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, MARCH 11, 2020 No. 47 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was United States has maintained contin- My home State of Kentucky cur- called to order by the President pro uous diplomatic relations with Lith- rently has eight confirmed cases. I ap- tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). uania since 1992—in other words, since plaud the efforts of State and local f the period of time that the Soviet leaders who are working together with Union had jurisdiction over it. In these Federal officials to proceed carefully PRAYER last 30 years, since the return of free- and intelligently. The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- dom, we have seen the partnership be- Our public health experts are com- fered the following prayer: tween our two countries become piling the best guidance for individ- Let us pray. stronger than ever. uals, families, businesses, schools, and Arise, O Judge of the Earth, and Lithuania is a close U.S. ally, a bea- healthcare professionals in one place, bring healing and help to our Nation con of Western values, and very much and www.coronavirus.gov is the place and world. We praise You that Your on the frontlines of freedom. I thank to go. I encourage every American to plans succeed and Your precepts are Lithuania for its friendship, for its im- read through the information, particu- sure. portant contributions to our North At- larly anyone whose personal cir- Lord, You know our thoughts before lantic Treaty Organization alliance, cumstances make additional pre- we think them. Encourage our law- and for its vocal defense of our shared cautions a wise idea. makers to do Your will. Give them the values. President Trump and Senators also wisdom to totally depend upon Your I yield the floor. discussed potential policies to soften unfailing love, remembering that un- I suggest the absence of a quorum. the economic impact of the virus. Over less You help them, they labor in vain. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the last 3 years, we have built a his- Lord, when doubts fill their minds, clerk will call the roll. torically strong economy of American provide them with the renewed hope in The senior assistant legislative clerk workers and middle-class families. We the ultimate triumph of Your purposes. proceeded to call the roll. should take sensible steps to help that Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, We pray in Your strong Name. Amen. momentum continue, notwithstanding I ask unanimous consent that the order f this new challenge. for the quorum call be rescinded. I am glad the Secretary of the Treas- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ury and the Speaker of the House are The President pro tempore led the objection, it is so ordered. Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: engaging in direct bipartisan talks on f this subject. Congress has already pro- I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Repub- RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY vided billions in new funding to Fed- lic for which it stands, one nation under God, LEADER eral, State, and local health leaders. I indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- hope we can bring the same bipartisan The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. jority leader is recognized. energy to any steps that prove nec- essary to support our strong U.S. econ- LOEFFLER). The Senator from Iowa. f Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I omy. CORONAVIRUS ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 Now, it has been sad but not sur- minute in morning business. Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, prising to see some of President The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without yesterday President Trump visited the Trump’s Democratic critics here in objection, it is so ordered. Capitol to discuss the ongoing efforts Washington fall back on the same old f to fight the new coronavirus and its predictable partisan attacks, even at a growing footprint here in the United time like this, but across the country, LITHUANIA States. where leaders are working together on Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, As Vice President PENCE, Dr. An- the frontlines, we have seen something 30 years ago today, the freely elected thony Fauci, and the other administra- different. I want to commend the Parliament of Lithuania declared the tion experts related in their briefing Democratic Governor of California, restoration of that country’s independ- yesterday, we should expect a number who stated on Monday that he had been ence. Lithuania’s brave actions began of cases to continue to climb through- in close touch with the President and the breakup of the Soviet Union, some- out our country. Fortunately, our Na- Vice President and appreciated their thing all freedom-loving Americans tion was rated the best prepared in the attention and support. ought to be celebrating. world for this kind of outbreak, and we Here is what he said: The modern Republic of Lithuania is are continuing to scale up our response He said everything I could have hoped for. 102 years old as of last month, and the every day. . . . We had a very long conversation, and

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

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VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.000 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1678 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 every single thing he said, they followed are longtime leftwing goals that have CONCLUSION OF MORNING through on. basically nothing whatsoever to do BUSINESS That is the Governor of California with the actual threats now before us. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning talking about the Republican President But the American people’s confidence business is closed. of the United States. He praised the ad- in the key institutions of our democ- ministration’s work on this and said: racy does not mean they are compla- f ‘‘It starts at the top.’’ cent; they aren’t. The same survey LEGISLATIVE SESSION So, clearly, this does not have to be shows the American people understand a time for partisan bickering. The full well that foreign adversaries like American people know that. The lead- Russia want to divide our country and PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL ers around the country know that. I distort our discourse through DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER hope our Democratic colleagues here in disinformation. 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES Washington understand the American The intelligence community con- CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED people expect us to be working to- firms that as well. Our intelligence ex- BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDU- gether on this problem. perts have publicly assessed that Rus- CATION RELATING TO ‘‘BOR- f sia and other adversaries will continue ROWER DEFENSE INSTITU- looking for ways to warp our public de- TIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY’’—Re- ELECTION SECURITY bate from overseas. sumed Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, We all need to be aware that our ad- now on another matter, yesterday, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under versaries seek to exploit the openness the previous order, the Senate will re- both the House and Senate were briefed of our society to turn Americans by top intelligence community officials sume consideration of S.J. Res. 56, against ourselves. Adversaries like which the clerk will report. on the state of ongoing efforts to pro- Russia want to exacerbate social and tect the security of American elec- The senior assistant legislative clerk political tensions in our country. They read as follows: tions. want to undermine our confidence in A joint resolution (S.J. Res. 56) providing I was glad that so many Members our own election and our democratic took the chance to hear directly from for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 institutions. This is why I have of title 5, United States Code, of the rule the experts. This issue is very impor- stressed that politicians need to be submitted by the Department of Education tant, and it is bad for our democracy careful not to take the bait. It is why relating to ‘‘Borrower Defense Institutional that some have sought to politicize it. the President signed an Executive Accountability’’. All of us should acknowledge the order to enable sanctions against any Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- threat, and all of us should applaud the person or any country that attempts to sence of a quorum. unprecedented step this administration meddle in our elections. It is why this The PRESIDING OFFICER. The has taken to protect against it. These administration has created new proce- clerk will call the roll. significant efforts undertaken by the dures for promptly notifying cam- The senior assistant legislative clerk administration and funded by the Con- paigns that are targeted by foreign en- proceeded to call the roll. gress are actually working. tities, unlike—unlike—how the Obama Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I ask Since 2017, the hundreds of millions administration hid the ball back in unanimous consent that the order for of dollars we have directed to help 2016, and it is why the new, tough for- the quorum call be rescinded. State and local election officials rein- eign policies of the last 3 years will The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without force their systems have been finding continue to be essential. objection, it is so ordered. their mark. Narrow, tailored solutions are impor- CORONAVIRUS In all 50 States and across thousands tant, but the best way for the United of jurisdictions, new tools, more re- Mr. THUNE. Madam President, yes- States to defend ourselves and our in- terday afternoon, South Dakota Gov- sources, and greater coordination have terests against any malign behavior is our Nation’s defenses in a stronger ernor Kristi Noem notified me that to possess unquestionable strength and multiple residents of South Dakota place. This includes far greater coordi- make it perfectly clear we are not in- nation with the social media compa- have tested positive for the terested in being pushed around. coronavirus. While this is obviously nies to combat foreign disinformation, I have been a Russia hawk for more as well as close collaboration between something we had hoped to avoid, we than 30 years. I am on record from the knew this was a possibility, and South the Federal Government and State and late years of the Clinton administra- local jurisdictions on protecting elec- Dakota has spent weeks preparing to tion warning Democrats not to be deal with an outbreak. toral infrastructure. naive about a new President-elect by And to date, the intelligence commu- Over the next few days, public health the name of Vladimir Putin, so I ap- officials will be checking into where nity reports they have not seen any plaud this administration’s tough foreign interference that aims to these individuals have been so that stance with Russia. And I am pleased anyone with whom they came in con- change vote tallies or prevent Ameri- that Democrats have stopped— cans from voting. So the American peo- tact can be notified. My staff and I are stopped—mocking Republicans for working closely with the Governor and ple are absolutely right to have con- being too tough on Russia and have fidence in the integrity of our voting her team, and I will continue to care- come around to our point of view. fully monitor the situation. systems, and they actually do. We have come a long way since the As I mentioned yesterday, one new At the Federal level, I am focused on passivity and the failures of the Obama making sure that State and local gov- survey has found that more than 70 administration back in 2016, but the percent—70 percent—of Americans are ernments have the resources they need work is not finished, and Senators are to deal with the virus. Last week, I was confident their State and local authori- fooling themselves if they think this is ties will oversee a fair and accurate proud to support bipartisan legislation just about Russia. committing significant Federal re- election this November. That is 70 per- We must stay vigilant—all of us; Fed- cent of the American people who have sources to the coronavirus fight. eral leaders, State and local election I am praying for all of the South Da- confidence in the fairness of the elec- officials, and every American citizen. tions this November. kotans who are affected by the virus, Every one of us has a part to play in and I want to thank the healthcare As an aside, this is worth remem- protecting our democracy. bering as our Democratic colleagues workers who are on the frontlines of try to claim that election security de- f this fight. We are lucky to have you. mands things like an unprecedented S. 2657 Washington power grab over the RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME Madam President, I am disappointed nuanced details of how States and lo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under that the Senate failed to move forward calities conduct elections or addressing the previous order, the leadership time on the American Energy Innovation things like campaign finance. These is reserved. Act this week. This is a bipartisan

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.002 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1679 piece of legislation that should have ensure that clean energy doesn’t even- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER been able to advance in the Senate. It tually result in massive buildups in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The contains measures from more than 60 landfills. Since roughly a quarter of Democratic leader is recognized. Senators, and 90 Senators voted last the net electricity generated in my CORONAVIRUS week to begin debate on the bill. I am home State of South Dakota comes Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, disappointed that we couldn’t maintain from wind, I am particularly interested the United States has more than 1,000 that bipartisan momentum and get in what it would take to recycle or confirmed cases of COVID–19, the this bill over the finish line. reuse the blades from wind turbines on coronavirus. The actual number, how- The United States is in a pretty good a large scale. ever, could be much higher. We don’t position when it comes to energy right I am very pleased that my wind en- truly know how many cases of now. Our energy supply is abundant, ergy recycling amendment was in- coronavirus there are in the United and energy prices are generally afford- cluded in the chairman’s substitute States because our testing regime has able. But we are in this position for a amendment to the American Energy been entirely inadequate. reason—because we took steps to in- Innovation Act. My amendment would The CDC took weeks to develop test- crease our domestic energy supply and establish a competition to identify in- ing kits that worked properly, and the lessen our dependence upon foreign oil. novative uses for wind blades that have Federal Government was far too slow We can’t afford to become compla- reached the end of their life, with a in allowing hospitals, medical labs, and cent. If we want to keep American en- focus on uses that present the greatest public health clinics to conduct tests ergy affordable and abundant, we need potential for large-scale commercial on their own. The New York Times this to make sure that we stay on the cut- deployment. morning has a story about how doctors ting edge of energy innovation and con- With an estimated 32,000 wind blades and clinicians in Washington State tinue to invest in our domestic energy likely to be removed from U.S. wind were forced to wait a period of weeks supply, from oil and natural gas to re- turbines in the next 4 years, it is past for samples of the coronavirus and ap- newable energy sources like hydro- time to get American innovators fo- proval to test patients for the virus, power and wind. We also need to make cused on this problem. I appreciate even after they had suspected cases. sure we stay on top of threats to our Chairman MURKOWSKI’s interest in ad- The virus was spreading in the United energy grid and our energy security. dressing this side of green energy and States for weeks, without our knowl- The American Energy Innovation Act hope that we can continue this work. edge, because we could not reliably test is designed to help maintain American In addition to clean energy and inno- for it. strength in the energy sector. It in- vation, the American Energy Innova- Even now, the administration has vests in a wide range of clean energy tion Act focuses on boosting the secu- been laggard about making sure that technologies, from wind and solar to rity of our electric grid. It invests in testing kits are available to all who hydropower and geothermal. It focuses cyber security and grid modernization need them, and the United States is on improving research into carbon cap- and focuses on improving our domestic trailing countries around the world in ture, and it directs the establishment supply of some of the key elements and our testing capacity. We, who were of a research and development program minerals that we rely on for manufac- supposed to have the greatest public to identify ways to use captured car- turing—everything from computer health system in the world, are lagging bon. chips, to batteries, to defense applica- behind many countries, and it is a mat- The bill also invests in advanced nu- tions. ter of life and death. clear energy research so that we can Right now, we have to import too Last night, I spoke with the mayor of regain our edge in the use of this clean much of these critical minerals from New Rochelle, NY, where multiple in- energy technology, and it focuses on countries like China. For the sake of fections have been confirmed and improving energy storage. Many mod- our national security, it is important where residents are now living under a ern clean energy technologies are that we find ways to identify supplies 3-square-mile containment area. The intermittent or lack the reliability of of these minerals here at home. mayor told me that despite the best ef- Finally, the American Energy Inno- traditional electric sources. The forts of the State of New York—and vation Act invests in workforce devel- amount of energy produced from wind, they are doing a good job—there are opment. All of the innovative tech- for example, is dependent on the not enough coronavirus testing kits for nologies in the world will not help us if amount of wind on any given day, so it the community. I asked him what his we don’t have the skilled workers to must be backed up by a traditional major problem was. He said: Lack of operate and maintain these tech- plant, often powered by natural gas. testing kits, lack of testing. I fear that nologies. We need to ensure that, while Creating new ways to store clean en- what is happening in New Rochelle will we are investing in innovation, we are ergy will allow us to increase our reli- happen in cities and towns across the also investing in the energy workforce ance on renewable energy sources. country. It is virtually certain that a of the future. Another area that needs to be ad- limited quarantine or containment As I said, it is disappointing that the dressed when it comes to renewable en- area will be imposed on other cities, Senate wasn’t able to move forward on ergy is recycling. Solar panels, wind like they were in New Rochelle, and we this bipartisan legislation. I hope we turbine blades, and electric car bat- need to make sure the mistakes that will be able to continue discussing this teries are key components of clean en- have plagued the whole testing regime bill and the Senate will take it up ergy production, but all of these com- is not repeated when other cities have again in the near future. ponents eventually reach the end of The American Energy Innovation Act to be under some limited quarantine. their life. Both solar panels and wind would promote clean energy develop- Those cities have to able to get the turbine blades eventually have to be ment, help maintain a strong domestic tests and resources they need, and New replaced, and car batteries eventually energy supply, increase the security of Rochelle still isn’t getting them be- lose their ability to hold a full charge. our energy grid, and invest in Amer- cause of the Federal Government. The question becomes what to do I honestly don’t know why it has ican workers. We need to get this legis- with these components. Wind turbine taken so long for the Trump adminis- lation across the finish line. blades can be well over 150 feet long I yield the floor. tration to get a handle on testing, and weigh somewhere around 15 tons. I suggest the absence of a quorum. which is the most powerful tool in That takes a lot of room in a landfill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The helping us respond to the spread of the In the case of electric vehicle batteries, clerk will call the roll. virus. I honestly don’t know why, after we are not just talking about filling up The senior assistant legislative clerk this issue with testing has been glaring landfills. We are talking about poten- proceeded to call the roll. and very public, the administration has tially hazardous waste if lithium or Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I still not announced anything resem- other materials leak from the battery. ask unanimous consent that the order bling a coherent plan to fix the prob- While recycling and reuse methods for the quorum call be rescinded. lem. exist for clean energy components, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without This morning, I am demanding that much more work needs to be done to objection, it is so ordered. the Trump administration do five

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.003 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1680 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 things to improve the Nation’s ability and support they need during a medical about a worker making $12 an hour. to test for the coronavirus in the emergency. That means money goes di- That worker has symptoms. She is the United States: rectly to the people and workers af- only working person in her family. She One, expedite the approval of labs fected and who need help, not money might think her illness is the that are ready and willing to provide tossed out of an airplane and hope that coronavirus; nonetheless, her illness is testing. Every lab that is able to pro- some lands on the people who need the debilitating enough that it is hard for vide testing should be up and running help. her to go to work. She is making $12 an as soon as possible. It does not mean bailing out the oil hour. She stays home and loses $100 Two, provide daily updates on the and gas industry, as the press reported that day. She has a $700-a-month rent volume of tests, both available and ex- was under consideration at the White payment or possibly lower than that if pected, and set up a special office or House. It does not mean deregulating she is making $12 an hour. She has to bureau within HHS dedicated to man- the banking industry, as another re- make a decision: Do I go to work and aging the acquisition and distribution port said was a part of the discussion potentially infect others but get my tests. The conflicting reports and lack at the White House. It does not mean pay and maybe make myself sicker, or of information have left States unable another corporate tax cut. do I stay home to get well and give up to plan. In the face of test shortages, growing that $100? Three, support the use of automated cases, and lack of medical supplies, Then you think about some of those testing to increase the speed and vol- President Trump seems more inter- other workers. Someone might be a ume with which testing is conducted. ested in bailing out oil and gas compa- restaurant worker preparing our food. Four, ensure that patients who need nies and other big interests than in What do you do if your child’s school tests face no out-of-pocket costs. The helping the families struggling to af- closes down for a week, as schools—al- coverage requirements for testing are ford coronavirus treatment. ready Ohio State, Kent State, Case currently a patchwork of State execu- As the spread of coronavirus con- Western, and Baldwin Wallace have tive orders and private company ac- tinues within our borders, Democrats shut their doors. They have not really tions. We need Federal leadership. Hun- remain committed—absolutely com- shut their doors; they are doing learn- dreds of millions of Americans do not mitted—to finding ways we can protect ing by distance, tele-learning. It means know if they can access affordable test- Americans most at risk by this disease. a number of people at those schools are ing. President Trump should work with us And, five, ensure that COVID–19, in a very different situation with their in Congress to make sure we continue coronavirus, hotlines are fully staffed employment. and responsive to patients and pro- managing this pandemic in a measured, Taking a sick day means going with- viders who have questions and con- responsible, and transparent manner. out pay. Taking a sick day may mean I yield the floor. cerns. losing your job. It hurts everyone. If Our top priority at the moment is to I suggest the absence of a quorum. you are lucky enough to have paid The PRESIDING OFFICER. The confront the spread of this disease time off—everybody is at risk when clerk will call the roll. head-on. The first is making sure com- more people are out and about when The senior assistant legislative clerk munities across the country have the they are sick. proceeded to call the roll. Our office gets calls from workers all testing capability and capacity that Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask they need. the time. Senator ALEXANDER has Ten- unanimous consent that the order for The public also needs clear guidance nesseans calling him. Senator MURRAY the quorum call be rescinded. from the Federal Government regard- has Washingtonians calling her, ask- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ing how to best avoid contracting this ing: What do I do if I come down with SASSE). Without objection, it is so or- virus. It has been reported that Federal something? I have to choose between dered. health officials recommended that going to work while I am sick or losing older Americans refrain from air travel UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 3415 a paycheck or losing my job. for this reason, but the White House Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, Senator Because of our policy, we have put overruled them. What exactly hap- ALEXANDER is here. Senator MURRAY people in that situation or they are in pened here? Were health officials over- will be joining us in a moment. They that situation, and we have an obliga- ruled for political reasons? What is the are the chair and ranking member of tion now to do something about it. It is truth? And what is the recommenda- the Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- unacceptable that millions of Ameri- tion of our Federal health experts sions Committee, which has jurisdic- cans are faced with that impossible going forward, most importantly? tion over this very important issue of choice. The coronavirus has also created tur- sick leave with sick pay. Many compa- That choice gets worse. I don’t know bulence in our economy and disrupted nies do that in this country. We are the how many people are faced with that daily life for many Americans. As I only wealthy country in the world that choice today. We know it is millions. have said before, by far, the best way doesn’t have a real policy. As Senator Tomorrow, it will be 1.2 times that, to respond to any adverse effects on ALEXANDER says, we do this for Federal and the next day, it may be half again. our economy is to deal with the employees. It should be for more than We know this is getting worse before it coronavirus itself. You treat the dis- those of us who are Federal employees. gets better. ease, not the symptoms. But even as Today, we need to get help to the I am not an alarmist. I think we have we focus primarily on combating the people who need it now: parents whose some of the best health officials in the spread of COVID–19, we should consider children’s schools are closed; people world. We have public health profes- relief to American families and work- who aren’t getting paid; people who sionals who I think—the Governor of ers who are impacted. have trouble making rent or making Ohio, a Republican, Mike DeWine, and Later this morning, I will join Sen- their mortgage payments or their stu- I have talked a couple of times exten- ators MURRAY, BROWN, DURBIN, WYDEN, dent loan payments. Paid sick days are sively. People in Ohio are doing this CARDIN, and others to announce a se- one of the most important ways we do right. ries of measures that Senate Demo- that. That is why we need to pass this We don’t always get the leadership crats believe we should take up to pro- bill today. out of the White House we would like vide economic relief to working Ameri- Think about restaurant workers pre- when we see the President saying cans during the coronavirus outbreak. paring our food. Think about what you something that is almost the opposite I will have more details at that time, do if your child’s school closes down for of our public health professionals. I at 11:30. But for now, I want to make a week. For so many people, taking a tend to listen to the public health pro- one thing clear. When it comes to pro- sick day means going without pay and fessionals. I know Senator ALEXANDER viding short-term economic relief, our potentially losing their jobs. Put your- does too. I would be hopeful that the priority should be the American peo- self in their position. It is hard for us President does. ple, not corporations. to do—we are lucky enough and privi- We know this impossible choice is That means targeted measures that leged enough to have these jobs—and getting more and more serious. Some give working families the flexibility for most of our staff also. But think corporations do the right thing, but

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.004 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1681 many are not doing the right thing. miss work and being unable to pay leagues to support our new emergency Some are promising they are going to their rent; worried about how to keep paid sick days legislation, which would do the right thing, but promises are their children safe at school and how to ensure workers would have 14 days of not enough. We need to pass this bill care for them and make sure they get paid sick leave immediately in re- now. a nutritious meal if their schools can- sponse to public health emergencies Our legislation would require all em- cel. I am hearing from small business like the one we face today in addition ployers to allow workers to accrue 7 owners who are worried because no one to allowing workers to gradually earn days of paid sick leave, and the bill is now coming through their door and their 7 days of paid sick leave. would also provide an additional 14 they are unsure how to support the It would mean you would not lose a days that would be available imme- workers going forward. I am hearing paycheck if, like so many parents in diately in the event of any public from communities that are worried my home State of Washington and health emergency like we have right about how they protect people who are across the country are facing, your now. This is a public health emergency. experiencing homelessness. I have seen child’s school has to close in the com- We need to do emergency kind of legis- a lot in my years as a Senator, but I ing weeks because of this health out- lation. This is an unusual, extraor- am not exaggerating when I say this is break. It would mean you would not dinary problem. We have to do some- one of the most trying times I have lose a paycheck if your family member thing extraordinary here. Passing this ever seen in my State experience. were quarantined and you needed to bill allowing workers to accrue 7 days I am absolutely going to be holding stay home to take care of him so that of paid sick leave and providing an ad- this administration accountable for you would not spread the virus. Also, if ditional 14 days available immediately missing so many opportunities to get you could not go to work because you in the event of any public health emer- ahead of this, but I am also going to be were sick or your workplace were shut gency is what we need to do. doing everything in my power to make down, as we are seeing in so many Congress can’t wait. People are sure we do not miss significant oppor- places, you wouldn’t lose pay. These choosing between going to work sick tunities. We still have time to slow are the real challenges people are now and missing a paycheck. They are mak- this down and manage it as best we facing and will continue to face. ing that choice every day. People in can. Our bill would help these workers im- Memphis and Cleveland and people in Our primary goal right now for peo- mediately, the minute it becomes law. Omaha and Dayton are making that ple in my home State and across the We have enough delay when it comes to choice every day—do I go to work sick, country needs to be slowing the spread paid sick days, so let’s get this done. or do I stay home and miss that $120 I of the virus in areas where there are Let’s keep working, as we need to do, was going to earn this week? outbreaks so that areas where it has on a comprehensive, coordinated re- We need to do this today. We need not hit so hard yet have the time to sponse that focuses squarely on what this bill to prevent the spread of prepare. One of the best ways we can do our families and our workers and our coronavirus and stop this crisis from this is by allowing workers who feel small businesses need in the weeks and getting worse. It is about the dignity of sick or who need to stay home with a months ahead. work. It is about public safety. child whose school is closed to do so The Democrats on this side have a I will wait for Senator MURRAY to without losing a paycheck or their job. lot of ideas that we are laying out in make the UC request. Workers and their families want to response to this, including how to I yield the floor. do the right things for themselves and make sure these tests are affordable, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- for their communities, but for many of that we support our most vulnerable ator from Washington. our workers—restaurant workers, communities, and that we reckon with Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I ask truckdrivers, service industry work- the economic impact this crisis is hav- unanimous consent to speak as in ers—they may not have an option to ing on our communities and Nation. morning business. take a day off without losing their pay There is a lot we need to do in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without or losing their job. That leaves them weeks and months ahead, but I urge us objection, it is so ordered. with the impossible choice between to start today with this simple, really Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I also putting food on their table and paying important issue. want to thank all of my colleagues who the bills or the rent and protecting Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- are coming down to speak about this themselves and others. That is not a sent that the Committee on Health, today. choice we should be asking anyone to Education, Labor, and Pensions be dis- Families in my home State of Wash- make in the United States of America charged from further consideration of ington are scared. They are frustrated. in the 21st century. Yet 32 million peo- S. 3415, a bill to allow Americans to They are angry. And so am I. New re- ple in our country today—or about one earn paid sick time so that they can porting now makes it clear that even out of every four private sector work- address their own health needs and the after researchers in Seattle raised seri- ers—are faced with this impossible health needs of their families; that the ous concerns about the possibility of choice every time they get sick. Right Senate proceed to its immediate con- community spread in Washington now, this choice has unique and poten- sideration; that the bill be considered State and tried to work with Federal tially dire consequences. read a third time and passed; and that agencies to conduct testing, the admin- I have been advocating for legislation the motion to reconsider be considered istration didn’t work with them to let to allow workers to earn paid sick days made and laid upon the table with no the public know how serious the since 2004, along with my colleague intervening action or debate. coronavirus was. You can be sure I am Congressman ROSA DELAURO in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there going to get to the bottom of this and House. Time and again, we have been objection? make sure it will never happen again. I told no even though that simple step is The Senator from Tennessee. am furious that instead of acting with critical, as we now see, for public Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, in urgency, they did nothing; instead of health and gives workers the flexibility reserving the right to object, I will acting with transparency, they kept they need. In fact, we last introduced continue to work with the Senator quiet; instead of working to keep fami- our bill in March of 2019, and here we from Washington State, as we always lies safe, they wasted valuable time. are almost a year later to the day do, and on a comprehensive response to And now in my State, 24 people have without the very policies in place that the this issue, the coronavirus. She and died. Over 1,000 across the country are would have now helped millions of our I have had four briefings, and we will confirmed to be infected, and experts workers and bolstered our resilience in have another one tomorrow. We have a are telling us that many more are like- the face of this exact kind of public history of being able to come to agree- ly to be ill. healthcare crisis that paid sick days ment on these matters. I am hearing from people in my home are intended to prevent and to miti- The idea of there being paid sick State of Washington who are worried gate. leave is a good idea, but if Washington, about their older relatives who are We now have another opportunity to DC, thinks it is a good idea, Wash- dying alone; worried about having to get this right. I am here to ask my col- ington, DC, should pay for it. When I

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.005 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1682 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 was the Governor of Tennessee, noth- the people of Colorado. Felix Sparks he would spend the rest of his life reliv- ing used to make me more unhappy was born in Texas, though. We have a ing the horrors of what he witnessed at than when some well-meaning indi- lot of Texans in Colorado, but this one Dachau. As they neared the camp, the vidual in the U.S. Senate or U.S. House made the right choice and stayed in American forces discovered nearly 40 would come up with a big idea, pass it, Colorado. He was born in San Antonio, railroad cars that were filled with de- take credit for it, and send me the bill. TX, in 1917, and he spent his childhood composing bodies. Felix Sparks said Employees are struggling, and so are around Miami, AZ, where his family the ‘‘stench of death was overpow- employers struggling, but it is not a and father worked in a mining com- ering’’ and that what he saw at the cure for the coronavirus to, in the mid- pany. He was in high school during the camp made Dante’s Inferno seem ‘‘pale dle of this matter, put a big, new, ex- Great Depression and was the eldest of compared to the real hell of Dachau.’’ pensive Federal mandate on employers five siblings. Inside the camp were even more bodies who are struggling. Paid sick leave is a Soon after graduating from high and more than 30,000 survivors—sur- good idea, and we do it in my office. school, Felix decided to enlist in the vivors of one of the darkest places in The Federal Government now does it, U.S. Army. Upon completing his enlist- one of the darkest moments in world and many businesses do it. Yet, if the ment, Felix enrolled at the University history. Federal Government wants to require of Arizona and completed the Citizens’ We say we must never forget the hor- it, the Federal Government should pay Military Training program, which rors of the Holocaust, but Felix Sparks for it. earned him a commission as a second and the Americans who liberated Da- I object. lieutenant. Mr. Sparks then went on to chau didn’t have a choice. They could The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- pursue a pre-law degree. He had just never forget and will never forget. tion is heard. finished his first semester of that effort Felix Sparks said: The Senator from Washington. Mrs. MURRAY. Mr. President, I do when he was ordered to report for duty The men of the 45th Infantry Division were appreciate the fact that the Senator to the 157th Infantry Regiment in Colo- hardened combat veterans. [We had seen so many fights.] We had been in combat almost from Tennessee has been a great part- rado. He was ordered to report at the very beginning of World War II. That two years at that point. While we were ac- ner with me on many issues. I will keep customed to death, we were not able to com- talking to him about this. year was 1940—right before the United States officially entered World War II. prehend the type of death that we encoun- Let me just say, without doing this, tered at Dachau. the cost to businesses is going to grow Neither Felix Sparks nor the Amer- ican people knew it at the time, but There is no going back. There is no exponentially. We have already seen it forgetting. There is no trying to erase on Wall Street, and we are seeing it in World War II was about to change the history of the United States and the from memory the horrors of Nazism our communities. Because people are and seeing it up close. The liberation of not getting paid, they are going to world forever. Felix would be on the frontlines of one of the most pivotal Dachau would be one of the Thunder- work and are spreading this virus. We bird Division’s final missions during are seeing the impact and will continue moments of World War II. World War II. The division was offi- to see it in our communities as fewer As a little bit of background on his cially deactivated on December 7, people go to their stores or as fewer work, along with the National Guard 1945—4 years after Pearl Harbor. people go to their businesses. units from Oklahoma, Arizona, and We either do this now or we are going New Mexico, Colorado’s 157th Infantry Following the end of the war, Felix to continue to pay for it in the future. Regiment mobilized in support of the Sparks attended the University of Col- I am sorry it has been objected to U.S. Army’s 45th Infantry Division in orado Law School in Boulder, CO—my today, because I think it is such a crit- Oklahoma, also known as the Thunder- alma mater. He graduated in 1947 and ical step with regard to this public bird Division. started a law practice in Delta, CO, health crisis we are having. We need to The division set sail for North Africa while he also served as a district attor- get this done. in June 1943 for its first mission—the ney. In 1956, Felix Sparks was ap- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- invasion of Sicily. Over the next 511 pointed as the youngest ever—in Colo- ator from Ohio. days, Felix Sparks and his fellow sol- rado’s history—associate justice of the Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, as I diers in the Thunderbird Division Colorado Supreme Court. watch up close and from afar Senator would participate in so many well- Then, in 1958, Felix accepted the role ALEXANDER’s and Senator MURRAY’s so known combat operations in Sicily, of director of the Colorado Water Con- often working together on issues like Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Southern servation Board, where he was instru- this, I absolutely believe Senator France, the Ardennes-Alsace, Rhine- mental in the development of sustain- ALEXANDER when he says it is a good land, and Central Europe. It was an in- able water policies for the State. For idea. Yet, as Senator MURRAY just said, credibly well-documented, decorated those not familiar with Colorado, this there are all kinds of costs being im- campaign. Yet, of these 511 days, Felix is an incredibly important position. We posed on businesses as a result of peo- Sparks most often recounted one day are a State whose history is written in ple who go to work sick. It is also more in particular more than any other. water. Yet that wasn’t enough for Felix expensive for public hospitals and more That day was April 29, 1945. Sparks. It was not all. expensive as more people get sick and On April 29, 1945, LTC Felix Sparks Felix Sparks wasn’t just serving in what that means to Medicaid. These was the commander of the 3rd Bat- his civilian life; he continued his mili- costs are impossible to quantify today talion, 157th Infantry Regiment, and on tary service as well. After returning with our not having a sick leave policy. that day, that April day, after so many home from World War II, Felix had A year from now, we will be able to days of fighting and after what they joined the Colorado Army National look back on what the costs really had already seen, the 157th Infantry Guard. He would go on to serve in and were, and they will have been over- Regiment, along with units of the 42nd take command of the Colorado Na- whelming. A solid, coherent sick leave Infantry Division and the 20th Armored tional Guard for nearly 30 years be- policy—something modest like Senator Infantry Division, led the liberation of tween the two—both service and com- MURRAY is calling for—could really approximately 32,000 prisoners at the manding. He retired at the rank of make a difference. Dachau concentration camp. Although brigadier general. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- his unit had suffered thousands of cas- As both a civilian and a soldier, Felix ator from Colorado. ualties over the course of the war, Sparks truly exemplified servant lead- REMEMBERING FELIX SPARKS what Lieutenant Colonel Sparks and ership. His sense of duty to our Nation Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I his soldiers discovered at Dachau was and to my home State lives on today, come to the floor to remember the life beyond compare. and I am proud to honor his legacy and and service of a Colorado hero and to Felix Sparks described that day as life of service. Felix Sparks died on reflect on an upcoming anniversary of one of the darkest days of his lifetime September 24, 2007, at the age of 90. He an event during World War II. and, I can only imagine, one of the is buried in Wheat Ridge, CO. The hero’s name is Felix Sparks—a darkest days of lifetimes put together. Along with a number of my col- name that may very well be familiar to Along with many of his fellow soldiers, leagues from both sides of the aisle, I

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.015 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1683 will soon be introducing a resolution to I reached out to the Centers for Dis- Trump administration to deal with this commemorate the 75th anniversary of ease Control within the hour and had a issue, on a bipartisan basis, and that is the liberation of the Dachau concentra- lengthy conversation about the situa- exactly what we should continue to do. tion camp during World War II and to tion that we are facing. But we need start-to-finish straight an- honor the service of Felix Sparks, as Originally, the coronavirus test kits swers from everyone in the administra- well as of the courageous personnel he faced a shortage of reagents that were tion and outside about this public fought alongside and of the brave men necessary to take the initial test. It health threat. and women they saved along the way, turns out they are now facing a new Credibility is the first step toward and in memory of the tens of thousands challenge: It is an issue of the global dealing with a public health challenge who were brutally and savagely mur- supply of enzymes that are used by lab- such as the one we face today, and this dered by the Nazi regime. oratories to analyze the test results. test kit issue is clearly central to our We must never forget what happened. This is a commercially available en- bringing this situation under control— Unfortunately, far too many Ameri- zyme that is now in short supply, and the sooner we get straight answers and cans and far too many people around CDC is desperately looking for other good information and can respond to it the world may put aside these mo- commercial sources that are reliable quickly, the better for our Nation. ments of our darkest time in history that can come to the rescue. H.J. RES. 76 and forget or can’t name a ghetto or a The testing process, of course, is Mr. President, in just a few minutes, concentration camp today. That is going to stop if the laboratories can’t we will see a vote on the floor of the something that we have to fix, that we take the initial test results and test U.S. Senate that is fairly unique. There have to correct, that we have to con- them to see whether they are positive aren’t many votes in this Chamber. tinue to speak of—the horrors that can or negative. They are looking for alter- This one, actually, is meaningful, be- never be repeated in the darkest times native ways at the CDC to meet this cause this issue before us on a vote at of our history. need. It is a critically important issue, noon today relates to student bor- I invite all of my colleagues to join and the lack of these enzymes limits rowers who went to colleges—pri- me in supporting this resolution. We the actual tests that can be taken marily, for-profit colleges and univer- already have the Senators from the across the United States. sities—and ended up attending those States that participated in the Thun- The source at the CDC told me this schools, going deeply into debt by bor- derbird Division so that we may re- situation is not unique to our country. rowing money from the government to member the lives lost to the atrocities It is a commercially produced product, go to school, only to learn at a later of the Holocaust and to World War II and they are looking for other sources, stage that they were misled. The schools didn’t tell them the and remember the tens of thousands either within the United States or truth. The schools many times told who were spared by the brave acts of without, as quickly as possible. This is them that if they took certain courses, our Nation’s military. We must never a market-driven problem, and the CDC there was a job waiting for them. In forget. I urge my colleagues to support is looking across the market for some cases they even told how much this resolution in one more showing to sources to solve the problem. For the time being, there is no relief the jobs paid. They went on to say that never forget. the schools themselves had certain peo- I yield the floor. in sight in Illinois or other places that ple on the faculty with certain quali- I suggest the absence of a quorum. have run into this same issue, where fications, and it turned out that wasn’t The PRESIDING OFFICER. The people desperately need to be tested to true. In addition, many students were clerk will call the roll. determine whether they are positive told that the hours that they took at The legislative clerk proceeded to for this virus, and the testing, even if these for-profit schools could be trans- call the roll. it takes place, cannot go through the ferred to other schools if they wanted Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask laboratory approval. to complete someplace else. It turns unanimous consent that the order for The commercial supplies of this en- out that wasn’t true either. These stu- the quorum call be rescinded. zyme, apparently, are depleted at this dents were basically defrauded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without moment. It is an urgent issue, as I objection, it is so ordered. If you can understand the predica- mentioned repeatedly. They are look- ment, here is a student customer sit- CORONAVIRUS ing for optional alternative platforms ting at a desk in an office at a for-prof- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would for this laboratory testing. it college or university being asked like to address the issue which will be Now, I would say at this point I don’t questions and being given information before us at noon on the vote, but, pre- want to speculate on what that means. for the most important contract they ceding that, I would like to say a word It is far beyond my personal expertise. will sign in their early lives. Many of on a different topic that certainly is on But it is an indication of a desperate these students incurred substantial everybody’s mind, and that is the situation in many places. It is one that student debt based on the representa- coronavirus. we need to respond to and quickly. tions and misrepresentations of these I was recently notified by my Gov- To argue that there are enough test colleges and universities. ernor, Governor Pritzker, that we have kits that have been distributed is ques- They find out now that the schools run into a shortage in our State of the tionable to start with. But even if dis- have gone bankrupt in some cases, and test kits that are necessary. Some 330 tributed and they cannot be analyzed, some schools that didn’t go bankrupt Illinoisans have been tested to date, it really doesn’t give us the informa- ended up providing them with training and these are people who, on physi- tion necessary to protect the Ameri- and education completely inadequate cian’s orders, should be tested because cans who may be vulnerable. for them to find a job. Here is the stu- of exposure to coronavirus or because The bottom line is this. This admin- dent deep in debt, having wasted years of the vulnerability of the patient and istration is facing a challenge over test of their lives in these for-profit col- the suspicion that they may have been kits that still have many unanswered leges and universities with nowhere to exposed to the virus. questions. How did other countries in turn. Their lives are affected by it. The difficulty that we have run into the world—Korea and others—come up Who wouldn’t be? Whether it is is that the testing process apparently with test kits early on in volumes that $20,000 or $50,000 or $100,000 in debt, it is coming to a stop. We are running out were necessary to address this problem, quickly adds up, and students find of the test kits, and there has been and the United States did not? Why themselves literally in chains because contact made with the Centers for Dis- didn’t we accept these test kits in of student debt and because of mis- ease Control to determine why we are other countries that apparently do representations made by the schools. not getting responses on this need for come up with results that are needed You might say: What is the govern- additional kits in our State to test peo- and necessary? ment going to do about it? We decided ple who are truly vulnerable. I don’t know those answers. Only years ago exactly what we should do I don’t believe our situation could be time will provide them to us. But, in about it. We put in the Higher Edu- unique. I imagine other States are fac- the meantime, we have appropriated cation Act something called the bor- ing this same challenge. all the funds and more asked for by the rower defense, and here is what it said.

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The GI bill pays for their col- partment of Education for this dis- to the U.S. Department of Education lege education, as it should, and I am charge, and it is not going to stop. under what is known as the borrower proud that we do that. These very same These for-profit colleges are the defense program and seek relief from schools not only take the GI benefits coronavirus of higher education. The some or all of your student debt. but then tell the students they have to Department of Education estimates This borrower defense program is not turn around and borrow more money to that nearly 200,000 borrowers will be new. It has been around many years. finish what turns out to be an abso- subject to further illegal practices by But in the year 2014, it became a pop- lutely worthless education and train- their schools in 2021 alone. This new ular situation, sadly, because these for- ing. The American Legion and many DeVos rule is going to make it ex- profit schools were defrauding so many other veterans organizations are lead- tremely difficult, if not impossible, for thousands of students. Over 200,000 stu- ing the charge with us to change this students to find relief. The best esti- dents currently have a claim at the new Secretary Betsy DeVos standard. I mate is that 3 percent of the students U.S. Department of Education that thank them for that. who are defrauded by their school will they were deceived by these for-profit In 1992—that is how far back it goes— get relief, and the other 97 percent will schools, which are notorious for the we put into law in the Higher Edu- not under this new rule that we will representations and misrepresentations cation Act this borrower defense so have a chance to vote against this they make to these students. that students who were defrauded had afternoon. These 200,000 students went to the somewhere to turn when it came to The rule by Secretary DeVos makes Department of Education and said: Be- student debt they incurred. The it almost impossible for future de- cause there is statutory relief here, we schools misrepresented how many job frauded borrowers to receive the bor- are asking you, Secretary Betsy placements would take place if they rower defense discharge that Congress DeVos, to give us relief from this debt. finished the courses. They misrepre- intended. It eliminates all group relief. We were students at these schools. sented the earning potential of these Each of the students is supposed to And she has refused. She has refused jobs after graduation. They lied about lawyer up. To prove their claims under to take up their cases, refused to con- the cost of attending these schools. the rule, the borrowers must provide sider the merits of them, despite the They told the students their credits evidence that the school intended to fact that President Obama, before her would transfer when, in fact, they did deceive them, had knowledge of the de- and through the Department of Edu- not. This kind of misrepresentation ception, or acted with reckless dis- cation, was actually using this pro- left these students to sign up for more regard. gram and this law to help the students. student loans and go more deeply in How many students fresh out of To add insult to injury, Secretary debt because they were lied to. Those school are able to make that legal DeVos said: Incidentally, we are going are just a few of the examples. proof? In addition, borrowers under the to change the standards at the Depart- Congress rightly didn’t want to leave DeVos rule are required to show finan- ment of Education for students who the students to be left holding the bag cial harm above and beyond the fact feel that they have been defrauded and for the misconduct of the schools. So it that they took out the loans that now that the schools have misrepresented created in 1992 this statutory borrower burden them later in life. things to them. defense. No one had ever heard of it This is a situation where we can re- How did she change the standards? until 2014, when Corinthian Colleges spond as a Congress and should on a bi- She made it extremely difficult for collapsed and the lid was blown off of partisan basis. The House has already these students to get any relief from other for-profit colleges and univer- passed this measure saying that we re- the student debt from the schools that sities’ fraud. We are talking about the ject this new Secretary Betsy DeVos misrepresented them. Instead of the University of Phoenix and DeVry and rule when it comes to this mistreat- students’ being able to rely, for exam- others. If you look, you will find them, ment of students who were defrauded ple, on the fact that many States have and it is a long list. There are two and have a debt as a result of it. investigated these schools and found numbers you need to know about the One of my Senate colleagues whom I fraudulent misconduct, she has estab- for-profit colleges and universities, and respect very much yesterday used a car lished a new standard that each of the this will be on the final. One number is analogy to defend Secretary DeVos’ students has to prove that there was, 8: 8 percent of all postsecondary stu- rule. He said: in fact, an intentional defrauding of dents go to for-profit colleges and uni- If your car is a lemon, you don’t sue the that student. versities—8 percent. The other is 33: 33 bank; you sue the dealer. A college can be a What does that mean? Each of these percent of all federal student loan de- lemon, just like a car can be. students has to lawyer up and each of faults are students from for-profit col- That is what the Senator said. His these students has to have some inves- leges and universities. For the very point is that the students who were de- tigative capacity to meet the new reasons that we come to the floor frauded by the school, sold a lemon of standard that has been established by today, these schools are notorious for an education, should go after the Betsy DeVos at the Department of misrepresenting to students, over- school and not the Department of Edu- Education. charging them in tuition, and pro- cation—except that the DeVos rule al- It turns out that these students are viding them with little or no education lows the schools to prevent students up in arms over it, and I am joining for the future. These schools take the from suing them. It eliminates a prohi- them. This measure on the floor would money and run, and the students are bition in current rules on the use of put an end to this new rule by Sec- left holding the bag with massive mandatory arbitration clauses and retary DeVos and say that you have to debts. class actions. treat students fairly when it comes to Corinthian is a good example. It col- Under the existing rule, students of those who have been defrauded. lapsed in 2014. Thousands of students Corinthian could have come together Yesterday, the Senate voted 55 to 41 were the victims of Corinthian’s mis- in a class action and ask for relief in a on a bipartisan rollcall—fairly unusual, representations. They inflated job court of law directly from the school. but a bipartisan rollcall—where 10 Re- placement rates, took out loans for Secretary DeVos eliminates that: Go publicans joined the Democrats to students without their knowledge, and on your own. Each one of you students move the measure disapproving of this lied to the students about employers stand up for yourself. new rule by Secretary DeVos. I want to recognizing their degrees. Corinthian Is that fair? I don’t think it is. It cer- thank my Republican colleagues who was not unique. Nearly every other tainly isn’t the kind of thing that we stood up for these students and vet- major for-profit college has been the want to see in terms of justice for erans. subject of multiple State and Federal these students. The DeVos rule causes

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A number of student, con- Burr Johnson Sasse PROVIDING FOR CONGRESSIONAL Cassidy Kennedy Scott (FL) sumer, veteran, and other organiza- DISAPPROVAL UNDER CHAPTER Cornyn Lankford Scott (SC) tions are supporting this resolution to 8 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES Cotton Lee Shelby Cramer Loeffler Thune overturn the rule: the American Fed- CODE, OF THE RULE SUBMITTED eration of Teachers, the National Edu- Crapo McConnell Tillis BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDU- Daines Moran Toomey cation Association, the NAACP, Third CATION RELATING TO BOR- Enzi Paul Wicker Way, Bipartisan Policy Center Action, ROWER DEFENSE INSTITU- NOT VOTING—5 the Leadership Conference on Civil and TIONAL ACCOUNTABILITY Human Rights, and 20 different State Cruz Murphy Warren Klobuchar Sanders attorneys general. But the groups I The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant want to highlight as I close in these to the Congressional Review Act, the The joint resolution (H.J. Res. 76) final 2 or 3 minutes are the veterans or- clerk will report H.J. Res. 76. passed. ganizations. The legislative clerk read as follows: f Many of the students who have been A joint resolution (H.J. Res. 76) providing MORNING BUSINESS defrauded are veterans. These men and for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 women have served our country in uni- of title 5, United States Code, of the rule The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under form, and after serving they seek an submitted by the Department of Education the previous order, the Senate will be education to provide a better life for relating to ‘‘Borrower Defense Institutional in a period of morning business, with themselves and their families, and they Accountability’’. Senators permitted to speak therein deserve it. We have story after story The PRESIDING OFFICER. The for up to 10 minutes each. after story of veterans who signed up clerk will read the joint resolution a The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- at these for-profit colleges. They were third time. ator from Texas. told the GI education benefits were all The joint resolution was ordered to a f they needed, only to waste the entire third reading and was read the third UNANIMOUS CONSENT benefits on a worthless degree and be time. AGREEMENT—S.J. Res. 56 forced to take tens of thousands of dol- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The joint lars of student debt on top of it. resolution having been read the third Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask That is why our effort in this vote in time, the question is, Shall the joint unanimous consent that Calendar No. just 2 minutes on the floor of the Sen- resolution pass? 439, S.J. Res. 56, be indefinitely post- poned. ate—our effort to overturn this rule—is Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without supported by the American Legion, the the yeas and nays. objection, it is so ordered. Student Veterans of America, the Iraq The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a and Afghanistan Veterans of America, sufficient second? f the National Military Families Asso- There appears to be a sufficient sec- CORONAVIRUS ciation, the Paralyzed Veterans of ond. America, Tragedy Assistance Program Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, over the The clerk will call the roll. for Survivors, VetsFirst, Veterans for last several weeks, the world has Common Sense, and Veterans Edu- The senior assistant legislative clerk watched closely as the coronavirus has cation Success. called the roll. spread from China to more than 100 James ‘‘Bill’’ Oxford is the national (Mr. LANKFORD assumed the Chair.) countries around the world. commander of the American Legion, Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is Since this rapid spread began—before and he wrote to me and said: ‘‘Thou- necessarily absent: the Senator from cases were discovered in at least 35 sands of student veterans have been de- Texas (Mr. CRUZ). States, including the District of Co- frauded over the years—promised their Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the lumbia—folks in my hometown of San credits would transfer when they Senator from Minnesota (Ms. KLO- Antonio were already providing top- wouldn’t, given false or misleading job BUCHAR), the Senator from Connecticut notch care for Americans evacuated placement rates in marketing, prom- (Mr. MURPHY), the Senator from from Wuhan Province overseas with ised one educational experience . . . Vermont (Mr. SANDERS), and the Sen- suspected exposure. but given something completely dif- ator from Massachusetts (Ms. WAR- From the first evacuees from China ferent. REN), are necessarily absent. to more than 120 passengers from the He, the American Legion com- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ROM- Diamond Princess cruise ship, to those mander, calls the DeVos rule ‘‘fun- NEY). Are there any other Senators in who will soon arrive from the Grand damentally rigged against defrauded the Chamber desiring to vote? Princess cruise ship, the dedicated borrowers’’ and says that it ‘‘flagrantly The result was announced—yeas 53, healthcare professionals in San Anto- denies defrauded veterans [fair and nays 42, as follows: nio have been operating—have been hitting on all cylinders. timely] decisions [on their claims].’’ [Rollcall Vote No. 70 Leg.] How many speeches do each of us So far, Lackland Air Force Base has give as Senators about how much we YEAS—53 been used to quarantine 235 evacuees, value our military and veterans? We Baldwin Gillibrand Portman with hundreds more to arrive in the Bennet Harris Reed coming days. I must say, they have have a chance to prove it in just 1 Blumenthal Hassan Rosen minute, because there will be a roll Booker Hawley Schatz done a good job of managing this rap- call. Are you going to stand up for Brown Heinrich Schumer idly evolving situation, but that is not Cantwell Hirono Shaheen to say there haven’t been challenges. these veterans and these students and Capito Jones are you going to say to Secretary Sinema A few weeks ago, I organized a meet- Cardin Kaine Smith Carper King DeVos you are headed the wrong way? Stabenow ing with officials from the city of San Casey Leahy These students and these veterans Sullivan Antonio, including the mayor and two Collins Manchin Tester have been defrauded. Give them a Coons Markey city council persons, as well as the De- fighting chance to rebuild their lives. Cortez Masto McSally Udall partment of Health and Human Serv- Don’t make it next to impossible. Duckworth Menendez Van Hollen ices and the Defense Department, to Warner I yield the floor. Durbin Merkley discuss the ongoing mission and any Ernst Murkowski Whitehouse The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Feinstein Murray Wyden concerns the city might have. Anytime the previous order, all time is expired. Gardner Peters Young officials at every level of government

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.009 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1686 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 are working together—whether it is in this reimbursement funding in the leg- I know I speak on behalf of all Tex- response to a natural disaster or a pub- islation and working so closely with all ans when I thank the dedicated lic health emergency—coordination is of us to get the relief on the way as healthcare professionals around the key. You have to make sure everybody soon as possible. State and around the Nation for pro- is operating on the same page and reg- Over the last couple of days, we have viding the highest quality care for peo- ularly sharing information—something witnessed the ripple effect the ple who come down with the virus. I that was a challenge in the beginning coronavirus threat has had on the mar- am grateful for everyone who is unified and remains a challenge today. kets, and the next big question on ev- in this fight and who are working to At one point, we were able to get ev- eryone’s mind is how this virus will im- stop the spread of the virus and, ulti- erybody in the same room to discuss pact the economy. Yesterday we had mately, develop a vaccine. not only the response to the virus but the opportunity to discuss potential On one final note, let me say a word the steps to be taken to protect the options with President Trump, Vice about my friend and colleague Senator general public in the surrounding area. President PENCE, and Secretary CRUZ. Over the weekend, he announced Of course, that work doesn’t start and Mnuchin, and we are continuing to he would self-quarantine after coming end at Lackland in San Antonio. Hos- work to identify the best path forward. into contact with someone who was pitals around the State are facing a Unfortunately, there doesn’t yet later determined to have the great deal of pressure and uncertainty seem to be a bipartisan effort to try to coronavirus. I want to thank him for surrounding the virus and working to reach a consensus—something we need. having the courage to step forward and ensure that they are prepared to treat One of our Democratic colleagues sug- to do what any one of us should do if potential coronavirus patients without gested that the best way to prevent we are exposed to somebody with the economic damage is to stop the spread impacting their normal operations is coronavirus, if we know it: to monitor of the virus. I can’t argue with that an urgent concern. our health and make sure we don’t logic, but unless that Senator knows Last week, I helped organize a con- spread it to others and to seek care something the rest of us don’t know, ference call with the Texas Hospital from a healthcare professional should that is not exactly a productive use of Association and officials from Health we begin to come down with worrisome our time. We know we need to stop the and Human Services and the Texas De- symptoms. virus, but we also need to deal with the partment of State Health Services to His is a great reminder for all Ameri- discuss some of the issues of concern to economic fallout as well. When we were in a position in 2014 cans to take this potential risk seri- hospitals serving on the frontline all with the Ebola crisis, we didn’t hear a ously and that we should all be joined across our State. There have been a lot lot of griping about what President together to do everything we can to of news stories about the shortage of Obama was doing. We found ways to keep our communities safe and masks and personal protective equip- work with him for the betterment of healthy. ment for healthcare workers and subse- our communities in the country. So I I yield the floor. quent price gouging, and that is a big I suggest the absence of a quorum. hope that at a time when we are con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The concern for these hospitals—many of fronting this threat, we can work to- clerk will call the roll. which serve rural populations. As I told gether. That includes the Speaker and The senior assistant legislative clerk folks on that call, communication in the minority leader here, all of us to- proceeded to call the roll. these situations is critical. It seems so gether to try to solve this problem. It Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask obvious, but it is not done unless you is not a time to play politics. It is a unanimous consent that the order for insist upon it. I was particularly glad time for us to work together in the Na- the quorum call be rescinded. to hear personally their concerns so we tion’s interest. can make sure we are doing what is Keeping the American people safe The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without needed on our end in Washington, DC, and healthy and keeping our economy objection, it is so ordered. to support them. strong should be a shared bipartisan The Senator from Ohio. Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I appre- I appreciate Texas’s incredible goal. I hope our colleagues—all of our healthcare professionals who have been colleagues—will keep that in mind, ciate the comments of my friend from working to treat patients in their care just as we did when we worked with Texas. I only heard part of them, but I and prevent the coronavirus from President Obama in 2014. appreciate his interest and what we spreading to the general public. The While the American people are right- need to do to deal with this city of San Antonio—I have to single ly taking precautions to protect them- coronavirus. I hear so often in this out in particular—has been carrying selves and their loved ones, it is impor- body that it is about the economic the weight of the struggle for a number tant to remember there is no reason to issues, which to be sure it is, as you of weeks now, and it has come at quite panic. Preparation, yes; panic, no. know in Utah and Senator CORNYN a significant cost to city taxpayers. The leaders at the Centers for Dis- knows. But when I hear the President’s Fortunately, last week, the President ease Control and the Department of response on what to do—first, I know signed an $8.3 billion funding bill to Health and Human Services continue that people are angry in Ohio and I support our Nation’s response to the to remind all of us that the risk for the think elsewhere that the President has coronavirus. It will send vital funding average American remains low, and the waited so long to act. for treating and preventing the spread best defense against the virus is to use I know people are angry when they of the virus, including the purchase of the same personal hygiene practices find out that the President made major masks and personal protective equip- that our mother taught us when we cuts to the Centers for Disease Control, ment, as well as supporting the devel- were young. To help communicate which the Presiding Officer knows is opment of a vaccine. what those practices are, as well as the best public health agency probably The funding bill will also include other information, my office has cre- in the history of the world, combined money for State and local commu- ated a unique web page on my official with our public health departments at nities, including San Antonio, which website, cornyn.senate.gov. This will NIH and the FDA and National Insti- have been at the forefront of the battle serve as a platform to provide informa- tute for Occupational Safety and at home. That makes $950 million tion to all Texans who have questions Health in Cincinnati—all of this in- available for reimbursement for the about the virus and may be of interest credible public health infrastructure costs Texas and other States have in- to anybody who is concerned about safety net we have built in this coun- curred while monitoring and treating what the government is doing to deal try bipartisanly through decades and these individuals. It is a start in the with the virus. If you are looking for decades and decades. process to repay San Antonio for the information on how to prevent the I know people are unhappy when they work they have done to help our Na- spread of the virus, what Congress is learn about the President eliminating tion mitigate the impact of the doing to help, where you can find the the position at the White House of the coronavirus. latest number of cases in Texas, we admiral physician who ran our effort to I appreciate Chairman SHELBY and have compiled all of the relevant links always be trying to anticipate a public Ranking Member LEAHY for including in one place. health outbreak, a pandemic of sorts. I

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.012 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1687 don’t know whether or not we are in Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask ary. The administration has given a one. I don’t think we know that. unanimous consent that the order for major speech, and the Secretary of I am not an alarmist or panicky in the quorum call be rescinded. HHS has taken major action going way any way, but I know people realize we The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without back to June of 2018. So we all know had such a late start on this because of objection, it is so ordered. that our colleagues and our adminis- the President’s actions over the last 3 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask tration know that something needs to years. unanimous consent for me, Senator be done. The issue is not to bail out more cor- COLLINS, and Senator CASSIDY to have We are fortunate that, just yester- porations. The issue is not to give a colloquy. day, the White House published five money to the cruise ship companies, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without principles that the administration can for gosh sakes, which is one part of the objection, it is so ordered. get behind for reducing prescription President’s rhetoric tweet proposals. f drug costs. Our legislation in the Sen- ate fits the bill, or the principles, that The cruise ship industry is almost ex- PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS clusively foreign-owned. Why take tax were laid out in that op-ed piece. The Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, as dollars and shovel them into the cruise Prescription Drug Pricing Reduction most of my colleagues know, I hold a industry? Act is the name of our legislation, and meeting in each of Iowa’s 99 counties it addresses those principles. More im- Instead of focusing on large corpora- every year for Q&A with my constitu- portantly, it is the only option that tions, which is something the Presi- ents. Over the last couple of years, can get 60 votes in the U.S. Senate. dent always does—I understand that is without fail, Iowans have brought up Many Americans are reading about what he comes from, who he is, and the skyrocketing prices of prescription the coronavirus issue. It scares our who his supporters are—instead of fo- drugs. People all over my State, in- constituents. We don’t know what kind cusing there, we should be focusing on cluding farmers, factory workers, and of drugs might come into the market individuals, and that means starting especially senior citizens, have raised to help treat the disease. Senator CAS- with a sick leave policy and sick days. the concern that pharmacy bills have SIDY, who will soon speak, is an expert Think about how hard it is for all of been ballooning. on that. He can address those issues for us in this body—think about somebody I will say, Iowans are always inter- anybody who wants them addressed. making $12 an hour and living alone or ested in hearing about solutions, and Yet, if our bill becomes law, we know living with a child or living with a they are looking for solutions on this that folks who are on Medicare will not spouse, whoever, making $12 an hour issue from Congress, but not a single face sticker shock at the drugstore with no benefits and they get sick. one of these people who bring this issue counter. Not only is that important in They think, let’s see, do I go to work— up cares about the partisan politics of its being a comforting thought in the if I go to work sick, I may get worse, the issue. Iowans just want Congress to short term, as we face the coronavirus, and I may infect my colleagues and act. This is my 40th year of taking but it is important in the long term, other employees—or do I stay home questions in our 99 counties—although, when we inevitably encounter another and give up that $100 of a $12-an-hour as of now, only 14. Rarely have I heard novel outbreak. job? I am paying $700 a month in rent. so much unanimity when it comes to It took a long time to hammer out Can I give up that $100 or $200 or $300 this issue, but on prescription drug the Prescription Drug Pricing Reduc- over 2 or 3 days? prices, it is unanimous. Republicans, tion Act. I thank Senator WYDEN for There are so many Americans who Democrats, and Independents alike all sticking it out with me and working in are sick who wrestle with that decision want us to take action, and the data, good faith for the benefit of all of our every single day. This is an oppor- both polling and otherwise, bears out constituents so we could produce a bi- tunity. Senator MURRAY worked on a our constituents’ concerns. partisan bill. His determination as well bill. I worked on this bill with her for As I highlighted last week, right here as the leadership of many of my col- a good while. I just spoke with Con- in this position on the Senate floor, a leagues, like Senators CASSIDY, COL- gresswoman DELAURO from Con- new study shows that pharmaceutical LINS, and DAINES, have further im- proved the legislation. We have a bill. necticut about working on legislation prices have increased 31⁄2 times the rate to provide emergency relief right now. of inflation in recent years. People are We have bipartisan support, and we We can do this today. I know the Pre- paying more than double what they have White House support. We also siding Officer has been open-minded paid in the year 2007 for drugs treating have the opportunity. The bottom line about things like this. We can make conditions from MS to diabetes and ev- is, let’s act. I thank my colleagues for joining me this bipartisan. We can have imme- erything in between. The lack of trans- in this effort. diate 14-day help as part of our package parency and the enormous subsidy in- I yield to my colleague Senator COL- that we already voted on and then have centives are driving these price hikes— a long-term, 7-day sick day policy LINS. perverse incentives that we have in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- where you earn those benefits. As you law. If they were not intended to be work, you earn that—up to 7-day sick ator from Maine. perverse, they are incentives people Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, first, I day policy. Every other industrialized, have found out how to benefit from. express my appreciation to the chair- wealthy country in the world has it. It This is because the government’s man of the Committee on Finance, makes safer, healthier workplaces and spigot is all the way open for the big Senator GRASSLEY, not only for his safer, healthier workers. It will mean pharmaceutical companies or—how we leadership but also for his persistence good help and stronger families—all say it around here—Big Pharma. Of on an issue that affects so many Amer- the kinds of things a sick day policy course, when this happens, taxpayers icans, and that is the soaring price of would mean to our country. get ripped off. It happens because we prescription drugs. I am hopeful that rather than shovel pay a lot of money—I think about $138 Three committees—the Committee money to corporations, we will spend billion—for Medicare and Medicaid. We on Finance, the Committee on Health, that money on individuals, on people, pay at least that much. So, when you Education, Labor, and Pensions, and on workers and their workplace. It have 5- to 10-percent increases on Janu- the Committee on the Judiciary—have could make all the difference in the ary 1, you can see willy-nilly, on the all advanced bipartisan legislation to world, not just in addressing this judgment of Big Pharma, that tax- reform our broken drug pricing system. coronavirus public health crisis today payers are paying a heck of a lot more. The Aging Committee, which I chair, but in preventing these kinds of crises I know all of my colleagues want to has held eight drug pricing hearings in the future. do something about this, and I know which have highlighted the burden of I suggest the absence of a quorum. the administration wants to do some- soaring prices and the manipulation of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The thing about it. In fact, let me say to the market by individuals like the in- clerk will call the roll. the administration that I have been in- famous Martin Shkreli. It is now past The senior assistant legislative clerk volved in this as the chairman of this time for us to move forward to the Sen- proceeded to call the roll. committee since just a year ago Janu- ate floor to debate these bills that have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.014 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1688 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 bipartisan support and that have gar- this kind of abuse of the patent system drug affordability from the perspective nered the approval of three major com- to continue. of coronavirus and address it from the mittees. The Judiciary Committee has also perspective of a physician. The Finance bill, which Senator advanced proposals to empower the First, people ask: How is this dif- GRASSLEY has crafted with Senator Federal Trade Commission to take ferent than regular flu? Ten thousand WYDEN and others and of which I am more aggressive action against anti- people die a year from flu. Why is this proud to be a cosponsor, makes crucial competitive behaviors. Last month, the so different from that? improvements to Medicare Part D, FTC charged the infamous Martin Well, again, as a physician, let me such as protecting seniors with an out- Shkreli with an anticompetitive speak to that. Each of us, however old of-pocket spending cap as well as in- scheme of setting an increase of more we are, have been exposed to flu, either cluding cost control measures, such as than 4,000 percent overnight for the by the flu vaccine or a flu infection, as an inflationary cap to limit pharma- lifesaving drug DARAPRIM. That was many years as we have been alive. So ceutical price hikes. the focus of an investigation on the when someone is exposed to the flu, In one of the hearings that the Aging Aging Committee that I led with they have a whole kind of armamen- Committee held, it heard testimony former Senator Claire McCaskill. I ap- tarium of antibodies. When the flu that was heartbreaking from a former plaud the FTC for taking action, and virus comes into your body, those anti- teacher with multiple myeloma who we simply must give them more au- bodies mobilize, and it is not an exact had to refinance her home in order to thority and the resources to pursue fit to block the effects of the flu virus, cover the cost of her $250,000 cancer these kinds of anticompetitive cases but it is a pretty good fit. So for an in- medication. We heard example after ex- that drive up the cost of prescription fection which otherwise might cause ample. drugs. problems, the effect is blunted and the I will never forget my standing in the Finally, I hope that we have the op- symptoms are either absent or mini- pharmacy line in Bangor, ME, where I portunity to debate other worthy pro- mized. As it turns out, the flu virus kills the live, and ahead of me was a couple who posals, including one that Senator SHA- very young, who have never before had just been told that the couple’s HEEN and I have introduced to lower copay was $111. the skyrocketing price of insulin. been exposed to the flu virus before, or The husband turned to his wife and I want to commend the administra- the very old, whose immune systems said: Honey, we just can’t afford that. tion for today releasing a new plan to are no longer working as well. Even They walked away—away from the drive down the cost of insulin for Medi- though they have been previously ex- medication that one of them needed. care beneficiaries. The fact is, between posed, their body is more vulnerable. Now, as for coronavirus, nobody’s I asked the pharmacist: How often 2012 and 2016, the average price of insu- body has ever seen that before. For ev- does this happen? lin nearly doubled. According to the eryone, this is a brand-new infection, He told me that it happens every day. Health Care Cost Institute, the price of and there is not a library book of We have to take action. That experi- an average 40-day supply of insulin rose ence led me to author legislation that immunologic responses that enable us from $344 in 2012 to $666 in 2016. There to fight back against this virus. For all became law that prohibited gag clauses is no justification for that. Insulin was that were preventing pharmacists from of us, if you will, it is a sucker punch isolated nearly 100 years ago, and while to our health. We turn around, and, advising their patients, their cus- there are different varieties of insulin, tomers, on whether or not there was a boom, it hits us. it is still insulin. Now, in terms of who it can kill, less expensive way to purchase their As cochairs of the Senate Diabetes again, it seems to cause problems in prescription drugs. I am proud to say Caucus, Senator SHAHEEN and I have newborns—the very young—but it also that this legislation is now law, but introduced legislation which creates a causes problems not just in the very there is much more that we need to do. new pricing model for insulin, and our old but in the older but not so very old. The Committee on Health, Edu- bill would hold pharmacy benefit man- In China we have learned that if cation, Labor, and Pensions, on which I agers, pharmaceutical companies, and someone is over 50 and they have an serve, has incorporated more than 14 insurers accountable for surging insu- underlying medical condition, they are measures to increase price competition lin prices by incentivizing reductions at increased risk. If you are over 60, in its legislation on lowering in list prices. you are at even more risk. So unlike healthcare costs. I know the Presiding For the most popular insulins, this influenza, where typically the person Officer is a member of that committee would result in as much as a 75-percent who dies would be 75 or 85 and in a as well. I am pleased to say that the decrease in prices on average. Whether nursing home, in terms of coronavirus, bill includes major portions of the Bio- you are insured or you are paying out it might be somebody with high blood logic Patent Transparency Act, which of pocket, you would benefit from that pressure or diabetes, heart disease, is a bill that I authored with Senator significant decline in the price if you cancer, or a lung disease, who is other- TIM KAINE. It is intended to prevent need insulin to control your diabetes. wise living life, walking around the drug manufacturers from gaming the Congress has a tremendous oppor- streets. They get hit with this virus, patent system. tunity to deliver a decisive victory in and, all of a sudden, they have a prob- Now, patents are very important. both lowering healthcare costs and in lem. They help to spur innovation, and that improving healthcare for the people in Now, we are going to find a cure. period of exclusivity encourages drug my State of Maine and throughout our Sooner or later, we will come up with manufacturers to invest more into life- country. medicines that help somebody who is saving drugs. Yet the fact is, when the Let’s not delay any longer. We must infected get well. The question is, Will patent has expired, generics should be act on prescription drug legislation those medicines be available to you? allowed to come to the market and without further delay. We have three That is what we need to be concerned drive down the costs. According to committees that have produced bills, about. former FDA Commissioner Scott Gott- and I believe this should be a priority So what does it mean? Well, first lieb, if all of the biosimilars—those are for this Chamber. there have been reports that both be- generics for biologic drugs—that had The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. cause of the infection raging through been approved by the FDA had been BLACKBURN). The Senator from Lou- China and a decision by India, it is pos- successfully marketed in our country isiana. sible that some of these drugs will not in a timely fashion, Americans would Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I be available. have saved more than $4.5 billion in am going to speak about the drug af- In China, they make the raw ingredi- 2017. fordability act, what people in Wash- ents that are shipped to India, and they A biosimilar version of HUMIRA, the ington call the Grassley-Wyden bill. make the medicines. Well, China is not world’s best-selling drug, has been on I am renaming that bill. I am going producing as many of the raw ingredi- the market in Europe for more than a to rename that bill to what I call the ents, and India has put an embargo on year, while American patients must ‘‘Making Coronavirus Medicines Af- the export of some of those drugs to wait until 2023. We simply cannot allow fordable Act,’’ and I want to address the United States.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.018 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1689 At least of the drugs they have em- need both for the cure to be invented our working men and women. It is bargoed that I saw a list of recently, and we also need for it to be affordable. truly heart-wrenching to hear the sto- none of those medicines are medicines Otherwise, it would not be available. ries of folks who are rationing or even that we think might ultimately help By the way, somebody may tell you skipping doses of daily medications be- fight coronavirus. So even though we they are supporting another bill either cause they can’t afford the out-of-pock- have a problem with supply chain, so in the House of Representatives or here et costs. The American people are far there is no evidence it will impact in the Senate. This is the only bill out struggling under the burden of these the ability of a medication, whenever there which is bipartisan. This is the out-of-control, high costs of prescrip- it is discovered, to be available here in only bill out there which has a chance tion drugs, and they need relief. the United States. to pass. This is the only bill that can That is why I am grateful to be work- But there is another issue. Can the protect senior citizens, not only by ing with Chairman GRASSLEY on the senior citizen who is most vulnerable being good policy but by being signed Finance Committee and my colleagues afford the medicine? into law by the President of the United here today in a bipartisan fashion to Let me put this up. States. The President of the United lower costs, improve competition, and Under the current structure of Medi- States has signaled that he, indeed, get our patients more bang for the care Part D, the senior citizen—the would sign this law. buck. The complex drug pricing system personal Medicare Part D—pays a cer- Now, the ‘‘Making Coronavirus Drug has allowed Big Pharma and these tain amount of money until they go Affordable Act’’ does other things as pharmacy benefit managers—you may into the so-called catastrophic cov- well. It caps out-of-pocket expenses. It have seen the chart that Senator CAS- erage phase. Now, pharmaceutical lets patients pay over time. If they SIDY just laid out showing some of manufacturers and pharmacy benefit know they are going to have a big these complexities. These pharmacy managers manipulate that list price to amount in January, they don’t have to benefit managers are the middle men more quickly move the senior citizen pay it all in January. They can pay it responsible for negotiating drug prices, into her catastrophic phase, and when a little bit in January, February, but in doing so, they take advantage of she is in her catastrophic phase of our March, and all the way through the end the secrecy of the pricing supply chain. Medicare Part D benefit, she must pay of the year. It protects patients from The bipartisan reforms we are fight- 5 percent of whatever is the price of price gouging, but it still preserves in- ing for and advocating for today would that drug. Even—imagine this—if that centives for these cures to be invented. help fix the secrecy and save taxpayers drug costs $1 million a year, she would As we look for a holistic response to more than $80 billion. These reforms have to pay 5 percent of it under the the coronavirus infection, we must will cap out-of-pocket costs in Medi- current structure of the Medicare Part keep in mind that drugs have to be af- care, providing our seniors with en- D benefit. fordable. So I am asking all my fellow hanced financial security. One of the I just posted a video on my Facebook Senators to support the ‘‘Making great sources of anxiety for our seniors page, and an oncology nurse, Kathy at Coronavirus Drugs Affordable Act,’’ is financial security. When you think East Jefferson General Hospital in New also known as the Grassley-Wyden bill, about it, their financial situation could Orleans, was speaking about how this and for Senator MCCONNELL to bring it be devastated with the out-of-pocket benefit design, where the senior has to to the floor. costs for a single prescription drug. pay 5 percent, no matter the cost, is so With that, I introduce my colleague Our efforts would reform the pay- harmful in terms of her ability to get from Montana, STEVE DAINES, to con- ment incentives and ensure that Big certain cancer drugs to cancer pa- tinue this discussion. Pharma and the pharmacy benefit tients. Mr. DAINES. Senator CASSIDY, thank managers have more skin in this game. Now, imagine it is a coronavirus you—Dr. CASSIDY. It is a really good These reforms are the product of over 1 drug—a cure for coronavirus that we thing to have a physician serving on year of bipartisan negotiations. Al- know is going to eventually be here, the floor of the U.S. Senate and your though this may not be what you hear and it can be priced. You name the additional insight you have as a physi- on the news, bipartisan compromise is price; we are going to pay it. Or can cian. Thank you. not dead. I am pleased to see my col- we? Can someone afford 5 percent of Madam President, I am grateful for leagues putting politics aside and doing $100,000 or 5 percent of $50,000? Is it not only Senator CASSIDY’s leadership what is right for this country. Low- imaginable that such a medication but also Senator GRASSLEY’s on this ering costs is more than just figures would be priced as such? very important issue impacting mil- and numbers and spreadsheets. This is It is totally imaginable. lions of Montanans and Americans about keeping our families healthy We need to enact what the chairman across our country. without having to worry about how of the committee calls the Grassley- I also want to thank my colleagues much it is going to cost or if they can Wyden bill but which I call the ‘‘Mak- who spoke on this issue earlier today. even afford it. This is about getting re- ing Coronavirus Drugs Affordable Act.’’ When I am back home in Montana, I lief for the retiree who has worked and What we would do with this bill is hear the same concerns in virtually saved their entire life only to see the change the Part D benefit so that when every corner of our State. Whether I dollars they earned go down the drain a senior pays up to a certain amount, am down in southeast Montana, in because of the high cost of prescription period, it is stopped. She or he pays no places like Ekalaka or Baker; or up in drugs. more. And no matter how much that northeast Montana, in places like President Trump is ready to sign pre- coronavirus drug is priced, she or he Westby and in places like Sidney and scription drug reform. He is committed will not pay above a certain amount. Plentywood; and if we go out to the to getting this done on behalf of the If they price it at $100,000, under cur- northwest part of our State, to places American people. He hears it when he rent law you are paying 5 percent of like Eureka, Libby; or in southwest travels around the country. With that. Under this law, you would not. Montana, where I am from, in Boze- strong support from this administra- The out-of-pocket exposure, if you will, man, Belgrade, or anywhere you go, I tion, I am confident we can achieve is capped. By the way, it also caps it am hearing that Montanans are con- some major reforms for the American for the taxpayer, which saves you and cerned with the high cost of prescrip- people. Montanans and Americans me as taxpayers—all of us as tax- tion drugs. That is why I have made it across the country want to see reform, payers—a heck of a lot of money as we one of my top priorities in Congress and that is why I am standing here attempt to balance the Federal budget and on the Senate Finance Committee today, fighting for it. and as we attempt to preserve the life to lower prescription drug costs for Let’s move past the congressional of the Medicare Program. Montanans and for folks across the gridlock and get this done. We had a So I will point out that we are going country. good, strong, bipartisan vote out of the to have a cure for coronavirus sooner Year after year, prescription drug Senate Finance Committee, which will or later, but if a senior citizen or any- out-of-pocket costs are reaching sky- allow us to take a vote here on the one cannot afford that cure, it is as if high levels. They are impacting our floor of the U.S. Senate. Truly, Repub- the cure had never been invented. We seniors, our veterans, our families, and licans, Democrats, and Independents

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.020 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1690 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 can deliver a historic victory for the $1 billion or more over budget or 5 lighting some of the things that are ac- American people, and I will continue years or more behind schedule. This tually on the floor or have moved re- working to get this bill on President will make it impossible for Washington cently or we think we can move on Trump’s desk. bureaucrats to continue throwing our those. One of those things is the I yield the floor. tax dollars into bottomless money pits GREAT Act. This is a bipartisan bill The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. without being noticed. that deals with basic transparency for PERDUE). The Senator from Iowa. Unfortunately, it is not just the bil- grants. f lions wasted on boondoggles being kept If you go back 20 years ago, the Fed- secret. It is the cost of the Federal eral Government gave away very few WASTEFUL SPENDING projects. So I have proposed a bill that grants. Now, $600 billion a year is just Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, with requires every project supported with for grants. My colleague, JONI ERNST spring approaching, the days are get- Federal funds to include a pricetag from Iowa, just highlighted some of ting longer and temperatures are with the amount that is paid by tax- those wasteful grants that are out warming up. Many are hitting the gym, payers. That way, when your money is there that, as we go through them, we trying to get that summer bod before being spent to put turtles on a tread- say we can try to get those one at a heading to the beach, including some mill—the ones I mentioned to you ear- time or we can try to get a system in turtles. That is right, your tax dollars lier—you, the taxpayer, can decide if place where all grants have to go actually paid for a study that put tur- the price is right. through a centralized data system tles on treadmills. Of course, the waste doesn’t stop where we can actually all look at the So here we have our turtles on a there. Did you know that Federal agen- data and compare it across the govern- treadmill. To no one’s surprise, it turns cies spend over $1.4 billion every year ment to basically look for areas of in- out that turtles are really, really slow. on advertising and public relations? efficiency. That is what the GREAT OK. That is what our tax dollars went This includes—you will love this—more Act does. It creates standard data ele- to. In fact, this wasteful study found than a quarter of a million dollars for ments so that we can look at how the that turtles moved at nearly the same costumed mascots like Sammy Soil money is being spent—America’s pace as dead turtles on a treadmill. and Milkshake the cow—a quarter of a money—so we can actually evaluate it. Aren’t you glad that Washington bu- million dollars. There was nearly That has overwhelmingly already reaucrats used your hard-earned dol- $10,000 to produce a zombie apocalypse passed. We are grateful to get that lars to conduct this study? Good grief, survival guide. Yes, folks, I am not jok- done this year. folks. ing. And there was $30,000 for a martian Another one we were able to get done How many of your tax dollars went New Year’s Eve party and hundreds of this year that has passed the Senate to this study, exactly? Well, folks, your thousands of dollars on tote bags, but has not yet passed the House is guess is actually as good as mine be- stress balls, fidget spinners, and other providing accountability through cause there is no legal obligation for trinkets. transparency. Now, this may seem most Federal agencies to publicly dis- Well, folks, thankfully, the Senate super simple, but let me just begin close the price of government projects, Homeland Security and Governmental with the most basic principle. No small even though the American taxpayers Affairs Committee is voting today on business owner in America gets up are paying for them. Folks, this is your my bill, which forces agencies to dis- every day and reads the Federal Reg- money—your money. Shouldn’t you close exactly how much they are spend- ister. It just doesn’t happen anywhere. If you are running a small business, have a right to know how it is being ing on all of these government gim- you are running your small business. spent? micks. Folks, it is time we bag the You are not getting up every day and It has been said before, and I surely swag and end this unnecessary tax- reading the Federal Register to see the believe it: Government functions best payer-funded propaganda. With our national debt now exceed- latest regulation. Even if you did, with when it operates in the open. This is ing $23 trillion, there is literally no the pages and pages and pages of regu- the basis of Sunshine Week, which be- better time than Sunshine Week to lations there, you can’t make sense of gins this Sunday. Sunshine Week is start shedding more light on how it. This basic providing of account- celebrated every year in March to re- Washington is managing or maybe, in ability through transparency asks a mind us of just how important it is to this case, mismanaging your money. simple question: Can we force the agen- have government transparency, espe- The only reason to keep taxpayers in cies, when they actually do a new regu- cially when it comes to how our tax the dark is that these spending deci- lation, to condense it down to 100 words dollars are being spent. sions can’t withstand the scrutiny. or less in plain English so that you can Transparency really is fundamental And, folks, that is exactly why sun- actually figure out what this regula- to the principles upon which our Na- light is the best disinfectant. tion is trying to do, so when you see a tion was founded. The people have I yield the floor. regulation come out, you can actually power to affect the decisions made by The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- understand it without having to hire those of us who are elected leaders, ator from Oklahoma. an attorney to go interpret it for you? and, in turn, Congress has the author- Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, That has overwhelmingly already ity to hold accountable the millions of there are a lot of things going on right passed the Senate, and we are waiting unelected Washington bureaucrats who now in DC and a lot of moving targets. for that to pass the House, as well— ultimately write the rules and regula- A lot of Americans are looking closely basic simplification of some of the gov- tions that impact nearly every aspect at what is happening with the COVID– ernment entities, in trying to be able of our lives and decide how our tax- 19 virus. We are tracking what is hap- to help out. payer dollars are spent. pening overseas in Afghanistan and We passed by a majority—and it has This year, I have a couple of bright multiple other issues on the stock mar- already been signed into law—the one ideas to shine some light on how Wash- ket, as well as what is happening with dealing with representative payee ington is spending your money. Let’s oil and gas right now. fraud. Now, again, this was a simple talk about those darn government We are spending a little bit of time, piece that was just needed in govern- boondoggles—those Federal projects in the middle of all those things, to ment. We discovered that if someone is that are billions of dollars over budget also say that we can’t lose track of a trustee for a Federal retiree for their and years behind schedule. Frankly, we structural issues in government, to see retirement account and, as a trustee, know nothing about them because the if we can work on those issues that are, they stole the money out of that per- government agencies aren’t required to right now, in front of us, but we also son’s account, we couldn’t actually en- report this information to you. have to look at long-term issues, to force the law on them. We could in sev- Well, I have a bill to help shed some look at basic government transparency eral other areas, if it was Social Secu- light on these costly monstrosities. My and basic accountability for govern- rity or if it was disability, but we Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act would ment. couldn’t on Federal retirees. require an annual report listing every So I want to highlight—several of my So we were able to get a bipartisan single taxpayer-funded project that is colleagues are here, as well, high- agreement to pass this to take care of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.021 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1691 that. It was a very simple bill, but it is on the floor in advance of government GOVERNMENT TRANSPARENCY the way we need to react when we see Sunshine Week, but before I do that, Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, today a problem—to actually go to solve that let me commend my colleague from there is a discussion about trans- problem rather than take forever to do Oklahoma for his comments about the parency. I am going to talk about one it. need for more transparency in govern- that is maybe going to surprise some Speaking of ‘‘forever’’ to be able to ment and particularly our people, but it is about the lack of solve it, what I think is the most basic grantmaking process. transparency and about $150 billion a government transparency piece we can We have made some progress on year that is taxpayer money that is put put out there to force real dialogue on that—most recently, the DATA Act. into research and development. It is budget issues is a simple bill we have His predecessor in Congress, Tom money that we, as taxpayers, pay to on shutdown prevention. If we can end Coburn, worked on this issue, and we places like the National Institutes of government shutdowns, we can actu- came up with legislation when I was on Health. The National Institutes of ally have more debate on budget issues the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue Health does great research. So the Fed- here in this room, where it should at the Office of Management and Budg- eral dollars go in there to try to de- occur, and take the pressure off of Fed- et to put all grants and contracts on- velop cures—as an example, for dis- eral workers and Federal families fac- line, which was a start. But the DATA eases, but also for other healthcare re- ing a shutdown and furloughs. Act takes that to the next level to search. There is the National Science MAGGIE HASSAN and I have a very make sure there is uniformity in gov- Foundation, which does a lot of re- simple bill. The bill simply says: If we ernment. search on technology and research, and We still have difficulty with some get to the end of the fiscal year and if the Department of Energy, which does agencies getting information out there, we don’t have all the issues resolved on a lot of the basic research on science in but he is absolutely right. It would our budget, we continue debating those our country. So I am going to focus on make a difference because if people things here. We remain in session 7 that funding today and a specific prob- know how the money is being spent, it days a week until it is actually re- lem we have right now. It is about en- is much more likely to be spent wisely, solved. But in the meantime, Federal suring the government remains ac- all the way down to the ZIP Code in workers and their families are unaf- countable to taxpayers. It is about en- terms of where grants are going and fected because the budget automati- suring that hard-working American what kind of Federal taxpayer dollars cally continues at last year’s budget taxpayers know where their money is are being spent in our communities and level until we get things resolved here. going, and it is about a specific issue of whether it is being spent well. But in the meantime, we can’t go home that money going to research that is Government shutdowns, of course—I until we actually solve that problem. then taken by other countries, particu- couldn’t agree more with my col- It is a straightforward solution to larly by China, and the need for us to league—have not worked to help make say: We are not going to have govern- our government more efficient. In fact, address that issue, in part, through ment shutdowns. We are not going to we always spend more after the fact. transparency and, in part, through ac- have chaos across the whole country. Think about it. People were fur- tually some new criminal statutes to We have had 21 government shutdowns loughed, and, then, when they went be able to ensure that there is account- in 40 years. We have to stop that chaos. back to work, they got backpay. Well, ability. So it stops that chaos, and it puts the it would have been much better had Last fall, the Permanent Sub- pressure where the pressure needs to they been there to provide the services committee on Investigations did a be—on us. When we finish our work, to the taxpayers. study. It was about a yearlong study. then we can move to the next thing. You also just have a lot of disloca- We looked at this issue of China’s tal- But if the budget work is not done, the tion that is unfair and people who have ent recruitment programs and, more most basic elements of those appro- to go to work who are essential em- broadly, other countries, but, specifi- priations bills, if they are not finished, ployees. Think of our TSA employees— cally, what China has been doing to we remain in session 7 days a week for those of you who travel in air- find researchers over here in the until they are finished. ports—not getting paid. A lot of them United States whom they think are We need to find ways to be more effi- had car payments or house payments doing interesting work and recruiting cient as a government. Government they couldn’t make during the last those people to be able to provide that shutdowns waste money by the bil- government shutdown. It is just unfair. research and sometimes to have the lions. ROB PORTMAN and his team did a So we have to get at that. person actually go to China to provide remarkable study to look and see how We have legislation that actually that research. much money was wasted in the last two-thirds of the Members of this side The issue we focused on in our report shutdown, and it was in the billions of of the aisle have supported. Yet we was this theft of intellectual property dollars, and not even every agency have not been able to make that bipar- at research institutions and at our col- turned in all their information to ROB tisan. So I appreciate the fact that my leges and universities. It was a shock- PORTMAN and his team. colleague from Oklahoma has a bipar- ing report. We issued it late last year. We can’t keep losing money that tisan approach to that. We have tried It showed, as you probably know now way. We can’t keep that chaos going for four or five Congresses now to pass from some of the press accounts that for all the Federal workers and their legislation that simply says that at the have arisen since then, that, in fact, families. We should have arguments end of the fiscal year, if you haven’t China was recruiting individuals who about the budget. We have big ones completed all the bills, then the gov- were giving up their research that was that need to be resolved, but we should ernment continues to operate, but 1 taxpayer funded. keep it here. percent of spending is cut every 120 China has made no secret of its goal So, this week, as we pause for just a days, and every 90 days thereafter to to surpass the United States to be the moment on all the other big issues that give the Appropriations Committees world leader in scientific research, but are pressing on us right now, I am here the incentive to get to work and that doesn’t mean they should use our grateful that we are also pausing for a to get the budget bills done. That, I research institutions here in America, moment to say: What are the big issues think, would work. paid for by us, to accomplish that goal. that we should look long term on, and It used to be a bipartisan approach. These talent recruitment programs— how do we solve some of those issues It is not now. So I am interested in most notably, the Thousand Talents for the future, as well, to make govern- looking at other options, including Program—recruits researchers at ment more efficient and try to make what the Senator from Oklahoma was American universities and American government more transparent? talking about in terms of providing research institutions to do the same re- I yield the floor. more pressure on us here to get our search, usually at shadow labs in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- work done because these shutdowns China, in order to just transfer tax- ator from Ohio. clearly haven’t worked to help make payer-funded research back to China. Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am the government more efficient. They This is an issue that has been going here to join my colleagues in speaking have just had the opposite impact. on for two decades, we found out, and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.023 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1692 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 really kind of right under the nose of ensure that it continues to be open and And, finally, it requires colleges and the FBI and others. The FBI testified transparent and accountable but also universities to report any gifts of at our hearing and said they readily ac- secure. Our legislation does this in a $50,000 or more and empowers the De- knowledge that they were asleep at the few ways, and a lot of it has to do with partment of Education to fine univer- switch, essentially, that they had not more transparency. sities that repeatedly fail to disclose been on top of it, and they have only First, it creates a new cross-govern- these gifts. Current law requires re- recently begun to focus on it. ment council at the Office of Manage- porting at the level of $250,000. So if We have seen the results of that, by ment and Budget to coordinate and you get $250,000 from a foreign entity, the way. Little was done to stop it, streamline the grant-making process you are supposed to report it. In our but, recently, there has been a lot of between Federal agencies so we know study we found, shockingly, that 70 publicity. You probably know about where the money is going and how it is percent of U.S. universities consist- the recent arrest of Dr. Charles Lieber being used. ently failed to do that. So the univer- at Harvard University. Dr. Lieber actu- Right now, these agencies don’t talk sities don’t want to report the fact that ally lied to Federal investigators about to each other, and we don’t know much they are getting money from foreign his participation in the plan, and that about the grant-making process. We governments, but we need to know is what they have charged him with. need to make that transparent. Sun- that. The taxpayers need to know that. Most recently, today, we heard about shine, I think, will be a very effective Lowering the threshold from $250,000 another one, Dr. James Lewis at West disinfectant here. to $50,000 and increasing this trans- Virginia University, who pleaded Second, the bill makes it illegal to parency, including adding the penalty, guilty to fraudulently requesting time not tell the truth on a grant applica- ensures that those schools will report. off to raise a newborn, when he was ac- tion. Apparently, that happens all the In my view, that will lead to account- tually in China conducting research as time now. We requested some of these ability and what we are looking for, grant applications from the Thousand part of his agreement with this same which is more information. group, the Thousand Talents Plan. Talents Program. We weren’t able to Beyond these provisions, we are all Now, this is a definite conflict of inter- get all the information we wanted, but going to have to do more to protect the est. we got enough to know that most of U.S. research enterprise. My bill makes As an example, Professor Lieber is these contracts, apparently, have the it clear that research institutions re- accused of accepting $50,000 a month individuals saying: OK, I will accept ceiving taxpayer dollars have to do a this money from the Chinese Govern- from the Chinese talent recruitment better job giving the government just ment through this program, but I will program and, also, $150,000 in funding basic information about foreign re- not tell my employer about it. On the just for his expenses—now, remember, searchers they partner with. grant application, they have to say he is already being paid by Harvard— By the way, academics tend to agree. that they will not reveal it. Obviously, but also accepting $1.5 million to set up On Monday, the President of the Amer- that is defrauding the U.S. Govern- a shadow lab in China. He did not tell ican Council on Education in an op-ed ment. agreed with our report’s recommenda- his employer, Harvard, about this. The third part of our legislation tion that research institutions should Again, he was not honest when talking closes the loopholes exploited by China to the Federal prosecutors, which is and other countries and empowers the establish a ‘‘know your collaborator’’ how he came to be charged. So the U.S. State Department to deny visas to culture—know whom you are collabo- fraud that he was committing was not foreign researchers who seek to exploit rating with, know what their back- the charge because that is not a crimi- the openness of our U.S. research en- ground is. Providing basic information about nal offense. It needs to be one. terprise to steal intellectual property researchers and what they will have ac- With regard to the guy from West and research from our universities and Virginia who just pleaded guilty yes- research institutions. cess to on campus allows the State De- terday, we don’t know all the details Now, this is something that the State partment to properly vet foreign re- yet there, but we know that this, Department has worked with us on and searchers before issuing them a visa. again, is research that was being done, has asked for. They are looking for ad- Frankly, it is hard to believe that uni- we assume partly funded by taxpayers, ditional authority from us. When they versities aren’t already required to tell and this talent recruitment program know somebody is not here on a good- the U.S. State Department this infor- was able to get that research. faith effort to do research but, rather, mation, but they aren’t. So this can lead, obviously, to a real to take our research, they want to be A few universities and academic problem because it is helping to fuel able to act. groups have raised concerns about the not just the Chinese economy but also Fourth, it requires research institu- administrative burdens. We don’t want the Chinese military. Some of Pro- tions and universities to have basic to unnecessarily burden any research fessor Lieber’s research, apparently, safeguards against unauthorized access institution, university, or college, but was done for our military, and, there- to sensitive technology. You would we do want the transparency. fore, they got military research and, think that is already in place, but, ap- It is my hope that our research insti- we assume, military secrets as well. parently, it is not. Also, it requires tutions will step up and do their part So they provide a reputational risk them to tell the State Department as patriots to help us ensure that our to the universities we are talking what technologies a foreign researcher taxpayer-funded research does not fall about, of course, and so many others will have access to on campus, so, into the wrong hands. Research univer- around the country. But it is also just again, we can start talking to each sities need to take a hard look at what unfair to taxpayers, because this is other, including folks at the State De- is happening on their own campuses. government funded for the benefit of partment, law enforcement folks, and This threat is very real. If universities America, not to one of our stiffest people in our research institutions. expect to continue to receive billions global competitors. Fifth, it directs the U.S. Government in taxpayer research dollars, Congress So we are working with the Trump to work with our critical research part- has to ensure the academic community administration to ensure that we know ners—think of Japan or Australia or is taking basic, commonsense steps to where that taxpayer money is going the UK—to protect their research en- secure the research. I believe our legis- and making sure it is going to benefit terprises from Chinese theft as well. lation is a balanced way to ensure that the United States of America. We are not interested in having U.S. will happen. Along with my counterpart on the taxpayer dollars go to do research here We talked earlier about the actions subcommittee on the Democratic side on which we then collaborate with a by college professors who have now of the aisle, TOM CARPER from Dela- foreign government, an ally, and then been in the media. They have been ware, we plan to introduce bipartisan that research is taken back to China or charged by the FBI and others. One legislation that uses the key findings other countries. So we want more in- thing we do in this legislation, as well, in our subcommittee report to ensure formation about working with part- is that we establish a new criminal law that our research enterprise is pro- ners, as well, to protect that important with regard to defrauding a university tected here in this country and also to research. or defrauding the U.S. taxpayer.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.024 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1693 Again, the reason these charges that is, the public made up of people—peo- Such intimidation and such a break- we talked about earlier were able to be ple who elect officials. down in proper government action brought is not because of the fraud In many cases, the Federal Govern- should be infuriating and horrifying to that was committed but because, in ment has codified the corruption, any civically minded person who be- one case, someone lied about the rea- transforming from a group of civil lieves in checks and balances and the son they were looking for leave, and, in servants carrying out our laws into a ability to hold the bureaucracy ac- the other case, someone lied to the FBI rogue body consumed with defending countable. about whether they were involved in and in many cases expanding their It is not my first encounter with bu- the program or not. So these were per- power. This bureaucracy has turned in- reaucratic overreach, with an execu- jury issues, really, not in terms of the ternal guidance documents into infal- tive agency dipping its foot into the fraud. Our legislation also tightens lible law, placing the creation and im- water of activism. During my time in that up. plementation of their policies and the House of Representatives under the I think we all agree that the rela- processes above the American people’s previous administration, the conserva- tionship we have with China is com- needs—in fact, in many cases, changing tion advocacy group Ducks Unlimited plicated. There is some good, and there the actual laws they are supposed to be was providing staff to the U.S. Depart- is some bad. In my view, it is in both of enforcing. This is something I look to ment of Agriculture’s Natural Re- our countries’ interests to have a address at every given opportunity be- sources Conservation Service, embed- healthy relationship and have an ex- cause it is a problem I discover in al- ded right in their offices. This meant change of new ideas and have the abil- most every issue we seek to solve. that taxpayer funds were supporting I am going to start by talking a little ity to collaborate where appropriate, the work of advocacy staffers cam- bit about the Army Corps of Engineers. but we cannot allow this continued paigning for a State ballot measure to My efforts to take on this bureaucracy theft of taxpayer-funded research. establish a slush fund that would ben- began almost immediately when I My hope is that this legislation will efit their organization. The Federal came to the Senate. President Trump, send a firm but fair signal to China to Government was funding political ac- in fulfilling his promise to secure our change their behavior, respect our laws tivists while those activists worked to border and keep America safe, declared when it comes to research, and see the pass a measure that would give them a national emergency in order to expe- wisdom of our research values here in dite the construction of physical bar- further funding. If that is not corrup- the United States of openness, trans- riers along our southern border. Unfor- tion, then nothing is, whether or not it parency, reciprocity, integrity, and, tunately, the agency charged with exe- is intended. If not for our efforts to most importantly, merit-based com- cuting the building of this wall—that shine light on such obvious corruption, petition. is, the Army Corps of Engineers—is not their abuse would have gone un- I encourage my colleagues to take a known for expediency or responsive- checked, and their power would have look at that legislation. We hope to in- ness. only grown. troduce it the week after next, when As a member of the Armed Services Somehow, the issue with the Natural we are back from recess. We believe Committee and the Environment and Resources Conservation Services is not that this legislation will be incredibly Public Works Committee, both of the most obvious example of bureau- important to ensure that we can pro- which have direct jurisdiction over the cratic abuse that North Dakotans have tect this research that taxpayer dollars Corps of Engineers, I exercised my con- experienced. Over the years, the Fish are funding. gressional oversight responsibilities and Wildlife Service has increasingly With that, I yield the floor. and role by conducting a study of the encroached on the rights of landowners I suggest the absence of a quorum. Army Corps’ procurement process: how who have perpetual wetland easements The PRESIDING OFFICER. The it awards contracts, how those compa- on their property. clerk will call the roll. nies have performed since being se- One particularly egregious case is the The senior assistant legislative clerk lected, what they are paid for in their story of Mike Johansen, a farmer from proceeded to call the roll. bidding or RFP process. My findings, Hope, ND. After a heavy rainfall year, Mr. CRAMER. I ask unanimous con- simply, were horrifying. the land flooded, leaving him unable to sent that the order for the quorum call In a letter to President Trump, I de- harvest and seed for the next planting be rescinded. tailed how the Corps’ procurement season. He asked the Service for help, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without process fails to foster competition— but due to poor guidance and enforce- objection, it is so ordered. particularly when it comes to price and ment, the Service offered him nothing. Mr. CRAMER. Mr. President, I rise schedule—and disfavors new entrants In fact, after he dug a drain, the Serv- today to join my colleagues in offering and innovators into their process. ice cited him and dragged him to court. support for improving the way our gov- As I was conducting the investiga- The legal fees and fines caused by these ernment runs. What we are doing is we tion that led to these findings, I was vague regulations written without are fighting for a government that is met with bureaucratic obstruction at clarity, oversight, or an appeals proc- led in an open, transparent way by almost every step, from bad-faith ess forced Mike to quit farming, sell elected leaders—elected leaders—who promises, to empty vows of coopera- his equipment, and borrow money just are accountable to the people who elect tion, to bureaucrats actually leaking to get the funds he needed to defend us. my personal—my personal—emails to himself in court against his govern- Reining in a bureaucracy that has the media. Army Corps bureaucrats ment. Thankfully, he won in court. He run rampant has been a top priority of failed to meet even the most basic proved his case against the govern- mine ever since coming to Congress. In standards of good faith and cooperation ment. But the cost was bankruptcy— fact, last year when I outlined my vi- in dealing with a Senator who sits on bankruptcy. sion for serving in the Senate in my the committees that oversee them, as I had the privilege of hosting Interior maiden speech, I vowed to take on the though their agency runs us instead of Secretary Bernhardt so he could meet bureaucracy. Since coming to Wash- our having oversight over them. The with Mike and North Dakota land- ington, it has become abundantly clear correspondence they leaked was not owners who have experienced similar to me that the bureaucracy has evolved even salacious or informative, really. abuse. Since then, the Interior Depart- into an unelected, unaccountable crea- It said nothing that I wasn’t already ment has begun issuing updated guid- ture. saying out loud. But I think that was ance to give our landowners clarity and When constituents back home reach what bothered them the most, is that I a right to appeal overzealous bureau- out to my office for help, there is a was saying it out loud. This was a co- cratic action. good chance it has to do with an in- ordinated attempt to discourage me I appreciate the Secretary’s timely transigent, unresponsive, or even an from continuing to dig into the bu- action and his emphasis on being a bet- aggressive—an aggressive— reaucracy. As I told them then, if you ter neighbor, but this will only be suc- confrontational bureaucrat who has are counting on 99 out of 100 people to cessful if Fish and Wildlife Service em- forgotten that a public servant is actu- walk away exasperated because of your ployees follow the spirit of the Sec- ally supposed to serve the public; that delays, consider me the other 1. retary’s actions to actually work with

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:18 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.025 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1694 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 landowners versus ruling over them. Let me repeat that. The bureaucracy’s most devastating wildfires anyone can We are working closely with the De- excuses have found welcoming ears remember have ripped across Aus- partment to make sure these regula- here, and the bill remains stuck, with tralia, burned more than a fifth of Aus- tions work for our constituents, and I no explanation or reasoning. It has tralia’s forests, destroying thousands am hopeful this example concludes equal bipartisan support. Yet it re- of homes, killing an estimated 1 billion with a positive ending. But after every mains stuck in the bureaucracy of this animals, and making a day of breath- election, there is a new set of leaders. body. ing air in Sydney like smoking 37 ciga- Frankly, I have been appalled at the If we do not see movement soon, I am rettes. In the ocean off Australia, there reaction the bureaucracy has had to going to return to the Senate floor to are new warnings that the Great Bar- the Trump administration’s moving of attempt to pass the bill by unanimous rier Reef—a Wonder of the World visi- the Bureau of Land Management from consent. I have spoken to the chairmen ble from space—is doomed. Washington, DC, to Grand Junction, of the two committees of jurisdiction. The warmest temperatures ever were CO, or a couple of USDA agencies mov- They see no objection. Yet, somewhere recorded in Antarctica—a 70-degree day ing from Washington, DC, to Kansas in this big place, objection clearly ex- when the average February tempera- City, only so they can be closer to the ists. ture would be 33 degrees. resources they manage and the people I hope that between now and then, we Here is the Thwaites Glacier. Here on they are supposed to be serving. The are able to see real progress on this im- Antarctica’s Thwaites Glacier, sci- backlash has been incredible; the out- portant issue. The people fighting to entists drilled through 2,000 feet of ice, cry, unbelievable. It is as though the have these fallen soldiers memorialized down to the ocean water below, and bureaucracy is entitled to whatever are also heroes. They are their ship- discovered water 2 degrees above freez- they think is important as opposed to mates. They are the survivors, the ing. With 70 degrees above and 2 de- the people they work for being entitled spouses, and the children of these he- grees above, it is a melting sandwich. to good service. roes. I am not going to join the bu- Losing that glacier would trigger al- Sadly, there is one glaring example reaucracy by standing in the way, and most 3 feet of sea level rise, and that to me that is far from reaching a con- I hope none of my colleagues do either. glacier is going. clusion or a positive ending anytime These are just a few of the many ex- soon, although I will never give up. I amples of what I call bureaucratic Sea level rise brings me to the crash will never give up. abuse, obstruction, and overreach that warnings that are the subject of this Over 50 years ago, during the Viet- I have witnessed since coming to Con- speech, crash warnings that are flash- nam war, the USS Frank E. Evans bat- gress just 7 years ago, and I think we ing throughout the economy. Sea level tleship collided with an allied aircraft should call them out. The opinion of rise connects to these crash warnings carrier and sank, killing 74 deployed Federal career staff is not sacrosanct; because some of these crash warnings sailors. The USS Frank E. Evans had it is advice. It is counsel, but it is not revolve around sea level rise in its served multiple tours off the Vietnam a decision. crashing coastal property values. Other coast and was scheduled to return after Without further action, complacency warnings are of a crash in what econo- completing this exercise about 100 will only empower the bureaucracy. mists call the carbon bubble. miles outside of the official combat People elected us to have their power, I have a binder of these warnings zone. They were exercising with other the people’s power. So now is the time that I put together, and I sent this American ships, as well as other allied to remind this city who holds that con- binder to every Member of the Senate ships, during the Vietnam war. Because stitutional responsibility and author- in February of 2019. Every Senator has of a geographic technicality, the names ity. The people hold it. Our constitu- all of the warnings that are compiled of those ‘‘Lost 74’’ sailors are not me- ents elected us, the President, and in that binder. I have a letter, too, that morialized on the Vietnam Veterans every elected official, but they have no follows up on the warnings in that Memorial wall, as if they didn’t die in say in the bureaucracy except through binder—just about the warnings that the service of our Nation’s effort in us. That is our job as elected officials— have emerged since February of 2019— Vietnam. The honor and gratitude to give the people we work for their in fact, mostly just from this year. I owed to them is long overdue, but the voice in the bureaucracy. We must sent this letter to all of the members of only objections I have ever heard—re- dedicate ourselves to doing so, so that the Senate Banking Committee be- member, this was just about 51 years we can define this era as a time that cause the economic crashes that are ago now—the only objections I have we, the elected representatives, stood warned of are within the Senate Bank- ever heard are from the people whose up to the bureaucracy and reclaimed ing Committee’s jurisdiction, and that job it would be to add their names to the true power of the Federal Govern- committee has the responsibility to be the wall. In other words, I can’t find ment for the people, not the bureauc- the distant early warning system for anybody who opposes adding the 74 racy. the rest of us in the Senate about these names to the wall except the people With that, I yield my time. warnings. whose job it would be to carry out this I suggest the absence of a quorum. Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- task. We are working on sending a man The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sent to have printed in the RECORD the to Mars, but somehow it is too much to clerk will call the roll. letter to the Committee on Banking, add 74 heroes’ names to the Vietnam The bill clerk proceeded to call the Housing, and Urban Affairs, dated Feb- Memorial wall. roll. ruary 6, 2020. It is inexplicable to me that bureau- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I There being no objection, the mate- crats in Washington could determine ask unanimous consent that the order rial was ordered to be printed in the that these sailors’ ultimate sacrifice is for the quorum call be rescinded. RECORD, as follows: unworthy of being memorialized sim- OT The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. C - U.S. SENATE, ply because they were on the wrong TON). Without objection, it is so or- Washington, DC, February 6, 2020. side of an arbitrary line. The exclusion dered. Hon. MIKE CRAPO, of these veterans is a disservice to f Chairman, Committee on Banking, Housing and those who gave their lives for our coun- Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, Washington, try. A technicality is not an excuse for CLIMATE CHANGE DC. inaction, a previously issued memo is Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I Hon. SHERROD BROWN, not a reason to express disapproval, rise today for ‘‘Time to Wake Up’’ Ranking Member, Committee on Banking, Hous- and an objection from Washington’s speech No. 258 and my increasingly bat- ing and Urban Affairs, U.S. Senate, Wash- ington, DC. bureaucracy should not stop us from tered chart here to urge colleagues in DEAR CHAIRMAN CRAPO AND RANKING MEM- honoring these heroes, these veterans. the Senate to wake up and see the BER BROWN: With the impeachment proce- Last year, a bipartisan group of Sen- looming danger we face from climate dure behind us, we return to regular work, ators introduced a bill to force the bu- change. and I write to bring your attention to fur- reaucracy to make this a reality. Yet Just look at the recent climate ef- ther financial warnings related to the cli- it remains stuck here in the Senate. fects in our Southern Hemisphere. The mate crisis.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:03 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.027 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1695 You will recall that I wrote to you on De- which will make the procrastination all the First Street Foundation found that cember 2, 2019 about climate-related warn- more blameworthy when the full story rising seas have already caused $16 bil- ings emanating from the financial and regu- emerges.) lion in lost property values in coastal latory community. The two lead warnings The stem warning of the ‘‘Green Swan’’ re- were of a coastal property value crash (which port, and the certain path to safety from the homes from Maine to Texas. Freddie Mac has warned could be worse than hazard, are echoed in a recent open letter Moody’s, the bond rating agency, the 2008 mortgage meltdown), and a carbon from BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. warned that climate risk will trigger asset bubble crash (described by U.K. finan- In his letter to CEOs, Fink notes that downgrades in coastal communities’ cial regulator the Bank of England as a ‘‘sys- ‘‘[c]limate change has become a defining fac- bond ratings. temic risk’’—meaning the crash could cas- tor in companies’ long-term prospects,’’ and BlackRock—the biggest asset man- cade beyond fossil fuel companies out into that as a result ‘‘we are on the edge of a fun- ager in the world—estimated that, by damental reshaping of finance’’ (emphasis in the global economy). A copy of that letter is the end of the century, climate change attached for you as a reference. original), one that is ‘‘compelling investors The warnings continue. to reassess core assumptions about modem will cause coastal communities annual The Bank for International Settlements, finance.’’ losses that will average up to 15 per- described sometimes as the bank of the cen- This extraordinary language is based, as in cent of local GDP with the hardest hit tral banks, has published a report, ‘‘The the ‘‘Green Swan’’ report, on the dual nature communities, obviously, hit far worse. Green Swan: Central banking and financial of the hazard, ‘‘of how climate risk will im- Hello, Florida. stability in the age of climate change.’’ This pact both our physical world and the global Warning No. 2: a carbon asset bubble report recognizes and reinforces the many system that finances economic growth.’’ The conclusion is harsh: ‘‘In the near future—and crash. previous warnings that ‘‘[c]limate change The Bank of England, the Bank of could . . . be the cause of the next systemic sooner than most anticipate—there will be a sig- financial crisis’’ (p. 1), and that ‘‘[c]entral nificant reallocation of capital.’’ (emphasis in France, the Bank of Canada, and the banks, regulators and supervisors have in- original) The phrase ‘‘significant realloca- European Central Bank—all backed by creasingly recognised that climate change is tion of capital’’ couches in bland economic top-tier, peer-reviewed economic pa- a source of major systemic financial risks’’ (p. terms a dramatic and painful human pros- pers—all warn that fossil fuel assets 65, emphasis added), indeed that ‘‘climate ca- pect. are dramatically overvalued on fossil tastrophes are even more serious than most BlackRock also agrees on the safe path: that ‘‘government must lead the way in this fuel companies’ books, that these as- systemic financial crises.’’ (p. 3) sets are actually uneconomic and will The ‘‘Green Swan’’ report goes on to de- transition,’’ and that ‘‘the scale and scope of scribe the stunning scale of these risks: that government action’’ is ‘‘one of the most im- become stranded, and that the result- ‘‘[e]xceeding climate tipping points could portant questions.’’ In this regard, ‘‘carbon ing ‘‘carbon asset bubble’’ crash will lead to catastrophic and irreversible impacts pricing [is] essential to combating climate swamp the world economy. that would make quantifying financial dam- change.’’ (emphasis added) How bad is it? It is called systemic fi- ages impossible.’’ (p. 1, emphasis added; in an In addition to the BIS ‘‘Green Swan’’ re- nancial risk. Systemic financial risk is port and the BlackRock letter, in the time odd coincidence, that language mirrors finance speak for risk to the entire eco- President Trump’s 2009 warning in a New since my last letter the following organiza- tions have also brought similar warnings for- nomic system. Do you remember the York Times ad that climate change con- ward. 2008 financial crisis? Bad home mort- sequences would be ‘‘catastrophic and irre- On December 18, 2019, the Bank of England gages blew up more than mortgage versible.’’) published a discussion paper outlining its The ‘‘Green Swan’’ report warns that this companies; they caused a brutal eco- proposal for climate stress tests for corpora- risk is so extreme because the risk is dual, nomic recession, and millions of people tions under its regulatory supervision. and so dangerous because it is so unpredict- In January 2020, the management lost their jobs, their homes, and their able: ‘‘The complex chain reactions and cas- consultancy McKinsey released a com- retirement savings. We are still recov- cade effects associated with both physical prehensive report on the physical risks of ering from that collapse. That is a sys- and transition risks could generate fundamen- climate change. McKinsey warns that cli- temic financial crisis, and the warnings tally unpredictable environmental, geo- mate change could ‘‘make long-duration bor- are that this one will be worse. political, social and economic dynamics.’’ (p. rowing unavailable, impact insurance cost 3, emphasis added). Like the ‘‘black swans’’ In my recent letter, I looked at the and availability, and reduce terminal val- more recent warnings. Here is the from which this report derives its title, ues.’’ It could ‘‘trigger capital reallocation ‘‘both physical and transition risks are and asset repricing.’’ On January 15, 2020, the Bank for International Settlements’ characterised by deep uncertainty and non- World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Re- recent Green Swan report. The title is linearity, their chances of occurrence are not port identified the top five most likely risks a reference to the metaphor of a black reflected in past data, and the possibility of facing the world over the next 10 years, and swan—an unpredictable event with ca- extreme values cannot be ruled out.’’ (p. 3, em- all were climate-related risks. lamitous consequences for the econ- phasis added). A January 2020 report from the Stanford The ‘‘Green Swan’’ report warns that this omy. Graduate School of Business notes that ‘‘the Below is what my letter to the Bank- dangerously unpredictable risk can put our financial risks from climate change are sys- financial stability in danger, citing ‘‘growing temic’’ and ‘‘singular in nature,’’ and ing Committee quoted from this Green awareness’’ that these ‘‘physical and transi- ‘‘[g]lobal economic losses from climate Swan report. tion risks . . . would affect the stability of change could reach $23 trillion—three or four Page No. 1 warns: ‘‘[c]limate change the financial sector.’’ (p. 65); and could be ir- times the scale of the 2008 financial crisis.’’ could . . . be the cause of the next sys- remediable by ordinary methods. The impact Given the scope and scale of these warn- temic financial crisis.’’ could be so great as to ‘‘make quantifying fi- ings, and given that Senators depend on the From page No. 65: ‘‘Central banks, nancial damages impossible,’’ (p. 1), the ef- Banking Committee as our official eyes and regulators and supervisors have in- fects would be ‘‘catastrophic and irrevers- ears into such hazards, I hope that the Com- ible’’ (p. 1), and these ‘‘climate-related risks mittee will rapidly hold searching and fair creasingly recognized that climate will remain largely unhedgeable as long as hearings about these danger warnings. change is a source of major systemic fi- system-wide action is not undertaken.’’ (p. 1) Sincerely, nancial risks,’’ and ‘‘climate catas- In this looming, ominous cloud of danger SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, trophes are even more serious than and uncertainty, one thing is certain. U.S. Senator. most systemic financial crises.’’ ‘‘[T]here is certainty about the need for am- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, Again, from page No. 1: ‘‘Exceeding bitious actions despite prevailing uncer- climate tipping points could lead to tainty regarding the timing and nature of the warnings are serious. They come impacts of climate change.’’ (p. 3) The report from some of our foremost financial ex- catastrophic and irreversible impacts identifies ‘‘an array of actions’’: ‘‘The most perts. So let’s walk through what we that would make quantifying financial obvious ones are the need for carbon pricing have in store if we keep sleepwalking damages impossible.’’ and for systematic disclosure of climate-re- through the climate crisis. Let’s slow down and do that one lated risks by the private sector.’’ (p. 2, em- As I said, warning No. 1: coastal prop- again: ‘‘Exceeding climate tipping phasis added). To achieve this safe and cer- erty value crash. points could lead to catastrophic and tain path, the report calls urgently for an Freddie Mac, not an environmental irreversible impacts that would make end to ‘‘[t]he procrastination that has been organization but a giant mortgage quantifying financial damages impos- the dominant modus operandi of many gov- company, warned that rising sea levels sible.’’ ernments for quite a while.’’ (p. 66) (As you know, I take the position that our procrasti- will prompt a crash in coastal property As a little aside here, it is an odd co- nation in Congress has been acquired by the values that will be worse than the incidence that the report’s language of fossil fuel industry through its armada of housing crash that triggered the 2008 ‘‘catastrophic and irreversible’’ mirrors front groups and dark money channels, financial crisis. President Trump’s warning in a New

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.002 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1696 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 York Times ad in 2009 that the con- Finally, from the Stanford business Assume that these warnings are cor- sequences of climate change would be school’s Corporations and Society Ini- rect. When this blows, Senators who catastrophic and irreversible—the tiative is a report that warns ‘‘the fi- didn’t help us act will have to come up same words, ‘‘catastrophic and irre- nancial risks from climate change are with a better excuse than: Well, we versible.’’ This was said by Trump in systemic’’—there is that word again, weren’t warned—because we were 2009 and was written in the Bank for ‘‘systemic’’—that these risks are ‘‘sin- warned. We have been warned over and International Settlements’ Green Swan gular in nature,’’ like the green swan- over and over again. We have been report just 2 months ago. black swan warning, and that ‘‘[g]lobal warned by experts. We have been Back to the Green Swan report, on economic losses from climate change warned by major financial institutions. page No. 3: ‘‘The complex chain reac- could reach $23 trillion—three or four We have been warned by the custodians tions and cascad[ing] effects associated times the scale of the 2008 Financial of our economy, the central banks. with both physical and transition risks Crisis.’’ Colleagues, you have the warnings in could generate fundamentally unpre- Pause for a moment, and recall the your inbox. When this blows up, when dictable environmental, geopolitical, agony of the 2008 financial crisis. coastal property values crash, or when social and economic dynamics.’’ Losses in the stock market wiped out the carbon bubble bursts, or worse, Fundamentally unpredictable eco- nearly $8 trillion. Housing values when both happen—nothing says both nomic dynamics? Fundamentally un- cratered; retirement savings vanished; can’t happen—it is not going to look predictable social dynamics? and Americans lost jobs, lost homes, good to say: Yes, I was warned, but, Again, on page No. 1: ‘‘climate-re- and lost nearly $10 trillion in wealth. you see, my political party is funded by lated risks will remain largely Global economic growth went negative. the fossil fuel industry so naturally I unhedgeable as long as system-wide ac- We all went home to States where we did nothing. That is how you lose the tion is not undertaken.’’ witnessed extraordinary human suf- privilege of representing people. Back to page No. 3 again: Like the fering. Three or four times that? The It was a bit of a tempest in a teapot. black swans from which the report de- Stanford report is telling us that we It happened in Rhode Island 28 years rives its title, the ‘‘physical and transi- are courting financial peril—systemic ago, but I have lived through this. We tion risks are characterised by deep un- risk—the likes of which we cannot had a financial crisis in Rhode Island certainty and nonlinearity, their imagine. in 1991. I was working for the Governor, chances of occurrence are not reflected Climate change is a natural force. It who came in to have to clean up that in past data, and the possibility of ex- has blown carbon dioxide levels way horrible mess, and I was there for the treme values cannot be ruled out’’—the outside what humankind has ever expe- following election after the financial possibility of extreme values. rienced. It is depositing the equivalent crisis hit. Another big warning that I quoted in of four Hiroshima-sized atomic bombs The legislators who slept through the my letter to the Banking Committee of excess heat per second into our warnings lost their jobs in a tidal wave came from BlackRock CEO Larry Fink. oceans—per second—and it is an eco- of popular outrage. In the subsequent In his open letter to CEOs, Fink echoes nomic bomb positioned beneath our election, the 1992 election, more than economy, its detonator ticking down the Green Swan warning, writing: one-third of Rhode Island’s General As- steadily. ‘‘[c]limate change has become a defin- sembly was either voted out or didn’t ing factor in companies’ long-term We have a chance to defuse the bomb. With all of these warnings that I have even bother running again. prospects.’’ As a result, ‘‘we are on the There was a movie, when I went to described in this binder and that I have edge of a fundamental reshaping of fi- law school, about the Harvard Law described in my letter to the Com- nance,’’ one that is ‘‘compelling inves- mittee on Banking, Housing, and School. I think it was called ‘‘One L.’’ tors to reassess core assumptions about Urban Affairs comes a clear description They brought in the freshman class of modern finance.’’ of the solution: Government must act. the One L class, and the crotchety old Folks, BlackRock is the biggest asset Here are the solutions that I quote in dean looked at them all and said: A manager in the world. When its CEO my letter to the Committee on Bank- third of you are going to be gone before speaks of a fundamental reshaping of ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs. you graduate because this is so de- modern finance and a shaking of its On page No. 66 of Green Swan: End manding. Look to your right. Look to core assumptions, that is serious stuff. ‘‘[t]he procrastination that has been your left. One of you will not be here at In my letter, I cite other recent the dominant modus operandi of many graduation. warnings of this systemic financial governments for quite a while.’’ When this thing blows, that is going risk, all since I distributed the binder, By the way, here, it really hasn’t to be a ‘‘Look to your left. Look to many just this year. Here are a few in- been procrastination; it has been ob- your right. One of you won’t be here stances. struction. It has been obstruction by afterwards’’ moment here in the U.S. In December, the Bank of England the fossil fuel industry, its money, and Senate. proposed climate stress tests for cor- its minions. Clearly, we haven’t done You think people are mad now, wait porations under its regulatory super- anything serious about it, so that has until this hits. Wait until these warn- vision. We started bank financial stress to end. ings come true, and they know you tests after the 2008 mortgage crisis, and On page No. 2 of the Green Swan: were warned. Wait for that. central banks are starting to do the ‘‘The most obvious ones are the need It is time to wake up. same for the climate crisis. for carbon pricing and for systematic I yield the floor. In January, massive management disclosure of climate-related risks by I suggest the absence of a quorum. consultant McKinsey—again, not a the private sector.’’ The PRESIDING OFFICER. The green group but, presumably, a pretty It is, indeed, obvious to people in the clerk will call the roll. smart group—warned that climate financial sector. It is only not obvious The legislative clerk proceeded to change could ‘‘make long-duration bor- to us because fossil fuel money swirls call the roll. rowing unavailable, impact insurance all around this place, trying to con- Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, I ask cost and availability, and reduce ter- vince us that the obvious isn’t true. unanimous consent that the order for minal values.’’ Climate change could Yet BlackRock CEO Fink’s letter the quorum call be rescinded. ‘‘trigger capital reallocation and asset echoes that call for carbon pricing. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without repricing,’’ which is finance speak for He says, ‘‘carbon pricing [is] essen- objection, it is so ordered. the fundamental upheaval of our econ- tial to combating climate change.’’ Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, before I omy. So we have the warnings, and we begin my formal remarks, I just want January: The World Economic Forum have the solutions. We have everything to state that the Senate page class—I puts out its Global Risks Report that except the will to act. The reason we don’t know if you have noticed—are identifies the five most likely global don’t have the will to act is because we better than adequate. They are doing a risks facing the world over the next 10 have dark money, political predators good job for the United States of Amer- years. Five for five, every single one of controlling our behavior in ways that ica, and I appreciate them in their them was climate related—all five. are deeply, deeply inappropriate. service to the U.S. Senate.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.030 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1697 CORONAVIRUS also report that 81 percent of people their restaurant closes or they lost Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, as of working in the food service industry— childcare should be able to access the today there are over 1,000 confirmed let me say that again: 81 percent of critical benefits they need to help their COVID–19 cases in 35 States and Wash- people working in our food service in- family get by. That means we also ex- ington, DC. The World Health Organi- dustry—and 75 percent of childcare pand SNAP benefits for those kids who zation has now declared COVID–19 a center workers do not have access to are forced to stay at home and from pandemic. Thirty-one people have died paid sick leave. This is disproportion- school and may miss meals. in the United States already because of ately seen in communities of color. To take on this virus, to protect all this virus. This includes one person in Think about the choice you make. of our communities, to ensure the the State of New Jersey. Communities Your child is sick, you are showing strength of our economy, and to ensure across the country, and most recently signs but you know if you do not go to our health, we need to take a com- New Jersey, are confronting the possi- work, you will not be able to make prehensive and inclusive approach. bility of seeing a spread of this virus. rent, you will not be able to put food That means leaving no one behind, be- We also know that it is possible that, on the table, you will miss a car pay- cause we are all in this crisis together. due to delays and lack of availability ment, which means your car will be re- I have seen challenges from 9/11 to of testing, the actual number of those possessed. These are choices that don’t when I was mayor and we had Hurri- infected here in the U.S. is likely high- just put the families in crisis but they cane Sandy hit. It was the strength of er than what has been reported. put us all at risk. our community in that region around Every day that passes during the The disparity in access to preventive 9/11. It was the strength of that com- spread of this virus—every single day, care is also an issue. There are dispari- munity during that terrible storm. I every single hour, every single moment ties in access to healthcare and afford- remember seeing that the strength was is critical. We must act urgently to able medicine for people all across our that we stood up for each other and slow its spread, to mitigate its impact. country—millions and millions of peo- stood by each other—neighbors opening We all have a role to play in fighting ple. This is already before the global up their homes, people lending a hand, the virus, each and every one of us, pandemic is a health crisis. The contin- people showing sacrifice for each other. from our personal hygiene habits to ued and unmitigated spread of COVID– That is the American way. Those val- those of us in positions of authority 19 could have disastrous impacts on ues and virtues should be reflected in and the roles we can play to protect people in communities that already our policy. We are weakened and more each other and to protect our commu- have this vulnerability. In my commu- vulnerable right now because we do not nities. One of the most significant nity, where I live, where I hopefully have commonsense policies that other ways to do this is actually by encour- will go home this weekend, in Newark, countries take for granted, like paid aging people to stay home. Members of NJ, the median income for the census family leave. We in the U.S. Senate Congress have self-isolated. For people track I live in is about $14,000, accord- should act for the love of each other who have symptoms or who have severe ing to the last census. That is $14,000 and love of country, for the strength and security and health of our well- coughs or who may have been exposed, per household. I know that public being for each other. there is an importance in social isola- health emergencies can quickly be- I yield the floor. tion, staying home when you are sick. come economic disasters for those who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The challenge for us as a country is are already struggling in the economic ator from Massachusetts. that for millions and millions of Amer- margins of our country. Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, I just icans this idea of staying home is not As we work together to combat the want to first say that I agree with ev- an option. Tens of millions of Ameri- spread of this virus, we need to remem- erything the Senator from New Jersey cans know that if they stay home, they ber that any of us is only as healthy as just said, and I think it is important to miss a paycheck. If they miss a pay- our most vulnerable neighbors. In heed his message, because as of this check, that can mean financial devas- other words, as Martin Luther King afternoon, we are officially facing a tation or ruin for their family. said years ago, when he said ‘‘injustice global pandemic. We are now the only industrialized anywhere is a threat to justice every- The coronavirus pandemic has spread nation in the world that doesn’t have where,’’ well, the virus anywhere is a to more than 100 countries around the paid family sick leave for workers. threat to the health and safety of us world. The World Health Organization This is an unwelcome and, unfortu- everywhere. has declared it a pandemic. The eco- nately, this is a dangerous distinction That is why we need to pass the bill nomic repercussions have taken on a now in the time of a global pandemic. introduced by Senator PATTY MURRAY global dimension. This is also a virus This literally punishes people who are to guarantee 7 days of sick leave for all that is impacting Americans on a very struggling, low-income workers. workers and critically guarantee 14 personal dimension. Right now the choice for millions of days of paid sick leave during public Massachusetts residents are worried Americans is really this: Choose be- health emergencies. That is an act of about keeping their children, their tween your next paycheck and caring self-interest. families, and themselves safe. Day to for your sick child. Choose between Again, I know with over 80 percent of day, even hour to hour, there is a lot of going to work sick or having to skip a those who handle our food in res- uncertainty during this public health meal. Choose between your health and taurants, if those folks do not have emergency. Will I be able to work? Will well-being or your family’s financial paid family leave, they are now eco- I be able to get medical care? Will I be security. That choice, unfortunately, nomically incentivized to go to work able to pay the mortgage or the rent? even before this pandemic, was a sick. It can cause a greater spread of There is one thing I want my con- choice that many Americans knew— the virus. stituents to know for certain. I share that the people who are handling our Paid sick and family leave is a public your concern for your loved ones, and food, the people who work in our res- health and safety issue, plain and sim- your safety is my top priority. We need taurants, and the people who work ple. It is about economic justice and our response to this emergency to with our elderly often go to work sick economic strength and security, but it match the seriousness of the crisis. in this country helping the normal flu is a public health issue for us all. As we I commend the Governors and may- and other illnesses spread. In the case prepare to fight this virus, we need to ors across this country who have of a pandemic which has a mortality do the things that keep our people, our stepped up and provided leadership to rate of potentially five or ten times communities, and our country safe, their constituents, including Massa- that of the flu, this is, unfortunately, a healthy, and strong. That means join- chusetts Governor Charlie Baker, who tragic choice that families are trying ing with the rest of our industrial na- has wisely and swiftly declared a state to make. tions and having paid family sick of emergency in Massachusetts, and According to the National Partner- leave. That means opening up and mod- our great mayor of Boston, Martin ship for Women and Families, 70 per- ernizing the Unemployment Insurance Walsh, who has led early on this issue cent of the lowest income workers do Act, because workers who lose a pay- to make sure that we deal with this not have a single paid sick day. They check because their factory closes or crisis.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.035 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1698 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 We need that leadership more than into States to deal with this health cri- The legislative clerk proceeded to ever because we are seeing a dangerous sis. We did this during the great reces- call the roll. complete abdication of leadership from sion as a way to assist States in pro- Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I Donald Trump. His mismanagement of viding medical care. We should do it ask unanimous consent that the order this crisis is unconscionable. It is im- again, and I will be introducing legisla- for the quorum call be rescinded. moral, and the harm it is causing the tion to accomplish that. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. American people is an injustice. The Fourth, we need to ensure paid sick CRAMER). Without objection, it is so or- Trump administration has let this cri- leave for our workers. We need to pass dered. sis spin out of control. Senator PATTY MURRAY’s legislation to f President Trump has repeatedly said provide an additional 14 days’ sick CORONAVIRUS the risk is low and minimized the im- leave immediately in the event of any plications of the disease, even saying public health emergency, including the Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. President, I that Americans are unlikely to die current coronavirus crisis. will have to tell you and all of my col- from an infection. But just today, Dr. Fifth, we need to enhance unemploy- leagues, as they probably know, this Tony Fauci, Director of the National ment insurance and expand and sup- has been a fairly tough month for my Institute of Allergy and Infectious Dis- port programs like SNAP and Women, fellow Tennesseans. eases and the Nation’s leading expert Infants, and Children and school lunch As you know, last week, a tornado on infectious diseases, explained that and other initiatives to support food tore through eight counties. This start- coronavirus is 10 times more lethal security. Banks should suspend pay- ed in West Tennessee and exited than the flu. The administration over- ments on mortgages for those strug- through Middle Tennessee up on the ruled health officials who wanted to gling with the economic impacts of plateau of our great State. This left recommend that the elderly and phys- this crisis, and we should provide rent- multiple communities absolutely dev- ically fragile Americans be advised not al assistance for those who need it. astated. We have mourned the loss of to fly. Sixth, we need to protect consumers, life and livelihoods and property. Trump has called efforts to draw at- and that includes shielding them from I want to, again, thank President tention to the real risk of coronavirus, scams and price gouging, which I called Trump for coming to Tennessee to offer the new Democrat-created ‘‘hoax.’’ on Amazon to do. Amazon took action his support and for listening to those Just today, it is being reported that by removing bad actors from the site who were so adversely impacted by this the White House has ordered top offi- who were charging upwards of $400 for storm and for being there to encourage cials to treat top-level coronavirus hand sanitizer. No one should be al- the emergency management officials, meetings as classified, further ham- lowed to reap a windfall from fear and the volunteers, and all of the elected human suffering. pering information sharing in our re- community officials. We need to provide clear guidance on sponse to this virus. We have been encouraged that our protections for frontline health work- We saw what a lack of transparency, Tennesseans have been joined from vol- ers and access to needed protective misinformation, and denial did in unteers all across the country who equipment. In a pandemic, our China with the spread of this virus. We have shown up to help. They have do- healthcare workers are heroes, but cannot allow that to happen in the nated their time, their supplies, and these heroes need help. We have to United States of America. The bottom their money to our restoration and re- make sure they get the protective gear line: Families need clear, nonbiased, building and recovery and cleanup ef- they need. forts. To all of those who have volun- accurate, and reassuring information. The coronavirus is not the first and teered and offered their support, you They need it from public health offi- it will not be the last biothreat the have made such a difference in the cials. They need it from their elected United States faces. That is why I have lives of so many Tennessee families. leaders. There should be no partisan- introduced legislation that provides $1 We know this is going to be a long and ship in pandemics. billion for research into a universal The President and his administration coronavirus vaccine that prevents the difficult recovery. After all of this occurred, on Wednes- have undermined science and our sci- next biothreat that would come in the day of last week, Tennessee health offi- entists. We have the best scientists in form of a coronavirus. They morph into the world. We must put their expertise different types of coronaviruses. We cials confirmed our first case of to work to solve this challenge. We have to plan for the future. We need to coronavirus. It was in a patient just have shown that we can do that. Con- find a universal coronavirus vaccine south of Nashville in Williamson Coun- gress came together and quickly passed now, and we have to fund it, which is ty. $8.3 billion in emergency funding to re- why I am asking for $1 billion for that With all that said, that is a lot to spond to this crisis, but we can do solution to be found. handle in any given week, but Ten- much more. Sadly, the reality is that this pan- nesseans and all Americans should be First, the President should imme- demic is going to get worse before it encouraged that there is a lot of good diately declare the coronavirus pan- gets better. But this is our call, and work that is taking place. As I said, demic an emergency under the Stafford this is our time to come together. We the rebuilding efforts span all of those Act. That direction would allow FEMA all have a responsibility to act, to show counties in our State. to access over $42 billion in disaster re- leadership, and to support those who And then, of course, right there in lief funds and support States and com- are most vulnerable and will be most Nashville are efforts to combat the munities directly as they deal with the impacted by this virus. The elderly in spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus. spread of this virus. I am officially nursing homes, our young children, the The Vanderbilt University Medical calling on President Trump to do that uninsured, the undocumented—they Center’s Denison Lab is one of the top today: Declare this an emergency need our help right now. These are the 20 labs in the world that is studying under the Stafford Act. Free up the lives to be saved, livelihoods to be pro- this disease. For over 25 years, they re- FEMA money of $42 billion in disaster tected, and futures to ensure. ceived Federal grants for their research relief so that we can work on this issue I will continue to work with my col- into how these viruses make us sick, right now, dealing with it in a way that leagues and fight for legislation that and they are currently helping with reflects the seriousness of the threat. provides Massachusetts residents and the development of treatments, anti- The President should act today. businesses and those all across our virals, and vaccines to deal with Second, we need widespread and free country with the resources they need. I coronaviruses, and especially the coronavirus testing and affordable urge all of my colleagues to join me in COVID–19. I am just so pleased with treatment for all. this commitment to action. the progress they are making. Third, we need to increase the Fed- With that, I yield back. Today I want to draw attention to a eral Medicaid assistance percentage. I suggest the absence of a quorum. threat that has, again, been high- This would increase the amount of Fed- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. lighted because of this coronavirus out- eral dollars that go into Medicaid, im- BLACKBURN). The clerk will call the break. Pharmaceuticals are no dif- mediately pumping more resources roll. ferent from other products in that they

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.036 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1699 are usually manufactured in pieces— China’s APIs, we do know the more The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the active ingredients in one place and Chinese products flow into the United clerk will call the roll. the inactive ingredients in another States, the more potential there is for The legislative clerk proceeded to place and so on. Currently, only 28 per- trouble. call the roll. cent of the facilities producing active In 2007 and 2008, 246 people died as a Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I pharmaceutical ingredients—and you result of adulterated Heparin, a widely ask unanimous consent that the order will hear these referred to by the acro- used blood thinner. An investigation by for the quorum call be rescinded. nym APIs—only 28 percent of the fa- the Centers for Disease Control deter- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without cilities producing these APIs are in the mined that batches of Heparin manu- objection, it is so ordered. factured in China had been contami- United States. What this means is that f American consumers rely heavily on nated. The contaminant, which is very foreign-sourced drugs in order to stay cheap, was similar in chemical struc- BROADBAND DEPLOYMENT ACCU- healthy. ture to Heparin and went undetected in RACY AND TECHNOLOGICAL Meanwhile, the number of Chinese fa- routine tests. AVAILABILITY ACT cilities producing these APIs has more Since 2010, regulators have also found Mr. MARKEY. Mr. President, than doubled since 2010. Think about serious problems with batches of thy- schools, libraries, healthcare providers, that. Only 28 percent of all the facili- roid medication, muscle relaxers, and and other community anchor institu- ties globally are in the United States. antibiotics. In 2018, the FDA recalled a tions need high-capacity broadband for China has doubled the number of facili- number of blood pressure medications distance learning, access to informa- ties in China that are producing these made in China that were contaminated tion, and telemedicine, but too often, APIs. with cancer-causing toxins. anchor institutions’ need for broadband To be perfectly clear though, adulter- Why does this matter? Last year, ex- service are overlooked. That is why I ation isn’t the only concern. In 2016, an perts at the FDA testified before Con- want to make sure that anchor institu- explosion at a Chinese factory resulted gress that while the United States is a tions are included in the mapping leg- in a global shortage of an important world leader in drug development, we islation under consideration today. I antibiotic because that factory was the are falling behind in drug manufac- am pleased that S. 1822 will enable the drug’s sole source of production. Think turing. We do all the R&D here. We Federal Communications Commission about that. The factory exploded, and have the great scientific minds here. to develop more accurate and more there was a shortage of an important They are creating these products. They granular broadband maps. However, in antibiotic because they were the only are manufactured primarily in China. implementing this legislation, the FCC people who were making it. Without Their testimony identified the ces- must make sure to include anchor in- intervention, the FDA expects the sation of American manufacturing of stitutions in its list of serviceable loca- pharmaceutical industry will continue APIs as a key health and security con- tions so that our broadband maps accu- to rely on Chinese companies to make cern because it created vulnerabilities rately cover anchor institutions as well these active pharmaceutical ingredi- in the U.S. supply chain. as residences. The FDA is not alone in their con- ents, the APIs. cerns. In its 2019 report to Congress, On February 27, 2020, the FDA an- f the U.S.-China Economic and Security nounced the shortage of one drug that CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF Review Commission revealed ‘‘serious was used to treat patients with the MILITARY MEMBERS AND CIVIL deficiencies in health and safety stand- coronavirus. They attributed the short- SERVANTS ACT ards in China’s pharmaceutical sec- age to difficulties obtaining—guess tor.’’ That is not something that some- what—the active pharmaceutical in- Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. President, I body just read on the internet. It is not gredients from a site in China that has rise today to applaud my colleagues for an assumption. That is the 2019 report been affected by the disease. passing H.R. 4803, Citizenship for Chil- to Congress from the U.S.-China Eco- The status quo has made us vulner- dren of Military Members and Civil nomic and Security Review. able, but the fix is sitting right in front Servants Act, without amendment by The coronavirus outbreak is drawing of us. If we fail to act, we are placing unanimous consent. much needed attention to the possi- our future in the hands of unregulated Last year, Senator JOHNNY ISAKSON bility of a global health crisis. Indeed, foreign countries we know to be bad ac- joined me in introducing the bipartisan today the WHO classified it as a pan- tors. We have a lot of work to do before Senate companion to H.R. 4803 to make demic. I have to tell you, I think we will be able to call our supply chain sure that when children of U.S. citizens awareness is not enough. If the Con- and our healthcare delivery systems se- serving in the U.S. Armed Forces or gress does not act, our dependency on cure. But if we are learning anything, working for the U.S. Government are China for medications will continue to we are learning we need to bring this born abroad because their parents are put American lives at risk. production back into the United States serving our Nation overseas, they auto- Yesterday, alongside my friend, the where there is proper oversight, where matically acquire U.S. citizenship. Senator from New Jersey, Mr. MENEN- we know we are not going to have con- The unanimous passage of the Citi- DEZ, I introduced the Securing Amer- tamination in this supply chain for zenship for Children of Military Mem- ica’s Medicine Cabinet, or the SAM-C these active pharmaceutical ingredi- bers and Civil Servants Act by the U.S. Act, to encourage an increase in Amer- ents. We must embrace telehealth, es- House of Representatives and the U.S. ican manufacturing of APIs. The act pecially across State lines, and halt Senate sends a strong message that would expand upon the Emerging Tech- the breakdown of care in our rural children born to American parents nology Program within the FDA to areas. serving our country abroad are just as prioritize issues related to national se- I have introduced bills that will help worthy of automatic citizenship as any curity and critical drug shortages and support those things, and I welcome other child in this country. bring pharmaceutical manufacturing additional cosponsors. The door is al- This principle should not be con- jobs back to the United States. In addi- ways open. All of this activity is here troversial. That is why for the past 15 tion, the SAM-C Act authorizes $100 to secure our supply chain and our years, U.S. Citizenship and Immigra- million to develop centers of excellence ability to access the healthcare that tion Services considered children of for advanced pharmaceutical manufac- Americans need. Today I specifically members of the U.S. Armed Forces and turing in order to develop these inno- ask that our colleagues support S. 3432, Federal Government employees sta- vations. These centers will be partner- the SAM-C Act, Securing America’s tioned outside the United States to be ships between institutes of learning Medicine Cabinet Act. That is a first deemed as ‘‘residing in the United and the private sector. step in securing this pharmaceutical States’’ for the purpose of automati- The number of API manufacturing supply chain and securing the health cally acquiring citizenship. facilities in China is still growing. It and wellness of American consumers. This policy was pragmatic and cut grows every single day. Although we I yield the floor. burdensome redtape for American par- cannot yet quantify our dependence on I suggest the absence of a quorum. ents willing to serve our Nation abroad

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.038 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1700 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 as U.S. servicemembers or civil serv- the United States as first responders, such homage we now must pay . . . ants. It provided flexibility and al- but went above and beyond to help All in this battle and victory, lowed U.S. citizen parents to meet resi- combat the recent bushfires in Aus- all in what it means To Be A United States dency requirements for acquisition of tralia. Marine . . . In November 2019, Australia began to All in those magnificent shades of green . . . citizenship while serving overseas. It But, there are some things men do not talk kept American parents from cutting experience devastating bushfires that about . . . their overseas commitment short to es- burned over 30,000,000 acres of land. Of such things surely there is no doubt . . . tablish residency so their children During this time, more than 300 Amer- Of which they’d much rather live without could earn citizenship. This policy al- ican firefighters mobilized to assist ... lowed their children to enjoy the same Australian efforts to suppress and con- All in those times of war that which bring privileges of acquiring citizenship, as if tain the bushfire raging throughout about . . . their parents were working and living the continent. This bipartisan resolu- As now buried deep down inside all their fine within our country’s borders. tion recognizes the efforts and bravery souls throughout . . . However, in August 2019, the Trump of Australian and American men and Of which we all devoutly talk about . . . Such things that which make them awake administration enacted a policy change women who worked together to help ... to reverse this practice. Under this new those in danger and also specifically All in the middle of night as such deep policy, certain Americans serving their honors the three American firefighters breath’s they take . . . Nation abroad, in uniform or in the who lost their lives fighting Australia’s As they so re-fight this fight that which they civil service, must apply for citizenship bushfires on January 23, 2020. can not escape . . . on behalf of their children. These par- In my home State of Nevada, several To be carried with them as they grow old ents now have to navigate a complex firefighters answered the call to assist ... bureaucratic process and spend hun- with bushfire mitigation and suppres- As with each new step they make in these sion efforts. I want to take a moment hearts of gold . . . dreds of dollars on an application, with Of the evils that men do, no guarantee that their children will to recognize them individually: Mat- that which now leads their fine hearts to receive citizenship of the very country thew James Petersen, Justin Cutler, such heartache . . . they are serving abroad in uniform or Brian C. Holmes, Ian McQueary, Jacob And yet too, as a Federal employee. Keogh, Juan Islas, Kevin Kelly, Joseph such great warmth from within them ema- In fact, this policy change caused Re- L. Miller, Dylan Rader, Timothy P. nates . . . publican and Democratic lawmakers to Roide, and Eric T. Tilden. All because of the brilliance their most gal- recognize that current citizenship laws Thank you to all of these brave Ne- lant hearts would create . . . disadvantage these patriotic families. vadans for your service and sacrifice. And whenever they think of their Brothers In Arms their fine hearts so ache . . . Our citizenship laws and bureaucratic f For the ones who so heroically for each other requirements inflict undue burden on TRIBUTE TO HERCHEL WOODY fine lives so gave . . . these families and make American par- WILLIAMS That such splendor neither time nor distance ents ‘‘prove’’ that their children are can away so take . . . worthy of U.S. citizenship. Mr. MANCHIN. Mr. President, I rise Such horrific memories only death can this As a combat veteran, I understand today in honor of one of my constitu- pain forsake . . . the challenges and family stressors ents, an American hero, Medal of As now all of those visions of horror they that face Active-Duty members de- Honor recipient Herchel Woody Wil- carry deep, as all in the middle of the night they awake ployed to defend our Nation overseas. liams and all of the magnificent men who fought and died in the Battle of and weep . . . Congress should be helping U.S. serv- Until, up in Heaven rejoined with their icemembers focus on achieving their Iwo Jima on this the 75th anniversary. Brothers once more they meet . . . mission. Providing U.S. servicemem- Iwo Jima was one of the most bloodiest When, no longer all these nightmares their bers and civil servants with the peace and costly battles of WWII which saved fine souls will keep . . . of mind that they will not have to thousands of lives in the future. Mr. Oh yes, there are such things that men do navigate a lengthy and expensive proc- Williams is the last Medal of Honor re- not talk about . . . ess to apply for U.S. citizenship for cipient living from that battle of 27 That which come to mind within ones soul who received this honor. no doubt . . . their children advances this important Who once upon a battlefield of honor so IWO goal. stood. Our commonsense legislation codifies (By Albert Carey Caswell) for what was right and what was good gal- the previous policy by clarifying the In . . . lantly all throughout . . . Immigration and Nationality Act to In every heart of every Marine . . . For their courage and valor to this day we clearly require that children of U.S. There are but some battles seen . . . still talk about . . . citizen parents born in a foreign nation From which such magnificent reflections can As all of this we must now tout . . . while their parents are stationed be gleaned . . . For War is Hell, and Hell is War . . . All in what it so means, but to be a United And all of this young children must be told abroad automatically acquire U.S. citi- States Marine . . . about . . . zenship. All in those most magnificent shades of As it was to be the of War of War’s . . . I urge the President to honor the green . . . The Big One so all for sure . . . service and dedication of our U.S. serv- Semper Fidelis, To Save The World, as was their monu- icemembers, military families, and and oh what a brilliant shadow you so cast mental mission for sure . . . Federal workforce by signing the Citi- . . . this sheen . . . As a time when every battle but meant the zenship for Children of Military Mem- As you marched off to war as a United States most . . . bers and Civil Servants Act into law. Marine . . . As upon an Island named Iwo Jima, Hoo . . . Raaah Jar Head . . . where to such new heights their most heroic f As throughout the centuries, hearts rose . . . AUSTRALIAN WILDFIRES all for God and Country you have died and Where each new step was but life or death, bled . . . all in hand to hand combat as death stood Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, I rise in And all in that battle that we call lwo Jima close . . . support of S. Res. 527, a resolution I in what was said . . . As somehow, someway . . . was proud to cosponsor, recognizing As a time when their fine blood ran red . . . all of them to the occasion rose in those days the longstanding partnership between Now, all etched in their creed as said ...... the United States and Australia to Of what it really all so means, Rose to such new heights of heroism did they share critical firefighting resources but to be a United States Marine ...... during times of crisis. For from out of all of their grave sacrifice With 26,000 casualties, I first want to thank my colleagues, and loss, as 6,800 United States Marines most precious but comes such reverence all in this their lives they gave . . . Senator CARDIN and BARRASSO, for in- grave cost . . . And upon a hill in Arlington this day, troducing this important legislation All in what their great valor and courage to tears come to your eyes whenever you look recognizing the brave men and women us has taught . . . upon that memorial and that flag they who have not only risked their lives in As why still to this very day, raised . . .

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:03 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.033 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1701 Because, to the top of Mount Suribachi a pil- when 5 Marines and a Navy Corpsman por- families, and communities in Wyo- grimage, trayed . . . ming. These events include their an- every Marine dreams in their lifetime to Out into the future such an iconic moment nual Strength of America Banquet, the take . . . made . . . annual Camp Buffalo Bill Summer As it was 35 nights and days of Hell on earth Now, all etched in stone to be imprinted on as all so showed their fine worth . . . every Marines heart they say . . . Camp in Cody, fishing tournaments, As it was 70,000 United States Marines, As all part of their very DNA . . . and family camping trips. They work who dug in deep against an enemy which Whether at the top of Mount Suribachi, hard to provide many opportunities for could not be seen . . . or when we see that photo or memorial tears Scouts to participate in fellowships, As so quickly boys had to become men as come to our eyes do they . . . trainings, basecamps, and much more, their fine red blood ran green . . . Making us all so proud to be American’s the to help members be, as the Scouts say, All in what it so means, rest of our lives each day . . . ‘‘Prepared for life.’’ to be a United States Marine . . . For this battle is and will always be, one of our Nation’s most decisive of all vic- Brad Bodoh, the Scout executive for As all around them death lie replete, the council, has a strong background in with the smell of death upon their feet . . . tories . . . serving the Scouts of America. We are Such scenes of hell and carnage that would With only 216 of enemy so left, make the Angels weep . . . to tell their children’s children all about fortunate to have his leadership. Before At the evils that men do all in one’s soul to that battle against America’s Best. . . Brad made Wyoming home, he worked keep . . . Yea, there are some things that men do not for the Boy Scouts of America in Iowa And so too, talk about . . . and Ohio. The knowledge and experi- all in what new magnificence heights a he- Who for all of their courage and valor Heav- ence Brad brings to the Greater Wyo- en so awaits them no doubt . . . roic heart can reach . . . ming Council allow the Scouts to flour- With some of the fiercest fighting of the war And all throughout the history of The United States Marines, ish and expand their skills. Senior dis- as each new horrific day would repeat trict executives Frank Solla and An- ... Iwo Jima will now be always seen . . . With the greatest number of Medal of Honors As the embodiment of what it all so means, drew Allgeier, in addition to the coun- presented in any battle this feat . . . but to be a United States Marine . . . cil office staff, are instrumental in As it all began as they reached the beach And to what new heights a heroes heart can growing and supporting the organiza- ... achieve . . . tion’s participation throughout the After a bombardment looking like it would Can so climb too all in those magnificent state. shades of green . . . never cease . . . In Wyoming, we live by the Code of As an eerie quiet calmness upon their souls As Iwo Jima, is and will always be, Semper Fidelis of what faith and courage is the West. One of the principles of the beseeched . . . Code is ‘‘to take pride in your work.’’ As step by step into the island they left from all about. . . that beach, Iwo . . . Hoo . . . Rah . . . no doubt . . . The council’s volunteers and families until finally all hell broke loose as they were f embody this principle. They make it possible for Scouts to advance through all in deep . . . CENTENNIAL OF THE BOY SCOUTS Walking into an ambush as out of tunnels the program all the way through the OF AMERICA GREATER WYOMING and caves the enemy would creep . . . rank of Eagle Scout. They see their COUNCIL With years to plan such strategy to succeed work rewarded every time a Cub Scout ... Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise earns a new badge and an Eagle Scout As these Marines climbed and fought for today in celebration of 100 years of completes their project. The support every inch of real estate so steep . . . Scouting in Wyoming. for this organization is truly excep- Through inhospitable terrain of volcanic ash On Saturday, March 21, 2020, the Boy as death for them would meet . . . tional, and Wyoming is better for it. Scouts of America Greater Wyoming Mr. President, it is my pleasure to As all of these dark scenes from hell so came Council will host their annual Silver to pass . . . honor this historic milestone for the While, in the cover of darkness from out of Beaver and Eagle Scout Recognition Greater Wyoming Council. Their cen- caves such a grave toll the enemy Luncheon in Casper. This year holds a tennial celebration is a recognition of special significance as they will cele- amassed . . . all the hard work and preparation the brate their 100th anniversary at this As a new weapon came into play, council has done in the past 100 years the Zippo Tank a flame thrower helped win event. and will continue to do for the next 100 the day . . . The Boy Scouts of America incor- Helping these heroes through such hell to so porated on February 8, 1910. Scouting years. Bobbi and I are proud of the make their way . . . came to Casper with the creation of the Greater Wyoming Council and the com- Because, that airfield they could not concede Casper Council in 1917. The council munity support behind it. We celebrate ... continued to expand, changing its the century of Scouting in Wyoming As why 6,821 American Fine Heroes would die and extend our congratulations. and bleed . . . name to the Casper Area Council in f or War Is Hell and Hell Is War, 1925, Central Wyoming Council in 1931, is that but not what heaven is for? and finally the Greater Wyoming Coun- ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS And in the coming years how many more cil in 2016. The Boy Scouts of Amer- would have died? ica’s mission is ‘‘to prepare young peo- If it were but not for all of their most heroic ple to make ethical and moral choices RECOGNIZING FALLON FOOD HUB battle cries! over their lifetimes by instilling in ∑ Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, each For only the number our Lord knows up on them the values of the Scout Oath and week the U.S. Senate Committee on high . . . Law.’’ The council remains true to this Small Business & Entrepreneurship Fighting to the death hand to hand, mission and to their purpose to educate as perhaps each one a Medal of Honor could recognizes one small business that ex- youth, age 5 to 21, to build character, command . . . emplifies the hard work and persever- develop personal fitness, and to train Flamethrowers . . . tunnel by tunnel . . . ance of the American Dream and the cave by cave . . . in the responsibilities of participating citizenship. American entrepreneur. The great Tunnel rats crawling into death so very State of Nevada is home to more than brave . . . In Wyoming, the Greater Wyoming And how did they all get through each new Council upholds the mission and pur- 250,000 small businesses of all types dark day? pose of the Boy Scouts through service from mom-and-pop shop bakeries to As the enemy made them to such hell to pay to 11 counties and 3,000 youth across world renowned cybersecurity firms. In ... our State. The organization enjoys tre- fact, about 99 percent of all business in But, in the end there is nothing that has ever mendous community support with 1,400 Nevada are small businesses. Nevada’s been made, volunteers and 150 community part- small businesses are the driving force which can stop a United States Marine to ners. This consistent and broad in- behind our State’s rapidly growing this day . . . economy and the engine that powers As such a heavy toll these Marines made the volvement demonstrates what a valu- enemy pay . . . able benefit the council provides to the our communities. It is therefore my 21,844 would die, the ones who now lie in that youth and people of Wyoming. honor to recognize Nevada’s Fallon dark ground cold graves . . . The council provides a variety of Food Hub, a small business with a As it was on the 5th day, events and opportunities for Scouts, strong and deeprooted commitment to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.006 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1702 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 improving lives and a desire to give Dick Ambrosius was born in Huron, MEASURES READ THE FIRST TIME back to the community, for recently SD, and graduated from Huron High The following bill was read the first having been named the U.S. Senate School in 1964. He attended the Univer- time: Small Business of the Week. sity of South Dakota, USD, in H.R. 6172. An act to amend the Foreign In- The Fallon Food Hub’s mission is to Vermillion, SD, where he earned a mas- telligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to pro- educate the northern Nevada commu- ter’s degree. He was actively involved hibit the production of certain business nity about the benefits of eating sea- in the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity records, and for other purposes. sonally in order to create a thriving and the Reserve Officer Training Corps f and expanding local food scene, result- during his time at USD and continued EXECUTIVE AND OTHER ing in increased opportunities for pro- to advocate for the value of Greek life COMMUNICATIONS ducers and local businesses. Fallon and the importance of military service Food Hub believes that through edu- throughout his career. The following communication was cational opportunities for the commu- Following his college graduation in laid before the Senate, together with nity about health and wellness, mem- 1968, he was commissioned as an officer accompanying papers, reports, and doc- bers of the community can gain a in the U.S. Army, where he ultimately uments, and was referred as indicated: greater sense of cooperation and appre- attained the rank of captain prior to EC–4289. A communication from the Attor- ciation for the area producers, local his separation from service. He served ney and Federal Register Liaison, Bureau of farmers, and specialty food producers in Vietnam and was awarded the the Fiscal Service, Department of the Treas- that serve the Silver State. Through ury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the re- Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals. port of a rule entitled ‘‘Federal Government increasing awareness of and apprecia- In life, Mr. Ambrosius was a tireless Participation in the Automated Clearing tion of local farming and proper nutri- advocate for senior citizens and dis- House’’ (RIN1510–AB32) received during ad- tion, people can learn a healthier life- abled veterans. He served as executive journment of the Senate in the Office of the style while also supporting local pro- director for Warriors Never Give Up, a President of the Senate on March 6, 2020; to ducers. nonprofit organization that provides the Committee on Banking, Housing, and The Fallon Food Hub conducts fre- outdoor adventures for disabled vet- Urban Affairs. quent surveys to get a sense of what erans. f the community is interested in learn- I commend Mr. Ambrosius for his de- EXECUTIVE REPORTS OF ing, hosts monthly classes on the bene- votion to his community, disabled vet- COMMITTEES fits of eating seasonal produce, and erans, and seniors. I offer my sincerest The following executive reports of keeps the community informed condolences to his family and friends, nominations were submitted: through a monthly newspaper. The including his wife Karen, daughter Jen- Fallon Food Hub provides an outlet for nifer, sons Matt and Jacob, sister By Mr. WICKER for the Committee on ∑ Commerce, Science, and Transportation. local farmers, ranchers, and value- Nancy, and numerous grandchildren. *Coast Guard nomination of Capt. Miriam added producers to sell their goods. f L. Lafferty, to be Rear Admiral (Lower Half). I would also like to recognize the *Coast Guard nomination of James M. work that Fallon Food Hub does to ad- MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE Kelly, to be rear Admiral. vocate on behalf of local farmers. At 10:02 a.m., a message from the *Coast Guard nomination of Vice Adm. Through ongoing education for mem- House of Representatives, delivered by Scott A. Buschman, to be Vice Admiral. bers and surrounding communities Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- *Coast Guard nomination of Rear Adm. Steven D. Poulin, to be Vice Admiral. about farmers and the origins of local nounced that the House has passed the food, Fallon Food Hub is encouraging following bills, in which it requests the Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, for the our community to connect with one concurrence of the Senate: Committee on Commerce, Science, and another on a new level. They are an ex- Transportation I report favorably the H.R. 3598. An act to amend the Higher Edu- following nomination lists which were ample of an outstanding business with cation Act of 1965 to automatically discharge deep love for our community and one of the loans of certain veteran borrowers, and printed in the RECORDS on the dates in- the many reasons why they were a for other purposes. dicated, and ask unanimous consent, to clear choice for this recognition. H.R. 6020. An act to require an evaluation save the expense of reprinting on the Small businesses truly are the driv- by the Government Accountability Office of Executive Calendar that these nomina- ing force for development and growth the social, economic, and historic contribu- tions lie at the Secretary’s desk for the tions that Minor League Baseball has made information of Senators. not just in Nevada, but across our en- to American life and culture. tire Nation. Small businesses like The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Fallon Food Hub not only help our At 5:30 p.m., a message from the economy succeed, they also give back House of Representatives, delivered by * Coast Guard nominations beginning with by uplifting our communities, inspiring Jason A. Acuna and ending with David J. Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- Zwirblis, which nominations were received others to open businesses of their own, nounced that the House has passed the by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- improving people’s health and well- following bill, in which it requests the sional Record on January 6, 2020. being, and changing lives for the bet- concurrence of the Senate: * Coast Guard nominations beginning with ter. H.R. 6172. An act to amend the Foreign In- Jennifer J. Conklin and ending with Gennaro Again, I would like to recognize telligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to pro- A. Ruocco, which nominations were received Fallon Food Hub and all the employees hibit the production of certain business by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- there for their contribution to Nevada records, and for other purposes. sional Record on February 13, 2020. and our Nation and congratulate them * Coast Guard nominations beginning with f Ryan G. Angelo and ending with Jeffrey S. for being named the Senate Small MEASURES REFERRED Zamarin, which nominations were received Business and Entrepreneurship Com- by the Senate and appeared in the Congres- mittee’s Small Business of the Week. The following bills were read the first sional Record on February 13, 2020. As a member of the committee, it was and the second times by unanimous By Mr. GRASSLEY for the Committee on my honor to nominate this proud Ne- consent, and referred as indicated: Finance. vada business for recognition and my H.R. 3598. An act to amend the Higher Edu- * Jason J. Fichtner, of the District of Co- continued privilege to represent them cation Act of 1965 to automatically discharge lumbia, to be a Member of the Social Secu- rity Advisory Board for a term expiring Sep- and all of Nevada’s small businesses in the loans of certain veteran borrowers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on tember 30, 2024. the U.S. Senate.∑ * Kipp Kranbuhl, of Ohio, to be an Assist- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. ant Secretary of the Treasury. f H.R. 6020. An act to require an evaluation * Sarah C. Arbes, of Virginia, to be an As- by the Government Accountability Office of REMEMBERING DICK AMBROSIUS sistant Secretary of Health and Human Serv- the social, economic, and historic contribu- ∑ ices. Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, today I tions that Minor League Baseball has made would like to remember the life of Dick to American life and culture; to the Com- * Nomination was reported with rec- Ambrosius. Mr. Ambrosius passed away mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- ommendation that it be confirmed sub- on January 24, 2020, at the age of 73. tation. ject to the nominee’s commitment to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.007 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1703 respond to requests to appear and tes- icaid program for services provided by uations in the same manner as programs of tify before any duly constituted com- doulas, midwives, and lactation consultants, education pursued at educational institu- mittee of the Senate. and for other purposes; to the Committee on tions, and for other purposes; to the Com- Finance. mittee on Veterans’ Affairs. f By Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. SCHU- f INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND MER, Mr. BROWN, Mr. BENNET, Ms. JOINT RESOLUTIONS WARREN, Mr. CASEY, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND VAN HOLLEN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Ms. SENATE RESOLUTIONS The following bills and joint resolu- CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. tions were introduced, read the first UDALL, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. PETERS, Mr. The following concurrent resolutions and second times by unanimous con- DURBIN, Mr. BOOKER, Mr. and Senate resolutions were read, and sent, and referred as indicated: BLUMENTHAL, Mr. HEINRICH, Ms. referred (or acted upon), as indicated: HIRONO, Mr. COONS, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, By Ms. CORTEZ MASTO (for herself By Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mrs. SHA- Mr. KAINE, Mr. REED, Ms. BALDWIN, and Mr. GRASSLEY): HEEN, Mr. KAINE, and Ms. ROSEN): Mr. SCHATZ, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. S. 3434. A bill to make Federal law enforce- S. Res. 539. A resolution supporting the MERKLEY, Mr. WARNER, Mr. WHITE- ment officer peer support communications rights of the people of Iran to determine HOUSE, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. SMITH, Mr. confidential, and for other purposes; to the their future, condemning the Iranian regime LEAHY, Ms. HASSAN, Mrs. MURRAY, Committee on the Judiciary. for its crackdown on legitimate protests, and and Ms. HARRIS): for other purposes; to the Committee on For- By Ms. SINEMA (for herself and Mr. S. 3444. A bill to amend title 38, United eign Relations. HOEVEN): States Code, to expand the list of diseases as- S. 3435. A bill to authorize the Director of By Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. CAS- sociated with exposure to certain herbicide U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement SIDY, Mr. KING, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. agents for which there is a presumption of to reclassify the technical enforcement offi- WHITEHOUSE, Mr. WICKER, Ms. HAS- service connection for veterans who served cers in the Homeland Security Investiga- SAN, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. REED, Mr. CAR- in the Republic of Vietnam, and for other tions tactical patrol unit operating on the PER, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Ms. purposes; to the Committee on Veterans’ Af- lands of the Tohono O’odham Nation (com- KLOBUCHAR, Mr. MANCHIN, Ms. BALD- fairs. monly known as the ‘‘Shadow Wolves’’) as WIN, Mr. KAINE, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. By Mr. YOUNG (for himself, Mr. CASEY, special agents; to the Committee on Home- HARRIS, Mr. MARKEY, Mr. VAN HOL- and Mrs. CAPITO): land Security and Governmental Affairs. S. 3445. A bill to direct the Secretary of LEN, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. By Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mr. HEIN- Labor to award grants to develop, admin- BROWN, Mr. PETERS, Mr. TESTER, Mr. RICH, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. MCSALLY, ister, and evaluate early childhood education HEINRICH, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. SANDERS, Ms. SINEMA, and Mr. CORNYN): apprenticeships, and for other purposes; to Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, S. 3436. A bill to establish grant programs the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, Ms. SMITH, and Mr. BENNET): to improve the health of border area resi- and Pensions. S. Res. 540. A resolution recognizing the dents and for all hazards preparedness in the By Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. contributions of AmeriCorps members and border area including bioterrorism, infec- alumni to the lives of the people of the TESTER, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. SAND- tious disease, and noncommunicable emerg- United States; considered and agreed to. ERS, and Mr. MANCHIN): ing threats, and for other purposes; to the S. 3446. A bill to amend title 38, United By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. Committee on Foreign Relations. States Code, to extend the authority of the KING): By Mrs. LOEFFLER (for herself and Secretary of Veterans Affairs to prescribe S. Res. 541. A resolution recognizing and Ms. SMITH): regulations providing that a presumption of celebrating the 200th anniversary of the S. 3437. A bill to reauthorize certain pro- service connection is warranted for a disease entry of Maine into the Union as the 23d grams regarding rural health care; to the with a positive association with exposure to State; considered and agreed to. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and a herbicide agent, and for other purposes; to f Pensions. the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. By Mrs. LOEFFLER (for herself and By Mr. THUNE (for himself and Mr. ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS Ms. SMITH): CARDIN): S. 3438. A bill to reauthorize the telehealth S. 3447. A bill to amend title XVIII of the S. 596 network and telehealth resource centers Social Security Act to establish a program At the request of Mr. BARRASSO, the grant programs; to the Committee on to allow qualified group practices to furnish name of the Senator from Alaska (Ms. Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. certain items and services at qualified MURKOWSKI) was added as a cosponsor By Mr. SCOTT of Florida (for himself skilled nursing facilities to individuals enti- of S. 596, a bill to amend title XVIII of and Ms. SINEMA): tled to benefits under part A and enrolled S. 3439. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- the Social Security Act to provide for under part B of the Medicare program to re- direct payment to physician assistants enue Code of 1986 to permit high deductible duce unnecessary hospitalizations, and for health plans to divide the deductible be- other purposes; to the Committee on Fi- under the Medicare program for certain tween medical and drug costs for purposes of nance. services furnished by such physician qualifying for health savings accounts, and By Ms. SMITH (for herself, Mr. assistants. for other purposes; to the Committee on Fi- BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BROWN, Ms. BALD- S. 785 nance. WIN, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. MURRAY, By Mr. WYDEN: At the request of Mr. TESTER, the Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, name of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. S. 3440. A bill to require States to adopt Mrs. SHAHEEN, Mr. MERKLEY, and Mr. WYDEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. contingency plans to prevent the disruption DURBIN): of Federal elections from the COVID–19 S. 3448. A bill to provide for certain con- 785, a bill to improve mental health virus, and for other purposes; to the Com- tracting requirements to promote fair and care provided by the Department of mittee on Rules and Administration. safe workplaces, and for other purposes; to Veterans Affairs, and for other pur- By Mr. JONES (for himself, Mr. TILLIS, the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, poses. Mr. MANCHIN, and Mr. CORNYN): and Pensions. S. 1136 S. 3441. A bill to amend the Federal De- By Mr. TILLIS (for himself and Mr. posit Insurance Act to provide exceptions to COONS): At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the the prohibition on participation by individ- S. 3449. A bill to amend the Trademark Act name of the Senator from New Hamp- uals convicted of certain offenses, and for of 1946 to provide for third-party submission shire (Ms. HASSAN) was added as a co- other purposes; to the Committee on Bank- of evidence relating to a trademark applica- sponsor of S. 1136, a bill to amend title ing, Housing, and Urban Affairs. tion, to establish expungement and ex parte 10, United States Code, to authorize By Mr. BOOKER (for himself and Mr. proceedings relating to the validity of concurrent use of Department of De- MENENDEZ): marks, to provide for a rebuttal presumption fense Tuition Assistance and Mont- S. 3442. A bill to require private health in- of irreparable harm in certain proceedings, surers to cover care related to COVID–19 and for other purposes; to the Committee on gomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve bene- without cost-sharing and to provide for spe- the Judiciary. fits, and for other purposes. cial enrollment periods for individuals diag- By Mr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. S. 1942 nosed with COVID–19; to the Committee on TESTER, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, At the request of Mr. CARPER, the Finance. Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. SULLIVAN, Mrs. name of the Senator from Massachu- By Mr. CASEY: BLACKBURN, and Mr. BOOZMAN): S. 3443. A bill to amend title XIX of the So- S. 3450. A bill to authorize the Secretary of setts (Mr. MARKEY) was added as a co- cial Security Act to provide Medicaid cov- Veterans Affairs to treat certain programs of sponsor of S. 1942, a bill to amend chap- erage for all pregnant and postpartum education converted to distance learning by ter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to women, to provide coverage under the Med- reason of emergencies and health-related sit- create a presumption that a disability

VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:16 Jun 22, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD20\MARCH\S11MR0.REC S11MR0 sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE S1704 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 or death of a Federal employee in fire sponsor of S. 3218, a bill to amend the bill to amend the Public Health Serv- protection activities caused by any of Communications Act of 1934 to modify ice Act to provide for treatment of cer- certain diseases is the result of the per- the definition of franchise fee, and for tain respiratory protective devices as formance of the duty of the employee, other purposes. covered countermeasures for purposes and for other purposes. S. 3242 of targeted liability protections for S. 2254 At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the pandemic and epidemic products and At the request of Mr. BROWN, the name of the Senator from Vermont security countermeasures, and for name of the Senator from California (Mr. LEAHY) was added as a cosponsor other purposes. (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a co- of S. 3242, a bill to amend the Foreign S. 3374 sponsor of S. 2254, a bill to amend the Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to At the request of Mr. MANCHIN, the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create protect privacy rights, and for other name of the Senator from Nevada (Ms. a Pension Rehabilitation Trust Fund, purposes. ROSEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. to establish a Pension Rehabilitation S. 3244 3374, a bill to amend the Public Health Administration within the Department At the request of Ms. ROSEN, the Service Act to protect the confiden- of the Treasury to make loans to mul- names of the Senator from Maine (Ms. tiality of substance use disorder pa- tiemployer defined benefit plans, and COLLINS), the Senator from Missouri tient records. for other purposes. (Mr. BLUNT) and the Senator from Con- S. 3398 S. 2366 necticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) were added At the request of Mr. GRAHAM, the At the request of Mr. WARNER, the as cosponsors of S. 3244, a bill to re- name of the Senator from Louisiana name of the Senator from Arizona (Ms. quire the Secretary of Health and (Mr. KENNEDY) was added as a cospon- MCSALLY) was added as a cosponsor of Human Services to improve the detec- sor of S. 3398, a bill to establish a Na- S. 2366, a bill to streamline the em- tion, prevention, and treatment of tional Commission on Online Child ployer reporting process and strength- mental health issues among public Sexual Exploitation Prevention, and en the eligibility verification process safety officers, and for other purposes. for other purposes. for the premium assistance tax credit S. 3276 S. 3415 and cost-sharing subsidy. At the request of Mr. COONS, the At the request of Mrs. MURRAY, the S. 2669 name of the Senator from Rhode Island names of the Senator from Virginia At the request of Mrs. SHAHEEN, her (Mr. REED) was added as a cosponsor of (Mr. WARNER), the Senator from Penn- name was added as a cosponsor of S. S. 3276, a bill to eliminate asset limits sylvania (Mr. CASEY) and the Senator 2669, a bill to amend the Federal Elec- employed by certain federally funded from Connecticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) tion Campaign Act of 1971 to clarify means-tested public assistance pro- were added as cosponsors of S. 3415, a the obligation to report acts of foreign grams, and for other purposes. bill to allow Americans to earn paid election influence and require imple- S. 3337 sick time so that they can address mentation of compliance and reporting At the request of Mr. BLUMENTHAL, their own health needs and the health systems by Federal campaigns to de- the name of the Senator from Cali- needs of their families. tect and report such acts, and for other fornia (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a S. 3418 purposes. cosponsor of S. 3337, a bill to amend At the request of Mr. PETERS, the S. 2772 title 49, United States Code, to require names of the Senator from Oklahoma At the request of Mr. BROWN, the more accountability in the airline in- (Mr. LANKFORD) and the Senator from name of the Senator from Rhode Island dustry, and for other purposes. Michigan (Ms. STABENOW) were added (Mr. WHITEHOUSE) was added as a co- S. 3350 as cosponsors of S. 3418, a bill to amend sponsor of S. 2772, a bill to amend title At the request of Mr. TESTER, the the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief XVIII of the Social Security Act to name of the Senator from Maine (Mr. and Emergency Assistance Act to allow provide for treatment of clinical psy- KING) was added as a cosponsor of S. the Administrator of the Federal chologists as physicians for purposes of 3350, a bill to amend title XVIII of the Emergency Management Agency to furnishing clinical psychologist serv- Social Security Act to deem certain provide capitalization grants to States ices under the Medicare program. State Veterans homes meeting certain to establish revolving funds to provide S. 2950 health and safety standards as meeting hazard mitigation assistance to reduce At the request of Mr. SULLIVAN, the conditions and requirements for skilled risks from disasters and natural haz- names of the Senator from Idaho (Mr. nursing facilities under the Medicare ards, and other related environmental RISCH) and the Senator from Maine and Medicaid programs. harm. (Mr. KING) were added as cosponsors of S. 3353 S. 3422 S. 2950, a bill to amend title 38, United At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the At the request of Mr. GARDNER, the States Code, to concede exposure to name of the Senator from Ohio (Mr. name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. airborne hazards and toxins from burn BROWN) was added as a cosponsor of S. PERDUE) was added as a cosponsor of S. pits under certain circumstances, and 3353, a bill to amend title XVIII of the 3422, a bill to amend title 54, United for other purposes. Social Security Act to provide for ex- States Code, to establish, fund, and S. 2970 tended months of Medicare coverage of provide for the use of amounts in a Na- At the request of Ms. ERNST, the immunosuppressive drugs for kidney tional Parks and Public Land Legacy name of the Senator from Montana transplant patients, and for other pur- Restoration Fund to address the main- (Mr. DAINES) was added as a cosponsor poses. tenance backlog of the National Park of S. 2970, a bill to improve the fielding S. 3364 Service, the United States Fish and of newest generations of personal pro- At the request of Mr. BOOKER, the Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Land tective equipment to the Armed names of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Management, the Forest Service, and Forces, and for other purposes. MERKLEY) and the Senator from Min- the Bureau of Indian Education, and to S. 2989 nesota (Ms. SMITH) were added as co- provide permanent, dedicated funding At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the sponsors of S. 3364, a bill to improve for the Land and Water Conservation name of the Senator from Vermont the health and academic achievement Fund, and for other purposes. (Mr. SANDERS) was added as a cospon- of students in highly polluted environ- S. 3431 sor of S. 2989, a bill to amend title XI ments, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. CASSIDY, the of the Social Security Act to clarify S. 3372 name of the Senator from Hawaii (Ms. the mailing requirement relating to so- At the request of Mrs. FISCHER, the HIRONO) was added as a cosponsor of S. cial security account statements. names of the Senator from North Da- 3431, a bill to require online market- S. 3218 kota (Mr. HOEVEN), the Senator from places to disclose certain verified infor- At the request of Mr. MARKEY, the North Dakota (Mr. CRAMER) and the mation regarding high-volume third name of the Senator from California Senator from Alaska (Mr. SULLIVAN) party sellers of consumer products to (Mrs. FEINSTEIN) was added as a co- were added as cosponsors of S. 3372, a inform consumers.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:17 Jun 22, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD20\MARCH\S11MR0.REC S11MR0 sradovich on DSKJLST7X2PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1705

S. RES. 99 images and videos of deadly violence being Whereas, on November 20, 2019, the French At the request of Mr. PETERS, the used by security forces; Foreign Ministry stated, ‘‘France is fol- name of the Senator from Vermont Whereas, on November 16, 2019, Iran’s Inte- lowing the demonstrations taking place in rior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli sug- Iran with concern. It expresses its deep con- (Mr. LEAHY) was added as a cosponsor gested that the Iranian regime would no cern at reports that a large respect its inter- of S. Res. 99, a resolution expressing longer show ‘‘tolerance’’ toward the pro- national human rights obligations.’’; the sense of the Senate that Congress testers; Whereas, on December 2, 2019, a statement should take all appropriate measures Whereas, on November 17, 2019, Iranian Su- from Amnesty International confirmed that to ensure that the United States Postal preme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamene’i ‘‘extensive video footage verified and ana- Service remains an independent estab- called the demonstrators ‘‘villains’’, sug- lyzed by Amnesty International’s Digital lishment of the Federal Government gested that protests were incited by foreign Verification Corps shows security forces and is not subject to privatization. enemies and domestic insurgents, and or- shooting at unarmed protesters who did not dered Iranian security services to ‘‘imple- pose any imminent risk’’; f ment their duties’’ to end the protests; Whereas, on December 6, 2019, United Na- Whereas, on November 18, 2019, the IRGC tion’s High Commissioner for Human Rights SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS deployed to the southwestern city of Michelle Bachelet said, ‘‘Verified video foot- Mahshahr, which had been taken over by age indicates severe violence was used demonstrators, and engaged in mass repres- against protesters, including armed members SENATE RESOLUTION 539—SUP- sion over a period of 4 days, reportedly kill- of security forces shooting from the roof of a PORTING THE RIGHTS OF THE ing as many as 100 people; justice department building in one city, and PEOPLE OF IRAN TO DETERMINE Whereas multiple United States laws pro- from helicopters in another,’’ and added that THEIR FUTURE, CONDEMNING vide authorities to designate and sanction the Office of the United Nations High Com- THE IRANIAN REGIME FOR ITS elements of the Iranian regime for its repres- missioner for Human Rights has also re- sive conduct, including those involved in sig- ceived footage showing security forces CRACKDOWN ON LEGITIMATE nificant corruption or serious human rights ‘‘shooting to kill’’; PROTESTS, AND FOR OTHER abuses, including— Whereas, on December 8, 2019, a Declara- PURPOSES (1) the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Ac- tion by the European Union High Represent- countability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mrs. SHA- ative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy U.S.C. 8501 et seq.); Josep Borrell Fontelles stated, ‘‘A growing HEEN, Mr. KAINE, and Ms. ROSEN) sub- (2) the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria body of evidence indicates that despite re- mitted the following resolution; which Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8701 et peated calls for restraint, the Iranian secu- was referred to the Committee on For- seq.); rity forces’ disproportionate response to re- (3) the Countering Iran’s Destabilizing Ac- eign Relations: cent demonstrations has led to high numbers tivities Act of 2017 (22 U.S.C. 9401 et seq.); of deaths and injuries. For the European S. RES. 539 and Whereas, on January 8, 2020, the Govern- (4) the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Union and its Member States, the widespread ment of Iran shot down Ukraine Inter- Accountability Act (subtitle F of title XII of and disproportionate use of force against national Airlines Flight 752, lied about its Public Law 114–328; 22 U.S.C. 2656 note); nonviolent protestors is unacceptable.’’; culpability, and then admitted to downing Whereas the Iranian regime was implicated Whereas, on December 16, 2019, Amnesty the plane on January 11 after evidence was in a terrorist plot targeting gatherings of International further reported that ‘‘[eye- made public by other sources; Iranian dissidents in Paris in June 2018 and witness testimony] suggests that, almost im- Whereas all 167 passengers and 9 crew- in Albania in March 2018; mediately after the Iranian authorities mas- members aboard Ukraine International Air- Whereas, in August 2018, the United States sacred hundreds. . .participating in nation- lines Flight 752 died in the resulting crash; Government arrested 2 Iranian nationals wide protests, [the authorities] went on to Whereas passengers were mostly citizens of who later pleaded guilty for acting on behalf orchestrate a wide-scale clampdown designed Iran, but also included citizens of Canada, of the Iranian regime to conduct covert sur- to instill fear and prevent anyone from Ukraine, Great Britain, Afghanistan, and veillance in the United States against offi- speaking out about what happened’’; Sweden; cials of the Iranian opposition for a target Whereas, on January 17, 2020, the United Whereas, during January 11 through 13, package which, according to the Department States designated IRGC General Hassan 2020, protesters gathered across Iran to de- of Justice complaint, may have included Shahvarpour, Khuzestan Province’s Vali Asr nounce lying and incompetence by regime ‘‘apprehension, recruitment, cyber exploi- Commander, for his involvement in gross leadership with respect to the airline tation, or capture/kill operations’’; violations of human rights against shootdown; Whereas the Iranian regime has routinely protestors during the November 15 through Whereas video clips of protests from Janu- violated the human rights of Iranian citi- 18, 2019, protests in Mahshahr, Iran; ary 11 through 13, 2020, showed protestors zens, including by implementing ongoing, Whereas Iran is a member of the United chanting against Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali systematic, and serious restrictions of free- Nations, voted for the Universal Declaration Khamene’i and the IRGC; dom of peaceful assembly and association of Human Rights, and is a state party to the Whereas video clips suggest Iranian au- and freedom of opinion and expression, in- International Covenant on Civil and Polit- thorities deployed tear gas and live ammuni- cluding the continuing closures of media ical Rights, done at New York December 19, tion against protestors in January 2020; outlets, arrests of journalists, and the cen- 1966; Whereas earlier antigovernment protests sorship of expression in online forums such Whereas, during February 2020 parliamen- in Iran began on November 15, 2019, and rap- as blogs and websites; tary elections, against the backdrop of re- idly spread to dozens of Iranian cities in 29 of Whereas, on November 22, 2019, the United gime interference, disqualification of re- Iran’s 31 provinces, in the most significant States imposed sanctions on Iran’s Minister formist and moderate candidates, and anger antigovernment protests in Iran since the of Information and Communications Tech- over crackdowns on protesters, the majority Green Movement demonstrations in 2009 and nology for his role in shutting down internet of the Iranian people chose not to vote, mak- 2010; access in Iran; ing turnout the lowest in Iran’s post-1979 his- Whereas the protests began in response to Whereas the Department of State’s most tory; and an announced increase on the price of fuel, current Human Rights Report noted that the Whereas the Iranian regime has a long his- and protesters expressed numerous economic Government of Iran levied ‘‘severe restric- tory of violent repression of dissent, includ- grievances, while also calling for the struc- tions on free expression, the press, and the ing— tural reform of the political system and con- internet, including censorship, site blocking, (1) in 1988, carrying out the barbaric mass executions of thousands of political pris- demning current and former Iranian leaders; and criminalization of libel; substantial in- oners—including teenagers and pregnant Whereas reports indicate that Iranian se- terference with the rights of peaceful assem- women—by hanging and firing squad for re- curity forces responded to protests with le- bly and freedom of association, such as over- fusing to renounce their political affiliations thal force, killing hundreds of demonstrators ly restrictive nongovernmental organization and, in some cases, for possessing or distrib- and arresting thousands more; (NGO) laws; egregious restrictions of reli- uting political reading material; Whereas reports indicate that the Govern- gious freedom; restrictions on political par- (2) in 1999, brutally suppressing a student ment of Iran authorities have, in many in- ticipation;’’ and that there is ‘‘widespread revolt that was one of the largest mass stances, refused to return victims’ bodies to corruption at all levels of government’’; uprisings up until that point in the country their families and that security forces have Whereas, on November 18, 2019, the Office since 1979, in a crackdown since referred to removed bodies from morgues and trans- of the German Chancellor stated, ‘‘It is le- as ‘‘Iran’s Tiananmen Square’’; ferred them to unknown locations; gitimate and deserving of our respect when (3) following voting irregularities that re- Whereas, on November 16, 2019, Iranian au- people courageously air their economic and sulted in the 2009 re-election of Mahmoud thorities began implementing a near-total political grievances, as is currently hap- Ahmadinejad, cracking down on peaceful po- shutdown of internet services, stopping near- pening in Iran. . .We urge the government in litical dissent from wide segments of civil ly all means of online communications for Tehran to respect freedom of assembly and society in a cynical attempt to retain its un- people inside Iran to prevent the sharing of expression.’’; democratic grip on power; and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:45 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.014 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1706 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 (4) beginning in December 2017, and con- Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Ms. SMITH, and Mr. States, providing hope and help to individ- tinuing for several months after protests BENNET) submitted the following reso- uals with economic and social needs; erupted over economic conditions in more lution; which was considered and Whereas national service and volunteerism than 80 cities, confronting protestors with agreed to: demonstrate the best of the spirit of the excessive force that resulted in at least 25 United States, with people turning toward deaths and 4,000 arrests: Now, therefore, be it S. RES. 540 problems and working together to find com- Resolved, That the Senate— Whereas, since its inception in 1994, the munity solutions; and (1) stands with the people of Iran that are AmeriCorps national service program has Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in engaged in legitimate protests against an op- proven to be a highly effective way— 2020 from March 8 through March 14, is an pressive, corrupt regime; (1) to engage the people of the United appropriate time for the people of the United (2) supports the right of Iranians to peace- States in meeting a wide range of local and States— fully assemble, without fear of persecution national needs; and (1) to salute current and former and violence, whether in Iran or internation- (2) to promote the ethics of service and vol- AmeriCorps members for their positive im- ally; unteerism; pact on the lives of people in the United (3) respects the proud history and rich cul- Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,100,000 in- States; ture of the Iranian nation and fully supports dividuals have taken the AmeriCorps pledge (2) to thank the community partners of efforts by the people of Iran to promote the to ‘‘get things done for America’’ by becom- AmeriCorps for making the program pos- establishment of basic freedoms that build ing AmeriCorps members; sible; and the foundation for the emergence of a freely Whereas, each year, AmeriCorps, in coordi- (3) to encourage more people in the United elected and transparent republic; nation with State service commissions, pro- States to become involved in service and vol- (4) condemns the Iranian regime’s downing vides opportunities for approximately 75,000 unteering: Now, therefore, be it of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight individuals across the United States to give Resolved, That the Senate— 752 and its repeated lying to the people of back in an intensive way to communities, (1) encourages the people of the United Iran and around the world about its responsi- States, Tribal nations, and the United States to join in a national effort— bility for the disaster; States; (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and (5) condemns the Iranian regime for its Whereas AmeriCorps members have served alumni; and record of brutal repression against peaceful more than 1,600,000,000 hours nationwide, (B) to raise awareness about the impor- protests; helping— tance of national and community service; (6) condemns the Iranian regime’s serious (1) to improve the lives of the most vulner- (2) acknowledges the significant accom- human rights abuses against Iranians, sig- able people of the United States; plishments of the members, alumni, and (2) to protect the environment; nificant corruption, and destabilizing activi- community partners of AmeriCorps; (3) to contribute to public safety; (3) recognizes the important contributions ties abroad; (4) to respond to disasters; (7) commends the statements of support for made by AmeriCorps members and alumni to (5) to strengthen the educational system of the lives of the people of the United States; protesters from the United States and key the United States; and United States allies; and (6) to expand economic opportunity; (4) encourages individuals of all ages to (8) calls on all democratic governments Whereas, since 1994, AmeriCorps funds have and institutions to support the ability of the consider opportunities to serve in been invested in nonprofit, community, edu- AmeriCorps. people of Iran to live in a free society such cational, and faith-based groups, and those that they can exercise their human rights funds leverage hundreds of millions of dol- f and fundamental freedoms; lars in outside funding and in-kind donations SENATE RESOLUTION 541—RECOG- (9) demands that the Iranian regime abide each year; by its international obligations with respect NIZING AND CELEBRATING THE Whereas AmeriCorps members recruit and 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE to human rights and civil liberties, including supervise millions of community volunteers, freedoms of peaceful assembly and speech, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a ENTRY OF MAINE INTO THE including for members of the press; powerful force for encouraging people to be- UNION AS THE 23D STATE (10) urges the President to work to convene come involved in volunteering and commu- Ms. COLLINS (for herself and Mr. emergency sessions of the United Nations nity service; Security Council and the United Nations KING) submitted the following resolu- Whereas AmeriCorps members serve at tion; which was considered and agreed Human Rights Council to condemn the ongo- more than 21,000 locations across the United ing human rights violations perpetrated by States, including at nonprofit organizations, to: the Iranian regime and establish a mecha- schools, and faith-based and community or- S. RES. 541 nism by which the Security Council can ganizations; Whereas the place now known as Maine is monitor such violations; Whereas AmeriCorps National Civilian Wabanaki Homeland and is home to vibrant (11) encourages the United States Govern- Community Corps campuses in the States of indigenous cultures and communities; ment to do everything in its power to ensure Mississippi, Iowa, California, and Colorado Whereas Maine was a district of Massachu- the Iranian people have free and uninter- strengthen communities and develop future setts, 1 of the 13 original colonies of the rupted access to the internet; leaders through team-based service; United States; (12) calls on telecommunications compa- Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, Whereas, by 1820, people living in Maine nies to reject requests by the regime to cut in return for the service of those members, had built a thriving economy that included off the Iranian people from social media and have earned nearly $4,000,000,000 to use to farming, forestry, fishing, and shipbuilding other communications platforms; and further their own educational advancement industries; (13) urges the President and the Secretary at colleges and universities across the Whereas, in March 1820, Congress and of State to work with the international com- United States; President James Monroe approved the Mis- munity to signal through future multilateral Whereas AmeriCorps members, after their souri Compromise, authorizing the establish- and bilateral discussions that the Govern- terms of service with AmeriCorps end, have ment of the State of Maine and making ment of Iran’s human rights violations are been more likely to remain engaged in their Maine the 23d State of the United States; unacceptable. communities as volunteers, teachers, and Whereas Maine is characterized by hard- f nonprofit professionals than the average in- working, altruistic, and independent people dividual; and a strong community spirit; SENATE RESOLUTION 540—RECOG- Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway Whereas the State motto of Maine, NIZING THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF to employment, providing members with val- ‘‘Dirigo’’, Latin for ‘‘I lead’’, reflects the AMERICORPS MEMBERS AND uable career skills, experience, and contacts trailblazing nature of Maine and the 1,300,000 ALUMNI TO THE LIVES OF THE to prepare them for the 21st century work- inhabitants of Maine; PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES force and to help close the skills gap in the Whereas Maine has 1 of the highest num- United States; bers of veterans per capita in the United Mr. COONS (for himself, Mr. CASSIDY, Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bi- States, and is the home of Togus, the first Mr. KING, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. WHITE- partisan Serve America Act (Public Law 111– veterans hospital in the United States; HOUSE, Mr. WICKER, Ms. HASSAN, Ms. 13; 123 Stat. 1460), which authorized the ex- Whereas Maine contributes greatly to na- COLLINS, Mr. REED, Mr. CARPER, Mr. pansion of national service, expanded oppor- tional defense through the Portsmouth WYDEN, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Ms. KLO- tunities to serve, increased efficiency and ac- Naval Shipyard, Bath Iron Works, Pratt & BUCHAR, Mr. MANCHIN, Ms. BALDWIN, countability, and strengthened the capacity Whitney, and numerous other suppliers and of organizations and communities to solve installations whose skilled employees are a Mr. KAINE, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. HARRIS, problems; vital asset to the United States; Mr. MARKEY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. Whereas national service programs have Whereas distinguished statesmen from BOOKER, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. BROWN, Mr. engaged millions of people in the United Maine include William King, Joshua Cham- PETERS, Mr. TESTER, Mr. HEINRICH, Mr. States in results-driven service in the most berlain, Hannibal Hamlin, Margaret Chase DURBIN, Mr. SANDERS, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, vulnerable communities of the United Smith, and Edmund Muskie;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.015 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1707 Whereas Maine is known as ‘‘The Pine Tree Secretary of the Treasury, Sarah C. RECOGNIZING THE CONTRIBU- State’’ and ‘‘Vacationland’’ for the extensive Arbes, of Virginia, to be an Assistant TIONS OF AMERICORPS MEM- forests and spectacular scenery that draw Secretary of Health and Human Serv- BERS AND ALUMNI TO THE millions of visitors to Maine every year; ices, and Jason J. Fichtner, of the Dis- LIVES OF THE PEOPLE OF THE Whereas the majestic beauty of Mount Ka- tahdin, 1 of the highest peaks in New Eng- trict of Columbia, to be a Member of UNITED STATES the Social Security Advisory Board. land and the northern terminus of the Appa- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I lachian Trail, and other unspoiled natural COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ask unanimous consent that the Sen- treasures beckon outdoor enthusiasts; The Committee on Foreign Relations ate proceed to the consideration of S. Whereas the rugged coastline and vibrant is authorized to meet during the ses- Res. 540, submitted earlier today. fall foliage of Maine are showcased in par- sion of the Senate on Wednesday, ticular splendor in Acadia National Park, 1 The PRESIDING OFFICER. The of the 10 most visited national parks in the March 11, 2020, at 10:10 a.m., to conduct clerk will report the resolution by United States; a hearing. title. Whereas the pristine Atlantic waters off COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND The bill clerk read as follows: the coast of Maine support fishermen and GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS women and the iconic lobster industry, A resolution (S. Res. 540) recognizing the The Committee on Homeland Security and contributions of AmeriCorps members and which is the most valuable fishery in the Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet United States and is known worldwide as a alumni to the lives of the people of the during the session of the Senate on Wednes- United States. standard of seafood excellence; day, March 11, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct Whereas Maine is the most forested State a hearing on the following nomination: There being no objection, the Senate in the United States, with a long history of James E. Trainor III, of Texas, to be a Mem- proceeded to consider the resolution. pulp and paper production and an exciting ber of the Federal Election Commission. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I recent turn toward innovation and diver- COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY know of no further debate on the meas- sification of forest products; Whereas the fertile soils of Maine have The Committee on the Judiciary is ure. helped farmers produce the best potatoes and authorized to meet during the session The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there wild blueberries for generations, and have of the Senate on Wednesday, March 11, is no further debate, the question is on supported the increase of organic agriculture 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a closed agreeing to the resolution. operations; roundtables. The resolution (S. Res. 540) was Whereas March 15, 2020, marks the 200th agreed to. anniversary of the attainment of statehood COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS by Maine; and The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Whereas that bicentennial is a monu- is authorized to meet during the ses- ask unanimous consent that the pre- mental occasion to celebrate and commemo- sion of the Senate on Wednesday, amble be agreed to and the motions to rate the achievements of the great State of March 11, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a reconsider be considered made and laid Maine: Now, therefore, be it closed roundtables. upon the table with no intervening ac- Resolved, That the Senate recognizes and tion or debate. celebrates the 200th anniversary of the entry SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE of Maine into the Union as the 23d State. The Select Committee on Intel- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. f ligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Wednes- The preamble was agreed to. AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO day, March 11, 2020, at 2 p.m., to con- (The resolution, with its preamble, is MEET duct a closed roundtables. printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub- Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I have 10 SUBCOMMITTEE ON PERSONNEL mitted Resolutions.’’) requests for committees to meet during The Subcommittee on Personnel of today’s session of the Senate. They the Committee on Armed Services is f have the approval of the Majority and authorized to meet during the session Minority leaders. of the Senate on Wednesday, March 11, RECOGNIZING AND CELEBRATING Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- SUBCOMMITTEE ON SEAPOWER THE ENTRY OF MAINE INTO THE ate, the following committees are au- UNION AS THE 23D STATE thorized to meet during today’s session The Subcommittee on Seapower of of the Senate: the Committee on Armed Services is Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I authorized to meet during the session ask unanimous consent that the Sen- COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND of the Senate on Wednesday, March 11, TRANSPORTATION ate proceed to the consideration S. The Committee on Commerce, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. Res. 541, submitted earlier today. Science, and Transportation is author- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ized to meet during the session of the f clerk will report the resolution by Senate on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, title. at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on MEASURE READ THE FIRST The bill clerk read as follows: pending nominations. TIME—H.R. 6172 A resolution (S. Res. 541) recognizing and celebrating the 200th anniversary of the COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I WORKS entry of Maine into the Union as the 23d understand there is a bill at the desk, State. The Committee on Environment and and I ask for its first reading. Public Works is authorized to meet The PRESIDING OFFICER. The There being no objection, the Senate during the session of the Senate on clerk will read the bill by title for the proceeded to consider the resolution. Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at 10 a.m., first time. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I to conduct a hearing on the following The bill clerk read as follows: ask unanimous consent that the reso- nominations: Douglas Benevento, of A bill (H.R. 6172) to amend the Foreign In- lution be agreed to, the preamble be Colorado, to be Deputy Administrator telligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to pro- agreed to, and the motions to recon- of the Environmental Protection Agen- hibit the production of certain business sider be considered made and laid upon cy, and David A. Wright, of South records, and for other purposes. the table with no intervening action or Carolina, and Christopher T. Hanson, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I debate. of Michigan. now ask for a second reading, and in The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without COMMITTEE ON FINANCE order to place the bill on the calendar objection, it is so ordered. The Committee on Finance is author- under the provisions of rule XIV, I ob- The resolution (S. Res. 541) was ized to meet during the session of the ject to my own request. agreed to. Senate on Wednesday, March 11, 2020, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- The preamble was agreed to. at 10:10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on tion having been heard, the bill will be (The resolution, with its preamble, is the following nominations: Kipp read for the second time on the next printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub- Kranbuhl, of Ohio, to be an Assistant legislative day. mitted Resolutions.’’)

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.010 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1708 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 SAVANNA’S ACT (b) CONSULTATION.— (1) the Department of Justice; (1) CONSULTATION.—Not later than 180 days (2) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I after the date of enactment of this Act, the At- (3) the Department of the Interior; ask unanimous consent that the Sen- torney General, in cooperation with the Sec- (4) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; ate proceed to the immediate consider- retary of the Interior, shall complete a formal (5) Tribal, State, and local law enforcement ation of Calendar No. 407, S. 227. consultation with Indian Tribes on how to fur- agencies; ther improve Tribal data relevance and access to (6) medical examiners; The PRESIDING OFFICER. The (7) coroners; clerk will report the bill by title. databases. (8) Tribal, State, and local organizations that (2) INITIAL CONFER.—Not later than 180 days The bill clerk read as follows: provide victim services; and after the date of enactment of this Act, the At- A bill (S. 227) to direct the Attorney Gen- (9) national, regional, or urban Indian orga- torney General, in coordination with the Sec- nizations with relevant expertise. eral to review, revise, and develop law en- retary of the Interior, shall confer with Tribal forcement and justice protocols appropriate (c) COMPLIANCE.— organizations and urban Indian organizations (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after to address missing and murdered Indians, on how to further improve American Indian and the date of enactment of this Act, the United and for other purposes. Alaska Native data relevance and access to States attorneys shall implement, by incor- There being no objection, the Senate databases. porating into office policies and procedures, the proceeded to consider the bill, which (3) ANNUAL CONSULTATION.—Section 903(b) of guidelines developed under subsection (a). had been reported from the Committee the Violence Against Women and Department of (2) MODIFICATION.—Each Federal law en- on Indian Affairs, with an amendment Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005 (34 U.S.C. forcement agency shall modify the guidelines, 20126) is amended— policies, and protocols of the agency to incor- to strike all after the enacting clause (A) by striking paragraph (2) and inserting and insert in lieu thereof the following: porate the guidelines developed under sub- the following: section (a). SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. ‘‘(2) enhancing the safety of Indian women (3) DETERMINATION.—Not later than the end This Act may be cited as ‘‘Savanna’s Act’’. from domestic violence, dating violence, sexual of each fiscal year beginning after the date the SEC. 2. PURPOSES. assault, homicide, stalking, and sex traf- guidelines are established under this section and The purposes of this Act are— ficking;’’; incorporated under this subsection, upon the re- (1) to clarify the responsibilities of Federal, (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at quest of a Tribal, State, or local law enforce- State, Tribal, and local law enforcement agen- the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and ment agency, the Attorney General shall deter- cies with respect to responding to cases of miss- (C) by adding at the end the following: mine whether the Tribal, State, or local law en- ing or murdered Indians; ‘‘(4) improving access to local, regional, State, forcement agency seeking recognition of compli- (2) to increase coordination and communica- and Federal crime information databases and ance has incorporated guidelines into their re- tion among Federal, State, Tribal, and local law criminal justice information systems.’’. spective guidelines, policies, and protocols. enforcement agencies, including medical exam- (c) NOTIFICATION.—Not later than 180 days (d) ACCOUNTABILITY.—Not later than 30 days iner and coroner offices; after the date of enactment of this Act, the At- after compliance determinations are made each (3) to empower Tribal governments with the torney General shall— fiscal year in accordance with subsection (c)(3), resources and information necessary to effec- (1) develop and implement a dissemination the Attorney General shall— tively respond to cases of missing or murdered strategy to educate the public of the National (1) disclose and publish, including on the Indians; and Missing and Unidentified Persons System; and website of the Department of Justice, the name (4) to increase the collection of data related to (2) conduct specific outreach to Indian Tribes, of each Tribal, State, or local law enforcement missing or murdered Indian men, women, and Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organi- agency that the Attorney General has deter- children, regardless of where they reside, and zations regarding the ability to publicly enter mined has incorporated guidelines in accord- the sharing of information among Federal, information, through the National Missing and ance with subsection (c)(3); State, and Tribal officials responsible for re- Unidentified Persons System or other non-law (2) disclose and publish, including on the sponding to and investigating cases of missing enforcement sensitive portal, regarding missing website of the Department of Justice, the name or murdered Indians. persons, which may include family members and of each Tribal, State, or local law enforcement other known acquaintances. SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. agency that has requested a determination in In this Act: SEC. 5. GUIDELINES FOR RESPONDING TO CASES accordance with subsection (c)(3) that is pend- OF MISSING OR MURDERED INDI- ing; (1) CONFER.—The term ‘‘confer’’ has the ANS. (3) collect the guidelines into a resource of ex- meaning given the term in section 514 of the In- (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 60 days after amples and best practices that can be used by dian Health Care Improvement Act (25 U.S.C. the date on which the consultation described in other law enforcement agencies seeking to create 1660d). section 4(b)(1) is completed, the Attorney Gen- and implement such guidelines. (2) DATABASES.—The term ‘‘databases’’ eral shall direct United States attorneys to de- (e) TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.— means— velop regionally appropriate guidelines to re- The Attorney General shall use the National In- (A) the National Crime Information Center spond to cases of missing or murdered Indians dian Country Training Initiative to provide database; that shall include— training and technical assistance to Indian (B) the Combined DNA Index System; (1) guidelines on inter-jurisdictional coopera- Tribes and law enforcement agencies on— (C) the Next Generation Identification System; tion among law enforcement agencies at the (1) implementing the guidelines developed and Tribal, Federal, State, and local levels, includ- under subsection (a) or developing and imple- (D) any other database relevant to responding ing inter-jurisdictional enforcement of protec- menting locally specific guidelines or protocols to cases of missing or murdered Indians, includ- tion orders and detailing specific responsibilities for responding to cases of missing or murdered ing that under the Violent Criminal Apprehen- of each law enforcement agency; Indians; and sion Program and the National Missing and Un- (2) best practices in conducting searches for (2) using the National Missing and Unidenti- identified Persons System. missing persons on and off Indian land; fied Persons System and accessing program serv- (3) INDIAN.—The term ‘‘Indian’’ means a mem- (3) standards on the collection, reporting, and ices that will assist Indian Tribes with respond- ber of an Indian Tribe. analysis of data and information on missing ing to cases of missing or murdered Indians. (4) INDIAN COUNTRY.—The term ‘‘Indian coun- persons and unidentified human remains, and (f) GUIDELINES FROM INDIAN TRIBES.— try’’ has the meaning given the term in section information on culturally appropriate identi- (1) IN GENERAL.—Indian Tribes may submit 1151 of title 18, United States Code. fication and handling of human remains identi- their own guidelines to respond to cases of miss- (5) INDIAN LAND.—The term ‘‘Indian land’’ fied as Indian, including guidance stating that ing or murdered Indians to the Attorney Gen- means Indian lands, as defined in section 3 of all appropriate information related to missing or eral. the Native American Business Development, murdered Indians be entered in a timely manner (2) PUBLICATION.—Upon receipt of any guide- Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000 (25 into applicable databases; lines from an Indian Tribe, the Attorney Gen- U.S.C. 4302). (4) guidance on which law enforcement agen- eral shall publish the guidelines on the website (6) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian Tribe’’ cy is responsible for inputting information into of the Department of Justice in 1 centralized lo- has the meaning given the term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ appropriate databases under paragraph (3) if cation to make the guidelines available as a re- in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination the Tribal law enforcement agency does not source to any Federal agency, State, or Tribal and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). have access to those appropriate databases; government. (7) LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.—The term (5) guidelines on improving law enforcement SEC. 6. ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. ‘‘law enforcement agency’’ means a Tribal, Fed- agency response rates and follow-up responses (a) ANNUAL REPORTING.—Beginning in the eral, State, or local law enforcement agency. to cases of missing or murdered Indians; and first fiscal year after the date of enactment of SEC. 4. IMPROVING TRIBAL ACCESS TO DATA- (6) guidelines on ensuring access to culturally this Act, the Attorney General shall include in BASES. appropriate victim services for victims and their its annual Indian Country Investigations and (a) TRIBAL ENROLLMENT INFORMATION.—The families. Prosecutions report to Congress information Attorney General shall provide training to law (b) CONSULTATION.—United States attorneys that— enforcement agencies regarding how to record shall develop the guidelines required under sub- (1) includes known statistics on missing Indi- the Tribal enrollment information or affiliation, section (a) in consultation with Indian Tribes ans in the United States, available to the De- as appropriate, of a victim in Federal databases. and other relevant partners, including— partment of Justice, including—

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 6333 E:\CR\FM\G11MR6.042 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE March 11, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1709 (A) age; (2) in paragraph (10), by striking the period at (A) the Bureau of Indian Affairs; and (B) gender; the end and inserting a semicolon; and (B) the Department of Justice, including— (C) Tribal enrollment information or affili- (3) by adding at the end the following: (i) the Office of Justice Programs; ation, if available; ‘‘(11) develop, strengthen, and implement poli- (ii) the Office on Violence Against Women; (D) the current number of open cases per cies, protocols, and training for law enforcement (iii) the Office of Community Oriented Polic- State; regarding cases of missing or murdered Indians, ing Services; (E) the total number of closed cases per State as described in section 5 of Savanna’s Act; and (iv) the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and each calendar year, from the most recent 10 cal- ‘‘(12) compile and annually report data to the (v) the Office of Tribal Justice; (2) ensure prevention efforts, grants, and pro- endar years; and Attorney General related to missing or murdered grams of Federal agencies related to the murder (F) other relevant information the Attorney Indians, as described in section 6 of Savanna’s of, trafficking of, and missing Indians consider General determines is appropriate; Act.’’. the unique challenges of combating crime, vio- (2) includes known statistics on murdered In- Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous lence, and human trafficking of Indians and on dians in the United States, available to the De- consent that the committee-reported Indian lands faced by Tribal communities, partment of Justice, including— substitute amendment be agreed to, urban centers, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, (A) age; the bill, as amended, be considered Tribal law enforcement, Federal law enforce- (B) gender; read a third time and passed, and the ment, and State and local law enforcement; (C) Tribal enrollment information or affili- (3) work in cooperation with outside organiza- ation, if available; motion to reconsider be considered tions with expertise in working with Indian (D) the current number of open cases per made and laid upon the table. tribes and Indian Tribes to provide victim cen- State; The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tered and culturally relevant training to tribal (E) the total number of closed cases per State objection, it is so ordered. law enforcement, Indian Health Service health each calendar year, from the most recent 10 cal- The committee-reported amendment care providers, urban Indian organizations, endar years; and in the nature of a substitute was Tribal community members and businesses, on (F) other relevant information the Attorney agreed to. how to effectively identify, respond to and re- General determines is appropriate; The bill (S. 227), as amended, was or- port instances of missing persons, murder, and (3) maintains victim privacy to the greatest ex- dered to be engrossed for a third read- trafficking within Indian lands and of Indians; tent possible by excluding information that can and be used on its own or with other information to ing, was read the third time and (4) report directly to the Secretary of the Inte- identify, contact, or locate a single person, or to passed. rior. identify an individual in context; and f (b) REPORT.—The official designated in sub- (4) includes— NOT INVISIBLE ACT OF 2019 section (a) shall submit to the Committee on In- (A) an explanation of why the statistics de- dian Affairs and the Committee on the Judiciary scribed in paragraph (1) may not be comprehen- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, as of the Senate and the Committee on Natural Re- sive; and in legislative session, I ask unanimous sources and the Committee on the Judiciary of (B) recommendations on how data collection consent that the Senate proceed to the the House of Representatives a report to provide on missing or murdered Indians may be im- immediate consideration of Calendar information on Federal coordination efforts ac- proved. No. 417, S. 982. complished over the previous year that in- (b) COMPLIANCE.— cludes— (1) IN GENERAL.—Beginning in the first fiscal The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title. (1) a summary of all coordination activities year after the date of enactment of this Act, and undertaken in compliance with this section; annually thereafter, for the purpose of com- The bill clerk read as follows: (2) a summary of all trainings completed piling accurate data for the annual report re- A bill (S. 982) to increase intergovern- under subsection (a)(3); and quired under subsection (a), the Attorney Gen- mental coordination to identify and combat (3) recommendations for improving coordina- eral shall request all Tribal, State, and local law violent crime within Indian lands and of In- tion across Federal agencies and of relevant enforcement agencies to submit to the Depart- dians. Federal programs. ment of Justice, to the fullest extent possible, all There being no objection, the Senate SEC. 4. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE DEPARTMENT relevant information pertaining to missing or proceeded to consider the bill, which OF INTERIOR AND THE DEPART- murdered Indians collected by the Tribal, State, MENT OF JUSTICE JOINT COMMIS- and local law enforcement agency, and in a for- had been reported from the Committee SION ON REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME mat provided by the Department of Justice that on Indian Affairs, with an amendment AGAINST INDIANS. ensures the streamlining of data reporting. to strike all after the enacting clause (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—Not later than 120 days (2) DISCLOSURE.—The Attorney General shall and insert in lieu thereof the following: after the date of enactment of this Act, the Sec- disclose and publish annually, including on the SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. retary of the Interior, in coordination with the website of the Department of Justice, the name This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Not Invisible Attorney General, shall establish and appoint of each Tribal, State, or local law enforcement Act of 2019’’. all members of a joint commission on violent crime on Indian lands and against Indians. agency that the Attorney General has deter- SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. mined has submitted the information requested (b) MEMBERSHIP.— In this Act— (1) COMPOSITION.— under paragraph (1) for the fiscal year in which (1) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Depart- the report was published. (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall be ment of the Interior and the Department of Jus- composed of members who represent diverse ex- (c) INCLUSION OF GENDER IN MISSING AND UN- tice Joint Commission on Reducing Violent IDENTIFIED PERSONS STATISTICS.—Beginning in periences and backgrounds that provide bal- Crime Against Indians under section 4; anced points of view with regard to the duties of the first calendar year after the date of enact- (2) the term ‘‘human trafficking’’ means act or ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the the Commission. practice described in paragraph (9) or para- (B) DIVERSITY.—To the greatest extent prac- Federal Bureau of Investigation shall include graph (10) of section 103 of the Trafficking Vic- gender in its annual statistics on missing and ticable, the Secretary of the Interior shall en- tims Protection Act of 2000 (22 U.S.C. 7102); sure the Commission includes Tribal representa- unidentified persons published on its public (3) the term ‘‘Indian’’ means a member of an website. tives from diverse geographic areas and of di- Indian tribe; verse sizes. SEC. 7. IMPLEMENTATION AND INCENTIVE. (4) the terms ‘‘Indian lands’’ and ‘‘Indian (2) APPOINTMENT.—The Secretary of the Inte- (a) GRANT AUTHORITY.—Section 2101(b) of the tribe’’ have the meanings given the terms in sec- rior, in coordination with the Attorney General, Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of tion 3 of the Native American Business Develop- shall appoint the members to the Commission, 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10461(b)) is amended by adding ment, Trade Promotion, and Tourism Act of 2000 including representatives from— at the end the following: (25 U.S.C. 4302); and (A) tribal law enforcement; ‘‘(23) To develop, strengthen, and implement (5) the terms ‘‘urban centers’’ and ‘‘urban In- (B) the Office of Justice Services of the Bu- policies, protocols, and training for law enforce- dian organization’’ have the meanings given the reau of Indian Affairs; ment regarding cases of missing or murdered In- terms in section 4 of the Indian Health Care Im- (C) State and local law enforcement in close dians, as described in section 5 of Savanna’s provement Act (25 U.S.C. 1603). proximity to Indian lands, with a letter of rec- Act. SEC. 3. COORDINATOR OF FEDERAL EFFORTS TO ommendation from a local Indian Tribe; ‘‘(24) To compile and annually report data to COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST NATIVE (D) the Victim Services Division of the Federal the Attorney General related to missing or mur- PEOPLE. Bureau of Investigation; dered Indians, as described in section 6 of Sa- (a) COORDINATOR DESIGNATION.—The Sec- (E) the Department of Justice’s Human Traf- vanna’s Act.’’. retary of the Interior shall designate an official ficking Prosecution Unit; (b) GRANTS TO INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERN- within the Office of Justice Services in the Bu- (F) the Office of Violence Against Women of MENTS.—Section 2015 of the Omnibus Crime reau of Indian Affairs who shall— the Department of Justice; Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. (1) coordinate prevention efforts, grants, and (G) the Office of Victims of Crime of the De- 10452(a)) is amended— programs related to the murder of, trafficking partment of Justice; (1) in paragraph (9), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the of, and missing Indians across Federal agencies, (H) a United States attorney’s office with ex- end; including— perience in cases related to missing persons,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Mar 12, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 6333 E:\CR\FM\A11MR6.004 S11MRPT1 dlhill on DSKBBY8HB2PROD with SENATE S1710 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 11, 2020 murder, or trafficking of Indians or on Indian (vi) increasing information sharing with tribal Resolved, That the bill from the Senate (S. land; governments on violent crime investigations and 1678) entitled ‘‘An Act to express United (I) the Administration for Native Americans of prosecutions in Indian lands that were termi- States support for Taiwan’s diplomatic alli- the Office of the Administration for Children & nated or declined. ances around the world.’’, do pass with an Families of the Department of Health and (B) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 18 months amendment. after the enactment of this Act, the Commission Human Services; MOTION TO CONCUR (J) the Substance Abuse and Mental Health shall make publicly available and submit all rec- Services Administration of the Department of ommendations developed under this paragraph Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Health and Human Services; to— move to concur in the House amend- (K) a Tribal judge with experience in cases re- (i) the Secretary of the Interior; ment, and I ask unanimous consent lated to missing persons, murder, or trafficking; (ii) the Attorney General; that the motion be agreed to and that (L) not fewer than 3 Indian Tribes from di- (iii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the the motion to reconsider be considered verse geographic areas, including 1 Indian tribe Senate; made and laid upon the table. (iv) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the located in Alaska, selected from nominations The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without submitted by the Indian Tribe; Senate; objection, it is so ordered. (M) not fewer than 2 health care and mental (v) the Committee on Natural Resources of the health practitioners and counselors and pro- House of Representatives; and f viders with experience in working with Indian (vi) the Committee on the Judiciary of the survivors of trafficking and sexual assault, with House of Representatives. AUTHORIZING THE USE OF EMAN- a letter of recommendation from a local tribal (C) SECRETARIAL RESPONSE.—Not later than 90 CIPATION HALL IN THE CAPITOL chair or tribal law enforcement officer; days after the date on which the Secretary of VISITOR CENTER FOR A CERE- the Interior and the Attorney General receive (N) not fewer than 3 national, regional, or MONY TO PRESENT THE CON- urban Indian organizations focused on violence the recommendations under paragraph (2), the Secretary and the Attorney General shall each GRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL COL- against women and children on Indian lands or LECTIVELY TO THE CHINESE- against Indians; make publicly available and submit a written re- sponse to the recommendations to— AMERICAN VETERANS OF WORLD (O) at least 2 Indian survivors of human traf- (i) the Commission; ficking; WAR II (ii) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Sen- (P) at least 2 family members of missing In- ate; Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I dian people; (iii) the Committee on Indian Affairs of the ask unanimous consent that the Sen- (Q) at least 2 family members of murdered In- Senate; ate proceed to the consideration of H. dian people; (iv) the Committee on Natural Resources of Con. Res. 91, which was received from (R) the National Institute of Justice; and the House of Representatives; and (S) the Indian Health Service. the House. (v) the Committee on the Judiciary of the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The (3) PERIODS OF APPOINTMENT.—Members shall House of Representatives. be appointed for the duration of the Commis- (d) FACA EXEMPTION.—The Commission shall clerk will report the concurrent resolu- sion. be exempt from the Federal Advisory Committee tion by title. (4) VACANCIES.—A vacancy in the Commission Act (5 U.S.C. App.). The bill clerk read as follows: shall be filled in the manner in which the origi- (e) SUNSET.—The Commission shall terminate A concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 91) nal appointment was made and shall not affect on the date that is 2 years after the date of en- authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the powers or duties of the Commission. actment of this Act. the Capitol Visitor Center for a ceremony to (5) COMPENSATION.—Commission members Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous present the Congressional Gold Medal collec- shall serve without compensation. consent that the committee-reported tively to the Chinese-American veterans of (6) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The Secretary of the World War II. Interior, in coordination with the Attorney Gen- substitute amendment be agreed to and eral, shall consider the provision of travel ex- the bill, as amended, be considered There being no objection, the Senate penses, including per diem, to Commission mem- read a third time. proceeded to consider the resolution. bers when appropriate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I (c) DUTIES.— objection, it is so ordered. ask unanimous consent that the reso- (1) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may hold The committee-reported amendment lution be agreed to and the motion to such hearings, meet and act at times and places, in the nature of a substitute was take such testimony, and receive such evidence reconsider be considered made and laid agreed to. upon the table with no intervening ac- as the Commission considers to be advisable to The bill, as amended, was ordered to carry out the duties of the Commission under tion or debate. this section. be engrossed for a third reading and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without (2) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT was read the third time. objection, it is so ordered. Mr. MCCONNELL. I know of no fur- OF INTERIOR AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.— The concurrent resolution (H. Con. ther debate on the bill. (A) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall de- Res. 91) was agreed to. velop recommendations to the Secretary of the The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there Interior and Attorney General on actions the is no further debate, the bill having f Federal Government can take to help combat been read the third time, the question ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, MARCH violent crime against Indians and within Indian is, Shall the bill pass, as amended? lands, including the development and implemen- 12, 2020 The bill (S. 982), as amended, was tation of recommendations for— Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I (i) identifying, reporting, and responding to passed. instances of missing persons, murder, and Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous ask unanimous consent that when the human trafficking on Indian lands and of Indi- consent that the motion to reconsider Senate completes its business today, it ans; be considered made and laid upon the adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, (ii) legislative and administrative changes table. March 12; further, that following the necessary to use programs, properties, or other The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without prayer and pledge, the morning hour be resources funded or operated by the Department objection, it is so ordered. deemed expired, the Journal of pro- of the Interior and Department of Justice to ceedings be approved to date, the time combat the crisis of missing or murdered Indians f for the two leaders be reserved for their and human trafficking on Indian lands and of TAIWAN ALLIES INTERNATIONAL Indians; use later in the day, and morning busi- (iii) tracking and reporting data on instances PROTECTION AND ENHANCE- ness be closed; further, that following of missing persons, murder, and human traf- MENT INITIATIVE (TAIPEI) ACT leader remarks, the Senate proceed to ficking on Indian lands and of Indians; OF 2019 executive session for the consideration (iv) addressing staff shortages and open posi- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I of Calendar No. 587; further, that not- tions within relevant law enforcement agencies, ask unanimous consent that the Chair withstanding rule XXII, the cloture including issues related to the hiring and reten- lay before the Senate the message to vote on the Danly nomination occur at tion of law enforcement officers; 11:45 a.m. and that all postcloture time (v) coordinating tribal, State, and Federal re- accompany S. 1678. sources to increase prosecution of murder and The Presiding Officer laid before the expire at 1:45 p.m. human trafficking offenses on Indian lands and Senate the following message from the The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without of Indians; and House of Representatives: objection, it is so ordered.

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