E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2017 No. 155 Senate The Senate met at 10:01 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable TOM COTTON, a Sen- A bill (H.R. 3354) making appropriations called to order by the Honorable TOM ator from the State of Arkansas, to perform for the Department of the Interior, environ- COTTON, a Senator from the State of the duties of the Chair. ment, and related agencies for the fiscal year Arkansas. ORRIN G. HATCH, ending September 30, 2018, and for other pur- President pro tempore. poses. f Mr. COTTON thereupon assumed the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, in PRAYER Chair as Acting President pro tempore. order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I ob- The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- f ject to further proceedings. fered the following prayer: RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Let us pray. pore. Objection having been heard, the Immortal and Invisible God, You con- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- bill will be placed on the calendar. tinue to be our shelter in the time of pore. Under the previous order, the storms. Thank You for being our Na- leadership time is reserved. TAX REFORM tion’s protection. f Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, Give our Senators the wisdom to later today, I look forward to joining CONCLUSION OF MORNING members of the Senate Finance Com- place their confidence in You, instead BUSINESS of in national power and prestige. Lord, mittee, the House Ways and Means inspire our lawmakers with Your pres- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Committee, and other congressional ence. Dispel all fear. May they remem- pore. Morning business is closed. leaders in unveiling a unified frame- ber that in the most turbulent and un- f work for fixing our Nation’s broken predictable of times, You are still in Tax Code. It is an idea that can bring charge of our Nation and world. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- much needed relief to middle-class Give each of our citizens the ability TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR families and small businesses and help to know and do Your will. Lord, be in 2018—MOTION TO PROCEED keep more jobs right here in America. our midst so that we will experience The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- It is the result of a lot of hard work peace even in the midst of a storm. pore. Under the previous order, the and input from Members, committees, We pray in Your great Name. Amen. Senate will resume consideration of staffs, and the administration, to name a few, and I want to thank them again f the motion to proceed to S. 1519, which the clerk will report. for their continued diligence on behalf PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The senior assistant legislative clerk of our country. This framework is focused on sup- The Presiding Officer led the Pledge read as follows: porting American jobs, while making of Allegiance, as follows: Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 165, S. 1519, a bill to authorize appropriations for taxes fairer, and on growing families’ I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the paychecks. It is a refreshing change United States of America, and to the Repub- fiscal year 2018 for military activities of the lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Department of Defense, for military con- from our current outdated Tax Code, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. struction, and for defense activities of the which for too long hasn’t worked for Department of Energy, to prescribe military many Americans. f personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and The current code forces individuals, for other purposes. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING families, and small businesses to navi- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER gate a web of schedules, deductions, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- and penalties. Rates are too high. In- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pore. The majority leader is recog- centives often make little to no sense. clerk will please read a communication nized. Some actually encourage companies to to the Senate from the President pro MEASURE PLACED ON THE CALENDAR—H.R. 3354 ship American jobs overseas. Moreover, tempore (Mr. HATCH). Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I for 8 years under the Obama adminis- The senior assistant legislative clerk understand there is a bill at the desk tration, our economy grew at a slug- read the following letter: that is due for a second reading. gish rate—never living up to its real U.S. SENATE, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- potential. Too many Americans strug- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Washington, DC, September 27, 2017. pore. The clerk will read the bill by gled to get ahead, many living pay- To the Senate: title for the second time. check to paycheck. It is time for a sig- Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, The senior assistant legislative clerk nificant change in favor of families and of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby read as follows: jobs.

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

S6159

.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.000 S27SEPT1 S6160 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 This is our once-in-a-generation op- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER crumbs. Amazingly, the Trump tax portunity to fundamentally rethink The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- plan will even include a proposal to in- our Tax Code. We can unleash the econ- pore. The Democratic leader is recog- crease the bottom tax rate—a punch to omy—promoting growth, attracting nized. the gut of working Americans. jobs, and improving American competi- TAX REFORM The American people should be able tiveness in the global market. Instead Mr. SCHUMER. Good morning, Mr. to see the principle behind President of sending jobs overseas, we can mod- President. First, I would like to talk Trump’s tax plan in this one fact. He ernize our Tax Code to help bring about taxes. proposes to cut taxes on the highest in- strong investment and good-paying Today, President Trump and Repub- come brackets and raise them on the jobs home and keep them here. lican leaders will announce several pro- lowest. He raises the bottom rate and Through this framework, we can lower posals as part of their tax plan. Accord- cuts the top rate. This is taxes for individuals and families, so ing to recent reports, that plan will in- ‘‘wealthfare’’—‘‘wealthfare’’—helping hard-working Americans are able to clude proposals to repeal the estate those of great wealth with more tax keep more of their hard-earned money. tax, lower the rate on passthrough en- breaks. Later this afternoon, President tities, lower the top rate, and actually The American people should be able Trump will bring our shared vision of raise the bottom tax rate. Each of to see the principle behind President tax reform to the people of Indiana and these proposals would result in a mas- Trump’s tax plan with little more than to Americans more broadly. He will ex- sive windfall for the wealthiest Ameri- an across-the-board tax cut for Amer- plain his support for putting Ameri- cans and provide almost no relief to ica’s millionaires and billionaires. God cans across the country on a more level middle-class taxpayers who need it bless them. I am glad we have a lot of playing field, because when they are, most. rich people in America. I don’t be- they can win. It seems that President Trump and grudge them. Many of them have I thank the President and his team Republicans have designed their plan worked very hard to get their money. for their efforts to develop the frame- to be cheered in the country clubs and Some of them get it through an estate; work. Together, we can continue that the corporate boardrooms. How does so be it. But the wealthiest among us work to bring relief and growth to the repealing the estate tax help middle- don’t need a tax break. They are doing people of our States, such as the work- class people? great. ers, small businesses, and families of Only 5,200 of the wealthiest families All of the statistics show that those Kentucky, and promote economic in America, couples whose estates are at the highest end are making more growth in America. worth $11 million, pay the estate tax. money than ever before and the middle Using the framework we will release Are there any middle-class families class is flat or sinking. Who needs the today as a roadmap, the Senate Fi- worth $11 million? Is that the Presi- break? The Washington Post-ABC poll nance Committee, under Chairman dent’s definition of the middle class? showed yesterday that more than 70 HATCH’s leadership, will continue to The estate tax is skewed to the very percent of Americans say our tax sys- hold a series of hearings to discuss how wealthiest among us, and they are tem already tends to favor wealth more to make taxes lower, simpler, and fair- going to repeal it. This is not going to than the middle class. This bill makes er for middle-class families and for fly with the American people, let me it much worse. small businesses. Like its counterpart tell you. One more thing to watch today is in the House, the Ways and Means Our Republican colleagues tried to do whether the President and his Repub- Committee, the Senate Finance Com- something the public disliked on licans provide any details about how mittee will continue working to pro- healthcare—taking away benefits, re- they intend to pay for these massive vide much needed relief to encourage ducing healthcare. Now they are trying cuts. Without these details, I suspect jobs and investments to come back to to do the same thing on taxes, helping Republicans will turn the age-old trick the United States. The work of these the very wealthiest. They are going to of promising that economic growth will committees will help build a stronger be in for a rude awakening because the make up for the entire difference. country. American people are going to rise up Some of them call it dynamic scoring, Many of our Democratic colleagues against this. Over 70 percent of Ameri- but that name obscures what dynamic have voiced support for overhauling cans are against tax breaks for wealthy scoring really is. our Tax Code. Throughout this process, Americans and wealthy corporations. President Trump calls the media out- I hope they will choose to work with us Lowering the rate on passthrough en- lets fake news. Dynamic scoring is fake in a serious way. tities would create a huge loophole, al- math. It is just made-up, fake math to A fundamental overhaul of our Tax lowing very wealthy Americans, such hide another deficit-busting tax cut to Code is a daunting task. We have a lot as hedge fund managers, to funnel their benefit the wealthiest Americans. of work ahead, but America deserves income through a business entity in No less of an authority than James it—like the hard-working men and order to avoid the top bracket and pay Baker, a conservative Republican and women of the middle class saving for a much lower rate. So the upper mid- former Republican Treasury Secretary retirement and the small businesses dle-class family making $100,000 or who led the last successful tax reform trying to expand and grow and the fam- $200,000 or $300,000 can pay 39 percent, effort under President Reagan, said: ilies hoping to send their kids to a good but these wealthy hedge fund man- We must not let tax revenues decline and college. These Americans deserve real agers, lawyers, and whoever, through a worsen the deficit. In other words, tax re- tax reform. I urge all of my colleagues passthrough, can pay no corporate tax form must be revenue neutral and should be to join me in working from this frame- and then a 25-percent rate on the rest judged on its own merits. work to deliver for them. of their taxes. Does that help middle- Let’s call it the Baker rule—the Jim Here is the point: It is time to take class Americans? Absolutely not. Does Baker rule: Tax reform must be rev- more money out of Washington’s pock- it help the wealthiest who have the enue neutral, judged on its own merits, ets and put more of it in the pockets of lawyers to set up these passthrough en- with no dynamic scoring and no fake Americans. tities? Absolutely. math. I suggest the absence of a quorum. By lowering the individual top rate, I am amazed that President Trump, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- the top 1 percent, who make above whenever he talks, says he wants to pore. The clerk will call the roll. $490,000 a year, would get a tax break help the middle class, and his plan at The senior assistant legislative clerk because their rate would be lowered. best throws crumbs at some middle- proceeded to call the roll. God bless them. They make a lot of class people. Some will get a tax in- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask money. Do they need a tax break? I crease, especially those in high-tax unanimous consent that the order for don’t think so. States like New York, but his plan ben- the quorum call be rescinded. President Trump clearly believes, de- efits the wealthy. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- spite his rhetoric, that the wealthy in Has the President read this plan? Has pore. Without objection, it is so or- this country deserve another tax cut he been involved in creating this plan dered. while middle-class families at best get or is it the people around him—many

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.002 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6161 of them from Wall Street—who came cause we Democrats want to work with of the office. When he mentions Puerto up with this plan, and the President our Republican colleagues to stabilize Rico, President Trump promotes his doesn’t even know what it does? the markets and lower premiums for own administration’s efforts and im- I will tell you, if he goes to Indiana millions of Americans. We hope our Re- plies that Puerto Rico was partially at today and says that his plan helps the publican colleagues will not just sit fault for the devastation they have middle class rather than the wealthy, back, repeatedly threaten repeal, and been suffering. The response from the he has it backward. It helps the watch as millions of Americans pay administration needs to get a whole lot wealthy far more than it helps the mid- higher healthcare costs. That will be better fast. dle class. wrong substantively, and, politically, I spoke to the Governor of Puerto HEALTHCARE it will fall right on their shoulders. Rico yesterday, and he gave me spe- Mr. President, yesterday the major- So I hope we can have the negotia- cific items that would provide imme- ity announced it would not be holding tions pick up between Senators MUR- diate help. I spoke about them yester- a vote this week on the latest RAY and ALEXANDER right where they day, and I hope the administration acts healthcare bill, Graham-Cassidy. Every left off. Each of them said they were on them quickly. But most impor- American should breathe a deep sigh of close to an agreement before Chairman tantly, we need the administration to relief. ALEXANDER was pulled away by Repub- send us an emergency and interim aid The majority has vowed to revisit lican leadership. package to pass, just as we did in the ACA repeal, maybe even with this leg- Insurers are about to set their rates wake of Hurricane Harvey. Puerto Rico islation. But President Trump and our for the next year, and whether we can and the U.S. Virgin Islands shouldn’t Republican colleagues should have come together or not could be the dif- have to wait a second longer for aid learned from these failures that the ference between a stable market and than any other American State or Ter- American people do not want to cut premiums that are hundreds of dollars ritory. We should take up and pass this healthcare. If they try to do it a third more expensive. So for the sake of the package here in the Senate before the time, they will fail again for the sim- American people, for the sake of turn- week is over. plest reason in politics: The public is ing over a new leaf on healthcare, let’s I yield the floor. against what they want to do. work together in a bipartisan way to The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. This administration, which cam- shore up and improve our Nation’s HOEVEN). The Senator from Maine. paigned it is for the people and popu- healthcare. Mr. KING. Mr. President, first I want list, on healthcare is doing what people PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS to join the Democratic leader in his don’t want and on taxes is doing what RECOVERY EFFORT comments about the devastation of people don’t want. What is going on? Finally, Mr. President, on the crisis these hurricanes. This has been truly a I remind my Republican colleagues in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Is- malign visitation on our country over that continuing to threaten repeal is lands, Hurricanes Irma and Maria have the last several weeks. Florida, Texas, like hanging a giant sword of Damocles left the islands—home to well over 3 the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico above our Nation’s healthcare system. million American citizens—hanging on have really suffered and are suffering. I It causes great uncertainty in the for dear life. You have seen the pic- know that the administration is work- healthcare market, and it leads insur- tures, and they are devastating. Water, ing hard on this, and I commend them ers to raise premiums on average food, diesel, power, cell service, medi- for the efforts that they have made. Americans. cine, shelter, security, the basic needs I think that now much of our atten- Now, I understand that for political of human survival are limited and run- tion is turning to Puerto Rico and the purposes Republicans don’t want to ning out in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Virgin Islands in order to mitigate ever admit that ACA repeal is off the Islands. Diabetic patients who require what is really a humanitarian disaster. table. They promised it to the Amer- insulin shots are unable to keep their One difference between those islands ican people for 7 years but deluded lifesaving medicine refrigerated. Hos- and Florida and Texas is the fact that them on what it really meant. The av- pitals still lack power and running they are islands. It is harder to get erage American thought that, if you water. This was a catastrophe on an there. It is harder to get aid there. I took ACA off the table, premiums epic scale. It may have been one of the understand that just this morning the would go down and coverage would go worst humanitarian crises within our San Juan airport was open for the first up. The bills the Republicans have pro- borders. time, and it has opened in a limited posed do just the opposite, but I under- Now, the President has a bully pul- way. stand why they do it. They promised it pit. More importantly, he is in direct So this is clearly a responsibility so often. But those promises have a control of the vast resources of our that we have as Senators, as Members real human consequence in the form of Federal Government—the military, the of Congress, and as Americans to reach higher costs for everybody. The respon- Department of Energy, FEMA, USDA, out to our neighbors in a situation sibility and the blame for the rate and much more. He can direct the at- such as this. When a crisis hits, it often hikes, should they occur—and they tention of all Americans to important calls forth the best of America, and I probably will—will fall squarely on the issues. Previous Presidents have used believe that is happening right now. Republican shoulders. President Trump this platform to focus our attention on OPIOID EPIDEMIC and the Republicans are in charge. disasters that strike our country. Mr. President, I want to talk about a Saying, gee, something in the past Barack Obama did it, George Bush did different kind of hurricane, a slow-mo- caused it, when they failed to correct it, Bill Clinton did it, George H.W. tion hurricane. It is a slow-motion hur- it, is not going to work. Bush did it, and Ronald Reagan did it. ricane that is sweeping our entire My Republican friends, you are no The President can direct resources— country, not just the Southeast. It is longer in the minority. You are run- boots on the ground and a structure to sweeping through our small towns, our ning the show. It is your responsibility coordinate it all. But a President needs cities, our families, and our schools. It to help bring premiums down. We want to act aggressively, comprehensively, is taking lives on a scale that is un- to do that and, in fact, there are good and urgently, and some of that has precedented and almost unthinkable. bipartisan sprouts. Senators ALEX- been lacking with this President unfor- I am talking about the hurricane epi- ANDER and MURRAY are very close to a tunately. demic of opioid abuse and overdose bipartisan agreement. Now, we hope A cursory scroll of President Trump’s deaths. Many of us this week are out of pique or anger that our Repub- Twitter feed and public comments from watching with rapt attention Ken lican colleagues will not reject a good the past few weeks does not show him Burns’ magnificent study of the Viet- bipartisan compromise that helps the using the power of his office to focus nam war. We are losing more people American people, put together by the our attention on the crisis in Puerto per year to overdose deaths than were chair of the HELP Committee and the Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It has lost in the entire Vietnam war. That is ranking member. been a week since the storm hit and, as one way to think about the magnitude I hope and expect the negotiations to I said, his Twitter feed and public com- of this catastrophe that is striking our pick up right where they left off be- ments don’t show him using the power country. The problem is that it strikes

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.004 S27SEPT1 S6162 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 here and there. It strikes a family here jail. He was convicted. But now he is a to figure out how to make prevention and a family there, a community here member of the Maine State Bar Asso- work. What will work? I haven’t yet and a community there, but it doesn’t ciation. He got himself through school, heard a really strong answer to that strike all in one place. So it is not so and he got himself through law school. question. I guess it varies from person apparent. There was an important moment to person, but prevention has to be part If we were losing a small city in that I think all of us should think of it. Treatment can work, but if only America of 63,000 people once a year, about when we think about people who 1 in 10 people have treatment available we would be turning ourselves inside are in this situation. When he went to to them or have access to treatment, out to solve the problem that was caus- apply to law school, the people at the that means 9 are sentenced to life and ing those deaths, and 63,000 people were law school said: Well, we don’t know if maybe to death. killed last year through overdose we can take you because you have this Last year, a year and a half ago, we deaths. It was almost 400 in my State record. passed CARA, the Comprehensive Ad- of Maine. That is more than one a day. His question, which was brilliant and diction Recovery Act. It is a great bill, All indications are that it is increas- indicates to me that he is going to be with lots of good things in it, but no ing—one a day. Now, 63,000 is about 7 a pretty good lawyer, was this: What money. That is like sending the fire de- people an hour—24 hours a day, 365 was my sentence when I was convicted? partment to the fire and saying: Fight days a year—who are succumbing to The response was 3 years. He said: You that fire, but we are not going to give this plague. That is the right term for are putting me in for life. If you don’t you any water. We know this costs it. It is a medieval plague that is af- let me move forward with my life, you money, and it is something we have to flicting people all over our country. are making that a life sentence, not a commit to. It has to be part of it. Lives are lost, families torn apart, 3-year sentence. He was accepted to Whatever we do around here about and our communities compromised. It law school. He graduated, and this year healthcare and about budgets, we have is a huge cost. I hesitate to talk about he passed and was accepted in the to realize we are losing our people, and things like dollars when you are also Maine State Bar Association. He is these aren’t bad people. These aren’t talking about lives, but it is a cost in making a contribution to his commu- people over there. I sat at a roundtable both ways. Not only are lives being lost nity. in a small town in South Paris, ME. and families being torn apart, but the Treatment can work. It doesn’t al- Next to me was a deputy sheriff. He estimates are that it costs our society ways work the first time. Anybody lost his daughter. These aren’t strang- something over $400 billion a year in that has been through this, whether it ers. These are often middle-class peo- everything from medical costs and is alcohol or even quitting smoking or ple. These are people whose kids or criminal justice costs to lost economic anything else, will tell you that it sometimes parents—this is not age spe- and lost productivity in our society doesn’t work the first time necessarily. cific—are caught up in this scourge. and our economy. Sometimes it does, and sometimes it I guess I want to leave us today with But I am here today because all hope doesn’t. Sometimes it will take mul- two points. One is, treatment works. is not lost. Contrary to what some peo- tiple trips through the recovery and The second is, we need more of it. If we ple hear—and you hear sometimes that treatment process, but it can work. We know something works, but only 1 in 10 this is hopeless and that there isn’t know it can work. I have 25 million people have access to it, shame on us anything we can do about it—there is reasons to tell you that it can work for not remedying that situation. To ample evidence that treatment can and 3 that I know. me, the most tragic case—and I have work. This is not a death sentence. I am going to be introducing a reso- talked to people in Maine about this— Opioid abuse is terrible, and from talk- lution later today—I hope the Senate the saddest moment, the most tragic ing to people who have suffered from it, can take it up and pass it—designating case is when someone who is in the it literally changes your brain, and it next month as National Recovery throes of opioid abuse is ready to ask becomes almost impossible to escape. Month, honoring and recognizing the for help and they have to be put on a But it can be escaped. The reason we people who are in recovery. So if it waiting list. That is tragic and inex- know that is that there is data from works, what is the problem? Why is cusable. It is hard to get to that point. across the country, but the reason I this hurricane still sweeping our coun- It is hard to admit that you are know that is because of my friends in try? Why does 2017 look like it is going trapped and that you are no longer in Maine—Andrew, Matt, and Chris. to be worse than 2016? control of your life. Once you are will- These are people whom I know, with Well, the sad truth is that, out of all ing to do that and say, ‘‘I need help,’’ whom I have interacted, and with of those millions of people who are ad- then it is up to us to be sure the help whom I have sat down. Andrew is a guy dicted, who are stuck, who are trapped, is there. That is what we are talking who is at the University of Southern only 1 in 10 has access to treatment— about today. Maine. He was trapped in the throes of only 1 in 10. Now, what do we have to So this is a different kind of hurri- addiction. He went through treatment, do to deal with this problem? Of cane, but it is a hurricane, nonetheless, and now he is in recovery. Indeed, course, it is like most other problems. that is destroying our families, de- there are 25 million people in this There is no single answer. It involves stroying our communities, and wreck- country who are in recovery, and they law enforcement. It involves interdic- ing the lives of our friends, but it is no will tell you that they will always be tion, and let me pause for a moment on act of God. We can’t stop the winds of in recovery because they can never interdiction. The Presiding Officer and Maria or Irma, but we can mitigate the shake this disease, whether it is alco- I are both on the Armed Services Com- effects, ameliorate the effects, soften hol or the really destructive one that mittee, and we have heard testimony the effects. That is exactly what we we are focusing on right now, which is in our committee that we only have need to do for those who are victims of opioids. the Coast Guard and Navy resources to the hurricane of opioids that is sweep- Andrew has made a new life. He is at interdict one-fourth of the drug ship- ing our country. school. He is at the University of ments that we know of coming up from I hope and believe we will respond to Southern Maine. He has helped form a South and Central America by sea. In this challenge as we have at other student-centered community to help other words, we have intelligence times in our history, and, indeed, as we people who are in recovery or who are where we know of 100 boats, and we can are this week to the hurricanes of the working on getting there. only stop 25. There is no excuse for Caribbean. I want to respond also to Matthew is a young man who, in 2009, that. So, yes, law enforcement, at the the hurricane that is sweeping America again was trapped by this horrible source or along the way in our States, that we can, indeed, ameliorate, miti- scourge. Now he is hoping to go to is an absolutely essential part of this gate, and soften. medical school. process, but it is not the whole answer. Thank you, Mr. President. Chris is a guy who sat in my office. We also have to work on prevention. I yield the floor. He worked in the White House. He was Frankly, I have been talking to I suggest the absence of a quorum. in it up to his neck and above. He had groups around Maine and around the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SUL- criminal justice problems. He was in country on this. We are all still trying LIVAN). The clerk will call the roll.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.006 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6163 The legislative clerk proceeded to someone had decided, ‘‘I’m going to let demonstrates that the internet econ- call the roll. the highest bidder rule the roost.’’ omy is a dynamic, supercharged, job- Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I ask The President’s nomination of Pai creating engine, with economic growth unanimous consent that the order for and his desire to have him continue as that should not be artificially slowed the quorum call be rescinded. Chair continues to show a desire to un- down because some industries believe The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without dermine the internet and the internet they have the right to do so. objection, it is so ordered. economy. As soon as he was appointed, These facts, and making sure we pro- NOMINATION OF AJIT PAI Chairman Pai announced his intention, tect an open internet, are why we Ms. CANTWELL. Mr. President, I as Chairman, to go against the de- should not support Chairman Pai. rise to strongly oppose the nomination mands of American consumers and re- The slow lanes and the fast lanes are of Ajit Pai to serve a second term as verse the rules that are already on the not like a highway where a consumer Chairman of the FCC. books to protect consumers. Chairman or business can take another route or Since taking over the FCC leadership Pai wants to make it possible for those plan another course. Here, you are cre- in January, Chairman Pai wasted no big telecom and cable companies to ating barriers that are wedges between time moving the agency away from its erect toll lanes that would further bur- businesses and their consumers, be- key mission to promote the use and de- den the nature of the internet and in- tween doctors and their patients, be- ployment of communications in the novation that its economy supports. He tween industry solution providers and public interest. For example, he has plans to go against more than 10 mil- the customers they are trying to serve. been involved in dismantling the rules lion American consumers and The growth of the internet platform that preserve the diversity of content innovators who have told him to keep for economic activity is something we in media ownership, potentially nega- the internet open and free. do not want to see destroyed, and tively impacting forever the number Recent studies have shown that the Chairman Pai’s dismantling of that ro- and variety of voices in the media mar- internet economy is now over 7 percent bust internet architecture and the sup- ket. of U.S. GDP, it employs 7 million peo- port it gives to innovators is extremely In addition, his confirmation to this ple and is worth a trillion dollars. Our troubling to me. I think about all the internet appli- important position will also have a strong, robust internet rules, without cations that I have seen in my State, negative impact on one of the most im- question, have helped keep that eco- whether it is a business like McKinstry portant issues, I believe, of our time; nomic growth. Our economy is in a that provides building efficiencies to that is, preserving net neutrality. A massive technological transformation. school districts all over our State and strong and open internet is key to an It is in an information age, and in an in Puget Sound. Let’s pretend now that economy of the future—to promoting information age, making sure you have McKinstry, which is trying to tell an environment for innovation and fa- an open internet is going to be key to North Shore School District that they cilitating the creative jobs that are continuing to grow business. are using too much power could reduce going to come along with an open Every business plan of every startup their costs by just doing three simple internet architecture. relies on the ability of consumers to things—but now, all of a sudden, be- Chairman Pai is poised to undo the get equal access to content. Largely, as cause the net neutrality rules go away, bedrock principles that are already in a result of the innovations, the open McKinstry has to charge that school place to protect an open internet. Even internet has created hundreds of thou- district more if they want to get that in the face of evidence that these rules sands of tech jobs in the United States. information to them on time. A are important to an internet economy The internet economy is almost a tril- clogged artery will not get the infor- and millions of jobs, he is determined lion dollars, and at 7 percent of GDP, it mation to that school district when it to try to rewrite them. is growing faster and stronger than On Monday, the Senate will vote on is needed in time to make an adjust- many other sectors, including con- ment. whether to confirm Ajit Pai for an- struction, mining, utilities, agri- Let’s talk about a doctor in a rural other term as Chairman of the FCC. As culture, education, and entertainment. area who receives information about a I have said, I think his leadership has It is disturbing to me that Chairman patient who comes into their emer- shown that on net neutrality, he be- Pai has made it clear he wants to re- gency room but wants a consult with a lieves the rules should be changed. As write the rules that protect those busi- doctor in Seattle, and all of a sudden, long as he continues to hold that posi- nesses and create an artificial fast and now their connectivity is slowed down tion, I cannot support his nomination. slow lane and ‘‘if you want out of the unless they pay more money. As the Chairman of the Federal Com- slow lane, you better pay me more I also think about this issue in the munications Commission, he has dem- money.’’ We can’t afford to do that for context of just some very everyday onstrated disdain for the important all the internet applications and all the ways we experience the impact of an public interest principles he is sup- small businesses that are continuing to open internet. Like people going to get posed to be upholding. He shows a dis- work on growing our economy. We need coffee. In my State, they will now regard for the innovators in America to make sure that instead of shedding preorder. They go online, and then that are striving to build the economy jobs in the United States, as we did in they show up to get their coffee—all so of the future. The public interest mis- the last economic downturn, that we they can avoid the long lines. But now, sion of the FCC is encoded in the agen- are creating jobs and creating power all of a sudden, if net neutrality goes cy’s DNA. The law that created the for consumers. away, is that going to mean another FCC clearly states that the agency’s We have seen what has been termed charge or, an extra toll, just to get mission includes promoting equal ac- the ‘‘app economy,’’ which consists of consumers connected to the coffee shop cess to communications networks for everybody who makes money has a job so they can avoid a long line? Are cable all people around the United States. thanks to a mobile app that was also companies and internet service pro- This means the FCC has the responsi- powered by the internet. Today, 1.7 viders going to say to the consumer: bility to promote the expansion of million Americans have jobs because of You have to pay more if you want a communications networks and to en- that economy. Nearly 92,000 of them fast lane. sure they have the incentive and abil- are in the State of Washington. Over What Chairman Pai doesn’t realize is ity to compete fairly with one another the past 5 years, that app economy and that the internet is now a full-blown in providing broadband services. The those jobs have grown at an annual ecosystem with many attachments; mission does not include letting a big rate of 30 percent. The average growth that the internet is like the artery sys- telecom company or cable company rate for all other jobs is 1.6 percent. So, tem that connects it all and connects run over small businesses or consumers literally, Chairman Pai is trying to it in so many ways beyond even our and saying to them: Unless you pay me clog the arteries of one of the fastest imagination. Yet he is proposing to more, I am not going to give you essen- growing economic opportunities in clog those arteries, to hold us ransom tial services. Imagine if that happened America. if only we will tell a cable company it to the telephone industry decades ago, By 2020, the app economy is esti- is OK to charge the American con- if you couldn’t get access because mated to grow to over $100 billion. This sumer more.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.008 S27SEPT1 S6164 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 We cannot afford to ruin the internet worry about how much of your hard- Here is why tax reform is so impor- economy by doing this. We need to earned pay you are going to have to tant in the first place. In the words of have an open internet architecture send to Uncle Sam. Today, leaders in Arthur Brooks of the American Enter- that allows everybody to access this in- the House and in the Senate will unveil prise Institute, the American Founders formation at the same time and the their core principles for tax reform. promised not just happiness but the same rate so that we can continue to The President will travel with our col- pursuit of happiness. That is, of course, innovate. league Senator YOUNG to announce his in the Declaration of Independence. I There are ways to grow the internet support for these core principles. think Arthur is onto something. I and grow internet investment in the Taxes can be confounding and com- think that is a good way of putting it. delivery system. In fact, during the plicated and painful to deliberate, but It means that all of us, based on our time period of the open internet rules, for folks back home, what I believe de- country’s original vision, should be we have seen just that—a continued in- scribes our tax principles is to say free to follow our dreams without gov- vestment. So we do not now have to re- more take-home pay, and that works ernment getting in our way or making write these rules. We do not now have for everybody. In other words, you ac- our burdens heavy. We should be free to throw a roadblock, a hurdle, a clog- tually reduce your living costs because to pursue happiness. ging of the arteries at the small busi- Uncle Sam takes less of your paycheck, Average American citizens should ness and internet economy that is meaning you get to keep more of it and not be numbed or stifled by mandatory growing so rapidly with all its devices. take that home and spend it on things participation in a system that depletes God forbid that one of our colleagues that you would prefer to spend it on. their energy and discourages them, and would be on the other side of town and So more take-home pay is our bottom that is what our Tax Code does today. get a delayed message about when a line. It exhausts people when it comes to vote started just because we in the I look forward to working with the fully complying with our arcane and Senate hadn’t bought a higher, faster chairman of the Finance Committee, convoluted and complex laws because speed lane, and maybe they would miss on which I have the privilege of serv- they are so difficult. So many people a vote. It is hard to say what slowing ing, and Speaker RYAN and Chairman simply outsource that by hiring some down the internet artificially would do KEVIN BRADY of the House Ways and lawyer or some accountant to prepare because it is so connected to every- Means Committee—another good their taxes because it is so complex. We can do better than that. We can make thing we do today, and that is why we Texan—on their ideas, which I know were born from many long hours and it simpler and fairer and flatter. have to stop this from happening. Today, many of the obstacles that I would be happy to hear that Chair- tough conversations. But this is going to be a national exist prevent the average American man Pai has decided to drop his insist- conversation, starting with the Presi- from pursuing their dreams and reach- ence on trying to change the rules of dent kicking this off this afternoon in ing their full potential, which ought to an open internet. If he did that, I Indiana. He is going to invite the be what joins us all together. One of might think differently about his nom- American people to express their views those is an outdated and highly con- ination. But until then I will continue on what tax reform should look like. voluted tax system that actually pe- to fight for my State’s economy, which For me, in addition to more take- nalizes hard work, stymies ingenuity, depends so greatly on net neutrality, home pay, I am looking for a tax code and enriches the lawyers and account- and continue to fight for the millions which is shorter, simpler, and which ants that people have to hire in order of consumers around the United States makes us more competitive in the to just comply with all of its con- who are trying to grow what are smart- global economy. voluted complexity—so-called compli- er, more intelligent, more cost-effec- It is a great relief, believe me, to ance costs. Call this the terrible te- tive businesses. have a President who understands how dium of taxes. It zaps our energy rath- Even the healthcare debate we just taxes and the uncertainty they place er than unleashing it. It erodes our had is instructive on the issues of net on job creators stifles economic work ethic, because if you work harder neutrality—I believe in home growth. The reason economic growth is and harder only to see more and more healthcare. I believe we can implement so important is that when the economy money go to the Federal Government, it and drive down costs. But if you are grows, more jobs are created, and for what does that do to incentivize people telling a patient that they might not the jobs that exist, the people who to work harder? It erodes our work get the information back from their have them will actually earn more ethic, as we see less reason to labor for doctor for days because he can’t afford money and be able to pursue their what ultimately gets taken from us. a fast internet connection that the dreams. The mission of the so-called Big 6 cable companies are charging, then I Just as importantly, though, this committee, which has been asked to guarantee my colleagues we are not President understands that the job cre- put together a blueprint for reform, going to reduce our healthcare costs. ator is not the enemy. A former col- has been to protect American jobs and So, please, I say to my colleagues, league of ours, Gordon Smith from Or- make the Tax Code simpler, fairer, and you will not have another chance at egon, once told me that the problem lower for average American families. this. You will hear from your constitu- with some of our Democratic friends is In a sense, it is all about putting fami- ents about this issue, and you will not that they claim to love the worker, but lies first. Families build individuals, be able to take back this vote. Please they hate the job creator. To me, that and families mold character. We have make sure you understand that Chair- sort of summarized it pretty well. I to give every opportunity to families man Pai is marching ahead on a very know he didn’t mean ‘‘hate’’ in the tra- who need to thrive. We have to keep different anti-consumer road, and be- ditional sense, but he did mean Con- the uninvited guest of government cause of that, I am not going to vote gress—and particularly our folks on away from the front door, constantly for someone who is going to slow down the Democratic side—likes to imple- begging for more money, more time, and clog the internet. ment additional burdens, such as high- and more attention, and constantly I urge my colleagues to vote no on er taxes or more regulation, more ob- throwing a wrench into their plans. Chairman Pai’s nomination. stacles in the way of our job creators, I also believe we should provide tax I thank the Presiding Officer. when we should be tearing down those relief for small businesses because Mr. President, I yield the floor. walls, reducing that regulation, and small businesses are literally the en- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- lowering taxes so that they can be suc- gine of our economy. It is not the For- jority whip. cessful, and in the process, we can all tune 500 that creates the vast percent- TAX REFORM succeed. Well, this President under- age of jobs in this country. It is small Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, today I stands that our economy, too, is cru- businesses, which often face an would like to talk about a topic that cial but extremely fragile, and he joins unyielding regulatory state. We should most of us don’t want to discuss, and all of us in wanting to do everything he lower taxes for all American businesses that is taxes, except today is different. can, and everything we can, to ensure so they can compete with foreign ones. This time, you don’t have to groan that we continue to be the strongest As the so-called Big 6 committee has over spreadsheets and calculations or economy in the world. said, the goal of any new plan should

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.009 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6165 be, first and foremost, to reduce tax and create jobs and opportunities for it possible for us to spend more money rates as much as possible. Let’s make other people at the same time. on our priorities, like national defense, sure this ‘‘first cut is the deepest,’’ as We know that social obligations are which right now is underfunded, or the song goes, but also to place a pri- still important. It is just that there are medical research or other priorities ority on permanence, to create a sys- many ways of meeting them other than that the American people may have. tem that encourages American compa- just cutting a big paycheck to the Fed- By delivering on these principles, we nies to bring jobs back from overseas, eral Government every April. In fact, can restore prosperity for this genera- along with the profits they will not the higher taxes we pay, the easier it is tion and many generations to come, bring back because they will be taxed for citizens to assume that, well, I have and we can keep the promise of the twice, and to put more money back in paid the Federal Government; so let Declaration of Independence that we the pockets of all Americans. the government take care of it. are endowed by our Creator with cer- As Ronald Reagan said, there is one That is not who we are. That is not tain unalienable rights, including life, simple fact you have to keep in mind who we have been. That is certainly liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. when it comes to taxes: ‘‘The problem not how we began. We began as a gov- Ultimately, that is what we are talk- is not that the people are taxed too lit- ernment that believed in the individ- ing about when we talk about tax re- tle, the problem is that the Govern- uality and the importance of all indi- form. We shouldn’t just be wearing ment spends too much.’’ viduals, and we all collectively benefit green eyeshades, getting out our This is not just about sheer wealth when each of us is free to pursue their spreadsheets, and counting the num- we are after but about earned success— dreams because that increases the bers. This is about keeping the promise the ability of mothers, fathers, and prosperity and the opportunities for of the Declaration of Independence families to work a long day and to keep all. that we are endowed by our Creator more of their hard-earned paychecks to We will never become, I hope and with an unalienable right to pursue use as they please—to save it for their pray, a country that says: It is the gov- happiness. retirement, to spend it on their house, ernment’s job when it comes to taking I yield the floor. or even to dote on their children. When care of a man or woman or a family in I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The families get to keep more of the money need. Yes, government has a role to clerk will call the roll. they earn, they are more inclined to play, but I hope we will always be the The bill clerk proceeded to call the take advantage of or to create their generous sort of country that we start- roll. own opportunities, including new busi- ed out to be and that we still are today, Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask nesses. Social mobility increases and with neighbors helping neighbors. unanimous consent that the order for so does room for charity. Middle-class Americans have experi- the quorum call be rescinded. The United States is the most chari- enced a decade of higher taxes, more The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without table and generous country in the regulation, and stagnant economic objection, it is so ordered. world. People don’t just turn to gov- growth under the last administration. HEALTHCARE ernment for help during times of need. It is time to break out of that cycle, Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, our We saw that in Hurricane Harvey and and this is our time to do that. Constitution begins with three simple in Hurricane Irma and now in Hurri- Every American knows we can do words: ‘‘We the People.’’ The Founders cane Maria. Many, many Americans better. If you ask them: Are your taxes wrote that in supersized font to remind generously dip into their own resources hard to prepare, is it complicated, are us that this is what our Nation is all to help provide for their fellow human you confused, or do you feel like the about. It is not about power by the beings in need during times of tragedy. Federal Government is getting a bigger privileged. It is not the elite. It is not It is our prosperity that comes from bite out of your paycheck than it to make the wealthy wealthier. It is job creation—getting to keep more of should, I think you would get near una- not to add more to the abundance of what you earn and pay the government nimity that the Tax Code is too com- those who already have much. It is to less—that makes that possible. plex, the Federal Government is too establish government that reflects the When Alexis de Tocqueville came to voracious when it comes to taking a will of the people or, as President Lin- the United States, shortly after our bite out of your paycheck, and people coln put it, ‘‘of the people, by the peo- country’s founding, in his book ‘‘De- would welcome the ability to keep ple, for the people.’’ mocracy in America,’’ he pointed out more of what they earn. In this age where vast sums are spent that one of the unique things about It is time for us to show that we un- on campaigns by a few billionaires to America—certainly much different derstand the plight of hard-working basically substitute government of, by, than Europe—was the organizing and American families and people of all and for the people with government of, voluntary associations. These often are economic levels, that we are hearing by, and for the powerful, we have an charitable organizations—whether they them when they say they want to keep enormous challenge to maintain the in- are churches or synagogues or mosques more of the paycheck they earn and tegrity of the mission of our Constitu- or just community organizations—that they want us to lower their cost of liv- tion and the responsibility of this Sen- as part of their good work provide ing by lowering the tax bite out of the ate. charitable benefits for our fellow man paycheck they do earn. We probably haven’t seen a challenge and woman. We ought to encourage Americans are wondering what our to ‘‘we the people’’ in years like the that. tax reform policies will be. For me, equivalent of TrumpCare. Certainly, it Of course, none of us is an island. It here are some nonnegotiable items. is designed to plan for massive tax is not that lower tax rates translate to The Tax Code must be simplified. Job giveaways to the wealthiest Americans everyone looking out exclusively for creators must be incentivized to keep of hundreds of billions of dollars and to No. 1. Oftentimes, that is the way our well-paying jobs here at home in the rip healthcare away from 20 to 30 mil- friends across the aisle will depict low- United States. American competitive- lion ordinary working families. ering taxes. They say: You are low- ness in a global economy must be in- What a travesty that is of our respon- ering taxes for the rich. creased by lowering business tax rates. sibility under our Constitution. What We want to lower taxes for every- The result should be a new, retooled amazingly misguided effort to do dam- body—not because it benefits an indi- system that will put more money in age, rather than to assist and provide a vidual but because it benefits the coun- the pockets of middle-class families foundation for families to thrive. try and it benefits all Americans. It and reenergize our economy. It will A few years ago, a woman came up to makes us more competitive globally. It benefit Americans in every State me at a fundraiser for multiple scle- creates more jobs and opportunities for across the country. It will also make it rosis—a walk—and she said: Things are Americans who are looking for those possible for us to meet our other prior- so different this year, Senator, than jobs and opportunities. It creates in- ities, as the Federal Treasury also will they were last year. centives for investment so that the en- benefit from more people working, I asked her: How so? trepreneur can start a business, come earning better wages, and helping to She said: A year ago, if our loved one up with a new idea, change the world, support their government. It will make was diagnosed with MS and they had

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.011 S27SEPT1 S6166 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 insurance, they were likely to have an mal medical service because it is fake to have to choose between healthcare annual cap or a lifetime cap and run insurance. The fake insurance bill and homelessness? It is not a choice out of coverage. failed by a few votes on the Senate families should have to make. That was a terrible situation to be in floor. Then, perhaps, people are working because MS is a mysterious and expen- Then we had repeal without replace- several part-time jobs, and their em- sive disease. ment, and that failed. Then we had the ployers have no healthcare programs at She said: If the individual didn’t have skinny bill, and that failed by a single all, so they sign up for the Oregon insurance, they now had a preexisting vote. Health Plan or the equivalent Medicaid condition, and they wouldn’t able to How is it possible that we came that plan across the country. They might get insurance. close to passing a bill that is com- like that, but it is complicated to She said: Now, we have the peace of pletely the opposite of the vision of our apply, and they have to reapply peri- mind that if our loved one gets an MS Constitution—to legislate for the foun- odically. What happens if their in- diagnosis, that individual will be able dation, for the American people, not comes go up just a little, and now they to get the care they need. the American privileged and not the are over the line for eligibility? As a Isn’t that the summary of what we American powerful. Yet it came within result of being over the line, they now should be seeking in our healthcare a vote of passing. have to go back into the individual system—the peace of mind that if our This week, we have the block grant markets. How do you do that in the child or our loved one becomes ill, if version—the block grant version that middle of the year when it is not an our child or our loved one becomes in- proceeds to destroy immediately the open enrollment period? jured, he or she will get the care they exchanges, the healthcare market- There is such complexity, such dif- need? Shouldn’t that be what we are places. Of course, the great irony is, ficulty. That is why it is so appealing fighting for? that was the Republican idea: Let’s to think about the vision of a seamless, Instead, we had the opposite. We had create a marketplace within which simple healthcare program that you the TrumpCare bill that was designed people can compare individual policies, have that will provide quality to rip peace of mind away, destroy pick the ones best for their families, healthcare when you need it—portable peace of mind, trample all over peace and get tax credits to be able to buy healthcare—just by virtue of your of mind so the wealthy could have them. So the Republicans came out being an American. That is a beautiful more giveaways from the Federal against their own plan. vision, and it is not out of reach. Every Treasury. In addition, it wiped out Medicaid ex- other developed country has found We had that House bill, and it was es- pansion. In my home State of Oregon, some version of that and made it a re- timated that 23 million people would the exchange is responsible for roughly ality. We need to ponder as to how to lose healthcare over 10 years and that another 100,000 people getting access to have that seamless, simple system our hospitals and our clinics would insurance, the marketplace, and 400,000 down the road, but right now we have have a lot less funding to be able to people gaining access through Medicaid a more immediate task. provide care to everyone. Yet it passed expansion. There are a half a million That immediate task is to stop the the House. Then President Trump got Americans in just my State, my hum- sabotage of the healthcare system we briefed on what was in the bill after he ble State of Oregon. Yet here was a bill have. President Trump has engaged in held a champagne party at the White that said: We do not care. We are going many maneuvers to try to force the House and celebrated its passage. He to wipe out healthcare for a half a mil- collapse of the insurance markets. One said: Oh, wait. This bill is mean and lion Oregonians and untold millions is to withhold the cost-sharing pay- heartless. across the country—20 to 30 million ments from insurers so they no longer Over here in the Senate, the Senate’s across the country. have the funds they were promised. secret 13 went to work to try to We owe a big thank-you to grassroots That uncertainty has caused many produce a bill without holding any pub- America. We owe a big thank-you to companies to say: Do not count on us lic hearings or having any discussions ordinary citizens who believe in the vi- to be in that market in the future if we with stakeholders. They were secreted sion of this country. They proceeded to cannot count on you, the Federal Gov- away in a room, and no one could find connect with Capitol Hill—to fill the ernment, to honor your obligations. out where they were in order to be able streets and to flood the phones and to Why isn’t the Senate body demand- to offer any insights. They did not hold overflow our inboxes—saying: What are ing that the President honor the obli- any townhalls back home, and they you doing? Please stop. Please stop gations of those cost-sharing pay- had no meetings here. The public was trying to destroy the peace of mind of ments? totally blocked out. The secret 13, Americans. They said: Make healthcare In addition, we have the President amazingly, came up with an almost work better, not worse. shutting down advertising during the identical bill to the House bill. Oh, the Is that really too much for us to ask? open period so people will not know estimate was instead, maybe, of there As we ponder how to make they can sign up. We have President being 23 million people who would lose healthcare work better, those in grass- Trump cutting the enrollment period insurance, 22 million people would lose roots America have expressed a lot of in half. We have a plan now from the insurance. Fortunately, the secret 13 ideas. They have said: We have a really administration to cut the funds for bill was defeated—but just barely—here complicated system that creates all consumer outreach and enrollment as- in this Chamber. kinds of obstacles for ordinary fami- sistance, which enables folks who need Then came another version of this lies, for working families. to get healthcare to find out how they called the fake insurance bill. This For example, consider whether you can actually get through the com- fake insurance version said: Hey, let’s have a job that provides you with in- plicated application process. let the insurance companies put out surance and your family with insur- Most recently, the administration policies that are really, really cheap ance but then the company changes the announced it is actually going to shut but that do not actually cover any- policy and only covers you. How are down the website periodically on week- thing. Won’t that make us feel good you going to get your children covered? ends during the open enrollment pe- that everyone in America will be able Are you going to be able to get them riod, which is when people will have to afford a policy that only costs $40 or signed up right away in the Children’s the time and effort and ability to $50 a month. Health Insurance Program? How do apply. They are going to shut down the Of course, fake insurance is fake; you go about doing that? website so people will not be able to that is, when you go to the emergency Then your employer says: By the apply during portions of the weekend. room, it does not cover the visit. When way, you now have to start paying us All of us should unite—100 Senators you get a blood test, it does not cover in order for us to provide you with should unite—and tell President the blood test. When you get an x ray healthcare. Trump: Enough of this sabotage. If you or an MRI, it does not pay for it. Oh, You say: Wow. That is a huge chunk want to drive up insurance policies by don’t even begin to think about its cov- out of my check. Can I possibly afford 20 percent over any other increase they ering hospitalization or any other nor- that and still pay my rent? Am I going might otherwise have and if you want

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.012 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6167 to be responsible for millions of people chapter to the nightmare, the repeated for hard-working families, and for the not gaining access because of your irre- horror stories we have been playing in economy. That means cutting tax sponsibility, then we are going to hold the Senate that threaten to rip rates, and it means simplifying taxes you accountable for it. Everybody in healthcare from millions of people and for everyone. If we get this right, we grassroots America is going to hold simply awaken from that war over are going to be able to produce more you accountable for it. healthcare and work together to ad- jobs, Americans will have higher Fortunately, we have a bipartisan dress these fundamental questions. wages, more take-home pay, and we process that has been underway to We actually have had public hearings will have a stronger economy. remedy these conditions. I, profoundly, in the HELP Committee, which we According to the Internal Revenue thank LAMAR ALEXANDER, chair of the have not done before. We have actually Service, Americans spend about 6 bil- HELP Committee, and PATTY MURRAY, listened to the experts, which we have lion hours a year on taxes, just trying the ranking Democrat on the HELP not done before. We have actually en- to prepare their taxes. Between busi- Committee, for saying: Let’s have the couraged people to consult with their nesses and individual families, we normal, rational process that we go constituents rather than to hide from spend an average of 18 hours for every through to try to understand how we their constituents. The result would be man, woman, and child in America, can improve the healthcare system. a significant strengthening of what we just trying to comply with Washing- They have held a series of hearings. have—lower premiums as a result, ton’s complicated Tax Code. The Na- They have brought in the experts, and more competition in the exchanges, tional Taxpayers Union says that the they have brought in the stakeholders. more awareness of how to sign up, total cost of all of this is $263 billion a They have done it in front of the public more and healthier young people get- year. That works out to about $800 for so the public can weigh in. They have ting involved in the exchanges, which every person in America. This is not consulted constituents and encouraged means the premiums will come down. spending that does anything produc- all of us to consult with our constitu- I think, as we ponder the goal of our tive. It is just figuring out how much ents and be part of that conversation. healthcare system—the question of tax to pay, and how to do it in a way Pragmatic, experienced legislators are peace of mind—that is our best imme- to send it back to Washington so that gaining expertise from those on the diate step forward to provide peace of the IRS will not come knocking at frontline so they can make the system mind, to end the sabotage of the sys- your door—how to get your numbers work better. Isn’t that the way the tem we have, and address the short- right. Senate is supposed to work? comings the healthcare experts and the The instructions for last year’s Their work shows a lot of promise. people of America have pointed out. standard 1040 tax form were 106 pages There are some very straightforward Let us be that mission statement long. These are the instructions—15 things they have heard from those ex- under this vision of a ‘‘we the people’’ different worksheets for people to fill perts. government, in that we pursue out just to try to fill out the forms. They have heard we need to lock healthcare that is designed for the peo- The people who can deal with this level down the cost-sharing payments. No ple of America in order to create peace of complexity are the ones who basi- insurance companies are going to be in of mind, so when their loved ones be- cally can afford to hire expensive ac- the insurance markets if they do not come ill or when their loved ones are countants and lawyers, who then take know they are going to get paid what injured, they will get the care they full advantage of a very complicated they have been promised or they are need, and they will not end up bank- tax code. It penalizes hard-working going to raise their premiums incred- rupt. We should be able to make that Americans who can’t afford the high- ibly high to cover the risk that they happen. priced help that helps them fill out and will not get paid. Then, of course, peo- Thank you. take full advantage of a complicated ple will not be able to afford that in- I suggest the absence of a quorum. tax code. surance. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. We hear a lot about people who talk They have heard from the experts ERNST). The clerk will call the roll. about how millionaires and billionaires that you have to have reinsurance. If The bill clerk proceeded to call the are gaming the system so that they you want to have this private market- roll. can pay less in taxes. If that is their place in which people can compare Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I concern, then maybe we should try to policies and use tax credits to buy the ask unanimous consent that the order make this system simple enough that policies, an insurance company will not for the quorum call be rescinded. there is no system to game and every- enter that market unless it has its own The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without one can understand it. insurance policy against getting the objection, it is so ordered. Just think about how much we could disproportionate share of the really TAX REFORM save this country if we simplify things sick people. Of reinsurance, they have Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, even a little bit. All the time we could heard. last week the Senate passed the bipar- save, all the extra money in the pock- They have also heard we must not tisan Defense Authorization Act. The ets of hard-working American fami- suppress outreach to those who need world is a very dangerous place. This lies—that would really help to grow insurance but increase outreach—out- legislation is very important to keep- the economy and do it quickly. It reach to younger, healthier people to ing our country safe. would also make life a lot simpler for make sure they are part of the ex- Another thing we need to do to keep most Americans. change as well as outreach to those America safe is to get the economy If we also, at the same time as sim- who are often working several part- going and growing. We need a strong plifying the Tax Code, lower the tax time jobs and have little time to focus and healthy economy in this country, rates, that keeps even more money in on this question unless someone and we need it now. A strong economy people’s pockets. It gives them more reaches out and says: Here is your op- means a strong country with enough money to decide what to save, what to portunity. We are now in the open pe- money to pay for the defense needs spend, and what to invest—money they riod. Here is how you sign up, and we that we have at this time. can spend going out to dinner if they can make sure you get that done. Over the 8 years of the Obama admin- choose. They can invest it if they want, In that set of hearings, they heard istration, Washington doubled its debt. and save for the future. If they actu- other things. They heard we need to do Why? Because our economy grew so ally choose to spend the money by more to take on the challenge of men- slowly and the administration spent going out to dinner, that helps the tal illness in America. They heard we too much money. If this sort of thing economy around the community where need to do more to take on drug addic- continues, it is going to leave America they live. People at the restaurants tion, the opioid epidemic in America. in a much more vulnerable position. have to hire additional servers, and There it is—a list of a modest num- America needs a stronger economy they will then have money to pay their ber of things we could do together to that grows faster. To get the kind of own bills. That is how an economy make our healthcare work better. growth we need, we are going to have grows. That is how providing people Wouldn’t that be a beautiful closing to provide real tax relief for America, with more money in their pockets

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.014 S27SEPT1 S6168 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 helps an economy become stronger and If you look at the most developed peal the Affordable Care Act, even healthier. countries around the world, the United though the budget reconciliation proc- There is another important part of States has the highest corporate tax ess we are currently under requires tax relief we need to remember. We rate of all of them. The average tax only 50 votes. There are not 50 votes. need to be sure we solve a big problem rate of all of these major countries Many of my colleagues have spoken with the taxes that not just individuals around the world—across the globe—is on this floor about the challenges, the pay but that businesses pay. The rea- 24 percent. In the United States, it is 39 problems, or the issues with the latest son we need to do that is because many percent. We are 15 percent higher in iteration of the Graham-Cassidy bill. people think of businesses as big, face- tax rates than the average of the major We have also heard as a body from less companies, but the simple fact is countries around the world. So that is many organizations all over the coun- that these businesses actually don’t the top Federal rate, and when you in- try that represent Americans in pay the taxes personally. People have clude the average for State and local healthcare: the American Medical As- to pay the taxes. That is because busi- taxes, it gets you to 39 percent—24 per- sociation, which speaks for America’s nesses pay taxes with money they get cent versus 39 percent. That is how far doctors; the American Hospital Asso- from their customers. out of the ordinary American taxes ciation, which speaks for our hospitals; If the government says it is going to have become. America’s Health Insurance Plans; the put a big tax on some company, that It is a huge disadvantage for Amer- American Cancer Society; many other basically gets passed on to the workers ican companies that are trying to com- patient advocacy groups; and the there and also to the people who buy pete on the world stage. Frankly, the AARP, which advocates for seniors. All that product. The Congressional Budg- reason we are at such a disadvantage is have weighed in about the challenges et Office looked into this. Their office that other countries have been cutting with this legislation. looked into it, and they found that their tax rates over the years. There But rather than continuing to bear more than 70 percent of the cost of cor- was actually a time when the U.S. tax down on that point, I would like to porate taxes actually comes from the rates were fairly low, and other coun- quote a colleague and hero of mine. people who work for these businesses. tries continued to cut theirs below Senator JOHN MCCAIN said on this Nearly 3 out of every 4 dollars they ours. Now we are at a point that the floor: spend in taxes would have ended up average for developed countries around We should not be content to pass going back to the workers to have that the world is at 24 percent, and the healthcare legislation on a party-line basis. money—workers who are either buying United States is at 39 percent. Places . . . The issue is too important, and too products or workers working within many lives are at risk, for us to leave the like Germany, Japan, and Canada have American people guessing from one election the company. Maybe it would have all cut their rates going back over the to the next whether and how they will ac- been higher wages or better benefits or last 60, 70 years. We haven’t done it quire health insurance. A bill of this impact some other way that people would have here at all. Now it is time to do it. requires a bipartisan approach. gotten a benefit from the money that It is one of the reasons our economy Senator MCCAIN also said: otherwise just gets collected and sent has been stuck with the slow growth I hope that in the months ahead, we can to the government. rate that we had during the Obama ad- join with colleagues on both sides of the Obviously, a big chunk of the money ministration. It is what we have seen aisle to arrive at a compromise solution that is from the workers, and another big over the last 8 years—a very sluggish is acceptable to most of us, and serves the chunk is from the consumers. If a fam- economy with very little growth. If we interests of Americans as best we can. ily buys something, part of the price can cut corporate tax rates, personal Senator MCCAIN is right. Fixing and they are paying is to cover the taxes rates, that is going to really help stim- improving our healthcare system can- that business has to pay. The higher ulate the economy. not be done on a partisan basis. When taxes mean higher prices for people People pay taxes. It is the individuals it has been attempted to turn big bills who go to buy something. who pay the taxes that in many ways into law on a narrow party-line basis, The third way that people pay these run the government. Many people I the results are often not sustainable. business taxes is when they get paid by talk to in Wyoming feel, rightly so, That is why we have work to do to- the people who own a share of the busi- that the problem isn’t that they are gether, because this issue of providing ness. If you take a look, there are a lot taxed too little; it is that the govern- for America’s healthcare is too com- of people on the other side of the aisle ment takes too much. plex, too big, and too important for us who like to talk about taxing the rich We need to get the economy going, to do with only one wing or one party. who own stock in companies that are and we can do that by simplifying and I was encouraged, as were many col- all across our country. The only prob- lowering the tax rates. It is true that, leagues, Republican and Democratic, lem is, most of the people who actually with taxes, people actually struggle when Senators ALEXANDER and MUR- own shares in these companies are far with trying to figure them out at the RAY, the Republican and Democratic from rich. More than half of Americans kitchen table. I have talked to those leaders of the Senate Health and Edu- actually own stocks in corporations folks at home. It is continually a prob- cation Committee, held bipartisan that are paying these high taxes. lem—the simplification, as well as how hearings. They brought in Governors, Maybe they have an IRA, a retirement much money the government takes insurance commissioners, healthcare plan, a 401(k) through their work. from them. Taxes raise prices. Taxes experts, physicians, and hospital lead- Whatever it is, Americans who are in- chip away at retirement savings that ers from across the country to talk vesting for their future are also being people have. about what we need to do short term taxed. Tax relief and simplifying taxes and long term to stabilize healthcare Some of the biggest owners of these makes sense for American families. It markets and to lay the foundation for corporations are actually the pension means more jobs. It means higher improvements to our healthcare sys- funds of public employees. That in- wages. It means a safer America and a tem. cludes teachers, it includes fire- stronger America. It is good for our So let’s listen to Senator MCCAIN. fighters, it includes people in every economy, and it is good for all hard- Let’s give that bipartisan effort an- community around America. Taxes working taxpayers and the families other chance. Let’s work together and take away money that could make those taxpayers support. do this the right way. these pensions worth more. When the Thank you. I ride the train back and forth almost government takes taxes away, there is I yield the floor. every day from Wilmington to Wash- less money in the pension plans for our The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ington, and the Delawareans I hear teachers, for our firefighters, for our ator from Delaware. from on that train or at home in the first responders. So it is a real problem HEALTHCARE grocery store or around my State are that the corporate tax rates are so high Mr. COONS. Madam President, yes- simply tired of Congress fighting end- because high taxes hold back the entire terday we learned that, once again, my less partisan battles with their economy and hold back the entire Republican colleagues do not have the healthcare. And it is not just frus- country. votes to pass their latest effort to re- trating to hear about on television; we

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.015 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6169 know for a fact that uncertainty in the reduce the rate of increase of indi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without healthcare markets is causing pre- vidual insurance premiums by a sig- objection, it is so ordered. miums to go up for Americans all over nificant percentage. TRIBUTE TO EMILY ENDERLE the country. The CEO of Highmark, We can also work together to estab- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, which is the sole provider of individual lish a reinsurance program, to support may I bid a public farewell to Emily market health insurance to the ACA enrollment outreach activities, and to Enderle, who is here with me and who market in Delaware now, conveyed to enforce the individual mandate. All of has served as the lead on my very ac- me that half of the rate increase for this would translate to lower pre- tive and busy environment unit for this coming year was due to uncer- miums. As I said, the President is al- quite some time now. She is going on tainty about whether the Trump ad- ready authorized under the ACA to to another role in Washington and will ministration would continue to enforce take a few of these steps and stabilize continue to serve our cause. She has the individual mandate, to make the the marketplace. done an amazing job, and I want to be CSR payments, and other things that From there, we are going to have to sure to say that on what will be her are part of the ACA. find bipartisan ways that we can make last appearance on the floor with me So today, recognizing that the only this a more workable system. I have in- for one of our ‘‘Time to Wake Up’’ way this gets fixed in such a closely di- troduced legislation in the past to speeches. make the ACA small business tax cred- vided and partisan Senate is if we work CLIMATE CHANGE its more appropriately sized for the together, I would like to commit again Mr. President, I have spoken before, small businesses I have heard from in to my constituents and colleagues that as you know, about the fossil fuel in- I am willing to work to find bipartisan Delaware, many of which can’t afford the increased costs of the Affordable dustry’s persistent effort to undermine solutions to our healthcare problems. public understanding of climate change Let’s sit down together, and let’s Care Act. There are ways we can work together and to confuse people about the actual bring in organizations like the AMA, effects of carbon pollution on our at- the AARP, the American Cancer Soci- to reduce the reporting requirements so they are less burdensome to employ- mosphere and oceans. ety, the American Hospital Associa- ers. I introduced a bill on that in the I have mentioned Drexel University tion, and let’s listen. Let’s listen to last Congress and would welcome a Professor Robert Brulles’ follow-the- them, to healthcare leaders, and to pa- chance to work with a Republican col- money analysis, which reveals the tient advocates, and frankly I think we league to introduce and pass that legis- complex network of organizations and should listen to thousands of faith lation now. funding—what we have called the web leaders from across the country as We could also look at ways to make of denial—that is designed to obscure well. We have received letters—all of the tax credits—or the way that sub- the fossil fuel industry’s fingerprints us as a body—from leaders of the Chris- sidies are provided through the ACA— and to perpetuate the fossil fuel indus- tian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, and Bud- both more affordable and more sustain- try’s climate denial. dhist communities across our country. able, so that families who qualify Dr. Brulle calls this ‘‘a deliberate and They jointly wrote a letter to Congress aren’t caught in a situation where they organized effort to misdirect the public urging us to reject the Graham-Cassidy qualify for tax credits, but they are no- discussion and distort the public’s un- bill and to immediately address urgent where near enough to afford com- derstanding of climate.’’ That is what matters that are right in front of us. prehensive health insurance. this industry is up to. The next one is CHIP reauthoriza- We also have to take a hard, bipar- One front group for that industry is tion. CHIP—the Children’s Health In- tisan look at what is driving up called the Heartland Institute. It is a surance Program—serves nearly 9 mil- healthcare costs across this country. nice name, but they are not very nice lion American children, 17,000 in Dela- We aren’t just challenged with resolv- people. For decades, the Heartland In- ware alone, and it is going to expire. ing issues around health insurance; we stitute has played a prominent role dis- There are a lot of Federal health pro- also have to find a bipartisan path to- seminating alternative facts and fake grams that expire at the end of this ward addressing healthcare costs. science at the behest of its industry week: the Children’s Health Insurance The bottom line to all of this is that funders. They have a long history of Program, the Community Health Cen- we must work together to return to doing the bidding of industry funders. ter Fund, which provides access to regular order and to give these pro- In the 1990s, it was teamed up with cost-effective primary and preventive grams the stability and certainty they Philip Morris to challenge the facts care for 26 million patients throughout need to serve patients across the coun- about the health risks of tobacco. the country; the teaching health cen- try and our constituents at home. Using the same tactics—along with ters funding; the special diabetes pro- In my view, the Affordable Care Act funding from the Koch Family Founda- gram. There is a whole list of has helped millions of Americans live tions, ExxonMobil, and other fossil fuel healthcare-related programs that ex- healthier, safer, more secure lives. Re- interests—it undermines public con- pire at the end of this week. So I think pealing it and replacing it with one of fidence in the established scientific we need a sense of urgency. We need a the proposals we have seen in recent consensus about climate change. sense of urgency to finding ways to months would have been very harmful Heartland is quite shameless in its work together in the short term to sta- to millions of Americans. But that methods, once sponsoring a billboard bilize the market, to extend these pro- doesn’t mean the ACA is perfect. There comparing those who accept the grams, such as CHIP, that have long is hard work to do. Compromise is science of global warming to the enjoyed bipartisan support and to needed on both sides. And I think the Unabomber. begin the steps needed to show flexi- call that Senator MCCAIN has issued to For my 180th ‘‘Time to Wake Up’’ bility and compromise by both parties. this Chamber is one we should hear. speech, I would like to explore the So let’s work together. Let’s listen to First, as I said, we have to stabilize Heartland Institute’s latest gambit, our constituents. Let’s listen to faith the individual ACA marketplace. For- which is to airdrop climate denial leaders. Let’s listen to doctors and tunately, we know how to do that. As propaganda directly into children’s healthcare experts. Let’s do the hard I mentioned, there have already been classrooms. hearings in which testimony was re- work and together improve, not tear This spring, Heartland delivered ceived from Governors, insurance com- down, our healthcare system. packages to hundreds of thousands of Thank you. missioners, healthcare experts, and With that, I yield the floor. K–12 and college-level science teachers they said the No. 1 priority was funding I suggest the absence of a quorum. across the country. These materials the ACA cost-sharing reduction sub- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. were designed to have a veneer of sidies, or CSR payments. That is some- TILLIS). The clerk will call the roll. credibility. Each one was stamped with thing the Trump administration can do The legislative clerk proceeded to the headline ‘‘Study: Science Teachers today. The administration can simply call the roll. Giving Unbalanced Education on Cli- announce that they will continue to Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I mate Change.’’ This intriguing story meet the law and make those pay- ask unanimous consent that the order was attributed to something called En- ments. At least in my State, that will for the quorum call be rescinded. vironment & Climate News.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.017 S27SEPT1 S6170 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 Inside the package, the teachers covery Channel. When she found out Nebraska’s new standards ‘‘challenge found a report titled ‘‘Why Scientists what she had been duped into, she said: kids to think and act like scientists,’’ Disagree About Global Warming.’’ It ‘‘I am somewhat horrified.’’ which is exactly what our science was issued by something called the Other participants are frequent fliers classrooms ought to do. Nongovernmental International Panel in the climate denial circus, like Willie One Omaha resident encouraged the on Climate Change. As a bonus, each Soon, who received over a million dol- school board to ‘‘do the ethical thing teacher also received a DVD copy of lars in funding since 2001 from the and tell the next generation what’s the ‘‘History of Climate Change in Koch brothers, the American Petro- going on with climate.’’ A science pro- Greenland,’’ produced by Idea Channel. leum Institute, ExxonMobil, and other fessor at the University of Nebraska- A cover letter from Heartland’s Cen- fossil fuel interests. The year the video Lincoln said the standards represented ter for Transforming Education—trans- was released, Willie Soon received ‘‘good solid science, good solid science forming education into propaganda, I nearly $20,000 from Free To Choose. education.’’ assume is how that sentence gets fin- The Heartland cover letter asked This is what we need in science edu- ished—asks teachers to ‘‘consider the teachers to ‘‘consider the possibility’’ cation—real-life scientists from real possibility’’ the science of climate the science of climate change isn’t set- institutions of higher learning engag- change isn’t settled. tled. Even that is not new. This echoes ing and helping our children learn. That is the package they got. Let’s the infamous Big Tobacco declaration, What we don’t need are fossil fuel front look behind that veneer. When you do, ‘‘Doubt is our product.’’ The heart of groups pumping out more phony the smell gets pretty rotten. It turns the fossil fuel industry’s scheme is to science to pollute public education, out that the Environment & Climate undermine legitimate science with just like they pollute our oceans and News is not actually news. It is not a false doubts. Because of the financial atmosphere. news outlet. It is the monthly news- stakes behind industry science denial I have been pretty heartened to hear letter of, guess who, the Heartland In- and because of the communications ad- about this from teachers working in stitute. They are citing themselves, vantages propaganda has over real classrooms in my home State of Rhode masquerading their newsletter as a science—you don’t need to waste a lot Island. Holly Emery teaches science to news outlet. The foolishness goes on. of time in peer review, for instance, seventh and eighth graders at Exeter- Their featured article, ‘‘Study: you go straight to the networks—this West Greenwich Junior High School. Science Teachers Giving Unbalanced scheme is a real problem for institu- Her students focus on solutions to cli- Education on Climate Change’’ was tions like our schools that cherish and mate change—something we could use written by a person named Bonner support real science. a bit more of around here. They exam- Cohen, who is a featured expert—guess All this masquerade and subterfuge ined Germany’s plan to significantly where—with the Heartland Institute, by Heartland Institute looked a lot reduce its carbon emissions. Students who previously held senior positions like fraud. Senators SCHATZ, WARREN, were so motivated by what they heard, in—believe it or not—Philip Morris MARKEY, and I wrote to Secretary of they requested to share their projects front groups. Education Betsy DeVos to ask whether with other grades in the school. One of Their Nongovernmental Inter- DeVos and her staff at the Department Miss Emery’s students said: ‘‘This is national Panel On Climate Change of Education helped or coordinated important and the other kids need to sounds like a well-known actual au- with the Heartland Institute on this know.’’ thority: The Intergovernmental Panel scheme to pollute our classrooms with Students in Jane Ramos’s eighth on Climate Change. The actual Inter- phony science. grade science class at Gallagher Middle governmental Panel on Climate That simple request drew quite the School in Smithfield learn about cli- Change is a United Nations-sanctioned, response from our friends at the Heart- mates around the world. They read, re- Nobel Prize-winning scientific body land Institute. ‘‘Your letter is a monu- search, and make slides about the that reports the findings of thousands mental misuse of your office and a be- human contributions to climate of climate scientists from hundreds of trayal of the trust of your constitu- change, including the carbon cycle, countries. The Heartland group—this ents,’’ wrote Heartland CEO Joseph burning fossil fuels and the greenhouse so-called Nongovernmental Inter- Bast. He called our letter ‘‘defama- effect, deforestation, livestock prac- national Panel on Climate Change—is a tory’’ and ‘‘despicable.’’ ‘‘Shame, tices, and the production of methane. misleading decoy designed to mimic shame, shame,’’ he proclaimed in bold They discuss the effects of warmer the real entity. font—this, unironically, from that oceans, expansion of water, melting The three experts who wrote the same classy group that put up the bill- ice, and rising seawater levels. These Nongovernmental International Panel board comparing anyone who accepts are important issues for Rhode Island, on Climate Change report Heartland climate science to the Unabomber, just the Ocean State. pushed out do not have degrees in cli- to give you an idea of their level of Science students from Brenda mate change modeling, do not having shame. Dillmann’s class at South Kingstown degrees in climate science. All are paid Even that little outburst is consider- High School planted grass on the Nar- by Heartland. All their claims have ably nicer than in 2015 when Bast row River salt marsh as part of a major been repeatedly debunked by real called some of us ‘‘fascists’’ and ‘‘ethi- unit on climate. During the lessons, science. cally challenged . . . mental midgets.’’ the students learned about the role There is one faint hint of accuracy in Why is the Heartland Institute so that salt marshes play as carbon this propaganda publication Heartland very touchy? We obviously hit a nerve. sinks—absorbent carbon from the at- put out. There actually is a PBS series The lesson is, poke an imposter and the mosphere. They went out and got dirty called Idea Channel. However, the Idea imposter gets very agitated. Fortu- and planted by hand some 35,000 seed- Channel DVD in the Heartland packet nately, teachers are smart people who lings of 3 different types of salt marsh has nothing to do with that series. It follow real science. Imposters like grasses. was actually produced by something Heartland that pretend their stuff is Since 2007, more than 500 students called the Free To Choose Network, coming through an Idea Channel that have become climate experts in Kara whose funding, like Heartland’s, is it isn’t, that mimic the name of real Ratigan and Renee Hadfield’s fourth linked to the fossil fuel industry. It is organizations to try to fool people, grade class at James H. Eldredge Ele- another masquerade designed to mis- that pretend their newsletter is real mentary School in East Greenwich. lead. news and package the whole thing up Ratigan and Hadfield have developed a One of the tricks of Heartland’s little as if it is intended to be helpful to curriculum that integrates climate scheme was to dupe legitimate sci- teachers face an uphill battle against change across all subject areas. For the entists into participating. One of the informed educators. kids, the year begins with a visit to a experts interviewed, Rie Oldenberg, the One example, Nebraska recently ap- local assisted living facility, where stu- curator at Greenland’s Narsaq Mu- proved new State standards requiring dents pair up with a senior buddy. The seum, was told she was participating in climate change to be taught in schools. students interview their senior bud- a video on Norse history for the Dis- According to the Omaha World-Herald, dies, asking how the climate has

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.018 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6171 changed over time and looking for les- TAX REFORM percent of our country’s counties. sons that can be applied today. Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, we are Think about that. Economic growth In their math class, students learn looking at an outline for tax reform has only occurred in 2 percent of the how to read charts and graphs and how that helps working families in ways counties across this great country. to frame a convincing argument that those families haven’t seen for al- The truth is that most of our country through data. In social studies, the stu- most a decade now—a decade of buying has been mired in economic stagnation. dents learn about the regions of the power that didn’t go up and obligations We have been standing still. I saw Lou United States, about their differing cli- that did, with more government re- Holtz give a speech one time, and he mates, and about how each is affected quirements and less take-home pay. So said: If you are standing still, you are by climate change. In science, the stu- we are going to be here for the next few going backward. If you are not moving dents learn about erosion and weather weeks talking about what we can do to forward, you are going backward. patterns and the effects of human ac- reverse that situation so that the op- There has been a slow recovery, but for tivity on rock, soils, and sediments. portunity for those families is reversed many West Virginians, there has been Students make observations about cli- and that eventually we also reverse our no recovery at all. mate change all around them and delve competitiveness so that we create bet- But it isn’t all doom and gloom in into society’s responses to the harms of ter jobs. our State because we have an oppor- climate change. There are two ways to get more take- tunity for change—the change we real- This past spring, the Norman Bird home pay. One is for the government to ly need that helps our struggling, Sanctuary, in Middletown, hosted sev- take less out of it—and I am for that— working-class families, that changes and revitalizes our distressed commu- enth graders for a beach ecology lesson and the other one is to do things in the nities, changes that lead to economic at nearby Third Beach. The director of Tax Code to make us more competitive growth and creates opportunity for fu- education, Rachel Holbert, and her so that there are better jobs with bet- staff led a discussion with the students ture generations. ter pay to start with. If we combine In fact, West Virginia, in the first about the greenhouse effect associated those two things—better jobs and bet- with burning fossil fuels. They ex- quarter, grew by 3 percent. We were the ter pay—with the government taking second fastest in growth in the entire plained how the excess heat trapped in less out of that higher paycheck, that the atmosphere puts stress on the Nation. To be sure, one quarter of is really where families would like to growth is not a trend, but it does dem- oceans, undermining the oceans’ abil- be. We are going to be here talking ity to stabilize the global climate and, onstrate the potential that we have if about this in a way that drives toward we do it right here for our citizens. The of course, leading, as we have seen, to a result. a higher frequency and strength of ex- potential of capital growth is there, The Senator from West Virginia is but one of the biggest drags on our treme weather events, such as powerful here, and she is basically going to start hurricanes. The kids’ lesson ended with economy in recent years has been ex- that effort today, as we really now cessive regulations, which we have ad- a focus on solutions. If the oceans are have enough specifics on what the Fi- the heart and lungs of the climate, dressed quite a bit here in the first 9 nance Committee is looking at in the months of President Trump’s term. We what can prevent future damage? Senate and the Ways and Means Com- Teachers like them play such an im- have worked hard to bring reason into mittee in the House and what the portant and formative role in helping the regulatory environment and also White House is looking at. We can the next generation understand the our burdensome Tax Code. begin to explain to American working world we live in. They teach our chil- What can we do? We can reduce taxes families why this is the right course dren to make observations, collect in- that impede our growth. Let’s think for them and for our country. formation, and use evidence to formu- about our small businesses. In many I am pleased to be joined here by late conclusions. They are honest and States, they are the major economic Senator CAPITO. driver of our economy. In my State of they are decent. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- The fossil fuel industry, on the other West Virginia, 95.6 percent of the busi- ator from West Virginia. hand, is neither honest nor decent. The nesses are small businesses. They em- Mrs. CAPITO. Thank you, Mr. Presi- filthy hand of the fossil fuel industry ploy nearly half of the West Virginia dent, and thank you, Senator BLUNT, has, regrettably, a firm grip on this private sector workforce, so nearly half for your leadership. Congress. There is a reason that we of West Virginians are working in what I am excited about what we are talk- never do anything about climate is defined as a small business. Yet they ing about today. I am excited for my change, and it does not involve the can face a tax rate as high as 39.6 per- State of West Virginia. The main thing merits of the issue. It involves the poli- cent. Think about that. If you own a that people in West Virginia want is a tics of the industry. We have, perhaps, bakery or an accounting firm, in a 5- good job. A good job, with more take- not yet plumbed the bottom of how low day workweek, you have to work Mon- home pay and a higher wage, is exceed- they are willing to go, but, surely, this day and Tuesday just to pay the gov- ingly important to the families I rep- is a new low to reach with their game ernment. It is no wonder that small resent, so tax reform and any other of phony science, masquerade, and sub- businesses have found it difficult to policies Congress could support will en- terfuge into our children’s classrooms, open, let alone succeed, in many parts hance growth and create more job op- like Ms. Emery’s, Ms. Ramos’s, Ms. of our country. portunities around the country. Dillmann’s, Ms. Ratigan’s, and Ms. The United States has the highest Let me focus on my State of West Hadfield’s. These honorable, decent corporate tax rate in the developed Virginia. According to the Economic teachers help their students gain a world. A lot of people are asking, how Innovation Group, more than 34 per- fact-based understanding of the chang- does that influence me? It is influ- cent of West Virginians are living in ing world around them and the issues encing the working American because distressed communities. Unfortu- facing our society. Unfortunately, the working American is bearing the nately, that number is the third high- these Heartland Institute materials brunt of that tax. Because of our out- est of any State in the country. At the may require those teachers to teach dated Tax Code, real wages for most same time, only 3.4 percent of West about politics and propaganda as well. workers have barely increased over the I yield the floor. Virginians are living in prosperous years. West Virginians understand I suggest the absence of a quorum. communities. that, as hard as they work, the govern- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The There are States that are prosperous ment is taking more money from them. clerk will call the roll. and have done very well, but the vast It costs them more money every time The bill clerk proceeded to call the majority of our States have really they go to the grocery store, every roll. struggled. Only two in five commu- time they buy clothing for their chil- Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, I ask nities have seen any job growth in the dren, every time they try to buy a new unanimous consent that the order for past 5 years during our so-called recov- car. It is just more expensive with no the quorum call be rescinded. ery. That is not the definition of a re- growth in their wages to be able to The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without covery. Since 2010, fully 50 percent of bear that expense. It feels impossible objection, it is so ordered. U.S. job growth has occurred in just 2 to get ahead.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.020 S27SEPT1 S6172 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 We see that all around our States and the opportunities for their families for are living paycheck to paycheck. Over localities. We see people thinking, I a long time. It is a good way to think 20 percent of Americans say they have can’t get ahead, and I haven’t been able about how hard families work just so zero savings. A much higher number to over the last 5 to 10 years. I am the government can get more of their says they have less than $400 or $500 in starting to think it is impossible. money. savings. These are people whose par- But we can fix this. It is not impos- This is a discussion about how the ents and grandparents worked hard to sible. We can create an environment in government can take less of your save whatever they could and would which there is more opportunity avail- money. For everybody listening who like to see that ability happen again. able and wages are higher by modifying wonders, ‘‘Well, if the government is We need lower taxes. We need better our Tax Code. We can have a simpler going to take less money—I thought jobs. New jobs are impacted in Mis- system with lower rates, and families the government already had a def- souri, where 97 percent of all our busi- can see relief from the complexity of icit’’—we need to work on that. One nesses are small businesses. Most new our Tax Code. I have seen it stacked up way to work on that and the best way job creation is created by small busi- before. If you haven’t, I am 5 feet 3 to work on that is to have more tax- nesses. We ought to be sure that no inches, and I think it is taller than I payers—not higher tax rates but more matter what we do in the Tax Code, we am when stacked up page to page. taxpayers. We are looking at some tax do it in a way that allows small busi- Along with the complexities, people changes here that would allow more ness to compete with big business in an need to keep more of their hard-earned taxpayers to share the burden, hope- effective way. money. It will help our companies fully paying taxes, as I said earlier this As for competitiveness, in the last 15 grow. When our companies grow, what afternoon, on a bigger paycheck to years, I think we are not as competi- happens? We have more jobs, fairer start with. You can take less money tive as we used to be. Our corporate taxes used to be right in the middle. taxes, and best of all, besides more out of that paycheck, and the govern- With corporations competing around jobs, we have higher paychecks. With ment gets more money because we the world, we were right in the middle. more earnings, companies can hire new have more people paying those taxes The middle in 2003 was 30 percent; our workers, increase wages, and invest in and more growth. tax rate was 35 percent. The middle in new developments. These are changes The 70-year average on growth since 2015 was 22 percent; our tax rate was 35 that I think West Virginians are hun- World War II is 3.4 percent. Every year, percent. If you are going to compete, if gry for. the economy was that much bigger you are going to create jobs, you are The time is now. The stagnation we than the year before. That ought to be going to have to be sure you know how have felt over the last decade has worn achievable. For 70 years, we achieved to compete. us down, has made us lose our opti- that. We should be able to get back to Mr. President, you and I were able to mism about being able to have a better that again if we do the right things. see—at least I was able to see—for the life than our parents had or our chil- But for the last 8 to 9 years, that first time yesterday, not being on the dren thinking they could have a better growth has been less than 2 percent. Finance Committee, the page that is Our problem is with jobs that aren’t life than we had. You know, the Amer- generally agreed to as our starting growing as they should in terms of ican dream is sort of fading for a lot of point. There were lower rates for fami- what they pay and the government is people, so comprehensive tax reform lies, in fact, doubling the individual ex- not having the money it needs to de- can provide that kind of relief. emption. Today, if you are a couple, fend the country and do other things. A I am excited that we can create that you start paying taxes after the first environment of optimism, that envi- lot of that could be solved by an econ- $12,000 of income. Under this proposal ronment of confidence in not just our omy that is thriving again. There has that exemption doubles to $12,000 each, companies and our ability to create been 10 years of not seeing that hap- so you would start paying taxes only more jobs and raise our paychecks, but pen. after you have made the first $24,000. It We combine good tax policy with that confidence that we need as a coun- is sort of a new tax bracket here—the good regulatory policy, which means try that, yes, we can live in our com- zero tax bracket. It is the tax bracket the regulatory excesses of the last few munities in rural America, like West in which you don’t pay income taxes on Virginia or North Carolina or Missouri, years clearly are being brought back the first $24,000, and then you start that we can live in those communities, under control. The Federal Govern- paying in a simpler system after that. have a great chance to move ahead, ment is beginning to look at regulation People would like the tax system to have a good retirement when we decide and being sure it is commonsense regu- be simpler. People would like to have we are at the end of the line in terms lation again. Consumer confidence is that postcard filing opportunity, where of our working career, and also pass on growing. Every single month we look you say: This is how much money I to the next generation a competitive at those numbers, and they generally made, here is my W–2 form that proves environment that can compete finan- have been better each month than the it, here is my standard exemption, and cially anywhere in the world. month before. They certainly have here is whatever else I am going to be We know we can compete anywhere been better the last 7 months than they allowed to exempt—my contributions in the world in a lot of different areas. were in any previous 7-month period of to church, other charities, my mort- Right now, we are on an uneven play- time for some time now. When we have gage payment. Those appear to be ex- ing field. When we change this and a good tax policy and a good competi- emptions that will be left in the Code, when we fix this—because we can fix tive policy, then before you know it, but everyone would understand those. this—that will change the playing field things begin to happen. Suddenly, you have about three lines, for every single American who gets up On stagnant income, you can see a and maybe, by the time you get to in the morning or goes to work in the study here that says, well, maybe the those three lines, your tax obligation evening, to have the confidence that income hasn’t gone up, but because goes away. things are going to be better for them. things are a little less expensive and The amount of money people pay to I thank the Senator from Missouri, inflation has been so low and so many get their taxes figured out in America and I look forward to talking about of the things families need are less ex- would be the gross national product of this over the next several weeks. pensive, they really have more money lots of countries. We need a system The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- than they used to have. Try to explain that is simpler than that. ator from Missouri. that to mothers and fathers who are The death tax—you know, if you are Mr. BLUNT. Mr. President, when the trying to buy five pairs of tennis shoes a family farm or a small business and Senator from West Virginia talked for five kids. You as a parent are try- someone has stayed on that farm with about the 40 percent that can come out ing to do something for your family you from your family or stayed in that of your hard work, the 2 days a week of every week or so that is a little bit ex- business with you from your family, it a regular 5-day workweek—and many traordinary. If you don’t have extra is very hard to figure out, when the families are wishing they could get money, you cannot do any of that. mom or dad dies, who created what back to a 5-day workweek because they Over 75 percent of full-time workers wealth as you work side by side to cre- have really been stagnant in terms of in America say, when asked, that they ate the wealth. By the way, you don’t

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.021 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6173 have any wealth that you haven’t paid on our family farm. My mom and dad keeps us from being competitive with taxes on already. You don’t have any- were really the first two in their ex- the rest of the world. thing you have accumulated that you tended families who had ever been to I have lived around the world, and I haven’t paid taxes on multiple times. college. All of my relatives were farm- have run businesses. I started my ca- There is an opportunity here to say ers in the South. reer working for an hourly wage in that we are no longer going to go I think the Tax Code that we have construction. I understand that Amer- through that after trying to tax family had for the last 100 years, since it was ica—and I can say this with some au- farms and small businesses. The death instituted in our country, has created thority—has some of the best workers tax is exactly that, and it doesn’t an imbalance. We can see right now anywhere in the world and in the his- work. that we are losing competitiveness tory of the world. On the back of that, We are going to work to make Amer- with the rest of the world. We have a we have innovation, capital formation, ica more competitive, American jobs growing disparity among income levels and the rule of law. That is what has more competitive. Again, one way to in this country, borne out somewhat by created this economic miracle over the create more take-home pay—the best the derivative results of an archaic, last 7 years, but we have taken it for way to create more take-home pay—is out-of-control, out-of-date, and inap- granted. What we have done is allow better jobs to start with. We can have propriate tax policy. other countries because of our immi- those better jobs if we work hard to be Today, we have two crises in Amer- gration policy, because of our tax pol- focused on competition, on regulation ica. I have spoken on this floor a lot icy, and because of our regulatory pol- that makes sense, on tax policy that about this. We have a global security icy, particularly of late—we have lost not only is simple but that everybody crisis that cannot be argued against. It our competitive edge. believes is fair. We have the greatest is deadly. It is serious. We also have a We believe that to get this economy compliance of any country, I believe, debt crisis, and they are interwoven be- going, President Trump is right. I am in the history of the world, but people cause of our inability to discipline our- absolutely committed to the strategy are less likely to comply if they don’t selves on this floor over the last 30 President Trump has laid out. It really think that the tax policy is fair and years, particularly the last 16 years. is only three things, and we have al- easily understood and means the same We now have $20 trillion of debt, and ready started on two with his leader- to everyone else. You shouldn’t have to that is the result of an explosion in the ship. have the greatest accountants in the size of our Federal Government. No. 1 is regulatory reform, which I world to figure out what your taxes are In 2000, the size of our government— talked about. or, frankly, to figure out what some- these are constant 2016 dollars. The No. 2 is that we have to get this en- body else’s taxes likely are. Fairness is size of our government in 2000 was $2.4 ergy policy going. What the President important here, simplicity is impor- trillion. ‘‘Trillion’’ is a big number, has already done with the Keystone tant here, and competition and better and it gets a lot of zeros out there. I Pipeline and the Clean Power Plan has jobs are important here. have a hard time even digesting what set the stage to allow us to become the (The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- that is. But 2.4—I can relate to the size energy czar, if you will, of the next pore assumed the Chair.) that it is today, and it was $4 trillion century right here in North America. We need better jobs for working fam- last year. So our Federal Government Lastly—and maybe most impor- ilies. I think that should be the flag has grown over 60 percent in 16 short tantly—is to get this Tax Code so we that flies highest as we begin to look years. There was one Republican Presi- can be competitive with the rest of the at how we reduce the tax burden and dent and one Democratic President. My world. Let’s talk about what competi- increase the opportunity for more peo- experience here in the last 2 years has tive means. In 1986, the last time we ple to be paying taxes because we have been that there are no innocent parties actually made any real, substantive more people with better jobs. in terms of this out-of-control spending change to the Tax Code, the United I know two of the leaders here. That on the part of the Federal Government. States, after those changes, had the guy who just left the Chair, the Sen- One of the solutions to this debt cri- third lowest corporate tax rate in the ator from North Carolina, and the Sen- sis is a growing economy. President world. What that did is allow us to ator from Georgia have been real advo- Trump, from day one, has said that compete with the rest of the world and cates for what we are trying to do now growing the economy is job one, but it set the stage for the next 10 to 15 years and also advocates for getting it done. was part of a bigger strategy in his of economic boom that is now part of We not only need to have this debate; first year. history. we need to get this done. There were four components to the What has happened now, though, is In my view, this needs to be done this strategy in the first year. One was that that the rest of the world has caught year. It needs to be impacting our we had to get Neil Gorsuch confirmed up. They have lowered their corporate economy by the first quarter of next to the Supreme Court, and that was tax rates. They have simplified their year. I would suggest that nobody in done. Second, we had to roll back on regulatory environment and taken the this body understands the importance some of the more onerous regulations burden off some of their people. Today of competition more than the Senator that were stifling the very life out of we have absolutely the highest cor- from Georgia, Mr. PERDUE. the free enterprise system. To date, porate tax rate in the world, and we I yield the floor. over 800 regulations have been removed are the last country of the major OECD The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- from our government. Third was countries—the 39 countries—to actu- pore. The Senator from Georgia. healthcare. We are still trying to fix a ally still have a repatriation tax. This Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, I would collapsing ObamaCare system that is is unbelievable. We have been so arro- like to echo what my esteemed col- hurting people back home. Lastly, we gant as a country that we have let the league from Missouri has outlined in had to reform our tax package so that rest of the world outrun us to the next the last few minutes. His leadership on we could become competitive with the stop, and they are now outcompeting this issue is pronounced, and his expe- rest of the world and get our economy us. rience on this floor is not to be under- going again. How does this affect the average man estimated. I appreciate his leadership Job one this year was to get the and woman on the street? Well, this I on this, and I appreciate the oppor- economy going again. To some degree, believe—the repatriation tax and in- tunity to weigh in on this. it is beginning to move. Consumer con- deed the lack of competitiveness in our Before my remarks today on this his- fidence is at a 16-year high. CEO con- Tax Code—is an absolute tax on Amer- toric opportunity before us right now fidence is at a 20-year high. Why? Be- ican workers. Why? Because right now, to finally, after 30 years, become com- cause they finally see rhetoric in Wash- twice as many companies in the United petitive again with the rest of the ington talking about the things they States are being purchased by compa- world, I would like to preface my re- have been asking for for over 10 years, nies outside our country, as compared marks with a personal comment. My and that is relief from some of the to companies that our U.S. companies mom and dad were schoolteachers. We pressure the Federal Government has are buying outside the United States. were middle class. I grew up working put on the free enterprise system that That is nothing but a reflection on the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.023 S27SEPT1 S6174 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 imbalance of our high tax environment Nearly every CEO surveyed by the level have not grown at all in the last here at home, and the people who suf- BRT, Business Roundtable, said that 30 years. That is terrible in the United fer from that are the people who buy delays on tax would damage our econ- States. We can fix that. It is a function products in the United States and the omy. Here is why. We just heard the of the thing I am talking about right people who work for companies that Senator from Missouri talk about tim- now—American companies that lost sell products in the United States. By ing. We have to have a sense of urgency their competitiveness because of the companies, I am talking about friends on this for one reason; that is, if you rules here in Washington. This is a 1- of mine who have small businesses in want to affect the economy next year, percent increase in our GDP. Say we South Georgia and have four employ- you have to get this done this year. grow from 1.9 percent to 2.9 percent. ees. I am also talking about friends Budgets are being finalized for next That alone is $3 trillion of revenue over who run large corporations, multi- year right now. Capital investments the next 10 years. That is doable. Ev- national corporations. All of the above have already been made in terms of de- erybody in this room knows that. contribute to our economy. termining how much and where and But we have to change this Tax Code We have unwanted acquisitions. Just how soon they will be making it. More to put people back to work, to get our look at recent history. Burger King importantly, during the back half of economy going again, and to become was bought by a Canadian firm, next year, we will have the holiday sea- competitive with the rest of the world. Timmy’s. Look at the beer industry in son, which offers up a significant por- The end result will be to address, fi- St. Louis. Today, most of those compa- tion of our retail sales for the year, and nally, this debt crisis. nies are owned by Brazilians and Bel- those decisions are being made right The reason we want this Tax Code gians. These are not mean CEOs who now—before the purchases that are changed is to put people back to work decided to move their corporate head- made next spring. and to change lives here in America. quarters, no. This is a reflection of a We have major CEOs weighing in on But the long-term benefit of this is competitive disadvantage in which this. Randall Stephenson, CEO at that it gives us more flexibility and someone outside the country has used AT&T, said that if we get the corporate more capital with which to solve this our Tax Code and our tax dollars to ac- tax rate lowered, ‘‘We will step it up’’— long-term debt crisis. Growing the tually buy U.S. companies to the det- meaning their capital investments. economy alone will not fix this debt riment of U.S. workers. How can any- ‘‘Every additional billion dollars . . . is crisis, but we will not fix the debt cri- one be against lowering our corporate 7,000 hard-hat jobs putting fiber in the sis unless and until we fix this Tax tax rate and doing away with this repa- ground, cell sites up, and antennas on Code. triation tax? cell sites.’’ We need to have a sense of urgency The Business Roundtable in 2004 doc- David Abney, CEO of UPS, said: like never before in order to get this uments—and this is interesting—that ‘‘We’d like to bring some of those for- done this year. I echo the comments of if our corporate rate today were just 20 eign earnings back, invest them into my colleagues, and I thank you for this percent, over 4,700 companies that have our network here.’’ opportunity. been purchased over the last couple of Finally, Mark Weinberger is the CEO I yield the floor. years would still be in the United of one of the major accounting firms The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- States. I think that is tantamount to a we have here in the United States. pore. The Senator from North Carolina. marching order for us here in the Sen- They are multinational, so they have Mr. TILLIS. Mr. President, I was pre- ate to make this change. experience around the world in this siding when the colloquy started with The way forward is very simple. This with Ernst & Young. Actually, through my colleagues here to talk about tax is what is talked about in this tax these tax changes, they will stand to reform. I had not intended to speak package that we are beginning to talk lose revenue because we are simpli- today, and I am sure my staffers are about publicly, and this is only after 9 fying how people calculate what they scrambling, wondering what the boss months of regular order in committee owe in taxes. His quote is this: ‘‘I think will say. I want to weigh in with this with multiple hearings. We heard in it’s truly a bipartisan issue’’—I agree— discussion mainly because of the per- the healthcare debate: Oh, this is not ‘‘something everybody can rally sonal perspective of a leader who has regular order. We didn’t have the around . . . it’s urgent for our coun- seen the positive impacts of having the chance to talk about it and put amend- try.’’ courage, focus, and discipline to deliver ments in and all this. To get this done, we have to move on tax reform. Well, this time, in tax, it will be by past partisan politics and Washington Back in 2011, I was in my third term. regular order. There will be amend- games. We saw how we disappointed Republicans had the majority, and I be- ments. There will be debates. There the American people—both sides. The came speaker of the house. When I have already been multiple hearings. Democrats in 2009 crammed ObamaCare came in February of 2011, it was re- We are looking for input from all cor- down the throats of America through a ported to me that we had a $2.5 billion ners. supermajority. We now know it has structural deficit. We had the fourth This strategy has three parts: One, failed. Republicans were not able to fix highest unemployment rate in the Na- we have to lower this tax on our Amer- it this year, so far. So we all need to tion and we had 6 months to figure out ican workers—lower the corporate tax look at this tax issue as a bipartisan how to balance the budget. So it was rate to be competitive with the rest of issue to fix this once and for all for the counterintuitive to a lot of people that the world. Two, eliminate this repatri- people back home. we would spend time on regulatory re- ation tax as every other country in the We can’t get bogged down in this form and tax reform—particularly tax world has done. And, last, we have to scoring—this financial modeling that is reform—reducing the amount of rev- simplify our individual Tax Code. only done this way in Washington. Peo- enue coming in at the same time we My mom and dad were school- ple back home don’t run their small were in a deficit ourselves. But in the teachers. They were proud of their abil- businesses this way. They don’t run big first 6 months that we were in the ma- ity to pay their taxes, but they were businesses this way. They sure don’t jority, we cut the sales tax. Then we burdened by that. Right now, we don’t run their personal finances this way. went over a 2-year period, even with need to do that. We have to find a way We can’t get bogged down in bad num- that $2.5 billion structural deficit, to to make this Tax Code more equitable bers and bad timing coming from the make the changes in the corporate tax for everyone. Congressional Budget Office—not this and the income tax. It took North Nearly 90 percent of Americans want time. It is too important. The only Carolina from the 44th most taxed the code changed. Over two-thirds score that matters to me is GDP State—in other words, there were only think taxes are too high. Almost two- growth and the jobs that it creates— 5 States ahead of us for the highest tax thirds say that lowering the corporate the change of lives that it can affect burden in the United States—now down tax rate—again, they get the fact that for the people back home. to No. 12. It was one of the worst grow- this tax rate is lower in the rest of the I hear people talking all the time: I ing economies, and it now ranks in the world and that it is a penalty on the work part time; can you help me get top five in the Nation, and it is one of workers here in the United States. more hours? Wages at the low-income the fastest growing economies in the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.025 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6175 Nation. We created over 250,000 jobs more little guys like me—that 19-year- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without and actually put North Carolina on the old living in a trailer park—could get a objection, it is so ordered. map by all references—CEO measures job—a better-paying job—and, ulti- PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS and by independent organizations. It is mately, have enough money to put RECOVERY EFFORT the State where businesses want to set himself through school. Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, up and do business. So when we get into this argument, in the last 24 hours since I came to the We took the corporate tax from 6.9 don’t take the bait by some people who floor to talk about Puerto Rico and the down to 2.5. We took personal income will say that because we are focusing U.S. Virgin Islands, there has been tax rates from 7.75 down to 5.49. We got on corporate taxes and reducing the progress but far less progress than is people back to work. tax burden on businesses, that is some- necessary at this critical time of hu- Along the way, we had our chal- how a guy in a suit trying to help out manitarian crisis, when the people of lenges. Everybody in Washington is for a business. That is a guy who has those islands literally face a chasm, a tax reform. They are for tax relief. worked his way from that trailer park deepening canyon of needs and chal- They will come into your office and now into the U.S. Senate and benefited lenges. tell you: Let’s get her going. Then on when Congress had the courage to re- Over the next 24 hours, over the next the side they will say: except for that duce taxes and get the economy back 24 days, over the next 24 months, this one righteous exemption I may need. on track. That is what we better do. crisis must be met with a strategy, an We have to have Members who have the That is what we promised. That is what overarching plan, a Marshall Plan for courage to do tax reform that helps we are here to do today. The time is Puerto Rico that commits the re- working families, that creates jobs, now to get it done. sources unequivocally and unambig- and that silences the people who want The President has shown wisdom in uously, making sure we match the to take this exemption or that exemp- the blueprint—and our leadership here, depth of this crisis with a magnitude of tion away, so we do what is right for in terms of the broad strokes about resources and commitment that is the generation that is about to look for what tax reform needs to look like. needed and deserved. That kind of re- Now it is our job—each and every indi- jobs and the people who need a job sponse, which has been lacking so far, vidual Member of the Senate and the today. is absolutely necessary for the hope of House—to deliver on the promise to They want their businesses to grow. Puerto Rico because as the threats of produce tax reform to help the little They want their economies to thrive. disease and contaminated water in- guy and to get this economy going to They want the United States to be the crease, not to mention the lack of be the great economy that it has been strong, great economy that it can be. proper medicine, healthcare, roads, in the past, and I have every reason to It is going to take courage. It is going transportation and communication, to take discipline. It is going to take believe that it will be so in the future. I suggest the absence of a quorum. food, water, medicine, basic necessities time—but only so much time. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- rise on that island, the people of Puer- I believe this Congress, this Senate, pore. The clerk will call the roll. to Rico will lose trust and confidence over the course of a few months, if we The senior assistant legislative clerk in fellow Americans that must do focus on it and with the support of the proceeded to call the roll. more. We need to give them the hope President and in collaboration with the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I they deserve, and that hope has to be House, can get this done. We have to ask unanimous consent that the order more than rhetoric and more than pat- get it done. We promised the American for the quorum call be rescinded. ting ourselves on the back as the Presi- people last year that if we had majori- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. dent has done. It has to be a real com- ties, we would do what we had to do to TOOMEY). Without objection, it is so or- mitment. deliver on this promise. It can be done. dered. In fact, there is no reason for back- A lot of times, people ask me what f patting. The response so far has been keeps me up at night. I tell them two inadequate, lacking the full attention things: coffee and the national debt. EXECUTIVE SESSION and commitment that is needed. It has Coffee is for the obvious reasons, but been a story of inattention and inad- why the national debt? I will tell you EXECUTIVE CALENDAR equate strategy so far to meet this why. Because when I have people on deepening humanitarian crisis. the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the serv- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I The people of Texas, Florida, and ask unanimous consent that the Sen- ice chiefs come into the Senate Armed throughout the gulf coast and the ate proceed to executive session for the Services Committee and say the single Southeast who have been affected by en bloc consideration of Calendar No. greatest threat to our national secu- the storms have received the full com- 95, the nomination of Heath Tarbert to rity is our debt, we should take notice. mitment of America. It is what we owe be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, These are people who are skilled in our fellow Americans. That same com- and Calendar No. 106, the nomination warfare. They are people who know mitment is owed to Puerto Rico and of Makan Delrahim to be Assistant At- how to take the fight to the enemy. the Virgin Islands. We saw an imme- torney General. I further ask that When they think the greatest threat to diate disaster response there that must there be 5 hours of debate on the nomi- this Nation is our national debt, we also be devoted to Puerto Rico. The nations, equally divided in the usual had better take that seriously. form, and that following the use or emergency aid and full funding made How do you resolve the national to the victims of those storms in the debt? You grow the economy. How do yielding back of time, the Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations in gulf coast and Florida must be given to you grow the economy? You create jobs Puerto Rico, and I am hopeful that a and help businesses throughout. How the order listed, with no intervening action or debate, and that if confirmed, relief bill will be fashioned this week. do you do that? You do that through I am also hopeful that the financial the motions to reconsider be consid- tax reform. You also take criticism control board that has responsibility ered made and laid upon the table, and that is going to be waged by some peo- the President be immediately notified for Puerto Rico’s internal finances can ple on the far left when we talk about of the Senate’s action. be given the flexibility and that the corporate tax reform. They are going The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Government of Puerto Rico will be to say: How could you favor the big guy objection, it is so ordered. given the flexibility that is needed to over the little guy? I don’t know about Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- deal with this disaster—nothing less you all, but I worked for companies be- sence of a quorum. than a full court press, a full plan and fore in my life. When I was 19 and liv- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The strategy, and a plan that directly ad- ing in a trailer park, I was working for clerk will call the roll. dresses the needs of Puerto Rico in so a corporation. I was a little guy work- The bill clerk proceeded to call the many areas. ing for that corporation. Fortunately, roll. On transportation, what is the plan in the 1980s, we had a President who Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I to ensure that basic goods can move had the wisdom to know that, if you re- ask unanimous consent that the order from one end of the island to another? duced the tax burden on corporations, for the quorum call be rescinded. Right now the roads are unusable. By

VerDate Sep 11 2014 23:37 Sep 27, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.026 S27SEPT1 S6176 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 all accounts, getting things across the beyond any fault of the people of Puer- ability, I believe that, during his ten- island by road is impossible. Radar and to Rico. It is not of their doing. ure over the past year, he has taken navigation systems at the airports are Vast swaths of resources have been one step after another that is contrary down. The transportation mechanism swept away in Puerto Rico, including to the public interest. He has launched of the island is literally ripped apart. many of the attractions important for an attack on net neutrality, and he is So potable water, food, and fuel are im- Puerto Rico’s tourist industry. The working adamantly for undoing the possible to move where they need to same is true, for example, on the island open internet order. go. That state of affairs is inadequate of St. John in the Virgin Islands. Tour- The open internet order was estab- and unacceptable in America in 2017. ism is a key component of Puerto lished based on 10 years of evidence Electricity and power are disrupted Rico’s economy. It may take years and about how the internet has changed, across the island. What will be done to possibly decades to restore. What is the and it was most recently fully upheld restore power and electricity through- long-term plan? What is the strategy by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the DC out the island? What will be done to for Puerto Rico and for the Virgin Is- Circuit in June 2016. The most recent make sure that diesel is available there lands? There needs to be a kind of Mar- evidence shows that net neutrality has and in the Virgin Islands? Many of the shall Plan for rebuilding because the not inhibited network investment at machines essential for lifesaving at the devastating damage done is no less all, in contrast to Chairman Pai’s hospitals cannot be powered by genera- than what Europe suffered as a result claim. tors alone. That state of affairs is inad- of World War II. We have an obliga- On broadband privacy, Chairman Pai equate and unacceptable in America in tion—certainly, no less than rebuilding forcefully advocated in support of ef- 2017. our European allies—to restore and re- forts to rescind the FCC’s broadband All five of the hospitals in Arecibo, build Puerto Rico. privacy rules, a blatant attack on con- one of Puerto Rico’s largest cities, are All of these natural disasters and the sumer privacy rights—all the more without power. Many other hospitals financial manmade storm come as striking in light of recent dramatic are shuttered as well. Clinics are Puerto Rico continues to endure the concerns about privacy. Signing up for closed. struggles of its internal financial com- the internet should not mean that you Mosquito-borne diseases are a real mitments that are necessary for the have to sign away your rights to pri- and present danger. Deadly ailments in lifeblood of the economy. Jobs and eco- vacy, and that is why it is so important contaminated food and water may nomic progress must be the end goal. to have baseline privacy and data secu- cause serious and possibly deadly dis- With so many questions about the rity rules that our broadband providers eases. As these diseases spread, what is President’s plan or lack of plan, I am subscribe to, observe, and follow. the plan to stop this kind of inad- struck by the need for this body and Earlier this year, Senate Republicans equacy? It is unacceptable in America this Congress to take the initiative. I gave broadband providers a green light in 2017. think we will need to begin action, to sell sensitive personal information As to communications, or the basic begin hearings, and begin a process of to the highest bidder—a move that ability to talk to each other, to reas- building a plan if the administration came with cheers of support from sure each other, and to know what is fails to present it. Chairman Pai. By supporting this going on with relatives and loved ones I believe, too, that we share so much measure, I think Chairman Pai raised and friends—no wonder that angst and with the island of Puerto Rico in peo- severe doubts about his commitment to alarm are spreading beyond Puerto ple who have come to Connecticut and the average American consumer. Rico to Connecticut, where those rel- other parts of the country that we will One of Chairman Pai’s first actions atives and friends live now—this kind find a ready and enthusiastic audience after his designation as chairman was of lack of communication is unaccept- and support for such an effort. to direct the FCC’s Wireline Competi- able in America in 2017. What is the In the past 2 days, after silence tion Bureau to overturn an order desig- plan to correct it? through much of it about Puerto Rico, nating nine wireless companies to pro- On public safety, looting and theft the President seemed to blame the is- vide lifeline broadband service through are becoming more prevalent. As the land itself, its financial struggle, other the USF Lifeline Program, despite the days drag on, law and order will dete- storms, and even the size of the ocean. assertion that his foremost goal was to riorate unless public safety is ad- There should be no excuses. There close the internet and digital divide. I dressed more effectively. must be a call to action. strongly criticized this decision and led There is another kind of challenge. A I thank the Coast Guard, our mili- a letter to Chairman Pai expressing dam that is about to burst and could tary, the first responders, the rescuers, that this action not only forfeits and cause havoc in surrounding areas is a and relief organizations—from affects these providers consumers’ in- clear and present safety danger that il- Americares to the Red Cross to Save terests, but it may also have a chilling lustrates again the weakness of Puerto the Children—that have devoted so effect on other broadband providers Rico’s infrastructure. much and given so much in these times that were interested in participating in Towns throughout the island have of crisis. They have been stretched the Lifeline broadband program. This suffered severe flooding. So housing thin. They have performed with cour- action would limit choice and increase and basic shelter are inadequate. What age and generosity and so have the do- the cost of service for the lifeline par- is the plan to rebuild? nors who have come forward in Con- ticipants. Payment for medicines cannot be necticut and around the country. Peo- Finally, as Chairman of the FCC, Mr. made unless cash is available, and the ple are calling my office asking what Pai has a duty to review whether lack of electricity means that the ATM they can do for the people of Florida Sinclair’s proposal to acquire Tribune machines are not working. If there is and the gulf coast and Puerto Rico and Media complies with the FCC’s broad- no cash for residents to buy basic the Virgin Islands. They are all fellow cast media ownership rules and serves goods, including food and water, how Americans, and we owe it to them to the public interest by promoting local- does the administration plan to solve do more and do better to make sure ism and diversity. Rather than scruti- this problem? This kind of inadequacy that we keep faith with our fellow nizing this deal as closely and carefully is unacceptable in America in 2017. Americans. as I believe he should, Mr. Pai has fo- Rebuilding will require a long-term I thank you, Mr. President, for the cused his efforts on loosening restric- commitment. It will require a plan and opportunity to talk about this subject. tions to enable the deal. This trans- a strategy, not just over the next 24 NOMINATION OF AJIT PAI action not only blatantly violates ex- hours or 24 days but 24 months and Mr. President, I want to express as isting rules, but it also abridges exist- longer. It must deal with a financial well my concern regarding the renomi- ing FCC policy. Those policies were situation that is a storm of its own. nation of Ajit Pai to be Chairman of just recently scrapped under Mr. Pai’s As I described it yesterday, this the Federal Communications Commis- watch. storm is not a natural disaster. It is a sion. I will oppose his nomination. As This action can only be explained by manmade disaster, the result of much as I respect his background and interest in prioritizing the demands of healthcare and tax programs that are his achievements, his intelligence and Sinclair over the public interest. It

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.031 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6177 also is no surprise that this decision It is a nasty, self-perpetuating cycle, didate for President Trump. President happened just days before he had a and it is exactly why Congress created Trump has not been shy about his will- meeting with the chairman of Sinclair. antitrust laws over a century ago. ingness to use his power against indi- Every market impacted by this Back then, like today, a few powerful viduals or companies he doesn’t like, megamerger would experience a reduc- companies were stifling competition in and he has made it clear that he ex- tion in responsive local news due to markets all across the economy and pects his agency heads to carry out his Sinclair’s unresponsive, top-down ap- gaining extraordinary political power. orders. proach—denigrating diversity, dimin- Congress decided to create laws to Mr. Delrahim has been a loyal sup- ishing our already distorted civic dis- break up trusts and protect competi- porter of President Trump’s since the course, and devaluing local voices of tion. campaign. He urged fellow Republicans women and people of color. Today, I Today the Justice Department’s to support President Trump because he sent a letter to Chairman Pai to let Antitrust Division is charged with pro- correctly believed President Trump him know that blessing a media behe- tecting competition by blocking anti- would appoint a pro-corporate Justice moth such as Sinclair-Tribune would competitive mergers and going after to the Supreme Court. He also served reflect an abject failure on his part to companies that engage in illegal con- as legal counsel to President Trump protect the public interest and to up- duct. For decades, though, antitrust after he was sworn in and as the Presi- hold the FCC’s duty to promote local- enforcers have put their tools on the dent reversed rules that made it easier ism and diversity. Localism needs re- shelf instead of aggressively enforcing for families to pay their mortgages or sponsiveness to local interests, local our antitrust laws, they have given the reversed rules to prevent people with news, and local voices. That is a trust green light to megamerger after serious mental illnesses from buying the FCC has by its own rules and as a megamerger and allowed big corpora- guns or reversed rules to stop compa- matter of public interest. tions to misuse this power without a nies from dumping toxic waste into Today we rely more than ever on the peep. water. As head of the Antitrust Divi- internet for so many facets of our ev- That problem is set to get worse in sion, Mr. Delrahim will be in a position eryday life: freedom of expression, edu- the Trump administration. Since tak- to make even more harmful decisions. cation, healthcare, housing, entertain- ing office, President Trump has loaded It is no secret that Americans don’t ment, and more. Consumers need a his administration with a Who’s Who of trust Washington. They see politicians champion that will be their voice at a former lobbyists, Wall Street insiders, who care more about catering to cor- time when so often the public interest and corporate executives committed to porate donors than fighting for the in- is drowned by moneyed interests and tilting the scales even further in favor terests of hard-working people who are special interests. of his powerful friends and against trying to figure out how to pay the Chairman Pai, far from our cham- American families. bills and build a little security in their pion, seems to be more a servant of Now, President Trump has nomi- own lives. It is a real problem, but it is those interests. American consumers nated someone to head the Justice De- a problem we can solve. We can begin deserve better. My hope is, the Presi- partment’s Antitrust Division. His to solve it by fighting the economic dent will nominate someone who can nominee, Makan Delrahim, will be in concentration that is putting more better serve those interests. charge of determining whether there is money and more power into the hands Thank you. someone to stand up for competition or of a few giant corporations. That I yield the floor. let the big guys just get bigger and The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. means choosing enforcers who will hold more powerful. Unfortunately, Mr. companies accountable when they GARDNER). The Senator from Massa- Delrahim’s approach to antitrust en- chusetts. break the rules, and that means reject- forcement is based on a hands-off eco- ing nominees like Makan Delrahim. DELRAHIM NOMINATION nomic theory that just leaves big cor- Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, our porations to do pretty much whatever TARBERT NOMINATION economy is in trouble. In markets all they want to do. Case in point, just last Mr. President, I rise to speak on the across our economy, a few giant cor- year, when asked what he thought nomination of Heath Tarbert, who has porations hold all the power. It is ev- about the proposed merger of AT&T- been nominated by President Trump to erywhere. Four airlines control over 80 Time Warner—a merger that would be the Assistant Secretary of the percent of all domestic airline seats in combine two of the most powerful com- Treasury for International Markets America. Five health insurance giants panies in media—Mr. Delrahim said he and Development. If confirmed, Mr. own over 80 percent of the health insur- didn’t think it was a ‘‘major antitrust Tarbert will be in charge of the Treas- ance market. Four companies domi- problem.’’ ury Department’s role on a multi-agen- nate over 80 percent of the beef mar- Mr. Delrahim spent over a decade cy body called the Committee on For- ket. Three drugstore chains control al- working to convince government offi- eign Investment in the United States, most all retail pharmacies in the coun- cials that other megamergers weren’t or CFIUS, which reviews whether for- try. Two companies sell more than 70 antitrust problems. During the airline eign acquisitions of a U.S. company percent of the beer in America. merger wave that left us with only four would pose a threat to our national se- As competition has been snuffed out major carriers, Mr. Delrahim was lob- curity and then makes recommenda- in industry after industry, big corpora- bying the government to approve a tions to the President on whether the tions have made out like bandits, and merger between US Airways and Delta. President should block the transaction. everyone else has paid the price. How Despite the fact that there are only a This is not about whether foreign in- do we pay? American families shell out few large retail pharmacies, he lobbied vestment benefits our economy. Of more for lower quality goods. Small to get government approval for CVS’s course it does. The United States is the businesses find it harder and harder to proposed takeover of Caremark. Even third largest recipient of foreign direct compete against the big guys. though only five health insurers con- investment, and our markets attract Innovators and entrepreneurs struggle trol the vast majority of the health in- the world’s best talent and capital. to promote new ideas that can change surance market, he tried to convince Going back to the 1990s, only four for- the world. Income inequality has left government regulators to approve An- eign acquisitions of American compa- more American families struggling to them’s unsuccessful attempt to merge nies have ever been blocked by a Presi- make ends meet as the top 1 percent with Cigna. dent based on a recommendation of the has grown even richer and richer. As Now he wants to take a spin through Committee on Foreign Investment in fewer companies have seized more eco- the revolving door and regulate the in- the United States. This is about wheth- nomic power, they have translated dustries he worked to make even less er our national security is put at risk their economic muscle into political competitive. For the giant corpora- when foreign governments, foreign power—power they can use to elect the tions, wealthy individuals who want to state-owned enterprises, and foreign in- politicians they like, get the kinds of amass more power and profits for vestors acquire our companies and as- laws and policies they like, and run up themselves, Mr. Delrahim is a dream sets. This is also about foreign govern- even more economic power. candidate, but he is also a dream can- ments and the companies they own,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.032 S27SEPT1 S6178 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 trying to gain access to sensitive tech- I raised all of these issues with Mr. Mr. Tarbert would also serve as the nologies that are important to our Tarbert when I met with him today principal policy advisor to the Sec- military and our national security. and his answers improved from when I retary on international economic mat- The risk posed to the security of the asked him about these issues earlier ters, including serving as the Treas- United States is real. I want you to this year, but I remain concerned ury’s representative at the Financial consider just one example here. Ac- about his commitment to modernize Stability Board. cording to a news report last year, an CFIUS and to ensure that CFIUS does Finally, Mr. Tarbert has strong bi- internal Pentagon report found that more to consider the impact of foreign partisan support and was voice-voted China was making significant targeted acquisitions on American workers. I out of the Banking Committee. investments in cutting-edge American hope I am wrong, but I still have con- Mr. Tarbert has served in senior roles startups, with expertise in areas like cerns about his nomination, which is in all three branches of government autonomous vehicles, artificial intel- why I will vote against it. and is an experienced lawyer and a rec- ligence, and robotics. These can be Mr. Tarbert promised me that if con- ognized financial expert. transactions that don’t necessarily re- firmed, he would work to ensure that In short, he is an important asset sult in foreign control over one of our no transaction is approved by CFIUS if whom the Congress and Treasury De- companies, but they can give a foreign national security concerns remain un- partment do not want to lose to further adversary access to technologies that resolved, and that is encouraging to delay. I urge all of my colleagues to support could harm our strategic interests and hear. If he is ultimately confirmed, I Mr. Tarbert’s nomination today and to erode our military advantage. will use my position in the Senate The risk is significant, but unfortu- vote for his confirmation. Banking Committee to hold him to nately CFIUS does not apply to these With that, I yield the floor. that promise because the threats we transactions. The problem is, CFIUS DELRAHIM NOMINATION face are growing in complexity, and the was created back in 1975. Since then, Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, Committee on Foreign Investment in both technology and the nature of for- today, the Senate is voting to confirm the United States must be ready to eign acquisitions, mergers, and take- Makan Delrahim to serve as the Assist- overs have changed substantially. The confront them. We don’t want to wake ant Attorney General for the Antitrust nature of the threats we face has also up one day and discover that our adver- Division. When Mr. Delrahim was 10 changed substantially. Our top mili- saries have access to key components years old, his family fled the tyranny tary leaders—such as the Secretary of of our national security technology be- of Iran and settled in the United Defense and Chairman of the Joint cause Congress and the White House States, knowing no English. Since Chiefs—believe that CFIUS needs to be were asleep at the wheel. then, Mr. Delrahim received his B.S. updated to fully address them, and I If confirmed, I will work in good from the University of California in agree. faith with Mr. Tarbert to ensure that 1991, his J.D. from the George Wash- Another concern is that CFIUS does the Committee on Foreign Investment ington University School of Law in not focus enough on whether the bene- in the United States is updated so it is 1995, and his M.S. from Johns Hopkins fits of foreign acquisition outweigh the in the strongest position to protect our University in 2002. costs when it comes to the competi- national security—both from the Mr. Delrahim’s professional career tiveness of American workers. While I threats we face today and the threats and broad range of legal experiences recognize that CFIUS has historically we will face in the future. have prepared him well to lead the focused on the national security im- Thank you. Antitrust Division. He has experience pacts of foreign investment, I think I yield the floor. in both the private and public sectors. Congress should consider elevating the I suggest the absence of a quorum. He has worked at various law firms and Department of Labor to the group of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The served in government, including as clerk will call the roll. agencies that are currently part of the staff director to then-Chairman HATCH Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I ask core CFIUS review process. If we be- of the Senate Judiciary Committee, unanimous consent that the order for lieve economic security and national deputy counsel to the President of the the quorum call be rescinded. security are intertwined, then I think United States, and Deputy Assistant The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without we can both look out for the American Attorney General of the Antitrust Di- objection, it is so ordered. worker and review the national secu- vision at the Department of Justice. He Mr. CRAPO. Mr. President, I rise to rity threats posed by foreign acquisi- also served as a Commissioner of the speak in support of the nomination of tions. U.S. Antitrust Modernization Commis- Mr. Heath Tarbert to be Assistant Sec- Finally, the ethics problems that are sion. everywhere in this administration retary of the Treasury for Inter- Mr. Delrahim will serve as the high- come forward again in the area of na- national Markets and Development. est ranking Iranian-American official tional security. We all know President This position is both a critical national ever at the Department of Justice. His Trump, his family members, and other security and international economic journey epitomizes the American Trump administration officials have policy job. dream. He is well known and liked by A critical part of the Assistant Sec- business ties in the United States and my colleagues and me. I am pleased to retary’s job—and the reason for which throughout the world, even if we don’t support his nomination today. know the full extent of President this position was created by statute Mr. CRAPO. I suggest the absence of Trump’s business ties because he will and passed in the Banking Com- a quorum. not release his tax returns. mittee—is to marshal the procedures The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Imagine a Trump administration of- and processes of the interagency, clerk will call the roll. ficial who has a financial stake in an Treasury-led Committee on Foreign In- The senior assistant legislative clerk American company, a foreign state- vestment in the United States, or proceeded to call the roll. owned company or both. Now imagine CFIUS, which protects our Nation from Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask that a foreign company backed by hostile foreign transactions designed to unanimous consent that the order for China, Russia, or another foreign ad- undermine U.S. national security in- the quorum call be rescinded. versary tries to acquire a U.S. com- terests. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without pany and a Trump official suddenly has This is now a very time-sensitive objection, it is so ordered. financial ties to that transaction and post because Senators on both sides of Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, the con- then that transaction triggers a CFIUS the aisle are working to introduce leg- firmation of Makan Delrahim has been review for national security concerns. islation to change the CFIUS process a top priority of mine. I know the man. If that scenario were to occur, I am for the first time in a decade. He worked with us. He headed our Ju- deeply concerned about the conflicts of Confirmation of Mr. Tarbert is crit- diciary Committee staff. Amidst the interests that could emerge. I would ical so that he is available to provide rising controversy over antitrust law expect CFIUS to vigorously review necessary input on any proposed in the 21st century, he is precisely who such an investment as it affects our na- changes and to swiftly implement any we need in that position. I commend tional security. new legislation. the President for having picked him.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.034 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6179 All of us, Democrats and Repub- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. LEE). Corker Hoeven Portman licans, liberals and conservatives, are Are there any other Senators in the Cornyn Inhofe Reed Cotton Isakson Risch going to make sure that our markets Chamber desiring to vote? Crapo Johnson Roberts remain free and competitive. Cheap The result was announced—yeas 87, Cruz Kennedy Rounds talking points are not going to cut it; nays 8, as follows: Daines King Rubio Durbin Klobuchar Sasse only serious debate will. [Rollcall Vote No. 204 Ex.] Enzi Lankford Scott I am pleased that recent efforts to Ernst Leahy YEAS—87 Shaheen rise above the partisan fray and treat Feinstein Lee Alexander Feinstein Murphy Shelby this subject with the seriousness it de- Fischer Manchin Baldwin Fischer Murray Flake McCain Stabenow serves have paid off today. Barrasso Flake Nelson Franken McCaskill Sullivan I expect our colleagues to vote for Bennet Franken Paul Gardner McConnell Tester Makan because of the high-quality law- Blumenthal Gardner Perdue Graham Moran Thune Blunt Graham Peters Grassley Murkowski Tillis yer he really is. Booker Grassley Portman Hatch Nelson Toomey I thank my colleagues for joining me Boozman Hassan Reed Heitkamp Paul Warner in this debate. I congratulate Makan, Brown Hatch Risch Heller Perdue Wicker Burr Heinrich Roberts Hirono Peters who is sure to make us all very pleased Cantwell Heitkamp Rounds with the way he can run things and the Capito Heller Rubio NAYS—21 way he can begin this important work Cardin Hoeven Sasse Baldwin Hassan Sanders that he knows is important. We know Carper Inhofe Schumer Booker Heinrich Schatz Casey Isakson Scott it is important; I particularly know it Cantwell Kaine Schumer Cassidy Johnson Shaheen Cortez Masto Markey Udall is important. Collins Kaine Shelby Duckworth Merkley Warren Makan has been an honest, decent, Coons Kennedy Stabenow Gillibrand Murphy Whitehouse Corker King Sullivan Harris Murray Wyden wonderful man. He is a good father. He Cornyn Klobuchar Tester has been a terrific staffer here on Cap- Cortez Masto Lankford Thune NOT VOTING—6 Cotton Leahy Tillis itol Hill. He has worked with both Cochran Menendez Van Hollen Crapo Lee Toomey Democrats and Republicans in good Donnelly Strange Young Cruz Manchin Udall faith. I think almost all of them, if Daines McCain Van Hollen The nomination was confirmed. they are honest, will say he was a very, Duckworth McCaskill Warner The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under very good person to work with and a Durbin McConnell Whitehouse Enzi Moran Wicker the previous order, the motions to re- wonderful person to fill this position. Ernst Murkowski Wyden consider are considered made and laid It is a blessing that someone like NAYS—8 upon the table and the President will Makan, who comes from a very humble be immediately notified of the Senate’s family, could rise to the top in this Gillibrand Markey Schatz Harris Merkley Warren action. particular position in antitrust, and I Hirono Sanders am sure he will do an honest, decent f NOT VOTING—5 job within the antitrust laws as they EXECUTIVE CALENDAR are configured and written. Cochran Menendez Young Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask I am proud of him. I think the world Donnelly Strange unanimous consent that the Senate re- of him. I hope everybody will vote for The nomination was confirmed. sume consideration of the Erickson him. But if not, I will commend him, VOTE ON DELRAHIM NOMINATION nomination. and I know he will do a good job in this The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without particular position. question is, Will the Senate advise and Mr. President, I suggest the absence objection, it is so ordered. consent to the nomination of Makan The clerk will report the nomination. of a quorum. Delrahim, of California, to be an As- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The bill clerk read the nomination of sistant Attorney General? Ralph E. Erickson, of North Dakota, to be clerk will call the roll. Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask The senior assistant legislative clerk United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth for the yeas and nays. Circuit. proceeded to call the roll. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I ask The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- sufficient second? ator from South Dakota. unanimous consent that the order for There appears to be a sufficient sec- TAX REFORM the quorum call be rescinded. ond. Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, one of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The clerk will call the roll. the Senate Republicans’ most impor- objection, it is so ordered. The assistant bill clerk called the tant priorities for the rest of this year VOTE ON TARBERT NOMINATION roll. is passing comprehensive tax reform. Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, I yield Mr. CORNYN. The following Senators Why? Because comprehensive tax re- back all time on both sides, and I ask are necessarily absent: the Senator form is perhaps the single most impor- for the yeas and nays. from Mississippi (Mr. COCHRAN), the tant thing we can do to get our econ- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a Senator from Alabama (Mr. STRANGE), omy back on the path to long-term sufficient second? and the Senator from Indiana (Mr. health. Comprehensive tax reform done There is a sufficient second. YOUNG). right will boost jobs. It will increase The question is, Will the Senate ad- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the vise and consent to the nomination of wages. It will provide much needed tax Senator from Indiana (Mr. DONNELLY), relief for middle-income taxpayers and Heath P. Tarbert, of Maryland, to be the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. an Assistant Secretary of the Treas- families. It will help businesses rein- MENENDEZ), and the Senator from ury? vest in their operations, employees, Maryland (Mr. VAN HOLLEN) are nec- and new products. And most impor- The clerk will call the roll. essarily absent. The senior assistant legislative clerk tantly, it will help us achieve strong, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there called the roll. consistent economic growth. any other Senators in the Chamber de- Mr. CORNYN. The following Senators Over the past few weeks, leaders from siring to vote? are necessarily absent: the Senator the House, Senate, and White House The result was announced—yeas 73, from Mississippi (Mr. COCHRAN), the have been meeting to develop the nays 21, as follows: Senator from Alabama (Mr. STRANGE), framework for the tax reform bill we and the Senator from Indiana (Mr. [Rollcall Vote No. 205 Ex.] will take up later this year. This morn- YOUNG). YEAS—73 ing, they unveiled that framework. The Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Alexander Boozman Carper framework supports Republicans’ five Senator from Indiana (Mr. DONNELLY) Barrasso Brown Casey principles for tax reform: providing tax Bennet Burr Cassidy and the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Blumenthal Capito Collins relief for the middle class; increasing MENENDEZ) are necessarily absent. Blunt Cardin Coons wages, jobs, and economic growth;

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.037 S27SEPT1 S6180 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 keeping good-paying jobs here at home; Having a worldwide tax system means The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without increasing American competitiveness that American companies pay U.S. objection, it is so ordered. in the global economy; and simplifying taxes on the profit they make here at The Senator from Oregon. the Tax Code. home as well as on some or all of the CHRONIC CARE ACT The framework released today em- profit they make abroad, once they Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, often phasizes tax relief for the middle class. bring that money back to the United late at night when the Senate passes a First and foremost, we are going to States. The problem with this is that piece of legislation by unanimous con- ensure that working families receive a American companies are already pay- sent, people often don’t get a chance to much needed increase in take-home ing taxes to foreign governments on understand what it really means, and pay. Right now, 50 percent of families the money they make abroad. Then, usually there is a sense of, well, this are living paycheck to paycheck, while when they bring that money home, maybe won’t be the most important one-third of people across this country they too often end up having to pay thing coming down the road, and ev- say they are just $400 away from a fi- taxes again on part of those profits and erybody just said OK, and so it passed nancial crisis. That is not acceptable. at the highest tax rate in the industri- the Senate. Our tax reform plan will ensure that alized world. It is no surprise that this Last night, the Senate took action these families are no longer left be- discourages businesses from bringing on Medicare. At a time when 10,000 peo- hind. Our plan will increase the stand- their profits back to the United States ple will turn 65 every day for years and ard deduction, which will provide tax to invest in their domestic operations, years to come, Medicare is something relief to those families who need it the new jobs, and increased wages. millions of older people rely on, and most. It will also enhance the child tax Between 1983 and 2003, when the U.S. their kids and grandkids make plans to credit, and I don’t need to tell anyone tax rate was much more competitive make sure their grandparents are that the important work of raising a with those of other countries, there taken care of, but also they want to family is getting more and more expen- were 29 corporate inversions where U.S. know what their future is going to be sive. It is time for hard-working fami- companies moved abroad. Between 2003 all about. lies to get a break with a larger child and 2014, when other countries were What the Senate did last night— tax credit. Finally, we will be lowering dropping their corporate tax rates and Democrats and Republicans coming to- gether—is, in my view, trans- the rates on middle-class families. By shifting to territorial tax systems, formational for seniors today and the collapsing the seven income tax brack- there were 47 such inversions. beginning of an effort that is going to ets to three, we will ensure that work- Our tax plan addresses this drag on evolve in the days ahead for kids and ing families get to keep more of what our economy by moving from our out- their parents and their grandparents they earn. dated worldwide tax system to a terri- to, in effect, benefit from an updated Second, our tax plan will increase torial tax system. By shifting to a ter- Medicare guarantee that will stand the wages, jobs, and economic growth by ritorial tax system here in the United test of time for many years to come. lowering taxes and improving cost re- States—a move, I might add, that is The reason I say ‘‘updated Medicare covery for American businesses and job supported by Members of both parties— guarantee’’ is that Medicare is not a creators. The framework released we will eliminate the double taxation voucher. It is not a piece of paper. It is today lays out a goal of a 20-percent that encourages companies to send not something you get and then, well, corporate tax rate. Right now, our cor- their investments and their operations maybe it will do you some good, but if porate tax rate is the highest in the de- overseas. Combine that with a reduc- tion in our high corporate tax rate, and your healthcare costs go above your veloped world. Our competitors pay an vouchers, you are going to get buried average rate of 22.5 percent, while U.S. we can provide a strong incentive for U.S. companies to invest their profits in costs. Medicare is a guarantee that companies face a 35-percent tax rate. vital services are going to be available That is a big problem. Our uncompeti- at home in American jobs and Amer- ican workers instead of abroad. to those over 65. tive tax rate has driven companies to Last night, all Senators voted to move their headquarters and jobs over- We will also simplify our Tax Code. Each year, Americans spend 2.6 billion send to the House of Representatives a seas and led to wage stagnation and a bipartisan effort that was years in the lack of opportunity for American hours filling out complicated indi- vidual tax forms. Not only is this a making to update the Medicare guar- workers. Lowering the corporate rate drag on our economy, it is an annual antee to start focusing on chronic ill- will create jobs and increase wages for frustration and burden for hard-work- nesses, such as cancer, diabetes, heart working families across the country. disease, and Alzheimer’s. An equally important priority laid ing families. The goal of our tax reform plan is to let American families com- Mr. President, I am going to make out in the framework is lower tax rates this a little bit personal. I am so grate- for small businesses, farms, and plete their taxes on something as sim- ple as a postcard. ful to Chairman HATCH, Senator ISAK- ranches. Like bigger businesses, small Lower rates, fewer tax brackets, and SON, Senator WARNER—the bipartisan businesses—from partnerships to S cor- a generally simplified code will end the group in the Senate that has been porations—currently face high tax complicated mess that too many fami- working on this. rates, at times even exceeding those lies face every tax season. What I can tell the Senate tonight is paid by large corporations. Lowering We will continue to develop the de- that back when I was director of the tax rates for these businesses and cre- tails of this framework in the coming Gray Panthers and ran the legal aid ating a new maximum passthrough weeks as we work toward a final draft services for older people, Medicare was rate will allow a business to reinvest of our comprehensive tax reform bill. I a very different program. Back in the more of its earnings in successful oper- look forward to collaborating with my 1970s when we were getting the Gray ations. In short, it will help these job colleagues in the Senate Finance Com- Panthers off the ground, it was a very creators thrive. The Republican tax mittee as we work to put our country different program than it is in 2017. plan will also allow for unprecedented on the path toward long-term economic Medicare really consisted of two parts. expensing. Allowing small businesses health and the jobs, increased wages, There was Part A. If a senior broke to recover their costs more quickly and opportunities that come along their ankle or needed surgery for a bro- will free up capital and allow them to with it. ken hip, they went to the hospital, and grow and to create jobs. Mr. President, I yield the floor. Medicare Part A would be there to The framework released today also The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- cover a senior’s surgery. If a senior had shows how we are going to meet our ator from Oregon. an awful bout of the flu, he or she vis- goal of making America more competi- Mr. INHOFE. Will the Senator yield? ited the doctor and they used Part B. tive and keeping those good-paying Mr. WYDEN. I will be happy to. That is not Medicare in 2017. Medicare jobs here at home. A key part of keep- Mr. INHOFE. I ask unanimous con- in 2017 is not primarily about treating ing good-paying jobs here at home is sent that at the conclusion of the re- the flu or a broken ankle. It is there making the United States an attrac- marks from my friend from Oregon, for those conditions, and we are very tive place to do business by reforming Senator WYDEN, that I be recognized glad that it is, but more than 90 per- our outdated worldwide tax system. for such time as I shall consume. cent of the Medicare dollars go to treat

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.040 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6181 older people with two or more chronic partisan basis. I want to thank Chair- barely functions now, after days of conditions. I will tell you, until the man HATCH. He and I put together the being completely off the grid. Senate Finance Committee, on a bipar- bipartisan chronic care working group It is almost impossible for us here in tisan basis, began to deal with this two years ago, and Senators WARNER this city to imagine this. We have the problem—and fortunately, we had a and ISAKSON did a first-rate job of lead- basic infrastructure and health and couple of colleagues in the House who ing it. safety that we take for granted every picked up on it as well—my sense is There is an awful lot of sweat equity day. Only one word sums up the state that, basically, both political parties put in by staff. A lot of staff worked on of the islands—demolished. It is almost had missed it. They really missed the these issues while they were dealing impossible to gauge the full extent of fact that most of the Medicare dol- with weddings. We had three children the devastation. Nobody knows how lars—90 percent—go to seniors who born in the process, and there were job many lives have been lost or how many have two or more of these chronic con- changes. homes and businesses have been dam- ditions. They might, for example, deal Big thanks go to Karen Fisher, Han- aged beyond repair, and how many with diabetes and heart problems. nah Hawkins, Kelsey Avery, Leigh lives have been shattered. But today’s seniors really face the Stuckhardt, Liz Jurinka, Beth Vrabel, What is known is that this disaster kinds of conditions that didn’t domi- and Matt Kazan on our team. has affected the lives of every single nate the program back in the days Chairman HATCH and his team really one of the 3.5 million individuals living when the Gray Panthers were getting stepped up to work with us and all the on the island and the millions more on off the ground. Today, seniors get their Senators: Jay Khosla, Brett Baker, Jen U.S. mainland, who have had sleepless care in a variety of different ways. It is Kuskowski, Katie Meyer-Simeon, and nights worrying about loved ones. This not just fee-for-service medicine. We the chronic care lead, Erin Dempsey. is a humanitarian crisis on American have the Medicare Advantage Plan, Ac- Big thanks also go to Senators WARNER soil. It is past time to step up and pro- countable Care Organizations, and and ISAKSON for lending us Marvin vide immediate aid to help these Amer- other new systems under development. Figueroa and Jordan Bartolomeo. icans—not only for Puerto Rico but So keeping up with those changes— I close this portion of my remarks by also for the U.S. Virgin Islands, which updating the Medicare guarantee— saying that I think what happened last has also been clobbered by these ought to be a real priority for policy- night—while certainly not something storms. It is not just the right thing to makers. That is why the Finance Com- everybody is talking about this do. It is the only thing to do. mittee has put so much effort over sev- evening—is something that is going to A few hours ago, I joined 35 of my eral years to get the bill that passed be extraordinarily important in the colleagues in sending a letter to the late last night across the finish line. years ahead. It is an issue that I know President, and we requested a number There are still more steps before the the President of the Senate and I have of concrete actions. There are other ad- policies reach the President’s desk talked about—this whole question of ditional steps in my view that are with strong bipartisan backing of the healthcare and Medicare and the like. vital. So I want to just tick through entire Senate. I am confident the job This was an important step to take and some of them on the floor. will get done. an important step we can build on. I First, the President has to issue a The CHRONIC Care Act means more hope the other body in the House will full disaster declaration for all of Puer- care at home and less in institutions. take action quickly. to Rico, not just parts of it. Currently, It will expand the use of lifesaving PUERTO RICO AND U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS 24 municipalities in Puerto Rico have technology. It places a stronger focus RECOVERY EFFORT yet to receive individual disaster as- on primary care. It gives older people— Mr. President, let me turn now to sistance. This means that people who however they get their Medicare—more this question of the Puerto Rico dis- have lost their homes in these areas tools and options to receive care spe- aster. It has now been a week since are ineligible for Federal assistance. cifically targeted to address chronic Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puer- This is unacceptable. illnesses and to keep them healthy. to Rico, and 3.5 million American citi- Next, while the President rightfully These, in my view, are a whole set of zens are living amidst a horrifying revised his original disaster declara- building blocks that you have to set in state of devastation. When I was chair- tion so that the island will not have to place to update the Medicare guar- man of the Energy and Natural Re- split the cost of disaster relief with the antee. Still to come is ensuring that sources Committee, which has jurisdic- Federal Government for 180 days, the every older person with multiple tion over the affairs of Puerto Rico, President should continue this assist- chronic conditions has an advocate to the U.S. Virgin Islands, and America’s ance until the island is back on its help them navigate through the Byzan- other territorial possessions, I got very feet. tine healthcare system in America. involved in the economic issues on the The administration also needs to in- I just want to highlight that point. If island. clude funding and necessary emergency you have two or more of these chronic But I come today to make a humani- support for the Puerto Rico Medicaid conditions—I guess the physicians call tarian plea to my friends and col- Program in any emergency request. them comorbidities—you can be drown- leagues in the Senate. It is a plea not Medicaid in Puerto Rico doesn’t work ing, especially if you are not part of a about economics. It is about people— the way it does in the 50 states, where coordinated Medicare program or Medi- fathers and mothers, children, grand- it is a guarantee of care for vulnerable, care Advantage or something like that. parents, teachers, nurses, and thou- low-income people. Puerto Rico’s Med- You can just be drowning in forms and sands of veterans who served their icaid Program is built on a block processes and procedures. Lots of communities and their country proud- grant, which means that in times of times, over the years, I have gotten ly. They are dealing with something crisis, resources might not be there calls from a child who is a lawyer or an that is almost unimaginable—this hor- when it is needed most. Even before the engineer and they said: RON, help me rifying set of circumstances that they disasters, Puerto Rico was close to de- out in trying to get through all of this now find dominating their lives. The pleting its Medicaid supplemental maze of bureaucracy to try to get help press accounts describe Puerto Rico as funding. When it does, it will have no- for my parents. So I want it understood looking like a war zone. Millions of where to turn to pay for medical care that what the Senate has done as of people on the island are without power, for many of its most vulnerable. last night is an extraordinarily impor- running water, and fuel. The few hos- In my view, this is a perfect example tant beginning, but there is a lot more pitals that are open—only 20 for the en- of why block grants—as contemplated to do. tire island—struggle to care for the in- by the bill that we considered in the I want to wrap up my comments on jured and the sick. Many doctors and Finance Committee this week—Gra- this subject and, then, turn briefly to first responders are unable to get to ham-Cassidy-Heller—and vital pro- one other, by handing out some very their workplaces because their lives, grams like Medicaid don’t mix. It is a appropriate thank-yous. I think the Fi- too, are thrown into chaos, and 911 still recipe for disaster. nance Committee has handled this bill, doesn’t work. Cell service and power In addition, there are expired tax in my view, as a model to work on a bi- are down. The airport in San Juan provisions unique and vital to Puerto

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.042 S27SEPT1 S6182 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 Rico’s economy, and they ought to be our northern border with Washington other President in history. Businesses extended with any disaster relief pack- State to our southern border with Cali- are complying with regulations, cost- age in order to give workers and busi- fornia and many points in between. I ing in the neighborhood of $2 trillion. nesses certainty and predictability. met people helping Oregon fight fire You have to keep in mind that when This includes tax incentives for pro- from all over the United States. I met you hear the businesses and corpora- ducing goods in Puerto Rico and re- Floridians who were there the weekend tions are paying this, it is not the busi- bates for taxes on exported rum. In my Irma hit Florida. They were there to nesses that are paying it. It is the pub- view, if this is done properly and laid help Oregonians deal with fire, when lic—the people who are out there, and out in a proactive way, it will give pre- they and their families were worried they, through increased costs of goods dictability for the future and make a about what Irma was going to do to and services or through taxes, are pay- difference—an important difference to Florida. ing it. a lot of people on the job. Colleagues, I close simply by way of I heard an alarming figure the other It is also vital to get Puerto Rico’s saying that we should expect no less in day that some 65 percent of the people electric grid up and running and pro- our efforts here in the Senate to help in America—this is a poll that is about vide power generators in the mean- our fellow Americans in Puerto Rico a week old—are opposed to any stop- time. This isn’t simply a matter of re- and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Amer- ping of regulations in corporations. Yet charging phones or turning televisions ican people now have to be part of a they are the very ones who are paying back on for news updates. Going with- mobilization to bring together the for this fun they are having. out power is life-threatening. Perish- enormous resources in the Federal This administration has tried to do able food goes bad. Those with diabetes Government to help when disaster something about all the overregula- can’t refrigerate their insulin. Hos- strikes. It is a matter of basic fairness tion, all the rules that the previous ad- pitals have a difficult time running es- and humanity to help protect and re- ministration had put in place. There sential medical equipment, like dialy- store these American citizens and are two ways you can do this. One is sis machines or heart monitors. Air lands. through Executive orders. People know conditioners are useless, which is espe- I yield the floor. what those are; that is, the President cially dangerous for kids and seniors I thank the Senator from Oklahoma coming along and giving an Executive given the hot, humid temperatures and for his courtesy. order that will undo damage that was the limited supply of safe water. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. done by a previous Executive order im- Another necessary step is to help en- DAINES). The Senator from Oklahoma. posing a new rule on America. That has sure that Puerto Rico and the U.S. Vir- Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, first of been taking place. gin Islands receive assistance as quick- all, let me say to the Senator from Or- At the same time, the other way of ly as possible, and that would include a egon that help is on its way. It is a doing it is through a CRA resolution. short-term waiver of the Jones Act. very difficult thing because we don’t Not many people know what a CRA The Jones Act is an important policy have any idea how long this is going to resolution is. A CRA resolution is a for ensuring a vibrant U.S. maritime last. When you stop to think about a Congressional Review Act resolution. industry and for our national defense. land that is in the tropics not having It started about 20 years ago and has But in times of disaster it is more im- electricity, it is something that is hard never been used until this administra- portant to get supplies to the impacted to imagination and to get arms around tion. What it does is say that if you areas as quickly as possible. The gov- the devastation that takes place. I ap- have up to 30 Members of the Senate, ernment has granted such a waiver in preciate the fact that he has brought you can get a CRA resolution against a Houston and Florida, and it is, in my that up. rule that some administration has put view, beyond comprehension that they WORK OF THE ADMINISTRATION in place in a certain time period. It is haven’t done the same thing for Puerto Mr. President, when I watch the the way people who are elected to of- Rico and the Virgin Islands. news, I can’t help but see that the fice, accountable to the people, can get Finally, the administration needs to media is showing a kind of picture of things done and be answerable to the mount a full-court press to rebuild the Washington that really doesn’t exist. people, as opposed to an unelected bu- islands’ roads, ports, and airports. Once The news would have the public believe reaucrat who is out there imposing aid arrives, it is useless if you can’t get that there is a lot of dysfunction in the hardships and rules on the public. it out to those who need it most. administration, and nothing is getting Actually, this administration came As several of my colleagues and I done. But I can share some examples of in, and they passed 14 Congressional wrote to the President today, our mili- how the government has been working Review Act resolutions; that is, 14 in tary is uniquely qualified to help Puer- to get America back in business. the first few weeks, actually. The sav- to Rico meet some of its critical recov- In my former life, I participated for ings from repeal of these 14 regulations ery needs. That includes construction some 20 years or longer in a free enter- were estimated to be $3.7 billion in battalions that can repair power and prise business. I was making money. I costs and 4.2 million hours of paper- surface transportation infrastructure. was losing money. I was hiring people, work, the most expensive of which— I close by saying that the people of doing what I thought Americans were this is kind of interesting because I in- Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands are supposed to be doing. All that time, the troduced a CRA resolution. It happens desperate for our help. This situation is major problem I had was the obstruc- to be that mine was the first one to extreme. Congress and the administra- tion of the Federal Government. One of pass. So I had the first signing cere- tion need to act as soon as possible. the reasons I actually ran in the first mony with our new President Trump The cleanup from Maria and Irma is place was to try to save the free enter- during the initial days of his adminis- just the beginning. The fact is that prise system. I never dreamed that we tration. these megastorms, fueled by global would end up with an administration— The rule was imposed by the Obama warming, are going to keep coming, as well-meaning as the Obama adminis- administration. It was one that would even after the power is restored and tration was—that would be putting force domestic oil and gas companies the storm damage from Maria and Irma people out of business. to release all of the information they is repaired. There is going to be a lot of During the last administration, the had in formulating their estimates and work necessary to reverse years of Obama administration, new rules were their bids in competition with maybe struggle and build up Puerto Rico’s created that had no purpose but to China or other countries, and it was economy and infrastructure. hinder economic growth. In fact, Presi- putting our domestic oil and gas com- Coming to the aid of our fellow dent Obama is the first President since panies at a competitive disadvantage. Americans at a time of crisis, in my Hoover not to hit a 3-percent GDP This was all part of the Obama war on view, is at the very core of being Amer- growth in any year of his Presidency. fossil fuels. Everyone knows that fossil icans. At home, I call it ‘‘the Oregon With every industry coming under fuels are oil, coal, and gas, and this was way.’’ Our natural disaster this sum- scrutiny from every regulatory agency, an effort to do that. We introduced a mer was wildfires. Recently, I was out President Obama added more regula- resolution repealing that. It was a CRA visiting fire camps that stretched from tions to the Federal Register than any resolution, and it was successful. We

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.043 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6183 had our signing ceremony, and that nial of certification because New York David Boren is from my State of Okla- was history. had waived their authority under the homa. He was a Senator here for quite That is 1 of 45—some Executive or- law. some period of time. He went on to be ders—and 1 of 14 successful CRA resolu- Section 401 of the Clean Water Act the president of Oklahoma University. tions. In addition to the CRA resolu- says that if a State ‘‘refuses to act on I am kind of excited about recog- tions, President Trump has signed 45 a request for a certification within a nizing him, especially because David Executive orders with the goal of re- reasonable time period (which shall not Boren and I, in 1967—before any of you ducing redtape and cutting back on exceed 1 year) after the receipt of such guys were born—were elected to the harmful administrative redtape. request, the certification requirements State legislature in the State of Okla- Thanks to our colleagues on the . . . shall be waived with respect to homa. This is kind of funny because, at other side of the aisle for changing the such Federal application.’’ that time, people thought of Oklahoma Senate rules because, with their help, With environmentalists increasingly as being a red State. Let me tell you, President Trump and a Republican-led urging States like New York, New Jer- it wasn’t a red State then. We had a Senate have been able to confirm one sey, and Virginia to block pipelines by House of Representatives of 100 people, of the most conservative Cabinets in delaying or withholding otherwise and only 7 of us were Republicans; the history, and they have been working to valid certifications, these States are rest were Democrats. implement the President’s pro-busi- interfering with interstate commerce, The way it is set up in the House of ness, pro-jobs, pro-economic growth a role that is clearly within the pur- Representatives in Oklahoma—it is policy. view of the Federal Government. still true today, I believe—you have If you want to see the effect that this I applaud the administration for the two members per desk. They would administration is having, you need progress they have made and the inde- have two Democrats at one desk, two only to look at the energy industry. Of pendent agencies for taking a stand Republicans at one desk. Well, it came course, that is to say nothing about the against the gamesmanship of the rad- out uneven, so the only integrated desk fact that we now have a great conserv- ical left, environmentalist groups, and was ours, that of David Boren, who was ative judge. But when you look at the those who do their bidding by using a Democrat, and I, who was a Repub- energy industry, it has been under at- loopholes and their official authority lican. tack for 8 years. to block valid, compliant energy It is kind of interesting also that the Within weeks after taking office, the projects from safely transporting first thing we did—keep in mind, this Army Corps of Engineers under the cheaper and cleaner energy across was right after we took office in Janu- Trump administration approved an State lines. ary of 1967. We came to Washington. easement for the Dakota Access Pipe- When the government works with in- We thought we were really important line that had been withheld by the dustry, not against it, we start to see at that time. We were going to testify before a committee. That committee Obama administration because of noth- companies unleash investments across was called the Environment and Public ing more than political pressure from the country. In fact, the economy has Works Committee. I don’t remember the far left. picked up since Trump and his admin- The next month, the State Depart- istration have come into office with his name, but he was a very popular Democrat from West Virginia. He was, ment issued a crossborder permit for the economy growing 3 percent in just I think, the chairman of that com- the Keystone Pipeline. Again, the per- the second quarter, which is the first full quarter under the administration, mittee. mit had been withheld purely for polit- I remember standing up and testi- and the fastest pace of growth in 2 ical far-left reasons. fying before that as a junior Senator Later the same month, the Depart- years, according to the website called from the State of Oklahoma. I really ment of the Interior lifted the coal CNN Money. thought I was something. I will tell my Each nomination, confirmation, or leasing ban that the Obama adminis- colleagues what I was testifying about. policy directive of President Trump tration had placed on Federal land. It was right after the Johnson adminis- and the Republican-led Congress sig- Federal lands have about 40 percent of tration, and I was protesting Lady nals to the business community and the coal production in the United Bird’s Highway Beautification Act of American workers that America is States, so that was just devastating to 1965—taking private property away open for business again. that industry. It was a killer. from people and all that. Another notable win for energy came I look forward to continuing to work It is interesting because David Boren just last week out of the Federal En- with my colleagues to address our en- and I were testifying before that com- ergy Regulatory Commission; that is, ergy industry’s needs so that private mittee way back in January of 1967, FERC. FERC was without a forum investors can be utilized to deliver and I ended up chairing that same com- from February until mid-August, cre- American products to American con- mittee just a few years later. So that ating a backlog and delaying $50 mil- sumers around the world. Just this was the beginning. lion of energy infrastructure projects week, I introduced a bill to address the Anyway, it was kind of interesting from moving forward. The new forum known bottleneck issues that add un- because David Boren being a Democrat has quickly gone to work to address necessary delays in the FERC permit- and myself being a Republican and that backlog, improving pipelines and ting process by identifying partici- coming from a very strong, almost en- power agreements. pating agencies early in the process tirely Democratic State, we had an in- However, a decision made last week and providing contract reviews and dividual who is the—I can’t remember has clearly sent a message that Amer- providing transparency. This is some- his name—he was secretary of the ica’s energy sector is open for business thing that is just common sense. treasury for the State of Oklahoma. So again. For years, New York State had I thank very much Senator KING and we started introducing the reforms. All been delaying consideration of water his staff for working with me and my the reforms in that decade were the certifications that are required for staff on this legislation, and I hope my product of David Boren, Democrat, and FERC approval to allow construction colleagues will join us in getting these Republican JIM INHOFE. None of them of several federally approved pipelines. reforms into law. ever passed, but we introduced all of The Millennium Pipeline, in par- I bring this up only because you these things. ticular, would take natural gas 9 miles would never know that this is progress So we put together a plan. We had a from one pipeline to a natural gas-fired that is being made in the economy Governor at that time—it is not nec- electric plant, providing clean, cheap, through the Trump administration. essary to mention his name. He was a natural gas power in New York State. Somehow that report has yet to get corrupt Governor, and he ended up in It was delayed and denied certification through. the penitentiary. We put together a simply because, again, the radical left TRIBUTE TO DAVID BOREN plan of how to get him out of office. I doesn’t want it. Mr. President, I have another thing would run for Governor as a Repub- Last week, FERC took the authority in mind. A lot of people who have been lican, I would win my nomination, and granted to them under the Clean Water around in this Senate for a while re- he would run for Governor as a Demo- Act to override New York State’s de- member the name of David Boren. crat, and of course he most likely

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.044 S27SEPT1 S6184 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 would lose—he was running against a the cost, and 94 percent of those stu- The United States spends about $400 very popular Democrat. Anyway, as it dents worried it would hurt their million a year on water supply and turned out, he won. Coming from a grade. sanitation programs worldwide, pursu- solid Democratic State, I can remem- This week, I joined with Senators AL ant to the Senator Paul Simon Water ber calling him up and saying: What do FRANKEN and ANGUS KING and Rep- for the Poor Act of 2005. One of our late we do now? I think I was best advised resentatives JARED POLIS and KYRSTEN colleague’s many public policy con- to just go out of town until the cam- SINEMA to reintroduce the Affordable tributions was his focus on pressing paign was over. College Textbook Act. This bill would issues such as the growing scarcity of Anyway, we spent time together, and establish a grant program to encourage clean water sources—even in our own we had a great time. David did a great the creation and use of high-quality country—and the preventable suffering job as the University of Oklahoma’s open textbooks which are free to use. that comes from poor sanitation. His president. He would actually teach Greater access to and widespread use of book, ‘‘Tapped Out,’’ is another con- classes. He always put students first. these open textbooks can save each tribution he made to greater under- So he did a great job. student who uses one hundreds of dol- standing of these challenges. The law I would say that it is fitting that he lars, and, long term, it puts pressure on named for him requires the Secretary announced his retirement this year be- the traditional college textbook mar- of State, in consultation with the U.S. cause this is his 50th year of public ket to come up with affordable alter- Agency for International Development service, and he leaves a legacy of dedi- natives. and other U.S. Government agencies, cation and hard work and public serv- My home State of Illinois provides an to develop and implement a strategy to ice. His influence has shaped Oklahoma example of how this bill would work. provide affordable and equitable access more than I think he ever thought he The University of Illinois used $150,000 to safe water and sanitation in devel- could. His daddy was Lyle Boren, who in Federal money to pilot an open text- oping countries. was a very popular Democratic House book project at its main campus. The For the past several years, the Con- Member for a long period of time, and university, working With faculty, de- gress has directed that $14 million of we all at that time became very close veloped an open textbook, ‘‘Sustain- those funds be used specifically to de- friends. ability: A Comprehensive Foundation.’’ sign and build safe, public latrines in I don’t think there has been a man This textbook was published electroni- Africa and Asia. Our purpose has been who loved Oklahoma more and served cally for free and open use. You can go to help reduce the risk to woman and our State more faithfully than David online today and find it. girls, particularly in rural areas in Boren. Instead of a student having to shell these countries, who are often as- God bless you, David Boren. Enjoy out $150 or more for his or her intro- saulted at night or subjected to humil- your retirement. ductory environmental sustainability iation and harassment, due to the lack Mr. President, I yield the floor. class, he or she can use this free online of safe and accessible latrines. I suggest the absence of a quorum. book. That is a direct savings to a stu- Unfortunately, USAID has not uti- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The dent every time a professor assigns this lized these funds as effectively as we clerk will call the roll. text in place of a traditional textbook. intended, and the fiscal year 2018 De- The legislative clerk proceeded to Today it is saving students money in partment of State and Foreign Oper- call the roll. Illinois, but also across the country at ations appropriations bill, which was Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask other colleges and universities where it reported unanimously by the Senate unanimous consent that the order for has been adopted by faculty into their Appropriations Committee on Sep- the quorum call be rescinded. curriculum. tember 7, specifies that not less than The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without I would again like to thank my col- $15 million shall be made available ‘‘to objection, it is so ordered. leagues, Senators AL FRANKEN and support initiatives by local commu- ANGUS KING, for joining me in this ef- nities in Africa and Asia to build and f fort I would also like to thank the wide maintain safe, public latrines.’’ LEGISLATIVE SESSION variety of organizations that support What we intend is not rocket science. this bill, including the U.S. PIRG, Today communities in Africa and Asia, SPARC, National Association of Big often with the assistance of small local MORNING BUSINESS Ten Students, National Association of or U.S. nongovernmental organizations Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask College Stores, American Association like the Advocacy Project, are building unanimous consent that the Senate be of Community Colleges, United Negro low-cost, easy to maintain, public la- in a period of morning business, with College Fund, and others. trines. Something as basic as a latrine Senators permitted to speak therein Mr. President, I hope that my col- can transform a community, particu- for up to 10 minutes each. leagues in Congress will join us in sup- larly for women and girls. Not only The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without porting this bill to create a program at does it reduce their vulnerability to as- objection, it is so ordered. the Federal level to encourage the cre- sault, it reduces the obvious health f ation and adoption of these materials. problems caused by open defecation. It In the meantime, I hope students also increases girls’ access to edu- AFFORDABLE COLLEGE TEXTBOOK across the country will reach out to cation, if there are latrines for girls at ACT their professors and have this con- schools. The cost of such projects can Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, text- versation with them. Ask them to be as little as a few hundred dollars, book costs are one of the most over- adopt these free, quality materials that particularly when members of the com- looked barriers to college affordability are available today. munity volunteer their labor. Just as and access, and they are continuing to f important as the design and construc- get more expensive. tion is a plan for community members Over the last decade, 2006 to 2016, the FUNDING FOR SAFE, PUBLIC to regularly maintain the latrines and Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer LATRINES IN AFRICA AND ASIA to educate the local population—men, Price Index shows that consumer prices Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, in the women, and children—on their use. for college textbooks increased almost year 2017, when some people live in ex- Access to water and sanitation are 90 percent. It means students have to travagant homes with half a dozen or a fundamental to social and economic spend more every year. In 2016 to 2017, dozen bathrooms with marble floors development. The lack of safe drinking the College Board recommended that and the latest fixtures, an estimated water and proper sanitation, coupled students budget an average of $1,250 for 2.5 billion people live in squalor with with poor hygiene, are leading causes their books. no access to modern sanitation. One of sickness and death worldwide. Near- A survey released by the Student billion people have no access to la- ly 1,000 children under age 5 die each Public Interest Research Group re- trines and defecate in the open, like day from diarrhea caused by contami- ported that 65 percent of students de- our ancestors did thousands of years nated water and from poor sanitation cided not to buy a textbook because of ago. and hygiene. There are few ways to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.046 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6185 safeguard a person’s health and im- for their clientele of professional vaca- ending September 30, 2018, and for other pur- prove their dignity more basic than by tion rental managers, and within a poses. providing them access to sanitation fa- year, they were pioneering online f bookings in real time. It would not be cilities for safely disposing of human EXECUTIVE AND OTHER until 2005 that the Lotz’s would shift waste. COMMUNICATIONS There should be no confusion about from providing the service at an incre- what we intend for these $15 million. mental level to designing software that The following communications were We want USAID missions in countries would be 100 percent cloud-based. In laid before the Senate, together with where women and girls in rural areas January 2008, LiveRez was launched as accompanying papers, reports, and doc- lack access to safe, public latrines to the first all-in-the-cloud management uments, and were referred as indicated: identify communities for pilot system. From there, they have contin- EC–2923. A communication from the Chief projects, where local leaders want to ued expanding and innovating with the of the Publications and Regulations Branch, address this problem and where a small establishment of the First Advisory Internal Revenue Service, Department of the investment can make a significant dif- Board, mobile websites, and other tech- Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Hurricane Harvey ference. Working with those leaders nical applications that enabled their and Hurricane Irma Disaster Relief’’ (Notice and utilizing the technical expertise of software to be one of the most sought 2017–49) received during adjournment of the local or U.S.-based NGOs, we can help after management systems for man- Senate in the Office of the President of the set an example for other communities agers not only in the United States but Senate on September 21, 2017; to the Com- to replicate. also around the world. mittee on Finance. (At the request of Mr. SCHUMER, the Perhaps what makes all of this suc- EC–2924. A communication from the Acting following statement was ordered to be cess even more incredible is that Tracy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Political- Military Affairs, Department of State, trans- printed in the RECORD.) was able to do all of this organically, mitting, pursuant to law, an addendum to a f utilizing the revenue from the com- certification, of the proposed sale or export pany’s early days to continue to grow. VOTE EXPLANATION of defense articles and/or defense services to He did not seek out venture capital for a Middle East country (OSS–2017–1011); to the ∑ Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I the company, nor did he take on debt. Committee on Foreign Relations. was unavailable for rollcall vote No. Today Tracy and the team at LiveRez EC–2925. A communication from the Pro- 204, on the nomination of Heath P. host their annual partner conference, gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, Tarbert, of Maryland, to be Assistant which includes classes, tech reveals, Federal Communications Commission, trans- Secretary of International Markets and networking, and more amenities for mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule Development, U.S. Treasury Depart- entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; Bom- members of the industry. bardier, Inc., Airplanes’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) ment. Had I been present, I would have I would like to congratulate Tracy ∑ (Docket No. FAA–2017–0512)) received in the voted no. Lotz and the employees of LiveRez on Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- f their innovation and hard work and the tember 25, 2017; to the Committee on Com- ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS commitment that they have to their merce, Science, and Transportation. partners and clients. I wish the best for EC–2926. A communication from the Pro- ∑ Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, today I LiveRez, and I am confident that they gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, would like to recognize an outstanding will continue to provide innovative Federal Communications Commission, trans- small business located in my home mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule services and ideas to their growing cus- entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; Bom- State of Idaho. Dedication, hard work, tomer base.∑ and the entrepreneurial spirit are some bardier, Inc., Airplanes’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) of the guiding principles that define us f (Docket No. FAA–2017–0481)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- as Americans. It is these traits that MESSAGES FROM THE HOUSE tember 25, 2017; to the Committee on Com- have enabled so many of our fellow At 10:05 a.m., a message from the merce, Science, and Transportation. citizens to achieve the American EC–2927. A communication from the Pro- House of Representatives, delivered by dream. As our workforce moves further gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, into the 21st century, new opportuni- Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, Federal Communications Commission, trans- ties are created every day by the Amer- announced that pursuant to section 603 mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule ican people themselves to ensure that of the Department of State Authorities entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; ATR - they can achieve a better standard of Act, Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114– GIE Avions de Transport Regional Air- 323), and the order of the House of Jan- planes’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA– life, without reliance on others. My 2017–0516)) received in the Office of the Presi- State of Idaho knows this and is proud uary 3, 2017, the Speaker appoints the following individual on the part of the dent of the Senate on September 25, 2017; to to serve as an incubator for many the Committee on Commerce, Science, and House of Representatives to the West- small businesses that seek to expand Transportation. these values through their unique en- ern Hemisphere Drug Policy Commis- EC–2928. A communication from the Pro- trepreneurial spirit. As Chairman of sion: Mr. Matt Salmon of Mesa, Ari- gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, the Senate Committee on Small Busi- zona. Federal Communications Commission, trans- ness and Entrepreneurship, it is my ENROLLED BILL SIGNED mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule At 3:36 p.m., a message from the entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; Dassault pleasure to recognize LiveRez as the Aviation Airplanes’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) (Dock- Senate Small Business of the Month House of Representatives, delivered by et No. FAA–2017–0496)) received in the Office for September 2017. LiveRez is one of a Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, of the President of the Senate on September good number of software companies in announced that the Speaker has signed 25, 2017; to the Committee on Commerce, Idaho, which provides services to the following enrolled bill: Science, and Transportation. American businesses nationwide and S. 810. An act to facilitate construction of EC–2929. A communication from the Pro- serves as a true example of hard work a bridge on certain property in Christian gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, in pursuit of the American dream. County, Missouri, and for other purposes. Federal Communications Commission, trans- mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule LiveRez is based out of Eagle, ID, and The enrolled bill was subsequently entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; Embraer was founded by Tracy Lotz in 2008, signed by the President pro tempore S.A. Airplanes’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. after years of research and develop- (Mr. HATCH). FAA–2014–0008)) received in the Office of the ment within the vacation rental sector. f President of the Senate on September 25, Tracy started his journey with vaca- 2017; to the Committee on Commerce, tion rentals in 1994, when he launched MEASURES PLACED ON THE Science, and Transportation. First Choice Vacation Properties, one CALENDAR EC–2930. A communication from the Pro- of the few early websites where man- gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, The following bill was read the sec- Federal Communications Commission, trans- agers were able to advertise their vaca- ond time, and placed on the calendar: mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule tion rentals in cyberspace. It wouldn’t H.R. 3354. An act making appropriations entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; General be until 2002 that Tracy and his nephew for the Department of the Interior, environ- Electric Company Turbofan Engines’’ Jeremy would start building websites ment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2017–0164))

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.027 S27SEPT1 S6186 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 received in the Office of the President of the ‘‘Safety Zone; Delaware River, Philadelphia, Information Administration, Department of Senate on September 25, 2017; to the Com- PA’’ ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG– Commerce, transmitting, pursuant to law, mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- 2017–0543)) received during adjournment of the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Repeal of Regu- tation. the Senate in the Office of the President of lations Governing the Public Telecommuni- EC–2931. A communication from the Pro- the Senate on September 20, 2017; to the cations Facilities Program’’ (RIN0660–AA34) gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, Committee on Commerce, Science, and received during adjournment of the Senate Federal Communications Commission, trans- Transportation. in the Office of the President of the Senate mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule EC–2939. A communication from the Attor- on September 20, 2017; to the Committee on entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Saab Aeronautics (Formerly Known as Saab of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- EC–2947. A communication from the Direc- AB, Saab Aerosystems) Airplanes’’ ant to law, the report of a rule entitled tor, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, De- ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2017–0479)) ‘‘Safety Zone; Delaware River; Dredging’’ partment of Transportation, transmitting, received in the Office of the President of the ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG–2017– pursuant to law, a report entitled ‘‘Transpor- Senate on September 25, 2017; to the Com- 0811)) received during adjournment of the tation Statistics Annual Report 2016’’; to the mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- Senate in the Office of the President of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and tation. Senate on September 20, 2017; to the Com- Transportation. EC–2948. A communication from the Acting EC–2932. A communication from the Pro- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- General Counsel, Department of Transpor- gram Analyst, Office of Managing Director, tation. Federal Communications Commission, trans- EC–2940. A communication from the Attor- tation, transmitting, pursuant to law, a re- mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department port entitled ‘‘Annual Report on Disability- Related Air Travel Complaints Received entitled ‘‘Airworthiness Directives; Rolls- of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- During Calendar Year 2016’’; to the Com- Royce plc Turbofan Engines’’ ((RIN2120– ant to law, the report of a rule entitled mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2017–0652)) received ‘‘Safety Zone; Dredging; Shark River, NJ’’ tation. in the Office of the President of the Senate ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG–2017– on September 25, 2017; to the Committee on 0843)) received during adjournment of the f Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Senate in the Office of the President of the EXECUTIVE REPORT OF EC–2933. A communication from the Attor- Senate on September 20, 2017; to the Com- COMMITTEE ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- tation. The following executive report of a ant to law, the report of a rule entitled EC–2941. A communication from the Attor- nomination was submitted: ‘‘Adding the Polar Ship Certificate to the ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department By Mr. MCCAIN for the Committee on List of SOLAS Certificates and Certificates of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- Armed Services. Issued by Recognized Classification Soci- ant to law, the report of a rule entitled *Marine Corps nomination of Gen. Joseph eties’’ ((RIN1625–AC35) (Docket No. USCG– ‘‘Safety Zone; Tombigbee River, Demopolis, F. Dunford, Jr., to be General. 2016–0880)) received during adjournment in AL’’ ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG– *Nomination was reported with rec- the Office of the President of the Senate on 2017–0786)) received during adjournment of ommendation that it be confirmed sub- September 20, 2017; to the Committee on the Senate in the Office of the President of ject to the nominee’s commitment to Commerce, Science, and Transportation. the Senate on September 20, 2017; to the EC–2934. A communication from the Attor- Committee on Commerce, Science, and respond to requests to appear and tes- ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department Transportation. tify before any duly constituted com- of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- EC–2942. A communication from the Attor- mittee of the Senate. ant to law, the report of a rule entitled ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department f ‘‘Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Rice of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- Creek, Putnam County, FL’’ ((RIN1625–AA09) ant to law, the report of a rule entitled INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND (Docket No. USCG–2016–0523)) received dur- ‘‘Great Lakes Pilotage Rates - 2017 Annual JOINT RESOLUTIONS ing adjournment of the Senate in the Office Review’’ ((RIN1625–AC34) (Docket No. USCG– The following bills and joint resolu- of the President of the Senate on September 2016–0268)) received during adjournment of tions were introduced, read the first 20, 2017; to the Committee on Commerce, the Senate in the Office of the President of and second times by unanimous con- Science, and Transportation. the Senate on September 20, 2017; to the EC–2935. A communication from the Attor- Committee on Commerce, Science, and sent, and referred as indicated: ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department Transportation. By Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- EC–2943. A communication from the Attor- JOHNSON, Mr. WYDEN, and Mrs. ant to law, the report of a rule entitled ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department MCCASKILL): ‘‘Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Atlantic of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- S. 1869. A bill to reauthorize and rename Intracoastal Waterway, Little River to Sa- ant to law, the report of a rule entitled the position of Whistleblower Ombudsman to vannah River, Beaufort, SC’’ ((RIN1625–AA09) ‘‘Safety Zone; Marine Event held in the Cap- be the Whistleblower Protection Coordi- (Docket No. USCG–2015–0343)) received dur- tain of the Port Long Island Sound Zone’’ nator; to the Committee on Homeland Secu- ing adjournment of the Senate in the Office ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG–2017– rity and Governmental Affairs. of the President of the Senate on September 0716)) received during adjournment of the By Mr. HOEVEN (for himself, Mr. 20, 2017; to the Committee on Commerce, Senate in the Office of the President of the MCCAIN, Ms. HEITKAMP, Ms. CORTEZ Science, and Transportation. Senate on September 20, 2017; to the Com- MASTO, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. DAINES, EC–2936. A communication from the Attor- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- Mr. TESTER, and Mr. BARRASSO): S. 1870. A bill to amend the Victims of ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department tation. of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- EC–2944. A communication from the Attor- Crime Act of 1984 to secure urgent resources vital to Indian victims of crime, and for ant to law, the report of a rule entitled ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department other purposes; to the Committee on Indian ‘‘Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Gulf In- of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- Affairs. tracoastal Waterway, Sarasota, FL’’ ant to law, the report of a rule entitled By Mr. CASSIDY: ((RIN1625–AA09) (Docket No. USCG–2016– ‘‘Safety Zone; Village of Sodus Point Fire- S. 1871. A bill to amend title 38, United 0330)) received during adjournment of the works; Lake Ontario, Sodus Point, NY’’ States Code, to clarify the role of podiatrists Senate in the Office of the President of the ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG–2017– in the Department of Veterans Affairs, and Senate on September 20, 2017; to the Com- 0718)) received during adjournment of the for other purposes; to the Committee on Vet- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- Senate in the Office of the President of the erans’ Affairs. tation. Senate on September 20, 2017; to the Com- By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. NEL- EC–2937. A communication from the Attor- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- SON, Mr. BLUNT, and Ms. CANTWELL): ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department tation. S. 1872. A bill to authorize the programs of of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- EC–2945. A communication from the Attor- the Transportation Security Administration ant to law, the report of a rule entitled ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department relating to transportation security, and for ‘‘Safety Zone; Wando River, Charleston, SC’’ of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- other purposes; to the Committee on Com- ((RIN1625–AA00) (Docket No. USCG–2017– ant to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Spe- merce, Science, and Transportation. 0348)) received during adjournment of the cial Local Regulation; Frogtown Regatta, By Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and Senate in the Office of the President of the Maumee River, Toledo, OH’’ ((RIN1625–AA08) Mr. BLUNT): Senate on September 20, 2017; to the Com- (Docket No. USCG–2017–0754)) received dur- S. 1873. A bill to require the Secretary of mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- ing adjournment of the Senate in the Office Veterans Affairs to carry out a program to tation. of the President of the Senate on September establish peer specialists in patient aligned EC–2938. A communication from the Attor- 20, 2017; to the Committee on Commerce, care teams at medical centers of the Depart- ney-Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department Science, and Transportation. ment of Veterans Affairs, and for other pur- of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursu- EC–2946. A communication from the Chief poses; to the Committee on Veterans’ Af- ant to law, the report of a rule entitled Counsel, National Telecommunications and fairs.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.002 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6187 By Mr. WYDEN: chusetts (Ms. WARREN) was added as a DURBIN) was added as a cosponsor of S. S. 1874. A bill to direct the Secretary of cosponsor of S. 194, a bill to amend the 1319, a bill to require the Secretary of Energy to establish certain demonstration Public Health Service Act to establish Veterans Affairs to establish a con- grant programs relating to the demonstra- tion of advanced distribution systems, smart a public health insurance option, and tinuing medical education program for water heaters, vehicle-to-grid integration, for other purposes. non-Department of Veterans Affairs and granular retail electricity pricing, and S. 364 medical professionals who treat vet- for other purposes; to the Committee on En- At the request of Ms. KLOBUCHAR, the erans to increase knowledge and rec- ergy and Natural Resources. name of the Senator from Connecticut ognition of medical conditions common By Mr. WYDEN: to veterans, and for other purposes. S. 1875. A bill to move the United States (Mr. MURPHY) was added as a cosponsor toward greater energy independence and se- of S. 364, a bill to amend the Food Se- S. 1358 curity, to increase the flexibility, efficiency, curity Act of 1985 to exempt certain re- At the request of Mr. CASSIDY, the and reliability of the electric grid, to in- cipients of Department of Agriculture name of the Senator from Wyoming crease the competitiveness of the United conservation assistance from certain (Mr. BARRASSO) was added as a cospon- States economy, to protect consumers, and reporting requirements, and for other sor of S. 1358, a bill to amend the Inter- to improve the energy performance of the purposes. Federal Government, and for other purposes; nal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide for to the Committee on Energy and Natural Re- S. 538 the treatment of certain direct pri- sources. At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the mary care service arrangements and By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. periodic provider fees. WHITEHOUSE, and Mr. REED): ISAKSON) was added as a cosponsor of S. S. 1361 S. 1876. A bill to direct the Secretary of 538, a bill to clarify research and devel- Energy to establish a program to advance At the request of Mr. CRAPO, the energy storage deployment by reducing the opment for wood products, and for name of the Senator from Arkansas cost of energy storage through research, de- other purposes. (Mr. COTTON) was added as a cosponsor velopment, and demonstration, and for other S. 693 of S. 1361, a bill to amend title XVIII of purposes; to the Committee on Energy and At the request of Ms. BALDWIN, the the Social Security Act to allow physi- Natural Resources. names of the Senator from Idaho (Mr. cian assistants, nurse practitioners, By Mr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. WAR- RISCH), the Senator from Michigan NER, Mr. BLUNT, and Ms. KLOBUCHAR): and clinical nurse specialists to super- S. 1877. A bill to jump-start economic re- (Ms. STABENOW), the Senator from Mis- vise cardiac, intensive cardiac, and pul- covery through the formation and growth of sissippi (Mr. WICKER) and the Senator monary rehabilitation programs. from Connecticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) new businesses, and for other purposes; to S. 1505 the Committee on the Judiciary. were added as cosponsors of S. 693, a At the request of Mr. LEE, the names By Mr. ENZI (for himself and Mr. BEN- bill to amend the Public Health Serv- of the Senator from Texas (Mr. COR- NET): ice Act to increase the number of per- S. 1878. A bill to authorize the Department NYN), the Senator from Utah (Mr. manent faculty in palliative care at ac- of Labor’s voluntary protection program; to HATCH), the Senator from Alabama credited allopathic and osteopathic the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, (Mr. STRANGE) and the Senator from and Pensions. medical schools, nursing schools, social Georgia (Mr. PERDUE) were added as co- By Mr. BARRASSO (for himself and work schools, and other programs, in- sponsors of S. 1505, a bill to provide Ms. STABENOW): cluding physician assistant education that silencers be treated the same as S. 1879. A bill to amend title XVIII of the programs, to promote education and firearms accessories. Social Security Act to provide for the cov- research in palliative care and hospice, erage of marriage and family therapist serv- S. 1531 ices and mental health counselor services and to support the development of fac- At the request of Mr. YOUNG, the under part B of the Medicare program, and ulty careers in academic palliative for other purposes; to the Committee on Fi- medicine. names of the Senator from Utah (Mr. HATCH) and the Senator from Massa- nance. S. 951 chusetts (Ms. WARREN) were added as By Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mr. At the request of Mr. PORTMAN, the MERKLEY, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. LEAHY, names of the Senator from Oklahoma cosponsors of S. 1531, a bill to require Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. reporting by the Secretary of Edu- (Mr. LANKFORD) and the Senator from HIRONO, Mr. KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, cation on the implementation of recent Nebraska (Mrs. FISCHER) were added as Mr. MARKEY, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. Government Accountability Office rec- FRANKEN, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. WARREN, cosponsors of S. 951, a bill to reform ommendations. and Mr. WHITEHOUSE): the process by which Federal agencies S. 1880. A bill to reform our government, analyze and formulate new regulations S. 1568 reduce the grip of special interest, and re- and guidance documents, and for other At the request of Mr. MARKEY, the turn our democracy to the American people names of the Senator from Vermont by increasing transparency and oversight of purposes. (Mr. LEAHY) and the Senator from Ne- our elections and government, reforming S. 1144 public financing for Presidential and Con- At the request of Mr. THUNE, the vada (Ms. CORTEZ MASTO) were added gressional elections, and requiring States to name of the Senator from North Da- as cosponsors of S. 1568, a bill to re- conduct Congressional redistricting through kota (Mr. HOEVEN) was added as a co- quire the Secretary of the Treasury to independent commissions, and for other pur- sponsor of S. 1144, a bill to amend the mint coins in commemoration of Presi- poses; to the Committee on Finance. Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to en- dent John F. Kennedy. f courage business creation by allowing S. 1595 SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND faster recovery of start-up and organi- At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the SENATE RESOLUTIONS zational expenses, to simplify account- name of the Senator from Montana The following concurrent resolutions ing methods for small businesses, to (Mr. TESTER) was added as a cosponsor and Senate resolutions were read, and expand expensing and provide acceler- of S. 1595, a bill to amend the Hizballah referred (or acted upon), as indicated: ated cost recovery to encourage invest- International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 to impose additional sanc- By Mr. SCHUMER (for Mr. MENENDEZ ment in new plants and equipment, and (for himself, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. MARKEY, for other purposes. tions with respect to Hizballah, and for Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. S. 1292 other purposes. BOOKER, Mr. BLUNT, and Mr. COONS)): At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the At the request of Mrs. SHAHEEN, the S. Res. 269. A resolution designating Sep- name of the Senator from Delaware name of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. tember 2017 as ‘‘National Prostate Cancer (Mr. COONS) was added as a cosponsor WYDEN) was added as a cosponsor of S. Awareness Month’’; considered and agreed 1595, supra. to. of S. 1292, a bill to amend the State De- partment Basic Authorities Act of 1956 S. 1697 f to monitor and combat anti-Semitism At the request of Mr. GRAHAM, the ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS globally, and for other purposes. names of the Senator from Pennsyl- S. 194 S. 1319 vania (Mr. CASEY) and the Senator At the request of Mr. WHITEHOUSE, At the request of Mr. BROWN, the from Arkansas (Mr. BOOZMAN) were the name of the Senator from Massa- name of the Senator from Illinois (Mr. added as cosponsors of S. 1697, a bill to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.004 S27SEPT1 S6188 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 condition assistance to the West Bank shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN), the Senator from tech-neutral approach when updating and Gaza on steps by the Palestinian Connecticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) and the the electricity system, to benefit the Authority to end violence and ter- Senator from Illinois (Ms. DUCKWORTH) American consumer. rorism against Israeli citizens and were added as cosponsors of S. 1829, a My Reducing the Cost of Energy United States Citizens. bill to amend title V of the Social Se- Storage Act will provide funding to the S. 1718 curity Act to extend the Maternal, In- Department of Energy to research and At the request of Mr. KENNEDY, the fant, and Early Childhood Home Vis- develop ways to lower the cost of en- name of the Senator from Massachu- iting Program. ergy storage technologies. Ultimately, setts (Mr. MARKEY) was added as a co- S. 1868 this bill will make it possible for re- sponsor of S. 1718, a bill to authorize At the request of Mr. HEINRICH, the newable energy to be used on a more the minting of a coin in honor of the name of the Senator from Colorado reliable and affordable basis. 75th anniversary of the end of World (Mr. BENNET) was added as a cosponsor War II, and for other purposes. of S. 1868, a bill to amend the Internal To protect the power supply from dis- S. 1753 Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax ruptions caused by natural disasters, At the request of Mr. HELLER, the credits for energy storage technologies, which can wipe out power to millions name of the Senator from Indiana (Mr. and for other purposes. of homes, my Flexible Grid Infrastruc- DONNELLY) was added as a cosponsor of S. RES. 250 ture Act will require the Department S. 1753, a bill to amend the S.A.F.E. At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the of Energy to find and develop ways to Mortgage Licensing Act of 2008 to pro- name of the Senator from New Hamp- make the power grid more flexible and vide a temporary license for loan origi- shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN) was added as a co- responsive to these challenges. The bill nators transitioning between employ- sponsor of S. Res. 250, a resolution con- will also connect displaced workers to ers, and for other purposes. demning horrific acts of violence training programs that will allow them S. 1754 against Burma’s Rohingya population to transition to high-skill clean energy At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the and calling on Aung San Suu Kyi to jobs. Finally, this bill will provide names of the Senator from Massachu- play an active role in ending this hu- states and utilities with resources to setts (Mr. MARKEY) and the Senator manitarian tragedy. upgrade the flexibility and reliability from Illinois (Ms. DUCKWORTH) were S. RES. 264 of the power grid. added as cosponsors of S. 1754, a bill to At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the reauthorize section 340H of the Public In order to ensure private sector names of the Senator from New York growth in distributed energy tech- Health Service Act to continue to en- (Mrs. GILLIBRAND) and the Senator courage the expansion, maintenance, nologies, my Distributed Energy Dem- from New York (Mr. SCHUMER) were onstration Act will create competitive, and establishment of approved grad- added as cosponsors of S. Res. 264, a cost-share grant programs for new uate medical residency programs at resolution designating September 2017 small-scale, grid-connected projects qualified teaching health centers, and as ‘‘National Kinship Care Month’’ . for other purposes. such as rooftop solar panels, hot water S. RES. 267 S. 1767 heaters, electric vehicles and modern- At the request of Ms. CANTWELL, her At the request of Mr. LEAHY, the ized utility pricing technologies. name was added as a cosponsor of S. names of the Senator from New Jersey Res. 267, a resolution designating Sep- Together, or apart, these bills will (Mr. MENENDEZ) and the Senator from tember 2017 as ‘‘National Workforce promote a more flexible electricity New Mexico (Mr. UDALL) were added as Development Month’’ . grid that can respond to power disrup- cosponsors of S. 1767, a bill to reauthor- At the request of Mrs. FEINSTEIN, the tions from natural disasters and ensure ize the farm to school program, and for names of the Senator from Washington reliable, low-cost electricity for con- other purposes. (Mrs. MURRAY) and the Senator from sumers now and in the future. They S. 1774 South Carolina (Mr. GRAHAM) were will also lower costs for energy storage At the request of Mr. HATCH, the added as cosponsors of S. Res. 267, technologies that make renewable en- names of the Senator from Arkansas supra. ergy more reliable and cost-effective, (Mr. BOOZMAN) and the Senator from f boost funding for cutting-edge research South Dakota (Mr. ROUNDS) were added and reward state and private sector in- as cosponsors of S. 1774, a bill to pro- STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED novations, which will make renewable vide protections for workers with re- BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS energy more reliable and affordable for spect to their right to select or refrain By Mr. WYDEN: U.S. energy consumers. from selecting representation by a S. 1874. A bill to direct the Secretary labor organization. of Energy to establish certain dem- By Mr. WYDEN: S. 1816 onstration grant programs relating to At the request of Ms. WARREN, the the demonstration of advanced dis- S. 1875. A bill to move the United name of the Senator from New Hamp- tribution systems, smart water heat- States toward greater energy independ- shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN) was added as a co- ers, vehicle-to-grid integration, and ence and security, to increase the flexi- sponsor of S. 1816, a bill to amend the granular retail electricity pricing, and bility, efficiency, and reliability of the Fair Credit Reporting Act to enhance for other purposes; to the Committee electric grid, to increase the competi- fraud alert procedures and provide free on Energy and Natural Resources. tiveness of the United States economy, access to credit freezes, and for other Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, today I to protect consumers, and to improve purposes. am introducing a set of three bills that the energy performance of the Federal S. 1823 will lower the cost of energy storage, Government, and for other purposes; to At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the increase flexibility in the power grid, the Committee on Energy and Natural name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. and create a comprehensive set of Resources. COLLINS) was added as a cosponsor of S. grant programs to advance develop- 1823, a bill to amend the Robert T. ment of renewable energy technologies By Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emer- throughout the country. WHITEHOUSE, and Mr. REED): gency Assistance Act to clarify that Currently, many energy tech- houses of worship are eligible for cer- nologies—like energy storage—com- S. 1876. A bill to direct the Secretary tain disaster relief and emergency as- pete in unfair markets, making it hard of Energy to establish a program to ad- sistance on terms equal to other eligi- for new innovations to measure up to vance energy storage deployment by ble private nonprofit facilities, and for more established technologies like reducing the cost of energy storage other purposes. those of the fossil fuel industry. Con- through research, development, and S. 1829 gress and the Department of Energy demonstration, and for other purposes; At the request of Mr. GRASSLEY, the can work hand-in-hand with industry to the Committee on Energy and Nat- names of the Senator from New Hamp- to level the playing field, using a fair, ural Resources.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.008 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6189 SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS care services for detecting and treating pros- (II) resulting from the death, retirement, tate cancer; and resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy (3) calls on the people of the United States, judge, SENATE RESOLUTION 269—DESIG- interest groups, and affected persons— shall not be filled. NATING SEPTEMBER 2017 AS (A) to promote awareness of prostate can- (ii) The 2d and 3d vacancies in the office of a bankruptcy judge for the district of Mary- ‘‘NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER cer; (B) to take an active role in the fight to land resulting from the death, retirement, AWARENESS MONTH’’ end the devastating effects of prostate can- resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy Mr. SCHUMER (for Mr. MENENDEZ cer on individuals, families, and the econ- judge, shall not be filled. (for himself, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. MARKEY, omy; and (D) SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF FLORIDA.—The 1st and 2d vacancies in the office of a bank- Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BOOK- (C) to observe National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month with appropriate cere- ruptcy judge for the southern district of ER, Mr. BLUNT, and Mr. COONS)) sub- monies and activities. Florida— mitted the following resolution; which (i) occurring more than 5 years after the was considered and agreed to: f date of the enactment of this Act, and S. RES. 269 (ii) resulting from the death, retirement, AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy Whereas over 2,900,000 families in the PROPOSED judge, United States live with prostate cancer; shall not be filled. Whereas 1 in 7 men in the United States SA 1106. Mr. INHOFE (for Mr. GRASSLEY) (3) APPLICABILITY OF PROVISIONS.—Except will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in proposed an amendment to the bill H.R. 2266, as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), all their lifetimes; to amend title 28 of the United States Code other provisions of subsection (b) of the Whereas prostate cancer is the most com- to authorize the appointment of additional Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2005 (28 U.S.C. monly diagnosed nonskin cancer and the bankruptcy judges; and for other purposes. 152 note) and section 2 of the Temporary third-leading cause of cancer-related deaths f Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2012 among men in the United States; (28 U.S.C. 152 note) remain applicable to the Whereas the American Cancer Society esti- TEXT OF AMENDMENTS temporary office of bankruptcy judges re- mates that in 2017, 161,360 men will be diag- SA 1106. Mr. INHOFE (for Mr. GRASS- ferred to in paragraph (1). nosed with, and more than 26,730 men will (b) TEMPORARY OFFICE OF BANKRUPTCY LEY) proposed an amendment to the die of, prostate cancer; JUDGES EXTENDED BY THE BANKRUPTCY Whereas 43 percent of newly diagnosed bill H.R. 2266, to amend title 28 of the JUDGESHIP ACT OF 2005 AND THE TEMPORARY prostate cancer cases occur in men under the United States Code to authorize the ap- BANKRUPTCY JUDGESHIPS EXTENSION ACT OF age of 65; pointment of additional bankruptcy 2012.— Whereas the odds of developing prostate judges; and for other purposes; as fol- (1) EXTENSIONS.—The temporary office of cancer rise rapidly after age 50; lows: bankruptcy judges authorized by section 3 of Whereas African-American men suffer the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 1992 (28 U.– Strike all after the enacting clause and in- from a prostate cancer incidence rate that is S.C. 152 note) and extended by subsection (c) sert the following: significantly higher than that of White men of the Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2005 (28 and have double the prostate cancer mor- SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. U.S.C. 152 note) and further extended by sec- tality rate than that of White men; This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Bankruptcy tion 2 of the Temporary Bankruptcy Judge- Whereas having a father or brother with Judgeship Act of 2017’’. ships Extension Act of 2012 (28 U.S.C. 152 prostate cancer more than doubles the risk SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF TEMPORARY OFFICE OF note) for the district of Delaware and the of a man developing prostate cancer, with a BANKRUPTCY JUDGES IN CERTAIN district of Puerto Rico are extended until higher risk for men who have a brother with JUDICIAL DISTRICTS. the applicable vacancy specified in para- the disease and the highest risk for men with (a) TEMPORARY OFFICE OF BANKRUPTCY graph (2) in the office of a bankruptcy judge several affected relatives; JUDGES AUTHORIZED BY THE BANKRUPTCY for the respective district occurs. Whereas screening by a digital rectal ex- JUDGESHIP ACT OF 2005.— (2) VACANCIES.— amination and a prostate-specific antigen (1) EXTENSIONS.—The temporary office of (A) DISTRICT OF DELAWARE.—The 5th va- blood test can detect the disease at the ear- bankruptcy judges authorized for the fol- cancy in the office of a bankruptcy judge for lier, more treatable stages, which could in- lowing districts by subsection (b) of the the district of Delaware— crease the chances of survival for more than Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2005 (28 U.S.C. (i) occurring more than 5 years after the 5 years to nearly 100 percent; 152 note) are extended until the applicable date of the enactment of this Act, and Whereas only 29 percent of men survive vacancy specified in paragraph (2) in the of- (ii) resulting from the death, retirement, more than 5 years if diagnosed with prostate fice of a bankruptcy judge for the respective resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy cancer after the cancer has metastasized; district occurs: judge, Whereas there are no noticeable symptoms (A) The district of Delaware. shall not be filled. of prostate cancer in the early stages, mak- (B) The southern district of Florida. (B) DISTRICT OF PUERTO RICO.—The 2d va- ing appropriate screening critical; (C) The district of Maryland. cancy in the office of a bankruptcy judge for Whereas, in fiscal year 2017, the Director of (D) The eastern district of Michigan. the district of Puerto Rico— the National Institutes of Health supported (E) The district of Nevada. (i) occurring more than 5 years after the approximately $274,000,000 in research (F) The eastern district of North Carolina. date of the enactment of this Act, and projects focused specifically on prostate can- (G) The district of Puerto Rico. (ii) resulting from the death, retirement, cer; (H) The eastern district of Virginia. resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy Whereas ongoing research promises further (2) VACANCIES.— judge, improvements in prostate cancer prevention, (A) SINGLE VACANCIES.—Except as provided shall not be filled. early detection, and treatment; and in subparagraphs (B), (C), and (D), the 1st va- (3) APPLICABILITY OF OTHER PROVISIONS.— Whereas educating people in the United cancy in the office of a bankruptcy judge for Except as provided in paragraphs (1) and (2), States, including health care providers, each district specified in paragraph (1)— all other provisions of section 3 of the Bank- about prostate cancer and early detection (i) occurring more than 5 years after the ruptcy Judgeship Act of 1992 (28 U.S.C. 152 strategies is crucial to saving the lives of date of the enactment of this Act, and note), subsection (c) of the Bankruptcy men and preserving and protecting families: (ii) resulting from the death, retirement, Judgeship Act of 2005 (28 U.S.C. 152 note), and Now, therefore, be it resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy section 2 of the Temporary Bankruptcy Resolved, That the Senate— judge, Judgeships Extension Act of 2012 (28 U.S.C. (1) designates September 2017 as ‘‘National shall not be filled. 152 note) remain applicable to the temporary Prostate Cancer Awareness Month’’; (B) DISTRICT OF DELAWARE.—The 1st, 2d, 3d, office of bankruptcy judges referred to in (2) declares that steps should be taken— and 4th vacancies in the office of a bank- paragraph (1). (A) to raise awareness about the impor- ruptcy judge for the district of Delaware— SEC. 3. TEMPORARY OFFICE OF BANKRUPTCY tance of screening methods for, and treat- (i) occurring 5 years or more after the date JUDGE AUTHORIZED. ment of, prostate cancer; of the enactment of this Act, and (a) APPOINTMENTS.—The following bank- (B) to encourage research— (ii) resulting from the death, retirement, ruptcy judges shall be appointed in the man- (i) to improve screening and treatment for resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy ner prescribed in section 152(a)(1) of title 28, prostate cancer; judge, United States Code, for the appointment of (ii) to discover the causes of prostate can- shall not be filled. bankruptcy judges provided for in section cer; and (C) DISTRICT OF MARYLAND.— 152(a)(2) of that title: (iii) to develop a cure for prostate cancer; (i) The 1st vacancy in the office of a bank- (1) Two additional bankruptcy judges for and ruptcy judge for the district of Maryland— the district of Delaware. (C) to continue to consider ways to im- (I) occurring more than 5 years after the (2) One additional bankruptcy judge of the prove access to, and the quality of, health date of the enactment of this Act, and middle district of Florida.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.012 S27SEPT1 S6190 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 (3) One additional bankruptcy judge for the or that arises after the filing of the petition (i) in subsection (a)— eastern district of Michigan. and before the debtor’s discharge under sec- (I) in the matter preceding paragraph (1)— (b) VACANCIES.— tion 1228, as a result of the sale, transfer, ex- (aa) by inserting a comma after ‘‘all debts (1) DISTRICT OF DELAWARE.—The 6th and change, or other disposition of any property provided for by the plan’’; and 7th vacancies in the office of a bankruptcy used in the debtor’s farming operation— (bb) by inserting a comma after ‘‘allowed judge for the district of Delaware— ‘‘(1) shall be treated as an unsecured claim under section 503 of this title’’; and (A) occurring 5 years or more after the ap- arising before the date on which the petition (II) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘the pointment date of the bankruptcy judge ap- is filed; kind’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘a pointed under paragraph (1) to such office, ‘‘(2) shall not be entitled to priority under kind specified in section 523(a) of this title, and section 507; except as provided in section 1232(c).’’; and (B) resulting from the death, retirement, ‘‘(3) shall be provided for under a plan; and (ii) in subsection (c)(2), by inserting ‘‘, ex- resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy ‘‘(4) shall be discharged in accordance with cept as provided in section 1232(c)’’ before judge, section 1228. the period at the end; and shall not be filled. ‘‘(b) For purposes of applying sections (C) in section 1229(a)— (2) MIDDLE DISTRICT OF FLORIDA.—The 1st 1225(a)(4), 1228(b)(2), and 1229(b)(1) to a claim (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘or’’ at the vacancy in the office of a bankruptcy judge described in subsection (a) of this section, end; for the middle district of Florida— the amount that would be paid on such claim (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking the period (A) occurring 5 years or more after the ap- if the estate of the debtor were liquidated in at the end and inserting ‘‘; or’’; and pointment date of the bankruptcy judge ap- a case under chapter 7 of this title shall be (iii) by adding at the end the following: pointed under paragraph (1) to such office, the amount that would be paid by the estate ‘‘(4) provide for the payment of a claim de- and in a chapter 7 case if the claim were an unse- scribed in section 1232(a) that arose after the (B) resulting from the death, retirement, cured claim arising before the date on which date on which the petition was filed.’’. resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy the petition was filed and were not entitled (2) TABLE OF SECTIONS.—The table of sec- judge, to priority under section 507. tions for subchapter II of chapter 12 of title shall not be filled. ‘‘(c) For purposes of applying sections 11, United States Code, is amended by adding (3) EASTERN DISTRICT OF MICHIGAN.—The 2d 523(a), 1228(a)(2), and 1228(c)(2) to a claim de- at the end the following: vacancy in the office of a bankruptcy judge scribed in subsection (a) of this section, the ‘‘1232. Claim by a governmental unit based for the eastern district of Michigan— claim shall not be treated as a claim of a on the disposition of property (A) occurring 5 years or more after the ap- kind specified in subparagraph (A) or (B) of used in a farming operation.’’. pointment date of the bankruptcy judge ap- section 523(a)(1). (c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments pointed under paragraph (1) to such office, ‘‘(d)(1) A governmental unit may file a made by this section shall apply to— and proof of claim for a claim described in sub- (1) any bankruptcy case— (B) resulting from the death, retirement, section (a) that arises after the date on (A) that is pending on the date of enact- resignation, or removal of a bankruptcy which the petition is filed. ment of this Act; ‘‘(2) If a debtor files a tax return after the judge, (B) in which the plan under chapter 12 of filing of the petition for a period in which a shall not be filled. title 11, United States Code, has not been claim described in subsection (a) arises, and confirmed on the date of enactment of this SEC. 4. BANKRUPTCY FEES. the claim relates to the tax return, the debt- Act; and (a) AMENDMENTS TO TITLE 28 OF THE UNITED or shall serve notice of the claim on the gov- (C) relating to which an order of discharge STATES CODE.—Section 1930(a)(6) of title 28, ernmental unit charged with the responsi- under section 1228 of title 11, United States United States Code, is amended— bility for the collection of the tax at the ad- Code, has not been entered; and (1) by striking ‘‘(6) In’’ and inserting dress and in the manner designated in sec- (2) any bankruptcy case that commences ‘‘(6)(A) Except as provided in subparagraph tion 505(b)(1). Notice under this paragraph on or after the date of enactment of this Act. (B), in’’; and shall state that the debtor has filed a peti- (2) by adding at the end the following: tion under this chapter, state the name and f ‘‘(B) During each of fiscal years 2018 location of the court in which the case under through 2022, if the balance in the United AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO this chapter is pending, state the amount of MEET States Trustee System Fund as of September the claim, and include a copy of the filed tax 30 of the most recent full fiscal year is less return and documentation supporting the Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I have than $200,000,000, the quarterly fee payable calculation of the claim. 10 requests for committees to meet for a quarter in which disbursements equal ‘‘(3) If notice of a claim has been served on during today’s session of the Senate. or exceed $1,000,000 shall be the lesser of 1 the governmental unit in accordance with percent of such disbursements or $250,000.’’. They have the approval of the majority paragraph (2), the governmental unit may and minority leaders. (b) DEPOSITS OF CERTAIN FEES FOR FISCAL file a proof of claim not later than 180 days YEARS 2018 THROUGH 2022.—Notwithstanding Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph after the date on which such notice was 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- section 589a(b) of title 28, United States served. If the governmental unit has not Code, for each of fiscal years 2018 through filed a timely proof of the claim, the debtor ate, the following committees are au- 2022— or trustee may file proof of the claim that is thorized to meet during today’s session (1) 98 percent of the fees collected under consistent with the notice served under para- of the Senate. section 1930(a)(6) of such title shall be depos- graph (2). If a proof of claim is filed by the COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND ited as offsetting collections to the appro- debtor or trustee under this paragraph, the TRANSPORTATION priation ‘‘United States Trustee System governmental unit may not amend the proof The Committee on Commerce, Fund’’, to remain available until expended; of claim. and Science, and Transportation is author- ‘‘(4) A claim filed under this subsection ized to hold a meeting during the ses- (2) 2 percent of the fees collected under sec- shall be determined and shall be allowed tion 1930(a)(6) of such title shall be deposited under subsection (a), (b), or (c) of section 502, sion of the Senate on Wednesday, Sep- in the general fund of the Treasury. or disallowed under subsection (d) or (e) of tember 27, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. in room (c) APPLICATION OF AMENDMENTS.—The section 502, in the same manner as if the 253 of the Russell Senate Office Build- amendments made by this section shall claim had arisen immediately before the ing. apply to quarterly fees payable under section date of the filing of the petition.’’. COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC 1930(a)(6) of title 28, United States Code, as (b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMEND- WORKS amended by this section, for disbursements MENTS.— The Committee on Environment and made in any calendar quarter that begins on (1) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter Public Works is authorized to meet or after the date of enactment of this Act. 12 of title 11, United States Code, is amend- during the session of the Senate on SEC. 5. CLARIFICATION OF RULE ALLOWING DIS- ed— CHARGE TO GOVERNMENTAL (A) in section 1222(a)— Wednesday, September 27, 2017, at 10 CLAIMS ARISING FROM THE DIS- (i) in paragraph (2), by striking ‘‘unless—’’ a.m., in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate POSITION OF FARM ASSETS UNDER and all that follows through ‘‘the holder’’ Office Building, to conduct a hearing CHAPTER 12 BANKRUPTCIES. and inserting ‘‘unless the holder’’; entitled, ‘‘Hearing on Forest Manage- (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter II of chapter (ii) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘and’’ at 12 of title 11, United States Code, is amended ment to Mitigate Wildfires: Legislative the end; by adding at the end the following: Solutions.’’ (iii) in paragraph (4), by striking the period COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS ‘‘§ 1232. Claim by a governmental unit based at the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and on the disposition of property used in a (iv) by adding at the end the following: The Committee on Foreign Relations farming operation ‘‘(5) subject to section 1232, provide for the is authorized to meet during the ses- ‘‘(a) Any unsecured claim of a govern- treatment of any claim by a governmental sion of the Senate on Wednesday, Sep- mental unit against the debtor or the estate unit of a kind described in section 1232(a).’’; tember 27, 2017 at 10:45 a.m., to hold a that arises before the filing of the petition, (B) in section 1228— hearing entitled ‘‘Nominations.’’

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.019 S27SEPT1 September 27, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6191

COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS Whereas according to the United Nations (5) the contributions of charities, non-prof- The Committee on Foreign Relations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian it organizations, religious organizations, and is authorized to meet during the ses- Affairs (OCHA), 20,000,000 people are at risk businesses of the United States have an im- sion of the Senate on Wednesday, Sep- of starvation this year in Nigeria, Somalia, portant role in addressing humanitarian cri- South Sudan, and Yemen; ses. tember 27, 2017 at 2:15 p.m., to hold a Whereas, on March 22, 2017, Mr. Yves hearing entitled ‘‘Nominations.’’ SEC. 2. RULE OF CONSTRUCTION. Daccord, the Director-General of the Inter- Nothing in this resolution shall be con- COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND national Committee of the Red Cross, testi- strued as a declaration of war or authoriza- GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS fied before Congress that the crisis rep- tion to use force. The Committee on Homeland Secu- resents ‘‘one of the most critical humani- rity and Governmental Affairs is au- tarian issues to face mankind since the end f thorized to meet during the session of of the Second World War’’ and warned that DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AF- the Senate on Wednesday, September ‘‘we are at the brink of a humanitarian mega-crisis unprecedented in recent his- FAIRS EXPIRING AUTHORITIES 27, 2017, at 10 a.m., in order to conduct tory’’; ACT OF 2017 a hearing titled ‘‘Threats to the Home- Whereas according to the United States Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask land.’’ Agency for International Development unanimous consent that the Senate COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS (USAID), ‘‘[m]ore than 5.1 million people proceed to the immediate consider- The Committee on Indian Affairs is face severe food insecurity in northeastern Nigeria’’; ation of H.R. 3819, which was received authorized to meet during the session from the House. of the Senate on Wednesday, Sep- Whereas according to USAID, ‘‘An esti- mated 6.2 million people—more than half of The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tember 27, 2017, in room 628 of the Dirk- Somalia’s total population—currently re- clerk will report the bill by title. sen Senate Office Building, at 2:30 p.m., quire urgent humanitarian assistance.’’; The bill clerk read as follows: to conduct an oversight hearing on Whereas according to USAID, ‘‘An esti- A bill (H.R. 3819) to amend title 38, United ‘‘The GAO Reports on Human Traf- mated 5.5 million people—nearly half of States Code, to extend certain expiring pro- ficking of Native Americans in the South Sudan’s population—will face life visions of law administered by the Secretary United States.’’ threatening hunger by July.’’; of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Whereas according to USAID, in Yemen, COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS AND ‘‘More than seventeen million people—an as- There being no objection, the Senate ENTREPRENEURSHIP tounding 60% of the country’s population— proceeded to consider the bill. The Committee on Small Business are food insecure, including seven million Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask and Entrepreneurship is authorized to people who are unable to survive without unanimous consent that the bill be meet during the session of the Senate food assistance.’’; considered read a third time and passed Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 3 Whereas according to the United Nations and the motion to reconsider be consid- p.m., in 428A Russell Senate Office Children’s Fund (UNICEF), ‘‘[s]ome 22 mil- ered made and laid upon the table. Building to conduct a hearing entitled lion children have been left hungry, sick, dis- placed and out of school in the four coun- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ‘‘An Early Review of SBA’s Response objection, it is so ordered. to the 2017 Hurricanes.’’ tries’’ and ‘‘Nearly 1.4 million are at immi- nent risk of death this year from severe mal- The bill (H.R. 3819) was ordered to a COMMITTEE ON VETERANS’ AFFAIRS nutrition.’’; third reading, was read the third time, The Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Whereas the humanitarian crises in each of and passed. is authorized to meet during the ses- these regions are, to varying degrees, man- f sion of the Senate on Wednesday, Sep- made and preventable—exacerbated by tember 27, 2017, at 10 a.m., in SR–418, to armed conflict and deliberate restrictions on BANKRUPTCY JUDGESHIP ACT OF conduct a hearing titled, ‘‘#BeThere: humanitarian access; 2017 What More Can Be Done to Prevent Whereas parties to the conflicts, including even some government forces, have harassed, Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask Veteran Suicide?’’ attacked, and killed humanitarian workers, unanimous consent that the Com- f blocked and hindered humanitarian access, mittee on the Judiciary be discharged PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR and continue to deprive the world’s most from further consideration of H.R. 2266 hungry people of the food they need; Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, I ask and the Senate proceed to its imme- Whereas humanitarian actors, coordinated diate consideration. unanimous consent that my intern, by OCHA, have appealed for $5,600,000,000 in Jessica Rosenblatt, be granted privi- 2017 to address famines in Yemen, South The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without leges of the floor for the remainder of Sudan, Nigeria, and Somalia; and objection, it is so ordered. the day. Whereas Mr. Daccord testified before Con- The clerk will report the bill by title. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without gress on March 22, 2017, ‘‘Our main message The bill clerk read as follows: is clear: immediate, decisive action is needed objection, it is so ordered. A bill (H.R. 2266) to amend title 28 of the to prevent vast numbers of people starving United States Code to authorize the appoint- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. Mr. President, I to death.’’: Now, therefore, be it ask unanimous consent that Caroline ment of additional bankruptcy judges, and Resolved, for other purposes. Normile, an AAAS fellow in my office, SECTION 1. SENSE OF THE SENATE. be granted floor privileges for the re- There being no objection, the Senate It is the sense of the Senate that— proceeded to consider the bill. mainder of this Congress. (1) an urgent and comprehensive inter- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without national diplomatic effort is necessary to ad- Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask objection, it is so ordered. dress obstacles in Nigeria, Somalia, South unanimous consent that the Grassley Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, I ask Sudan, and Yemen that are preventing hu- substitute amendment be considered unanimous consent that Scott manitarian aid from being delivered to mil- and agreed to; that the bill, as amend- Litzelman, a legislative fellow in my lions of people who desperately need it; ed, be considered read a third time and (2) the United States should encourage passed; and that the motion to recon- office, be given floor privileges for the other governments to join in providing the remainder of this Congress. sider be considered made and laid upon resources necessary to address the humani- the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without tarian crises in Nigeria, Somalia, South objection, it is so ordered. Sudan, and Yemen; The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without f (3) parties to the conflicts in Nigeria, So- objection, it is so ordered. malia, South Sudan, and Yemen should allow The amendment (No. 1106) in the na- S. RES. 114—PRINT CORRECTION and facilitate rapid and unimpeded passage ture of a substitute was agreed to. On Tuesday, September 26, 2017, the of humanitarian relief for civilians in need (The amendment is printed in today’s Senate adopted S. Res. 114, as amended, and respect and protect humanitarian and RECORD under ‘‘Text of Amendments.’’) with its preamble, as amended. The medical relief personnel and objects; The amendment was ordered to be (4) the United States, working with inter- engrossed and the bill to be read a corrected text is as follows: national partners, should support efforts to S. RES. 114 hold accountable those responsible for delib- third time. Whereas Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, erate restrictions on humanitarian access in The bill was read the third time. and Yemen are all in famine, pre-famine, or Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen; The bill (H.R. 2266), as amended, was at risk of famine in 2017; and passed.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A27SE6.016 S27SEPT1 S6192 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 27, 2017 NATIONAL PROSTATE CANCER firmed, the motion to reconsider be use later in the day, and morning busi- AWARENESS MONTH considered made and laid upon the ness be closed; finally, that following Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask table with no intervening action or de- leader remarks, the Senate proceed to unanimous consent that the Senate bate; that no further motions be in executive session and resume consider- proceed to the immediate consider- order; that any statements related to ation of the Erickson nomination, with ation of S. Res. 269, submitted earlier the nomination be printed in the the time until the cloture vote equally today. RECORD; that the President be imme- divided between the two leaders or The PRESIDING OFFICER. The diately notified of the Senate’s action, their designees. clerk will report the resolution by and the Senate then resume legislative The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without title. session. objection, it is so ordered. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The bill clerk read as follows: f A resolution (S. Res. 269) designating Sep- objection, it is so ordered. tember 2017 as ‘‘National Prostate Cancer The nomination considered and con- ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 9:30 A.M. Awareness Month.’’ firmed is as follows: TOMORROW IN THE MARINE CORPS There being no objection, the Senate Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, if there proceeded to consider the resolution. The following named officer for reappoint- ment as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of is no further business to come before Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask the Senate, I ask unanimous consent unanimous consent that the resolution Staff and appointment in the United States Marine Corps to the grade indicated while that it stand adjourned under the pre- be agreed to, the preamble be agreed assigned to a position of importance and re- vious order. to, and the motions to reconsider be sponsibility under title 10, U.S.C., sections There being no objection, the Senate, considered made and laid upon the 152 and 601: at 6:23 p.m., adjourned until Thursday, table with no intervening action or de- To be general September 28, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. bate. Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without f objection, it is so ordered. f The resolution (S. Res. 269) was LEGISLATIVE SESSION CONFIRMATIONS agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Executive nominations confirmed by The preamble was agreed to. ate will now resume legislative session. the Senate September 27, 2017: (The resolution, with its preamble, is DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY f printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub- HEATH P. TARBERT, OF MARYLAND, TO BE AN ASSIST- mitted Resolutions.’’) ORDERS FOR THURSDAY, ANT SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY. f SEPTEMBER 28, 2017 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MAKAN DELRAHIM, OF CALIFORNIA, TO BE AN ASSIST- EXECUTIVE SESSION Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask ANT ATTORNEY GENERAL. unanimous consent that when the Sen- IN THE MARINE CORPS ate completes its business today, it ad- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR THE FOLLOWING NAMED OFFICER FOR REAPPOINT- journ until 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Sep- MENT AS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I ask tember 28; further, that following the STAFF AND APPOINTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES MA- RINE CORPS TO THE GRADE INDICATED WHILE ASSIGNED unanimous consent that the Senate prayer and pledge, the morning hour be TO A POSITION OF IMPORTANCE AND RESPONSIBILITY proceed to executive session for the deemed expired, the Journal of pro- UNDER TITLE 10, U.S.C., SECTIONS 152 AND 601: consideration of Executive Calendar ceedings be approved to date, the time To be general No. 349; that the nomination be con- for the two leaders be reserved for their GEN. JOSEPH F. DUNFORD, JR.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:16 Sep 28, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 9801 E:\CR\FM\G27SE6.047 S27SEPT1