E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 113 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 159 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2013 No. 117 Senate The Senate met at 2:00 p.m. and was Mr. KAINE thereupon assumed the of New York, at 5:30 p.m., and then called to order by the Honorable TIM chair as Acting President pro tempore. there will be two rollcall votes on the KAINE, a Senator from the Common- f confirmation of those nominations. We wealth of Virginia. may only have one rollcall vote and RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY one voice vote, but we will get both of PRAYER LEADER them done today. The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- I just moved to proceed to the joint fered the following prayer: pore. The majority leader is recog- resolution reported last week by the Let us pray. nized. Foreign Relations Committee to au- Shepherd of our souls, the center of f thorize the limited use of force against our joy, we look to You today for Syria. This matter demands the atten- strength and wisdom. Lord, we ac- THE CHAPLAIN tion of the Senate and this country. It knowledge that unless You guard our Mr. REID. Mr. President, I just had a is this resolution the Senate will turn Nation, our efforts to find security are brief conversation with the Chaplain, to. Regardless of where Senators stand futile. who came down to wish me well on my on the merits of this issue, we should Today illuminate the minds of our return. He indicated he was going to do have this debate. I hope all Senators Senators with the light of Your in- a special prayer this afternoon for the will support proceeding to this meas- sights, enabling them to act decisively. Senate in this time of crisis. I am al- ure. That vote will occur sometime on As they anticipate the forces that ways aware of how he looks out for us Wednesday on the motion to proceed. threaten freedom in our world, lead spiritually. The prayer is for Demo- Under a previous order, at 11 tomor- them on the path that will bring life, crats, Republicans—all of us. His pray- row morning, the Senate is to have a liberty, and joy. ers are very heart-warming. Not only is motion to proceed to the energy effi- ciency bill. It is obvious we are not We pray in Your merciful Name. he our chaplain, but he is a retired ad- going to be able to do that. I will work Amen. miral in the U.S. Navy. He has been all with the Republican leader to reach a f over the world in that capacity. We ap- consent agreement to defer consider- preciate him very much. We don’t ac- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ation of that bill to a later time. knowledge him as often as we should. I On the Syria resolution, I intend that The Presiding Officer led the Pledge appreciate how he is always available of Allegiance, as follows: the Senate should have a full and open and so kind and thoughtful to every- debate. I encourage Senators to come I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the one. United States of America, and to the Repub- to the floor to begin that debate. lic for which it stands, one nation under God, f Also this week, President Obama will indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. AUTHORIZING THE LIMITED AND come to the Capitol to address the f SPECIFIED USE OF THE UNITED Democratic caucus. He has also ex- STATES ARMED FORCES tended his invitation to the Repub- APPOINTMENT OF ACTING licans. I have not heard back from the PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE AGAINST SYRIA—MOTION TO PROCEED Republicans as to whether they wish to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The hear from the President. clerk will please read a communication Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now move President Obama will address the Na- to the Senate from the President pro to consider S.J. Res. 21. tion tomorrow evening. Senior admin- tempore (Mr. LEAHY). The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- istration officials will brief all Sen- The legislative clerk read the fol- pore. The clerk will report the joint ators in a classified session on Wednes- lowing letter. resolution by title. day. There will be other meetings in U.S. SENATE, The legislative clerk read as follows: the White House today with Demo- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 21 to au- cratic and Republican Senators. The Washington, DC, September 9, 2013. thorize limited and specified use of the Senate will give this matter the seri- To the Senate: United States Armed Forces against Syria. ous attention it deserves. Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, SCHEDULE CHEMICAL WEAPONS of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby Mr. REID. Mr. President, this Mr. President, the first large-scale appoint the Honorable TIM KAINE, a Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, to per- evening the Senate will proceed to ex- military use of deadly military weap- form the duties of the Chair. ecutive session to consider a couple of ons occurred almost 100 years ago when PATRICK J. LEAHY, would-be judges, Caproni and Brod- the Germans deployed chlorine gas dur- President pro tempore. erick, both from the Southern District ing World War I. During that war,

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

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Great Britain, Austria, Hun- were just as terrible as those that con- such weapons of terror and destruction gary, France, Germany, Italy, and the vinced the global community to outlaw against the powerless it is our busi- United States all suffered losses. the use of such brutal tactics against ness. ‘‘This is a horrible weapon,’’ wrote soldiers, and, of course, against inno- The weapons in question are cat- German Major Karl von Zinger, who re- cent civilians such as those Asad mur- egorically different. Chemical weapons, ported a firsthand battlefield account dered last month. we know, can kill not just dozens or of the carnage to his superior officers. The evidence of the Asad regime, and hundreds of people but tens of thou- One hundred thousand soldiers died, their using outlawed nerve agents sands of innocents in a single attack— and most of the other casualties were against its own citizens, is clear and tens of thousands. These weapons don’t debilitated for life by the exposure to very convincing. The Syrian Govern- just pose a threat to the Syrian people these deadly toxins. The effects of ment has worked to hide the gruesome or to our allies in the region; they pose these killers were horrific. Those who evidence. They have done it a number a threat to every one of us, every didn’t die suffered blindness, burns, of different ways. After the bodies had American, and, in particular, every blisters, and labored breathing. For been cleared away, they sent a barrage member of the U.S. Armed Forces. those dying, it was as terrible as any- of weaponry in there—artillery and If we allow Asad’s use of chemical one could imagine. The great World tanks—and blasted the ground and de- weapons to go unchecked and unan- War I era poet Wilfred Owen from stroyed the evidence. They couldn’t de- swered, hostile forces around the world Great Britain wrote that gassed sol- stroy it; it is still there, but they did will also assume that these terrible diers cried out like men on fire as they try. They worked very hard to hide tactics of demons such as Asad are per- drowned in air thick with poison. The these gruesome attacks by repeatedly missible, that they are OK. That Amer- world was horrified by the gruesome- bombing the site of these grisly and ica cannot allow. That is why the mas- ness of these new evil weapons of war, unforgettable occurrences. Without sacres in Syria are our business and and so, as a global community, we question, this brutality demands a re- our concern, both as humans and as agreed these weapons should be ban- sponse. The satellite imagery and ama- Americans. America’s willingness to ished from the battlefield forever. teur video shot by eyewitnesses—and I stand for what is right should not end Despite the success of global efforts talked about that—paint a clear pic- at its borders. to eliminate their use, today the Syr- ture of the brutality of this awful re- Our intervention on behalf of those ian Government is the second largest gime. in danger hasn’t always been popular. holder of chemical weapons in the President Obama sought approval 2 Look back at history. There has al- world—only shortly behind North weeks ago for targeted military ac- ways been part of our society that pre- Korea. The well-documented use of tion—action that will hold President fers isolation. Look prior to World War these toxic and unsavory stockpiles by Asad accountable for these heinous I. Look prior to World War II. Some President Bashar al-Asad’s regime is a acts. Congress has done its due dili- prefer isolation. That is the easy thing certain violation of the overwhelming gence. Since President Obama an- to do. But sitting on the sidelines isn’t international consensus forged against nounced he would seek congressional what made the United States of Amer- these weapons nearly 10 decades ago. It approval for the limited military ac- ica the greatest Nation in the world in is a clear violation of human decency. tion against Syria, the Senate has held years past and, yes, today, and sitting This is not the first time Asad has used on the sidelines won’t make us a better chemical weapons against his own citi- many committee hearings and brief- ings as well as five classified all-Mem- Nation tomorrow. zens. We all heard in our classified As America faces yet another crisis briefings that these weapons have been bers briefings. There are more briefings of conscience, another opportunity to used a number of times, but this is the and much debate to come this week— intervene on behalf of humanity, my most gruesome and extensive. including open debate here in the Sen- This morning I watched some film in ate. mind returns to that turning point in my office. The film takes about 13 min- On a bipartisan basis the Senate For- the world’s history when the United utes. It was pictures that were taken eign Relations Committee passed a res- States of America faced down an evil following the dropping of those hor- olution that restricts the use of mili- regime that murdered millions of inno- rible weapons. I will never get that out tary force to 60 days, with a single 30- cent citizens. Millions of civilians and of my mind. There were little baby day extension. The resolution reflects prisoners of war were murdered by gas boys and girls dressed in colorful play President Obama’s proposal for limited in Nazi death camps—Belsen, Tre- clothes. Some of the boys and girls military action—including strikes of blinka, Auschwitz. Never again, swore looked like teenagers. They were limited duration and limited scope. the world. Never again would we per- retching and had spasms with their The resolution plainly states there mit the use of these poisonous weapons arms. Of course there were older people may be no U.S. military boots on the of war. as well. These poisons kill the kids ground. America’s intention, as speci- Fourteen blocks from here, down first. Their little bodies cannot take fied in the resolution, is not to engage Constitution Avenue, is the Holocaust this as well as older folks. It kills the in an open-ended conflict or invasion. Museum. We walk in there and see a older people also but more slowly. Nor is it the Commander in Chief’s in- quote on the wall from Dante’s famous The well-documented use of these un- tention to commit ground troops to ‘‘Inferno.’’ Here is what it says: ‘‘The savory stockpiles by Asad is a certain this conflict or to effect regime hottest places in hell are reserved for violation, I repeat, of the over- change. Rather, the Senate will be vot- those who, in times of great moral cri- whelming international consensus ing to uphold the century-long inter- sis, maintain their neutrality.’’ I re- forged against these weapons 10 dec- national consensus that chemical peat: ‘‘The hottest places in hell are re- ades past. I have talked about human weapons have no place on the battle- served for those who, in times of great decency. It is a clear violation of field and certainly no place in attack- moral crisis, maintain their neu- human decency. ing innocent civilians. This standard trality.’’ I have thought about those The August 21 attacks killed more demands any government—a dictator words very often—and very often late- than 1,000 civilians—including hun- or any other government—that has ly—as I have considered whether Amer- dreds of these children. This week we used chemical weapons to be held ac- ica should take action to avert further will further examine the evidence that countable. atrocities in Syria. is growing which proves the vicious- Some may disagree with my conclu- In Europe, in World War II, far too ness of these attacks and discuss their sions. I don’t expect everyone to agree many were neutral. Far too many brutal results. with the statement I am giving here around the world were neutral. Far too The innocent civilians who were today, as is anyone’s right, but this is many in America were neutral, and in killed by the Syrian Government dur- my firm conviction. Europe, in World War II. Six million

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Some sources, and I don’t doubt the conclu- shot across the bow’’ response by the say it is not in our security interest. sion of the President and others that United States. Russia, China, Britain, France, Ger- Asad is responsible for this attack. What will Hezbollah and Hamas and many, Italy, and the United States—we The President will also most likely Al Qaeda affiliate fighters do when this should all remember our history. There explain that such a horrendous viola- ‘‘show of force’’ is over? What is the were 1.2 million casualties in World tion of international norms deserves a President’s plan of action if the chem- War I from these poisons. worldwide response of condemnation. ical weapons fall into the hands of We should remember our history. Who could possibly look at those these anti-American jihadists? And Rabbi Hillel, a respected and famous standards and those rooms full of dead how about the always-threatened spill- scholar, said more than 2,000 years ago: children and not agree that the per- over of the Syria conflict into Lebanon ‘‘If I care only for myself, what am I? petrators have to face consequences for or Turkey or Jordan? Will an attack If not now, when?’’ their crimes? intended to slap Asad’s wrist while de- I, HARRY REID, say: If not now, when? The President will also surely discuss fending President Obama’s credibility I believe America must set the exam- the issue of credibility. He is likely to make expansion of the conflict more ple for the rest of the world. If America maintain, as he did recently in Stock- likely or less likely? Most importantly, must once again lead—as we have be- holm, that it is not his own credibility the President needs to explain to the fore and we will again—to set an exam- at stake, nor even American credi- American people more thoroughly ex- ple for the world, so be it. This is bility, but the credibility of the inter- actly how America’s national security America. It is who we are as a country. national community that will be and best interests will be served by this That is what we do as a country. That harmed by inaction. response. is where we stand as a country. That is I agree with those who say the Presi- The President, in my opinion, must the American tradition of which I am dent’s credibility and our Nation’s also address additional concerns that proud and a tradition which I have credibility are linked. They are. How- are widely—almost universally—shared faith will continue. ever, with his now notorious and, I be- by the American people. We all know We are the United States of America. lieve, ill-considered ‘‘red line’’ com- that taking America to war without ORDER OF PROCEDURE ment, President Obama has forced us support from the people is the surest Mr. REID. Mr. President, there is an to debate a military attack in yet an- path to disaster. I suggest this must be order outstanding. I ask unanimous other Middle Eastern country. Unfortu- avoided, and the President is going to consent that the order until 5 o’clock nately, it appears that the purpose of have to make his case as to how to today be modified on the motion to this military attack first and foremost avoid that. proceed, with the other aspects of the is perhaps to defend his own credi- Over this last week I visited with order remaining in place. bility. I am certain that if the Presi- Hoosiers from across Indiana to gather The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- dent had not drawn his red line, we their input. Through these visits, as pore. Without objection, it is so or- would not be having this discussion. In well as calls and e-mails by the thou- dered. that case, Asad’s use of such weapons sands, the vast majority—shockingly, RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME would be roundly condemned as yet an- the majority of Hoosiers I have heard The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- other example of his horrendous bru- from are opposed to U.S. military en- pore. Under the previous order, the tality, but we would be no more eager gagement in Syria. As all conscien- leadership time is reserved. to engage militarily in his civil war tious lawmakers, I know I have to bal- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- than we have been as the other 100,000 ance the views of my constituents with pore. Under the previous order, the Syrian people were being slaughtered my own judgment on how best to rep- Senate will be in a period of debate on by more conventional means. resent their interests and the interests the motion to proceed to S.J. Res. 21 Make no mistake—it is the credi- of our country. until 5 p.m., with Senators permitted bility issue that has brought us to this In this case, I must first ask myself, to speak for up to 10 minutes each. pass, and the credibility issue is of what do the people back home in my The Senator from Indiana. President Obama’s own making—his State know that many of the rest of us Mr. COATS. Mr. President, I ask and his alone. here in Washington perhaps do not, or unanimous consent to speak to the So tomorrow evening the President at least have expressed? issues the majority leader just ad- will need to explain to the American First, the people back home know dressed. I don’t anticipate speaking for public exactly what will be achieved by that America has been at war in far-off more than 12 to 15 minutes. I know the this limited, focused attack, as de- lands for more than a decade—12 years minority leader is delayed in being scribed by the administration, beyond on. They have seen long repeated de- able to be here. I would be happy to simply a token punishment for a hor- ployments of their loved ones, and they defer to him when he arrives or I would rendous crime in defense of his credi- have seen the body bags come home. be happy to defer to someone coming bility. The President has said the pro- They are aware of sacrifices that have back to speak on the business of the posed limited attack is to be a ‘‘shot been made in the name of protecting day. across the bow.’’ His Secretary of our interests, but they are less aware The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- State, Secretary Kerry, has said it is of positive results of those sacrifices. pore. Without objection, it is so or- going to be unbelievably small. We They see Iraq descending again into dered. need to know what the plan is, and will conflict as its own citizens continue to Mr. COATS. Mr. President, President be, should President Asad be slaughter one another because of dif- Obama will finally make his case to undeterred by this unbelievably small, ferent interpretations of the Koran or the American people tomorrow, ex- shot-across-the-bow attack. What if he different political motivations or just plaining why he wants to take military isn’t? What then? What do we do next? pure outright quests for power. They action against Syria. His explanation The President needs to explain that. see a corrupt government there that is long overdue. We need to know how this escalation authorizes overflights of Russian air- I think I have a pretty good idea of is likely to influence extremist radical craft bringing modern weapons to what I expect he will say. First, he will fighters now active in Syria—extremist Syria to fuel a similar conflict. explain that we have compelling evi- radical fighters. There is not a line be- Hoosiers see an Afghanistan so deep- dence that it was Asad himself who tween good guys and bad guys here. ly corrupt and ungrateful to the United used long-banned chemical weapons to There is the infiltration of Al Qaeda, States that the current regime tries to murder his own people. This is not seri- al-Nusra, and other terrorist organiza- extort huge ransom payments simply

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Without objection, it is so or- 12 years of effort have contributed to fear here during the past several years, dered. our own national security interests. as I have been engaged on the Iranian Mr. NELSON. Mr. President, I wish Hoosiers look at the spiraling dis- issue of the pursuit of nuclear weapons, to address the subject of Syria. aster in Egypt, where the choices have has been that our country will be too First of all, I wish to commend to been an extremist, deeply anti-Amer- militarily, politically, and economi- anyone who is listening to my voice to ican Islamic radicalism or a brutal and cally exhausted to confront the real view the videos the intelligence com- undemocratic military dictatorship. strategic enemy when our core inter- munity has released. They came from both benefiting from billions of Amer- ests require it. I fear a Syria attack social media. There are 13 videos that ican taxpayer dollars spent on weapons will make this problem even more dif- came from a body of in excess of 100 or lining uniform pockets. In the mean- ficult. To my knowledge, no one has videos, but they show the horror of time, fellow Christians are being killed yet to address this question within the what happens to the human body with in their churches. administration, which President an attack by a weapon of mass destruc- Simply put, the people of Indiana do Obama, like the previous three Presi- tion—in this case, chemical weapons, a not see that American policy and ac- dents, has declared a nuclear-weapons- gas called sarin. tion have attained meaningful results capable Iran to be ‘‘unacceptable.’’ It is my hope the President, when he in the Middle East. Instead, they see a I think this is a critical question we speaks to the Nation on Tuesday, will region of continuing and increasing vi- must have to ask ourselves. For all of show clips of those videos because I olence, chaos, and disintegration. They those who are saying: We will change think very few Americans have seen are war weary and they are discour- the perception of Iran to the point the extent of those videos, even though aged after more than a decade of wars where they will change their behavior they have been shown on some cable that have not produced the desired out- in the pursuit of nuclear weapons by a, shows in some limited amounts. They comes. quote, unbelievably small shot across could see the range of why, almost a What they do not see is an articulate the bow or a military response that century ago, in 1925, the nations of the response. They do not know what our could lead us into further conflict in world came together in a treaty after regional strategy is in the Middle East the Middle East—I think this under- the use of chemical weapons in World because no one is explaining it, much mines our credibility. I think the ques- War I. This treaty banned the use of less pursuing it. They cannot measure tion has to be asked: Is the reverse chemical weapons anywhere, any time, progress because they do not know the going to happen as a consequence of all including in war, because of the hor- destination. And they cannot evaluate of this? rific nature their use causes. In the this latest proposal for a fourth mili- This is a deeply historic and profound 1990s this was subsequently reaffirmed tary engagement in the Middle East be- moment for our Nation. It carries an in a convention or some kind of con- cause they cannot see how it contrib- importance that goes well beyond clave which the nations of the world— utes to our own security here at home. Syria or even the Middle East. This de- I believe in excess of 180 nations— More importantly, they worry that a bate carries important consequences signed banning the use of chemical focused, limited attack on Syria will for the relationship between the execu- weapons. end up being something else entirely tive and legislative branches of our If you watch the videos, you will see because so little thought has been de- government. why. You will see what happens to in- voted to potential unintended con- To refuse the Commander in Chief nocent human beings as they struggle sequences. Yes, they are war weary, war-making authorities when he has for life before the throes of death over- but the American people are also war asked for them is not a decision any of take them. You will see this on the vid- wise. us can take lightly. eos. Of course, parents may wish to use In addition to the above unanswered We must all balance the views of the discretion because it is going to make questions, for me, one of the most im- people we represent—even when they a lasting impression. You will see how portant questions is how this proposed have been nearly unanimous—with the body starts to shut down by the limited strike will affect Iran’s percep- other elements, such as the abstract, nerves being attacked. tion of our resolve and our ability to unknowable geostrategic factors that Interestingly, for the first time in a prevent that country from acquiring could carry profound consequences not CBS interview today, President Asad of nuclear weapons capability. It is not so just for this year or next year, for this Syria has said, has admitted, today, much what we do or how we do it but generation, but for many generations; that Syria has chemical weapons. Up how Iran perceives the action we take. and such as the compelling moral argu- to this point that was denied. No won- This may be the most significant ques- ments that resonate with special der he would want to deny, because tion of all because, unlike Syria, Iran strength in our unique Nation guided when you see what happens in the use poses threats to our core national secu- from birth by moral principles; and of them and what it does to the human rity interests. now even the constitutional challenges nervous system—and I don’t wish to be Part of the administration’s argu- that could affect the delicate balance graphic, because I want anybody listen- ment is that to do nothing would em- we have maintained for two centuries. ing to what I am saying to watch them. bolden the Iranian regime as they pur- I will weigh all I have said before I I hope the President will show them sue their own weapons-of-mass-destruc- announce how I intend to vote on the Tuesday night, to see how the human tion programs. But I think we have to resolution before us. I will defer to the body convulses when it attacks the raise the question, is that really so, or President’s request to address the Na- nervous system—the convulsions, the is it, perhaps, the reverse? Will a lim- tion. In my opinion, consequential ac- twitching, what happens to the face, ited punitive attack discourage the tions proposed by the President need to the respiratory system, and all of the mullahs in Iran because of some degree be clarified and numerous questions evidence that comes from that. of destruction—remember, unbeliev- need to be answered before we grant The American people need to know ably small—or will it actually encour- the authority to the President to en- what we are dealing with, not only in age the Iranians because there is no gage America in yet another Middle Syria but in other nations that possess followup option or broader strategic East conflict. chemical weapons. This is not only context informing our policy? If an at- With that, I yield the floor and sug- sarin, which was the gas used here, but tack is ineffective in altering Asad’s gest the absence of a quorum. also mustard gas and a toxin called VX behavior or fortune, will it not actu- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- that directly attacks the nervous sys- ally encourage Iran in pursuing its own pore. The clerk will call the roll. tem. It does not have to be inhaled,

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There were streams of for that national security—we will If the American people understand data of human signals and geospatial look so divided at that point, whatever the consequences of the use of this, intelligence that revealed regime ac- the scenario is for the future. they will understand why it is classi- tivities that were associated with the What about the mindset of other peo- fied as a weapon of mass destruction, preparations for that chemical weapons ple who want to do harm to the United along with biological weapons of mass attack. Syria chemical weapons per- States? Does it give additional license destruction introducing some plague sonnel, we know, were operating in the to North Korea if we were to do noth- among a community of innocents and, Damascus suburb from August 18 all ing? North Korea is sitting on a huge of course, the weapon of mass destruc- the way through August 21. That was stockpile of chemical weapons, not to tion that most everybody recognizes, the suburb that was attacked. Multiple mention their nuclear weapons. What the nuclear weapon. streams of intelligence indicate the about Iran? We are very concerned as There are three weapons of mass de- Syrian army executed the rocket and they continue to energize weapons ma- struction: chemical, biological, and nu- artillery attack against those suburbs terial and march down the road per- clear. This is why, in the family of civ- in the early morning hours of August haps to building a nuclear weapon. ilized nations, we have said their use is 21. We have satellite detections that What kind of message does it send to so abhorrent that civilized humans say corroborate those attacks from a re- Iran? Just game that out. If Iran had a they should be banned. But they gime-controlled neighborhood to where nuclear weapon or felt free to use weren’t. They were used extensively on the attacks landed. At the same time, chemical weapons, what would that do August 21. social media reports started exploding to the interests of the United States in Before I give the unclassified evi- about a chemical attack in the Damas- that region of the world, not to men- dence, I wish to point out that maybe cus suburbs. Those social media reports tion our allies in the region, of which there is a little opening on the occa- started coming at 2:30 in the morning. there are many. sion of the Russian Foreign Minister Three hospitals in Damascus received So it is clear to this Senator. I will today, since our Secretary of State, al- approximately 3,600 patients displaying admit I don’t know why the President most in an offhanded comment a few the symptoms of a nerve agent expo- did not keep his own counsel and make days ago, said it would certainly be a sure, and they received them in less the decision without saying he wanted game changer if he, Asad, would allow than 3 hours on the morning of August to come to Congress, but he made that the international community to come 21. decision, and now it is up to us. in and take control of his Syrian chem- As I said earlier, there have been Hopefully, there may be some valid- ical weapons. The Russian Foreign over 100 videos attributed to the at- ity to this report coming from the Rus- Minister today picked that up. Sup- tack. This has been distilled down into sian Foreign Minister, but we won’t posedly there is a comment by an offi- 13 videos, many of them showing large know that for a long while, until, as we cial out of Syria who says that is worth numbers of bodies exhibiting the phys- say, the proof is in the pudding with looking into. I can’t speak to the au- ical signs of nerve agent exposure. Any Asad turning over control of all the thenticity of that comment. I have Member of the Senate will have access chemical weapons to an international heard it was said. to the classified information that body. In the meantime, are we going to Whatever it is, of course, Asad is the shows the Syrian opposition does not support the President? Clearly, in the decisionmaker and it is ultimately have the capability to fabricate those interest of the national security of this going to come down on him. But in the videos or the physical symptoms country and our allies, I think that is meantime, what the United States verified by the medical personnel. a position we must take. I will vote yes ought to do—and the Congress of the So when we put all of this together, on the resolution. United States ought to authorize what with past Syrian practice and some of I yield the floor, and I suggest the ab- the President of the United States has the small-scale attacks they have done sence of a quorum. requested, that the Congress back him previously, the conclusion is obvious: The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- in giving him the authority to use a The Syrian regime of Bashar Asad was pore. The clerk will call the roll. limited, short duration retaliation in willing and directed the attack on Au- The assistant legislative clerk pro- degrading Asad’s capability of utilizing gust 21. ceeded to call the roll. Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I ask these weapons in the future. To this Senator, who has had the unanimous consent that the order for If Congress will give the President privilege of seeing and hearing classi- fied information—and I have visited the quorum call be rescinded. that authority, it may well be the addi- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- with President Asad three times, the tional incentive for the ultimate deci- pore. Without objection, it is so or- last time being 6 years ago where the sionmaker, President Asad, to do what dered. the Russian Foreign Minister has sug- two of us had a sharp exchange over Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, what gested. That would be a good thing. what was happening in Lebanon and is the pending business before the Sen- In the meantime, they are going to the fact he was harboring Hamas and ate? be debating this and we are going to be Hezbollah, which of course he denied— The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- put to the question: Do we support the the conclusion is obvious: There is a pore. The Senate is on the motion to President in this time of peril? substantial body of information that proceed to S.J. Res. 21. Let us look at the facts. I think when corroborates that the Syrian Govern- Ms. MIKULSKI. Which is? you see the videos, clearly, most every ment was responsible for the chemical The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- reasonable human being is going to weapons attack on August 21. pore. The Syria resolution. conclude chemical weapons were used There is additional information for Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, it is on innocents in the Damascus suburbs the Senators to see, but the question to that ominous resolution that I on the night of August 21. is, Are we going to agree to the Presi- would like to speak. The question then, of course, is, is dent’s request that we authorize him to Within a few days the Senate will be there a chain of custody to show in fact attack? If we don’t, where does that called upon to vote on whether to give they came from the Syrian army? leave the President on any kind of ne- the President of the United States lim- There is an unclassified body of evi- gotiations in the future? If the Presi- ited authority to use military action in dence that clearly shows, to put it in dent decides to go ahead and attack, response to Syrian President Asad’s the speak of the intelligence commu- we automatically give to the opponents use of chemical weapons against his nity, we have high confidence. That in these countries—especially Presi- own people. It is an enormous and means it happened. dent Asad and North Korea and Iran— grave decision. It is the most serious How did that happen? The assess- the obvious scenario that the American vote I can take. ment is the Syrian chemical weapons people are so divided that they won’t When a U.S. Senator is called upon to personnel, who are associated with the support the President. So if he were to authorize America’s use of military ac- chemical weapons part of the Syrian decide to attack—knowing it is his re- tion or military might, it calls for the

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:54 Sep 11, 2013 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD13\RECFILES\S09SE3.REC S09SE3 bjneal on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE S6278 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 9, 2013 most sober reflection, the most due means stop proliferation of the weap- dent’s plan. The President’s plan is diligence analysis of the facts and the ons you signed against; stop the pro- very straightforward, his proposal is compelling need because once you vote liferation of chemical weapons; also, if very straightforward, a targeted lim- to authorize the use of military might, necessary, to take action if mandated. ited attack. His purpose is to deter and you cannot take it back. It is one of I am waiting to hear from the Arab to degrade; to deter Asad from using the few votes you can’t take back. We League. I wanted to hear from the Arab those weapons again and to degrade can vote on our budget this year, but League, beyond: Yes, we want Asad to Asad’s capability and capacity to use there will be another vote next year. be accountable. I don’t know what that them. You can vote to confirm a member of means—hold him accountable. What I also listened to the President’s the Cabinet, but they serve at the does that mean? Does it mean if we use promise—and I take him at his word— pleasure of the President. But once you missiles they will send in Arab men to that any action would not be boots on vote to use military might or military defend Arab women and children? I the ground; that it is not an extended action, it is irrevocable, so I take it have not quite heard that. air campaign; that it is not another very seriously. I have waited to hear from our allies, Iraq or Afghanistan; that we are not in I say to the men and women of our and there are a hearty, reliable few it to try to do regime change. That military that we owe them a tremen- who have supported us. Are they going must come from the Syrian opposition dous debt of gratitude. I think that to help support the chemical weapons themselves, and I hope others help do should not only be with yellow ribbons, treaty? Are they going to help support that. It is meant to deter the use of but we also owe it to them to do the the moderates in the opposition? Have chemical weapons and to degrade due diligence to choose the wisest, they called for a donor conference on Asad’s capability. most prudent course. refugees? Hello out there. I believe the President’s plan is the This is what I have done as I have Then there is the U.N. Security best response to protect U.S. security contemplated my vote on the Syria Council. By the way, I applaud the interests in the region and to show resolution. I went to numerous brief- work of the U.N. weapons inspectors commitment to our common security ings before Asad used chemical weap- and the U.N.’s work on refugees, but interests with allies such as Turkey, ons, and I have gone to all of the brief- where is the Security Council? People Jordan, and Israel. Therefore, after ings since then. I participated as a will say: Oh, we can’t act unless the great reflection and as much due dili- member of the Intelligence Committee Security Council acts. Three times gence as I could do, I want to announce in a variety of meetings. I went to a Asad enablers at the U.N., Russia and today to my colleagues, and most of all classified House and Senate briefing. I China, have vetoed every effort to to the people of Maryland who sup- ported me, that I will support the have listened carefully to the Presi- move to a political solution—vetoed President’s request for a targeted, lim- dent, to the Secretary of State, to the three times efforts to move to a polit- ited military action against the Syrian Secretary of Defense, and even had the ical solution. The U.N. seems paralyzed President Bashar Asad’s regime in re- opportunity to sit with the Vice Presi- in this effort. sponse to the horrific, grim, and ghoul- dent of the United States in the Situa- In deciding my vote, I had to be sure that chemical weapons were used by ish use of chemical weapons. tion Room at the White House to go Let me be clear: I have no grand the Asad regime. I was 1 of 19 Senators over this situation and what options hopes or illusions about what this who voted against going to war in Iraq. are available to the United States of strike will do. I do not believe this I did vote after 9/11 to use lethal action America. strike will stop Syria’s brutal civil against the Taliban, but when it came In addition to listening here in Wash- war. I do not believe this strike will to the Iraq war, as a member of the In- ington, I have also listened to my stop Asad from being a ruthless, brutal telligence Committee I had reviewed Marylanders, whether at events or dictator. I do not believe a strike will meetings going around the State, these briefs and I did not believe Sad- eliminate all of his chemical weapons. whether it has been grocery shopping dam Hussein had nuclear weapons so I But I do believe it will deter and de- or just being out in the Maryland com- voted no. I was right. grade his capability to strike again, This time is different because, after munity. I have also gotten thousands and I do believe when you sign up for a extensive briefings and the evidence of e-mails and calls from Maryland convention to ban the use of chemical that has been outlined to members of constituents, and I want to thank them weapons, the United States of America for their civic engagement. They over- the Intelligence Committee, I am satis- acts in accordance with its responsi- whelmingly oppose military action in fied that, indeed, chemical weapons bility. Syria. My constituents have spoken were used in Syria and I am satisfied Syria is one of the toughest foreign loudly and clearly. They don’t want a the Asad regime gave the order to do policy issues on which we have focused; war. They don’t want boots on the so. there are not many good options. Yet I ground. They don’t want an all-in ef- There are those who say to me: Sen- believe the President’s plan is the best fort. They don’t want to use or expend ator BARB, aren’t you concerned about way and, as of this moment, the only America’s talent and treasure on an- the risks and the retaliations if we way forward. He has my support. other military expedition. They don’t take action? You bet I am. I worry In today’s late-breaking news, I un- want war, and neither do I. about that. I worry about my own derstand Russia has now said: Oh, let’s Yet the use of chemical weapons—a country. I worry about our own mili- put these weapons under international weapon of mass destruction—grim and tary. I worry about treasured allies control. Where were the Russians dur- ghoulish, mandates a response. The use such as Jordan, Israel, Turkey. But I ing the U.N. Security Council meetings of chemical weapons flies against all also worry about the risk of doing on those three other occasions? Is this international law and international nothing because, as I weigh this, I be- another tactic for delay? Is this just norms. It is an act that should have lieve the risk and retaliatory possibili- another tactic to enable Asad to have consequences or I believe it surely will ties are the same even if we do not act more time to focus? happen again—in Syria, possibly in because if they do not use them in re- I remain skeptical, but I will leave Korea, possibly used by Iran. taliation against us there is a very that to the President to analyze the Since the attack, I have been waiting good chance that if we leave it Russians’ intent about what their fol- and hoping for a worldwide reaction be- unresponded to, they will use them lowthrough is on that. Today is not to cause if it is serious enough for the anyway. There is no guarantee that by mandate the strike. My vote does not world to be aghast, then it is serious doing nothing the bad guys, who have mandate a strike. But my vote is to enough for them to respond. chemical weapons, will do nothing. In say: Mr. President, you are the Com- I have been waiting to hear from the fact, I fear that Asad, Iran, and North mander in Chief. We can only have one 189 countries that are signatories to Korea will be further emboldened. at a time. You analyze the situation the Chemical Weapons Convention. I Last, I had to review the President’s and if you think it is necessary to pro- believe if you sign a treaty or a con- resolution that is pending before us, tect the security of the United States vention, you sign up for the responsi- that came out of the Foreign Relations of America and to fulfill our respon- bility that comes with that, which Committee, modified, and the Presi- sibilities under the conventions we

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:54 Sep 11, 2013 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD13\RECFILES\S09SE3.REC S09SE3 bjneal on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE September 9, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6279 have signed on chemical weapons, you this horrible weapon? We saw firsthand To the end that this prohibition shall be have my support to act in what you what it could do. The large-scale use of universally accepted as a part of Inter- think is the best way and in our best chemical weapons in World War I national Law, binding alike the conscience interests. killed many and left many wounded and the practice of nations. I look forward to additional debate and disabled. What the world was saying in 1925 with my colleagues and also further in Those who have some memory of this was clear: These chemical weapons this debate, in coming to closure, hope- war—either from a history class or would never, ever be accepted in the fully this week. having spoken to someone who served civilized world. This message was re- I yield the floor. there—understand what it meant. affirmed by the Convention on the Pro- I note the absence of a quorum. These photos can’t do justice to the hibition of the Development, Produc- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- devastation of chemical weapons and tion, Stockpiling, and Use of Chemical pore. The clerk will call the roll. poison gas, but this is a German gas at- Weapons, which went into effect in 1997 The bill clerk proceeded to call the tack on the Eastern Front in World and to which almost every country in roll. War I. We can see that as the gas the world has signed—almost every billowed, the victims were anyone who Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask country. Those who have not signed: happened to be in its wake. unanimous consent that the order for Angola, Egypt, North Korea, South This is also a photograph of British the quorum call be rescinded. Sudan, and Syria. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- troops from World War I who were sub- pore. Without objection, it is so or- jected to the poison gas, the chemical While not completely taken off the dered. weapon of the day, and blinded during world’s battlefields—notably in the Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise the battle of Estaire in 1918. These case of Iraq, which used poison gas today to discuss the situation in Syria photos show just a snapshot of the use against Iran and its own Kurdish peo- and the historic choice facing this Con- of poison gases which don’t reach the ple in the 1980s—the global prohibition gress and America. I have been deeply level of virulence of those used today. against using chemical weapons has concerned about the situation in Syria Yet maybe even more poignant are the been largely upheld for almost a cen- since March of 2011, when thousands of audio recordings of the actual former tury, that is, until last month in Da- Syrians from all backgrounds peace- World War I British soldiers main- mascus, Syria. Syria has one of the fully protested for a change in the poli- tained by the BBC for generations so largest stockpiles of chemical weapons tics and the economy of their country. the experience would not be forgotten. in the world. This is one excerpt of British troops I think many of us believed these At our hearing last week, I asked peaceful protests would lead to the end struggling to cope with the effects of chemical warfare: General Dempsey whether the reports of an autocratic Asad regime, just as which we have from the French were other despots have fallen in other parts Propped up against a wall was a dozen men—all gassed—their colours were black, accurate. They reported the Syrians of the Arab world. now have almost 1,000 tons of chemical Yet President Bashar al-Asad, like green and blue, tongues hanging out and eyes staring—one or two were dead and oth- agents and hundreds of tons of the his father before him, Hafez al-Asad, ers beyond human aid, some were coughing deadly gas sarin, which has been de- instead responded with horrific vio- up green froth from their lungs—as we ad- tected in the pathological investiga- lence to suppress the aspirations of his vanced we passed many more men lying in tion of those who were victims on Au- own people. With the disturbing help of the ditches and gutterways—shells were gust 21 in Damascus, Syria. Russia, Hezbollah, and Iran, Asad has bursting all around. managed to hang on to power and turn This BBC report went on to say: Despite all international warnings his country into a humanitarian night- My Respirator fell to pieces with the con- not to do so—the Syrian Government is mare. tinual removal and readjustment—the gas literally a superpower when it comes to I met with the Russian Ambassador closed my eyes and filled them with matter chemical weapons and has an arsenal to the United States here in my office and I could not see. I was left lying in the on such a large scale—on August 21, in in Washington on this issue. I visited trench with one other gassed man and var- the desperation of war, Bashar Asad the refugee camps along the Turkish ious wounded beings and corpses and forced unleashed these chemical weapons in to lie and spit, cough and gasp the whole of his own city on his own people. border. I talked with the moderate Syr- the day in that trench. ian opposition in Istanbul. I discussed Another soldier recorded by the BBC These are horrible pictures of what this situation with the Turkish Presi- said: happened as a result of that attack. I dent, Mr. Gul, and their Foreign Min- . . . the faces of our lads who lay in the have seen worse. One room of children ister, Davutoglu, and met with many open changed colour and presented a grue- stacked like cordwood—victims of Chicago-area Syrian Americans. some spectacle. Their faces and hands gradu- these chemical weapons. We don’t be- I hoped diplomatic and economic ally assumed a blue and green color and lieve it was the first time he has used pressure would bring an end to the their buttons and metal fittings on their uni- them, and his father used them before mayhem and human suffering in Syria. form were all discoloured. Many lay there him. But it is the largest scale we have I know the American people feel a re- with their legs drawn up and clutching their ever seen of the use of chemical weap- throats. sponsibility for those overseas in need ons by Asad in Syria. and those who are struggling to find As a result of the horrors of World freedom. But I also know something War I, in 1925 the Geneva Protocol pro- Syria has crossed the line the civ- else about the people of my State of Il- hibited the use of chemical and biologi- ilized world said must never be crossed. linois, and I believe of this country: cal weapons in war. It was drawn up Not only has the community of nations They are weary of war. and signed at a conference held in Ge- agreed that such weapons are never to Then came the August 21 chemical neva under the auspices of the League be used but other regimes with weap- attack in the suburbs of Damascus in of Nations, the precursor of the United ons of mass destruction or plans for the middle of the night. At that mo- Nations. This happened in June of 1925, such weapons—including North Korea ment an important challenge was and it became a force of law in Feb- and Iran—are undoubtedly watching to thrown down to the international com- ruary of 1928. Syria was a signatory to see what the world will do now. munity. That is not in any way to di- this agreement. Now that Bashar Asad has used minish the violence that has taken Let me read the opening of this pro- chemical weapons in Syria, now that place in Syria over the last several tocol. It is even relevant today. the world has reported it, now that the years. Over 100,000 died in that vio- Whereas the use in war of asphyxiating, photos are there for the world to see, lence. poisonous or other gases, and of all analo- and now that the pathological inves- But when it comes to the use of gous liquids, materials or devices, has been tigations are completed, what will the chemical weapons, the world made a justly condemned by the general opinion of world do? Ideally there is a place to re- the civilized world; and decision almost 100 years ago about Whereas the prohibition of such use has solve it—the U.N. Security Council. their use—even in war. How did we been declared in Treaties to which the ma- But, sadly, both Russia and China have reach this international consensus on jority of Powers of the world are Parties; and said they will veto not only any effort

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:54 Sep 11, 2013 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD13\RECFILES\S09SE3.REC S09SE3 bjneal on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE S6280 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 9, 2013 to hold Asad to account, they have lit- hour after hour of hearings about the is taking under consideration in trying erally vetoed efforts to even pass reso- suspected weapons of mass destruction to lead the world in this response to lutions condemning the use of chem- in Iraq, but it never came together in a chemical weapons. ical weapons without specificity in credible way as far as I was concerned. I was one of the early supporters of Syria. There was such a rush to war 12 years this President. I believe in him. I be- Russia’s behavior is incredible and ago. Twenty-three of us voted no—22 lieve in his values. I believe he has particularly perverse given the thou- Democrats and 1 Republican. I can re- been honest with me and with the sands of Russian soldiers who were vic- call the scene. It was late at night, American people about the situation tims of chemical weapon attacks in after midnight, right here in the well we face. I know the options are not World War I. In May 1915 alone, Rus- of the Senate when three of us were good. They never are under these cir- sian soldiers on the Eastern Front suf- left. It was Kent Conrad of North Da- cumstances. But I also know that if we fered 9,000 casualties—1,000 of them fa- kota and, of course, from Minnesota turn our backs on this situation, there talities—as a result of German chem- our friend, the late Senator who served will be some dictator in Iran or North ical weapons. with so much distinction and spoke out Korea who will be emboldened to do Today I was in the airport in Chi- so many times on issues of morals and even more—to perhaps use not just cago, and the news was flashing about ethics. We cast the vote no and waited chemical weapons but even nuclear an overture made by President Putin in this empty Chamber. weapons. There comes a point when we to try to put an end to this con- I thought about that vote so many have to take a stand. troversy. I, of course, salute and ap- times. I think it was the right vote to I understand when the people I rep- plaud any effort to resolve this the vote no, but there comes a moment in resent across Illinois have said to me right way and verifiable way, and to do history when we have to stand as civ- so many times in the last week: Why is it with dispatch. ilized nations and say to those who are it always the United States? Why is it What I understand this proposal to be willing to ignore the rules and to break that we have to be involved in this so is that the Syrians will somehow de- the rules that a line cannot be crossed. many times? Why do we have to be the stroy their cache of chemical weapons I hope we can get that done, and not policemen to the world? and, of course, forswear never to use just for the memory of Senator Well, there is a basic answer to that. them. That would be a good oppor- Wellstone and Senator Conrad, but in I would like to believe we have values tunity, but it will be a difficult out- memory of so many who served here the rest of the world looks up to. Oh, come because investigating with a and faced these challenges in the past we have stumbled in our own history, third party, such as the United Na- in our history. I hope we can find a dip- and we will continue to do so, but we tions, verifying where these weapons lomatic solution that will avoid any continue to fight for those basic values are, removing them from Syria in the military use, but I know the reason we all around the world. midst of a civil war, is particularly have reached this point in diplomacy Secondly, if someone is in trouble in challenging. If there is a way to do this with this Putin overture has more to their country somewhere in the world diplomatically, safely, and to do it in a do with the President being determined and they have one 9–1–1 call to make, fashion where we can be certain this to stand for a matter of principle than they pray to God the United States type of atrocity will not occur again, almost anything else. We have to con- will answer because we have the best we absolutely have a responsibility to tinue to make it clear that we find it military in the world. We have re- pursue it. unacceptable to use these chemical sponded to challenges around the world I don’t understand how Russia and weapons. We paid a bitter price for the throughout history, and seldom do we China can be signatories to the 1925 Ge- war in Iraq as a nation when we were leave a residual power base behind. We neva Protocols and the Convention on misled as to weapons of mass destruc- go in, we do the job, we come home. the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, tion. That is something we can’t say for a and then turn around and protect Syria I have seen the evidence in briefings lot of nations. It is an awesome respon- in the Security Council of the United of this deadly attack in Damascus. I sibility. Nations. If there is one international think the evidence is overwhelming I think the President is doing the agency that should be involved in any and convincing. I think at this point right thing. I think his appeal to the major diplomatic effort to resolve this many Americans are reluctant to even leaders around the world and his appeal peacefully, it should be the United Na- consider the use of military force. So to the American people is consistent tions. we sat down and drew up a resolution with our values as a nation. We should call on Mr. Putin to step in the Senate Foreign Relations Com- The President doesn’t come quickly forward with the leaders in China and mittee last week. There are strict limi- to war. He is a person who understands, say they will work with the Security tations within this resolution about as I do, the heavy price that has to be Council to execute any diplomatic pol- the President’s authority and power. paid, and he understands there are mo- icy that can avoid further military He has 60 days to execute a military ments when a leader—a commander in confrontation. Until then, make no strategy—if nothing else intervenes, 60 chief, a person with the responsibility mistake, President Putin’s proposal days. He can extend it 30 days, but even of protecting his nation in a dangerous today, and the activities we are seeing Congress can object to that if it wishes. world—has to step forth and lead. If and hearing from Syria, are a direct re- He can use military weapons but only the United States did not take this on- sult of President Obama’s leadership. for the purposes specified. No troops on erous leadership role, I doubt anyone He has stepped up—even though it is an the ground. No troops in combat oper- else would have. unpopular position with some in this ations. As Senator MCCAIN said yester- I take very seriously the President’s country—and said we cannot ignore day, that will be part of the law. The promise that he won’t be putting boots this redline created by the world when President has already said that is his on the ground in Syria. I have been to it came to chemical weapons. It is time standard as well. So for those who are too many funerals and visited too for others to stand and join us in stop- worried about mission creep and where many disabled veterans to ever want to ping the advancement and use of chem- this might lead us, if, God forbid, we see us do that again, except when it is ical weapons once and for all. are faced with that possibility, this absolutely necessary for America’s sur- I have been listening to this Syria de- resolution strictly limits what the vival. bate, and I cannot say how many times President can do. I think what we are doing this week I have harkened back to that time 12 It was about 8 days ago that I got a in the Senate is a step in the right di- years ago when we debated entering phone call I will never forget at my rection, and I believe it is a step that the war in Iraq. It was another one of home in Springfield late on a Sunday can move us toward a safer world. If we those votes that come along in the night from the President himself. We can find, because of the President’s course of a congressional career that talked for about half an hour. We leadership, a diplomatic response that keeps you awake at night. talked about a lot of things because we avoids further military conflict but I was serving on the Intelligence go back a long way. He talked to me keeps us safe from these deadly chem- Committee in the Senate. I sat through about his thought process and what he ical weapons, we should pursue it.

VerDate Mar 15 2010 01:54 Sep 11, 2013 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD13\RECFILES\S09SE3.REC S09SE3 bjneal on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with CONG-REC-ONLINE September 9, 2013 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6281 Mr. President, I yield the floor, and I due to homicide from guns. So I am person buys a gun online or a person suggest the absence of a quorum. back here today to try to tell the sto- buys a gun at a gun show, they should The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ries of just a handful of the 7,907 people be stopped from doing so if they have a WHITEHOUSE). The clerk will call the who have been killed at the hands of history of domestic violence. roll. gun violence since December 14. When I Frankly, I was struck by this one The bill clerk proceeded to call the started back in April, I think this num- newspaper article describing one night roll. ber was somewhere around 4,000. It has in New Haven. This is even earlier—on The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- marched upward and almost doubled August 11, 2013. It starts by talking ator from Connecticut. since then. about Torrance Dawkins, a 22-year-old Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask This has been a really bad summer in Waterbury man who was celebrating unanimous consent that the order for Connecticut. For instance, in places his birthday in a New Haven nightclub the quorum call be rescinded. such as New Haven and Hartford and when he was shot and killed at about The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Bridgeport, we thought we were mak- 1:30 on August 11. objection, it is so ordered. ing some real progress when it came to The article goes on and sort of cas- Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I ask the number of homicides by guns. This ually says that later that day New unanimous consent to speak as in summer, unfortunately, we saw far too Haven police responded to more gun vi- morning business. many, people such as Devaante Jack- olence. A local rapper was putting up The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without son, 18 years old, who was killed on Au- sheets on an upcoming concert he was objection, it is so ordered. gust 15 of this year in New Haven. He going to be holding in town, and he suf- GUN VIOLENCE was killed in a driveby shooting while fered a single gunshot wound to his Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, almost simply standing on a sidewalk just neck. Davon Goodwin, who was 18 years all of this week on the floor of the Sen- after 8 o’clock on the evening of Au- old, was later that day shot in the ate will be dedicated to one of the most gust 15. A friend of Devaante’s said: thigh on Hamilton Street. And just be- serious, if not the most serious, mat- I don’t understand why somebody would do fore 5 p.m. that day, police were called ters this body ever considers—that of this to him. He’s real good. I never knew he to an area near Dixwell Avenue and war and peace and the question of had any problems with anybody because he found out that Jermaine Adams, 41, whether we engage American military always (got) along with everybody. had received a gunshot wound to his assets in conflicts across the globe. I Another friend said: face. Those last three people miracu- am sure I will be back to the floor later He wasn’t a bad kid; he was just in the lously survived. But we can see how this week to speak on that weighty wrong spot at the wrong time . . . everybody casual gun violence can be on a sum- matter. I appreciate the very pas- should know . . . stop the violence, put the mer Sunday in New Haven, CT. One sionate remarks of the Senator from Il- guns down. young man died as a consequence of a linois on this subject. A few days later in Hartford, at the dispute at a nightclub, and three other Almost every week over the last sev- same nightclub, in two separate inci- people luckily survived who were shot eral months when the Senate has been dents, two young men—Miguel later in the day. in session, I have come to the floor to Delgado, age 21, and Brian Simpe, age Every single day in this country—in talk about another subject of life-and- 19—were killed. Disputes started in the the United States of America—30 peo- death consequence; that is, the growing nightclub and spilled out onto the ple are dying due to gun violence. Al- number of individuals across this coun- streets of Hartford—two different dis- most 8,000 people have died since the try who have been killed by guns. We putes, two different incidents, and both tragedy in Sandy Hook, and this body are going to debate life and death on of these boys were killed. has done nothing to stop it. We have the Senate floor this week as we try to Brian was 19 years old. He graduated had commonsense legislation before figure out what the course of American from Manchester High School and at- this Senate that would just say: You intervention may or may not be in a tended Manchester Community Col- know what. If you have a criminal his- place on the other side of the Earth in lege. He worked at ShopRite in order tory, you should not be able to buy a which far too many innocent people, to make enough money to go to com- gun, no matter where you buy it—at a little babies and adults alike, are being munity college. He wanted to start his gun show, from a gun dealer, online. killed. We also need to debate what we own business. He was a kid who wanted We have had commonsense bipartisan are going to do to prevent the fact that to do something great with his life. Be- legislation on the floor saying: You babies and teenagers and adults right fore he headed out that night, he know what. It should be a crime to buy here in the United States of America tweeted, ‘‘Just another summer night a whole mess-load of guns from a gun are being killed. So I have brought this out.’’ Unfortunately, in places such as store and then go out and intentionally poster down—or a variant of it—a cou- Hartford and New Haven and Bridge- sell them to criminals. We cannot get ple of times a month every single port and Baltimore and Chicago and that passed either. month since about April of this year, Los Angeles, this is just another sum- We even tried to just say: Let’s beef and it shows a number. The number is mer night out. Too many people are up our mental health system to make a pretty simple number. It represents being killed simply as a result of com- sure people who have serious mental the number of people in the United mon disputes, this time happening in a illnesses get the treatment they need States who have been killed by guns nightclub in Hartford. so they do not resort to violence—the since December 14. Domestic violence, as we know, un- very few who do. That was part of the As we get further away from that fortunately, often leads to tragic homi- bill we could not get passed. date, maybe people forget what it is, cidal incidents. Janice Lesco, from So I am going to continue to come but in Connecticut we will never, ever Coventry, CT, died on August 24—just a down to the floor to give voices to forget what that date means. December few weeks ago—from a gunshot wound these victims, to talk about the real 14 is the date on which 20 little 6- and to the chest. Her husband, who shot people, the stories behind the dozens of 7-year-old boys and girls were killed in- her, then committed suicide. Her hus- people who are killed every day by side Sandy Hook Elementary School, band had a well-documented and dec- guns and the 8,000 people who have along with 6 teachers and professionals ade-long history of threats and abuse. been killed since Sandy Hook. We are who protected them, as well as the Ms. Lesco was a mother and a grand- going to make an important decision gunman and his mother. Twenty-eight mother. She had lived in Coventry for this week about whether we are going people in all were killed that day. It most of her life. to commit military assets to the Mid- has lit a spark under the American Luckily, in Connecticut we have an dle East, and maybe that debate will consciousness about this issue, which agreement that people who have a his- stretch into next week and the week has frankly been lingering for far too tory of domestic violence shouldn’t get after. But we should not forget that long. their hands on a gun, but they can if while people are dying overseas, people Twenty-eight people died in Newtown they walk into a gun show or if they are dying due to gun violence right on December 14, but every day across buy their gun on the Internet. We can’t here in the United States, and before it this country, on average, 30 people die simply make the decision here that if a is too late—before another 8,000 people

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The tics aside, weigh the facts, search our taken, and simply called for any state clerk will call the roll. consciences, and pass a resolution in that used chemical weapons to be held The legislative clerk proceeded to committee that we believe is in the na- accountable. call the roll. tional security interest of the Amer- On the day of the attack, August 21, Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I ask ican people. Russia blocked a Security Council unanimous consent that the order for I have said before and will say again: press statement simply expressing the quorum call be rescinded. This is not a declaration of war but a ‘‘concern’’ that chemical weapons The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without declaration of our values to the world. might have been used. objection, it is so ordered. I want to thank Senator CORKER for On August 6, Russia blocked another Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, we being a close partner in helping to tai- press statement welcoming the news come to this Chamber as we have many lor and focus the language of this reso- that a UN investigations team would times before—to make one of the most lution so it reflects the will of the com- investigate three sites, and calling for difficult decisions we are tasked to mittee, the interests of the American their full and fettered access to those make: the authorization of the use of people, and gives the President the au- sites. American military power—this time in thority he needs to respond to Syria’s Russia has also vetoed a Security Syria, to respond to the horrific at- use of chemical weapons against its Council resolution enshrining the June tack, including the use of chemical own people. 30 Geneva Communique brokered by weapons, of August 21 that took the What we know. What we know is Kofi Annan, vetoed a resolution calling lives of 1,429 Syrians, including at least clear, notwithstanding Asad’s inter- for an end to violence in Syria, vetoed 426 children. view and his denials. a draft resolution endorsing the Arab The world is watching, America is According to the declassified intel- League’s plan of action that would waiting to see what we do in this ligence assessment, we know—with have condemned human rights viola- Chamber in response to the threat the high confidence—that the Syrian Gov- tions. world faces from those who cross the ernment carried out a chemical weap- They blocked a press statement call- line of human decency and use chem- ons attack in the Damascus suburbs on ing for humanitarian access to the be- ical weapons against anyone, anywhere August 21. sieged city of Homs, and one calling for in the world. We know that the buck stops with Syrian authorities to provide the UN The images of August 21 were sick- Asad—his interview-denials aside. We with humanitarian access. ening and, in my view, the world can- know that he controls the regime’s Over the course of the conflict in not ignore the inhumanity and horror stockpiles of chemical agents, includ- Syria, the United States Government, of what Bashar al-Asad did. ing mustard, sarin, and VX gas, and specifically the State Department, has As I have had to say too many times has thousands of munitions capable of met consistently with its close allies before as a Member of Congress: I do delivering them, again, under his con- and partners, as well as with Syria’s not take the responsibility to author- trol. neighbors, to help prepare the region to ize military force lightly or make such It is inconceivable—and defies all detect, prevent, and respond to poten- decisions easily. I voted against the logic—that he would not know about tial use or proliferation of chemical war in Iraq when it was popular, ac- the preparations and deployment of weapons. cording to the polls, to vote for the war these horrific weapons. As Ambassador Power acknowledged and strongly supported the withdrawal We know that personnel involved in in her remarks at the Center for Amer- of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. But the program are carefully vetted to en- ican Progress on September 6, the today I urge my colleagues to support sure loyalty to the regime and the se- United States has regularly engaged this tightly crafted, clearly focused curity of the program. with the Russians and Iranians to at- resolution to give the President au- We know that chemical weapons per- tempt to get them to use their influ- thorization to use military force in the sonnel from the Syrian Scientific Stud- ence to stop the Asad regime from face of this horrific crime against hu- ies and Research Center, subordinate using chemical weapons. manity. to the regime’s Ministry of Defense, The same day, September 6, the Yes, there are clearly risks to any ac- were operating in the Damascus suburb United States and 10 other countries tion we authorize, but the con- of ‘Adra from Sunday, August 18 until issued a joint statement condemning sequences of inaction—the con- early in the morning on Wednesday Au- the Asad regime’s use of chemical sequences of standing down from fully gust 21 near an area the regime uses to weapons. They were: Australia, Can- upholding the norms of international mix chemical weapons including sarin. ada, France, Italy, Japan, the Republic behavior—are greater and graver still: Human intelligence, as well as signal of Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Turkey, further humanitarian disaster in Syria, and geospatial intelligence have shown and Great Britain. Since then 14 other regional instability, the loss of Amer- regime activity in the preparation of nations have also signed onto that ican credibility around the world, an chemicals prior to the attack, includ- statement: Albania, Croatia, Denmark, emboldened Iran and North Korea, and ing the distribution and use of gas Estonia, Germany, Honduras, Hungary, the disintegration of international law. masks. Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Morocco, This vote will be among the most dif- Some may still be skeptical about Qatar, Romania, and the United Arab ficult any of us will be asked to make. Asad’s direct involvement, but clearly Emirates. But the American people expect us to the buck stops with Asad when it It is only the threat by the President, make the hard decisions and take the comes to the use of these weapons. and this resolution, that would drive hard votes. They expect us to put aside Some may also be skeptical that we both Russia and Syria to the negoti- political differences and personal have not done enough to allow diplo- ating table. ideologies, forget partisanship and pre- macy to work, but the fact is we have The facts are clear. We have tried di- conceptions, forget the polls and per- tried diplomacy. We have gone to the plomacy. sonal consequences. UN on many occasions, and it has only Let us understand that this action is This is a moment for a profile in bought Asad more time. not a choice of force or diplomacy. It is courage—a moment for each of us to do Notwithstanding Russia’s belated about both. what we know is right—based on what offer today to take action, which, by It is about enforcing international we know is in the best interest of the the way, only be on the table today norms that will, at the end of the day, United States, regardless of the polls specifically because of the threat of the leverage necessary UN action and help or pontifications of political pundits. use of force, let us not forget it has bring about a political solution. To be clear, the authorization Sen- been their intransigence that brought For those who want to see UN Secu- ator CORKER and I seek is for focused us to this point in the first place. rity Council action, those who want to

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This resolution will century, then we risk the same horrors and responses that have been given have clear and verifiable consequences. again in this century. from Syria, I do not think we have any It will help keep these weapons in Let us not fail the test of history. idea whether there is credibility at check, degrade Asad’s ability to deploy Let us say to the world that we can- present. them, and prevent the proliferation of not allow anyone to use chemical What I do know is there would be ab- chemical weapons and their use by weapons again, and that we can never solutely zero conversation about that anyone, anywhere in the world. allow such weapons to fall into the had our committee not passed an au- The resolution will have clear con- hands of stateless-actors and terrorists thorization out on a 10-to-7 vote and if sequences, but it is also not open- who would unleash them against Amer- we were not taking this up this week. ended. ica or American interests around the So I wish to commend the chairman for It appropriately narrows the scope, world. his leadership on this issue. I have en- duration, and breadth of the authority I repeat what I said earlier: Let us joyed working with him. I have enjoyed granted to meet Congressional con- understand that this action is not working with him on all the issues rel- cerns, and the concerns of the Amer- about force or diplomacy. It is about ative to Syria and all the other things ican people. both. It is about enforcing inter- It is tightly tailored to give the we have done in a bipartisan way. national norms that will, at the end of I think it has been the tradition—I President ‘‘necessary and appropriate’’ the day, leverage necessary UN action know it has been the tradition of this authority to use military force to re- and help bring about a political solu- body, when it comes to issues beyond spond to the use of weapons of mass de- tion. our shorelines, to set aside partisan- struction by the Syrian government; For those who want to see UN Secu- ship, as was mentioned a moment ago, protect the national security interests rity Council action, those who want to and do things that are in the best in- of the United States and our allies and push Syria to sign a chemical weapons partners; and degrade Syria’s capacity terests of our Nation. There is nothing agreement and give up their weapons, to use such weapons in the future. more important that each Member of It has a requirement for determina- this is the best path to getting there. this body will take up than the author- tion that the use of military force is Make no mistake, the use of chem- ization for the use of military force. I necessary, that appropriate diplomatic ical weapons by the Syrian regime ulti- sensed it the other day in our com- and other peaceful means to prevent mately represents a national security mittee. I have sensed it with those the deployment and use of chemical threat to the United States, a global whom I have talked to since. Each weapons by Syria have been used, and security threat we cannot ignore. Member is looking at this with a sense that the United States has both a spe- Let me read what our former col- of humility and soberness. I truly be- cific military plan to achieve the goal league and respected Chairman of the lieve it is up to each Member to make of responding to the use of weapons of Foreign Relations Committee, Senator this decision. mass destruction by the Syrian govern- Lugar, recently said in the press: ‘‘We I will say the issues of Syria are ment and that the use of military force are talking about weapons of mass de- something I am familiar with. I have is consistent with the broader goals of struction. We are talking about chem- traveled to the region, as I know the U.S. strategy toward Syria, including ical weapons in particular which may chairman and many others have. I have achieving a negotiated settlement to be the greatest threat to our country of traveled three times this year. I wrote the conflict, and a limitation that any security risk we have—much more an op-ed in the New York Times in specifies that the resolution ‘‘does not than any other government, or another April regarding what our response to authorize the use of United States nation—because they can be used by Syria should be. Our committee thank- Armed Forces on the ground in Syria terrorists, by very small groups. fully passed, on a 15-to-3 vote on May for the purposes of combat operations’’ The use of those weapons has got to 21, with the chairman’s leadership, the assuring there will be no ‘‘boots on the concern us to the point that we take Syria Transition Support Act. ground.’’ action whenever any country crosses This was to support the vetted mod- The authorization would end after 60 that line and use these weapons as we erate opposition and require the ad- days, with the President having the have seen in Syria.’’ ministration to develop a comprehen- ability to request and certify for an- Senator Lugar is right. We must be sive strategy. I know Members of this other 30 days, and with Congress hav- concerned—deeply concerned—and that body know I support this authoriza- ing an opportunity to pass a resolution is why we must act. The danger of pro- tion. I helped write it with the chair- of disapproval. It provides for an inte- liferation is too great—too much of a man. I am very comfortable with my grated United States Government risk—for us to stand silent and stand position in supporting this and believe strategy for Syria, including a com- down. what we have done with this authoriza- prehensive review of current and I urge my colleagues to put aside pol- tion we have done in the right and cor- planned U.S. diplomatic, political, eco- itics, polls, and preconceptions and do rect way. nomic and military policy towards what we know, at the end of the day, is I will say I have been very dismayed Syria, and requires a Report to Con- in the national security of the Amer- at the administration’s lack of re- gress on the status of the military op- ican people. sponse after stating publicly that they erations. I know my colleagues on both Again, I want to thank Senator were going to support the vetted mod- sides will want to offer a range of CORKER and members of the committee erate opposition in certain ways. I have amendments. for working quickly together to re- been very frustrated at the response Let me say in conclusion, history has spond to this crisis with a well-crafted and the lack of support in that way. As taught us harsh lessons when it comes resolution that is a declaration of our I mentioned, I was just in the area 3 to the use of chemical weapons. values and will send a clear message weeks ago. I visited the same refugee The images we saw of children lined that we—and the world—cannot and camp in Turkey on the Syrian border on the floor on August 21 were not the will not tolerate the use of chemical and in Jordan on the Syrian border. I first images the world has ever seen of weapons anywhere—by anyone. saw some of the same refugees whom I the horrors of chemical attacks. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- saw there less than 1 year ago. We saw them almost 100 years ago in ator from Tennessee. Candidly, I am dismayed we have not World War I. Mr. CORKER. Mr. President, I would supported the vetted opposition in a If we do not learn from and live by like to thank the chairman for his better way. I know we have urged out the lessons of the past, if we fail the comments for a historical analysis of of our committee that we have a much

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I know there have been a through. way. number of editorial comments in pa- I believe it is important for us to No question the introduction of pers and publications around the coun- have this authorization because I be- chemical weapons has changed the dy- try referring to this as a pinprick. lieve it is the only thing at this point, namic tremendously. I think the chair- There have been other concerns by the fact that we passed it out of com- man was very articulate in explaining Members of this body as to the dura- mittee, the fact that it is on the floor, why this is important. I wish to say to tion of this effort, as to how long it that might possibly lead to a diplo- everybody in this body, to me an equal- will be. matic settlement. ly important issue for our Nation is the I have had the privilege, because of I also believe it is time for the Presi- credibility of the United States of the position I serve in on the Foreign dent to lead. I know there have been a America. I believe our President, Relations Committee, to be involved in lot of statements over the last week, whether you support him, whether you multiple phone calls and personal and the President had multiple audi- like him, I believe the President spoke meetings. There was one last night ences in which to speak. I understand for our Nation when he established a that lasted at great length with the this, and I understand reports out of red line some months ago regarding the President and Vice President. these meetings can come in many ways use of chemical weapons. I wish to say to every person in this not to be accurate. I believe it is very important for our body, I have no belief whatsoever that The President is coming to the Hill Nation’s credibility in the region and if military action is taken, it is going tomorrow. He will be making a major in the world that we have an appro- to be a pinprick—none. The American speech to the United States, the citi- priate response when we have a dic- military has incredible ability to deal zens of our country, tomorrow night. I tator such as Asad take the actions he with issues in a forceful way but also know many of them have lives, where has taken against international norms do so in a very short timeframe. all of them, most of them, get up in the the way he has but especially when the I do believe, based on the many meet- mornings, go to work, they raise their Commander in Chief of our Nation has ings we have had, both with military families, and they haven’t had the op- spoken the way he has about this issue. and civilian leadership, that to charac- portunity to spend as much time on To me this is twofold. Certainly, it is terize what is proposed as a pinprick or these issues. That is why we are elect- about the international norms that to characterize what is proposed as in- ed to do this. I will say this. It is very important have been spoken to eloquently by serting ourselves into a long-term civil for the President of the United States many, but to me it is also an issue of war, I think both of those characteriza- to come to Congress and for the Presi- this Nation’s credibility of the re- tions are wrong. dent of the United States to make his sponse as people are looking on to what Obviously, one of the dilemmas peo- case to the American people. we are going to do. ple here deal with is that we write pol- icy and then it is up to the administra- He is asking for this authorization. I That is why I support this authoriza- tion to carry that out—and no ques- believe it is important for us to give tion. I do wish to go back over a couple tion, none of us will be involved in the him this authorization. points the chairman referred to rel- direct carrying out. But it is my firm Again, I wish to thank the chairman ative to the substance of the authoriza- belief that there is not a thread of for working with us to make sure we tion. I think most people know the thinking by the administration that have narrowed this authorization in White House sent over an authoriza- what they are considering is a pin- such a way that I think it meets the tion that to me was very broad. It did prick. test of what the American people and not define what we were going to do in On the other hand, I have not a what all of us wish to see happen. But a specific way. thread of thought that they are also I do believe now it is up to the Presi- I know the chairman just talked considering doing something that is dent, over the next several days and about the fact that this authorization going to involve us in a long-term civil this week, to make his case to the is tailored. It is specific. Let me go war. Obviously, conflicts such as this American people as to why the Senate over again specifically what this au- are complex. should give him this authorization for thorization does. It is specific purposes In closing, let me say this. Each Sen- the use of military force, which I hope only: to respond to the use of weapons ator has to make their own decision. we will do. of mass destruction to dissuade future This is one of those things where lob- I thank you for the time, and I yield use, degrade ability, and to prevent bying is not something that is going to the floor. transfer, no boots on the ground for make up the minds of Senators. I think f combat operations. each Senator has to make up their own EXECUTIVE SESSION I know there have been some discus- hearts and minds. sions about that in our committee. What I can say is we are going to Very emphatically, this authorization have an open process. I know we have NOMINATION OF VALERIE E. eliminates and keeps any boots on the talked about the process going forward. CAPRONI TO BE UNITED STATES ground for combat operations from oc- I hope Senators will keep their amend- DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE curring. ments germane. I hope we have a sober SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW This has a time limit of 60 days with debate about an issue that is the most YORK a 30-day extension which Congress can important type of decision any Senator disapprove. It is geographically limited will make. to Syria only, which the original au- I am thrilled the President decided to NOMINATION OF VERNON S. BROD- thorization was not. It is against le- come to Congress for an authorization. ERICK TO BE UNITED STATES gitimate military targets only, which I know a lot of people have made many DISTRICT JUDGE FOR THE again the original authorization was comments regarding this. Candidly, I SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW not. am pleased the President has come to YORK There are a series of determinations us for a debate. It is my hope the Sen- The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. the President has to make prior to tak- ate, after hearing the facts and after KING). Under the previous order, the ing action with this authorization, in- having a thoughtful debate, will ap- Senate will proceed to executive ses- cluding that it is in the core national prove the authorization for the use of sion to consider the following nomina- interests of the United States and that military force. tions, which the clerk will report. he has a military plan to achieve the I couldn’t agree more with the chair- The assistant legislative clerk read objectives. man that if people wish to see a diplo- the nominations of Valerie E. Caproni,

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