation with the international commu- and international partners, and under- missions, and monitoring of space weather nity, academic community, and commercial standing the needs of space weather end for the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- space weather sector on the observational in- users. ministration’s space missions. frastructure, data, and scientific research ‘‘(D) The National Science Foundation pro- necessary to advance the monitoring, fore- (b) AMENDMENT TO TITLE 51, UNITED STATES vides increased understanding of the Sun- casting, and prediction of, preparation for, CODE.—Subtitle VI of title 51, United States Code, is amended by adding after chapter 605 Earth system through ground-based meas- and protection from, space weather phe- urements, technologies, and modeling. the following: nomena. ‘‘(E) The Department of the Interior col- ‘‘(d) SPACE WEATHER ADVISORY GROUP.— ‘‘CHAPTER 606—SPACE WEATHER lects, distributes, and archives operational ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.— ‘‘Sec. ground-based magnetometer data in the ‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 ‘‘60601. Space weather. United States and its territories, works with days after the date of the enactment of the ‘‘60602. Integrated strategy. the international community to improve PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of the ‘‘60603. Sustaining and advancing critical global geophysical monitoring, and develops National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- space weather observations. crustal conductivity models to assess and tration, in consultation with other relevant ‘‘60604. Research activities. mitigate risks from space weather-induced Federal agencies, shall establish a space ‘‘60605. Space weather data. electric ground currents. weather advisory group (in this chapter re- ‘‘60606. Space weather knowledge transfer ‘‘(F) The Federal Aviation Administration ferred to as the ‘advisory group’) for the pur- and information exchange. provides operational requirements for space poses of receiving advice from the academic

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community, the commercial space weather working group to ensure the needs of the ‘‘(3) TRANSMITTAL.—The Director of the Of- sector, and space weather end users that in- governmental space weather user commu- fice of Science and Technology Policy, the forms the interests and work of the inter- nity are adequately and appropriately identi- Administrator of the National Aeronautics agency working group. fied by the survey under subparagraph (A). and Space Administration, and the Adminis- ‘‘(B) COMPOSITION.—The advisory group ‘‘(D) BRIEFING TO CONGRESS.—Not later trator of the National Oceanic and Atmos- shall be composed of not more than 15 mem- than 30 days after the completion of the sur- pheric Administration shall transmit the in- bers appointed by the interagency working vey under subparagraph (A), the advisory tegrated strategy and the results of the re- group, of whom— group shall provide to the Committee on view required under paragraph (1) to the ‘‘(i) 5 members shall be representatives of Science, Space, and Technology of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- the academic community; of Representatives and the Committee on nology of the House of Representatives and ‘‘(ii) 5 members shall be representatives of Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and the commercial space weather sector; and the Senate a briefing on the results of the Transportation of the Senate not later than ‘‘(iii) 5 members shall be nongovernmental survey under subparagraph (A). 1 year after the date of the completion of the representatives of the space weather end ‘‘(E) PUBLICATION.—Within 30 days of the survey under section 60601(d)(3). The inte- user community. briefing to Congress, the advisory group grated strategy and its review shall be made ‘‘(C) CHAIR.—Not later than 30 days after shall make the results of the survey under publicly available within 30 days of sub- the date on which the last member of the ad- subparagraph (A) publicly available. mittal to Congress. visory group is appointed under subpara- ‘‘(F) REEVALUATION.—The advisory group ‘‘(d) IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.—Not later graph (B), the Administrator of the National shall review and assess the survey under sub- than 180 days after delivery of the review of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration paragraph (A) not less than every 3 years and the integrated strategy in subsection (c)(3), shall appoint 1 member as the Chair of the update, resubmit, and republish the survey the interagency working group shall develop advisory group. in accordance with the requirements of sub- a plan to implement the integrated strategy, ‘‘(D) TERMS.—The length of the term of paragraphs (D) and (E). including an estimate of the cost and sched- each member of the advisory group shall be ‘‘(4) FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ACT.— ule required for implementation. Upon com- 3 years beginning on the date on which the Section 14 of the Federal Advisory Com- pletion, the interagency working group shall member is appointed. mittee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to submit the implementation plan to the Com- ‘‘(E) TERM LIMITS.— the advisory group. mittees on Science, Space, and Technology ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—A member of the advi- ‘‘§ 60602. Integrated strategy and Armed Services of the House of Rep- sory group may not serve on the advisory ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Of- resentatives and the Committees on Com- group for more than 2 consecutive terms. fice of Science and Technology Policy, in merce, Science, and Transportation and ‘‘(ii) CHAIR.—A member of the advisory collaboration with the interagency working Armed Services of the Senate. The imple- group may not serve as the Chair of the advi- group and upon the advice of the advisory mentation plan shall be made publicly avail- sory group for more than 2 terms, regardless group, shall develop a strategy for coordi- able within 30 days of submittal to Congress. of whether the terms are consecutive. nated observation of space weather among ‘‘(e) REEVALUATION.—The Director, in col- ‘‘(2) DUTIES.—The advisory group shall ad- members of the interagency working group laboration with the interagency working vise the interagency working group on the (in this chapter, referred to as the ‘inte- group, shall update the integrated strategy following: grated strategy’). The integrated strategy not later than 1 year after the reevaluation ‘‘(A) Facilitating advances in the space shall identify— of the user survey from section 60601(d)(3)(F) weather enterprise of the United States. ‘‘(1) observations and measurements that in accordance with the requirements of sub- ‘‘(B) Improving the ability of the United must be sustained beyond the lifetime of cur- sections (a) through (d). States to prepare for, mitigate, respond to, rent ground-based and space-based assets, as ‘‘§ 60603. Sustaining and advancing critical and recover from space weather phenomena. described under section 60603, that are essen- space weather observations ‘‘(C) Enabling the coordination and facili- tial for space weather research, models, fore- tation of research to operations and oper- casting, and prediction; ‘‘(a) POLICY.—It is the policy of the United ations to research, as described in section ‘‘(2) new observations and measurements States to— 60604(d). that may significantly improve space weath- ‘‘(1) establish and sustain a baseline capa- ‘‘(D) Developing and implementing the in- er forecasting and prediction; and bility for space weather observations and to tegrated strategy under section 60602 includ- ‘‘(3) plans for follow-on space-based obser- make such observations and data publicly ing subsequent updates and reevaluations. vations under section 60603. available; and ‘‘(3) USER SURVEY.— ‘‘(b) CONSIDERATIONS.—In developing the ‘‘(2) obtain enhanced space weather obser- ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days integrated strategy in subsection (a), the Di- vations, as practicable, to advance fore- after the establishment of the advisory rector of the Office of Science and Tech- casting and prediction capability, as in- group, the advisory group shall conduct a nology Policy shall consider, as appropriate, formed by the integrated strategy in section comprehensive survey of the needs of users the following: 60602. of space weather products to identify the ‘‘(1) Potential contributions of commercial ‘‘(b) SUSTAINING BASELINE SPACE-BASED OB- space weather research, observations, fore- solutions, prize authority, academic and SERVATIONAL CAPABILITIES.— casting, prediction, and modeling advances international partnerships, microsatellites, ‘‘(1) The Administrator of the National required to improve space weather products. small satellite options, ground-based instru- Aeronautics and Space Administration shall, ‘‘(B) SURVEY CONSIDERATIONS.—The survey ments, and hosted payloads for observations in cooperation with the European Space conducted under subparagraph (A) shall— identified in section 60602(a)(2). Agency and other international and inter- ‘‘(i) assess the adequacy of current Federal ‘‘(2) Work conducted before the date of en- agency partners, maintain operations of the Government goals for lead time, accuracy, actment of the PROSWIFT Act by the Na- Solar and Heliospheric Observatory/Large coverage, timeliness, data rate, and data tional Science and Technology Council with Angle and Spectrometric Coronagraph (re- quality for space weather observations and respect to space weather. ferred to in this section as ‘SOHO/LASCO’) forecasting; ‘‘(3) The survey under section 60601(d). for as long as the satellite continues to de- ‘‘(ii) identify options and methods to, in ‘‘(4) Any relevant recommendations from liver quality observations. consultation with the academic community the most recent National Academies of ‘‘(2) The Administrator of the National and the commercial space weather sector, Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Decadal Aeronautics and Space Administration shall improve upon the advancement of the goals Survey for Solar and Space Physics prioritize the reception of SOHO/LASCO described in clause (i); (Heliophysics). data. ‘‘(iii) identify opportunities for collection ‘‘(c) REVIEW OF INTEGRATED STRATEGY.— ‘‘(3) The Administrator of the National of new data to address the needs of the space ‘‘(1) REVIEW.—The Administrator of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather user community; National Aeronautics and Space Administra- shall maintain, for as long as is practicable, ‘‘(iv) identify methods to increase coordi- tion and the Administrator of the National operations of current space-based observa- nation of space weather research to oper- Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in tional assets, including but not limited to ations and operations to research; consultation with Federal agencies partici- the Geostationary Operational Environ- ‘‘(v) identify opportunities for new tech- pating in the interagency working group, mental Satellites system, and the Deep nologies, research, and instrumentation to shall enter into an agreement with the Na- Space Climate Observatory. aid in research, understanding, monitoring, tional Academies of Sciences, Engineering, ‘‘(c) BACKUP SPACE-BASED OBSERVATIONAL modeling, prediction, forecasting, and warn- and Medicine to review the integrated strat- CAPABILITY.—The Administrator of the Na- ing of space weather; and egy developed in this section. tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- ‘‘(vi) identify methods and technologies to ‘‘(2) CONSIDERATIONS.—The review from tion, in coordination with the Secretary of improve preparedness for potential space paragraph (1) shall also consider the current Defense and the Administrator of the Na- weather phenomena. state, capability, and feasibility of the com- tional Aeronautics and Space Administra- ‘‘(C) COORDINATION WITH AGENCIES.—In car- mercial space weather sector to provide new tion, shall work with Federal and inter- rying out the requirements of this sub- and supplemental observations and measure- national partners in order to secure reliable section, the advisory group shall commu- ments that may significantly improve space backup baseline capability for near real-time nicate and coordinate with the interagency weather forecasting and prediction. coronal mass ejection imagery, solar wind,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.013 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4457 solar imaging, coronal imagery, and other ‘‘(1) continue to carry out basic research ministrator of the National Oceanic and At- relevant observations required to provide on heliophysics, geospace science, and space mospheric Administration, in collaboration space weather forecasts. weather; and with the Administrator of the National Aer- ‘‘(d) SOHO/LASCO OPERATIONAL CONTIN- ‘‘(2) support competitive, peer-reviewed onautics and Space Administration and the GENCY PLAN.—The Administrator of the Na- proposals for conducting research, advancing Director of the National Science Foundation, tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- modeling, and monitoring of space weather shall enter into an arrangement with the Na- tion shall develop an operational contin- and its impacts, including the science goals tional Academies of Sciences, Engineering, gency plan to provide continuous space outlined in decadal surveys in solar and and Medicine to establish a Space Weather weather forecasting in the event of an unex- space physics conducted by the National Government-Academic-Commercial Round- pected SOHO/LASCO failure, and prior to the Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and table to facilitate communication and implementation of the backup space-based Medicine. knowledge transfer among Government par- baseline observational capability in section ‘‘(b) MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH.— ticipants in the space weather interagency 60603(c). ‘‘(1) FINDINGS.—Congress finds that the working group established under section ‘‘(e) BRIEFING.—Not later than 120 days multidisciplinary nature of solar and space 60601(c), the academic community, and the after the date of enactment of the physics creates funding challenges that re- commercial space weather sector to— PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of the quire coordination across scientific dis- ‘‘(1) facilitate advances in space weather National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- ciplines and Federal agencies. prediction and forecasting; tration shall provide a briefing to the Com- ‘‘(2) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of ‘‘(2) increase coordination of space weather mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of Congress that science centers could coordi- research to operations and operations to re- the House of Representatives and the Com- nate multidisciplinary solar and space phys- search; and mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- ics research. The Administrator of the Na- ‘‘(3) improve preparedness for potential tation of the Senate on the plan to secure re- tional Aeronautics and Space Administra- space weather phenomena. liable backup baseline capability described tion and Director of the National Science ‘‘§ 60607. Pilot program for obtaining com- in subsection (c) and the SOHO/LASCO oper- Foundation should support competitively mercial sector space weather data ational contingency plan developed under awarded grants for multidisciplinary science subsection (d). centers that advance solar and space physics ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 12 ‘‘(f) SUSTAINING GROUND-BASED OBSERVA- research, including research-to-operations months after the date of enactment of the TIONAL CAPABILITY.—The Director of the Na- and operations-to-research processes. PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of the tional Science Foundation, the Director of ‘‘(3) MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH.—The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- the United States Geological Survey, the Director of the National Science Foundation, tration may establish a pilot program under Secretary of the Air Force, and, as prac- the Administrator of the National Oceanic which the Administrator will offer to enter ticable in support of the Air Force, the Sec- and Atmospheric Administration, and the into contracts with one or more entities in retary of the Navy, shall each— Administrator of the National Aeronautics the commercial space weather sector for the ‘‘(1) maintain and improve ground-based and Space Administration, shall each pursue provision to the Administrator of space observations of the Sun, as necessary and ad- multidisciplinary research in subjects that weather data generated by such an entity visable, to help meet the needs identified in further the understanding of solar physics, that meets the standards and specifications the survey under section 60601(d)(3); and space physics, and space weather. published under subsection (b). ‘‘(c) SCIENCE MISSIONS.—The Administrator ‘‘(2) continue to provide space weather of the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- ‘‘(b) DATA STANDARD AND SPECIFICATIONS.— data through ground-based facilities, includ- ministration should implement missions Not later than 18 months after the date of ing radars, lidars, magnetometers, neutron that meet the science objectives identified in enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the Ad- monitors, radio receivers, aurora and airglow solar and space physics decadal surveys con- ministrator of the National Oceanic and At- imagers, spectrometers, interferometers, and ducted by the National Academies of mospheric Administration, in consultation solar observatories. Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. with the Secretary of Defense, may publish ‘‘(g) CONSIDERATIONS.—In implementing ‘‘(d) RESEARCH TO OPERATIONS; OPERATIONS standards and specifications for ground- subsections (b), (c), and (d), the Administra- TO RESEARCH.—The interagency working based, ocean-based, air-based, and space- tors of the National Aeronautics and Space group shall, upon consideration of the advice based commercial space weather data and Administration and the National Oceanic of the advisory group, develop formal mecha- metadata. and Atmospheric Administration, the Direc- nisms to— ‘‘(c) CONTRACTS.— tors of the National Science Foundation and ‘‘(1) transition the space weather research ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Within 12 months after United States Geological Survey, and the findings, models, and capabilities of the Na- the date of transmission of the review of the Secretaries of the Air Force and the Navy tional Aeronautics and Space Administra- integrated strategy to Congress under sec- shall prioritize cost-effective and reliable so- tion, the National Science Foundation, the tion 60602(c)(3) and taking into account the lutions. United States Geological Survey, and other results of the review, the Administrator of ‘‘(h) GROUND-BASED OBSERVATIONAL relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- DATA.—The Director of the National Science the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration may offer to enter, through an Foundation shall— ministration and the Department of Defense; open competition, into at least one contract ‘‘(1) make available to the public key data ‘‘(2) enhance coordination between re- with one or more commercial space weather streams from the platforms and facilities de- search modeling centers and forecasting cen- sector entities capable of providing space scribed in subsection (d) for research and to ters; and weather data that— support space weather model development; ‘‘(3) communicate the operational needs of ‘‘(A) meets the standards and specifica- ‘‘(2) develop experimental models for sci- space weather forecasters of the National tions established for providing such data entific purposes; and Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration under subsection (b); and ‘‘(3) support the transition of the experi- and Department of Defense, as appropriate, ‘‘(B) is provided in a manner that allows mental models to operations where appro- to the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- the Administrator of the National Oceanic priate. ministration, the National Science Founda- and Atmospheric Administration to cali- ‘‘(i) ENHANCED SPACE-BASED OBSERVA- tion, and the United States Geological Sur- brate and evaluate the data for use in space TIONS.—The Administrator of the National vey. weather research and forecasting models of Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in ‘‘§ 60605. Space weather data the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- coordination with the Secretary of Defense, ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of ministration, the Department of Defense, or should develop options to build and deploy the National Aeronautics and Space Admin- both. space-based observational capabilities, be- istration and the Director of the National ‘‘(2) ASSESSMENT.—If one or more contract yond the baseline capabilities referenced in Science Foundation shall continue to— is entered into under paragraph (1), not later subsection (b), that may improve space ‘‘(1) make space weather-related data ob- than 4 years after the date of enactment of weather measurements and observations. tained for scientific research purposes avail- the PROSWIFT Act, the Administrator of These supplemental observational capabili- able to space weather forecasters and oper- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ties could include commercial solutions, ations centers; and ministration shall assess, and submit to the prize authority, academic partnerships, ‘‘(2) support model development and model Committees on Science, Space, and Tech- microsatellites, ground-based instruments, applications to space weather forecasting. nology and Armed Services of the House of and opportunities to deploy the instrument ‘‘(b) RESEARCH.—The Administrator of the Representatives and the Committees on or instruments as a secondary payload on an National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- Commerce, Science, and Transportation and upcoming planned launch. tration shall make space weather-related Armed Services of the Senate, a report on ‘‘§ 60604. Research activities data obtained from operational forecasting the extent to which the pilot program has ‘‘(a) BASIC RESEARCH.—The Director of the available for research. demonstrated data provided under contracts National Science Foundation, the Adminis- ‘‘§ 60606. Space weather knowledge transfer described in paragraph (1) meet the stand- trator of the National Aeronautics and Space and information exchange ards and specifications established under Administration, and the Secretary of De- ‘‘Not later than 180 days after the date of subsection (b) and the extent to which the fense, shall— enactment of the PROSWIFT Act, the Ad- pilot program has demonstrated—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.013 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4458 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 ‘‘(A) the viability of assimilating the com- GARDNER introduced the first version pushing for this bipartisan legislation. mercially provided data into National Oce- of this bill a few months later, I was I also want to thank Chairwoman anic and Atmospheric Administration space eager to start working on the House JOHNSON and her staff for their support weather research and forecasting models; companion. over the years, getting us to where we ‘‘(B) whether, and by how much, the data so provided add value to space weather fore- Over the last 4 years, the House and are today, and Ranking Member FRANK casts of the National Oceanic and Atmos- the Senate have been working toward LUCAS for his support of the bill. I also pheric Administration and the Department the shared goal of passing this legisla- want to thank my friend, Senator of Defense; and tion into law, but we have had a few GARY PETERS from Michigan, who hap- ‘‘(C) the accuracy, quality, timeliness, va- differences we have had to work out. I pens to be in the House Chamber today, lidity, reliability, usability, information am glad we finally worked through for all the work he and his staff have technology security, and cost-effectiveness those differences and can send this bill put into this effort over the years. of obtaining commercial space weather data to the President’s desk today. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my col- from commercial sector providers. In 2015, the Office of Science and leagues to support this bill, and I re- ‘‘§ 60608. Space weather benchmarks Technology Policy pulled together the serve the balance of my time. ‘‘The interagency working group estab- best and brightest from within the var- Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield lished under section 60601(c) shall periodi- myself such time as I may consume. cally review and update the benchmarks de- ious agencies working on space weath- er to produce the National Space Madam Speaker, I rise in support of scribed in the report of the National Science S. 881, the Promoting Research and Ob- and Technology Council entitled ‘Space Weather Strategy and Action Plan. Weather Phase 1 Benchmarks’ and dated These documents helped renew our servations of Space Weather to Im- June 2018, as necessary, based on— focus on the critical research and oper- prove the Forecasting of Tomorrow ‘‘(1) any significant new data or advances ational needs to improve our space Act, commonly referred to as the in scientific understanding that become weather enterprise, and OSTP updated PROSWIFT Act. Fluctuations in solar magnetic activ- available; or the strategy and action plan in 2019. ‘‘(2) the evolving needs of entities im- The PROSWIFT Act builds upon this ity create variations in the environ- pacted by space weather phenomena.’’. ment between Earth and the Sun that (c) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND- work by providing the structures need- ed for the continued advancement of can affect technologies in space and MENTS.— here on Earth. This phenomenon is (1) The table of chapters of title 51, United heliophysics research, collection of what we refer to as space weather. States Code, is amended by adding after the new data and observations, and im- For the most part, space weather has item relating to chapter 605 the following: provements to our modeling and fore- ‘‘606. Space Weather ...... 60601’’. a minimal effect here, but increased casting. solar activity and severe events can (2) Section 809 of the National Aeronautics This bill also, for the first time, create widespread problems and even and Space Administration Authorization Act clearly delineates the roles and respon- disrupt our electric grid. Satellites of 2010 (42 U.S.C. 18388) and the item relating sibilities of the key Federal agencies to that section in the table of contents under that have less protection from Earth’s involved in space weather, including section 1(b) of that Act (Public Law 111–267; magnetic field are especially vulner- 124 Stat. 2806) are repealed. the National Oceanic and Atmospheric able. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Administration, the National Aero- Significant space weather events are ant to the rule, the gentleman from nautics and Space Administration, the not a new phenomenon, and we have Colorado (Mr. PERLMUTTER) and the National Science Foundation, the De- evidence dating back more than 150 gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. LUCAS) partment of Defense, the Federal Avia- years of severe space weather events each will control 20 minutes. tion Administration, and the United affecting human activity. However, the The Chair recognizes the gentleman States Geological Survey, as well as impact of these events is much greater from Colorado. the Office of Science and Technology now that we rely on satellites and re- GENERAL LEAVE Policy. mote sensing for everything from cell Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, Importantly, our legislation brings in phone communication to energy pro- I ask unanimous consent that all Mem- new voices from the academic commu- duction to GPS navigation. bers may have 5 legislative days to re- nity, commercial space weather sector, For example, farmers in Oklahoma vise and extend their remarks and to and space weather forecast end-users. have been at the forefront of utilizing include extraneous material on S. 881, These communities will participate in precision agriculture to help ensure the the bill now under consideration. the space weather advisory group cre- most effective use of our resources The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there ated in the bill as well as on a new gov- when planting crops, a technology de- objection to the request of the gen- ernment-academia-commercial round- pendent on GPS. tleman from Colorado? table we create to be facilitated by the Space weather is also a national se- There was no objection. National Academies of Sciences, Engi- curity issue. Our military has a variety Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, neering, and Medicine. of assets in orbit around the Earth, I yield myself such time as I may con- Finally, the bill also sets up formal which could potentially be harmed by sume. research-to-operations and operations- electromagnetic interference. They Madam Speaker, I am very excited to-research mechanisms to help break rely on satellites built by NASA and we are here today to pass S. 881, the down barriers between the research operated by the National Oceanic and PROSWIFT Act, a bill that I have been community and operational forecasters Atmospheric Administration, or working on for almost 5 years. by encouraging sharing of information NOAA, for timely and accurate infor- Space weather is the electromagnetic and requirements to improve the pipe- mation about potential space weather activity that comes from the Sun, and line of new observations, technologies, events. it can have significant societal, eco- models, and forecasts. It is not only technology that is nomic, national security, and health This bill will improve our under- threatened by space weather events. implications both here on Earth and in standing of space weather and better There are the astronauts who currently space. prepare us for its impacts on the elec- work on the International Space Sta- About 5 years ago, Dr. Dan Baker tric power grid, communications net- tion more than 200 miles above the from the University of Colorado Boul- works, satellite operations, and air- Earth’s surface and will one day serve der testified in front of the Science, lines. It will also help NASA under- on missions to the Moon and Mars. Space, and Technology Committee stand the radiation environment for While we have developed techniques about the dangers of space weather our astronauts on the International and technology to reduce the threats events on the electric grid. At that Space Station, on their way back to posed by increased radiation exposure hearing, he said that had an observed the Moon, and, most importantly, on due to a severe solar event, we have July 2012 space weather event actually their journey to Mars by 2033. more work to do to mitigate these haz- hit Earth, we would ‘‘still be picking We have been working on this bill for ards to our astronauts as we venture up the pieces.’’ a long time now, and I want to thank beyond low-Earth orbit. That testimony stuck with me, and the gentleman from Alabama, Rep- In short, severe space weather can when Senators GARY PETERS and CORY resentative MO BROOKS, for his help have significant effects on each and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:35 Sep 23, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD20\SEPTEMBER\H16SE0.REC H16SE0 abonner on DSK9F5VC42PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4459 every one of us. That is why timely and can affect everything from our electric vere weather events and damaging con- accurate information from agencies power grids, to satellites, to aviation sequences. like NASA and NOAA is so important. operations, human spaceflight oper- Space weather is a collection of phys- These agencies play an important role ations, and much more. ical processes beginning at the Sun in better monitoring and forecasting In short, severe space weather events with solar winds and ultimately affect- space weather. pose significant risks to our infrastruc- ing human activities on Earth and in The bill before us today represents a ture, and in turn, our economy and our space. Humanity needs a better under- good faith effort by the House and Sen- national security. This is an important standing of these solar winds and their ate to provide a framework that will time and an important thing to take interaction with Earth’s atmosphere. provide for better coordination across action on. The PROSWIFT Act is a step towards the Federal Government. This is espe- Madam Speaker, space weather fore- that better understanding. cially timely given that we are about casting is years, if not decades, behind In Alabama’s Marshall Space Flight to enter a period of increased solar ac- the maturity of terrestrial forecasting, Center, scientists and engineers are at tivity, which will create more space and that is why S. 881, the PROSWIFT the forefront of space weather re- weather events. Act, is critical. search. Under the PROSWIFT Act, I am pleased this legislation includes Without improvements in space their enhanced research will advance an amendment I introduced during the weather forecasts and prediction, we our understanding of and ability to forecast space weather. markup of this legislation. My amend- run the risk of potential disruptions to The PROSWIFT Act recognizes that ment creates a pilot program that will our critical infrastructure. The PROSWIFT Act establishes U.S. policy space weather not only impacts us on ensure that emerging private-sector Earth, it can and will impact us in deep companies will have a seat at the table to help prepare and protect us against the social and economic impacts of space exploration. and will be able to provide monitoring For example, before we launch and forecast data, which the Federal space weather phenomena by sup- porting actions to improve space NASA’s Artemis man-to-Moon-mis- Government can purchase and utilize weather forecasts and predictions. sions that pave the way to Mars mis- in their space weather forecasts. This act makes clear the importance sions, it is best that we should better I thank the sponsors of this legisla- of federal agency contributions, and understand how space weather phe- tion for their work on this important their effective coordination, including nomena impacts life in space, sat- topic. I ask my colleagues to support NASA. To carry out research on the ellites, and other space instrumenta- this bill, and I reserve the balance of Sun and its effects on near-Earth envi- tion. my time, Madam Speaker. ronments, NASA operates research sat- Madam Speaker, it is critical that we b 1230 ellites whose measurements are also properly forecast space weather and essential to NOAA’s operational space prepare for and protect astronauts Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, from the dangers of solar radiation. I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman weather forecasts. The PROSWIFT Act moves us for- Madam Speaker, I, again, thank my from Oklahoma (Ms. KENDRA S. HORN), ward from relying, in part, on these re- colleague, Mr. PERLMUTTER, for his my friend, the chair of the Sub- leadership on space weather and his committee on Space and Aeronautics. search assets, some of which have been operating for over two decades, to de- partnership on the PROSWIFT Act. Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. I encourage my colleagues to vote for veloping a strategic and coordinated Madam Speaker, I thank Mr. PERL- Senate Bill 881 and send it to President approach to sustaining a baseline of MUTTER for yielding me the time. Trump to sign. Madam Speaker, I begin by saying, I space weather operations and better Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, rise in strong support of S. 881, the Pro- predicting space weather events. I thank my friend from Alabama for It is also important to enabling our moting Research and Observations of being a good partner and really work- future goals of space, including explo- Space Weather to Improve the Fore- ing with me and with the Senate to re- ration goals to send humans to the casting of Tomorrow, or the fine and get this thing into an excel- Moon and to Mars, as laid out in H.R. PROSWIFT Act, and recognize my col- lent product. 5666, the bipartisan NASA Authoriza- league, Mr. PERLMUTTER, for all of his Madam Speaker, I include in the tion Act of 2020. Improvements in space efforts on this, as well as my fellow RECORD the following letters of support weather forecasts will help keep our as- Oklahoman and ranking member of the we received for the PROSWIFT Act: a tronauts safe from harmful space radi- committee, Mr. LUCAS, and particu- letter from the University of Colorado ation, which can be elevated during larly, too, recognize Senator PETERS at Boulder; a letter from the Univer- solar storms. for all of his work on this important sity Corporation for Atmospheric Re- In addition, H.R. 5666 complements S. search; a letter from the American issue, which I think can often go 881, the PROSWIFT Act, by directing underrecognized and unappreciated. Commercial Space Weather Associa- the NASA administrator to establish a tion; a letter from the American Astro- I was proud to cosponsor the House space weather research and applica- version of the PROSWIFT Act, H.R. nomical Society; a letter from the tions program. American Geophysical Union; a letter 5260, with Mr. PERLMUTTER and many Madam Speaker, the Senate passed S. from the University of Michigan; a let- others, which passed out of the Com- 881 on July 27, 2020, and now the House ter from the University of New Hamp- mittee on Science, Space, and Tech- must act to make sure this important shire; and a letter from the Pennsyl- nology, and I would like to, again, rec- legislation becomes law. vania State University. ognize the leadership on this bipartisan Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield LASP, and bicameral bill, including Mr. 5 minutes to the gentleman from Ala- January 8, 2020. BROOKS and others for the committee’s bama (Mr. BROOKS). Hon. ED PERLMUTTER, work to advance an understanding of Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam House of Representatives, and the importance of predictive capa- Speaker, I support the Promoting Re- Washington, DC. bilities of space weather. search and Observations of Space DEAR REPRESENTATIVE PERLMUTTER: On be- The PROSWIFT Act is really the cul- half of my colleagues at the Laboratory for Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Atmospheric and Space Physics (LASP) and mination of years of work and reflects Tomorrow Act, called the PROSWIFT the University of Colorado Boulder, I write input from hearings, including joint Act. in support of the Promoting Research and hearings, the Subcommittee on Envi- I thank Congressman PERLMUTTER Observations of Space Weather to Improve ronment and the Subcommittee on for his leadership on this important the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act Space and Aeronautics, which I chair. issue and for working with me in the (PROSWIFT) Act (H.R. 5260). Given the con- Though, it can feel remote, space Committee on Science, Space, and tinued threat and vulnerabilities facing our weather can have a significant impact world from solar interactions with the Technology to advance the Senate bill, Earth, we applaud the bicameral and bipar- on us right here on Earth, as you have which is identical to the House version tisan approach Congress is taking to address heard. Space weather, such as solar we have worked so long and hard on. the challenges we face with respect to en- flares, solar wind and geomagnetic The PROSWIFT Act advances Amer- hancing our nation’s space weather fore- storms of energized, charged particles ica’s understanding of potentially se- casting capabilities.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.048 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4460 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 Throughout the Space Age, we have discov- Physics; Professor, Additionally, we commend H.R. 5260 for its ered and accumulated a vast knowledge on Astrophysical and emphasis on ‘‘Sustaining Ground-Based Ob- the governing physical processes of the var- Planetary Sciences; servational Capability’’ and we believe it is ious regions of both deep space as well as the Professor, Depart- imperative to draw the distinction between space surrounding near-Earth. This knowl- ment of Physics; astronomy and space weather research in edge has provided an opportunity to expand Professor, Aerospace this regards. Ground-based observations are our reach into the solar system and beyond, Engineering less costly and are the appropriate way to as well as increase our Earth observation ca- Sciences. prove an observational capability and ensure pabilities. Over time, the increased utiliza- risk reduction for instruments that may tion of satellites continues to have a broad UCAR, later be flown in space. Current ground-based reach across our society, including within OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, telescopes used in astronomy are inadequate the security, public safety and commercial January 8, 2020. for space weather research so this section is realms. The data we acquire from these sat- Hon. ED PERLMUTTER, vital to ensure a robust ‘‘ground to space’’ ellites is vital in order to protect our na- Washington, DC. strategy. tional security and economic interests, and DEAR CONGRESSMAN PERLMUTTER: As a re- H.R. 5260 would provide clear roles and re- interruptions stemming from increased solar search organization committed to better un- sponsibilities to the various federal agencies activity could prove detrimental in carrying derstanding the earth system, including the responsible for understanding, predicting, out these important functions. critical role of the sun in geospace sciences, and forecasting space weather, including the As a result, the call to increase our space the University Corporation for Atmospheric National Aeronautics and Space Administra- weather forecasting and mitigation capabili- Research (UCAR) would like to thank you tion (NASA), the National Oceanic and At- ties was amplified by the National Acad- for proposing H.R. 5260—Promoting Research mospheric Administration (NOAA), the Na- emies Decadal Survey in Solar and Space and Observations of Space Weather to Im- tional Science Foundation (NSF), and the Physics in 2012, and again through the Office prove the Forecasting of Tomorrow Act—and Department of Defense (DOD). As these are of Science and Technology Policy’s Space voice our strong support for PROSWIFT. all agencies with which we work regularly, Weather Action Plan that was released in H.R. 5260 will enhance the integration of ex- this clarity would enable us to pursue re- October 2015. Through these calls, it has be- isting national efforts to understand, pre- search that will have the best impact on so- come a national imperative to streamline dict, prepare for, and mitigate space weather ciety’s ability to predict and respond to the mechanisms designed to help develop and and will strengthen economic and national space weather events. maintain a forecasting system that not only security as a result. Again, thank you for your tireless work help to predict space weather events, but to Scientists are just beginning to understand supporting the science community in Colo- respond to them. We believe the PROSWIFT the interactions between our sun and the rado and across the United States. We appre- Act will provide a collaborative framework Earth. Given the growing national impor- ciate your efforts on this bill and many for the federal government and its agencies tance and reliance on technology, it is crit- other endeavors. to work together alongside academic, inter- ical that we expand our scientific under- Best regards, national and commercial space communities standing of the interactions between the sun DR. ANTONIO J. BUSALACCHI, to advance this critical undertaking. and Earth so that we may improve fore- President, University Corporation An important component of space weather casting and mitigate the effects of space for Atmospheric Research. research and monitoring is collaboration and weather events. Coupled with the National cooperation among its many stakeholders. Space Weather Strategy and National Space AMERICAN COMMERCIAL SPACE The legislation’s call for the development of Weather Action Plan, this legislation sets WEATHER ASSOCIATION, a Space Weather Government-Academic- national priorities to increase and improve December 6, 2019. Commercial Roundtable in addition to a space weather observations, science, and JEFF O’NEIL, Space Weather Advisory Group will foster forecasting abilities. Legislative Director, Office of Congressman Ed collaboration among academic, commercial H.R. 5260 lays out a clear road map for the Perlmutter (C0–07), Washington, DC. and space weather end users designed to pro- space weather enterprise which consists of DEAR MR. O’NEIL: On behalf of the Amer- vide the federal interagency working group the public, private and academic sectors, and ican Commercial Space Weather Association with guidance from key constituent groups. in so doing will enable better research to op- (ACSWA), we are writing to express our In addition, the renewed expansion of basic erations transitions that will benefit all strong support for H.R. 5260, Promoting Re- and multidisciplinary research as well as the communities that rely on technology both search and Observations of Space Weather to federal partnership with the National Acad- on the ground and in space that can be af- Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow emies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine fected by these sun-driven events. The cre- (PROSWIFT) Act. The current version of the to ‘‘implement missions that meet the ation of the Space Weather Advisory Group bill highlights the growing importance of science objectives identified in solar and is to be lauded as an excellent first step as it space weather across a broad range of tech- space physics decadal surveys’’ is a great will establish the necessary linkages be- nology areas. We are pleased to see ref- step forward toward increasing our nation’s tween government, academia and the private erences to the expanding role of the commer- future forecasting and responsive capabili- sector in an organized way that is currently cial sector in addressing gaps in fundamental ties. Finally, the strong focus on research done in an ad hoc fashion. This new approach knowledge, providing the means to develop and operational capacity within this legisla- will allow Congress to be kept up to date on and improve observational resources, ena- tion underscores the important role aca- the latest advances in science that are trans- bling the research to operations and oper- demic institutions will continue to play in lated into operations and will help to iden- ations to research enterprise, and mitigating addressing the needs of federal agencies. tify the highest priority areas that are in the impacts of space weather threats. Here at LASP (and I, daresay, across all of need of resources in both the research and ACSWA stands ready to aid federal agencies CU-Boulder), we take great pride in our ex- operational realms. in undertaking this critically important en- pertise in research to operations and oper- Most of our understanding of space weath- terprise. ations to research (R2O/O2R) capabilities, er is based on experience and knowledge The studies and survey mandated by the and we stand ready to assist in the coopera- gained over the last 30 years, though the his- bill will be extremely helpful to the space tive model outlined in the H.R. 5260 to ad- torical record indicates space weather events weather community as it mobilizes to ad- vance our national space weather forecast of much greater severity have occurred with- dress the high priority science and tech- and response capabilities. in the last 150 years. Impacting airlines, nology objectives that continue to drive Again, we applaud this legislation and its GPS, and electric utilities, space weather space weather activities in federal labora- aim to streamline federal efforts working in events in recent history resulted in economic tories, academic institutions, and the pri- conjunction with academic and commercial consequences in the tens of millions of dol- vate sector. ACSWA member companies space partners in order to better understand lars. Estimates for damage resulting from a strive to continue agency and academia and predict space weather activities and repeat of the worst known event of the last close partnerships that have been established their impacts on our national interests. 150 years range from $1–2 trillion in the first and strengthened through the years. We Thank you for your outstanding support and year alone. Scientists do not know the likeli- fully anticipate that the five members of the leadership, and please continue to think of hood of such an event recurring, or even PROSWIFT Advisory Committee from the us as a resource and partner going forward. whether such an event is the worst-case sce- commercial sector will ensure that ACSWA Sincerely, nario. Thus, predictability of such events expertise, assets, and resources will be fully DANIEL N. BAKER, Ph.D., needs to be the driver for all research in the integrated in the space weather strategies Distinguished Pro- space weather domain. As part of the need to emerging from the PROSWIFT-mandated ac- fessor of Planetary organize the research optimally to meet this tions. & Space Physics, threat, and in line with input from your re- ACSWA fully supports the observational Moog-BRE Endowed cent hearing, UCAR encourages the com- priorities outlined in the PROSWIFT bill. Chair of Space mittee to establish the Geosciences Direc- More specifically, ACSWA feels it is impor- Sciences, Director, torate within the National Science Founda- tant to continue L1 observations with a fol- Laboratory for At- tion (NSF) to be the lead within NSF for all low-on mission while simultaneously work- mospheric and Space space weather research activities. ing aggressively toward developing an L5

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.030 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4461 platform. The combination of solar observa- ACSWA appreciates all the hard work and coronal mass ejection imaging and that must tions from L1 and L5 orbits provide an un- careful thought devoted to crafting the be sustained beyond the lifetime of current precedented view of the disturbances from PROSWIFT bill. It not only provides a tre- ground-based and space-based assets in order which most space weather effects at Earth mendous boost to the entire space weather to maintain capability; originate. Additionally, the rapidly improv- enterprise, but also takes a huge step toward the development of space weather instru- ing capabilities in monitoring the ionosphere protecting the nation from threats to tech- mentation and competitive, peer-reviewed using radio occultation techniques will ad- nological infrastructure that is becoming proposals for conducting research, including dress a long-standing challenge in miti- ever more susceptible to space weather dis- interdisciplinary research, in subjects that gating space weather effects on navigation turbances. We hope that this vital bill is further the understanding of solar physics, and communication systems. The data sets quickly approved and federal agencies move space physics, and space weather and its im- generated by these observations will offer forward with the activities so carefully de- pacts; and many opportunities for commercial sector lineated in the document. increased engagement and cooperation with the international, academic, and com- companies to develop tailored products for Sincerely, mercial space weather communities on the government and industry customers. DEVRIE INTRILIGATOR, observational infrastructure and scientific We note that the PROSWlFT bill provides W. KENT TOBISKA, research necessary to advance the fore- some latitude to federal agencies in how the BOB ROBINSON casting of and preparation and protection commercial sector will be involved in space (SciencePrime, LLC), weather research and operations. ACSWA from space weather phenomena. on behalf of the ACS Thank you for your attention to this time- hopes that the language in the bill provides WA Executive Com- sufficient encouragement for agencies to ly and important issue. The membership of mittee: the SPD, which includes the nation’s fore- overcome long-standing barriers that inhibit Geoff Crowley (Atmospheric and Space most experts in many of the areas addressed full cooperation and involvement with the Technology Research Associates), in this legislation, stands ready to assist in commercial sector, not all of which are Alec Engell (NextGen), any way it can. If there is anything we can based on fiscal constraints. Again, the com- Jennifer Gannon (Computational Physics, do, please do not hesitate to contact us. mercial sector members of the PROSWIFT Inc.), Sincerely, Advisory Committee will have an important Janet Green (Space Hazards Applications), MEGAN DONAHUE, role to play in identifying strategies for tak- Devrie Intriligator (Carmel Research Cen- President, AAS. ing full advantage of the private sector in ter, Inc.), DALE GARY, meeting space weather goals. The pilot pro- Bob Robinson (SciencePrime, LLC), Chair, SPD. gram removed from the earlier version of Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., VADM USN this bill would have effectively demonstrated (ret.) (GeoOptics), AGU 100, the merits of such strategies. ACSWA looks Bob Schunk (Space Environment Corpora- January 8, 2020. forward to seeing such pilot programs imple- tion), Hon. ED PERLMUTTER, mented by federal agencies as they strive to W. Kent Tobiska (Space Environment Washington, DC. meet space weather research and operational Technologies), Hon. MO BROOKS, goals. American Commercial Space Weather As- Washington, DC. While we don’t want to-jeopardize the pas- sociation (ACSWA) www.ACSWA.us. DEAR CONGRESSMEN PERLMUTTER AND sage of the bill, there are additional small BROOKS: On behalf of the American Geo- AMERICAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, changes we believe could be added to the bill physical Union (AGU) and its 60,000 mem- OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, to ensure that all available technologies and bers, I am writing to endorse H.R. 5260, The December 12, 2019. processes are applied to reduce space weath- Promoting Research and Observations of Hon. ED PERLMUTTER, er hazards: Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting Page 7, lines 23–24 (Section 60601(d)(3)): House of Representatives, of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act, and to thank change ‘‘Each Federal agency participating Washington DC. you for crafting this important legislation. in the space weather . . .’’ to ‘‘All Federal Hon. MO BROOKS, Space weather has the potential to inflict agencies participating in the space weather House of Representatives, trillions of dollars of damage on our econ- . . . .’’ Washington, DC. omy, weaken our national security, and alter p. 18., line 19 in section 60603(d)(2)): ‘‘. . . DEAR REPRESENTATIVES PERLMUTTER AND our way of life. The National Research Coun- airflow imagers, spectrometers, BROOKS: On behalf of the over 8,500 members cil estimates that a severe space weather interferometers, airborne radiation instru- of the American Astronomical Society (AAS) event has the potential to inflict $1–2 trillion mentation, and . . . .’’ and its Solar Physics Division (SPD), we dollars of economic and societal damage in ACSWA agrees with the Agency changes of write to express our strong support for the the first year alone and impact more than Page 21–22; 23–5: ‘‘. . . transition National Promoting Research and Observations of 130 million people. To recover from such an Aeronautics and Space Administration, Na- Space Weather to Improve the Forecasting event could take from 4–10 years. Moreover, tional Science Foundation, United States of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Bill and to thank space weather fluctuations are not limited to Geological Survey, and other relevant Fed- you for your leadership on this vitally im- rare catastrophic events but regularly im- eral agencies space weather research find- portant topic. The legislation that you have pact our society and economy. It’s estimated ings, models, and capabilities, as appro- introduced in the House is comprehensive in that the average economic impact of mod- priate, to the National Oceanic and Atmos- its scope, addressing key aspects of space erate geomagnetic events on the electric pheric Administration and the Department weather and its significance for national se- power grid in the U.S. is $7 to $10 billion per of Defense’’ to: ‘‘transition space weather re- curity, communications, and human and year. Additionally, advancing our under- search findings, models, and capabilities, as robotic space operations in low Earth orbit standing of the Sun is essential for the appropriate, from the National Aeronautics and interplanetary space. United States to realize its space exploration and Space Administration, National Science In particular, we endorse the following ambitions. Foundation, United States Geological Sur- components of the bill, all of which are es- Given the economic and opportunity costs vey, other relevant Federal agencies, the sential to further our understanding of the associated with space weather, we support academic community, and the commercial causes and effects of space weather, as well the bill’s approach of creating a national, co- space weather sector to the National Oceanic as to advance our ability to reliably forecast ordinated plan to advance our understanding and Atmospheric Administration and the De- space weather events: of the relationship between the Sun and partment of Defense’’ the recognition of the wide impact of space Earth and to ensure the development of new ACSWA agrees with the Agency changes of weather and the concomitant call for strong technologies and forecasting capabilities to Page 22, 9–15: ‘‘. . . communicate National cooperation between stakeholder agencies mitigate the threat posed by space weather. Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration such as NOAA, NSF, NASA, FAA, and the We appreciate the bill’s recognition that a and Department of Defense operational needs Departments of Defense and the Interior partnership between industry, academia, and of space weather forecasters, as appropriate, through the establishment of an interagency federal agencies is needed to further our un- to the National Aeronautics and Space Ad- working group through the National Science derstanding and capacity to address the im- ministration, the National Science Founda- and Technology Council on space weather, pacts of space weather. As a community tion and United States Geological Survey.’’ with accountability to Congress through the dedicated to advancing the understanding of to: ‘‘communicate National Oceanic and At- submission of pertinent reports; Earth and space science, we applaud the mospheric Administration and Department the call for the formation of a space weath- bill’s intent to further scientifically in- of Defense operational needs of space weath- er advisory group with broad representation formed action towards disaster preparation, er forecasters, as appropriate, to the Na- across the academic, commercial, and non- mitigation, response, and recovery. tional Aeronautics and Space Administra- governmental end-user communities to iden- AGU looks forward to working with you as tion, the National Science Foundation, tify new technologies to aid in under- this legislation advances. United States Geological Survey, other rel- standing and forecasting space weather; With best wishes, evant Federal agencies, the academic com- the implementation of an integrated strat- CHRISTINE W. MCENTEE, munity, and the commercial space weather egy that identifies the observation capabili- CEO/Executive Director, sector.’’ ties necessary for near-real-time solar and American Geophysical Union.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:23 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.032 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4462 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 OFFICE OF RESEARCH, fundamental research into the physical proc- from The Hill dated September 10, 2020, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, esses behind space weather. Such research by Dr. Antonio Busalacchi, who sup- January 7, 2020. will enable more sophisticated prediction ca- ports this bill. Hon. ED PERLMUTTER, pabilities and equip decision-makers with [From the Hill, Sept. 10, 2020] House of Representatives, the information and tools necessary to avert Washington, DC. crippling damage to our satellites, electric CONGRESS NEEDS TO FINALIZE SPA WEATHER DEAR REPRESENTATIVE PERLMUTTER: On be- power grid, and other sensitive assets that BILL AS SOLAR STORMS POSE HEIGHTENED half of the University of Michigan Office of underpin our economy and national security THREAT Research, I write to thank you for intro- apparatus. (By Antonio J. Busalacchi) ducing the Promoting Research and Observa- UNH is especially supportive of Sections The COVID–19 pandemic has left us more tions of Space Weather to Improve the Fore- 60603 and 60604. The former would strengthen dependent than ever on advanced informa- casting of Tomorrow (PROSWIFT) Act (H.R. support for critical ground-based and space- tion and communication technologies, with 5260). based space weather observational platforms many businesses and schools relying on a As this legislation notes, severe space while the latter would identify specific roles range of remote services. In this environ- weather events ‘‘could have significant soci- and responsibilities for research, develop- ment, building resilience to potential etal, economic, national security, and health ment, and R20/02R activities at relevant threats that can disrupt society’s essential impacts.’’ This bipartisan legislation is es- agencies such as NASA, NSF, and NOAA. daily activities is critical. sential to helping us predict and mitigate Particularly important to UNH and many of For this reason, it is heartening to see such events that could drastically disrupt its peer institutions is the legislation’s com- Congress advancing legislation to better pro- our economy and national security. mitment to advancing the consensus-based tect the nation from solar storms that spew We are pleased this legislation outlines priorities identified by the scientific commu- millions of tons of charged matter toward clear roles and responsibilities for the rel- nity and articulated in the National Acad- Earth. Such space weather events can distort evant federal agencies that are involved with emies Solar and Space Physics Decadal Sur- GPS signals, scramble satellite operations, improving our understanding, prediction and vey. and disable communications and power sys- We thank you for putting forward this im- forecasting of space weather events. Impor- tems, with serious consequences for our portant piece of legislation, and we hope tantly, PROSWIFT recognizes the necessity economy and armed services—a particularly that UNH can serve as a resource for you as of engagement and cooperation with the aca- major concern as the Pentagon prepares for you continue working to address the press- demic community, among other sectors, by future space-based conflicts. ing issue of space weather. establishing a Space Weather Advisory Significant space weather events occur Sincerely, Group whose membership will be equally every decade or so with far-reaching and de- DR. KEVIN GARDNER, comprised of a diverse stakeholder group in- structive consequences. A powerful solar Vice Provost for Re- cluding the academic community. Addition- storm in 1989 cut off power to millions of Ca- search, University of ally, this bill creates a Space Weather Gov- nadians, and major storms in 2003 affected New Hampshire. ernment-Academic-Commercial Roundtable more than half of Earth-orbiting spacecraft. DR. HARLAN SPENCE, to facilitate advances in space weather pre- Just three years ago, solar flares caused Director, Institute for diction and forecasting, among other items, radio blackouts for hours during critical the Study of Earth, which is necessary to efficiently advance our emergency response efforts to approaching Oceans, and Space, understanding of space weather. hurricanes in the Caribbean and nearby re- University of New The University of Michigan is focused on gions. Hampshire. helping to improve the characterization, pre- A solar superstorm poses even greater diction, and mitigation of space weather risks. The so-called Carrington Event in 1859, PENN STATE, events. Researchers on our campus study the which ignited fires in telegraph offices, January 8, 2020. effects of large solar eruptions and coronal would have catastrophic impacts on today’s Hon. ED PERLMUTTER, mass ejections, and develop high-perform- society, potentially resulting in widespread House of Representatives, damage to power grids, communication net- ance computational models to describe and Washington, DC. works, and other technologies that would predict hazardous conditions. If any of our DEAR MR. PERLMUTTER: I write to express take weeks, months, or even years to repair. experts on campus can ever be a resource, support for H.R. 5260, the Promoting Re- Even before COVID–19 led to an increased re- please do not hesitate to reach out. search and Observations of Space Weather to liance on e-based technologies, the National Once again, thank you for your leadership Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow on this legislation. We appreciate your con- Academy of Sciences estimated that such an (PROSWIFT) Act, and appreciation for your event could result in as much as $2 trillion in tinued commitment to improving efforts to leadership on this legislation that aims to predict and mitigate space weather events damages—or more than 10 times the costs of improve efforts for predicting and mitigating Hurricane Katrina. and we hope the full House of Representa- space weather events. Despite a growing array of advanced sat- tives will approve this legislation expedi- By delineating clear roles and responsibil- ellites that monitor the sun, forecasters can- tiously. ities to federal agencies that study and pre- not accurately predict when a major storm Sincerely, dict space weather, the legislation will im- will erupt from the sun and begin its one- to REBECCA CUNNINGHAM, M.D., prove resources and make critical measure- four-day journey toward Earth. Observations Interim Vice President for Research. ment data available for the research commu- provide only limited information about nity to model the frequency and severity of where the storm will hit and its potential for UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE, space weather events. This information will damage until it is within about a half-hour January 7, 2020. be helpful for monitoring space weather of Earth. This does not leave satellite opera- Hon. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, events, particularly coronal mass ejections tors and utility managers with sufficient no- Chair, Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- and geomagnetic disturbances that can cause tice to fully shield vulnerable electronics nology, House of Representatives, Wash- interruptions to the power grid and in sat- and power down critical hardware. ington, DC. ellites, affecting critical infrastructure that To improve its forecasting capability, the Hon. FRANK LUCAS, is dependent on communications technology nation needs to invest in a new generation of Ranking Member, Committee on Science, Space, and electricity. space- and ground-based instruments that and Technology, House of Representatives, With an increase in focus and attention to can provide continual measurements of mag- Washington, DC. space weather activities provided by this leg- netic fields throughout the solar atmos- DEAR CHAIR JOHNSON AND RANKING MEMBER islation, researchers with expertise in data phere. These measurements would alert us to LUCAS: We are writing on behalf of the Uni- assimilation and big data analysis at Penn conditions that are conducive for storms and versity of New Hampshire (UNH) to voice our State and around the nation can conduct help us determine whether an incoming strong support for the PROSWIFT Act (H.R. risk analysis and plan for responses to space storm will penetrate our atmosphere and 5260). UNH urges swift approval of this bipar- weather events before they occur. Penn target certain regions on Earth, or harm- tisan legislation critical to ensuring that the State researchers and educators in meteor- lessly glance off. United States is equipped to predict, miti- ology, geoinformatics, energy business and Scientists are also working toward more gate, and respond to the hazards that space engineering, as well as social science, look advanced computer models of the sun. One of weather poses to our national security and forward to the data opportunities made their primary goals is to stimulate the build- economic wellbeing. available through this legislation. up of energy in twisted magnetic fields with- Federal support for research and tech- If I or any of our experts in the College of in the solar atmosphere, enabling forecasters nology development is essential to improv- Earth and Mineral Sciences can be of assist- to predict when the fields will erupt and ing the Nation’s space weather readiness. ance to you, please feel free to contact my spew tons of charged particles toward Earth. Current space weather monitoring capabili- federal relations colleagues. Fortunately, Congress is starting to take ties rely on an observational infrastructure Sincerely, action on this important issue. The Senate that is incapable of providing the lead time LEE R. KUMP, last month unanimously passed legislation required to undertake proper space weather John Leone Dean. to improve scientific understanding and fore- mitigation measures. We applaud the Com- Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, casting of space weather. The Promoting Re- mittee’s recognition of the importance of I also include in the RECORD an op-ed search and Observations of Space Weather to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.034 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4463 Improve the Forecasting of Tomorrow supporting this legislation and for both sure capabilities for space weather observa- (PROSWIFT) Act would break down barriers sides of the Capitol. We have been tion and forecasting for many years and Con- between the nation’s researchers and fore- working on it for a long time. There gresses before this. I am looking forward to fi- casters, coordinate the efforts of key federal nally passing this legislation today, and have agencies, and establish an integrated strat- has been a lot of serious interest in egy across the federal government to address this piece of legislation because of the it enacted after years of hard work. space weather research and observational potential for damage that a space Being able to better understand and predict needs. weather event can have. space weather events is vitally important to This legislation, appropriately, has strong As I said before, we have worked to- protecting our society, our economy, and our bipartisan support. Sens. Gary Peters (D– gether on the Committee on Science, critical national infrastructure. I urge my col- Mich.) and Cory Gardner (R–Colo.) co-spon- Space and Technology and the Senate leagues to support this bipartisan and good sored the Senate bill. In the House of Rep- governance bill. resentatives, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D–Colo.) is Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation to advance this bill for The SPEAKER pro tempore. The working with eight co-sponsors on both sides question is on the motion offered by of the aisle to advance the measure. almost 5 years. With just months remaining on the cal- Each iteration of the bill brought the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. endar of the current Congress, the House new perspectives and new ideas, and we PERLMUTTER) that the House suspend must provide the final passage of this impor- worked across two administrations. We the rules and pass the bill, S. 881. The question was taken; and (two- tant legislation. put all that work together into the bill thirds being in the affirmative) the CONGRESS NEEDS TO PROVIDE FLEXIBLE before us today, and I, again, thank the FUNDING TO STATES TO DEPLOY rules were suspended and the bill was Members and staff who helped make passed. Our solar forecasting capabilities at this possible. present are comparable to terrestrial weath- A motion to reconsider was laid on er prediction before the Second World War Madam Speaker, I encourage all my the table. colleagues to vote ‘‘aye’’ on this space when communities had little warning of in- f coming storms. Since then, government weather bill, and I yield back the bal- agencies, private companies, and university ance of my time. RURAL STEM EDUCATION ACT researchers have collaborated on landmark Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam advances in weather prediction, which have I rise in strong support of S. 881 ‘‘The Pro- Speaker, I move to suspend the rules saved countless lives, fostered economic moting Research and Observations of Space growth, and supported military operations. and pass the bill (H.R. 4979) to direct We have now arrived at a pivotal moment Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomor- the Director of the National Science in forecasting solar storms. At a time when row, or PROSWIFT, Act.’’ Foundation to support STEM edu- society is more dependent than ever on ad- Space weather is something the American cation and workforce development re- vanced e-based technologies, the PROSWIFT public may not yet have an awareness of, but search focused on rural areas, and for Act lays out a clear road map for bringing it has the potential to impact society across other purposes, as amended. together expertise in government, the pri- the world—every single day. The Clerk read the title of the bill. vate sector, and academia to forecast these Geomagnetic storms or solar flares can The text of the bill is as follows: damaging events. If Congress and the admin- H.R. 4979 istration successfully enact the legislation, cause disturbances in both space and the this predictive capability will provide a crit- near-Earth environment. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- ical safeguard for America’s economic com- These effects can reach the Earth’s surface resentatives of the United States of America in petitiveness and national security, and for and pose significant risks to humans operating Congress assembled, the business and school technologies that we in space, some aircraft flights, space commu- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Rural STEM have all come to rely upon. nications, GPS-based services, the electric Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, Education Act’’. grid, pipelines, and other space-based and SEC. 2. FINDINGS. just reading quickly from the op-ed as ground-based infrastructure. to why we are doing this: Congress finds the following: In short, space weather events can have (1) The supply of STEM workers is not ‘‘Significant space weather events major societal, national security, economic, keeping pace with the rapidly evolving needs occur every decade or so with far- and health impacts. of the public and private sector, resulting in reaching and destructive consequences. That is why I was an original co-sponsor of a deficit often referred to as a STEM skills A powerful solar storm in 1989 cut off Mr. PERLMUTTER’s H.R. 5260, ‘‘The shortage. power to millions of Canadians, and PROSWIFT Act,’’ which is the basis of the text (2) According to the Bureau of Labor Sta- major storms in 2003 affected more tistics, the United States will need one mil- of the Senate-passed space weather bill we lion additional STEM professionals than it is than half of the Earth-orbiting space- are voting on today. H.R. 5260 was widely craft. Just 3 years ago, solar flares on track to produce in the coming decade. supported by the space weather community, caused radio blackouts for hours dur- (3) Many STEM occupations offer higher including academia, industry, and not-for-profit wages, more opportunities for advancement, ing critical emergency response efforts entities. and a higher degree of job security than non- to approaching hurricanes in the Carib- I want to commend my colleague on the STEM jobs. bean and nearby regions. House Science Committee, Mr. PERLMUTTER, (4) The 60,000,000 individuals in the United ‘‘A solar superstorm poses even for tirelessly pushing to make this legislation a States who live in rural settings are signifi- greater risks. The so-called Carrington cantly under-represented in STEM. reality for over five years. Event in 1859, which ignited fires in (5) According to the National Center for telegraph offices, would have cata- He and his dedicated staff worked closely Education Statistics, nine million students strophic impacts on today’s society, with my Committee staff, with the staff of the in the United States—nearly 20 percent of potentially resulting in widespread Committee’s Ranking Member, as well as staff the total K–12 population—attend rural damage to power grids, communication of our colleagues in the Senate, to bring this schools, and for reasons ranging from teach- er quality to shortages of resources, these networks, and other technologies.’’ legislation to the floor today. Unlike previous attempts to move this legis- students often have fewer opportunities for Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- high-quality STEM learning than their peers ance of my time. lation, I am proud that the bill being voted on today came out of regular order in the House in the Nation’s urban and suburban schools. Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I am (6) Rural areas represent one of the most prepared to close, and I yield myself Science Committee. promising, yet underutilized, opportunities such time as I may consume. This bill took into consideration feedback for STEM education to impact workforce de- Madam Speaker, I, again, would like from major stakeholders in the space weather velopment and regional innovation, includ- to thank the sponsors of this legisla- community and was strengthened during our ing agriculture. tion for their hard work on this impor- markup process to include a commercial (7) The study of agriculture, food, and nat- tant topic. space weather pilot program. It was further ural resources involves biology, engineering, I encourage all my colleagues to sup- strengthened following negotiations with our physics, chemistry, math, geology, computer colleagues in the Senate. science, and other scientific fields. port this bill, and I yield back the bal- (8) Employment in computer and informa- ance of my time. I am pleased that this bill represents both tion technology occupations is projected to Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, bicameral and bipartisan agreement on this grow 11 percent from 2019 to 2029. To help I yield myself the balance of my time. important issue. meet this demand, it is important rural stu- Madam Speaker, I thank my col- I have supported the overall agenda to ad- dents have the opportunity to acquire com- leagues on both sides of the aisle for vance the space weather enterprise and en- puting skills through exposure to computer

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.019 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4464 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 science learning in grades PreK - 12 and in of rural students in grades Pre-K through 12 consortium of rural schools or rural school informal learning settings. in STEM studies. districts; and (9) More than 293,000,000 individuals in the (2) USE OF FUNDS.— (3) encourage applications which, for the United States use high-speed broadband to (A) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded under purpose of the activity or activities funded work, learn, access healthcare, and operate this section shall be used for the research through the grant, include commitments their businesses, while 19,000,000 individuals and development activities referred to in from school principals and administrators to in the United States still lack access to paragraph (1), which may include— making reforms and activities proposed by high-speed broadband. Rural areas are hard- (i) developing partnerships with commu- the applicant a priority. est hit, with over 26 percent of individuals in nity colleges to offer advanced STEM course (e) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for grants rural areas in the United States lacking ac- work, including computer science, to rural under subsections (a) and (b) shall include an cess to high-speed broadband compared to 1.7 high school students; evaluation plan that includes the use of out- percent of individuals in urban areas in the (ii) supporting research on effective STEM come oriented measures to assess the impact United States. practices in rural settings; and efficacy of the grant. Each recipient of a SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION RURAL (iii) implementing a school-wide STEM ap- grant under this section shall include results STEM ACTIVITIES. proach; from these evaluative activities in annual (a) PREPARING RURAL STEM EDUCATORS.— (iv) improving the National Science Foun- and final projects. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall provide dation’s Advanced Technology Education (f) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— grants on a merit-reviewed, competitive program’s coordination and engagement (1) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Director basis to institutions of higher education or with rural communities; shall evaluate the portfolio of grants award- nonprofit organizations (or a consortium (v) collaborating with existing community ed under subsections (a) and (b). Such eval- thereof) for research and development to ad- partners and networks, such as the coopera- uation shall— vance innovative approaches to support and tive research and extension services of the (A) use a common set of benchmarks and sustain high-quality STEM teaching in rural Department of Agriculture and youth serv- tools to assess the results of research con- schools. ing organizations like 4-H, after school ducted under such grants and identify best (2) USE OF FUNDS.— STEM programs, and summer STEM pro- practices; and (A) IN GENERAL.—Grants awarded under grams, to leverage community resources and (B) to the extent practicable, integrate the this section shall be used for the research develop place-based programming; findings of research resulting from the activ- and development activities referred to in (vi) connecting rural school districts and ity or activities funded through such grants paragraph (1), which may include— institutions of higher education, to improve with the findings of other research on rural (i) engaging rural educators of students in precollegiate STEM education and engage- student’s pursuit of degrees or careers in grades Pre-K through 12 in professional ment; STEM. learning opportunities to enhance STEM (vii) supporting partnerships that offer (2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later knowledge, including computer science, and hands-on inquiry-based science activities, in- than 180 days after the completion of the develop best practices; cluding coding, and access to lab resources evaluation under paragraph (1), the Director (ii) supporting research on effective STEM for students studying STEM in grades Pre–K shall submit to Congress and make widely teaching practices in rural settings, includ- through 12 in a rural area; available to the public a report that in- ing the use of rubrics and mastery-based (viii) evaluating the role of broadband cludes— grading practices to assess student perform- connectivity and its associated impact on (A) the results of the evaluation; and ance when employing the transdisciplinary the STEM and technology literacy of rural (B) any recommendations for administra- teaching approach for STEM disciplines; students; tive and legislative action that could opti- (iii) designing and developing pre-service (ix) building capacity to support extra- mize the effectiveness of the grants awarded and in-service training resources to assist curricular STEM programs in rural schools, under this section. such rural educators in adopting including mentor-led engagement programs, (g) REPORT BY COMMITTEE ON EQUAL OPPOR- transdisciplinary teaching practices across STEM programs held during nonschool TUNITIES IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING.— STEM courses; hours, STEM networks, makerspaces, coding (1) IN GENERAL.—As part of the first report (iv) coordinating with local partners to activities, and competitions; and required by section 36(e) of the Science and adapt STEM teaching practices to leverage (x) any other activity the Director deter- Engineering Equal Opportunities Act (42 local natural and community assets in order mines will accomplish the goals of this sub- U.S.C. 1885c(e)) transmitted to Congress after to support in-place learning in rural areas; section. the date of enactment of this Act, the Com- (v) providing hands-on training and re- (c) APPLICATION.—An applicant seeking a mittee on Equal Opportunities in Science search opportunities for rural educators de- grant under subsection (a) or (b) shall submit and Engineering shall include— scribed in clause (i) at Federal Laboratories, an application at such time, in such manner, (A) a description of past and present poli- institutions of higher education, or in indus- and containing such information as the Di- cies and activities of the Foundation to en- try; rector may require. The application may in- courage full participation of students in (vi) developing training and best practices clude the following: rural communities in science, mathematics, for educators who teach multiple grade lev- (1) A description of the target population engineering, and computer science fields; els within a STEM discipline; to be served by the research activity or ac- and (vii) designing and implementing profes- tivities for which such grant is sought. (B) an assessment of trends in participa- sional development courses and experiences, (2) A description of the process for recruit- tion of rural students in grades Pre-K including mentoring, for rural educators de- ment and selection of students, educators, or through 12 in Foundation activities, and an scribed in clause (i) that combine face-to- schools from rural areas to participate in assessment of the policies and activities of face and online experiences; and such activity or activities. the Foundation, along with proposals for (viii) any other activity the Director deter- (3) A description of how such activity or new strategies or the broadening of existing mines will accomplish the goals of this sub- activities may inform efforts to promote the successful strategies towards facilitating the section. engagement and achievement of rural stu- goals of this Act. (B) RURAL STEM COLLABORATIVE.—The Di- dents in grades PreK - 12 in STEM studies. (2) TECHNICAL CORRECTION.— rector may establish a pilot program of re- (4) In the case of a proposal consisting of a (A) IN GENERAL.—Section 313 of the Amer- gional cohorts in rural areas that will pro- partnership or partnerships with one or more ican Innovation and Competitiveness Act vide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on rural schools and one or more researchers, a (Public Law 114–329) is amended by striking research experiences for rural STEM edu- plan for establishing a sustained partnership ‘‘Section 204(e) of the National Science cators of students in grades Pre-K through that is jointly developed and managed, draws Foundation Authorization Act of 1988’’ and 12, in order to build an ecosystem of coopera- from the capacities of each partner, and is inserting ‘‘Section 36(e) of the Science and tion among educators, researchers, aca- mutually beneficial. Engineering Equal Opportunities Act’’. demia, and local industry. (d) PARTNERSHIPS.—In awarding grants (B) APPLICABILITY.—The amendment made (b) BROADENING PARTICIPATION OF RURAL under subsection (a) or (b), the Director by paragraph (1) shall take effect as if in- STUDENTS IN STEM.— shall— cluded in the enactment of section 313 of the (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall provide (1) encourage applicants which, for the pur- American Innovation and Competitiveness grants on a merit-reviewed, competitive pose of the activity or activities funded Act (Public Law 114–329). basis to institutions of higher education or through the grant, include or partner with a (h) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this nonprofit organizations (or a consortium nonprofit organization or an institution of section, the Director shall, for purposes of thereof) for— higher education (or a consortium thereof) enhancing program effectiveness and avoid- (A) research and development of program- that has extensive experience and expertise ing duplication of activities, consult, cooper- ming to identify the barriers rural students in increasing the participation of rural stu- ate, and coordinate with the programs and face in accessing high-quality STEM edu- dents in grades Pre-K through 12 in STEM; policies of other relevant Federal agencies. cation; and (2) encourage applicants which, for the pur- (i) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (B) development of innovative solutions to pose of the activity or activities funded There are authorized to be appropriated to improve the participation and advancement through the grant, include or partner with a the Director—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.024 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4465 (1) $8,000,000 to carry out the activities directed at examining STEM education for nity colleges, and area career and technical under subsection (a) for each of fiscal years students in grades Pre–K through 12 and education schools, including those in under- 2021 through 2025; and workforce development in rural areas; served and rural communities,’’. (2) $12,000,000 to carry out the activities (2) assesses the impact of the scarcity of (b) RURAL CONNECTIVITY PRIZE COMPETI- under subsection (b) for each of fiscal years broadband connectivity in rural commu- TION.— 2021 through 2025. nities has on STEM and technical literacy (1) PRIZE COMPETITION.—Pursuant to sec- SEC. 4. OPPORTUNITIES FOR ONLINE EDU- for students in grades Pre–K through 12 in tion 24 of the Stevenson-Wydler Technology CATION. rural areas; Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719), the (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall, sub- (3) assesses the core research and data Secretary of Commerce, acting through the ject to appropriations, award competitive needed to understand the challenges rural Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards grants to institutions of higher education or areas are facing in providing quality STEM and Technology (referred to in this sub- nonprofit organizations (or a consortium education and workforce development; and section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), shall, subject to thereof, which may include a private sector (4) makes recommendations for action at appropriations, carry out a program to partner) to conduct research on online STEM the Federal, State, and local levels for im- award prizes competitively to stimulate re- education courses for rural communities. proving STEM education for students in search and development of creative tech- (b) RESEARCH AREAS.—The research areas grades Pre–K through 12 and workforce de- nologies in order to deploy affordable and re- eligible for funding under this subsection velopment in rural areas. liable broadband connectivity to underserved shall include— (b) REPORT TO DIRECTOR.—The agreement rural communities. (1) evaluating the learning and achieve- entered into under subsection (a) shall re- (2) PLAN FOR DEPLOYMENT IN RURAL COMMU- ment of rural students in grades Pre–K quire the National Academy of Sciences, not NITIES.—Each proposal submitted pursuant through 12 in STEM subjects; later than 24 months after the date of enact- to paragraph (1) shall include a plan for de- (2) understanding how computer-based and ment of this Act, to submit to the Director ployment of the technology that is the sub- online professional development courses and a report on the study conducted under such ject of such proposal in an underserved rural mentor experiences can be integrated to subsection, including the National Acad- community. meet the needs of educators of rural students emy’s findings and recommendations. (3) PRIZE AMOUNT.—In carrying out the pro- in grades Pre–K through 12; (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— gram under paragraph (1), the Secretary may (3) combining computer-based and online There are authorized to be appropriated to award not more than a total of $5,000,000 to STEM education and training with appren- the Director to carry out this section one or more winners of the prize competi- ticeships, mentoring, or other applied learn- $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2021. tion. ing arrangements; SEC. 6. GAO REVIEW. (4) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after (4) leveraging online programs to supple- Not later than 3 years after the date of en- the date on which a prize is awarded under ment STEM studies for rural students that actment of this Act, the Comptroller General the prize competition, the Secretary shall need physical and academic accommodation; of the United States shall conduct a study on submit to the relevant committees of Con- and the engagement of rural populations in Fed- gress a report that describes the winning (5) any other activity the Director deter- eral STEM programs and submit to Congress proposal of the prize competition. mines will accomplish the goals of this sub- a report that includes— (5) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the pro- section. (1) an assessment of how Federal STEM gram under subsection (a), the Secretary (c) EVALUATIONS.—All proposals for grants education programs are serving rural popu- may consult with the heads of relevant de- under this section shall include an evalua- lations; partments and agencies of the Federal Gov- tion plan that includes the use of outcome (2) a description of initiatives carried out ernment. oriented measures to assess the impact and by Federal agencies that are targeted at sup- SEC. 9. NITR-D BROADBAND WORKING GROUP. efficacy of the grant. Each recipient of a porting STEM education in rural areas; Title I of the High-Performance Computing grant under this section shall include results (3) an assessment of what is known about Act of 1991 (15 U.S.C. 5511 et seq.) is amended from these evaluative activities in annual the impact and effectiveness of Federal in- by adding at the end the following: and final projects. vestments in STEM education programs that ‘‘SEC. 103. BROADBAND RESEARCH AND DEVEL- (d) ACCOUNTABILITY AND DISSEMINATION.— are targeted to rural areas; and OPMENT WORKING GROUP. (1) EVALUATION REQUIRED.—The Director ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Director shall es- shall evaluate the portfolio of grants award- (4) an assessment of challenges that state and Federal STEM education programs face tablish a broadband research and develop- ed under this section. Such evaluation ment working group to address national re- shall— in reaching rural population centers. SEC. 7. CAPACITY BUILDING THROUGH EPSCOR. search challenges and opportunities for im- (A) use a common set of benchmarks and proving broadband access and adoption tools to assess the results of research con- Section 517(f)(2) of the America COM- PETES Reauthorization Act of 2010 (42 across the United States. ducted under such grants and identify best ‘‘(b) ACTIVITIES.—The working group shall U.S.C. 1862p–9(f)(2)) is amended— practices; and identify and coordinate key research prior- (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘and’’ (B) to the extent practicable, integrate ities for addressing broadband access and findings from activities carried out pursuant at the end; and adoption, including— to research conducted under this section, (2) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘(1) promising research areas; with respect to the pursuit of careers and de- ‘‘(C) to increase the capacity of rural com- ‘‘(2) requirements for data collection and grees in STEM, with those activities carried munities to provide quality STEM education sharing; our pursuant to other research on serving and STEM workforce development program- ‘‘(3) opportunities for better alignment and rural students and communities. ming to students, and teachers; and’’. coordination across Federal agencies and ex- (2) REPORT ON EVALUATIONS.—Not later SEC. 8. NIST ENGAGEMENT WITH RURAL COMMU- ternal stakeholders; and than 180 days after the completion of the NITIES. ‘‘(4) input on the development of new Fed- evaluation under paragraph (1), the Director (a) MEP OUTREACH.—Section 25 of the Na- eral policies and programs to enhance data shall submit to Congress and make widely tional Institute of Standards and Technology collection and research. available to the public a report that in- Act (15 U.S.C. 278k) is amended— ‘‘(c) COORDINATION.—The working group cludes— (1) in subsection (c)— shall coordinate, as appropriate, with the (A) the results of the evaluation; and (A) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘commu- Rural Broadband Integration Working Group (B) any recommendations for administra- nity colleges and area career and technical established under section 6214 of the Agri- tive and legislative action that could opti- education schools’’ and inserting the fol- culture Improvement Act of 2018 (Public Law mize the effectiveness of the grants awarded lowing: ‘‘secondary schools (as defined in 115–334) and the National Institute of Food under this section. section 8101 of the Elementary and Sec- and Agriculture of the Department of Agri- (e) COORDINATION.—In carrying out this ondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. culture. section, the Director shall, for purposes of 7801)), community colleges, and area career ‘‘(d) REPORT.—The working group shall re- enhancing program effectiveness and avoid- and technical education schools, including port to Congress on their activities as part of ing duplication of activities, consult, cooper- those in underserved and rural commu- the annual report submitted under section ate, and coordinate with the programs and nities,’’; and 101(a)(2)(D). policies of other relevant Federal agencies. (B) in paragraph (7)— ‘‘(e) SUNSET.—The authority to carry out SEC. 5. NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES EVAL- (i) by striking ‘‘and local colleges’’ and in- this section shall terminate on the date that UATION. serting the following: ‘‘local high schools is 5 years after the date of enactment of the (a) STUDY.—Not later than 12 months after and local collseges, including those in under- Rural STEM Education Act.’’. the date of enactment of this Act, the Direc- served and rural communities,’’; and SEC. 10. DEFINITIONS. tor shall enter into an agreement with the (ii) by inserting ‘‘or other applied learning In this Act: National Academy of Sciences under which opportunities’’ after ‘‘apprenticeships’’; and (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means the National Academy agrees to conduct an (2) in subsection (d)(3) by striking ‘‘, com- the Director of the National Science Founda- evaluation and assessment that— munity colleges, and area career and tech- tion established under section 2 of the Na- (1) evaluates the quality and quantity of nical education schools,’’ and inserting the tional Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 current Federal programming and research following: ‘‘and local high schools, commu- U.S.C. 1861).

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.024 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4466 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 (2) FEDERAL LABORATORY.—The term ‘‘Fed- in the parking lot. Some students can Meeting this demand starts in the eral laboratory’’ has the meaning given such download assignments and submit classroom. With STEM education be- term in section 4 of the Stevenson-Wydler homework. Others are sending out coming so fundamental to success in Technology Innovation Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. paper packets for students without re- any industry, finding ways to improve 3703). liable transportation. While these stop- the quality of STEM learning every- (3) FOUNDATION.—The term ‘‘Foundation’’ means the National Science Foundation es- gap measures are helpful, they are not where is of critical importance. tablished under section 2 of the National enough. Over 9 million students in the United Science Foundation Act of 1950 (42 U.S.C. And students are falling behind. If we States, nearly 20 percent of the K–12 1861). had invested in improving remote population, attend rural schools. In (4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The teaching and mentoring and improving Oklahoma, that number is even higher. term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has broadband access before the pandemic One-third of our students attend rural the meaning given such term in section hit, rural communities would have schools. 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 been better prepared to weather this These students face a number of bar- U.S.C. 1001(a)). crisis. riers to accessing high-quality STEM (5) STEM.—The term ‘‘STEM’’ has the The Rural STEM Education Act pro- learning, including a shortage of meaning given the term in section 2 of the vides for research and development to America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of trained science and math teachers, sin- 2010 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note). improve access to evidence-based gle teachers teaching multiple grade (6) STEM EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘STEM STEM education opportunities in rural levels, a lack of access to advanced education’’ has the meaning given the term schools and provide teachers with the STEM courses, and few local university in section 2 of the STEM Education Act of support and tools they need to teach and industry partners. 2015 (42 U.S.C. 6621 note). more effectively. Since the start of the coronavirus The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- I am particularly excited about the pandemic, we have seen even further ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from NIST rural connectivity prize competi- proof that rural students are at a dis- Texas (Ms. JOHNSON) and the gen- tion and the Broadband Research and advantage, given the unreliability or tleman from Oklahoma (Mr. LUCAS) Development Working Group, which nonexistent broadband access many each will control 20 minutes. would advance research and technology must deal with while currently dis- The Chair recognizes the gentle- development to expand broadband ac- tance learning. woman from Texas. cess across the country. The Rural STEM Education Act sup- The bill also provides for a much- GENERAL LEAVE ports research and development activi- needed assessment of Federal invest- ties to improve our understanding of Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam ments in rural STEM education Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that the challenges rural communities are through the National Academies of facing in providing and sustaining all Members may have 5 legislative Science and the Government Account- days to revise and extend their re- quality STEM education programs and ability Office. take steps to address them. marks and to include extraneous mate- This bill is a critical step forward to H.R. 4979 helps develop best practices rials on H.R. 4979, the bill now under ensuring that more students have ac- for accessing and using computer-based consideration. cess to a high-quality STEM education and online STEM education courses. It The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there and that we are equipped with the will help schools combine online STEM objection to the request of the gentle- STEM workforce we need to face future education with hands-on training and woman from Texas? challenges like this pandemic. apprenticeships, to give students both Madam Speaker, I thank the ranking There was no objection. theoretical and practical under- Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam member of the Committee on Science, standing of science and math skills. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I Space, and Technology, Mr. LUCAS, for This bill will also take steps to ad- may consume. introducing this bill, and also for work- dress one of the great key obstacles to Madam Speaker, I rise today in sup- ing collaboratively with me and the rural STEM education: reduced port of H.R. 4979, the Rural STEM Edu- staff to ensure it was a bipartisan ef- connectivity and, in particular, the cation Act. fort. lack of broadband access. Of the 21 mil- Madam Speaker, I urge my col- I thank Ranking Member LUCAS and lion Americans who lack access to leagues to support this bill, and I re- Representative MCADAMS for intro- broadband, the majority live in rural serve the balance of my time. ducing this important bill, which I am areas. With the increase in online proud to cosponsor. b 1245 learning, we need to prioritize The COVID–19 crisis has revealed and Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield connectivity for all students. exacerbated the many harmful inequi- myself such time as I may consume. This bill directs the National Insti- ties that persist in our society. Rural Madam Speaker, I rise in strong sup- tutes of Standards and Technology to communities have not been spared. port of H.R. 4979, the Rural STEM Edu- establish a prize competition to stimu- Broadband access and the so-called cation Act. I am pleased to be leading late innovations in technologies to de- digital divide have long been a barrier this important bipartisan bill and ploy broadband connectivity to under- to high quality STEM education for would like to thank Congressman served rural communities. students in rural areas. STEM teachers MCADAMS, Congressman BAIRD, Con- It also establishes a working group to in rural communities are stretched gresswoman JOHNSON, and the other 43 set key research priorities for improv- thin, often teaching multiple STEM Members of Congress who cosponsored ing broadband access so rural commu- subjects at multiple grade levels. While this bill for their support. nities can enjoy the same connected- dedicated and hardworking, these Now more than ever, America’s pros- ness as the rest of the country. teachers have limited resources and perity and security depend on an effec- This bill includes a number of provi- support, including training that is up- tive, inclusive science, technology, en- sions to help provide rural educators to-date and optimized for schools in a gineering, math, and computer science with the tools they need to be success- rural setting. workforce, or STEM. ful, both in the classroom and online. Rural school districts also have lim- Nationally, 80 percent of the fastest It supports opportunities for rural ited access to library equipment to pro- growing occupations depend upon mas- educators to refresh and enhance their vide students with hands-on experi- tery of STEM skills. The number of own STEM knowledge, such as training ences and a glimpse of what it is like STEM jobs is growing three times fast- in computer science and research op- to actually do science. er than non-STEM jobs. Over the next portunities at Federal laboratories and The sudden transition to remote edu- decade, the STEM shortage is antici- universities. These experiences provide cation across the Nation that has oc- pated to reach 1 million positions, ac- rural educators with high-quality curred due to the pandemic has ampli- cording to the Bureau of Labor Statis- STEM skills and practices they can fied these challenges for rural commu- tics. take back to their classrooms and pass nities. To succeed in this job market, our on to their students. School districts are getting creative. students need to be equipped with solid Lastly, the major focus of the bill is Some are setting up internet hotspots skills in science and engineering. broadening the participation of rural

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.024 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4467 students in STEM. One way we can do nology, engineering, and math, you ers who teach multiple grade levels this is by emphasizing place-based never know where their intelligence within a STEM discipline. H.R. 4979 learning, which gives students direct and their curiosity might lead them or provides rural STEM educators with access to the STEM knowledge in their what new discoveries we will be able to resources and experiences that they communities and local environments. trace back to the education they re- can bring back to the classroom and Place-based learning connects stu- ceived starting in their hometown. use with their students. dents to the science that is right out- I urge my colleagues to support this I would like to thank Ranking Mem- side their doors, whether it is studying important legislation, and I thank my ber LUCAS for his leadership on this animal science with FFA, learning friend from Oklahoma (Mr. LUCAS) for bill. By improving access to STEM op- about local ecosystems out on the prai- championing this. portunities in rural schools, the Rural ries or in forests, or developing the Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield STEM Education Act will ensure that technological skills required to operate 5 minutes to the gentleman from Indi- communities in less populated areas increasingly complex and computerized ana (Mr. BAIRD). are not overlooked and that the intel- farm equipment. Mr. BAIRD. Madam Speaker, I rise in lectual power of our next generation That direct experience engages stu- strong support of H.R. 4979, the Rural continues to grow. dents and helps them understand that STEM Education Act. I am proud to be I encourage my colleagues to vote STEM skills matter to everyone, not an original cosponsor of this legisla- ‘‘yes’’ on this bill. just scientists in white lab coats. tion. Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Taken together, the measures in this As one of only two Members of Con- Speaker, I am prepared to close, and I bill will dramatically improve rural gress with a Ph.D. in science, I under- reserve the balance of my time. STEM education. I believe rural areas stand the importance of teaching Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield represent one of the greatest yet most science, technology, engineering, myself such time as I might consume. underutilized opportunities for tal- mathematics, and computer science at ented students to enhance the United an early age. In closing, I again want to thank States’ future STEM workforce. Quality STEM education is essential Chairwoman JOHNSON, Representative I am pleased this bill has gained the to train the next generation of Amer- MCADAMS, Representative BAIRD, and endorsement of the STEM Education ican minds. Fostering children’s nat- their staff for working with me on this Coalition, the Afterschool Alliance, ural curiosity is critical to expanding bill. Battelle and STEM-X, National their interest in STEM. I am grateful to my colleagues for Science Teaching Association, Amer- More than 9 million students in the helping me move this forward in a bi- ican Chemical Society, American Geo- United States attend rural schools, so partisan way. I want rural students to physical Union, Microsoft, Girl Scouts investing in rural areas represents one have every opportunity to compete and of the USA, National FFA Organiza- of the most significant opportunities contribute STEM skills both to their tion, and Association of Public and for STEM education. communities and to the national work- Land-grant Universities. H.R. 4979 will support research and force. I again would like to thank Chair- development to identify the barriers The Rural STEM Education Act gives woman JOHNSON, Representative rural students face in accessing high- teachers better tools to teach science MCADAMS, Representative BAIRD, and quality STEM education, and it will and math, leverages local resources to their staff for working with me on this develop innovative solutions to im- engage students in key subjects, and bill. prove rural students’ participation and addresses the lack of broadband access I strongly encourage my colleagues advancement in the STEM fields. in rural communities. to vote ‘‘yes’’ to better STEM edu- In a time when our rural students are Madam Speaker, I encourage my col- cation for America’s rural students, facing more barriers than ever before leagues to support this bill, and I yield and I reserve the balance of my time. because of COVID, this bill can play an back the balance of my time. Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam important role in helping these stu- Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gen- dents remain in the STEM pipeline. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of tleman from Utah (Mr. MCADAMS). With the shift to online learning in my time. Mr. MCADAMS. Madam Speaker, I recent months, it is more important I would like to take a moment again rise in support of my bipartisan bill than ever that we invest in the best to thank the gentleman from Okla- with Representative LUCAS, the Rural practices and the scalability of online homa (Mr. LUCAS) for working with the STEM Education Act. STEM education courses for our rural members of this committee on this leg- More than 9 million students nation- communities. islation and thank Mr. MCADAMS and wide attend a rural school. And in my In addition to examining opportuni- Dr. BAIRD. ties for online education, this legisla- home State of Utah, 15 percent of our It is my hope that we can pass this tion also promotes the importance of students live in rural communities. bill out of the House today and, hope- place-based learning. Place-based Unfortunately, there are many bar- fully, work with our colleagues in the learning is a tremendous tool to broad- riers to receiving quality STEM edu- Senate to get this bipartisan bill, as en participation by rural students in cation for rural community students. well as many others, of course, we have STEM. There is a shortage of math and science sent over there passed into law. teachers and a high rate of teacher It uses local heritage, geography, and This bill is needed more now than it turnover. Plus, access to high-speed opportunities to study STEM. By con- was when we started out, so I would and reliable internet is more limited in necting them with the science that is hope that the Senate will see the need these areas. right outside their front door, rural Today, as we live through this pan- students will have hands-on learning to pass this bill as soon as possible. demic, we know how important reliable opportunities, even while the courses Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- internet is for kids and teachers. This remain online. ance of my time. bill would provide effective online I would be remiss if I did not mention The SPEAKER pro tempore. The teaching tools that educators can use one of the greatest barriers our rural question is on the motion offered by in our rural areas. students face, which is broadband ac- the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. It will also increase teacher recruit- cess. Over 20 million Americans lack JOHNSON) that the House suspend the ment and improve internet access. It access to broadband, and the majority rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4979, as will task several government agencies live in these rural areas. This bill amended. to work together to advance research prioritizes connectivity for all students The question was taken; and (two- and provide teachers with what they and supports technologies to deploy thirds being in the affirmative) the need to effectively teach STEM to broadband to these underserved rural rules were suspended and the bill, as more students in rural communities. areas. amended, was passed. When bright young minds have the We must also recognize the key role A motion to reconsider was laid on opportunity to explore science, tech- educators play, especially rural teach- the table.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.054 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4468 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 b 1300 science and standards research relevant to (A) conduct basic research to advance un- such systems; and derstanding of cyber and other threats to ELECTION TECHNOLOGY (E) foster collaboration among academic election systems and the conduct of secure, RESEARCH ACT OF 2020 researchers, private sector vendors of elec- fair, and accessible elections; Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I tion technology, and State and local election (B) conduct research that may inform the move to suspend the rules and pass the officials. development of technologies, processes, and (4) REQUIREMENTS.— policies that contribute to more secure, fair, bill (H.R. 4990) to direct the National (A) IN GENERAL.—An institution of higher and accessible elections; Institute of Standards and Technology education or an eligible nonprofit organiza- (C) educate and train students studying in and the National Science Foundation tion (or a consortium thereof) seeking fund- science, technology, engineering, and mathe- to carry out research and other activi- ing under this subsection shall submit an ap- matics fields to conduct research relevant to ties to promote the security and mod- plication to the Director at such time, in election systems; ernization of voting systems, and for such manner, and containing such informa- (D) design curricula that address the grow- other purposes, as amended. tion as the Director may require. ing organizational management and infor- (B) APPLICATIONS.—Each application under mation technology needs of the election The Clerk read the title of the bill. subparagraph (A) shall include a description community; and The text of the bill is as follows: of— (E) foster collaboration among academic H.R. 4990 (i) how the Center will work with other re- researchers, private sector vendors of elec- Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Rep- search institutions, industry partners, and tion technology, and State and local election resentatives of the United States of America in State or local election officials to identify officials. Congress assembled, the measurement, testing, and standards (4) REQUIREMENTS.— SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. needs of voting systems and to leverage the (A) IN GENERAL.—An institution of higher This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Election expertise of election practitioners; and education or an eligible nonprofit organiza- tion (or a consortium thereof) seeking fund- Technology Research Act of 2020’’. (ii) how the Center will promote active col- laboration among researchers in multiple ing under this subsection shall submit an ap- SEC. 2. NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS disciplines involved in ensuring the security plication to the Director of the National AND TECHNOLOGY. and integrity of such systems. Science Foundation at such time, in such (a) VOTING SYSTEMS RESEARCH.—The Direc- (C) SELECTION AND DURATION.—Each Center manner, and containing such information as tor of the National Institute of Standards established under this section is authorized the Director may require. and Technology, in collaboration with the to carry out activities for a period of 5 years, (B) APPLICATIONS.—Each application under National Science Foundation as appropriate, renewable for an additional 5 years at the subparagraph (A) shall include a description shall carry out a program of research on vot- discretion of the Director. of— ing systems, including— (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (i) how the center established with a grant (1) the cybersecurity of different compo- There are authorized to be appropriated to awarded under this subsection will work nents of such systems; carry out this section $12,000,000 for each of with other research institutions, industry (2) end-to-end verifiable systems; the fiscal years 2021 through 2025. partners, and State and local election offi- (3) Internet-enabled voting; SEC. 3. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION. cials to identify research needs and leverage (4) the accessibility and usability of dif- (a) RESEARCH GRANTS.—The Director of the the expertise of election practitioners; and ferent components of such systems; National Science Foundation, in collabora- (ii) how the center will promote active col- (5) voter privacy and data protection; tion with the National Institute of Stand- laboration among researchers in multiple (6) methods for auditing elections; ards and Technology and other relevant disciplines involved in elections systems se- (7) the interoperability of system tech- agencies, as appropriate, shall award basic curity, including computer science, data nologies; research grants to increase the under- science, and social and behavioral sciences. (8) means for providing voters with the standing of cyber and other threats to voting (5) SELECTION AND DURATION.—Each center ability to easily check whether a ballot sent systems and to inform the development of established with a grant awarded under this by mail has been dispatched to the voter and technologies, processes, and policies that section is authorized to carry out activities whether the voter’s marked ballot has been contribute to more secure, fair, and acces- for a period of 5 years, renewable for an addi- received and accepted by the appropriate sible elections, including research on— tional 5 years at the discretion of the Direc- election official; (1) the cybersecurity of different compo- tor. (9) the reliability of various approaches to nents of such systems; (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— voter authentication; and (2) end-to-end verifiable systems; There are authorized to be appropriated to (10) such other areas of research as the Di- (3) the risks and benefits of Internet-en- carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of rector of the National Institute of Standards abled voting; the fiscal years 2021 through 2025. and Technology determines to be appropriate (4) the human-technology interface, in- SEC. 4. OTHER ACTIVITIES OF NATIONAL INSTI- and related to the security and integrity of cluding the usability, accessibility, and com- TUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECH- elections for Federal office. prehensibility of ballot design, ballot mark- NOLOGY TO PROMOTE SECURITY (b) ELECTIONS SYSTEMS CENTER OF EXCEL- ing devices, and other components of such AND MODERNIZATION OF VOTING LENCE.— systems; SYSTEMS. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Na- (5) voter privacy and data protection; (a) COMMON DATA FORMAT.—The National Institute of Standards and Technology shall tional Institute of Standards and Technology (6) voter practices regarding the establish and make publicly available com- shall make an award to an institution of verification of ballots generated by ballot mon data format specifications for auditing, higher education or an eligible nonprofit or- marking devices and the likelihood that vot- voter registration, and other elements of ganization (or a consortium thereof) to es- ers, both with and without disabilities, will tablish a Center of Excellence in Election voting systems, and provide the specifica- recognize errors or omissions with respect to tions to the Technical Guidelines Develop- Systems. such ballots; and ment Committee of the Election Assistance (2) COLLABORATIONS.—The Director shall (7) such other topics as the Director deter- Commission under section 221(e) of the Help ensure that the Center of Excellence in- mines to be appropriate and related to the America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 20961(e)). cludes a collaboration of institutions of integrity of elections. (b) ELECTIONS SYSTEMS CERTIFICATIONS.— higher education, nonprofit organizations, (b) ELECTIONS SYSTEMS RESEARCH CEN- The National Institute of Standards and private sector entities, and State and local TER.— Technology shall work in collaboration with election officials. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the Na- the Election Assistance Commission to up- (3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Center of tional Science Foundation, in consultation date the process under which voting systems Excellence shall be to— with the Director of the National Institute are certified pursuant to the Help America (A) conduct measurement research and sta- of Standards and Technology and the Sec- Vote Act of 2002 so that State and local elec- tistical analyses to inform the development retary of Homeland Security, as appropriate, tion officials will be better able to carry out of standards for technologies and processes shall award grants to institutions of higher updates and otherwise modernize such sys- that contribute to more secure, fair, and ac- education or eligible nonprofit organizations tems. cessible elections; (or consortia thereof) to establish at least 1 (c) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Director (B) test and evaluate the security, multidisciplinary center for elections sys- of the National Institute of Standards and usability, and accessibility of the tech- tems research and education. Technology shall— nologies of voting systems, including the ac- (2) CONSORTIA.—A consortia receiving an (1) provide technical assistance to State cessibility of poll book data by voters; award under this subsection may include in- and local election officials on the implemen- (C) research testing methods that could be stitutions of higher education, nonprofit or- tation of cybersecurity standards, privacy used for the certification of voting system ganizations, private sector entities, and standards, risk assessments, risk-limiting technologies; State and local election officials. audits, and technologies which are incor- (D) educate and train students studying in (3) PURPOSE.—The purpose of a center es- porated in the voluntary voting system science, technology, engineering, and mathe- tablished with a grant awarded under this guidelines issued under the Help America matics fields to conduct measurement subsection shall be to— Vote Act of 2002; and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.057 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4469 (2) in collaboration with the Department of GENERAL LEAVE and securing their elections. My legis- Homeland Security and the Election Assist- Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I lation modernizes the 20-year-old pro- ance Commission, as appropriate, conduct ask unanimous consent that all Mem- visions in HAVA to reflect the state of outreach to State and local election officials bers may have 5 legislative days to re- today’s technology and the nature of in order to disseminate best practices for the implementation of such voluntary voting vise and extend their remarks and to today’s election security challenges. system guidelines. include extraneous material on H.R. The most important new areas of re- 4990, the bill now under consideration. search and standards development this SEC. 5. GAO REPORT. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there bill supports are online voter registra- Not later than 18 months after the date of objection to the request of the gentle- tion systems and electronic poll books. enactment of this Act, the Comptroller Gen- woman from New Jersey? eral shall submit a report to Congress that— Forty States now offer online voter (1) addresses the extent to which efforts by There was no objection. registration, and many States also use the National Institute of Standards and Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I e-poll books on election day for quick Technology (NIST) to assist the Technical yield myself such time as I may con- access to voter information. Guidelines Development Committee of the sume. The Election Technology Research Election Assistance Commission in the de- Madam Speaker, I rise today to Act also creates centers of excellence velopment of voluntary voting systems speak in support of H.R. 4990, the Elec- at NIST and the National Science guidelines have resulted in market-ready tion Technology Research Act. This bi- Foundation to further study a range of standardized voting equipment and software, partisan legislation, which I was proud important election technology chal- and addresses the resources made available to introduce alongside my friend Rep- to NIST to carry out these activities; lenges, including cybersecurity, pri- (2) addresses efforts by NIST to monitor resentative GONZALEZ, Chairwoman vacy, reliability, and interoperability. and review the performance of laboratories JOHNSON, and Ranking Member LUCAS, We must strive to ensure the highest accredited by the Elections Assistance Com- is a practical, commonsense bill that standards are in place for all tech- mission and to make recommendations for would yield important results for the nologies used in the election process. continuing accreditation, increased voting security of our elections. And while the overwhelming majority technology reliability, and the number of ac- Madam Speaker, 48 days from today, of election experts agree that the tech- credited private laboratories, and addresses Americans will exercise one of their nology is not yet ready for secure vot- resources made available to NIST to carry most important duties in a democratic out these activities; and ing over the internet, this bill does (3) addresses the extent to which the an- society and vote. Amidst a global pan- support continued research on internet nual list of suggestions required to be sub- demic, targeted attacks on our democ- voting. mitted by NIST to the Election Assistance racy by our adversaries, and political In addition to the security and integ- Commission for research issues for grants unrest, Americans deserve to know rity of voting equipment, voting acces- and pilot programs under section 271(d) of that our elections are secure. sibility is also important. Keeping se- the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. Last summer, the Science, Space, curity at the forefront, we should make 21041) and the evaluation of grants and pro- and Technology Committee held a it as easy as possible for all voters to grams by NIST has improved voting tech- hearing with voting technology and cast their ballots. H.R. 4990 supports nology and been successful in encouraging election administration experts to dis- the implementation of new technologies in research at NSF to study ways to im- voting systems and equipment. cuss U.S. election system technologies prove the voter interface with different and research recommendations made in voting technologies, including accessi- SEC. 6. AMENDMENTS TO THE HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT OF 2002. the 2018 National Academies report, Se- bility, ballot design, and ballot-mark- curing the Vote: Protecting American Section 301(b) of the Help America Vote ing devices. Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. 21081(b)) is amended— Democracy. This report and the input Beyond the ballot box, this bill sup- (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), we received during that hearing made ports education and training of stu- by striking ‘‘this section’’ and inserting it clear that targeted research designed dents and design of curricula focused ‘‘this Act’’; to protect our voting systems is not on organizational management and in- (2) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of para- only wise but necessary. formational technology needs of the graph (1); The COVID–19 global pandemic has election community. (3) by redesignating paragraph (2) as para- put stress on our healthcare system, Finally, H.R. 4990 directs NIST to graph (6); and caused nearly 200,000 deaths in the provide technical assistance to States (4) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol- lowing new paragraphs: United States, devastated our econ- for their election needs, including risk ‘‘(2) any other paper or electronic tech- omy, and underscored racial inequities assessments and risk-limiting audits. nologies or processes for collecting, storing, in our society. But Americans are resil- This is a bipartisan piece of legisla- or transmitting personal information of vot- ient. They will mail in their ballots or tion. The Members of the House ers for use in the administration of elections go to their polling stations to cast Science, Space, and Technology Com- for Federal office, including electronic poll their vote. Why? Because they care mittee worked to put together a bipar- books with respect to an election; deeply about our country and our de- tisan bill that represents our values ‘‘(3) voter registration databases and sys- mocracy. In return, one of our jobs in and our commitment to protecting our tems, including online interfaces; ‘‘(4) systems for carrying out post-election government is to ensure the American democracy. It recognizes the simple auditing; people have confidence in the integrity fact that technology advances quickly. ‘‘(5) chain-of-custody procedures; and’’. of our election process. So, when it comes to something as fun- SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS. Nearly 20 years ago, Congress en- damental as ensuring the security and acted the Help America Vote Act. the sanctity of our elections, it is in- In this Act— (1) the term ‘‘voting system’’ has the HAVA provided funding for States to cumbent upon Congress to pass legisla- meaning given such term in section 301(b) of purchase new voting equipment and tion to make sure our election tech- the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (52 U.S.C. created the Election Assistance Com- nology is modern, secure, and state of 21081(b)), as amended by section 6; and mission. It also included provisions to the art. (2) the term ‘‘State’’ means each of the advance research, technology, and Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank several States, the District of Columbia, the standards development for voting sys- Representative GONZALEZ, Chairwoman Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, Amer- tems. JOHNSON, and Ranking Member LUCAS ican Samoa, the United States Virgin Is- There are more than 10,000 voting ju- for joining me as cosponsors on this lands, and the Commonwealth of the North- risdictions across the United States. ern Mariana Islands. bill, as well as my other colleagues on HAVA mandated that the National In- the Science, Space, and Technology The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- stitute of Standards and Technology Committee and in the House for adding ant to the rule, the gentlewoman from work with the EAC to develop vol- their names to this legislation. New Jersey (Ms. SHERRILL) and the untary voting systems guidelines for I urge all Members to support the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. LUCAS) voting machines. Election Technology Research Act, and each will control 20 minutes. Today, all U.S. States and territories I look forward to continuing to work The Chair recognizes the gentle- look to those guidelines to make deci- with my colleagues to see it enacted in woman from New Jersey. sions to about technology procurement law.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.022 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4470 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 Madam Speaker, I reserve the bal- to foster collaborations between NIST, This legislation represents just a ance of my time. universities, and State and local elec- tiny piece of what is needed in terms of HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, tion officials to address election secu- policy, leadership, and funding to en- COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION, rity challenges. sure free, fair, transparent, and secure Washington, DC, February 10, 2020. The U.S. Constitution vests the re- elections, but it is an important piece, Hon. EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, sponsibility of administering elections if not in time for this election, then for Chairwoman, Committee on Science, Space, and with State and local governments, and Technology, House of Representatives, all future elections. Washington, DC. we in Congress should respect the I want to again thank my colleagues, DEAR CHAIRWOMAN JOHNSON: I am writing boundaries of this well-established sys- Representatives SHERRILL and GON- to you regarding H.R. 4990, the ‘‘Election tem of federalism. ZALEZ, for their hard work and our col- Technology Research Act of 2019.’’ This However, the Federal Government leagues on the House Administration measure, introduced on November 8, 2019, has an important role to play in pro- Committee for their support in getting was referred to your committee as well as viding guidance and assistance to this bill to the floor. the Committee on House Administration. States on election systems. The Fed- The Committee on House Administration Madam Speaker, I urge my col- agrees to waive further consideration of H.R. eral Government can and should work leagues to support this good, bipartisan 4990. The Committee does so with the under- closely with States and local govern- legislation. standing that by waiving further consider- ment officials to deal with foreign and Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield ation of this bill it does not waive any future domestic cyber threats. 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio jurisdictional claims over similar measures. This bill provides the research tools (Mr. GONZALEZ). In addition, the Committee reserves its right to do just that, and it does so without Mr. GONZALEZ of Ohio. Madam to seek conferees on any provisions within imposing costly or burdensome man- its jurisdiction which are considered in a Speaker, election security is an issue dates on States. Instead, this bill essential to our democracy, and I am House-Senate conference and requests your leverages an established system to pro- support if such a request is made. glad to see the House taking up legisla- I would appreciate the inclusion of this let- vide voluntary guidelines to State and tion today to address it in a bipartisan ter and a copy of your response in the Con- local election officials to use as they manner. gressional Record during consideration of see fit. My colleague, Representative H.R. 4990 on the House floor. I appreciate Chairwoman JOHNSON SHERRILL, and I have been working to- Sincerely, and her staff for working with us to gether on this issue since being sworn ZOE LOFGREN, produce a good, bipartisan bill. I urge in, and I am glad to join her, as well as Chairperson. my colleagues to support it, and I re- Chairwoman JOHNSON and Ranking serve the balance of my time. OUSE OF EPRESENTATIVES OM Member LUCAS, in supporting H.R. 4990, H R , C - Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I MITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND the Election Technology Research Act. yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman TECHNOLOGY, This legislation would modernize and from Texas (Ms. JOHNSON). Washington, DC, February 10, 2020. secure U.S. voting systems by author- Chairperson ZOE LOFGREN, Ms. JOHNSON of Texas. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4990, izing NIST and the National Science Committee on House Administration, Foundation to conduct research on House of Representatives, Washington, DC. the Election Technology Research Act DEAR CHAIRPERSON LOFGREN: I am writing of 2020. I am proud to join my col- ways to improve and secure voting sys- tems. Importantly, any standards rec- to you concerning H.R. 4990, the ‘‘Election leagues, Representatives SHERRILL and Technology Research Act of 2019,’’ which was GONZALEZ, in introducing this bipar- ommended by NIST under this act are referred to the Committee on Science, Space, voluntary, and adoption of the stand- and Technology, and in addition to the Com- tisan bill. Just a few weeks from now, Ameri- ards remain in the purview of the Elec- mittee on House Administration on Novem- tion Assistance Commission. ber 8, 2019. cans will begin casting their ballots in I appreciate your willingness to work coop- the 2020 election. They will also do so H.R. 4990 also provides grant funding eratively on this bill. I recognize that the in the midst of a global pandemic and to establish a center of excellence in bill contains provisions that fall within the a divided country. The stakes could not election systems to promote the re- jurisdiction of the Committee on House Ad- be higher. We face many threats to our search and modernization of election ministration. I appreciate that your Com- democratic institutions, including to practices. A stated purpose of this cen- mittee will waive further consideration of our most sacred right and responsi- ter will be to foster collaboration be- H.R. 4990 and that this action is not a waiver tween universities, nonprofits, private of future jurisdictional claims by the Com- bility as citizens: our vote. mittee on House Administration over this Unfortunately, the greatest threats organizations, and State and local elec- subject matter. today are the spread of misinformation tion officials. Encouraging communica- I will make sure to include our exchange of and the active disenfranchisement of tion and collaboration between these letters in the legislative report for H.R. 4990 American citizens. Those are human groups is vital to make sure the voices and in the Congressional Record. Thank you vulnerabilities that are amplified by of States and local election officials for your cooperation on this legislation. technology. However, we must not lose are heard. Sincerely, The Election Research Technology EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, sight of the vulnerabilities inherent to Chairwoman, Committee on Science, the technologies that we use to cast Act also amends the Help America Space, and Technology. and count our votes. Vote Act to update the definition of Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield As it has across all aspects of our voting systems to match modern tech- myself such time as I may consume. lives and society, technology has be- nology encompassing electronic poll Madam Speaker, I rise in support of come an integral part of the election books and voter registration databases. H.R. 4990, the Election Technology Re- process. The use of technology in elec- There is bipartisan consensus that an search Act of 2020. I am proud to join tions has changed significantly since update of the definition is necessary to Representatives SHERRILL and GON- the enactment of Help America Vote reflect the modern election technology ZALEZ and Chairwoman JOHNSON as an nearly 20 years ago. used by States today. original cosponsor of this bill. H.R. 4990 authorizes research and With new threats facing our electoral The security and integrity of elec- standards development activities at systems, it is imperative that we con- tions is fundamental to American de- the National Science Foundation and tinue to update our election laws and mocracy and should not be a partisan the National Institute of Standards improve our election security by pass- issue. To that end, this bipartisan bill and Technology to help modernize and ing bipartisan election security legisla- takes necessary and appropriate steps secure our election systems and ensure tion. to update research activities at the Na- that they are accessible to all. Madam Speaker, I thank Chair- tional Science Foundation and the Na- The legislation also includes a small woman JOHNSON, Ranking Member tional Institute of Standards and Tech- amendment to HAVA to ensure that LUCAS, and the Science, Space, and nology to promote the security and the the standards and guidelines developed Technology staff for their hard work modernization of U.S. voting systems. to help States secure their election on this legislation, and also Ohio Sec- The bill also establishes an election systems cover all of the election tech- retary of State Frank LaRose’s office systems center of excellence at NIST nologies in use today. for their input throughout the process.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.058 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4471 Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. ment, such as e-poll books are needed, my friend, Ranking Member DAVIS, for Madam Speaker, I thank my good adding more to the VVSG process like- his dedicated work on election issues. I friend from Oklahoma for yielding and ly isn’t going to get this done. look forward to continuing working for the glowing recommendation there. My bill, PAVA, addresses this by by- with him to ensure the administration I think I could have gotten a better one passing the costly and time-consuming of our elections are safe and secure. from Mr. PERLMUTTER over there. It is VVSG process and calls for the EAC to The Election Technology Research great to be here. It is great to be establish a separate process for testing Act will update Federal laws to reflect among friends and great to see biparti- and certifying guidelines for nonvoting today’s technology, encourage basic re- sanship. election equipment. search and innovation on the State and This is an example of what the House The bottom line, H.R. 4990 does not local level to secure our election sys- of Representatives should do on a reg- update HAVA, and allocates over $100 tems, and streamline collaboration be- ular basis, have fun, joke around, like million to the discretion of NIST, rath- tween private and public stakeholders. Ranking Member LUCAS and I do on er than investing in the bipartisan This bill is a simple, bipartisan piece regular occasions. This is what we independent government agency cre- of legislation that will take a step for- should do on a wide variety of other ated by Congress. And that agency is ward in improving our election secu- pieces of legislation, including what we well-versed in elections. The EAC pro- rity. I urge my colleagues to vote in want to do before the end of this vides guidance, not mandates. Keeping support of H.R. 4990. month, how we want to fill the holes in power at the EAC preserves States’ pri- Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I the stimulus bill that we passed back mary and constitutional role in admin- yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from months and months ago in a very bi- istering Federal elections. Colorado (Mr. PERLMUTTER). partisan way. This House should work in a real, bi- Mr. PERLMUTTER. Madam Speaker, I have to raise some concerns about partisan fashion to create the election I thank my friend from New Jersey. this piece of legislation because the reform that the American people de- Madam Speaker, I rise today in sup- House Administration Committee got serve. I am willing and ready whenever port of H.R. 4990, which I am proud to this bill sent to the committee last No- my colleagues on both sides of the aisle cosponsor. This is a bipartisan bill in- vember and, unfortunately, as has been would like to do this. troduced by my Science, Space, and the norm in this Congress and on this I am happy we see bipartisanship Technology Committee colleagues, committee, we didn’t hold one mean- today as this bill works its way Representatives SHERRILL and AN- ingful hearing or markup on this bill. through the process after it passes THONY GONZALEZ. The Chair waived our jurisdiction in today. I certainly hope that the spon- Technology in elections is necessary February, and now 7 months later this sors and my colleagues can work with to provide convenience, speed, accu- bill is on the House floor without ever us to address some of the concerns that racy, and accessibility. However, our being discussed by the committee with I raise today. country needs to modernize this tech- jurisdiction over Federal election I thank, again, Ranking Member nology from time to time to ensure se- issues. LUCAS. I will give him a glowing rec- curity, privacy, reliability, and trans- H.R. 4990 allocates over $100 million ommendation, too, of nothing. parency. over the next 5 years to the National And I thank the sponsors of this bill, For the past 20 years, the Help Amer- Institute of Standards and Technology Ms. SHERRILL and Mr. GONZALES, for ica Vote Act of 2002 was instrumental in order to conduct election system re- your work in this field. I would like to in the development of voluntary voting search and distribute grants to higher- work with you to address some of these system guidelines and the advance- education institutions and nonprofits. concerns as we move it to the Senate. ment of voting technologies to improve Funding expanded research at NIST, Thank you for your time today. the security and integrity of our elec- a nonregulatory agency of the Depart- Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, I tions. Unfortunately, the law has not ment of Commerce, would allow the yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman kept pace with the rapid advances in agency to circumvent policy priorities from Oklahoma (Ms. KENDRA S. HORN). technology. set by the U.S. Election Assistance Ms. KENDRA S. HORN of Oklahoma. Commission, a politically balanced Madam Speaker, I thank the gentle- 1315 b agency. woman for yielding. I thank my col- H.R. 4990 authorizes activities and This is especially concerning when leagues Congresswoman SHERRILL, makes investments at the National In- we know there have already been calls Ranking Member LUCAS, Chairwoman stitute of Standards and Technology for more transparency when it comes JOHNSON, and Congressman GONZALES and the National Science Foundation to the work that NIST does on behalf for all of their work on this bill. to support research to help secure and of the EAC. Currently, EAC commis- Madam Speaker, I rise today on be- modernize our election systems. This sioners are not regularly updated on half of H.R. 4990, the Election Tech- legislation also supports critical stand- the projects that they task NIST with. nology Research Act, a strong bipar- ards development work carried out by There is no timeline for completion tisan bill that I am proud to support NIST in collaboration with the Elec- and no reporting structure. H.R. 4990 and also proud to cosponsor. tion Assistance Commission to improve further empowers NIST without pro- Madam Speaker, in less than 2 the cybersecurity, privacy, reliability, portional accountability to the EAC. months, Americans will head to the and interoperability of voting systems I have addressed this issue previously polls and exercise their fundamental technologies. in my bill H.R. 5707, the Protect Amer- right as Americans to vote and to have Voting is one of our most cherished ican Voters Act, PAVA, by calling elec- a voice in their government. Our elec- rights as Americans, and without sacri- tion-related work of NIST to be more tions are foundational to our democ- ficing security, we must make it as accessible and visible by directing racy, and Americans deserve to know easy as possible for all voters to cast them to issue a report to Congress that their vote is secure. their ballots this year and every year. every year containing the status, The Help America Vote Act, which I thank my colleagues, Representa- timeline, and estimated completion of became law nearly two decades ago, in- tive MIKIE SHERRILL and Representa- activities that they are tasked with cluded a much-needed investment in tive GONZALEZ, for their bipartisan under HAVA. election technologies, security sys- leadership on this bill. Additionally, H.R. 4990 would expand tems, electronic poll books, and others H.R. 4990 will help improve the secu- the voting system definition to include supported by HAVA are in common use rity of our elections, and I urge all my nonvoting technology in the already today. colleagues to vote ‘‘aye.’’ overwhelmed voluntary voting system But as we all know, technology ad- Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield guidelines process. vances quickly, and it is critical that 5 minutes to the gentleman from Illi- We have been waiting for updated our election technology advances with nois (Mr. DAVIS), a fellow ranking HAVA guidelines, or VVSG 2.0, for over it. Given the varied and widespread member on a full committee and al- a decade now. So while I absolutely be- election technologies in use across our ways an insightful individual. lieve guidelines for nonvoting equip- country, it is vitally important that we

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:32 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.060 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4472 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 examine the risks, find opportunities results. Election security is in turn the critical the voting process, stealing sensitive data, or for modernization, and pursue secure foundation of participation and faith. It should calling into question the validity of the election updates to protect the sanctity and se- be and largely is a universal goal, especially results.’’ curity of our elections. given continuing, emerging and expanding H.R. 4990 is commonsense, bipartisan leg- We must make investments in re- threats to our election systems. islation that responds to these ongoing search to improve cybersecurity of our This bipartisan measure would help ensure threats. It authorizes new research and stand- voting systems. Cyber warfare is an that our elections are secured by the most ad- ards for election infrastructure security. It di- ever-escalating program, and our right vanced and best voting technology. It author- rects the National Institute of Standards and to vote is foundational and must be izes federal research to establish and maintain Technology (NIST) and the National Science protected. the highest standards possible, and estab- Foundation (NSF) to carry out research that This bipartisan bill will initiate im- lishes a Center of Excellence in Election Sys- will increase the understanding of cyber and portant research into the security of tems to regularly and thoroughly test the secu- other threats to voting systems. It will lead to election technology, enabling us to rity and accessibility of voting systems and the development of technology, processes, take the necessary steps for every certify voting system technology. and policies for more secure and accessible American to trust that their vote is This measure passed our House Committee elections. This includes the cybersecurity of counted. on Science, Space, and Technology with different components of voting systems, end- Madam Speaker, I am glad to support unanimous support because the Committee to-end verifiable systems, voter privacy and this bill and urge my colleagues to do recognized the critical need for federal re- data protection, election auditing, interoper- the same. sources and leadership on this issue. It also ability of system technologies, and ballot track- Mr. LUCAS. Madam Speaker, I yield was endorsed by my Blue Dog Coalition be- ing. myself such time as I may consume. cause it advances our own commitment to na- Importantly, the bill also amends the Help I thank Chairwoman JOHNSON, Chair- tional security and accessible democracy. America Vote Act to expand the definition of woman SHERRILL, and Representative I thank Congresswoman SHERRILL for her voting systems to include electronic pollbooks, ANTHONY GONZALEZ for working to- leadership on this important issue, and urge voter registration databases, systems for car- gether in a bipartisan manner to full House passage. rying out post-election auditing, and related produce measured legislation that will Ms. LOFGREN. Madam Speaker, I rise in technology. This will lead to improved guid- help secure and modernize America’s support of H.R. 4990. ance to election administrators for these sys- voting systems. Voting is the bedrock of our representative tems by the Election Assistance Commission I encourage my colleagues to support democracy. The integrity of our election infra- and its partners, which include NIST. this bill, and I yield back the balance structure is essential to free and fair elections. I am pleased to support H.R. 4990 and urge of my time. Votes are cast and counted using a variety of its passage. Ms. SHERRILL. Madam Speaker, systems, from hand-marked paper ballots to The SPEAKER pro tempore. The this is a practical, bipartisan piece of direct-recording electronic machines. There is question is on the motion offered by legislation that will work to secure our a whole host of other technology that also the gentlewoman from New Jersey (Ms. elections. supports the process, including electronic SHERRILL) that the House suspend the The administration committee dis- pollbooks, voter registration databases, and rules and pass the bill, H.R. 4990, as charged this bill in February, and I other components of comprehensive systems. amended. hope I can count on robust support I support H.R. 4990, the Election Tech- The question was taken; and (two- from my colleagues there. nology Research Act of 2019, because it in- thirds being in the affirmative) the When the House passed the Help vests in science to bolster the resilience of rules were suspended and the bill, as America Vote Act nearly 20 years ago, election technology, and commend its spon- amended, was passed. we recognized that our election sys- sor, Representative SHERRILL, for authoring A motion to reconsider was laid on tems need protection. That is why that the bill. This legislation is in keeping with other the table. landmark legislation included the pro- bills this House has passed in the 116th Con- visions I already mentioned to advance gress to protect our democratic institutions, in- f research, technology, and standards de- cluding H.R. 1 (the For the People Act), H.R. ENSURING CHILDREN AND CHILD velopment for voting systems. 2722 (the SAFE Act), and H.R. 4617 (the CARE WORKERS ARE SAFE ACT We are in a new technological land- SHIELD Act). OF 2020 scape today, and our voting systems Russia attacked our democracy in 2016. need to be updated accordingly, and Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. this is the first step in that direction. confirmed that Russian GRU officers ‘‘targeted CRIST). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, NIST already has a team of experts individuals and entities involved in the admin- the unfinished business is the vote on working with the Election Assistance istration of the elections. Victims included U.S. the motion to suspend the rules and Commission on standards for voting state and local entities, such as state boards pass the bill (H.R. 7909) to facilitate ac- technology, and they are absolutely of elections (SBOEs), secretaries of state, and cess to child care services safely and qualified to pursue this research. county governments, as well as individuals securely during the COVID–19 pan- Madam Speaker, I thank my col- who worked for those entities. The GRU also demic, as amended, on which the yeas leagues today. Thank you to Rep- targeted private technology firms responsible and nays were ordered. resentative GONZALEZ for his work on for manufacturing and administering election- The Clerk read the title of the bill. this bill. related software and hardware, such as voter The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Madam Speaker, I yield back the bal- registration software and electronic polling sta- question is on the motion offered by ance of my time. tions.’’ the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Mr. CASE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to In July 2020, the Cybersecurity and Infra- BONAMICI) that the House suspend the voice my strong support for H.R. 4990, the structure Security Agency (CISA) published an rules and pass the bill, as amended. Election Technology Research Act, of which I election infrastructure risk assessment. It The vote was taken by electronic de- am a proud cosponsor. found that ‘‘compromises to the integrity of vice, and there were—yeas 387, nays 33, My return to Congress in 2019 was prompt- state-level voter registration systems, the not voting 10, as follows: ed in part by my membership in Issue One’s preparation of election data (e.g., ballot pro- [Roll No. 190] ReFormers Caucus, a nonpartisan group of gramming), vote aggregation systems, and YEAS—387 more than 200 former Members of Congress, election websites present particular risk to the Abraham Baird Bishop (NC) governors, ambassadors and cabinet mem- ability of jurisdictions to conduct elections.’’ Adams Balderson Bishop (UT) bers. This committed Caucus, whose slogan is Our elections remain under threat from for- Aderholt Barr Blumenauer Aguilar Barraga´ n Blunt Rochester ‘‘fix democracy first’’, is focused on a range of eign adversaries. In August 2020, the Director Allen Bass Bonamici reforms essential to returning government to of the United States Counterintelligence and Allred Beatty Bost the people. Security Center said that foreign states may Amodei Bera Boyle, Brendan Central to these reforms are much higher use the 2020 elections to ‘‘seek to com- Armstrong Bergman F. Axne Beyer Brady and broader participation in our elections and promise our election infrastructure for a range Babin Bilirakis Brindisi enhanced faith in the validity of our election of possible purposes, such as interfering with Bacon Bishop (GA) Brooks (IN)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:59 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.062 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4473 Brown (MD) Gooden McBath Speier Torres (CA) Wasserman b 1422 Brownley (CA) Gottheimer McCarthy Stanton Torres Small Schultz Buchanan Granger McCaul Stauber (NM) Waters AFTER RECESS Bucshon Graves (GA) McCollum Stefanik Trahan Watkins Budd Graves (LA) McEachin Steil Trone Watson Coleman The recess having expired, the House Bustos Graves (MO) McGovern Stevens Turner Weber (TX) was called to order by the Speaker pro Butterfield Green, Al (TX) McKinley Stewart Underwood Webster (FL) tempore (Mr. MFUME) at 2 o’clock and Byrne Grijalva McNerney Stivers Upton Welch Calvert Grothman Meeks Suozzi Van Drew Wenstrup 22 minutes p.m. Swalwell (CA) Westerman Carbajal Guest Meng Vargas Takano Wexton Carson (IN) Guthrie Meuser Veasey f Taylor Wild Carter (GA) Haaland Mfume Vela Carter (TX) Hagedorn Miller Thompson (CA) Williams Vela´ zquez EQUITY AND INCLUSION Cartwright Harder (CA) Mitchell Thompson (MS) Wilson (FL) Visclosky ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2019 Case Hartzler Moolenaar Thompson (PA) Wilson (SC) Wagner Casten (IL) Hastings Mooney (WV) Thornberry Wittman The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Walberg Castor (FL) Hayes Moore Tiffany Womack ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfin- Castro (TX) Heck Morelle Tipton Walden Woodall Chabot Hern, Kevin Moulton Titus Walker Yarmuth ished business is the vote on the mo- Chu, Judy Herrera Beutler Mucarsel-Powell Tlaib Walorski Young tion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 2574) Cicilline Higgins (NY) Mullin Tonko Waltz Zeldin to amend title VI of the Civil Rights Cisneros Hill (AR) Murphy (FL) NAYS—33 Act of 1964 to restore the right to indi- Clark (MA) Himes Napolitano Clarke (NY) Holding Neal Amash Davidson (OH) Lamborn vidual civil actions in cases involving Clay Hollingsworth Neguse Arrington Gaetz Massie disparate impact, and for other pur- Cleaver Horn, Kendra S. Newhouse Banks Gohmert McClintock poses, offered by the gentlewoman from Biggs Gosar Murphy (NC) Clyburn Horsford Norcross North Carolina (Ms. FOXX), on which Cohen Houlahan Nunes Brooks (AL) Green (TN) Norman Cole Hoyer Ocasio-Cortez Buck Griffith Posey the yeas and nays were ordered. Collins (GA) Hudson Olson Burchett Harris Rose, John W. The Clerk will redesignate the mo- Comer Huffman Omar Burgess Hice (GA) Roy tion. Conaway Huizenga Pallone Cheney Higgins (LA) Sensenbrenner Connolly Hurd (TX) Palmer Cline Jordan Steube The Clerk redesignated the motion. Cook Jackson Lee Panetta Cloud King (IA) Yoho The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Cooper Jacobs Pappas NOT VOTING—10 question is on the motion to recommit. Correa Jayapal Pascrell The vote was taken by electronic de- Costa Jeffries Payne Ca´ rdenas O’Halleran Timmons Courtney Johnson (GA) Pence DeFazio Palazzo Wright vice, and there were—yeas 255, nays Cox (CA) Johnson (LA) Perlmutter McHenry Riggleman 164, not voting 11, as follows: Nadler Rooney (FL) Craig Johnson (OH) Perry [Roll No. 191] Crawford Johnson (SD) Peters Crenshaw Johnson (TX) Peterson b 1412 YEAS—255 Crist Joyce (OH) Phillips Messrs. BANKS, BURGESS, and Abraham Davidson (OH) Horsford Crow Joyce (PA) Pingree Aderholt Davis, Rodney Hudson Cuellar Kaptur Pocan JOHN W. ROSE of Tennessee changed Allen Delgado Huizenga Cunningham Katko Porter their vote from ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ Amodei Demings Hurd (TX) Curtis Keating Pressley Messrs. KELLY of Mississippi, CAS- Armstrong DesJarlais Jackson Lee Davids (KS) Keller Price (NC) TRO of Texas, and Ms. BASS changed Arrington Deutch Jacobs Davis (CA) Kelly (IL) Quigley Babin Diaz-Balart Johnson (LA) Davis, Danny K. Kelly (MS) Raskin their vote from ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ Bacon Doggett Johnson (OH) Davis, Rodney Kelly (PA) Reed So (two-thirds being in the affirma- Baird Duncan Johnson (SD) Dean Kennedy Reschenthaler tive) the rules were suspended and the Balderson Dunn Jordan DeGette Khanna Rice (NY) Banks Emmer Joyce (OH) DeLauro Kildee Rice (SC) bill, as amended, was passed. Barr Engel Joyce (PA) DelBene Kilmer Richmond The result of the vote was announced Bergman Espaillat Katko Delgado Kim Roby as above recorded. Biggs Estes Keller Demings Kind Rodgers (WA) A motion to reconsider was laid on Bilirakis Ferguson Kelly (MS) DeSaulnier King (NY) Roe, David P. Bishop (NC) Finkenauer Kelly (PA) DesJarlais Kinzinger Rogers (AL) the table. Bishop (UT) Fitzpatrick Kim Deutch Kirkpatrick Rogers (KY) MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE Bost Fleischmann Kind Diaz-Balart Krishnamoorthi Rose (NY) RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS Boyle, Brendan Flores King (IA) Dingell Kuster (NH) Rouda F. Fortenberry King (NY) Doggett Kustoff (TN) Rouzer Barraga´ n (Beyer) Langevin Pocan (Raskin) Brady Foxx (NC) Kinzinger Doyle, Michael LaHood Roybal-Allard Blumenauer (Lynch) Porter (Wexton) Brindisi Frankel Kustoff (TN) F. LaMalfa Ruiz (Beyer) Lawrence Pressley (Lee Brooks (AL) Fulcher LaHood Duncan Lamb Ruppersberger Butterfield (Kildee) (CA)) Brooks (IN) Gabbard LaMalfa Dunn Langevin Rush (Kildee) Lawson (FL) Roybal-Allard Buchanan Gaetz Lamb Emmer Larsen (WA) Rutherford Chu, Judy (Evans) (Aguilar) Buck Gallagher Lamborn Engel Larson (CT) Ryan (Takano) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Rush Bucshon Garcia (CA) Latta Escobar Latta Sa´ nchez Clay (Davids Lipinski (Cooper) (Underwood) Budd Gianforte Lawson (FL) (KS)) Lofgren (Jeffries) Eshoo Lawrence Sarbanes Serrano Burchett Gibbs Lesko Cohen (Beyer) Lowenthal Espaillat Lawson (FL) Scalise (Jeffries) Burgess Gohmert Levin (CA) Estes Lee (CA) Scanlon Davis, Danny K. (Beyer) Butterfield Golden Long (Underwood) Lowey (Tonko) Sewell (AL) Evans Lee (NV) Schakowsky (DelBene) Byrne Gonzalez (OH) Lucas Ferguson Lesko Schiff DeSaulnier McEachin Calvert Gooden Luetkemeyer Trahan Finkenauer Levin (CA) Schneider (Matsui) (Wexton) Carbajal Gosar Luja´ n (McGovern) Fitzpatrick Levin (MI) Schrader Frankel (Clark Meng (Clark Carter (GA) Gottheimer Luria Watson Coleman Fleischmann Lieu, Ted Schrier (MA)) (MA)) Carter (TX) Granger Malinowski Fletcher Lipinski Schweikert Grijalva (Raskin) Moore (Beyer) (Pallone) Castor (FL) Graves (GA) Maloney, Flores Loebsack Scott (VA) Hastings Napolitano Welch Chabot Graves (LA) Carolyn B. Fortenberry Lofgren Scott, Austin (Wasserman (Correa) (McGovern) Cheney Graves (MO) Maloney, Sean Foster Long Scott, David Schultz) Payne Wilson (FL) Cisneros Green (TN) Marshall Foxx (NC) Loudermilk Serrano Jayapal (Raskin) (Wasserman (Hayes) Cline Green, Al (TX) Mast Frankel Lowenthal Sewell (AL) Khanna (Gomez) Schultz) Cloud Griffith McAdams Fudge Lowey Shalala Kirkpatrick Pingree (Clark Cole Grothman McBath Fulcher Lucas Sherman (Gallego) (MA)) Collins (GA) Guest McCarthy Gabbard Luetkemeyer Sherrill Comer Guthrie McCaul Gallagher Luja´ n Shimkus f Conaway Hagedorn McClintock Gallego Luria Simpson Connolly Harder (CA) McKinley Garamendi Lynch Sires RECESS Cook Harris Meng Garcia (CA) Malinowski Slotkin The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Correa Hartzler Meuser Garcı´a (IL) Maloney, Smith (MO) Costa Hern, Kevin Miller Garcia (TX) Carolyn B. Smith (NE) MFUME). Pursuant to clause 12(a) of Craig Herrera Beutler Mitchell Gianforte Maloney, Sean Smith (NJ) rule I, the Chair declares the House in Crawford Hice (GA) Moolenaar Gibbs Marchant Smith (WA) recess for a period of less than 15 min- Crenshaw Higgins (LA) Mooney (WV) Golden Marshall Smucker utes. Crist Hill (AR) Mucarsel-Powell Gomez Mast Soto Crow Holding Mullin Gonzalez (OH) Matsui Spanberger Accordingly (at 2 o’clock and 14 min- Cunningham Hollingsworth Murphy (FL) Gonzalez (TX) McAdams Spano utes p.m.), the House stood in recess. Curtis Horn, Kendra S. Murphy (NC)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:59 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.042 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4474 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 Newhouse Scott, Austin Torres Small Messrs. ROUDA, COSTA, DOGGETT, RECESS Norman Sensenbrenner (NM) CARBAJAL, GREEN of Texas, SEAN Nunes Shalala Trone The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Olson Turner PATRICK MALONEY of New York, Sherman ´ ant to clause 12(a) of rule I, the Chair Palmer Sherrill Upton PETERSON, and LUJAN changed their declares the House in recess for a pe- Pappas Van Drew Shimkus vote from ‘‘nay’’ to ‘‘yea.’’ riod of less than 15 minutes. Pence Simpson Wagner So the motion to recommit was Perry Accordingly (at 3 o’clock and 14 min- Slotkin Walberg agreed to. Peters Smith (MO) Walden utes p.m.) Peterson Smith (NE) Walker The result of the vote was announced Posey Smith (NJ) Walorski as above recorded. f Reed Smucker Waltz Reschenthaler MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE Soto Wasserman b 1523 Rice (NY) RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS Spanberger Schultz Rice (SC) Barraga´ n (Beyer) Langevin Pocan (Raskin) Spano Watkins AFTER RECESS Roby Blumenauer (Lynch) Porter (Wexton) Stauber Weber (TX) Rodgers (WA) (Beyer) Lawrence The recess having expired, the House Stefanik Webster (FL) Pressley (Lee Rogers (AL) Butterfield (Kildee) was called to order by the Speaker pro Steil Wenstrup (CA)) Rogers (KY) (Kildee) Lawson (FL) Rooney (FL) tempore (Mr. MFUME) at 3 o’clock and Rooney (FL) Steube Westerman Chu, Judy (Evans) (Beyer) Rose (NY) Stewart Wild 23 minutes p.m. (Takano) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Roybal-Allard Rose, John W. Stivers Williams Clay (Davids Lipinski (Cooper) (Aguilar) f Rouda Suozzi Wilson (FL) (KS)) Lofgren (Jeffries) Rush Rouzer Taylor Wilson (SC) Cohen (Beyer) Lowenthal (Underwood) EQUITY AND INCLUSION Roy Thompson (PA) Wittman Davis, Danny K. (Beyer) Rutherford Thornberry Womack (Underwood) Lowey (Tonko) Serrano ENFORCEMENT ACT OF 2019 Scalise Tiffany Woodall DeSaulnier McEachin (Jeffries) The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Schneider Tipton Yoho (Matsui) (Wexton) Sewell (AL) Schrader Titus Young Frankel (Clark Meng (Clark (DelBene) ant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfin- Schweikert Tonko Zeldin (MA)) (MA)) Trahan ished business is the vote on passage of Grijalva (Raskin) Moore (Beyer) (McGovern) NAYS—164 the bill (H.R. 2574) to amend title VI of Hastings Napolitano Watson Coleman the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to restore Adams Gomez Norcross (Wasserman (Correa) (Pallone) Aguilar Gonzalez (TX) Ocasio-Cortez Schultz) Payne Welch the right to individual civil actions in Allred Grijalva Omar Jayapal (Raskin) (Wasserman (McGovern) cases involving disparate impact, and Amash Haaland Pallone Khanna (Gomez) Schultz) Wilson (FL) for other purposes, on which the yeas Axne Hastings Panetta Kirkpatrick Pingree (Clark (Hayes) Barraga´ n Hayes Pascrell (Gallego) (MA)) and nays were ordered. The Clerk read the title of the bill. Beatty Heck Payne Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, Bera Higgins (NY) Perlmutter The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Beyer Himes Phillips pursuant to the instructions of the question is on the passage of the bill. Bishop (GA) Houlahan Pingree House in the motion to recommit, I re- The vote was taken by electronic de- Blumenauer Hoyer Pocan port the bill, H.R. 2574, back to the Blunt Rochester Huffman Porter vice, and there were—yeas 232, nays House with an amendment. Bonamici Jayapal Pressley 188, not voting 10, as follows: Brown (MD) Jeffries Price (NC) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Brownley (CA) Johnson (GA) Quigley Clerk will report the amendment. [Roll No. 192] Bustos Johnson (TX) Raskin The Clerk read as follows: YEAS—232 Ca´ rdenas Kaptur Richmond Amendment offered by Mr. SCOTT of Adams Davis, Danny K. Johnson (TX) Carson (IN) Keating Roybal-Allard Aguilar Dean Kaptur Cartwright Kelly (IL) Ruiz Virginia: Allred DeGette Katko Case Kennedy Ruppersberger Page 4, line 11, strike the quotation mark Axne DeLauro Keating Casten (IL) Khanna Rush and period at the end. Bacon DelBene Kelly (IL) Castro (TX) Kildee Ryan Page 4, after line 11, insert the following: Barraga´ n Delgado Kennedy Chu, Judy Kilmer Sa´ nchez ‘‘(c) ANTISEMITISM CONSIDERED DISCRIMINA- Bass Demings Khanna Cicilline Kirkpatrick Sarbanes TION.—In carrying out the responsibilities of Beatty DeSaulnier Kildee Clark (MA) Krishnamoorthi Scanlon the recipient under this title, the employee Bera Deutch Kilmer Clarke (NY) Kuster (NH) Schakowsky Beyer Dingell Kim Clay Langevin Schiff or employees designated under this section Bishop (GA) Doggett Kind Cleaver Larsen (WA) Schrier shall consider antisemitism to be discrimi- Blumenauer Doyle, Michael Kirkpatrick Clyburn Larson (CT) Scott (VA) nation on the basis of race, color, or national Blunt Rochester F. Krishnamoorthi Cohen Lawrence Scott, David origin as prohibited by this title.’’. Bonamici Engel Kuster (NH) Cooper Lee (CA) Serrano Boyle, Brendan Escobar Lamb Courtney Lee (NV) Sewell (AL) Mr. SCOTT of Virginia (during the F. Eshoo Langevin Cox (CA) Levin (MI) Sires reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous Brindisi Espaillat Larsen (WA) Cuellar Lieu, Ted Smith (WA) consent to dispense with the reading. Brown (MD) Evans Larson (CT) Davids (KS) Lipinski Speier The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there Brownley (CA) Finkenauer Lawrence Davis (CA) Loebsack Stanton Bustos Fitzpatrick Lawson (FL) Davis, Danny K. Lofgren Stevens objection to the request of the gen- Butterfield Fletcher Lee (CA) Dean Lowenthal Swalwell (CA) tleman from Virginia? Carbajal Foster Lee (NV) DeGette Lowey Takano There was no objection. Ca´ rdenas Frankel Levin (CA) DeLauro Lynch Thompson (CA) The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Carson (IN) Fudge Levin (MI) DelBene Massie Thompson (MS) question is on the amendment. Cartwright Gabbard Lieu, Ted DeSaulnier Matsui Tlaib Case Gallego Lipinski Dingell McCollum Torres (CA) The amendment was agreed to. Casten (IL) Garamendi Loebsack Doyle, Michael McEachin Trahan The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Castor (FL) Garcı´a (IL) Lofgren F. McGovern Underwood question is on the engrossment and Castro (TX) Garcia (TX) Lowenthal Escobar McNerney Vargas third reading of the bill. Chu, Judy Golden Lowey Eshoo Meeks Veasey Cicilline Gomez Luja´ n Evans Mfume Vela The bill was ordered to be engrossed Cisneros Gonzalez (TX) Luria Fletcher Moore Vela´ zquez and read a third time, and was read the Clark (MA) Gottheimer Lynch Foster Morelle Visclosky third time. Clarke (NY) Green, Al (TX) Malinowski Fudge Moulton Waters The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Clay Grijalva Maloney, Gallego Nadler Watson Coleman Cleaver Haaland Carolyn B. Garamendi Napolitano Welch question is on the passage of the bill. Clyburn Harder (CA) Maloney, Sean Garcı´a (IL) Neal Wexton The question was taken; and the Cohen Hastings Matsui Garcia (TX) Neguse Yarmuth Speaker pro tempore announced that Connolly Hayes McAdams NOT VOTING—11 the ayes appeared to have it. Cooper Heck McBath Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. Correa Higgins (NY) McCollum Bass McHenry Roe, David P. Costa Himes McEachin DeFazio O’Halleran Speaker, on that I demand the yeas Timmons Courtney Horn, Kendra S. McGovern Loudermilk Palazzo and nays. Wright Cox (CA) Horsford McNerney Marchant Riggleman The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Craig Houlahan Meeks ant to section 3 of House Resolution Crist Hoyer Meng b 1510 965, the yeas and nays are ordered. Crow Huffman Mfume Ms. KAPTUR, Mr. RYAN, and Ms. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, fur- Cuellar Jackson Lee Moore Cunningham Jayapal Morelle FUDGE changed their vote from ‘‘yea’’ ther proceedings on this question are Davids (KS) Jeffries Moulton to ‘‘nay.’’ postponed. Davis (CA) Johnson (GA) Mucarsel-Powell

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.029 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4475 Murphy (FL) Roybal-Allard Suozzi b 1602 son, and we were some of the thousands Nadler Ruiz Swalwell (CA) Napolitano Ruppersberger Takano Mr. REED changed his vote from of people that were evacuated from our Neal Rush Thompson (CA) ‘‘yea’’ to ‘‘nay.’’ homes. Now, thanks to the amazing Neguse Ryan Thompson (MS) So the bill was passed. work of firefighters and first respond- Norcross Sa´ nchez Titus ers, we had a house to come home to, Ocasio-Cortez Sarbanes Tlaib The result of the vote was announced Omar Scanlon Tonko as above recorded. but as we know, many others were not Pallone Schakowsky Torres (CA) A motion to reconsider was laid on as lucky. Panetta Schiff Torres Small the table. You see, the American West, includ- Pappas Schneider (NM) ing my district on the Central Coast of Pascrell Schrader Trahan PERSONAL EXPLANATION Payne Schrier Trone California, is experiencing destructive Perlmutter Scott (VA) Underwood Mr. O’HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, on Sep- wildfires where we are not just victims Peters Scott, David Vargas tember 16, 2020, I did not have a chance to of these conflagrations, but we are also Peterson Serrano Veasey cast my vote for two bills on the floor of the witnesses to the climate crisis. Phillips Sewell (AL) Vela House of Representatives. I would like the Pingree Shalala Vela´ zquez Our climate is hotter. Our country- Pocan Sherman Visclosky record to reflect that I would have voted in sides are drier, and our communities Porter Sherrill Wasserman favor of H.R. 7909, the Ensuring Children and are more vulnerable to this type of dev- Pressley Sires Schultz Child Care Workers Are Safe Act, legislation Price (NC) Slotkin Waters astation. We can’t ignore it. We can’t Quigley Smith (WA) Watson Coleman that I have cosponsored. Additionally, I would deny it, but we can pass the Climate Raskin Soto Welch have voted against the motion to recommit Action Rebate plan to reduce our car- Rice (NY) Spanberger Wexton and in favor of final passage for H.R. 2574, bon output. We can pass the bipartisan Richmond Speier Wild the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act. Rose (NY) Stanton Wilson (FL) Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Rouda Stevens Yarmuth MEMBERS RECORDED PURSUANT TO HOUSE Act, and we can pass the bipartisan RESOLUTION 965, 116TH CONGRESS NAYS—188 REPLANT Act. Barraga´ n (Beyer) Langevin Pocan (Raskin) This is not a binary choice. We can Abraham Gonzalez (OH) Norman Blumenauer (Lynch) Porter (Wexton) do both. If we don’t act, our fire sea- Aderholt Gooden Nunes (Beyer) Lawrence Pressley (Lee Allen Gosar Olson Butterfield (Kildee) (CA)) sons will turn into fire years. But if we Amash Granger Palmer (Kildee) Lawson (FL) Rooney (FL) do act with commonsense legislation in Amodei Graves (GA) Pence Chu, Judy (Evans) (Beyer) Congress, we will save not just our Armstrong Graves (LA) Perry (Takano) Lieu, Ted (Beyer) Roybal-Allard Arrington Graves (MO) homes, we will save this planet. Posey Clay (Davids Lipinski (Cooper) (Aguilar) Babin Green (TN) (KS)) Lofgren (Jeffries) Reed Rush f Baird Griffith Cohen (Beyer) Lowenthal Reschenthaler (Underwood) Balderson Grothman Rice (SC) Davis, Danny K. (Beyer) MAINLAND REGIONAL HS Banks Guest (Underwood) Lowey (Tonko) Serrano Roby (Jeffries) (Mr. VAN DREW asked and was given Barr Guthrie Rodgers (WA) DeSaulnier McEachin Sewell (AL) Bergman Hagedorn Roe, David P. (Matsui) (Wexton) permission to address the House for 1 (DelBene) Biggs Harris Rogers (AL) Frankel (Clark Meng (Clark minute and to revise and extend his re- Trahan Bilirakis Hartzler Rogers (KY) (MA)) (MA)) marks.) Bishop (NC) Hern, Kevin Rooney (FL) Grijalva (Raskin) Moore (Beyer) (McGovern) Bishop (UT) Herrera Beutler Rose, John W. Hastings Napolitano Watson Coleman Mr. VAN DREW. Mr. Speaker, I Bost Hice (GA) Rouzer (Wasserman (Correa) (Pallone) would like to recognize the special edu- Brady Higgins (LA) Roy Schultz) Payne Welch cation staff at Mainland Regional High Brooks (AL) Hill (AR) Jayapal (Raskin) (Wasserman Rutherford (McGovern) School in Linwood in South Jersey. Brooks (IN) Holding Scalise Khanna (Gomez) Schultz) Wilson (FL) Buchanan Hollingsworth Schweikert Kirkpatrick Pingree (Clark (Hayes) After being given approval by the Buck Hudson Scott, Austin (Gallego) (MA)) State and the health department, stu- Bucshon Huizenga Shimkus Budd Hurd (TX) f dents went back to school this summer Simpson Burchett Jacobs after being gone since March 13 because Smith (MO) COMMUNICATION FROM THE Burgess Johnson (LA) Smith (NE) of coronavirus. The students received Byrne Johnson (OH) CLERK OF THE HOUSE Smucker instruction in English, math, social- Calvert Johnson (SD) Spano The SPEAKER pro tempore laid be- Carter (GA) Jordan emotional skills, and physical edu- Stauber Carter (TX) Joyce (OH) fore the House the following commu- cation and health. Stefanik Chabot Joyce (PA) nication from the Clerk of the House of The education and instruction that Cheney Keller Steil Representatives: Cline Kelly (MS) Steube these students received was much- Cloud Kelly (PA) Stewart OFFICE OF THE CLERK, needed and was greatly appreciated by Cole King (IA) Stivers HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, the students and the educators alike. Collins (GA) King (NY) Taylor Washington, DC, September 16, 2020. Thompson (PA) Students were able to receive face-to- Comer Kinzinger Hon. NANCY PELOSI, Thornberry Conaway Kustoff (TN) Speaker, House of Representatives, face instruction, which for some stu- Tiffany Cook LaHood Washington, DC. dents is the key to their success. Crawford LaMalfa Tipton DEAR MADAM SPEAKER: Pursuant to the Thank you to the educators, assist- Crenshaw Lamborn Turner Curtis Latta Upton permission granted in Clause 2(h) of Rule II ants, and administrators for being so Davidson (OH) Lesko Van Drew of the Rules of the U.S. House of Representa- engaged and involved in the success of Davis, Rodney Long Wagner tives, the Clerk received the following mes- our students. It is appreciated. It is Walberg DesJarlais Loudermilk sage from the Secretary of the Senate on very much appreciated. You are appre- Diaz-Balart Lucas Walden September 16, 2020, at 2:19 p.m.: Duncan Luetkemeyer Walker ciated. You are very much appreciated. Walorski That the Senate agreed to without amend- Dunn Marshall ment H. Con. Res. 92. Thank you for all that you do and Emmer Massie Waltz what you continue to do for our com- Estes Mast Watkins With best wishes, I am, Ferguson McCarthy Weber (TX) Sincerely, munity. May God bless you and God Fleischmann McCaul Webster (FL) CHERYL L. JOHNSON, bless all those students. Flores McClintock Wenstrup Clerk. f Fortenberry McKinley Westerman f Foxx (NC) Meuser Williams HONORING ARMY COMBAT Fulcher Miller Wilson (SC) SAVE OUR HOMES—SAVE OUR VETERAN KARI PADILLA Gaetz Mitchell Wittman Gallagher Moolenaar Womack PLANET (Mr. SPANO asked and was given per- Garcia (CA) Mooney (WV) Woodall (Mr. PANETTA asked and was given mission to address the House for 1 Gianforte Mullin Yoho Gibbs Murphy (NC) Young permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his re- Gohmert Newhouse Zeldin minute and to revise and extend his re- marks.) marks.) Mr. SPANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to NOT VOTING—10 Mr. PANETTA. Mr. Speaker, over honor Army combat veteran and medic DeFazio Palazzo Timmons this August break, my family and I left Sergeant Kari Padilla. Marchant Riggleman Wright McHenry Sensenbrenner our house, not because it was vacation Sergeant Padilla honorably served O’Halleran Smith (NJ) season but because it was wildfire sea- our Nation from 2005 to 2013 with tours

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.025 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4476 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 in Iraq and Germany and helped estab- Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, as also using their faith as a guide. We lish a vital aviation field hospital sup- the grandson of a Methodist preacher, have seen what has happened with porting Middle East and Afghanistan and I would also add, whose wife—my Uighur Muslims. We are seeing the dis- deployments. grandmother—was a missionary, I am pute in Kashmir. We are seeing conflict Though no longer in uniform, she proud to rise today to present H. Res. dealing with the Israeli-Palestinian continues to serve, having been the 1090, recognizing Islam as one of the question. And, sadly, we still see Mus- community outreach coordinator for great religions of the world. lims who endure hurtful stereotypes the Post 9/11 Veterans Corps the past 4 I am proud to acknowledge that this and discrimination on this journey. years. In this capacity, she increased resolution was introduced on August But our faith teaches us to be bold, Veterans Corps participation by 35 per- 21, 2020, with three original cosponsors: to be brave, and to always choose love cent annually and their social media The honorable RASHIDA TLAIB, the hon- over hate. We will not be deterred, Mr. following by 4,000 percent. It is this orable ILHAN OMAR, and my friend who Speaker. level of dedication and excellence that is with me today, the honorable ANDRE´ I am a proud Muslim. I am a proud exemplifies her concern for other serv- CARSON. American. I am honored to be a mem- icemembers. I will say much more about the reso- ber of a very diverse and growing glob- More recently, Ms. Padilla was lution, but I do want to at this time ac- al community, and I am thankful to named president of the 9/11 Veterans knowledge my friend who’s present live in a country that enshrines the Corps, a well-deserved recognition. I from the Seventh Congressional Dis- right to practice this faith. know she will do an amazing job in this trict of Indiana. capacity and build upon her past suc- We wouldn’t have the foundation for Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman American Muslims in this country, Mr. cesses. from Indiana (Mr. CARSON), a Mr. Speaker, I cannot thank her Speaker, were it not for the contribu- wordsmith par excellence. tion of African-American Muslims. enough for her service, passion, and Mr. CARSON of Indiana. Mr. Speak- dedication. She continues to make the Scholars say 30, 40, maybe even 50 per- er, I thank Dr. GREEN, Congressman 15th District in our country a better cent of the slaves who were brought GREEN, Chairman GREEN, Judge GREEN, place to live, work, and play. here from West Africa were Muslim. Pastor GREEN, public servant AL Kari, you represent the best our Na- We see Muslims as first responders. I GREEN. tion has to offer and, today, I salute was one of them. We see Muslims who Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support you for your many sacrifices. were a part of responding to the call to of my colleagues’ resolution recog- f fight against terrorism in the post-9/11 nizing Islam as one of the great reli- reality, oftentimes thwarting potential EMERGENCY WILDFIRES AND gions of the world. attacks that you will never hear about PUBLIC SAFETY I commend my friend, Representative in the news. Muslims are on the front (Mr. LAMALFA asked and was given GREEN, for honoring Islam. This action lines in our law enforcement commu- permission to address the House for 1 helps to honor the millions of Muslims nity and in our intelligence services. minute and to revise and extend his re- of many different backgrounds who Muslims have been critical in this marks.) proudly call America home. country with establishing Islam and Mr. Speaker, as one of three Muslims Mr. LAMALFA. Mr. Speaker, 4 of the promoting self-respect, self-determina- currently serving in Congress, it is my 10 largest wildfires in California his- tion, creating your own enterprises and great privilege to speak here today in tory are currently burning as we businesses. We hear terms now like the people’s House about a special speak—3 of which are in my district. ‘‘stay woke.’’ I submit to you, Mr. faith. Though we are a minority in this For decades, our national forests Speaker, that that terminology came country, we have participated fully in have been mismanaged, turning them from the contributions and the founda- the story of our Nation since its ear- into tinderboxes that can ignite in an tions laid by African-American Mus- liest days. Even before America’s instant should lightning strike. As a lims. founding and our Declaration of Inde- result, there are more dead trees in the It began as a kernel in the inception pendence, this brilliant declaration en- State of California than there are peo- of this country, and it started to blos- shrined freedom of faith and religion ple. som in the early 1920s and 1930s, during This is a serious problem with seri- for all of us. the Great Depression. During those ous consequences. If there is a time for Today, there are Muslims in all parts times, you had variations of Islam that this body to pass a comprehensive for- of the country who are business own- was not Arabized. Because if it was an estry package, it is now. ers, who are teachers, construction Arab presenting Islam, it wouldn’t Today, the Senate Energy and Nat- workers, engineers, lawyers, judges, have been attractive. It certainly ural Resources Committee will con- elected officials. wouldn’t have been attractive to me. sider the Emergency Wildfire and Pub- The first Muslim in Congress, my lic Safety Act. This bipartisan bill, led friend, comes to mind—Keith Ellison. But the Islam that was presented was created in a way to fight against the by my colleague, JIMMY PANETTA, and I We now have sisters ILHAN OMAR and poison and toxicity of white suprem- in the House, and Senator FEINSTEIN RASHIDA TLAIB, and the list goes on, acy. Now, you have a beautiful religion and DAINES in the Senate, take great statewide and locally. with an interfaith coalition with Chris- steps to proactively manage our forests b 1615 and minimize wildfire risk in the West. tian brothers and sisters, Jewish broth- Mr. Speaker, over three million acres Throughout this COVID–19 pandemic, ers and sisters, Sikhs, Hindus, atheists, in California have burned this year as a Mr. Speaker, you would be hard- Buddhists, all coming together to result of disastrous wildfires. We have pressed to find a hospital in this great make America a better place. 150 million dead trees in California. It Nation without a Muslim healthcare Now, some people are comfortable is critical that the House considers the worker on the front lines serving fellow with talking about Islam, and in their Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Americans, not just in urban centers, critiques of Islam, they overlook the Act immediately. but in suburbia, in rural parts of our hypocrisy of their own faith. You can- f country. not really call yourself a lover of God As more and more Muslims call and show hate for others of a different RECOGNIZING ISLAM AS ONE OF America home, Mr. Speaker, we will faith. You cannot call yourself an THE GREAT RELIGIONS OF THE continue working tirelessly, guided by elected official and a representative of WORLD our faith, to ensure our great country the people if you are only committed The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. lives up to the principles of equality, to serving and representing one seg- MCADAMS). Under the Speaker’s an- compassion, and opportunity for all. ment of the population. You certainly nounced policy of January 3, 2019, the Our faith keeps us motivated every day can’t call yourself a true public servant gentleman from Texas (Mr. GREEN) is to advance these great goals. without recognizing the contributions recognized for 60 minutes as the des- Around the world, billions of Mus- that have been made by this wonderful ignee of the majority leader. lims are also engaged in this struggle, community.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.073 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4477 I salute Representative GREEN for his stand that Islam is a peaceful religion, ica has had Malcolm X on a postage bold leadership, for his visionary lead- that there are people who abuse others stamp. Of course, his name moved from ership, as a proud Christian man in the in the name of religion, but that X to Shabazz. tradition of Jesus Christ, knowing that doesn’t mean that the religion is about The Nation has honored many Amer- in my Father’s house, there are many the abuse that is being perpetrated. ican Muslims for their service and sac- mansions. I am honored today to present this rifice, including Salman Hamdani. Mr. To stand up and recognize the won- resolution, and I rise in solidarity with Hamdani was there for 9/11. He made derful religion of Islam, I commend my Muslim brothers and sisters around sacrifices on 9/11 as a first responder. him, I thank him, because we are the world. I do so because I have seen Many American Muslims are also America. them in action. civically engaged, working with their Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I In Houston, Texas, we have storms. neighbors to better their communities. thank the gentleman for his very kind When these storms have come through They are members of the Rotary Club, words. He is more than generous. I also our city—Hurricane Harvey being one the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Yes, thank him for his service in Congress. example—the Muslim community was Muslims served in the military of the He and I started out together on the right there to do all that was necessary United States of America. Financial Services Committee. He has to help others. They are members of school boards, since moved on to the Intelligence One of the greatest callings that you and they volunteer in our commu- Committee and is doing an outstanding have in any religion is to help some- nities. They actively engage in chari- job serving his country as an American body. They have adhered to the call for table giving. And I say this with some Muslim. justice. They have been there to march understanding of it, as I have seen it in Mr. Speaker, I indicated that I am in protest for freedom and justice for action. I have seen the Muslim commu- the grandson of a Methodist preacher, other people. nity not only give their in-kind serv- but I am also a very proud Baptist. My This community has been there with ices but their American dollars to wor- grandfather would not hold it against aid and comfort for people who have thy causes. me. been left homeless. They have been Religion is something that each per- In short, American Muslims and the there with aid and comfort for people son has to make decisions about for organizations they create are a part of who have suffered harm by way of their himself or herself. It is not something the fiber and fabric of the great coun- physical well-being. that we impose on people. This is a free try that I love. Muslim doctors have helped people, country, a country wherein you have Today, during this pandemic, many and I have seen the evidence of it. the right to be whatever you choose to Muslims work on the front lines, as There is a clinic in Houston, the Ibn ´ be, within the spirit of what the law al- was said by my dear brother, ANDRE Sina Clinic, and they have been assist- lows. CARSON, Congressman CARSON. They This is the case with religion. You ing people with the COVID virus. Free work on the front lines. They work as can be whatever you choose to be, be tests are being administered. essential workers. They put their lives associated with whichever religion you This community has been helpful in on the line to help others through the choose to, within the spirit of what the my city. Persons from the community pain of the pandemic. law allows. have served in public office, on city I believe that we must acknowledge I want to just say a few words about council. We have persons who are serv- and appreciate that Muslims further why I have brought this resolution. I ing as precinct judges. the diversity and success of our great have lived in this country all of my The community is there and a part of country. the greater Houston community. Hous- life. I love my country. It means some- b 1630 thing to me. I respect the words ‘‘lib- ton is a very diverse city. The Muslim To this end, I trust that persons will erty and justice for all’’ in the Pledge community enhances the diversity of join me in demonstrating solidarity of Allegiance. I respect the concept in the city of Houston. with and support for Muslim members the Gettysburg Address: ‘‘government This religion is a complete system of of the community throughout the of the people, by the people, for the strong moral convictions that pro- world by recognizing Islam as one of people.’’ motes peace, equality, and social jus- It means something to me to know tice. Islam is the second largest and the great religions of the world. that a person who came from what I fastest growing religion in the world. I hold in my hand the actual resolu- consider humble beginnings has had America is home to one of the most tion that has been filed. I will not go the opportunity to stand in the well of diverse Muslim populations. It has through the whereases, but I do want the House of Representatives. So, I within it almost every ethnicity, coun- to go to the be it resolved: ‘‘ . . . be it love my country. try, and school of thought. There are resolved . . . to demonstrate solidarity But it doesn’t mean that I overlook approximately 3.45 million Muslims of and support for members of the com- some of the things that have happened all ages living in the United States of munity of Islam in the United States to me along life’s way that were not so America. This is as of 2016; this is the and throughout the world, the House of pleasant. last information available to me. Representatives recognizes the Islamic I had persons who called themselves In an overwhelming measure, Mus- faith as one of the great religions of Christians to burn a cross in my yard. lims make a significant, positive, and the world.’’ I don’t consider them Christians. They growing contribution to our Nation. Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the called themselves Christians. We have successful Muslims in all time, but I also want to thank the I have had persons who called them- areas of our national life. Names that House leadership for the time. I do so selves Christians to say some very ugly come to mind, for a good many Ameri- because there was a time in the history things to me and do some very ugly cans, would include Kareem Abdul- of this country when a person who was things to me. Jabbar, would include one who was born into poverty, who had to suffer But let me tell you what it did not do known as Cassius Clay but became Mu- the slings and arrows of invidious dis- to me. Those persons who wore the hammad Ali. There are Muslims in all crimination, would not be allowed to hoods, who came to my yard, burned areas of life, including business, sport, stand in the House of Representatives the cross, it did not cause me to con- media, culture, medicine, law, and poli- and present a resolution honoring clude that Christianity was rep- tics. Islam. We have come a long way. resented in what they did. The people Although American Muslims make I would like to acknowledge the fact who said ugly things and did ugly up approximately 1 percent of the U.S. that we have come a long way, because things to me in the name of Christi- population, most Americans can name too many proclaim the notion that anity, they did not cause me to con- some of these prominent Muslims that nothing has changed. The mere fact clude that that is what Christianity is I have called to your attention. that I am standing here bringing this all about. Another is Malcolm X. Many persons resolution means that things have I am mentioning this because, quite don’t revere Malcolm X, but I am proud changed. Many may not agree, but candidly, I want other people to under- to say that the United States of Amer- things have changed to the extent that

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.075 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4478 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 I have got the freedom to speak my This week, our country witnessed a So we need to defend our police. We mind with this resolution on the floor cowardly evil attack on two L.A. Coun- need to defend our First Amendment of the House of Representatives. ty deputies. As the two county deputies freedoms to assemble peaceably, and So I thank all of the leadership for were sitting inside of their parked car we need to reject the cries of the mobs. acknowledging the change and allow- in Compton, California, a thug ap- Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to ing the resolution to be presented. proached their vehicle and shot them the gentleman from North Carolina With this said, I kindly and respect- point-blank. We are grateful that both (Mr. BISHOP). fully yield back the balance of my of them are expected to survive. We re- Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. Mr. time. gret that ambush, totally without jus- Speaker, I thank the gentleman from f tification, and we need to bring them Arizona. to justice. Mr. Speaker, last week, a husband RECOGNIZING LAW ENFORCEMENT I am reminded of what the British and wife awoke to see, through their OFFICERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY moralist C. S. Lewis described in his bedroom window, a brazen burglar The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under book, ‘‘The Abolition of Man,’’ where breaking into their car. The dad re- the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- he said of shallow and heartless people trieved a gun and tried to protect his uary 3, 2019, the gentleman from Ari- as being ‘‘men without chests.’’ family. He knew that the console of the zona (Mr. BIGGS) is recognized for 60 Perhaps, now, we are seeing that car being burglarized contained an- minutes as the designee of the minor- from the vicious criminals who are at- other gun, and he saw the burglar re- ity leader. tempting to single out and overthrow trieve it. They exchanged fire, and the GENERAL LEAVE our cities and, specifically, attack our confrontation had become more than Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, before I police force. even that prepared father could handle. begin, I ask unanimous consent that Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman So it became the responsibility of Ryan all Members may have 5 legislative from Ohio (Mr. DAVIDSON). Hendrix. days in which to revise and extend Mr. DAVIDSON of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, The 8-year veteran of the Henderson their remarks and include extraneous I thank the gentleman from Arizona. County Sheriff’s Department arrived materials on the topic of my Special Mr. Speaker, I rise to support our with two other deputies at 2:54 a.m. Order. First Amendment. I want to support last Thursday. They spotted the sus- The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there the ability of people to assemble peace- pect, and at first he appeared to com- objection to the request of the gen- ably, but I also want to address the ply with commands, and then suddenly tleman from Arizona? mobs that we have seen in our streets raised a weapon and fired. There was no objection. and, fundamentally, to defend our po- The first shot struck Deputy Hendrix Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to lice. in the face before his fellow officers re- the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. What is it that the mob wants? It is turned fire and shot the gunman dead. WAGNER). hard to answer. There is a disparate set Investigation revealed that the gun- Mrs. WAGNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank of views. Some have called them anar- man was a career criminal, wanted by the gentleman for very graciously al- chists. They don’t really have anarchy South Carolina Probation, with arrests lowing me to speak and for yielding to in mind; they just don’t agree on which in four States. me. leftwing ideology they want to support. Ryan Philip Hendrix, 35, Marine Mr. Speaker, I rise today in memory But they also are obeying their leaders. Corps vet, was declared brain dead the of Police Officer Tamarris L. They are doing what their leaders have next day. Ryan’s 6-year-old son and 9- Bohannon, who gave his life and serv- sent them to do. year-old daughter will live with only ice to his city on August 30 of 2020. His One of our House colleagues, in June fragmentary memories of their father. untimely and tragic killing is a pro- of 2018, said: ‘‘You get out and you cre- Ryan’s fiancee will not have that Octo- found loss to the people of St. Louis. ate a crowd. And you push back on ber wedding that they planned. Mr. Speaker, according to the St. them, and you tell them they are not This murder is not an isolated story. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, welcome anymore, anywhere.’’ Two hundred law enforcement officers there have been nine—nine—St. Louis Isn’t that exactly what the mob is have died in the line of duty in 2020, up police officers shot since June 1 of 2020. doing? Little old ladies trying to have 90 percent. We grieve Officer Bohannon’s sacrifice, a meal on a sidewalk here in our Na- Nothing I say can ennoble the sac- and we honor him for his sense of duty, tion’s Capital have people shouting at rifices of those lost nor of the many his dedication, his generosity, and his them—mob intimidation. others injured. Those sacrifices, that heroism. And it gets much worse, as my col- service, speak for themselves. Known as ‘‘T’’ by his family and league, Mrs. WAGNER, just highlighted. But I can speak to a fast-growing ‘‘Bo’’ by his squad, Officer Bohannon Nine police officers shot just in St. cancer in our civic spirit, an activism was a loyal St. Louisan and a hard Louis alone. We all saw the horrific at- that exploits the wound to our national worker who inspired admiration for his tacks in Los Angeles over the week- psyche born of racial injustice in our diligent service. With his wife, Alexis, end—unprovoked, unjustified, unjusti- history, an activism that draws explic- he lived and raised his three wonderful fiable, indefensible, yet people defend itly on Marxism and attacks core foun- children—Tamara, Ayden, and Tylor— them and are reluctant to condemn dations of our society, including, and in the city that he protected as a police them. This is what the mob is doing. perhaps foremost, the consensus of sup- officer of the St. Louis Metropolitan This is not the First Amendment. port for law enforcement, a consensus Police Department. He was a veteran of This is not the right of the people to that abides in every nation capable of the force, serving with distinction for assemble peaceably. And our law en- surviving. It manifests itself in riots, more than 3 years. forcement protect that right. They de- looting, arson, destruction, shootings, Officer Bohannon’s heroic actions to fend freedom. They protect and defend and killings. keep the citizens of St. Louis safe are our communities. They do it heroically I can contend against it along with the truest example of selfless service. I with bravery every day and, so often, you. I have introduced into Congress extend my deepest condolences to his thanklessly. the No Riots Act to criminalize inju- fellow officers, his many friends, his We are right to give them thanks. ries not only for Federal but, also, loving wife and parents, and the rest of They put their lives in harm’s way. State and local law enforcement offi- his family. We cannot repay him for his And they call out their colleagues cers and to extend the death penalty sacrifice, but we will always remember when they can when they break the for killing an officer in the course of his love for our city and the people who trust of their departments. interstate rioting. live there. We do need to reform some laws. We But we cannot return to law enforce- Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I will begin do need to hold some individuals ac- ment officers the protection they de- by recognizing the heroic men and countable, but the idea that we can lay serve if leadership of our country is di- women who serve in the L.A. County at the feet of all police these charges vided on the institution of police—in- Sheriff’s Department as well. that are made is abhorrent. deed, if the people are divided. All

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.077 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4479 must back the blue. If we do not, then in peaceful communities are held ac- watching those police? Who does the God have mercy on us, because the countable for their actions. shop owner call and how do the police criminals and thugs like the one who Michigan’s First District proudly respond with those kinds of ideas out took Ryan Hendrix’s life assuredly will stands with our law enforcement com- there? Do you call Antifa? I don’t not spare yours or those of your loved munity, and we honor the good work know. I wouldn’t. ones. that so many brave men and women do A civil society needs rule of law. We This country is exceptional, the rec- every day, keeping strong that thin need policemen who uphold those laws ognition that every human is special blue line which defends against chaos and are willing to serve to protect the and has fundamental rights. Our Na- and anarchy threatening our society. citizens. Our lawmakers need to pre- tion is a story of refining those rights I fervently urge the Department of serve the rule of law, not weaken it. in practice so that everyone gets a fair Justice and the FBI to take all avail- The dangerous policies of the left shake, that everyone’s life is protected able further action to ensure that the espouse no police, free this, free that, and respected. rioters, and especially those funneling free healthcare, it is not your fault. But elemental to that, what we can- money to them, are held accountable This does not lead to the utopia they not do without are those who defend us to the maximum extent allowable by promise. from chaos and keep order, those whose the law. In reality, this leads to the Hugo service, whose sacrifice most Ameri- Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to Chavez/Nicholas Maduro’s Venezuela, cans understand and honor. the gentleman from North Carolina and that is a short period of time. Peo- Most Americans know that Ryan (Mr. BUDD). ple don’t think it can happen here, but Hendrix is a hero and so are all who Mr. BUDD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the we need our policemen. Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate serve in blue. Most Americans know gentleman for yielding. He is a great the gentleman’s comments and his ef- that the they are highest caliber chairman, but also a great friend. I forts and service in Congress as he pre- among us and that they deserve our re- thank him, also, for organizing this pares to retire soon. I thank the gen- spect and support. Special Order. Over the past several months we have tleman, Mr. YOHO. I back the blue. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the witnessed lawless anarchists take to from Wisconsin (Mr. TIFFANY), who on the streets and destroy historic monu- gentleman from North Carolina. the other end of the spectrum is fairly ments, vandalize and burn small busi- Mr. Speaker, in the sweltering heat new to Congress. of Arizona deserts, we have multiple nesses, physically assault a U.S. Sen- Mr. TIFFANY. Mr. Speaker, I thank jurisdictions of police officers who ator and his wife, harass regular Amer- the gentleman from Arizona for yield- come to the rescue, not just armed icans who are simply enjoying an out- ing some time to me here this after- with guns, but they will save those who door dinner, and so on. The fact that noon. are fighting through the desert, fight- this activity goes on and is tolerated First, we are setting up a picture ing through the heat, whether they are by Democrat-run cities is outrageous here on the easel to the right of me. here in this country illegally or not. and an insult to every law-abiding cit- And what you see there are not the Whether they are with the Customs izen of this land. wildfires in California. What you see is and Border Patrol, whether they are We need to double the Federal pen- a picture from my district in western with ICE, whether they are with the alties for those who riot and loot. We Wisconsin of Minneapolis at the end of county sheriff’s department or our need to strip Federal funding from cit- May as the city was burning. local municipal police departments, ies that refuse to confront this lawless- Organized anarchist groups like they provide first aid assistance and ness in their communities. And we Antifa have been engaging in system- lifesaving assistance, and I pay homage need to put those dithering local offi- atic criminal activity including as- to them. cials on the hook legally for the car- saults, widespread property damage Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman nage that they allow to happen. and destruction, repeated looting, and from Michigan (Mr. BERGMAN). There are people here in Washington attacks on law enforcement and others. who stand for law and order and are b 1645 They have turned parts of Kenosha, trying to regain control of our streets, Madison, and Milwaukee in my State, Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank starting with our President. Violence as well as neighborhoods just over the the gentleman for yielding. like this has no place in America. We border in Minnesota, into post-apoca- There is no more important element have to get back to resolving our issues lyptic hellscapes. of our society that the Founders guar- through debate and democracy, not And if I can take just a minute. anteed us than safety and security. I through looting and lawlessness. Growing up in western Wisconsin, I rise today in strong support of our Na- If officials in Democrat-run cities will never forget, it was always a treat tion’s law enforcement officers and won’t stand up for all of their citizens, to go into the Twin Cities of Saint join my colleagues in strongly con- then under the leadership of President Paul and Minneapolis. And in the Mid- demning the recent attacks on those Trump, Republicans will. west, Minneapolis and Saint Paul were who serve and protect our commu- Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to always known as the best of the big nities. the gentleman from Florida (Mr. cities to live in. They can no longer say Peaceful protests have been hijacked YOHO). that after what has happened here in by malevolent radical organizations Mr. YOHO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the 2020. like Antifa, while national political gentleman for yielding. These are not mostly peaceful pro- and media-driven narratives have fur- Mr. Speaker, a country as ours, a tests, and Antifa is not a myth. These ther incited violence against the very constitutional republic, requires a citi- are orchestrated assaults on civil soci- people who patrol our streets, stop vio- zenry that is well-educated and are re- ety and the American way of life de- lent criminals, and keep our commu- sponsible. signed to spread terror and chaos, to nities safe. That is what the blue does. I questioned a colleague of mine from destroy businesses, and to shake the It is imperative law enforcement New York about her policies calling for very foundations of our country. have the means necessary to inves- defunding of the police. The city of First, it was Minneapolis and At- tigate who and which organizations are New York cut funding to the city po- lanta, then Portland and Seattle, then funding, organizing, and inciting these lice department by $1.5 billion, but my Milwaukee, Madison and even Kenosha. riots occurring in our country. colleague from New York said that is Tomorrow it could be your community. As Members of Congress, it is our not sufficient, we need 100 percent So let’s talk about those cities here sworn duty to defend our Nation from defunding of the police, while at the in Wisconsin. enemies both foreign and domestic. same time advocating for people to Madison: In June, a violent mob van- While we must always protect the right shoplift if you are hungry. dalized the State capitol and other to peacefully protest, it is imperative My question is: Do you suppose that State buildings, shattering windows, that people or entities funneling is okay for the shop owner? Do you hurling Molotov cocktails and destroy- money to cause disruption and damage suppose it is okay for our children ing historic monuments. In fact, it was

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00049 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.078 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4480 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 very fortunate that the Molotov cock- damaged or destroyed racking up a $50 to the alligators with the hopes that he tail that went into the county building million price tag. Thank you, Presi- will be eaten last. That is what is being just off from the State capitol did not dent Trump, for coming to Kenosha lived out in some American cities be- lead to a loss of life. and offering your assistance. fore our eyes today. They attacked a statue of Hans The destruction has left business Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman Christian Heg, a statue that I was just owners devastated and wondering from Texas (Mr. CLOUD), my friend. walking past a few months ago as a whether they will have the money to Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Speaker, who would State legislator in Wisconsin. He was a rebuild and stay in the neighborhood. have thought—who would have Civil War veteran, immigrant, aboli- The Uptown neighborhood, home to a thought—that today we would be here tionist who fell at Chickamauga fight- majority of minority-owned businesses, discussing this topic. ing to end slavery and preserve the was among those hardest hit. One news When I ran for office, when I stood in Union. Yes, they tore it down. His report described the plight of one local this room for the first time and took nearly 100-year-old sculpture was de- business owner: the oath of office to protect and defend capitated and thrown into a lake by ri- Inside La Estrella Supermarket, owner the Constitution, I expected that we oters. Abel Alejo surveyed the water and smoke would have many discussions on this The mob also tore down the statue of damage his shop suffered. Carpeting in a floor with deeply held opposing views Lady Forward, a monument that is em- hallway was spongy with water as he sur- on the many issues facing our Nation. blematic of Wisconsin being the first veyed packages of spoiling food that needed I did not expect that one of those clearing out last week. A few pinatas still issues would be whether this, the law- State to ratify the women’s suffrage hung overhead from an intact part of the movement. The original Lady Forward making body of our Nation, expects the otherwise broken ceiling in the closed store. laws to be followed, or whether or not statue was first placed in front of the Wauwatosa: According to police, a Wisconsin State Capitol in 1895. we support the brave men and women mob targeted the home of a Wauwatosa tasked with enforcing that law. And for my friends on the other side policeman, vandalizing his home, phys- of the aisle, whether you are a Repub- Policing is a noble and necessary pro- ically assaulting him, then firing a fession of any civil society, a profes- lican or Democrat, if you don’t think shotgun through his back door. sion which, by and large, is full of dedi- they are going to come for you at some A Democrat state representative par- cated, courageous citizens who have point, go ask my former colleague ticipated in the unrest and actually ac- chosen to serve their community, often Democrat State Senator Tim Car- cused the officer, who lives in the home putting aside higher-paying professions penter, who was beaten by rioters dur- with his girlfriend and two children, of to work in one of the most difficult, ing that unrest and needed surgery to aggressively provoking the confronta- challenging jobs, daily prioritizing recover. He told the media, ‘‘I don’t tion by ‘‘choosing to come out of his public safety over their own. know what happened . . . all I did was home.’’ It is these families for whom the stop and take a picture . . . and the So I think about my district. I was greatest sound one hears is the sound next thing I’m getting five-six punches, talking to the mayor a short week of Velcro at the end of each shift as getting kicked in the head.’’ That is a after I was sworn in on May 19, when their loved one removes their body Democratic State senator. the riots were happening in Min- armor and takes up their other most Roving bands of thugs looking to in- neapolis, and he was wondering, along important duty of being a mom, dad, timidate residents torched and looted with lots of other citizens in St. Croix brother, or sister. For too many of our State Street. The State Street riots and Polk Counties on the western edge law enforcement officers’ families, be- proceeded when they tore down the of Wisconsin, are the riots of Min- cause of the violence against police, statues around the beautiful State cap- neapolis going to come to our commu- they are now denied the joy of that mo- itol in Madison, Wisconsin. nity? We can only hope that that does ment. But let’s talk about Bernell Tram- not happen here as we close out 2020. Each day, we see images of organized mell. In July, Mr. Trammell, an activ- Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, when I re- armed riots embracing lawlessness, de- ist known for carrying handmade signs flect on the incident of the weekend stroying property, sowing hate, and in- supporting President Trump, was when the two L.A. County deputies stilling fear, all in order to advance a gunned down in broad daylight in Mil- were shot and they had to tend to each political agenda. waukee. To date, no arrests have been other and apply first aid to each other, The barrage of destruction and vio- made. and they were rushed to the hospital, lence in major American cities is al- Mr. Trammell is an African Amer- the rigid cruelty of the mob that gath- most nonstop. The rioters across the ican. And, in fact, I am quite sure he ered at the hospital trying to block an Nation have cost over $1 billion in supported an African American former ambulance from accessing the emer- damages and claimed numerous lives. state senator that I used to work with. gency room, accompanied with hateful In one of the latest acts of horrific There is growing public concern that shouts and taunts, as evidence of the violence, two Los Angeles County sher- the violence and lawlessness that has loss of goodness in our society. iff’s deputies were shot and critically plagued Milwaukee for months has ren- The feckless leaders of some States injured as they sat in their patrol car dered local officials either unwilling or and cities that have not only permitted at a metro rail station Saturday unable to thoroughly investigate his the destruction of property, but the evening. Protesters gathered outside murder and bring those responsible for wasting of lives and livelihoods are the hospital where the deputies were his death to justice. And that includes without heart, as well. In many cases receiving treatment, some chanting: the top law enforcement official in they have not only stood by watching ‘‘Death to police. Kill the police.’’ This Wisconsin. We are hearing nothing the wreckage, they have fomented the is shameful and cannot be tolerated. from him in regard to Bernell Tram- rioting, looting, the murder, and may- It is notable that this mass chaos is mell. hem. occurring in cities with leftist leaders The failure of local officials to appre- who have been tragically slow at con- hend any suspects a month after this b 1700 demning the violence. brutal crime was committed sets a dan- One of the enemies of a free society is This lack of leadership, we might gerous precedent, one that could en- one who will appease people who are in- add, whether by intentional design or courage more politically motivated tent on destroying the rights of indi- perhaps by good but misguided inten- killings and undermine the civil rights viduals within that society, those who tions, has kept entire segments of our protections afforded to all Americans. permit and encourage by inaction population in failing schools, in crime- I have asked Attorney General Barr criminal conduct. ridden communities, and in genera- and the U.S. Attorney to initiate a We saw this when the Portland tional cycles of poverty and depend- civil rights investigation into his kill- mayor, Ted Wheeler, was driven from ency. ing as they did into the shooting of his own home because the mob had We owe it to the American people to Jacob Blake. turned on him. He is not alone. protect their homes, families, and busi- Kenosha: During the Kenosha riots, Winston Churchill once noted that an nesses from any mob that seeks to tear at least 56 businesses were severely appeaser is someone who feeds others down our society.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00050 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.080 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4481 We owe it to our hardworking police Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the of laws, the existence of the govern- officers, who dedicate their lives to up- gentleman for his comments. ment will be imperiled if it fails to ob- holding the law, to give them respect Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman serve the law scrupulously. . . . If the and provide them with the resources, from Indiana (Mr. BANKS), my friend. government becomes a lawbreaker, it training, and support they need to do Mr. BANKS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my breeds contempt for law; it invites their jobs safely and effectively. colleague and friend from the great every man to become a law unto him- This is why I stand with the Amer- State of Arizona (Mr. BIGGS) for orga- self; it invites anarchy. . . . Crime is ican people, with our law enforcement, nizing this Special Order so we can contagious.’’ and will oppose any attempt to, in a focus on the civil unrest that has en- Mr. Speaker, let’s just look at the matter of fact or even in simply imag- veloped our Nation in recent months. lawlessness perpetrated by our own ining, defund the police. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all of government that the American people Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the my colleagues who have already shared have had to endure and for which, re- gentleman for being here tonight. I ap- their thoughts on how we can stop the grettably, I have had a front-row seat preciate his comments. unrest and restore law and order. for in my career here in Congress: Fast Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman Too many Americans are home to- and Furious; the IRS attacks on con- from Virginia (Mr. CLINE), my friend. night worried about what will happen servatives; Benghazi, where four Amer- Mr. CLINE. Mr. Speaker, I thank if a violent mob descends on their com- icans died; Hillary Clinton’s email Chairman BIGGS for organizing this munity or on their small business. scandal; the attacks on the press of evening. That is why I join my friends here to- James Rosen, James Risen, and Sharyl Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support night and rise up to voice my concerns Attkisson; the unmasking of American of our men and women in law enforce- about leftwing activists running citizens; Russia-gate; Ukraine-gate; ment and to call for the restoration of through our streets rioting, looting, and now, Obama-gate. the rule of law in this country. and destroying people’s livelihoods. Who has paid the time for the crime? Over the past several months, we But what concerns me the most is What we are witnessing today in have heard politicians, pundits, and that we are not holding them account- many of America’s Democratic-run cit- riot participants vilifying our Nation’s able for their actions. That is why I ies are the repercussions of years of law enforcement officers, brave men have written a bill that would strip a lawlessness and amnesty in Wash- and women who have sworn an oath to rioter caught and convicted of looting, ington, D.C. protect and serve their communities. vandalism, or violence of coronavirus Recently, I had a woman leave me a We must remember that words have unemployment benefits. voice mail saying she ‘‘thinks it is to- consequences, especially when those While we all support the right to pro- tally okay for her to come with her words are uttered by Members in this test peacefully, I know I speak for my gun and shoot me in the head.’’ Only a Chamber. colleagues and my constituents when I couple days later, two L.A. County The overwhelming majority of police say it is time to put a stop to the de- sheriffs were shot in the head. officers are good people. These men and struction of American cities and leav- Do you know what happened as those women do the right job for the right ing the taxpayers and small business deputies were fighting for their lives? reasons, and the people of Virginia’s owners as the ones who are holding the The mob was blocking the entrance to Sixth District strongly support these bag. the emergency room, chanting: ‘‘We brave men and women. We have seen My bill is called the Support Peace- hope they die. We hope they die.’’ Back the Blue rallies spring up across ful Protest Act. Not only would it hold That is how little regard the mob has the Commonwealth. those rioting and looting accountable for the rule of law and their fellow man Following the ambush of two sheriff’s by preventing them from receiving en- in their disavowment of the greatest deputies in L.A. County this past week- hanced unemployment benefits, but it country in the world, the United States end, I was moved to speak today to would also force those arrested and of America. urge my colleagues to recommit them- convicted to pay the costs of policing President Trump is right: We must selves to honoring those in blue. these spectacles. restore law and order. We must defend According to the Officer Down Memo- It is time to force these rioters to our police, not just by fully funding rial Page, 193 members of law enforce- face the financial costs of their ac- them but by increasing the criminal ment have been killed this year in the tions. They need to feel the con- penalties for assaulting officers, bring- line of duty, nearly 40 of whom were as sequences of their actions. ing violent groups like Antifa and BLM a result of a gunshot wound. I offer this piece of legislation as to justice, and applying existing Fed- These brave souls were moms, dads, part of a solution to stop the rioting eral laws like RICO statutes to combat brothers, sisters, husbands, and wives, and restore law and order across our the patterned commission of violent each with a story, and each laid down Nation. The civil unrest is dangerous, crime. their life for their fellow citizens. and it must come to an end. Ronald Reagan wisely said: ‘‘We Their deaths bring no more holidays, Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my must reject the idea that every time a no more anniversaries, no more birth- friend and colleague, Mr. BIGGS, for let- law is broken, society is guilty rather days, simply no more days. ting me share about my bill. I hope than the lawbreaker. It is time to re- Regardless of race, gender, or creed, that all of my colleagues on both sides store the American precept that each police officers are there in times of cri- of the aisle will consider adding their individual is accountable’’ for his or sis. They very literally answer the call names to it. her actions. and run toward the sounds of danger Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. BIGGS, once I strongly support law enforcement. I while others run from them. again, for holding this important Spe- firmly disavow the groups and individ- Too many have given their last full cial Order hour on what is on the top of uals funding, enabling, and partaking measure in the line of duty, only to the minds of so many of the American in mob violence. And I call on my col- have their memory disgraced with calls people. leagues on the other side of the aisle to to defund and dismantle our police de- Thank you. God bless. do the same. partments, which by doing so would de- Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank the Mr. Speaker, I say to the men and stroy the peace in which Americans are gentleman from Indiana (Mr. BANKS) women in blue and brown: Thank you. blessed to live. for his words and also for his work on Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I thank my Some in this Chamber have been ac- the legislation that I think will be very good friend and colleague from Ari- tually pushing an antipolice agenda. important. zona, Representative GOSAR, for his Mr. Speaker, I am tired of folks play- Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman comments. ing politics with people’s lives. Over from Arizona (Mr. GOSAR), my friend Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentleman the past few months, we have seen too and my seatmate from Arizona. from Georgia (Mr. HICE), my friend. much death, too much destruction, and Mr. GOSAR. Mr. Speaker, I thank Mr. HICE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I too much division. We must restore the Chairman BIGGS for yielding to me. thank Chairman BIGGS for yielding. rule of law in this country, and we In 1928, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Look, we have all seen the out-of- must get our country back on track. Louis Brandeis said: ‘‘In a government control left hijacking our cities across

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00051 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.081 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4482 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 the Nation, and we know where the Imagine, if you are an owner of these Police Officer Destin Legieza; bottom line ends. It is organizations businesses who invested a lifetime of Animal Control Officer Darrian May like Antifa, where they are targeting savings, waking up to their places of Young; police officers, burning down buildings, work being destroyed through no fault Police Officer Christopher Eric destroying private property, besieging of their own. Ewing; Federal buildings, attacking innocent Here is my question: Why have Police Officer Kaia LaFay Grant; civilians. We have seen what happened Democrats remained silent on con- Police Officer Alan Daniel McCollum; Police Officer Katherine Mary Thyne. with the police in L.A. and the chants demning these acts of violence? I have two questions, Mr. Speaker: that took place there. Is it any coincidence that there is Where is the NBA? Where are those But all this type of behavior does not not one Democrat standing with us to- names? Where are the names I just happen in a vacuum. It doesn’t happen night? Where are they? They are not read of the 43 police officers who have in a vacuum. here. died in the line of duty this year? I In fact, we are seeing all of this I would submit that this is a preview want to know that. I want to know fueled by reckless rhetoric, much of it of coming attractions to cities and where those names are. coming from our Democratic col- towns all across our great country if My second question is: Where is the leagues, where they say things like: All this lawlessness is allowed to continue. Speaker? Where is the Speaker of the cops are evil, all cops are bad, and cries Now is the time to support law en- House? Where is this body? Why aren’t to defund the police. forcement, not defund law enforce- we on the floor voting on a resolution The result we are watching? Record ment. honoring these fallen 43? Why aren’t we numbers of police murdered and killed Now is the time to enforce our laws standing up for law and order? Why across the country, record numbers in- and put those criminals behind bars if aren’t we standing up for security in jured. they destroy private property. our streets? Why are we instead turn- Yet, the left is still calling to defund Now is the time to get back to we, ing over this country to mob rule? the police. Rather than condemn this the people, not we, the criminals, not These names matter too, Mr. Speak- lunacy that is happening in our coun- we, the government, not we, the politi- er. try, the majority continues to appease, cian. Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to continues to fuel this horrible behav- In closing, you do not build up Amer- the gentleman from Texas (Mr. GOH- ior. ica by tearing down America. MERT). In fact, the chairman of the Judici- Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to Mr. GOHMERT. Mr. Speaker, an arti- ary Committee won’t even admit that the gentleman from Texas (Mr. ROY), cle from the Federalist by Joy Pullman Antifa violence exists. He calls it a who will be speaking as fast as a Texan today points out: ‘‘Contrary to cor- myth. It is unthinkable. can speak. porate media narratives, up to 95 per- Where is the leadership of the Demo- Mr. ROY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the cent of this summer’s riots are linked cratic Party? Where is the Speaker of gentleman from Arizona for yielding. to Black Lives Matter activism, ac- the House, for that matter? She has Detective James Skernivitz; cording to data collected by the Armed consistently downplayed this crisis Police Officer Tamarris Leon-Wesley Conflict Location and Event Data that is happening in our streets. Bohannon; Project. . . . Of the 633 coded as riots, It is time that we have leadership Sergeant Ricardo Perez-Ortiz; 88 percent are recorded as involving here. It is time that we address the Police Officer Edelmiro Garza, Jr.; Black Lives Matter activists.’’ issues. The Speaker, frankly, should be Police Officer Ismael Chavez; So all of these corporations that are ashamed of the absolute failure to ad- Police Officer Anthony Dia; donating money, it is very clear: They dress this horrific behavior that is hap- Sergeant Craig Vincent Johnson; are helping a Marxist organization pening and the unrest that is hap- Wildlife Officer Julian Keen, Jr.; whose ultimate goal will be to relieve pening in our country. Deputy Sheriff James H. Blair; these corporations of all of their pri- In fact, when the Senate passed seri- Sergeant Damon Gutzwiller; vate property. Lieutenant Stephen P. Williams; Way to go. ous legislation, the Speaker went out Early estimates from insurance agen- Police Officer Waldis ‘‘Jay’’ Johnson; to say that the Senate is trying to cies apparently say they have set a Police Officer Nathan James Lyday; commit murder. My question is, how record in destruction for what the Police Officer Cody N. Holte; many murders have occurred on the media—the alt-left media or main- Police Officer Michael S. Mosher; streets of America since she made that stream, whichever you prefer—say is Lieutenant Glenn Dale Hutto, Jr.; statement? just mainly peaceful uprisings. It is as- Police Officer Dan Walters; Rather than work with us, the Demo- tounding what has been occurring. crats and the Speaker call us and the Police Officer Justin Putnam; This article from The Daily Signal President domestic enemies and en- Officer Breann Leath; points out, from yesterday, that if you emies of the state, and that is just to- Commander Greg Carnicle; go to the website for Black Futures tally unacceptable. Sergeant Ben Jenkins; Lab, a venture of Black Lives Matter It is time that we restore law and Police Officer Christopher Ryan founder Alicia Garza, and click on do- order in this country, and it begins by Walsh; nate, ‘‘it will ask you to send your restoring it right here in this Chamber. Sergeant James R. O’Connor, IV; money to an obscure organization, the Corporal Brent William Perry b 1715 Chinese Progressive Association, ex- Scrimshire; plaining that ‘Black Futures Lab is a Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to Corporal Andrew J. Gillette; fiscally sponsored project of the Chi- the gentleman from South Carolina Officer David Kellywood; nese Progressive Association.’ ’’ (Mr. NORMAN), my good friend. Police Officer Nick O’Rear; So there you go. You are not only Mr. NORMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want Trooper Joseph Jon Bullock; helping destroy America and eliminate every American to look at this picture Deputy Sheriff Richard Edward Whit- private property that you own, you are of what, sadly, has become ‘‘the new ten; also helping the Chinese Communist normal’’ in many cities across our Officer Tiffany-Victoria Bilon Party. great Nation. The one common thread Enriquez; Congratulations for all of those. You for all of these cities is that they are Officer Kaulike Kalama; are not making Black lives matter; you run by liberal Democrats who tolerate Public Safety Officer Jackson Ryan are helping the Chinese Communist these criminal activities: buildings de- Winkler; Party. liberately being set on fire, department Captain Stanley Curtis Elrod; Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I yield to stores being looted of merchandise, po- Police Officer Bryan Brown; the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. lice cars, as you see here, being bashed Corporal Bryant Searcy; PERRY). and torched, and our brave law enforce- Police Officer Sheena Dae Mr. PERRY. Mr. Speaker, I thank ment officers being executed in broad Yarbrough-Powell; the gentleman from Arizona for yield- daylight. Trooper Caleb Starr; ing.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.083 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4483 Mr. Speaker, I am still sickened by ney General; a newspaper article dated BRIAN BABIN, D.D.S., the sight that I saw, that all of us saw: September 15, 2020; another one, dated TED BUDD, two officers who showed up to work, an August 26, 2020; another piece which is DOUG COLLINS, assassination attempt, attempted exe- undated, which I will get the date for; BOB GIBBS, JEFF DUNCAN, cution, just for sitting in their car, for and then another series of articles as STEVE KING, honoring their pledge to preserve and well. Members of Congress. protect the safety of the citizens they CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, serve. Washington, DC, September 10, 2020. [From Fox News, Sept. 15, 2020] Hon. WILLIAM P. BARR, For the past month, law enforcement LA COUNTY SHERIFF SAYS PROTESTERS CALL- Attorney General, officers have endured attacks, have ING FOR AMBUSHED DEPUTIES’ DEATH IS ‘AL- U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC. MOST WORTHY OF ISIS’ been shot at, bottles thrown at, fire- DEAR ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR: We write works, glass bottles, powerful lasers at- to share our deep concerns regarding the on- (By Joshua Nelson) tempted to blind them. going violence that has gripped American Protesters showing up at the hospital This year, as my friend from Texas cities and threatened the rule of law across treating two deputies who were shot in an said, 43 law enforcement officers have our nation. ANTIFA and other left-wing an- ambush and calling for their death is ‘‘some- been killed, nearly twice the rate of archist groups have unleashed a barrage of thing almost worthy of ISIS,’’ said Los An- last year. totalitarian attacks on our country in recent geles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva on And what is coming from the other months, including accosting a sitting U.S. Tuesday. Senator, hijacking peaceful rallies, orga- ‘‘It’s just a new low for the hatred that I side of the Chamber here? You got it. nizing armed riots, destroying property, don’t think anyone in this nation has ever Silence. burning buildings, stealing livelihoods, and seen before,’’ Villanueva told ‘‘America’s When elected leaders refuse to stand spreading hate. Newsroom.’’ with our law enforcement officers and It is clear that these individuals are well- ‘‘We just don’t expect it on our own shores continue to bend to the whims of vio- funded and supported by a national network and we have been here fighting to save peo- lent mobs, we lose our civilization. We of left-wing activists committed to perpe- ple’s lives across the county—it doesn’t mat- lose our civil society. trating violence and furthering anarchy in ter who you are and it is not something we Now, you think, when you watch TV our streets. As such, we urge you to imme- are going to expect or tolerate,’’ Villanueva diately open an investigation to identify and maybe you see it on the news, it is hap- said. prosecute all individuals and groups respon- Villanueva on Monday challenged NBA pening far away, thousands of miles sible for funding and organizing these terror- star LeBron James to match and double the away across our country. But right in istic acts that are wreaking havoc on our na- reward money, which is currently up to Pennsylvania where I live, south cen- tion. $200,000, that is being offered for information tral Pennsylvania, just on Monday, un- As you know, 18 U.S. § 2101 makes it a fed- on the gunman who ambushed and shot two fortunately, violent riots came to the eral crime punishable by up to five years in deputies over the weekend. streets on the heels of the death of Ri- prison to incite a riot; organize, promote, en- ‘‘This challenge is to LeBron James. I cardo Munoz, a mentally ill 27-year-old courage, participate in, or carry on a riot; want you to match that and double that re- commit any act of violence in furtherance of who was captured on a police officer’s ward,’’ Villanueva said. ‘‘I know you care a riot; or aid or abet any person in inciting about law enforcement. You expressed a very body camera charging at the officer or participating in a riot. Tragically, we are interesting statement about your perspec- with a knife in his hand. seeing the letter and spirit of the law being tive on race relations and on officer-involved Now, the death of Ricardo Munoz is a desecrated on a daily basis, as ANTIFA and shootings and the impact that it has on the tragedy, no doubt, and my prayers are other organized groups of anarchists con- African American community.’’ with Mr. Munoz’s family. However, an tinue to infiltrate peaceful protests and ‘‘And I appreciated that,’’ he continued. adult man wielding a large carving launch violent attacks against American ‘‘But likewise, we need to appreciate that re- knife over his head while charging at citizens. Tragically, these activities recently spect for life goes across all professions.’’ turned deadly in Portland, Oregon, as Mi- police—by the way, having a record of The Los Angeles Lakers star has been one chael Forest Reinoehl, who described himself of the most vocal professional athletes to doing this in the past, stabbing peo- as ‘‘100% ANTIFA’’ shot and killed a sup- speak on social issues and to condemn police ple—is a clear mortal threat, and the porter of President Trump. misconduct. After Jacob Blake was shot officers are well within their rights to Additionally, the riots in Portland and multiple times by officers in Wisconsin last protect themselves. other major American cities have revealed a month, James said Black people in America Let me be very clear. Every person in targeted effort to destabilize our way of life, are ‘‘terrified’’ of police misconduct. the United States of America has the including deliberately targeting federal ‘‘I know people get tired of hearing me say right to peacefully protest. Your con- buildings and law enforcement in an effort to it, but we are scared as Black people in undermine the rule of law. The prolonged na- stitutional right to protest, however, America,’’ James said following the Lakers’ ture and organization of these violent at- Game 4 win over the Portland Trail Blazers does not include violent riots, setting tacks, including the rioters’ use of military last month. ‘‘Black men, Black women, fires to things, looting, and harming grade helmets, gas masks, protective vests, Black kids, we are terrified.’’ and killing other people. and illegal fireworks, clearly displays the Villanueva on Tuesday said he had yet to Now, this is an account from that high level of coordination and outside fund- hear from LeBron regarding his challenge, protest which wasn’t a protest: ing supporting these anarchist groups. It is but that the NBA star needs ‘‘to take some The mob marched from the scene of the readily apparent that these individuals were ownership of exactly what he said in terms shooting on Laurel Street to the police sta- outfitted for war and were clearly part of a of propagating the idea that people are being tion, chucking glass bottles, rocks, bricks, planned effort to infiltrate peaceful protests, hunted’’ due to the color of their skin. gallon jugs filled with liquid, and plastic provoke violence, and further subvert our ‘‘I think that is just flat out not the case. road barricades at the police. A county vehi- system of government. I think we need to hold those accountable for Unfortunately, these are not isolated inci- cle parked in front of the station was dam- breaking the law, be it law enforcement dents. Well-organized factions of ANTIFA aged. when we are crossing the line, but, then we Numerous buildings and vehicles were and other anarchist groups have taken ad- have to acknowledge the bigger problem of damaged, fires were set—all without regard vantage of peaceful protests to sow division, violence overall and this ambush, cowardly for the owners and individuals who could threaten free speech, and enflame tensions ambush, of the two deputies just doing their have been physically harmed by the riotous throughout the nation for more than 90 days. own job, doing their business there in Comp- The violence occurring in our cities cannot actions. ton, really illustrates that. That is that the continue. The DOJ must take action to stop problem we need to address,’’ he said. Mr. Speaker, anyone in this Cham- these dangerous attacks. As such, we urge ber, any leader in our community who you to fully investigate the groups respon- [From Fox Business, Aug. 26, 2020] does not stand up for civil society, for sible for these attacks on our republic and BLM BRINGS ECONOMIC STRESS TO COMMU- prosecute all individuals who are violating our police officers who take an oath to NITIES IT CLAIMS TO REPRESENT: PASTOR federal law by participating in, inciting, or- protect their citizens, is supporting a (By Bishop Aubrey Shines) dangerous and deadly violent mob, and ganizing, or funding these destructive riots. Thank you in advance for your consideration Early in August a news story jumped out it absolutely must end. of this urgent request and your prompt ac- to me and not in a good way my friends. I am Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, I include tion to protect our nation. still thinking about it. the following items in the RECORD: Sincerely, As Fox Business reported on August 5, a A letter dated September 10, 2020, to KEN BUCK, trucking company will no longer deliver to the Honorable William P. Barr, Attor- ANDY BIGGS, cities that are defunding police. The co-

VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:09 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00053 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.085 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4484 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 owner of JKC Trucking, Mike Kucharski, A weaker police force means less business ple on their lawn have been issued citations told Fox he was concerned for the safety of in a community and that’s less jobs to go for trespassing, officials told Fox News. his drivers and their cargo going to cities around including for minorities. The June 28 encounter between the dem- where police have had their budgets slashed. Minorities in low-income neighborhoods onstrators, and Mark and Patricia McClos- As an African American and a minister, I need the work, not just bloated government key made headlines as the country was knew something like this would happen welfare programs. These are minorities who gripped by nationwide protests over police sooner or later. could work in shipping warehouses, malls, brutality. The couple—both personal injury My colleagues and I founded Conservative stores, or startups are worse off if none of lawyers—were seen on video and in photos Clergy of Color because we were afraid some- those industries decide to do business in pointing a handgun and a rifle as demonstra- thing like this would happen if Black Lives their communities. tors moved through their neighborhood. Matter was the only voice in the room. BLM’s ‘‘justice’’ has already gotten black No shots were fired. We wanted to give a voice to African children killed on the streets. Its crusade to Calls and emails to the St. Louis Metro- Americans who believe in real change, not replace police authority with an anarchist politan Police Department from Fox News leftist platitudes and want their country to mob has made it less safe in low-income were not returned. be better. neighborhoods than before George Floyd’s The office of City Counselor Julian Bush My father was able to watch this country tragic death. But now we’re finally seeing told Fox News in an email that the citations become a better place from the segregation the long-term consequences; the purging of were mailed to the nine people but that Bush he knew growing up but now I fear the business opportunities that will only drive has ‘‘not yet determined whether to file progress he witnessed is being turned on its minorities further away from prosperity and charges.’’ head. We’ve now seen the first domino fall in into the loving arms of government depend- The protesters could face up to $500 in fines the rollback of that progress. ency. and up to 90 days in jail. However, Bush told It’s sad we’ve come to this, but it’s the NPR it was rare for anyone to receive such truth. Black Lives Matter has crippled the [From Fox News, Sept. 16, 2020] penalties for a municipal ordinance viola- police across dozens of cities, and we’re now LA SHERIFF ALEX VILLANUEVA CHALLENGES tion. seeing the economic impact. LEBRON JAMES TO MATCH REWARD MONEY Last week, Black Lives Matter activist These, friends, are the first tangible re- FOR GUNMAN WHO AMBUSHED TWO DEPUTIES Ohun Ashe tweeted that she received a sum- sults from Black Lives Matter’s mad, anti- IN COMPTON mons. police crusade. These are the first far-reach- (By Louis Casiano) ‘‘I was just sent a summons to appear in ing consequences beyond the violence in cit- court for ‘‘trespassing on private property’’ Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex ies this summer that has gone so long it’s be- on Portland P1 aka the street Patricia and Villanueva on Monday challenged NBA star ginning to feel lethargic. These are the con- Mark McCloskey live on,’’ the post read. ‘‘I LeBron James to match and double the re- sequences that BLM’s leadership probably had a gun waved in my face by them but ward money being offered for information on are fully aware of, but that the young mis- trespassing is what matters?’’ guided social justice warriors that make up the gunman who ambushed and shot two dep- Video footage captured the confrontation their ranks haven’t stopped to think about. uties over the weekend. as 300 demonstrators marched in the street, Speaking with KABC Radio on the John When you do stop and think about it, why claiming they were headed toward the home Phillips Show, Villanueva said the reward should the owner put his drivers in danger? of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson. The money reached $175,000—a combination of do- Why would he risk the danger in cities where McCloskeys aimed their weapons at the nations of $100,000 from the county and police have been hamstrung and rioters have marchers and have since been charged with $75,000 from two private individuals. free reign of the streets? felony unlawful use of a weapon. ‘‘This challenge is to LeBron James. I When young children like poor Secoriea Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, want you to match that and double that re- Turner in Atlanta are getting gunned down has said he will almost certainly pardon the ward,’’ Villanueva said. ‘‘I know you care in the streets, I wouldn’t want my employees McCloskeys if they are convicted. about law enforcement. You expressed a very going to those cities either. The incident landed the couple an appear- interesting statement about your perspec- It’s sad we’ve come to this, but it’s the ance during the first night of the Republican tive on race relations and on officer-involved truth. Black Lives Matter has crippled the National Convention last month, where they shootings and the impact that it has on the police across dozens of cities, and we’re now asserted their Second Amendment right to seeing the economic impact. African-American community. ‘‘And I appreciated that,’’ he continued. defend themselves. Cities that normally receive commerce by ‘‘The radicals are not content just march- ‘‘But likewise, we need to appreciate that re- way of trucking companies and shipping out- ing in the streets,’’ Mark McCloskey said lets are now going to lose a vital source of spect for life goes across all professions.’’ The Los Angeles Lakers star has been one during a virtual speech. ‘‘They want to walk income. Depending on the size of the city, the halls of Congress. They want power. This the effect could range from negligible to dev- of the most vocal professional athletes to speak on social issues and to condemn police is Joe Biden’s party. These are the people astating. who will be in charge.’’ Either way, it’s a problem none of these misconduct. After Jacob Blake was shot communities should have faced. But because multiple times by officers in Wisconsin last month, James said Black people in America [From the Wall Street Journal, Sept. 14, city leaders and governments either were 2020] bullied into defunding their police or just are ‘‘terrified’’ of police misconduct. ‘‘I know people get tired of hearing me say CONFESSIONS OF A NEW GUN OWNER felt like being politically correct, grocery it, but we are scared as Black people in stores and retail outlets are going to have to (By William McGurn) America,’’ James said following the Lakers’ find other ways to supply their products. On Monday it became official: The police Now you might be thinking, ‘‘I see your Game 4 win over the Portland Trail Blazers issued me a gun permit. point Bishop, but won’t another trucking last month. ‘‘Black men, Black women, Never did I imagine I’d be here. Not be- company just step up and fill the void?’’ Black kids, we are terrified.’’ cause I was anti-gun. My dad was a career He earlier tweeted his frustrations about Ideally, you’d be right, but I would pose the FBI agent, so my siblings and I grew up with police shootings. counter-question of how long it will take be- guns. ‘‘And y’all wonder why we say what we say fore other companies follow JKC’s lead if the At the same time, my father was never about the Police!! Someone please tell me riots aren’t brought to heel soon. particularly interested in guns. To no avail, WTF is this???!!! Exactly another black man For that matter, how long will it be before we would beg him to go t o shoots to show off being targeted,’’ James wrote. ‘‘This s--- [sic] other industries start making similar his skills. More frequently he would remind is so wrong and so sad!! Feel so sorry for choices? How long will it be before the re- us that many who keep guns in the house are him, his family and OUR PEOPLE!! We want sults BLM’s leftist ideology impedes dif- more likely to shoot a friend or family mem- JUSTICE.’’ ferent businesses from providing income to ber than a would-be robber or rapist. His It was not clear if James was aware of communities? proudest boast about his own career was that Villanueva’s challenge. Messages to the What if a company like Staples or not once did he have to shoot anybody. LeBron James Foundation were not imme- Walmart decides to build new facilities in This may help explain why we all grew up diately returned. Portland but then pulls out at the last sec- supporting the Second Amendment in prin- ‘‘Let’s see what he does,’’ the sheriff said. ond because rioters there are still out of con- ciple while not much interested in the prac- ‘‘I’ll be very curious to see what his response trol? And it’s not just mega-retailers; I tice. What changed? Certainly the rioters is, if any.’’ haven’t even touched on small businesses played a key part. But far more shocking and entrepreneurs. If I were a young, bright [From Fox News, Sept. 11, 2020] than the rioters themselves has been the as- individual looking to start my own company, sociated spectacle of police and political au- I certainly wouldn’t want to do it in a place ST. LOUIS BLM PROTESTERS FROM MCCLOS- thorities across America standing down in with kneecapped police and no guarantee of KEY CONFRONTATION CITED FOR TRES- the face of night after night of criminal be- stability. PASSING havior directed at the lives and livelihoods The worst part of this debacle is that mi- (By Louis Casiano) of innocent, law-abiding citizens. nority communities, the very people BLM Nine Black Lives Matter protesters who Even in suburbia, many are no longer con- claims to represent, will suffer the most. were confronted by an armed St. Louis cou- fident our authorities would or could keep us

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00054 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.046 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4485 safe. In a small suburb such as mine, what [From the Washington Times, July 27, 2020] telligence regarding the ideologies driving would happen if even 100 or 200 people bent REP. JERRY NADLER SAYS ANTIFA VIOLENCE IN individuals towards violence and why the vi- on violence were to arrive at once? Could our PORTLAND A ‘‘MYTH’’ olence has continued.’’ small police force really handle it? Or would ‘‘A core set of Threat actors are organized, (By Jessica Chasmar) we be left to fend for ourselves like Mark and show up night after night, share common Pat McCloskey in St. Louis, who defended Rep. Jerrold Nadler declared Sunday it’s a TTPs and drawing on like minded individ- their home and were then treated as if they ‘‘myth’’ that Antifa provocateurs are behind uals to their cause.’’ were criminals? the ongoing violent protests in Portland, Or- TTP stands for Tactics, Techniques and A few years back, I asked a former col- egon. Procedures. league whom I knew to be pro-Second In a now-viral video posted on Twitter, ‘‘I recognize we may not be able to at- Amendment philosophically if he owned a writer-producer Austen Fletcher caught up tribute every individual as VAAI however we gun. He answered no, and then asked if I had with the House Judiciary Judiciary Com- need to look at the totality of the intel- one. I said I wouldn’t know what to write mittee chairman on his way to his vehicle. ligence both current and previous and recog- down as my reason for wanting one. ‘‘I ran into Jerry Nadler in DC and asked nize the motivation for the violence and why He told me, ‘‘Write down, ‘Because I don’t him to disavow the Antifa violence/rioting in people have shown up to commit violence for trust the government.’ ’’ Portland. His response? ‘THAT’S A MYTH,’ ’’ about 60 days. And why the individuals are That might have worked for the Founding Mr. Fletcher said in a tweet along with the using social media to encourage the VAAI on Fathers. But in today’s New Jersey—a state video. the ground to carry out acts of violence.’’ ranked by the Giffords Law Center’s annual ‘‘It is true,’’ Mr. Fletcher tells Mr. Nadler The nightly riots in Portland numbered at Gun Law Scorecard as the nation’s most re- in the video. ‘‘There’s violence across the sixty days when the email was composed. Ri- strictive after California—the response whole country. Do you disavow the violence oting has shifted from Portland to other cit- might be 40 squad cars on the front lawn by from Antifa that’s happening in Portland ies with some of the same actors, including morning. I say this only half in jest: Do right now? There’s riots—’’ Washington DC, Seattle, and Kenosha—vio- other Americans buying guns for the first ‘‘That’s a myth that’s being spread only in lence of which was spurred largely by pro- time find it as grating as I do to learn that Washington, D.C.,’’ Mr. Nadler responded. Antifa advocates on social media platforms we need government permission to exercise a ‘‘About Antifa in Portland?’’ Mr. Fletcher like Facebook, Twitch, and Twitter. constitutional right? asked. ‘‘Threat actors who are motivated by An- Equally illuminating has been learning ‘‘Yes,’’ Mr. Nadler replied before a staffer archist or ANTIFA (or a combination of about guns and those who own them. Over nudged him to get into the vehicle. both) ideologies to carry out acts of violence four decades in the news business, I have ‘‘Sir, there’s videos everywhere online,’’ against State, Local, and Federal authorities often written about the National Rifle Asso- Mr. Fletcher continued. ‘‘There’s fires and and infrastructure they believe represent au- ciation, usually about some proposed new riots, they’re throwing fireworks at federal thority or represent political and social gun law. Most recently the NRA has been in officers. DHS is there. Look online. It gets ideas they reject,’’ Murphy concluded. the headlines over a lawsuit filed by New crazy, Mr. Nadler.’’ Phrases like ‘‘Every city, every town. Burn York’s attorney general in which she accuses The New York Democrat was slammed for the precincts to the ground’’ are a common top leaders of decades-long corruption and his response, which came as Portland en- refrain at Black Lives Matter rallies, and misspending. tered its 60th day of riots since the death of have been chanted during arson attacks on But our family’s decision to buy a gun has George Floyd. the Portland Police Bureau, the Mark O. introduced us to the side of the NRA more Portland is the home of Rose City Antifa, Hatfield federal courthouse in Portland, and Americans see: the education side. The NRA the oldest known so-called anti-fascist group other facilities where Antifa and Black Lives has courses, online and in person, for almost in the country. Matter militants were present. everything. The NRA instructor my wife and The intelligence provided by the DHS vali- I engaged, Billy De Almedia, was firm, pro- [From American News, Sept. 14, 2020] dates claims by conservative voices who have long identified Antifa as an organized fessional and patient. DHS LEAKED EMAIL CONFIRMS ANTIFA ISAN movement, and flies in the face of claims It’s not just the instruction that im- ORGANIZED GROUP presses. It’s the sheer Americanness of a pri- that the group was not intent on committing (By Ian Miles Cheong) vate organization established to support a violence or conducting an insurgency against constitutional right in all its manifesta- An internal email from the Department of the United States government. tions, from defending the Second Amend- Homeland Security leaked to CBS Catherine ment legally and philosophically to instill- Herridge late Monday detailing that the vio- [From gatewaypundit.com, Sept. 15, 2020] ing in newbies such as myself the respect for lence in Portland was not ‘‘opportunistic,’’ MILWAUKEE TRUMP SUPPORTER ARRESTED FOR guns necessary to keep and use them safely. but rather ‘‘organized’’—confirming long- BRANDISHING A GUN AT BLACK LIVES MAT- Not to mention a taste of the satisfaction suspected details about the Antifa move- TER MOB THAT WAS SURROUNDING HIS HOME that comes from mastering a new discipline. ment. (VIDEO) Surely if the government were to assume The email explains that Antifa is organized (By Cassandra Fairbanks) the functions the NRA provides, the experi- and runs contrary to reports in the main- A Milwaukee man has reportedly been ar- ence would be akin to going to your local De- stream media that Antifa was not respon- rested after pulling a gun on a mob of Black partment of Motor Vehicles. In America, by sible for anti-police violence, but an im- Lives Matter supporters who were sur- contrast, the ethos emphasizes private ini- promptu movement spurred on by anti-fas- rounding his home for several hours. It is tiative and responsibility. In our new inter- cist sentiments held by most of the Amer- currently unclear who the man is or why the actions with gun owners, gun instructors and ican public. mob was at his house, but he did have a A recent article in the Washington Post by owners of gun ranges, my wife and I have ‘‘Trump Train’’ flag hanging outside. found them unfailingly eager to help and to Mark Bray, author of Antifa: Anti-Fascist Members of the mob claimed on social answer even the dumbest questions. Handbook, attempted to dispel ‘‘myths’’ media that their actions were justified be- This year a record five million law-abiding about Antifa, claims that the group is not an cause he is a ‘‘racist’’ and had a confederate Americans, like us, have become new gun organization, but rather a ‘‘tradition of mili- flag. The flag was not seen in the videos, but owners. Many don’t fit the stereotype: Afri- tant antifascism.’’ The article disputed an American and Trump flag were hanging can-Americans account for the largest per- claims that Antifa ‘‘masterminds violence at prominently on the front of his home. centage jump in gun ownership, while women Black Lives Matter protests.’’ In livestream footage of the incident, the are 40% of first-time buyers. These new buy- In printed email documents attained by mob is clearly seen stepping on to the man’s ers join an even larger demographic: the 43% Herridge, the DHS’ Acting Under Secretary property. of American households that already have a for Intelligence & Analysis Brian Murphy ‘‘They went specifically to his house to gun. wrote to his colleagues on July 25 detailing protest him for ‘being a racist.’ The home- The record gun sales for 2020 may have im- his findings of Antifa in Portland. owner was arrested, and the crowd remains plications for swing states in November as Murphy urged for an immediate change of outside. They seem to have gone on his prop- well. In Pennsylvania alone, the National definitions for the violent activity in Port- erty. WTF Milwaukee?’’ Kitty Shackleford, a Shooting Sports Foundation reckons there land following a review of the individuals ar- Twitter user that archives riot footage, are 276,648 first-time gun owners this year. rested by federal authorities, as well as in- tweeted along with videos. To put this in perspective, in 2016 Donald telligence surrounding their affiliations and After the mob was outside his home for Trump won Pennsylvania by 44,292 votes. activities. more than two hours, police arrived. As they Now, I appreciate how unlikely it is that I ‘‘The individuals are violently attacking entered the man’s property, the rioters will ever reach for a gun to defend my home the Federal facilities based on these cheered for police and called for the man’s or myself. But after watching the mayhem ideologies,’’ he said in regards to Antifa, arrest, yelling about how he had a weapon. that’s taken over so many city streets I won- which he classed as VAAI or ‘‘VIOLENT When the man was taken outside, seem- der, probably with plenty of my fellow first- ANTIFA ANARCHISTS INSPIRED.’’ ingly in cuffs, the crowd went wild. time gun buyers, what alternative I’d have if ‘‘We can’t say any longer that this violent The militant leftists were threatening the ever I had to make that terrible 911 call—and situation is opportunistic,’’ wrote Murphy. man saying that he was going to have big it went unanswered? ‘‘Additionally, we have overwhelmingly in- problems if he dared to step outside.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.048 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4486 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 As they threatened him, shined lights into gate the police or celebrities castigate fice to be an avid horseman, hunter, his home, and pranced all over his property, the police, what they are really saying and shooter. He is a member of the he pointed a shotgun out the window. is: We are content with mob rule. That Veterans of Foreign Wars and The The person who called for the ‘‘protest’’ livestreamed the mob outside the man’s can’t be the case. American Legion and is known as a home for several hours. We have heard this tonight from my great Dane. It does not appear that any members of the colleagues who have said this so well. I want to offer Dean my sincere ap- mob have been arrested. We support the police, and we support preciation for his years of dedicated Mr. BIGGS. Mr. Speaker, as we have the thin blue line that protects our service to our great Nation and to Ne- recognized here today with our speak- rights. This rioting and this mayhem braska’s Second Congressional Dis- ers the importance of law enforcement must end tonight. trict. His retirement is well earned. He to maintaining our rights and the safe- Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance should take great pride in his accom- ty of our neighborhoods and commu- of my time. plishments in both his military and nities, I am reminded that it was just f civil service careers for the citizens of a little over a month ago, late July ISSUES OF THE DAY the United States of America and the 2020, when the chairman of the Judici- constituents of the Second District of The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under ary Committee in the House of Rep- Nebraska. resentatives said about antifa, as the the Speaker’s announced policy of Jan- uary 3, 2019, the Chair recognizes the Mr. Speaker, I wish Dean all the best city of Portland was being burned by in his future endeavors. antifa, he said it is a myth. It is a gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. myth. GROTHMAN) for 30 minutes. HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: HONORING KATHY And then what has happened is an in- Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I AND GREG GONZALEZ ternal email from the Department of yield to the gentleman from Nebraska Mr. BACON. I rise today, Mr. Speak- Homeland Security revealed Monday (Mr. BACON). er, to commemorate two wonderful that the violence in Portland was not RECOGNIZING DEAN C. MATHISEN’S SERVICE TO people during Hispanic Heritage Month opportunistic but, rather, organized by OUR NATION AND NEBRASKA’S SECOND DISTRICT by honoring a husband and wife pair of the antifa organization. Mr. BACON. Mr. Speaker, I thank my wonderful police officers from my dis- We have got to see that our Attorney very respected friend from Wisconsin trict in Omaha. They have given life- General—I urge him, I urge the FBI to today for yielding. We had our 5- time contributions to law enforcement investigate and the Attorney General minute speeches cut short, so I appre- and have engaged in community efforts to take every action that the law al- ciate the opportunity. for our hometown. lows, whether it is civil RICO or pros- Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to recog- nize Dean C. Mathisen for 20 years of Gregory Michael Gonzalez and Kath- ecution of these individuals, because, if erine Lynn Belcastro-Gonzalez were you want to bring our society back service to our Nation and Nebraska’s Second District. Dean is retiring from born in South Omaha in the early sev- into order, you take people who are enties to immigrant families. violent, rioting, looting, causing may- Federal service at the end of the 116th One of six siblings, Greg grew up in a hem and murder, you arrest them. You Congress in January 2021. military environment as his father was charge them, you prosecute them, and Dean is a former U.S. Army officer stationed at Offutt Air Force Base. you convict them. and a combat veteran. He served as a We know there are law enforcement field artillery officer on Active Duty in Kathy’s mother fled from Lithuania who do a great job, but right now, in the U.S. Army during the Cold War, on to Nebraska after her grandfather was many places around this country, it its front lines in West Germany. He taken as a prisoner of war. Kathy and will take a law enforcement officer 5 or was next assigned as a military police her siblings were then raised in the 10 minutes or longer to get to a home officer who deployed to the desert dur- basement of a Lithuanian parish in or a business that is under attack by a ing the first Gulf war. Dean also com- South Omaha. criminal. When that happens, if they manded a transportation company in Kathy and Greg were high school are under attack, these individuals the U.S. Army Reserves. sweethearts at Omaha South High and need to have the right, as they do In Nebraska’s Second District, Dean went on to become married first-gen- under the Second Amendment, to pro- served over 12 years as a senior con- eration college graduates. Greg ob- tect themselves. That right must be stituent liaison for the Honorable Lee tained an athletic scholarship at the protected and maintained. Terry from 2002 to January 2015. Dur- University of Nebraska at Omaha, and So I am kind of surprised—I am going ing this tenure, he was instrumental in Kathy attended the University of Ne- to give you a fact here. In Pennsyl- identifying the need and commu- braska at Lincoln while simulta- vania alone, this year, you have had an nicating with the Department of Vet- neously working three jobs. She grad- increase in new gun owners by more erans Affairs about bringing a national uated in 1993 and joined the Omaha Po- than a quarter of a million. More than veterans cemetery to the district. Dean lice Department the following year. a quarter of a million people in Penn- was a key element in finding the re- Greg began his career in law enforce- sylvania own guns today who didn’t sources to enable the first homeless ment in 1993 as the only Mexican own them at the beginning of the year. veterans housing project in Omaha to American in the Douglas County Sher- Why? Because of what is going on in be completed as well. iff’s Office. Dean then crossed the Missouri River our streets, whether it is in Pennsyl- As assistant chief of the Omaha Po- vania, Oregon, or wherever else it may in Iowa in 2016 and continued his Fed- eral service in the office of the Honor- lice Department, Greg now helps over- be. see the hiring of officers and works to A mob circles a home in Milwaukee, able JONI ERNST. Here, he continued to use his personal experience to aid him reflect the diverse community it Wisconsin; an individual holds up a serves, including Spanish-speaking of- shotgun inside as this mob surrounds in understanding the needs of our mili- tary servicemembers and veterans ficers. Additionally, Greg is an adjunct his home. What does the mob do, the police academy instructor and in- antifa folks? They call the police to while solving constituent issues. In 2017, Dean became a member of my structs criminal justice courses at his have this man arrested for having a alma mater. gun on the ready to protect himself original Omaha district office team as from that very mob. That is back- a senior constituent liaison. During As captain of Omaha’s southeast pre- wards. this time, he saw the need for and co- cinct, Kathy oversees one of the most ordinated the efforts to establish a culturally diverse areas in Omaha. In b 1730 Federal veterans court for the State of addition, her precinct also manages Mr. Speaker, we thank the police. Nebraska. In the summer, Dean was large-scale events and cultural celebra- The purpose of the police is to protect promoted to deputy district director. tions, including the NCAA College the weak and the rights of all. In his free time, Dean is active in World Series, events at TD Ameritrade When our leaders in places like Port- local animal rescue and animal-as- Park, and Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo land, Minneapolis, you name it, casti- sisted therapy. He is known in our of- and Aquarium.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE7.050 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4487 Athletics are another passion Kathy Now that Dr. Fauci has come out and brand-name reference product or and Greg share, and they believe com- told us that getting more vitamin D is brand-named insulin. We want to gen- petitiveness and teamwork are inter- a good idea, and particularly now that erate the same type of cost savings for personal skills that transfer from Dr. Fauci has admitted that he himself insulin that we have already done in sports to the rest of life. has been taking vitamin D, I strongly the past for generic drugs. The couple was instrumental in ex- encourage the CDC and all other appro- I realize it is late in the session, but panding the already successful police- priate government agencies to pub- things can move fast. We all know that led sports program for at-risk and dis- licize the benefits of vitamin D. bills pass around here relatively soon advantaged youth in Omaha called the We have to do something other than after they are introduced. Police Athletics for Community En- just wait for a vaccine, which may or When I think of the people who are gagement, or PACE. This program is may not happen. And we all know, having to pay $1,000 a month or maybe led by police officers and volunteers when it does happen, many people will just $500 or $600 a month for themselves and was founded in 2005 by Detective not take that vaccine. or their children, I hope people in this Tony Espejo, a 30-year member of the I strongly encourage Dr. Fauci to fol- building and the relevant committees Omaha Police Department and veteran low up on his statements with approv- and relevant leadership find a way to of the United States Marine Corps. ing TV commercials talking about vi- get this bill to the floor. Currently, retired OPD Captain Rich tamin D and the fact that he takes vi- I will be available to explain the im- Gonzalez serves as PACE’s executive tamin D in his future interviews. portance of this bill. I am ready to ex- director. Harvard estimates that 1 billion indi- plain the importance of this bill to any This September, Greg and Kathy cel- viduals worldwide may be vitamin D of the Members. I will be on the floor ebrate their 21st wedding anniversary deficient, and of course, the rest of the the next couple of days talking about joined by their three children, Izabella, world looks to the United States for it. I hope to get a good cosponsorship Greg Jr., and Alex. Overall, Kathy and leadership. So, the benefits would not list, but I do hope that the relevant Greg believe they would not be where only accrue to American citizens but committees immediately take up this they are today without the support of to citizens around the world. bill and get it to the floor so that we parents and extended family. Mr. Speaker, I remind you to take vi- can save as much money as possible for With an extended list of combined ac- tamin D, particularly if you have any the people who are stuck with this dis- colades and awards locally and nation- friends or relatives who may be vita- ease. ally, Greg and Kathy Gonzalez exem- min D deficient or have special prob- The final point I am going to bring plify the American Dream and the lems. I would talk to your doctor and up tonight is concerning border secu- quintessential rise to success from anybody who is going in for a regular rity. It is an issue that, because of the hardworking immigrant families. check-up. I would ask for a vitamin D COVID, has been pushed to the back- Mr. Speaker, we salute Greg and test as well because there are ways to ground. But pushed to the background Kathy. May the future reward them reduce the number of people getting or not, it remains to be important for with health and prosperity to continue COVID and to reduce the number of fa- this country. to serve and protect our communities. talities other than just hanging around No country can continue to exist if Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise and waiting for a vaccine. they have open borders and unlimited tonight to address several issues. Mr. Speaker, the next topic I would and unvetted people continue to come The first issue that has been in the like to address tonight is also a med- here. paper lately is vitamin D. I have spo- ical topic that has been something I Now, there are people who come here ken before this Chamber several times would have liked to address since I got whom we do not expect to come here, in the past on the importance of taking here. I came across some information who are caught or who come in contact vitamin D. Over 40 percent of American with regard to biosimilars, and that is with the border security, and there are adults do not have an adequate amount people who need insulin. other people who sneak across the bor- of vitamin D in their system. I consider myself an advocate for the der. They are never contacted by bor- Several institutions of higher learn- Juvenile Diabetes Association, and I der security because, quite frankly, we ing have done research and strongly am aware of many different people who have a shortage of agents, though they suggest that vitamin D is a way to re- have diabetes. Depending upon the type are caught on cameras. duce the number of people who get of insurance you have, Mr. Speaker, if A year ago in May, right now about COVID as well as greatly reduce the ef- you have diabetes, you may be spend- 15 months ago, 16 months ago, about fects of COVID on those people who un- ing $100 a month on insulin. I have run 90,000 people came into contact with fortunately get it. This has been found into people who are spending $800 or the Border Patrol and were allowed in by MIT, by Northwestern in Evanston, $1,000 a month for insulin. this country—people who were not and by Trinity College in Iowa. Can you imagine if you have a child coming here through the normal immi- It has been my disappointment to and you have to go out of pocket for gration channels. Since that time—it is this point that the appropriate govern- another $1,000 a month just to keep something that has been underpub- ment agencies that have no problem your child alive? licized, and quite frankly, it ought to sending out press releases and adver- I ran into the fact that people are be more publicized by President Trump tisements on COVID have not ad- working on substitutes for insulin himself because he is not afraid to pub- dressed vitamin D. called biosimilars. I am introducing licize his successes—we have dropped I was, therefore, elated to find out H.R. 8190, the Biosimilar Insulin Access from 90,000 people to under 2,000 people that, late last week, Dr. Fauci came Act, which will increase competition in coming into contact with our Border out and supported the evidence behind the insulin market by making Patrol and let in the country. vitamin D’s benefits. Even more than biosimilars available. Biosimilars are This has been done by three things, that, Dr. Fauci said that he has been to insulin what generics are to normal all underpublicized. taking vitamin D himself, which is prescription drugs. One, President Trump, in part by very good. This is a change. It would be tremendous if we could talking about tariffs—I believe, maybe Traditionally, many people out there get more of these to the market. Right not—has gotten the Mexican Govern- said that you should even stay inside, now, for whatever reason, it takes far ment to agree to hold people on the and one way to get vitamin D is to be too long to get these products to mar- Mexican side of the border instead of out in the Sun. So, the idea that we ket. Sometimes, they aren’t available having people who are asking for asy- need more vitamin D is the opposite of at all. Because they are not available, lum come to the United States and be what some of the experts or at least people continue to have to overpay to released into the American interior what some politicians have told us. keep themselves or their loved ones where we never see them again. Vitamin D, of course, is good not alive. only to prevent COVID but to prevent Interchangeable biosimilar products b 1745 other sorts of infections and res- are able to be automatically dispensed We all know that some of these peo- piratory problems as well. at the pharmacy counter for their ple are probably drug-running. We

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00057 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.088 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE H4488 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE September 16, 2020 know that some of these people are tion to. I, again, emphasize the impor- 5281. A letter from the Director, Office of breaking the law. And we know that tance of taking vitamin D. Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insur- some of these people are going to wind I emphasize the importance of get- ance Corporation, transmitting the Corpora- tion’s Major final rule — Covered Broker- up on some sort of public assistance. ting biosimilars to the market so that Dealer Provisions Under Title II of the Dodd- So we salute President Trump for we can save money for the poor people Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer reaching an agreement and holding who have to take insulin. Protection Act (RIN: 3064-AE39) received people south of the border. And I salute the border patrol and September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. The next thing President Trump has the administration for all they have 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 done is he has contacted the countries done in greatly decreasing the number Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial in Central America, Guatemala, El Sal- Services. of people who are coming into this 5282. A letter from the Secretary, Depart- vador, and Honduras and made sure country illegally. ment of Education, transmitting the Depart- they are holding more people of not Now, of course, in the Chamber ment’s final rule — Distance Education and only their own nations, but people fur- today, we have many different people. Innovation [Docket ID: ED-2018-OPE-0076] ther south in their countries rather And I am prepared to ask to adjourn, (RIN: 1840-AD38) received September 14, 2020, than allowing them into Mexico. but if the people in the front of the pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law Now, the United States does provide room would rather hear a little bit 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- mittee on Education and Labor. foreign aid to these countries, and I more about fenofibrates, I would be 5283. A letter from the Deputy Assistant think it is important that we maintain happy to talk about fenofibrates. General Counsel, Office of Special Education good relations with these countries. Do you want to hear about and Rehabilitative Services, Department of But I think it has been under-pub- fenofibrates? Education, transmitting the Department’s licized that President Trump, through The SPEAKER pro tempore. Does the final priority and definitions — State Per- negotiations with these countries, is gentleman yield back? sonnel Development Grants [ED-2019-OSERS- 0001] received September 14, 2020, pursuant to further decreasing the number of peo- Mr. GROTHMAN. Mr. Speaker, I 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. ple who are coming into this country yield the remainder of my time and ask 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Edu- who we do not necessarily want to have for adjournment. cation and Labor. come into this country. f 5284. A letter from the Deputy Assistant And the final situation, is now people General Counsel, Office of Special Education coming into this country, who may ADJOURNMENT and Rehabilitative Services, Department of have COVID, are immediately turned The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursu- Education, transmitting the Department’s final priorities and definitions — Inde- around and told to go back home. ant to section 4(b) of House Resolution pendent Living Services for Older Individ- So you combine these three things, 967, the House stands adjourned until 9 uals Who Are Blind- Training and Technical and you go from about 90,000 people a.m. tomorrow. Assistance [Docket ID: ED-2020-OSERS-0009] coming into contact with the border Thereupon (at 5 o’clock and 49 min- received September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 patrol and being allowed in here to—I utes p.m.), under its previous order, the U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. am told—under 1,000. It is almost too House adjourned until tomorrow, 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Edu- cation and Labor. good to believe. But that is what hap- Thursday, September 17, 2020, at 9 a.m. 5285. A letter from the Deputy Assistant pens when you have a man of action, a f General Counsel, Office of Special Education person who is committed to holding EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS, and Rehabilitative Services, Department of people south of the border. Education, transmitting the Department’s This is particularly true because in ETC. final priorities, requirements and definitions the future, we have people talking Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive — Rehabilitation Training: Vocational Reha- about giving people coming across the communications were taken from the bilitation Technical Assistance Center-Qual- Speaker’s table and referred as follows: ity Management; and Vocational Rehabilita- border free healthcare. We already tion Technical Assistance Center-Quality know—unless you are blind—that peo- 5277. A letter from the Under Secretary, Employment [ED-2020-OSERS-0104] received ple are taking advantage of public ben- Personnel and Readiness, Department of De- September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. efits who are coming here illegally. fense, transmitting a letter authorizing four 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 So I think at a time when there is so officers to wear the insignia of the grade of Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education much bad news out of government, we brigadier general, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. and Labor. ought to pay attention to exactly what 777(b)(3)(B); Public Law 104-106, Sec. 503(a)(1) 5286. A letter from the Deputy Assistant (as added by Public Law 108-136, Sec. General Counsel, Office of Special Education happened when we went over 90,000 to 509(a)(3)); (117 Stat. 1458); to the Committee and Rehabilitative Services, Department of certainly under 2,000—and maybe under on Armed Services. Education, transmitting the Department’s 1,000 people—allowed in the country. I 5278. A letter from the Under Secretary, final priorities — Rehabilitation Training: will point out that this does not in- Personnel and Readiness, Department of De- Innovative Rehabilitation Training Program clude people who do not come in con- fense, transmitting a letter on the approved [Docket ID: ED-2019-OSERS-0163] received tact with the border patrol. And in the retirement of Lieutenant General Bradford September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. J. Shwedo, United States Air Force, and his 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 year that is wrapping up, we estimate Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education that about 10,000 people have come in advancement to the grade of lieutenant gen- eral on the retired list, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. and Labor. here without contact with the border 1370(c)(1); Public Law 96-513, Sec. 112 (as 5287. A letter from the Assistant General patrol. We know this because we have amended by Public Law 104-106, Sec. 502(b)); Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Ben- cameras taking pictures of people (110 Stat. 293); to the Committee on Armed efit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting the sneaking across the border. We do not Services. Corporation’s final rule — Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans; Inter- 5279. A letter from the Under Secretary, have enough border control to turn est Assumptions For Paying Benefits re- Personnel and Readiness, Department of De- these people around. ceived September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 fense, transmitting an authorization of Mr. Speaker, I also want to thank U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. Major General Paul T. Calvert, United the border patrol for the number of 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Edu- States Army, to wear the insignia of the pounds of cocaine, methamphetamines, cation and Labor. grade of Lieutenant general, pursuant to 10 5288. A letter from the Director, Regula- and fentanyl which they have turned U.S.C. 777a(b)(4); Public Law 111-383, Sec. around at the border in the most re- tions Policy and Management Staff, Depart- 505(a)(1); (124 Stat. 4208); to the Committee ment of Health and Human Services, trans- cent year. That is certainly a degree of on Armed Services. mitting the Department’s final rule — Rev- success. I know fentanyl, in particular, 5280. A letter from the Under Secretary, ocation of the Test for Mycoplasma [Docket has been the newest lately, and I wish Personnel and Readiness, Department of De- No.: FDA-2018-N-4757] (RIN: 0910-AH95) re- Congress would pay much closer atten- fense, transmitting authorization of the ceived September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 tion to the people who are dying of three officers whose names appear on the en- U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. closed list to wear the insignia of the grade fentanyl overdoses this year as the 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on En- of brigadier general, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. ergy and Commerce. number of people who are dying of 777(b)(3)(B); Public Law 104-106, Sec. 503(a)(1) 5289. A letter from the Deputy Chief, Auc- other unfortunate incidents. (as added by Public Law 108-136, Sec. tions Division, Office of Economics and Ana- In any event, those are three things I 509(a)(3)); (117 Stat. 1458); to the Committee lytics, Federal Communications Commis- want the American public to pay atten- on Armed Services. sion, transmitting the Commission’s final

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:16 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4634 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K16SE7.091 H16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H4489 rule — Auction of Flexible-Use Service Li- partment’s temporary final rule — Safety charged from further consideration. censes in the 3.7-3.98 GHz Band for Next-Gen- Zone; Dolan Fireworks, Lake Erie, H.R. 2733 referred to the Committee of eration Wireless Services; Notice and Filing Bratenahl, OH [Docket No.: USCG-2020-0532] the Whole House on the state of the Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Up- (RIN: 1625-AA00) received September 14, 2020, Union. front Payments, and Other Procedures for pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law Auction 107 Scheduled to Begin December 8, 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- f 2020 [AU Docket No.: 20-25; FCC 20-110] re- mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS ceived September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 ture. U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 5299. A letter from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Under clause 2 of rule XII, public 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on En- Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Secu- bills and resolutions of the following ergy and Commerce. rity, transmitting the Department’s tem- titles were introduced and severally re- 5290. A letter from the Associate General porary final rule — Special Local Regula- ferred, as follows: Counsel for General Law, Department of tion; Cumberland River, Hendersonville, TN By Mr. GOSAR: Homeland Security, transmitting a notifica- [Docket Number: USCG-2020-0518] (RIN: 1625- H.R. 8264. A bill to amend chapter 2003 of tion of a discontinuation of service in acting AA08) received September 14, 2020, pursuant title 54, United States Code, to protect ma- role, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, jority federally owned counties from loss of 105-277, 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on taxable acreage, and for other purposes; to Committee on Oversight and Reform. Transportation and Infrastructure. the Committee on Natural Resources. 5291. A letter from the Associate General 5300. A letter from the Associate Adminis- Counsel for General Law, Department of By Mr. CHABOT: trator for Policy, Federal Motor Carrier H.R. 8265. A bill to amend the Small Busi- Homeland Security, transmitting a notifica- Safety Administration, Department of ness Act and the CARES Act to establish a tion a discontinuation of service in acting Transportation, transmitting the Depart- program for second draw loans and make role, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law ment’s final rule — Passenger Carrier No-De- other modifications to the paycheck protec- 105-277, 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the fect Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports tion program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. [Docket No.: FMCSA-2019-0075] (RIN: 2126- 5292. A letter from the Attorney-Advisor, Committee on Small Business, and in addi- AC29) received September 14, 2020, pursuant tion to the Committee on the Judiciary, for Office of General Counsel, Department of to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Transportation, transmitting a notification a period to be subsequently determined by Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on the Speaker, in each case for consideration a discontinuation of service in acting role, Transportation and Infrastructure. pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105- of such provisions as fall within the jurisdic- 5301. A letter from the Chairman, Surface tion of the committee concerned. 277, 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Com- Transportation Board, transmitting the By Mr. DEFAZIO (for himself, Mr. mittee on Oversight and Reform. Board’s final rule — Market Dominance THOMPSON of California, Mrs. LOWEY, 5293. A letter from the General Counsel, Of- Streamlined Approach [Docket No.: EP 756] Ms. TITUS, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. fice of Management and Budget, Executive received September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 BLUMENAUER, Mr. WALDEN, Mr. Office of the President, transmitting two no- U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. SCHRADER, Ms. BONAMICI, Ms. NOR- tifications of a federal vacancy, a designa- 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on TON, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. SEAN PAT- tion of acting officer, a nomination, and an Transportation and Infrastructure. action on nomination, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. RICK MALONEY of New York, Mr. 3349(a); Public Law 105-277, 151(b); (112 Stat. f PAYNE, Mr. CARBAJAL, Mr. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and REPORTS OF COMMITTEES ON LOWENTHAL, Mr. STANTON, Mr. Reform. PUBLIC BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS HUFFMAN, Mr. PAPPAS, Mr. 5294. A letter from the Legal Yeoman, Of- GARAMENDI, Ms. FINKENAUER, Mr. fice of Regulations and Administrative Law, Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of LIPINSKI, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Mr. U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland committees were delivered to the Clerk SIRES, Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL, Mr. Security, transmitting the Department’s for printing and reference to the proper LYNCH, Mr. DESAULNIER, Mr. ROUDA, temporary final rule — Special Local Regu- calendar, as follows: Mr. PANETTA, Mr. COSTA, Ms. JOHN- SON of Texas, Mr. COHEN, Ms. lation; Potomac River, Between Jones Point, Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judici- SA´ NCHEZ, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, VA, and National Harbor, MD [Docket Num- ary. H.R. 6100. A bill to amend title 18, Ms. ESHOO, and Ms. LOFGREN): ber: USCG-2020-0245] (RIN: 1625-AA08) re- United States Code, to clarify the criminal- ceived September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 H.R. 8266. A bill to modify the Federal cost ization of female genital mutilation, and for share of certain emergency assistance pro- U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. other purposes (Rept. 116–506). Referred to 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on vided under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster the Committee of the Whole House on the Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, to Transportation and Infrastructure. state of the Union. 5295. A letter from the Legal Yeoman, Of- modify the activities eligible for assistance Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judici- fice of Regulations and Administrative Law, under the emergency declaration issued by ary. H.R. 5546. A bill to regulate monitoring U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland the President on March 13, 2020 relating to of electronic communications between an in- Security, transmitting the Department’s COVID-19, and for other purposes; to the carcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons fa- temporary final rule — Special Local Regu- Committee on Transportation and Infra- cility and that person’s attorney or other lation; North Atlantic Ocean, Ocean City, structure. legal representative, and for other purposes MD [Docket Number: USCG-2020-0361] (RIN: By Mrs. DINGELL (for herself, Mr. (Rept. 116–507). Referred to the Committee of 1625-AA08) received September 14, 2020, pur- WALBERG, Mr. COOPER, Mr. DAVID P. the Whole House on the state of the Union. suant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- ROE of Tennessee, Mr. KIND, and Mr. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judici- 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee MULLIN): ary. H.R. 2733. A bill to direct the Attorney on Transportation and Infrastructure. H.R. 8267. A bill to amend the Energy Pol- General to review, revise, and develop law 5296. A letter from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. icy and Conservation Act to modify the defi- enforcement and justice protocols appro- Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Secu- nition of water heater under energy con- priate to address missing and murdered Indi- rity, transmitting the Department’s tem- servation standards, and for other purposes; ans, and for other purposes; with an amend- porary final rule — Safety Zone; I-5 Bridge to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. ment (Rept. 116–508, Pt. 1). Referred to the Construction Project, Columbia River, Van- By Ms. ESCOBAR: Committee of the Whole House on the state couver, WA [Docket Number: USCG-2020- H.R. 8268. A bill to amend title 38, United of the Union. 0247] (RIN: 1625-AA00] received September 14, States Code, to direct the Secretary of Vet- Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judici- 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public erans Affairs to furnish mental and behav- ary. H.R. 2438. A bill to increase intergovern- Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the ioral health care to certain individuals dis- mental coordination to identify and combat Committee on Transportation and Infra- charged or released from the active military, violent crime within Indian lands and of In- structure. naval, or air service under conditions other 5297. A letter from the Legal Yeoman, CG- dians; with an amendment (Rept. 116–509, Pt. than honorable, and for other purposes; to LRA, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Homeland Security, transmitting the De- House on the state of the Union. By Ms. ESCOBAR: partment’s final rule — Person in Charge of DISCHARGE OF COMMITTEE H.R. 8269. A bill to direct the Secretary of Fuel Transfers [Docket No.: USCG-2018-0493] Pursuant to clause 2 of rule XIII, the Veterans Affairs to conduct annual surveys (RIN: 1625-AC50) received September 14, 2020, Committee on Natural Resources dis- of veterans on experiences obtaining hospital pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law charged from further consideration care and medical services from medical fa- 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Com- H.R. 2438 referred to the Committee of cilities of the Department of Veterans Af- mittee on Transportation and Infrastruc- fairs, and for other purposes; to the Com- ture. the Whole House on the state of the mittee on Veterans’ Affairs. 5298. A letter from the Legal Tech, CG- Union. By Ms. SPEIER (for herself, Mr. LRA, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Pursuant to clause 2 of rule XIII, the MULLIN, Ms. GARCIA of Texas, Mr. Homeland Security, transmitting the De- Committee on Natural Resources dis- CARTER of Texas, Ms. ESCOBAR, Mr.

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OLSON, Mr. CISNEROS, Mr. and Policy Commission, and for other pur- Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the Com- BALDERSON, Mr. CROW, Mr. HURD of poses; to the Committee on Agriculture. mittee on Ways and Means, for a period to be Texas, Mr. KIM, Mr. CASTRO of Texas, By Mr. MCCARTHY (for himself, Mr. subsequently determined by the Speaker, in Ms. PRESSLEY, Mr. DOGGETT, Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. DAVID P. ROE each case for consideration of such provi- HASTINGS, Mr. MALINOWSKI, Mr. of Tennessee, Mr. BANKS, Mr. sions as fall within the jurisdiction of the VELA, Ms. NORTON, Mr. BEYER, Mr. BERGMAN, Mr. STEUBE, Mr. BOST, Mr. committee concerned. CUELLAR, Mr. GARAMENDI, Mrs. DUNN, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. CALVERT, By Mr. CONAWAY (for himself, Mr. HAYES, Ms. GABBARD, Ms. OCASIO- Mr. MEUSER, Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. MCCAUL, Mr. MCCARTHY, Mr. HURD of CORTEZ, Ms. HAALAND, Mrs. CAROLYN COOK, and Mrs. RADEWAGEN): Texas, Mr. GOHMERT, Mr. BABIN, Mr. B. MALONEY of New York, Mr. THOMP- H.R. 8275. A bill to amend title 38, United TAYLOR, Mr. MARCHANT, Mr. SON of California, Ms. SHERRILL, Mr. States Code, and the Honoring America’s ARRINGTON, Mr. THORNBERRY, Mr. RASKIN, Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Fami- ROY, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, Mr. MCGOVERN, lies Act of 2012, to make certain enhance- GOODEN, Mr. FLORES, Mr. CRENSHAW, Ms. ROYBAL-ALLARD, Mr. PANETTA, ments to grants and agreements between the Mr. VEASEY, Mr. CUELLAR, Mr. GON- Ms. SCANLON, Ms. ESHOO, Mrs. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and entities ZALEZ of Texas, Mr. GREEN of Texas, TRAHAN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. that provide services to homeless veterans; Mr. CASTRO of Texas, Ms. GRANGER, VELA´ ZQUEZ, Mr. SIRES, Mrs. WATSON to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and and Mr. WILLIAMS): COLEMAN, Ms. KUSTER of New Hamp- in addition to the Committee on Financial H. Res. 1115. A resolution calling for the shire, Mr. GALLEGO, Mr. ROSE of New Services, for a period to be subsequently de- immediate release of Trevor Reed, a United York, Mr. VEASEY, Ms. KENDRA S. termined by the Speaker, in each case for States citizen who was unjustly sentenced to HORN of Oklahoma, Ms. CASTOR of consideration of such provisions as fall with- 9 years in a Russian prison; to the Com- Florida, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. in the jurisdiction of the committee con- mittee on Foreign Affairs. PINGREE, Mr. CA´ RDENAS, Ms. LEE of cerned. By Ms. HERRERA BEUTLER: California, Mr. WELCH, Mrs. TORRES By Mrs. MURPHY of Florida (for her- H. Res. 1116. A resolution providing for of California, Mr. KHANNA, Mr. self, Mr. CRENSHAW, and Mr. WALTZ): consideration of the bill (H.R. 7664) to permit CORREA, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. H.R. 8276. A bill to authorize the President the Administrator of the Small Business Ad- O’HALLERAN, Ms. SPANBERGER, Mr. to posthumously award the Medal of Honor ministration to deem certain nonprofit orga- LYNCH, Mr. LARSON of Connecticut, to Alwyn C. Cashe for acts of valor during nizations serving developmentally disabled Mrs. LESKO, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. Operation Iraqi Freedom; to the Committee individuals as eligible to participate in the BLUMENAUER, Mr. GARCI´A of Illinois, on Armed Services. paycheck protection program, and for other Mr. COURTNEY, Mrs. LAWRENCE, Ms. By Mr. WELCH (for himself and Mr. purposes; to the Committee on Rules. BROWNLEY of California, Ms. ENGEL): By Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. BILI- FRANKEL, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. COOPER, H.R. 8277. A bill to amend the Atomic En- RAKIS, Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois, Mr. ergy Act of 1954 to provide for consultation Mr. SAN NICOLAS, and Mr. DANNY K. CONNOLLY, Ms. MOORE, Ms. WILSON of with State, Tribal, and local governments, DAVIS of Illinois): Florida, Ms. CLARK of Massachusetts, the consideration of State, Tribal, and local H. Res. 1117. A resolution expressing sup- Mr. HECK, Ms. MENG, Ms. KAPTUR, concerns, and the approval of post-shutdown port for the designation of September 2020 as Mr. LOWENTHAL, Ms. WILD, Mr. RUP- decommissioning activities reports by the Peripheral Artery Disease Awareness Month; PERSBERGER, Ms. MCCOLLUM, Mr. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; to the to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. TAKANO, Ms. TLAIB, Mr. BRENDAN F. Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in By Mr. PAYNE (for himself, Mr. BOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. EVANS, addition to the Committees on Transpor- MULLIN, Mr. FITZPATRICK, Mr. DAVID Ms. JAYAPAL, Mr. TRONE, Ms. tation and Infrastructure, and Financial SCOTT of Georgia, Mr. MALINOWSKI, DELAURO, Mr. ESPAILLAT, Mr. COX of Services, for a period to be subsequently de- Mr. BISHOP of Georgia, Mr. HASTINGS, California, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, termined by the Speaker, in each case for Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. LEE of Mrs. BUSTOS, Ms. ADAMS, Mr. HIGGINS consideration of such provisions as fall with- California, Mr. GONZALEZ of Texas, of New York, Mr. CRIST, Ms. LOF- in the jurisdiction of the committee con- Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. RYAN, GREN, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. TED LIEU of cerned. Ms. PLASKETT, Mr. SAN NICOLAS, Mr. California, and Mr. BRINDISI): By Mr. WENSTRUP: THOMPSON of Mississippi, Mr. WIL- H.R. 8278. A bill to require the disclosure of H.R. 8270. A bill to amend title 10, United LIAMS, and Mr. SIRES): States Code, to improve the responses of the determinations with respect to which Con- H. Res. 1118. A resolution expressing sup- Department of Defense to sex-related of- gressional staff will be required to obtain port for the designation of September 2020 as fenses, and for other purposes; to the Com- health insurance coverage through an Ex- ‘‘National Prostate Cancer Awareness mittee on Armed Services. change; to the Committee on House Adminis- Month’’; to the Committee on Energy and By Ms. HAALAND (for herself, Mr. GRI- tration. Commerce, and in addition to the Committee JALVA, and Mr. MCEACHIN): By Mr. ZELDIN (for himself and Mr. on Ways and Means, for a period to be subse- H.R. 8271. A bill to provide supplemental FOSTER): quently determined by the Speaker, in each H.R. 8279. A bill to establish and support a appropriations for the cleanup of legacy pol- case for consideration of such provisions as quantum network infrastructure research lution, including National Priority List fall within the jurisdiction of the committee and development program at the Department sites, certain abandoned coal mining sites, concerned. and formerly used defense sites, to replace of Energy and for other purposes; to the f lead drinking water service lines, to provide Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- grants under certain programs, and to amend nology. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY the Clean Air Act to prohibit the issuance of By Mr. HURD of Texas (for himself, STATEMENT new major source air pollution permits in Ms. KELLY of Illinois, Mr. CHABOT, overburdened communities, and for other Mr. VEASEY, Mr. MOULTON, Mr. Pursuant to clause 7 of rule XII of purposes; to the Committee on Appropria- BAIRD, Mr. CLOUD, and Mr. CON- the Rules of the House of Representa- tions, and in addition to the Committee on NOLLY): tives, the following statements. are the Budget, for a period to be subsequently H. Con. Res. 116. Concurrent resolution ex- submitted regarding. the specific pow- determined by the Speaker, in each case for pressing the sense of Congress with respect ers granted to Congress in the Con- to the principles that should guide the na- consideration of such provisions as fall with- stitution to enact the accompanying in the jurisdiction of the committee con- tional artificial intelligence strategy of the cerned. United States; to the Committee on Science, bill or joint resolution. By Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana: Space, and Technology, and in addition to By Mr. GOSAR: H.R. 8272. A bill to amend title 18, United the Committees on Education and Labor, H.R. 8264. States Code, to prohibit physically impeding Oversight and Reform, Foreign Affairs, En- Congress has the power to enact this legis- an ambulance from providing emergency ergy and Commerce, and Ways and Means, lation pursuant to the following: medical treatment, and for other purposes; for a period to be subsequently determined Article 1, Section 8 to the Committee on the Judiciary. by the Speaker, in each case for consider- By Mr. CHABOT: By Ms. JOHNSON of Texas: ation of such provisions as fall within the ju- H.R. 8265. H.R. 8273. A bill to establish programs and risdiction of the committee concerned. Congress has the power to enact this legis- authorities to facilitate the commercial ap- By Mr. TIFFANY: lation pursuant to the following: plication of clean energy and related tech- H. Con. Res. 117. Concurrent resolution ex- Article I, Section 8 nologies in the United States; to the Com- pressing the sense of Congress that the By Mr. DEFAZIO: mittee on Science, Space, and Technology. United States should resume normal diplo- H.R. 8266. By Mr. KIND (for himself and Mr. GAL- matic relations with Taiwan, negotiate a bi- Congress has the power to enact this legis- LAGHER): lateral free trade agreement with Taiwan, lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 8274. A bill to direct the Secretary of and support Taiwan’s membership in inter- Article I, Section 8, Clause 1, Clause 3, and Agriculture to establish the Dairy Pricing national organizations; to the Committee on Clause 18 of the Constitution.

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By Mrs. DINGELL: Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18: The Con- H.R. 5427: Mr. GROTHMAN. H.R. 8267. gress shall have Power To . . . make all H.R. 5589: Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Congress has the power to enact this legis- Laws which shall be necessary and proper for H.R. 5605: Mr. NORMAN, Mr. KELLY of Mis- lation pursuant to the following: carrying into Execution the foregoing Pow- sissippi, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. GOTTHEIMER, The constitutional authority of Congress ers, and all other Powers vested by this Con- Mr. SPANO, Mr. FLEISCHMANN, Mr. GOMEZ, to enact this legislation is provided by Arti- stitution in the Government of the United and Mr. BURCHETT. cle I, section 8 of the United States Constitu- States, or in any Department or Officer H.R. 5610: Mr. WESTERMAN. tion. thereof.. H.R. 5701: Mr. BISHOP of North Carolina. By Ms. ESCOBAR: By Mr. WENSTRUP: H.R. 5754: Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. H.R. 8268. H.R. 8278. H.R. 5995: Ms. FUDGE and Mr. CISNEROS. Congress has the power to enact this legis- Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 6032: Mr. BACON. lation pursuant to the following: lation pursuant to the following: Constitutional Authority—Necessary and Article 1, Section 9, Clause 7 H.R. 6195: Mrs. HAYES. Proper Clause (Art. I, Sec. 8, Clause 18) By Mr. ZELDIN: H.R. 6425: Ms. FINKENAUER. THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE I, H.R. 8279. H.R. 6563: Ms. DAVIDS of Kansas. SECTION 8: POWERS OF CONGRESS, Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 6626: Mr. POCAN. CLAUSE 18 lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 6645: Ms. WEXTON. The Congress shall have power ... To make Article 1, Section 8 of the United States H.R. 6794: Ms. LEE of California. all laws which shall be necessary and proper Constitution. H.R. 6829: Mr. SPANO, Mr. MARSHALL, Mr. for carrying into execution the foregoing KELLY of Mississippi, Mr. CROW, Mrs. powers, and all other powers vested by this f BUSTOS, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. UPTON, and Mr. Constitution in the government of the ADDITIONAL SPONSORS TO PUBLIC BURCHETT. United States, or in any department or offi- H.R. 6833: Mr. HORSFORD. cer thereof. BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS H.R. 6919: Ms. ESHOO. By Ms. ESCOBAR: Under clause 7 of rule XII, sponsors H.R. 6934: Mrs. TORRES of California and H.R. 8269. were added to public bills and resolu- Mr. GOODEN. Congress has the power to enact this legis- tions, as follows: lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 7024: Mr. KHANNA. Constitutional Authority—Necessary and H.R. 125: Mrs. FLETCHER. H.R. 7039: Mr. STEUBE, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Proper Clause (Art. I, Sec. 8, Clause 18) H.R. 594: Mr. STIVERS. and Mr. BUCHANAN. THE U.S. CONSTITUTION, ARTICLE I, H.R. 683: Mr. CICILLINE. H.R. 7040: Mr. STEUBE, Mr. DIAZ-BALART, SECTION 8: POWERS OF CONGRESS, H.R. 832: Mr. STEIL. and Mr. BUCHANAN. CLAUSE 18 H.R. 989: Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia. H.R. 7052: Mr. SWALWELL of California and The Congress shall have power ... To make H.R. 1034: Mr. JOHN W. ROSE of Tennessee Ms. BROWNLEY of California. and Mr. BURCHETT. all laws which shall be necessary and proper H.R. 7071: Mr. AGUILAR and Mr. TONKO. for carrying into execution the foregoing H.R. 1108: Mr. YARMUTH and Mr. HOLDING. H.R. 7072: Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. powers, and all other powers vested by this H.R. 1130: Ms. JACKSON LEE. H.R. 7078: Ms. PORTER. Constitution in the government of the H.R. 1224: Mr. HORSFORD and Mr. MCKIN- H.R. 7154: Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of United States, or in any department or offi- LEY. New York. cer thereof. H.R. 1450: Mr. DELGADO and Mr. DANNY K. By Ms. SPEIER: DAVIS of Illinois. H.R. 7233: Mr. GARAMENDI. H.R. 8270. H.R. 1560: Ms. SHERRILL. H.R. 7490: Mr. GOODEN. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 1857: Mr. DELGADO. H.R. 7499: Mr. LARSEN of Washington. lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 1873: Ms. FINKENAUER. H.R. 7564: Mr. HIMES. This bill is enacted pursuant to the power H.R. 2031: Mr. MULLIN. H.R. 7565: Ms. FRANKEL. granted to Congress under Article 1, Section H.R. 2168: Mr. GOLDEN. H.R. 7620: Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. KENDRA S. 8 of the United States Constitution. H.R. 2295: Mr. DESAULNIER. HORN of Oklahoma, and Mr. GUEST. By Ms. HAALAND: H.R. 2442: Mr. BROWN of Maryland, Mr. H.R. 7632: Mr. SMUCKER. H.R. 8271. GARCI´A of Illinois, Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ, Ms. H.R. 7642: Ms. GABBARD, Mrs. LURIA, Ms. Congress has the power to enact this legis- FUDGE, Mr. GOMEZ, Mr. MICHAEL F. DOYLE of SCHAKOWSKY, and Mr. Danny K. DAVIS of Illi- lation pursuant to the following: Pennsylvania, Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, Ms. nois. Article I Section 8 ESHOO, Mr. MCEACHIN, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. H.R. 7666: Mrs. WALORSKI. By Mr. HIGGINS of Louisiana: MCADAMS, Ms. STEVENS, Ms. WEXTON, Mr. H.R. 7690: Mr. LAMALFA. H.R. 8272. MEEKS, Ms. FRANKEL, and Mr. DANNY K. H.R. 7739: Mr. HARDER of California. Congress has the power to enact this legis- DAVIS of Illinois. H.R. 7749: Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 2453: Mr. ABRAHAM, Mr. RICE of South H.R. 7759: Mr. EMMER. U.S.C. Article I, Section 8 Carolina, Mr. GAETZ, Mr. HIGGINS of Lou- By Ms. JOHNSON of Texas: isiana, and Mr. NORMAN. H.R. 7766: Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. H.R. 8273. H.R. 2653: Mr. VAN DREW and Ms. KAPTUR. H.R. 7809: Mr. HUIZENGA, Mr. WILSON of Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 3086: Mr. SMITH of Washington. South Carolina, Mr. GOODEN, Mr. WEBSTER of lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 3114: Mr. PALLONE, Mr. ALLRED, Mr. Florida, Mr. MOONEY of West Virginia, and Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of BRINDISI, and Ms. ADAMS. Mr. HASTINGS. the United States. H.R. 3548: Mr. MAST. H.R. 7821: Mr. VEASEY, Mr. LEVIN of Cali- By Mr. KIND: H.R. 3570: Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. SPANBERGER, fornia, Mr. SEAN PATRICK MALONEY of New H.R. 8274. York, and Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Congress has the power to enact this legis- Mr. VEASEY, Mr. PALLONE, Mr. NEAL, Mr. H.R. 7832: Ms. GRANGER. lation pursuant to the following: DELGADO, Mr. CLYBURN, and Mr. DANNY K. Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 DAVIS of Illinois. H.R. 7839: Mr. WENSTRUP. H.R. 3572: Mrs. BEATTY. By Mr. MCCARTHY: H.R. 7910: Mr. FOSTER. H.R. 8275. H.R. 3771: Mr. FITZPATRICK. H.R. 7919: Mr. FITZPATRICK. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 3797: Mr. CASTEN of Illinois. H.R. 7961: Mr. KILDEE. lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 3821: Ms. DELBENE. H.R. 8030: Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 12 H.R. 3969: Mr. MAST. H.R. 8031: Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. H.R. 4172: Mr. BOST and Mr. VAN DREW. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 13 H.R. 8044: Mr. FOSTER and Mr. BISHOP of Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 H.R. 4549: Mr. KEVIN HERN of Oklahoma. Georgia. H.R. 4924: Ms. BONAMICI. By Mrs. MURPHY of Florida: H.R. 8109: Mr. MEEKS. H.R. 5046: Mr. BOST. H.R. 8276. H.R. 8113: Mr. ESPAILLAT. Congress has the power to enact this legis- H.R. 5086: Mr. BURGESS. H.R. 8171: Mr. CASE. lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 5098: Ms. FINKENAUER. H.R. 8180: Mr. LAMALFA, Mr. GOSAR, Mr. Article I, Section 8, which gives Congress H.R. 5141: Mr. LYNCH, Mr. DEUTCH, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, and Mr. the power to provide for the common defense ESPAILLAT, Ms. VELA´ ZQUEZ, Mr. CRIST, Mr. GROTHMAN. and general welfare of the United States; to DESAULNIER, Mr. CARSON of Indiana, Ms. raise and support armies; and to make all FUDGE, Mrs. MCBATH, Mr. CROW, Mr. SUOZZI, H.R. 8200: Mrs. HAYES. laws which shall be necessary and proper for Mr. CISNEROS, Ms. LOFGREN, Ms. WASSERMAN H.R. 8201: Mr. SPANO. carrying into execution the foregoing SCHULTZ, Ms. PORTER, Mrs. NAPOLITANO, Mr. H.R. 8254: Ms. SEWELL of Alabama. By Mr. WELCH: VARGAS, Mr. MCEACHIN, Mr. HUFFMAN, Mr. H. Res. 908: Mr. GARAMENDI and Mr. CRIST. H.R. 8277. MCADAMS, Mr. MCNERNEY, Ms. GABBARD, Ms. H. Res. 1078: Ms. PINGREE. Congress has the power to enact this legis- WEXTON, Ms. BASS, Mr. MEEKS, and Mr. SOTO. H. Res. 1110: Mr. ZELDIN and Mr. ROSE of lation pursuant to the following: H.R. 5194: Ms. DEAN and Mr. GRIJALVA. New York.

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Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2020 No. 160 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was process, suppressed democratic opposi- American workers keep or regain their called to order by the President pro tion. jobs, and to invest more in testing tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). So the fact that the Belarus August treatments and finding and distrib- f Presidential election was a sham, as we uting a vaccine. But alas, Democrats all know, and he was once again de- filibustered it all, apparently intent PRAYER clared to be the winner by a highly im- that working families cannot receive The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- plausible margin, should not surprise any more relief until election day. fered the following prayer: anyone. However, this time, the Across the Capitol, Speaker PELOSI’s Let us pray. Belarusian people have had enough. excuses and Goldilocks games are even Eternal Lord, ride into our hearts This time, brutal crackdowns by secu- wearing thin on our fellow Democrats. today and fill us with Your power. rity forces have not crushed grassroots A few weeks ago, more than 100 House Lord, give us such strength that we demands for democracy. Democrats publicly—publicly—asked will face life’s difficulties with faith, The quest for liberty is embedded in Speaker PELOSI to stop blocking action hope, and love. May our lawmakers so the DNA of the American Republic, so on any coronavirus legislation besides embrace these spiritual attributes that the Americans naturally watch with her multitrillion-dollar, far-left wish Your Name will be glorified throughout interest as the people of Belarus con- list. She ignored them. She completely our Nation and world. tinue to demand their God-given ignored them. Yesterday, a number of House Demo- As our Senators dedicate their lives rights. The American people stand with crats tried again. They released a new to obey Your precepts, direct them to the people of Belarus. proposal they had written to some Re- Your desired destination. Lord, give I also appreciate very much the publicans and pleaded with the Speaker them a faith that will not shrink when strong stance taken by European gov- to allow a vote on it. Again, she shot at times they cannot see clearly the ernments supporting the Belarusian down any notion whatsoever of com- road ahead. Help them to place their people as the American people have. promise. Now, bear in mind, the Speak- total trust in You. I yield the floor. er had explained she will block any We pray in Your holy Name. Amen. I suggest the absence of a quorum. compromise for kids, jobs, and f The PRESIDING OFFICER. The healthcare because—because—passing clerk will call the roll. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE anything short of multiple trillions of The senior assistant legislative clerk dollars would make her look like ‘‘a The President pro tempore led the proceeded to call the roll. cheap date’’—a cheap date. Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, The money that K–12 schools need, I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the I ask unanimous consent that the order that unemployed workers need, and United States of America, and to the Repub- for the quorum call be rescinded. that we need for the race toward vac- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without cines, Speaker PELOSI is blocking all of indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. objection, it is so ordered. it because, apparently, to the San The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. f Francisco far left, anything short of LOEFFLER). The Senator from Iowa. multiple trillions of dollars would Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER make her ‘‘a cheap date.’’ So, appar- ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 ently, for the sake of the Speaker’s minute in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- personal ego, working families con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without jority leader is recognized. tinue to suffer with no bipartisan help objection, it is so ordered. f from Congress. f CORONAVIRUS f BELARUS Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, FILIBUSTERS Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I Republican Senators, like working Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, imagine the people of the United families all across the country had now, since Democrats are stonewalling States have been able to follow the hoped—hoped—the Senate would be pandemic relief, the Senate is using demonstrations in Belarus in opposi- spending this week completing more our time to confirm more well-quali- tion to the President declaring victory bipartisan pandemic relief. fied judicial nominees to lifetime posi- there. Since Aleksandr Lukashenko We proposed another package with tions on the Federal bench. Renewing came to power in Belarus in 1994, he hundreds of billions of dollars to make the Federal judiciary has been a major has consolidated power, and, in the schools safer for our kids, to help success over the last 4 years.

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

S5617

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.000 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5618 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 Since January 2017, President Trump buster movement [and] I am proud of ting nicotine addiction away from our has nominated, and this Republican it.’’ That was the Democratic leader. Nation’s youth, and by the looks of Senate has confirmed, 211 article III But now—now—they are saying that these data, it has not taken long for judges, including 53 circuit judges. if they ever get power, they intend to our legislation to begin to pay major That is the second most appellate con- tear up the rule book to force radi- dividends. firmations of any President in Amer- calism on our country. They want to Nearly 2 million fewer teens in Ken- ican history at this point in their term. break the rules to pass the kinds of tucky, Virginia, Indiana, and across This isn’t a partisan victory. The radical, far-left policies that former the country are having their future put President has sent us impressive, quali- Vice President Biden has rushed— in jeopardy by these products. That is fied men and women who understand rushed—to embrace, from abortion to a win, and it has happened largely be- the radical notion that the job of judge socialism, to cracking down on the cause the Senate stepped up. is to actually follow the law—follow Second Amendment. the law. It is a victory for our Con- And that is not all. It is not just f stitution itself, but, believe me, this about bad policies. They want to go MEASURE PLACED ON THE even deeper and hot-wire—hot-wire— progress has not come easy. CALENDAR—S. 4582 Throughout the last 4 years, our Sen- our democracy itself. The far left is ate Democratic colleagues have visited salivating over the prospect of killing Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, a historic degree of obstruction upon the filibuster in order to pack the Su- I understand there is a bill at the desk this President and his efforts to stand preme Court, pack the Senate with new due for a second reading. up the administration that the Amer- States, and tilt the playing field per- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ican people actually elected. manently so they can never lose power clerk will read the bill by title for the Senate Democrats have forced us to again. second time. break more filibusters on nominations This is not some rightwing con- The senior assistant legislative clerk since 2017—now listen to this—than had spiracy theory. These are the signals read as follows: occurred cumulatively in all of Senate they are sending publicly right now. A bill (S. 4582) to extend, temporarily, day- history—all of Senate history—before This is what the left is saying out light saving time, and for other purposes. President Trump was sworn in. I am there. Maybe this hard-left hypocrisy Mr. MCCONNELL. In order to place going to say that again. plays well in a few big coastal cities. the bill on the calendar under the pro- Senate Democrats have forced us to Maybe the angry crowds that are pull- visions of rule XIV, I would object to break more filibusters on nominations ing down statues of our Founding Fa- further proceedings. since 2017 than had occurred cumula- thers want Senators who will pull down The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- tively in all of Senate history before government institutions as well. Most tion having been heard, the bill will be President Trump was sworn in. They Americans see things differently. placed on the calendar. have attempted to filibuster more f f nominations in the last 3 years than E-CIGARETTES the sum total of all prior Senates— RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME from 1789 through 2016 added together. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under What was once a rare roadblock for now, on another matter entirely, a few the previous order, the leadership time the most controversial people has now days ago, the country got something is reserved. become a daily norm. Before 2017, be- that has been in too short supply in fore this Senate Democratic minority 2020: some really great news—specifi- f got to work, only 5 percent of all nomi- cally, great news on the subject of pub- nations to district courts and circuit lic health. CONCLUSION OF MORNING courts had been subjected to filibus- According to the 2020 National Youth BUSINESS ters. I will say it again. Tobacco Survey, administered by the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning Before 2017, before this Senate Demo- FDA and the CDC, the number of business is closed. cratic minority got to work, only 5 per- American youth using e-cigarettes has cent of all nominations to district dropped by 1.8 million since just last f courts and circuit courts had been sub- year—1.8 million in 1 year. That jected to filibusters. Under President means, of course, that 1.8 million fewer EXECUTIVE SESSION Trump, the number has been 80 per- young Americans are using e-cigarettes cent—80 percent. Our Democratic col- and vaping devices than 1 year ago. leagues even obstruct nominees they This victory for young Americans’ EXECUTIVE CALENDAR don’t even oppose. We have taken more health is no accident. The experts say The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under than 100 cloture votes on district a number of factors are at play, but the previous order, the Senate will pro- judges, even though district court one major contributing factor unfolded ceed to executive session to resume nominees from any State with a Demo- right here in the Senate a little under consideration of the following nomina- cratic Senator could not have even got- a year ago. tion, which the clerk will report. ten out of committee without Demo- Last December, the President signed The senior assistant legislative clerk cratic support. the Tobacco-Free Youth Act into law. read the nomination of Todd Wallace So, to summarize, here is what we It was a bill I wrote and introduced to Robinson, of California, to be United are doing this week. We are breaking stem the tide of what was a rapidly States District Judge for the Southern Democratic filibusters on nominations growing health crisis among our Na- District of California. because Democrats are filibustering tion’s young people. The bipartisan bill Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- coronavirus relief. And let us not for- I wrote with my good friend TIM KAINE sence of a quorum. get the cherry on top. Because self- from Virginia and with the help of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The awareness apparently no longer exists, other colleagues, including Senator clerk will call the roll. our Democratic colleagues have chosen TODD YOUNG, raised the minimum age The senior assistant legislative clerk this very moment to argue that they to purchase tobacco products, includ- proceeded to call the roll. shouldn’t have to play by any of these ing e-cigarettes and vaping devices, Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I rules if they ever get power them- from 18 to 21. ask unanimous consent that the order selves. This is based on clear-cut science. for the quorum call be rescinded. President Obama calls the filibuster Public health experts tell us the harm- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ‘‘a relic of Jim Crow,’’ even as Senate ful effects of nicotine are most potent objection, it is so ordered. Democrats use it over and over and on bodies and brains that are still de- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER over again. Democrats filibustered po- veloping. Nearly 9 out of 10 adult The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lice reform and filibustered pandemic smokers started by the age of 18. So we Democratic leader is recognized. relief for working families. Some years knew it was time to take action. ELECTION SECURITY back, the Democratic leader told the I am proud to have led the legislation Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, in newspaper: ‘‘I am the leader of the fili- that took another leap forward in get- only 48 days, the American people will

VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:09 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD20\SEPTEMBER\S16SE0.REC S16SE0 sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5619 head to the polls to cast their ballots confidence in our mail-in systems, our In fact, some of the allegations that in an election that, by necessity, will vote-by-mail systems; two, measures to the Homeland Security chairman pur- be conducted in a much different fash- ensure that every vote is counted; and sues are the same ones propagated by ion than in nearly any election in our three, discuss and prepare for possible Andriy Derkach, a known Russian Nation’s history. Because of COVID–19, postelection scenarios. agent who was recently sanctioned by there will likely be a historic increase The function of the committee would President Trump’s own Department of in mail-in ballots. be to hold hearings about what is being the Treasury for interfering in our Mail-in voting is a process that is done around the country to make cer- election. So here President Trump’s well established in our country. Sev- tain that our public institutions are Department of the Treasury sanctions eral States have conducted elections prepared to conduct a smooth and reli- Derkach, and the chairman of the com- this way for years without any issue at able election, free from voter suppres- mittee repeats the same kind of dis- all. Because of COVID–19, there may sion and intimidation, that every vote credited allegations that Derkach also be some delays in determining the will be counted and there will be con- propagates. It is outrageous. It is a dis- results of the election while every bal- fidence in the outcome. grace. lot is counted. This, too, has happened Senator SANDERS and I and many in The hearings and subpoenas that before, but there is no doubt that this our caucus—including Senator KLO- have come out of the Homeland Secu- election will be unique, and it means BUCHAR, whom I will mention in a rity Committee are also a disgrace by that leaders from both sides of the minute—feel very, very strongly that any standard. The more we learn about aisle should be joining together now to we have to do something, and this bi- Russian agents like Mr. Derkach, the ensure the integrity of the election and partisan committee can ensure the more it looks like the Kremlin is try- the public’s confidence in the result. American people that the Senate is on ing to launder anti-American informa- Sadly, there are some who are sys- top of this. tion through the U.S. Senate, and be- tematically undermining public con- We hope the Republican leader will cause Moscow prefers to support Don- fidence in the voting process and irre- accept our request. We hope he will not ald Trump, as it did in the last elec- sponsibly fanning suspicions and con- run away from his responsibility to en- tion, it seems that some of this spiracy theories about the legitimacy sure there are fair elections. We hope disinformation finds a sympathetic au- of election results. At the top of the that he will not go along with Donald dience among Republican Senators. list here is, unfortunately, once again, Trump’s dangerous rhetoric about the So today, alongside Senators WYDEN, the President of the United States, who fairness of our elections. PETERS, REED, and FEINSTEIN, I will be has exploited and capitalized on fears Later today, the Senator from Min- introducing a resolution calling for a about holding an election in the middle nesota and ranking member of the cessation of any Senate investigation of COVID–19 to attack mail-in voting Rules Committee, Senator KLOBUCHAR, or activity that allows Congress to act and to advance comically false claims and I will be speaking with a bipartisan as a conduit for Russian information. of widespread voter fraud. The Presi- group of secretaries of state. We will be There should not be a single aspect of dent has done both of those. He has at- getting a briefing on the state of our this Chamber that, wittingly or unwit- tacked mail-in voting and made these election preparedness around the coun- tingly, furthers the propaganda ma- false claims of fraud. try. I expect they will reiterate their chine of Vladimir Putin’s intelligence We are talking about the integrity of call for another major priority being services. our elections here. This is the blocked by Senate Republicans: elec- I will have more to say on this mat- wellspring of our democracy. It is fun- tion assistance funding. ter later, but for one of the most im- damental for our country, something I am hopeful we can still find agree- portant committees to be echoing a that American soldiers have fought and ment on a bipartisan basis to help our Kremlin-backed conspiracy theory is died for—and the President trifles with States with critical funding to prepare beyond the pale. As we are about to it, and, of course, our Senate Repub- for this historic election. This issue is hold a national election, it must stop lican colleagues go along. above partisan politics. It is the es- immediately. So, today, we are doing two things in sence of our democracy. It is disgrace- VENEZUELA this regard because we have a responsi- ful that Republicans are playing games bility to do everything we can to see Madam President, finally, later with this—perhaps for electoral advan- that this election does not mark the today my friends Senators DURBIN, tage, perhaps for fear of President beginning of a new age when our elec- MENENDEZ, and VAN HOLLEN will come Trump—but we will not let it happen. tion results are doubted, conspiracy to the floor to try again to secure tem- We, as a caucus, repeat to the Amer- porary protected status for Ven- theories flourish, and our grand democ- ican people: The best way to prevent an racy is tarnished around the world. If ezuelans seeking refuge here in the election from being manipulated or United States. There are roughly we allow this kind of malicious tam- stolen is to vote. The more people who pering with the wellspring of our de- 200,000 eligible Venezuelans in the vote and the earlier they vote, when mocracy in terms of people’s trust in United States who are now at risk of they can vote early, the better off our it, it is the beginning of the end. being sent back to a failed and dan- Donald Trump doesn’t care. We know democracy will be. gerous nation, rife with political re- he only cares about himself. The Sen- RUSSIA pression and human suffering—a nation ate Republicans don’t say a peep. We Madam President, now, on Russian that, under Maduro’s regime, con- know they are afraid of Donald Trump. disinformation, another matter, the stitutes the single biggest humani- Even when they disagree with him, chairman of the Committee on Home- tarian crisis in our hemisphere today. they remain quiet, and too often they land Security and Governmental Af- Despite having all the authority that agree with him. fairs continues to further his probe he needs to solve this problem on his We cannot allow our people to lose into the family of the former Vice own, President Trump will not grant faith in elections, and we must do ev- President and plans to release a report temporary protected status, and his erything to ensure that they are con- next week that appears designed to in- enablers in the Senate have repeatedly ducted in a fair way that the American fluence the upcoming Presidential elec- blocked passage of House legislation people will accept, despite COVID and tion. that would provide it. So we are going all the problems it creates. While the rest of the country has to try once again to get this passed. So, this morning, Senator SANDERS been focused on fighting the global Democrats stand with the people of and I have written a letter to the Re- pandemic, for the last few months, the Venezuela. Later today, my Republican publican leader asking him to work chairman and Republicans of the com- colleagues will need to decide if they with us to establish a special bipar- mittee have wasted taxpayer resources want to restore the moral leadership of tisan committee with equal representa- to run a hit job on President Trump’s the United States and support the pro- tion from both parties to guarantee the political rival. Even worse, it seems tection of Venezuelans fleeing violence integrity of our election process. that several lines of investigation have and despair or leave them all in limbo, The committee should focus on three echoed materials pushed by the Krem- facing deportation to a humanitarian issues: one, confirm the security of and lin. disaster.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.004 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5620 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 I yield the floor. lion, according to one estimate. Now, Green New Deal that could attract bi- I suggest the absence of a quorum. that is going to eat up a lot—a lot—of partisan support. The Senator’s re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The money that could otherwise be spent sponse: The whole thing needs to be en- clerk will call the roll. on important investments: healthcare, acted—and if Republicans don’t allow The senior assistant legislative clerk veterans, infrastructure, defense, sen- that to happen, Democrats should proceeded to call the roll. iors, education. We would have a lot change the Senate rules to eliminate Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask more money to devote to those prior- the legislative filibuster. unanimous consent that the order for ities if we weren’t paying hundreds of Apparently, Democrats aren’t willing the quorum call be rescinded. billions in interest each year on our to even moderate their proposal. If the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without debt. Senator from Massachusetts has his objection, it is so ordered. Then there are the economic con- way, Democrats will shove the entire NATIONAL DEBT sequences of a huge debt: The economy $93 trillion down the throats of the Mr. THUNE. Madam President, in the will struggle. Unemployment will American people. I guess the American beginning of September, the Congres- grow. Businesses will create fewer jobs, people will just have to survive the re- sional Budget Office issued its latest if they create jobs at all. Wages and sulting debt crisis. budget outlook. The news wasn’t good. benefits will likely stagnate. The stock When you ask about the pricetag for CBO announced that next year our market will struggle. Democrats’ socialist fantasies, Demo- country’s debt is projected to exceed We have had to borrow a lot of crats will make noise about somehow the amount of our gross domestic prod- money this year to meet the paying for it. We will tax the rich, they uct. In other words, the size of our debt coronavirus crisis, and there is no say. The rich, they say, aren’t paying will be greater than the size of our doubt it is money we needed to borrow. their fair share. The problem, of economy. That is a very bad position That happens sometimes during a cri- course, is that increasing taxes on the to be in. sis. But we need to be very aware of the rich isn’t going to pay for these pro- Countries with that kind of debt-to- fact that we have driven up our deficit posals. GDP ratio face time-sensitive decisions by $3.3 trillion just this fiscal year, fur- You could tax not only the rich but a if they want to avert an all-out eco- ther increasing our Nation’s debt, and good portion of middle class at rates nomic crisis. Greece is just one recent we need to be very careful about any nearly 100 percent and not come up example. We all know the kind of eco- additional borrowing and ensure we are anywhere close to getting $93 trillion nomic devastation and accompanying borrowing only what is absolutely nec- that would be necessary to pay for the Green New Deal. turmoil that Greece has experienced in essary. There is, in fact, no way to pay for recent years. Republicans have caught a lot of flak these proposals. They will be financed Now, as the United States, we can from Democrats for not being willing by enormous additions to our national probably hang on a little longer than to use the coronavirus as an excuse for debt, and ordinary Americans will suf- most other countries before entering a unchecked government spending, in- fer the consequences: a shrinking econ- full-blown debt crisis. It is helpful that cluding for noncoronavirus-related omy, fewer jobs, lost jobs, lower wages, our economy was surging before being measures, but we have made a priority lack of opportunity, and much more. waylaid by the onset of the of scrutinizing additional spending be- I hope we will take action on our coronavirus, but even we can’t hang on cause we don’t want to get our country debt before it is too late. One thing we forever. Sooner or later, if we don’t ad- out of one economic crisis only to have to consider is how to shore up and dress the size of our soaring debt, we plunge it into another. Unfortunately, protect Social Security and Medicare, are going to have a problem—a lot of that is a lesson that is lost on many of which are currently the main drivers of problems, in fact. my Democratic colleagues. our national debt. Thanks to an aging That is not something most of my We think the debt is bad now, and it Baby Boomer population, these pro- colleagues across the aisle want to is, but it is nothing like what our debt grams are under a great deal of strain. hear. They would like to spend as much will look like if Democrats take Con- My colleague from Utah, Senator as they want, whenever they want, on gress and the White House in November ROMNEY, recently introduced legisla- whatever new government program and start putting some of their bigger tion, called the TRUST Act, to begin to that they have come up with, and they spending plans into effect—plans like address these endangered trust funds imply that Republicans are miserly for Medicare for All, which would cost, as and to start to rein in our national not wanting to join them. a conservative estimate, $32 trillion debt. Bipartisan legislation like this Republicans, Democrats imply or over 10 years; or the Green New Deal, would be a good start to preventing our sometimes say, just don’t care about Democrats’ $93 trillion boondoggle. country from facing an economic crisis the ordinary Americans who would That is right, Madam President; you in the coming decades. supposedly benefit from Democrats’ didn’t mishear that. The Green New The Republican Senators sponsoring spending. In fact, the opposite is true. Deal is estimated to cost over $93 tril- the legislation were joined by a handful In the face of the pandemic, Repub- lion over 10 years. To put that in per- of Democrats, which gives me hope licans have been willing to spend huge spective, the size of the entire Federal that perhaps not all of my Democratic sums to help our fellow Americans budget in 2019 was $4.4 trillion, or sub- colleagues are determined to explode weather this crisis, and Republicans stantially less than the cost of 1 year our national debt with their socialist are worried about our spending and our of the Green New Deal. fantasies. debt precisely because we care deeply Now, you might think a pie-in-the- Unfortunately, too many Demo- about ordinary Americans. We know sky fantasy like the Green New Deal crats—including the Democrats’ Vice what the consequences of unchecked would have been abandoned by Demo- Presidential candidate—are open to debt and spending can be, and we want crats by now, but you would be wrong. bankrupting Americans with the Green to protect Americans from those con- More than a year after its introduc- New Deal and other plans. I hope they sequences. tion, it is apparently still going strong. will not have the chance to implement To start with, the larger our debt Yesterday, I spoke on the floor about their legislation because our economy grows, the more interest we are likely Democrats’ threat to eliminate the leg- and the American people might never to have to pay—and we are already islative filibuster in the Senate, and recover from the consequences. paying a lot. Right now, we are paying that is the Senate rule that helps en- I yield floor. roughly $484 billion a year in interest sure that bills that come before the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- on our debt. That is a substantial Senate require bipartisan cooperation. ator from Ohio. chunk of our yearly budget, and that is Shortly before I spoke, the Senator WORKPLACE SAFETY money that could otherwise be going to from Massachusetts, who introduced Mr. BROWN. Madam President, it is other priorities. the Green New Deal resolution in the pretty obvious that my Republican col- And the problem has only snow- Senate, appeared on National Public leagues think that the Presiding Offi- balled. By 2029, the yearly interest on Radio, where he was asked whether he cer is going to lose her race and a num- our debt is projected to reach $807 bil- thought there were any parts of the ber of incumbent Senators are going to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.005 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5621 lose their races and because it looks meatpacking plant workers have died. American public about the pandemic. like there is going to be a Democratic We know how many hospital workers They don’t question him when he fails President and a Democratic Senate and have died—not just nurses and doctors, his leadership role to protect workers. Democratic House, all of a sudden my and we grieve for them and their fami- Zero inspections—6 months, 8,000 far-right colleagues are concerned lies and applaud and are so grateful for complaints. Zero inspections to make about the national deficit and the na- their service—but it is orderlies who sure corporations are giving workers tional debt. have died also, and the people who the protective equipment and the other In President Trump’s second year in change the bed sheets and change the safety protocols they need. office, Congress passed a bill that pro- linens in the hospitals have died. I demanded that Secretary Scalia, at vided about $1.5 trillion in tax cuts. Be- The President has gotten 8,000 com- this hearing, follow up and tell us tween 70 and 80 percent of the tax cuts plaints about unsafe workplaces. This about any inspections they conducted went to the richest 1 percent of the summer, we had President Trump’s and what the results of those inspec- people in this country. It pushed the corporate lawyer, Secretary of Labor tions were. He said he couldn’t get that national debt into a whole new strato- Scalia, before the Finance Committee. information. He is the Secretary of sphere. It took money we were going to When I say ‘‘corporate lawyer,’’ I mean Labor; I am not. use to build infrastructure—highways, corporate lawyer. He represents the Guess how many fines they have bridges, water and sewer systems—and President in the Department of Labor. issued. Five—five fines. As far as we just ignored that plan. And now all of As a corporate lawyer, when there is a know, President Trump’s administra- a sudden my colleagues are interested fork in the road, do I support workers tion has only issued 5 fines out of more in the national debt—not when the Re- or do I support corporate interests? than 8,000 workers complaining that publicans are in control; they want to Every single time he goes with cor- their employers are failing to protect give more and more and more tax cuts. porate interests. them. But when Democrats are in control, It is not a surprise because the Sec- Last week—a notable week for the Democrats want to invest in infra- retary of Labor used to be a corporate Trump administration—they did some- structure; Democrats want to save this lawyer who made millions and millions thing about workers, but listen to what economy right now, including pro- of dollars representing corporations they did. They fined Smithfield. viding $600 a week for unemployed against workers. That is the kind of Smithfield is a multibillion-dollar workers—680,000 of them in my State, person the President picked—if that company owned by the Chinese Com- close to 400,000 of them in the Presiding doesn’t tell you a whole lot about munist Party. They fined Smithfield Officer’s State—Democrats want to in- President Trump’s betrayal of workers. $13,000, after 1,300 workers got sick at vest in infrastructure and job training He appointed the Secretary of Labor, just 1 plant in South Dakota, and 4 and protecting Medicare and Social Se- somebody who always has represented people died. curity. But now that Republicans corporations, making millions of dol- Let’s do the math: $13,000 fine, 1,300 think they are going to lose, it is all lars against workers. So what is he workers got sick. That is $10 a worker. about the national debt and doing going to do as Secretary of Labor? He They fined this multibillion-dollar nothing to help workers right now. is going to do what the President company, owned by the Chinese Com- I want to talk today specifically wants him to do. He is going to support munist Party in the United States, in about workers and how this President corporate interests against workers. South Dakota—they fined this com- and all the President’s enablers—and I asked Secretary Scalia in the Fi- pany $10 per infected worker, a multi- they are enablers. My Republican col- nance Committee, out of the thousands billion-dollar corporation. leagues don’t even speak up when the of workers who have come to you for The idea that $10 a worker will stop President so dishonors our fallen sol- help, how many in-person inspections these guys from continuing to abuse diers. They don’t speak up when the have you done? Thousands of workers their workers is absurd. Do you know President has clearly lied, his own have come to him for help. How many what? Every other corporate leader words, about the coronavirus—lied to inspections of workplaces have they around the country heard: Oh, my the American people after he was done? Zero—zero in Atlanta; zero in gosh. President Trump is on our side. taped, in his own words, by a former re- Savannah; zero in Griffin, GA; zero in He is on our side every single time. porter and absolutely failed to speak Covington, GA; zero in Mansfield, GA; President Trump is on our side when it up about workers. zero in Stone Mountain, GA; zero in comes to a complaint from a worker, so Every day we live with the horrific Ohio. we don’t have to worry about making consequences of leadership failures in I don’t know the Presiding Officer our workers safe because we know the this country. So many Americans have very well, but she took an oath to rep- President of the United States might lost jobs; they have lost small busi- resent her State, as I took an oath to fine us $10 per every sick worker. nesses; they have lost their sense of se- represent my State. And one of the One-third of the workers at this curity; and they have lost much of things we do is fight—should fight for plant got sick—one-third of the work- their faith in their own government; everyday people, for workers. ers. They were not putting all the and in nearly 200,000 American fami- This Secretary of Labor had done money they make—the billions of dol- lies, they have lost a loved one. All be- zero—zero inspections after 6 months lars that they pull out of South Da- cause President Trump and his of Americans reporting to work in a kota, this company, and send those enablers here—all because President pandemic, and there were over 8,000 dollars, probably electronically, I guess Trump has failed to get this pandemic complaints—8,000 complaints from not by boat, to the Communist Party under control, he has failed to protect workers saying that my workplace is in China. All those dollars they take American workers. not safe. out of that plant, and they can’t put A few weeks ago, I was talking to a There is a pandemic. Zero inspec- any of those dollars to invest in pro- woman in Cincinnati. I was actually tions. Do you know what? Not one Re- tecting workers to make their compa- home; it was a remote call. She is a publican member of the Finance Com- nies successful. grocery store worker. She said: You mittee—not one Republican Senator on President Trump could crack down know, they call me essential, but I the Finance Committee—spoke up and on these corporations. He is not going don’t feel essential. I feel expendable pushed Secretary Scalia to do inspec- to do that. He comes from corporate because they pay me so little, and they tions or to look out for workers. Why? America. He inherited billions of dol- do so little to keep me safe at work. Because it would have made the Presi- lars. He has had a lot of personal bank- President Trump’s administration, dent of the United States unhappy if a ruptcies. Forget about that. He is on get this, has gotten 8,000—8,000, 8–0-0– Republican Senator had questioned their side. Politics, government—it is 0—complaints about unsafe workplaces what the President of the United about whose side you are on. Are you since the start of this pandemic. We States does. on the President’s side every single know how many busdrivers have died. They don’t question him when he in- time, no matter what he does? Are you We know how many grocery store sults our soldiers who have died. They on corporations’ side every single time, workers have died. We know how many don’t question him when he lies to the no matter what they do? No matter

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.007 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5622 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 how many workers get sick, no matter away $600 a week in unemployment If all of you would—could actually how many workers they kill, it is on benefits. What are those workers to do? lead when the President doesn’t, we their watch—no matter how many What are those workers to do in Geor- could pass a bill issuing an OSHA—Oc- workers they kill, you are going to be gia? What are those workers to do in cupational Safety and Health Adminis- on the corporation’s side every single Ohio? What are those workers to do in tration—temporary standard, pro- time? And the answer in Trump’s Illinois and Delaware when their $600 a tecting people. We could issue a tem- America is yes. week just disappears? porary standard to protect people on Instead, he could mobilize workers. I know there are a lot of wealthy peo- the job. We could pass pandemic pay. He could mobilize American manufac- ple on both sides of the aisle. There are That is what the House of Representa- turers to get every American worker a lot of very wealthy people here. tives down the hall did. the masks and protective equipment There are millionaire Members of the When the House of Representatives they need. He could issue an OSHA Senate. When I hear millionaire Sen- passed their bill and they took that bill temporary standard that would provide ators and billionaire people in the ad- down the hall and put it in Senator clear, enforceable requirements for ministration say that $600 a week is MCCONNELL’s office there, I guess that keeping workers safe. just too much money—we can’t give bill got lost. One of the things that bill He could stand up for workers. He these unemployed workers that much did have was pandemic premium pay. If campaigned on it. He could actually money. That $600 a week is too much you are one of those workers—I know stand up for workers. But he will not. money. They are going to get lazy. this amount of money doesn’t mean It is always the same story with this They are not going to work. much to the Presiding Officer or most corporate President, always the same When I hear millionaire Members of of my Senate colleagues, but they story. He wants to protect the big the Senate say such things, it sickens would get up to $10,000 pandemic pay guys—workers’ health and workers’ me. That $600 a week is the reason that because they expose themselves in the safety be dammed. millions of Americans didn’t fall into workplaces—essential workers—to this He campaigned in 2016, in my State— poverty during this terrible, terrible illness. It would actually pay these es- he surprised people how much he won recession. But lo and behold, the ad- sential workers for putting their by in my State. He campaigned by ministration is happy and the Repub- health and their lives on the line to promising he would look out for work- lican Senators are happy because the serve us. ers. He went all over Ohio; he went all stock market has recovered. I know a It is time for us to step up. If you over the industrial Midwest—the Great lot of you in this institution have a lot love this country, it is time we fought Lake States areas—telling workers he of money in the stock market. I won’t for the people who make it work. It is would take care of them and would even get into the conflicts of interest time we fought for the people who when you own this stock and you vote fight for them. make this country work. Instead of al- Now we know how much these work- this away. Forget about that. You have ways siding with U.S. corporations and ers’ health and how much these work- a lot of money in the stock market, so with the wealthiest people in this soci- ers’ lives mean to this President— I know you are really happy. I know ety, it is time we decide in this body to about $10 each. He has betrayed these the Presiding Officer and Republican actually fight for workers. Members of the Senate are really workers over and over. His corporate JUDICIAL NOMINATIONS happy that the stock market recovered tax cuts—Senator THUNE was talking Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, in the spring. So then Donald Trump about Democrats and taxes and the def- I rise today in support of four highly- doesn’t even have to pretend to care icit in an easy-to-understand way. He qualified California nominees to the about getting this pandemic under con- betrayed these workers over and over. U.S. District Court: John Holcomb, trol. Mark Scarsi, and Judge Stanley Corporate tax cuts: 70 percent of the Corporations are doing fine. Never Blumenfeld to the Central District of benefits went to the richest 1 percent. mind the workers who are getting sick. He took away 100,000 Ohio workers’ Never mind the essential workers. The California, and Todd Robinson to the overtime pay. He took away overtime essential workers are the busdrivers, Southern District of California. (These pay from workers in Savannah, in La- food service people, custodians, secu- four nominees know the districts where Grange, in Newton County, and Jasper rity people, people who work in grocery they will serve if confirmed, and I be- County, GA. He took overtime pay stores and drug stores. lieve they have demonstrated in their away from my constituents in Cleve- The essential workers—who are legal careers the skills needed to serve land and Mansfield and Shelby and mostly women, disproportionately peo- as fair and impartial judges. All four of Chillicothe. ple of color, who mostly are barely ade- these nominees received Well Qualified He stacks the courts with corporate quately paid—the essential workers ratings from the American Bar Asso- lawyers. Those lawyers—now judges— face something most of us don’t: They ciation, and all have significant legal will always decide for corporate inter- work all day exposed to the public. experience in California. ests against workers’ interests. They wear masks. They are safe—most John Holcomb, who has been nomi- He launched a boycott against Good- of them. They do things safely. They nated to the Central District of Cali- year, a unionized tire-making plant work all day, and then they go home fornia, is currently a partner at the headquartered in Akron—one of the always anxious. law firm Greenberg Gross. Mr. Holcomb greatest companies in our State and Madam President, imagine feeling has spent more than 25 years in private one of the most renowned, iconic com- every day when you go home that you practice, focusing on intellectual prop- panies—because somebody made a might have contracted coronavirus and erty issues. He also served as a com- statement about one of his ‘‘Make you might pass it on to your family. missioned officer in the U.S. Navy. I America Great’’ hats. He launched a Imagine the anxiety these generally understand that if confirmed, Mr. Hol- boycott costing who knows how many low-paid workers face every day when comb will be sitting in the Riverside jobs in that company. they go home. We don’t think about Courthouse, which is badly in need of He has betrayed workers by his fail- them around here because corporations judges. ure to fight for autoworkers and their are doing fine and the stock market Mark Scarsi, nominated to the Cen- jobs. He promised workers in has recovered. The workers go home tral District of California, is currently Lordstown, OH: Don’t sell your homes. every night worried they will affect managing partner of the Los Angeles This plant may close, but don’t sell their families. Most of them won’t; office of the law firm Milbank, Tweed. your homes. We are going to bring they will get along just fine. Mr. Scarsi joined that firm in 2007 after back these jobs. American workers are tired of this. spending more than a decade with Then he did nothing when we asked They are sick of this. They are tired of other California-based law firms, in- him to help, and they shut down, cost- the empty promises. They are tired of cluding O’Melveny & Myers and ing 3,000 jobs. the betrayals. They are tired of feeling Christie, Parker, & Hale. Mr. Scarsi Most recently, he and Senator like no one in this government, in this specializes in patent cases, with a focus MCCONNELL and all their minions who Senate, in this White House is on their on intellectual property. He has tried follow Senator MCCONNELL’s lead took side. some 28 cases to verdict, judgment, or

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.008 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5623 final decision, including 20 cases in Burr Hirono Roberts the Senator from Vermont (Mr. SAND- Cardin Hoeven Romney which he served as lead counsel. ERS), and the Senator from Massachu- Carper Hyde-Smith Rosen Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, nomi- Casey Inhofe Rounds setts (Ms. WARREN) are necessarily ab- nated to the Central District of Cali- Cassidy Johnson Rubio sent. fornia, currently serves on the Supe- Collins Jones Sasse The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there Coons Kaine rior Court for Los Angeles County, Schatz any other Senators in the Chamber de- Cornyn Kennedy Scott (FL) where he has presided over some 200 Cortez Masto King siring to vote? Scott (SC) The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 56, trials since his appointment to the Cotton Lankford Shaheen Cramer Leahy Shelby nays 40, as follows: bench in 2006. Prior to that, Judge Crapo Lee Sinema [Rollcall Vote No. 177 Ex.] Blumenfeld spent nearly two decades Cruz Loeffler Smith Daines Manchin YEAS—56 as a practicing attorney, including 7 Stabenow years as an Assistant U.S. attorney for Duckworth McConnell Alexander Gardner Paul Durbin McSally Sullivan the Central District of California. Tester Barrasso Graham Perdue Enzi Menendez Blackburn Grassley Thune Portman Todd Robinson, nominated to the Ernst Moran Blunt Hawley Risch Feinstein Murkowski Tillis Southern District of California, is cur- Boozman Hoeven Roberts Fischer Murphy Toomey Braun Hyde-Smith Romney rently a Federal prosecutor in that dis- Gardner Paul Udall Burr Inhofe Rounds trict, where he has served since 1997. Graham Perdue Van Hollen Cassidy Johnson Rubio Mr. Robinson has significant experi- Grassley Peters Warner Collins Jones Sasse Hassan Portman Whitehouse Cornyn Kennedy ence litigating in Federal courts, in- Scott (FL) Hawley Reed Wicker Cotton Lankford Scott (SC) cluding in the Southern District of Heinrich Risch Young Cramer Lee California. He has tried more than 40 Shelby NAYS—10 Crapo Loeffler felony cases to verdict, including 35 as Cruz Manchin Sullivan sole or lead counsel. Blumenthal Klobuchar Schumer Daines McConnell Thune Booker Markey Wyden Durbin McSally Tillis In closing, Mr. President, these four Cantwell Merkley Enzi Moran Toomey nominees are highly qualified, they Gillibrand Murray Ernst Murkowski Wicker Fischer Murphy Young have extensive practical experience, NOT VOTING—4 and they are ready to hit the ground NAYS—40 Capito Sanders running. It is my hope and expectation Harris Warren Baldwin Hassan Schatz that these nominees will receive broad Bennet Heinrich Schumer The nomination was confirmed. bipartisan support. I will be voting in Blumenthal Hirono Shaheen The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Booker Kaine favor of these nominees, and I urge my Sinema the previous order, the motion to re- Brown King Smith colleagues to do the same. Cantwell Klobuchar consider is considered made and laid Stabenow Mr. BROWN. I suggest the absence of Cardin Leahy upon the table, and the President will Tester Carper Markey Udall a quorum. Casey Menendez be immediately notified of the Senate’s Van Hollen The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Coons Merkley action. Warner Cortez Masto Murray SASSE). The clerk will call the roll. Whitehouse The senior assistant legislative clerk f Duckworth Peters Feinstein Reed Wyden proceeded to call the roll. CLOTURE MOTION Gillibrand Rosen Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant NOT VOTING—4 unanimous consent that the order for to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Capito Sanders the quorum call be rescinded. Senate the pending cloture motion, Harris Warren The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without which the clerk will state. The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this objection, it is so ordered. The senior assistant legislative clerk vote, the yeas are 56, the nays are 40. VOTE ON ROBINSON NOMINATION read as follows: The motion is agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under CLOTURE MOTION f the previous order, all postcloture time We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- CLOTURE MOTION is expired. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the The question is, Will the Senate ad- Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant vise and consent to the Robinson nomi- move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the nation? nation of David W. Dugan, of Illinois, to be Senate the pending cloture motion, Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask United States District Judge for the South- which the clerk will state. for the yeas and nays. ern District of Illinois. The senior assistant bill clerk read as Mitch McConnell, Cindy Hyde-Smith, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a follows: Tom Cotton, Marsha Blackburn, Kevin CLOTURE MOTION sufficient second? Cramer, Jerry Moran, James E. Risch, We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- There appears to be a sufficient sec- Michael B. Enzi, Tim Scott, John Bar- ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the ond. rasso, Richard Burr, Deb Fischer, Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The clerk will call the roll. James Lankford, John Thune, Steve move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- The legislative clerk called the roll. Daines, Joni Ernst, John Hoeven. nation of Stephen P. McGlynn, of Illinois, to Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- be United States District Judge for the necessarily absent: the Senator from imous consent, the mandatory quorum Southern District of Illinois. West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO). call has been waived. Mitch McConnell, Roger F. Wicker, John Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the The question is, Is it the sense of the Boozman, John Cornyn, Todd Young, Senate that debate on the nomination Joni Ernst, Roy Blunt, Shelley Moore Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS), Capito, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Deb Fisch- the Senator from Vermont (Mr. SAND- of David W. Dugan, of Illinois, to be er, Mike Crapo, John Thune, Richard ERS), and the Senator from Massachu- United States District Judge for the Burr, James E. Risch, John Barrasso, setts (Ms. WARREN) are necessarily ab- Southern District of Illinois, shall be Tim Scott, Thom Tillis. sent. brought to a close? The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. The yeas and nays are mandatory imous consent, the mandatory quorum LANKFORD). Are there any other Sen- under the rule. call has been waived. ators in the Chamber desiring to vote? The clerk will call the roll. The question is, Is it the sense of the The result was announced—yeas 86, The senior assistant legislative clerk Senate that debate on the nomination nays 10, as follows: called the roll. of Stephen P. McGlynn, of Illinois, to [Rollcall Vote No. 176 Ex.] Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is be United States District Judge for the YEAS—86 necessarily absent: the Senator from Southern District of Illinois, shall be West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO). Alexander Bennet Boozman brought to a close? Baldwin Blackburn Braun Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the The yeas and nays are mandatory Barrasso Blunt Brown Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS), under the rule.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.002 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5624 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 The clerk will call the roll. So this is another election season. If the lies in an op-ed titled: ‘‘The show- The senior assistant bill clerk called there are not any real issues regarding down Democrats don’t need to have.’’ the roll. Social Security, the Democrats make The Post concluded that the ultimate Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is one up, and they do it, of course, to victims of what they called ‘‘petty necessarily absent: the Senator from scare the people into believing that politicization’’ would be ‘‘the perceived West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO). some people want to destroy the pro- nonpartisanship and objectivity of key Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the gram, not realizing that it is such a government reports—that is, the very Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) part of the social fabric of the Amer- values Senate Democrats claim to be and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. ican population that nobody would upholding.’’ SANDERS), are necessarily absent. think of doing it. The Democrats used their misin- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ROM- We saw it in the last Presidential formation campaign to run a smear job NEY). Are there any other Senators in election when Secretary Clinton didn’t on a very qualified and well-respected the Chamber desiring to vote? have a basis to attack then-Candidate nominee. They also used it to run ads The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 55, Trump on Social Security because against anyone who voted in favor of nays 42, as follows: Trump campaigned on the basis that he that nominee, including ads against me [Rollcall Vote No. 178 Executive] wasn’t going to cut Social Security, in my most recent reelection. YEAS—55 but that didn’t stop them from making Unfortunately, even though Social Alexander Gardner Perdue things up. With their lacking any real Security’s Chief Actuary was clearly Barrasso Graham Portman ammunition, Clinton’s allies here in Blackburn Grassley Risch implicated in the Democratic lies, he Blunt Hawley Roberts the U.S. Senate decided to manufac- remained silent as then-Chairman Boozman Hoeven Romney ture a crisis. Hatch and even the Washington Post Braun Hyde-Smith Rounds Now, why does something that hap- Burr Inhofe identified how ridiculous and false the Rubio pened in 2016 come up now? It is an ex- Democrats’ claims were. Cassidy Johnson Sasse Collins Kennedy ample that this is an ongoing situa- Scott (FL) The Chief Actuary’s position, appar- Cornyn Lankford tion, and it is happening in 2020. Scott (SC) ently, is that, even if his office is being Cotton Lee Back in 2016, three prominent Demo- Shelby implicated as supporting clearly false Cramer Loeffler cratic Senators conjured up false Crapo Manchin Sullivan and very public claims during an elec- Thune claims about a nominee for the posi- Cruz McConnell tion season, he will just sit quietly and Daines McSally Tillis tion of public trustee of the Social Se- let them go by rather than admit to or Durbin Moran Toomey curity and Medicare trust funds. That Enzi Murkowski Wicker apologize for being used once it is nominee happened to be a Republican Ernst Murphy Young pointed out to him that he is being Fischer Paul who was nominated—can you imagine used. this?—by a Democratic President. He NAYS—42 All of that was 4 years ago. It is 2020 was already on there as having been Baldwin Hassan Rosen now, and it is all happening again. Here nominated for another term. Bennet Heinrich Schatz we are in another Presidential election Blumenthal Hirono Schumer The false claims published in the Booker Jones Shaheen Huffington Post were that this nomi- season, and, of course, like clockwork, Brown Kaine Sinema we are getting another round of misin- Cantwell King Smith nee, promoted by President Obama, was a Koch brothers-funded individual formation from the Democratic can- Cardin Klobuchar Stabenow didate and his supporters in the Sen- Carper Leahy Tester because he worked at an educational Casey Markey Udall institution that received grants from ate. The Washington Post Fact Check- Coons Menendez Van Hollen the Koch Foundation. I don’t know er labels the current scheme in a head- Cortez Masto Merkley Warner line that reads: ‘‘Biden campaign at- Duckworth Murray Warren whether they even made an attempt to Feinstein Peters Whitehouse connect this individual to the Koch tacks a Trump Social Security ‘plan’ Gillibrand Reed Wyden funds, but it is irrelevant at this point. that does not exist.’’ NOT VOTING—3 The Democrats claimed that this single Now, that was a Washington Post ar- Capito Harris Sanders individual somehow duped all of the ticle. Not often does the Washington Post talk about things that might de- The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this other trustees, including all of the fend Republican positions against the vote, the yeas are 55, the nays are 42. other Obama administration officials, Democrats. The motion is agreed to. into buying off on assumptions that This time around, the misinforma- f would lead to an overstatement of the financial crisis facing Social Security. tion stems from a letter written to So- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR According to the three Democratic cial Security’s Chief Actuary by four The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senators, this was so bad that the Democratic Senators, including the clerk will report the nomination. Chief Actuary of Social Security felt minority leader, the ranking member The assistant bill clerk read the compelled to write special notes to of the Committee on Finance, and Sen- nomination of Stephen P. McGlynn, of trustee reports and identify how shock- ator SANDERS, who has been counseling Illinois, to be United States District ing the assumptions were. Of course, former Vice President Biden. Judge for the Southern District of Illi- that would have meant that one single In a letter, these Democrat Senators nois. public trustee who happened to be a asked the Chief Actuary to analyze hy- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Republican duped outstanding Demo- pothetical legislation—now, those ator from Iowa. crats who were also trustees: Treasury words ‘‘hypothetical legislation’’ have SOCIAL SECURITY Secretary Jack Lew, HHS Secretary to be emphasized—what they say, even Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, we Sylvia Burwell, Labor Secretary Thom- they wouldn’t support eliminating pay- have recently seen yet another manu- as Perez, and then the additional roll taxes. Of course, those Senators factured crisis by the Democrats for Democratic public trustee. If you had could easily find the information that the benefit of the upcoming election. bought into the Democrats’ allegations they were seeking by looking at the This is in regard to scaring the people at the time, it would have meant that latest Social Security trustees’ report. about some notion that only Repub- all of those Obama officials had been Instead, for purely political reasons, licans would think about taking away duped and had been too inept to see they wanted to draw in the Chief Actu- Social Security and Medicare. It is not what had been going on and that only ary once again. true that any Member of this Congress the Chief Actuary could have seen the The same Actuary of 4 years ago is will do that, but it always comes up as light. being used here once again, and the TV advertising against the Repub- Well, the chairman of the Senate Chief Actuary at Social Security seems licans; you are going to scare old peo- Committee on Finance at that time in- to gladly have played along and writ- ple into thinking Social Security is vestigated those allegations and ten a response. He wrote that his office going to be gone if you vote Repub- showed that they were flatout lies. was not aware that anyone had pro- lican. Even the Washington Post identified posed the hypothetical legislation.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.017 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5625 Nonetheless, he identified that, with- latter lesson, it would be easy for a Re- As well, I think journalists should be out payroll tax revenue and no replace- publican Senator to ask the Chief Ac- more responsible when reporting on ment from the general fund, the trust tuary to analyze hypotheticals cor- these political shenanigans, although I funds would run out of money pretty responding to the allegations made by will note that even the most recent quickly. Senator SANDERS, one of the authors of ploy was at least called out by fact Of course, this is obvious to anyone the letter, concerning the ‘‘hypo- checkers and given four Pinocchios. who has even slight knowledge of these thetical legislation’’ about Vice Presi- Rather than acting like demagogues programs, but information was not the dent Biden’s history on Social Secu- on Social Security, we should do what aim of the Democratic Senators’ letter. rity. we can to improve these programs. So- Instead, it was to put forward a silly Senator SANDERS, during the pri- cial Security trustees across adminis- hypothetical case that doesn’t cor- mary, has run political ads character- trations have continually and consist- respond to anything that anyone has or izing Biden’s record on Social Security, ently recommended addressing the pro- is proposing. Of course, they attributed saying that Biden’s claim that he has jected trust fund shortfalls since pro- it to the President of the United always protected Social Security are tected benefits will continue to out- States. ‘‘patently false.’’ pace revenues. I know you all now see the purpose of It wouldn’t be hard to send a hypo- Some sort of reform is inevitable, but this replay—because it is an election thetical in for analysis by the Social outside of broad reform, there are year. They used the Chief Actuary’s re- Security Chief Actuary to get an an- many programmatic improvements sponse to claim that authoritative swer to reinforce Senator SANDERS’ that can help make the programs work sources have shown that President views that former Vice President Biden better for beneficiaries and today’s Trump has a plan to essentially defund has not acted to protect Social Secu- workers. Social Security, and in due course they rity. While not as encompassing as broad engaged in the cottage industry of It wouldn’t be hard to send a letter to reforms, there are plenty of areas that groups which exist here in Washington, the Chief Actuary asking about how we and Social Security Commissioner DC, that regularly scare seniors and Senator SANDERS’ plans to reform So- Saul continue to monitor and work to the disabled, especially before an elec- cial Security—which Senator HARRIS reduce backlogs and improve services. tion, about some sort of backdoor plan has cosponsored—would harm the mid- Just recently, for example, the Sen- ate passed by unanimous consent a bill or Trojan horse plan to destroy Social dle class by raising payroll taxes, with that we entitled ‘‘Improving Social Se- Security, and the Democratic Senators no corresponding benefits for people curity’s Service to Victims of Identity used the Chief Actuary’s response to with incomes below Biden’s $400,000 Theft Act.’’ That was sponsored by this feed the Biden campaign with a false threshold for defining who is rich and Senator and Senator SINEMA. This bi- talking point about Social Security. who is not. partisan effort will help people who fall So you see the motives of these Sen- It certainly wouldn’t be hard to con- victim to identity theft by providing ators in their using the Chief Actuary struct politically charged hypothetical improved services from Social Security as their tool. You see it pretty clearly. legislation and ask the Chief Actuary The Biden campaign has run ads, stat- with a single point of contact. about it in order to make political In my view, more bipartisan work to ing, among other mistruths, ‘‘If Trump points and use the Actuary’s position gets his way, Social Security benefits improve the programs is the way we for political purposes. should go. Partisan attacks to scare will run out in just 3 years from now.’’ It happens that the Chief Actuary Let’s go back to the Washington beneficiaries into believing that people doesn’t exist for the purpose of polit- Post. Even the Post’s Fact Checker are out to destroy people’s retirement ical interference. and disability benefits do nothing to gave those ads four Pinocchios, mean- In my view, though, none of those help working, disabled, and retired ing that they contained a whopper of a would be a proper use of Social Secu- lie. The Fact Checker also concluded: Americans. rity taxpayer resources, in the same ‘‘To make a long story short, Demo- I yield the floor. way that the Democrats are wasting crats ginned up a letter from the chief The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. resources using the Chief Actuary for actuary to describe a plan that does YOUNG). The Senator from New Hamp- political purposes. So Democrats not currently exist.’’ shire. should stop wasting Social Security’s In a followup letter that Ranking CORONAVIRUS resources trying to construct false and Member KEVIN BRADY of the House Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I Ways and Means Committee and I misleading political points to use in come to the floor today to urge that we wrote to Social Security’s Chief Actu- elections to feed their political base come together and resume negotiations ary, we expressed our concerns about and dark money groups who then use on a comprehensive, bipartisan COVID the Democrats having, once again, used the points in social media and attack relief package—the kind of package his office for political purposes, and, ads against Republicans. But that is that this country has been calling for. once again, it refers back to the 2016 how they wasted the taxpayers’ Today, nearly 200,000 Americans, in- era that I have already talked about. money—by writing the letter and eat- cluding 436 Granite Staters, have died From his response, we learned a few ing up the time of the Chief Actuary from COVID–19, and we still have as things. for nothing other than pure partisan many as 40,000 new cases each day in First, we got confirmation that no politics. this country—enough people to fill a one has a plan to defund Social Secu- They should also stop politicizing So- baseball stadium each day. As a result, rity, including the President of the cial Security’s actuaries and the Social our economy continues to struggle, United States. That confirms that the Security trustee’s position in their with nearly 30 million Americans still Democrats’ letter was just pretty silly, transparent attempt to mislead the out of work and more than 1 million but not oddly, pure politics. public and try to score political points filing new applications for unemploy- Second, we got confirmation that the about Social Security. ment each week. Many Americans have Democratic Senators, during the 2016 The American public should—espe- been forced to raid their retirement election, published lies in the Huff- cially during even years, in the runup savings just to pay rent and put food ington Post article, invoking the Chief to elections—turn a deaf ear to scare on the table—and that is for those peo- Actuary in an effort to smear a trustee tactics that Democrats continue to use ple who actually have retirement sav- nominee. on Social Security beneficiaries. But ings. Sadly, too many people do not. Third, we learned that Social Secu- when senior citizens who aren’t sophis- The President’s recent Executive or- rity’s Chief Actuary feels compelled to ticated in the operation of the Federal ders have many State unemployment respond to any hypothetical posed to Government or the uses of politics to officers tied up in knots. Those orders him by any Senator, independent of scare people—they might believe this affect Social Security and Medicare, how silly or blatantly political it stuff. So you are doing a disservice to and they provide no new help for the would be. a lot of people who shouldn’t have to nearly 13 million households who could Of course the Chief Actuary worry about where their next meal is be at risk of eviction in the coming shouldn’t be so compelled. With that coming from. months.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.020 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5626 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 Unfortunately, the Trump adminis- There wasn’t nearly enough to help drops in revenues and that desperately tration and Majority Leader MCCON- with testing and contact tracing and need help to continue providing the NELL have refused to recognize that too no real assistance for the Postal Serv- most basic services—schools, fire- many Americans are still suffering and ice even as it faces bankruptcy. fighters, police, trash collection, water still need help. Funding for schools in that skinny and sewer, and wastewater treatment— It has been 4 months since the House bill? That was tied to whether the stu- because those have been dramatically of Representatives passed the Heroes dents are going in person or learning affected by the loss in revenue. Act—a bill to provide assistance to remotely. Well, in New Hampshire, we Of course, we urgently need assist- Americans who are in need. Instead of believe those kinds of decisions should ance for our nursing homes and for our negotiating a bipartisan bill, as we did not be made in Washington; they long-term care facilities, which in New with the CARES Act back in March, should be made by States and local Hampshire account for more than 80 Leader MCCONNELL has released par- school districts. If local school dis- percent of the COVID–19 deaths, the tisan legislation—written in secret— tricts don’t feel they can bring kids highest percentage in the country. that is woefully inadequate and ignores back safely, then they shouldn’t be We need an answer from the adminis- many of the problems I am hearing forced to do that just to get the help tration as to why they are not dis- about from Granite Staters. they need to ensure that kids can go to bursing the funds that Congress di- Not surprisingly, the bill that was school safely. rected. For instance, the CARES Act put on the floor last week—the so- I think the American public wants provided up to $200 million for nursing called skinny bill because it didn’t pro- results. They want a bipartisan, com- home infection control efforts. To date, vide the kind of help so many people prehensive bill so we can address the only $17 million of that has been sent need—that bill failed. I opposed that needs of Granite Staters and the people out to those long-term care facilities skinny bill because I didn’t believe it of this country. That is what I am that need it. came close to addressing the public fighting for, and I believe it is past On top of that, HHS has only spent health and economic issues that our time for people to come to the negoti- about half of the $16 billion that Con- country is facing. It provided no fund- ating table so we can get that done. gress provided for the acquisition of ing for hospitals or healthcare pro- What we have seen during this pan- personal protective equipment and viders on the frontlines, and the nurs- demic is unemployment levels that we other medical supplies. Nursing facili- ing home and hospital staff I talk to in have not had in this country since the ties and providers across the care sys- New Hampshire tell me that more fi- Great Depression. We need to provide tem in New Hampshire desperately nancial support is needed to stem the additional unemployment benefits for need this help, and they need it now. We had a hearing this morning in the financial losses from this pandemic. people who need those dollars so that New Hampshire hospitals have al- HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, they can continue to pay their rent, ready experienced more than $550 mil- and I had a chance to ask some of the their mortgages, put food on the table, lion in lost revenue statewide, and they officials from HHS about why they and pay their bills. We need to make don’t see an end this year. Losses of have not distributed these funds. And, sure this emergency relief continues to that magnitude are unsustainable, and of course, the answer they gave me was be available to Granite Staters. the skinny bill that we voted on last this: Well, we don’t know. That is not Small businesses need a second round week would not have addressed those part of our responsibility. of PPP loans, which would prioritize losses. Well, that is part of everybody’s re- That proposal provided no support those smallest businesses and those in- sponsibility—to ensure that funds that for State and local governments that dustries that have been hardest hit by Congress has provided get distributed are facing severe budgetary shortfalls. this pandemic, industries like tourism in a way that Congress has said they The State of New Hampshire expects to and the hospitality sector. should be distributed, because we have We need to provide support to our experience a budget shortfall of nearly people across this country who need $540 million, over half a billion dollars. live venues. I recently visited the Bank that help and they need it now. That is about a 20-percent drop in of New Hampshire Stage in Concord, We need a comprehensive bill to help State revenues. our capital. I heard firsthand how their treatment and recovery centers for In the city of Manchester, which is business has been affected by the pan- those who are still struggling with sub- our largest city, they expect to spend demic and the ripple effect that has on stance use disorders, because we have $11 million between this year and next all live entertainment venues, on the seen this crisis worsen during the pan- related to COVID–19 expenses—money performers who depend on those venues demic. We had been seeing deaths go they hadn’t budgeted for. They had to be able to support themselves and down from overdoses in New Hamp- hoped that some of those expenses the other members who are part of shire, and since the pandemic, we are would get reimbursed by FEMA, but their performances. beginning to see those numbers go up under the recent order from the admin- We need to make sure that childcare again. istration, FEMA is being told to no centers are supported. I was visiting a This isn’t a problem that is unique to longer reimburse those expenses. small business, a restaurant that has New Hampshire. I heard Senator CAP- So what I am hearing from mayors two locations in New Hampshire—one ITO in the hearing earlier this morning and municipal leaders in New Hamp- in Portsmouth and one in Epping. The talking about the challenges that West shire is that they are soon going to business is called Popovers. It is very Virginia is facing. It has become more have to face some very difficult choices popular. What I heard from them is critical than ever that Congress pro- about whether they are going to have that the PPP loans had made a huge vide substantial funding for substance- to cut essential services like trash col- difference. They were able to keep use disorder treatment and prevention. lection and water and sewer and wheth- some of their employees on. But as We need real support for the post of- er they are going to have to lay off they are looking to the fall, they are fice, which was lacking from that skin- teachers and firefighters and police of- worried about whether those employees ny bill last week. The Postal Service is ficers. are going to be able to come back full the only Federal agency mentioned in The bill we voted on last week, that time because they don’t have access to the Constitution, and every commu- skinny bill, provided no financial help childcare and they are not sure wheth- nity in New Hampshire and the United for families struggling to pay the bills er schools are going to be remotely or States relies on its essential services, and put food on the table. There was no in person. We need to provide help so especially those States that have rural help in there to feed kids, nothing to that those businesses can get their em- communities. A lot of rural commu- address broadband needs—the needs ployees back to work and people can nities in New Hampshire don’t have ac- that we have seen in New Hampshire continue to support their families. cess to the internet. They depend on for telehealth and for remote learning. We need a comprehensive bill that the post office for communications We have significant parts of our State provides emergency housing relief and going in and out and the packages that and significant communities where we food assistance to Granite Staters. go in and out. What I am hearing from have students who don’t have access to We should support our counties and Granite Staters is that there are Post- technology to do remote learning. towns that are experiencing historic al Service delays that are affecting

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.022 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5627 their ability to pay their bills and to week—merely a month before election ceiving information from the par- receive medications, and that small day. There is a dark similarity here to ticular Russian agent that I have men- businesses are not able to complete the Republican effort in the House in tioned, Mr. Derkach, but Chairman their transactions. Congress has a re- the previous election to discredit the JOHNSON has never provided a full ac- sponsibility to enact legislation that Democratic Presidential candidate counting of all the Russian- and will restore timely delivery and fully with the Select Committee on Ukrainian-linked individuals he sought fund the Postal Service. Benghazi. information from. One of the chair- Finally, we need to ensure that the You may remember the now-minor- man’s subpoenas, for example, targeted Census Bureau has the time necessary ity leader of the House Republican cau- a Ukrainian national who is an asso- to execute a complete and accurate cus bragging that the Republicans cre- ciate of Mr. Derkach. 2020 count. You know, it has been in- ated the committee to bring down Hil- So anticipating his objection to this teresting to me to see the efforts of lary’s poll numbers. You know what resolution, I would simply ask the this administration to try and politi- they say about a political gaffe: It is chairman to provide a full accounting cize the census, because this is no red when politicians tell the truth. of whom he sought information from, State or blue State problem. The Well, it seems like the Republican so we can know who they are, what States with the lowest percentage of chairman of the Homeland Security their motives are, and, therefore, the households that have been counted dur- and Governmental Affairs Committee Senate can see if they are trying to ing the census are Alabama, Montana, has made the same gaffe that Minority interfere with our elections. Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and Leader MCCARTHY made in 2016. In a The chairman should have no issue South Carolina. They are mostly in the little-noticed interview with a Wis- furthering a complete accounting of his South, but not all. We must give the consin radio station last month, Sen- contacts with Russian and Ukrainian Census Bureau time to make a com- ator JOHNSON said that his probe would sources. The American people ought to plete and accurate count by including a ‘‘help Donald Trump win reelection,’’ know whether the U.S. Senate has been statutory delay for the apportionment and yet somehow the current activities sullied by potentially receiving infor- and redistricting count that is part of of the Republican majority in the mation from discredited Russian any package before we go home. This is Homeland Security committee are agents. The American people should ex- something that the Census Bureau even worse than what the House Re- pect the Senate to pass this resolution asked us for last spring, and it is some- publicans did in 2016, because in the today. What were our Founding Fathers thing that we should make sure they rush to find scraps of information for most worried about? One of the top receive, even though under political these investigations, Senate Repub- things—top things—was interference pressure they changed their request. licans may have collected and propa- Bipartisanship on these priorities is gated disinformation that came from by foreign powers in our elections. Back then, their concerns were about possible. We were able to negotiate the Putin’s intelligence agents. Some of the allegations that the bribery or treason or a foreign actor CARES Act legislation that passed the Homeland Security chairman is now who infiltrated our government. Senate by a vote of 96 to 0. We did it pursuing are the same ones pushed by Today, in our information age, the before. We can do this again because Andriy Derkach, a known Russian methods of foreign interference are dif- that is how government is supposed to agent who was sanctioned by President ferent, but the risks are the same. work. We are supposed to come to- Trump’s own Treasury Department for Our chief adversaries—Russia, China, gether and negotiate and deliver for interfering in our elections. Iran, North Korea—have found that the American people. Powerful Senate Republicans are disinformation and misinformation are Probably the most often heard re- echoing the same claims that the Rus- a weak point in open societies like mark that I hear in New Hampshire is sians are pushing, the same nonsense ours. That makes it incumbent on us— this: Why can’t you just all work to- that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 all of us—here in the Congress to be gether to address the needs of this elections and not just Putin. careful about the information we re- country? We have all become so inured to ceive and repeat. That is what we should be doing scandal during this scandalous admin- In the zeal for partisan advantage, we around everything, and it is what we istration, but the fact that a powerful hope the Republican majority on the should be doing around responding to Senate committee may have fallen vic- Homeland Security Committee has not this coronavirus. tim to misinformation from Moscow is become a sympathetic audience and a We should not recess until we can get appalling. potential entrance point to foreign in- a bill to the President’s desk. We were The PRESIDING OFFICER. Would fluence campaigns, wittingly or unwit- sent here to do a job. We have an obli- the Democratic leader yield? tingly. What a disastrous and disgrace- gation to get it done. The foot dragging Mr. SCHUMER. I will yield. ful state of affairs. The Senate should has gone on for far too long. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pass this resolution today. Brinksmanship should end because chair will remind Senators that Rule I yield the floor to my colleague from time is running out on the needs of the XIX provides that ‘‘No Senator in de- Oregon. American people. bate shall, directly or indirectly, by The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- I yield the floor. any form of words impute to another ator from Oregon. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator or to other Senators any con- Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I rise in Democratic leader. duct or motive unworthy or unbecom- support of this resolution offered by UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST ing a Senator.’’ the Democratic leader. We are calling Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this Mr. SCHUMER. I am aware of it. Ev- for an end to a horribly flawed congres- morning the Republican majority of erything I have stated here is factual— sional investigation. The foreign the Homeland Security and Govern- everything, every single thing. threats to our democracy—attempts to mental Affairs Committee authorized So, this afternoon, my colleagues and poison it with disinformation and to another smattering of subpoenas in I have drafted a simple resolution that sow distrust—are an established mat- what seems to be an ongoing effort to calls for the cessation of any Senate in- ter of fact. disparage a former Vice President and vestigation or activity that allows the It is especially troubling because for his family. U.S. Congress to act as a conduit for periods over the last year, two Senate While the rest of the country is busy Russian disinformation. committees have conducted an inves- fighting COVID–19, this is what the I cannot fathom how any Member of tigation involving Ukraine, former Homeland Security Committee has this Chamber could justify blocking Vice President Biden, and his son Hun- been up to—using the powers of the such a resolution. There must not be a ter: the Homeland Security and Gov- Senate to, in effect, conduct opposition single aspect of this Chamber that ernmental Affairs Committee, led by research for President Trump’s cam- wittingly or unwittingly furthers the our colleague from Wisconsin, Chair- paign. propaganda machine of Vladimir Putin. man JOHNSON; and our colleague from The Republican chairman has said he Now, I know what my friend from Iowa, Chairman GRASSLEY, of the Fi- plans to release a report about it next Wisconsin might say. He will deny re- nance Committee, in which I am the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:24 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.023 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5628 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 ranking Democrat. My staff has joined RICHARD BURR, [then, of course] chair- tainly be pretty good, I would say, evi- in interviews and received documents man of the Intel Committee, and they dence about not voting for Vice Presi- pertinent to the investigation. told me take very cautiously anything dent Biden.’’ Given my Finance Committee role coming out of the Ukraine against any- He said in September: ‘‘Stay tuned. and my position on the Senate Intel- body.’’ In about a week we’re going to learn a ligence Committee, I am unable to dis- The disinformation that these two whole lot more of Vice President cuss classified information or details of have spread—Derkach and Telizhenko Biden’s unfitness for office.’’ an ongoing inquiry. However, I can dis- have spread—the disinformation these cuss public information about the two have spread, largely a collection of Furthermore, the chairman, in my spread of Russian propaganda and the unproven allegations and wild con- view, looking again at the public pathway it is following from Russian spiracy theories, has obviously made it record, cannot credibly take issue with agents, through the U.S. Senate, to the into many media outlets in the coun- the work the Vice President was doing American people. try all too willing to spread the prod- because he supported it publicly at the The Russian Government is again ucts of Russian intelligence. It has time. interfering in our election. This has been circulated by the President’s own In June 2014, at a Foreign Relations been confirmed by our intelligence legal team. Committee hearing on Ukraine, Chair- community. Its interference campaign From there, that disinformation be- man JOHNSON stated: ‘‘If we have to tie includes disinformation about Vice came the basis of much of the work of aid or help to make sure that anti-cor- President Biden and the work he was the Johnson-Grassley inquiry. I am ruption laws are passed, I think we doing to fight corruption in Ukraine. going to have more to say on the de- should do it.’’ To spread this disinformation, Russia tails of that investigation in the days enlists the help of characters like ahead, but for now, I will say this: In 2016, Chairman JOHNSON wrote a Andriy Derkach and Andriy Chairman JOHNSON has repeatedly letter with a bipartisan group of mem- Telizhenko. Derkach has been identi- claimed in the media that he has un- bers of the Senate Ukraine Caucus to fied by American counterintelligence covered new and damaging information former Ukrainian President Petro as an active agent for Russian intel- about Vice President Biden’s activity Poroshenko. The letter reads: ligence. This agent, instead of being in Ukraine. This is simply not true. Succeeding in these reforms will show Rus- treated as a foreign enemy, has met Nothing I have seen—not one bit of evi- sian President Putin that an independent, personally with the President’s lawyer, dence—could lead to the conclusion transparent and democratic Ukraine can and Rudy Giuliani, to further his task of that Vice President Biden did anything will succeed. It also offers a stark alter- undermining elections in America. I wrong in Ukraine. What I have seen is native to the authoritarianism and oligar- am not sure, colleagues, what you a monthlong investigation that still chic cronyism prevalent in Russia. As such, should call an American who aids a has no legitimate basis, burning we respectfully ask that you address the se- Russian agent, but counselor to the through an incredible amount of man- rious concerns raised— President is certainly not it. power and taxpayer-funded resources. And we are talking here about the In August, the Director of the Na- Neither of these committees, by the Minister of Economic Development and tional Counterintelligence and Secu- way, under the rules of the Senate, Trade. rity Center issued a threat assessment have any jurisdiction over our diplo- on foreign threats to our election. It matic ties with Ukraine. It has no leg- We similarly urge you to press ahead with identified Derkach as a Kremlin-linked islative purpose. urgent reforms to the Prosecutor General’s actor involved with attempting to This investigation, as I have pointed Office and Judiciary. denigrate former Vice President Biden. out on a number of occasions, also is So these are the words, colleagues, On September 3, Senator SCHUMER happening under a clear double stand- the words of the chairman of the com- and I wrote a letter, along with several ard that has favored Republicans in the mittee. That is why Senator SCHUMER of our Democratic colleagues, urging Senate and stonewalled oversight by and I believe this investigation, the the Treasury Department to issue Democrats. In my view, that is a sign Johnson-Grassley investigation, is sanctions against Derkach. It did so that the flimsy accusations made baseless. We have brought forward a the following week, describing his role against the Vice President can’t stand resolution that we believe is important in what it called ‘‘a covert influence up to real scrutiny. campaign centered on cultivating false The real nature of this inquiry has to defending our democracy. It comes and unsubstantiated narratives con- been clear all along. It began as a down to a question of what we want cerning U.S. officials in the upcoming counterprogramming during the im- campaigns and elections to be all 2020 Presidential Election.’’ peachment trial, and the urgency be- about. Telizhenko is yet another Giuliani hind the investigation really almost In my view—and I have always said associate who, according to press ac- seemed to die out when the trial ended. this—right at the core of my being, I counts, American counterintelligence It only returned—and again, these are want elections about our best ideas. has identified as a conduit for Russian facts. All of these are facts. It only re- That is why I serve on the Finance attacks on our elections. He has also turned when the Vice President estab- Committee, to try to come up with the been a star witness in the Johnson- lished himself as the Democratic best ideas in healthcare, taxes, trade, Grassley investigation. frontrunner. The day after the Biden and the like. Elections ought to be Derkach and Telizhenko have re- victory in the South Carolina primary, about our best ideas and having real leased what appears to be heavily edit- Chairman JOHNSON sent a letter to the debates and not attacking the other ed portions of phone calls Vice Presi- committee announcing his intention to side with farfetched foreign misin- dent Biden held with Ukrainian offi- kick-start the investigation with a formation, especially at a time when cials in the course of his anti-corrup- subpoena. the American people are dealing with tion work. Some were released on the So now what I am going to do is out- the crushing weight of one crisis very same day. Telizhenko is promising line what Senator JOHNSON said in his stacked on another. further releases. Telizhenko also told own words, because I think that is also the Washington Post that he forwarded very important as Senators consider There are 200,000 Americans who have more than 100 emails to staff on Sen- this resolution. These are Senator died of COVID–19. I couldn’t disagree ator JOHNSON’s committee and an- JOHNSON’s words specifically. more with the President’s handling of swered their questions. My colleague said in March: ‘‘[I]f I the coronavirus pandemic. We have Our colleague from South Carolina, were a Democrat primary voter, I’d seen so much economic hurt. I cham- Senator GRAHAM, was involved in the want these questions satisfactorily an- pioned on the floor and, for a while, we earliest stages of the Johnson-Grassley swered before I cast my final vote.’’ had bipartisan support for basically inquiry in 2019, but in February of 2020, The chairman said in August: ‘‘I bringing unemployment into the rel- Chairman GRAHAM said: ‘‘I called the would think it would certainly help evant century and getting an extra $600 attorney general this morning and Donald Trump win reelection and cer- per week to people and covering gig

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:24 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.025 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5629 workers and all kinds of other people. explained that in my opening state- Steele dossier containing Russian Yet, still, the economy has collapsed, ment, I would like to read the next disinformation. We are aware of this and millions are out of work. My Or- part, which describes the duplicity and fact because, during the course of this egon neighbors—a number of them— the hypocrisy of the Democrats. investigation, my chief counsel uncov- have seen their communities reduced I said: The most recent example of ered it buried in four classified foot- to ashes. Thousands and thousands of this hypocrisy was a letter and classi- notes to the Department of Justice in- homes and businesses have been lost. fied addendum created by senior Demo- spector general FISA report. We also There has been a national outcry cratic leaders that accused Senator know the FBI was aware of this as against racism and violence against GRASSLEY and me— early as 2016. Think about that. The Black Americans. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The FBI knew that Russian disinformation Our elections are supposed to be Chair will remind Senators that rule was contained in the Steele dossier as about those kinds of issues, and in all XIX provides that ‘‘[N]o Senator in de- early as August of 2016. Yet they con- of them, what I have tried to do is de- bate shall, directly or indirectly, by tinued the investigation, and that in- vote my public service to bringing peo- any form of words impute to another vestigation spilled over into a special ple together and getting parties to find Senator or to other Senators any con- counsel and disrupted America’s Gov- common ground on the best ideas of duct or motive unworthy or unbecom- ernment and politics for years. how to make changes in these areas. ing a Senator.’’ We also note that the Steele dossier Now, that sure seems to me to be what Mr. JOHNSON. I appreciate the was bought and paid for by the DNC the Senate should be all about rather warning. I don’t think I did that. and Clinton campaign. Apparently, than baseless attacks and foreign The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Democrats are willing to look the disinformation. ator is recognized. other way when they pay for or use I urge my colleagues to support the Mr. JOHNSON. Let me continue. disinformation against Republicans. resolution that Senator SCHUMER and I The most recent example is a letter That is what I read in my opening have championed. It is long past time and classified addendum created by statement at our business meeting ear- for this badly flawed investigation by senior Democratic leaders that accused lier today. our colleagues to end. Senator GRASSLEY and me of relying on As I look at this resolution, the last As in legislative session, I ask unani- foreign disinformation. This ‘‘intel- ‘‘whereas’’ talks about a congressional mous consent that the Senate proceed ligence product,’’ which was full of investigation that alleges the same dis- to the immediate consideration of a false allegations, was produced, classi- credited claims by Derkach. I don’t resolution opposing efforts to launder fied, and then leaked to the press more know who Derkach is. As I said earlier, Russian disinformation through the than a week before Senator GRASSLEY Senator GRASSLEY and I have repeat- edly, unequivocally, denied we did not Congress, which is at the desk. I fur- or I were given access to it. Many in solicit; we did not accept; we did not ther ask that the resolution be agreed the media dutifully reported this hot receive any information from Mr. to, the preamble be agreed to, and the tip. Democrats then used those media Derkach whatsoever. Yet Democrats motions to reconsider be considered reports to repeat, distort, and embel- lish the false charges. This coordinated persist in pushing this false allegation. made and laid upon the table with no As a matter of fact, I am not sure our smear—and that is what you have to intervening action or debate. committee has alleged anything yet. call it. It is a coordinated smear which The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. About the only thing that I have al- continues today on the floor of the PERDUE). Is there objection? leged is the glaring and obvious con- The Senator from Wisconsin. Senate—culminated in an August 7 flict of interest. Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I re- opinion piece in the Washington Post I have to step back here. I just have serve the right to object. submitted by Senator RICHARD to give a little history about Ukraine. I want to first point out—I want to BLUMENTHAL. In February of 2014, Ukrainians, coura- thank the previous Presiding Officer But John Ratcliffe, the Director of geous Ukrainians—basically two fac- for pointing out the fact that if this is National Intelligence, wrote: tions: one that wanted to integrate not a violation of rule XIX, it is com- I can confirm the IC did not create the closer to the West and the younger ing pretty darn close. classified addendum to the 13 July letter, nor Ukrainians who wanted to rid them- did we authorize its [release]. What you just witnessed here is this: selves of the corruption of the Soviet We have witnessed Democrats doing The foreign information we were legacy—joined together in massive pro- what Democrats do so well, accusing falsely accused of receiving—we have a test on the Maidan. Approximately, the other side of doing exactly what misprint here. February 20, 21, over 80 Ukrainians they do—only 10 times or 100 times The foreign information we were were slaughtered by snipers protesting worse. falsely accused of receiving utilized— to rid Ukraine of corruption and in- Earlier today, I chaired a business purportedly comes from a Ukrainian crease their ties to the West. meeting of the Homeland Security and named Andriy Derkach, who has since Less than 2 months later—and I have Governmental Affairs Committee, pre- been sanctioned by the Treasury De- asked my colleagues: Is there any cipitated, created, made necessary by partment. Although neither Senator disinformation here? Is this anything the fact that the ranking member of GRASSLEY nor I ever sought, received, from Russian sources? Two months my committee presented an absurd, ri- or used any information from Mr. later, here are the series of events that diculous interpretation of our rules. Derkach, the media has continued to occurred. Based on the subpoena authority I re- report otherwise for weeks, despite our On April 16, 2014, Vice President ceived earlier on June 4, the ranking repeated and unequivocal denials. Biden met with his son’s business part- member said, in order to actually But it is true that a chart produced ner, Devon Archer, at the White House. schedule a subpoena or schedule a by Mr. Derkach is now part of our in- That is kind of a big deal—anybody meeting—a deposition—I could come vestigatory record, not because of me meeting with the Vice President at the back for another vote. or Senator GRASSLEY but because Sen- White House. Hunter Biden’s business During my opening statement of that ator PETERS’ staff introduced it into partner got to do that. business meeting, having just described the record. Five days later, Vice President Biden that level of meddling—which, by the So as was the case in the 2016 elec- visited Ukraine. The media described way, the ranking member also provided tion, the only foreign disinformation him as the public face of the adminis- that ridiculous interpretation to our being used to interfere in this inves- tration’s handling of Ukraine. The next witness, the witness, Jonathan Winer, tigation has been introduced by Demo- day, April 22, Archer joined the board an individual, by the way, who decided crats against Republicans and not by of Burisma. not to cooperate with the Department Republicans. Again, Burisma is this company that of Justice inspector general in his re- Given all the concerns expressed by is owned by what George Kent from the port on the FISA abuse. He decided not Democrats over foreign disinformation, State Department called an ‘‘odious to show up for his deposition that had it is notable that we have not heard oligarch,’’ Mykola Zlochevsky. It is been previously scheduled. Having just the same concern over disclosure of the hard to say Ukrainian names.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.026 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5630 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 Six days later, after Archer joined I, personally, am tired of it. As a re- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the board, British officials seized $23 sult, I object. objection, it is so ordered. million from the London bank ac- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob- There being no objection, the mate- counts of Burisma’s owner, Mykola jection is heard. rial was ordered to be printed in the Zlochevsky. Fifteen days later, on May The Senator from Oregon. RECORD, as follows: 13, Hunter Biden joined the board of Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I am DEMOCRATS HAD EXTENSIVE CONTACT WITH Burisma. And over the course of the very disappointed that my colleague UKRAINIAN THEY NOW USE FOR ‘RED SCARE’ next, approximately, 4 to 5 years, Hun- has objected. ATTACK ON GOP ter and his firms were paid more than I just want to make a brief response (By John Solomon) $3 million for his and Archer’s board reflecting on my role as a senior mem- September 16, 2020—2:30pm participation. ber of the Senate Select Committee on For months, Democrats on Capitol Hill Again, Ukraine had just gone Intelligence. Again, as I indicated ear- have waged a whisper campaign to disparage through a revolution. Their leadership lier, I can’t get into anything classified the reputation of a former Ukrainian govern- ment official named Andrii Telizhenko, who was desperate for U.S. support. We all or sources and methods, but before we has emerged as a fact witness for Repub- have to believe that Mr. Zlochevsky, leave this subject, I just want to re- licans investigating the controversial busi- an odious oligarch, would have made mind the Senate that the Russian ness deals of Joe Biden’s son Hunter. those Ukrainian officials well aware of disinformation campaign is going on Led by Sens. Ron Wyden (D–Ore.) and Gary the fact that the son of the Vice Presi- now. It is not some abstract issue. The Peters (D–Mich.), the Democrats have tried dent of the United States, the public Russian disinformation campaign is to suggest—without evidence—that face of the administration’s handling of going on now. Telizhenko is connected to Ukrainian Par- liamentary member Andrii Derkach, identi- Ukraine, was sitting on his board. The Russians have attempted to re- fied by U.S. intelligence as leading Russian So what kind of signal did that send write the history of the 2016 campaign. disinformation efforts targeting Joe Biden in to Ukrainians who were trying to stand It is the conclusion of the intelligence the 2020 election and sanctioned by the up and were being pressured by U.S. of- community—this is not Democrats; it Trump Treasury Department. ficials to rid their country of corrup- is not Republicans; it is the intel- Their campaign will break into the open tion? It basically said: If you want U.S. ligence community—that they are try- Wednesday on the Senate floor when Demo- support, don’t touch Burisma. ing to interfere again, this time in the crats try to force a vote on a resolution The fact is, when all was said and 2020 election, including with these at- criticizing Senate Homeland Security and done, Burisma and Mykola Zlochevsky Governmental Affairs Chairman Ron John- tacks on Vice President Biden, and son (R–Wisc.) suggesting the probe he and were never held to account. The inves- they are saying this now. And active Senate Finance Committee chairman tigation, the prosecution of him was Russian agents, like Mr. Derkach, ap- Charles Grassley (R–Iowa) are leading into ceased. It never occurred. parently are having press conferences. the Bidens’ Ukraine dealings is part of In terms of Russian disinformation, I heard a report that he may have had Derkach’s election meddling. Their argu- these false charges, these wild claims one today. ment is thin, relying on the fact that against me and Senator GRASSLEY—I So Members of the Senate—again, Telizhenko has talked publicly about some was way ahead of the curve when it this is a matter of public record—have of the same issues as Derkach. Their resolu- came to Russian disinformation. Back tion is likely to fail in the GOP-controlled been presented with specific warnings Senate. in 2015, as chairman of the European about these Kremlin-backed conspir- But the Democrats’ character-assassina- Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign acies and lies again and again, includ- tion campaign suffers a much bigger prob- Relations Committee, I held three ing in classified settings. As I wrap this lem: Long before he assisted the GOP Senate hearings focusing on what Russia does up, I would only ask that Members of investigation, Telizhenko was a trusted mid- to destabilize the politics in coun- this great institution reflect on that. level Ukrainian government contact for the tries—an attempted coup in Monte- I yield the floor. Obama-Biden administration, according to negro and other places in Eastern Eu- scores of U.S. government emails and memos The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- obtained by Just the News. rope. So I am well aware of what Rus- ator from Wisconsin. The memos show Telizhenko routinely ar- sia is doing—well aware. I don’t con- Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, a ranged sensitive meetings for senior State done it. I condemn it. I am not having quick response because in my other Department officials at the U.S. embassy in any part of pushing it. paper here, I did not have the full Kiev, met with senior Democrats on Capitol But I have to say, for all the croco- quote from John Ratcliffe. I would like Hill, including current House Foreign Affairs dile tears the Democrats shed in terms to read it now. Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D–N.Y.), of Russian disinformation, the effects This is referring to the intelligence and facilitated contacts with Ukrainians for on our politics, I would argue that the the National Security Council and the U.S. product that senior Democratic leaders Justice Department in Washington dating to Russian disinformation that has been created, leaked to the press, accusing 2013. He also was cleared for meetings inside perpetrated on our politics and the ef- Senator GRASSLEY and I, falsely, of re- the Obama White House, Secret Service fect it has on the election pales in com- ceiving information from Andriy entry logs show. parison to the false allegations, for ex- Derkach. His contacts included such senior State of- ample, that Russia colluded with the John Ratcliffe, Director of National ficials as William Taylor and Geoffrey Pyatt, Trump campaign. It was promoted by Intelligence, wrote: two ambassadors, the memos show. Democrats for years, culminating in a In another words, the man the Democrats I can confirm the IC did not create the are now using for a ‘‘red scare’’ attack on the special counsel and finally an impeach- classified addendum to the 13 July letter, nor GOP senators was actually their own party’s ment. But how Democrats have used did we authorize its creation. The IC was not Ukrainian contact, vetted and cleared by the and how the media has promoted and consulted prior to its creation and subse- State Department to meet with senior offi- carried the water for Democrats all quent release to the entire membership of cials like ambassadors and DOJ prosecutors this time has had a far greater effect, the U.S. House of Representatives. on sensitive foreign matters. by orders of magnitude, in terms of de- Then, referring to that addendum, he Telizhenko also was hired by the Demo- stabilization and affecting the politics said it ‘‘by no means reflects the full cratic-leaning firm known as Blue Star Strategies to help Burisma Holdings—the and affecting the elections. That is ba- and complete analysis of the IC.’’ Ukrainian gas firm that hired Hunter Biden sically the truth. I would ask unanimous consent to as a board member in 2014—lobby the State I would just ask my colleagues and I enter into the RECORD an article that Department and Ukrainian prosecutors to would ask the American public to take was published today by John Solomon drop corruption allegations against the com- a look at what has really been hap- talking about the extensive—exten- pany in 2016, the memos show. pening here. The false allegations, the sive—contacts by members of the Telizhenko, in fact, was so trusted and fa- basic playbook the Democrats engage Obama administration in terms of the miliar with Obama administration officials in, time and again, create a false nar- NSC and the State Department and the that he was on a first-name basis, trading smiley face emoticons and arranging coffee rative, create a false intelligence prod- Ambassador with Andriy Telizhenko. It and beer outings in Washington with such uct, accuse the other side of things is right here. contacts as Obama-era National Security that you are doing tenfold. That is We have a nice picture of House Council staffer Elisabeth Zentos, the memos what is happening here. Member ELLIOT ENGEL as well. show.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.027 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5631 ‘‘Hi Andrii! I’m doing ok. Yes, definitely Photos taken by U.S. and Ukrainian gov- saults, shootings, murders have been got some rest over the weekend. How about ernment photographers show Telizhenko fa- higher this year, and my home State you?’’ Zentos wrote April 4, 2016 to cilitated meetings between 2014 and 2016 with has not been safe from this trend. In Telizhenko from her official White House key lawmakers in Washington, including fact, in St. Louis, MO, there were 55 email account. ‘‘Survive the visit ok? Also, Democrat Reps. Engel and Marcy Kaptur and should we still plan for coffee this week? then-GOP Sen. Bob Corker, as well as other murders in the month of July. That Maybe Wednesday or Friday? Hope all is U.S. agencies. compares to 22 murders a year earlier well! Liz.’’ And the emails show U.S. embassy officials in July, which we thought were way A month earlier, a planned beer outing in Kiev routinely sought advice and insights too many then. In Kansas City, MO, with Zentos got changed. ‘‘Would you be up from Telizhenko about happenings inside the homicides in the first 6 months of this for doing coffee instead of beer though? I’m Ukrainian government. ‘‘Andriy, we have year were about 40 percent higher than realizing that if I drink beer at 3 p.m., I will heard that there may be a briefing today. Do they were last year. probably fall asleep while attempting to you know the specifics?’’ embassy political One of the Kansas City victims was a work afterward,’’ Zentos wrote. officer Stephen Page asked in a January 2014 Zentos and Telizhenko also discussed the email. 4-year-old boy named LeGend sensitive case of Burisma and its founder, Such contacts are normal in the diplomacy Taliferro. He was murdered in the early Mykola Zlochevsky, in a July 2016 email ex- and national security business of the United hours of July 29 while he was asleep— change with the subject line ‘‘Re: Z,’’ the States. But they take on significance now a 4-year-old boy murdered while he was shorthand Telizhenko used to refer to the because they have been missing from the asleep—by a random shooting, violence Burisma founder. Their email exchange did Democrats’ attacks on Telizhenko and the going on outside his home. So early in not mention Hunter Biden’s role in the com- GOP senators who have interviewed him in July, the Justice Department launched pany but showed the Obama White House their probe of the Bidens. The question now an effort in Kansas City that has be- had interest in the business dealings of Hun- is: If Telizhenko is so bad as Democrats ter Biden’s boss. claim, why did the Obama administration come a national effort, which they ‘‘Hi Liz, Yes, It would be great to meet, to- and Democrats so frequently engage him? called Operation LeGend, named for morrow whatever works best for you 12:30pm Sen. Wyden’s recent statement ignored little LeGend Taliferro. Under Oper- or 6pm—I am ready,’’ Telizhenko wrote the that issue. ‘‘While Democrats are pushing for ation LeGend, Federal law enforcement NSC staffer, adding a smiley face. Zentos more aggressive action against Russian as- officers are working alongside local po- eventually replied when he suggested a res- sets interfering in our elections, Republicans lice to solve crimes, to make arrests, taurant: ‘‘Ooh, that would be wonderful— are using their conspiracy theories to ad- to track down fugitives, and to prepare thanks so much!’’ vance bogus investigations,’’ he said. Attached to Telizhenko’s email was an org U.S. intelligence officials tell Just the cases for trial so criminals can be held chart showing the structure of some foreign News that while they remain vigilant in accountable. The key phrase there is companies that had been connected at one fighting Russian interference in the 2020 ‘‘alongside.’’ Federal agents aren’t point to Zlochevsky’s business empire. election, they have no direct evidence going in and taking over the police de- The memos show Zentos first befriended Telizhenko is, like Derkach, connected to partment; they are going in to add as- Telizhenko when she worked at the U.S. em- the Kremlin. However, they have extensive sistance to the police department. bassy as far back as 2014. evidence he was welcomed by the U.S. gov- On that topic, there was no imme- The memos show that officials at the ernment during the Obama years and that he Obama Justice Department, the NSC, and diate raid of trafficking centers or drug assisted Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani’s probe gangs or anything like that. I, frankly, the State Department enlisted Telizhenko of legal matters in Ukraine, including find- for similarly sensitive diplomatic matters ing political dirt last year on the Bidens. thought the Justice Department was dating to 2013 including: The officials also noted there is open wrong in not announcing earlier to Arranging for senior members of the source intelligence that Telizhenko actually Federal officials and local officials Ukraine Prosecutor General’s Office to trav- engaged in a rivalry in the Ukrainian press what they were going to do and when el to Washington in January 2016 to meet with Derkach and derided the Ukrainian par- they were going to do it, but I think we with NSC, State, DOJ and FBI officials to liamentary member as a Russian operative worked with them to see that that isn’t discuss ongoing corruption cases. At the just a few months ago. The open source in- time, the Ukraine prosecutors had an esca- going to continue to be the case. In formation includes a BuzzFeed article fact, in early August, they made a lating corruption probe of Burisma, where quoting Telizhenko and social media posts, Hunter Biden served on the board. Within the officials said. similar determination to go into St. weeks of the Washington meeting, Vice Ukraine is a country with much corruption Louis. President Joe Biden had pressured Ukraine’s and many mysterious characters. But one One of the advantages of having Fed- president Petro Poroshenko to fire the lead thing is clear: U.S. government memos cor- eral officers work with the local police prosecutor, Viktor Shakin. roborate Andrii Telizhenko was trusted by in these cases is, one, they bring a Securing a meeting in February 2015 at the the Obama administration for many years whole lot more intensity to the mo- U.S. embassy in Kiev with a deputy Ukrain- before congressional Democrats turned on ment. With the extra help, suddenly ian prosecutor whom U.S. officials wanted to him. confront about a bribe allegedly paid by something becomes possible that Burisma. Mr. JOHNSON. The same person they wasn’t possible before. Also, many of Facilitating a draft statement in Novem- are saying is just this dangerous Rus- the people arrested can face Federal ber 2013 from members of the Ukrainian par- sian agent, they were using extensively charges as well as other sentences. liament to President Obama denouncing throughout the Obama administration Certainly in our State—in Kansas then-Ukrainian President Viktor to set up contacts. He actually had the City and Missouri both—the two dif- Yanukovych, whom the Obama administra- ability to go to meetings in the White ferent U.S. attorney’s offices have done tion would help oust from power a few weeks House, and he attended those. This is later. a great job working with local officials ‘‘We, people of Ukraine, appeal to you with the person whom now they are saying, before this but are even better able to request to support Ukrainian people in their because we spoke to him and got a lit- look at what Federal charges might be standing for freedom, justice and democ- tle bit of information from him, we are faced to take some of that load off the racy,’’ the November 2013 draft statement dealing in Russian disinformation. local prosecutor and also look for an- from Telizhenko to the U.S. embassy in Kiev If they had that level of concern, why other way to get these people off the read. ‘‘The President of Ukraine Viktor did Democratic lobbying firm Blue street. Yanukovych proved that he is not the guar- Star Strategies employ him for over a By September 1, in Kansas City, the antor of constitutional rights and freedoms year, and why did Democrats deal with of citizens, freedom of choice and right for operation had led to the arrest of 355 free expression.’’ him so frequently during the Obama people suspected of serious crimes in The draft statement was fielded by a mili- administration? Kansas City. More than 100 of those 355 tary attache at the U.S. embassy who urged I yield the floor. people have been charged in Federal Telizhenko to get it to the embassy’s polit- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- court. In St. Louis, where I said before ical section for consideration. ‘‘The ambas- ator from Missouri. that the government decided to bring sador has not shared with me what the posi- CRIME Operation LeGend—the Justice Depart- tion of the US government would be on such Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, as we all ment made that decision in early Au- a statement, other than his message yester- day morning,’’ the attache wrote. ‘‘. . . I’m know and as any American who has gust, and by September 1, there were sure once you pass this statement to Ambas- watched the news over the summer already 359 arrests, and 128 of those sador Pyatt’s political section, they will knows, there has been a terrible in- people arrested were looking at Fed- render a timely response.’’ crease in crime in America’s cities. As- eral charges as well.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:20 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.008 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5632 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 In addition to St. Louis and Kansas While some people have sought to speech and freedom of religion, forcing City, the Department of Justice has defund the police and to disparage the Christians and Jews to retreat from launched Operation LeGend in seven police, Operation LeGend is successful the public square and silencing any other cities. This is not a Federal over- because it supports the police. These who dare to speak up? Darkness. reach. It is not the Federal Govern- are some of the hardest jobs in Amer- What if America did what every au- ment, again, taking over local law en- ica, second only to the families of peo- thoritarian government in history has forcement. It is not the first step to- ple who care deeply about their loved done and must eventually do—disarm ward martial law. It is not a crack- ones who have decided to serve in that the American people? Darkness. down on peaceful protests. What it is, job to protect us all. What if we defunded our police forces is a cooperative effort with cities that American communities are safer be- across the country, even just partially? have been suffering from increases in cause of Operation LeGend. They will What would happen to public safety? violent crime. be safer as we continue to work toward How would life in our cities be af- Under this operation, officers have greater and more effective community fected? Turn on your TV for the an- arrested, nationwide, more than 2,000 policing. They will be safer when peo- swer. Darkness. people, including 163 people for murder, ple who are violent criminals are no What if we allowed people to throw and one of the people arrested was the longer walking around to perpetuate homemade bombs at police and burn alleged killer of 4-year-old LeGend further violence. down police stations and then pre- Taliferro. I salute the Justice Department for tended that these violent demonstra- The rise of violence in cities this their efforts and the local departments tions are peaceful? Darkness. year—and particularly the cities I am that have reached out and taken ad- What if we enacted the Green New talking about that have benefited, I vantage of the moment to get some- Deal? Literal darkness. What if we let China—a Communist think, from Operation LeGend—has thing done that they were not able to country that systematically imprisons been incredibly rapid and unbearably get done by themselves. and murders its own citizens—take ad- destructive, not to mention totally un- I yield the floor. vantage of American workers and put acceptable. It has taken a toll on lives The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ator from Florida. them out of work? Darkness. unlived, families torn apart, commu- What if we teach our kids that Amer- nities terrorized, people wondering ISSUES FACING AMERICA ica is a bad country with an evil his- what is going to happen when they or Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, tory that must be erased and that their children walk out the front door when I was growing up, I was raised to America is fundamentally a morally or play in the backyard or, like little believe in the American dream. My bankrupt country? Darkness. LeGend, are sound asleep in their beds. mom taught me that we were blessed Republicans are fighting for issues Nothing we do can fully heal the because God and our Founders created that the American public care about. damage, certainly, that these victims the greatest country ever, where any- People want good jobs, a good edu- of violent crime and their families thing was possible. We weren’t allowed cation for their kids, and they want to have suffered, but we can get the jus- to complain. Debt, Big Government, so- live in safe communities. Republicans tice that both the victim and people cialism, and communism were bad. Col- are working to defend our law enforce- who care about them deserve. lege was for a better paying job. ment, invest in our military, secure We may have a lot of disagreements Church on Sundays was absolutely not the border, and stop illegal immigra- in the Congress, but I hope we can optional. tion. Republicans are standing up to agree that violent criminals belong be- While I didn’t always appreciate my dictators in Latin America and to hind bars. I hope we can all agree that tough-love, my-way-or-the-highway Communist China, after the Democrats all parents deserve a safe neighborhood mom growing up, I now thank God have appeased them for decades. where they can raise their children. I every day for my mom and this coun- Here is the fundamental difference hope we can all agree that the police do try. She gave me the opportunity to between Democrats and Republicans: a difficult and dangerous job, and they experience every lesson this country Democrats want to control your life; deserve all the support and apprecia- had to offer before I was 20. Republicans want to give you a life. tion we can give them. Sadly, the values that I grew up with Republicans want to give every Amer- Not long ago, LeGend Taliferro’s are becoming a way of the past, but I ican the opportunity to live their mother spoke about her son and the believe these values, these virtues, can version of the American dream. Gov- pain of losing him. She said: ‘‘He was a and should be part of our country’s fu- ernments don’t do that. Politicians ball of joy, and I want his legacy to ture. The left has worked hard over the don’t do that. live on and I want us to continue to last 50 years to discredit the values of The American people are dreamers, fight against violence and get justice the America I was raised with and the and if we get government out of their for my son and others.’’ That is the end values of the America I want my way, the innovation, determination, of that mother’s quote, but it is not the grandkids to grow up with. and entrepreneurial spirit of the Amer- end of a life that mother will now live In recent weeks, we have seen the ican people and American business will without her son or the life he didn’t get Democrats try hard to paint our Presi- shine bright. to live. And there are too many lives dent and the entire Republican Party I yield the floor. that didn’t get to be lived, too many as ‘‘darkness,’’ but let me tell you The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- lives lost through needless violence. what darkness would actually look like ator from Indiana. Operation LeGend gives local law en- in America. Mr. YOUNG. Mr. President, I rise forcement the valuable support they What if our country turned the keys today to discuss the dangerous path need to get violent criminals off the over to the far left and turned away that national Democrats are spiraling street. Again, it was named for an in- from capitalism in favor of socialism? on down and to caution our country- nocent 4-year-old boy. It could have The data is already in on that. The re- men not to follow them. Radicals on been named for any of the thousands of sult would be the same as it has been the far left have hijacked an otherwise other victims of violent criminals in throughout history: Socialism would righteous cause and are in command of dozens of other cities this year. It destroy our economy and cause wide- a once proud political party that traces could have been named for St. Louis spread poverty and oppression. Dark- its heritage back to Jefferson and Police Officer Tamarris Bohannon, who ness. Madison. was killed in the line of duty last What if our country just gave up on The violence the radicals have un- month. It could have been named for the battle to protect innocent human leashed threatens lives. The cancel cul- the two officers in California who had a life and agreed with the political party ture they imposed curtails liberty. And sneak attack as they were sitting and that proudly embraces the killing of their misguided means of creating eco- trying to secure the local transpor- the unborn at any time, for any rea- nomic equality endangers the pursuit tation center just in the last couple of son? Darkness. of happiness. days. It is a tragedy that it had to be What if we decide to change our First Joe Biden, NANCY PELOSI, and their named for anyone. Amendment, editing out our freedom of hand-picked Democratic candidates are

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.030 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5633 empowering the radical wing of today’s darned clear: law and order or anarchy; Following the murder of George national Democratic Party—the same an economy that is growing or employ- Floyd by Minneapolis police, my friend people responsible for the chaos now on ers and workers which are grounded; Senator TIM SCOTT of South Carolina full display across our country. The na- citizens who are free and flourishing or introduced legislation to tackle police tional leaders of the Democratic Party subjects dependent on government. reform in a meaningful way. The bill offer them sanctuary. What the radicals don’t understand is he proposed would have enacted long They make excuses for radicals’ de- that though we were born by revolu- overdue policies, such as finally mak- structive behavior, the way an embar- tion, the history of America is one of ing lynching a Federal crime, ending rassed parent does for a mischievous steady progress—a determined march the use of police choke holds, expand- child. To them, the riots that are oc- together for the common good and to- ing the use of body cameras by law en- curring from Minneapolis to Indianap- wards an ever better union. We have to forcement, and increasing other forms olis are only peaceful protests. Prom- lead that march. of transparency and accountability. ises to defund police departments are When far-left Democrats offer dan- Yet despite the impassioned pleas of just ways of reimaging police—what- gerous ideas and unfulfillable promises, Americans across the country demand- ever that means. It is the same sleight Republicans will counter with innova- ing justice for George Floyd and other of hand that turns government-run tive thinking and results-driven poli- African-Americans who have died in healthcare into Medicare for all who cies. We will create ways to help every police custody, Democrats blocked the want it. American access affordable healthcare, Senate from even debating Senator Most Democrats will not publicly afford a college education, advance SCOTT’s thoughtful police reform bill embrace the socialist policies the mob their careers, raise a family, and buy a this past summer. howls for because they know the Amer- home that they can call their own. Shouldn’t we all be able to agree, re- ican people will not buy it. But once in Republicans will play a part in the gardless of our party affiliation, that power, they will be all too happy to im- reinvigoration of economically dis- Congress needs to take action to guar- plement these radical policies, and advantaged areas, both rural and antee that no American should fear that means a mainstream national urban. Ours is an America where every- walking on the streets, especially in Democratic agenda that will abolish one lives free of fear and is able to their own neighborhood? That guar- and defund police departments; take speak their mind, and where citizens, antee should include people of color away on-the-job insurance; pack the no matter their color or their ZIP and peaceful protesters, as well as our Supreme Court of the United States; Code, can climb as high and fly as far law enforcement officers doing their raise taxes; give Washington, DC, and as their ambition and ability allows. jobs. Puerto Rico the same number of U.S. Their way leads to a dead end, ours As a consequence of the Democrats’ Senators that the State of Indiana has; to an endless frontier. They tear down. obstruction, the streets in some of eliminate the legislative filibuster and, We will build. The path forward is America’s great cities have descended therefore, the right of the minority clear. into a state of chaos and lawlessness, within this institution; and spend tril- I yield the floor. immersed in violence and vandalism, lions of dollars of new government pro- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- arson and murder. grams that Americans don’t need or ator from Iowa. When taxpayers turn to their elected want. Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I would leaders—whether for assistance to pro- They are allies—the destroyers and like to thank my colleagues for joining vide for their families during a pan- these national Democrats I reference— me on the floor today. It is clear that demic, for protection from unfair polic- only they can’t be straight with the America is facing two separate, very ing practices, or for simple safety when American people about their alliance, different paths. walking down the street—the Demo- and their leaders just can’t seem to Last Thursday, the Democrats in this crats have responded with silence and summon the simple moral clarity that Chamber blocked much needed assist- inaction. says racism is evil and so is using it to ance to families and small businesses Even when I attempted to call up a justify violence and vandalism. struggling to make ends meet amidst bill to reauthorize the Violence Blessedly, in my State, local Demo- the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and Against Women Act—a bill that is very cratic elected officials have had they did it for one reason only—poli- personal to me and that also had bipar- enough. In fact, in recent weeks, sev- tics. Our friends across the aisle didn’t tisan support—the Democrats objected eral Hoosier public servants have left want to provide $15 billion in childcare, to that bill as well. And the same was their party and they have become Re- more than $250 billion of additional true for my commonsense bill, Sarah’s publicans. To clearly understand the Paycheck Protection Program loans Law, which would hold illegal immi- choice before us, we need only listen to for small businesses, $105 billion for grants who harm or murder an Amer- their explanations why. schools, and $20 billion for farmers. ican citizen accountable. This is Brian Snedecor, mayor of Ho- While this aid is vital to my fellow It is no wonder that folks across this bart, who just switched from a Demo- Iowans, it would have helped families country are so frustrated with Wash- crat to a Republican. He says: and communities all across the Nation, ington and fed up with politicians. I must be true to my God, my family, my- in red and blue States. There is no de- Folks, just one friendly reminder: Our self and those that have supported and be- nying that the damage being caused by country’s direction will soon be decided lieved in me . . . I want Hobart to be a place this pandemic is real. Businesses are by her people. America must now for business to come and the American being shut down, schools are being choose between two paths to take into Dream to be achieved. closed, and lives are being lost. Yet the future, and that choice could not And then we have Dave Wedding, this toll is apparently not enough for be starker. Vanderburgh County sheriff, who also the other side to set politics aside, At a time when we need leadership just became a Republican. Sheriff Wed- even momentarily, to come together and reassurance, the Democrats are in- ding says: and help our fellow citizens with their stead offering obstruction, lockdowns, I’m tired of seeing fires set in our streets. daily struggles. and anarchy. Our friends across the I’m tired of people defying God, our church, This senseless obstruction is leaving aisle are actually promising—folks, our police, our government and everything Iowa families to fend for themselves they are promising—to increase taxes we stand for. when they most need a helping hand. on hardworking Americans and even I happen to believe that every reg- In so many ways, this represents the promising to defund the police. That is ular American feels the same way, and distinct difference between the two po- right, folks. You get to pay more taxes they will look to us to protect the litical parties at this very moment. in exchange for less safety and secu- American Dream and put out the While Senate Republicans are leading rity. That doesn’t sound like a good fires—literal and figurative—in our efforts to get America back up and run- deal to me. streets. ning and guarantee opportunities for Speaking of bad bargains, you can ex- The choice that each of us must everyone, Democrats are embracing ob- pect the Democrats to pass their Green make in the coming weeks is pretty struction and anarchy. New Deal if they are given the chance.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.032 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5634 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 This radical environmental plan would passed and the motion to reconsider be Millions were fleeing this country destroy our very way of life in Iowa. considered made and laid upon the and still are, as refugees into neigh- The roadmap offered by Republicans table with no intervening action or de- boring countries. There is brutal polit- is much brighter, to say the least: re- bate. ical repression. If you disagree with opening America safely; real reforms The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Maduro publicly, be prepared to go to to end excessive use of force by police objection? prison. There is staggering government without putting the safety of everyone Mr. THUNE. Reserving the right to corruption and dismantling of the gov- at risk by defunding the police; build- object. On behalf of my colleague Sen- ernment’s democracy. Now, the tragic ing upon the successful pro-growth ator LEE, who cannot be here to object impacts of coronavirus have made the policies that created the greatest econ- on his own because he is chairing an situation worse as well. omy and historically low unemploy- Energy subcommittee hearing, I object. I supported this administration’s ef- ment rates for every demographic; and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- forts to work with other nations to bringing the jobs that were exported tion is heard. support the interim Presidency of Juan under the previous administration The Senator from Illinois. Guaido. I had a chance to speak with Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I know back to America and ending our de- President Guaido on the phone yester- the Senator from South Dakota is pendency on foreign nations like Red day. I am deeply moved by his courage making the objection on behalf of Sen- China. and concern for the Venezuelan people ator LEE, and I have been called to do Folks, with our country and the amid the suffering. Think about what the same thing from time to time. I world facing one of the greatest health he is up against. Here is a man who at won’t assign any political blame to and economic emergencies in history, any moment could face imprisonment him, but I will say this is a serious we simply cannot risk our recovery on or worse. mistake and deadly mistake for these It is remarkable that more than 2 the radical designs of the Democrats. Venezuelans. years after an internationally discred- Let’s pursue the path towards a re- This is an issue which in many parts ited Presidential election, Venezuelan newed United States of America that of America is red hot. Those of Ven- dictator Nicolas Maduro is now plan- guarantees safety and greater opportu- ezuelan ancestry or those who are here ning another illegitimate election in- nities for every citizen to pursue the in a temporary status cannot under- stead of finally holding a fair, credible American dream. stand what just happened. They want Presidential contest. I yield the floor. to stay here safely. They don’t want to I asked President Guaido: Are there The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- be forced to return to this nation that going to be any international observers TON). The Senator from Illinois. is such a dangerous place under this of this international election coming UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.R. 549 dictator. up this December? Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I am A number of times in the last year, Oh, yes. going to make a unanimous consent re- Senator MENENDEZ, who is on the floor I said: Who? quest in a moment, but I would like to with me here, has joined with me on He said: The Russians. preface it by saying what it is about so behalf of the Venezuelan people. Presi- I said: What a coincidence. They are that as we explain it after the unani- dent Trump boasts that he supports observing our election too. mous consent request is objected to, it these people. Venezuela has tragically fallen from will be clearer. The idea is simple: While the country President Trump’s attention. One sim- In the nation of Venezuela, there ex- remains a dictatorial nightmare, grant ple step he could take is grant TPS to ists today an incredible political situa- Venezuelans in the United States tem- Venezuelans here in the United States. tion. I have been there to see it. There porary protected status or TPS. It is He repeatedly refuses. There are travel is a dictator in charge, and life on the the kind of commonsense move a self- warnings to Americans telling people street is deadly—so deadly that mil- confident nation and one that really not to go close to Venezuela, but for lions of Venezuelans are fleeing the cares about humanity would do to dem- the Venezuelans here on visa or TPS country as fast as possible. onstrate real leadership and accept. status: You have to go home. The There is a limitation on food and TPS is a temporary immigration sta- President has refused, I suspect, be- medicine. There is so much suffering tus provided to foreign nationals if re- cause the depth of his anti-immigrant and starvation and deprivation that turning to their country poses a seri- cruelty really has no limits. these people have given up everything, ous threat to their safety for any vari- Despite the chest-thumping to audi- and they are just leaving. The United ety of reasons—natural disaster, envi- ences in Florida about taking on Ven- States knows that this is under the ronmental disaster, extraordinary con- ezuelan dictators, President Trump leader, Maduro. It reached a point ditions, armed conflicts. Certainly by has, in fact, turned his back on the where it is physically dangerous—so every objective measure, the situation Venezuelans in the United States who much so that we have a warning to in Venezuela today is deadly and dan- truly need his protection. Nobody American travelers not to go to Ven- gerous. It is not a permanent immigra- should be surprised, as former National ezuela, to stay away because it is too tion status we are seeking for these Security Advisor John Bolton wrote in dangerous. Venezuelans, just a measure of Amer- his book, that the President praised Yet thousands of Venezuelans now in ican decency and solidarity with those Maduro as ‘‘smart’’ and ‘‘tough’’ and the United States are facing the threat who might be in the United States waffled on any kind of coherent policy of being forced return to this deadly, when a calamity occurs in their home in the region and told Bolton not to get too deeply involved. President Trump dangerous situation. The same State country. Prior administrations of both can’t have it both ways. Department that warns Americans not political parties have granted it for I have met many Venezuelans in my to travel to Venezuela is now trying to people from countries facing these cir- home State of Illinois. I can tell you force those Venezuelans who are here cumstances. that they are desperately worried as students and others to go back to The situation in Venezuela is dire. about being forced to return to the this deadly situation. Currently, the United States is work- chaos, violence, and hopelessness of the Senator MENENDEZ and I and others ing with regional partners to foster an current Venezuela. think it just makes sense for us to give end to the disastrous dictatorship The Trump administration’s travel these people a shelter until it is safe clinging to power in Venezuela. advisory says it all: for them to return to their home. That I was there before the sham 2018 elec- Do not travel due to COVID–19, crime, civil is what this request is about. tion. What I saw was heartbreaking— unrest, poor health infrastructure, kidnap- Mr. President, as in legislative ses- people starving and fainting at work ping, arbitrary arrest and detention of U.S. sion, I ask unanimous consent that the from malnutrition; hospitals without citizens .... Violent crime, such as homi- Judiciary Committee be discharged power or basic medicines. I visited a cide, armed robbery, kidnapping, and from further consideration of H.R. 549 Catholic children’s hospital in Caracas. carjacking, is common. and the Senate proceed to its imme- They told me they didn’t have the ba- Yet the Republicans come to the diate consideration; further, that the sics to treat these children. Antibiotics floor and object to our efforts to pro- bill be considered read a third time and cancer drugs were unavailable. tect the Venezuelans who are doing

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.034 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5635 their best to avoid what I just read as The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without paign of extrajudicial killings and tor- a warning to American travelers. objection, it is so ordered. ture amounts to crimes against hu- Just today, U.N. investigators re- Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, we manity.’’ Yet President Trump and leased findings saying that under are here today once again to join Sen- Senate Republicans refuse to provide Maduro, Venezuela has ‘‘committed ator DURBIN, who has been on the floor humanitarian protection to Ven- egregious violations’’ amounting to with me or I with him I don’t know ezuelans in the United States. crimes against humanity. How can this how many times now as it relates to The extraordinary conditions in Ven- President and the State Department this issue. We are here to urge the Sen- ezuela have forced more than 5 million possibly force people to return to Ven- ate to immediately approve legislation Venezuelans to flee their country in ezuela under these conditions? And that would designate Venezuelans for search of protection. Last year, I trav- now, with Maduro detaining returning temporary protected status. eled to Cucuta, which is the border city refugees and calling them ‘‘bioterror- There are some 200,000 Venezuelans between Colombia and Venezuela, and I ists,’’ the idea of going back is even who are currently living in the United saw for myself the thousands of refu- more dangerous. States. They are unable to return home gees and migrants who cross every day. Since the White House wouldn’t act safely, and they would benefit from I will never forget their stories—stories more than a year ago, the House, under TPS. of heartbreak and suffering from peo- Democratic control, passed a bipar- We should be doing the right thing. ple leaving everything they have ever tisan bill granting TPS to Venezuelans We should be upholding American val- known behind—their homes, their by a margin of 272 to 158. Senator ues and offering them protection, but loved ones—in an attempt to survive. MENENDEZ, Senator RUBIO, and I intro- once again, our Republican colleagues We have applauded Venezuela’s duced a similar Senate bill, but the have blocked our efforts. neighbors, including Colombia, Ecua- majority leader, MITCH MCCONNELL, We know what is at stake. Venezuela dor, Peru, and Brazil, for welcoming still refuses to bring up any bill that continues to experience the worst hu- Venezuelan refugees and migrants de- just might not please President manitarian crisis in our hemisphere. spite their having far fewer resources Trump—even ones that supposedly he Its people continue to suffer food and than the United States. Yet the Trump is publicly supporting. medicine shortages, levels of criminal administration has failed to ensure Senator MENENDEZ and I have tried violence akin to a conflict zone, and that America lives up to its history as to call up the House bill for passage, grave human rights abuses under the a beacon of freedom and hope around only to face objections, just as we did Maduro regime. As if that were not the world. today, from Senate Republicans who enough, Venezuelans face the alarming Many Venezuelans in the United refuse to stand up to this President’s spread of COVID–19 with a public States today who would be eligible for failure on this and so many other for- health system in ruins. TPS are stuck in immigration deten- eign policies. For 7 years, Maduro’s devastating tion. The Trump administration and When we brought this up last July, abuses of the Venezuelan people have the Republican-led Senate have failed Senate Republicans objected because left them with little choice but to stay to grant them TPS, which leaves them they said they wanted to debate it in and suffer or flee and have a chance at facing uncertainty and the fear of de- the Judiciary Committee. Well, 12 survival—flee the political persecution, portation. Many others who have come months passed with plenty of opportu- flee the oppression. from Venezuela to seek political asy- nities. Our Venezuelan TPS bill was re- In Maduro’s Venezuela, families lum have been turned back and de- ferred to the committee in February of struggle to feed themselves and chil- ported—back to countries like Mexico 2019. Yet there has been no action, no dren tragically die of treatable dis- and with all of the risks that those bor- hearing, no markup. The Immigration eases. More than half of all Venezuelan der cities present. They have not even Subcommittee is not overloaded with doctors have fled the country, and 40 been given a chance to make their po- work. Under Chairman CORNYN, we percent of hospitals lack electricity litical asylum claims. have had exactly one subcommittee and 70 percent lack regular access to So make no mistake: The Trump ad- meeting in the past 11⁄2 years. It hasn’t water. Senate Republicans want to ministration has all of the authority it held a single hearing this year, and the leave the Venezuelans who are in the needs to designate Venezuela imme- Senate Judiciary Committee hasn’t United States at risk of deportation diately—it doesn’t need this legisla- considered a single immigration bill. back to Maduro’s nightmare rather tion—but the President has chosen not This administration could grant TPS than take action. Meanwhile, the to. That is why we introduced legisla- without congressional action, but it re- Maduro regime is using the spread of tion that would grant TPS to our Ven- fuses. Senate Republicans could pass COVID–19 to further tighten its con- ezuelan brothers and sisters. The House the bipartisan House bill to grant Ven- trol. has already passed a similar bill. ezuelans TPS, but they refuse as well. Last month, Human Rights Watch re- Now, I have had other issues here in Let it be clear that the real failure to ported that dozens of journalists, the Senate for which I have had to do help Venezuelans in the United States healthcare workers, human rights law- this before, and I will do it again. I am rests on their shoulders—the President yers, and political opponents have been not going to relent in our effort to and the Republican majority in the detained or prosecuted for merely criti- grant Venezuelans the protections they Senate. cizing or questioning the regime’s offi- deserve. Every time my Republican The Venezuelan policy, like so many cial statistics on the pandemic. colleagues have wanted to stop our Na- others with this administration and Take the case of Ivan Virguez, a 65- tion from ultimately making progress, the Senate, is only there to serve year-old human rights attorney who we have had to shame them into sub- President Trump and no one else. had expressed concern on Facebook mission, and this is no different. I am I made my offer in the hope that we about ‘‘quarantine centers’’ that had not going to stop until the United could bring this matter to the floor. I been set up by the regime. In response, States truly stands in solidarity with am sorry it met an objection. I thank police officers handcuffed him to a the Venezuelan people. my colleagues for joining me on this metal tube in a prison yard, under the If you don’t want to give them TPS, effort. Sun for 2 hours, and left him without let them make their claims for polit- I yield the floor. access to a bathroom for over a day, ical asylum, but then you take them The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- causing him to become sick with blad- and turn them away before they can ator from New Jersey. der pain. Ivan remains under house ar- make cases for political asylum when Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask rest and without access to his criminal we know—God—that there is a good unanimous consent that there may be file and no due process. case for political asylum coming out of portions where I may say a few words (English translation of the statement Venezuela. in Spanish, and I will provide a trans- made in Spanish is as follows:) Then we have had colleagues in the lation for the clerk. As Senator DURBIN said, ‘‘just today, past, one being Senator SCOTT, of Flor- I ask unanimous consent to be able the United Nations released a report ida, who came and objected to our TPS to do that. finding that Maduro’s yearslong cam- proposal for Venezuelans. He suggested

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.036 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5636 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 that we have to change all of TPS be- Venezuelans in this country. At this pass it. So it is incredibly disturbing cause, in fact, it had become more than moment, I thank them for their contin- that our Republican colleagues would a temporary protected status. ued leadership on this issue and for get up and block a vote on that action Well, guess what. The Ninth Circuit making sure we have immigration poli- on the very day when the government Court actually made a decision which I cies that live up to what this country in question, the Government of Ven- disagree with, but we call attention to has always stood for. ezuela, has been found to have com- the action that comes on the heels of a As my colleagues have pointed out, mitted crimes against humanity. disappointing Ninth Circuit decision Venezuela is suffering a dire humani- The majority in this Senate says: issued on Monday that says that the tarian crisis under the dictatorship of Well, don’t worry about that. If you are Trump administration’s cruel efforts to Nicolas Maduro. Its economy has col- here in the United States, we are going strip protections of over 300,000 current lapsed, and its medical system is in to insist that you go back home. We TPS holders is permissible. So there free fall. They are governing through a are going to insist that you put your- goes the argument that, oh, well, TPS reign of terror. self and your family back this danger. is permanent. No. The President could Even before COVID–19 struck, Ven- That is what our Senate Republican have granted it, and he can end it when ezuelans were facing shortages of food, colleagues are saying by blocking the he feels the conditions in Venezuela no of water, of gasoline, and other life- vote on this House TPS measure. They longer should give the opportunity for saving items. The pandemic has taken are forcing innocent people to go home Venezuelans to continue to have tem- a very bad situation and made it much to what the President himself de- porary protected status. So that argu- worse—in fact, desperate. An estimated scribed as a nightmare. ment is out of the way. two-thirds of physicians in Venezuela As my colleagues have said and as we As for debating this in the Com- lack access to basic sanitary equip- know, this is part of an inhumane, mittee on the Judiciary, well, you have ment, like gloves, masks, soap, or gog- anti-immigration agenda from this ad- had over a year to debate it since we gles, and only 25 percent of the doctors ministration—from the Muslim ban, to started this. You are in the majority. have reliable running water in their ending DACA, to the termination of You control the committee, and you hospitals and clinics. TPS for many other populations. This control the subcommittee. You could On top of this desperate economic President has separated families and have had the debates. We don’t come to situation, you have the political tyr- instilled fear in our communities. the floor lightly to seek unanimous anny and terror that has been imposed Senator MENENDEZ referenced the consent. We do it after having waited a by the Maduro regime. In fact, as my Ninth Circuit Court’s decision from considerable time for the debates to colleagues pointed out just this morn- earlier this week, the decision of its have taken place—the debates you said ing, U.N. investigators found that Ven- upholding, on a 2-to-1 vote, the Presi- you wanted—but they haven’t come. ezuelan security forces and allied dent’s decision to rescind TPS protec- There are people living, working, and groups have committed systemic tions for over 400,000 individuals who raising families legally in the United human rights violations, including are here, working in our communities, States who have Venezuelan back- killings and torture, amounting to living here legally with their families. grounds. Yet the President is doing ev- crimes against humanity. Reasonable Many of them have been here for over erything he can to line them up for de- grounds exist to believe that President 20 years. As he said, 130,000 of them are portation. Of those at risk, 130,000 es- Maduro and his Interior and Defense on our frontlines as essential workers. sential workers are among them, who Ministers ordered or contributed to More than 10,000 of them are medical have sacrificed their health during this these crimes against humanity, which professionals who put themselves at pandemic to ensure that all Americans are documented in the U.N. report. The risk to help others throughout our have access to healthcare, food, and U.N. factfinding mission has said that communities and our country. These basic necessities. other national jurisdictions and the are individuals who are our neighbors The administration’s efforts are also International Criminal Court should and small business men and women, endangering over 273,000 U.S. citizen consider prosecutions. So you have a and they are contributing to our com- children who call a TPS holder ‘‘Mom’’ desperate situation. munities and to our country. The or ‘‘Dad.’’ That is right. In the midst of President Trump claims to support President has said he wants to deport a deadly pandemic, this administration the people of Venezuela who are facing them—400,000 people—despite this hour wants to deport the parents of hun- this tyranny and this desperation. In of peril both here and even more so in dreds of thousands of American chil- fact, as Senator DURBIN said, he has on the countries to which they would be dren or force these families to relocate numerous occasions said he was sympa- required to return. their children to unstable, wholly unfa- thetic and that he wanted to help. That is why we have to pass the SE- miliar countries. Here is what he said last year: ‘‘To CURE Act—to provide stability and se- This callous disregard for TPS hold- the Venezuelans trapped in this night- curity to those who are on TPS. That ers and the greater immigrant commu- mare, please know that all of America is why we have to pass the American nity has to stop. We shouldn’t wait for is behind you.’’ Dream and Promise Act that the House the Ninth Circuit’s decision to be ap- That is what President Trump said. passed last year. pealed. We have to create a permanent Yet he has refused to use his authority That is why we need to grant TPS to solution for TPS holders who have be- to take action to grant Venezuelans Venezuela, so, as my colleagues say, come integral to our communities and here in the United States that tem- this country can do what Presidents deserve a pathway. The Senate should porary protected status. He wants to from both political parties have done not only take up TPS but pass the send them back to what he describes as in the past and Members of the House American Dream and Promise Act, a nightmare—a nightmare that is get- and Senate from both political parties H.R. 6, which passed the House with bi- ting worse by the day as documented have done in the past, which is to live partisan support more than a year ago. by the U.N. report. He wants to send up to the idea that we are a place of What are we waiting for? them back to a place where the U.N. refuge for those who are facing polit- (English translation of the statement has just implicated the government in ical persecution at home. made in Spanish is as follows:) crimes against humanity. I don’t know how you can more clear- Venezuelans deserve TPS right now. Because the President refuses to do ly define ‘‘political persecution’’ on We cannot wait. what he says—refuses to actually take this day than a finding by the United I yield the floor. action to help—the House has passed Nations that the Government of Ven- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- legislation to grant Venezuelans TPS. ezuela is committing crimes against ator from Maryland. My colleagues Senator MENENDEZ and humanity, against the people of Ven- Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I Senator DURBIN have introduced that ezuela. Yet, that is the day that, once am pleased to join my colleagues Sen- legislation here in the Senate, and I am again, we saw our Republican col- ator MENENDEZ and Senator DURBIN in proud to cosponsor it. Yet, as we are leagues block this legislation that urging the U.S. Senate to do the right saying here today, the fastest thing to would allow our country to live up to thing and grant protected status to do is to just take up the House bill and our tradition of doing the right thing.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.037 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5637 As Senator MENENDEZ said, I look Schumer Stabenow Warner CLOTURE MOTION forward to joining him as we continue Shaheen Tester Whitehouse Sinema Udall Wyden The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant to press this issue. I guess the only Smith Van Hollen to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the good news is that it seems to be get- NOT VOTING—4 Senate the pending cloture motion, ting a little harder for the other side— which the clerk will state. our Republican colleagues—to find Capito Sanders Harris Warren The senior assistant legislative clerk somebody who wants to come here in read as follows: the light of day and object to it. I hope The nomination was confirmed. CLOTURE MOTION that in the coming days, that number VOTE ON MCGLYNN NOMINATION will be zero and we can actually pass The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- this important piece of legislation. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the the previous order, all postcloture time Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby I yield the floor. has expired. move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- The question is, Will the Senate ad- f nation of Iain D. Johnston, of Illinois, to be vise and consent to the McGlynn nomi- United States District Judge for the North- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR nation? ern District of Illinois. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, Mitch McConnell, Roger F. Wicker, John The PRESIDING OFFICER. The I ask for the yeas and nays. Boozman, John Cornyn, Todd Young, clerk will report the Dugan nomina- Joni Ernst, Roy Blunt, Shelley Moore tion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Capito, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Deb Fisch- The legislative clerk read the nomi- sufficient second? er, Mike Crapo, John Thune, Richard nation of David W. Dugan, of Illinois, There appears to be a sufficient sec- Burr, James E. Risch, John Barrasso, Tim Scott, Thom Tillis. to be United States District Judge for ond. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- the Southern District of Illinois. The clerk will call the roll. imous consent, the mandatory quorum The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is call has been waived. the previous order, all postcloture time necessarily absent: the Senator from has expired. West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO). The question is, Is it the sense of the The question is, Will the Senate ad- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senate that debate on the nomination vise and consent to the Dugan nomina- Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS), of Iain D. Johnston, of Illinois, to be tion? the Senator from Vermont (Mr. SAND- United States District Judge for the Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask ERS), and the Senator from Massachu- Northern District of Illinois, shall be for the yeas and nays. setts (Ms. WARREN) are necessarily ab- brought to a close? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sent. The yeas and nays are mandatory sufficient second? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there under the rule. There appears to be a sufficient sec- any other Senators in the Chamber de- The clerk will call the roll. ond. siring to vote? The senior assistant legislative clerk The clerk will call the roll. The result was announced—yeas 55, called the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll. nays 41, as follows: Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is [Rollcall Vote No. 180 Ex.] are necessarily absent: the Senator from North Carolina (Mr. BURR) and necessarily absent: the Senator from YEAS—55 West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO). the Senator from West Virginia (Mrs. Alexander Gardner Perdue CAPITO). Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Barrasso Graham Portman Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS), Blackburn Grassley Risch Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the the Senator from Vermont (Mr. SAND- Blunt Hawley Roberts Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) Boozman Hoeven ERS), and the Senator from Massachu- Romney and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Braun Hyde-Smith Rounds setts (Ms. WARREN) are necessarily ab- SANDERS) are necessarily absent. Burr Inhofe Rubio sent. Cassidy Johnson Sasse The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Collins Kennedy The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Scott (FL) CRAMER). Are there any other Senators Cornyn Lankford Scott (SC) BLACKBURN). Are there any other Sen- Cotton Lee in the Chamber desiring to vote or Shelby ators in the Chamber desiring to vote? Cramer Loeffler change their vote? Crapo Manchin Sullivan The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 81, The result was announced—yeas 55, Thune Cruz McConnell nays 15, as follows: nays 41, as follows: Daines McSally Tillis [Rollcall Vote No. 179 Ex.] Durbin Moran Toomey [Rollcall Vote No. 181 Ex.] Wicker YEAS—55 Enzi Murkowski YEAS—81 Ernst Murphy Young Alexander Gardner Perdue Fischer Paul Alexander Gardner Portman Barrasso Graham Portman Baldwin Graham Reed Blackburn Grassley Risch NAYS—41 Barrasso Grassley Risch Blunt Hawley Roberts Baldwin Hassan Rosen Bennet Hassan Roberts Blackburn Hawley Romney Boozman Hoeven Romney Bennet Heinrich Schatz Braun Hyde-Smith Blunt Heinrich Rosen Rounds Blumenthal Hirono Schumer Burr Inhofe Boozman Hoeven Rounds Rubio Booker Jones Shaheen Braun Hyde-Smith Rubio Cassidy Johnson Sasse Brown Kaine Collins Jones Sinema Cardin Inhofe Sasse Scott (FL) Cantwell King Cornyn Kennedy Smith Carper Johnson Schatz Scott (SC) Cardin Klobuchar Cotton Lankford Stabenow Casey Jones Scott (FL) Shelby Carper Leahy Tester Cramer Lee Casey Markey Cassidy Kaine Scott (SC) Sullivan Udall Crapo Loeffler Coons Menendez Collins Kennedy Shaheen Thune Van Hollen Cruz Manchin Cortez Masto Merkley Coons King Shelby Tillis Warner Daines McConnell Duckworth Murray Cornyn Lankford Sinema Toomey Durbin McSally Feinstein Peters Whitehouse Cortez Masto Leahy Smith Wicker Enzi Moran Gillibrand Reed Wyden Cotton Lee Stabenow Ernst Murkowski Young Cramer Loeffler Sullivan Fischer Paul NOT VOTING—4 Crapo Manchin Tester Cruz McConnell Thune NAYS—41 Capito Sanders Daines McSally Tillis Harris Warren Baldwin Cortez Masto Leahy Duckworth Moran Toomey Bennet Duckworth Markey The nomination was confirmed. Durbin Murkowski Udall Blumenthal Feinstein Menendez Enzi Murphy Warner Booker Gillibrand Merkley The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Ernst Paul Whitehouse Brown Hassan Murphy the previous order, the motions to re- Feinstein Perdue Wicker Cantwell Heinrich Murray consider are considered made and laid Fischer Peters Young Cardin Hirono Peters upon the table, and the President will Carper Kaine Reed NAYS—15 Casey King Rosen be immediately notified of the Senate’s Blumenthal Brown Gillibrand Coons Klobuchar Schatz actions. Booker Cantwell Hirono

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.039 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5638 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 Klobuchar Merkley Van Hollen tients get reliable care. Listening to eligibility in the 340B program, I signed Markey Murray Warren Menendez Schumer Wyden the needs of hospitals is incredibly im- on to support Senator THUNE’s bill to portant in many efforts to assist these provide certainty to current partici- NOT VOTING—4 vital facilities, protect the jobs they pants. As hospitals paused elective pro- Burr Harris create, and empower their ability to cedures and as admissions decreased Capito Sanders serve communities and patients all for Medicare and Medicaid patients, ad- The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this across Arkansas. Insight from the ministrators’ concerns that their hos- vote, the yeas are 81, the nays are 15. healthcare community is a valuable re- pitals would no longer be eligible for The motion is agreed to. source that helps shape the policies the 340B program increased. These are f that directly impact their mission. among the key metrics used to deter- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR Along with continuing to provide mine acceptance into the program. The critical resources like PPE, here are The PRESIDING OFFICER. The 340B drug discount program has pro- three things Arkansas healthcare pro- vided flexibility to Arkansas hospitals clerk will report the nomination. fessionals recommend we can do to im- The senior assistant legislative clerk to help lower drug prices. Extending prove services. First of all, we can ex- read the nomination of Iain D. John- eligibility so they can care for low-in- pand broadband so more patients can ston, of Illinois, to be United States come patients is critical. take advantage of telehealth; make ex- District Judge for the Northern Dis- These are three measures we can panded telehealth services to Medicare trict of Illinois. take to help patients continue to get The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- permanent; and, finally, provide cer- quality, reliable care. We must remem- ator from Arkansas. tainty for the 340B drug discount pro- ber that, like our valued healthcare gram. HEALTHCARE HEROES workers, we play an important role in Telehealth has become vital to pro- fighting the virus. By following the Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, viding effective care for patients dur- healthcare workers have long been re- guidance and recommendations laid ing this public health emergency. Ac- out by our public health officials, we garded as some of our Nation’s most cess to medical providers without leav- critical and courageous servants. Dur- can help our medical heroes and make ing home offers convenience and safety a positive impact to prevent the spread ing this time of challenges and uncer- against potential exposure to COVID– tainty, this has never been more accu- of COVID–19. 19. Having the option for virtual doc- I yield the floor. rate. tors’ visits can be a challenge, particu- Each day, our healthcare profes- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The larly for rural areas, where broadband sionals make tireless sacrifices to pro- Democratic whip. connectivity is limited. DACA tect and serve our country, even when This emergency has amplified the it means risking their own lives to Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, it has need for this connection, but, too been exactly 90 days since the Supreme take care of others. People like Jen- often, providers in rural communities nifer Campbell, a registered nurse from Court rejected President Trump’s ef- are unable to meet the increased de- fort to end deportation protection for White River Health System, are a great mand for telehealth services. So my example. She is recognized as the in- Dreamers. Dreamers, of course, are colleagues and I have introduced legis- young immigrants who came to the house expert for all COVID–19 testing. lation to help healthcare providers ex- She has taken ownership of the com- United States as children, toddlers, or pand telehealth benefits and improve infants and who grew up in this coun- munity drive-up testing and worked access to broadband. try believing they were part of Amer- with the Arkansas Department of The Healthcare Broadband Expansion ica, only to learn when they were old Health to organize community testing. During COVID–19 Act would bolster In Malvern, Vickie Robbins, a reg- funding for providers in rural areas to enough to be told, as teenagers, that istered nurse at Baptist Health-Hot increase connectivity. This bill would they were undocumented through no Spring County, has volunteered to help more patients get the care they fault of their own. In an opinion by Chief Justice John work extra hours, offered to operate need. drive-through screening, and volun- We have a unique opportunity to see Roberts, the Supreme Court held that teered to treat COVID–19 patients. how the modifications and updates we the President’s attempt to rescind the Also, Lora Turknett, a registered nurse made to health programs during this Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, at Baptist Health-Conway, has been de- health emergency can be beneficial in known as DACA, was ‘‘arbitrary and pendable and flexible with the hours the long term. capricious.’’ she works to support the needs of dif- The CARES Act provided the Depart- It was 10 years ago that I joined with ferent shifts. She provides compas- ment of Health and Human Services then-Republican Senator Dick Lugar, sionate care with a positive attitude. with the authority to waive telehealth of Indiana, on a bipartisan basis, to During visits to medical facilities requirements for Medicare during this call on President Obama to use his across Arkansas during the in-State emergency. Providers and patients legal authority to protect Dreamers work period, I was honored to person- have adapted expanded telehealth op- from deportation. President Obama ally thank frontline workers like them portunities. We can continue to heard our call. He responded by cre- and so many others for the critical strengthen this access by making these ating the DACA Program. DACA pro- care they are providing. The work of services permanent. vides temporary protection to Dream- these frontline workers and their col- Earlier this summer, I joined a bipar- ers from deportation on a 2-year basis, leagues has become much more dif- tisan group of Senators to urge our Na- which is renewable if they register ficult. We are grateful for all they do tion’s top health agencies to make the with the government, pay a fee, and and represent. permanent changes to telehealth re- pass criminal and national security Congress overwhelmingly supported quirements for Medicare that Congress background checks. More than 800,000 the men and women of the medical authorized in the CARES Act. Dreamers came forward to sign up for community who are treating COVID–19 Last month, President Trump issued DACA. patients and are working to find a cure an Executive order to improve DACA unleashed their full potential, to address the public health crisis with healthcare in rural America by expand- and they could see there might be a fu- the passage of the CARES Act. This ing telehealth resources and services. ture. They began to contribute to our critical relief was a necessary lifeline The President’s action included a pro- country as soldiers, teachers, and small for hospitals to continue providing posal to parts of Medicare’s telehealth business owners. More than 200,000 services to meet the demands of the coverage. This is a step in the right di- DACA recipients are essential critical communities and helping our doctors, rection. I look forward to working with infrastructure workers. That is not my nurses, and other medical professionals the administration to implement a rule choice of words. It is the definition of stay safe while providing care and that will enhance the delivery of President Trump’s Department of treatment for patients. healthcare to Medicare patients. Homeland Security. More than 200,000 There is more that we can do to sup- When Arkansas hospital administra- DACA recipients are essential critical port healthcare and ensure that pa- tors shared their concerns over future infrastructure workers. Among these

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.011 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5639 essential workers, 41,700 DACA recipi- order of the highest Court in the land. you the story of these two people. I ents are in healthcare. They are doc- Republicans and Democrats in Con- will start with Esmeralda Tovar-Mora. tors, intensive care nurses, paramedics, gress should come together to compel In this photo, she is with her husband, and respiratory therapists. this President to follow the law and whom I will talk about more in just a Despite this incredible story of these immediately comply with the Supreme moment. innocent children coming to the United Court’s mandate. Esmerelda is the 126th Dreamer’s States while not having legal status in On June 4 of last year, the House of story I have told in the Senate, and it this country but having fear of depor- Representatives passed H.R. 6, the is a good one. She came to the United tation and still being determined to be American Dream and Promise Act. States from Mexico at the age of 2, so part of America’s future, as well as the This legislation would give Dreamers a she obviously had no voice in that deci- fact that they would serve our country path to citizenship—my goal for years. sion. She grew up in Hutchinson, KS. as essential workers and healthcare It passed on a strong bipartisan vote. It She sent me a letter, and here is workers, on September 5, 2017, Presi- has been pending in the Senate, sitting what she said about growing up: dent Trump repealed DACA. Hundreds on the desk of Republican leader MITCH Growing up in the United States has been of thousands of Dreamers faced losing MCCONNELL, for more than 12 months. the only thing that I’ve known. Pledging al- their work permits and being deported After the Supreme Court decision, I legiance to the American flag and singing to countries they may not even remem- sent a letter, signed by all 47 Demo- the national anthem on a daily basis made ber. crats, calling on Senator MCCONNELL me believe that I was truly American. The Federal court stepped in and or- to immediately give us a vote on the She was a good student—no, she was dered the Trump administration to Dream and Promise Act. It has been 3 excellent. In high school, she was a continue DACA for Dreamers who had months. Still no reply. member of the National Honor Society already received this protection. How- The Dream and Promise Act would and president of the Key Club. She ever, Dreamers who had not already re- also provide a path to citizenship for sang in her church choir and played on ceived DACA were blocked from apply- 400,000 immigrants who have been liv- the tennis team. She graduated magna ing from this protection for nearly 3 ing in the United States on temporary cum laude. years while the case languished in protected status. More than 90 percent Esmerelda’s experiences in the Key court. The Center for American of them are originally from El Sal- Club visiting nursing homes convinced Progress estimates that approximately vador, Honduras, and Haiti. Most of her she wanted a career in healthcare. 300,000 Dreamers had been unable to them have lived in the United States Thanks to DACA—thanks to DACA— apply for the program because the case for over 20 years. Esmerelda was able to work as a wait- was in court. As with DACA, TPS recipients must ress to support herself through college. On June 19, the day after the Su- register with the government, pay a She is now a case manager at a mental preme Court rejected President fee, and clear criminal and national se- health center and a medication aide in Trump’s repeal of DACA, I led a letter curity background checks. Like DACA an Alzheimer’s ward in Hutchinson, from 43 Democratic Senators to the recipients, TPS recipients are making KS. President. We called on the President important contributions to America. She is married to Michael Mora, seen to follow the law, to immediately com- More than 130,000 TPS holders are es- in this picture. Specialist Mora serves ply with the Supreme Court’s decision sential critical infrastructure workers, in the Kansas National Guard and re- and reopen DACA for those who were and 11,600 are healthcare workers. cently returned from a 9-month tour in eligible to apply. It has been 3 months My friend, the Senator from Arkan- the Middle East—National Guardsman, now. We haven’t received any response sas, just came to the floor and lauded 9 months in the Middle East—serving a from President Trump, and the Trump our healthcare heroes across America country that will not recognize his wife administration refuses to reopen in the midst of this pandemic. I have as a citizen. DACA. given that same speech. I think we all Let me introduce you to someone In July, a Federal judge issued an have, and we mean it. Yet did you ever else. This is special. This beautiful lit- order for the Trump administration to stop and think how many of those tle girl is Esmerelda and Michael’s begin receiving new applications for healthcare workers are the DACA re- daughter Rose. She just turned 4. DACA. Instead, Acting—and let me un- cipients, Dreamers, TPS holders—the Esmerelda is on the frontlines of the derline ‘‘Acting’’—Department of so-called immigrants—whom we want coronavirus pandemic, and here is what Homeland Security Secretary Chad to reject and remove from this coun- she said: Wolf has issued a memo saying that try? We praise them on one hand, and We’ve been on lockdown since March 30. the DHS will ‘‘reject all initial re- we tell them to get the heck out of the Since family members can’t visit, my pa- quests for DACA.’’ United States on the other. How can tients are scared and lonely. Many have Let’s be clear. The Supreme Court of that be consistent? started asking me to call them Grandma or the United States rejected President Two years ago, I negotiated bipar- Grandpa, a little crumb of comfort at a time Trump’s repeal of DACA. That means tisan legislation with a path to citizen- when the world around them is going crazy. I’m happy to be their adopted grand- DACA returns to its original status, ship for DACA and TPS recipients. daughter. It eases the pain of scrubbing my and the Trump administration, under President Trump profanely dismissed hands until they’re raw and the anxiety that Court order, must reopen the program, our bill in an Oval Office meeting that I could infect my beautiful family. It also and it must do it now. Instead, Mr. has now become infamous. Instead, the makes me happy to know that I am appre- Wolf is saying the DHS will turn away President is trying to rescind TPS pro- ciated here in Hutchinson, because right now 300,000 applicants who are Dreamers tections and deport hundreds of thou- I’ve got an added stress: The U.S. govern- who are eligible for DACA but who sands of immigrants from our country. ment wants to deport me. have not had a chance to apply. A Federal judge concluded that the I want to thank Esmerelda for her It is important to note that the non- President broke the law and blocked service. She is truly a health hero—an partisan Government Accountability his effort to end TPS. Earlier this immigrant health hero. She is a DACA Office has concluded that Acting Sec- week, in a divided decision, two Repub- health hero. She is putting herself and retary Wolf is illegally serving. This lican-appointed judges ruled the other her family at risk every day to protect calls into serious question any legal way and lifted the injunctions. This de- others—Americans—loving members of authority he claims in issuing a memo cision makes it even more important families, and it may be their last day to refuse to reopen DACA. that the Senate immediately consider on Earth. She should not also have to This administration, which is telling the Dream and Promise Act. worry about whether she is going to be America it is dedicated to law and Over the years since I introduced the deported and her family torn apart. order, is in open defiance of the Su- DREAM Act, I decided the only way to Isn’t it enough that her husband is preme Court. The stakes are high both tell the story of this bill was to tell the serving our country to prove how much for the rule of law and, just as impor- story of the Dreamers. I have come to this family loves America? tantly, for the lives of Dreamers. To ig- the floor 125 times to tell the stories. Would we be stronger as a country if nore this is to ignore a legitimate Today will be the 126th. I want to tell we tell Esmerelda Tovar-Mora to leave

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.048 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5640 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 or if she becomes an American citizen enforcement are facing an onslaught of act—all of us—and praying for the and continues to work on the violence, harassment, and abuse. They speedy and full recovery of the depu- frontlines of the COVID–19 pandemic? I deserve better. These selfless individ- ties. We should all be denouncing the don’t think the answer is even hard. I uals are true heroes who put their lives cruel, heartless, and frankly pathetic think it is clear. on the line every day to protect our disregard for human life that was Esmerelda and hundreds of thousands communities. clearly evident from these protesters. of other Dreamers and TPS holders are Right now, as Hurricane Sally moves This anti-police mentality is raging counting on those of us in the Senate across Florida’s panhandle and Ala- in American cities and threatening the to solve this crisis that President bama, causing massive flooding and future of America as we know it. Our Trump created. storm surge, law enforcement officials law enforcement officers dedicate their I am sorry that Senate Republicans are working tirelessly to keep people lives to protecting our communities, are ignoring President Trump’s defi- safe. They are going out in these ex- and we can’t let these acts of violence ance of the Supreme Court and refusing tremely dangerous conditions to rescue continue. to bring the Dream and Promise Act to those in need. We can all agree that reforms need to the floor. We can never truly repay them for be made. That is why it is so unbeliev- As long as I am a U.S. Senator, I will their service and their sacrifice. able that my Democratic colleagues be coming to this floor to fight for Throughout my 8 years as Governor, refuse to even debate the police reform Esmerelda Tovar-Mora and all immi- we lost 51 members of law enforcement bill led by Senator SCOTT of South grants. It would be an American trag- in the line of duty, and you wouldn’t Carolina. Instead of actually doing edy to deport this brave and talented believe the bravery of these individuals something and having a chance at pro- healthcare worker in the midst of this and the strength of the families and viding healing to our Nation, Senate pandemic. We must ensure that communities who support them. Democrats turned their backs on our Esmerelda and hundreds of others of As Governor and now Senator, sup- law enforcement. our essential workforce are not forced porting and investing in our law en- But we can’t let the radical left use to stop working when we need them forcement has always been a top pri- the crimes of a few bad actors to de- more than ever, and we must give them ority. Because of our efforts, Florida monize good, hard-working police offi- a chance—just a chance—to earn their has a 49-year low in our crime rate. cers—officers like Sergeant Adrian way to citizenship. Americans are moving to Florida in Rodriguez and Sergeant James Henry Mr. President, it has been my honor droves, not just for low taxes and great of the Lakeland Police Department. to represent Esmerelda and the hun- weather but because we have safe com- They began the department’s Neighbor- dreds of thousands of Dreamers over munities, and that is thanks to our hood Program over 6 years ago and the years. They have never dis- hard-working law enforcement. That is lead two outstanding teams of officers appointed me—never. Many times we brought to the floor why it is so disturbing to see the har- who do everything from reading at the of the Senate the Dream Act, bills con- assment, the insults, and the abuse local kindergarten classes to assisting taining the Dream Act. We have man- from the liberal mob. a SWAT team with the service of high- aged to pass them a few times but I remember what it was like for risk drug warrants. No matter the as- never at the same time as the House, American soldiers coming back from signment, their teams work nonstop to so they have never become law. So for Vietnam. Whether you agreed or dis- build community pride in the citizens’ decades—literally for decades—these agreed with that war, the abuse and in- police department. young people have waited for their sults directed at our military men and Officer Jimmie Bizzle of the Tampa chance. They have done everything women were disgusting and disgraceful. International Airport Police Depart- they can possibly do to prove they love We are seeing the same thing today di- ment is dedicated to bettering his com- this country. What will it take to con- rected at our men and women in blue. munity and supporting individuals who vince my colleagues? What will it take It is just as disgraceful. experience homelessness. He trains his to convince them that losing this beau- The radical left wants to defund the colleagues on how to connect homeless tiful young woman, with this pretty police—the most dangerous policy idea individuals with the resources and little girl, Rose, and telling this man, of my lifetime. Think about that for a services they need. Corporal Margo Fergusson of the who served our country in the Kansas minute. If you defund the police, who Tampa Police Department spent years National Guard in a 9-month tour of do you call when your house gets bro- of her career defending and protecting duty in the Middle East—what will it ken into? Who is going to patrol the children by investigating crimes in the take to convince my Senate colleagues streets to prevent drug trafficking and department’s Sex Crimes and Child that these are worthy people to become violence? Who is going to investigate Abuse Unit, working tirelessly to hold American citizens? murders and rapes and assaults and Some of us just lucked out; we were robberies? Who is going to protect our offenders accountable. During the pan- born here. There was never a moment schools? We only have to turn on our demic, she has been working with her where we made a decision; we were TVs for the answer. fellow officers and local schools to dis- Americans from the start. But for oth- Over the past several months, rioters bursing food to families who might ers, they have had to prove their way and thugs, filled with hate inspired by need a helping hand. into this country. Hasn’t this wonder- this goal of defunding the police, have Detective Michelle Mahoney of the ful young woman proved her way into turned their words into violent action Clearwater Police Department is part America? Hasn’t she told us why she in cities across this great country— of the department’s Refuse to Lose should be given the right to become—a throwing homemade bombs at officers Program, which engages the faith- great honor—a citizen of the United and setting fire to police stations. based community with youth offenders States of America? We have watched Democratic mayors to help them succeed and stay on a I yield the floor. and Governors turn their backs on law- good path, offering services like tutor- I suggest the absence of a quorum. and-order and try to pretend that these ing, employment, and mental health The PRESIDING OFFICER. The violent demonstrations are somehow help. She is known for her empathy, clerk will call the roll. peaceful, and their partners in the understanding, and compassion for her The legislative clerk proceeded to media have helped. community. call the roll. This past weekend, we saw another Instead of attacking and defunding Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, horrific act of senseless violence as two the police and starving these hard- I ask unanimous consent that the order sheriff’s deputies in Los Angeles were working men and women of the re- for the quorum call be rescinded. ambushed by a deranged gunman. In sources they need to do their job, we The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without the evening, rioters surrounded the need to do the opposite. We need to objection, it is so ordered. hospital where the deputies were fight- fund the police. We need to recognize UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. RES. 697 ing for their lives and chanted ‘‘We and support the individuals who have Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, hope they die.’’ We hope they die? We worked so hard to make our Nation the the brave men and women of our law should all be denouncing this heinous safe America we know and love. We

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.049 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5641 need to reject dangerous proposals that The way that members of our law en- I am honored to stand here today to threaten our communities and strip forcement are being treated right now support our brave law enforcement and the safety we hold dear. It is time to around this country is atrocious. It is say enough is enough. We are not going stand up and say ‘‘enough.’’ disturbing. Just this past weekend, two to tolerate violence, attacks, and vili- Defunding the police is un-American members of L.A.’s law enforcement, a fication of our law enforcement. I am and the antithesis of the values that man and a woman, were ambushed proud to introduce the Back the Blue make America great. Police officers while sitting in their car—shot point- resolution today. I am asking all of my across the country risk their lives blank. Many of you have seen the hor- colleagues to join me in support. every day to keep people safe, and they rifying videos. As in legislative session, I ask unani- deserve our appreciation. They uphold If that weren’t sickening enough, mous consent that the Senate proceed their oath to serve and protect. there were violent protesters storming to the consideration of S. Res. 697, sub- Today, I am introducing a Senate the hospital that they were being mitted earlier today. Further, I ask resolution to condemn the widespread treated at and chanting ‘‘Let them unanimous consent that the resolution violence, the hatred and vilification of die.’’ There are no words to describe be agreed to; that the preamble be law enforcement, and express our un- the outrage of what is happening here. agreed to; and that the motions to re- wavering support for the brave men This anti-police rhetoric is beyond dan- consider be considered made and laid and women in uniform who protect us. gerous, and those who support it should upon the table with no intervening ac- I am proud to have Senator DAINES be ashamed of themselves. They should tion or debate. here today and thank him for his un- be publicly condemned by every Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there wavering commitment to law enforce- ator, every Representative, and every objection? ment and for joining us today. We ask Governor across this great country. The Senator from New Mexico. that all of our colleagues join us in In fact, just this year, 37 officers Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, thank support. have been killed. By the way, that is you very much for the recognition. Re- To the sheriffs, police chiefs, sheriff’s more than a 20-percent increase over serving the right to object, as a former deputies, police officers, highway pa- the same time last year. Being a police New Mexico attorney general and as- trol, State troopers, Federal marshals, officer in this country is more dan- sistant U.S. attorney, I have worked and many other law enforcement offi- gerous than ever before. I am having closely with law enforcement for many cials who serve in Florida and across private conversations with members of years. I have worked hard to prosecute the country, thank you. It is time that law enforcement, our peace officers, violent crimes in my career, including you get the respect you deserve, and I men and women who will quietly tell crimes where law enforcement officers won’t accept anything less. you that it is difficult to continue to were the victims. I have been privi- Mr. President, at this time I would serve in this environment where they leged to work with law enforcement in like to yield to my colleague from are not getting the support of their New Mexico, and we are all thankful Montana. elected officials. I will tell you they for the tremendous work of the Capitol Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I want are getting the support of their com- Police here in our Nation’s Capital. to thank the Senator from Florida for munities in many cases, though. But The Senate is united in our respect yielding his time. He is not only the where is the outrage being expressed by for law enforcement. Just 5 months Senator from Florida; he is also a those who are elected to serve, and how ago, in May, the Senate passed a num- former Governor. are these heroes repaid? ber of bills and a bipartisan resolution Mr. President, I am here today to Cities and towns across our country, during National Police Week in support talk about the brave men and women including Montana’s very own city, of those who serve our communities in of law enforcement in Montana and Missoula, are talking about reducing the face of risk. across this Nation. These men and their budgets and proposing abolish- We all agree that deadly violence tar- women, many who are my friends, are ment in some areas—abolishment of geting law enforcement is appalling, the best of the best. Montana heroes police departments. That talk is crazy. and we all have expressed gratitude for literally put their lives on the line We have some of this crazy talk in the brave men and women who serve in every day to protect our families—our Montana, where some of our commu- law enforcement. The recent shooting moms, our dads, our kids. They don’t nities were looking to take school re- of two law sheriff’s deputies in Cali- do it for the pay or the accolades; they source officers out of our schools. They fornia was heinous. Our prayers go out do it to serve their communities, to were looking to slash budgets. Thank- to the officers and their families, and keep us safe. fully—thankfully—the community rose the perpetrator must be brought to jus- The men and women wearing that up, and they pushed back and, in most tice. badge accept that every time they cases, stopped it. That is happening Like many of us here on both sides of leave home to go to their shift and give right in Montana in some commu- the aisle, I am also dedicated to em- their loved ones a kiss goodbye, they nities. bracing a moment before our Nation may never come back home. That is The Senators standing before you where we confront the very real issues courage. today will not accept it. We should not of systemic racial injustice. We have My home county sheriff—Gallatin be defunding the police. We should be policy disagreements on how to do County, MT—Sheriff Brian Gootkin— defending them. that, but I hope that we can all agree just a little over 1 week ago, we had a To my Democratic colleagues who the Senate should be a place for com- huge, massive wildfire that struck the support defunding these American he- ing together and making progress to Bridgers just north and east of Boze- roes and these Montana heroes, you respond to this moment in our country, man. It has been my hometown for 56 should be ashamed. I will always back not fanning the flames of division and years. There were huge plumes of the blue. anger. smoke, a great big fire—11,000 acres. I yield back to my colleague Senator The initial draft of this resolution They rushed into the fire and evacu- SCOTT. has some vague but divisive language ated the residents there. Twenty-eight The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- that I do not think belongs in a Senate homes were destroyed, and not a single ator from Florida. resolution, and a number of other person lost their life. I can tell you Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Members agree. Our side is asking for why—because of the actions of the Gal- first, I want to thank my colleague some reasonable changes in good faith. latin sheriff’s department, firefighters, from Montana for his unwavering sup- To reflect the public safety and trust and other agencies. port for law enforcement. It is hard to between law enforcement and commu- This courage is something we should believe that in a State like Montana, nities is fundamental to the security celebrate every day. This is something which is so supportive of law enforce- and prosperity of our Nation. I hope we should defend every day, including ment, there would be any city that that the Senator from Florida and his right here on the floor of the U.S. Sen- would be thinking about reducing their colleagues are willing to accept those ate. But, sadly, some people have other police budget. It shouldn’t be hap- changes, which I will offer in response ideas. pening around the country. to his request. Then the Senate can

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:18 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.050 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5642 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 speak with a united voice and set a brating acts of violence against law en- We are lucky to have VU in Jasper, good example for our Nation at a time forcement. I stand firmly behind my and I am happy to be here on the floor like this. resolution and behind our Nation’s law of the U.S. Senate to celebrate with As if in legislative session, I ask enforcement. them on their golden anniversary. unanimous consent that the Senate If my colleague would be willing to I yield the floor. proceed to the immediate consider- work with me, we may be able to find The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ation of my resolution at the desk; fur- common ground to ensure any resolu- ator from Wyoming. ther, that the resolution be agreed to; tion includes language that firmly de- CORONAVIRUS that the preamble be agreed to; and nounces the violence and the causes of Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I that the motions to reconsider be made that violence in our communities, but come to the floor today to discuss this and laid upon the table with no inter- my colleague’s resolution does not go unprecedented obstruction that Amer- vening action or debate. far enough, so I therefore respectfully ican families are facing from the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there object. Democrats. In a time when Congress objection? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- really should be working toward bipar- The Senator from Florida. tion is heard. tisan solutions on coronavirus, Demo- Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Is there objection to the original re- crats keep obstructing—over and over reserving the right to object, I appre- quest? and over again. ciate my colleague’s interest in ex- Mr. UDALL. Yes, there is. I object. It does seem to be their singular pressing support for the brave men and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- focus. It seems to me that they are women of law enforcement. That is ex- tion is heard. going to continue to obstruct all the actly what my resolution does. Why, Mr. UDALL. I suggest the absence of way until November 3, election day, then, would my colleague object to my a quorum. putting politics first and American The PRESIDING OFFICER. The resolution and propose his own to ac- families last. clerk will call the roll. complish the same thing? The obstruction has reached levels The bill clerk proceeded to call the At first, his resolution appears to re- that has even made Members of their roll. semble my own. I note, however, that Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I ask own caucus ‘‘uncomfortable,’’ my resolution condemns not only the unanimous consent that the order for ‘‘alarmed,’’ and ‘‘frustrated.’’ Now, cowardly attacks of this past week on the quorum call be rescinded. those are not my words; they are the the Los Angeles County sheriff’s depu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without words of Democrats sitting in Con- ties but also condemns the rhetoric and objection, it is so ordered. gress, in the United States, in this very policies that have incited this recent The Senator from Indiana. building. Democrats are telling their spike in targeted violence against law 50-YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE VINCENNES leaders that the leaders are failing enforcement. My colleague’s resolution UNIVERSITY JASPER CAMPUS them by failing to compromise and makes no such condemnation. Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, I rise this work together toward solutions that My resolution calls out the radical evening to recognize the 50-year anni- would benefit the American people. politicians, reckless media figures, and versary of Vincennes University Jasper So the bad news for American fami- organized protest movements that have Campus. lies is that, last week, Democrats in sought to vilify law enforcement offi- Vincennes University was founded in this body, in the U.S. Senate, blocked, cers as a whole and incite, encourage, 1801 as part of the Northwest Territory obstructed a targeted coronavirus aid or celebrate widespread criminal activ- back then that would later become the package with policies, amazingly, that ity and violence against law enforce- State of Indiana. For over 200 years, the Democrats had at one time sup- ment officers. My colleague’s resolu- Vincennes University has been a pre- ported. But they came here to the floor tion is silent about this. mier institution of higher learning for of the Senate and voted, in lockstep, My resolution calls out the radical those seeking knowledge in manufac- no—no to children, no to jobs, no to politicians for pursuing a dangerous turing, logistics, aviation, and other paychecks, no to fighting the disease. campaign to defund the police and important fields of study. They actually blocked relief that starving law enforcement agencies of In 1970, when I was a mere junior in would, one, have gotten kids back to much needed resources to combat the high school, this university expanded school so kids wouldn’t fall further be- crime wave sweeping through our com- and established a new campus in my hind from the school they have already munities. My colleague’s resolution hometown. missed, and it would have let parents makes no such condemnation. With open enrollment and concen- get back to work. They voted no. They We have to be honest about what is trating on jobs with fields where there blocked people getting back to work happening here and across our great were employee shortages, Vincennes safely. They blocked paycheck protec- country. We have rioters chanting ‘‘Let University Jasper Campus is providing tion money so that paychecks could them die’’ outside a hospital caring for opportunities for all Hoosiers to add continue to go and businesses—small two police officers who were violently new skills to their resume that will ul- businesses—could remain open. attacked. ‘‘Let them die’’? timately lead to good-paying jobs, They blocked money for vaccines and Americans have the right to peace- mostly right there in Indiana. treatment, for testing, so we could put fully protest, and I support that right. Notably, with their partnership with the disease in the rearview mirror. But that is not what we are talking Purdue University, this campus pro- Now, the good news is that the ma- about here. We are talking about acts vides low-income students or those in jority of the Senate did support the of violence against law enforcement, need of remedial coursework with a legislation to help children and their families, and businesses. My col- stepping stone to one of the Nation’s parents and workers and the small league’s proposal takes out all ref- top engineering schools. businesses and the medical personnel erences to this bad behavior. I have to admit, VU Jasper Campus fighting against the disease. But all Expressing support for law enforce- holds a special place in my heart. At those votes came from the Republican ment without condemning the people the company I founded in the early side of the aisle. Republicans are and groups who are perpetrating, insti- eighties, we use this as an excellent united. The Republican bill received 52 gating, and celebrating the violent acts source of recruiting people into our ‘‘yes’’ votes. All 52 were Republican. committed against law enforcement of- own company who generally come Not one single Democrat voted yes, ficers is not enough. We can’t be afraid there fully skilled, ready to go, and even though the majority of that body to condemn violence against law en- generally end up sticking with the job, had backed the relief efforts. forcement and the defund police move- which is great. When you talked to them, they said, ment. I have no such fear. As a Jasper native, I have seen first- oh, yes, they are for this and this and Those radical politicians, reckless hand what an asset this campus has this, but they voted on the U.S. Senate media figures, and organized protest been to our community and the eco- floor to block it. It is interesting. They movements deserve to be condemned nomic benefit it has added to Dubois even blocked allowing the Senate to for inciting, committing, and cele- and surrounding counties. discuss these issues. All we did was

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:55 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.053 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5643 come to the floor and say: We have ing, keeping people on the payroll, over in the House, working with the some proposals. Let’s discuss them. If looking forward to the days that they White House, to pass five coronavirus you don’t like them, offer amendments. could return to business as usual. bills—five. Legislation addressed both We can discuss those, debate those. What was the NPR, National Public the healthcare crisis and the economic They even blocked a motion to move Radio, point on this on April 9? It was free-fall that were caused by the virus to get that bill to the floor of the Sen- this: ‘‘Senate Democrats Block GOP and also by the government-imposed ate—step 1 of legislating. They said no. Efforts to Boost Small Business Aid’’— shutdowns. The biggest of these bills So they may say they want to help the Senate Democrats blocking aid for was the one you hear most about; that American people, but that is not what small businesses all across the country. is, the roughly $2 trillion in the CARES happened on the floor of the U.S. Sen- Then, in August, as unemployment Act that was passed by a vote in this ate. insurance was set to expire, Repub- Chamber of 96 to 0—totally bipartisan. The New York Times had a headline licans asked for consent on this floor Unfortunately, since May, when the that said: ‘‘Hopes Dim for More Stim- to extend the program. Democrats last of these bipartisan bills was en- ulus as Democrats Block Narrow GOP came to this very floor and, once again, acted, partisanship has prevailed over Plan.’’ Well, they are right; it is a nar- objected. policy, and Washington has been para- row plan because it is targeted. It is So, today, with an opportunity to fin- lyzed, unable to repeat the coming to- targeted to kids and schools, to work- ish the fight against coronavirus, the gether for the public good. ers, jobs, and the disease. Democrats have a full roadblock in Democrats in this Chamber have con- It doesn’t include all of the extra- place against any further relief. The sistently insisted that the only way neous things that NANCY PELOSI and cold, hard truth that we face is that forward is a bill called the Heroes Act. the House put in: money for environ- they have delayed aid, and they have This is a $3.5 trillion piece of legisla- mental justice; money for the National divided this country all year long. tion that passed the House of Rep- Endowment; money for this, that, and I would go so far as to say this has resentatives 4 months ago along par- the next thing; money for—you name hurt the country; it has hurt families; tisan lines. it—direct paychecks to illegal immi- it has hurt our students; it has hurt By the way, $3.5 trillion would be the grants. That is just the tip of the ice- our schools; it has hurt our healthcare most expensive legislation ever to be berg when you take a look at their en- providers; and it has certainly hurt enacted. tire list. To me, it was NANCY PELOSI people trying to recover from the dis- When this bill passed the House 4 living on ‘‘Fantasy Island.’’ ease. months ago, POLITICO and others in POLITICO said of the vote: ‘‘Senate Remember that the year started with the media accurately called it a mes- Democrats block Republican COVID re- the Democrats’ completely partisan saging bill that had no chance of be- lief proposal’’—Senate Democrats impeachment farce. We sat here, day coming law. block—once again, blocking the things after day, listening as the Democrats It is disappointing that Democrats that the American families all across brought forth charge after charge have continued to push this ‘‘my way this country are asking when they look against the President. That is how we or the highway’’ approach because this to Congress for help and relief. started the year, and now we are end- bill is a nonstarter for a lot of reasons, USA TODAY had the headline: ‘‘Sen- ing with their blocking of coronavirus including the price tag and the fact ate Democrats block $300 billion relief. that it includes non-COVID-related coronavirus stimulus package, leaving Let me assure the country, Repub- provisions. To name one example, it re- little hope for relief before Novem- licans will not let you down. Repub- peals the State and local tax deduction ber’’—$300 billion. That is a huge licans will continue working to put the cap. That is a $135 billion Tax Code amount of money that could do so virus in the rearview mirror and de- change, and most of the benefit is much to help our schools, to help our liver what we are seeing right now, and going to go to the top 1 percent of wage students, to help small businesses, to it is the great American comeback. It earners. What does it have to do with help our workers, and to help fight the is people getting back to work—over 10 COVID–19? disease. million Americans back to work over Now is not the time to give tax Unfortunately, this has been the the last 4 months. It is an unemploy- breaks to the wealthy, to make record that we have seen coming from ment rate down below 9 percent. It was changes to our immigration policy, or the Democrats ever since the pandemic over 9 percent for 4 months. impose unprecedented mandates on began. While the virus was raging in It is businesses reopening, kids going State election procedures that are nor- March, Democrats delayed help for back to school, a vaccine on the way— mally in the province of the States, not Americans by blocking the CARES great, optimistic ideas and thoughts us—all of which are part of the Heroes Act. regarding the vaccine. I met with the Act. Instead, this should be a time The New York Times headline at Secretary of Health and Human Serv- where we focus on what the American that time, on March 22, said: ‘‘Emer- ices earlier today. I am very encour- people need right now and help them to gency Economic Rescue Plan in Limbo aged and optimistic about a vaccine handle this healthcare and economic as Democrats Block Action.’’ So they being available to many at the end of challenge they are facing, but that were blocking it back in March, and the year. hasn’t happened. they were blocking it last Thursday. So there is a lot to be optimistic Last week I spoke on this floor about In April, as small businesses were about as the country comes back from all the things in the targeted bill that forcibly shut down by the government, the coronavirus because this is the was voted on last Thursday in this they were fighting to, one day, reopen great American comeback. Chamber, where there is bipartisan- their doors—that is all they wanted to I yield the floor. ship, where Democrats and Republican do, get back to business; they wanted (Mr. BARRASSO assumed the Chair.) actually agree. to keep employees on the payroll— The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. I talked about the need to extend the Democrats, once again, blocked fund- CRAMER). The Senator from Ohio. PPP program—Paycheck Protection ing for the Paycheck Protection Pro- Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am Program—which is helping small busi- gram. here on the floor this evening to talk nesses keep their doors open, but it ex- This is a wonderful program, Mr. about what Congress needs to do right pired on August 8. A lot of small busi- President. Thirteen thousand of these now to help the American people with nesses are saying to me back home in loans were taken in the State of Wyo- regard to this coronavirus pandemic. Ohio: I am barely holding on. When is ming by small businesses. I am sure, in We are not out of the woods yet. People this coming? I need an extension to your home State of South Dakota, are still struggling, with the economy this program. similar small businesses took advan- being weak, and we still have a real Yet we can’t seem to get our act to- tage of this opportunity. Our average healthcare crisis to deal with. gether here even though it is totally loan was about $78,000. These are small Since this crisis began, Congress has nonpartisan, as far as I can tell. businesses that just needed help mak- come together as Republicans and The bill we voted on last Thursday ing the payroll, keeping people work- Democrats both here in the Senate and also has more funding for something

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:55 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.055 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5644 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 desperately needed in my home State struggle to make ends meet because plement, which expired at the end of of Ohio and other States around the some people can’t go back to work still July, and see whether there was a new country, which is more money for test- because their movie theater or their supplement that we could continue to ing. It also has more money, by the bowling alley or their motor coach help those in need while better reflect- way, for developing a vaccine more company can’t hire them. Either they ing this improved economy and the quickly and effectively and for getting are shut down or they simply can’t hire need for workers rather than a situa- these anti-viral therapies up and going. them back. There are people who are tion where the government was actu- All of this is stuff we should be able to unemployed who still need our help. ally imposing shutdowns of much of agree on, right? No, we haven’t been Early on in this pandemic, both Re- our economy. able to. publicans and Democrats recognized That is where things broke down. At Another thing that was in that bill this. We recognized the need to bolster the end of July, the $600 supplement last Thursday was providing funding the State-run unemployment insurance ended. Everybody knew it was going to for the schools so they can reopen—K– programs to help offset the massive job end then. But Republicans and Demo- 12 but also for our colleges and univer- losses we saw in March and April. That crats couldn’t agree on how to best sities. These schools are starting to re- is why the CARES Act we talked about structure an additional UI supplement. open, and they need the help badly. Ac- earlier—this bipartisan bill—contained By the way, having differences isn’t tually, it had enough funding in there an unprecedented $600-per-week addi- unusual around here. We have debates that it was slightly more than the tional Federal supplement on top of all the time. That debate was a big funding that was in the Heroes Act, the the State supplement for 4 months. part of the negotiations in July and Democrats’ proposal, for the same pur- By the way, the State benefit in Ohio August. What is disappointing to me pose—$105 billion. Why couldn’t we get on average is $360. The $600 was on top and to many of my colleagues on both together? of $360, coming up to $960 per week. We sides of the aisle and to so many people What else did it have? It had some- did that for a period of 4 months. That we represent is that instead of taking thing very important for a lot of people provided an important income source us up on our offer that we offered—to who lost their jobs through no fault of for a lot of people. It made a huge dif- extend the $600 per week to be able the their own. It had an extension of the ference in the lives of a lot of people negotiate something, for 2 weeks, current Federal supplement for unem- who early on couldn’t work because the which would have put a lot of pressure ployment insurance in the States. It government was actually closing down on the negotiations—think about it— had a $300-per-week, Federal-taxpayer- businesses, saying: You can’t open. the Democrats said no. I don’t know paid additional supplement on top of Some say that was too much. We will why they said no, but Democrats would the roughly $350 that States already talk about why they say that. But it not even allow us to extend the $600 to provide on average for unemployment. was a big help, and it was appropriate put pressure on negotiations. Delib- Yet that was rejected. in a sense at the time to do something erately, they allowed these benefits to We couldn’t even have a good vote to that big because the government itself expire. It went from a $600 benefit on proceed on the bill, to have a debate on was saying: You are going to lose your top of the State benefit to zero Federal the bill so we could have an honest de- job through no fault of your own. We benefit. bate and say, oh, $300 is too much, or it the government are saying you have to Let me repeat that. Rather than is not enough, or maybe the PPP pro- shut down, so we are going to provide work to agree on a weeklong extension of a lifeline for so many people to buy gram needs to be slightly changed this you an unemployment benefit. time to work something out, Demo- way or that way, or maybe there is less It was also used for other things—to crats instead chose to let these benefits money for schools needed or more pay rent, to pay that car payment, to expire and allowed millions of Ameri- money for schools. just get by. We couldn’t even get on the bill be- As the year has gone on, we have cans to go without benefits. When we hit this impasse on the UI cause you need 60 votes to do that, and made progress now on slowing the issue that Congress just couldn’t we only had 52, which is a majority of spread of the coronavirus, adding test- ing, adding more personal protective break, the Trump administration this Chamber, but it is not the 60-vote stepped in, and President Trump quick- gear, and so on. Many parts of our supermajority. Fifty-two Republicans ly signed an Executive order on August economy have been able to reopen in a supported it. Unfortunately, no Demo- 8—so a week after the benefit expired— safe and sustainable manner. And that crats were able to support it. I don’t which authorized FEMA, the Federal is good. Without the help we provided get that because all we were saying Emergency Management Agency, to in the legislation—the five bills we was, let’s get on this bill and have a de- begin distributing an emergency lost passed—we wouldn’t be so far along. bate, and if later on in the process you wage assistance unemployment check. don’t like where we ended up, there is They helped. They helped keep the So the government stepped in at the another 60-vote margin, and you can doors open at a lot of small businesses. executive branch and said: You guys in filibuster it again. They helped provide the money for our Congress can’t figure this out. The $600 We couldn’t even get on the bill to healthcare system, for testing. has gone to zero, so you just have the have a debate. To me, that is really sad With that reopening around the State benefit now, and you have a lot because the American people weren’t country, hiring picked back up, and of people still unemployed through no given the opportunity to get some help, now we have far fewer people on unem- fault of their own. It is tough to get by but also they weren’t given the oppor- ployment than we did at the beginning on 360 bucks a week. tunity to see what the differences are of this pandemic. So there are fewer So President Trump and his adminis- and have this out in the open. people who need unemployment insur- tration stepped in and said: We will That is legislation that 52 Repub- ance. Unemployment is at about 8.4 provide it temporarily—temporarily, licans supported. We are ready to go. percent. That is what it was last because that is all the money they had Let’s have the discussion. Let’s have month. That is down from over 15 per- through what is called the Wage As- the debate. cent in the spring. Now, 8.4 percent is sistance Program. Under this program, The Federal funds to help the unem- still too high, particularly compared to $44 billion from the Disaster Relief ployed get by was a particular concern the record lows we saw just before this Fund was made available to States to of mine, and I want to focus on that to- pandemic. It is more than twice what use as a supplement to their unemploy- night. That unemployment benefit is a it was then. But it is undoubtedly a ment insurance programs—still leaving classic example of where Senate Demo- step in the right direction. Unemploy- $25 billion, by the way, in that fund for crats have blocked what I think is a ment claims are either holding steady natural disasters. reasonable compromise—I will explain or dropping now in most States. That I spoke to Labor Secretary Scalia on why I think that—and instead have de- is good. Friday. I asked him: Is there any cided to provide nothing. Nothing. With this positive progress we were money left in that fund? What we should do instead is we seeing, I think it was fair for Congress Remember, this was done on August should embrace a compromise together to want to take another look at the 8, and they had a limited amount of for these families who continue to original unemployment insurance sup- money.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:55 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.056 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5645 He said: No, ROB. Actually, it was a cause people weren’t coming back to The $300-a-week amount offered last temporary program, meant to be a work because of the benefit that they Thursday is generous compared to reg- bridge so Congress would get its act to- had been getting of $600. So it was felt ular unemployment insurance. In Ohio, gether between August 8 and now. in small businesses, yes, but also with the supplement, you go from $360 So basically, in a month and a week, midsize and larger businesses and also a week State benefit to $660 per week. surely Congress would do something a lot of nonprofits. It is a big change. It makes a big dif- here, but we haven’t. Now, that money I heard it from hospitals. I heard it ference in people’s lives. It would cover has run out. Now, people who were get- from people who provide addiction 90 percent of the lost wages for the me- ting the $600 benefit, down to zero, and services, recovery services, treatment dian worker nationwide. The $300 per then back up to $300, which most are programs. Nonprofits are having a hard week covers 90 percent of the lost getting in a lump sum because it takes time getting people to come back be- wages, helping particularly low- and a while to process this money—that cause, again, the $600 on top of the middle-income wage earners get by $300 is now ending. No more $300-per- State benefit average of the, say, $350— without creating, again, this $600 dis- week Federal supplement. $950 a week was more than they were incentive to work. By the way, almost every State and able to pay them. People were making Even if $300 wasn’t the perfect solu- territory except for two has applied for more on unemployment insurance than tion, it was certainly a starting point. and received some of this funding from they were at work. This was as the It was a policy point that could have the Feds. Ohio was able to receive economy was starting to pick up. We been debated and amended on the floor enough funding to cover 6 weeks of lost needed jobs. had we gone to the legislation. Again, benefits, so basically from August 1 We said: How about $300? Why did we we were blocked even to go to the bill until now. Ohio got $1.4 billion from pick $300? Well, again, $600 is so gen- to talk about it. Democrats blocked us the fund. It is sending out its unem- erous that it is paying people more. By from debating it, and so people got ployment insurance benefits this week. the way, the Congressional Budget Of- nothing. They don’t get the $300, Next week it ends because they have fice, a nonpartisan group here in Con- which, again, 90 percent of lost wages run out of money. They have used the gress, analyzes these things. They ana- for the median-wage worker would Federal money. lyzed it and said, if you continue the have been replaced by that. But they The $300 supplement has now ended. $600 until next year, which is what the get zero. All people are left with is the It is surely time for us to act. It would Democratic proposal is in their legisla- State benefit now. be timely this week and next week to tion, the Heroes Act—if you continue Again, unfortunately, in this place, now do something to provide for a sup- the $600 until next year, that would re- politics was put ahead of the interest plement for people who lost their job sult in 8 out of 10 people on unemploy- of struggling families who need extra through no fault of their own. ment insurance getting paid more on help. It is stunning to me that this is We could have solved this last Thurs- unemployment insurance than they the point we have reached in day with the targeted relief bill that would at work, 80 percent. That is from Congress’s work to address this came to the floor for a vote that I the CBO. coronavirus pandemic. talked about. The timing was perfect. What is the right number instead of Early on, there were so many bipar- We could have done that because part having 80 percent paid more by not tisan victories we achieved because Re- of the negotiations that we had among working? Well, I think $300 is about the publicans and Democrats alike said: ourselves, Republicans, over this and right number. Some could say that is This is a crisis. We have to address this with some Democrats, I suppose, was, too high, too, but the $300 on top of the not as our party might want to do but what is the right level? What we came State benefit was what was rejected as Americans—recognizing the severity up with was $300. That was part of the last Thursday by my colleagues on the of the challenge we were facing. It was bill that got 52 votes last Thursday but other side of the aisle. encouraging to see us come together to needed the 60 votes, and Democrats By the way, when 80 percent of peo- craft the CARES Act, which passed 96 blocked it. Even though it got the ma- ple are making more money by not to 0 and made a big difference. jority of the Senate, it didn’t get the working, it hurts everybody. It hurts I had hoped we would be able to rec- supermajority of 60 that it needed. these businesses. Small businesses and ognize from that victory the impor- Again, we couldn’t even get on the leg- these nonprofits are not able to get tance of hashing out our disagreements islation to talk about it. That $600 sup- people to come to work. Look at the and coming up with a solution, finding plement in this bill was changed to ‘‘Help Wanted’’ signs you may see in common ground to be able to help $300, which was consistent with where your own community. It hurts the those we represent. Unfortunately, the the administration has been over the economy when you don’t have this opposite has happened. Politics seem to last 5 or 6 weeks. That helps the vast workforce and you don’t have these have taken over. On the other side of majority of unemployed individuals jobs coming back. the aisle, the Speaker of the House and make ends meet without driving our It also hurts the workers. I think all others may think this is good politics deficit even higher. of us should want to reconnect people for them not to move forward with The $600-a-week supplement was not to work. That is where people get their something. Maybe they are right. sustainable over time, in part, because healthcare. If they have it, they are Maybe it is good politics somehow, but people were actually making more likely to get it at work. That is where it is not what is best for the American money on unemployment insurance about 80 percent of us get it. It is where people. than they were with their jobs. You people get their retirement, if they By opposing a reasonable com- were being paid more not to work than have it. We want more people to have promise on unemployment insurance, to work at $600 on top of the State ben- that, but a 401(K) is going to be as an example, what this Congress is efit. In fact, under that supplement of through work. This is where people get doing is leaving the American people $600, the median wage earner in Amer- the training they need to keep up with high and dry at the exact time that ica received 134 percent more of his or what is happening with their job. It is funding for these benefits has run out. her previous wages, making it harder, where people connect with other peo- Again, the short-term bridge that the therefore, to jump back into the work- ple. It is where people get self-respect administration provided, $300 a week, place and get our economy moving and self-esteem by working. We should is running out. It doesn’t need to hap- again. be encouraging work. pen. Let’s come to the negotiating By the way, I heard this all over Again, I think somewhere there is a table this week and next week. We are Ohio, and I know every single one of number there where you are helping going to be here next week. We are sup- my colleagues has. They heard it from people who need the funds to be able to posed to vote on a continuing resolu- businesses, particularly small busi- get by because they are unemployed tion, the funding program. We will be nesses but also larger businesses. The through no fault of their own, yet you here. We know what the differences Ford Motor Company told me they had are not offering such a high benefit are. We know what the similarities are. a 25-percent absenteeism rate when I that it is more advantageous not to We know how to put together a pack- visited them over the August break be- work. age. We know what it has to be and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:55 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.058 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5646 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 what the compromise is. For Repub- tration and records from a Democratic Loyola University Chicago was licans and Democrats alike, it is now lobby shop, Blue Star Strategies. If founded under the name of St. Ignatius on us to come up with that bipartisan those records are Russian College by Arnold Damen, S.J., to solution on unemployment insurance disinformation, then that says more serve Chicago’s Catholic immigrants. and the other pressing issues we face as about the Obama administration than In 1909, the school was granted a new the American people. the purpose of this investigation. charter by the State of Illinois and re- I yield the floor. I have also addressed the claim that named ‘‘Loyola University Chicago’’. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- this investigation is somehow con- That same year, the newly-named Loy- ator from Ohio. nected to Andriy Derkach. I have said ola Chicago granted its first profes- ORDER OF PROCEDURE publicly on many occasions that I have sional graduate degrees and organized Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask never received information or material its first football, basketball, and indoor unanimous consent that notwith- fom him. I have never solicited infor- baseball teams. Today, Loyola Chicago standing the provisions of rule XXII, at mation from him. The same is true for is the only Jesuit Catholic university 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, the Senate vote my staff. In fact, the only two times in Illinois. on the motion to invoke cloture on the that I am aware of that my staff have Throughout its history, Loyola Chi- Valderrama nomination; that if cloture come in contact with his information cago has upheld its Jesuit values— is invoked on the Valderrama nomina- are, No. 1, when the Democrats intro- being an institution of rigorous liberal tion, the postcloture time be expired duced his records into a transcribed arts education and academic excel- and the Senate vote on confirmation of interview, and No. 2, when Minority lence, while also being a place of inclu- the nomination; I further ask that fol- Leader SCHUMER, Speaker PELOSI, Sen- sion and acceptance for marginalized lowing the disposition of the ator WARNER, and Representative communities, including immigrants. Valderrama nomination, the Senate re- SCHIFF used it in their July 13, 2020, Loyola Chicago’s Stritch School of sume consideration of the Johnston letter. Medicine led the country as the first nomination; finally, I ask that the They also attempted to link Andriy medical school to accept DACA recipi- postcloture time on the Johnston nom- Telizhenko to Andriy Derkach, appar- ents, many of whom have committed to ination expire at 1:30 p.m. tomorrow ently to cast him as a nefarious foreign working in a medically-underserved and the Senate vote on confirmation of agent, but they neglected to mention community in Illinois after graduation. the nomination; that if any of the his many connections to the Obama- In addition, under its previous presi- nominations are confirmed, the mo- Biden administration, including White dent, Father Michael Garanzini, Loy- tions to reconsider be considered made House meetings and outings with ola Chicago created Arrupe College. and laid upon the table and the Presi- White House staff. They also omitted Arrupe is a 2-year degree program that dent be immediately notified of the his work for Blue Star Strategies, brings Loyola Chicago’s academic qual- Senate’s action. which was working on behalf of the ity together with a focus on afford- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there corrupt Ukrainian firm that hired Hun- ability and care for the whole person. objection? ter Biden while his father was the face Arrupe’s low-cost and wrap-around Without objection, it is so ordered. of U.S. policy toward Ukraine. Demo- services—including meals, chilcare, cratic connections to Mr. Telizhenko and transportation—bring a high-qual- f are many and well documented. If they ity Loyola Chicago education to low- LEGISLATIVE SESSION are so concerned that he is a conduit income and students of color in the for disinformation, why did they work Chicagoland area who otherwise may with him for so long? not have a chance to succeed in col- MORNING BUSINESS Maybe the Democrats should take a lege. pause and realize that they are the Loyola Chicago’s focus on service is Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask only ones pushing Russian part of the fabric of the institution and unanimous consent that the Senate disinformation. Let’s not forget about its community. Loyola Chicago sup- proceed to legislative session for a pe- the Steele Dossier. Thanks to now-de- ports more than 300 community part- riod of morning business, with Sen- classified information, we know the ner organizations in Chicago and the ators permitted to speak therein for up dossier was filled with Russian Chicagoland suburbs through student, to 10 minutes each. disinformation. The Democrats bought- staff, and faculty service and volunteer The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without and-paid-for crown jewel ironically was work. Loyola Chicago’s impact can be objection, it is so ordered. an example of the very disinformation found almost anywhere in the f and collusion that it falsely accused Chicagoland area. the Trump campaign of. The Demo- RUSSIA Illinois has been served well and en- crats pushed it for years. Now that it is riched by the many contributions of Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, ear- a failed document, they have tried to Loyola University Chicago. I look for- lier today, my colleagues, Senator run the same baseless smear tactic on ward to the school’s many contribu- SCHUMER and Senator WYDEN violated this investigation. The facts simply tions in the years ahead and several the Senate rules by attempting to offer aren’t on their side. If my colleagues more successful runs at the NCAA bas- a resolution disparaging oversight on the other side are as concerned ketball tournament being led by their work being done by me and Senator about foreign disinformation as they team chaplain, the now world famous JOHNSON. My colleague, Ranking Mem- claim to be, they would stop relying on Jean Dolores Schmidt, known to all as ber WYDEN, said that the investigation it to falsely attack us. Let’s stop play- simply Sister Jean. Senator JOHNSON and I are engaged in ing these games and get back to busi- I thank Loyola for its many con- is advancing a Russian disinformation ness for the American people. tributions to our State and country. It campaign. To be clear, that investiga- f is my distinct honor to congratulate tion is focused on potential conflicts of President Jo Anne Rooney—the interest and other wrongdoing regard- CONGRATULATING LOYOLA UNI- school’s first female president—and the ing the time Vice President Biden was VERSITY CHICAGO ON 150 YEARS entire Loyola community of staff, fac- lead on the Obama administration’s Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this ulty, students, and alumni on your Ukraine policy. At that same time, his year, Loyola University Chicago cele- 150th anniversary. son, Hunter Biden, was on the board of brates the 150th anniversary of its f a corrupt Ukrainian gas firm called founding, which occurred on September Burisma. This investigation is a good- 5, 1870. Loyola Chicago is a world-class VOTE EXPLANATION government investigation to better un- institution with a storied history as a Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I derstand the effect these potential con- Roman Catholic Jesuit university, a was unable to attend the rollcall vote flicts had on policy execution. This in- strong track record of academic excel- on the motion to invoke cloture on the vestigation is based on Federal Govern- lence, and the proud home of the Loy- nomination of Brett H. Ludwig, of Wis- ment records from the Obama adminis- ola Ramblers. consin, to be U.S. district judge for the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:20 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.059 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5647 Eastern District of Wisconsin. Had I Kosovo and Libya. He also served my His burial service today is a poignant been able to attend, I would have voted colleague, Senator TIM KAINE of Vir- reminder of how the sacrifice of heroes in support of cloture. ginia, as a legislative fellow and then defending our Nation have an impact Mr. President, I was unable to attend continued his service in the Navy Of- far into the future on those who knew the rollcall vote on the motion to con- fice of Legislative Affairs as deputy di- and loved them—and those who never firm the nomination of Brett H. Lud- rector of the Senate Liaison Office. will. wig, of Wisconsin, to be U.S. district I have gotten to know Commander Navy Fireman 2nd Class Albert judge for the Eastern District of Wis- Murray over the past 2 years through Renner died so Americans could live in consin. Had I been able to attend, I his assignment to the Navy’s Appro- peace and prosperity. He is now back in would have voted in support of con- priations Matters Office. As a rep- his home State, lying in eternal rest firmation. resentative of the Chief of Naval Oper- with other North Dakota heroes. I Mr. President, I was unable to attend ations and Secretary of the Navy, he thank the many patriots who are com- the rollcall vote on the motion to in- provided valuable support to Members mitted to identifying the remains of all voke cloture on the nomination of of the Senate and House Appropria- unknown American service members Christy Criswel Wiegand, of Pennsyl- tions Committees regarding the Navy’s and bringing them home. vania, to be U.S. district judge for the budgetary needs. His efforts to provide To the family of Navy Fireman 2nd Western District of Pennsylvania. Had timely and transparent information to Class Albert Renner, I join citizens I been able to attend, I would have the committees contributed to the en- across our State and Nation in sending voted in support of cloture. actment of the Defense Appropriations our sincere condolences. It is heroes Mr. President, I was unable to attend Acts for fiscal years 2019 and 2020. Com- like Albert who have kept our commu- the rollcall vote on the motion to in- mander Murray also provided superior nities, State, Nation, and world safe. voke cloture on the nomination of Hala support to me and many of my col- His life made a difference in the lives Y. Jarbou, of Michigan, to be U.S. dis- leagues as we traveled across Europe of all of us. We are forever grateful. trict judge for the Western District of and Asia conducting oversight of crit- f Michigan. Had I been able to attend, I ical national security assets abroad. would have voted in support of cloture. As Commander Murray departs the ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS Mr. President, I was unable to attend Pentagon, I want to take this oppor- the rollcall vote on the motion to con- tunity to congratulate him on his re- ZOEY’S CONGENITAL CATARACT firm the nomination of Christy tirement; to thank him, his wife Aman- AWARENESS DAY Criswell Wiegand, of Pennsylvania, to da, and his family for their years of be U.S. district judge for the Western service; and to wish him the very best ∑ Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, a special District of Pennsylvania. Had I been going forward. little girl named Zoey is celebrating her first birthday on September 28, able to attend, I would have voted in f support of confirmation. 2020. In recognition of this day, Spen- Mr. President, I was unable to attend REMEMBERING FIREMAN 2ND cer County Judge Executive John Riley the rollcall vote on the motion to in- CLASS ALBERT RENNER is declaring it as Zoey’s Congenital voke cloture on the nomination of Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, today, Cataract Awareness Day. It is the hope Thomas T. Cullen, of Virginia, to be as he is buried in the North Dakota of her parents that every primary care U.S. district judge for the Western Dis- Veterans Cemetery just outside of his clinician in Spencer County, the Com- trict of Virignia. Had I been able to at- hometown of Mandan, ND, I honor the monwealth of Kentucky, and beyond, is tend, I would have voted to oppose clo- life and patriotism of Navy Fireman aware of this rare cause of blindness ture. 2nd Class Albert Renner. Like so many that can be surgically treated when di- Mr. President, I was unable to attend young men of this ‘‘greatest genera- agnosed early enough. As an ophthal- the rollcall vote on the motion to in- tion,’’ he answered the call to defend mologist, I have had the privilege of voke cloture on the nomination of his country during World War II. On participating in these surgeries and Diane Gujarati, of New York, to be December 7, 1941, at the age of 24, he know how life-changing early interven- U.S. district judge for the Eastern Dis- made the ultimate sacrifice along with tion can be. Fortunately for Zoey, after trict of New York. Had I been able to 2,402 other soldiers and sailors during three surgeries, she has a very prom- attend, I would have voted in support the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. ising prognosis. I am honored to help of cloture. He was serving on the USS West Vir- make Zoey’s birthday wish come true f ginia, which sank after being hit by at by sharing her story and thereby rais- least seven torpedoes and two bombs. ing awareness for the early detection TRIBUTE TO COMMANDER Last year, aided by a positive DNA and treatment of congenital cata- EDWARD H. MURRAY sent by his surviving siblings several racts.∑ Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I rise decades ago, Albert Renner’s remains f today to recognize the service of Com- were finally positively identified. On mander Edward H. Murray of the U.S. Tuesday, his body arrived at the Min- RECOGNIZING TRINITY AT CITY Navy on the occasion of his retirement neapolis airport. A full military escort BEACH after 20 years of Active Duty. I would motorcade carrying his casket traveled ∑ Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, as a mem- like to briefly share with my col- the 400 miles home to Mandan. Many ber and former chairman of the Senate leagues some of the highlights of his citizens, including veterans and fire Committee on Small Business and En- fine career. and police men and women, stopped trepreneurship, each month I recognize For the past 20 years, Commander along the highway to solemnly pay and celebrate the American entrepre- Murray excelled in leading Navy Sail- their respects as the motorcade passed neurial spirit by highlighting the suc- ors as an E–2C naval flight officer. He by. cess of a small business in my home served sea tours with VAW–116, deploy- Attending today’s funeral service and State of Idaho. Today I am pleased to ing on the USS Constellation and USS burial are members of his family who honor Trinity at City Beach in Abraham Lincoln in support of coalition have traveled from across the Nation Sandpoint as the Idaho Small Business forces in Iraq and operations in the to pay their respects to this beloved of the Month for September 2020 and Western Pacific. He also deployed to member of their family. Even though recognize them for their efforts to re- the Western Pacific with VTC–12 on- many of them never met him, together duce the spread of the COVID–19 virus. board the USS Bonhomme Richard, pro- they are mourning the lost blessings of Established by Justin Dick, Trinity viding airspace and diplomatic coordi- Albert not being a part of their family moved to its City Beach location in nation. Ashore, Commander Murray’s for the past 79 years. 2009 and has been an integral part of assignments included a special selec- Albert could have had a rewarding the Sandpoint community for more tion as aide-de-camp to the four-star life on the family farm or in some than a decade. Named after the holy commander of the U.S. Naval Forces in other profession. He could have had a trinity of peppers, onions, and celery Naples, Italy, during operations in wife and family and home of his own. found in traditional Creole cooking,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:55 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.007 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5648 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 Trinity attracts tourists and locals EXECUTIVE AND OTHER Security Services Privacy Act Program’’ alike and has developed a reputation COMMUNICATIONS (RIN0790–AK68) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President for its quality food, service, and views The following communications were of Lake Pend Oreille. In addition to of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the laid before the Senate, together with Committee on Armed Services. serving quality southern cuisine, the accompanying papers, reports, and doc- EC–5437. A communication from the Fed- restaurant also provides dozens of local uments, and were referred as indicated: eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the jobs and enhances the cultural richness EC–5428. A communication from the In- Secretary, Department of Defense, transmit- of Northern Idaho through their day- spector General, Department of Agriculture, ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- to-day service and steady participation transmitting, pursuant to law, a report rel- titled ‘‘Defense Security Service Privacy in community events. ative to an investigation of a Forest Service Program’’ (RIN0790–AK67) received during In recent months, Trinity at City (FS) employee fatality that occurred during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, Beach has done their part to reduce the the Frog Fire in Modoc County, California, on July 30, 2015; to the Committee on Agri- 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. spread of COVID–19, offering carryout EC–5438. A communication from the Fed- culture, Nutrition, and Forestry. and dine-in eating to the Sandpoint eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the EC–5429. A communication from the Under community while safely maintaining Secretary, Department of Defense, transmit- Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readi- ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- CDC social distancing and face cov- ness), transmitting, pursuant to law, a re- titled ‘‘National Reconnaissance Office Pri- ering guidelines. Additionally, Dick port relative to implementation and progress vacy Act Program’’ (RIN0790–AK71) received and his team have raised money and of the strategic plan to improve capabilities during adjournment of the Senate in the Of- of Department of Defense training ranges collected food to be donated to non- fice of the President of the Senate on Sep- and installations (OSS–2020–0704); to the profit organizations and healthcare tember 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Committee on Armed Services. centers in the Sandpoint area to help Services. ease the burden on frontline workers. EC–5430. A communication from the Sec- EC–5439. A communication from the Under retary of Defense, transmitting a report on Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readi- Congratulations to Justin Dick and the approved retirement of Vice Admiral all of the employees of Trinity at City ness), transmitting the report of an officer DeWolfe H. Miller III, United States Navy, authorized to wear the insignia of the grade Beach on being selected as the Idaho and his advancement to the grade of vice ad- Small Business of the Month for Sep- of brigadier general in accordance with title miral on the retired list; to the Committee 10, United States Code, section 777, this will tember 2020. You make our great State on Armed Services. not cause the Department to exceed the proud, and I look forward to your con- EC–5431. A communication from the Fed- number of frocked officers authorized; to the tinued growth and success.∑ eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Committee on Armed Services. Secretary, Department of Defense, transmit- f EC–5440. A communication from the Direc- ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- tor, Naval Reactors, Naval Nuclear Propul- MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT titled ‘‘National Geospatial-Intelligence sion Program, transmitting, pursuant to Agency (NGA) Privacy Program’’ (RIN0790– Messages from the President of the law, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program’s AK66) received during adjournment of the reports on environmental monitoring and ra- United States were communicated to Senate in the Office of the President of the dioactive waste disposal, radiation exposure, the Senate by Ms. Ridgway, one of his Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Com- and occupational safety and health; to the secretaries. mittee on Armed Services. Committee on Armed Services. EC–5432. A communication from the Fed- f EC–5441. A communication from the Presi- eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the dent of the United States, transmitting, pur- EXECUTIVE MESSAGES REFERRED Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition suant to law, a report of the continuation of and Sustainment, Department of Defense, the national emergency that was originally In executive session the Presiding Of- transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of ficer laid before the Senate messages declared in Proclamation 7463 of September a rule entitled ‘‘Repeal of DFARS Clause ‘Or- 14, 2001, with respect to certain terrorist at- from the President of the United dering’ ’’ (RIN0750–AL10) received during ad- tacks; to the Committee on Banking, Hous- States submitting sundry nominations journment of the Senate in the Office of the ing, and Urban Affairs. which were referred to the appropriate President of the Senate on September 11, EC–5442. A communication from the Presi- committees. 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. dent of the United States, transmitting, pur- (The messages received today are EC–5433. A communication from the Fed- suant to law, a report of the continuation of printed at the end of the Senate pro- eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the the national emergency that was originally Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition ceedings.) declared in Executive Order 13848 of Sep- and Sustainment, Department of Defense, tember 12, 2018, with respect to the threat of f transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of foreign interference in or undermining pub- a rule entitled ‘‘Use of Defense Logistics MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE lic confidence in United States elections; to Agency Energy as a Source of Fuel’’ the Committee on Banking, Housing, and At 10:36 a.m., a message from the (RIN0750–AK90) received during adjournment Urban Affairs. House of Representatives, delivered by of the Senate in the Office of the President EC–5443. A communication from the Sec- Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the retary of the Securities and Exchange Com- announced that the House has passed Committee on Armed Services. mission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the EC–5434. A communication from the Fed- the following bill, in which it requests report of a rule entitled ‘‘Amending the ‘Ac- eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the credited Investor’ Definition’’ (Release No. the concurrence of the Senate: Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition 33–10824) received during adjournment of the H.R. 2639. An act to establish the Strength and Sustainment, Department of Defense, Senate in the Office of the President of the in Diversity Program, and for other pur- transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Com- poses. a rule entitled ‘‘Definition of ‘Micro-pur- mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af- f chase Threshold’ ’’ (RIN0750–AK17) received fairs. during adjournment of the Senate in the Of- EC–5444. A communication from the Sec- MEASURES REFERRED fice of the President of the Senate on Sep- retary of the Securities and Exchange Com- The following bill was read the first tember 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed mission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Services. report of a rule entitled ‘‘Temporary Amend- and the second times by unanimous EC–5435. A communication from the Fed- ments to Regulation Crowdfunding; Exten- consent, and referred as indicated: eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the sion’’ (Release No. 33–10829) received during H.R. 2639. An act to establish the Strength Secretary, Department of Defense, transmit- adjournment of the Senate in the Office of in Diversity Program, and for other pur- ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- the President of the Senate on September 11, poses; to the Committee on Health, Edu- titled ‘‘Sexual Assault Prevention and Re- 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, cation, Labor, and Pensions. sponse (SAPR) Program’’ (RIN0790–AJ40) re- and Urban Affairs. f ceived during adjournment of the Senate in EC–5445. A communication from the Sec- the Office of the President of the Senate on retary of the Securities and Exchange Com- MEASURES PLACED ON THE September 11, 2020; to the Committee on mission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the CALENDAR Armed Services. report of a rule entitled ‘‘Rescission of Effec- EC–5436. A communication from the Fed- tive-Upon-Filing Procedure for NMS Plan The following bill was read the sec- eral Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Fee Amendments and Modified Procedures ond time, and placed on the calendar: Secretary, Department of Defense, transmit- for Proposed NMS Plans and Plan Amend- S. 4582. A bill to extend, temporarily, day- ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- ments’’ (RIN3235–AM56) received during ad- light saving time, and for other purposes. titled ‘‘National Security Agency/Central journment of the Senate in the Office of the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.024 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5649 President of the Senate on September 11, mentation Act, a report relative to actions 0247)) received in the Office of the President 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, taken in fiscal year 2019 to conclude cultural of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the and Urban Affairs. property agreements with Bulgaria, China, Committee on Commerce, Science, and EC–5446. A communication from the Sec- Honduras, and Algeria; to the Committee on Transportation. retary of the Securities and Exchange Com- Finance. EC–5464. A communication from the Legal mission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the EC–5455. A communication from the Acting Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of report of a rule entitled ‘‘Modernization of Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Home- Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant Regulation S–K Items 101, 103, and 105’’ land Security, transmitting, pursuant to to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Special (RIN3235–AL78) received during adjournment law, a report entitled ‘‘Social Security Num- Local Regulation; North Atlantic Ocean, of the Senate in the Office of the President ber Fraud Prevention Act 2020 Annual Re- Ocean City, Maryland’’ ((RIN1625–AA08) of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the port to Congress’’; to the Committees on Fi- (Docket No. USCG–2020–0361)) received in the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban nance; and Homeland Security and Govern- Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- Affairs. mental Affairs. tember 10, 2020; to the Committee on Com- EC–5447. A communication from the Direc- EC–5456. A communication from the Direc- merce, Science, and Transportation. tor of the Regulatory Management Division, tor of Regulations and Policy Management EC–5465. A communication from the Legal Environmental Protection Agency, transmit- Staff, Food and Drug Administration, De- Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- partment of Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant titled ‘‘Air Plan Approval; Missouri; Re- transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Special moval of Control of Emissions from Manu- a rule entitled ‘‘Food Labeling; Gluten-Free Local Regulation; Potomac River, Between facture of Polystyrene Resin’’ (FRL No. Labeling of Fermented or Hydrolyzed Foods; Jones Point, Virginia, and National Harbor, 10014–46–Region 7) received in the Office of Correction’’ (RIN0910–AH00) received in the Maryland’’ ((RIN1625–AA08) (Docket No. the President of the Senate on September 10, Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- USCG–2020–0245)) received in the Office of the 2020; to the Committee on Environment and tember 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, President of the Senate on September 10, Public Works. Education, Labor, and Pensions. 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, EC–5448. A communication from the Direc- EC–5457. A communication from the Assist- Science, and Transportation. tor of the Regulatory Management Division, ant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, EC–5466. A communication from the Legal Environmental Protection Agency, transmit- Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant titled ‘‘Effluent Limitations Guidelines and a rule entitled ‘‘Procedures for PBGC Guid- to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Safety Standards for the Steam Electric Power Gen- ance’’ (RIN1212–AB49) received in the Office Zone; Dolan Fireworks, Lake Erie, erating Point Source Category - Reconsider- of the President of the Senate on September Bratenahl, Ohio’’ (Docket No. USCG–2020– ation’’ (FRL No. 10014–41–OW) received in the 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Edu- 0532) received in the Office of the President Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- cation, Labor, and Pensions. of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the tember 10, 2020; to the Committee on Envi- EC–5458. A communication from the Board Committee on Commerce, Science, and ronment and Public Works. Members, Railroad Retirement Board, trans- Transportation. EC–5449. A communication from the Regu- mitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to EC–5467. A communication from the Legal lations Writer, Office of Regulations and Re- the Board’s budget request for fiscal year Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of ports Clearance, Social Security Administra- 2022; to the Committee on Health, Education, Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant tion, transmitting, pursuant to law, the re- Labor, and Pensions. to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Person port of a rule entitled ‘‘Improved Agency EC–5459. A communication from the Sec- in Charge of Fuel Transfers’’ ((RIN1625–AC50) Guidance Documents’’ (RIN0960–AI47) re- retary of Education, transmitting, pursuant (Docket No. USCG–2018–0493)) received in the ceived in the Office of the President of the to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Direct Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Com- Grant Programs, State-Administered For- tember 10, 2020; to the Committee on Com- mittee on Finance. mula Grant Programs, Non Discrimination merce, Science, and Transportation. EC–5450. A communication from the Regu- on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs EC–5468. A communication from the Asso- lations Writer, Office of Regulations and Re- or Activities Receiving Federal Financial ciate Administrator for Policy, Federal ports Clearance, Social Security Administra- Assistance, Developing Hispanic-Serving In- Motor Carrier Safety Administration, De- tion, transmitting, pursuant to law, the re- stitutions Program, Strengthening Institu- partment of Transportation, transmitting, port of a rule entitled ‘‘Waiver of Recovering tions Program, Strengthening Historically pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled of Certain Overpayment Debts Accruing Dur- Black Colleges and Universities Program, ‘‘Passenger Carrier No-Defect Driver Vehicle ing the COVID–19 Pandemic Period’’ and Strengthening Historically Black Grad- Inspection Reports’’ (RIN2126–AC29) received (RIN0960–AI51) received in the Office of the uate Institutions Program’’ (RIN1840–AD45) in the Office of the President of the Senate President of the Senate on September 10, received in the Office of the President of the on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on 2020; to the Committee on Finance. Senate on September 15, 2020; to the Com- Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC–5451. A communication from the Regu- mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and EC–5469. A communication from the Dep- lations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare Pensions. uty Chief, Office of Economics and Ana- and Medicaid Services, Department of EC–5460. A communication from the Sec- lytics, Federal Communications Commis- Health and Human Services, transmitting, retary of Education, transmitting, pursuant sion, transmitting, pursuant to law, the re- pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled to law, a report relative to the notice of the port of a rule entitled ‘‘Auction of Flexible - ‘‘Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilita- rescission of outdated guidance documents; Use Service Licenses in the 3.7–3.8 GHz Band tion Facility Prospective Payment System to the Committee on Health, Education, for Next-Generation Wireless Services; No- for Federal Fiscal Year 2021’’ (RIN0938–AU05) Labor, and Pensions. tice and Filing Requirements, Minimum received during adjournment of the Senate EC–5461. A communication from the Direc- Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other in the Office of the President of the Senate tor of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Cor- Procedures for Auction 107; Bidding in Auc- on August 20, 2020; to the Committee on Fi- poration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the tion 107 Scheduled to Begin December 8, nance. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation’s fis- 2020’’ (FCC 20–110) received in the Office of EC–5452. A communication from the Super- cal year 2019 Actuarial Evaluation of the Ex- the President of the Senate on September 10, visor of the Regulations and Dissemination pected Operations and Status of the PBGC 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Team, Employment and Training Adminis- Funds; to the Committee on Health, Edu- Science, and Transportation. tration, Department of Labor, transmitting, cation, Labor, and Pensions. EC–5470. A communication from the Legal pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled EC–5462. A communication from the Assist- Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of ‘‘Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers’’ ant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant (RIN1205–AB78) received in the Office of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Special President of the Senate on September 10, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of Local Regulation; Cumberland River, Hen- 2020; to the Committee on Finance. a rule entitled ‘‘Benefits Payable in Termi- dersonville, Tennessee’’ ((RIN1625–AA08) EC–5453. A communication from the Acting nated Single-Employer Plans; Interest As- (Docket No. USCG–2020–0518)) received in the Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- sumptions for Paying Benefits’’ (29 CFR Part Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to 4022) received in the Office of the President tember 10, 2020; to the Committee on Com- the Convention on Cultural Property Imple- of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the merce, Science, and Transportation. mentation Act, three (3) reports of the Cul- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and EC–5471. A communication from the Pro- tural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) Pensions. gram Analyst, International Bureau, Federal from 2019 relative to memoranda of under- EC–5463. A communication from the Legal Communications Commission, transmitting, standing and cultural property agreements; Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled to the Committee on Finance. Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant ‘‘In the Matter of Update to Parts 2 and 25 EC–5454. A communication from the Acting to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Safety Concerning Non-Geostationary, Fixed-Sat- Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, De- Zone; I–5 Bridge Construction Project, Co- ellite Service Systems and Related Matters’’ partment of State, transmitting, pursuant to lumbia River, Vancouver, Washington’’ ((FCC 20–119) (IB Docket No. 16–408)) received the Convention on Cultural Property Imple- ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG–2020– in the Office of the President of the Senate

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.019 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5650 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on recipients to meet their longstanding legal Whereas, Today, there are more than 100 Commerce, Science, and Transportation. obligation under the federal Fair Housing HBCUs in the United States, all of which em- EC–5472. A communication from the Asso- Act to reduce barriers to fair housing and body many of our most deeply cherished val- ciate General Counsel, Department of Home- equal opportunity; and ues such as equality, diversity, opportunity, land Security, transmitting, pursuant to Whereas, The AFFH rule was promulgated and hard work; and law, a report relative to a vacancy in the po- in response to the recommendations of the Whereas, HBCUs have their roots in the sition of Deputy Administrator, Federal United States Government Accountability federal Morrill Act of 1862, which required Emergency Management Agency, Depart- Office and affected stakeholders centered on that each state have at least one land-grant ment of Homeland Security, received in the the need for HUD to bolster its fair housing institution. Historically, most of these insti- Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- planning obligations by providing greater tutions have been predominantly white. tember 10, 2020; to the Committee on Home- clarity and support to HUD funding recipi- Since African-Americans were barred from land Security and Governmental Affairs. ents and facilitating local decision-making many of these land-grant institutions, a sec- EC–5473. A communication from the Asso- on fair housing priorities and goals; and ond Morrill Act was adopted in 1890 requiring ciate General Counsel, Department of Home- Whereas, The AFFH rule achieves these states to show that race was not a factor in land Security, transmitting, pursuant to ends by providing clearer standards for meet- the admission criteria of land-grant institu- law, a report relative to a vacancy in the po- ing fair housing obligations, greater trans- tions or else they would lose federal funding; sition of Under Secretary for Intelligence parency, increased access to data concerning and and Analysis, Department of Homeland Se- fair housing conditions and access to oppor- Whereas, Instead of unifying the institu- curity, received in the Office of the Presi- tunity, and new mapping and customizable tions, some states opted to create separate dent of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to assessment tools, as well as by encouraging land-grant colleges for African-Americans, the Committee on Homeland Security and collaboration between jurisdictions and com- which allowed those states to keep seg- Governmental Affairs. munity input and participation; and regated colleges and at the same time not EC–5474. A communication from the Direc- Whereas, The AFFH rule ultimately serves lose federal funding; and tor, Office of Acquisition Policy, General to help HUD funding recipients take mean- Whereas, 1890 land-grant institutions—HBC Services Administration, transmitting, pur- ingful actions to overcome historic patterns Us—have largely received less funding per suant to law, the report of a rule entitled of segregation, promote fair housing choice, student when compared to their 1862 land- ‘‘Federal Acquisition Regulation: FAR Case and foster inclusive communities that are grant counterparts, in some instances receiv- 2019–009, Prohibition on Contracting with free from discrimination; and ing only half the funding given to other in- Entities Using Certain Telecommunications Whereas, On August 9, 2018, HUD issued an stitutions; and and Video Surveillance Services or Equip- advance notice of a proposed rulemaking Whereas, It should be a public policy goal ment’’ (RIN9000–AN92) received in the Office that would undo much of the AFFH rule for of the federal government to enact laws of the President of the Senate on September the stated reasons that the rule impeded the aimed at eliminating the existing funding in- 10, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Se- development and rehabilitation of affordable equity between HBCUs and 1862 land-grant curity and Governmental Affairs. housing and provided inadequate autonomy institutions; and EC–5475. A communication from the Acting to HUD funding recipients; and Whereas, By increasing funding to HBCUs, Director, Office of Personnel Management, Whereas, The AFFH rule has not been in the federal government would be providing transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of effect long enough to adequately assess its vital support to these institutions as they a rule entitled ‘‘Federal Employees’ Group effect on the development and rehabilitation continue their endeavor to improve the qual- Life Insurance Program: Clarifying Annual of affordable housing, the rule does not in ity of life of African-Americans by providing Rates of Pay and Amending the Employment fact dictate how communities should meet them with high quality education; and Whereas, It is important, therefore, that Status of Judges of the United States Court their fair housing obligations, and the rule Congress and the President of the United of Appeals of Veterans Claims’’ (RIN3206– has produced concrete improvements in fair States enact legislation which eliminates AN52) received during adjournment of the housing, such as the commitment of Chester the existing funding inequities between Senate in the Office of the President of the County, Pennsylvania to reduce the number HBCUs and 1862 land-grant institutions in Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Com- of Section 8 recipients living in high-poverty order to have equal education opportunity mittee on Homeland Security and Govern- census tracts by five percentage points; and Whereas, It is altogether fitting, proper, through equal funding for all land-grant in- mental Affairs. and in the public interest, for this House to stitutions: Now, therefore, be it EC–5476. A communication from the Acting express opposition to HUD’s proposed rule- Resolved by the General Assembly of the State Director, Office of Personnel Management, making that would upend the AFFH rule and of New Jersey: transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of exacerbate housing inequities in both this 1. The General Assembly of the State of a rule entitled ‘‘Employment in the Ex- State and across the United States; now, New Jersey respectfully urges Congress and cepted Service’’ (RIN3206–AN30) received dur- therefore, be it the President of the United States to enact ing adjournment of the Senate in the Office Resolved, by the Senate of the State of New legislation aimed at eliminating the existing of the President of the Senate on September Jersey: funding inequity between Historically Black 11, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Se- 1. This House expresses its opposition to Colleges and Universities, which are the 1890 curity and Governmental Affairs. and disapproval of the United States Depart- land-grant institutions of higher education, EC–5477. A communication from the Asso- ment of Housing and Urban Development’s and the 1862 land-grant institutions of higher ciate General Counsel, Office of Management proposed rulemaking revising its Affirma- education. and Budget, transmitting, pursuant to law, a tively Furthering Fair Housing rule adopted 2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with report relative to a vacancy in the position in 2015. the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted of Director, Office of Management and Budg- 2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with by the Clerk of the General Assembly to the et, received during adjournment of the Sen- the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted President and Vice-President of the United ate in the Office of the President of the Sen- by the Secretary of the Senate to the Presi- States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of ate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee dent and Vice President of the United the United States Senate, the Speaker and on Homeland Security and Governmental Af- States, the United States Secretary of Hous- Minority Leader of the United States House fairs. ing and Urban Development, and each mem- of Representatives, and to every member of f ber of Congress elected from this State. New Jersey’s Congressional delegation.

PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS POM–235. A resolution adopted by the Gen- POM–236. A resolution adopted by the Sen- The following petitions and memo- eral Assembly of the State of New Jersey ate of the State of Michigan urging the rials were laid before the Senate and urging the United States Congress and the United States Congress to explore further were referred or ordered to lie on the President of the United States to eliminate avenues of relief for businesses affected by table as indicated: funding disparities among land-grant insti- the COVID–19 pandemic; to the Committee tutions of higher education; to the Com- on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. POM–234. A resolution adopted by the Sen- mittee on Health, Education, Labor, and SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 130 ate of the State of New Jersey expressing op- Pensions. Whereas, The COVID–19 Pandemic has dra- position to the Department of Housing and ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION NO. 125 matically affected Michigan and the United Urban Development’s proposed changes to Whereas, Historically Black Colleges and States. The first cases in Michigan were re- the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing Universities (HBCUs) have been providing a ported on March 10, 2020, and since these ini- Rule adopted in 2015; to the Committee on crucial means for the educational and eco- tial reports more than 56,000 cases have been Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. nomic advancement of African-Americans confirmed and more than 5,000 Michiganders SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 76 for more than a century; and have lost their lives to the novel Whereas, In 2015, the United States Depart- Whereas, By serving the African-American coronavirus. Nationally, there have been ment of Housing and Urban Development community, HBCUs serve all Americans by more than 1.7 million cases and 100,000 (‘‘HUD’’) adopted an Affirmatively Fur- preparing gifted young men and women to deaths; and thering Fair Housing (‘‘AFFH’’) rule that es- achieve their dreams and succeed in their Whereas, Mitigating the spread of the virus tablished a new framework for HUD funding life goals; and has required extraordinary public health

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:50 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.021 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5651 measures. Governor Gretchen Whitmer has 150 people and wounded over 5,000 others. Ac- POM–240. A petition from a citizen of the issued executive orders prohibiting large cording to experts, the blast registered on State of Texas relative to recipients of pub- gatherings, closing all primary and sec- seismographs at 3.3, and the blast was the lic financial assistance; to the Committee on ondary schools, and requiring the temporary third most powerful explosion in history Finance. closure of all nonessential businesses. At the after Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan dur- POM–241. A petition from a citizen of the federal level, the White House Coronavirus ing World War II; and State of Texas relative to territory and Task Force’s guidelines recommended the Whereas, In addition to the tragic loss of statehood status; to the Committee on En- closure of places where people gather, in- life, the explosion has largely destroyed the ergy and Natural Resources. port and its infrastructure, which was re- cluding businesses, where there is evidence f of community transmission. While some in- sponsible for 60 percent of Lebanon’s imports dustries and regions of the state have begun and was one of the largest and busiest ports EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF to partially reopen, it is unclear how long on the eastern Mediterranean Sea. As a re- COMMITTEES mitigation measures will be necessary before sult of the explosion, most of the city’s grain reserves and food imports were destroyed, The following executive reports of normal operations can resume; and nominations were submitted: Whereas, These measures have greatly im- which is likely to cause widespread food in- pacted the livelihoods of business owners security for years to come. In addition, the By Mr. WICKER for the Committee on across the state and our nation. With the city of Beirut is suffering billions in dam- Commerce, Science, and Transportation. forced closures, small business owners have ages, with the explosion shattering glass as Eric J. Soskin, of Virginia, to be Inspector been forced to lay off workers and forgo in- far as 15 miles from the scene. In response to General, Department of Transportation. come for months, while still needing to the widespread devastation from the blast, a * Sarah E. Feinberg, of West Virginia, to be make payments for utilities, mortgages and two-week state of emergency has been de- a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors rent, and other expenses. According to a sur- clared; and for a term of five years. * Chris Koos, of Illinois, to be a Director of vey by the Small Business Administration of Whereas, The people of Lebanon were al- the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of Michigan, one in seven, or about 14 percent, ready suffering from daily power outages, a lack of safe drinking water, food and fuel five years. of small businesses are not confident that shortages, and limited public health care be- * Robert E. Primus, of New Jersey, to be a they will survive the Pandemic. Nationally, fore the explosion. The COVID–19 Pandemic Member of the Surface Transportation Board a survey found that 7.5 million small busi- exacerbated these issues, resulting in Leb- for a term expiring December 31, 2022. nesses are at risk of shutting down; and anon’s worst economic crisis since the 1975– * Theodore Rokita, of Indiana, to be a Di- Whereas, Federal and state governments 1990 Civil War. Now with the devastation rector of the Amtrak Board of Directors for have a responsibility to assist small busi- from the explosion, it has become nearly im- the remainder of the term expiring January nesses since government mitigation meas- possible for the Lebanese people to obtain 3, 2021. ures, while for the greater good, contributed basic human rights without humanitarian * Theodore Rokita, of Indiana, to be a Di- significantly to the current economic crisis. aid; and rector of the Amtrak Board of Directors for The economic uncertainty and devastation Whereas, Rescue efforts have been ham- a term expiring January 3, 2026. caused by the COVID–19 Pandemic and the pered by the lack of electricity, and medical By Mr. JOHNSON for the Committee on related mitigation policies are not the fault professionals are stitching the wounded in Homeland Security and Governmental Af- of small business owners. It would be unjust the streets under their cellphone lights. Pub- fairs. to fail to help them and to allow them to lic Health Minister Hamad Hassan said Leb- * John M. Barger, of California, to be a bear an unfair share of the burden of address- anon’s health sector is short of beds and Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift In- ing this crisis; and Jacked the equipment necessary lo treat the vestment Board for a term expiring October Whereas, The failure of these businesses injured and care for patients in critical con- 11, 2022. could have wide ranging negative effects for dition. Meanwhile, many buildings and * Christopher Bancroft Burnham, of Con- Michigan and the United States. Since the homes have been reduced to an uninhabit- necticut, to be a Member of the Federal Re- beginning of the crisis, more than 40 million able mess of glass, leaving as many as 300.000 tirement Thrift Investment Board for a term Americans have filed for unemployment, in- people homeless. Furthermore, the toxic expiring September 25, 2024. cluding more than 1.7 million in Michigan. If gases released from the explosion. combined * Frank Dunlevy, of California, to be a small businesses are unable to reopen, many with the impact of COVID–19 and the thick Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift In- of these claimants may not be able to return Mediterranean summer air, have created a vestment Board for a term expiring Sep- to work, magnifying the already devastating deeply oppressive atmosphere where the peo- tember 25, 2022. economic impact of COVID–19; and ple of Beirut cannot breathe; and Whereas, The small business relief already * Nomination was reported with rec- Whereas, Lebanon’s Prime Minister Hassan ommendation that it be confirmed sub- enacted by Congress is not sufficient to miti- Diab and his government have stepped down gate these effects. As part of the Coronavirus after citing mass corruption that contrib- ject to the nominee’s commitment to Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) uted to the disaster. Before the resignation, respond to requests to appear and tes- Act, Congress created the Paycheck Protec- Prime Minster Hassan Diab made a plea to tify before any duly constituted com- tion Program (PPP) to provide loans to other countries for aid. France, Russia, Iraq, mittee of the Senate. small businesses. Even though additional and Iran have sent planes full of doctors, (Nominations without an asterisk money was subsequently appropriated to the medical supplies, medication, and more to were reported with the recommenda- program, the PPP has been unable to prove help Lebanon through this crisis: now, there- tion that they be confirmed.) relief to millions of small businesses that fore, be it have been affected by the crisis: Now, there- Resolved by the House of Representatives, f fore, be it That we urge the Congress and President of INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND the United States to send humanitarian aid Resolved by the Senate, That we memori- JOINT RESOLUTIONS alize the Congress of the United States to ex- in the form of medical supplies, medications, plore further avenues of relief for businesses and emergency funding to Lebanon in the The following bills and joint resolu- affected by the COVlD–19 Pandemic; and be wake of the Beirut Port Explosion, and be it tions were introduced, read the first it further further and second times by unanimous con- Resolved, That copies of this resolution be Resolved. That copies of this resolution be sent, and referred as indicated: transmitted to the Speaker of the United transmitted to the President of the United States House of Representatives, the Presi- States, the Speaker of the United States By Ms. STABENOW (for herself and dent of the United States Senate, and the House of Representatives, the President of Mrs. BLACKBURN): S. 4584. A bill to amend the Energy Policy members of the Michigan congressional dele- the United States Senate, and the Michigan and Conservation Act to modify the defini- gation. congressional delegation. tion of water heater under energy conserva- tion standards, and for other purposes; to the POM–237. A resolution adopted by the POM–238. A resolution adopted by the City Committee on Energy and Natural Re- House of Representatives of the State of Council of the City of Oberlin, Ohio, express- sources. Michigan urging the United States Congress ing the support for the passage of Senate By Mr. PETERS (for himself, Mr. CAR- and the President of the United States to im- Joint Resolution 6 to remove the deadline for state ratification of the equal rights PER, and Ms. KLOBUCHAR): mediately send humanitarian aid to Lebanon amendment; to the Committee on the Judici- S. 4585. A bill to maintain prompt and reli- in response to the Beirut port explosion; to ary. able postal services during the COVID–19 the Committee on Foreign Relations. POM–239. A resolution adopted by the health emergency, and for other purposes; to HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 303 Pennsylvania State Council of the Junior the Committee on Homeland Security and Whereas, On August 4, 2020, a cache of the Order United American Mechanics memori- Governmental Affairs. chemical substance ammonium nitrate alizing its opposition to the desecration and By Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina (for which was being stored in a warehouse on destruction of American war monuments in himself and Ms. SINEMA): the Pon of Beirut in Lebanon caught fire, re- this country; to the Committee on Energy S. 4586. A bill to amend the CARES Act to sulting in an explosion that killed more than and Natural Resources. require the uniform treatment of nationally

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recognized statistical rating organizations By Ms. ERNST (for herself, Mr. GRASS- Awareness Month’’; considered and agreed under certain programs carried out in re- LEY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. CASSIDY, to. sponse to the COVID–19 emergency, and for and Mr. KENNEDY): By Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. other purposes; to the Committee on Bank- S. 4596. A bill to provide tax relief for per- KENNEDY): ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs. sons affected by certain 2020 disasters; to the S. Res. 699. A resolution expressing support By Mr. GRAHAM (for himself and Mr. Committee on Finance. for the designation of the week of September SCOTT of South Carolina): By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself and Mr. 11 through September 17 as ‘‘Patriot Week’’; S. 4587. A bill to amend the Communica- BOOKER): considered and agreed to. tions Act of 1934 to establish a program to S. 4597. A bill to require U.S. Customs and By Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Ms. expand access to broadband in unserved and Border Protection to permit the entry into COLLINS, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. underserved areas, and for other purposes; to the United States of pets accompanying BLUMENTHAL, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. MUR- the Committee on Commerce, Science, and United States nationals repatriating during PHY, Mr. CARPER, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Transportation. public health emergencies; to the Committee Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. KING, By Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Mr. on Finance. Mr. WARNER, Mr. COONS, Mr. MARKEY, KENNEDY, Ms. ERNST, Ms. HIRONO, By Ms. ROSEN (for herself and Mr. Ms. HIRONO, Mr. REED, Mrs. FEIN- Mr. RISCH, and Mr. MARKEY): YOUNG): STEIN, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. MERKLEY, S. 4588. A bill to improve programs of the S. 4598. A bill to provide for assistance for Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. Small Business Administration to better as- small manufacturers in the defense indus- RUBIO, and Mr. KAINE): sist small business customers in accessing trial supply chain on matters relating to cy- S. Res. 700. A resolution designating the broadband technology, and for other pur- bersecurity; to the Committee on Armed week of September 19 through September 26, poses; to the Committee on Small Business Services. 2020, as ‘‘National Estuaries Week’’; consid- and Entrepreneurship. By Mr. HEINRICH: ered and agreed to. By Mr. BARRASSO: S. 4599. A bill to withdraw certain Federal f S. 4589. A bill to amend the Endangered land in the Pecos Watershed area of the Species Act of 1973 to increase transparency, State of New Mexico from mineral entry, and ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS to support regulatory certainty, and to reau- for other purposes; to the Committee on En- thorize that Act, and for other purposes; to ergy and Natural Resources. S. 514 the Committee on Environment and Public By Ms. HIRONO (for herself and Mr. At the request of Mr. TESTER, the Works. BOOKER): name of the Senator from Mississippi By Mr. LEE (for himself, Mr. CRUZ, and S. 4600. A bill to amend title 10, United (Mr. WICKER) was added as a cosponsor Mr. BARRASSO): States Code, to improve the responses of the of S. 514, a bill to amend title 38, S. 4590. A bill to amend the National Envi- Department of Defense to sex-related of- United States Code, to improve the ronmental Policy Act of 1969 to reform agen- fenses, and for other purposes; to the Com- benefits and services provided by the cy process requirements, and for other pur- mittee on Armed Services. poses; to the Committee on Environment and By Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. Department of Veterans Affairs to Public Works. WHITEHOUSE, Ms. MCSALLY, Mr. women veterans, and for other pur- By Mr. LEE: BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. KENNEDY): poses. S. 4591. A bill to amend the National Envi- S. 4601. A bill to establish an Animal Cru- S. 593 ronmental Policy Act of 1969 to reform agen- elty Crimes Section within the Department At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the cy process requirements, and for other pur- of Justice’s Environment and Natural Re- name of the Senator from Vermont poses; to the Committee on Environment and sources Division, and for other purposes; to Public Works. the Committee on the Judiciary. (Mr. SANDERS) was added as a cospon- By Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself By Mr. KENNEDY (for himself, Mr. sor of S. 593, a bill to amend the Reli- and Mr. RUBIO): TILLIS, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Ms. ERNST, gious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993 S. 4592. A bill to establish a Maritime Task Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. CRAMER, and Mr. to protect civil rights and otherwise Force and a private sector advisory com- RUBIO): prevent meaningful harm to third par- mittee to address the health, safety, secu- S. 4602. A bill to prohibit the obstruction of ties, and for other purposes. rity, and logistical issues relating to the emergency vehicles; to the Committee on continuation of maritime travel, including the Judiciary. S. 633 the resumption of cruise operations, in By Ms. MCSALLY: At the request of Mr. MORAN, the United States waters during the COVID–19 S. 4603. A bill to promote the use of forest name of the Senator from Oklahoma public health emergency; to the Committee restoration residue harvested on National (Mr. INHOFE) was added as a cosponsor on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Forest System land for renewable energy, of S. 633, a bill to award a Congres- By Mr. BURR (for himself, Mr. BOOKER, and for other purposes; to the Committee on sional Gold Medal to the members of Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BENNET, Mr. Energy and Natural Resources. the Women’s Army Corps who were as- BLUMENTHAL, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. By Mr. CRUZ: CASEY, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. COONS, Mr. S. 4604. A bill to require the imposition of signed to the 6888th Central Postal Di- CORNYN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. sanctions with respect to certain persons in rectory Battalion, known as the ‘‘Six DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEIN- the defense sectors of nuclear weapons states Triple Eight’’. STEIN, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. HEINRICH, Ms. that at not fulfilling their obligations under S. 839 article VI of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation HIRONO, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. KAINE, At the request of Mr. KAINE, the Treaty, and for other purposes; to the Com- Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MAR- name of the Senator from California KEY, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. MERKLEY, mittee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Af- Mr. MURPHY, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. fairs. (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a co- sponsor of S. 839, a bill to extend Fed- PORTMAN, Mr. REED, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. f RUBIO, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SCOTT of eral Pell Grant eligibility of certain South Carolina, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND short-term programs. SMITH, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WARNER, SENATE RESOLUTIONS S. 959 Ms. WARREN, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. The following concurrent resolutions At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the WICKER, and Mr. WYDEN): S. 4593. A bill to award posthumously the and Senate resolutions were read, and names of the Senator from Nebraska Congressional Gold Medal to Emmett Till referred (or acted upon), as indicated: (Mrs. FISCHER) and the Senator from and Mamie Till-Mobley; to the Committee By Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, New Hampshire (Ms. HASSAN) were on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Mr. TILLIS, Mr. COTTON, Mrs. LOEF- added as cosponsors of S. 959, a bill to By Mr. TESTER: FLER, Ms. ERNST, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. establish in the Smithsonian Institu- S. 4594. A bill to amend title 38, United PERDUE, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. INHOFE, tion a comprehensive women’s history States Code, to improve and to expand eligi- Mr. DAINES, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. museum, and for other purposes. bility for dependency and indemnity com- ROUNDS, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. MCSALLY, pensation paid to certain survivors of certain and Mr. PORTMAN): S. 1210 veterans; to the Committee on Veterans’ Af- S. Res. 697. A resolution expressing support At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the fairs. for the brave men and women of our law en- name of the Senator from Delaware By Mr. MERKLEY: forcement agencies and urging the people of (Mr. CARPER) was added as a cosponsor S. 4595. A bill to temporarily extend the pe- the United States to ‘‘Back the Blue’’; to the of S. 1210, a bill to amend the Internal riod of validity of J–1 visas issued to employ- Committee on the Judiciary. ees and contractors of the United States By Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Ms. Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and Agency for Global Media and its broad- BALDWIN): make permanent the exclusion for ben- casting networks; to the Committee on the S. Res. 698. A resolution designating Sep- efits provided to volunteer firefighters Judiciary. tember 2020 as ‘‘National Spinal Cord Injury and emergency medical responders.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.041 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5653 S. 1820 Lands Recreation Enhancement Act to shire (Ms. HASSAN) was added as a co- At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, make the National Parks and Federal sponsor of S. 4003, a bill to improve the name of the Senator from Massa- Recreational Lands Pass available at United States consideration of, and chusetts (Mr. MARKEY) was added as a no cost to members of Gold Star Fami- strategic support for, programs to pre- cosponsor of S. 1820, a bill to improve lies. vent and respond to gender-based vio- the integrity and safety of horseracing S. 3393 lence from the onset of humanitarian by requiring a uniform anti-doping and At the request of Mr. TESTER, the emergencies and to build the capacity medication control program to be de- name of the Senator from Minnesota of humanitarian actors to address the veloped and enforced by an independent (Ms. SMITH) was added as a cosponsor immediate and long-term challenges Horseracing Anti-Doping and Medica- of S. 3393, a bill to amend title 10, resulting from such violence, and for tion Control Authority. United States Code, to provide for con- other purposes. S. 2001 current receipt of veterans’ disability S. 4110 compensation and retired pay for dis- At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the name of the Senator from Virginia (Mr. ability retirees with fewer than 20 name of the Senator from Connecticut years of service and a combat-related (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) was added as a co- KAINE) was added as a cosponsor of S. disability, and for other purposes. sponsor of S. 4110, a bill to designate 2001, a bill to award a Congressional S 3471 residents of the Hong Kong Special Ad- Gold Medal to Willie O’Ree, in recogni- . ministrative Region as Priority 2 refu- tion of his extraordinary contributions At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the gees of special humanitarian concern, and commitment to hockey, inclusion, name of the Senator from South Da- and for other purposes. and recreational opportunity. kota (Mr. THUNE) was added as a co- sponsor of S. 3471, a bill to ensure that S. 4150 S. 2815 goods made with forced labor in the At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region names of the Senator from South Caro- names of the Senator from Washington of the People’s Republic of China do lina (Mr. GRAHAM) and the Senator (Mrs. MURRAY) and the Senator from not enter the United States market, from Arkansas (Mr. BOOZMAN) were Florida (Mr. SCOTT) were added as co- and for other purposes. added as cosponsors of S. 4150, a bill to sponsors of S. 2815, a bill to require the S. 3605 require the Secretary of the Treasury Secretary of the Treasury to mint At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, to provide assistance to certain pro- coins in commemoration of the Na- the name of the Senator from Nevada viders of transportation services af- tional Purple Heart Honor Mission. (Ms. ROSEN) was added as a cosponsor fected by the novel coronavirus. S. 2936 of S. 3605, a bill to amend the Specialty S. 4152 At the request of Mr. LEAHY, the Crops Competitiveness Act of 2004 to At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. provide specialty crop block grants to name of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. fund State food banks and food access ERNST) was added as a cosponsor of S. 2936, a bill to provide for the admission networks. 4152, a bill to provide for the adjust- and protection of refugees, asylum S. 3718 ment or modification by the Secretary seekers, and other vulnerable individ- At the request of Ms. CANTWELL, the of Agriculture of loans for critical uals, to provide for the processing of name of the Senator from Alaska (Mr. rural utility service providers, and for refugees and asylum seekers in the SULLIVAN) was added as a cosponsor of other purposes. Western Hemisphere, and to modify S. 3718, a bill to expand the waiver of S. 4159 certain special immigrant visa pro- affiliation rules for certain business At the request of Mr. THUNE, the grams, and for other purposes. concerns with more than 1 physical lo- name of the Senator from Tennessee S. 3051 cation, and for other purposes. (Mrs. BLACKBURN) was added as a co- At the request of Mr. BARRASSO, the S. 3753 sponsor of S. 4159, a bill to amend the name of the Senator from New Mexico At the request of Mr. BRAUN, the Electronic Signatures in Global and (Mr. HEINRICH) was added as a cospon- name of the Senator from Pennsyl- National Commerce Act to accommo- sor of S. 3051, a bill to improve protec- vania (Mr. TOOMEY) was added as a co- date emerging technologies. tions for wildlife, and for other pur- sponsor of S. 3753, a bill to direct the S. 4234 poses. Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure At the request of Mr. CRUZ, the name EE S. 3264 that certain medical facilities of the of the Senator from Utah (Mr. L ) was Department of Veterans Affairs have added as a cosponsor of S. 4234, a bill to At the request of Mr. UDALL, the physical locations for the disposal of require the Secretary of Commerce to name of the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. controlled substances medications. identify a certain amount of Federal SCHATZ) was added as a cosponsor of S. S 3761 spectrum to be reallocated for mobile 3264, a bill to expedite and streamline . and fixed wireless broadband use, and the deployment of affordable At the request of Mr. TESTER, the name of the Senator from Delaware for other purposes. broadband service on Tribal land, and (Mr. COONS) was added as a cosponsor S. 4258 for other purposes. of S. 3761, a bill to amend title 38, At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the S. 3353 United States Code, to require the Sec- names of the Senator from Maine (Mr. At the request of Mr. CASSIDY, the retary of Veterans Affairs to provide KING) and the Senator from Pennsyl- names of the Senator from Arkansas veterans service organizations and rec- vania (Mr. CASEY) were added as co- (Mr. COTTON) and the Senator from ognized agents and attorneys opportu- sponsors of S. 4258, a bill to establish a Oklahoma (Mr. LANKFORD) were added nities to review Department of Vet- grant program for small live venue op- as cosponsors of S. 3353, a bill to amend erans Affairs disability rating deter- erators and talent representatives. title XVIII of the Social Security Act minations before they are finalized, S. 4349 to provide for extended months of and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. KAINE, the Medicare coverage of immuno- S. 3899 names of the Senator from Maine (Mr. suppressive drugs for kidney transplant At the request of Mr. TESTER, the KING) and the Senator from Nevada patients, and for other purposes. name of the Senator from Michigan (Ms. ROSEN) were added as cosponsors At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the (Mr. PETERS) was added as a cosponsor of S. 4349, a bill to address behavioral name of the Senator from New York of S. 3899, a bill to direct the Secretary health and well-being among health (Mrs. GILLIBRAND) was added as a co- of Veterans Affairs to carry out a re- care professionals. sponsor of S. 3353, supra. training assistance program for unem- S. 4417 S. 3366 ployed veterans, and for other pur- At the request of Ms. HIRONO, the At the request of Mr. KING, the name poses. name of the Senator from Connecticut of the Senator from New Mexico (Mr. S. 4003 (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) was added as a co- HEINRICH) was added as a cosponsor of At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the sponsor of S. 4417, a bill to provide tem- S. 3366, a bill to amend the Federal name of the Senator from New Hamp- porary impact aid construction grants

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.043 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5654 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 to eligible local educational agencies, from Michigan (Mr. PETERS) were ested in sowing chaos and destruction: Now, and for other purposes. added as cosponsors of S. Res. 672, a therefore, be it S. 4422 resolution designating September 2020 Resolved, That the Senate— At the request of Mr. WICKER, the as National Democracy Month as a (1) expresses gratitude to the brave men name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. time to reflect on the contributions of and women of our Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies who selflessly ROBERTS) was added as a cosponsor of the system of government of the United States to a more free and stable serve their communities; S. 4422, a bill to establish the Office of (2) stands united to ‘‘Back the Blue’’ and Minority Broadband Initiatives within world. support the law enforcement agencies and of- the National Telecommunications and AMENDMENT NO. 1551 ficers that stand on the front lines every day Information Administration, and for At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the to maintain law and order so that our com- other purposes. name of the Senator from North Da- munities can prosper; (3) condemns the perpetrators, instigators, S. 4482 kota (Mr. CRAMER) was added as a co- sponsor of amendment No. 1551 in- and celebrators of violence against law en- At the request of Mr. PORTMAN, the forcement officers; and name of the Senator from Kansas (Mr. tended to be proposed to S. 2657, a bill (4) calls for the people of the United States MORAN) was added as a cosponsor of S. to support innovation in advanced geo- to— 4482, a bill to require the Secretary of thermal research and development, and (A) denounce the recent cowardly attack State to submit to Congress an annual for other purposes. on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Depart- report regarding instances of Arab gov- f ment deputies; ernment retribution toward citizens (B) assist in the identification and appre- SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS and residents who engage in people-to- hension of the criminal who perpetrated the cowardly attack; and people relations with Israelis. (C) pray for the speedy and full recovery of S. 4526 SENATE RESOLUTION 697—EX- the deputies. At the request of Ms. HIRONO, the PRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE name of the Senator from New Hamp- BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF f shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN) was added as a co- OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGEN- sponsor of S. 4526, a bill to ensure that CIES AND URGING THE PEOPLE SENATE RESOLUTION 698—DESIG- COVID–19-related Federal programs OF THE UNITED STATES TO NATING SEPTEMBER 2020 AS and assistance provide for the trans- ‘‘BACK THE BLUE’’ ‘‘NATIONAL SPINAL CORD IN- lation of informational materials relat- Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself, JURY AWARENESS MONTH’’ ing to awareness, screening, testing, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. COTTON, Mrs. LOEF- and treatment for COVID–19 into pri- Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Ms. FLER, Ms. ERNST, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. ority languages. BALDWIN) submitted the following reso- PERDUE, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. lution; which was considered and S. 4544 DAINES, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. agreed to: At the request of Mr. LEAHY, the ROUNDS, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. MCSALLY, name of the Senator from Wisconsin and Mr. PORTMAN) submitted the fol- S. RES. 698 (Ms. BALDWIN) was added as a cospon- lowing resolution; which was referred Whereas approximately 294,000 individuals sor of S. 4544, a bill to specify the Fed- to the Committee on the Judiciary: in the United States live with spinal cord in- eral share of the costs of certain duty S. RES. 697 juries, which cost society billions of dollars of the National Guard in connection Whereas the cowardly attack on 2 Los An- in health care costs and lost wages; with the Coronavirus Disease 2019. geles County Sheriff’s Department deputies Whereas there are approximately 17,810 S. 4559 on September 12, 2020, is the latest example new spinal cord injuries in the United States each year; At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the of an alarming trend of targeted violence to- Whereas more than 42,000 individuals with name of the Senator from New York ward Federal, State, and local law enforce- ment officers; spinal cord injuries are veterans; (Mrs. GILLIBRAND) was added as a co- Whereas motor vehicle accidents are the sponsor of S. 4559, a bill to respond to Whereas, as of September 11, 2020, the Fed- eral Bureau of Investigation reported that 37 leading cause of spinal cord injuries; the provision of bounties by the Gov- law enforcement officers have been feloni- Whereas nearly half of all spinal cord inju- ernment of the Russian Federation for ously killed in the United States in 2020, rep- ries to individuals 30 years of age or younger the killing of members of the Armed resenting a more than 20 percent increase in occur as a result of motor vehicle accidents; Forces of the United States and mem- law enforcement homicides compared to the Whereas the average remaining years of bers of the Resolute Support Mission same period last year; life for individuals living with spinal cord in- juries has not improved significantly since led by the North Atlantic Treaty Orga- Whereas more than 800,000 sworn law en- forcement officers in the United States per- the 1980s; nization and with respect to certain Whereas there is an urgent need to develop Russian political figures and oligarchs, form innumerable daily acts of bravery and service for their communities that often go new neuroprotection, pharmacological, and and for other purposes. entirely unreported; regeneration treatments to reduce, prevent, S. 4571 Whereas radical politicians, reckless media and reverse paralysis; and Whereas increased education and invest- At the request of Mr. PETERS, his figures, and organized protest movements ment in research are key factors in improv- name was added as a cosponsor of S. bent on sowing civil unrest have sought to vilify and denigrate the courageous men and ing outcomes for individuals living with spi- 4571, a bill to extend certain deadlines nal cord injuries, enhancing the quality of for the 2020 decennial census. women of our law enforcement agencies, while inciting, encouraging, or celebrating life of individuals with spinal cord injuries, S. RES. 274 widespread criminal activity and violence and ultimately curing paralysis: Now, there- At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the against law enforcement officers; fore, be it name of the Senator from Washington Whereas crime rates, including rates of Resolved, That the Senate— (Mrs. MURRAY) was added as a cospon- violent crime, have dramatically risen in (1) designates September 2020 as ‘‘National sor of S. Res. 274, a resolution express- several cities across the United States as Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month’’; ing solidarity with Falun Gong practi- radical politicians pursue a dangerous cam- (2) supports the goals and ideals of Na- tioners who have lost lives, freedoms, paign to ‘‘defund the police’’, starving law tional Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month; enforcement agencies of much-needed re- (3) continues to support research to find and other rights for adhering to their sources to combat the growing threat to better treatments, therapies, and a cure for beliefs and practices, and condemning their communities; spinal cord injuries; the practice of non-consenting organ Whereas maintaining law and order is fun- (4) supports clinical trials for new thera- harvesting, and for other purposes. damental to the safety, security, and pros- pies that offer promise and hope to individ- S. RES. 672 perity of our communities; and uals living with paralysis; and Whereas now is the time to ‘‘Back the (5) commends the dedication of national, At the request of Mrs. FEINSTEIN, the Blue’’, and express our full-throated support regional, and local organizations, research- names of the Senator from Massachu- for the selfless work of our courageous law ers, doctors, volunteers, and people across setts (Mr. MARKEY), the Senator from enforcement officers who protect all law- the United States who are working to im- Ohio (Mr. BROWN), the Senator from abiding citizens against the threats posed by prove the quality of life of individuals living Minnesota (Ms. SMITH) and the Senator criminals and violent domestic groups inter- with spinal cord injuries and their families.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.045 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5655 SENATE RESOLUTION 699—EX- SENATE RESOLUTION 700—DESIG- have become dead zones filled with excess PRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE NATING THE WEEK OF SEP- nutrients, chemical waste, and marine de- DESIGNATION OF THE WEEK OF TEMBER 19 THROUGH SEP- bris; SEPTEMBER 11 THROUGH SEP- TEMBER 26, 2020, AS ‘‘NATIONAL Whereas harmful algal blooms are hurting fish, wildlife, and human health and are TEMBER 17 AS ‘‘PATRIOT WEEK’’ ESTUARIES WEEK’’ causing serious ecological and economic Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Ms. harm to some estuaries; KENNEDY) submitted the following res- COLLINS, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. Whereas changes in sea levels can affect olution; which was considered and BLUMENTHAL, Ms. HASSAN, Mr. MUR- estuarine water quality and estuarine habi- agreed to: PHY, Mr. CARPER, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. tats; Whereas section 320 of the Federal Water S. RES. 699 CARDIN, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. KING, Mr. Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330) (com- WARNER, Mr. COONS, Mr. MARKEY, Ms. Whereas the events that led to the signing monly known as the ‘‘Clean Water Act’’) au- of the Constitution of the United States by HIRONO, Mr. REED, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. thorizes the development of comprehensive the delegates to the Constitutional Conven- SHAHEEN, Mr. MERKLEY, Ms. BALDWIN, conservation and management plans to en- tion on September 17, 1787, have significance Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. RUBIO, and Mr. sure that the designated uses of estuaries are for every citizen of the United States and are KAINE) submitted the following resolu- protected and to restore and maintain— honored in public schools across the United tion; which was considered and agreed (1) the chemical, physical, and biological States on Constitution Day, which is Sep- integrity of estuaries; tember 17 of each year; to: S. RES. 700 (2) water quality; Whereas the rule of law, the social com- (3) a balanced indigenous population of pact, democracy, liberty, equality, and Whereas estuary regions cover only 13 per- shellfish, fish, and wildlife; and unalienable human rights are the essential cent of the land area in the continental (4) recreational activities in estuaries; values upon which the United States flour- United States but contain nearly 43 percent Whereas the Coastal Zone Management ishes; of the population, 40 percent of the jobs, and Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) provides Whereas diversity is one of the greatest nearly 50 percent of the economic output of that the policy of the United States is to strengths of the United States, and the the United States; preserve, protect, develop, and, if possible, motto inscribed on the Great Seal of the Whereas the oceans, estuaries, and Great restore or enhance the resources of the United States, ‘‘E pluribus unum’’, Latin for Lakes of the United States continue to fuel coastal zone of the United States, including ‘‘out of many, one’’, symbolizes that individ- economic growth across the United States, estuaries, for current and future generations; uals in the United States from all walks of which is evidenced by the fact that, by 2016— Whereas 29 coastal and Great Lakes States life are unified by shared values; (1) employment levels in economic sectors and territories of the United States operate Whereas exceptional, visionary, and indis- relating to oceans and estuaries had in- or contain a National Estuary Program or a pensable individuals such as Thomas Paine, creased by 14.5 percent from employment National Estuarine Research Reserve; Patrick Henry, John Adams, John Marshall, levels in those sectors in 2007, before the Whereas scientific study leads to a better George Washington, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Great Recession; and understanding of the benefits of estuaries to Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tub- (2) the average employment level of the en- human and ecological communities; man, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, tire economy of the United States had in- Whereas the Federal Government, State, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, creased by 4.8 percent from that employment local, and Tribal governments, national and and James Madison founded or advanced the level in 2007, before the Great Recession; community organizations, and individuals United States; Whereas, between 2015 and 2016, economic work together to effectively manage the es- Whereas the Declaration of Independence, sectors relating to estuaries, oceans, and tuaries of the United States; the Constitution of the United States, the Great Lakes in the United States— Whereas estuary restoration efforts restore Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions (1) created 85,000 new jobs; natural infrastructure in local communities signed in Seneca Falls, New York, the Get- (2) employed 3,300,000 individuals; and in a cost-effective manner, helping to create tysburg Address, the Emancipation Procla- (3) contributed $124,000,000,000 to the gross jobs and reestablish the natural functions of mation, and the ‘‘I Have a Dream’’ speech de- domestic product; estuaries that yield countless benefits; and livered by Martin Luther King, Jr., express Whereas, by 2018, the ocean economy sup- Whereas the week of September 19 through sentiments that have advanced liberty in the ported 2,300,000 jobs in the United States, and September 26, 2020, is recognized as ‘‘Na- United States; and the compensation paid to employees in such tional Estuaries Week’’ to increase aware- Whereas the Bennington flag (commonly sector was $161,900,000,000; ness among all people of the United States, known as the ‘‘’76 flag’’), the Betsy Ross flag, Whereas the commercial and recreational including Federal Government and State, the current flag of the United States, the fishing industries support more than 1,740,000 local, and Tribal government officials, about flag of the women’s suffrage movement, the jobs in the United States; the importance of healthy estuaries and the Union flag (commonly known as the ‘‘Fort Whereas, in 2017— (1) commercial and recreational saltwater need to protect and restore estuaries: Now, Sumter flag’’), the Gadsden flag, and the fishing in the United States generated more therefore, be it flags of the States are physical symbols of than $244,000,000,000 in sales and contributed Resolved, That the Senate— the history of the United States: Now, there- $110,700,000,000 to the gross domestic product (1) designates the week of September 19 fore, be it of the United States; through September 26, 2020, as ‘‘National Es- Resolved, That the Senate— (2) angler trip expenditures totaled nearly (1) supports the designation of the week of tuaries Week’’; $10,500,000,000; and (2) supports the goals and ideals of Na- September 11 through September 17 as ‘‘Pa- (3) saltwater recreational fishing supported triot Week’’; tional Estuaries Week; 487,000 jobs, generated $73,800,000,000 in sales (3) acknowledges the importance of estu- (2) recognizes that understanding the his- across the United States, and contributed tory of the United States and the first prin- aries to sustaining employment in the $41,500,000,000 to the gross domestic product United States and the economic well-being ciples of the United States is indispensable of the United States; to the survival of the United States as a free and prosperity of the United States; Whereas estuaries provide vital habitats (4) recognizes that persistent threats un- people; for— (3) acknowledges, in great reverence to the dermine the health of estuaries; (1) countless species of fish and wildlife, in- (5) applauds the work of national and com- victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks, cluding more than 68 percent of the commer- that citizens of the United States should munity organizations and public partners cial fish catch in the United States by value that promote public awareness, under- take time to honor the first principles, and 80 percent of the recreational fish catch standing, protection, and restoration of estu- founders, documents, and symbols of their in the United States by weight; and aries; history; (2) many species that are listed as threat- (4) recognizes that each generation should ened or endangered species; (6) supports the scientific study, preserva- renew the spirit of the United States based Whereas estuaries provide critical eco- tion, protection, and restoration of estu- on the first principles, historical figures, system services that protect human health aries; and founding documents, and symbols of the and public safety, including water filtration, (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to United States; and flood control, shoreline stabilization, erosion continue working to understand, protect, (5) encourages citizens, schools and other prevention, and the protection of coastal and restore the estuaries of the United educational institutions, and Federal, State, communities during hurricanes, storms, and States. and local governments and their agencies to other extreme weather events; f recognize and participate in Patriot Week by Whereas, by the 1980s, the United States AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND honoring, celebrating, and promoting the had already lost more than 50 percent of the PROPOSED study of the history of the United States so wetlands that existed in the original 13 colo- that all people of the United States may nies; SA 2656. Mr. PORTMAN (for Mr. BARRASSO offer the reverence that is due to the free re- Whereas some bays in the United States (for himself and Mr. CARPER)) proposed an public. that were once filled with fish and oysters amendment to the bill S. 3051, to improve

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.036 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5656 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 protections for wildlife, and for other pur- (2) by striking ‘‘paragraph (7)(B)’’ each ‘‘(I) 1 or more Federal agencies with juris- poses. place such term appears and inserting ‘‘para- diction over the management of native wild- f graph (8)(B)’’; life species at risk due to conflict with (3) in paragraph (6)(C)(iv), by striking human activities; TEXT OF AMENDMENTS ‘‘subparagraph (C)’’ and inserting ‘‘clause ‘‘(II) 1 or more State agencies with juris- SA 2656. Mr. PORTMAN (for Mr. BAR- (iii)’’; diction over the management of native wild- RASSO (for himself and Mr. CARPER)) (4) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para- life species at risk due to conflict with proposed an amendment to the bill S. graph (8); human activities; (5) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol- 3051, to improve protections for wild- ‘‘(III) 1 or more State, regional, or local lowing: wildlife organizations, the mission of which life, and for other purposes; as follows: ‘‘(7) THEODORE ROOSEVELT GENIUS PRIZE FOR relates to the management of native wildlife Strike all after the enacting clause and in- REDUCING HUMAN-PREDATOR CONFLICT.— species at risk due to conflict with human sert the following: ‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: activities; and SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. ‘‘(i) BOARD.—The term ‘Board’ means the ‘‘(IV) 1 or more wildlife conservation (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as Reducing Human-Predator Conflict Tech- groups, technology companies, research in- the ‘‘America’s Conservation Enhancement nology Advisory Board established by sub- stitutions, institutions of higher education, Act’’. paragraph (C)(i). industry associations, or individual stake- (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con- ‘‘(ii) PRIZE COMPETITION.—The term ‘prize holders with an interest in the management tents for this Act is as follows: competition’ means the Theodore Roosevelt of native wildlife species at risk due to con- Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Genius Prize for reducing human-predator flict with human activities. conflict established under subparagraph (B). TITLE I—WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, ‘‘(v) REQUIREMENTS.—The Board shall com- ‘‘(B) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 180 days DISEASE, AND PREDATION ply with all requirements under paragraph after the date of enactment of the America’s (8)(A). Sec. 101. Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize Conservation Enhancement Act, the Sec- ‘‘(D) AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL FISH AND for reducing human-predator retary shall establish under section 24 of the WILDLIFE FOUNDATION.— conflict. Stevenson-Wydler Technology Innovation ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall offer Sec. 102. Losses of livestock due to depreda- Act of 1980 (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize competi- to enter into an agreement under which the tion by federally protected spe- tion, to be known as the ‘Theodore Roosevelt National Fish and Wildlife Foundation shall cies. Genius Prize for reducing human-predator administer the prize competition. Sec. 103. Depredation permits for black vul- conflict’— ‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—An agreement en- tures and common ravens. ‘‘(i) to encourage technological innovation Sec. 104. Chronic Wasting Disease Task tered into under clause (i) shall comply with with the potential to advance the mission of all requirements under paragraph (8)(B). Force. the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Sec. 105. Invasive species. ‘‘(E) JUDGES.— with respect to reducing the frequency of ‘‘(i) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary shall ap- Sec. 106. North American Wetlands Con- human-predator conflict using nonlethal servation Act. point not fewer than 3 judges who shall, ex- means; and cept as provided in clause (ii), select the 1 or Sec. 107. National Fish and Wildlife Founda- ‘‘(ii) to award 1 or more prizes annually for tion Establishment Act. more annual winners of the prize competi- a technological advancement that promotes tion. Sec. 108. Modification of definition of sport reducing human-predator conflict using non- ‘‘(ii) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.—The fishing equipment under Toxic lethal means, which may include the appli- Substances Control Act. judges appointed under clause (i) shall not cation and monitoring of tagging tech- select any annual winner of the prize com- Sec. 109. Reauthorization of Chesapeake Bay nologies. petition if the Secretary makes a determina- Program. ‘‘(C) ADVISORY BOARD.— tion that, in any fiscal year, none of the Sec. 110. Reauthorization of Chesapeake Bay ‘‘(i) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established technological advancements entered into the Initiative Act of 1998. an advisory board, to be known as the ‘Re- prize competition merits an award. Sec. 111. Chesapeake watershed investments ducing Human-Predator Conflict Technology ‘‘(F) CONSULTATION WITH NATIONAL OCEANIC for landscape defense. Advisory Board’. AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION.—The Sec- TITLE II—NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CON- ‘‘(ii) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall be retary shall consult with the Secretary of SERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS composed of not fewer than 9 members ap- Commerce, acting through the Adminis- pointed by the Secretary, who shall provide Sec. 201. Purpose. trator of the National Oceanic and Atmos- expertise in— Sec. 202. Definitions. pheric Administration, in the case of a cash Sec. 203. National Fish Habitat Board. ‘‘(I) predator-human interactions; prize awarded under the prize competition Sec. 204. Fish Habitat Partnerships. ‘‘(II) the habitats of large predators; for a technology that addresses conflict be- Sec. 205. Fish Habitat Conservation ‘‘(III) biology; tween humans and marine predators under Projects. ‘‘(IV) technology development; the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Com- Sec. 206. Technical and scientific assistance. ‘‘(V) engineering; merce, acting through the Administrator of Sec. 207. Coordination with States and In- ‘‘(VI) economics; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- dian Tribes. ‘‘(VII) business development and manage- ministration. Sec. 208. Interagency Operational Plan. ment; and ‘‘(G) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than Sec. 209. Accountability and reporting. ‘‘(VIII) any other discipline, as the Sec- 60 days after the date on which a cash prize Sec. 210. Effect of this title. retary determines to be necessary to achieve is awarded under this paragraph, the Sec- Sec. 211. Nonapplicability of Federal Advi- the purposes of this paragraph. sory Committee Act. ‘‘(iii) DUTIES.—Subject to clause (iv), with retary shall submit to the Committee on En- Sec. 212. Funding. respect to the prize competition, the Board vironment and Public Works of the Senate Sec. 213. Prohibition against implementa- shall— and the Committee on Natural Resources of tion of regulatory authority by ‘‘(I) select a topic; the House of Representatives a report on the Federal agencies through Part- ‘‘(II) issue a problem statement; prize competition that includes— nerships. ‘‘(III) advise the Secretary regarding any ‘‘(i) a statement by the Board that de- scribes the activities carried out by the TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS opportunity for technological innovation to reduce human-predator conflict using non- Board relating to the duties described in sub- Sec. 301. Study to review conservation fac- lethal means; and paragraph (C)(iii); tors. ‘‘(IV) advise winners of the prize competi- ‘‘(ii) if the Secretary has entered into an Sec. 302. Study and report on expenditures. tion regarding opportunities to pilot and im- agreement under subparagraph (D)(i), a Sec. 303. Use of value of land for cost shar- plement winning technologies in relevant statement by the National Fish and Wildlife ing. fields, including in partnership with con- Foundation that describes the activities car- TITLE I—WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, servation organizations, Federal or State ried out by the National Fish and Wildlife DISEASE, AND PREDATION agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, Foundation relating to the duties described SEC. 101. THEODORE ROOSEVELT GENIUS PRIZE private entities, and research institutions in paragraph (8)(B); and FOR REDUCING HUMAN-PREDATOR with expertise or interest relating to reduc- ‘‘(iii) a statement by 1 or more of the CONFLICT. ing human-predator conflict using nonlethal judges appointed under subparagraph (E) (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7001(d) of the means. that explains the basis on which the winner John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Manage- ‘‘(iv) CONSULTATION.—In selecting a topic of the cash prize was selected. ment, and Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 742b and issuing a problem statement for the ‘‘(H) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The note; Public Law 116–9) is amended— prize competition under subclauses (I) and Board and all authority provided under this (1) by striking ‘‘paragraph (7)(A)’’ each (II) of clause (iii), respectively, the Board paragraph shall terminate on December 31, place such term appears and inserting ‘‘para- shall consult widely with Federal and non- 2023.’’; and graph (8)(A)’’; Federal stakeholders, including— (6) in paragraph (8) (as redesignated)—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.030 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5657 (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘or dation by federally protected species occur- under subsection (a) only to livestock pro- (6)(C)(i)’’ and inserting ‘‘(6)(C)(i), or ring on— ducers in States and regions in which live- (7)(C)(i)’’; and (I) Federal, State, or private land within stock producers are affected or have been af- (B) in subparagraph (B)— the applicable State; or fected in the previous year by black vultures (i) by striking ‘‘or (6)(D)(i)’’ and inserting (II) land owned by, or held in trust for the or common ravens, as determined by Sec- ‘‘(6)(D)(i), or (7)(D)(i)’’; and benefit of, the applicable Indian Tribe; and retary. (ii) in clause (i)(VII), by striking ‘‘and (ii) research relating to the activities de- (c) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall re- (6)(E)’’ and inserting ‘‘(6)(E), and (7)(E)’’. scribed in clause (i); and quire, as a condition of a permit under sub- (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of (B) to compensate livestock producers for section (a), that the permit holder shall re- Congress that data collected from the tag- livestock losses due to depredation by feder- port to the appropriate enforcement agencies ging of predators can inform innovative ally protected species occurring on— the takings of black vultures or common management of those predators and innova- (i) Federal, State, or private land within ravens pursuant to the permit. tive education activities to minimize the applicable State; or human-predator conflict. SEC. 104. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TASK (ii) land owned by, or held in trust for the FORCE. SEC. 102. LOSSES OF LIVESTOCK DUE TO DEPRE- benefit of, the applicable Indian Tribe. EFINITIONS DATION BY FEDERALLY PROTECTED (a) D .—In this section: (2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— SPECIES. (1) CERVID.—The term ‘‘cervid’’ means any (A) REPORTS TO THE SECRETARIES.—Not (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: species within the family Cervidae. later than September 30 of each year, a State (1) DEPREDATION.— (2) CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE.—The term or Indian Tribe desiring to receive a grant (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘depredation’’ ‘‘chronic wasting disease’’ means the animal under the program shall submit to the Secre- means actual death, injury, or destruction of disease afflicting deer, elk, and moose popu- livestock that is caused by a federally pro- taries a report describing, for the 1-year pe- lations that— tected species. riod ending on that September 30, the losses (A) is a transmissible disease of the nerv- of livestock due to depredation by federally (B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘depredation’’ ous system resulting in distinctive lesions in does not include damage to real or personal protected species occurring on— the brain; and property other than livestock, including— (i) Federal, State, or private land within (B) belongs to the group of diseases known (i) damage to— the applicable State; or as transmissible spongiform (I) other animals; (ii) land owned by, or held in trust for the encephalopathies, which group includes (II) vegetation; benefit of, the applicable Indian Tribe. scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, (III) motor vehicles; or (B) ALLOCATION.—The Secretaries shall al- and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. (IV) structures; locate available funding to carry out this (3) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ (ii) diseases; Act among States and Indian Tribes for a 1- means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting (iii) lost profits; or year period ending on September 30 based on through the Administrator of the Animal (iv) consequential damages. the losses described in the reports submitted and Plant Health Inspection Service, and the for the previous 1-year period ending on Sep- (2) FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES.—The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the term ‘‘federally protected species’’ means a tember 30 under subparagraph (A). Director of the United States Geological species that is or previously was protected (3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a Survey and the Director of the United States under— grant under paragraph (1), a State or Indian Fish and Wildlife Service, acting jointly. (A) the Act of June 8, 1940 (commonly Tribe shall— (b) ESTABLISHMENT.— known as the ‘‘Bald and Golden Eagle Pro- (A) designate an appropriate agency of the (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall es- tection Act’’) (54 Stat. 250, chapter 278; 16 State or Indian Tribe to administer the 1 or tablish within the United States Fish and U.S.C. 668 et seq.); more programs supplemented by the grant Wildlife Service a task force, to be known as (B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 funds; the ‘‘Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force’’ U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or (B) establish 1 or more accounts to receive (referred to in this subsection as the ‘‘Task (C) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 grant funds; Force’’) after the completion of the study re- U.S.C. 703 et seq.). (C) maintain files of all claims received quired by subsection (c). and paid under grant-funded programs, in- (3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ (2) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— has the meaning given to the term ‘‘Indian cluding supporting documentation; and (A) collaborate with foreign governments tribe’’ in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter- (D) submit to the Secretaries— to share research, coordinate efforts, and dis- mination and Education Assistance Act (25 (i) annual reports that include— cuss best management practices to reduce, U.S.C. 5304). (I) a summary of claims and expenditures minimize, prevent, or eliminate chronic under the program during the year; and (4) LIVESTOCK.— wasting disease in the United States; (II) a description of any action taken on (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘livestock’’ (B) develop recommendations, including means horses, mules and asses, rabbits, lla- the claims; and recommendations based on findings of the mas, cattle, bison, swine, sheep, goats, poul- (ii) such other reports as the Secretaries study conducted under subsection (c), and a try, bees, honey and beehives, or any other may require to assist the Secretaries in de- set of best practices regarding— animal generally used for food or in the pro- termining the effectiveness of assisted ac- (i) the interstate coordination of practices duction of food or fiber. tivities under this section. to prevent the new introduction of chronic (c) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of (B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘livestock’’ in- wasting disease; Congress that— cludes guard animals actively engaged in the (ii) the prioritization and coordination of (1) no State or Indian Tribe is required to protection of livestock described in subpara- the future study of chronic wasting disease, participate in the program; and graph (A). based on evolving research needs; (2) the program supplements, and does not (5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means (iii) ways to leverage the collective re- replace or supplant, any State compensation the grant program established under sub- sources of Federal, State, and local agencies, programs for depredation. Indian Tribes, and foreign governments, and section (b)(1). (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— resources from private, nongovernmental en- (6) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ There is authorized to be appropriated to tities, to address chronic wasting disease in means— carry out this section $15,000,000 for each of (A) the Secretary of the Interior, acting fiscal years 2021 through 2025, of which— the United States and along the borders of through the Director of the United States (1) $5,000,000 shall be used to provide grants the United States; and Fish and Wildlife Service; and for the purposes described in subsection (iv) any other area where containment or (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting (b)(1)(A); and management efforts relating to chronic through the Administrator of the Animal (2) $10,000,000 shall be used to provide wasting disease may differ across jurisdic- and Plant Health Inspection Service. grants for the purpose described in sub- tions; and (b) GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOSSES OF LIVE- section (b)(1)(B). (C) develop, from the recommendations de- STOCK DUE TO DEPREDATION BY FEDERALLY veloped under subparagraph (B), an action SEC. 103. DEPREDATION PERMITS FOR BLACK PROTECTED SPECIES.— VULTURES AND COMMON RAVENS. plan that gives States, the Federal Govern- (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall es- (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the In- ment, Indian Tribes, and the farmed cervid tablish a program to provide grants to terior, acting through the Director of the industry specific recommendations to ensure States and Indian Tribes to supplement United States Fish and Wildlife Service (re- consistent and coordinated management and amounts provided by States, Indian Tribes, ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), focused, prioritized research to stop the or State agencies under 1 or more programs may issue depredation permits to livestock spread of and mitigate the impacts of chron- established by the States and Indian Tribes producers authorizing takings of black vul- ic wasting disease. (including programs established after the tures or common ravens otherwise prohib- (3) MEMBERSHIP.— date of enactment of this Act)— ited by Federal law to prevent those vultures (A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall be (A) to assist livestock producers in car- or common ravens from taking livestock composed of— rying out— during the calving season or lambing season. (i) 1 representative of the United States (i) proactive and nonlethal activities to re- (b) LIMITED TO AFFECTED STATES OR RE- Fish and Wildlife Service with experience in duce the risk of livestock loss due to depre- GIONS.—The Secretary may issue permits chronic wasting disease, to be appointed by

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.047 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5658 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in Task Force are appointed, the Task Force (i)(I) to the extent possible, the pathways this subsection as the ‘‘Secretary’’); shall submit to the Secretaries, and the and mechanisms for the transmission of (ii) 1 representative of the United States heads of the State agencies with jurisdiction chronic wasting disease within live cervid Geological Survey; over wildlife disease and farmed cervid regu- populations and cervid products, which may (iii) 2 representatives of the Department of lation of each State with a representative on include pathways and mechanisms for trans- Agriculture with experience in chronic wast- the Task Force, the interstate action plan mission from Canada; ing disease, to be appointed by the Secretary developed by the Task Force under para- (II) the infection rates for each pathway of Agriculture— graph (2)(C). and mechanism identified under subclause (I) 1 of whom shall have expertise in cervid (B) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— (I); and health research; and (i) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum extent (III) the relative frequency of transmission (II) 1 of whom shall have expertise in wild- practicable, the Secretaries, any other appli- of each pathway and mechanism identified life management; cable Federal agency, and each applicable under subclause (I); (iv) in the case of each State in which State may enter into a cooperative agree- (ii)(I) anthropogenic and environmental chronic wasting disease among elk, mule ment to fund necessary actions under the factors contributing to new chronic wasting deer, white-tailed deer, or moose has been re- interstate action plan submitted under sub- disease emergence events; ported to the appropriate State agency, not paragraph (A). (II) the development of geographical areas more than 2 representatives, to be nomi- (ii) TARGET DATE.—The Secretaries shall with increased chronic wasting disease prev- nated by the Governor of the State— make the best effort of the Secretaries to alence; and (I) not more than 1 of whom shall be a rep- enter into any cooperative agreement under (III) the overall geographical patterns of resentative of the State agency with juris- clause (i) not later than 180 days after the chronic wasting disease distribution; diction over wildlife management or wildlife date of submission of the interstate action (iii) significant gaps in current scientific disease in the State; and plan under subparagraph (A). knowledge regarding the transmission path- (II) in the case of a State with a farmed (C) MATCHING FUNDS.— ways and mechanisms identified under cervid program or economy, not more than 1 (i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), for clause (i)(I) and potential prevention, detec- of whom shall be a representative of the each fiscal year, the Secretaries may provide tion, and control methods identified under State agency with jurisdiction over farmed funds to carry out an interstate action plan clause (v); cervid regulation in the State; through a cooperative agreement under sub- (iv) for prioritization the scientific re- (v) in the case of each State in which paragraph (B) in the amount of funds pro- search projects that will address the knowl- chronic wasting disease among elk, mule vided by the applicable States. edge gaps identified under clause (iii), based deer, white-tailed deer, or moose has not (ii) LIMITATION.—The amount provided by on the likelihood that a project will con- been documented, but that has carried out the United States Fish and Wildlife Service tribute significantly to the prevention or measures to prevent the introduction of under clause (i) for a fiscal year shall be not control of chronic wasting disease; and chronic wasting disease among those species, greater than $5,000,000. (v) potential prevention, detection, or con- not more than 2 representatives, to be nomi- (9) REPORTS.—Not later than September 30 trol measures, practices, or technologies to nated by the Governor of the State; of the first full fiscal year after the date on be used to mitigate the transmission and (vi) not more than 2 representatives from which the first members of the Task Force spread of chronic wasting disease in wild, an Indian Tribe or Tribal organization cho- are appointed, and each September 30 there- captive, and farmed populations of cervids in sen in a process determined, in consultation after, the Task Force shall submit to the the United States; with Indian Tribes, by the Secretary; and Secretaries, and the heads of the State agen- (B) assess the effectiveness of the potential (vii) not more than 5 nongovernmental cies with jurisdiction over wildlife disease prevention, detection, or control measures, members with relevant expertise appointed, and farmed cervid regulation of each State practices, or technologies identified under after the date on which the members are with a representatives on the Task Force, a subparagraph (A)(v); and first appointed under clauses (i) through (vi), report describing— (C) review and compare science-based best by a majority vote of the State representa- (A) progress on the implementation of ac- practices, standards, and guidance regarding tives appointed under clause (iv). tions identified in the interstate action plan the prevention, detection, and management (B) EFFECT.—Nothing in this paragraph re- submitted under paragraph (8)(A), including of chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, quires a State to participate in the Task the efficacy of funding under the cooperative and farmed populations of cervids in the Force. agreement entered into under paragraph United States that have been developed by— (4) CO-CHAIRS.—The Co-Chairs of the Task (8)(B); (i) the National Chronic Wasting Disease Force shall be— (B) updated resource requirements that are Herd Certification Program of the Animal (A) the Federal representative described in needed to reduce and eliminate chronic wast- and Plant Health Inspection Service; paragraph (3)(A)(i); ing disease in the United States; (ii) the National Wildlife Research Center (B) 1 of the Federal representatives de- (C) any relevant updates to the rec- of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection scribed in paragraph (3)(A)(iii); and ommended best management practices in- Service; (C) 1 State representative appointed under cluded in the interstate action plan sub- (iii) the United States Geological Survey; paragraph (3)(A)(iv), to be selected by a ma- mitted under paragraph (8)(B) to reduce or (iv) State wildlife and agricultural agen- jority vote of those State representatives. eliminate chronic wasting disease; cies, in the case of practices, standards, and (5) DATE OF INITIAL APPOINTMENT.— (D) new research findings and emerging re- guidance that provide practical, science- (A) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Task search needs relating to chronic wasting dis- based recommendations to State and Federal Force shall be appointed not later than 180 ease; and agencies for minimizing or eliminating the days after the date on which the study is (E) any other relevant information. risk of transmission of chronic wasting dis- completed under subsection (c). (c) CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TRANS- ease in the United States; and (B) NOTIFICATION.—On appointment of the MISSION IN CERVIDAE RESOURCE STUDY.— (v) industry or academia, in the case of any members of the Task Force, the Co-Chairs of (1) DEFINITION OF ACADEMY.—In this sub- published guidance on practices that provide the Task Force shall notify the Chairs and section, the term ‘‘Academy’’ means the Na- practical, science-based recommendations to Ranking Members of the Committees on En- tional Academy of Sciences. cervid producers for minimizing or elimi- vironment and Public Works and Agri- (2) STUDY.— nating the risk of transmission of chronic culture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Sen- (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall wasting disease within or between herds. ate and Natural Resources and Agriculture enter into an arrangement with the Acad- (4) DEADLINE.—The study under paragraph of the House of Representatives. emy under which the Academy shall con- (2) shall be completed not later than 180 days (6) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the mem- duct, and submit to the Secretaries a report after the date on which funds are first made bers appointed to the Task Force— describing the findings of, a special resource available for the study. (A) shall not affect the power or duty of study to identify the predominant pathways (5) DATA SHARING.—The Secretaries shall the Task Force; and and mechanisms of the transmission of share with the Academy, as necessary to (B) shall be filled not later than 30 days chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and conduct the study under paragraph (2), sub- after the date of the vacancy. farmed populations of cervids in the United ject to the avoidance of a violation of a pri- (7) MEETINGS.—The Task Force shall con- States. vacy or confidentiality requirement and the vene— (B) REQUIREMENTS.—The arrangement protection of confidential or privileged com- (A) not less frequently than twice each under subparagraph (A) shall provide that mercial, financial, or proprietary informa- year; and the actual expenses incurred by the Academy tion, data and access to databases and re- (B) at such time and place, and by such in conducting the study under subparagraph search information on chronic wasting dis- means, as the Co-Chairs of the Task Force (A) shall be paid by the Secretaries, subject ease under the jurisdiction of— determine to be appropriate, which may in- to the availability of appropriations. (A) the Animal and Plant Health Inspec- clude the use of remote conference tech- (3) CONTENTS OF THE STUDY.—The study tion Service; and nology. under paragraph (2) shall— (B) the United States Geological Survey. (8) INTERSTATE ACTION PLAN.— (A) with respect to wild, captive, and (6) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year farmed populations of cervids in the United the date of completion of the study, the Sec- after the date on which the members of the States, identify— retaries shall submit to the Committee on

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Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, the ‘‘(B) represent a balance of expertise in ‘‘(B) ENCUMBERED REAL PROPERTY.—A gift, Committee on Energy and Natural Re- ocean, coastal, freshwater, and terrestrial re- devise, or bequest may be accepted by the sources, and the Committee on Environment source conservation.’’; and Foundation even though the gift, devise, or and Public Works of the Senate and the (ii) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting bequest is encumbered, restricted, or subject Committee on Agriculture and the Com- the following: to beneficial interests of private persons if mittee on Natural Resources of the House of ‘‘(3) TERMS.—Each Director (other than a any current or future interest in the gift, de- Representatives a report that describes— Director described in paragraph (1)) shall be vise, or bequest is for the benefit of the (A) the findings of the study; and appointed for a term of 6 years.’’; and Foundation. (B) any conclusions and recommendations (B) in subsection (g)(2)— ‘‘(3) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—The acceptance and that the Secretaries determine to be appro- (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘(A) administration of amounts by the Founda- priate. Officers and employees may not be appointed tion under paragraph (1)(K) does not alter, (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— until the Foundation has sufficient funds to supersede, or limit any regulatory or statu- There are authorized to be appropriated to pay them for their service. Officers’’ and in- tory requirement associated with those carry out this section— serting the following: amounts.’’; (1) for the period of fiscal years 2021 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Officers’’; and (2) by striking subsections (f) and (g); and through 2025, $5,000,000 to the Secretary of (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and in- (3) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) the Interior, acting through the Director of serting the following: as subsections (f) and (g), respectively. the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, ‘‘(B) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Founda- (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— to carry out administrative activities under tion shall have an Executive Director who Section 10 of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. subsection (b); shall be— 3709) is amended— (2) for fiscal year 2021, $1,200,000 to the Sec- ‘‘(i) appointed by, and serve at the direc- (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph retary of the Interior, acting through the Di- tion of, the Board as the chief executive offi- (1) and inserting the following: rector of the United States Geological Sur- cer of the Foundation; and ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to vey, to carry out activities to fund research ‘‘(ii) knowledgeable and experienced in be appropriated to carry out this Act for under subsection (c); and matters relating to fish and wildlife con- each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025— (3) for fiscal year 2021, $1,200,000 to the Sec- servation.’’. ‘‘(A) $15,000,000 to the Secretary of the In- retary of Agriculture, acting through the (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 4(a)(1)(B) of the North American Wetlands terior; Administrator of the Animal and Plant Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4403(a)(1)(B)) is ‘‘(B) $5,000,000 to the Secretary of Agri- Health Inspection Service, to carry out ac- amended by striking ‘‘Secretary of the culture; and tivities to fund research under subsection Board’’ and inserting ‘‘Executive Director of ‘‘(C) $5,000,000 to the Secretary of Com- (c). the Board’’. merce.’’; SEC. 105. INVASIVE SPECIES. (b) RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOUNDA- (2) in subsection (b)— Section 10 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordi- TION.—Section 4 of the National Fish and (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting nation Act (16 U.S.C. 666c–1) is amended— Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act (16 the following: (1) in subsection (c)(2)— U.S.C. 3703) is amended— ‘‘(1) AMOUNTS FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— (A) in subparagraph (A)— (1) in subsection (c)— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the (i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as (A) by striking ‘‘(c) POWERS.—To carry out amounts authorized to be appropriated under clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively; and its purposes under’’ and inserting the fol- subsection (a), Federal departments, agen- (ii) by inserting before clause (ii) (as so re- lowing: cies, or instrumentalities are authorized to designated) the following: ‘‘(c) POWERS.— provide funds to the Foundation through ‘‘(i) relevant Federal agencies;’’; ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the pur- Federal financial assistance grants and coop- (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and poses described in’’; erative agreements, subject to the condition (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respec- (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) that the amounts are used for purposes that tively; and through (11) as subparagraphs (A) through further the conservation and management of (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the (K), respectively, and indenting appro- fish, wildlife, plants, and other natural re- following: priately; sources in accordance with this Act. ‘‘(B) in consultation with stakeholders, in- (C) in subparagraph (D) (as redesignated by ‘‘(B) ADVANCES.—Federal departments, cluding nongovernmental organizations and subparagraph (B)), by striking ‘‘that are in- agencies, or instrumentalities may advance industry;’’; and sured by an agency or instrumentality of the amounts described in subparagraph (A) to (2) by adding at the end the following: United States’’ and inserting ‘‘at 1 or more the Foundation in a lump sum without re- financial institutions that are members of gard to when the expenses for which the ‘‘(p) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— There are authorized to be appropriated to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation amounts are used are incurred. carry out this section for each of fiscal years or the Securities Investment Protection Cor- ‘‘(C) MANAGEMENT FEES.—The Foundation 2021 through 2025— poration’’; may assess and collect fees for the manage- ‘‘(1) $2,500,000 to the Secretary of the (D) in subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by ment of amounts received under this para- Army, acting through the Chief of Engineers; subparagraph (B)), by striking ‘‘paragraph (3) graph.’’; and or (4)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (C) or (B) in paragraph (2)— ‘‘(2) $2,500,000 to the Secretary of the Inte- (D)’’; (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking rior.’’. (E) in subparagraph (J) (as redesignated by ‘‘FUNDS’’ and inserting ‘‘AMOUNTS’’; subparagraph (B)), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the (ii) by striking ‘‘shall be used’’ and insert- SEC. 106. NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CON- end; ing ‘‘may be used’’; and SERVATION ACT. (F) by striking subparagraph (K) (as redes- (iii) by striking ‘‘and State and local gov- Section 7(c) of the North American Wet- ignated by subparagraph (B)) and inserting ernment agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘, State lands Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4406(c)) is the following: and local government agencies, and other en- amended by striking ‘‘not to exceed—’’ in ‘‘(K) to receive and administer restitution tities’’; and the matter preceding paragraph (1) and all and community service payments, amounts (C) by adding at the end the following: that follows through paragraph (5) and in- for mitigation of impacts to natural re- ‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATION OF AMOUNTS.— serting ‘‘not to exceed $60,000,000 for each of sources, and other amounts arising from ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In entering into con- fiscal years 2021 through 2025.’’. legal, regulatory, or administrative pro- tracts, agreements, or other partnerships SEC. 107. NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUN- ceedings, subject to the condition that the pursuant to this Act, a Federal department, DATION ESTABLISHMENT ACT. amounts are received or administered for agency, or instrumentality shall have discre- (a) BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FOUNDATION.— purposes that further the conservation and tion to waive any competitive process appli- (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3 of the National management of fish, wildlife, plants, and cable to the department, agency, or instru- Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment other natural resources; and mentality for entering into contracts, agree- Act (16 U.S.C. 3702) is amended— ‘‘(L) to do acts necessary to carry out the ments, or partnerships with the Foundation (A) in subsection (b)— purposes of the Foundation.’’; and if the purpose of the waiver is— (i) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting (G) by striking the undesignated matter at ‘‘(i) to address an environmental emer- the following: the end and inserting the following: gency resulting from a natural or other dis- ‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS.—After ‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF REAL PROPERTY.— aster; or consulting with the Secretary of Commerce ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this ‘‘(ii) as determined by the head of the ap- and considering the recommendations sub- Act, an interest in real property shall be plicable Federal department, agency, or in- mitted by the Board, the Secretary of the In- treated as including easements or other strumentality, to reduce administrative ex- terior shall appoint 28 Directors who, to the rights for preservation, conservation, protec- penses and expedite the conservation and maximum extent practicable, shall— tion, or enhancement by and for the public of management of fish, wildlife, plants, and ‘‘(A) be knowledgeable and experienced in natural, scenic, historic, scientific, edu- other natural resources. matters relating to the conservation of fish, cational, inspirational, or recreational re- ‘‘(B) REPORTS.—The Foundation shall in- wildlife, or other natural resources; and sources. clude in the annual report submitted under

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section 7(b) a description of any use of the (3) CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.—The term (viii) to conserve and restore fish, wildlife, authority under subparagraph (A) by a Fed- ‘‘Chesapeake Bay watershed’’ means the re- and plant corridors; and eral department, agency, or instrumentality gion that covers— (ix) to increase scientific capacity to sup- in that fiscal year.’’; and (A) the Chesapeake Bay; port the planning, monitoring, and research (3) by adding at the end the following: (B) the portions of the States of Delaware, activities necessary to carry out coordinated ‘‘(d) USE OF GIFTS, DEVISES, OR BEQUESTS Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Vir- restoration and protection activities. OF MONEY OR OTHER PROPERTY.—Any gifts, ginia, and West Virginia that drain into the (3) DUTIES.—In carrying out the Chesa- devises, or bequests of amounts or other Chesapeake Bay; and peake WILD program, the Secretary shall— property, or any other amounts or other (C) the District of Columbia. (A) draw on existing plans for the Chesa- property, transferred to, deposited with, or (4) CHESAPEAKE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.—The peake Bay watershed, or portions of the otherwise in the possession of the Founda- term ‘‘Chesapeake Executive Council’’ Chesapeake Bay watershed, including the tion pursuant to this Act, may be made means the council comprised of— Chesapeake Bay agreements, and work in available by the Foundation to Federal de- (A) the Governors of each of the States of consultation with applicable management partments, agencies, or instrumentalities Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsyl- entities, including Chesapeake Bay program and may be accepted and expended (or the vania, Virginia, and West Virginia; partners, such as the Federal Government, disposition of the amounts or property di- (B) the Mayor of the District of Columbia; State and local governments, the Chesa- rected), without further appropriation, by (C) the Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Com- peake Bay Commission, and other regional those Federal departments, agencies, or in- mission; and organizations, as appropriate, to identify, strumentalities, subject to the condition (D) the Administrator of the Environ- prioritize, and implement restoration and that the amounts or property be used for mental Protection Agency. protection activities within the Chesapeake purposes that further the conservation and (5) CHESAPEAKE WILD PROGRAM.—The term Bay watershed; management of fish, wildlife, plants, and ‘‘Chesapeake WILD program’’ means the (B) adopt a Chesapeake Bay watershed- other natural resources.’’. nonregulatory program established by the wide strategy that— (d) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY.—Section 11 Secretary under subsection (b)(1). (i) supports the implementation of a shared of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (6) GRANT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘grant pro- set of science-based restoration and protec- Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3710) is amend- gram’’ means the Chesapeake Watershed In- tion activities developed in accordance with ed by inserting ‘‘exclusive’’ before ‘‘author- vestments for Landscape Defense grant pro- subparagraph (A); and ity’’. gram established by the Secretary under (ii) targets cost-effective projects with subsection (c)(1). measurable results; and SEC. 108. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF SPORT FISHING EQUIPMENT UNDER (7) RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ACTIV- (C) establish the grant program in accord- TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT. ITY.—The term ‘‘restoration and protection ance with subsection (c). (a) PROHIBITION.—During the 5-year period activity’’ means an activity carried out for (4) COORDINATION.—In establishing the beginning on the date of enactment of this the conservation, stewardship, and enhance- Chesapeake WILD program, the Secretary Act, the Administrator of the Environmental ment of habitat for fish and wildlife— shall consult, as appropriate, with— Protection Agency shall not take any action (A) to preserve and improve ecosystems (A) the heads of Federal agencies, includ- to regulate the lead content of sport fishing and ecological processes on which the fish ing— equipment or sport fishing equipment com- and wildlife depend; and (i) the Administrator of the Environmental ponents under the Toxic Substances Control (B) for use and enjoyment by the public. Protection Agency; Act (15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq.). (8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ (ii) the Administrator of the National Oce- means the Secretary of the Interior, acting anic and Atmospheric Administration; (b) DEFINITION OF SPORT FISHING EQUIP- through the Director of the United States (iii) the Chief of the Natural Resources MENT.—In this section, the term ‘‘sport fish- Fish and Wildlife Service. Conservation Service; ing equipment’’ means any sport fishing (b) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.— (iv) the Chief of Engineers; equipment (as such term is defined in section (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 (v) the Director of the United States Geo- 4162(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) days after the date of enactment of this Act, logical Survey; the sale of which is subject to the tax im- the Secretary shall establish a nonregula- (vi) the Secretary of Transportation; posed by section 4161(a) of such Code (deter- tory program, to be known as the ‘‘Chesa- (vii) the Chief of the Forest Service; and mined without regard to any exemptions peake Watershed Investments for Landscape (viii) the head of any other applicable from such tax provided by section 4162 or 4221 Defense program’’. agency; or any other provision of such Code). (2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Chesa- (B) the Governors of each of the States of SEC. 109. REAUTHORIZATION OF CHESAPEAKE peake WILD program are— Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsyl- BAY PROGRAM. (A) coordinating restoration and protec- vania, Virginia, and West Virginia and the Section 117 of the Federal Water Pollution tion activities among Federal, State, local, Mayor of the District of Columbia; Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267) is amended by and regional entities and conservation part- (C) fish and wildlife joint venture partner- striking subsection (j) and inserting the fol- ners throughout the Chesapeake Bay water- ships; and lowing: shed; (D) other public agencies and organizations ‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (B) engaging other agencies and organiza- with authority for the planning and imple- There are authorized to be appropriated to tions to build a broader range of partner sup- mentation of conservation strategies in the carry out this section— port, capacity, and potential funding for Chesapeake Bay watershed. ‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2021, $90,000,000; projects in the Chesapeake Bay watershed; (c) GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— ‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2022, $90,500,000; (C) carrying out coordinated restoration (1) CHESAPEAKE WILD GRANT PROGRAM.—To ‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2023, $91,000,000; and protection activities, and providing for the extent that funds are made available to ‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2024, $91,500,000; and technical assistance, throughout the Chesa- carry out this subsection, the Secretary ‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2025, $92,000,000.’’. peake Bay watershed— shall establish and carry out, as part of the SEC. 110. REAUTHORIZATION OF CHESAPEAKE (i) to sustain and enhance restoration and Chesapeake WILD program, a voluntary BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998. protection activities; grant and technical assistance program, to Section 502(c) of the Chesapeake Bay Ini- (ii) to improve and maintain water quality be known as the ‘‘Chesapeake Watershed In- tiative Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–312) is to support fish and wildlife, habitats of fish vestments for Landscape Defense grant pro- amended by striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting and wildlife, and drinking water for people; gram’’, to provide competitive matching ‘‘2025’’. (iii) to sustain and enhance water manage- grants of varying amounts and technical as- SEC. 111. CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED INVEST- ment for volume and flood damage mitiga- sistance to eligible entities described in MENTS FOR LANDSCAPE DEFENSE. tion improvements to benefit fish and wild- paragraph (2) to carry out activities de- (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: life habitat; scribed in subsection (b)(2). (1) CHESAPEAKE BAY AGREEMENTS.—The (iv) to improve opportunities for public ac- (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The following enti- term ‘‘Chesapeake Bay agreements’’ means cess and recreation in the Chesapeake Bay ties are eligible to receive a grant and tech- the formal, voluntary agreements— watershed consistent with the ecological nical assistance under the grant program: (A) executed to achieve the goal of restor- needs of fish and wildlife habitat; (A) A State. ing and protecting the Chesapeake Bay wa- (v) to facilitate strategic planning to maxi- (B) The District of Columbia. tershed ecosystem and the living resources mize the resilience of natural ecosystems (C) A unit of local government. of the Chesapeake Bay watershed ecosystem; and habitats under changing watershed con- (D) A nonprofit organization. and ditions; (E) An institution of higher education as (B) signed by the Chesapeake Executive (vi) to engage the public through outreach, such term is defined in section 101(a) of the Council. education, and citizen involvement to in- Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. (2) CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM.—The term crease capacity and support for coordinated 1001(a)). ‘‘Chesapeake Bay program’’ means the pro- restoration and protection activities in the (F) Any other entity that the Secretary de- gram directed by the Chesapeake Executive Chesapeake Bay watershed; termines to be appropriate in accordance Council in accordance with the Chesapeake (vii) to sustain and enhance vulnerable with the criteria established under para- Bay agreements. communities and fish and wildlife habitat; graph (3).

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(3) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in consulta- (B) to integrate socioeconomic data in the (C) to recommend to Congress entities for tion with officials and entities described in analysis to improve the lives of humans in a designation as Partnerships; and subsection (b)(4), shall establish criteria for manner consistent with fish habitat con- (D) to review and make recommendations the grant program to help ensure that activi- servation goals; and regarding fish habitat conservation projects. ties funded under this subsection— (5) to communicate to the public and con- (2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall be com- (A) accomplish 1 or more of the purposes servation partners— posed of 26 members, of whom— described in subsection (b)(2); and (A) the conservation outcomes produced (A) 1 shall be a representative of the De- (B) advance the implementation of priority collectively by Fish Habitat Partnerships; partment of the Interior; actions or needs identified in the Chesapeake and (B) 1 shall be a representative of the Bay watershed-wide strategy adopted under (B) new opportunities and voluntary ap- United States Geological Survey; subsection (b)(3)(B). proaches for conserving fish habitat. (C) 1 shall be a representative of the De- (4) COST SHARING.— SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. partment of Commerce; (A) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SHARE.— In this title: (D) 1 shall be a representative of the De- The Department of the Interior share of the (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- partment of Agriculture; cost of a project funded under the grant pro- TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional (E) 1 shall be a representative of the Asso- gram shall not exceed 50 percent of the total committees’’ means— ciation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; cost of the project, as determined by the Sec- (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, (F) 4 shall be representatives of State retary. and Transportation and the Committee on agencies, 1 of whom shall be nominated by a (B) NON-DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Environment and Public Works of the Sen- regional association of fish and wildlife SHARE.— ate; and agencies from each of the Northeast, South- (i) IN GENERAL.—The non-Department of (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of east, Midwest, and Western regions of the the Interior share of the cost of a project the House of Representatives. United States; funded under the grant program may be pro- (2) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the (G) 2 shall be representatives of either— vided in cash or in the form of an in-kind National Fish Habitat Board established by (i) Indian Tribes in the State of Alaska; or contribution of services or materials. section 203. (ii) Indian Tribes in States other than the (ii) OTHER FEDERAL FUNDING.—Non-Depart- (3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means State of Alaska; ment of the Interior Federal funds may be the Director of the United States Fish and (H) 1 shall be a representative of either— used for not more than 25 percent of the Wildlife Service. (i) the Regional Fishery Management total cost of a project funded under the grant (4) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AS- Councils established under section 302 of the program. SISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Envi- Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary may ronmental Protection Agency Assistant Ad- Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852); or enter into an agreement to manage the grant ministrator’’ means the Assistant Adminis- (ii) a representative of the Marine Fish- program with an organization that offers trator for Water of the Environmental Pro- eries Commissions; grant management services. tection Agency. (I) 1 shall be a representative of the Sport (d) REPORTING.—Not later than 180 days (5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ Fishing and Boating Partnership Council; after the date of enactment of this Act, and has the meaning given to the term ‘‘Indian (J) 7 shall be representatives selected from annually thereafter, the Secretary shall sub- tribe’’ in section 4 of the Indian Self-Deter- at least one from each of the following: mit to Congress a report describing the im- mination and Education Assistance Act (25 (i) the recreational sportfishing industry; plementation of this section, including a de- U.S.C. 5304). (ii) the commercial fishing industry; scription of each project that has received (6) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD- (iii) marine recreational anglers; funding under this section. MINISTRATION ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.— (iv) freshwater recreational anglers; (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— The term ‘‘National Oceanic and Atmos- (v) habitat conservation organizations; and (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be pheric Administration Assistant Adminis- (vi) science-based fishery organizations; appropriated to carry out this section trator’’ means the Assistant Administrator (K) 1 shall be a representative of a national $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 for Fisheries of the National Oceanic and At- private landowner organization; through 2025. mospheric Administration. (L) 1 shall be a representative of an agri- (2) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds (7) PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘Partnership’’ cultural production organization; made available under paragraph (1) shall means an entity designated by Congress as a (M) 1 shall be a representative of local gov- supplement, and not supplant, funding for Fish Habitat Partnership under section 204. ernment interests involved in fish habitat other activities conducted by the Secretary (8) REAL PROPERTY INTEREST.—The term restoration; in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. ‘‘real property interest’’ means an ownership (N) 2 shall be representatives from dif- TITLE II—NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CON- interest in— ferent sectors of corporate industries, which SERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS (A) land; or may include— SEC. 201. PURPOSE. (B) water (including water rights). (i) natural resource commodity interests, The purpose of this title is to encourage (9) MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSIONS.—The such as petroleum or mineral extraction; partnerships among public agencies and term ‘‘Marine Fisheries Commissions’’ (ii) natural resource user industries; and other interested persons to promote fish con- means— (iii) industries with an interest in fish and servation— (A) the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries fish habitat conservation; and (1) to achieve measurable habitat con- Commission; (O) 1 shall be an individual in a leadership servation results through strategic actions (B) the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Com- position in the private sector or landowner of Fish Habitat Partnerships that lead to mission; and representative of an active partnership. better fish habitat conditions and increased (C) the Pacific States Marine Commission. (3) COMPENSATION.—A member of the Board fishing opportunities by— (10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ shall serve without compensation. (A) improving ecological conditions; means the Secretary of the Interior. (4) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the (B) restoring natural processes; or (11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each Board may be allowed travel expenses, in- (C) preventing the decline of intact and of the several States, Puerto Rico, American cluding per diem in lieu of subsistence, at healthy systems; Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Is- rates authorized for an employee of an agen- (2) to establish a consensus set of national lands, the United States Virgin Islands, and cy under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, conservation strategies as a framework to the District of Columbia. United States Code, while away from the guide future actions and investment by Fish (12) STATE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘State agen- home or regular place of business of the Habitat Partnerships; cy’’ means— member in the performance of the duties of (3) to broaden the community of support (A) the fish and wildlife agency of a State; the Board. for fish habitat conservation by— and (b) APPOINTMENT AND TERMS.— (A) increasing fishing opportunities; (B) any department or division of a depart- (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise pro- (B) fostering the participation of local ment or agency of a State that manages in vided in this section, a member of the Board communities, especially young people in the public trust the inland or marine fishery described in any of subparagraphs (F) local communities, in conservation activi- resources of the State or sustains the habi- through (O) of subsection (a)(2) shall serve ties; and tat for those fishery resources pursuant to for a term of 3 years. (C) raising public awareness of the role State law or the constitution of the State. (2) INITIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP.— healthy fish habitat play in the quality of SEC. 203. NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD. (A) IN GENERAL.—The initial Board shall life and economic well-being of local commu- (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— consist of representatives as described in nities; (1) FISH HABITAT BOARD.—There is estab- subparagraphs (A) through (F) of subsection (4) to fill gaps in the National Fish Habitat lished a board, to be known as the ‘‘National (a)(2). Assessment and the associated database of Fish Habitat Board’’, whose duties are— (B) REMAINING MEMBERS.—Not later than 60 the National Fish Habitat Assessment— (A) to promote, oversee, and coordinate the days after the date of enactment of this Act, (A) to empower strategic conservation ac- implementation of this title; the representatives of the initial Board tions supported by broadly available sci- (B) to establish national goals and prior- under subparagraph (A) shall appoint the re- entific information; and ities for fish habitat conservation; maining members of the Board described in

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(B) describes any proposed modifications portant fish and fish habitats; (5) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.—An indi- to a Partnership previously designated by (B) an ability to coordinate the implemen- vidual whose term of service as a member of tation of priority projects that support the Congress under subsection (f); the Board expires may continue to serve on goals and national priorities set by the (C) with respect to each entity rec- the Board until a successor is appointed. Board that are within the Partnership ommended for designation as a Partnership, (6) REMOVAL.—If a member of the Board de- boundary; describes, to the maximum extent prac- scribed in any of subparagraphs (H) through (C) a self-governance structure that sup- ticable— (O) of subparagraph (a)(2) misses three con- ports the implementation of strategic prior- (i) the purpose of the recommended Part- secutive regularly scheduled Board meet- ities for fish habitat; nership; and ings, the members of the Board may— (D) the ability to develop local and re- (ii) how the recommended Partnership ful- (A) vote to remove that member; and gional relationships with a broad range of fills the requirements described in sub- (B) appoint another individual in accord- entities to further strategic priorities for section (d). ance with paragraph (4). fish and fish habitat; (2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY; NOTIFICATION.— (c) CHAIRPERSON.— (E) a strategic plan that details required The Board shall— (1) IN GENERAL.—The representative of the investments for fish habitat conservation (A) make the report publicly available, in- Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies ap- that addresses the strategic fish habitat pri- cluding on the internet; and pointed under subsection (a)(2)(E) shall serve orities of the Partnership and supports and (B) provide to the appropriate congres- as Chairperson of the Board. meets the strategic priorities of the Board; sional committees and the State agency of (2) TERM.—The Chairperson of the Board (F) the ability to develop and implement any State included in a recommended Part- shall serve for a term of 3 years. fish habitat conservation projects that ad- nership area written notification of the pub- (d) MEETINGS.— dress strategic priorities of the Partnership lic availability of the report. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall meet— and the Board; and (f) DESIGNATION OR MODIFICATION OF PART- (A) at the call of the Chairperson; but (G) the ability to develop fish habitat con- NERSHIP.—Congress shall have the exclusive (B) not less frequently than twice each cal- servation priorities based on sound science authority to designate or modify a Partner- endar year. and data, the ability to measure the effec- ship. (2) PUBLIC ACCESS.—All meetings of the tiveness of fish habitat projects of the Part- (g) EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS.— Board shall be open to the public. nership, and a clear plan as to how Partner- (1) DESIGNATION REVIEW.—Not later than 5 (e) PROCEDURES.— ship science and data components will be in- years after the date of enactment of this (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall establish tegrated with the overall Board science and Act, any partnership receiving Federal funds procedures to carry out the business of the data effort. as of the date of enactment of this Act shall Board, including— (d) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO be subject to a designation review by Con- (A) a requirement that a quorum of the CONGRESS.—The Board may recommend to gress in which Congress shall have the oppor- members of the Board be present to transact Congress for designation an application for a tunity to designate the partnership under business; Partnership submitted under subsection (c) subsection (f). (B) a requirement that no recommenda- if the Board determines that the applicant— (2) INELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDS.—A tions may be adopted by the Board, except (1) meets the criteria described in sub- partnership referred to in paragraph (1) that by the vote of two-thirds of all members; section (c)(2); Congress does not designate as described in (C) procedures for establishing national (2) identifies representatives to provide that paragraph shall be ineligible to receive goals and priorities for fish habitat conserva- support and technical assistance to the Part- Federal funds under this title. tion for the purposes of this title; nership from a diverse group of public and SEC. 205. FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION (D) procedures for designating Partner- private partners, which may include State or PROJECTS. ships under section 204; and local governments, nonprofit entities, Indian (a) SUBMISSION TO BOARD.—Not later than (E) procedures for reviewing, evaluating, Tribes, and private individuals, that are fo- March 31 of each year, each Partnership and making recommendations regarding fish cused on conservation of fish habitats to shall submit to the Board a list of priority habitat conservation projects. achieve results across jurisdictional bound- fish habitat conservation projects rec- (2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of aries on public and private land; ommended by the Partnership for annual the Board shall constitute a quorum. (3) is organized to promote the health of funding under this title. SEC. 204. FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS. important fish species and important fish (b) RECOMMENDATIONS BY BOARD.—Not (a) AUTHORITY TO RECOMMEND.—The Board habitats, including reservoirs, natural lakes, later than July 1 of each year, the Board may recommend to Congress the designation coastal and marine environments, coral shall submit to the Secretary a priority list of Fish Habitat Partnerships in accordance reefs, and estuaries; of fish habitat conservation projects that in- with this section. (4) identifies strategic fish and fish habitat cludes a description, including estimated (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of a Partner- priorities for the Partnership area in the costs, of each project that the Board rec- ship shall be— form of geographical focus areas or key ommends that the Secretary approve and (1) to work with other regional habitat stressors or impairments to facilitate stra- fund under this title for the following fiscal conservation programs to promote coopera- tegic planning and decision making; year.

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(c) CRITERIA FOR PROJECT SELECTION.—The tunities, and the overall economic benefits pay such non-Federal share, or portion of the Board shall select each fish habitat con- for the local community of the fish habitat non-Federal share, without the use of loans. servation project recommended to the Sec- conservation project; and (f) APPROVAL.— retary under subsection (b) after taking into (D) to require the submission to the Board (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days consideration, at a minimum, the following of a report describing the findings of the as- after the date of receipt of the recommended information: sessment. priority list of fish habitat conservation (1) A recommendation of the Partnership (2) ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES.— projects under subsection (b), and subject to that is, or will be, participating actively in (A) IN GENERAL.—A State, local govern- subsection (d) and based, to the maximum implementing the fish habitat conservation ment, or other non-Federal entity is eligible extent practicable, on the criteria described project. to receive funds for the acquisition of real in subsection (c), the Secretary, after con- (2) The capabilities and experience of property from willing sellers under this title sulting with the Secretary of Commerce on project proponents to implement success- if the acquisition ensures— marine or estuarine projects, shall approve fully the proposed project. (i) public access for fish and wildlife-de- or reject any fish habitat conservation (3) The extent to which the fish habitat pendent recreation; or project recommended by the Board. conservation project— (ii) a scientifically based, direct enhance- (2) FUNDING.—If the Secretary approves a (A) fulfills a local or regional priority that ment to the health of fish and fish popu- fish habitat conservation project under para- is directly linked to the strategic plan of the lations, as determined by the Board. graph (1), the Secretary shall use amounts Partnership and is consistent with the pur- (B) STATE AGENCY APPROVAL.— made available to carry out this title to pro- pose of this title; (i) IN GENERAL.—All real property interest (B) addresses the national priorities estab- acquisition projects funded under this title vide funds to carry out the fish habitat con- lished by the Board; must be approved by the State agency in the servation project. (C) is supported by the findings of the habi- State in which the project is occurring. (3) NOTIFICATION.—If the Secretary rejects under paragraph (1) any fish habitat con- tat assessment of the Partnership or the (ii) PROHIBITION.—The Board may not rec- Board, and aligns or is compatible with other ommend, and the Secretary may not provide servation project recommended by the conservation plans; any funding for, any real property interest Board, not later than 90 days after the date (D) identifies appropriate monitoring and acquisition that has not been approved by of receipt of the recommendation, the Sec- evaluation measures and criteria that are the State agency. retary shall provide to the Board, the appro- compatible with national measures; (C) ASSESSMENT OF OTHER AUTHORITIES.— priate Partnership, and the appropriate con- (E) provides a well-defined budget linked The Board may not recommend, and the Sec- gressional committees a written statement to deliverables and outcomes; retary may not provide any funding under of the reasons that the Secretary rejected (F) leverages other funds to implement the this title for, any real property interest ac- the fish habitat conservation project. project; quisition unless the Partnership that rec- SEC. 206. TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSIST- (G) addresses the causes and processes be- ommended the project has conducted a ANCE. hind the decline of fish or fish habitats; and project assessment, submitted with the fund- (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, the Na- (H) includes an outreach or education com- ing request and approved by the Board, to ponent that includes the local or regional demonstrate all other Federal, State, and tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- community. local authorities for the acquisition of real tion Assistant Administrator, the Environ- (4) The availability of sufficient non-Fed- property have been exhausted. mental Protection Agency Assistant Admin- istrator, and the Director of the United eral funds to match Federal contributions (D) RESTRICTIONS.—A real property inter- for the fish habitat conservation project, as est may not be acquired pursuant to a fish States Geological Survey, in coordination required by subsection (e). habitat conservation project by a State, with the Forest Service and other appro- (5) The extent to which the fish habitat local government, or other non-Federal enti- priate Federal departments and agencies, conservation project— ty conducted with funds provided under this may provide scientific and technical assist- (A) will increase fish populations in a man- title, unless— ance to Partnerships, participants in fish ner that leads to recreational fishing oppor- (i) the owner of the real property author- habitat conservation projects, and the tunities for the public; izes the State, local government, or other Board. (B) will be carried out through a coopera- non-Federal entity to acquire the real prop- (b) INCLUSIONS.—Scientific and technical tive agreement among Federal, State, and erty; and assistance provided under subsection (a) may local governments, Indian Tribes, and pri- (ii) the Secretary and the Board determine include— vate entities; that the State, local government, or other (1) providing technical and scientific as- (C) increases public access to land or water non-Federal entity would benefit from un- sistance to States, Indian Tribes, regions, for fish and wildlife-dependent recreational dertaking the management of the real prop- local communities, and nongovernmental or- opportunities; erty being acquired because that is in ac- ganizations in the development and imple- (D) advances the conservation of fish and cordance with the goals of a Partnership. mentation of Partnerships; wildlife species that have been identified by (e) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.— (2) providing technical and scientific as- a State agency as species of greatest con- (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in sistance to Partnerships for habitat assess- servation need; paragraphs (2) and (4), no fish habitat con- ment, strategic planning, and prioritization; (E) where appropriate, advances the con- servation project may be recommended by (3) supporting the development and imple- servation of fish and fish habitats under the the Board under subsection (b) or provided fi- mentation of fish habitat conservation Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and nancial assistance under this title unless at projects that are identified as high priorities Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and least 50 percent of the cost of the fish habi- by Partnerships and the Board; other relevant Federal law and State wildlife tat conservation project will be funded with (4) supporting and providing recommenda- action plans; and non-Federal funds. tions regarding the development of science- (F) promotes strong and healthy fish habi- (2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—Such non-Federal based monitoring and assessment approaches tats so that desired biological communities share of the cost of a fish habitat conserva- for implementation through Partnerships; are able to persist and adapt. tion project— (5) supporting and providing recommenda- (6) The substantiality of the character and (A) may not be derived from another Fed- tions for a national fish habitat assessment; design of the fish habitat conservation eral grant program; and (6) ensuring the availability of experts to project. (B) may include in-kind contributions and assist in conducting scientifically based (d) LIMITATIONS.— cash. evaluation and reporting of the results of (1) REQUIREMENTS FOR EVALUATION.—No (3) SPECIAL RULE FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—Not- fish habitat conservation projects; and fish habitat conservation project may be rec- withstanding paragraph (1) or any other pro- (7) providing resources to secure State ommended by the Board under subsection (b) vision of law, any funds made available to an agency scientific and technical assistance to or provided financial assistance under this Indian Tribe pursuant to this title may be support Partnerships, participants in fish title unless the fish habitat conservation considered to be non-Federal funds for the habitat conservation projects, and the project includes an evaluation plan designed purpose of paragraph (1). Board. using applicable Board guidance— (4) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary, in (A) to appropriately assess the biological, consultation with the Secretary of Com- SEC. 207. COORDINATION WITH STATES AND IN- ecological, or other results of the habitat merce with respect to marine or estuarine DIAN TRIBES. protection, restoration, or enhancement ac- projects, may waive the application of para- The Secretary shall provide a notice to, tivities carried out using the assistance; graph (2)(A) with respect to a State or an In- and cooperate with, the appropriate State (B) to reflect appropriate changes to the dian Tribe, or otherwise reduce the portion agency or Tribal agency, as applicable, of fish habitat conservation project if the as- of the non-Federal share of the cost of an ac- each State and Indian Tribe within the sessment substantiates that the fish habitat tivity required to be paid by a State or an boundaries of which an activity is planned to conservation project objectives are not being Indian Tribe under paragraph (1), if the Sec- be carried out pursuant to this title, includ- met; retary determines that the State or Indian ing notification, by not later than 30 days (C) to identify improvements to existing Tribe does not have sufficient funds not de- before the date on which the activity is im- fish populations, recreational fishing oppor- rived from another Federal grant program to plemented.

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(1) establishes any express or implied re- under section 205(f), of which 5 percent is au- Not later than 1 year after the date of en- served water right in the United States for thorized only for projects carried out by In- actment of this Act, and every 5 years there- any purpose; dian Tribes. after, the Director, in cooperation with the (2) affects any water right in existence on (2) ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLANNING EX- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- the date of enactment of this Act; PENSES.—There is authorized to be appro- tration Assistant Administrator, the Envi- (3) preempts or affects any State water law priated to the Secretary for each of fiscal ronmental Protection Agency Assistant Ad- or interstate compact governing water; or years 2021 through 2025 an amount equal to 5 ministrator, the Director of the United (4) affects any Federal or State law in ex- percent of the amount appropriated for the States Geological Survey, and the heads of istence on the date of enactment of the Act applicable fiscal year pursuant to paragraph other appropriate Federal departments and regarding water quality or water quantity. (1)— agencies (including, at a minimum, those (b) AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE WATER RIGHTS (A) for administrative and planning ex- agencies represented on the Board) shall de- OR RIGHTS TO PROPERTY.—Only a State, local penses under this title; and velop an interagency operational plan that government, or other non-Federal entity (B) to carry out section 209. describes— may acquire, under State law, water rights (3) TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE.— (1) the functional, operational, technical, or rights to property with funds made avail- There is authorized to be appropriated for scientific, and general staff, administrative, able through section 212. each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry and material needs for the implementation (c) STATE AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this out, and provide technical and scientific as- of this title; and title— sistance under, section 206— (2) any interagency agreements between or (1) affects the authority, jurisdiction, or (A) $400,000 to the Secretary for use by the among Federal departments and agencies to responsibility of a State to manage, control, United States Fish and Wildlife Service; address those needs. or regulate fish and wildlife under the laws (B) $400,000 to the National Oceanic and At- SEC. 209. ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING. and regulations of the State; or mospheric Administration Assistant Admin- (a) REPORTING.— (2) authorizes the Secretary to control or istrator for use by the National Oceanic and (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years regulate within a State the fishing or hunt- Atmospheric Administration; after the date of enactment of this Act, and ing of fish and wildlife. (C) $400,000 to the Environmental Protec- every 5 years thereafter, the Board shall sub- (d) EFFECT ON INDIAN TRIBES.—Nothing in tion Agency Assistant Administrator for use mit to the appropriate congressional com- this title abrogates, abridges, affects, modi- by the Environmental Protection Agency; mittees a report describing the progress of fies, supersedes, or alters any right of an In- (D) $400,000 to the Secretary for use by the this title. dian Tribe recognized by treaty or any other United States Geological Survey; and (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted means, including— (E) $400,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture, under paragraph (1) shall include— (1) an agreement between the Indian Tribe acting through the Chief of the Forest Serv- (A) an estimate of the number of acres, and the United States; ice, for use by the Forest Service. stream miles, or acre-feet, or other suitable (2) Federal law (including regulations); (b) AGREEMENTS AND GRANTS.—The Sec- measures of fish habitat, that was main- (3) an Executive order; or retary may— tained or improved by Partnerships under (4) a judicial decree. (1) on the recommendation of the Board, this title during the 5-year period ending on (e) ADJUDICATION OF WATER RIGHTS.—Noth- and notwithstanding sections 6304 and 6305 of the date of submission of the report; ing in this title diminishes or affects the title 31, United States Code, and the Federal (B) a description of the public access to ability of the Secretary to join an adjudica- Financial Assistance Management Improve- fish habitats established or improved under tion of rights to the use of water pursuant to ment Act of 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note; Public this title during that 5-year period; subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 208 of the Law 106–107), enter into a grant agreement, (C) a description of the improved opportu- Departments of State, Justice, Commerce, cooperative agreement, or contract with a nities for public recreational fishing and The Judiciary Appropriation Act, 1953 Partnership or other entity to provide funds achieved under this title; and (43 U.S.C. 666). authorized by this title for a fish habitat (D) an assessment of the status of fish (f) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AUTHOR- conservation project or restoration or en- habitat conservation projects carried out ITY.—Nothing in this title affects the author- hancement project; with funds provided under this title during ity, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the De- (2) apply for, accept, and, subject to the that period, disaggregated by year, includ- partment of Commerce to manage, control, availability of appropriations, use a grant ing— or regulate fish or fish habitats under the from any individual or entity to carry out (i) a description of the fish habitat con- Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and the purposes of this title; and servation projects recommended by the Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). (3) subject to the availability of appropria- Board under section 205(b); (g) EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITIES.— tions, make funds authorized by this Act (ii) a description of each fish habitat con- (1) PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.—Noth- available to any Federal department or servation project approved by the Secretary ing in this title permits the use of funds agency for use by that department or agency under section 205(f), in order of priority for made available to carry out this title to ac- to provide grants for any fish habitat protec- funding; quire real property or a real property inter- tion project, restoration project, or enhance- (iii) a justification for— est without the written consent of each ment project that the Secretary determines (I) the approval of each fish habitat con- owner of the real property or real property to be consistent with this title. (c) DONATIONS.— servation project; and interest, respectively. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may— (II) the order of priority for funding of each (2) MITIGATION.—Nothing in this title au- (A) enter into an agreement with any orga- fish habitat conservation project; thorizes the use of funds made available to nization described in section 501(c)(3) of the (iv) a justification for any rejection of a carry out this title for fish and wildlife miti- Internal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt fish habitat conservation project rec- gation purposes under— from taxation under section 501(a) of that ommended by the Board under section 205(b) (A) the Federal Water Pollution Control Code to solicit private donations to carry that was based on a factor other than the Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); out the purposes of this title; and criteria described in section 205(c); and (B) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (B) accept donations of funds, property, (v) an accounting of expenditures by Fed- (16 U.S.C. 661 et seq.); and services to carry out the purposes of this eral, State, or local governments, Indian (C) the Water Resources Development Act title. Tribes, or other entities to carry out fish of 1986 (Public Law 99–662; 100 Stat. 4082); or (2) TREATMENT.—A donation accepted habitat conservation projects under this (D) any other Federal law or court settle- under this title— title. ment. (A) shall be considered to be a gift or be- (b) STATUS AND TRENDS REPORT.—Not later (3) CLEAN WATER ACT.—Nothing in this title quest to, or otherwise for the use of, the than December 31, 2021, and every 5 years affects any provision of the Federal Water United States; and thereafter, the Board shall submit to the ap- Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), (B) may be— propriate congressional committees a report including any definition in that Act. (i) used directly by the Secretary; or that includes— SEC. 211. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVI- (ii) provided to another Federal depart- (1) a status of all Partnerships designated SORY COMMITTEE ACT. ment or agency through an interagency under this title; The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 agreement. (2) a description of the status of fish habi- U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to— tats in the United States as identified by (1) the Board; or SEC. 213. PROHIBITION AGAINST IMPLEMENTA- TION OF REGULATORY AUTHORITY designated Partnerships; and (2) any Partnership. BY FEDERAL AGENCIES THROUGH (3) enhancements or reductions in public SEC. 212. FUNDING. PARTNERSHIPS. access as a result of— (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— Any Partnership designated under this (A) the activities of the Partnerships; or (1) FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS.— title— (B) any other activities carried out pursu- There is authorized to be appropriated to the (1) shall be for the sole purpose of pro- ant to this title. Secretary $7,200,000 for each of fiscal years moting fish conservation; and SEC. 210. EFFECT OF THIS TITLE. 2021 through 2025 to provide funds for fish (2) shall not be used to implement any reg- (a) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this title— habitat conservation projects approved ulatory authority of any Federal agency.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00048 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.047 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5665 TITLE III—MISCELLANEOUS (referred to in this section as the ‘‘Comp- (B) with respect to the second report under SEC. 301. STUDY TO REVIEW CONSERVATION FAC- troller General’’), to facilitate the prepara- paragraph (2), the 2 fiscal years preceding TORS. tion of the reports from the Comptroller the date of submission of the report. (a) DEFINITION OF SECRETARIES.—In this General under paragraph (2), the head of (2) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—Not later than section, the term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means— each Federal department and agency shall 2 years and 4 years after the date of enact- (1) the Secretary of Agriculture; submit to the Comptroller General data and ment of this Act, the Comptroller General (2) the Secretary of Commerce, acting other relevant information that describes shall submit to the Committees on Com- through the Assistant Administrator of the the amounts expended or disbursed (includ- merce, Science, and Transportation and En- National Marine Fisheries Service; and ing through loans, loan guarantees, grants, vironment and Public Works of the Senate (3) the Secretary of the Interior, acting or any other financing mechanism) by the and the Committee on Natural Resources of through the Director of the United States department or agency as a direct result of the House of Representatives a report that— Fish and Wildlife Service. any provision of the Endangered Species Act (A) describes the conservation activities by (b) STUDY.—To assess factors affecting suc- of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (including any all Federal departments and agencies for cessful conservation activities under the En- regulation promulgated pursuant to that species listed as a threatened species or en- dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et Act) during— dangered species under the Endangered Spe- seq.), the Secretaries shall carry out a (i) with respect to the first report under cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as re- study— paragraph (2), the 3 fiscal years preceding ported under paragraph (1), during— (1)(A) to review any factors that threaten the date of submission of the report; and (i) with respect to the first report, the 3 or endanger a species, such as wildlife dis- (ii) with respect to the second report under fiscal years preceding the date of submission ease, for which a listing under the Endan- paragraph (2), the 2 fiscal years preceding of the report; and gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et the date of submission of the report. (ii) with respect to the second report, the 2 seq.) would not contribute to the conserva- (B) REQUIREMENTS.—Data and other rel- fiscal years preceding the date of submission tion of the species; and evant information submitted under subpara- of the report; (B) to identify additional conservation graph (A) shall describe, with respect to the (B) is organized into categories with re- measures that can be taken to protect and applicable amounts— spect to whether a recovery plan for a spe- conserve a species described in subparagraph (i) the programmatic office of the depart- cies has been established; (A); ment or agency on behalf of which each (C) includes conservation outcomes associ- (2) to review any barriers to— amount was expended or disbursed; ated with the conservation activities; and (A) the delivery of Federal, State, local, or (ii) the provision of the Endangered Spe- (D) as applicable, describes the conserva- private funds for such conservation activi- cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (or reg- tion activities that required interaction be- ties, including statutory or regulatory im- ulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) tween Federal agencies and between Federal pediments, staffing needs, and other relevant pursuant to which each amount was ex- agencies and State and Tribal agencies and considerations; or pended or disbursed; and units of local government pursuant to the (B) the implementation of conservation (iii) the project or activity carried out Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. agreements, plans, or other cooperative using each amount, in detail sufficient to re- 1531 et seq.). agreements, including agreements focused flect the breadth, scope, and purpose of the on voluntary activities, multispecies efforts, project or activity. SEC. 303. USE OF VALUE OF LAND FOR COST SHARING. and other relevant considerations; (2) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—Not later than The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restora- (3) to review factors that impact the abil- 2 years and 4 years after the date of enact- tion Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) is amended— ity of the Federal Government to success- ment of this Act, the Comptroller General (1) by redesignating section 13 as section fully implement the Endangered Species Act shall submit to the Committees on Appro- 14; and of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); priations, Commerce, Science, and Transpor- (2) by inserting after section 12 the fol- (4) to develop recommendations regarding tation, and Environment and Public Works lowing: methods to address barriers identified under of the Senate and the Committee on Appro- paragraph (2), if any; priations and Natural Resources of the ‘‘SEC. 13. VALUE OF LAND. (5) to review determinations under the En- House of Representatives a report that de- ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of dangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et scribes— law, any institution eligible to receive Fed- seq.) in which a species is determined to be (A) the aggregate amount expended or dis- eral funds under the Agricultural Research, recovered by the Secretary of the Interior, bursed by all Federal departments and agen- Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998 acting through the Director of the United cies as a direct result of any provision of the (7 U.S.C. 7601 et seq.) shall be allowed to use States Fish and Wildlife Service, or the Sec- Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. the value of any land owned by the institu- retary of Commerce, acting through the As- 1531 et seq.) (including any regulation pro- tion as an in-kind match to satisfy any cost sistant Administrator of the National Ma- mulgated pursuant to that Act) during— sharing requirement under this Act.’’. rine Fisheries Service, but remains listed (i) with respect to the first report, the 3 under that Act, including— fiscal years preceding the date of submission f (A) an explanation of the factors pre- of the report; and venting a delisting or downlisting of the spe- (ii) with respect to the second report, the 2 AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO cies; and fiscal years preceding the date of submission MEET (B) recommendations regarding methods to of the report; Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I have address the factors described in subpara- (B) the provision of the Endangered Spe- cies Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (or reg- 7 requests for committees to meet dur- graph (A); and ing today’s session of the Senate. They (6) to review any determinations under the ulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. pursuant to which each such amount was ex- have the approval of the Majority and 1531 et seq.) in which a species has been iden- pended or disbursed; and Minority leaders. tified as needing listing or uplisting under (C) with respect to each relevant depart- Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph that Act but remains unlisted or listed as a ment or agency— 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- threatened species, respectively, including— (i) the total amount expended or disbursed ate, the following committees are au- (A) an explanation of the factors pre- by the department or agency as described in thorized to meet during today’s session subparagraph (A); and venting a listing or uplisting of the species; of the Senate: and (ii) the information described in clauses (i) (B) recommendations regarding methods to through (iii) of paragraph (1)(B). COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND address the factors described in subpara- (b) REPORT ON CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.— TRANSPORTATION graph (A). (1) FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.— The Committee on Commerce, (c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after At the determination of the Comptroller Science, and Transportation is author- the date of enactment of this Act, the Secre- General, to facilitate the preparation of the ized to meet during the session of the report under paragraph (2), the head of each taries shall submit to the Committees on Ap- Senate on Wednesday, September 16, propriations and Environment and Public Federal department and agency shall submit Works of the Senate and the Committees on to the Comptroller General data and other 2020, at 9:45 a.m., to conduct a hearing Appropriations and Natural Resources of the relevant information that describes the con- on nominations. House of Representatives and make publicly servation activities by the Federal depart- COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL available a report describing the results of ment or agency as a direct result of any pro- RESOURCES the study under subsection (b). vision of the Endangered Species Act of 1973 The Committee on Energy and Nat- SEC. 302. STUDY AND REPORT ON EXPENDI- (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (including any regula- ural Resources is authorized to meet TURES. tion promulgated pursuant to that Act) dur- (a) REPORTS ON EXPENDITURES.— ing— during the session of the Senate on (1) FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.— (A) with respect to the first report under Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at 10 (A) IN GENERAL.—At the determination of paragraph (2), the 3 fiscal years preceding a.m., to conduct a hearing on nomina- the Comptroller General of the United States the date of submission of the report; and tions.

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COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC Sec. 107. National Fish and Wildlife Founda- ‘‘(B) AUTHORITY.—Not later than 180 days WORKS tion Establishment Act. after the date of enactment of the America’s The Committee on Environment and Sec. 108. Modification of definition of sport Conservation Enhancement Act, the Secretary Public Works is authorized to meet fishing equipment under Toxic shall establish under section 24 of the Steven- during the session of the Senate on Substances Control Act. son-Wydler Technology Innovation Act of 1980 Sec. 109. Reauthorization of Chesapeake Bay (15 U.S.C. 3719) a prize competition, to be known Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at 10 Program. as the ‘Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for re- a.m., to conduct a hearing. Sec. 110. Reauthorization of Chesapeake Bay ducing human-predator conflict’— COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND Initiative Act of 1998. ‘‘(i) to encourage technological innovation GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS Sec. 111. Chesapeake watershed investments for with the potential to advance the mission of the The Committee on Homeland Secu- landscape defense. United States Fish and Wildlife Service with re- rity and Governmental Affairs is au- Sec. 112. Great Lakes monitoring, assessment, spect to reducing the frequency of human-pred- science, and research. thorized to meet during the session of ator conflict using nonlethal means; and ‘‘(ii) to award 1 or more prizes annually for a the Senate on Wednesday, September TITLE II—MODERNIZING THE PITTMAN- ROBERTSON FUND FOR TOMORROW’S technological advancement that promotes reduc- 16, 2020, at 10:15 a.m., to conduct a busi- NEEDS ing human-predator conflict using nonlethal ness meeting and executive session on Sec. 201. Purpose. means, which may include the application and nominations. Sec. 202. Definitions. monitoring of tagging technologies. SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE Sec. 203. Apportionment of available amounts. ‘‘(C) ADVISORY BOARD.— ‘‘(i) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established an The Select Committee on Intel- Sec. 204. Expenditures for management of wild- life areas and resources. advisory board, to be known as the ‘Reducing ligence is authorized to meet during Human-Predator Conflict Technology Advisory the session of the Senate on Wednes- Sec. 205. Firearm and bow hunter education and safety program grants. Board’. day, September 16, 2020, at 1:30 p.m., to Sec. 206. Multistate conservation grant pro- ‘‘(ii) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall be com- conduct a closed hearing. gram. posed of not fewer than 9 members appointed by the Secretary, who shall provide expertise in— SUBCOMMITTEE ON PUBLIC LANDS, FORESTS, TITLE III—NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ‘‘(I) predator-human interactions; AND MINING CONSERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS ‘‘(II) the habitats of large predators; The Subcommittee on Public Lands, Sec. 301. Purpose. ‘‘(III) biology; Forests, and Mining of the Committee Sec. 302. Definitions. ‘‘(IV) technology development; on Energy and Natural Resources is au- Sec. 303. National Fish Habitat Board. ‘‘(V) engineering; thorized to meet during the session of Sec. 304. Fish Habitat Partnerships. ‘‘(VI) economics; ‘‘(VII) business development and manage- the Senate on Wednesday, September Sec. 305. Fish Habitat Conservation Projects. Sec. 306. Technical and scientific assistance. ment; and 16, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hear- Sec. 307. Coordination with States and Indian ‘‘(VIII) any other discipline, as the Secretary ing. Tribes. determines to be necessary to achieve the pur- SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY Sec. 308. Interagency Operational Plan. poses of this paragraph. The Subcommittee on Intellectual Sec. 309. Accountability and reporting. ‘‘(iii) DUTIES.—Subject to clause (iv), with re- Property of the Committee on the Ju- Sec. 310. Effect of this title. spect to the prize competition, the Board shall— Sec. 311. Nonapplicability of Federal Advisory ‘‘(I) select a topic; diciary is authorized to meet during Committee Act. ‘‘(II) issue a problem statement; the session of the Senate on Wednes- Sec. 312. Funding. ‘‘(III) advise the Secretary regarding any op- day, September 16, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to Sec. 313. Prohibition against implementation of portunity for technological innovation to reduce conduct a hearing. regulatory authority by Federal human-predator conflict using nonlethal means; and f agencies through Partnerships. TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS ‘‘(IV) advise winners of the prize competition AMERICA’S CONSERVATION regarding opportunities to pilot and implement Sec. 401. Sense of the Senate regarding con- ENHANCEMENT ACT winning technologies in relevant fields, includ- servation agreements and activi- ing in partnership with conservation organiza- Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask ties. tions, Federal or State agencies, federally recog- unanimous consent that the Senate Sec. 402. Study to review conservation factors. nized Indian Tribes, private entities, and re- Sec. 403. Study and report on expenditures. proceed to the immediate consider- search institutions with expertise or interest re- Sec. 404. Use of value of land for cost sharing. ation of Calendar No. 378, S. 3051. lating to reducing human-predator conflict The PRESIDING OFFICER. The TITLE I—WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, using nonlethal means. clerk will report bill by title. DISEASE, AND PREDATION ‘‘(iv) CONSULTATION.—In selecting a topic and The senior assistant legislative clerk SEC. 101. THEODORE ROOSEVELT GENIUS PRIZE issuing a problem statement for the prize com- FOR REDUCING HUMAN-PREDATOR read as follows: petition under subclauses (I) and (II) of clause CONFLICT. (iii), respectively, the Board shall consult widely A bill (S. 3051) to improve protections for (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 7001(d) of the John with Federal and non-Federal stakeholders, in- wildlife, and for other purposes. D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and cluding— There being no objection, the Senate Recreation Act (16 U.S.C. 742b note; Public Law ‘‘(I) 1 or more Federal agencies with jurisdic- proceeded to consider the bill, which 116–9) is amended— tion over the management of native wildlife spe- had been reported from the Committee (1) in paragraphs (2)(C)(v), (3)(C)(v), cies at risk due to conflict with human activi- (4)(C)(v), (5)(C)(v), and (6)(C)(v), by striking ties; on Environment and Public Works with ‘‘paragraph (7)(A)’’ each place it appears and ‘‘(II) 1 or more State agencies with jurisdic- an amendment to strike all after the inserting ‘‘paragraph (8)(A)’’; tion over the management of native wildlife spe- enacting clause and insert in lieu (2) in paragraphs (2)(D)(ii), (2)(F)(ii), cies at risk due to conflict with human activi- thereof the following: (3)(D)(ii), (3)(F)(ii), (4)(D)(ii), (4)(F)(ii), ties; SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. (5)(D)(ii), (5)(F)(ii), (6)(D)(ii), and (6)(F)(ii) by ‘‘(III) 1 or more State, regional, or local wild- (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as striking ‘‘paragraph (7)(B)’’ each place it ap- life organizations, the mission of which relates the ‘‘America’s Conservation Enhancement pears and inserting ‘‘paragraph (8)(B)’’; to the management of native wildlife species at Act’’. (3) in paragraph (6)(C)(iv), in the matter pre- risk due to conflict with human activities; and (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of con- ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘subparagraph ‘‘(IV) 1 or more wildlife conservation groups, tents for this Act is as follows: (C)’’ and inserting ‘‘clause (iii)’’; technology companies, research institutions, in- (4) by redesignating paragraph (7) as para- Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. stitutions of higher education, industry associa- graph (8); tions, or individual stakeholders with an inter- TITLE I—WILDLIFE ENHANCEMENT, (5) by inserting after paragraph (6) the fol- est in the management of native wildlife species DISEASE, AND PREDATION lowing: at risk due to conflict with human activities. Sec. 101. Theodore Roosevelt Genius Prize for ‘‘(7) THEODORE ROOSEVELT GENIUS PRIZE FOR ‘‘(v) REQUIREMENTS.—The Board shall comply reducing human-predator con- REDUCING HUMAN-PREDATOR CONFLICT.— with all requirements under paragraph (8)(A). flict. ‘‘(A) DEFINITIONS.—In this paragraph: ‘‘(D) AGREEMENT WITH NATIONAL FISH AND Sec. 102. Losses of livestock due to depredation ‘‘(i) BOARD.—The term ‘Board’ means the Re- WILDLIFE FOUNDATION.— by federally protected species. ducing Human-Predator Conflict Technology ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall offer to Sec. 103. Depredation permits for black vultures Advisory Board established by subparagraph enter into an agreement under which the Na- and common ravens. (C)(i). tional Fish and Wildlife Foundation shall ad- Sec. 104. Chronic Wasting Disease Task Force. ‘‘(ii) PRIZE COMPETITION.—The term ‘prize minister the prize competition. Sec. 105. Invasive species. competition’ means the Theodore Roosevelt Ge- ‘‘(ii) REQUIREMENTS.—An agreement entered Sec. 106. North American Wetlands Conserva- nius Prize for reducing human-predator conflict into under clause (i) shall comply with all re- tion Act. established under subparagraph (B). quirements under paragraph (8)(B).

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‘‘(E) JUDGES.— (B) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 (D) submit to the Secretaries— ‘‘(i) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary shall ap- U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); or (i) annual reports that include— point not fewer than 3 judges who shall, except (C) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. (I) a summary of claims and expenditures as provided in clause (ii), select the 1 or more 703 et seq.). under the program during the year; and annual winners of the prize competition. (3) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ (II) a description of any action taken on the ‘‘(ii) DETERMINATION BY SECRETARY.—The has the meaning given the term in section 4 of claims; and judges appointed under clause (i) shall not se- the Indian Self-Determination and Education (ii) such other reports as the Secretaries may lect any annual winner of the prize competition Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). require to assist the Secretaries in determining if the Secretary makes a determination that, in (4) LIVESTOCK.— the effectiveness of assisted activities under this any fiscal year, none of the technological ad- (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘livestock’’ means section. vancements entered into the prize competition horses, mules and asses, rabbits, llamas, cattle, (c) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense of merits an award. bison, swine, sheep, goats, poultry, bees, honey the Senate that— ‘‘(F) CONSULTATION WITH NOAA.—The Sec- and beehives, or any other animal generally (1) no State or Indian tribe is required to par- retary shall consult with the Secretary of Com- used for food or in the production of food or ticipate in the program; and merce, acting through the Administrator of the fiber. (2) the program supplements, and does not re- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- (B) INCLUSION.—The term ‘‘livestock’’ includes place or supplant, any State compensation pro- tion, in the case of a cash prize awarded under guard animals actively engaged in the protec- grams for depredation. the prize competition for a technology that ad- tion of livestock described in subparagraph (A). (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— dresses conflict between marine predators under (5) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘program’’ means There is authorized to be appropriated to carry the jurisdiction of the Secretary of Commerce, the grant program established under subsection out this section $15,000,000 for each of fiscal acting through the Administrator of the Na- (b)(1). years 2021 through 2025, of which— tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, (6) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ (1) $5,000,000 shall be used to provide grants and humans. means— for the purposes described in subsection ‘‘(G) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 60 (A) the Secretary of the Interior, acting (b)(1)(A); and days after the date on which a cash prize is through the Director of the United States Fish (2) $10,000,000 shall be used to provide grants awarded under this paragraph, the Secretary and Wildlife Service; and for the purpose described in subsection (b)(1)(B). shall submit to the Committee on Environment (B) the Secretary of Agriculture, acting SEC. 103. DEPREDATION PERMITS FOR BLACK and Public Works of the Senate and the Com- through the Administrator of the Animal and VULTURES AND COMMON RAVENS. mittee on Natural Resources of the House of Plant Health Inspection Service. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of the Inte- Representatives a report on the prize competi- (b) GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOSSES OF LIVE- rior, acting through the Director of the United tion that includes— STOCK DUE TO DEPREDATION BY FEDERALLY States Fish and Wildlife Service (referred to in ‘‘(i) a statement by the Board that describes PROTECTED SPECIES.— this section as the ‘‘Secretary’’), may issue dep- the activities carried out by the Board relating (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall estab- redation permits to livestock producers author- to the duties described in subparagraph (C)(iii); lish a program to provide grants to States and izing takings of black vultures or common ‘‘(ii) if the Secretary has entered into an Indian tribes to supplement amounts provided ravens otherwise prohibited by Federal law to agreement under subparagraph (D)(i), a state- by States, Indian tribes, or State agencies under prevent those vultures or common ravens from ment by the National Fish and Wildlife Founda- 1 or more programs established by the States taking livestock during the calving season or tion that describes the activities carried out by and Indian tribes (including programs estab- lambing season. the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation re- lished after the date of enactment of this Act)— (b) LIMITED TO AFFECTED STATES OR RE- lating to the duties described in paragraph (A) to assist livestock producers in carrying GIONS.—The Secretary may issue permits under (8)(B); and out— subsection (a) only to livestock producers in ‘‘(iii) a statement by 1 or more of the judges (i) proactive and nonlethal activities to reduce States and regions in which livestock producers appointed under subparagraph (E) that explains the risk of livestock loss due to depredation by are affected or have been affected in the pre- the basis on which the winner of the cash prize federally protected species occurring on— vious year by black vultures or common ravens, was selected. (I) Federal, State, or private land within the as determined by Secretary. ‘‘(H) TERMINATION OF AUTHORITY.—The applicable State; or (c) REPORTING.—The Secretary shall require, Board and all authority provided under this (II) land owned by, or held in trust for the as a condition of a permit under subsection (a), paragraph shall terminate on December 31, benefit of, the applicable Indian tribe; and that the permit holder shall report to the appro- 2023.’’; and (ii) research relating to the activities described priate enforcement agencies the takings of black (6) in paragraph (8) (as so redesignated)— in clause (i); and (A) in subparagraph (A), in the matter pre- vultures or common ravens pursuant to the per- (B) to compensate livestock producers for live- ceding clause (i), by striking ‘‘or (6)(C)(i)’’ and mit. stock losses due to depredation by federally pro- inserting ‘‘(6)(C)(i), or (7)(C)(i)’’; and SEC. 104. CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TASK (B) in subparagraph (B)— tected species occurring on— FORCE. (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by strik- (i) Federal, State, or private land within the (a) DEFINITION OF CHRONIC WASTING DIS- ing ‘‘or (6)(D)(i)’’ and inserting ‘‘(6)(D)(i), or applicable State; or EASE.—In this section, the term ‘‘chronic wast- (7)(D)(i)’’; and (ii) land owned by, or held in trust for the ing disease’’ means the animal disease afflicting (ii) in clause (i)(VII), by striking ‘‘and (6)(E)’’ benefit of, the applicable Indian tribe. deer, elk, and moose populations that— and inserting ‘‘(6)(E), and (7)(E)’’. (2) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.— (1) is a transmissible disease of the nervous (b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of (A) REPORTS TO THE SECRETARIES.—Not later system resulting in distinctive lesions in the Congress that data collected from the tagging of than September 30 of each year, a State or In- brain; and predators can inform innovative management of dian tribe desiring to receive a grant under the (2) belongs to the group of diseases known as those predators and innovative education activi- program shall submit to the Secretaries a report transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, ties to minimize human-predator conflict. describing, for the 1-year period ending on that which group includes scrapie, bovine spongiform SEC. 102. LOSSES OF LIVESTOCK DUE TO DEPRE- September 30, the losses of livestock due to dep- encephalopathy, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. DATION BY FEDERALLY PROTECTED redation by federally protected species occurring (b) ESTABLISHMENT.— SPECIES. on— (1) IN GENERAL.—There is established within (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (i) Federal, State, or private land within the the United States Fish and Wildlife Service a (1) DEPREDATION.— applicable State; or task force, to be known as the ‘‘Chronic Wast- (A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘depredation’’ (ii) land owned by, or held in trust for the ing Disease Task Force’’ (referred to in this sub- means actual death, injury, or destruction of benefit of, the applicable Indian tribe. section as the ‘‘Task Force’’). livestock that is caused by a federally protected (B) ALLOCATION.—The Secretaries shall allo- (2) DUTIES.—The Task Force shall— species. cate available funding to carry out this Act (A) collaborate with foreign governments to (B) EXCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘depredation’’ among States and Indian tribes for a 1-year pe- share research, coordinate efforts, and discuss does not include damage to real or personal riod ending on September 30 based on the losses best management practices to reduce, minimize, property other than livestock, including— described in the reports submitted for the pre- prevent, or eliminate chronic wasting disease in (i) damage to— vious 1-year period ending on September 30 the United States; (I) other animals; under subparagraph (A). (B) develop recommendations, including rec- (II) vegetation; (3) ELIGIBILITY.—To be eligible to receive a (III) motor vehicles; or ommendations based on findings of the study (IV) structures; grant under paragraph (1), a State or Indian conducted under subsection (c), and a set of best (ii) diseases; tribe shall— practices regarding— (iii) lost profits; or (A) designate an appropriate agency of the (i) the interstate coordination of practices to (iv) consequential damages. State or Indian tribe to administer the 1 or more prevent the new introduction of chronic wasting (2) FEDERALLY PROTECTED SPECIES.—The term programs supplemented by the grant funds; disease; ‘‘federally protected species’’ means a species (B) establish 1 or more accounts to receive (ii) the prioritization and coordination of the that is or previously was protected under— grant funds; future study of chronic wasting disease, based (A) the Act of June 8, 1940 (commonly known (C) maintain files of all claims received and on evolving research needs; as the ‘‘Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act’’) paid under grant-funded programs, including (iii) ways to leverage the collective resources (54 Stat. 250, chapter 278; 16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.); supporting documentation; and of Federal, State, and local agencies, Indian

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Tribes, and foreign governments, and resources Public Works of the Senate and Natural Re- (2) STUDY.— from private, nongovernmental entities, to ad- sources of the House of Representatives. (A) IN GENERAL.—The Secretaries shall enter dress chronic wasting disease in the United (6) VACANCIES.—Any vacancy in the members into an arrangement with the Academy under States and along the borders of the United appointed to the Task Force— which the Academy shall conduct, and submit States; and (A) shall not affect the power or duty of the to the Secretaries a report describing the find- (iv) any other area where containment or Task Force; and ings of, a special resource study to identify the management efforts relating to chronic wasting (B) shall be filled not later than 30 days after predominant pathways and mechanisms of the disease may differ across jurisdictions; the date of the vacancy. transmission of chronic wasting disease in wild, (C) draw from existing and future academic (7) MEETINGS.—The Task Force shall con- captive, and farmed populations of cervids in and management recommendations to develop vene— the United States. an interstate action plan under which States (A) not less frequently than twice each year; (B) REQUIREMENTS.—The arrangement under and the Federal Government agree to enact con- and subparagraph (A) shall provide that the actual sistent management, educational, and research (B) at such time and place, and by such expenses incurred by the Academy in con- practices relating to chronic wasting disease; means, as the Co-Chairs of the Task Force de- ducting the study under subparagraph (A) shall and termine to be appropriate, which may include be paid by the Secretaries, subject to the avail- (D) facilitate the creation of a cooperative the use of remote conference technology. ability of appropriations. agreement by which States and relevant Federal (8) INTERSTATE ACTION PLAN.— (3) CONTENTS OF THE STUDY.—The study agencies agree to commit funds to implement (A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after under paragraph (2) shall— (A) with respect to wild, captive, and farmed best practices described in the interstate action the date on which the members of the Task populations of cervids in the United States, plan developed under subparagraph (C). Force are appointed, the Task Force shall sub- identify— (3) MEMBERSHIP.— mit to the Secretary, and the heads of the State (i)(I) the pathways and mechanisms for the (A) IN GENERAL.—The Task Force shall be agencies with jurisdiction over wildlife disease transmission of chronic wasting disease within composed of— and farmed cervid regulation of each State with live cervid populations and cervid products, (i) 1 representative of the United States Fish a representative on the Task Force, the inter- which may include pathways and mechanisms and Wildlife Service with experience in chronic state action plan developed by the Task Force for transmission from Canada; under paragraph (2)(C). wasting disease, to be appointed by the Sec- (II) the infection rates for each pathway and (B) COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS.— retary of the Interior (referred to in this sub- mechanism identified under subclause (I); and section as the ‘‘Secretary’’); (i) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum extent prac- (III) the relative frequency of transmission of (ii) 1 representative of the United States Geo- ticable, the Secretary, any other applicable Fed- each pathway and mechanism identified under logical Survey; eral agency, and each applicable State shall subclause (I); (iii) 2 representatives of the Department of Ag- enter into a cooperative agreement to fund nec- (ii)(I) anthropogenic and environmental fac- riculture with experience in chronic wasting dis- essary actions under the interstate action plan tors contributing to new chronic wasting disease ease, to be appointed by the Secretary of Agri- submitted under subparagraph (A). emergence events; culture— (ii) TARGET DATE.—The Secretary shall make (II) the development of geographical areas (I) 1 of whom shall have expertise in research; the best effort of the Secretary to enter into any with increased chronic wasting disease preva- and cooperative agreement under clause (i) not later lence; and (II) 1 of whom shall have expertise in wildlife than 180 days after the date of submission of the (III) the overall geographical patterns of management; interstate action plan under subparagraph (A). chronic wasting disease distribution; (iv) in the case of each State in which chronic (C) MATCHING FUNDS.— (iii) significant gaps in current scientific wasting disease among elk, mule deer, white- (i) IN GENERAL.—Subject to clause (ii), for knowledge regarding the transmission pathways tailed deer, or moose has been reported to the each fiscal year, the Federal Government shall and mechanisms identified under clause (i)(I) appropriate State agency, not more than 2 rep- provide funds to carry out an interstate action and potential prevention, detection, and control resentatives, to be nominated by the Governor of plan through a cooperative agreement under methods identified under clause (v); the State— subparagraph (B) in the amount of funds pro- (iv) for prioritization the scientific research (I) not more than 1 of whom shall be a rep- vided by the applicable States. projects that will address the knowledge gaps resentative of the State agency with jurisdiction (ii) LIMITATION.—The amount provided by the identified under clause (iii), based on the likeli- over wildlife management or wildlife disease in Federal Government under clause (i) for a fiscal hood that a project will contribute significantly the State; and year shall be not greater than $5,000,000. to the prevention or control of chronic wasting (II) in the case of a State with a farmed cervid (9) REPORTS.—Not later than September 30 of disease; and program or economy, not more than 1 of whom the first full fiscal year after the date on which (v) potential prevention, detection, or control shall be a representative of the State agency the first members of the Task Force are ap- measures, practices, or technologies to be used with jurisdiction over farmed cervid regulation pointed, and each September 30 thereafter, the to mitigate the transmission and spread of in the State; Task Force shall submit to the Secretary, and chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and (v) in the case of each State in which chronic the heads of the State agencies with jurisdiction farmed populations of cervids in the United wasting disease among elk, mule deer, white- over wildlife disease and farmed cervid regula- States; tailed deer, or moose has not been documented, tion of each State with a representatives on the (B) assess the effectiveness of the potential but that has carried out measures to prevent the Task Force, a report describing— prevention, detection, or control measures, prac- introduction of chronic wasting disease among (A) progress on the implementation of actions tices, or technologies identified under subpara- those species, not more than 2 representatives, identified in the interstate action plan submitted graph (A)(v); and (C) review and compare science-based best to be nominated by the Governor of the State; under paragraph (8)(A), including the efficacy practices, standards, and guidance regarding (vi) not more than 2 representatives from an of funding under the cooperative agreement en- the prevention, detection, and management of Indian tribe or tribal organization chosen in a tered into under paragraph (8)(B); chronic wasting disease in wild, captive, and process determined, in consultation with Indian (B) updated resource requirements that are farmed populations of cervids in the United tribes, by the Secretary; and needed to reduce and eliminate chronic wasting States that have been developed by— (vii) not more than 5 nongovernmental mem- disease in the United States; (i) the National Chronic Wasting Disease Herd bers with relevant expertise appointed, after the (C) any relevant updates to the recommended Certification Program of the Animal and Plant date on which the members are first appointed best management practices included in the inter- Health Inspection Service; under clauses (i) through (vi), by a majority state action plan submitted under paragraph (ii) the United States Geological Survey; vote of the State representatives appointed (8)(B) to reduce or eliminate chronic wasting (iii) State wildlife and agricultural agencies, under clause (iv). disease; in the case of practices, standards, and guid- (B) EFFECT.—Nothing in this paragraph re- (D) new research findings and emerging re- ance that provide practical, science-based rec- quires a State to participate in the Task Force. search needs relating to chronic wasting dis- ommendations to State and Federal agencies for (4) CO-CHAIRS.—The Co-Chairs of the Task ease; and minimizing or eliminating the risk of trans- Force shall be— (E) any other relevant information. mission of chronic wasting disease in the United (A) the Federal representative described in (c) CHRONIC WASTING DISEASE TRANSMISSION States; and paragraph (3)(A)(i); and IN CERVIDAE RESOURCE STUDY.— (iv) industry or academia, in the case of any (B) 1 State representative appointed under (1) DEFINITIONS.—In this subsection: published guidance on practices that provide paragraph (3)(A)(iv), to be selected by a major- (A) ACADEMY.—The term ‘‘Academy’’ means practical, science-based recommendations to ity vote of those State representatives. the National Academy of Sciences. cervid producers for minimizing or eliminating (5) DATE OF INITIAL APPOINTMENT.— (B) CERVID.—The term ‘‘cervid’’ means any the risk of transmission of chronic wasting dis- (A) IN GENERAL.—The members of the Task species within the family Cervidae. ease within or between herds. Force shall be appointed not later than 180 days (C) SECRETARIES.—The term ‘‘Secretaries’’ (4) DEADLINE.—The study under paragraph after the date on which the study is completed means the Secretary of Agriculture, acting (2) shall be completed not later than 180 days under subsection (c). through the Administrator of the Animal and after the date on which funds are first made (B) NOTIFICATION.—On appointment of the Plant Health Inspection Service, and the Sec- available for the study. members of the Task Force, the Co-Chairs of the retary of the Interior, acting through the Direc- (5) DATA SHARING.—The Secretaries shall Task Force shall notify the Chairs and Ranking tor of the United States Geological Survey, act- share with the Academy, as necessary to con- Members of the Committees on Environment and ing jointly. duct the study under paragraph (2), subject to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00052 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 6333 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.012 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5669 the avoidance of a violation of a privacy or con- considering the recommendations submitted by dation even though the gift, devise, or bequest is fidentiality requirement and the protection of the Board, the Secretary of the Interior shall encumbered, restricted, or subject to beneficial confidential or privileged commercial, financial, appoint 28 Directors who, to the maximum ex- interests of private persons if any current or fu- or proprietary information, data and access to tent practicable, shall— ture interest in the gift, devise, or bequest is for databases on chronic wasting disease under the ‘‘(A) be knowledgeable and experienced in the benefit of the Foundation. jurisdiction of— matters relating to the conservation of fish, ‘‘(3) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—The acceptance and (A) the Veterinary Services Program of the wildlife, or other natural resources; and administration of amounts by the Foundation Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service; ‘‘(B) represent a balance of expertise in ocean, under paragraph (1)(K) does not alter, super- and coastal, freshwater, and terrestrial resource con- sede, or limit any regulatory or statutory re- (B) the United States Geological Survey. servation.’’; and quirement associated with those amounts.’’; (6) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the (ii) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting (2) by striking subsections (f) and (g); and date of completion of the study, the Secretaries the following: (3) by redesignating subsections (h) and (i) as shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture, ‘‘(3) TERMS.—Each Director (other than a Di- subsections (f) and (g), respectively. Nutrition, and Forestry, the Committee on En- rector described in paragraph (1)) shall be ap- (c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Sec- ergy and Natural Resources, and the Committee pointed for a term of 6 years.’’; and tion 10 of the National Fish and Wildlife Foun- on Environment and Public Works of the Senate (B) in subsection (g)(2)— dation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3709) is and the Committee on Agriculture and the Com- (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘(A) Offi- amended— mittee on Natural Resources of the House of cers and employees may not be appointed until (1) in subsection (a), by striking paragraph (1) Representatives a report that describes— the Foundation has sufficient funds to pay and inserting the following: (A) the findings of the study; and them for their service. Officers’’ and inserting ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be (B) any conclusions and recommendations the following: appropriated to carry out this Act for each of that the Secretaries determine to be appropriate. ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Officers’’; and fiscal years 2021 through 2025— (ii) by striking subparagraph (B) and insert- ‘‘(A) $15,000,000 to the Secretary of the Inte- (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— There are authorized to be appropriated to carry ing the following: rior; ‘‘(B) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.—The Foundation ‘‘(B) $5,000,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture; out this section— shall have an Executive Director who shall be— and (1) for the period of fiscal years 2021 through ‘‘(i) appointed by, and serve at the direction ‘‘(C) $5,000,000 to the Secretary of Com- 2025, $5,000,000 to the Secretary of the Interior, of, the Board as the chief executive officer of merce.’’; acting through the Director of the United States the Foundation; and (2) in subsection (b)— Fish and Wildlife Service, to carry out adminis- ‘‘(ii) knowledgeable and experienced in mat- (A) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting trative activities under subsection (b); ters relating to fish and wildlife conservation.’’. the following: (2) for fiscal year 2021, $1,200,000 to the Sec- (2) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section ‘‘(1) AMOUNTS FROM FEDERAL AGENCIES.— retary of the Interior, acting through the Direc- 4(a)(1)(B) of the North American Wetlands Con- ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In addition to the amounts tor of the United States Geological Survey, to servation Act (16 U.S.C. 4403(a)(1)(B)) is amend- authorized to be appropriated under subsection carry out activities to fund research under sub- ed by striking ‘‘Secretary of the Board’’ and in- (a), Federal departments, agencies, or instru- section (c); and serting ‘‘Executive Director of the Board’’. mentalities are authorized to provide funds to (3) for fiscal year 2021, $1,200,000 to the Sec- (b) RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF FOUNDA- the Foundation through Federal financial as- retary of Agriculture, acting through the Ad- TION.—Section 4 of the National Fish and Wild- sistance grants and cooperative agreements, ministrator of the Animal and Plant Health In- life Foundation Establishment Act (16 U.S.C. subject to the condition that the amounts are spection Service, to carry out activities to fund 3703) is amended— used for purposes that further the conservation research under subsection (c). (1) in subsection (c)— and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and SEC. 105. INVASIVE SPECIES. (A) by striking ‘‘(c) POWERS.—To carry out its other natural resources in accordance with this Section 10 of the Fish and Wildlife Coordina- purposes under’’ and inserting the following: Act. tion Act (16 U.S.C. 666c–1) is amended— ‘‘(c) POWERS.— ‘‘(B) ADVANCES.—Federal departments, agen- (1) in subsection (c)(2)— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—To carry out the purposes cies, or instrumentalities may advance amounts (A) in subparagraph (A)— described in’’; described in subparagraph (A) to the Founda- (i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as (B) by redesignating paragraphs (1) through tion in a lump sum without regard to when the clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively; and (11) as subparagraphs (A) through (K), respec- expenses for which the amounts are used are in- (ii) by inserting before clause (ii) (as so redes- tively, and indenting appropriately; curred. ignated) the following: (C) in subparagraph (D) (as redesignated by ‘‘(C) MANAGEMENT FEES.—The Foundation ‘‘(i) relevant Federal agencies;’’; subparagraph (B)), by striking ‘‘that are in- may assess and collect fees for the management (B) by redesignating subparagraphs (B) and sured by an agency or instrumentality of the of amounts received under this paragraph.’’; (C) as subparagraphs (C) and (D), respectively; United States’’ and inserting ‘‘at 1 or more fi- (B) in paragraph (2)— and nancial institutions that are members of the (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking (C) by inserting after subparagraph (A) the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the ‘‘FUNDS’’ and inserting ‘‘AMOUNTS’’; following: Securities Investment Protection Corporation’’; (ii) by striking ‘‘shall be used’’ and inserting ‘‘(B) in consultation with stakeholders, in- (D) in subparagraph (E) (as redesignated by ‘‘may be used’’; and cluding nongovernmental organizations and in- subparagraph (B)), by striking ‘‘paragraph (3) (iii) by striking ‘‘and State and local govern- dustry;’’; and or (4)’’ and inserting ‘‘subparagraph (C) or ment agencies’’ and inserting ‘‘, State and local (2) by adding at the end the following: (D)’’; government agencies, and other entities’’; and ‘‘(p) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (E) in subparagraph (J) (as redesignated by (C) by adding at the end the following: There are authorized to be appropriated to carry subparagraph (B)), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the ‘‘(3) ADMINISTRATION OF AMOUNTS.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—In entering into contracts, out this section for each of fiscal years 2021 end; agreements, or other partnerships pursuant to through 2025— (F) by striking subparagraph (K) (as redesig- this Act, a Federal department, agency, or in- ‘‘(1) $2,500,000 to the Secretary of the Army, nated by subparagraph (B)) and inserting the strumentality shall have discretion to waive any acting through the Chief of Engineers; and following: competitive process applicable to the depart- ‘‘(2) $2,500,000 to the Secretary of the Inte- ‘‘(K) to receive and administer restitution and ment, agency, or instrumentality for entering rior.’’. community service payments, amounts for miti- gation of impacts to natural resources, and into contracts, agreements, or partnerships with SEC. 106. NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CON- other amounts arising from legal, regulatory, or the Foundation if the purpose of the waiver is— SERVATION ACT. administrative proceedings, subject to the condi- ‘‘(i) to address an environmental emergency Section 7(c) of the North American Wetlands tion that the amounts are received or adminis- resulting from a natural or other disaster; or Conservation Act (16 U.S.C. 4406(c)) is amended tered for purposes that further the conservation ‘‘(ii) as determined by the head of the applica- by striking ‘‘not to exceed—’’ in the matter pre- and management of fish, wildlife, plants, and ble Federal department, agency, or instrumen- ceding paragraph (1) and all that follows other natural resources; and tality, to reduce administrative expenses and ex- through paragraph (5) and inserting ‘‘not to ex- ‘‘(L) to do acts necessary to carry out the pur- pedite the conservation and management of fish, ceed $60,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 poses of the Foundation.’’; and wildlife, plants, and other natural resources. through 2025.’’. (G) by striking the undesignated matter at the ‘‘(B) REPORTS.—The Foundation shall include SEC. 107. NATIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUN- end and inserting the following: in the annual report submitted under section DATION ESTABLISHMENT ACT. ‘‘(2) TREATMENT OF REAL PROPERTY.— 7(b) a description of any use of the authority (a) BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF FOUNDATION.— ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—For purposes of this Act, under subparagraph (A) by a Federal depart- (1) IN GENERAL.—Section 3 of the National an interest in real property shall be treated as ment, agency, or instrumentality in that fiscal Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act including easements or other rights for preserva- year.’’; and (16 U.S.C. 3702) is amended— tion, conservation, protection, or enhancement (3) by adding at the end the following: (A) in subsection (b)— by and for the public of natural, scenic, his- ‘‘(d) USE OF GIFTS, DEVISES, OR BEQUESTS OF (i) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting the toric, scientific, educational, inspirational, or MONEY OR OTHER PROPERTY.—Any gifts, de- following: recreational resources. vises, or bequests of amounts or other property, ‘‘(2) APPOINTMENT OF DIRECTORS.—After con- ‘‘(B) ENCUMBERED REAL PROPERTY.—A gift, or any other amounts or other property, trans- sulting with the Secretary of Commerce and devise, or bequest may be accepted by the Foun- ferred to, deposited with, or otherwise in the

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possession of the Foundation pursuant to this (5) CHESAPEAKE WILD PROGRAM.—The term tivities developed in accordance with subpara- Act, may be made available by the Foundation ‘‘Chesapeake WILD program’’ means the non- graph (A); and to Federal departments, agencies, or instrumen- regulatory program established by the Secretary (ii) targets cost-effective projects with measur- talities and may be accepted and expended (or under subsection (b)(1). able results; and the disposition of the amounts or property di- (6) GRANT PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘grant pro- (C) establish the grant program in accordance rected), without further appropriation, by those gram’’ means the Chesapeake Watershed Invest- with subsection (c). Federal departments, agencies, or instrumental- ments for Landscape Defense grant program es- (4) COORDINATION.—In establishing the ities, subject to the condition that the amounts tablished by the Secretary under subsection Chesapeake WILD program, the Secretary shall or property be used for purposes that further the (c)(1). consult, as appropriate, with— conservation and management of fish, wildlife, (7) RESTORATION AND PROTECTION ACTIVITY.— (A) the heads of Federal agencies, including— plants, and other natural resources.’’. The term ‘‘restoration and protection activity’’ (i) the Administrator of the Environmental (d) LIMITATION ON AUTHORITY.—Section 11 of means an activity carried out for the conserva- Protection Agency; the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Es- tion, stewardship, and enhancement of habitat (ii) the Administrator of the National Oceanic tablishment Act (16 U.S.C. 3710) is amended by for fish and wildlife— and Atmospheric Administration; inserting ‘‘exclusive’’ before ‘‘authority’’. (A) to preserve and improve ecosystems and (iii) the Chief of the Natural Resources Con- SEC. 108. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION OF ecological processes on which the fish and wild- servation Service; SPORT FISHING EQUIPMENT UNDER life depend; and (iv) the Chief of Engineers; TOXIC SUBSTANCES CONTROL ACT. (B) for use and enjoyment by the public. (v) the Director of the United States Geologi- Section 3(2)(B) of the Toxic Substances Con- (8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means cal Survey; trol Act (15 U.S.C. 2602(2)(B)) is amended— the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the (vi) the Secretary of Transportation; (1) in clause (v), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end; Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife (vii) the Chief of the Forest Service; and (2) in clause (vi) by striking the period at the Service. (viii) the head of any other applicable agency; end and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and (b) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.— (B) the Governors of each of the States of (3) by inserting after clause (vi) the following: (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 180 days Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, ‘‘(vii) any sport fishing equipment (as such after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec- Virginia, and West Virginia and the Mayor of term is defined in section 4162(a) of the Internal retary shall establish a nonregulatory program, the District of Columbia; Revenue Code of 1986) the sale of which is sub- to be known as the ‘‘Chesapeake Watershed In- (C) fish and wildlife joint venture partner- ject to the tax imposed by section 4161(a) of such vestments for Landscape Defense program’’. ships; and Code (determined without regard to any exemp- (2) PURPOSES.—The purposes of the Chesa- (D) other public agencies and organizations tions from such tax provided by section 4162 or peake WILD program include— with authority for the planning and implemen- 4221 or any other provision of such Code), and (A) coordinating restoration and protection tation of conservation strategies in the Chesa- sport fishing equipment components.’’. activities among Federal, State, local, and re- peake Bay watershed. gional entities and conservation partners (c) GRANTS AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— SEC. 109. REAUTHORIZATION OF CHESAPEAKE throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed; BAY PROGRAM. (1) CHESAPEAKE WILD GRANT PROGRAM.—To (B) engaging other agencies and organizations Section 117 of the Federal Water Pollution the extent that funds are made available to to build a broader range of partner support, ca- Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1267) is amended by strik- carry out this subsection, the Secretary shall es- pacity, and potential funding for projects in the ing subsection (j) and inserting the following: tablish and carry out, as part of the Chesapeake Chesapeake Bay watershed; WILD program, a voluntary grant and technical ‘‘(j) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (C) carrying out coordinated restoration and There are authorized to be appropriated to carry assistance program, to be known as the ‘‘Chesa- protection activities, and providing for technical peake Watershed Investments for Landscape De- out this section— assistance, throughout the Chesapeake Bay wa- ‘‘(1) for fiscal year 2020, $90,000,000; fense grant program’’, to provide competitive tershed— matching grants of varying amounts and tech- ‘‘(2) for fiscal year 2021, $90,500,000; (i) to sustain and enhance restoration and ‘‘(3) for fiscal year 2022, $91,000,000; nical assistance to eligible entities described in protection activities; paragraph (2) to carry out activities described in ‘‘(4) for fiscal year 2023, $91,500,000; and (ii) to improve and maintain water quality to ‘‘(5) for fiscal year 2024, $92,000,000.’’. subsection (b)(2). support fish and wildlife, habitats of fish and (2) ELIGIBLE ENTITIES.—The following entities SEC. 110. REAUTHORIZATION OF CHESAPEAKE wildlife, and drinking water for people; BAY INITIATIVE ACT OF 1998. (iii) to sustain and enhance water manage- are eligible to receive a grant and technical as- Section 502(c) of the Chesapeake Bay Initia- ment for volume and flood damage mitigation sistance under the grant program: tive Act of 1998 (Public Law 105–312; 112 Stat. improvements to benefit fish and wildlife habi- (A) A State. (B) The District of Columbia. 2963; 129 Stat. 2579; 132 Stat. 691) is amended by tat; striking ‘‘2019’’ and inserting ‘‘2025’’. (iv) to improve opportunities for public access (C) A unit of local government. SEC. 111. CHESAPEAKE WATERSHED INVEST- and recreation in the Chesapeake Bay water- (D) A nonprofit organization. (E) An institution of higher education. MENTS FOR LANDSCAPE DEFENSE. shed consistent with the ecological needs of fish (F) Any other entity that the Secretary deter- (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: and wildlife habitat; (1) CHESAPEAKE BAY AGREEMENTS.—The term (v) to facilitate strategic planning to maximize mines to be appropriate in accordance with the ‘‘Chesapeake Bay agreements’’ means the for- the resilience of natural ecosystems and habitats criteria established under paragraph (3). mal, voluntary agreements— under changing watershed conditions; (3) CRITERIA.—The Secretary, in consultation (A) executed to achieve the goal of restoring (vi) to engage the public through outreach, with officials and entities described in sub- and protecting the Chesapeake Bay watershed education, and citizen involvement to increase section (b)(4), shall establish criteria for the ecosystem and the living resources of the Chesa- capacity and support for coordinated restora- grant program to help ensure that activities peake Bay watershed ecosystem; and tion and protection activities in the Chesapeake funded under this subsection— (B) signed by the Chesapeake Executive Coun- Bay watershed; (A) accomplish 1 or more of the purposes de- cil. (vii) to sustain and enhance vulnerable com- scribed in subsection (b)(2); and (2) CHESAPEAKE BAY PROGRAM.—The term munities and fish and wildlife habitat; (B) advance the implementation of priority ac- ‘‘Chesapeake Bay program’’ means the program (viii) to conserve and restore fish, wildlife, tions or needs identified in the Chesapeake Bay directed by the Chesapeake Executive Council in and plant corridors; and watershed-wide strategy adopted under sub- accordance with the Chesapeake Bay agree- (ix) to increase scientific capacity to support section (b)(3)(B). ments. the planning, monitoring, and research activi- (4) COST SHARING.— (3) CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERSHED.—The term ties necessary to carry out coordinated restora- (A) DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR SHARE.— ‘‘Chesapeake Bay watershed’’ means the region tion and protection activities. The Department of the Interior share of the cost that covers— (3) DUTIES.—In carrying out the Chesapeake of a project funded under the grant program (A) the Chesapeake Bay; WILD program, the Secretary shall— shall not exceed 50 percent of the total cost of (B) the portions of the States of Delaware, (A) draw on existing plans for the Chesapeake the project, as determined by the Secretary. Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Bay watershed, or portions of the Chesapeake (B) NON-DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR and West Virginia that drain into the Chesa- Bay watershed, including the Chesapeake Bay SHARE.— peake Bay; and agreements, and work in consultation with ap- (i) IN GENERAL.—The non-Department of the (C) the District of Columbia. plicable management entities, including Chesa- Interior share of the cost of a project funded (4) CHESAPEAKE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.—The peake Bay program partners, such as the Fed- under the grant program may be provided in term ‘‘Chesapeake Executive Council’’ means eral Government, State and local governments, cash or in the form of an in-kind contribution of the council comprised of— the Chesapeake Bay Commission, and other re- services or materials. (A) the Governors of each of the States of gional organizations, as appropriate, to iden- (ii) OTHER FEDERAL FUNDING.—Non-Depart- Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, tify, prioritize, and implement restoration and ment of the Interior Federal funds may be used Virginia, and West Virginia; protection activities within the Chesapeake Bay for not more than 25 percent of the total cost of (B) the Mayor of the District of Columbia; watershed; a project funded under the grant program. (C) the Chair of the Chesapeake Bay Commis- (B) adopt a Chesapeake Bay watershed-wide (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The Secretary may sion; and strategy that— enter into an agreement to manage the grant (D) the Administrator of the Environmental (i) supports the implementation of a shared set program with an organization that offers grant Protection Agency. of science-based restoration and protection ac- management services.

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(d) REPORTING.—Not later than 180 days after (G) use of existing, new, and experimental bio- than 1 per centum of such revenues’’ and insert- the date of enactment of this Act, and annually logical assessment tools, equipment, vessels, ing the following: thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to Con- other scientific instrumentation and laboratory ‘‘(2) CONDITION.—The amount apportioned to gress a report describing the implementation of capabilities necessary to support fishery man- each State under paragraph (1) shall be not this section, including a description of each agement decisions; and greater than 3 percent and not less than 1 per- project that has received funding under this sec- (H) studies to assess impacts on Great Lakes cent of the revenues described in that para- tion. Fishery resources. graph’’; (e) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— (4) SAVINGS CLAUSE.—Nothing in this section (5) in paragraph (2) (as so designated), by (1) IN GENERAL.—There is authorized to be ap- is intended or shall be construed to impede, su- striking ‘‘one-sixth of 1 per centum of such reve- propriated to carry out this section $15,000,000 persede, or alter the authority of the Great nues’’ and inserting ‘‘1⁄6 of 1 percent of those for each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025. Lakes Fishery Commission, States, and Indian revenues’’; (2) SUPPLEMENT, NOT SUPPLANT.—Funds made tribes under the Convention on Great Lakes (6) by striking ‘‘For the purpose’’ and insert- available under paragraph (1) shall supplement, Fisheries between the United States of America ing the following: and not supplant, funding for other activities and Canada on September 10, 1954, and the ‘‘(3) POPULATION DETERMINATION.—For the conducted by the Secretary in the Chesapeake Great Lakes Fishery Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 931 purpose’’; and Bay watershed. et seq.). (7) by adding at the end the following: SEC. 112. GREAT LAKES MONITORING, ASSESS- (d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—For ‘‘(4) USE OF FUNDS.—In addition to other uses MENT, SCIENCE, AND RESEARCH. each of fiscal years 2021 through 2025, there is authorized under this Act, amounts apportioned (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000 to under this subsection may be used for hunter re- (1) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means carry out this section. cruitment and recreational shooter recruit- the Director of the United States Geological Sur- TITLE II—MODERNIZING THE PITTMAN- ment.’’. vey. ROBERTSON FUND FOR TOMORROW’S (b) TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.—Section 4 of the (2) GREAT LAKES BASIN.—The term ‘‘Great NEEDS Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 Lakes Basin’’ means the air, land, water, and SEC. 201. PURPOSE. U.S.C. 669c) is amended— living organisms in the United States within the (1) by redesignating the second subsection (c) drainage basin of the Saint Lawrence River at The first section of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669) is and subsection (d) as subsections (d) and (e), re- and upstream from the point at which such river spectively; and and the Great Lakes become the international amended by adding at the end the following: ‘‘One of the purposes of this Act is to provide fi- (2) in subsection (e) (as so redesignated), in boundary between Canada and the United paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘subsection (c)’’ and States. nancial and technical assistance to the States for the promotion of hunting and recreational inserting ‘‘subsection (d)’’. (b) FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: shooting.’’. SEC. 204. EXPENDITURES FOR MANAGEMENT OF (1) The Great Lakes support a diverse eco- WILDLIFE AREAS AND RESOURCES. SEC. 202. DEFINITIONS. system, on which the vibrant and economically Section 8 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Section 2 of the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife valuable Great Lakes fisheries depend. Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669g) is amended— Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669a) is amended— (2) To continue successful fisheries manage- (1) in subsection (a), in the third sentence, by (1) by redesignating paragraphs (2) through ment and coordination, as has occurred since striking ‘‘and public relations’’; and (9) as paragraphs (4) through (11), respectively; signing of the Convention on Great Lakes Fish- (2) in subsection (b)(1), by striking ‘‘, as a and eries between the United States and Canada on part of such program’’. September 10, 1954, management of the eco- (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the fol- system and its fisheries require sound, reliable lowing: SEC. 205. FIREARM AND BOW HUNTER EDU- ‘‘(2) for the purposes of determining the num- CATION AND SAFETY PROGRAM science, and the use of modern scientific tech- GRANTS. ber of paid hunting-license holders in a State, nologies. Section 10(a)(1)(A) of the Pittman-Robertson (3) Fisheries research is necessary to support the term ‘fiscal year’ means the fiscal year or li- cense year of the State; Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h– multi-jurisdictional fishery management deci- 1(a)(1)(A)) is amended— sions and actions regarding recreational and ‘‘(3) the term ‘hunter recruitment and rec- reational shooter recruitment’ means any activ- (1) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the sport fishing, commercial fisheries, tribal har- end; and vest, allocation decisions, and fish stocking ac- ity or project to recruit or retain hunters and recreational shooters, including by— (2) by adding at the end the following: tivities. ‘‘(v) the enhancement of hunter recruitment (4) President Richard Nixon submitted, and ‘‘(A) outreach and communications as a and recreational shooter recruitment; and’’. Congress approved, Reorganization Plan No. 4 means— (84 Stat. 2090), conferring science activities and ‘‘(i) to improve communications with hunters, SEC. 206. MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM. management of marine fisheries to the National recreational shooters, and the general public Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. with respect to hunting and recreational shoot- (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 11 of the Pittman- (5) Reorganization Plan No. 4 expressly ex- ing opportunities; Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. cluded fishery research activities within the ‘‘(ii) to reduce barriers to participation in 669h–2) is amended— Great Lakes from the transfer, retaining man- these activities; (1) in subsection (a)(1)— agement and scientific research duties within ‘‘(iii) to advance the adoption of sound hunt- (A) by striking ‘‘Not more than’’ and inserting the already-established jurisdictions under the ing and recreational shooting practices; the following: 1954 Convention on Great Lakes Fisheries, in- ‘‘(iv) to promote conservation and the respon- ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not more than’’; and cluding those of the Great Lakes Fishery Com- sible use of the wildlife resources of the United (B) by adding at the end the following: mission and the Department of the Interior. States; and ‘‘(B) AVAILABILITY FOR HUNTER AND REC- (c) MONITORING, ASSESSMENT, SCIENCE, AND ‘‘(v) to further safety in hunting and rec- REATIONAL SHOOTER GRANTS.—Not more than RESEARCH.— reational shooting; $5,000,000 of the revenues covered into the fund (1) IN GENERAL.—The Director may conduct ‘‘(B) providing education, mentoring, and from any tax imposed under section 4161(b) of monitoring, assessment, science, and research, field demonstrations; the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 for a fiscal in support of the binational fisheries within the ‘‘(C) enhancing access for hunting and rec- year shall be available to the Secretary exclu- Great Lakes Basin. reational shooting, including through range sively for making hunter recruitment and rec- (2) SPECIFIC AUTHORITIES.—The Director construction; and reational shooter recruitment grants that pro- shall, under paragraph (1)— ‘‘(D) providing education to the public about mote a national hunting and shooting sport re- (A) execute a comprehensive, multi-lake, the role of hunting and recreational shooting in cruitment program, including related commu- freshwater fisheries science program; funding wildlife conservation;’’. nication and outreach activities.’’; (B) coordinate with and work cooperatively SEC. 203. APPORTIONMENT OF AVAILABLE (2) in subsection (b)(3), in the matter pre- with regional, State, tribal, and local govern- AMOUNTS. ceding subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘Inter- ments; and (a) APPORTIONMENT OF CERTAIN TAXES.—The national’’; (C) consult with other interested entities first subsection (c) of section 4 of the Pittman- (3) in subsection (c)(2)(A)— groups, including academia and relevant Cana- Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. (A) in the matter preceding clause (i), by dian agencies. 669c) is amended— striking ‘‘International’’; and (3) INCLUDED RESEARCH.—To properly serve (1) by inserting ‘‘APPORTIONMENT OF REVE- (B) in clause (i), by inserting ‘‘or to rec- the needs of fisheries managers, monitoring, as- NUES FROM PISTOLS, REVOLVERS, BOWS, AND reational shooting activities’’ after ‘‘wildlife’’; sessment, science, and research under this sec- ARROWS.—’’ after the enumerator; and tion may include— (2) by striking ‘‘One-half’’ and inserting the (4) in subsection (d), by inserting ‘‘or to rec- (A) deepwater ecosystem sciences; following: reational shooting activities’’ after ‘‘wildlife’’. (B) biological and food-web components; ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2), (b) STUDY.—Not later than 10 years after the (C) fish movement and behavior investiga- 1⁄2’’; date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of tions; (3) by striking ‘‘: Provided, That’’ and insert- the Interior, acting through the Director of the (D) fish population structures; ing a period; United States Fish and Wildlife Service, shall— (E) fish habitat investigations; (4) by striking ‘‘each State shall be appor- (1) review and evaluate the effects of the (F) invasive species science; tioned not more than 3 per centum and not less funds made available under subparagraph (B)

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of section 11(a)(1) of the Pittman-Robertson (7) PARTNERSHIP.—The term ‘‘Partnership’’ (M) one shall be a representative of local gov- Wildlife Restoration Act (16 U.S.C. 669h–2(a)(1)) means an entity designated by Congress as a ernment interests involved in fish habitat res- on funds available for wildlife conservation; Fish Habitat Partnership under section 304. toration; and (8) REAL PROPERTY INTEREST.—The term ‘‘real (N) two shall be representatives from different (2) submit a report describing the results of property interest’’ means an ownership interest sectors of corporate industries, which may in- the review and evaluation under paragraph (1) in— clude— to— (A) land; or (i) natural resource commodity interests, such (A) the Committee on Environment and Public (B) water (including water rights). as petroleum or mineral extraction; Works of the Senate; and (9) MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSIONS.—The term (ii) natural resource user industries; and (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the ‘‘Marine Fisheries Commissions’’ means— (iii) industries with an interest in fish and House of Representatives. (A) the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Com- fish habitat conservation; and TITLE III—NATIONAL FISH HABITAT CON- mission; (O) one shall be a leadership private sector or SERVATION THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS (B) the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commis- landowner representative of an active partner- ship. SEC. 301. PURPOSE. sion; and (3) COMPENSATION.—A member of the Board The purpose of this title is to encourage part- (C) the Pacific States Marine Commission. shall serve without compensation. nerships among public agencies and other inter- (10) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means (4) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—A member of the Board ested persons to promote fish conservation— the Secretary of the Interior. may be allowed travel expenses, including per (1) to achieve measurable habitat conservation (11) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means each of diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized results through strategic actions of Fish Habitat the several States, Puerto Rico, American for an employee of an agency under subchapter Partnerships that lead to better fish habitat Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, conditions and increased fishing opportunities the United States Virgin Islands, and the Dis- while away from the home or regular place of by— trict of Columbia. (A) improving ecological conditions; (12) STATE AGENCY.—The term ‘‘State agency’’ business of the member in the performance of (B) restoring natural processes; or means— the duties of the Board. (C) preventing the decline of intact and (A) the fish and wildlife agency of a State; (b) APPOINTMENT AND TERMS.— healthy systems; and (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as otherwise provided (2) to establish a consensus set of national (B) any department or division of a depart- in this section, a member of the Board described conservation strategies as a framework to guide ment or agency of a State that manages in the in any of subparagraphs (F) through (O) of sub- future actions and investment by Fish Habitat public trust the inland or marine fishery re- section (a)(2) shall serve for a term of 3 years. Partnerships; sources of the State or sustains the habitat for (2) INITIAL BOARD MEMBERSHIP.— (3) to broaden the community of support for those fishery resources pursuant to State law or (A) IN GENERAL.—The initial Board shall con- fish habitat conservation by— the constitution of the State. sist of representatives as described in subpara- graphs (A) through (F) of subsection (a)(2). (A) increasing fishing opportunities; SEC. 303. NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD. (B) fostering the participation of local commu- (B) REMAINING MEMBERS.—Not later than 60 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.— nities, especially young people in local commu- days after the date of enactment of this Act, the (1) FISH HABITAT BOARD.—There is established representatives of the initial Board under sub- nities, in conservation activities; and a board, to be known as the ‘‘National Fish (C) raising public awareness of the role paragraph (A) shall appoint the remaining Habitat Board’’, whose duties are— healthy fish habitat play in the quality of life members of the Board described in subpara- (A) to promote, oversee, and coordinate the and economic well-being of local communities; graphs (H) through (O) of subsection (a)(2). implementation of this title; (4) to fill gaps in the National Fish Habitat (C) TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES.—Not later than (B) to establish national goals and priorities Assessment and the associated database of the 60 days after the enactment of this Act, the Sec- for fish habitat conservation; National Fish Habitat Assessment— retary shall provide to the Board a recommenda- (C) to recommend to Congress entities for des- (A) to empower strategic conservation actions tion of not fewer than three Tribal representa- ignation as Partnerships; and supported by broadly available scientific infor- tives, from which the Board shall appoint one (D) to review and make recommendations re- mation; and representative pursuant to subparagraph (G) of (B) to integrate socioeconomic data in the garding fish habitat conservation projects. subsection (a)(2). analysis to improve the lives of humans in a (2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Board shall be com- (3) STAGGERED TERMS.—Of the members de- manner consistent with fish habitat conserva- posed of 26 members, of whom— scribed in subsection (a)(2)(J) initially appointed tion goals; and (A) one shall be a representative of the De- to the Board— (5) to communicate to the public and con- partment of the Interior; (A) two shall be appointed for a term of 1 servation partners— (B) one shall be a representative of the United year; (A) the conservation outcomes produced col- States Geological Survey; (B) two shall be appointed for a term of 2 lectively by Fish Habitat Partnerships; and (C) one shall be a representative of the De- years; and (B) new opportunities and voluntary ap- partment of Commerce; (C) three shall be appointed for a term of 3 proaches for conserving fish habitat. (D) one shall be a representative of the De- years. SEC. 302. DEFINITIONS. partment of Agriculture; (4) VACANCIES.— In this title: (E) one shall be a representative of the Asso- (A) IN GENERAL.—A vacancy of a member of (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT- ciation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; the Board described in subparagraph (H), (I), TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional (F) four shall be representatives of State agen- (J), (K), (L), (M), (N), or (O) of subsection (a)(2) committees’’ means— cies, one of whom shall be nominated by a re- shall be filled by an appointment made by the (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and gional association of fish and wildlife agencies remaining members of the Board. Transportation and the Committee on Environ- from each of the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, (B) TRIBAL REPRESENTATIVES.—Following a ment and Public Works of the Senate; and and Western regions of the United States; vacancy of a member of the Board described in (B) the Committee on Natural Resources of the (G) two shall be representatives of either— subparagraph (G) of subsection (a)(2), the Sec- House of Representatives. (i) Indian Tribes in the State of Alaska; or retary shall recommend to the Board a list of (2) BOARD.—The term ‘‘Board’’ means the Na- (ii) Indian Tribes in States other than the not fewer than three Tribal representatives, tional Fish Habitat Board established by section State of Alaska; from which the remaining members of the Board 303. (H) one shall be a representative of either— shall appoint a representative to fill the va- (3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means (i) the Regional Fishery Management Coun- cancy. the Director of the United States Fish and Wild- cils established under section 302 of the Magnu- (5) CONTINUATION OF SERVICE.—An individual life Service. son-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Manage- whose term of service as a member of the Board (4) ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AS- ment Act (16 U.S.C. 1852); or expires may continue to serve on the Board SISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—The term ‘‘Environ- (ii) a representative of the Marine Fisheries until a successor is appointed. mental Protection Agency Assistant Adminis- Commissions; (6) REMOVAL.—If a member of the Board de- trator’’ means the Assistant Administrator for (I) one shall be a representative of the scribed in any of subparagraphs (H) through Water of the Environmental Protection Agency. Sportfishing and Boating Partnership Council; (O) of subparagraph (a)(2) misses three consecu- (5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ (J) seven shall be representatives selected from tive regularly scheduled Board meetings, the has the meaning given to the term ‘‘Indian at least one from each of the following: members of the Board may— tribe’’ in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determina- (i) the recreational sportfishing industry; (A) vote to remove that member; and tion and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. (ii) the commercial fishing industry; (B) appoint another individual in accordance 5304). (iii) marine recreational anglers; with paragraph (4). (6) NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC AD- (iv) freshwater recreational anglers; (c) CHAIRPERSON.— MINISTRATION ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR.—The (v) habitat conservation organizations; and (1) IN GENERAL.—The representative of the As- term ‘‘National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- (vi) science-based fishery organizations; sociation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies ap- ministration Assistant Administrator’’ means (K) one shall be a representative of a national pointed under subsection (a)(2)(E) shall serve as the Assistant Administrator for Fisheries of the private landowner organization; Chairperson of the Board. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- (L) one shall be a representative of an agricul- (2) TERM.—The Chairperson of the Board tion. tural production organization; shall serve for a term of 3 years.

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(d) MEETINGS.— (G) the ability to develop fish habitat con- ject to a designation review by Congress in (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall meet— servation priorities based on sound science and which Congress shall have the opportunity to (A) at the call of the Chairperson; but data, the ability to measure the effectiveness of designate the partnership under subsection (f). (B) not less frequently than twice each cal- fish habitat projects of the Partnership, and a (2) INELIGIBILITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDS.—A endar year. clear plan as to how Partnership science and partnership referred to in paragraph (1) that (2) PUBLIC ACCESS.—All meetings of the Board data components will be integrated with the Congress does not designate as described in that shall be open to the public. overall Board science and data effort. paragraph shall be ineligible to receive Federal (e) PROCEDURES.— (d) REQUIREMENTS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO funds under this title. (1) IN GENERAL.—The Board shall establish CONGRESS.—The Board may recommend to Con- SEC. 305. FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION procedures to carry out the business of the gress for designation an application for a Part- PROJECTS. Board, including— nership submitted under subsection (c) if the (a) SUBMISSION TO BOARD.—Not later than (A) a requirement that a quorum of the mem- Board determines that the applicant— March 31 of each year, each Partnership shall bers of the Board be present to transact busi- (1) meets the criteria described in subsection submit to the Board a list of priority fish habitat ness; (c)(2); conservation projects recommended by the Part- (B) a requirement that no recommendations (2) identifies representatives to provide sup- nership for annual funding under this title. may be adopted by the Board, except by the vote port and technical assistance to the Partnership (b) RECOMMENDATIONS BY BOARD.—Not later of two-thirds of all members; from a diverse group of public and private part- than July 1 of each year, the Board shall submit (C) procedures for establishing national goals ners, which may include State or local govern- to the Secretary a priority list of fish habitat and priorities for fish habitat conservation for ments, nonprofit entities, Indian Tribes, and conservation projects that includes a descrip- the purposes of this title; private individuals, that are focused on con- tion, including estimated costs, of each project (D) procedures for designating Partnerships servation of fish habitats to achieve results that the Board recommends that the Secretary under section 304; and across jurisdictional boundaries on public and approve and fund under this title for the fol- (E) procedures for reviewing, evaluating, and private land; lowing fiscal year. making recommendations regarding fish habitat (3) is organized to promote the health of im- (c) CRITERIA FOR PROJECT SELECTION.—The conservation projects. portant fish species and important fish habitats, Board shall select each fish habitat conserva- (2) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of including reservoirs, natural lakes, coastal and tion project recommended to the Secretary under the Board shall constitute a quorum. marine environments, coral reefs, and estuaries; subsection (b) after taking into consideration, at SEC. 304. FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS. (4) identifies strategic fish and fish habitat a minimum, the following information: (a) AUTHORITY TO RECOMMEND.—The Board priorities for the Partnership area in the form of (1) A recommendation of the Partnership that may recommend to Congress the designation of geographical focus areas or key stressors or im- is, or will be, participating actively in imple- Fish Habitat Partnerships in accordance with pairments to facilitate strategic planning and menting the fish habitat conservation project. this section. decision making; (2) The capabilities and experience of project (b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of a Partnership (5) is able to address issues and priorities on proponents to implement successfully the pro- shall be— a nationally significant scale; posed project. (1) to work with other regional habitat con- (6) includes a governance structure that— (3) The extent to which the fish habitat con- servation programs to promote cooperation and (A) reflects the range of all partners; and servation project— coordination to enhance fish populations and (B) promotes joint strategic planning and de- (A) fulfills a local or regional priority that is fish habitats; cision making by the applicant; directly linked to the strategic plan of the Part- (2) to engage local and regional communities (7) demonstrates completion of, or significant nership and is consistent with the purpose of to build support for fish habitat conservation; progress toward the development of, a strategic this title; (3) to involve diverse groups of public and pri- plan to address declines in fish populations, (B) addresses the national priorities estab- vate partners; rather than simply treating symptoms, in ac- lished by the Board; (4) to develop collaboratively a strategic vision cordance with the goals and national priorities (C) is supported by the findings of the habitat and achievable implementation plan that is sci- established by the Board; and assessment of the Partnership or the Board, and entifically sound; (8) promotes collaboration in developing a aligns or is compatible with other conservation (5) to leverage funding from sources that sup- strategic vision and implementation program plans; port local and regional partnerships; that is scientifically sound and achievable. (D) identifies appropriate monitoring and (6) to use adaptive management principles, in- (e) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— evaluation measures and criteria that are com- cluding evaluation of project success and (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than February 1 of patible with national measures; functionality; the first fiscal year beginning after the date of (E) provides a well-defined budget linked to (7) to develop appropriate local or regional enactment of this Act and each February 1 deliverables and outcomes; habitat evaluation and assessment measures thereafter, the Board shall develop and submit (F) leverages other funds to implement the and criteria that are compatible with national to the appropriate congressional committees an project; habitat condition measures; and annual report, to be entitled ‘‘Report to Con- (G) addresses the causes and processes behind (8) to implement local and regional priority gress on Future Fish Habitat Partnerships and the decline of fish or fish habitats; and projects that improve conditions for fish and Modifications’’, that— (H) includes an outreach or education compo- fish habitat. (A) identifies each entity that— nent that includes the local or regional commu- (c) CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION.—An entity (i) meets the requirements described in sub- nity. seeking to be designated by Congress as a Part- section (d); and (4) The availability of sufficient non-Federal nership shall— (ii) the Board recommends to Congress for des- funds to match Federal contributions for the (1) submit to the Board an application at such ignation as a Partnership; fish habitat conservation project, as required by time, in such manner, and containing such in- (B) describes any proposed modifications to a subsection (e). formation as the Board may reasonably require; Partnership previously designated by Congress (5) The extent to which the fish habitat con- and under subsection (f); servation project— (2) demonstrate to the Board that the entity (C) with respect to each entity recommended (A) will increase fish populations in a manner has— for designation as a Partnership, describes, to that leads to recreational fishing opportunities (A) a focus on promoting the health of impor- the maximum extent practicable— for the public; tant fish and fish habitats; (i) the purpose of the recommended Partner- (B) will be carried out through a cooperative (B) an ability to coordinate the implementa- ship; and agreement among Federal, State, and local gov- tion of priority projects that support the goals (ii) how the recommended Partnership fulfills ernments, Indian Tribes, and private entities; and national priorities set by the Board that are the requirements described in subsection (d). (C) increases public access to land or water within the Partnership boundary; (2) PUBLIC AVAILABILITY; NOTIFICATION.—The for fish and wildlife-dependent recreational op- (C) a self-governance structure that supports Board shall— portunities; the implementation of strategic priorities for fish (A) make the report publicly available, includ- (D) advances the conservation of fish and habitat; ing on the internet; and wildlife species that have been identified by a (D) the ability to develop local and regional (B) provide to the appropriate congressional State agency as species of greatest conservation relationships with a broad range of entities to committees and the State agency of any State need; further strategic priorities for fish and fish habi- included in a recommended Partnership area (E) where appropriate, advances the conserva- tat; written notification of the public availability of tion of fish and fish habitats under the Magnu- (E) a strategic plan that details required in- the report. son-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Manage- vestments for fish habitat conservation that ad- (f) DESIGNATION OR MODIFICATION OF PART- ment Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.) and other rel- dresses the strategic fish habitat priorities of the NERSHIP.—Congress shall have the exclusive au- evant Federal law and State wildlife action Partnership and supports and meets the stra- thority to designate or modify a Partnership. plans; and tegic priorities of the Board; (g) EXISTING PARTNERSHIPS.— (F) promotes strong and healthy fish habitats (F) the ability to develop and implement fish (1) DESIGNATION REVIEW.—Not later than 5 so that desired biological communities are able habitat conservation projects that address stra- years after the date of enactment of this Act, to persist and adapt. tegic priorities of the Partnership and the any partnership receiving Federal funds as of (6) The substantiality of the character and de- Board; and the date of enactment of this Act shall be sub- sign of the fish habitat conservation project.

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(d) LIMITATIONS.— ered to be non-Federal funds for the purpose of Indian Tribe within the boundaries of which an (1) REQUIREMENTS FOR EVALUATION.—No fish paragraph (1). activity is planned to be carried out pursuant to habitat conservation project may be rec- (4) WAIVER AUTHORITY.—The Secretary, in this title, including notification, by not later ommended by the Board under subsection (b) or consultation with the Secretary of Commerce than 30 days before the date on which the activ- provided financial assistance under this title with respect to marine or estuarine projects, ity is implemented. unless the fish habitat conservation project in- may waive the application of paragraph (2)(A) SEC. 308. INTERAGENCY OPERATIONAL PLAN. cludes an evaluation plan designed using appli- with respect to a State or an Indian Tribe, or Not later than 1 year after the date of enact- cable Board guidance— otherwise reduce the portion of the non-Federal ment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, (A) to appropriately assess the biological, eco- share of the cost of an activity required to be the Director, in cooperation with the National logical, or other results of the habitat protec- paid by a State or an Indian Tribe under para- Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Assist- tion, restoration, or enhancement activities car- graph (1), if the Secretary determines that the ant Administrator, the Environmental Protec- ried out using the assistance; State or Indian Tribe does not have sufficient tion Agency Assistant Administrator, the Direc- (B) to reflect appropriate changes to the fish funds not derived from another Federal grant tor of the United States Geological Survey, and habitat conservation project if the assessment program to pay such non-Federal share, or por- the heads of other appropriate Federal depart- substantiates that the fish habitat conservation tion of the non-Federal share, without the use ments and agencies (including, at a minimum, project objectives are not being met; of loans. those agencies represented on the Board) shall (C) to identify improvements to existing fish (f) APPROVAL.— develop an interagency operational plan that populations, recreational fishing opportunities, (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 90 days after describes— and the overall economic benefits for the local the date of receipt of the recommended priority (1) the functional, operational, technical, sci- community of the fish habitat conservation list of fish habitat conservation projects under entific, and general staff, administrative, and project; and subsection (b), and subject to subsection (d) and material needs for the implementation of this (D) to require the submission to the Board of based, to the maximum extent practicable, on title; and a report describing the findings of the assess- the criteria described in subsection (c), the Sec- (2) any interagency agreements between or ment. retary, after consulting with the Secretary of among Federal departments and agencies to ad- (2) ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES.— Commerce on marine or estuarine projects, shall dress those needs. (A) IN GENERAL.—A State, local government, approve or reject any fish habitat conservation SEC. 309. ACCOUNTABILITY AND REPORTING. or other non-Federal entity is eligible to receive project recommended by the Board. (a) REPORTING.— funds for the acquisition of real property from (2) FUNDING.—If the Secretary approves a fish (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after willing sellers under this title if the acquisition habitat conservation project under paragraph the date of enactment of this Act, and every 5 ensures— (1), the Secretary shall use amounts made avail- years thereafter, the Board shall submit to the (i) public access for fish and wildlife-depend- able to carry out this title to provide funds to appropriate congressional committees a report ent recreation; or carry out the fish habitat conservation project. describing the progress of this title. (ii) a scientifically based, direct enhancement (3) NOTIFICATION.—If the Secretary rejects (2) CONTENTS.—Each report submitted under to the health of fish and fish populations, as de- under paragraph (1) any fish habitat conserva- paragraph (1) shall include— termined by the Board. tion project recommended by the Board, not (A) an estimate of the number of acres, stream (B) STATE AGENCY APPROVAL.— later than 90 days after the date of receipt of miles, or acre-feet, or other suitable measures of (i) IN GENERAL.—All real property interest ac- the recommendation, the Secretary shall provide fish habitat, that was maintained or improved quisition projects funded under this title must be to the Board, the appropriate Partnership, and by Partnerships under this title during the 5- approved by the State agency in the State in the appropriate congressional committees a writ- year period ending on the date of submission of which the project is occurring. ten statement of the reasons that the Secretary the report; (ii) PROHIBITION.—The Board may not rec- rejected the fish habitat conservation project. (B) a description of the public access to fish ommend, and the Secretary may not provide any habitats established or improved under this title funding for, any real property interest acquisi- SEC. 306. TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSIST- ANCE. during that 5-year period; tion that has not been approved by the State (C) a description of the improved opportuni- agency. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Assist- ties for public recreational fishing achieved (C) ASSESSMENT OF OTHER AUTHORITIES.—The under this title; and Board may not recommend, and the Secretary ant Administrator, the Environmental Protec- tion Agency Assistant Administrator, and the (D) an assessment of the status of fish habitat may not provide any funding under this title conservation projects carried out with funds for, any real property interest acquisition unless Director of the United States Geological Survey, in coordination with the Forest Service and provided under this title during that period, the Partnership that recommended the project disaggregated by year, including— has conducted a project assessment, submitted other appropriate Federal departments and agencies, may provide scientific and technical (i) a description of the fish habitat conserva- with the funding request and approved by the tion projects recommended by the Board under Board, to demonstrate all other Federal, State, assistance to Partnerships, participants in fish habitat conservation projects, and the Board. section 305(b); and local authorities for the acquisition of real (ii) a description of each fish habitat con- (b) INCLUSIONS.—Scientific and technical as- property have been exhausted. servation project approved by the Secretary sistance provided under subsection (a) may in- (D) RESTRICTIONS.—A real property interest under section 305(f), in order of priority for clude— may not be acquired pursuant to a fish habitat funding; (1) providing technical and scientific assist- conservation project by a State, local govern- (iii) a justification for— ment, or other non-Federal entity conducted ance to States, Indian Tribes, regions, local (I) the approval of each fish habitat conserva- with funds provided under this title, unless— communities, and nongovernmental organiza- tion project; and (i) the owner of the real property authorizes tions in the development and implementation of (II) the order of priority for funding of each the State, local government, or other non-Fed- Partnerships; fish habitat conservation project; eral entity to acquire the real property; and (2) providing technical and scientific assist- (iv) a justification for any rejection of a fish (ii) the Secretary and the Board determine ance to Partnerships for habitat assessment, habitat conservation project recommended by that the State, local government, or other non- strategic planning, and prioritization; the Board under section 305(b) that was based Federal entity would benefit from undertaking (3) supporting the development and implemen- on a factor other than the criteria described in the management of the real property being ac- tation of fish habitat conservation projects that section 305(c); and quired because that is in accordance with the are identified as high priorities by Partnerships (v) an accounting of expenditures by Federal, goals of a Partnership. and the Board; State, or local governments, Indian Tribes, or (e) NON-FEDERAL CONTRIBUTIONS.— (4) supporting and providing recommendations other entities to carry out fish habitat conserva- (1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para- regarding the development of science-based tion projects under this title. graphs (2) and (4), no fish habitat conservation monitoring and assessment approaches for im- (b) STATUS AND TRENDS REPORT.—Not later project may be recommended by the Board plementation through Partnerships; than December 31, 2021, and every 5 years there- under subsection (b) or provided financial as- (5) supporting and providing recommendations after, the Board shall submit to the appropriate sistance under this title unless at least 50 per- for a national fish habitat assessment; congressional committees a report that in- cent of the cost of the fish habitat conservation (6) ensuring the availability of experts to as- cludes— project will be funded with non-Federal funds. sist in conducting scientifically based evalua- (1) a status of all Partnerships designated (2) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—Such non-Federal tion and reporting of the results of fish habitat under this title; share of the cost of a fish habitat conservation conservation projects; and (2) a description of the status of fish habitats project— (7) providing resources to secure State agency in the United States as identified by designated (A) may not be derived from another Federal scientific and technical assistance to support Partnerships; and grant program; and Partnerships, participants in fish habitat con- (3) enhancements or reductions in public ac- (B) may include in-kind contributions and servation projects, and the Board. cess as a result of— cash. SEC. 307. COORDINATION WITH STATES AND IN- (A) the activities of the Partnerships; or (3) SPECIAL RULE FOR INDIAN TRIBES.—Not- DIAN TRIBES. (B) any other activities carried out pursuant withstanding paragraph (1) or any other provi- The Secretary shall provide a notice to, and to this title. sion of law, any funds made available to an In- cooperate with, the appropriate State agency or SEC. 310. EFFECT OF THIS TITLE. dian Tribe pursuant to this title may be consid- Tribal agency, as applicable, of each State and (a) WATER RIGHTS.—Nothing in this title—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00058 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 6333 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.012 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5675 (1) establishes any express or implied reserved to the Secretary for each of fiscal years 2021 should be encouraged to participate in vol- water right in the United States for any pur- through 2025 an amount equal to 5 percent of untary conservation agreements; and pose; the amount appropriated for the applicable fis- (3) the Secretary of the Interior, acting (2) affects any water right in existence on the cal year pursuant to paragraph (1)— through the Director of the United States Fish date of enactment of this Act; (A) for administrative and planning expenses and Wildlife Service, and the Secretary of Com- (3) preempts or affects any State water law or under this title; and merce, acting through the Assistant Adminis- interstate compact governing water; or (B) to carry out section 309. trator of the National Marine Fisheries Service, (4) affects any Federal or State law in exist- (3) TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC ASSISTANCE.— should consider the enrollment in, and perform- ence on the date of enactment of the Act regard- There is authorized to be appropriated for each ance of, conservation agreements and invest- ing water quality or water quantity. of fiscal years 2021 through 2025 to carry out, ment in, and implementation of, general con- (b) AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE WATER RIGHTS OR and provide technical and scientific assistance servation activities by States, Indian Tribes, RIGHTS TO PROPERTY.—Only a State, local gov- under, section 306— units of local government, landowners, and ernment, or other non-Federal entity may ac- (A) $400,000 to the Secretary for use by the other stakeholders in making determinations quire, under State law, water rights or rights to United States Fish and Wildlife Service; under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 property with funds made available through (B) $400,000 to the National Oceanic and At- U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). section 312. mospheric Administration Assistant Adminis- SEC. 402. STUDY TO REVIEW CONSERVATION FAC- (c) STATE AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this title— trator for use by the National Oceanic and At- TORS. (1) affects the authority, jurisdiction, or re- mospheric Administration; (a) DEFINITION OF SECRETARIES.—In this sec- sponsibility of a State to manage, control, or (C) $400,000 to the Environmental Protection tion, the term ‘‘Secretaries’’ means— regulate fish and wildlife under the laws and Agency Assistant Administrator for use by the (1) the Secretary of Agriculture; (2) the Secretary of Commerce, acting through regulations of the State; or Environmental Protection Agency; the Assistant Administrator of the National Ma- (2) authorizes the Secretary to control or regu- (D) $400,000 to the Secretary for use by the rine Fisheries Service; and late within a State the fishing or hunting of fish United States Geological Survey; and (E) $400,000 to the Secretary of Agriculture, (3) the Secretary of the Interior, acting and wildlife. through the Director of the United States Fish (d) EFFECT ON INDIAN TRIBES.—Nothing in acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, for use by the Forest Service. and Wildlife Service. this title abrogates, abridges, affects, modifies, (b) STUDY.—To assess factors affecting suc- (b) AGREEMENTS AND GRANTS.—The Secretary supersedes, or alters any right of an Indian cessful conservation activities under the Endan- may— Tribe recognized by treaty or any other means, gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), (1) on the recommendation of the Board, and including— the Secretaries shall carry out a study— (1) an agreement between the Indian Tribe notwithstanding sections 6304 and 6305 of title (1) to review any factors that threaten or en- and the United States; 31, United States Code, and the Federal Finan- danger a species for which a listing under the (2) Federal law (including regulations); cial Assistance Management Improvement Act of Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 (3) an Executive order; or 1999 (31 U.S.C. 6101 note; Public Law 106–107), et seq.) would not contribute to the conservation (4) a judicial decree. enter into a grant agreement, cooperative agree- of the species; (e) ADJUDICATION OF WATER RIGHTS.—Noth- ment, or contract with a Partnership or other (2) to review any barriers to— ing in this title diminishes or affects the ability entity to provide funds authorized by this title (A) the delivery of Federal, State, local, or of the Secretary to join an adjudication of rights for a fish habitat conservation project or res- private funds for such conservation activities, to the use of water pursuant to subsection (a), toration or enhancement project; including statutory or regulatory impediments, (b), or (c) of section 208 of the Departments of (2) apply for, accept, and, subject to the avail- staffing needs, and other relevant consider- State, Justice, Commerce, and The Judiciary Ap- ability of appropriations, use a grant from any ations; or propriation Act, 1953 (43 U.S.C. 666). individual or entity to carry out the purposes of (B) the implementation of conservation agree- (f) DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AUTHORITY.— this title; and ments, plans, or other cooperative agreements, Nothing in this title affects the authority, juris- (3) subject to the availability of appropria- including agreements focused on voluntary ac- diction, or responsibility of the Department of tions, make funds authorized by this Act avail- tivities, multispecies efforts, and other relevant Commerce to manage, control, or regulate fish or able to any Federal department or agency for considerations; fish habitats under the Magnuson-Stevens Fish- use by that department or agency to provide (3) to review factors that impact the ability of ery Conservation and Management Act (16 grants for any fish habitat protection project, the Federal Government to successfully imple- U.S.C. 1801 et seq.). restoration project, or enhancement project that ment the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (g) EFFECT ON OTHER AUTHORITIES.— the Secretary determines to be consistent with (4) to develop recommendations regarding (1) PRIVATE PROPERTY PROTECTION.—Nothing this title. methods to address barriers identified under in this title permits the use of funds made avail- (c) DONATIONS.— paragraph (2), if any; able to carry out this title to acquire real prop- (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary may— (A) enter into an agreement with any organi- (5) to review determinations under the Endan- erty or a real property interest without the writ- zation described in section 501(c)(3) of the Inter- gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) ten consent of each owner of the real property nal Revenue Code of 1986 that is exempt from in which a species is determined to be recovered or real property interest, respectively. taxation under section 501(a) of that Code to so- by the Secretary of the Interior, acting through (2) MITIGATION.—Nothing in this title author- licit private donations to carry out the purposes the Director of the United States Fish and Wild- izes the use of funds made available to carry out life Service, or the Secretary of Commerce, act- this title for fish and wildlife mitigation pur- of this title; and (B) accept donations of funds, property, and ing through the Assistant Administrator of the poses under— services to carry out the purposes of this title. National Marine Fisheries Service, but remains (A) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (2) TREATMENT.—A donation accepted under listed under that Act, including— (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.); this title— (A) an explanation of the factors preventing a (B) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act (16 (A) shall be considered to be a gift or bequest delisting or downlisting of the species; and U.S.C. 661 et seq.); to, or otherwise for the use of, the United (B) recommendations regarding methods to (C) the Water Resources Development Act of States; and address the factors described in subparagraph 1986 (Public Law 99–662; 100 Stat. 4082); or (B) may be— (A); and (6) to review any determinations under the (D) any other Federal law or court settlement. (i) used directly by the Secretary; or (3) CLEAN WATER ACT.—Nothing in this title (ii) provided to another Federal department or Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) in which a species has been identified as affects any provision of the Federal Water Pol- agency through an interagency agreement. lution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), in- needing listing or uplisting under that Act but SEC. 313. PROHIBITION AGAINST IMPLEMENTA- remains unlisted or listed as a threatened spe- cluding any definition in that Act. TION OF REGULATORY AUTHORITY SEC. 311. NONAPPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL ADVI- BY FEDERAL AGENCIES THROUGH cies, respectively, including— SORY COMMITTEE ACT. PARTNERSHIPS. (A) an explanation of the factors preventing a The Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. Any Partnership designated under this title— listing or uplisting of the species; and (B) recommendations regarding methods to App.) shall not apply to— (1) shall be for the sole purpose of promoting address the factors described in subparagraph (1) the Board; or fish conservation; and (A). (2) any Partnership. (2) shall not be used to implement any regu- (c) REPORT.—Not later than 1 year after the SEC. 312. FUNDING. latory authority of any Federal agency. date of enactment of this Act, the Secretaries (a) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS shall submit to the Committees on Appropria- (1) FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION PROJECTS.— SEC. 401. SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING tions and Environment and Public Works of the There is authorized to be appropriated to the CONSERVATION AGREEMENTS AND Senate and the Committees on Appropriations Secretary $7,200,000 for each of fiscal years 2021 ACTIVITIES. and Natural Resources of the House of Rep- through 2025 to provide funds for fish habitat It is the sense of the Senate that— resentatives and make publicly available a re- conservation projects approved under section (1) voluntary conservation agreements benefit port describing the results of the study under 305(f), of which 5 percent is authorized only for species and the habitats on which the species subsection (b). projects carried out by Indian Tribes. rely; SEC. 403. STUDY AND REPORT ON EXPENDI- (2) ADMINISTRATIVE AND PLANNING EX- (2) States, Indian Tribes, units of local gov- TURES. PENSES.—There is authorized to be appropriated ernment, landowners, and other stakeholders (a) REPORTS ON EXPENDITURES.—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00059 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 6333 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.012 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5676 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 (1) FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.— (B) with respect to the second report under RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY (A) IN GENERAL.—At the determination of the paragraph (2), the 2 fiscal years preceding the Comptroller General of the United States (re- date of submission of the report. Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask ferred to in this section as the ‘‘Comptroller (2) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—Not later than 2 unanimous consent that the Senate General’’), to facilitate the preparation of the years and 4 years after the date of enactment of now proceed to the en bloc consider- reports from the Comptroller General under this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to ation of the following Senate resolu- paragraph (2), the head of each Federal depart- the Committees on Commerce, Science, and tions, which were submitted earlier ment and agency shall submit to the Comptroller Transportation and Environment and Public today: S. Res. 698, S. Res. 699, and S. General data and other relevant information Works of the Senate and the Committee on Nat- Res. 700. that describes the amounts expended or dis- ural Resources of the House of Representatives There being no objection, the Senate bursed (including through loans, loan guaran- a report that— tees, grants, or any other financing mechanism) (A) describes the conservation activities by all proceeded to consider the resolutions by the department or agency as a direct result Federal departments and agencies for species en bloc. of any provision of the Endangered Species Act listed as a threatened species or endangered spe- Mr. PORTMAN. I ask unanimous of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (including any cies under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 consent that the resolutions be agreed regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), as reported under para- to, the preambles be agreed to, and during— graph (1), during— that the motions to reconsider be con- (i) with respect to the first report under para- (i) with respect to the first report, the 3 fiscal sidered made and laid upon the table, graph (2), the 3 fiscal years preceding the date years preceding the date of submission of the re- of submission of the report; and all en bloc. port; and The resolutions were agreed to. (ii) with respect to the second report under (ii) with respect to the second report, the 2 fis- paragraph (2), the 2 fiscal years preceding the cal years preceding the date of submission of the The preambles were agreed to. date of submission of the report. report; (The resolutions, with their pre- (B) REQUIREMENTS.—Data and other relevant (B) is organized into categories with respect to ambles, are printed in today’s RECORD information submitted under subparagraph (A) whether a recovery plan for a species has been under ‘‘Submitted Resolutions.’’) shall describe, with respect to the applicable established; f amounts— (C) includes conservation outcomes associated (i) the programmatic office of the department with the conservation activities; and ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, or agency on behalf of which each amount was (D) as applicable, describes the conservation expended or disbursed; SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 activities that required interaction between Fed- (ii) the provision of the Endangered Species eral agencies and between Federal agencies and Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (or regulation State and Tribal agencies and units of local gov- unanimous consent that when the Sen- promulgated pursuant to that Act) pursuant to ernment pursuant to the Endangered Species ate completes its business today, it ad- which each amount was expended or disbursed; Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.). journ until 9:45 a.m., Thursday, Sep- and (iii) the project or activity carried out using SEC. 404. USE OF VALUE OF LAND FOR COST tember 17; further, that following the each amount, in detail sufficient to reflect the SHARING. prayer and pledge, the morning hour be breadth, scope, and purpose of the project or ac- The Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration deemed expired, the Journal of pro- tivity. Act (16 U.S.C. 669 et seq.) is amended— ceedings be approved to date, and the (2) COMPTROLLER GENERAL.—Not later than 2 (1) by redesignating section 13 as section 14; time for the two leaders be reserved for and years and 4 years after the date of enactment of their use later in the day and morning (2) by inserting after section 12 the following: this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to business be closed; finally, following the Committees on Appropriations, Commerce, ‘‘SEC. 13. VALUE OF LAND. leader remarks, the Senate proceed to Science, and Transportation, and Environment ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and Public Works of the Senate and the Com- any institution eligible to receive Federal funds executive session to resume consider- mittee on Appropriations and Natural Resources under the Agricultural Research, Extension, ation of the Valderrama nomination of the House of Representatives a report that de- and Education Reform Act of 1998 (7 U.S.C. 7601 under the previous order. scribes— et seq.) shall be allowed to use the value of any The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there (A) the aggregate amount expended or dis- land owned by the institution as an in-kind objection? bursed by all Federal departments and agencies match to satisfy any cost sharing requirement Without objection, it is so ordered. as a direct result of any provision of the Endan- under this Act.’’. f gered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) Mr. PORTMAN. I ask unanimous (including any regulation promulgated pursu- ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT ant to that Act) during— consent that the committee-reported (i) with respect to the first report, the 3 fiscal substitute amendment be withdrawn; Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, if years preceding the date of submission of the re- that the Barrasso substitute amend- there is no further business to come be- port; and ment at the desk be agreed to; and that fore the Senate, I ask unanimous con- (ii) with respect to the second report, the 2 fis- the bill, as amended, be considered sent that it stand adjourned under the cal years preceding the date of submission of the read a third time. previous order, following the remarks report; (B) the provision of the Endangered Species The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there of our Democratic colleagues. Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (or regulation objection? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without promulgated pursuant to that Act) pursuant to Without objection, it is so ordered. objection, it is so ordered. which each such amount was expended or dis- The committee-reported amendment The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- bursed; and in the nature of a substitute was with- ator from Nevada. (C) with respect to each relevant department drawn. f or agency— The amendment (No. 2656), in the na- (i) the total amount expended or disbursed by WILDFIRES the department or agency as described in sub- ture of a substitute, was agreed to, as paragraph (A); and follows: Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, the West (ii) the information described in clauses (i) (The amendment is printed in today’s is on fire. At this very moment, his- through (iii) of paragraph (1)(B). RECORD under ‘‘Text of Amendments.’’) toric wildfires are raging across our (b) REPORT ON CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES.— The bill was ordered to be engrossed Western States. Communities have (1) FEDERAL DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES.—At for a third reading and was read the been devastated. Homes have been de- the determination of the Comptroller General, to third time. facilitate the preparation of the report under stroyed. Businesses have been turned paragraph (2), the head of each Federal depart- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The bill to rubble. In the wake of these disas- ment and agency shall submit to the Comptroller having been read the third time, the ters, many families have been left with General data and other relevant information question is, Shall the bill pass? absolutely nothing. that describes the conservation activities by the The bill (S. 3051), as amended, was Nevadans are no strangers to seeing Federal department or agency as a direct result passed. wildfires wreak havoc in our State. of any provision of the Endangered Species Act Mr. PORTMAN. I ask unanimous Just this year, Nevada has seen over of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) (including any consent that the motion to reconsider 650 fires. Yet what is happening now is regulation promulgated pursuant to that Act) during— be considered made and laid upon the something different. These are some of (A) with respect to the first report under para- table. the largest fires the West has ever graph (2), the 3 fiscal years preceding the date The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without seen. Already, in 2020, over 4.7 million of submission of the report; and objection, it is so ordered. acres of land have been burned across

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00060 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16SE6.012 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5677 our Nation, and we have already seen resolution recognizes that climate It is hard to imagine. I mean, I have billions of dollars in economic losses change is real, that human activity is seen the results of a fire near John Day and damage. the primary cause, and that Congress that came down a valley, and there Despite what you might hear from must take immediate action to address were widely spaced homes in the forest our President, these disasters are not one of the most pressing issues of our on both sides of the river, and I have blue State issues. That kind of partisan time. seen that those homes were burned. sentiment is just unconscionable. We We need to act. Lives are on the line, But I have never seen anything like must take a nonpartisan approach to and we need to act now. Nevada, the this—neighborhood after neighborhood, saving lives and protecting property West, and Americans across the coun- the commercial district, the apartment from fires that know no partisan affili- try are counting on all of us. So we complexes, the mobile home housing ation. It doesn’t matter that these fires need to get to work. parks, completely scorched—every are in the State of California or in the I yield the floor. building you can see. State of Oregon or in the State of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- When I toured this last Friday, the Washington or in the State of Idaho. ator from Oregon. only thing I could compare it to were These disasters are happening in our f pictures I had seen of Hiroshima after United States. These fires are impact- the bomb; cities in Europe that had WILDFIRES ing our communities, and in this time been firebombed, like Dresden—mas- of crisis, we have a responsibility to Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, sive devastation, incinerating every- really help one another—to help our apocalypse, fire, fueled by wind coming thing. communities and to help our friends over the top of the Cascade Mountains, This is what has just happened in my and our neighbors. turning into a blowtorch that races home State. In one town of Phoenix, People have died in these disasters, down the western slopes of those moun- OR—this is a picture from Phoenix. and some people are still missing. Over tains, incinerating the towns in its The mayor estimated that perhaps 30,000 courageous men and women are path—that is what is happening in my 1,000 residences had been burned be- risking their lives to fight these fires home State of Oregon. tween the mobile homes, the manufac- and to save those families and save Imagine suddenly waking up at 4:30 tured homes, the apartment complexes, those properties. I am really proud to in the morning to a house filled with and the standalone houses—several say that Nevada’s firefighters have smoke. You realize you have to clear thousand people with nothing to return been deployed to assist in combating the area before the situation gets a lot to. many of these disasters. I am so proud worse. You and your partner race to You know, I met with folks last Fri- of them. pack up some essentials, load them and day and Saturday as Senator WYDEN As a result of these fires, the air your pets into the car in your garage, and I started in the north part of the quality in some of our communities is and then you can’t get the garage door State and went all the way down south. so poor and so unhealthy that it is ex- open because there is no power. The I traveled 600 miles by car. I was driv- ceeding 20-year records. This toxic haze power lines have been taken down by ing. I never got out of the smoke. I re- has already impacted air quality in my the winds and by the power poles being member fires where we passed 20 miles own State of Nevada, and it is not just burned and falling over. So you open through the smoke, 30 miles through in Western States. This harmful smoke the garage door by hand, and just as the smoke. I drove over 600 miles. I was is spreading. It has been measured as you are about to lift it, you look out a never out of that smoke. far away as the east coast—in places little window, and you see an inferno Parts of the State glowed like the like New York City and right here in engulfing your neighbor’s home. So aftereffects of a bomb. This is our Washington, DC. These fires put our you make a desperate dash in the other State capital with that orange, fire-in- collective health—all of ours—in jeop- direction and out the backdoor—the fused sky behind it in Salem, OR, the ardy, especially now, during the pan- fire at your heels. You race toward the result of the Santiam fire that comes demic. river at the bottom of the hill, hop- down toward the city of Salem. As I have said before, these fires im- ing—praying—there will be some kind That smoke doesn’t just hover and pact every single one of us. Do you of safety. stay in one place. As the wind starts to know why? It is because this is an envi- It is a terrifying scenario, but it is blow, it spreads across the country. So ronmental issue; this is an economic not out of some movie. For Larry Trip- here we are. This is the September 15 issue; this is a public health issue; and oli and Fran Howe, of Gates, OR, it was fire chart. These purple areas—an it is absolutely a climate issue. a reality just a few nights ago when index of over 500 parts per million—in- The science speaks for itself. Climate the Beachie Creek fire roared through credibly unhealthy to breathe, and you change and increased temperatures di- Santiam Canyon, incinerating homes, can see the State of Oregon covered, on rectly correlate to the growing inten- businesses, and entire neighborhoods. through Idaho and Montana, right on sity of these wildfires, and the longer They got to the river, and they waded across the country—California. we fail to address climate change, the knee deep in the water as the trees Everyone is dealing with the smoke. more costly and more dangerous and burned around them on both banks. I just got off a Zoom call just a little deadly the impact is going to be for our Fran recalled: ‘‘I thought we were while ago, and the first three people friends, our neighbors, our States, and going to die.’’ who spoke were talking about how un- our communities. Fortunately, help arrived late that comfortable they were because of their September is wildfire preparedness night, just before 12 midnight. The fire- asthma or breathing conditions af- month, and make no mistake: We need fighters and emergency workers risked fected by the smoke. The air quality in to get a handle on these disasters. We their lives and safety to come and res- Portland has ranked as the worst need to provide resources to our local cue those who were fleeing the fire. among the world’s major cities for the communities, to our firefighters, and Many folks worked to help their neigh- last 5 days in a row, and in smaller to our land management agencies im- bors get noticed even as the fire was towns across the State, it has been far mediately. This is why I cosponsored descending on the town. worse. my colleague Senator HARRIS’ Wildfire At this moment, all across Oregon, People saw all kinds of dramatic, Defense Act, which is legislation that people are facing similarly terrifying powerful scenes of the approaching would provide FEMA resources so that experiences as historic wildfires have fires, the approaching bank of clouds. our local communities can develop burned more than a million acres— It was a week ago Monday that I de- wildfire defense plans and allow all of more than twice those burned in a nor- cided to drive up to the Columbia us to respond more effectively. mal year. They burned in a small pe- Gorge. I didn’t get 20 miles from my We also need to address climate riod of time—most of them over this house, and I saw this wall of smoke. So change, and we need to be proactive past week. There are 10 citizens who I got off the freeway and took the old and practical, which is why, earlier have lost their lives, and dozens are scenic highway up to Crown Point—a this year, I cosponsored Senator CAR- missing. We are afraid there will be lookout point high in the cliffs where PER’s climate change resolution. This more bad news to come. you can see way to the east and way to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00061 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.062 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S5678 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 16, 2020 the west—just to see that. What is manufactured housing parks where the One of the things we encountered was going on with this massive cloud? You houses are closer together and the fire- the valuable help of our Oregon State could see how dramatic the approach- proofing of the walls is less than re- National Guard. Three years ago I ing smoke cloud was from these fires. quired in stick-built houses. Apart- worked to start funding a training pro- As we think about these devastating ment complexes—I saw this whole field gram for the National Guard so they fires, we have to think about them in where you could see steel girders going could help fight these fires, and our Or- terms of the individuals who have been up two stories and crossbeams at the egon portion of this was the training of so dramatically affected. Some have top of the steel and then steel stairs 375 National Guard members put into been injured by the fires; some have and nothing else. They were almost three 125-member teams. It was great been killed by the fires. like a sculpture standing in the middle that they were trained and ready to go, So as Senator WYDEN and I proceeded of the field, and there was one after an- but we ran into a problem, and that from the northern border to the south- other, after another in the heart of problem was we didn’t have enough ern border to visit fire refugees in dif- these apartment complexes. The apart- crew chiefs. The crew chiefs come from ferent centers that have been set up ments were completely gone. outside to conduct the team’s work, and to visit some coordinated care I also heard on this trip such appre- and you need five or six crew chiefs for briefings and then to visit two towns— ciation for our local leaders and our every team, for every group of 125. The Phoenix and Talent—that had been in- first responders—the firefighters, the crew chiefs are all tied up all around cinerated, the most powerful moment EMTs, the National Guard unit doing the country. was sitting down at a table with indi- an incredible job of helping to rescue Then the Governor said: We need not viduals along the way. them, an incredible job of doing point only those 375; we need two more I took away this collective impres- defense or a lot more residences would teams—another 250. The initial re- sion: individuals who had escaped and have burned. They were risking their sponse was, no, the funds aren’t avail- were just thinking, my goodness, how lives trying to get people out before able. But I checked and found out there fortunate I am that I got out with my that blowtorch of a fire descended on a were funds left, and they were approved life; individuals who had escaped, but town. They were building fire lines and quite quickly—again, a thank-you to they didn’t know the fate of their fam- clearing dead brush and trees from the executive branch for approving ily members who may not have es- around houses, dropping water. them at that point. caped. One father lost the grandmother I saw orange splotches as I toured We still needed crew chiefs, and I just in the family and his son, who died in these two towns from when the retard- got word a short period ago that there a car with the family dog in the son’s ant had been dropped. But then, as the are chew chiefs now en route to Or- lap, and as he was going to search for smoke compiled, the planes couldn’t egon. We have found some from around his wife, he met a woman on the road. fly—not to drop water, not to drop fire the country to go and enable those Or- He said, ‘‘I am searching for my wife,’’ retardant. egon National Guard members to be and she responded, ‘‘I am your wife.’’ These families are going to need ev- able to be deployed. So that is another Because she was so affected by the erything we can possibly do to help step forward. smoke and burned by the fire, he didn’t them out. They are devastated and re- We can’t stop there. We have to look recognize her. building their lives. Getting their feet beyond the immediate crisis. We have I met folks who realized that they on the ground is going to be really to help the families rebuild the homes. had escaped but also recognized that hard. We have to help the local businesses re- every single thing—a lifetime of Friends will help, and family will cover, rebuild. records, photos, film, financial records, help, and local government will help. We have to think about not just the family heirlooms—all of it, everything, But we, too, at the Federal level need fire damage but the smoke damage. I gone. to be there to help and make sure these have introduced the Smoke-Ready So the issues become even more com- FEMA programs are expeditiously con- Communities Act that would enable plicated. Think about the children who ducted to assist the individuals with communities to prepare safe zones were just starting school when these the individual assistance and then to where you have filtered air in key Labor Day fires descended. They lost assist the communities with the re- buildings so those who have lung condi- their laptops; they lost their tablets building—rebuilding of these towns. tions and are affected by the smoke after being coached on how to attend Local revenues? Those are gone. Prop- have somewhere safe to get to, to be school electronically. The family has erty taxes? Those are gone. Revenues able to breathe. lost, perhaps, their funds, and now they from the local businesses, the fees they I think it is a pretty logical thing for are driving 40, 60 miles to family or to pay? Those are gone. We are going to us to do and a small-dollar investment a friend’s house. How do they sign up have to provide a lot of support. in partnership with communities to for school? How do they deal with the I applaud the White House for quick- create some highly filtered space of air stress that is on them from what has ly approving Governor Brown’s request for people with lung challenges. happened and the remaining stress of for an emergency declaration. Our I have written the Wildfire Smoke the impact on the family and those whole legislative delegation was call- Emergency Declaration Act because in they are still searching for? ing and requesting and saying: Pay at- the past we thought only of the direct And food—road closures stop the tention to this; we need it quickly. And fire impact, but now we are seeing all movement of food from getting to we got it. We got it quickly. That this smoke that is having such a major them, getting to stores and restaurants emergency declaration is really about impact. In the last major smoke epi- and communities. There are food short- food and shelter assistance. sode, we saw our outdoor activities like ages because they can’t be resupplied. Then we said that we really need the the Shakespeare Festival close down. Whether it is Breitenbush Hot major disaster declaration, and we got We saw furniture salesmen who Springs, one of our State’s most be- that within about a day of its being couldn’t sell the furniture because of loved resorts, losing half of its build- submitted—again, prompt action by smoke damage. We had a massive im- ings or Simple Machine Winery in Tal- the White House. pact on our wine industry with smoke- ent burning to the ground—this is an Then we applied for a health emer- tainted grapes. By the way, even adjacent city, Phoenix and Talent. One gency declaration, and we got that this though the buyers of those grapes woman told me: I not only lost every- morning—again, expeditiously. turned them down, it turned out they thing, I lost my job because the busi- Those are doors where you have to were pretty good grapes, and the com- ness I work at has burned to the unlock the door to the resources, and munity came together and created an ground as well. This is on top of the those declarations are the keys that Oregon wine, a unity wine, and it was pandemic, and this is on top of the eco- open that door. But now we need the great wine and people loved it. So nomic implosion. supplies to come through that door to those grapes found a home and found a Many of the residences that burned really start this long process of support product. They came together to solve a were those that served lower income for individuals and for our commu- problem. We had trouble with our ha- citizens—the mobile home parks, the nities. zelnuts with the smoke.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:00 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G16SE6.063 S16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5679 So a declaration act and the Smoke- been bearing down on Sisters, OR. And water to recharge the groundwater Ready Communities Act but also ac- when it met the section of the forest that you use when you don’t have tion to help field workers. Think about that had been thinned, it stopped be- enough irrigation water, when you the field workers—the agriculture cause the fuel wasn’t there to propa- have to pump it out of the ground. So workers working right now harvesting, gate itself forward, and because of the we have big impacts not just with the and they are in that smoke—500 parts thinning, the fire crews could get timber community with the forest per million small particles damaging through the forest to the frontline of burning but also on our ag community their lungs. We need to be set up to the fire. So it worked very effectively and our fishing community. The three help the agricultural community. They that way. pillars of our rural economy are all are truly frontline workers whose Now there are situations of high being substantially affected. health shouldn’t be compromised in winds when the forest fire becomes a Offshore, it is a warmer Pacific that manner. blow torch. Nothing is going to stop it. Ocean, and it is a more acidic Pacific And we need to make our forests But often fires move at a modest pace, Ocean—30 percent more acidic than be- more resistant to fires. Now, I know and that is where the thinning and fore we started burning fossil fuels. President Trump has said that is the mowing and prescribed burns can make And people say: What is the connec- whole key, and why can’t Oregon and a real difference. So I am hoping we tion? Well, those waves take the car- California get their act together. Well, can have partnership in that approach. bon dioxide in the air and convert it to let me point out that the majority of Some have said: Well, isn’t it the en- carbonic acid. There is a 30-percent in- the forest we are talking about, those vironmental laws that prevent us from crease in acidity that is affecting our are Federal forests. It is Federal forest. undertaking this effort? And the an- shellfish reproduction. Worry about It is Federal management that is so swer is no. We have 2.3 million acres in that—that shellfish are having a hard missing. Oregon that have gone through the en- time reproducing. What I proposed in the Wildfire-Re- vironmental process. We could do the So this isn’t an urban issue versus a silient Communities Act is that we thinning, mowing, prescribed burns to- rural issue. This is not a red issue spend $1 billion. It should be $1 billion morrow if we had the funds to do it. versus a blue issue. This is the econ- dollars a year thinning these over- So jobs, fire resilience, better timber omy, the pillars of America, in farm- grown second-growth forests. What do stands, better ecosystem, saw logs to ing, fishing, and forests being pro- you get out of that? You get jobs; you the mill. That is all the win, win, win, foundly affected. get saw logs for our mills, and you get win products of this approach. So let’s work together to take this a forest that is much more resistant to Colleagues, I know many of you have on. Yes, improve our forest manage- fire. come to me and said: What can we do? ment. We have altered the forests dra- It isn’t just the thinning. Then it is Well, there are really two things. Help matically with our replantings that what they call the mowing to reduce us do forest management in the col- grow up at the same height and are too the shrubs that have built up, and then laborative style, in the stewardship close together, but we can make those it is the prescribed burn that goes back style—in the thinning, prescribed burn, same second-growth forests far more 2 or 3 years later. This is to avoid the mowing style. Help us do that, and also resilient, jobs, and saw logs at the pattern of the fire in the past we had let’s recognize that this situation in same time. which was to burn the shrubbery on the Oregon and California and many, many Let’s work together to improve the floor which grows back quickly and other States isn’t simply a freak occur- health of the forest, especially around prevents that over-dense forest. So we rence of the winds. It is a situation our urban areas, our small towns. To my colleagues who say this is a should do that. We should pass the where the forest is drier than it has moment when we are seeing not just Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act, ever been before. Drier than a kiln- the fires, we are seeing other impacts put the funding in, and create perma- dried 2 by 4. If you have gone to the around the Nation; we are seeing the nent authorization for our hardware store to get kiln-dried 2 by intense storms in the Midwest; and we collaboratives. 4s, they have been baked to have all are seeing the tropical storms and hur- What is a collaborative? To those the moisture baked out of them. There ricanes hitting the gulf and never-be- outside the forest world, that probably is less moisture in the forest during fore-seen storm surges on the East isn’t a familiar term. It is where you these periods of drought and heat then Coast—so we are all in this together. bring the environmental community there is in that kiln-dried 2 by 4. They Let’s work together to assist the fami- and the timber community together, are ready to burn at a second’s notice. and they develop what they call a pre- So this is the result of the changing lies so powerfully affected. Let’s work scription for thinning the forest and dynamic of climate. The forest season together to rebuild the communities. mowing it and doing a prescribed burn. has gotten much longer. It is no longer Let’s work together to fund forest By working together and having a a June through August affair; it is a management in a way it has to be fund- plan, they stay out of the courts be- March through October affair. In Cali- ed as a counterpart to the strategy of cause court paralysis has been a major fornia, it is a year-round calendar af- forest replanting that we have under- obstacle. So let’s take that collabo- fair now. If you track this decade over taken. Let’s work together to take on the rative model. Let’s build on the success decade, each one is worse. There is a warming planet because it affects ev- of the collaborative and stewardship longer fire season with more intensive erything and not just in Oregon and agreements, which are very similar, fires and more acres burned. So that is not just in the United States but across but it takes resources and here has a more difficult project. our planet. It is our responsibility. been the challenge. Our Earth is wrapped by the com- Let’s get it done. Every time we seek the resources to mons of our air, and that air holds now Thank you. do more on the front end to make the a lot more carbon dioxide and a lot forest more fire-resilient, it is blocked more methane and traps a lot more f by individuals who say: Hey, let’s go heat, and it is affecting everything. In ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 9:45 A.M. back to the 1950s clearcuts. My friends, Oregon, it isn’t just the fires. It is also TOMORROW that doesn’t work. When you clearcut our snowpack. Our snowpack, decade The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under and replant, you now create a new for- after decade, is smaller and smaller. the previous order, the Senate stands est where the trees are too close to- Why? Because it is warmer and warm- adjourned until 9:45 a.m. tomorrow. gether and they are all the same height er. Thereupon, the Senate, at 7:56 p.m., and they are absolutely primed once How does that affect things? Well, do adjourned until Thursday, September again for fire. The thinning, the pre- you like to fish? If you like to fish, you 17, 2020, at 9:45 a.m. scribed burns, the mowing, this has a know that a warmer, smaller stream is f big impact. bad for the salmon returning; it is bad I went to a forest outside of Sisters, for the trout. And if you are a farmer, NOMINATIONS OR, where these measures have been you know that smaller snowpack Executive nominations received by used, and there was a fire that had means less irrigation water and less the Senate:

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PERSONAL EXPLANATION hospitality. Whether it was enjoying her family Today, I join the Blair County Chamber of or gathering with her friends for bridge, she Commerce in recognizing Fred Imler’s service HON. DARREN SOTO wanted to recognize others. Her delight came to the agriculture community, and congratulate OF FLORIDA from opening her home to friends and strang- my friend on this well-deserved honor. As IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ers alike. Fred Imler and his family continue to serve In facing life’s obstacles, Mrs. Polk would Pennsylvanians, I wish them every continued Wednesday, September 16, 2020 remind others, ‘‘All we need in times like these success. Mr. SOTO. Madam Speaker, I firmly support is just a closer walk with Thee.’’ Billie gave of f H.R. 2639—The Strength in Diversity Act of all she had, and because of that she was very 2020. This bill will bring much-needed support rich. Indeed, she had a closer ‘‘walk with REMEMBERING MR. ED BEARSS to school districts that are committed to school Thee.’’ diversity initiatives. Billie was preceded in death by her parents, HON. DONALD S. BEYER, JR. Had I been present, I would have voted Oscar and Lilla Fortenberry; husband, Alford OF VIRGINIA YEA on Roll Call No. 185; YEA on Roll Call Lee Polk; sister, Bobbie Jean Swinney; and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES No. 186; NAY on Roll Call No. 187; YEA on brother, Lloyd C. Fortenberry. Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Roll Call No. 188; and YEA on Roll Call No. Mrs. Polk is survived by her daughters, 189. Cindy Green and husband, Greg of Woodville, Mr. BEYER. Madam Speaker, I rise today in f Jennifer Balbuena and husband, Arturo of remembrance of Mr. Ed Bearss, former chief Houston and Nancy McNally and husband, historian for the National Parks Service from HONORING MARY BETH SANCHEZ Billy of Woodville; brother, Cecil Fortenberry 1981 to 1994, author, and WWII veteran. Mr. and wife, Margie of Woodville; sister, Jayne Bearss just celebrated his 98th birthday. HON. GREG PENCE Best and husband, Bertis of Woodville; grand- Mr. Bearss served in the U.S. Marine Corps OF INDIANA children, Jill Nichols and husband Reece, Josh during the invasion of Guadalcanal and the IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES McClure and wife Christa, Jinger Fowler and Russell Islands. He received the Purple Heart after being badly wounded by gunfire at ‘‘Sui- Wednesday, September 16, 2020 husband Kris, Holly Douglas and husband Josh, Melissa Howe and husband Matt, Will cide Creek,’’ Cape Gloucester. Mr. PENCE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to McNally and wife Kelli and Cheryl Marshall Blessed with an impeccable memory, Mr. honor a mother, friend and family member, my and husband Derek and 16 great grand- Bearss returned home to finish his education cousin, Mary Beth Sanchez, who will be cele- children. and became a regional historian for the Na- brating her 60th birthday on October 9, 2020. tional Parks Service in 1955. During his tenure Mary Beth is a kind, caring and loving Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Mrs. Billie Polk, for her many years of faithful serv- as Chief Historian of the National Parks Serv- woman whose presence always lights up a ice, Mr. Bearss helped craft national parks pol- room. Family means the world to Mary and ice to her community. My thoughts and pray- ers remain with her family and friends during icy for 14 years. she always goes out of her way to show it. After retiring Mr. Bearss continued to advo- this difficult time. Happy 60th Birthday, Mary Beth. cate for historic preservation through tours and We love her. f lectures. He was an anchor for historic pro- f HONORING FRED IMLER gramming with the Smithsonian Institute and National Geographic Society. HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE Please join me in a moment of silence to OF BILLIE FRANCES POLK HON. JOHN JOYCE honor and thank Mr. Bearss for the many OF PENNSYLVANIA years of service to his country both at home HON. BRIAN BABIN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES and abroad. OF TEXAS Wednesday, September 16, 2020 f IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speak- PERSONAL EXPLANATION Wednesday, September 16, 2020 er, I rise today to congratulate Fred Imler of Mr. BABIN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to Imler’s Poultry, who recently was awarded the HON. K. MICHAEL CONAWAY honor the life of Billie Frances Polk, a lifelong Agricultural Community Excellence Award by OF TEXAS native of Woodville, Texas who passed away the Farm-City Committee of the Blair County IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES recently at the age of ninety. Mrs. Polk was a Chamber of Commerce. retired Director of the Woodville Housing Au- The Imler family has been active in Wednesday, September 16, 2020 thority. southcentral Pennsylvania’s agricultural com- Mr. CONAWAY. Madam Speaker, I was un- Billie was born on December 24, 1929 to munity for over a century, and six generations able to attend because I was hosting an offi- Oscar and Lilla Chambless Fortenberry in of Imlers have taken part in building the fam- cial event at the House Agriculture Committee. Woodville, Texas. She spent her life growing ily’s business. The Imler family has been a Had I been present, I would have voted YEA up and working in Tyler County. Billie was the leader in our community since at least 1903, on Roll Call No. 188. when Fred’s great-great uncle operated a gen- recipient of the James E. Wheat Award which f recognizes truly exceptional leaders. She un- eral store in Bedford County. In 1918, the selfishly gave of her time and talents to the business moved from Bedford County to Al- ISRAEL, UAE AND BAHRAIN PEACE Tyler County Dogwood Festival, a festival that toona. In 1951, Fred became a partner in the AGREEMENTS celebrates the traditions and beauty of East business and, following years of hard work, he Texas. became the full owner in 1977. Since then, HON. RICHARD HUDSON Mrs. Polk was a loving wife, mother, grand- Fred has worked tirelessly to provide quality OF NORTH CAROLINA mother and great grandmother. She frequently products and excellent customer service. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES reminded her loved ones of what her father As a leader in our region’s agriculture indus- often said, ‘‘All we have is what we give try, Fred consistently gives back to our com- Wednesday, September 16, 2020 away.’’ She lived her life in this way, continu- munity. Fred and his son frequently attend Mr. HUDSON. Madam Speaker, I rise today ously giving to others, without any strings at- auctions at county fairs throughout the region, to celebrate the historic diplomatic break- tached. and they have made it a priority to buy ani- through that was just accomplished. Billie is remembered by her friends and fam- mals to help local students obtain higher edu- Yesterday, President Donald Trump hosted ily as a great example of Southern grace and cation. leaders from Israel, UAE, and Bahrain at a

∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:10 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A16SE8.001 E16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS E848 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 16, 2020 ceremony at the White House where the two friends our compassion and sympathy. As LENNY KRAWCHECK Arab nations signed an agreement to nor- they mourn Louis’ loss, may they find comfort malize relations and make peace with Israel. and strength in his memories and his teach- HON. JOE CUNNINGHAM Make no mistake, this is a historical ings. OF SOUTH CAROLINA achievement and I want to congratulate all Louis Escobar was a kind, gentle, intelligent, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES parties, especially President Trump, on this Wednesday, September 16, 2020 major accomplishment to bring peace to the brave and pioneering soul who endured deep region. illness for a very long time with such dignity Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Madam Speaker, I rise To put it lightly, Israel is in a bad neighbor- and bearing. His struggles as a gay man in today to honor the service of Lenny hood with many state and non-state actors the Catholic Church where he desired to be- Krawcheck to the city of Charleston in his time who wish nothing more than to bring death come a priest, and as a rising Latino leader as the chair of the Board of Zoning Appeals. and destruction to Israel. were prophetic and huge. He never yielded as In his more than four decades on the board, However, we know that violence is not the a standard bearer for truth and social justice. Lenny played a critical role in shaping answer and we will only bring peace to the re- His election and steady, honorable service on Charleston into the destination it is today, a gion through careful and deliberate negotia- City Council rising as its president became consummate tourist attraction that has never tions. Yesterday is an example of that diplo- part of America’s transformative social and po- lost its charm or sense of self. macy and a step in the right direction. litical change toward human rights and liberty Lenny became chairman of the board in Israel is and always has been our strongest and equality for all. Louis Escobar lived the 1979 at the request of Mayor Joe Riley. Dur- ing his tenure he helped revitalize the city, ally in the middle east. The United States change he knew in his heart was essential for while staying true to Charleston’s unique his- must always continue to support Israel by pro- humankind to advance the reality of the tory and culture. Lenny quickly developed a viding necessary resources for their protection, human condition. His lifelong partner Kelly as well as diplomatic support to achieve a reputation as a knowledgeable and fair arbiter. cared for him throughout his long illness and lasting peace. Even if folks disagreed with the final decision I am proud of the efforts made here and will set the standard for love and fealty to family. made by the Board of Zoning Appeals, they continue to do everything in my power to sup- Our community mourns his loss and ex- respected Lenny’s integrity and commitment to port our ally Israel and bring peace to the Mid- presses its deep gratitude for his courage, do right by the city. dle East. love, service, and sacrifice. As he leaves public service to focus on his f A U.S. flag is being flown over the U.S. personal life, the city of Charleston owes Capitol in honor of his life. Lenny Krawcheck an enormous debt of grati- HONORING THE LIFE OF LOUIS P. tude. ESCOBAR f f PERSONAL EXPLANATION HON. MARCY KAPTUR CELEBRATING THE MOORESTOWN OF OHIO 8U BASEBALL TEAM, THE BABE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES RUTH STATE TOURNAMENT, HON. ANTHONY BRINDISI SOUTH JERSEY CHAMPIONS OF NEW YORK Wednesday, September 16, 2020 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, I rise today Wednesday, September 16, 2020 to recognize the life and passing of a gentle HON. ANDY KIM caring soul. As August turned to September, Mr. BRINDISI. Madam Speaker, I missed a Louis Escobar entered eternal life. OF NEW JERSEY vote on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 as I was at the White House Ceremony for the Louis was a role model to many young peo- IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ple and a mentor to many in the LGBTQ com- signing of the historic Abraham Accords. Had munity. The first Latino elected to Toledo City Wednesday, September 16, 2020 I been present, I would have voted as follows: Council, he served three years as Council Roll Call Vote No. 186 On Agreeing to H. Res. President. Mr. KIM. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 1107, YEA. Louis’ servant’s heart led him to involvement celebrate the Moorestown 8U baseball team, f in a wide array of Toledo Area community or- who on August 26, 2020, became the eight- HONORING LINDA CASSARLY ganizations including Northwest State Commu- year-old Southern New Jersey Baseball State nity College, the AIDS Resource Center, The Champions. HON. JOHN JOYCE Fair Housing Center, Toledo Sister Cities, To- Led by Coach Andy Berman and Assistant OF PENNSYLVANIA ledo/Lucas County Homelessness Board, the Coaches Geoff Degener, Dustin Jerdan, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Latino Arts Council, the Latino/Hispanic Alli- Ron Obermeier, the Moorestown 8U baseball Wednesday, September 16, 2020 ance of Greater Toledo, Stonewall Democrats, team displayed incredible perseverance all St. Paul’s Community Center, the Area Office season amidst a global pandemic. Their Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speak- on Aging and many others. Always, his life countless hours of practice, dedication to safe- er, I rise today to recognize Linda Cassarly for was helping others to rise. ty, and commitment to their teammates led her generous efforts to beautify Altoona, Louis was born to Nancy and Peter Pennsylvania and honor our military commu- them to win Moorestown 8U Baseball Team’s Escobar. He graduated from Central Catholic nity. High School in Toledo, then went on to earn first State Championship while staying safe Ms. Cassarly has been a seamstress serv- his bachelor’s degree from St. Mary’s College, and healthy. Throughout the entire season ing the Greater Altoona area for years. Re- a Master of Divinity from SS Cyril and they dominated their opposition, losing only cently, she volunteered her time and talents to Methodius Seminary, and a Master of Arts de- one game and making it to the State Final, refurbish, Christmas wreaths that the City of gree from the University of Detroit. A loving which they won 9 to 2. Altoona uses to decorate the downtown area and deeply spiritual seminarian, he was or- I congratulate team members Ben Berman, for the holidays. dained to the priesthood in 1976 and served Braden Castner, Austin Degener, Jack In addition to her wreath project, Ms. St. Joseph Tiffin, St. Agnes Toledo, and St. Finazzo, Jace Jerdan, Jack Krumins, Shane Cassarly has helped to refurbish military Joseph Maumee parishes. He taught at Cen- Krumins, Matt Laufer, Brett Obermeier, monuments around the city. As the mother of tral Catholic and Tiffin Calvert high schools. Eshaan Panchal, Alex Seamon, and Nate a combat veteran, she understands the impor- Later, Louis worked as a counselor and proba- Seibel on their incredible season and state tance of preserving these tributes to those tion officer, for the HIV/AIDS Task Force, in championship. who have served our country. To honor the re- community mental health through the Zepf gion’s military community, Ms. Cassarly refur- Center, Latino empowerment with Adelante, I’m proud to be able to celebrate the suc- bished the area surrounding a memorial serving the most vulnerable while at La Po- cess of some of the talented student-athletes plaque on Juniata Street in Altoona, made two sada, and at Owens Corning and the Univer- from New Jersey’s Third District. I want to ‘‘Quilts of Honor’’ with the names of Penn- sity of Toledo. congratulate the entire coaching staff, the sylvanians who were killed in action in Iraq We offer his companion, his mother and team, and their parents on their tremendous and Afghanistan, and created banners for thir- brothers, nieces and nephews and many dear season. teen Gold Star families in Pennsylvania. Her

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:10 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A16SE8.007 E16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E849 work honors servicemembers’ selfless sac- resentatives to join me in commending the had worked for various local contractors and rifices, and it ensures that their service will hard work and dedication of Maywood Bataan was employed by the Youngstown Board of never be forgotten. Day Organization President Col. Richard A. Education as a pipefitter for over 13 years. He Linda Cassarly is an incredibly dedicated McMahon, Jr. and his Board of Directors. And was a member of St. Charles Church. volunteer and a valued member of our com- on this Friday, September 18, National POW/ Mr. Loney enjoyed following Notre Dame munity. On behalf of Pennsylvania’s 13th Con- MlA Recognition Day may we all pause to re- football, the New York Yankees and playing gressional District, I thank Ms. Cassarly for member the men and women of Bataan who golf, but most importantly, spending time with her generous service to our region. gave so much in the fight against tyranny. his family and being the center of attention. f f Tom was married to the former Margaret Ann Murphy, whom he married July 18, 1959, PERSONAL EXPLANATION PERSONAL EXPLANATION until her death Jan. 16, 2019. Mr. Loney is survived by his five children, HON. SCOTT PERRY HON. XOCHITL TORRES SMALL Mike Loney of Boardman, Teresa Loney (Mark OF PENNSYLVANIA OF NEW MEXICO Biroschak) of Boardman, Katie Loney of IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Austintown, Thomas (Colleen) Loney of North Lima and Marty (Lisa) Loney of Boardman; Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Wednesday, September 16, 2020 one sister, Mary Clayton; nine grandchildren, Mr. PERRY. Madam Speaker, I was un- Ms. TORRES SMALL of New Mexico. Joseph (Jessica) Irwin, Alex (Matt) Roth, Mat- avoidably detained. Had I been present, I Madam Speaker, I missed a vote on Tuesday, thew Loney, Ryan Loney, Colin Loney, Kevin would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 186. September 15, 2020 as I was at the White Darby, Maggie Loney, Abbey Loney and Erinn f House Ceremony to celebrate the signing of Loney; and four great-grandchildren, Hank and the historic Abraham Accords. Had I been Nora Irwin, and Owen and Eli Roth. Tom had IN HONOR OF MAYWOOD BATAAN present, I would have voted as follows: YEA 31 nieces and nephews, who all thought they DAY AND NATIONAL POW/MIA on Roll Call Vote No. 186 (On Agreeing to H. were his favorite. RECOGNITION DAY Res. 1107). He was preceded in death by his parents; f his wife, Peggy; his brothers, Jack and Jerry HON. DANNY K. DAVIS Loney; and his sister, Ann Clifford. OF ILLINOIS PERSONAL EXPLANATION I am very honored to be friends with Mr. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Loney’s son, Marty, who exemplifies the work Wednesday, September 16, 2020 HON. BILL HUIZENGA ethic that Tom instilled in each of his children OF MICHIGAN and grandchildren. My deepest condolences Mr. DANNY K. DAVIS of Illinois. Madam IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES go out to Tom’s family and to all whose lives Speaker, today I rise to tell my colleagues dur- he touched. ing this week that ends with National POW/ Wednesday, September 16, 2020 f MIA Recognition Day about my district’s 78- Mr. HUIZENGA. Madam Speaker, I rise year old Maywood Bataan Memorial Day tradi- today regarding missed votes due to a family HONORING THE SERVICE AND tion. This service honors the men from the vil- illness. Had I been present for roll call vote WORK OF BILL JACKSON lage of Maywood, Illinois who became pris- number 183, On the Motion to Suspend the oners of war after fighting from December 7, Rules and Pass the Congressional Budget HON. KURT SCHRADER 1941 to April 9, 1942 against invading Imperial Justification Transparency Act, I would have OF OREGON Japanese forces in the Philippines. voted ‘‘yea.’’ Had I been present for roll call IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES The men of Maywood were members of vote number 184, On the Motion to Suspend Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Company B of the federated Illinois National the Rules and Pass the CHARGE Act, I would Guard 33rd Tank Company, 33rd Infantry Divi- have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Mr. SCHRADER. Madam Speaker, today I sion based at the town’s Armory. On Novem- f rise in honor of Bill Jackson, a proud veteran ber 25, 1940, they became part of the 192nd of the U.S. Marine Corps, lifetime member of Tank Battalion of the U.S. Army. In October PERSONAL EXPLANATION the African American community in Portland, 1941, 89 men from Company ‘‘B’’ left the Oregon, and an exemplary hard worker at United States for the Philippine Islands. They HON. JOSH GOTTHEIMER Pepsi for the past 50 years. arrived in the Philippine Islands on November OF NEW JERSEY After Bill ended his service as a Marine in 20, 1941—Thanksgiving Day. On December 8, IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1970, he took jobs at both Pepsi and Fred the war started and the Japanese attacked. Meyer. For the next 30 years, Bill diligently These Illinois tankers fought valiantly on the Wednesday, September 16, 2020 worked two full time shifts, carrying out his Bataan Peninsula with little food, medicine, Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Madam Speaker, unfor- tasks at Pepsi during the night before waking fuel, or ammunition. Relief from the United tunately, I was unavoidably detained from the up to report for duty at Fred Meyer during the States never came. Malaria, scurvy, and dys- floor on Tuesday, September 15, 2020. I day. Bill’s work ethic became so legendary entery reached epidemic proportions. On April missed roll call vote No. 186. Had I been and he had become such a beloved member 9, 1942, Bataan was surrendered. The fol- present to vote on roll call No. 186, I would of the Pepsi family, that he received a rare lowing day, some 85,000 American and Fili- have voted ‘YEA.’ and distinct honor. At his 40th work anniver- pino soldiers, as Japanese captives, all be- f sary, Pepsi released a run of 12 oz. cans, came victims of the greatest atrocity of the Pa- about 3,500 cases, with his picture proudly cific War: the Bataan Death March. A seem- REMEMBERING THOMAS JAMES displayed on each can. His legacy further be- ingly endless line of sick and starving men LONEY came enshrined when Pepsi named a street began their 85 mile trip up from the tip of Ba- on its property in Portland, Bill Jackson Way. taan to Camp O’Donnell in central Luzon. HON. TIM RYAN Bill has that special ability to connect with More than 12,000 died en route. OF OHIO people and inspire them. During his time at Survivors of the March endured three and a IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Pepsi Bill mentored many new hires and skill- half years of death camps, brutal labor, and fully engaged his colleagues in meaningful untold abuse. Many were taken to Japan Wednesday, September 16, 2020 conversations around race. He also leads aboard hell ships to be slave laborers for Jap- Mr. RYAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to those conversations in the Portland community anese companies. Of the more than 10,000 honor the life of Thomas James Loney, of and generously shares his time mentoring un- Americans taken prisoner on Bataan, between Youngstown, Ohio who died on September 10, derprivileged African American teens. 6,000 and 7,000 died. Of the 89 men of Com- 2020 at the age of 83. There is a tireless nature to Bill. It was only pany ‘‘B’’ who left the U.S. in 1941, only 43 Tom was born July 28, 1937, in Youngs- five years ago that he stopped working two full would return from the war. town, the son of Emmett and Ann Haney time jobs; security at Portland Public Schools This is the first year that the Memorial, Loney. He was a 1955 graduate of Wilson and night loader at Pepsi. As Bill enters his which was scheduled for September 13, has High School and was a member of the Pipe- well-deserved retirement, I am proud to recog- had to be postponed. I ask my fellow rep- fitters Union Local 396 for over 62 years. He nize him for his service to our country, and for

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:10 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 9920 E:\CR\FM\A16SE8.012 E16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS E850 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks September 16, 2020 his loyalty, work ethic, and ongoing dedication to be Ambassador to the Republic of 3 p.m. to others. Bill has made this world a better Panama, Keith W. Dayton, of Wash- Committee on Homeland Security and place. ington, to be Ambassador to Ukraine, Governmental Affairs William A. Douglass, of Florida, to be Subcommittee on Federal Spending Over- f Ambassador to the Commonwealth of sight and Emergency Management HONORING ANNE HUNYADY The Bahamas, Julie D. Fisher, of Ten- To hold hearings to examine state and nessee, to be Ambassador to the Repub- local cybersecurity, focusing on defend- lic of Belarus, Melanie Harris Higgins, ing communities from cyber threats HON. JOHN JOYCE of Georgia, to be Ambassador to the amid COVID–19. OF PENNSYLVANIA Republic of Burundi, Jeanne Marie SD–342 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Maloney, of Virginia, to be Ambassador Wednesday, September 16, 2020 to the Kingdom of Eswatini, Michael A. SEPTEMBER 23 McCarthy, of Virginia, to be Ambas- Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Madam Speak- 9:15 a.m. sador to the Republic of Liberia, Jona- Committee on Armed Services er, I rise today to congratulate Anne Hunyady than Pratt, of California, to be Ambas- Subcommittee on Readiness and Manage- of S&A Homes, who this year became the first sador to the Republic of Djibouti, ment Support woman to serve as president of the Blair-Bed- Manisha Singh, of Florida, to be Rep- To hold hearings to examine Navy and ford Builders Association in the organization’s resentative of the United States of Marine Corps readiness. 59-year history. America to the Organization for Eco- SD–562 In this role, Ms. Hunyady is leading the nomic Cooperation and Development, 10 a.m. Blair-Bedford Builders Association as it serves with the rank of Ambassador, James Committee on Commerce, Science, and more than 140 members across Bedford and Broward Story, of South Carolina, to Transportation Blair Counties. Additionally, the association is be Ambassador to the Bolivarian Re- To hold hearings to examine the need for public of Venezuela, Barbera Hale federal data privacy legislation. involved in several educational and profes- Thornhill, of California, to be Ambas- SR–253 sional development efforts to support a sador to the Republic of Singapore, Committee on Environment and Public healthy workforce in Pennsylvania’s construc- Thomas Laszlo Vajda, of Arizona, to be Works tion industry. It also gives back to the commu- Ambassador to the Union of Burma, To hold hearings to examine the Endan- nity with generous charitable support. Under Kenneth R. Weinstein, of the District gered Species Act Amendments of 2020, Ms. Hunyady’s leadership, I am confident that of Columbia, to be Ambassador to focusing on modernizing the Endan- the Builders Association will continue to be a Japan, and Alex Nelson Wong, of New gered Species Act. force for good in our region. Jersey, to be Alternate Representative SD–106 Prior to her selection as president, Ms. of the United States of America for Committee on Health, Education, Labor, Hunyady had been an active participant in the Special Political Affairs in the United and Pensions Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, To hold hearings to examine COVID–19, Blair-Bedford Builders Association for seven and to be an Alternate Representative focusing on an update on the federal re- years, including four years as a board member of the United States of America to the sponse. and two years as vice president. Sessions of the General Assembly of SD–G50 Throughout her career, Ms. Hunyady has the United Nations during his tenure of Committee on Homeland Security and been a strong and dedicated member of our service as Alternate Representative of Governmental Affairs community, and I am grateful for her hard the United States of America for Spe- To hold hearings to examine the nomina- work to serve our neighbors across cial Political Affairs in the United Na- tion of Chad F. Wolf, of Virginia, to be southcentral Pennsylvania. tions, all of the Department of State, Secretary of Homeland Security. Anne Hunyady has demonstrated a clear Edward A. Burrier, of the District of SD–342 record of hard work and community service, Columbia, to be Deputy Chief Execu- Committee on the Judiciary tive Officer of the United States Inter- To hold hearings to examine certain and I wish her every continued success as national Development Finance Cor- nominations. she serves as president of the Blair-Bedford poration, and other pending calendar SD–226 Builders Association. business; to be immediately followed 2 p.m. f by a hearing to examine the nomina- Committee on Appropriations tions of Ashok Michael Pinto, of Illi- Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS nois, to be United States Alternate Ex- Science, and Related Agencies Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, ecutive Director of the International To hold hearings to examine proposed agreed to by the Senate of February 4, Bank for Reconstruction and Develop- budget estimates and justification for 1977, calls for establishment of a sys- ment, William E. Todd, of Virginia, to fiscal year 2021 for the National Aero- tem for a computerized schedule of all be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic nautics and Space Administration. meetings and hearings of Senate com- of Pakistan, and Eric M. Ueland, of Or- SR–325 mittees, subcommittees, joint commit- egon, to be an Under Secretary (Civil- 2:30 p.m. ian Security, Democracy, and Human Committee on Armed Services tees, and committees of conference. Rights), both of the Department of To receive a closed briefing on Depart- This title requires all such committees State, and other pending nominations. ment of Defense cyber operations in to notify the Office of the Senate Daily SD–106 support of efforts to protect the integ- Digest—designated by the Rules Com- 10 a.m. rity of U.S. national elections from mittee—of the time, place and purpose Committee on Energy and Natural Re- malign actors. of the meetings, when scheduled and sources SVC–217 any cancellations or changes in the To hold hearings to examine emerging Committee on the Budget meetings as they occur. offshore and marine energy tech- To hold hearings to examine the Con- As an additional procedure along nologies in the United States, includ- gressional Budget Office’s updated ing offshore wind, marine and budget outlook. with the computerization of this infor- hydrokinetic energy, and alternative SD–608 mation, the Office of the Senate Daily fuels for maritime shipping. Committee on Indian Affairs Digest will prepare this information for SD–366 To hold hearings to examine S. 3126, to printing in the Extensions of Remarks 2:30 p.m. amend the Public Health Service Act section of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Committee on Commerce, Science, and to authorize a special behavioral on Monday and Wednesday of each Transportation health program for Indians, S. 3264, to week. Subcommittee on Security expedite and streamline the deploy- Meetings scheduled for Thursday, To hold hearings to examine the United ment of affordable broadband service September 17, 2020 may be found in the States Coast Guard capabilities for on Tribal land, S. 3937, to amend sec- safeguarding national interests and tion 330C of the Public Health Service Daily Digest of today’s RECORD. promoting economic security in the Act to reauthorize special programs for Arctic. Indians for providing services for the MEETINGS SCHEDULED SR–253 prevention and treatment of diabetes, SEPTEMBER 22 Joint Economic Committee S. 4079, to authorize the Seminole 9:30 a.m. To hold hearings to examine the eco- Tribe of Florida to lease or transfer Committee on Foreign Relations nomic impact of America’s failure to certain land, and S. 4556, to authorize Business meeting to consider the nomi- contain the Coronavirus. the Secretary of Health and Human nations of Erik Paul Bethel, of Florida, REMOTE Services, acting through the Director

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:10 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0626 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\M16SE8.000 E16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS Wednesday, September 16, 2020 Daily Digest Senate Senate then vote on confirmation of the nomination; Chamber Action provided further that following disposition of the Routine Proceedings, pages S5617–S5680 Valderrama nomination, Senate continue consider- Measures Introduced: Twenty-one bills and four ation of the nomination of Iain D. Johnston, that the resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. post-cloture time on the nomination expire at 1:30 4584–4604, and S. Res. 697–700. Pages S5651–52 p.m., on Thursday, September 17, 2020, and Senate then vote on confirmation of the nomination. Measures Passed: Page S5646 America’s Conservation Enhancement Act: Sen- Valderrama Nomination—Agreement: A unani- ate passed S. 3051, to improve protections for wild- mous-consent agreement was reached providing that life, after withdrawing the committee amendment in Senate resume consideration of the nomination of the nature of a substitute, and agreeing to the fol- Franklin Ulyses Valderrama, to be United States lowing amendment proposed thereto: Pages S5666–76 District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, Portman (for Barrasso/Carper) Amendment No. at approximately 9:45 a.m., on Thursday, September Page S5676 2656, in the nature of a substitute. 17, 2020. Page S5676 National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month: Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the fol- Senate agreed to S. Res. 698, designating September lowing nominations: 2020 as ‘‘National Spinal Cord Injury Awareness By 86 yeas to 10 nays (Vote No. EX. 176), Todd Month’’. Page S5676 Wallace Robinson, of California, to be United States Patriot Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 699, ex- District Judge for the Southern District of Cali- pressing support for the designation of the week of fornia. Pages S5618–23, S5680 September 11 through September 17 as ‘‘Patriot By 55 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. EX. 179), David Week’’. Page S5676 W. Dugan, of Illinois, to be United States District National Estuaries Week: Senate agreed to S. Judge for the Southern District of Illinois. Res. 700, designating the week of September 19 Pages S5637, S5680 through September 26, 2020, as ‘‘National Estuaries During consideration of this nomination today, Week’’. Page S5676 Senate also took the following action: Johnston Nomination—Agreement: Senate re- By 56 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. EX. 177), Senate sumed consideration of the nomination of Iain D. agreed to the motion to close further debate on the Johnston, to be United States District Judge for the nomination. Page S5623 Northern District of Illinois. Pages S5637–46 By 55 yeas to 41 nays (Vote No. EX. 180), Ste- During consideration of this nomination today, phen P. McGlynn, of Illinois, to be United States Senate also took the following action: District Judge for the Southern District of Illinois. By 81 yeas to 15 nays (Vote No. EX. 181), Senate Pages S5624–37, S5680 agreed to the motion to close further debate on the During consideration of this nomination today, Senate also took the following action: nomination. Pages S5637–38 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached pro- By 55 yeas to 42 nays (Vote No. EX. 178), Senate viding that notwithstanding the provisions of Rule agreed to the motion to close further debate on the XXII, at 11:30 a.m., on Thursday, September 17, nomination. Pages S5623–24 2020, Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture Nominations Received: Senate received the fol- on the nomination of Franklin Ulyses Valderrama, to lowing nominations: be United States District Judge for the Northern Allen Dickerson, of the District of Columbia, to District of Illinois, and, if cloture is invoked on the be a Member of the Federal Election Commission for nomination, the post-cloture time be expired, and a term expiring April 30, 2025. D801

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the oil and gas permitting process and to recognize Owyhee Basin Stewardship Coalition, Arlington, fee ownership for certain oil and gas drilling or spac- Virginia; and Haydn Forward, Heritage Waters Coa- ing units, S. 1295, to require the Secretary of the In- lition, and Jamie Crockett, Gila Backcountry Serv- terior to develop and maintain a cadastre of Federal ices, both of Silver City, New Mexico. real property, S. 1765, to sustain economic develop- ment and recreational use of National Forest System NAVIGABLE WATERS PROTECTION RULE land in the State of Montana, to add certain land to Committee on Environment and Public Works: Com- the National Wilderness Preservation System, to des- mittee concluded a hearing to examine the Navi- ignate new areas for recreation, S. 1870 and H.R. gable Waters Protection Rule under the Clean 722, bills to designate a mountain in the State of Water Act, focusing on the stakeholder reaction, Utah as ‘‘Miracle Mountain’’, S. 2533, to amend the after receiving testimony from Rebecca Roose, New Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to exclude cer- Mexico Environment Department Water Protection tain payments to Alaska Native elders for deter- Division, Santa Fe; Ray Gaesser, Gaesser Farms, Cor- mining eligibility for certain programs, S. 2828, to ning, Iowa; and Douglas Davis, Jr., Fletcher Davis require the Secretary of the Interior to prepare a pro- Company, St. Augustine, Florida. grammatic environmental impact statement allowing for adaptive management of certain Federal land in BUSINESS MEETING Malheur County, Oregon, S. 2890, to promote con- Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Af- servation, improve public land, and provide for sen- fairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the fol- sible development in Douglas County, Nevada, S. lowing business items: 3241, to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conserva- A motion to authorize the Chairman to issue no- tion, Management, and Recreation Act to establish tices for taking depositions, subpoenas for records, the Cerro de la Olla Wilderness in the Rio Grande and subpoenas for testimony, to individuals relating del Norte National Monument, New Mexico, S. to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crossfire 3366, to amend the Federal Lands Recreation En- Hurricane Investigation; the DOJ Inspector Gen- hancement Act to make the National Parks and Fed- eral’s review of that investigation; and the ‘‘unmask- eral Recreational Lands Pass available at no cost to ing’’ of U.S. persons affiliated with the Trump cam- members of Gold Star Families, S. 3427, to require paign, transition team, and Trump administration, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agri- as described in Schedule A (Items 1–3); and culture, and the Assistant Secretary of the Army for The nominations of John M. Barger, of California, Civil Works to digitize and make publicly available Christopher Bancroft Burnham, of Connecticut, and geographic information system mapping data relat- Frank Dunlevy, of California, each to be a Member ing to public access to Federal land and waters for of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. outdoor recreation, S. 3485, to expand the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to expand revenue shar- SECTION 1201 REFORMS ing for offshore wind, to reauthorize the National Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Intellec- Oceans and Coastal Security Act, S. 3670, to amend tual Property concluded a hearing to examine wheth- the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain er the reforms to Section 1201 are needed and war- segments of the Gila River System in the State of ranted, after receiving testimony from Regan A. New Mexico as components of the National Wild Smith, General Counsel and Associate Register of and Scenic Rivers System, to provide for the transfer Copyrights, Copyright Office, Library of Congress; of administrative jurisdiction over certain Federal Vanessa P. Bailey, Intel Corporation, J. Matthew land in the State of New Mexico, S. 4431, to in- Williams, Mitchell Silberberg and Knupp LLP, Seth crease wildfire preparedness and response throughout D. Greenstein, Constantine Cannon LLP, Morgan the United States, S. 4475, to authorize the Secretary Reed, ACT The App Association, and Aaron Lowe, of the Interior to convey certain land to La Paz Auto Care Association, all of Washington, D.C.; and County, Arizona, and H.R. 255, to provide for an Blake E. Reid, University of Colorado Law School exchange of lands with San Bernardino County, Cali- Samuelson-Glushko Technology Law and Policy fornia, to enhance management of lands within the Clinic, Boulder. San Bernardino National Forest, after receiving testi- mony from Senators Feinstein, Whitehouse, and INTELLIGENCE Udall; Chris French, Deputy Chief, Forest Service, Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in Department of Agriculture; Amanda Kaster, Acting closed session to receive a briefing on certain intel- Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Man- ligence matters from officials of the intelligence agement, Department of the Interior; Mark Dunn, community.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D16SE0.REC D16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with DIGEST D804 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST September 16, 2020 House of Representatives implementing hiring requirements for child care Chamber Action staff members to improve child safety; Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 16 pub- Pages H4447–49 lic bills, H.R. 8264–8279; and 6 resolutions, H. Danny’s Law: H.R. 3659, amended, to establish an Con. Res. 116–117; and H. Res. 1115–1118, were Anti-Bullying Roundtable to study bullying in ele- introduced. Pages H4489–90 mentary and secondary schools in the United States; Additional Cosponsors: Page H4491 Pages H4449–52 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: 21st Century Community Learning Centers H.R. 6100, to amend title 18, United States Coronavirus Relief Act of 2020: H.R. 8162, Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital amended, to allow eligible entities under part B of mutilation, and for other purposes (H. Rept. title IV of the Elementary and Secondary Education 116–506); Act of 1965 to use subgrant funds for certain activi- H.R. 5546, to regulate monitoring of electronic ties carried out by community learning centers, re- communications between an incarcerated person in a gardless of whether such activities are conducted Bureau of Prisons facility and that person’s attorney during nonschool hours or periods when school is or other legal representative, and for other purposes not in session; Pages H4452–55 (H. Rept. 116–507); Promoting Research and Observations of Space H.R. 2733, to direct the Attorney General to re- Weather to Improve the Forecasting of Tomor- view, revise, and develop law enforcement and jus- row Act: S. 881, to improve understanding and tice protocols appropriate to address missing and forecasting of space weather events; Pages H4455–63 murdered Indians, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 116–508, Part 1); and Rural STEM Education Act: H.R. 4979, amended, H.R. 2438, to increase intergovernmental coordi- to direct the Director of the National Science Foun- nation to identify and combat violent crime within dation to support STEM education and workforce Indian lands and of Indians, with an amendment (H. development research focused on rural areas; and Pages H4463–67 Rept. 116–509, Part 1). Page H4489 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she Election Technology Research Act: H.R. 4990, appointed Representative Cuellar to act as Speaker amended, to direct the National Institute of Stand- ards and Technology and the National Science Foun- pro tempore for today. Page H4431 dation to carry out research and other activities to Recess: The House recessed at 9:48 a.m. and recon- promote the security and modernization of voting vened at 10 a.m. Page H4436 systems. Pages H4468–72 Resignation of the House Parliamentarian: Read Recess: The House recessed at 2:14 p.m. and recon- a letter from Thomas J. Wickham, Jr., in which he vened at 2:22 p.m. Page H4473 announced his resignation as the Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives, effective September Recess: The House recessed at 3:14 p.m. and recon- vened at 3:23 p.m. Page H4474 30, 2020. Page H4437 House Parliamentarian—Appointment: The Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act: The Speaker appointed Jason A. Smith as Parliamentarian House passed H.R. 2574, to amend title VI of the of the House of Representatives to succeed Thomas Civil Rights Act of 1964 to restore the right to in- dividual civil actions in cases involving disparate im- J. Wickham, Jr., resigned. Page H4437 pact, by a yea-and-nay vote of 232 yeas to 188 nays, Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules Roll No. 192. Pages H4439–44, H4473–74, H4474–75 and pass the following measures: Ensuring Children Agreed to the Foxx (NC) motion to recommit the and Child Care Workers Are Safe Act of 2020: H.R. bill to the Committee on Education and Labor with 7909, amended, to facilitate access to child care serv- instructions to report the same back to the House ices safely and securely during the COVID–19 pan- forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote demic, by a 2⁄3 yea-and-nay vote of 387 yeas to 33 of 255 yeas to 164 nays, Roll No. 191. Subse- nays, Roll No. 190; Pages H4444–47, H4472–73 quently, Representative Scott (VA) reported the bill Child Care Protection Improvement Act: S. 2683, back to the House with the amendment and the amended, to establish a task force to assist States in amendment was agreed to. Pages H4443–44, H4473–74

VerDate Sep 11 2014 07:12 Sep 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0627 Sfmt 0627 E:\CR\FM\D16SE0.REC D16SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with DIGEST September 16, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D805 Pursuant to the Rule, the amendment in the na- MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES ture of a substitute recommended by the Committee Committee on the Judiciary: On September 15, 2020, on Education and Labor, modified by the amend- Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 5309, the ment printed in part A of H. Rept. 116–502, shall ‘‘CROWN Act of 2019’’; H.R. 7718, the ‘‘Pro- be considered as adopted. Page H4439 tecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Preg- H. Res. 1107, the rule providing for consideration nant Women in Custody Act’’; H.R. 8161, the of the bills (H.R. 2574), (H.R. 2639), (H.R. 2694), ‘‘One-Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act and the resolution (H. Res. 908) was agreed to yes- of 2020’’; H.R. 6813, the ‘‘Promoting Alzheimer’s terday, September 15th. Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act’’; H.R. 8169, Senate Message: Message received from the Senate the ‘‘Elder Abuse Protection Act of 2020’’; H.R. by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the 7636, the ‘‘Custodial Interrogation Recording Act’’; House today appears on page H4475. H.R. 8235, the ‘‘Open Courts Act of 2020’’; H.R. Quorum Calls—Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes de- 8225, the ‘‘Fight Notario Fraud Act of 2020’’; and veloped during the proceedings of today and appear H.R. 7636, the ‘‘Custodial Interrogation Recording on pages H4472–73, H4473–74, and H4474–75. Act’’. H.R. 5309 and H.R. 8161 were ordered re- ported, as amended. H.R. 7718, H.R. 6813, H.R. Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and ad- 8169, H.R. 7636, H.R. 8235, and H.R. 8225 were journed at 5:49 p.m. ordered reported, without amendment. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee Meetings Committee on Oversight and Reform: Full Committee held a markup on H.R. 5901, the ‘‘Technology BUILDING A 100 PERCENT CLEAN Modernization Centers of Excellence Program’’; H.R. ECONOMY: OPPORTUNITIES FOR AN 7496, the ‘‘COVID PREPARE Act’’; H.R. 4382, EQUITABLE, LOW-CARBON RECOVERY the ‘‘Integrity Committee Transparency Act’’; H.R. Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on 7107, the ‘‘Plum Act’’; H.R. 7340, the ‘‘Chai Environment and Climate Change held a hearing en- Suthammanont Remembrance Act’’; H.R. 7548, the titled ‘‘Building a 100 Percent Clean Economy: Op- ‘‘PPE Buy America Act’’; H.R. 7936, the ‘‘Federal portunities for an Equitable, Low-Carbon Recovery’’. Employee Access to Information Act’’; H.R. 8109, Testimony was heard from public witnesses. the ‘‘Nonpartisan Postmaster General Act’’; H.R. 2277, to designate the facility of the United States PRIORITIZING FANNIE’S AND FREDDIE’S Postal Service located at 1715 Linnerud Drive in Sun CAPITAL OVER AMERICA’S HOMEOWNERS Prairie, Wisconsin, as the ‘‘Fire Captain Cory Barr AND RENTERS? A REVIEW OF THE Post Office Building’’; H.R. 5562, to designate the FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY’S facility of the United States Postal Service located at RESPONSE TO THE COVID–19 PANDEMIC 4650 East Rosedale Street in Fort Worth, Texas, as the ‘‘Dionne Phillips Bagsby Post Office Building’’; Committee on Financial Services: Full Committee held H.R. 5972, the ‘‘Mary Ann Shadd Cary Post Office a hearing entitled ‘‘Prioritizing Fannie’s and Dedication Act’’; H.R. 5983, to designate the facil- Freddie’s Capital over America’s Homeowners and ity of the United States Postal Service located at Renters? A Review of the Federal Housing Finance 4150 Chicago Avenue in Riverside, California, as the Agency’s Response to the COVID–19 Pandemic’’. ‘‘Woodie Rucker-Hughes Post Office Building’’; Testimony was heard from Mark A. Calabria, Direc- H.R. 7502, to designate the facility of the United tor, Federal Housing Finance Agency. States Postal Service located at 101 South 16th Street in Clarinda, Iowa, as the ‘‘Jessie Field WHY DID THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION Shambaugh Post Office Building’’; H.R. 5451, to FIRE THE STATE DEPARTMENT INSPECTOR designate the facility of the United States Postal GENERAL? Service located at 599 East Genesse Street in Fay- Committee on Foreign Affairs: Full Committee held a etteville, New York, as the ‘‘George H. Bacel Post hearing entitled ‘‘Why did the Trump Administra- Office Building’’; H.R. 6016, to designate the facil- tion Fire the State Department Inspector General?’’. ity of the United States Postal Service located at Testimony was heard from the following Department 14955 West Bell Road in Surprise, Arizona, as the of State officials: Brian Bulatao, Under Secretary of ‘‘Marc Lee Memorial Post Office Building’’; H.R. State for Management; Marik String, Acting Legal 6418, to designate the facility of the United States Adviser; and R. Clarke Cooper, Assistant Secretary of Postal Service located at 509 Fairhope Avenue in State for Political-Military Affairs. Fairhope, Alabama, as the ‘‘William ‘Jack’ Jackson

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Edwards III Post Office Building’’; H.R. 7088, to and National Security Acquisitions, Government Ac- designate the facility of the United States Postal countability Office; and a public witness. Service located at 111 James Street in Reidsville, Georgia, as the ‘‘Senator Jack Hill Post Office Build- ing’’; H.R. 6418, to designate the facility of the Joint Meetings United States Postal Service located at 509 Fairhope No joint committee meetings were held. Avenue in Fairhope, Alabama, as the ‘‘William ‘Jack’ f Jackson Edwards III Post Office Building’’; and H.R. 7810, to designate the facility of the United States COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, Postal Service located at 3519 East Walnut Street in SEPTEMBER 17, 2020 Pearland, Texas, as the ‘‘Tom Reid Post Office (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Building’’. H.R. 4382, H.R. 5901, H.R. 8109, H.R. Senate 7496, H.R. 7340, H.R. 7548, H.R. 7107, and H.R. 7936 were ordered reported, as amended. H.R. Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine 2277, H.R. 5562, H.R. 5972, H.R. 5983, H.R. matters relating to the budget of the National Nuclear 7502, H.R. 5451, H.R. 6016, H.R. 6418, H.R. Security Administration, 9:30 a.m., SD–G50. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to exam- 7088, and H.R. 7810 were ordered reported, with- ine advancing U.S. engagement and countering China in out amendment. the Indo-Pacific and beyond, 10 a.m., SD–106. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: to hold hearings to examine fixing the Free Application for Committee on Small Business: Full Committee held a Federal Student Aid, 10 a.m., SD–430. markup on H.R. 7903, to amend the Small Business Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider Act to establish the Community Advantage Loan the nominations of J. Philip Calabrese, and James Ray Program; H.R. 8211, the ‘‘504 Modernization and Knepp II, both to be a United States District Judge for Small Manufacturer Enhancement Act of 2020’’; the Northern District of Ohio, Aileen Mercedes Cannon, H.R. 8199, the ‘‘504 Credit Risk Management Im- to be United States District Judge for the Southern Dis- provement Act of 2020’’; and H.R. 8229, the ‘‘Par- trict of Florida, Toby Crouse, to be United States District ity for HUBZone Appeals Act of 2020’’. H.R. 8199 Judge for the District of Kansas, Michael Jay Newman, and H.R. 8229 were ordered reported, without of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the amendment. H.R. 8211 and H.R. 7903 were or- Southern District of Ohio, and Anna Maria Ruzinski, to dered reported, as amended. be United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Wis- consin, and Gregory Scott Tabor, of Arkansas, to be MOVING BEYOND PATCHWORK SYSTEMS: United States Marshal for the Western District of Arkan- THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION SERVICES IT sas, both of the Department of Justice, 10 a.m., SR–325. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Tech- House nology Modernization; and Subcommittee on Eco- Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Intel- nomic Opportunity held a joint hearing entitled ligence and Emerging Threats and Capabilities, hearing ‘‘Moving Beyond Patchwork Systems: The Future of entitled ‘‘Interim Review of the National Security Com- Education Services IT’’. Testimony was heard from mission on Artificial Intelligence Effort and Rec- Paul R. Lawrence, Undersecretary, Veterans Benefits ommendations’’, 1 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Carol Harris, Director for Information Technology Communications and Technology, hearing entitled Acquisition Management Issues, Government Ac- ‘‘Trump FCC: Four Years of Lost Opportunities’’, 10 countability Office; and public witnesses. a.m., Webex. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Inves- MODERNIZING VA’S MEDICAL SUPPLY tor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets, CHAIN: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE hearing entitled ‘‘Insider Trading and Stock Option PANDEMIC Grants: An Examination of Corporate Integrity in the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Subcommittee on Over- COVID–19 Pandemic’’, 12 p.m., Webex. sight and Investigations held a hearing entitled Committee on Homeland Security, Full Committee, hearing ‘‘Modernizing VA’s Medical Supply Chain: Lessons entitled ‘‘Worldwide Threats to the Homeland’’, 9 a.m., 2167 Rayburn and Webex. Learned from the Pandemic’’. Testimony was heard Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Over- from Karen Brazell, Principal Executive Director, sight and Investigations, hearing entitled ‘‘Examining the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction Barriers and Solutions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Chief Acquisition Officer, Acting Assistant Sec- at the Department of the Interior’’, 2 p.m., Webex. retary for Enterprise Integration, Department of Vet- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Full Committee, markup erans Affairs; Shelby Oakley, Director of Contracting on H.R. 8247, the ‘‘Veterans Comprehensive, Prevention,

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Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020’’; H.R. 7163, Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Trade, the ‘‘VA FOIA Reform Act of 2020’’; H.R. 5843, the hearing entitled ‘‘Enforcing the Ban on Imports Produced ‘‘Strengthening Oversight for Veterans Act of 2020’’; by Forced Labor in Xinjiang’’, 12 p.m., Webex. H.R. 7785, to amend title 38, United States Code, to ex- tend certain employment and reemployment rights to Joint Meetings members of the National Guard who perform State active Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: To hold duty; and H.R. 6092, the ‘‘Veteran’s Prostate Cancer hearings to examine Albania’s chairmanship of the Orga- Treatment and Research Act’’, 9 a.m., HVC–210 and nization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, 1 p.m., Webex. WEBCAST.

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Next Meeting of the SENATE Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9:45 a.m., Thursday, September 17 9 a.m., Thursday, September 17

Senate Chamber House Chamber Program for Thursday: Senate will resume consideration Program for Thursday: Consideration of H. Res. 908— of the nomination of Franklin Ulyses Valderrama, to be Condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related United States District Judge for the Northern District of to COVID–19. Consideration of H.R. 2694—Pregnant Illinois. Workers Fairness Act. At 11:30 a.m., Senate will vote on the motion to in- voke cloture on the nomination of Franklin Ulyses Valderrama, and, if cloture is invoked, on confirmation of the nomination. At 1:30 p.m., Senate will vote on confirmation of the nomination of Iain D. Johnston, to be United States Dis- trict Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.

Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue

HOUSE Davis, Danny K., Ill., E849 Pence, Greg, Ind., E847 Gottheimer, Josh, N.J., E849 Perry, Scott, Pa., E849 Babin, Brian, Tex., E847 Hudson, Richard, N.C., E847 Ryan, Tim, Ohio, E849 Beyer, Donald S., Jr., Va., E847 Huizenga, Bill, Mich., E849 Schrader, Kurt, Ore., E849 Brindisi, Anthony, N.Y., E848 Joyce, John, Pa., E847, E848, E850 Soto, Darren, Fla., E847 Conaway, K. Michael, Tex., E847 Kaptur, Marcy, Ohio, E848 Torres Small, Xochitl, N.M., E849 Cunningham, Joe, S.C., E848 Kim, Andy, N.J., E848

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