Congressional Record—Senate S3175

May 20, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3175 higher in April than it was in March. Remember President Obama’s IRS losing a talented and dedicated young The crisis is still growing. Encounters scandal? Unelected bureaucrats treated staffer this week. Fortunately, he has with single adults on the border were organizations differently and subjected just been on loan from his home 613 percent higher last month versus Americans to unequal scrutiny depend- State—our home State—all along, and April of last year, when the Trump ad- ing on their beliefs. Nonprofits with a he is now heading back to the Blue- ministration put emergency measures whiff—just a whiff—of conservative be- grass. in place. Encounters with unaccom- liefs were slow-walked and singled out Kevin Grout started with me 5 years panied children were up 2,217 percent for unfair treatment. Or think back to ago. This bright, sharp, and cheerful, year over year. Let me say that one 2014. The Obama administration had to young McConnell Scholar from the more time: 2,217 percent more kids, reach a settlement after a government University of Louisville began as a without parents, at our border on worker leaked confidential information staff assistant in the mailroom or, you President Biden’s watch. about a conservative group, which was might say, as sort of my ‘‘body man.’’ The administration has tried to boast in violation of Federal law. But in this line of work, talent attracts that the number of unaccompanied Unsurprisingly, those private details responsibility. Before long, Kevin had kids in the custody of the Department found their way to a liberal group that graduated to serve as the speechwriter of Homeland Security has gone down. had plenty of ideas about what to do in my personal office. In 41⁄2 years, he It has. It is because they have trans- with them. has helped me craft more remarks, op- ferred large numbers of kids from DHS Courts have found that the State of eds, and written statements than any to HHS. There are now more than 19,000 California has repeatedly leaked or in- of us could possibly count—almost all children in the custody of Health and appropriately released confidential in- focused on issues that matter most to Human Services, and hundreds more formation about nonprofits’ donors. Kentuckians. are arriving every single day. Last year, in remembering all of these We are sorry to lose Kevin’s talents We know why all of this is hap- incidents, the Treasury Department fi- here on the team, but Kevin and his pening. When Washington Democrats nalized action on a basic, commonsense wife Addie are taking their careers and spent years reciting the mantra ‘‘Abol- principle: If there is no legitimate rea- their young son Henry and putting ish ICE; abolish ICE,’’ people listened. son for the IRS to have certain infor- down roots where it all began. Wash- When our new President spent his cam- mation, then the IRS shouldn’t collect ington will be sorry to see them go, but paign signaling he would support a it. it will be Kentucky’s good fortune to weaker border when he expressed that It makes sense. welcome him back. The prior administration had the IRS he supported providing government f healthcare to people here illegally, stop the blanket collection of non- people actually took note. Now the public information about citizens who CONCLUSION OF MORNING Democrats cannot get control of the make non-—I repeat, non-—tax-deduct- BUSINESS crisis that they have stoked. ible contributions to certain organiza- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning The Vice President—supposedly, the tions. Contributions to 501(c)(4) organi- business is closed. point person to fix illegal immigra- zations are not tax deductible. The IRS tion—has yet to even visit the south- doesn’t need these details just for f ern border. kicks and giggles, but now the Demo- LEGISLATIVE SESSION Apparently, Secretary Becerra’s op- crats’ political takeover bills would eration at HHS has, in some instances, roll back this step and open new fronts --- left migrant children stranded on buses in the far-left war on privacy and free ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT for multiple days—exactly the kind of speech. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under unacceptable mismanagement that S. 1 would narrow the protections of the previous order, the Senate will re- Senate Republicans feared we might the First Amendment. It would em- sume consideration of S. 1260, which see under an HHS Secretary without power the Feds with new authority to the clerk will report. relevant healthcare or management ex- track and police the speech of Ameri- The legislative clerk read as follows: perience. Last week, HHS announced it cans. This is the same bill that would would be taking money that was meant A bill (S. 1260) to establish a new Direc- essentially make Washington Demo- torate for Technology and Innovation in the to replenish the Strategic National crats the board of elections for every National Science Foundation, to establish a Stockpile—money to fight this pan- county and State in America. I guess, regional technology hub program, to require demic and future pandemics—to help somehow, maybe, that wasn’t enough. a strategy and report on economic security, with the migrant crisis. Well, I have worked with my col- science, research, innovation, manufac- Well, today, the Senate will consider league from Indiana, Senator BRAUN, turing, and job creation, to establish a crit- another amendment from the senior on legislation to nip one part of this ical supply chain resiliency program, and for Senator from Wisconsin. It would stop nonsense right in the bud. Our bill other purposes. the Biden administration from can- would codify the rule issued by the last Pending: celing contracts that are already in administration. Americans would re- Schumer amendment No. 1502, in the na- place to build a wall on our southern main free from a Federal dragnet col- ture of a substitute. border. Perhaps our Democratic col- lecting private information that it nei- Cantwell amendment No. 1527 (to amend- leagues will help us begin to address ther needs nor uses for legitimate law ment No. 1502), of a perfecting nature. the border crisis this administration enforcement purposes—information AMENDMENT NOS. 1523 AND 1518 has caused. that can be mishandled or, worse, used The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under f to target and harass Americans based the previous order, the clerk will re- on their views. port the following amendments by FOR THE PEOPLE ACT OF 2021 So I am proud to stand with Senator number. Mr. MCCONNELL. Now, Mr. Presi- BRAUN, with 39 Republican cosponsors, The legislative clerk read as follows: dent, on a completely different matter, and with citizens across America, The Senator from Oklahoma [Mr. INHOFE] as Democrats have pushed their mas- across the political spectrum, who proposes an amendment numbered 1523. sive political takeover bill, S. 1, Ameri- don’t need the IRS peering into their The amendment is as follows: cans’ First Amendment rights and pri- First Amendment activities any more AMENDMENT NO. 1523 vacy rights have been thrust into cen- than is strictly necessary. I would cer- ter stage. The legislation contains mul- (Purpose: To express the sense of the Senate tainly urge all of our colleagues to sup- and establish points of order to ensure the tiple elements that would chill Ameri- port our simple bill. United States adequately funds national cans’ exercise of free speech and let f defense with a whole-of-government in- Washington bureaucrats hoard more of vestment plan for strategic competition citizens’ private information without TRIBUTE TO KEVIN GROUT with the People’s Republic of China) cause. We know exactly how this could Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on At the appropriate place, insert the fol- go wrong. one final matter, my Senate office is lowing:

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:42 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G20MY6.004 S20MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S3176 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 20, 2021 SEC. ll. POINT OF ORDER TO ENSURE UNITED only by an affirmative vote of three-fifths of ican energy sources instead of imports STATES ADEQUATELY FUNDS NA- the Members, duly chosen and sworn. An af- from overseas and to make sure that TIONAL DEFENSE. firmative vote of three-fifths of the Members American consumers never have to (a) FINDINGS.—The Senate makes the fol- of the Senate, duly chosen and sworn, shall lowing findings: question whether they will have reli- be required to sustain an appeal of the ruling able and affordable access to energy (1) Relative to the February 2021 Congres- of the Chair on a point of order raised under sional Budget Office spending baseline, subsection (a). and fuel. President Joseph R. Biden has proposed more (e) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the terms We have made a lot of progress on than $6,000,000,000,000 in nondefense spending ‘‘revised nonsecurity category’’ and ‘‘revised that front, but it requires continued outside the annual appropriations process. security category’’ have the meanings given commitment and investment. It also (2) President Biden’s fiscal year 2022 budget those terms in section 250(c)(4) of the Bal- requires an ‘‘all of the above’’ energy request proposes to increase spending in the anced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control policy that pursues investment in ev- nondefense discretionary category by almost Act of 1985 (2 U.S.C. 900(c)(4)). 20 percent while cutting the United States erything from oil and natural gas, to defense budget in real terms. The legislative clerk read as follows: ethanol and other biofuels, to solar, (3) This Act contains more than The Senator from Wisconsin [Mr. JOHNSON] wind, and hydropower. Unfortunately, $100,000,000,000 of authorizations of appro- proposes an amendment numbered 1518. Democrats are increasingly minimizing priations without a single additional dollar The amendment is as follows: the oil and natural gas part of that authorized to be appropriated for the Depart- AMENDMENT NO. 1518 equation. ment of Defense. (Purpose: To prohibit the cancellation of I am a longtime advocate of clean en- (4) The United States Armed Forces has ergy and clean fuels, but the fact is lost $400,000,000,000 relative to inflation since contracts for physical barriers and other border security measures for which funds that our economy is still going to need 2011. traditional sources of energy—namely, (5) The People’s Liberation Army has expe- already have been obligated and for which rienced real budget growth for more than penalties will be incurred in the case of oil and natural gas—for a long time to two decades, including 6.8 percent growth in such cancellation and prohibiting the use come. I don’t expect airplanes or 2021. of funds for payment of such penalties) freight trains to be running on elec- (6) A July 22, 2019, statement by Speaker of At the appropriate place in division D, in- tricity or solar power anytime in the the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi sert the following: near future. Fortunately, as tech- and Senator Chuck Schumer stated that SEC. 4ll. PROHIBITING THE CANCELLATION OF nology has advanced, it has become ‘‘Democrats have always insisted on parity CERTAIN CONTRACTS FOR PHYS- ICAL BARRIERS AND OTHER BOR- easier and easier to explore for, ex- in increases between defense and non-de- tract, and transport oil and natural gas fense’’. DER SECURITY MEASURES. (b) SENSE OF THE SENATE.—It is the sense Notwithstanding any other provision of in an environmentally responsible way. of the Senate that Congress should ade- law, the Secretary of Homeland Security and It is vital that we continue to de- quately fund national defense with a whole- any other Federal official may not— velop domestic oil and gas resources so of-government investment plan for strategic (1) cancel, invalidate, or breach any con- that, down the road, we don’t find our- competition with the People’s Republic of tract for the construction or improvement of selves again relying on oil from the China, including by adhering to the principle any physical barrier along the United States Middle East, Venezuela, or other unsta- of parity between increases for defense and border or for any other border security meas- ble areas of the world. That is why it nondefense spending, which would result in ures for which Federal funds have been obligated; or was so disappointing that one of Presi- significant real growth for the defense budg- dent Biden’s first actions as President et. (2) obligate the use of Federal funds to pay (c) POINT OF ORDER FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022.— any penalty resulting from the cancellation was to pause new leases for oil and gas It shall not be in order in the Senate to con- of any contract described in paragraph (1). production on Federal lands and off- sider— The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- shore. (1) a concurrent resolution on the budget, publican whip. Oil and gas production on public or an amendment to, conference report on, lands and offshore is an essential part PIPELINES AND ENERGY INDEPENDENCE amendment between the Houses in relation of the U.S. domestic energy supply, ac- Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, the re- to, or a motion on a concurrent resolution on counting for 22 percent of domestic oil cent Colonial Pipeline hack, which saw the budget, that determines and declares as production and 12 percent of domestic the appropriate level of new discretionary more than 15,000 gas stations run out of gas production in 2019. Only a tiny per- budget authority for major functional cat- fuel and drove gas prices to their high- egory 050 (National Defense) for fiscal year centage of public land is used for pro- est level in almost 7 years, was a time- duction, but the resulting oil and nat- 2022 an amount that is less than the total ly reminder of the importance of cyber amount of the appropriate level of new dis- ural gas is significant. cretionary budget authority determined and security. Halting new oil and gas drilling could declared for all major functional categories In today’s world, where almost every- jeopardize the stability of our afford- other than major functional category 050 for thing we do has a cyber component, able energy supply, and it would defi- fiscal year 2022; cyber security has to be a priority. nitely jeopardize the hundreds of thou- (2) a bill or joint resolution reported pursu- Companies have to prioritize it to keep sands of American jobs that are sup- ant to section 310 of the Congressional Budg- their systems, services, and customer ported by this industry, not to mention et Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 641), or an amendment information secure. State governments to, conference report on, amendment be- the billions of dollars of revenue that have to prioritize it, and the Federal oil and gas development disburses to tween the Houses in relation to, or motion Government has to prioritize it. Cyber on such a bill or joint resolution, that appro- States and to Federal programs like priates amounts for 1 or more major func- security is a crucial part of our na- the Land and Water Conservation tional categories other than major functional defense, and it is vital that we Fund. tional category 050 for fiscal year 2022 and keep security systems and data secure. Another early and discouraging sign does not appropriate amounts for major The Colonial Pipeline hack was also of President Biden’s hostility to afford- functional category 050 for fiscal year 2022 in a timely reminder of something else, able and reliable energy security came an amount that is not less than the amount and that is the importance of main- when he halted construction of the appropriated under that measure for all taining our energy security via energy Keystone XL Pipeline on the first day major functional categories other than independence. major functional category 050 for fiscal year of his Presidency. That one hit particu- 2022; or As Americans panicked over gas larly close to home since the pipeline (3) a bill or joint resolution making appro- shortages from the Colonial shutdown, would have run through nine counties priations for fiscal year 2022, or an amend- gas stations saw lines that harkened in South Dakota and brought economic ment to, conference report on, amendment back to the 1970s, when conflict in the growth to small towns like Philip and between the Houses in relation to, or motion Middle East and an oil embargo re- Murdo. on such a bill or joint resolution, that would sulted in serious shortages here at The Keystone XL Pipeline has to be cause the total amount of appropriations for home. the most studied project, literally, in the revised nonsecurity category for fiscal Since then, the United States has, to the history of our Nation, probably in year 2022 to exceed the total amount of ap- a greater or lesser extent, worked to propriations for the revised security cat- the history of the world, and it has egory for fiscal year 2022. become energy independent; in other been pretty conclusively demonstrated (d) WAIVER AND APPEAL.—Subsection (c) words, to make sure that we are able to that the pipeline would provide an en- may be waived or suspended in the Senate rely almost entirely on North Amer- vironmentally responsible way of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 06:24 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A20MY6.034 S20MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE May 20, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3177 transporting oil from Canada and the ergy needs. Yet it is another reminder and New York, in most of the coastal Bakken oilfields in Montana and North of the need to make sure that the States and in many of the inland Dakota to refineries on the gulf coast. United States is not dependent on bad States, who have flood insurance. The Obama administration—that is actors anywhere in the world for our Now, FEMA has decided to imple- right, the Obama administration—con- oil or any other energy resource. ment a new program called Risk Rat- cluded that the pipeline provided the I hope the Biden administration will ing 2.0. They always come up with a most environmentally sensitive way of end its embargo on new oil and gas fancy name when they are going to transporting the oil. Canadian Prime leases and think about pursuing an en- screw you. Risk Rating 2.0. If you ask Minister Justin Trudeau, a staunch lib- ergy policy that embraces not only en- FEMA about it—you say: Well, what eral, included the pipeline in Canada’s vironmentalists’ pet energy projects does this do, FEMA? Well, they try not clean energy plan. On top of all that, but all—all—important energy sources. to answer your question first, and they the pipeline’s owner committed to off- It is no exaggeration to say that our dodge and they bob and weave, but if setting the pipeline’s operations with very national security depends on it. you pin them down and read their lit- $1.7 billion in renewable energy invest- I yield the floor. erature, they will say: Well, with Risk ment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Rating 2.0, we no longer are going to But none of that mattered to leftist ator from Louisiana. assess premiums on the basis of area; environmentalists, who fixed on Key- NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE we are going to look at every specific stone XL as a proxy for their opposi- Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I home and assess its risk and assign a tion to oil. It is difficult to think of a think I am like you in one respect. You premium. We are also going to consider more counterproductive crusade. know, I don’t hate anybody, and I try the future of climate change, what Thanks to their efforts, oil that would to look for grace everywhere I can find things are going to be like 15, 20, 30 have been transported via the pipeline it. I have always believed there is al- years from now. will now be transported by rail or ways something to be thankful for. I didn’t come to debate climate truck—more environmentally haz- I came today to thank the Biden ad- change. I will save that for another ardous methods of travel, which, inci- ministration but also to ask for its day. There is a lot not to debate about. dentally, will also produce far more help. There is a lot we agree about. But this emissions—emissions that will likely First, I want to thank the President is coming from so-called experts. They not be offset by a renewable energy infor encouraging everybody to take the are going to be able to predict things vestment. vaccine. I don’t think anybody should 30, 40, 50, 100 years from now, when I haven’t even mentioned the cost to be required to take the vaccine, and I they can’t tell us if it is going to rain people’s livelihoods. The cancelation of am not saying President Biden does, on Friday. the pipeline will end up costing 11,000 but he and his team have been very ag- This is all a very clever way to raise American jobs, most of them those gressive in encouraging Americans to everybody’s premiums. As best I can good union jobs the President keeps take the vaccine, and I think that is tell, about 80 percent of the people in talking about. It also means that the proper approach. my State who have to have flood insur- Americans will not see lower prices at Do you have polio, Mr. President? I ance are going to see their rates go up. the pump as a result of the efficiencies know you don’t. I don’t either. Thank FEMA is probably going to start by of the pipeline, which is particularly you, science. The vaccine, I think, doing a little bit the first year. They frustrating at a time when prices are works. And once again, we are not tell- are going to say: See, we told you that rising. But when you are pursuing an ing anybody they have to take it, but I wasn’t going to hurt. But then they are ideological crusade, I guess all that wish people would stop and reflect on it going to do it the second year and third doesn’t matter. and weigh the pros and the cons, and I year and fourth year and fifth year and I find it particularly fascinating—or think they will see the pros outweigh sixth year. maybe more accurately, troubling— the cons. I want to thank President Some of FEMA’s minions who are ad- that the President canceled the Key- Biden for his efforts in that regard. vocating this say: Well, Kennedy, it is stone XL Pipeline and its 11,000 Amer- Here is my criticism: President not right for the American people to be ican jobs yet is conceding to Russia— Biden, at the worst possible time, is subsidizing wealthy people who have Russia—on the construction of a Rus- about to raise the insurance premiums two or three homes and one of which is sian pipeline, Nord Stream 2, by for every flood insurance policyholder on the beach. waiving sanctions against the Russian in America or almost all of them. So I agree with that. Those are not my company constructing the pipeline. much for not hurting the middle class. people. Those are not my people. My Think about that. The irony. Of course, So much for not taxing the working people who have flood insurance get up the President has more direct author- people. every day, go to work, obey the law, ity over pipelines here in the United As you know, the National Flood In- pay their taxes, try to do the right States, but the President is taking a surance Program, which is adminis- thing by their kids, try to save a little notably new position. tered by FEMA, began in 1968. Many money for retirement, and their big- The successful construction of Nord people don’t know this, but if we own a gest financial asset is their home. Stream 2 will further isolate Ukraine home and we have homeowners insur- Through Risk Rating 2.0 or whatever and deny the country billions in rev- ance, our homeowners insurance clever name they call it, when they enue as it defends against Russian ag- doesn’t cover flooding. If we do want start raising premiums, a lot of my gression, and it will make our allies flood coverage and we call our agent people can’t afford it, and it is going to more dependent on Russia’s energy mo- and ask them to place our flood cov- impact the value of their home. They nopoly for their energy supplies. erage with a private company, they are are going to lose equity in their most The President has talked aggres- very difficult to find. valuable asset, and they are not going sively about countering Putin and Rus- Almost no private companies offer to be able to sell it. And you don’t have sian aggression, and his Secretary of flood insurance. So in 1968, the U.S. to be Einstein’s cousin to figure this State has talked explicitly about the Congress decided to form the National out. FEMA knows what it is doing. importance of halting the construction Flood Insurance Program and have This is the most dramatic trans- of Nord Stream 2. But now, with a FEMA administer it. We insure, formation and change to the National chance to do something about halting through our National Flood Insurance Flood Insurance Program since 1968. the construction of the pipeline, the Program—which, once again, is the al- You would think that Congress would President is taking the pressure off, most exclusive source of flood insur- have something to do with it. Wrong. even though the President himself has ance for the American people—we in- FEMA is doing this on their own. The correctly called the pipeline ‘‘a fun- sure about 5 million people. About first increases for new policyholders damentally bad deal’’ for Europe. 500,000 of those people are in my State, are going to take effect in October; for It is deeply troubling that our Euro- Louisiana, but we are not alone. I am everybody else, in April 2022. pean allies may soon be relying on Rus- sure we have people in Colorado. I You go to FEMA and say: Can we sia for an increased portion of their en- know we have people in New Jersey talk about this?

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:42 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G20MY6.007 S20MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S3178 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 20, 2021 No. Read our pamphlet. fore, and I don’t mean to overuse it. I And why are we spending that? Be- They haven’t had any public hear- try to save it for really serious situa- cause they had a flood in Louisiana or ings. They haven’t allowed the public tions. But this is as serious as four a tornado in the Midwest or an earth- to comment. They hired a very expen- heart attacks and a stroke, and it is quake in the West or a forest fire. Well, sive consultant. They love expensive going to happen out of the blue come we have got to rebuild them, but we consultants at FEMA—the more expen- October. have got to spend an equal amount at sive, the better; the more expensive the I would just like to ask President the Department of Defense, whether lawyers are, the better. They have Biden to consider asking his FEMA Di- they want it or not. hired a consultant to try to cover their rector to please slow down and let us In another way, let’s say we increase tracks on what they are doing here. think this through. funding for veterans, which we should. This is just a flat-out rate increase. With that, I yield the floor. Well, then, we would have to say: Well, Insurance companies help FEMA ad- I suggest the absence of a quorum. wait a minute. The Department of De- minister the program. FEMA has told, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The fense will have to have a dollar-for-dol- we found out, the insurance companies: clerk will call the roll. lar increase. I can go on and on with a We can’t tell you about the new pro- The legislative clerk proceeded to whole lot of other examples. gram unless you sign a nondisclosure call the roll. We are going to have to obviously ad- agreement because we don’t want you Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I ask dress the costs and the efforts that we to tell anybody. unanimous consent that the order for went through here because of the riots the quorum call be rescinded. I mean, President Biden’s FEMA is on January 6. Do we do an equal The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without just going to drop this on us. And it is amount for the Department of Defense not just Louisiana. Look, this does in- objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Vermont. if we repair the damage done to the volve Louisiana. I mean, last year, my Capitol? AMENDMENT NO. 1523 people, we got hit by two major Now, why don’t I suggest that we do Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am op- storms. We got hit, like a lot of States, what we were taught to do, and I have posing this amendment before us. I just by an ice storm. Right now, South Lou- seen the Senate do over the past 40- thought I would mention some of the isiana, or a big portion of it, is under- some-odd years, we actually have de- pragmatic reasons for that. A mandate water. We just got hit with between 8 bate about appropriations? Have a de- and 20 inches of rain, and we have peo- to offer dollar-for-dollar parity between defense and nondefense programs bate about the defense level. Either ple who are flooding who are not even vote up or down. Have a debate about near a body of water. unless there are 60 votes to overcome the point of order is not limited to dis- nondefense spending in fiscal year 2022 I promise you, if you get 8 to 20 and vote it up or down. Let’s not start inches of rain in a short period of time, cretionary spending, which would be in the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills, off with some arbitrary rules, which you are going to flood—I don’t care if make no sense—an arbitrary rule that you are in the desert. I don’t care if but in all Federal spending. Let me tell you what that means. It says we are probably going to have to you are on Pikes Peak—you are going hesitate to help out the communities to flood. The water has to go some- may make people feel good, but let me tell you what it does. If you provide a that have been struck by a tornado be- where. cause we have to spend twice as much So, yes, this impacts Louisiana, but dollar to the Defense Department for money as it would cost to repair those do you know who else it impacts? New every dollar of nondefense spending, communities because we have to put an York. New Jersey. They are going to well, it is simply arbitrary. equal amount into the defense budget, get devastated. These are some of the absurd results. whether they want it or not. Chairman BROWN, the chairman of Under this amendment, if we pass an Now, I can say this, as chairman of our Banking Committee, very gener- infrastructure bill through reconcili- the Senate Appropriations Committee, ously held a hearing the other day on ation—and we know that in the States Risk Rating 2.0. We had some really represented by all 100 of us, we have I understand some annual increases in smart people come and testify about it. roads, bridges, water systems, every- the Defense bill, but that should be Of course FEMA wasn’t there. You thing else breaking down and deterio- considered as the Defense bill, just as can’t find FEMA with a search party. rating and has to be fixed. If we don’t we should consider our healthcare bills, You can’t find FEMA with Google. do it now, it is going to cost us a heck just as we should consider infrastruc- They are nowhere to be found. They of a lot more in the future. ture bills, education, and all those. We don’t want to answer questions. So let’s say we have $2 trillion to re- can easily do each part of these appro- But we had a very intelligent, im- build our bridges, our roads, our water priations bills that make some sense to pressive lady from New York—I am systems, broadband, and so on, but the American people. sorry, I have forgotten her name—who then we would have to automatically In the past, many times we have been testified very eloquently about how provide $2 trillion more for defense, able to get bipartisan agreement. Let’s this rating increase across the board, nearly tripling the defense budget and do that. Let’s stop playing like chil- willy-nilly, arbitrary, capricious—we spending more on defense than the rest dren or some arbitrary ‘‘You give me don’t have any input—is going to dev- of the world put together. And the De- this; I will give you that’’ kind of rule. astate New York. partment of Defense says very frankly We are U.S. Senators. We should be I am just very disappointed, and I am that there is no way they could spend above that. We should be the con- asking President Biden today to pick that kind of money—unless we have 60 science of the Nation. There are only up the telephone and call his new votes, a supermajority. Now, come on. 100 of us. The country looks at us. We FEMA Director and say: Slow down. At I will give another example. This can ought to respond to the country. a minimum, don’t treat the American get really weird. Suppose a hurricane JANUARY 6 COMMISSION people like morons. Sit down and talk hits somewhere in the South. We have I note that no one is seeking recogni- to them and explain what you are pro- seen that happen—hurricanes, torna- tion at the moment. I just had another posing to do and why you are doing it, does, flooding—or you have massive thing. The House of Representatives and let them have input. fires that rage out in the West. did the right thing. They passed a bi- The second thing I wish the Presi- So as we have always come together partisan vote to have an independent dent would do is pick up the phone and in the past, Republicans and Demo- Commission to find out what happened call his FEMA Director and say: Would crats alike, to help those communities on January 6—what sparked it; who you please consult Congress and talk that have been destroyed—we are the was involved; how many crimes were to Congress about it and let Congress United States of America—then let’s committed; why did police officers who have a little input? Because last time I say we provide $10 billion, which we protect the Capitol lose their lives; checked, there are three branches of have in the past, to help communities why did others lose their lives; why did government, and this is unilateral ac- recover and rebuild. Well, then, even we have such a huge amount of dam- tion by one Federal Agency. though they don’t want it, we have to age; why did we end up spending hun- This is serious stuff. This is going to provide $10 billion to the Department dreds of millions of dollars; why were impact a lot of people. I said this be- of Defense. the lives of Republican and Democratic

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:42 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G20MY6.009 S20MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE May 20, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3179 Members of Congress put at risk? Why vestment will fail to meet the objec- now. So, again, I am unsure people un- not have, as we did after 9/11 and other tive if we shortchange America’s mili- derstand what this is all about. This is major things in our country, a bipar- tary. Unfortunately, that is just what a very simple thing. It says that—our tisan committee to look at it? President Biden plans to do. amendment says that for every dollar That is what the House voted on last Yes, amid all the tough talk about we increase nondefense spending, we night. I am disturbed when I hear Re- China, President Biden proposes in- also increase defense spending by the publican leaders, both in the House and creasing domestic spending by nearly same amount. It is called parity. We the Senate, say: We don’t want to have 20 percent while holding defense spend- have lived with this right now for 8 any kind of a hearing. We don’t want ing basically flat. And that is on top of years. We have been in agreement, and to know what happened. We don’t want several trillion more he has proposed in somehow this has changed, as if the anybody to ask a question. off-budget spending to supercharge the threat that we are facing right now Well, I don’t know about your State, far-left agenda here at home. with economics, technology, diplo- but I can imagine you probably heard a Meanwhile, China is headed in the macy, information warfare are more lot of questions from the people in your opposite direction, increasing the important than military. Military is State. I heard a lot of questions from budget for the People’s Liberation the No. 1 threat. Republicans and Democrats alike in Army by nearly 7 percent this year. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- my State who basically said: What in Don’t think for a moment they aren’t ator from Mississippi. heaven’s name has happened? We are taking note of President Biden’s plans Mr. WICKER. Mr. President, I want the greatest country on Earth, and we and sensing weakness and opportunity to commend the distinguished Senator are seeing our symbol of democracy here because they are. The Chinese from Oklahoma and the distinguished with a mob of people going in. People Communist Party and the Chinese senior Senator from Alabama for this are dying. Property is being smashed. leadership, which is the same, under- amendment. And it seems to me that People are posing for selfies: Hey, I am stands and heeds only one thing: this is a national security amendment breaking the law; don’t I look great? strength and power. that should get support on both sides of There was a gallows with a noose and A respected and feared American the aisle because the Senator from with the name of the Vice President of military, I believe, is the bulwark Oklahoma is absolutely correct. It has the United States on it put outside against the rise of China and the power had bipartisan support in the past. And here. of China. That is why we must not particularly at this moment, when we Come on. We ought to find out what shortchange defense spending—not are talking about a bill to compete happened. We were shamed throughout now, not ever. And that is why I am with China, we need to acknowledge the world by what happened. Let’s not pleased to join my Republican col- that we will compete with China both have that happen again. Let’s have a leagues in offering this amendment to in the R&D sphere, as this bill dis- real committee. Find out what hap- ensure parity between increases in de- cusses, but also in terms of military pened and who was responsible and see fense and domestic spending. might. what steps we take not to have that I encourage my colleagues on the And it disturbs me, and I know it is happen again. other side to join us here in putting of concern to my friends on the other I am proud of the U.S. Capitol. I have America’s security first. Projecting side of the aisle, that the Biden admin- had the opportunity to serve here for real strength to counter Chinese ambi- istration just this week announced decades. I remember coming through tion and aggression should be a bipar- that they would cut four ships from the this body as a teenager with my partisan objective. We will see if it is. most recent shipbuilding plan, which ents and being awed by it. I looked at The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- was established by our military ex- the Brumidi paintings with my Italian- ator from Oklahoma. perts, by the admirals and generals American mother and the pride she felt Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, China is who told us what we need. To cut four looking at that. I looked at other a 360-degree threat. They are com- ships from the shipbuilding plan, I things with my Irish-American father peting with us in every area—econom- think, would send exactly the opposite and the pride he had in the history. All ics, technology, military, diplomacy, signal to China that we are trying to of us did. I have taken Vermonters information warfare. You know, we op- send through this bill. And I know I from both parties through here, en- erated for the better part of a decade have friends on the other side of the joyed pointing it out, and everybody under the idea that we should have par- aisle, as well as on this side of the feeling the sense of history. ity in defense and nondefense in- aisle, who have signed the SHIPYARD So what do we see now? A locked- creases. I mean, this is a bipartisan Act, which makes the statement, on a down Capitol because of the insurrec- thing. This is Democrats and Repub- bipartisan basis, that we need to be tion. And we don’t want to actually licans alike. We did this every year preparing our Navy for competition in ask questions? What is this? What is for—every 2 years as we did the Budget the Pacific that will come from China, this? Why don’t we all just cower under Control Act, and that was an agree- and I think it is a way to preserve our desks? ment until all of a sudden, somehow, peace in the Asia-Pacific region by Well, we can’t ask a question. I am we are changing from that. having parity there. going to hide down here. I see nothing. So what Senator SHELBY’s and my So for that particular reason, on this Oh, come on now. The American people amendment does is very simple. It says particular week, this is a most timely saw plenty. Let’s have that committee. that for every dollar that we increase and appropriate amendment, and I do Let’s have that Commission. Let’s find nondefense spending, we have the same hope we can get bipartisan support. out what happened and make sure, for amount of money that is going to in- I yield the floor. God’s sake, it never happens again. crease defense spending. I talked about VOTE ON AMENDMENT NO. 1523 I yield the floor. this yesterday at some length. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- How can you justify changing that the previous order, the question occurs ator from Alabama. policy when the greatest threat that on agreeing to the Inhofe-Shelby S. 1260 we are facing right now is China? You amendment No. 1523. Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, global know, they are competing in every Mr. INHOFE. I ask for the yeas and hegemony is a Chinese Communist Par- area, and to leave that out conspicu- nays. ty’s ultimate aim—we all know that— ously is not reasonable at all. So I The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a and they have grown increasingly bra- think that the—I remember that the sufficient second? zen in their power plays designed to majority leader and the Speaker of the There appears to be a sufficient sec- seize that. House back in 2019 said: ‘‘Democrats ond. The bill before the Senate purports have always insisted on parity in in- The clerk will call the roll. to counter Chinese ambition and ag- creases between defense and non-de- The bill clerk called the roll. gression by accelerating, among other fense.’’ Mr. THUNE. The following Senators things, American investment in crit- So why would they change now? And are necessarily absent: the Senator ical technologies, but I believe such in- I don’t think that they will change from South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM), the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:42 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G20MY6.011 S20MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S3180 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 20, 2021 Senator from Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL), called the Secure Fence Act of 2006. House. It didn’t move it any further. and the Senator from Alaska (Ms. MUR- What that piece of legislation did was We had a split Chamber. So the Obama KOWSKI). to authorize 700 miles of what was sup- administration got impatient. I under- Further, if present and voting, the posed to be double-layered fencing. In stand the frustration. I certainly want Senator from Kansas (Mr. MARSHALL) the end, only 36 miles of actual double- to fix the problem. I want to take care would have voted ‘‘yea’’. layered fencing was constructed. An- of—now they are probably adults— The result was announced—yeas 44, other 613 miles that consisted of about those who came here as children nays 53, as follows: 299 miles of vehicle fencing—in other through no fault of their own, the [Rollcall Vote No. 198 Leg.] words, people could just walk right DACA kids. I think most Members of YEAS—44 through it—and another 314 miles of the Chamber want to do that, but you single-layered pedestrian barrier fenc- Barrasso Ernst Romney have to do it in a legal way, and you Blackburn Fischer Rounds ing were actually built. I think we have to do it in a step-by-step ap- Blunt Hagerty Rubio have seen that unfortunately the fenc- proach, starting with securing our bor- Boozman Hawley Sasse ing did not fulfill the requirements of Braun Hoeven der. Scott (FL) the Secure Fence Act of 2006, and it I will talk about that a little bit fur- Burr Hyde-Smith Scott (SC) Capito Inhofe also didn’t work. ther, but let me just talk about what Shelby What is interesting to know about Cassidy Johnson Sullivan the effect the Deferred Action for Collins Kennedy Thune the passage of the Secure Fence Act is Cornyn Lankford Childhood Arrivals had. Tillis that it passed overwhelmingly in this Cotton Lummis It is pretty obvious, by this chart, Toomey Cramer McConnell Chamber by a vote of 80 to 19. There that you can see this goes back to 2007. Tuberville Crapo Moran were 26 Democratic Senators who The red bar is just talking about unac- Cruz Portman Wicker joined 54 Republicans in voting yes. It Daines Risch Young companied children apprehended at the also passed the House by a pretty over- southwest border. You can see, through NAYS—53 whelming margin as well—283 to 138— 2011, that, at most, we had a little over Baldwin Hickenlooper Peters with 64 Democrats joining the Repub- 4,000 unaccompanied children coming Bennet Hirono Reed licans. So the total count in Congress across the border illegally and being Blumenthal Kaine Rosen was 363 votes to build a fence and se- Booker Kelly Sanders apprehended. Then, obviously, as Brown King Schatz cure the border versus 157 people who, Americans, we have to take care of Cantwell Klobuchar Schumer apparently, didn’t have an interest. In them because we are compassionate. Cardin Leahy Shaheen other words, 70 percent of the Members In June of 2012, the Obama adminis- Carper Lee Sinema Casey Luja´ n of Congress who voted on the Secure tration issued the DACA memorandum. Smith Coons Manchin Fence Act, who voted for border secu- Stabenow The result was almost immediate. It Cortez Masto Markey Tester rity, voted yes. Again, that was with was a magnet. It was a pull factor. It Duckworth Menendez the support of 90 Democrats. Durbin Merkley Van Hollen was used by the coyotes in Central Feinstein Murphy Warner By the way, some pretty notable America. They would tell people who Gillibrand Murray Warnock Democrats voted to secure the border Warren would want to come to America—and Grassley Ossoff by building 700 miles of double-layered let’s face it. Who wouldn’t want to be Hassan Padilla Whitehouse fence, including those who are current Heinrich Paul Wyden in America? I am highly sympathetic President Biden; former President NOT VOTING—3 with the people who want to come to Barack Obama; the current majority America and take advantage of this Graham Marshall Murkowski leader of the Senate, Senator SCHUMER; land of opportunities. The coyotes former Secretary of State Hillary Clin- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. would tell the migrants down in Cen- ton; my chairman and ranking member SCHATZ). On this vote, the yeas are 44, tral America: They changed their laws. of Homeland Security, Senator TOM the nays are 53. Come with us. We will take you up to CARPER; the chairwoman of the Judici- Under the previous order requiring 60 the border. We will get you across the ary in the past, Senator FEINSTEIN; the votes for the adoption of this amend- border, and then you will get a slip, current chairman of the Finance Com- ment, it is not agreed to. called a permiso, which is really a no- mittee, Senator WYDEN. At the time, The amendment (No. 1523) was re- tice to appear. the Senator from Ohio, Mr. Brown, was jected. So they came. They came in such a Member of the House, and he voted The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- quantities that, in 2014, more than for it in the House. Again, that was ator from Iowa. 51,000 unaccompanied children flooded only 14, 15 years ago when securing the (The remarks of Mr. GRASSLEY per- our border, and President Obama right- border was actually a bipartisan goal. taining to the introduction of S. 1724 ly declared it a humanitarian crisis, are printed in today’s RECORD under What happened? Why isn’t that the case now? Why has securing the border and it was. That humanitarian crisis, ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and at that point in time, entailed about Joint Resolutions.’’) become a partisan issue? Well, politics happened. 2,000 people coming and being appre- Mr. GRASSLEY. I yield the floor. I wasn’t here between 2006 and 2011, hended at the border—2,000. You can I suggest the absence of a quorum. but I know there were multiple good- see the result. There were some ups The PRESIDING OFFICER. The faith efforts to pass an immigration and downs. clerk will call the roll. bill. They often referred to it as ‘‘com- Quite honestly, what ended up hap- The senior assistant legislative clerk prehensive immigration reform.’’ I re- pening is the Obama administration proceeded to call the roll. member, when I got here, that this ef- started to detain families, for example. Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I ask fort was still going on, and we actually They put in a consequence, and it actu- unanimous consent that the order for passed, in this body, a comprehensive ally had an impact. I can show you this the quorum call be rescinded. immigration bill. I remember talking a little bit better on this chart that The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. to Senator McCain, who was one of the really just shows cause and effect. This KING). Without objection, it is so or- leading proponents. I did suggest that I chart picks up in 2012 with the passage dered. would stop using the word ‘‘comprehen- of DACA. You can see that President AMENDMENT NO. 1518 sive’’ and that I didn’t think we did a Obama, in 2014, declared it a humani- Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, there very good job with things comprehen- tarian crisis. That is, by the way, when was a time—and it really wasn’t all sively here and that we ought to take they built that McAllen facility to that long ago—when securing the bor- a step-by-step approach. Senator which we went down as bipartisan der had bipartisan support. It was actu- McCain was not really happy with my Members of the Senate and sung CBC’s ally a bipartisan goal—now, I think comment, but I made it anyway. I still praises for trying to deal with this cri- that made a lot of sense—but it is not think, quite honestly, that the test of sis in such a humane fashion. Four and now. time has probably proven me right. five years later, we have the same fa- It also wasn’t all that long ago that, Bipartisanship pretty well ended the cility with the same conditions and a in 2006, Congress passed something efforts when that effort failed in the bigger crisis, but now that facility is

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:42 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A20MY6.036 S20MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE May 20, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3181 being referred to as keeping kids in So we had this enormous crisis, first they are sent back over the border to cages. of all, surging that began with single be used by another adult to pose as a You can see what ended up happening adults. Then, of course, on his first day family unit and exploit our asylum here. President Obama actually had a in office, President Biden dismantled laws. family detention policy that kept the the Migrant Protection Program. He I wanted to ask, are they verifying families together, but then a court re- ended those agreements. He made good that a child actually belongs to an interpreted the Flores decision. It in- on his promise to end deportations adult? Are they doing DNA tests? If so, terpreted unaccompanied children until the court said he couldn’t do what percentage of those are actual within the Flores decision, in terms of that, but the word was out. The crisis family units? how you treated children and how you came back with a vengeance. In the I wanted to know whether he was had to hand them over to HHS in a last 2 months, there have been, on an aware of the fact that human traf- short period of time, and applied that average basis—daily—almost 6,000 peo- fickers throw children out of rafts to accompanied children. ple per day being apprehended at the when they are interdicted by law en- So now a tough decision had to be border. forcement. made: Do we actually separate the chil- This crisis is out of control, but this I don’t have the picture here. I hon- dren so they can be handed over to crisis is also manmade. It is a man- estly wouldn’t even want to show it. I HHS while we detain the parents who made crisis by President Biden’s poli- showed it in our committee hearing 3 came here illegally? cies. or 4 years ago. It was hard enough The decision those in the Obama ad- Last week we had a hearing with Sec- showing it at that point in time. It was ministration made—and I really can’t retary Mayorkas, Secretary of the De- a father and his 2-year-old daughter blame them—was to keep the families partment of Homeland Security. It was who drowned in the Rio Grande. together. What I blame them for is actually surreal. First of all, they I went down to the border with 18 of they dispersed them into America— blamed this on President Trump, said my Republican Senate colleagues. We most of them never to have an immi- this was an inherited crisis. No, it saw a dead body floating in the Rio gration hearing. When you don’t have a wasn’t. It is the Democratic Presi- Grande the day after a 9-year-old girl hearing, you can’t have your asylum dential candidates who started the drowned in the Rio Grande. I wanted to claim adjudicated properly. We know spike of single adults. It was President know whether Secretary Mayorkas, that a very high percentage of the asy- Biden’s dismantling of President whether President Biden, whether Vice lum seekers here do not qualify for Trump’s successful policies that President Harris was aware of this. I wanted to know whether the Sec- asylum. Even as generous as our poli- sparked and was the catalyst for the retary was aware of the fact that mi- cies are, they still don’t qualify. Of the renewed crisis of family units and un- grant girls are given birth control be- claims that are adjudicated, the people accompanied children coming here ille- cause they know that such a large per- come here, and they stay. Then they gally to exploit our very generous asy- centage will be raped during the dan- communicate with other people in Cen- lum laws. gerous journey when they are put in tral America, and it feeds upon itself. So it was surreal to listen to the Sec- the hands of these human traffickers. It takes a while. It takes a few years. retary and, quite honestly, the chair- I wanted to know whether the Sec- It took until 2018, 2019 that the word man of our committee talking about that this was an inherited crisis but retary is aware of the kidnappings and really got out. When Donald Trump the beatings, the abuse, the additional was elected President, he was dedicated that things were improving. But the only reason they could claim things ransoms demanded by human traf- to securing the border, and we were fickers. going to fix this problem. You could were improving is—and Secretary Mayorkas said this repeatedly—they I wanted to know whether he knows tell immigration really dropped off fol- how much the human traffickers lowing his election. People really felt are getting more efficient. ‘‘We are getting more efficient’’—not at solving charge for their human prey and that he was serious about it. By the whether he is knowledgeable of how way, he was, but he had no cooperation the problem; at processing and dis- persing the illegal immigrants coming that debt is paid off. You realize the either by Congress or the courts of en- border is almost 100 percent secure on forcing our laws and securing our bor- into this country. Guess what that is going to do. It is just going to cause the Mexican side of the border. Nobody ders. So word got out over a couple of more to come. crosses into America without either years, and we had an explosion of ille- This crisis isn’t going to end anytime paying the human traffickers or being gal immigration primarily fueled this soon until we return to having con- indebted to them. I wanted to know time by families. sequences and we actually have the whether the Secretary knew how they President Trump—again, with no goal of reducing or stopping the flow, pay off those debts. help from Congress and no help from and that is not happening right now. I wanted to know whether he knew the courts—fixed the problem. You I was disappointed. Under my chair- how many young girls are forced into may agree or disagree with the Mi- manship, we almost always had a sec- the sex trade and how many young men grant Protection Protocols Program, ond round of questions, but we were de- are forced into involuntary servitude, otherwise known as ‘‘return to Mex- nied that. I am sure there were time used to traffic drugs, or become part of ico,’’ but there was a consequence. Be- constraints. But in a second round of gangs. cause of that consequence, combined questions, this is what I wanted to ask I wanted to know whether the Sec- with the fact that we also made agree- Secretary Mayorkas. I wanted to ask retary—I would like to know whether ments with Mexico and Central Amer- him whether he was aware that human the chairman of our committee is ica, people stopped coming. We had traffickers sell children to adults so aware of the fact that President pretty well stopped the flow. We had they can exploit our asylum laws by Biden’s policies created this crisis, and reduced dramatically the flow of unac- posing as a family unit. they are facilitating the multibillion- companied children and family mem- Understand, these policies that are dollar business model of probably some bers coming to the border. We pretty being instituted to be more humane do of the most evil people on the planet. well had had this problem solved before the exact opposite. It leads to all kinds I wanted to know, but I didn’t get a COVID hit. Throw on COVID and the of human degradations, all kinds of in- chance to ask those questions. invocation of title 42, and we really had humanity. I knew it full well. We held Beyond the human toll, beyond the this problem solved until the Presi- hearings on this in 2018. Vice President human tragedy, from a standpoint of dential debates, and you had all Demo- Harris had to know as well; she was on legislation, what is the real tragedy is cratic Presidential candidates say they my committee. that we were so close to taking that were going to stop deportations and I wanted to ask Secretary Mayorkas first step, that necessary step of mak- offer free healthcare. whether he was aware that we heard ing America confident that we are tak- You can see the number of adults. By testimony during my chairmanship ing border security seriously, that we the way, we have a colored chart. Gold that a child was sold for $84. will secure our border, because until we is single adults. Blue is family units. I wanted to ask him whether he is do that, we really can’t move on. With- Red is children. aware that children are recycled, that out creating greater incentives, we

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:42 May 21, 2021 Jkt 019060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G20MY6.017 S20MYPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE S3182 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 20, 2021 can’t move on to fix the problem of do technology. We need the fence. We The PRESIDING OFFICER. The DACA; we can’t set up a legal immigra- bought and paid for it; let’s construct clerk will report the nomination. tion system that works best for every- it. The senior assistant legislative clerk one. I yield the floor. read the nomination of Kristen M. You know, it is not good for Central The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- Clarke, of the District of Columbia, to America. I have been there. I have jority leader. be an Assistant Attorney General. talked to their Presidents. They ask us f CLOTURE MOTION to fix their laws. It is not good that Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I send their countries are being depleted of LEGISLATIVE SESSION a cloture motion to the desk. the people they need to rebuild their Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- economies. It is not good for them. It is move to proceed to legislative session. ture motion having been presented not good for us. It is certainly not good The PRESIDING OFFICER. The under rule XXII, the Chair directs the for the migrants who are put in the question is on agreeing to the motion. clerk to read the motion. hands of the most evil people on the The motion was agreed to. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: planet and left to their tender mercies. f We were so close. President Trump CLOTURE MOTION had stopped the flow, largely, of unac- EXECUTIVE SESSION We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- companied children, of family units, ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the and he was doing the final step, which Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby was complete the wall. Walls work. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Take a look at what happened here Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I nation of Executive Calendar No. 124, Kristen M. Clarke, of the District of Columbia, to be after January 6—double layers of fenc- move to proceed to executive session to an Assistant Attorney General. ing, concertina wire tipped. We obvi- consider Calendar No. 117. Charles E. Schumer, Patty Murray, Alex ously thought they worked here for us The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeff in Congress; they will work at the bor- question is on agreeing to the motion. Merkley, Jack Reed, Debbie Stabenow, der as well. The motion was agreed to. Benjamin L. Cardin, Patrick J. Leahy, What my amendment would do is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Elizabeth Warren, Jacky Rosen, Rich- simply complete the wall that Presi- clerk will report the nomination. ard Blumenthal, Tina Smith, John W. dent Trump started. He wanted to The senior assistant legislative clerk Hickenlooper, Michael F. Bennet, Tim Kaine, Brian Schatz. build 800 miles; he built 450. Two hun- read the nomination of Chiquita dred and fifty miles of that wall has al- Brooks-LaSure, of Virginia, to be Ad- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask ready been contracted for. It will be ministrator of the Centers for Medicare unanimous consent that the manda- paid for whether it is built or not. and Medicaid Services. tory quorum calls for the cloture mo- tions filed today, May 20, be waived. About 100 miles wasn’t contracted. CLOTURE MOTION So, American taxpayer, you need to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I send objection, it is so ordered. understand this: You will be on the a cloture motion to the desk. f hook for a couple billion dollars, you The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- know, tens of thousands of tons of steel ture motion having been presented LEGISLATIVE SESSION that has already been produced. All under rule XXII, the Chair directs the that waste—all that waste, and we clerk to read the motion. ENDLESS FRONTIER ACT won’t even get the 250 miles of wall. The senior assistant legislative clerk Isn’t that absurd? Isn’t that ridiculous? read as follows: Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask All because securing the border has be- CLOTURE MOTION unanimous consent that the Senate re- come a partisan issue, when it was not sume legislative session. a partisan issue in 2006. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without So my amendment, amendment 1518, ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby objection, it is so ordered. is really pretty simple, just two pages. move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- It is very common sense. It just says: nation of Executive Calendar No. 117, ator from Michigan. Complete the wall that we have al- Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, of Virginia, to be AMENDMENT NO. 1518 ready contracted for, that we are going Administrator of the Centers for Medicare Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise to to have to pay for whether we build it and Medicaid Services. speak in opposition to the Johnson or not. Charles E. Schumer, Patty Murray, Alex amendment. Now, in a rational Senate in reason- Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse, Jeff The amendment would force the con- able times, this ought to pass 100 to 0. Merkley, Jack Reed, Debbie Stabenow, Benjamin L. Cardin, Patrick J. Leahy, tinued payment of government con- I fear this is going to be decided strict- Elizabeth Warren, Jacky Rosen, Rich- tractors to build an ill-conceived bor- ly on party lines, and that is a real ard Blumenthal, Tina Smith, John W. der wall. shame. Hickenlooper, Michael F. Bennet, Tim Most of these funds were never in- If there is one thing that we ought to Kaine, Brian Schatz. tended for this purpose. More than $10 be bipartisan about, it is about na- f billion was redirected from the Depart- tional security, it is about securing our ment of Defense. These funds were in- homeland, and part and parcel of secur- LEGISLATIVE SESSION tended for military missions and func- ing our homeland is having a secure Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I tions, such as schools for military fam- border. One element of that, in addi- move to proceed to legislative session. ilies and National Guard equipment. tion to instituting consequences, like The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The Biden administration is con- the Migrant Protection Protocol, like question is on agreeing to the motion. ducting a comprehensive review of something I proposed with the Senator The motion was agreed to. these contracts, led by the Depart- from Arizona, Senator SINEMA, Oper- f ments of Defense and Homeland Secu- ation Safe Return, there has to be a rity. These decisions will be guided by consequence to reduce or stop this EXECUTIVE SESSION what is best for our national security, flow. not well-connected government con- But we also need barriers. Tech- tractors profiting off of hard-earned nology alone is not going to work. We EXECUTIVE CALENDAR taxpayer dollars. can’t hire enough Border Patrol Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I We need to move forward with smart, agents. They are already being dis- move to proceed to executive session to bipartisan investments to improve bor- pirited. We are going to have a hard consider Calendar No. 124. der security that secure both our time hiring enough people just to come The PRESIDING OFFICER. The southern and our northern borders, not up to the quota levels we want to hire. question is on agreeing to the motion. look backwards at the former adminis- We can’t do it with personnel. We can’t The motion was agreed to. tration’s boondoggle.

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