E PL UR UM IB N U U S th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 116 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Vol. 165 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 No. 149 Senate The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was The Constitution lends weight to the Senate legislation, proceeding to this called to order by the President pro resilience of our heritage and to the he- floor action will help to keep us on tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). roes who fought to defend and protect track toward passing as many of the 12 f our borders at home and from distant bills as possible this month before we shores around the world. turn to a temporary continuing resolu- PRAYER On this Constitution Day, it is my tion. The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- hope that Americans of all ages will re- So it has been distressing to hear fered the following prayer: flect upon the blessings of freedom troubling signals from the Democratic Let us pray. handed down from one generation to side. We have heard that they may Almighty God, our fortress and the next and protected by the U.S. Con- choose to the Defense fund- might, deliver us from clouds of pes- stitution. ing bill. They may block the very in- simism and fear. Lead our lawmakers I yield the floor. crease of defense funding that they all in these challenging times, fulfilling just agreed to a month ago. Your purposes through them. Be ex- f Progress on our shared priorities, alted, O God, above the highest heaven, RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY good faith cooperation in areas of dis- as You demonstrate Your power to LEADER agreement—it seems all of this may be make the crooked places straight. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- taking a backseat to a familiar litany Have mercy upon us and protect us, jority leader is recognized. of partisan stumbling blocks. My for Your unfailing love and faithfulness Democratic colleagues seem eager to sustain us. Shine Your glory over all f bog down the funding process with all the Earth as we learn to trust You at APPROPRIATIONS their outstanding disagreements with all times. Mr. MCCONNELL. The American peo- the President, in other words, taking And, Lord, we thank You that Sen- ple deserve for the Federal Government exactly the kind of partisan approach ator GRASSLEY has had another won- to spend their money in a considered, we had successfully avoided last year derful birthday. deliberate fashion, and until very re- and in which both sides pledged just We pray in Your strong Name. Amen. cently, we have been on a track to con- last month—just a month ago—to f duct a smooth, regular appropriations avoid this time as well. A couple of weeks ago, everyone at process for this year. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE the table seemed to understand that More than a month ago, leaders in The President pro tempore led the the world was too dangerous to leave both parties, in both Chambers, and at Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: funding for our military vulnerable to both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue all I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the poison pill riders or political copouts. I agreed to terms that had been nego- United States of America, and to the Repub- wish Democrats would keep bearing lic for which it stands, one nation under God, tiated by the Speaker of the House and that in mind today. indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the President’s team. It specified So whatever rationale my colleagues The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. topline funding levels and put guard- across the aisle may offer for these new HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Iowa. rails around the appropriations process disruptions, let’s get one thing Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I to keep out poison pills and all of our straight: Holding defense funding hos- ask to speak for 1 other disagreements. tage for political gain is a losing strat- minute as in . So yesterday, to keep us on track, I egy, not only for Members of this body, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without began the process to advance the first not only for the appropriations process, objection, it is so ordered. set of appropriations bills. The next but a losing strategy for the safety and f step is a vote tomorrow to begin con- strength of our Nation. sideration of a package of House-passed As partisanship bogs us down here in CONSTITUTION DAY funding bills that Speaker PELOSI Washington, Moscow and Beijing are Mr. GRASSLEY. Since the day I was grouped together. They include several not exactly slowing down to wait for born, I have celebrated Constitution of the domestic funding bills along us. Our two most capable great-power Day. That is because the 39 delegates with the legislation to fund the Depart- adversaries are expanding their own ca- signed the U.S. Constitution on Sep- ment of Defense. There should be no pabilities and modernizing their forces tember 17, which is exactly 146 years reason for Democrats to vote against by the day. before I was born. It is a gift to share this first procedural step. In the current international system, my birthday with the historic signing As Chairman SHELBY and our com- delivering on our promises to Amer- of our Nation’s founding charter. mittee colleagues continue to process ica’s men and women in uniform is not

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

S5499

.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.000 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5500 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 a simple matter of routine mainte- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without funding when, in fact, we oppose a Re- nance on equipment. If we would like objection, it is so ordered. publican bill that would shortchange the U.S. military of the future to re- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER the military is the height of double main the world’s preeminent fighting The PRESIDING OFFICER. The talk by the Republican leader. force, then, the stakes are much high- Democratic leader is recognized. Again, the Republican leader is fond er. As Russia rattles its saber and de- of reminding the press that he doesn’t velops weapons such as hypersonic Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, as like to engage in stunts—that the Sen- cruise missiles and quiet submarines, negotiations continue on a continuing ate is for making laws and is not a we need to continue funding for re- resolution to keep the government forum for political theater. Yet putting search and development of our own open past next week, we should be lay- this bill on the floor of the Senate that cutting-edge capabilities. ing the groundwork to process the 12 everyone knows lacks the votes is the We have to provide for the mod- appropriations bills for fiscal year 2020. definition of a stunt. ernization of infrastructure and update In an ideal world, the Republicans on Leader MCCONNELL—and I mean this defenses against cyber threats so that the Appropriations Committee would with all due respect—it is time to nego- China’s ever-bolder meddling in this be negotiating in good faith with the tiate. Both sides must sit down and domain cannot bring about the cyber Democrats on the Appropriations Com- have a serious negotiation—no stunts, hegemony it craves. We cannot turn mittee to determine the allocations no blame game. The Democrats want our back on our interests and partners and the content of those bills, but the to work with our Republican col- in the broader Middle East. In Afghani- Republicans, unfortunately, have not leagues, but we need a willing partner, stan, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, and be- chosen to do this. They are acting in a and time is quickly running out to get yond, we face ongoing terrorist totally partisan way. The Republicans a bipartisan appropriations process threats. Iran’s violent aggression cer- have chosen to back the President’s de- back on track. tainly highlights the need for vigilance mand for an additional $12 billion in BACKGROUND CHECKS and for strength. All of this is need- funding for his border wall, taken from Madam President, now, on guns, a lessly more difficult if we don’t fund other sources, including medical re- week and a half after our return from the military’s modernization and readi- search, opioid treatment, and funding the August work period, Senators from ness. The stakes are too high for us to intended for our military, their fami- both sides of the aisle are still waiting fail. lies, and their kids. Mexico, oddly, isn’t to hear what the President proposes in We cannot afford to abdicate our re- chipping in a penny. order to combat the epidemic of gun vi- This was all done totally on the Re- sponsibility to deliver timely funding olence. According to reports, the Presi- publican side with there having been to the critical priorities of the Federal dent’s yet-to-be-released plan will like- no consultation of the Democrats and, Government, least of all to the men ly not include universal background certainly, no buy-in. So, of course, the checks or even a significant expansion and women in uniform who keep us Democrats oppose taking funds from of background checks. If those reports safe. So I would urge each of my col- Congress to use on the President’s bor- leagues to engage in this process, are true, it will be a profound shame. der wall that have been intended for Without closing the loopholes in our honor our agreement that we made just our military. Everyone knows that. In 1 month ago—just a month ago—and background check system, most other fact, 12 Senate Republicans opposed the gun safety measures, like emergency keep us on track to deliver for our very same thing this year, but in typ- risk protection orders, would be se- country. ical Washington, blame-game fashion, verely compromised. Background f Republican leader MITCH MCCONNELL checks must be the base, the founda- has been accusing the Democrats of RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME tion, of gun safety legislation. If back- threatening to block military funding ground checks aren’t included, we will The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under because we don’t want to pass a bill still be allowing guns to fall into the the previous order, the leadership time that steals money from the military. wrong hands—those of convicted crimi- is reserved. That is right. The Democrats are the nals, domestic abusers, the adjudicated ones threatening not to vote for this f mentally ill. bill because we oppose a Republican You can have one of these emergency CONCLUSION OF MORNING bill that would shortchange the mili- risk protection orders issued to some- BUSINESS tary. I have heard some howlers in my day, one—let’s say to Mr. John Smith. Yet, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning if we don’t close these loopholes, John but that is pretty rich, what MCCON- business is closed. Smith, the next day, will be able to go NELL is saying. f Leader MCCONNELL constantly talks online and get a new gun because there will be no background check, and the about stunts. He doesn’t like stunts be- cause they won’t be signed or passed seller of the gun will have no way of into law. This is a stunt if I have ever knowing there will have been a protec- tion order against him. Without having EXECUTIVE CALENDAR seen one, that of putting this bill—$12 billion more for the wall and with no background checks, a lot of this other The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under buy-in by the Democrats—to a vote. It stuff isn’t going to do the job. It isn’t the previous order, the Senate will pro- will lose. We know it will lose. going to save the most lives that we ceed to executive session to resume What is the point, Leader MCCON- can. consideration of the following nomina- NELL? You say you don’t like stunts. I hope the President thinks long and tion, which the clerk will report. You say you don’t want to bring bills hard before releasing a proposal that The senior assistant legislative clerk to the floor that won’t become law. falls short of making meaningful read the nomination of John Rakolta, Well, this one certainly won’t. progress, particularly on background Jr., of Michigan, to be Ambassador Ex- The fact is the Republican leader checks. traordinary and Plenipotentiary of the knows well that the Democrats oppose In the past, Republican Senators, United States of America to the United taking funding away from our troops Congressmen, and candidates promised Arab Emirates. to use on the President’s wall. He action after mass shootings, only to Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- knows that Members of his own caucus have announced support for legislation sence of a . oppose taking money out of their that was specifically designed not to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The States to spend on the President’s bor- offend the NRA. We have seen that be- clerk will call the roll. der wall. Some have been quite vocal; fore. The senior assistant legislative clerk yet Leader MCCONNELL is moving for- This is a chance for the President to proceeded to call the roll. ward with the bill all the same, know- do something different and, frankly, Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ing that it lacks votes. something courageous. It would be a ask unanimous consent that the order For him to say the Democrats are terrible shame if he were to squander for the be rescinded. the ones threatening to block military that very much needed opportunity. If

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.001 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5501 whatever the President announces this size what South Dakota farmers have and ranchers need the United States- week falls short of what the American told me: We need to conclude negotia- Mexico-Canada Agreement. While it people are demanding, the Democrats tions on the various trade deals that won’t be a cure-all for all of the prob- will continue to press the issue. we are working on, and we need to do lems that are facing farm country, it Later tonight, I will join several of it now. We need to open new markets, will be a significant step forward. my Democratic colleagues on the floor expand existing ones, and give farmers Congress should pass this agreement for an extended debate on the issue of and ranchers certainty about what as soon as possible and allow farmers gun violence. Many of my colleagues those markets are going to look like. and ranchers and the rest of the Amer- have seen their communities torn While we are still in negotiations on ican economy to start realizing the apart by gun violence—some by hor- a number of agreements, one deal that benefits. rific mass shootings, others by a re- we don’t need to wait for is the United I yield the floor. lentless, daily stream. Many of them States-Mexico-Canada Free Trade The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- have worked for years to put common- Agreement. This agreement has al- ator from Illinois. sense gun safety measures before the ready been fully negotiated by our REMEMBERING MARCA BRISTO Senate. Tonight, the Democrats will three countries, and Congress can take Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, the hold a forum to bring those stories to it up at any point. disability rights movement is one of the Senate floor—the stories of fami- The United States-Mexico-Canada the great civil rights achievements of lies who have been shattered by gun vi- Agreement is a clear and significant our time, and Chicago’s Marca Bristo olence and the stories of our constitu- win for our farmers and ranchers. Can- was that movement’s Rosa Parks. ents who demand that we take action. ada and Mexico are the No. 1 and No. 2 Marca was a visionary and inspiring My Republican colleagues, I hope, export markets for American food and leader, who helped change Chicago and will listen closely and, more impor- agricultural products. This agreement change the world when it came to the tantly, will join the Democrats in will preserve and expand farmers’ ac- rights of the disabled, and she was my working to pass meaningful legislation. cess to these critical markets and will friend. I yield the floor. give farmers certainty about what Sadly, Marca died last week in her The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- these markets will look like in the adopted hometown of Chicago at 66 ator from South Dakota. long term. years of age. UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE I am particularly pleased with the In typical Marca style, she worked AGREEMENT improvements the agreement makes right on up to the few days before her Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I for U.S. dairy producers. South Dakota death, trying to bend the arc of history spent a lot of time talking to South has experienced a massive dairy expan- just a little more toward justice before Dakota farmers over the August break, sion over the past few years, and this she drew her last breath. and I can tell you that if there is one agreement will benefit U.S. dairy pro- I was happy to join my colleague thing on farmers’ minds right now, it is ducers by substantially expanding mar- Senator TAMMY DUCKWORTH this week trade; it is markets; it is having a ket access in Canada, which is where in sponsoring a resolution honoring place to sell the things that we raise U.S. dairy sales have been restricted. Marca’s life and work. and grow. Farmers and ranchers have The U.S. International Trade Commis- I would like to take a few moments had a rough few years. Low commodity sion estimates that the agreement will on the floor today to remember this prices and low livestock prices, natural boost U.S. dairy exports by more than amazing woman. disasters, and protracted trade disputes $277 million. The agreement will also While most Americans have never have left our agricultural economy expand market access for U.S. poultry heard of Marca Bristo, few lives went trailing behind our economy as a and egg producers, and it will make it untouched by her lifelong quest on be- whole. easier for U.S. producers to export half of people with disabilities. She was As farmers emphasized to me during wheat to Canada. a nationally and internationally ac- August, one of the biggest things we Of course, while I have been talking a claimed leader in the disability rights can do to help our agricultural econ- lot about farmers, the benefits of the movement. omy is to implement trade agreements United States-Mexico-Canada Agree- She helped to write and to pass the that benefit American farmers and ment will not be limited to the agricul- Americans with Disabilities Act in ranchers. The United States is cur- tural industry. Virtually every sector 1990, which outlawed discrimination rently involved in trade negotiations of our economy will benefit from this against the estimated one in four on multiple fronts—with the European agreement—from manufacturing to Americans with disabilities, and she Union, with China, with Japan, and digital services, to the automotive in- spent the rest of her life making sure with other Asian-Pacific countries. dustry. It will create 176,000 new U.S. the ADA was faithfully implemented. Like many farmers and ranchers, I jobs, will grow our economy, and will Along with leaders like Justin Dart, support the President’s goal of address- raise wages for workers. Marca changed the way Americans ing trade imbalances and securing The Republicans in the Senate are thought about disabilities. She per- more favorable conditions for Amer- ready to consider the United States- suaded us to view the disability experi- ican products abroad, but we need to Mexico-Canada Agreement. We are just ence as a civil rights issue, not just a conclude these agreements as soon as waiting for the House Democrats to medical issue. possible. The longer negotiations drag stop threatening to oppose the agree- To Marca’s mind, what kept many on, the tougher the situation for farm- ment and to show a willingness to put people with disabilities from leading ers, who face retaliatory tariffs as well it to an up-or-down vote in the House full lives was not their disability but as a lot of uncertainty about what of Representatives. the barriers they faced. What needed to markets are going to look like. The administration has made ad- change, she said, was not the person We have had some recent successes. dressing the Democrats’ concerns a pri- with disabilities but those obstacles In August, the administration an- ority throughout the negotiation proc- that blocked their path. The problem nounced a deal to increase U.S. beef ess, and it seems to me that if you are was not that her wheelchair was too sales to Europe. In May, the adminis- a Democrat who is unhappy with the wide for certain doors; the problem was tration announced a deal with Japan to status quo, voting for the USMCA is the doors were too narrow for her remove all remaining age restrictions the best way to fix it. wheelchair. Remove the barriers, and on U.S. beef, giving American ranchers I am encouraged by the fact that the people with disabilities can lead rich full access to the Japanese market for Democrats appear to be working with and full lives and make enormous con- the first time in more than a decade. the administration to reach a resolu- tributions. That is part of what Marca Yet that is just a tiny fraction of what tion on this agreement, and I hope they taught me. needs to get done on the trade front will continue to work with the White She was tough, smart, funny, deter- when it comes to agriculture. House to bring this agreement to a mined, and fearless. She knew how to Every time I speak with the Presi- vote as soon as possible in the House of motivate others and how to build coali- dent and his administration, I empha- Representatives. America’s farmers tions.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.002 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5502 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 Her parents actually named her Disabilities Act. More than 160 nations so by canceling 127 military construc- Marcia, but during her freshman year have signed that treaty, including the tion projects around the world and in in college, a classmate called her United States. Sadly, this Senate has 26 States and territories. Already, Marca. She liked it, and it stuck. failed to ratify that treaty. I worked President Trump had taken $2.5 billion She moved to Chicago and earned a hours and hours with Marca to try to from our military earlier this year. nursing degree from Rush University win the votes in the Senate for this bi- Last week’s decision brings the total to College of Nursing in 1976. partisan measure to help people with over $6 billion—$6 billion of invest- In 1977, when Marca was 23 years old, disabilities. We even brought former ments in our American military and working as a labor-delivery nurse at a U.S. Senator , a World War II national security that the President of Chicago hospital, she and her friend hero and a father of the ADA, to sit on the United States has diverted so he were sitting on the shore of Lake the floor of the Senate when we cast can have a bragging point in the reelec- Michigan, when a dog grabbed her fa- the votes on this treaty. Unfortu- tion campaign about his beloved wall. vorite pair of sandals and ran into the nately, it did not pass. This decision has rippled across the water with them. Marca dove in to re- Marca called July 26, 1990, the day country and the world. trieve her shoes, not realizing the President George H.W. Bush signed the Remember the terrible damage Hur- water was shallow. She broke her neck Americans with Disabilities Act, ‘‘Our ricane Maria did in Puerto Rico, which and was paralyzed from the waist down Independence Day.’’ is still being repaired? Our military for the rest of her life. On that day, she said: prioritized $400 million to rebuild Na- Because of her paralysis, she lost her This ragtag army of people who couldn’t tional Guard facilities and the school job, her health insurance, her home, see, hear, walk and talk did what everyone for military children there. With the her car, and the ability to navigate the said couldn’t be done. We passed the most stroke of a pen, and without the ap- city she loved. She thought she would comprehensive civil rights law since the pas- proval of Congress, the President took never work again, but luckily the di- sage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. away these funds. rector of Northwestern University’s In a 2015 video interview for Rush Joint Base Andrews in Maryland Prentice Women’s Hospital thought University Medical Center, celebrating needed a new childcare facility for otherwise and convinced her to return the 25th anniversary of the Americans military families. Some of the rooms to nursing. with Disabilities Act, Marca said: ‘‘The in that current facility have been At one point, she attended a work law for the first time enshrined in fed- closed due to mold, which has created conference in San Francisco and saw eral law that disability is a normal overcrowding. There are 130 children on for the first time an abundance of curb part of the human condition, and the a waiting list to get into this facility. cuts—curb cuts that enabled people world needed to change.’’ Their parents are paying for expensive with disabilities to cross the street. It In July 2017, days before another off-base childcare. It is unacceptable. was an eye-opener for Marca. ADA anniversary, Marca was again So Congress, on behalf of these mili- As she later wrote: fighting for justice. She was 1 of more tary families at Joint Base Andrews in No longer did I see curbs or stairs or inac- than 60 who were arrested for pro- Maryland, approved the money to up- cessible buses and bathrooms as a problem testing against the proposed deep cuts grade the childcare center. Once again, around which I needed to navigate. Rather, I in the Medicaid Program that had been with the stroke of a pen, President saw them as examples of societal discrimina- included in a Republican effort to re- Trump took the military family tion—and felt a responsibility to get in- peal the . childcare funds for his almighty wall. volved to help people with disabilities, in Il- As the Capitol Police wheeled her Military children at Fort Campbell, linois and beyond. away, Marca raised a clenched fist and KY, the home State of the Republican In 1980, Marca founded Access Living smiled. That is how I am going to re- majority leader of the Senate, are in Chicago, a nonprofit dedicated to member her: optimistic, determined, forced to use overcrowded classrooms helping people with disabilities live as even against long odds. and a cafeteria so small that students independently as possible rather than Days after her arrest, another Amer- are often shipped off to the library to warehoused in institutions. ican hero with a disability, John eat. Access Living led the fight to make McCain, came to this floor and in the With the same stroke of a pen, $62 public transportation in Chicago more well of this Senate, shocked his party million that Congress authorized for accessible. Marca was not a shrinking and the Nation by becoming the decid- Senator MCCONNELL’s home State of violet. In 1984, she joined others, chain- ing vote against the repeal of the Af- Kentucky to fix the problem are gone, ing themselves to Chicago Transit Au- fordable Care Act. I like to think my headed to the border of the United thority buses. She ended up getting ar- colleague from Arizona, John McCain, States for the President to be able to rested, and they ended up filing a law- saw in Marca Bristo and her deter- boast at a rally. suit in reply against the transit agen- mined friends the same courage he had As if these stories weren’t troubling cy. witnessed so often in our military. enough, the Air Force is also sounding Her determination led to the instal- My wife Loretta and I extend our the alarm. A leaked internal review by lation of wheelchair lifts and critical condolences to Marca’s husband of 32 the Air Force warns that President changes to CTA buses and rail stations. years, Bob Kettlewell; their two chil- Trump’s decision to cancel 51 Air Force Access Living became a disability lead- dren, Samuel and Madeline; her grand- projects poses serious national security ership model for other cities around daughter, who was born in June; to risks to our country. the country and around the world. Marca’s sister Gail; and to her count- Imagine if the shoe were on the other In 1992, Marca cofounded the Na- less friends and colleagues. foot and the President were a member tional Council on Independent Living, Marca made the lives of hundreds of of my party, the Democratic Party. which she led for many years. millions of people better. I am going to What would we be hearing from the Re- In 1993, President Clinton named her miss her warm smile, her wise advice, publican side of the aisle? to head the National Council on Dis- her vision, and her courage. One of the projects that has been ability. She was the first person with a EMERGENCY FUNDING canceled for the Air Force by the Presi- disability ever to hold that post, and Madam President, I rise in opposition dent’s effort to divert military funds to she held it until 2002. today to President Trump’s continued his wall is Incirlik Air Base in Turkey. She was elected president of the U.S. efforts to move funding from our mili- They needed an upgrade for security on International Council on Disabilities tary in order to build his beloved wall their main gate. The Air Force says and traveled around the world advo- on our southern border, and I rise as that without this project, the base is cating for people with disabilities and well in defense of the powers given to ‘‘vulnerable to hostile penetration in their families. Congress in article I of the Constitu- the midst of contingency operations She participated in the negotiation tion. and an increased terrorist threat.’’ for the U.N. Convention on the Rights Last week, the President announced For goodness’ sake. The President is of Persons with Disabilities, a global he was taking $3.6 billion from Amer- building a wall in the middle of a accord based on the Americans with ica’s military to build his wall. He did desert that is not solving the problem

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.004 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5503 we face with our southern border and Madam President, I yield the floor. when I received the additional honor of taking money away from the main gate The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- being one of two Republican women af- of an Air Force Base in Turkey that ator from Tennessee. forded a seat on the Senate Judiciary has been identified as needing to be re- Committee—humbled, truly humbled, built for security against terrorism? Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi- but also prepared to stand up for what The report also describes how can- dent, I want to get straight to the I know is right. celing upgrades to a munitions site at point this morning. I find it incompre- I will not abide by or participate in an air base in Guam may impact the hensible that some of our friends the lack of civility that we saw during ability of fighter and bomber aircraft across the aisle are repeating the same Justice Kavanaugh’s confirmation. We to operate properly. missteps that turned last fall’s Su- have to realize that this is more seri- I ask my colleagues honestly: Are preme Court confirmation battle into a ous than just evaluating a final tally of these risks worth taking from our mili- black mark on the history of this body. political points on the board. Politi- tary so the President can have a walk- I want to make it clear that I have cians, journalists, and activists are off line at one of his political rallies? no desire to relitigate the disputes leveraging unfounded criminal allega- U.S. allies across the globe that are borne from Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s tions against a duly confirmed Su- committed to our defense are starting confirmation hearings. I do not want to preme Court justice. I repeat that: to doubt if this White House is still in- hear my friends on the other side of the They are leveraging unfounded crimi- terested in being the leader of the free aisle leverage more of the same base- nal allegations against a duly con- world. less, salacious allegations in the name firmed Supreme Court justice in an ef- U.S. troops based in NATO ally coun- of partisan politicking. But when you fort to undermine not only his work tries like Poland, Italy, Germany, and stop and think about it, since they but ultimately the entire Court as an Estonia expected $770 million in invest- have chosen to go there, it is impera- institution. ments in training center and logistical tive that I speak out—that we speak Is this honestly what we have come support to push back on Russian ag- out—about what is transpiring. to? Is this the new low of lows? Can no gression in Europe. I can tell you, hav- I was not in the Senate for the first one see the danger in doing this and ing visited the Baltic States, how criti- go-around on this, but I am here now, letting it continue and giving it air to cally important these funds are to re- and I can tell you that I intend to give breathe or to thrive? This is a danger. mind the people of that region that the their arguments exactly the amount of We are a nation of laws, and the Senate United States and NATO allies still deference and respect they deserve. is a body built on process and delibera- stand solidly behind them, as Putin Sitting on the sidelines is never easy, tion. threatens them with aggression on a but it is especially difficult when you Tennesseans are asking: Who is going daily basis, and now President Trump are watching a fight and you know you to stand and who is going to defend has removed many of these funds. could get in there and help win that that process in this body? Similarly, U.S. troops in South Korea fight. I know this feeling very well. As a woman, as a new Senator and a and Japan were planning on $670 mil- Last fall, I was fighting to go from the member of the Senate Judiciary Com- lion to protect them from threats from House of Representatives to the Sen- mittee, I stand to defend the process North Korea and China. ate. I was also fighting to become the and for civility. I refuse to leave this The cancellation of all these projects first female Senator from the great political chaos unchecked, and I wel- is based on a national emergency de- State of Tennessee—the very first. come my colleagues and my friends clared by the President that was re- While on the campaign trail, I got across the aisle to join me in recog- jected by both Houses of Congress in more than an earful from other Ten- nizing that due process and civil dis- bipartisan votes. Congress should not nessee women who were watching this course are required for constructive, be silent when anyone dismisses the breathless coverage of Justice respectful debate. real needs of our men and women in Kavanaugh’s confirmation. These I yield the floor. uniform for politics. Nor should it sit women were concerned that their The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. back when the President of any party voices were not being heard in this de- SCOTT of Florida). The Senator from tries to undermine its constitutional bate. They were concerned also for Montana. duty to provide for the common de- spouses, sons, brothers, and male col- TARIFFS fense of the United States. leagues. They could see these baseless Mr. TESTER. Mr. President, we all I am greatly concerned that these claims, and they were concerned for returned to Washington last week events set a precedent that undermines the lack of due process. They did not after, in my case, spending 5 weeks in the Appropriations Committee, which I like for 1 minute what they were see- the State of Montana. It is always have dedicated my Senate career to. ing, and I didn’t like it either. great being in Montana, being able to We all remember President Donald These women came from all political get around the State and visit with Trump’s idea that we need a 2,000-mile walks of life and all areas of our State. folks and see the challenges they are concrete wall, as he said, ‘‘from sea to They were disgusted by the nature of dealing with on a daily basis and hear shining sea,’’ paid for by Mexico. He the sexual assault allegations, and directly from them. said it 200 times when he campaigned they were horrified by what they right- I can tell you that one of the things for the Office of President, but as we ly saw as an eagerness to set aside the I heard a lot about—Montana is an ag have seen, Mexico hasn’t put up a peso. due process that is so important to this State—was the price of grain and the The President has decided the Amer- Nation and to the rule of law. It was price of cattle. The marketplace is ican military should pay for it instead. being set aside in order to make an ex- very, very depressed. It doesn’t matter The resulting damage to our military ample out of Kavanaugh. that Montana is a big State, and it and to the Appropriations Committee’s Were flimsy allegations and social doesn’t matter what corner of the constitutional authority continues to justice buzzwords really the new stand- State you are in. We have some chal- accumulate. ard for credibility? lenges, and those challenges have been It has to stop, and it can stop if my As much as I wanted to reassure brought about by really, really bad colleagues on both sides of the aisle these women that sanity would prevail, public policy when it comes to tariffs. can come together to reassert their ob- in the back of my mind I remained These tariffs have increased the price ligations under the Constitution and fully aware that, if left unchecked, in- of steel, for example, which increases provide our military families with the sanity is fully capable of carrying the the price of the equipment that folks in certainty that they haven’t been for- day. It knows no bounds. agriculture and everybody have to buy. gotten in the midst of the runup to the As it turns out, conservatism pre- On the other side of the coin, because 2020 campaign. vailed in Tennessee, and sanity pre- of the tariffs that are put on ag com- I hope all of us think long and hard vailed in the U.S. Senate. I was hum- modities, it has driven all ag commod- about the importance of this decision bled when Supreme Court Justice Brett ities down. The tariffs on soy, for ex- and our obligation to stand behind our Kavanaugh performed my ceremonial ample, have driven all the commodities men and women in the military. swearing-in this past January and down, including wheat, which we raise

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.005 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5504 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 a lot of in Montana, but also pulse checks. I don’t know a farmer out odus off the farms in the 1980s—the crops and everything. there who wants to go down to the family farm agriculture—because of In fact, when I was determining what local FSA, or the Farm Service Agen- bad policies, due in part to this town, we were going to plant this spring, I cy, government office and get a check. and I am afraid we are going to see was trying to find what we could make We do it, but that is not the preferred that again. I have already seen it in my money off of. Quite frankly, com- place. The preferred place is from the neighborhood, and I think it is just the modity prices are down across the grain elevator or from the livestock start. board, and there wasn’t anything that auction. But because prices are so low, It is time that we start to do what we you could turn a profit on. I don’t say now farmers have to have a bailout. do; that is, we need to export some of that being a farmer who wants to com- People talk about socialism and who this product. plain about prices, because we do that is advocating for socialism around The Farmers Union was in last week, occasionally. I say that because the here, but the fact is that this is pretty and one of the people in the Farmers price of hard red ordinary winter much socialistic. The sad part is that Union, from the Montana group, said: wheat, which probably doesn’t mean the amount farmers are getting is What do we do about the excess supply? much to anybody unless you are in ag- probably about a tenth, once again, of Well, what we do with the excess sup- riculture, is about the same price it what they are losing in the market- ply is what we have always done with was in about May of 1978, when I took place, if we had trade, if we were out the excess supply: We ship it out. We the farm over. That is not inflation-ad- promoting trade, and if we were mov- export it. And when those exports dry justed prices. That is what it is selling ing the ball forward to get rid of the up, we have wheat. We can’t get rid of for, a little over $3.50 a bushel. excess production. But instead, it is soy. Corn is in a pinch. As I said ear- If you take a look back at 1978, it tariff after tariff after tariff because lier, all ag commodities are depressed. doesn’t take a nuclear physicist to fig- we are trying to teach somebody a les- While we sit here and talk about the ure out that things cost a little less son. Unfortunately, because we don’t important stuff that we talk about, back then. You could buy a car for have our allies onboard with us, we just know that the American farmer, probably about 15 percent of what you haven’t seen much success. the family farmer, is hurting. I will tell are paying for one now, and farm We have a problem. The forefathers you that one thing that made this equipment was the same way. It was set forth three coequal branches of gov- country great is family farm agri- far, far, far less expensive. My dad ernment. Unfortunately, I have been a culture. If it gets consolidated, wheth- bought a brand-new four-wheel drive bit frustrated because the legislative er it is a family who owns tens of thou- tractor, for example, 3 years earlier, in branch hasn’t been able to do much sands of acres or controls tens of thou- 1975. He paid about $20,000 for it, and about these tariffs, and we need to re- sands of acres or whether it is a cor- today that tractor would run you north insert ourselves. poration, it is the same thing. You of $200,000. I have a bill that I intend to drop in So we have a lot of challenges out very soon that will empower the legis- have nobody living in rural America, there, and it all starts with the price of lative branch. Hopefully, we can get it and it impacts our food security in this ag commodities. It isn’t like Mother through committee and get it to the country. Quite frankly, it is very bad Nature frowned on us all and put us floor. It seems that we always ask per- for democracy. into a drought or put a hailstorm on us mission of the administration as to I invited the President to come to or put locusts on us. It is all man- whether we are going to take up any Montana to visit with the producers so made. bills on the floor in this body, the he could hear it from their mouths. I I think most people in this body greatest deliberative body—it used to haven’t gotten a response. The bottom would tell you that, as to what is going be; it is not anymore—when, in fact, we line is, he needs to know that rural on with China right now, even though need to take back the power. We need America is not New York City. It has China does need to be held accountable, to hold the administration, the execu- challenges, and if we don’t do our job we can’t do it alone. We have to bring tive branch—whether there is a Demo- and get products exported, we are our allies in. That is why it is not crat in the White House or a Repub- going to see it change, we are going to working, and that is why ag com- lican in the White House—accountable see it dry up, and we are literally going modity prices are in the tank. on these issues that revolve around to see it blow away. It is not a step for- So why should anybody care if you trade. ward. It is not making this country are not involved in agriculture? It is important because we are having great. In fact, it is exactly the oppo- There was an old bumper sticker that a debate right now about whether we site. was on cars a few decades ago that should be just a rubberstamp for the I hope the President comes to Mon- said: If you eat, you are involved in ag- executive branch on appropriations. We tana. I hope he visits with the pro- riculture. That is a fact. If you want to have given away our power on trade. It ducers. He will find a friendly crowd. I talk about things like food security is our job to deal with issues of trade. think most of them voted for him. He and being able to have food on the I am talking about Congress’s job. I will be able to hear from the horse’s shelves, those family farmers are criti- have a bill to bring back some of that mouth what is happening with trade cally important. If you force them out power. and hopefully get these trade tariffs of business, that is more consolidation, I will tell you, I hope that tomorrow and all the things around trade that that is less people living in rural Amer- all these tariffs and trade issues go have been negative for family farm ag- ica, and that is a problem, and it is less away. I don’t think that is realistic. In riculture put behind us. I think time is certainty with our food supply. fact, I think we have seen a lot of our of the essence. It may be too late for a We feed the world for a good reason— foreign trading partners that were tra- lot of folks. We may see a lot of good because there are a lot of family farm- ditionally our partners turn to other operators no longer able to make a liv- ers out there who work very, very hard countries to get their products. I think ing in agriculture. Time is of the es- each and every day, and we over- that is a problem long term and cer- sence. produce, and the overproduced items tainly a problem short term because we With that, I yield the floor. need to be exported. If they are not, are feeling it in the short term. When I suggest the absence of a quorum. the prices go down. That is what we see they start getting their ag commod- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The right now. We see overproduction, be- ities from Australia and Argentina or clerk will call the roll. cause we produce food, and if that food some other country, it is hard to get is not exported, the prices go down, and those customers back, even when the The legislative clerk proceeded to they go down and they go down. Now trade agreements have been ratified. call the roll. they are prices that we had 40 years I ask the executive branch to quit Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask ago. playing games with American agri- unanimous consent that the order for Now, this administration’s solution culture. I know that most of the farm- the quorum call be rescinded. for this problem is to borrow money ers support the Trump administration, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without from our kids and write farmers but I am telling you, we saw a mass ex- objection, it is so ordered.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.007 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5505 TAXES don’t return it. I am not talking about $26 billion—that they are holding that Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I want tax refunds. I am talking about some- belongs to the American people, and to talk a little bit today about some- thing else, and that is going to be the they won’t give it back. thing I am embarrassed about on be- subject of my talk for a few minutes I used to be a State treasurer in Lou- half of the Federal Government. Before today. isiana. I and some my colleagues sued I explain why I am embarrassed on be- Now, look, the Internal Revenue the Federal Department of Treasury. half of my government, I need to give Service, which is housed, as you know, Do you know why we sued them? Be- a little background. in the Department of Treasury—they cause as State treasurers, we have pro- Did you ever stop and think about are very aggressive. Oh Lord, you bet- grams called unclaimed property pro- how much we pay in taxes in this coun- ter pay your taxes. If you don’t pay grams—you might have heard about try? We have city taxes. We have coun- your taxes, they are on you like a hobo them—where we would return money ty taxes. In Louisiana, we call our on a ham sandwich. They will chase to people in our States that we would counties parishes, so we have parish you like a hound from Hades. You bet- take in from businesses that owed peo- taxes. We have State taxes. We have ter pay them the right amount, and ple money but couldn’t find the people. fees at all of those levels. Sometimes you better pay them on time. Most Let’s suppose you go rent an apart- politicians will try to call a hand in Americans don’t like that but are OK ment back in your home State. You your pocket a fee as opposed to a tax, with it because they know we have to put down a utility deposit, and you like you are going to be dumb enough run government, we have to defend our move and you don’t get back your util- to think that makes a difference. It is country, and we have to educate our ity deposit. You forget about it. The still money out of your pocket. And kids. But what happens when the De- utility can’t keep that deposit. They then we have Federal taxes. The gov- partment of Treasury, which houses are supposed to look for you, but they ernment taxes the food we eat, the the Internal Revenue Service, owes can’t find you. They can’t keep that clothes we buy, the houses we live in, money to the American people and re- money. It doesn’t belong to them. It is the cars we drive. The government fuses to give it back? That is what em- a deposit. They have to turn it over to taxes when we work and when we play. barrasses me, and that is what makes the State treasurer. If you want to go fishing, you have to me angry. The State treasurers of every State pay a tax. If you want to go hunting, Right now, our U.S. Department of work very hard to contact the people you have to pay a tax. The government Treasury is holding $26 billion—remem- and to give them back their utility de- even taxes us when we die. ber I told you how big a billion is—it posits. Every day, State treasurers re- Let me talk about the Federal taxes owes to the American people in un- turn utility deposits, apartment depos- for a second. This is just a fraction of claimed, matured savings bonds. And its, uncashed payroll checks, lost the money people pay. At the Federal you know what a savings bond is. That stocks, lost bonds, and tax refunds. level, our main tax is income taxes— is a loan by an American citizen to our Every State treasurer is very active. corporate income tax, personal income government. We funded World War II in They have the infrastructure set up, tax. Do you know how much we pay part through savings bonds. they have websites, they have com- every year—the American people—in This is how a savings bond works. It puters, and they return this money to corporate and personal income tax? I is very simple. Let’s suppose I go buy a people every day. When a business has am going to show you. I am going to $100 savings bond. I give $100 to the your money and can’t find you, they write it out because it is impressive. U.S. Department of Treasury, which can’t keep it; they have to turn it over Do you see all those zeros? There are 12 collects $2 trillion through IRS. I give to the State treasurer. zeros—$2 trillion every year. Do you $100 to the Department of Treasury. It So the treasurers sued the U.S. De- know how much $2 trillion is? That is is a loan. The Treasury takes that $100 partment of Treasury and said: We $2,000 billion. Do you know how much a and promises to give me in, say, 20 have these unclaimed property pro- billion is? If right now I started count- years, $200 back. I don’t get annual in- grams. Give us the names and address- ing to a billion, do you know when I terest payments. There are some excep- es of these people to whom the Treas- would finish? It would take me 32 tions to that. In the old days, I got a ury Department owes $26 billion, and years. I would finish in 2051. I wouldn’t paper bond. Today, it is all done elec- we will give it back to people. make it; I will be dead by then. tronically. I loan the Federal Govern- Do you know what the Department of I will tell you how big a billion is. A ment $100. I wait 20 years, and interest Treasury said? Nothing. Not a thing. billion seconds ago, it was 1986 and accrues. I don’t get the checks. In 2 They just ignored the treasurers. When was President. That is years, I go down with my savings bond, we finally got their attention, they how big a billion is. A billion minutes and I say: OK, I want my $200. said: No, we are not giving it back. We ago, the Romans were conquering But sometimes people forget. They are keeping the money. Mesopotamia. A billion hours ago, put those bonds in a safe deposit box Well, the treasurers sued them and Neanderthals roamed the Earth. That or—today, we don’t use paper bonds; we are still in court. And not only has the is 1 billion. The American people pay do it electronically. People will forget. U.S. Department of Treasury not given $2,000 billion in taxes every year—not In the old days when we used paper the money back, they have gone and State and not local; Federal corporate bonds, sometimes they would lose hired lawyers. They are spending mil- and personal income taxes. those bonds. A lot of times, as a birth- lions and millions and millions of dol- Now, look, we know that as a result day present, grandparents would give a lars to try to keep this money from the of the social contract we have made bond to their grandchildren, give them American people. among ourselves, we are better off liv- a $100 bond, and they would say to Remember, the U.S. Department of ing and working together and pooling their son or grandson or grand- Treasury—they have the names and our money so we can hire cops and daughter: Hold on to this bond, and in they have the addresses. They may be build roads and educate our children. 20 years, you will have $200. Of course, old addresses, but all they would have We know that is the price to pay in a sometimes the young people would lose to do would be to give the names and civilized society, but that is still a lot them. They are not really completely the old addresses to the State treas- of money. lost. The bond might have been lost— urers in every State. For example, in Now, I don’t know about you, but I the physical bond—in the days when we my State in Louisiana—and we have get mad when some people cheat—when used paper bonds. asked Treasury to do this. The U.S. De- all people whom I know of cheat on The people who loaned the money to partment of Treasury could just give their taxes. That means that law-abid- the Federal Government might have all the names of all the people in Lou- ing citizens have to pay more to make forgotten about the bonds, but do you isiana to whom this money is owed up for those who cheat. know who knows about the bonds? The through savings bonds and give them Do you know what else makes me U.S. Department of Treasury, because the addresses, and the treasurer in my mad? What also makes me mad is when they have the names and the addresses. State will track these people down and the Federal entity to which we pay Right now, they have the names and give them back their money. But the these taxes has money of ours and they addresses, and they have the money— U.S. Department of Treasury won’t do

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.008 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5506 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 it. They are fighting us in court. Do would just tell the U.S. Department of ess this through the normal regular you know why they won’t do it? Greed. Treasury to do its job. It doesn’t own order, as we call it around here, but I They figure people will never go claim this money. It doesn’t own this money, wish him good luck and certainly my their money. They are just going to it is not theirs, and they need to give it constituents would like to see that $2.1 keep it. You can’t do that if you are a back. And they don’t have to spend a billion back in their pockets instead of business. If you are a business in Amer- lot of time on it. All they have to do is the Federal Treasury. So I thank him. ica and you have somebody’s money, give the names and the addresses to PRESCRIPTION DRUGS you have to go look for them—it is a every State treasurer. I will give them Mr. President, on another matter, law in every State—and if you can’t their cell numbers if they want it. Just during the August break back home, I find them, you have to turn the money give the names and the addresses to heard from a startling number of my over to the State treasurer, and the the State treasurers. constituents about their increasing State treasurer gives it back. Not the I would like to get our Senators in- struggles to deal with the cost of their Federal Government. Not the Depart- volved in Florida, where our Presiding prescription medications. This in- ment of Treasury. We are talking real Officer and Senator RUBIO are from. I cluded stories about skipping their money here. would like them to have the names. blood pressure medication or diabetics I am going to give an example. I see Maybe they could go out—we used to rationing their insulin and people trav- my good friend Senator CORNYN over do this when we had unclaimed prop- eling across the border, going to Mex- here. He works hard for the people of erty in Louisiana. You can go advertise ico—to the farmacias in Mexico—to get Texas. They love him. I just came back in the paper or on the radio or on tele- inhalers at a lower price. Of course, the from San Antonio. They love Senator vision or on the internet and say: I am problem is, you don’t know when you CORNYN. Do you know how much the going to be out at the so-and-so mall go to another country whether it is as U.S. Department of Treasury owes Sen- this Saturday from 10 to 12 with my advertised, whether it is counterfeit, or ator CORNYN’s people just in Texas? computers and my team’s computers. whether it is genuine. So there are They are owed $2.1 billion. This money Come on out and check your name and risks associated with that. But my isn’t lost; the Department of Treasury see if you have unredeemed savings point is that people are struggling to has it. They have the names, and they bonds. deal with their drug costs, and they are have the addresses. People come out, and you would be going to extraordinary means, some of Now, as we went along in our law- surprised, they find their name, and which are potentially dangerous to suit—and the lawsuit is still pending. you say: OK. We will get your current their health. It is not mine anymore. I am no longer address, and we will get you a check in I know my constituents back home State treasurer. One of the statements 2 weeks. People say: Gosh, the last are frustrated by confusing price hikes. that the Department of Treasury filed time the government gave me any They don’t understand the dramatic in court—I almost laughed. If I had money was never. But they feel a little price differences from one pharmacy to been in court, I would have laughed. bit better about their government. the next. They are terrified about what They said: Yeah, we have the names This bill will work. I can’t imagine will happen if the price gets so high and we have the addresses, but it would who would oppose this bill except my that they will have to give up taking cost $128 million to organize the friends at the Department of Treasury, their prescriptions altogether. records. That was one of the excuses and they don’t have a good reason for It is no surprise that a recent Gallup they gave to the judge. Give me a opposing it. They just want to keep the poll found that Americans view the break. If you believe that, you will money. pharmaceutical industry more nega- never own your own home. If you and I I am going to be talking about this a tively than any other industry. A lie to the government, we can go to lot because the money is important. whopping 58 percent said that they jail, but if the government lies to us— People have worked hard for this. But have a negative view of the pharma- ‘‘Oh, it will take $128 million to orga- I will tell you what is more impor- ceutical industry, and 48 percent have nize the records’’—that is called poli- tant—the principle. We have to pay our a negative view of the healthcare in- tics. Oklahoma, which is next door to taxes in the right amount and on time. dustry as a whole. Congress’s numbers Texas, is owed $312 million. As far as When the government has our money, are much worse than that, but the Michigan, the U.S. Department of they ought to give it back to us in the point is, people are concerned, and they Treasury is holding $773 million in right amount and on time. want us to do something about it. fully redeemed—they are not paying Thank you for your attention and When the products and services these interest anymore—but unclaimed sav- your time. groups provide mean the difference be- ings bonds from the people of Michi- I yield to Senator CORNYN, who has tween life and death—which they do— gan. Do you think some of those folks over $2 billion of uncashed savings that lack of trust is a bad sign, to be in Michigan could use that money bonds in his State, thanks to our De- sure. I believe, along with many of my right now to maybe save for retirement partment of Treasury. colleagues, that it is time to get to the or maybe to educate their children? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- bottom of these rising costs and pro- Idaho is not very big. It has a bunch of ator from Texas. vide the American people with some lakes, and it is a great State. It is owed Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, let me transparency, some clarity, some peace $128 million. Tennessee is owed $480 begin my remarks by thanking my of mind, and hopefully a break in their million; Wyoming, $45 million; and New friend for, No. 1, visiting Texas this out-of-pocket costs for prescription York, $1.5 billion. past weekend. We are next-door neigh- drugs. I am just beside myself. Do you won- bors. We share a lot in common. But, In the Senate we have taken a bipar- der why people hate government? Here particularly, I want to thank him for tisan approach that reaches across sev- it is. We have to pay our taxes in the highlighting this injustice. It is shock- eral of our standing committees, and right amount and on time. If we don’t ing to me that a U.S. Senator would we have made some serious progress. I do it, they come and take our first- have to introduce legislation to pass would like to remind anybody who is born, and if we are late, they fine us. both Houses and get the President’s listening what we have done so far and This is the IRS under the Department signature for people to get their money what we need to do next. of Treasury. But here they have $26 bil- back from the Federal Government. It Earlier this summer, the Senate lion, and they have the names and they is shocking, and I didn’t know any- Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- have the addresses, and they won’t give thing about it until the Senator from sions Committee passed a package to it back. It is an embarrassment. It is a Louisiana highlighted it, so I thank end surprise billing to create more disgrace. They should hide their heads him for that. transparency and create more competi- in a bag. I am proud to be a cosponsor of the tion. The Senate Finance Committee Now, I have a bill. I am hoping my bill and would encourage all of our col- on which I sit passed a package of bills colleagues will support it. It is called leagues to join. I can’t imagine why it designed to reduce prescription drug the Unclaimed Savings Bond Act of couldn’t pass by unanimous consent. I prices for seniors and children, and the 2019, S. 2417. It is a very simple bill. It don’t even know why we need to proc- Judiciary Committee, on which I also

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.010 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5507 sit, has passed several bills to lower which has been available for more than venation of his city of Detroit and its the cost of prescription drugs and stop 15 years. This type of behavior makes less advantaged citizens. He has also bad actors from gaming the system. it very difficult for biosimilar manu- received so many awards that it would We have talked to every major player facturers to bring a product to mar- be impractical to list them all here in the supply chain and have asked ket—competition. While the patent on today, but I note that he has been hon- questions about the confusing practices the actual drug formula may have ex- ored by such groups as United Way, the that are driving up costs. Of course, I pired, there are still, in this case, hun- Michigan Black Chamber of Commerce, would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge dreds of other patents to sort through. the Urban League of Detroit, the Boy the Presiding Officer’s leadership when Litigating all of these extraneous pat- Scouts of America, and New Detroit. it comes to this topic, knowledgeable ents is expensive, difficult, and unnec- Of course, my friends on the other as he is about the healthcare industry, essary. This artificial structure denies side of the aisle are dutiful in their ex- beyond the average Senator. market entry for competitors years be- amination of any possible flaw. I am One example of the problem is the yond the exclusivity period that the convinced that the concerns they may anti-competitive behavior of drug man- law intends to grant. Today, there are have raised are not well-founded, and ufacturers. Companies pour extensive five competitors of HUMIRA that are he is, in fact, entirely qualified and ap- time and money into research and de- available in Europe, but they are propriately nominated to this impor- velopment of new medications, and blocked from being sold in the United tant position. that is good. What they get in return is States until 2023. I note that I am biased in favor of the ability to recover their costs and This bill will not stifle innovation or Mr. Rakolta because I have known him earn a profit under a patent. These pat- punish those who use the patent sys- personally for more than 30 years. He ents justifiably protect the intellectual tem as it is intended; it simply stops and his family have spent dozens of property of these drugs for a time and the bad guys from profiting off the evenings in the home of my parents, are a key driver behind the incredible backs of patients. This is a critical studying the teachings of their faith. innovation that occurs here in the component of our efforts to bring down He is a man who makes commitments United States. drug costs, and I am glad this proposal only after a great deal of thought, and The United States discovers and received unanimous support in the Ju- when they are made, he is fully loyal manufactures more innovative and life- diciary Committee. to them in his business, in his commu- saving drugs than any other country in Later this week, the House Energy nity, in his Nation, in his faith, and in the world, but we are increasingly see- and Commerce Subcommittee is hold- his marriage and family of 4 children ing companies using the patent system ing a hearing about pharmaceutical and 11 grandchildren. as a shield for competition beyond the companies gaming the system, and I I know John Rakolta as a man of life of a patent, and it is time we put am eager to see what kinds of pro- honor and integrity, and I am con- that to a stop. posals our friends in the House intro- vinced that he will serve the country One of the bills in the Judiciary Com- duce as part of this effort. well. mittee that I introduced is called the I think it is fair to say that we have I yield the floor. Affordable Prescriptions for Patients done some serious work here in the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Act, which would address two cir- Senate when it comes to reducing pre- BLACKBURN). The question is, Will the cumstances that lead to higher drug scription drug costs, but we have work Senate advise and consent to the costs. First is something called product ahead of us to do. In other words, we Rakolta nomination? hopping, which occurs when a company have to bring them to the floor for a Mr. ROMNEY. Madam President, I develops a reformulation of a product vote, and I hope we do so soon. ask for the yeas and nays. that is about to lose its patent and I appreciate the countless Texans The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a pulls the original product from the who have reached out and commu- sufficient second? market. This is done not because the nicated with me and who continue to There appears to be a sufficient sec- new formula is more effective, nec- reach out to share their concerns and ond. essarily, but because it prevents ge- their stories about unnecessarily high The clerk will call the roll. neric competitors from competing with out-of-pocket drug costs. I am com- The bill clerk called the roll. the original product. mitted to working with all of our col- Mr. THUNE. The following Senators One example is a drug called leagues across the aisle to address are necessarily absent: the Senator Namenda, which is used by patients these rising healthcare costs generally from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER) and with Alzheimer’s disease, a terrible, and to ensure that drug companies put the Senator from Kansas (Mr. ROB- devastating disease. Near the end of patients before profits. ERTS). the exclusivity period, the manufactur- I yield the floor. Further, if present and voting, the ers switched from a twice-daily drug to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX- a once-daily drug. That move, under ator from Utah. ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ the current law, prevented pharmacists NOMINATION OF JOHN RAKOLTA, JR. Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the from being able to switch patients to a Mr. ROMNEY. Mr. President, I rise Senator from Colorado (Mr. BENNET), lower cost generic—even though it is today to speak on behalf of the nomi- the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. just as effective—so the company could nation of Mr. John Rakolta to become BOOKER), the Senator from California continue to earn a profit under this ex- the Ambassador to the United Arab (Ms. HARRIS), the Senator from clusivity provision under the patent Emirates. Vermont (Mr. SANDERS), and the Sen- laws. By defining these types of anti- Mr. Rakolta is the owner of a con- ator from Massachusetts (Ms. WARREN) competitive behaviors, the Federal struction company that builds major are necessarily absent. Trade Commission would be able to projects like factories, churches, hos- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there bring antitrust suits against the bad pitals, and airports. His firm guides the any other Senators in the Chamber de- actors who deliberately game the sys- work of thousands of workers here in siring to vote? tem. the United States and in countries The result was announced—yeas 63, Secondly, the bill disarms patent around the globe. With revenues of ap- nays 30, as follows: thickets, which occur when an inno- proximately $1.7 billion annually, he [Rollcall Vote No. 283 Ex.] vator uses multiple overlapping pat- has built one of the largest and most ents or patents with identical claims to successful general contractors in the YEAS—63 make it harder for competitors to Nation. Barrasso Coons Fischer Blackburn Cornyn Gardner enter the field. One example is the drug I presume this success has made him Blunt Cotton Graham HUMIRA, which is commonly used to a prosperous person, but he is also a Boozman Cramer Grassley treat arthritis and a number of other person who is actively engaged in his Braun Crapo Hassan conditions. AbbVie, the manufacturer community. He has served on the Burr Cruz Hawley Capito Daines Hoeven of HUMIRA, has 136 patents and 247 boards of numerous organizations, sev- Cassidy Enzi Hyde-Smith patent applications on that drug, eral of which have focused on the reju- Collins Ernst Inhofe

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.011 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5508 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 Isakson Murphy Shaheen the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. to recognize an incredible Georgian, a Johnson Paul Shelby Jones Perdue Sinema BOOKER), the Senator from California true statesman, a titan of the United Kennedy Peters Stabenow (Ms. HARRIS), the Senator from States Senate, and, maybe most impor- King Portman Sullivan Vermont (Mr. SANDERS), the Senator tant, a friend to me and many people Lankford Risch Tester from Massachusetts (Ms. WARREN), and here in this town and back home in Lee Romney Thune Manchin Rounds Tillis the Senator from Oregon (Mr. WYDEN) : Senator JOHNNY ISAKSON. McConnell Rubio Toomey are necessarily absent. Like everyone, I was surprised and McSally Sasse Van Hollen The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. saddened to hear of JOHNNY’s upcoming Moran Scott (FL) Wicker retirement. Since my very first day in Murkowski Scott (SC) Young CRUZ). Are there any other Senators in the Chamber desiring to vote? the Senate walking through this door NAYS—30 The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 63, back here to be sworn in with JOHNNY Baldwin Feinstein Murray nays 29, as follows: escorting me, I have come to revere Blumenthal Gillibrand Reed Brown Heinrich Rosen [Rollcall Vote No. 284 Ex.] this guy. He has been a mentor that I Cantwell Hirono Schatz YEAS—63 have looked up to. He has been a great Cardin Kaine Schumer leader for our State for many years. He Barrasso Graham Murphy Carper Klobuchar Smith has been a reliable and effective col- Casey Leahy Udall Blackburn Grassley Paul Cortez Masto Markey Warner Blunt Hassan Perdue league. Most of all, he has been a friend Duckworth Menendez Whitehouse Boozman Hawley Portman whom I deeply cherish. Durbin Merkley Wyden Braun Hoeven Risch Burr Hyde-Smith Romney It will be hard to see him go, but the NOT VOTING—7 Capito Inhofe Rounds reality is he won’t go. He will still be Alexander Harris Warren Carper Isakson Rubio involved here. I am sure I will get the Bennet Roberts Cassidy Johnson Sasse phone calls about when we might have Booker Sanders Collins Jones Scott (FL) Coons Kaine Scott (SC) disagreed on a vote or why didn’t I The nomination was confirmed. Cornyn Kennedy Shaheen think about this. He has been a tre- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Cotton King Shelby mendous partner for me these last 4 the previous order, the motion to re- Cramer Lankford Sinema Crapo Lee Sullivan years. consider is considered made and laid Cruz Manchin Thune However, JOHNNY has left a profound upon the table and the President will Daines McConnell Tillis legacy that is worth celebrating. It is be immediately notified of the Senate’s Enzi McSally Toomey one that we should all strive to follow Ernst Merkley Warner action. Fischer Moran Wicker here in this body. He epitomizes the f Gardner Murkowski Young best of this body, the . MOTION NAYS—29 His legacy can be summed up in one The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Baldwin Gillibrand Rosen word: service. No matter what he does, to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Blumenthal Heinrich Schatz Brown Hirono Schumer JOHNNY puts other people before him- Senate the pending cloture motion, Cantwell Klobuchar Smith self, and this has continued since the which the clerk will state. Cardin Leahy Stabenow first day I knew him back when he was Casey Markey The senior assistant legislative clerk Tester running a real estate company in At- read as follows: Cortez Masto Menendez Udall Duckworth Murray Van Hollen lanta, GA. JOHNNY puts other people CLOTURE MOTION Durbin Peters Whitehouse first before himself. He doesn’t do it for We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Feinstein Reed recognition or fame. Many times, he ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the NOT VOTING—8 does it when people don’t even notice Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Alexander Harris Warren or know he did it. He does it because it Bennet Roberts Wyden is the right thing to do. nation of Kenneth A. Howery, of Texas, to be Booker Sanders Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- He served his country as a member of potentiary of the United States of America The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this the Georgia Air National Guard. He to the Kingdom of Sweden. vote, the yeas are 63, the nays are 29. served his community as a Sunday Mitch McConnell, , John The motion is agreed to. schoolteacher for 30 years. I have done Cornyn, John Barrasso, Mike Crapo, f that, and I know that is a labor of love. John Thune, Tim Scott, John Hoeven, That takes a lot of work. Shelley Moore Capito, Kevin Cramer, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR He served the people of Georgia in John Boozman, Steve Daines, Richard Burr, James E. Risch, Roy Blunt, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the statehouse and the State senate Thom Tillis, Martha McSally. clerk will report the nomination. and later in both houses of the U.S. The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- The senior assistant legislative clerk Congress. In fact, he is the only Geor- imous consent, the mandatory quorum read the nomination of Kenneth A. gian to ever have done that. No matter call has been waived. Howery, of Texas, to be Ambassador what role JOHNNY has been in, he is al- The question is, Is it the sense of the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of ways focused on helping others. Senate that debate on the nomination the United States of America to the His dedication to service is even of Kenneth A. Howery, of Texas, to be Kingdom of Sweden. more impressive because it has pro- duced incredible results for our coun- Ambassador Extraordinary and Pleni- f potentiary of the United States of try. This town has a lot of activity, but America to the Kingdom of Sweden, RECESS it is short on results. JOHNNY knew the difference. For example, one of JOHN- shall be brought to a close? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under NY’s top priorities in Congress had been The yeas and nays are mandatory the previous order, the Senate stands to take care of our country’s veterans. under the rule. in recess until 2:15 p.m. Georgia is home to over 700,000 vet- The clerk will call the roll. Thereupon, the Senate, at 1:20 p.m., erans today. As a veteran himself, The senior assistant legislative clerk recessed until 2:15 p.m. when called to JOHNNY treats each one of them as his called the roll. order by the Presiding Officer (Mrs. Mr. THUNE. The following Senators own sister or brother. When JOHNNY CAPITO). are necessarily absent: the Senator saw the shameful conditions and mis- from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER) and f management happening at the VA, he the Senator from Kansas (Mr. ROB- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued immediately sprang into action. ERTS). Fixing the VA seemed impossible, Further, if present and voting, the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- but no challenge was too large for Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX- ator from Georgia. JOHNNY ISAKSON. Thanks to him, as ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY ISAKSON chairman of the Senate Veterans Ad- Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Mr. PERDUE. Madam President, I ministration Committee, we have made Senator from Colorado (Mr. BENNET), rise today with mixed emotions. I rise incredible progress on this and many

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:30 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00010 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.001 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5509 other fronts relating to the VA. His ef- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- two of these shootings—Gilroy and forts, such as the VA MISSION Act, ator from California. Dayton—law enforcement arrived in have helped bring accountability, effi- GUN CONTROL MEASURES less than a minute, but in that time, ciency, and trust back to the depart- Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, dozens of people had been injured or ment. to my right is an August 11, 2019, cover killed. As the junior Senator from Georgia, I from . It shows the I strongly believe that reinstating have had the great pleasure of working faces of the 423 people killed in mass the Federal ban on assault weapons directly with JOHNNY on a number of shootings between the Sandy Hook could have saved some of the lives that other issues affecting our State. Each massacre in 2012 and the recent shoot- have been recently lost. As the New time, I saw firsthand how effective ing in Dayton, OH. This is more than a York Times reported in an op-ed titled, JOHNNY ISAKSON really is. I have lik- third of the 1,196 people killed in mass ‘‘That Assault Weapons Ban? It Really ened him to the Howard Baker of our shootings since 1966, so shootings have Did Work,’’ data shows that, compared era. He speaks softly, but when he grown dramatically in this country. with the decade before its adoption, the speaks, people listen. This should not be the face of America. Federal assault weapons ban, in effect Working with JOHNNY, we broke the I think we have got to do much more from September 1994 through 2004, was politic logjam to provide much-needed to stop the plague of gun violence that associated with a 25-percent drop in disaster relief for farmers in south continues to take the lives of the most gun massacres—a massacre is from 6 to Georgia just this year. We secured innocent among us, including the 20 8 people—and a 40-percent drop in fa- funding for the deepening of the Port of small beautiful children who lost their talities from 81 to 49. We need to rein- Savannah after 20 years of trying to lives that December in Newtown. I state the Federal assault weapons ban. get that port deepened just 5 feet. We have their photo at home, and I look at It worked before, and it will work solved the tax problem under his lead- it almost every day, and it is indeed a again. ership for Plant Vogtle, which secured heartbreaker. We also need to ban high-capacity funding for the first two nuclear reac- Today, I would like to speak about a magazines. My legislation to ban as- tors built in this country in the last 30 few bills that I believe the Senate sault weapons includes this provision, years, and he helped pass the First should be voting on right now. Specifi- and there are standalone bills as well. Step Act, which makes our justice sys- cally, we should be voting on requiring Just a few weeks ago, at Northern Po- tem fairer, while still deterring crimi- universal background checks, banning lice Station in San Francisco, I had the nal behavior. assault weapons, banning high-capac- opportunity to examine a 100-round These achievements would not have ity magazines, and supporting enact- magazine personally—two rounds that been possible without JOHNNY’s steady ment of extreme risk laws. fit on a rifle or a revolver. I couldn’t hand and his leadership. When he The House passed a strong bill on believe it, 100 rounds that could be used speaks, people listen. He gets the job universal background checks that has just round after round after round so done. He understands what priority been sitting on Leader MCCONNELL’s easily. It is lightweight. It is simple to means; yet JOHNNY isn’t the kind of desk now for more than 200 days. Ac- use. It is diabolical. And the only pur- leader who gives orders and makes de- cording to a Washington Post-ABC pose of it is to kill as many people as mands. He is someone who leads from a News poll, 89 percent of Americans sup- possible as fast as possible. place of respect, compromise, and un- port universal background checks, and Keeping high-capacity magazines out derstanding with both sides of the that includes 83 percent of Repub- of the hands of mass shooters is par- aisle. With JOHNNY, it doesn’t matter licans; yet that bill sits on Leader ticularly important because, many who you are or what party you are in MCCONNELL’s desk. times, shootings are only stopped when or where you are from. He is always We have seen even more lives lost in the shooter has to pause and reload. In there to talk and always ready to lis- the last several weeks while this bill 2011, the shooter in Tucson, who shot ten. languishes on the Senate calendar. The then-Congresswoman Gabrielle Gif- JOHNNY ISAKSON is exactly the kind shootings in Gilroy, Dayton, El Paso, fords, was only stopped when bystand- of servant leader that the Founding Midland-Odessa took the lives of 41 ers wrestled the shooter to the ground Mothers and Founding Fathers envi- people, including a 6-year-old boy after he stopped firing to reload. Civil- sioned for our country. It is what named Steven Romero. A background ians have no use for these devices, so makes him a true statesman, and it is check could have prevented the shooter all they are doing is costing innocent a model I am sure our Founding Moth- in Odessa and Midland from getting his life. ers and Founding Fathers would indeed gun. Finally, the Senate should be consid- be very proud of today. Unfortunately, he was able to pur- ering legislation on extreme risk laws. Of course, the road has not always chase a firearm through a private sale Seventeen States and the District of been easy for JOHNNY—not every battle that does not require a background Columbia already have them. These has been won, not all news has been check, and still, we wait for a vote on laws allow family members and law en- good. What I have always admired this bill to close the gaping loopholes forcement to go to court before a judge about JOHNNY, though, is his stalwart of our background check system. and get a temporary lawful order to resilience. Whenever circumstances Please, Leader MCCONNELL, let us vote keep a gun out of the hands of someone have tried to knock him down, he al- on this bill. who is dangerous. These orders involve ways gets back up with a smile, and he Sadly, what has become all too com- judicial findings, presentation of evi- keeps serving others. You know you mon is that each of the shootings I dence, and court proceedings that pro- feel guilty when you are around JOHN- mentioned involved an assault weapon. tect people’s due process rights. There NY ISAKSON when you are having a bad The Gilroy shooter used a WASR 10, is legislation, too. It is called the Ex- day and JOHNNY says: How are you which is an AK–47 style semiautomatic treme Risk Protection Order Act of doing? You better say great because he weapon. The rifle was equipped with a 2019. It would create new grants to is going to give you that same answer. 75-round drum magazine. In this case, incentivize States to enact their own As he and Dianne head into this next the shooter intentionally crossed into extreme risk laws. chapter of their life, I have no doubt Nevada to purchase the gun, as the sale The House Judiciary Committee re- that JOHNNY will continue to serve oth- of assault weapons is banned in Cali- cently passed companion legislation, ers and help make our world a better fornia. The Dayton shooter used an and polls have shown the majority of place because that is exactly who he is. AM15 assault rifle equipped with a 100- Americans support these measures. Scripture tells us in Matthew 23 that round drum magazine. The El Paso According to the same Washington ‘‘The greatest among you will be a shooter also used a WASR 10 rifle, and Post-ABC News poll I mentioned ear- servant.’’ When you consider all that the shooter in Midland and Odessa used lier, 86 percent of Americans support JOHNNY has done, it is clear to me that an AR–15-style rifle. these measures—86 percent, including JOHNNY ISAKSON truly is the greatest These are weapons of war, plain and 85 percent of Republicans. among us. simple. Their main function is to kill I hope Members will listen to this be- I yield the floor. as many people as possible. In fact, in cause these are needless deaths and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:30 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00011 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.018 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5510 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 needless murders. They need not have and must do more to address this epi- in their towns, in their counties, or in happened. Simply put, this body and demic. our State who are trying to get their the Senate Judiciary Committee Some of the most crucial steps we hands on guns. should really be taking action today to take must be taken at the Federal At a hearing back in May in the Sen- protect against gun violence. level. Yet, to make progress, the party ate Judiciary Committee, Chairman Last week, the House Judiciary Com- that controls this body and this floor LINDSEY GRAHAM said this proposal was mittee passed three bills that would has to join hands with those of us in a painfully obvious bipartisan bill that ban high-capacity magazines, would my party—those willing to work across we should take up and pass. He has prohibit people convicted of hate the aisle in a responsible way—and committed to me that he would like to crimes from possessing firearms, and lead. Frankly, more than anything see it pass committee. There are a lot would incentivize States to create ex- else, as has been said by the Repub- of other Senators who agree, not just treme risk laws. I am so disappointed lican majority leader, President Trump Democrats like Senators DUCKWORTH, our colleagues on the other side of the needs to take a clear and firm position JONES, and KLOBUCHAR but also friends aisle have blocked these commonsense and stick to it. The American people from across the aisle. Senators measures for years, and I would appeal deserve no less. If this body is going to PERDUE, RUBIO, and COLLINS have to them: Please, it is time for us to act. take up and pass gun control legisla- joined in cosponsoring this, and I know We cannot let another mass shooting tion, it will require our President to there are other Senators who are eager go by and not take even these simple lead. or who are willing to join in the days steps. I think bringing bipartisan bills to ahead. The NICS Denial Notification I yield the floor. the floor here for a vote is a great place Act is exactly the sort of common- I suggest the absence of a quorum. to start. I want to talk for a few min- sense, narrowly crafted bipartisan bill The PRESIDING OFFICER. The utes about one of those bills that I in- that would pass the Senate tomorrow if clerk will call the roll. troduced with Republican Senator PAT Leader MCCONNELL would bring it to The senior assistant bill clerk pro- TOOMEY, of the neighboring Common- the floor for a vote. ceeded to call the roll. wealth of Pennsylvania, called the Simply put, bills like this and bills Mr. COONS. Madam President, I ask NICS Denial Notification Act. such as we discussed at that hearing on unanimous consent that the order for It has a simple objective. For those the Committee on the Judiciary re- the quorum call be rescinded. who are prohibited by law from owning garding extreme risk protection orders The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. a weapon—those who are convicted fel- provide an appropriate way for there to BLACKBURN). Without objection, it is so ons or who have been adjudicated men- be due process protections for demon- ordered. tally ill—but who go to a firearms deal- strably mentally ill individuals who Mr. COONS. Madam President, I er, fill out the background check form, threaten harm to others by having come to the floor to recognize the crit- lie on it, and say they are able to buy their guns removed from them for a ical moment that is before us as a a gun but get denied, get turned down brief period or for there to be universal country. We have an opportunity to once that NICS background check is background checks, such as legislation make real progress on bipartisan gun run, what do you think happens with that advanced in the House 6 months reforms that will help keep our com- that information? Where does the in- ago on a bipartisan basis. These sorts munities safer while respecting our formation go showing that convicted of proposals can help to keep guns treasured Second Amendment rights. felons are trying to buy weapons once away from people who should not have America’s epidemic of gun violence they have been denied? them. continues to devastate communities In my home State, it goes nowhere. It is clear to me, from poll after poll, and families across our Nation. Last In 34 States, it goes nowhere. In States survey after survey, and tragic story month, in just August alone, mass across the country, not just in Dela- after tragic story, that the American shootings in El Paso, in Dayton, and in ware but in New York, Kentucky, and people want us to act, and they want us Odessa claimed the lives of more than Texas, local law enforcement may to act on background checks. We 50 innocent Americans. Individual never learn about a convicted felon should vote on the Senate companion Americans, meanwhile, fall victim to who is actively trying to buy a gun and to H.R. 8. It is long past time for our gun violence every single day. Whether who is often committing another of- leader, the majority leader, to join through suicide or homicide, they take fense by lying about it in that attempt. with the majority of the country and far too many lives far too early. Just Our bill would fix that. put that bill on the Senate floor. this past weekend, four Delawareans in It requires Federal authorities to Just last week, the House Committee my hometown were shot, and in 2017, alert State law enforcement of any on the Judiciary passed the Keep up and down my home State, 111 Dela- background check denial so State au- Americans Safe Act, which would pro- wareans were killed by firearms. Guns thorities can decide whether to inves- hibit the high-capacity magazines that are now the third leading cause of tigate or to prosecute or to go and pay have been used in so many of these re- death for Delaware’s children under a visit to someone given this important cent, tragic mass shootings. If the lead- age 17. and imminent sign of an intention to er were to bring this to the floor and it Folks, these are not just numbers; engage in criminal activity. were to pass, it, along with all of the each gun death is a son, a daughter, a It also requires our Federal Depart- other bills I just referenced, would help neighbor, a congregation member, or a ment of Justice to publish an annual to save lives. friend. report with statistics about its pros- It is my hope that our President will In a recent meeting with Moms De- ecution of background check denial see this moment as an opportunity for mand Action in my office in Wil- cases so we in Congress and so folks real leadership and will listen to the mington, I listened to young parents around the country can better enforce majority of Americans, the majority of who were confronting for the first time our existing gun laws. Democrats, the majority of Repub- the reality of active shooter drills in What I hear, time and again in town- licans, and the majority of gun owners schools as they sent their children to halls back home in Delaware, is that who would like to see us act in a re- school for the first time and had them folks want us to enforce our existing sponsible and bipartisan way in order come home and ask questions about gun laws more thoroughly and more to reduce the easy access criminals why we as parents could not do more to wisely, and that is exactly what this have to guns and will take an impor- keep them safe in school. proposal would do. tant step forward in making our coun- Viewing this ongoing crisis through In Delaware, I have met with and try, our schools, our communities, and the eyes of our children—those who are heard from law enforcement leaders up our families safe. told to be quiet, to hide in a closet, to and down our State. The chiefs of po- What I hear back home in Delaware wait out a moment of sheer terror—is a lice from our State police, our county is that the overwhelming majority of reminder that our children are scared, police, and our municipal police have Americans are sick and tired of our that our families are scared, that our uniformly said they would welcome the thoughts and prayers after every neighbors are scared, and that we can information of those convicted felons shooting. They would be so much more

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:24 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.020 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5511 inspired if we actually took the risk of NOT VOTING—6 Capito Hyde-Smith Romney Cassidy Inhofe Rounds enacting legislation together. I think Alexander Harris Sanders Cornyn Isakson Rubio Booker Roberts Warren it is long past time for us to do just Cotton Johnson Sasse that, and I hope we will in the days The nomination was confirmed. Cramer Kennedy Scott (FL) ahead. Crapo Lankford Scott (SC) The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Daines Lee I yield the floor. the previous order, the motions to re- Shelby Enzi McConnell Sullivan Ernst McSally I suggest the absence of a quorum. consider are considered made and laid Thune Fischer Moran upon the table, and the President will Tillis The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Gardner Murkowski Toomey clerk will call the roll. be immediately notified of the Senate’s Graham Paul The legislative clerk proceeded to action. Grassley Perdue Wicker The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Hawley Portman Young call the roll. Hoeven Risch Mr. BLUNT. Madam President, I ask ator from . unanimous consent that the order for Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I ask NAYS—44 the quorum call be rescinded. unanimous consent that the remaining Baldwin Hassan Reed Bennet Heinrich Rosen The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without votes in this series be 10 minutes in length. Blumenthal Hirono Schatz objection, it is so ordered. Brown Jones Schumer The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The question is, Will the Senate ad- Cantwell Kaine Shaheen Cardin King vise and consent to the Howery nomi- objection, it is so ordered. Sinema Carper Klobuchar Smith f nation? Casey Leahy Stabenow Collins Manchin Mr. LANKFORD. Madam President, I Tester CLOTURE MOTION Coons Markey Udall ask for the yeas and nays. Cortez Masto Menendez Van Hollen The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Duckworth Merkley Warner sufficient second? to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Durbin Murphy Senate the pending cloture motion, Feinstein Murray Whitehouse There appears to be a sufficient sec- Gillibrand Peters Wyden ond. which the clerk will state. NOT VOTING—7 The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk read as follows: CLOTURE MOTION Alexander Harris Warren The legislative clerk called the roll. Booker Roberts Mr. THUNE. The following Senators We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- Cruz Sanders are necessarily absent: the Senator ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby The PRESIDING OFFICER. The yeas from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER) and move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- are 49 and the nays are 44. the Senator from Kansas (Mr. ROB- nation of Robert A. Destro, of Virginia, to be The motion is agreed to. ERTS). Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Further, if present and voting, the Human Rights, and Labor. f Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX- Mitch McConnell, David Perdue, John CLOTURE MOTION ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Cornyn, John Barrasso, Mike Crapo, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the John Thune, Tim Scott, John Hoeven, Shelley Moore Capito, Kevin Cramer, to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER), John Boozman, Steve Daines, Richard Senate the pending cloture motion, the Senator from California (Ms. HAR- Burr, James E. Risch, Roy Blunt, which the clerk will state. RIS), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Thom Tillis, Martha McSally. The bill clerk read as follows: SANDERS), and the Senator from Massa- The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- CLOTURE MOTION chusetts (Ms. WARREN) are necessarily imous consent, the mandatory quorum absent. We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- call has been waived. ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. CAS- The question is, Is it the sense of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby SIDY). Are there any other Senators in Senate that debate on the nomination move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- the Chamber desiring to vote? of Robert A. Destro, of Virginia, to be nation of Brent James McIntosh, of Michi- The result was announced—yeas 62, Assistant Secretary of State for De- gan, to be an Under Secretary of the Treas- nays 32, as follows: mocracy, Human Rights, and Labor, ury. Mitch McConnell, David Perdue, John [Rollcall Vote No. 285 Ex.] shall be brought to a close? Cornyn, John Barrasso, Mike Crapo, YEAS—62 The yeas and nays are mandatory John Thune, Tim Scott, John Hoeven, Barrasso Grassley Paul under the rule. Shelley Moore Capito, Kevin Cramer, Blackburn Hassan Perdue The clerk will call the roll. John Boozman, Steve Daines, Richard Blunt Hawley Portman The bill clerk called the roll. Burr, James E. Risch, Roy Blunt, Boozman Hoeven Risch Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Thom Tillis, Martha McSally. Braun Hyde-Smith Romney are necessarily absent: the Senator Burr Inhofe Rounds The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- Capito Isakson Rubio from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER), the imous consent, the mandatory quorum Cassidy Johnson Sasse Senator from Texas (Mr. CRUZ), and the call has been waived. Collins Jones Scott (FL) Coons Kaine Senator from Kansas (Mr. ROBERTS). The question is, Is it the sense of the Scott (SC) Cornyn Kennedy Further, if present and voting, the Senate that debate on the nomination Shaheen Cotton King Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX- of Brent James McIntosh, of Michigan, Cramer Lankford Shelby ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Crapo Lee Sinema to be Under Secretary of the Treasury, Cruz Manchin Sullivan Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the shall be brought to a close? Daines McConnell Thune Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER), The yeas and nays are mandatory Tillis Enzi McSally the Senator from California (Ms. HAR- under the rule. Ernst Merkley Toomey Fischer Moran Warner RIS), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. The clerk will call the roll. Gardner Murkowski Wicker SANDERS), and the Senator from Massa- The senior assistant bill clerk called Graham Murphy Young chusetts (Ms. WARREN) are necessarily the roll. NAYS—32 absent. Mr. THUNE. The following Senators Baldwin Feinstein Rosen The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there are necessarily absent: the Senator Bennet Gillibrand Schatz any other Senators in the Chamber de- from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER) and Blumenthal Heinrich Schumer siring to vote? the Senator from Kansas (Mr. ROB- Brown Hirono Smith The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 49, Cantwell Klobuchar ERTS). Stabenow nays 44, as follows: Cardin Leahy Tester Further, if present and voting, the Carper Markey Udall [Rollcall Vote No. 286 Ex.] Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX- Casey Menendez Van Hollen ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Cortez Masto Murray YEAS—49 Whitehouse Duckworth Peters Barrasso Blunt Braun Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Wyden Durbin Reed Blackburn Boozman Burr Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER),

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.021 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5512 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 the Senator from California (Ms. HAR- The yeas and nays are mandatory standing rule XXII, the postcloture RIS), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. under the rule. time on the Destro, McIntosh, and SANDERS), and the Senator from Massa- The clerk will call the roll. Callanan nominations expire at 11 a.m. chusetts (Ms. WARREN) are necessarily The senior assistant legislative clerk on Wednesday, September 18, and if the absent. called the roll. nominations are confirmed, the mo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there Mr. THUNE. The following Senators tions to reconsider be considered made any other Senators in the Chamber de- are necessarily absent: the Senator and laid upon the table and the Presi- siring to vote? from Tennessee (Mr. ALEXANDER), the dent be immediately notified of the The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 54, Senator from Wisconsin (Mr. JOHNSON), Senate’s action. nays 40, as follows: and the Senator from Kansas (Mr. ROB- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without [Rollcall Vote No. 287 Ex.] ERTS). objection, it is so ordered. YEAS—54 Further, if present and voting, the f Barrasso Gardner Murphy Senator from Tennessee (Mr. ALEX- ANDER) would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ Blackburn Graham Perdue LEGISLATIVE SESSION Blunt Grassley Portman Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Boozman Hawley Risch Senator from New Jersey (Mr. BOOKER), Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Braun Hoeven Romney ask unanimous consent that the Sen- Burr Hyde-Smith Rounds the Senator from California (Ms. HAR- Capito Inhofe Rubio RIS), the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. ate proceed to legislative session, with Cassidy Isakson Sasse KLOBUCHAR), the Senator from Senators permitted to speak therein Collins Johnson Scott (FL) for up to 10 minutes each. Cornyn Jones Scott (SC) Vermont (Mr. SANDERS), and the Sen- Cotton Kennedy Shelby ator from Massachusetts (Ms. WARREN) The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Cramer Lankford Sinema are necessarily absent. objection, it is so ordered. Crapo Lee Sullivan The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there Cruz Manchin Thune f Daines McConnell Tillis any other Senators in the Chamber de- Enzi McSally Toomey siring to vote? HONORING THE CENTENNIAL OF Ernst Moran Wicker The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 55, Fischer Murkowski Young THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES nays 37, as follows: ASSOCIATION NAYS—40 [Rollcall Vote No. 288 Ex.] Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Baldwin Hassan Rosen YEAS—55 Bennet Heinrich Schatz ask unanimous consent that the Sen- Blumenthal Hirono Schumer Barrasso Fischer Perdue ate proceed to the consideration of S. Blackburn Gardner Brown Kaine Shaheen Portman Blunt Graham Res. 314, submitted earlier today. Cantwell King Smith Risch Boozman Grassley The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Cardin Klobuchar Stabenow Romney Carper Leahy Braun Hawley Rounds clerk will report the resolution by Tester Burr Hoeven Casey Markey Udall Rubio title. Coons Menendez Capito Hyde-Smith Van Hollen Sasse The senior assistant legislative clerk Cortez Masto Merkley Cardin Inhofe Scott (FL) Warner Carper Isakson Duckworth Murray Scott (SC) as follows: Whitehouse Cassidy Jones Durbin Paul Shelby A resolution (S. Res. 314) honoring the cen- Wyden Collins Kennedy Feinstein Peters Sinema tennial of the Aerospace Industries Associa- Gillibrand Reed Cornyn Lankford Cotton Lee Sullivan tion. Thune NOT VOTING—6 Cramer Manchin There being no objection, the Senate Crapo McConnell Tillis Alexander Harris Sanders Toomey proceeded to consider the resolution. Booker Roberts Warren Cruz McSally Daines Moran Wicker Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this Enzi Murkowski Young consent that the resolution be agreed vote, the yeas are 54, the nays are 40. Ernst Murphy to, the preamble be agreed to, and the The motion is agreed to. NAYS—37 motions to reconsider be considered f Baldwin Heinrich Schatz made and laid upon the table with no Bennet Hirono Schumer intervening action or debate. CLOTURE MOTION Blumenthal Kaine Shaheen The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Brown King Smith Cantwell Leahy Stabenow objection, it is so ordered. to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Casey Markey Tester The resolution (S. Res. 314) was Senate the pending cloture motion, Coons Menendez Udall agreed to. which the clerk will state. Cortez Masto Merkley Van Hollen Duckworth Murray The preamble was agreed to. Warner The senior assistant legislative clerk Durbin Paul (The resolution, with its preamble, is Whitehouse read as follows: Feinstein Peters Wyden printed in today’s RECORD under ‘‘Sub- Gillibrand Reed CLOTURE MOTION Hassan Rosen mitted Resolutions.’’) We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the NOT VOTING—8 f Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Alexander Johnson Sanders move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Booker Klobuchar Warren ORDERS FOR WEDNESDAY, nation of Brian Callanan, of New Jersey, to Harris Roberts SEPTEMBER 18, 2019 be General Counsel for the Department of The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I the Treasury. vote, the yeas are 55, the nays are 37. ask unanimous consent that when the Mitch McConnell, David Perdue, John The motion is agreed to. Cornyn, John Barrasso, Mike Crapo, Senate completes its business today, it John Thune, Tim Scott, John Hoeven, f adjourn until 10 a.m., Wednesday, Sep- Shelley Moore Capito, Kevin Cramer, EXECUTIVE CALENDAR tember 18; further, that following the John Boozman, Steve Daines, Richard prayer and pledge, the morning hour be Burr, James E. Risch, Roy Blunt, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The deemed expired, the Journal of pro- Thom Tillis, Martha McSally. clerk will report the nomination. ceedings be approved to date, the time The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- The senior assistant legislative clerk for the two leaders be reserved for their imous consent, the mandatory quorum read the nomination of Brian Callanan, use later in the day, morning business call has been waived. of New Jersey, to be General Counsel be closed, and the Senate proceed to The question is, Is it the sense of the for the Department of the Treasury. executive session and resume consider- Senate that debate on the nomination The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- ation of the Destro nomination under of Brian Callanan, of New Jersey, to be jority leader is recognized. the previous order. General Counsel for the Department of ORDER OF PROCEDURE The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there the Treasury, shall be brought to a Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I objection? close? ask unanimous consent that notwith- Without objection, it is so ordered.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.007 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5513 ORDER FOR ADJOURNMENT day—100 people every single day. That Trump wait for approval from Big Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, if is enough people to fill every desk in Money special interests, Americans are there is no further business to come be- this Chamber day after day after day— dying. It is time to act. fore the Senate, I ask unanimous con- 100 people killed by gun violence every The beginning of school should be sent that it stand adjourned under the single day. something our young people look for- previous order, following the remarks In fact, since the House passed the ward to, not fear. of our Democratic colleagues. Bipartisan Background Checks Act, Next year, students at Fruitport The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without there have been an estimated 20,200 High School in West Michigan will at- objection, it is so ordered. people killed by gun violence, 12,322 tend a brandnew school in a brandnew The Senator from Michigan is recog- suicides using a gun, and 808 children— building. It has all sorts of amenities— nized. 808 children—killed by firearms. 10 science classrooms with spacious Those are some of the numbers, but labs, a drafting lab with a 3D printer, f we are not here tonight to just talk and art studios complete with pottery GUN CONTROL MEASURES about numbers. We are talking about kilns. It will also feature curved hall- people’s lives. These people have names ways to reduce a shooter’s sight line, Ms. STABENOW. Mr. President, I like Judy and Barbara, Mary Jo and shatterproof glass, and wing walls that rise this evening with many of my Mary Lou, and Richard and Tyler. will provide places for students to hide Democratic colleagues to speak about These six people were killed in 2016 in classrooms. an issue that is on the minds of fami- when an Uber driver went on a shoot- It is great that the school district is lies all across our country. I thank ing spree across Kalamazoo County, investing in the safety of its students, Senator MURPHY for organizing this MI. Two other people, Abigail and but it is also heartbreaking that they very important action this evening. Tiana, were gravely wounded. have to do so. Students in Fruitport Back-to-school always brings back Tiana watched the car coming to- and across Michigan should be focused such great memories of my own chil- ward her and saw the driver pull out a on next week’s math test or tomorrow dren, my son and daughter. I remember handgun. Tiana told her daughters to night’s football game, not where they them packing crayons and paper in run and stood still to shield them. Once can duck and take cover in their their new backpacks and eagerly head- she knew they were safe, she tried to school. ing off to meet their new teachers and get away too. The gunman pulled the It is time for America to stop failing catch up with friends to talk about trigger 15 times. Tiana was shot four our young people. Majority Leader what they did during the summer. It times. Only when she laid on the MCCONNELL, what are you waiting for? had always been such an exciting time ground and played dead did the bullets I yield the floor. of year for them. Unfortunately, it is stop. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- not the same now for their children, Broken bodies, shattered families, ator from Illinois. my grandchildren. grieving communities. This story is Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I thank I have two grandsons and a grand- one that is repeated across this coun- my colleague from Michigan and those daughter who are now in school. The try every single day now, and it has to who have joined together on the Demo- first new question that was asked when stop. cratic side to speak out on the issue of buying their backpacks was: Do you The American people expect the Sen- gun safety this afternoon and this want a bulletproof backpack? Do you ate to do its job and take action to evening. want a bulletproof backpack, was one make their lives better and safer. Un- I guess one of the real blessings in of the questions in buying their fortunately, that isn’t happening, and life is to have a grandchild, and I have backpacks for school. the American people are paying the got six really good ones. One is a little I also think of 2 weeks ago when my price. girl who has just entered the third youngest grandson started second Two hundred and two days ago—202 grade in a public school in Brooklyn, grade. My daughter and I were talking days ago the Democratic House passed NY. She is a sweetheart, and I love her about the fact that in addition to all of the Bipartisan Background Checks to pieces. the excitement and the energy around Act—202 days ago—which would re- She came home to tell her mom and starting school, there were changes— quire a background check for every gun dad last year, when she was in the sec- like a new front door and bulletproof sale, something pretty simple and com- ond grade, that they just had a drill in windows and a new way to get into the mon sense. That could have stopped her classroom, and they told her what school, walking in and having to stop the shooter in West Texas who killed 7 to do if someone showed up in the hall- and buzz and go through another door, innocent people and wounded another way or outside with a gun: hide under and all of the changes and the costs 25. It makes you wonder how many of the desk, stay away from the windows. that have gone into reconfiguring the the 301 mass shootings that have hap- To think that little 7-year-old girl school so you can’t walk directly into pened since January 1 could have been had to receive that kind of warning in classrooms. prevented and how many lives could America today breaks my heart. Why? It was important for the school to do have been saved. Does anyone really honestly believe that, but I am sure that what they Requiring a background check for that when the Second Amendment to would rather have been doing is adding every gun purchase isn’t controversial. the Constitution was written they en- more music and art classes and teach- In fact, it is what Americans are ask- visioned the fear that would go ers and technology and other things for ing for. It is pretty common sense. through the minds of children who, the children in that elementary school, I come from rural Michigan, and in after Connecticut, worry that some rather than bulletproof windows and Northern Michigan my whole family is shooter will come in with a semiauto- safety doors to stop a gunman from involved in hunting and all of the great matic weapon and kill dozens of kids in getting into the school. outdoor sports. I have lived with legal, one moment? That is the reality of gun Americans have learned that whether safe gun ownership my whole life. No violence today. That is one of the reali- it is a school, a store, a church, a coun- one in my family believes that some- ties, and it is one that just breaks my try music festival, a movie theater, or one should be able to buy a gun with- heart as a father and grandfather. even sitting on your front porch, no out getting a background check. It is Over the past few weeks, our Nation place is safe anymore. Thanks to this just common sense. has been rocked by mass shootings in country’s epidemic of gun violence, That is why more than 90 percent of El Paso, Dayton, and Odessa, TX, that even a child playing football in his own Americans want Congress to do just left 38 victims dead and dozens more backyard or doing her homework at that—to pass universal background injured. the kitchen table in her own home can checks. Yet the bill sits on the Senate According to the Gun Violence Ar- become the target of a stray bullet. Republican leader’s desk, Senator chive, so far this year there have been Last week, Senate Democrats re- MCCONNELL’s desk, waiting, waiting, 300 mass shootings. That means shoot- leased a report that shows 100 Ameri- waiting for action for 202 days. While ings where more than four people were cans are killed by guns every single MITCH MCCONNELL and President shot in one event. This is in addition to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.034 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5514 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 the daily toll of gun homicides, sui- ant Governor of Texas, Dan Patrick, The gunman in the August 3 mass cides, and accidents that kill nearly has called for closing these gaps in the shooting in El Paso posted a White su- 40,000 Americans a year. background check system. I hope the premacist manifesto before he shot and Every week, I see the grim statistics Senators from Lieutenant Governor killed 22 people and injured 24 others at of people killed and wounded by gun- Patrick’s State are listening. The a Walmart. Unfortunately, this was not fire in my home State of Illinois. Just House of Representatives have listened, an isolated incident. this past weekend—just this past week- and they have done so. An unclassified May 2017 FBI-DHS end, in Chicago, at least 8 people were The bipartisan House background joint intelligence bulletin found that killed and 19 more injured by gunfire. check bill, H.R. 8, passed the House 240 ‘‘white supremacist extremism poses Gun violence is an epidemic in Amer- to 190, on a bipartisan rollcall on Feb- [a] persistent threat of lethal vio- ica. It affects communities large and ruary 27. Here we are, over 200 days lence.’’ It also found that White su- small. I have met countless people who later. The Senate, which does virtually premacists ‘‘were responsible for 49 have lost loved ones or who have been nothing every single day, through Sen- homicides in 26 attacks from 2000 to traumatized by gun violence. ator MCCONNELL’s leadership, refuses 2016 . . . more than any other domestic Millions of Americans now live in to even consider this bill. Senate Re- extremist movement.’’ fear that when they send their kids—or publicans refuse to even consider the At a July hearing, FBI Director Mr. grandkids—off to school, when they go bipartisan House-passed gun safety leg- Wray told me that the majority of do- to a movie theater, a concert, or to islation that Americans of both polit- mestic terrorism arrests this year in- church, or even when they sit on their ical parties overwhelmingly support. volved White supremacists, White na- front porch, they could be shot. This is In fact, they are avoiding taking up tionalists—and now they call them- unacceptable. America is better than any bills at all. Week after week after selves White identitarians, whatever this. week, we vote on nomination after that means. There are many people in this great nomination after nomination. We hard- It is clear that violent White su- Nation who are doing all they can to ly ever debate. We hardly ever vote on premacists are the most significant do- try to reduce the epidemic of shoot- legislation to address the needs the mestic terrorism threat facing Amer- ings—parents, community leaders, American people say are the primary ica today. What have we done to ad- teachers, faith leaders, law enforce- concerns on their minds. dress this? Nothing. Just like H.R. 8, ment, the medical community, and While Republican leadership in the just like the gun safety legislation, public officials, but what are we doing Senate these days doesn’t seem to like which we should be considering, Sen- in the U.S. Senate? The answer is noth- to vote, they do like to tweet. Perhaps ator MCCONNELL refuses to bring any- ing—nothing. we shouldn’t have been surprised when thing before the Senate. There is no single reform that can one of our Republican colleagues, the My bill, cosponsored by 21 Senators, prevent every shooting, but we know junior Senator from Texas, responded including the Democratic leader, Sen- there are big gaps in our gun laws that to a recent mass shooting by tweeting ator SCHUMER, would establish offices make it easy for felons, abusers, and criticism of gun laws in the city of Chi- to combat domestic terrorism at the mentally unstable people to get their cago. Justice Department, FBI, and Depart- hands on guns. Closing these gaps and There seems to be a fundamental ment of Homeland Security. These of- loopholes in our background checks misunderstanding by this Senator and fices will be required to take concrete system would significantly reduce some other Republicans who believe steps to prevent domestic terrorism, shootings and save lives. that, despite what the maps show us, including assessing and publicly re- It is estimated that 22 percent of gun Chicago is actually an island. Well, it porting on domestic terrorism threats, sales nationwide currently occur with- is not. They seem to think there is no focusing limited resources on the most out a background check. Now, I know way that people could actually drive 20 significant threats, and providing in- the critics say: Oh, great, Senator. You minutes into northwest Indiana, go to formation, training, and resources to are going to have better background a gun show, buy a truckload of guns, assist State and local and Tribal law checks. Let me tell you, the people who and sell them in the alleyways of the enforcement. want these guns are not going to go city of Chicago at night. It happens. It This would produce a sustained and through that process. It turns out that, is the reason why a State law can’t coordinated effort with significantly last year, 100,000 of them were ignorant solve the problem. more resources directed towards com- enough to try, and they were caught in Chicago’s mayor—my friend—Lori bating White supremacist violence. It the act. They had been disqualified Lightfoot, pointed out the obvious to would make America safer. from purchasing a firearm under Fed- the junior Senator from Texas. Sixty It is time for the Senate Republican eral law, and yet they made that try. percent of illegal firearms recovered in majority leader, Senator MCCONNELL, Why would we ever let them success- Chicago come from out of State. That to let the Senate be a Senate, to actu- fully buy a firearm? Without a real is why we need a Federal background ally debate. I stand tonight on the background check, they will. check reform bill like the one that floor—and I am honored to be here, but Gun show and internet loopholes are passed the House. let’s face it, I am giving a speech to a the problems that haunt us today. Mayor Lightfoot is right. She gra- largely empty Chamber in the hopes They enable unlicensed sellers to make ciously invited Senator CRUZ, our col- that some following the speech on C– sales without even checking on the league, to come visit Chicago, to see SPAN or reading it later may take background of the buyer. According to that it is not an island—it is connected some information of value from it. I news reports, the gunman in the Odes- to other States—and to see what the would much rather be engaged in a de- sa, TX, mass shooting bought his gun city is doing, trying to work to reduce bate at this very moment on H.R. 8, through a private sale with no back- the scourge of gun violence, and how how to pass it—if necessary, how to ground check because he previously Republican Senators, if they really amend it—but to do something to re- failed a check. Clearly, there is a gap want to help, can help by passing legis- spond to gun violence in Chicago, in Il- in the law that needs to be closed. lation for true background checks. I linois, and across the entire United Polling consistently shows that 90 hope that the Senator from Texas ac- States. percent of Americans support closing cepts the invitation. It is a great town. It is time for Senator MCCONNELL to these gaps in the background check We would like to show it to him. let the Senate be the Senate and vote system. How many other issues do 90 Another area in which this do-noth- on the House-passed gun background percent of Americans agree on, to have ing Senate has fallen short is when it check bill. We need to take up other that kind of number, for Democrats, comes to public safety threats posed by critical legislation as well to prevent Republicans, and Independents? violent White supremacists. I have in- gun violence and domestic terrorism. I The people of America are trying to troduced the Domestic Terrorism Pre- hope he will consider my bill to address tell the Senators to do something, and vention Act. It is the only legislation White supremacist violence. This legis- yet Senator MCCONNELL refuses. Even pending in the Senate to address White lation can make us safer and save lives the conservative Republican Lieuten- supremacist violence. if we can just bring it to a vote.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.036 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5515 I yield the floor. a very destructive cycle. People going These commonsense reforms can help Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, about their days—to school, a movie us begin to break this cycle. We have I rise today to join my colleagues in theater, place of worship—to places to take action now to curb gun vio- calling on Leader MCCONNELL to imme- where they should feel safe—lose their lence. That means starting with the diately bring to the floor commonsense lives to gun violence. universal background check legislation gun violence prevention legislation Communities and Democrats speak that is waiting right here in the Senate that is supported by the majority of out and call for commonsense reforms, to take action. the American people. such as the universal background My Democratic colleagues in the We must take action in response to checks, which the vast majority of Senate and I have repeatedly called for the tragedies that have touched too Americans support. Meanwhile, Repub- a vote on H.R. 8, and we are going to many communities across the country, licans stand by and refuse to take any keep putting pressure on Republicans including in Gilroy, El Paso, Dayton, meaningful action to stop these vio- in the Senate until we get one. We Midland, and Odessa just this summer. lent, senseless, preventable deaths, so can’t do it alone. We need to keep lift- Time and again, we saw the American nothing happens in Congress. ing up our voices together to demand people respond with courage—the cour- And then, months, weeks, days, or change, as we did after Sandy Hook, age of a mother who shielded her child even hours later, the cycle starts all after Parkland, after Marysville, and from gun fire, the courage of first re- over again. Every time we have seen now following the terror in Texas and sponders who ran into the line of fire this cycle—across all of the terrible in Ohio. to save lives. It is time for the United shootings that have plagued our coun- It is not easy. I am not going to give States Senate to find the resolve to act try in recent years—there are two com- up, and I know the millions of parents with courage; the American people can- mon threads. The first is that, in re- and grandparents and students and so not afford any more inaction. sponse to tragedy, communities have many across our Nation are not going There are three bipartisan bills sit- banded together to make their voices to give up either. Together, we can ting on Leader MCCONNELL’s desk that heard and press for change. I have been break this senseless cycle. It starts will help to save lives: the Bipartisan proud of gun advocates in Washington with the majority leader. Background Checks Act, which re- State, like the Alliance for Gun Re- While we often disagree on the steps quires a background check for the sale sponsibility and Moms Demand Action we believe need to be taken, I believe of all guns; the Enhanced Background chapters in Spokane and across the that all of us who are elected in the Checks Act, which closes the Charles- State, who are leading the way and Senate would say that we came here to ton loophole and gives law enforcement staying determined. make a difference and certainly to do The second common thread is Senate more time to complete a background whatever we could to ensure the people Republicans. Every time we push for check; and the reauthorization of the we represent are safe. Right now, far lifesaving reforms, it always ends at Violence Against Women Act, which too often, they are not. So the Senate the same place, with the same thing includes a provision based on my bill, is not doing its job. standing in the way of change. The the Protecting Domestic Violence and I call on the majority leader to let us most frustrating part of this is that Stalking Victims Act, to keep domes- vote on H.R. 8. Let’s send it to the there are steps we could take right tic abusers and convicted stalkers from President’s desk. Let’s do what the now—today—that will save lives. buying or owning a gun. The House has passed the universal vast majority of Americans want us to We should also take action to ban the background check legislation, H.R. 8, do and take this first step to stop gun sale of assault weapons and high-capac- with bipartisan support. It is now lan- violence so we can finally begin to put ity magazines and encourage States to guishing in the Senate, despite our a stop to this terrible deadly cycle. enact extreme risk protection order calls for a vote, all because the major- Madam President, I yield the floor. laws to allow law enforcement or fam- ity leader just will not bring it up. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ily members to intervene when a per- President Trump, who is so willing to ator from New Mexico. son is a danger to themselves or others. use his bully pulpit for far less worthy Mr. HEINRICH. Madam President, we In a nation plagued by gun violence, causes, hasn’t used it to take action in are all coming to the Senate floor this passing these commonsense provisions ways that could save lives right now. evening to demand that we finally take will help save lives. In other words, the President and Sen- real steps to address our Nation’s gun There are more shootings and more ate Republicans continue to make violence epidemic. This epidemic is tragic losses all too often, and every clear they are more interested in pro- wide-reaching and knows no bounds. time, we hear expressions of sympathy, tecting the NRA than the families in We need to listen to the students and but we have yet to see votes or action. my home State and across the country. to the young people who have grown The time has come to act, and we must That is simply unacceptable. Demo- weary from so many shootings at our act now. crats are not going to stop calling for schools. Thank you. action. In my home State of New Mexico in The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. Leader MCCONNELL should break the recent years, we have seen gun violence MCSALLY). The Senator from Wash- cycle here and now by putting H.R. 8 tragically take the lives of high school ington. up for a vote, which would implement students in Aztec and Clovis and, just Mrs. MURRAY. Madam President, as universal background checks and close last month, college students in Hobbs. we grieve with the communities of El inexplicable gun show and internet Every student and teacher should feel Paso, Dayton, and Midland, I can’t help loopholes. safe at school. No parent should have but be reminded of the Seattle Jewish Considering that more than 80 per- to live in fear of their child not coming Federation, Marysville, Seattle Pacific cent of Americans support universal home at the end of the day. University, Freeman High School, and background checks, this bill should be Across our Nation, we have wit- so many other communities in my a no-brainer. It is the first step we need nessed, with grave horror, mass shoot- home State of Washington and nation- to take to curb gun violence in our ers armed with assault rifles gun down wide that are suffering as a result of country, but it can’t be the only one. If Americans in churches, in synagogues, tragic and tragically preventable gun we are serious about truly putting an in concert venues, and in shopping cen- violence. end to this epidemic, we should look at ters. Amid our grief and anguish, After each of these heartbreaking legislation to expand access to extreme Americans have come together to call events, families in Washington State risk protection orders—which has, by on their leaders to not let this sense- ask me, Why does this keep happening, the way, been implemented in my less, heart-wrenching violence con- and why can we not stop it? home State of Washington—to get guns tinue unabated. They are calling on us The answer is the same every time: out of the hands of those who are in to do something. We can no longer ac- We can’t stop it because Republicans, crisis. We should limit magazine sizes. cept these horrific shootings as the sta- led by Leader MCCONNELL and, now, We should revive the assault weapons tus quo. President Trump, will not let us. Be- ban and invest in gun violence research In my hometown of Albuquerque, cause of this inaction, we have entered prevention. just last Thursday night, five people,

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.037 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5516 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 including three teenagers, were shot to bility. I am teaching my two sons how festival in Brooklyn. He was just an in- death in multiple shootings across our to responsibly use firearms. In fact, nocent bystander, and, ironically, he city, and six others were wounded. when our family sits down to a meal was an attorney for the State who While police are still investigating that includes red meat, it is almost al- helped draft the NY SAFE Act, which these senseless acts of violence, no one ways from the wild game we have har- set a precedent for one of the strongest can tell me that this level of gun vio- vested. gun laws in the country. He was not lence is somehow acceptable. I think you will find, when you talk immune from gun violence himself. As There are things we can do. There is to most gun owners and most sports- Trenelle told it, her husband’s life and no doubt that this debate brings up men, they, more than anyone, know bright light were extinguished by guns. very emotional and difficult questions, how much we need to respect the dead- At the trial, Trenelle heard a crimi- and there are large challenges we need ly force inherent in these tools. Most nal testify about how easy it was for to grapple with that are fueling gun vi- agree we should make sure that fire- him to purchase a gun and traffic it olence in America. Many of the most arms are used responsibly and safely. from Georgia to New York. It should horrific acts of violence and terror that Those of us in Congress should never not be this easy for criminals to get ac- we have witnessed have been inspired hide behind phony arguments that use cess to dangerous weapons. It should by hateful ideologies, by racist bigotry, fear to intimidate us away from action. not be so easy for lives to be taken so and by divisive rhetoric. But we need Americans are desperate for us to act. senselessly. to acknowledge that they were carried I join my Democratic colleagues once One mother I met in New York, Jack- out with deadly weapons, weapons that again in calling upon Majority Leader ie Rowe-Adams, lost not one but two we are clearly not doing enough to MCCONNELL and President Trump: sons to gun violence. One of her sons keep out of the hands of those who Enough is enough. It is long past time was shot when he was 17 years old out- would seek to cause us harm. to do something and to stop hiding. It side of a bodega in Harlem. The reason? We may not all agree on what steps is long past time for us to finally turn Two men with a gun believed that her should be taken at the Federal level to our Nation’s grief and frustration into son was staring at them, so they killed address this crisis, but can we at least meaningful action to protect our kids him. agree that something needs to be done and our communities. Ms. Rowe-Adams lost her second son to combat the epidemic of gun violence I yield the floor. to gun violence during a robbery out- in this country? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- side of her apartment. The boy who We need to listen to our Nation’s stu- ator from New York. shot him was only 13 years old. He dents and mothers who are calling for Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam Presi- should never have had access to a gun. us to come together on the things we dent, I rise to join my colleague Sen- Imagine the horror of being a mother can agree on. At the very least, that ator HEINRICH and others who have and losing two of your sons to gun vio- includes universal background checks. come before. I am calling on Senator lence. Then there is another one of my con- There is bipartisan legislation on back- MCCONNELL to act now to address the stituents, Edwin Vargas. His 16-year- ground checks that passed out of the gun crisis in our country. old son Luis was killed on Halloween House and is sitting on the majority Every day that the Senate Repub- when an unknown gunman decided to leader’s desk right now. Let’s vote on lican leaders refuse to act, they are fire his weapon into the crowd in a that bill. making a choice to be complicit as neighborhood in the Bronx. The gun- Someone who can’t pass a back- more lives continue to be lost. People man was irritated by a group of teen- ground check should not be allowed to across my State and the country want agers who were throwing eggs in his purchase a firearm. We shouldn’t be to see action, and they are tired of neighborhood, so he began to randomly putting guns in the hands of those con- waiting for it. shoot into the crowd. The gunman hit victed of domestic violence or sexual I have met with countless families three innocent bystanders, including assault who continue to be a threat to across New York who have lost their Luis. Luis was simply in the wrong their victims. Someone who has been children, spouses, friends, community place at the wrong time. members, and neighbors to gun vio- found by family and friends to be a These are the tragic and heart- danger to themselves and their commu- lence. I have met people who have sur- wrenching stories that New Yorkers nity should not be in possession of a vived mass shootings and people who have shared with me. They are by no deadly firearm. If our government has live every single day with the threat of means unique. In every State around put someone on a no-fly list because of gun violence in their neighborhoods. I the country, there are too many stories the risk that they pose, we should not have heard their stories and seen how just like these. The reality is that allow that potential terrorist to buy a their lives have been torn apart by gun mass shootings can and have happened gun. I can’t, frankly, understand how violence. Today I want to tell some of in every corner of this country in all any of that is controversial. those stories to you. types of places. The Senate majority is refusing to Robert Gaafar, one of my constitu- Gun violence is becoming the new act. They are hoping that if they hide ents from Long Island and a father of normal in America. Certainly it has long enough—if they hide long young children, was at the Route 91 happened in Arizona. We do not have to enough—this will just blow over. Can Harvest Music Festival in Las Vegas live in a country where mass shootings we at least agree that more public for work. He heard loud popping noises occur in our schools, our houses of wor- health and scientific research is needed and soon realized they weren’t coming ships, our movie theaters, our play- on this gun violence epidemic? from the performance on stage but grounds, our stores, our community All of us in some way are grasping from a gun. As the shooter fired round gatherings, at festivals, at concerts, at for answers on our Nation’s unparal- after round, Robert hid behind a metal nightclubs, and at Congress on your leled violence, but even funding re- vending machine for protection. The corner. search into gun violence is being ve- bullets being fired around him were so Madam President, I am speaking to toed by the NRA. It is hard to believe powerful he could actually feel the you and to every other Republican in that Senate Republicans could find a shock waves. He said that he would this Chamber. We all have a responsi- way to be against so many common- never forget the silence of 20,000 people bility to do the right thing and stand sense solutions. Nearly every solution at a concert or the horrific screams of up to the NRA and stand up to the is being rejected. The overwhelming grown men and women he could hear as greed and corruption that is in this majority of Americans, including gun the gunman reloaded. He was lucky. He country today that makes every deci- owners like me, agree that Congress survived. But 58 people did not, and sion about whether we have a vote on needs to finally take these real steps to many more were injured. commonsense gun reform. address gun violence. Another New Yorker, Trenelle I can poll your State for you. I can Look, this is not an issue I take Gabay, had to make the unthinkable ask every NRA member in America: Do lightly. Like many Americans, I am a decision to take her husband off of life you support universal background gun owner, but with that privilege support after he was shot in the cross- checks, banning large magazines, mili- should come a great deal of responsi- fire of two rival gangs at a community tary-style weapons? Leave them in the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.039 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5517 hands of military members, not some- dren. They are worried that they will El Paso, takes great pride in our diver- one who walks into a store and buys be caught in the next mass shooting, sity. Our diversity does not divide us. them because he wants to shoot large that their community will be the next It defines us. It unifies us. The Presi- numbers of people in minutes and sec- El Paso, the next Sandy Hook, or the dent’s anti-immigrant, nativist rhet- onds. That is what is happening in next Aztec. oric is not only deeply offensive to New America today. When I was in school, we had safety Mexicans, it also fuels the worst ele- I would like you to look up because I drills in the event of a nuclear strike ments of our society—elements that have to say this is something all of us from the Soviet Union. Children now now have ready access to military- should be caring about, especially from have safety drills in the event of a style weapons. Arizona, where my dear friend Gabby shooter from within our own commu- The FBI Director recently reported Giffords was shot for doing her job and nities. to Congress that the Bureau had ar- a young girl showing up for ‘‘Congress The American people are demanding rested almost as many domestic terror- on Your Corner’’ to meet her Congress- that Congress take action on this na- ists as foreign terrorists this year. He woman died. It is not OK. The time for tional crisis. After El Paso and Dayton, said most of the racially motivated do- turning a blind eye is over. many of us implored Leader MCCON- mestic terrorism cases were likely con- I yield the floor. NELL to call us back into session to nected to White supremacy. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- vote on the gun safety bills sitting on It is up to this body to stand up to ator from New Mexico. his desk gathering dust. Leader the President’s anti-immigrant and Mr. UDALL. Thank you for the rec- MCCONNELL says he will only bring racist rhetoric and unequivocally af- ognition, Madam President. bills before the Senate that the Presi- firm this Nation’s values—equality, Last month, on August 22, an 86-year- dent will sign. tolerance, and inclusiveness. It is up to old grandmother, born and raised in We are the legislative body. We are this body to stand up to the NRA and my hometown of Santa Fe, NM, was sent here by our constituents to pass stand with the American people. gunned down while she was shopping at laws, to do their will, to protect their I suggest the absence of a quorum. Walmart in El Paso by a White su- welfare. We do not depend on the Presi- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The premacist with an AK–47 style assault dent to pass gun safety legislation. We clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk proceeded to call the weapon. The gunman said he ‘‘wanted do not have to wait for him while the roll. to shoot as many Mexicans as pos- NRA lobbyists try to wear him down. Mr. BENNET. Madam President, I sible.’’ The shooter told police he had He can take his cues from us for a ask unanimous consent that the order purchased 1,000 rounds of ammunition. change. We are not his lapdogs. Pro- for the quorum call be rescinded. Less than 24 hours later, it took the tecting our communities, schools, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without shooter in Dayton, OH, only 32 seconds churches cannot wait, cannot be rel- objection, it is so ordered. to kill 10 people and wound 27 others egated to the leader’s legislative grave- Mr. BENNET. Madam President, last with his .223-caliber, high-capacity yard. Too many lives have been lost, month, over 50 Americans were killed rifle with 100-round drum magazines. and too many lives will be lost if we in mass shootings in this country while Had the Dayton police not responded don’t act. we were on the August recess when we immediately, the numbers of dead and The fact is, too many Republican should have been here doing our job. injured in the crowded Dayton down- elected officials are beholden to the One hundred Americans are killed town area could have been exponen- scandal-ridden National Rifle Associa- every day from gun violence. There are tially higher. tion. The NRA no longer even rep- 100 desks in this room. There are 100 On August 31, in Odessa, TX, a shoot- resents gun owners; it represents the chairs by those desks. And if these er killed 7 and injured 25, including a gun industry. Now we know it also rep- were the Americans killed by gun vio- 17-month-old girl, who was shot in the resents dark campaign spending and in- lence, they would add up to every sin- face. The shooter had failed a back- ternal corruption. gle desk that is in this room. Yet the ground check in 2014 because a court There is no mystery why the Repub- majority leader didn’t bring us back had found he was mentally unfit to licans refuse to take up gun safety leg- during the August recess. He didn’t say own a gun. He purchased his AR–15 islation that Americans overwhelm- we should cancel our vacation and style weapon in a private gun sale, ingly support. The NRA has poured come back to work for the American which is not subject to a background millions into campaign coffers, and people. He hasn’t put a bill on the floor check. they use that money to intimidate or given an opportunity for anybody Assault rifles, often paired with high- Members of Congress into opposing else to put a bill on the floor now that capacity magazines, were used to bills with 90 percent support nation- we have been back in session for the slaughter innocents at Sandy Hook, ally. This is yet one more example of last 2 weeks. Las Vegas, Aurora, Orlando, San why we need to overturn Citizens In the last 18 months, Colorado alone Bernardino, the Sutherland Springs United and enact comprehensive fi- has lost 885 people to gun violence. church, and the Tree of Life synagogue nance reform. Our Democratic institu- That is a record in my State. in Pittsburgh. tions are not representing the people. The House of Representatives has According to the Gun Violence Ar- We need to pass the bills on Leader done their job. I think more than 200 chive, there have been 10,552 gun-re- MCCONNELL’s desk, but we should not days ago, they passed background lated deaths this year. That includes stop there. We also must halt the rise checks over there, and we haven’t even 2,681 children and teens. Mass shoot- of White nationalism and White su- taken them up over here. This isn’t a ings number 300. That is more than one premacy in our country. Hateful views matter of bringing up the bill and vot- mass shooting every day of this year. have fueled too many of these trage- ing on the bill; we can’t even get the The American people support com- dies—the Emanuel African Methodist bill to the floor. For 200 days, we monsense gun safety legislation in Episcopal Church in Charleston, SC; haven’t been able to bring the bill to overwhelming numbers. Recent polls the Tree of Life synagogue; and in El the floor. Why? Because the majority confirm that 90 percent or more reg- Paso. leader of the United States of America istered voters support background The El Paso shooter’s fear of ‘‘the says that he is only going to bring gun checks for all gun sales—90 percent. Hispanic invasion of Texas’’ too closely legislation to the floor if he knows Think about that. The American peo- echoes the President’s repeated warn- what the President will sign. He is not ple support a ban on high-capacity ings of an ‘‘invasion’’ at our southern capable, as the majority leader of the magazines. They support a ban on as- border. The shooter’s anti-immigrant United States, to put an amendment on sault weapons. They support keeping screed rings of the President’s attacks the floor for an up-or-down vote even guns out of the hands of dangerous in- on immigrants as criminals and rapists when that amendment passed the dividuals. who need to be kept out of our country House of Representatives 200 days ago People all across the country are by a border wall. Las Cruces, NM, is and 96 percent of the American people worried about their communities, their only 45 minutes from El Paso. El Paso support it. Ninety-six percent of the schools, their churches, and their chil- is like a sibling to us. New Mexico, like American people support it.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.040 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5518 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 Why can’t he bring it to the floor? He because they are murderers or they are I yield the floor. says that only if the President tells rapists or they are domestic abusers. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- him that he will sign it will he bring it They are people who shouldn’t have a ator from Washington. to the floor. We all know how hard it is gun. I would like to see anybody come Ms. CANTWELL. Madam President, I for the President to make up his mind to this floor and tell me why Colorado join my colleagues on the floor to- about anything—particularly about would be safer if we didn’t have those night. guns when he has one thing to say background checks; why we would be I thank the Senator from Colorado right after a tragedy has happened, and safer if murderers got guns and rapists for an articulate and very passionate then 2 days later, after he meets with got guns and domestic abusers got speech about the reasons the U.S. Sen- the NRA, he is singing from a com- guns. They can’t come here and do it. ate should be voting on sensible gun pletely different song sheet. They are hiding from the vote, and it laws. Here is what MITCH MCCONNELL said is their responsibility to vote. There is That is what we are really here to in 2014: only one person in America who can say tonight—that it is past time we take action and that we in the U.S. The Senate should be setting national pri- hold that vote, and that is MITCH orities, not simply waiting on the White MCCONNELL. I can tell you this: It is Senate should let the American people House to do it for us. not because we are too busy around know where Members of the U.S. Sen- I wholeheartedly agree with that sen- here. We were in session last week for ate stand on these important issues. Too many Americans have been im- timent. This is an independent branch 27 hours. That is not even a French pacted by gun violence, and too many of government. The 100 people sitting workweek. That is pitiful—pitiful—27 places have been the sites of these at- in this room have been sent here to hours. Do you know how many amend- tacks, whether they be churches, syna- represent the people who voted for us ments we have considered in the 9 gogues, or mosques or whether they be and the people who didn’t vote for us. months that we have been here this our schoolchildren or people just going And 96 percent of them say they want year? We have considered 18. That is about their everyday lives with their background checks on guns, but we two amendments a month. We have shopping, going to a concert, or even can’t even have a vote. passed four amendments in this broken watching a movie. Too many families I would like to see a vote just so I place. It is pitiful. and friends are left waiting, trying to could see who in this Chamber wants to Before he became majority leader, understand whether their loved ones vote against background checks. I MITCH MCCONNELL came down here and are going to return home, and too think it would be amazing for the said that we were going to work on Fri- many have been devastated to find out American people to learn that, instead days, that we were going to have reg- that their loved ones aren’t coming of just hiding behind this myth that ular order. We had a 27-hour workweek. back. the President of the United States gets I can tell you this: It is not because we are considering the election protection It is time that we act here in the U.S. to decide what comes to the floor. He is legislation, which is one of the bipar- Senate and support legislation that we not the majority leader. There is one tisan bills the Senators in this Cham- know the American people support. In person in America who gets to decide ber want to vote on to respond to the my home State, there are places like what comes to this floor—one person in Russian attack on our democracy. It is the Seattle Pacific University and the America—and that is the majority not because we are too busy with those Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, leader, MITCH MCCONNELL from Ken- bills. We are doing nothing here except Freeman High School outside of Spo- tucky. It is not . He for confirming judges for Donald kane, Marysville Pilchuck High knew that in 2014, and he knows it Trump. School, the Burlington shopping mall today. But the NRA is too scared to see I think I speak for my colleagues in Skagit County, and White Swan. All this thing come to the floor because when I say I am willing to work more of these communities have taught us they know that it will pass and that than 27 hours. I am willing to work a that we need to act. It is past time for they will lose as a result of that. It is French workweek or a U.S. workweek us to act here. long past time for us to beat the NRA if it means we could actually have The good news is that the people of on this issue. votes on amendments that 96 percent Washington State did act. Those people I know my colleague from Wash- of the American people support. rose up and helped to support legisla- ington State is here, so I will not go on I close by saying there is no one else tive initiatives that went to a vote of for too long, but if I could, I will just to do this job but us. The House has the people. Not only have they been take a couple of minutes. done its job. Donald Trump can’t make successfully passed, but they are show- I am also from a Western State, the up his mind about anything. Maybe he ing successful results. State of Colorado, and 20 years ago, we would like us to send him the back- In the State of Washington, we had one of the very first school shoot- ground checks to help him make up his passed universal background checks by ings in this country. It was at Col- mind about what he can do for the a popular vote in 2014, and we saw umbine High School. In the wake of American people, but I can tell you amazing results in just the first 14 that, we passed background checks. We this: Our kids can’t do this. They are months. They helped to prevent over 50 passed the same bill that MITCH too busy. They are in school. They are gun sales to felons. My colleague from MCCONNELL will not bring to the trying to learn reading and math. They Colorado mentioned a similar thing in floor—the same bill almost 20 years should not be asked to try to figure out his State. And after closing private ago. how to stop these mass shootings in sale loopholes, it resulted in 144 denials My oldest daughter is 20 years old. this country or what it would look like to those with expanded background She was born right after Columbine. to have a representative body of the checks. It does mean that the people of Our two other daughters are 19 and 15. United States actually represent the Washington State are at least safer in Like so many children across this people who sent us here instead of sit- this regard because we have more tools country, they have grown up thinking ting around in our offices, trying to in our toolbox with which to deal with that going to school is unsafe, that avoid hard votes. How is it a hard vote this. they could be shot at school. They have when 9 out of 10 Americans support it? I also want people to understand that had to do drills that we never had to do It is only a hard vote because the NRA we passed a law to allow extreme risk when we were kids—never had to do. is taking names and watching this. protection orders. That was passed in They have the knowledge that the U.S. I say to my colleagues: We would be 2016 with nearly 70 percent of Wash- Congress doesn’t care about them be- so much better off, Democrats and Re- ington State voters helping and voting cause for 20 years we have done noth- publicans, with our ripping this band- in that election. What we saw was that ing. aid off and getting on with the business in a State where we probably have 27 In Colorado—a Western State, a Sec- that the American people sent us here percent gun ownership, we saw in 32 ond Amendment State—we passed to do. MITCH MCCONNELL should put on out of 39 counties people supporting these background checks. As a result, this floor these background checks. this measure to say that people who every year, 2 or 3 percent of the people I thank my colleagues for their pa- pose an extreme risk should not be al- who come to buy a gun can’t buy a gun tience. lowed to get their hands on a gun. This

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.042 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5519 was supported in rural communities, hemorrhaging of communities con- far, these doors are locked. That legis- suburban communities, and urban com- tinues unabated across our country. lation cannot make it to the well of munities. The NRA retains a vice-like grip on the Senate so that we can have a de- In front of the Senate Judiciary Com- the Senate of the United States. It is bate. mittee last year, King County Senior almost as though it is able to put a The NRA guards these doors. The Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Kim- lock on these doors—courtesy of the NRA will not give permission to have a berly Wyatt testified. She called this Republican leadership—so that no bill debate on whether or not we do re- measure a ‘‘critical, evidence-based, can come down here into the well of search on gun violence in our country. harm reduction tool.’’ Now, how does the Senate to be debated on back- What are the causes? Why are we the that sound so threatening—a tool that ground checks. The NRA just refuses to highest among industrialized coun- law enforcement is telling us is critical allow those bills to come out here. So tries? What is it that differentiates us and evidence-based that is going to we have no debates. We have no votes. from other countries in the world? help us to reduce harm to our fellow We have no accountability. This is the So for me, I say it is time for us on citizens? status of the U.S. Senate in September this floor to ensure that NRA stands Senior Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of 2019 as we see an epidemic of vio- for not relevant anymore in American Kimberly Wyatt told a story of a doc- lence across our country. politics, in senatorial politics, and that tor who contacted police because a pa- Bring those bills onto the floor, Re- the doors are open, that the legislation tient who had wanted to obtain a con- publican Party. Forget the money from can come down, and that we can have a cealed weapon permit had repeatedly the NRA. Forget all of its spending. full debate here on the Senate floor talked about making a hit list and Let us not put a price on the lives of after all that we have learned in these ‘‘doing harm to people.’’ In using the 34,000 Americans who died just last last weeks and months and years about extreme risk protection order, we are year on top of the lives of those who how unnecessarily easy it is for people allowed to help to keep these people died the year before and the year be- to be able to purchase these weapons. from getting their hands on gun and fore and those who will be part of a This is a debate that the American doing harm to themselves and to fellow preventable epidemic in our country people want, and we are either going to citizens. next year and the year after and the have that debate in the course of reg- These measures supported in my year after into the future. ular Senate business or we are going to State are initiatives by the people. As After we finish debating background have it next year in the Presidential I said, they are supported by wide ma- checks, we should then have a debate and House and Senate races all across jorities across all geographic areas of on military-style assault weapons and our country, because this issue now is our State. Yet we can’t find out here in whether they should be sold in our completely changed in terms of how the U.S. Senate how our Senate col- country and a debate on high-capacity the public views it except among the leagues would vote on these very im- magazines and whether they should be Republican leadership in our country. So if that is how they want it, then, portant measures. sold in our country. Those were the just be sure that young people espe- I hope those on the other side of the weapons that were used in Dayton. cially are outraged across our country. aisle will consider these. We will go Those were the weapons that were used They are outraged that we don’t debate State by State if necessary. We will get in El Paso. Let’s have a debate here on climate change in the well of the Sen- the people involved in passing these the floor of the U.S. Senate. ate. They are outraged that we don’t laws. Why? It is that they know they Let’s have people have to be made ac- debate gun safety legislation in the are common sense, and they work, and countable for allowing these dangerous Senate. we want to keep the public safe. We weapons that belong on battlefields but So there is a kind of a ‘‘sow the wind, know that we want to have these tools not on the streets of our country. In reap the whirlwind’’ political con- so law enforcement and others can do fact, when they are on the streets of sequence that is going to occur, and all their jobs. It is long overdue to have a our country, they turn our streets into I can say is that we can hope and pray vote in the U.S. Senate on these issues, battlegrounds, whereby the criminal— that the Senate Republican leadership and I hope our colleagues will give us whereby the bad person—has a weapon, allows for this debate and does not that opportunity. in many instances, that is more power- wait for Donald Trump to give them I yield the floor. ful than that of the police. That is just permission to have this debate. There The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- plain wrong. We can do something shouldn’t have to be a complete and ator from Massachusetts. about it if the Senate allows these total excision of senatorial preroga- Mr. MARKEY. Madam President, I doors to open, if the Republicans allow tives to another branch of government. rise to echo the sentiments of the Sen- this debate to take place. Of course, it We should be able to do this our- ator from Washington State. She has will not because the NRA controls ac- selves—the Senate. absolutely articulated the reasons this cess to the floor of this Senate. This issue goes right to the core of Senate should just stop what it is Then let’s have a debate on the loop- the safety of every family in our coun- doing and bring these bills to the floor holes that allow abusers—domestic try, and if we do it, I actually think for a vote so we can begin to make it abusers and terrorists—to be able to that almost every Senator here will be more difficult for the wrong people to purchase guns in the United States. praised for ensuring that we have back- be able to buy guns in our country. We Let’s have that debate here on the ground checks. That is what the poll- have no background checks, no ability floor of the Senate. ing says. to identify who they are. Let’s have people have to vote on If we don’t, then perhaps a small This debate is one that should have whether or not they want domestic handful of Republican Senators will be already taken place in August after abusers to be able to purchase guns in praised by the NRA, but it will be at a what happened in El Paso and after our country or if they should be able to terrible price in terms of the lives that what happened in Dayton. We should keep their guns if they have already are lost. have had the debate out here on the been identified by the local police as In Massachusetts, we have the lowest Senate floor. The House has already being a danger because they are domes- gun fatality rate in the country. If passed legislation that deals with the tic abusers, and the same thing is true Massachusetts’ laws were the laws for background checks of any person who for safeguards against terrorists pur- the whole country, 34,000 people would wants to buy a gun in our country. chasing weapons. not have died last year, but only 6,000 That is the least we should be able to And when are we going to have the people would have died. do. debate on research at the Centers for And what is our key law? If you want By the way, it polls out at 89 percent. Disease Control on the causes of gun to buy a gun and get a license in Mas- There aren’t many issues that poll out violence in our country? sachusetts, you have to go into the po- at 89 percent. The reason it does is that I have introduced that bill for 10 lice station and talk to the police the country is horrified by what it is years to have that research done. The chief. We have 351 cities and towns. seeing day after day on its televisions House has now moved legislation to That is how you get a gun license. It is as the carnage continues to rise, as the deal with that issue, but over here, so the police.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.044 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5520 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 So we know how simple it is to have that home posed a clear and present newspaper saying he was going to kill a background check to make sure that and urgent threat of another Marjory people—as this young man did in Coral we know who is buying these guns. Stoneman Douglas tragedy. Springs, when he went on the internet. Down in Parkland, the home of that So using that red flag or emergency Under our statute, there is complete young man had been visited over and risk protection order statute was actu- due process because not only must a over and over by the police, but he ally unnecessary there, but it provided statutory standard of proof be met for didn’t have to go to the police to get a the police and law enforcement with a the warrant—the risk warrant, much license. He got right around that sys- means to an end, and it has been used like an arrest warrant or a search war- tem. more than 2,000 times. rant—but then, in a subsequent hearing Who knows you best? The local police In fact, in our Judiciary Committee, within a week or 2 or 3 weeks under do. We don’t want to keep guns out of a nominee for the Southern District of other jurisdictions, there is a right to a the hands of those who should be able Florida, who is now a sitting State hearing, and the burden of proof is even to purchase them—hunters and oth- court judge, related to us how he has higher for that gun to be kept away. ers—but you do want the police to be applied this statute. What he said to us Then the order itself lasts for a specific involved. You do want background is it works. It saves lives. It prevents period of time. checks to make sure that the wrong suicides. It helps stop domestic vio- There are guarantees of due process people can’t buy them. We know that is lence that can lead to fatalities. These here. Every one of these proposals— at the heart of this problem. laws work. universal background checks and ex- So for me, this is an absolute neces- These laws work to save lives, as we treme risk protection orders—is within sity for the Senate to have to have have seen in Connecticut, where proud- the Heller decision, consistent with the dealt with before the end of this ses- ly we have led the Nation in adopting Second Amendment. We respect the sion. It would be historically inexcus- a comprehensive set of gun violence Second Amendment. It is the law of the able for us to have avoided having that prevention laws. The experience of land, but they can help save lives. debate here. Connecticut, the empirical evidence, That is why 90 percent of the Amer- I just say that enough is enough. the facts on the ground, the testimony ican people support universal back- Let’s just end business as usual. Let’s of law enforcement all tell us these ground checks, and they support ex- put in place the process by which this laws work. It isn’t just one law. There treme risk protection order laws. They Senate—this greatest deliberative body is no single panacea. There is no one know lives can be saved if guns are in the world—reclaims the reputation solution. It is a comprehensive set of kept out of the hands of dangerous peo- that it has lost, and let’s debate gun commonsense measures. ple. These stories are so common and so safety legislation here on the floor of The opponents of these measures will point to one tragedy or another that tragic: the Senate. A young man exhibits disturbing be- could not have been prevented by one I yield the floor. havior. He is clearly troubled. His The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- law or another, and that is the reason friends, relatives, teachers, even law ator from Connecticut. that it has to be comprehensive, and it enforcement are aware of his hateful Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam Presi- will never prevent all of the tragedy. rants. He posts pro-Nazi photos online. dent, I am here after talking to my There will still be gun deaths in this We know the end of this story too. It is good friend Fred Guttenberg, who vis- country, but these laws work to save the story of Dakota Reed that started ited my office just minutes ago to talk lives. like so many others—Charleston, Pitts- about what we are doing here on the And as Fred and I said to each other, burgh, Orlando, Dayton, El Paso. He if one life has been saved in the State floor of the Senate—what we are fail- posted on November 11, 2018: ‘‘I’m ing to do, more precisely, and what we of Florida by its emergency risk pro- shooting for 30 Jews.’’ Except here is have an obligation to do at this mo- tection order statute, it was worth how that story ended: When this young ment in history. doing. If one daughter of one poten- man threatened an anti-Semitism- Fred Guttenberg lost his precious, tially grieving parent was saved, it was fueled massacre, law enforcement was beautiful daughter Jamie in Parkland worth doing. granted an extreme risk protection at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High But it is many more than one life order. Dakota Reed was online, threat- School in a tragedy that we all recall— that will be saved if we adopt the meas- ening to kill people, and law enforce- at least I do—as though it happened ures that are before us. Ideally, H.R. 8, ment seized his 12 firearms. yesterday. universal background checks that has For so long, we have been told there Fred Guttenberg has made it his come to us from the House, the closing is nothing that can be done, but this life’s mission now, in his daughter’s of the Charleston loophole, which I one example, like the young man in memory, to fight for commonsense have long championed and I have intro- Coral Springs, shows there are effective steps to save other children from that duced as a separate measure here, solutions. These laws work. kind of violence and other parents from emergency risk protection order or red As so many Americans know, there is all of our worst nightmare—I say that flag statutes that my colleague and I, no shortage of ideas to stop prevent- as a father of four. Senator LINDSEY GRAHAM, have worked able gun violence. There is only a But Fred Guttenberg, being the enor- on, negotiated over months and now is shortage of courage. There is only a mously hopeful, energetic, and positive on the verge of introduction—we know dearth of will. person that he is, talked to me about that the task before us is to keep guns For too long, Congress has been Florida’s extreme risk protection order out of the hands of dangerous people, complicit. Congress has blood on its statute—or, as it is known there, red to prevent people who will kill or in- hands if it continues to fail in meeting flag statute—and about how it is work- jure themselves or others from having this basic responsibility to keep Amer- ing to save lives and how it has been those firearms. icans safer than they are now. used more than 2,000 times since it was The universal background check goal Almost every community has been passed barely a year ago and how it, in is to enforce a statute that was adopt- affected by this national epidemic of fact, worked most recently in the case ed many years ago that keeps guns out gun violence. Massacres in El Paso and of a young man who made threats on- of the hands of specific people who are Dayton within a 24-hour period left 31 line with a stash of firearms in his dangerous because they are convicted dead. Before Congress returned from its home that were turned over to law en- felons or drug addicts or fall into other recess, a shooter in Odessa, TX, killed forcement voluntarily when they came categories, keeps guns out of the hands another seven. Communities are for- to his home. They were turned over of dangerous people before they are ever changed by these events. The fear voluntarily by his parents. hurt. that is engendered and the trauma of They didn’t need to use the warrant An extreme risk protection order these shootings affects a community because his parents knew that a risk statute keeps guns out of the hands of and tears it apart in ways that take warrant was telling them something people who, like the shooter in Park- years to recover from it. they already knew, which is that their land, as my colleague Senator GRAHAM Like my colleagues from Connecticut son was dangerous and that firearms in says, all but took out an ad in the in the House and in the Senate, I will

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.045 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5521 live forever with the sights and sounds used by the Rancho Tehama gunman. der-based violence, to require develop- of that day in Sandy Hook, the cries of They are referred to as ‘‘ghost guns’’ ment of smart gun technology. That is grief in that afternoon and afterward, because they possess no serial number why also, on smart gun technology, when 26 beautiful people—6 great edu- or any kind of traceable identification with Senator MURPHY, I introduced the cators and 20 young children—were or registration. One scholar estimates SAFETY Act, which would encourage killed. I was at the firehouse where that at least hundreds of thousands of manufactures to develop and con- parents went to find out if their chil- unmarked receivers already have been sumers to purchase smart gun tech- dren were dead or alive. They found out sold in the United States. nology. by waiting as the children arrived—but Of course, we need an assault weap- Smart gun technology is actually one not all of the children. That is how the ons ban. There are some weapons that that I championed as attorney general. parents who lost their children found no one should ever be able to use as A number of gun manufacturers—at out. they were in El Paso, Dayton, Las least one agreed to implement it, and Those anguished cries, the sobbing, Vegas, Parkland, Orlando, Newtown, he was nearly drummed out of business the grief have been repeated 2,226 times Aurora, Columbine. These tragedies by other gun manufacturers at the since in mass shootings. They have left alone account for 211 people lost to gun time. 2,000 communities grieving, but more violence. The firearm industry and responsible than those mass shootings, there are Assault weapons are literally weap- gun owners should already be embrac- the deaths—every day, 90 deaths; 36,000 ons of war. Assault-style weapons can ing innovations that have been devel- Americans killed by gun violence every fire hundreds of rounds in a minute, oped, inventions that are feasible, year. That is about 100 every day, and and until recently they could be con- smart gun technology that has already gun deaths are on the rise, not reduc- verted to automatic weapons. A recent created locks that prevent accidental ing. There were 39,773 gun deaths for study found that when assault-style shootings and fingerprint scans that 2017, the most recent year for which it weapons are used with high-capacity can disable firearms for anyone but is available. That is not even counting magazines, 155,000 more people are shot their lawful owners. We need to har- the physically wounded, those who es- and 47 percent more are killed than in ness the power of American innovation caped mass shootings physically un- other instances. and create smarter, safer firearms. scathed but with lifelong mental scars, Earlier this year, I was pleased to There is no reason to wait another and the thousands of friends and family join dozens of my colleagues in intro- day before passing these laws. We know members of victims and near-victims ducing the Assault Weapons Ban of there is a political movement that is whose lives are forever altered by these 2019, making the sale, manufacture, gaining strength from groups like incidents of gun violence. transport, and importation of 205 spe- Moms Demand Action, Everytown for Despite this unconscionable loss of cific military-style assault weapons, by Gun Safety, Students Demand Action, life, Congress has done nothing, name as well as by a number of fea- Brady, Giffords, the Coalition Against complicit in the mass shootings but tures and modifications, illegal— Gun Violence, the Connecticut Coali- also in the suicides and domestic vio- banned under our law. tion, the New Town Action Alliance, lence. I was pleased, also with my colleague and Sandy Hook Promise. So many of Lori Jackson’s death in Connecticut CHRIS MURPHY, to introduce a safe these organizations are coming to- was at the hand of her estranged hus- storage law named after Ethan Song of gether to create a seismic change, a band. Her children were traumatized Guilford, CT, who was killed while tectonic groundswell of support. That losing their mother, and her parents playing with a weapon in his friend’s is the reason we are here tonight and became active advocates—courageous home. This legislation would enact the reason the President is even talk- and strong advocates for a change in Federal requirements for safe storage, ing about a measure or set of measures the law. penalties for violators, and a grant pro- that will help prevent gun violence. We have an obligation to act regard- gram to help States establish their own We can do this. We can pass this less of whatever the President says or safe storage law. measure. The President can stand up to does. There is nothing in the Constitu- The SECURE Firearms Storage Act the gun lobby and the NRA. The Re- tion that says the U.S. Senate can act would require firearms importers, man- publican leadership has it within their only if the President commits to sign- ufacturers, and dealers to safely store power to seize this moment made pos- ing some law. There is nothing in the their inventory and, as well, individual sible by the American public expecting Constitution that says we can act only gun owners to use standards that in and demanding that we act and saying if the President endorses a specific fact have been endorsed by the NRA. to us: Enough is enough. Truly, enough measure. We have that duty, inde- Safely securing firearms prevents theft is enough. pendent of the President. We have a and unintended use of lawfully ac- On December 14, 2012, I pledged that constitutional duty. We have already quired and possessed owned guns. I would do everything I could do to ceded too much of our power in too In 2016, alone, 238,000 firearms were make sure no more parents have to many areas. We cannot, we need not, reported stolen in the United States. bury their children, as did those coura- we must not cede that independent ob- These kinds of laws are championed by geous and strong families in Newtown ligation we have to act and act now. Michael and Kristin Song because they who have come to us asking for action, Medical research tells us that 80 per- know these laws work. Their child, as have survivors and loved ones from cent of the perpetrators of mass vio- their young son, was accidentally countless other families. No other par- lence exhibit clear signs that they are killed by a gun stored in a friend’s clos- ent should have to bury children as a going to carry out an attack, often in- et, accessible to those two teens with- result of preventable gun violence. I cluding explicit threats of violence. out any impediment. In many cases, in- have fought as long and as hard as I The Parkland shooter is one of the lat- cluding Sandy Hook, safe gun storage know how, and I will continue because est examples. In all of those jurisdic- could have prevented mountains of we are not going away. We are not giv- tions that have extreme risk protec- grief and heartache and a river of ing up. Nothing could persuade me to tion order statutes, the experience is tears. Gun owners who fail to safely break that pledge. that they work. store or secure their firearms must be I have been proud to stand with my I have introduced Jamie’s Law that held accountable, as this law would do colleague CHRIS MURPHY in our part- would provide for background checks in honor of Ethan Song. nership as a team that has brought to- on ammunition purchases—there Of course, high-capacity magazines— gether so many of our colleagues who should be universal background checks which is to say magazines that can fire are speaking tonight. The only ques- on purchases—in honor of Fred more than 10 rounds—to help stop mass tion before us now is, How long will it Guttenberg’s daughter, Jaime. I have shootings should be banned as well. take? How many more children and supported a ghost gun statute that There are other measures—and my lives will be lost? How many more com- would take account of the need to act colleagues have talked about them—to munities have to be added to that on weapons that are literally made in keep gun dealers honest, to prevent dreaded list of mass shootings? How people’s homes using kits like the one hate crimes, to stop domestic and gen- many more suicides, including veteran

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.047 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5522 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 suicides—20 every day, not all from gun likely to pass, to become law, in the showing the way. So knowing that we violence but many of them due to fire- current Congress. But there is one step can balance commonsense gun safety arms. How many more grieving fami- the Senate can take right now to con- laws with responsible gun ownership, lies? How many more lives lost need- front the gun violence epidemic in our as we do in Hawaii, we are left with a lessly and senselessly? I thank my col- country. The Senate can take up and few simple questions. Why hasn’t the leagues for being here tonight. We all pass H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Senate passed H.R. 8, a bill that would hope the answer is fewer. We all hope Checks Act of 2019, which passed the expand background checks for gun pur- that lives will be saved, as many lives House nearly 7 months ago. chases? Why has the Senate let this as possible, as quickly as possible. That This legislation passed with a strong House-passed bill languish for 200 days? is why I have been willing to engage in bipartisan vote to close the loopholes Why is the Senate failing the American discussions with the White House, as in our background check system. It people? well as with my colleagues, along with would require checks not just for fire- In normal times, we would have a my colleague CHRIS MURPHY and others arms purchased from licensed dealers majority leader who would rush to pass who are here—Senator MANCHIN and but also from unlicensed individuals at a law favored by 90 percent of the peo- Senator TOOMEY. That is why we have gun shows, between friends, and be- ple of our country. In normal times, we spared no effort and left no stone tween most unrelated people. Some would be anxious to restrict firearms unturned. people say that will not do much and ownership to those who can pass a How many more days will go by be- that it will just be a drop in the buck- background check, just as we are anx- fore we fulfill our duty? The answer et, but when that bucket is over- ious to ban flavored e-cigarettes that really should be ‘‘none.’’ We all have an flowing, as it is now, with the blood of target children with addictive prod- obligation to fulfill our constitutional innocent people, anything we do will ucts. But these are not normal times. duty as a Congress to act—whether or help curb this epidemic. In these times, we have a majority At a time when our country is deeply not the President does. But to the leader who is sitting around waiting divided on so many issues, it is note- President and to the Republican lead- for Donald Trump to tell him what to worthy that 90 percent of Americans ership, my message is this: Please, do or doing the bidding of the NRA. support universal background checks— please work it out. Please lead. Lead or Instead of waiting around for the er- 90 percent. The American public knows get out of the way. Please lead or at ratic, inconsistent, always-changing- a sensible gun safety bill when they see least give us a vote on H.R. 8, on uni- his-mind Donald Trump to make up his one, even if too many Members of Con- versal background checks, on emer- mind—we should live so long—the ma- gress remain blind. jority leader should take action. It is gency risk protection, on commonsense Sensible gun safety laws work. I time for the Senate to reassert its role steps that we know work. These meas- know that because Hawaii, which has as a separate branch of government, ures work. They save lives. some of the most restrictive gun laws Madam President, I yield the floor. on the books, is, according to the Cen- stand up to the NRA, and pass H.R. 8. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- ters for Disease Control, the State with It has been 200 days. One hundred peo- ator from Hawaii. the lowest rate of death by firearms in ple a day die in our country by fire- Ms. HIRONO. Madam President, our the Nation. Anyone in Hawaii wanting arms. Do the math. That is 2,000 fire- country demands that we take action to buy a gun, whether from a licensed arm deaths since the House passed the to confront the crisis of gun violence. dealer or private seller, must apply for bill. It is way past time for the Senate to One hundred people die from gun vio- a permit in their county, and they can- lence in our country every single day. not receive a permit unless they pass a do something, but as we wait for the If 100 people died every day because of background check. The permit appli- majority leader and the President to any other single cause, even Repub- cant has to sign a waiver allowing the summon the fortitude to act, we are licans would call it an epidemic and de- county to access their mental health treated to a familiar refrain from the mand that we do something about it. records, and, of course, there is a check NRA and their allies in Congress. You Think about it. The lives of 100 men, of the Federal National Instant Crimi- have heard it before. ‘‘Guns don’t kill women, and children are cut tragically nal Background Check System, or people; people kill people.’’ Well, a per- short by someone using a firearm every NICS. If they fail a background check, son with a gun killed 58 people at a single day in our country. Some of they can’t purchase a gun. They are re- music festival in Las Vegas. A person them are killed sitting in church, oth- ported to law enforcement and pros- with a gun killed 49 people at the Pulse ers while shopping for school supplies, ecuting officials in the State in case nightclub in Orlando. A person with a and others while sitting in their class- they try again to purchase a gun. gun killed 32 people at Virginia Tech. A rooms. Some are targeted because they Being this careful about who can own person with a gun killed 27 people, in- are Latino, Jewish, Muslim, Black, a gun has resulted in Hawaii being the cluding little children, at Sandy Hook gay, or transgender. Some are killed most gun-safe State in the country. In Elementary. A person with a gun killed for reasons we will never know. Hawaii, the CDC reported 2.5 firearm 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Doug- Victims of gun violence come from deaths per 100,000 people for 2017, the las High School in Parkland, FL. A all walks of life and different cir- most recently available data. Compare person with a gun killed 11 people at cumstances, but they were all struck that to Texas, with 12.4 deaths per the Tree of Life synagogue in Pitts- down by someone with a firearm—fire- 100,000; or Kentucky, with 16.2 deaths; burgh. A person with a gun killed 26 arms which in many cases were pur- or, sadly, Alabama, with 22.9 deaths per people at the First Baptist Church in chased legally because we have gaping 100,000 people. Of course, there are Sutherland Springs, TX. A person with loopholes in our gun safety laws; fire- many factors at play in these statis- a gun killed nine people at the Mother arms which, even when purchased le- tics, but we can’t deny that being more Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, gally, too often end up in the hands of careful about who gets to own a gun is SC. someone who has absolutely no busi- a contributing factor. It is common Since the beginning of August, a ness owning a gun. sense. total of 113 people have been killed in There are a lot of steps Congress can To be clear, Hawaii is not a State de- mass shootings across the country, in- take—and my colleague just articu- void of guns. We have nearly as many cluding incidents where a person with a lated some of them—to combat the cri- guns as we do people. Hunting is one of gun killed 22 people at a Walmart in El sis of gun violence in our country. We the most popular outdoor activities in Paso, a person with a gun killed 9 peo- can ban assault weapons. We can ban Hawaii. Some hunting seasons in our ple outside a bar in Dayton, OH, and a high-capacity magazines. We can look State are year-round. We have a num- person with a gun killed 7 people in a at requiring gun licensing at the na- ber of shooting ranges and gun clubs in shooting spree across Odessa-Midland, tional level. our State, and both they and our hunt- TX. Each of these steps would make a ing opportunities are important drivers Obviously, people with guns kill peo- major difference in combating gun vio- of Hawaii’s tourism economy. ple. lence, but I acknowledge that they Clearly, gun safety, gun ownership, It is a sad day in our country when would be controversial and are un- and hunting are compatible. Hawaii is elementary school children have to

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.048 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5523 practice drills in how to escape a Alongside their call for action, the Anne Marie Murphy, Emilie Parker, masked shooter. Our country’s con- Post also published a staggering list of Jack Pinto, Noah Pozner, Caroline tinuing tragedy of these deaths has re- names—names of fellow Americans who Previdi, Jessica Rekos, Avielle sulted in an entire industry of compa- have lost their lives in mass shootings, Richman, Lauren Russeau, Mary nies that come to schools and tell the many involving high-capacity ammuni- Sherlach, Victoria Soto, Benjamin schools: We can build you a safe school. tion. I will read as many of these Wheeler, Allison Wyatt. We could end up with citadels for names as I can in my allotted time My time is almost up, but I haven’t schools instead of the places of learn- today: Cassie Bernall, Steven Curnow, even reached the names of those who ing they should be. That is what is hap- Corey DePooter, Kelly Fleming, Mat- died after Newtown nearly 7 years ago. pening in our country. thew Kechter, Daniel Mauser, Daniel I will close with one last point. It is It is past time to retire the NRA’s old Rohrbough, William ‘‘Dave’’ Sanders, heartbreaking to know that some of canard that ‘‘guns don’t kill; it is peo- Rachel Scott, Isaiah Shoels, John the people on this list might be alive ple that kill.’’ It is people with guns Tomlin, Lauren Townsend, Kyle today if we only had the courage to who kill people. It is time for us to act. Velasquez, Jennifer Bragg Capobianco, pass the Keep Americans Safe Act or to I yield the floor. Janice Hagerty, Louis ‘‘Sandy’’ Ja- establish universal background checks The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- velle, Rose Manfredi, Paul Marceau, or a new assault weapons ban. It is just ator from New Jersey. Cheryl Troy, Craig Wood, Derrick as heartbreaking to know that more Mr. MENENDEZ. Madam President, I Brun, Dewayne Lewis, Chase Lussier, names of more sons and daughters, rise today to once again call for this Daryl Lussier, Neva Rogers, Chanelle mothers and fathers, brothers and sis- body to act on commonsense gun safe- Rosebear, Michelle Sigana, Thurlene ters, friends and colleagues will end up ty legislation. Time and again we have Stillday, Alicia White, Naomi Ebersol, on this list in the days ahead should witnessed unfathomable carnage at the Marian Stoltzfus Fisher, Lena Zook the Senate continue to fail to act. That hands of assault-style rifles and high- Miller, Mary Liz Miller, Anna Mae is the truth. That is the truth. capacity magazines. It is a horror Stoltzfus, Ross Abdallah Alameddine, Every day without action is another movie we have seen over and over. Christopher James Bishop, Brian closer to America’s next mass shoot- As parents bury children, as infants Bluhm, Ryan Clark, Austin Cloyd, ing. The time to save lives is now. lose parents, as America grieves the Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, Daniel Perez I ask unanimous consent that the senseless loss of life, the NRA just Cueva, Kevin Granata, Matthew G. Washington Post’s entire list of mass tightens its grip on the President and Gwaltney, Caitlin Hammaren, Jeremy shooting victims be printed in the the majority leader. Herbstritt, Rachael Elizabeth Hill, I am heartened by the grassroots RECORD. Emily Hilscher, Jarrett Lane, Matthew There being no objection, the mate- movement that has grown across our J. La Porte, Henry Lee, Liviu Librescu, rial was ordered to be printed in the Nation in recent years, and, likewise, I G.V. Loganathan, Partahi RECORD, as follows: am encouraged by the many polls indi- Lumbantoruan, Lauren McCain, Daniel cating that Americans overwhelmingly [From the Washington Post, Sept. 3, 2019] O’Neil, Juan Ramon Ortiz, Minal want action. HOW MANY MORE NAMES WILL BE ADDED TO Americans are tired of having their Panchal, Erin Peterson, Michael Pohle, THE LIST BEFORE MITCH MCCONNELL ACTS voices drowned out by the NRA. They Julia Pryde, Mary Read, Reema ON GUNS? are tired of a Congress that fears NRA Samaha, Waleed Shaalan, Leslie Sher- (By the Editorial Board) attack ads more than the next mass man, Maxine Turner, Nicole R. White, Rodolfo Julio Arco, 57; Kameron Karltess shooting, and they are tired of being Beverly Flynn, Janet Jorgensen, Gary Brown, 30; Raul Garcia, 35; Mary Granados, 29; Joseph Griffith, 40; Leilah Hernandez, 15; told time and again that this is a men- Joy, John McDonald, Gary Scharf, Angie Schuster, Dianne Trent, Maggie Edwin Peregrino, 25. tal health problem or a violent video Add those seven individuals, randomly game problem when we know it is a Webb, Parveen Ali, Almir Alves, Marc Henry Bernard, Maria Sonia Bernard, slaughtered Saturday by a shooter in the gun problem. It is time for real action West Texas cities of Midland and Odessa, to in the Senate. Hong Xiu Mao, Jiang Ling, Layla the toll of those lost to America’s gun insan- Earlier this year, the House of Rep- Khalil, Roberta King, Lan Ho, Li Guo, ity. And then pose this question: resentatives passed universal back- Dolores Yigal, Maria Zobniw, Michael What if there was a mass shooting in the ground checks for every gun sale—the Grant Cahill, Libardo Eduardo United States not once or twice or four or kind of measure that would have Caraveo, Justin Michael DeCrow, John six times monthly, but every single day, a big one, the kind that electrifies social stopped the shooter in Midland, TX, Gaffaney, Frederick Greene, Jason Dean Hunt, Amy S. Krueger, Aaron media and squats for days on Page 1—would from bypassing a criminal background that be enough to move Senate Majority check if it had been a law. Thomas Nemelka, Michael S. Pearson, Leader Mitch McConnell from his insistent Just last week, the House Judiciary Russell Seager, Francheska Velez, Jua- inertia on gun safety? Would any volume of Committee passed the Keep Americans nita L. Warman, Kham See Xiong, bloodshed convince the Kentucky Repub- Safe Act, my legislation to limit the Christina Taylor Green, Dorothy Mor- lican that Congress faces a moral imperative sale of ammunition to no more than 10 ris, John M. Roll, Phyllis Schneck, to act? Thirty-eight people were slain in rounds. We know that a magazine that Dorwan Stoddard, Gabriel Zimmerman, three such shootings in August—in Dayton, holds 30 or 60 or even 100 rounds of am- Demetrius Hewlin, Russell King, Jr., Ohio, and El Paso, as well as West Texas— Daniel Parmertor, Tshering Rinzing and still Senate Republicans and President munition, like the Dayton shooter’s Trump refuse to act. did, is not for hunting or self-defense or Bhutia, Doris Chibuko, Sonam The list below, far from comprehensive, is protecting your home. High-capacity Choedon, Grace Eunhea Kim, Katleen tragic, in part, because it is so far from inev- magazines are designed for one thing, Ping, Judith O. Seymour, Lydia Sim, itable. No, no single law would end gun vio- and that is high-capacity killing. Jonathan Blunk, A.J. Boik, Jesse lence. But there are reasonable, obvious It is true that no single law is going Childress, Gordon Cowden, Jessica measures that would help. to prevent all gun deaths. It is also Ghawi, John Thomas Larimer, Mat- For example: Ban the sale of military- true that we can prevent some gun thew McQuinn, Micayla Medek, grade assault weapons. Unneeded by civil- Veronica Moser-Sullivan, Alex Mat- ians, they are a blight on the nation, their deaths, and reducing magazine size is a ready availability a national disgrace. Elimi- proven way to do so. thew Sullivan, Alexander Teves, Re- nating them would slow the growth of this What will it take for the majority becca Ann Wingo, Satwant Singh list. It would save lives. leader to take action? I am not the Kaleka, Suveg Singh Khattra, April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School in only one asking this question. Indeed, Paramjit Kaur, Prakash Singh, Ranjit Littleton, Colo.: Cassie Bernall, 17; Steven on September 3, the Washington Post Singh, Sita Singh, Charlotte Bacon, Curnow, 14; Corey DePooter, 17; Kelly Flem- published an editorial calling on the Daniel Barden, Rachel D’Avino, Olivia ing, 16; Matthew Kechter, 16; Daniel Mauser, majority leader to act. They asked: Engel, Josephine Gay, Dylan Hockley, 15; Daniel Rohrbough, 15; William ‘‘Dave’’ Sanders, 47; Rachel Scott, 17; Isaiah Shoels, ‘‘Would any volume of bloodshed con- Dawn Hochsprung, Madeleine F. Hsu, 18; John Tomlin, 16; Lauren Townsend, 18; vince the Kentucky Republican that Catherine V. Hubbard, Chase Kowalski, Kyle Velasquez, 16. Congress faces a moral imperative to Jesse Lewis, Ana G. Marquez-Greene, Dec. 26, 2000, at Edgewater Technology in act?’’ James Mattioli, Grace McDonnell, Wakefield, Mass.: Jennifer Bragg

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.049 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5524 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 Capobianco, 29; Janice Hagerty, 46; Louis Kowalski, 7; Jesse Lewis, 6; Ana G. Marquez- June 5, 2017, at an awning company near ‘‘Sandy’’ Javelle, 58; Rose Manfredi, 48; Paul Greene, 6; James Mattioli, 6; Grace McDon- Orlando: Kevin Clark, 53; Kevin Lawson, 46; Marceau, 36; Cheryl Troy, 50; Craig Wood, 29. nell, 7; Anne Marie Murphy, 52; Emilie Brenda Montanez-Crespo, 44; Jeffrey Roberts, March 21, 2005, at Red Lake High School on Parker, 6; Jack Pinto, 6; Noah Pozner, 6; 57; Robert Snyder, 69. the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Red Caroline Previdi, 6; Jessica Rekos, 6; Avielle Oct. 1, 2017, on the Las Vegas Strip: Han- Lake, Minn.: Derrick Brun, 28; Dewayne Richman, 6; Lauren Russeau, 30; Mary nah Ahlers, 34; Heather Alvarado, 35; Dorene Lewis, 15; Chase Lussier, 15; Daryl Lussier, Sherlach, 56; Victoria Soto, 27; Benjamin Anderson, 49; Carrie Barnette, 34; Jack 58; Neva Rogers, 62; Chanelle Rosebear, 15; Wheeler, 6; Allison N. Wyatt, 6. Beaton, 54; Stephen Berger, 44; Candice Bow- Michelle Sigana, 32; Thurlene Stillday, 15; Sept. 16, 2013, at the Washington Navy ers, 40; Denise Burditus, 50; Sandy Casey, 35; Alicia White, 15. Yard in the District: Michael Arnold, 59; Andrea Castilla, 28; Denise Cohen, 58; Austin Oct. 2, 2006, at an Amish schoolhouse in Martin Bodrog, 54; Arthur Daniels, 51; Sylvia Davis, 29; Thomas Day Jr., 54; Christiana Lancaster County, Pa.: Naomi Ebersol, 7; Frasier, 53; Kathy Gaarde, 62; John Roger Duarte, 22; Stacee Rodrigues Etcheber, 50; Marian Stoltzfus Fisher, 13; Lena Zook Mil- Johnson, 73; Mary Frances DeLorenzo Brian Fraser, 39; Keri Galvan, 31; Dana Gard- ler, 7; Mary Liz Miller, 8; Anna Mae Knight, 51; Frank Kohler, 51; Vishnu ner, 52; Angela Gomez, 20; Charleston Stoltzfus, 12. Bhalchandra Pandit, 61; Kenneth Bernard Hartfield, 34; Christopher Hazencomb, 44; April 16, 2007, at Virginia Tech in Proctor, 46; Gerald Read, 58; Richard Michael Jennifer Topaz Irvine, 42; Teresa Nicol Blacksburg, Va.: Ross Abdallah Alameddine, Ridge11, 52. Kimura, 38; Jessica Klymchuk, 34; Carly 20; Christopher James ‘‘Jamie’’ Bishop, 35; June 17, 2015, at Emanuel African Meth- Kreibaum, 33; Rhonda LeRocque, 42; Victor Brian Bluhm, 25; Ryan Clark, 22; Austin odist Episcopal Church in Charleston, S.C.: Link, 55; Jordan McIldoon, 23; Kelsey Cloyd, 18; Jocelyne Couture-Nowak, 49; Dan- Sharonda Coleman-Singleton, 45; DePayne V. Breanne Meadows, 28; Calla-Marie Medig, 28; iel Perez Cueva, 21; Kevin Granata, 46; Mat- Middleton Doctor, 49; Cynthia Graham Hurd, Sonny Melton, 29; Patricia Mestas, 67; Aus- thew G. Gwaltney, 24; Caitlin Hammaren, 19; 54; Susie Jackson, 87; Ethel Lee Lance, 70; tin Meyer, 24; Adrian Murfitt, 35; Rachael Jeremy Herbstritt, 27; Rachael Elizabeth Clementa C. Pinckney, 41; Tywanza Sanders, Parker, 33; Jennifer Parks, 36; Carolyn Par- Hill, 18; Emily Hilscher, 19; Jarrett Lane, 22; 26; Daniel Simmons, 74; Myra Thompson, 59. sons, 31; Lisa Patterson, 46; John Phippen, Matthew J. La Porte, 20; Henry Lee, 20; Liviu July 16, 2015, at an armed services recruit- 56; Melissa Ramirez, 26; Jordyn Rivera, 21; Librescu, 76; G.V. Loganathan, 51; Partahi ing center and a Navy reserve center in Quinton Robbins, 20; Cameron Robinson, 28; Lumbantoruan, 34; Lauren McCain, 20; Dan- Chattanooga, Tenn.: Carson A. Holmquist, Rocio Guillen Rocha, 40; Tara Roe, 34; Lisa iel O’Neil, 22; Juan Ramon Ortiz, 26; Minal 25; Randall Smith, 26; Thomas J. Sullivan, Romero-Muniz, 48; Christopher Roybal, 28; Panchal, 26; Erin Peterson, 18; Michael 40; Squire K. ‘‘Skip’’ Wells, 21, David A. Brett Schwanbeck, 61; Bailey Schweitzer, 20; Pohle, 23; Julia Pryde, 23; Mary Read, 19; Wyatt, 35. Laura Shipp, 50; Erick Silva, 21; Susan Oct. 1, 2015, at a community college in Reema Samaha, 18; Waleed Shaalan, 32; Les- Smith, 53; Brennan Stewart, 30; Derrick Tay- Roseburg, Ore.: Lucero Alcaraz, 19; Treven lie Sherman, 20; Maxine Turner, 22; Nicole R. lor, 56; Neysa Tonks, 46; Michelle Vo, 32; Taylor Anspach, 20; Rebecka Ann Carnes, 18; Kurt Von Tillow, 55; Bill Wolfe Jr., 42. White, 20. Quinn Glen Cooper, 18; Kim Saltmarsh Dietz, Dec. 5, 2007, at the Westroads Mall in Nov. 5, 2017, at the First Baptist Church in 59; Lucas Eibel, 18; Jason Dale Johnson, 33; Omaha: Beverly Flynn, 47; Janet Jorgensen, Sutherland Springs, Tex.: Keith Allen Lawrence Levine, 67; Sarena Dawn Moore, 44. 66; Gary Joy, 56; John McDonald, 65; Gary Braden, 62; Robert Michael Corrigan, 51; Nov. 27, 2015, at a Planned Parenthood clin- Shani Louise Corrigan, 51; Emily Garcia, 7; Scharf, 48; Angie Schuster, 36; Dianne Trent, ic in Colorado Springs: Jennifer Markovsky, 53; Maggie Webb, 24. Emily Rose Hill, 11; Gregory Lynn Hill, 13; 36; Ke’Arre M. Stewart, 29; Garrett Swasey, Megan Gail Hill, 9; Crystal Marie Holcombe, April 3, 2009, at the American Civic Asso- 44. ciation immigration services center in Bing- 36; John Bryan Holcombe, 60; Karla Plain Dec. 2, 2015, at an office park in San Holcombe, 58; Marc Daniel Holcombe, 36; hamton, N.Y.: Parveen Nln Ali, 26; Almir O. Bernardino, Calif.: Robert Adams, 40; Isaac Alves, 43; Marc Henry Bernard, 44; Maria Noah Holcombe, 1; Dennis Neil Johnson, 77; Amanios, 60; Bennetta Betbadal, 46; Harry Sara Johns Johnson, 68; Haley Krueger, 16; Sonia Bernard, 46; Hai Hong Zhong, 54; Hong Bowman, 46; Sierra Clayborn, 27; Juan Xiu Mao, 35; Jiang Ling, 22; Layla Khalil, 57; Robert Scott Marshall, 56; Karen Sue Mar- Espinoza, 50; Aurora Godoy, 26; Shannon shall, 56; Tara E. McNulty, 33; Annabelle Roberta King, 72; Lan Ho, 39; Li Guo, 47; Do- Johnson, 45; Larry Daniel Kaufman, 42; lores Yigal, 53; Maria Zobniw, 60. Renae Pomeroy, 14; Ricardo Cardona Rodri- Damian Meins, 58; Tin Nguyen, 31; Nicholas guez, 64; Therese Sagan Rodriguez, 66; Nov. 5, 2009, at Fort Hood, near Killeen, Thalasinos, 52; Yvette Velasco, 27; Michael Tex.: Michael Grant Cahill, 62; Libardo Brooke Bryanne Ward, 5; Joann Lookingbill Raymond Wetzel, 37. Ward, 30; Peggy Lynn Warden, 56; Lula Eduardo Caraveo, 52; Justin Michael DeCrow, June 12, 2016, at Pulse nightclub in Or- 32; John P. Gaffaney, 56; Frederick Greene, Woicinski White, 71. lando: Stanley Almodovar III, 23; Amanda L. Feb. 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas 29; Jason Dean Hunt, 22; Amy S. Krueger, 29; Alvear, 25; Oscar A. Aracena Montero, 26; High School in Parkland, Fla.: Alyssa Aaron Thomas Nemelka, 19; Michael S. Pear- Rodolfo Ayala Ayala, 33; Antonio Davon Alhadeff, 14; Scott Beigel, 35; Martin Duque, son, 22; Russell Seager, 51; Francheska Velez, Brown, 29; Darryl Roman Burt II, 29; Angel 14; Nicholas Dworet, 17; Aaron Feis, 37; 21; Juanita L. Warman, 55; Kham See Xiong, Candelario-Padro, 28; Juan Chavez Martinez, Jaime Guttenberg, 14; Chris Hixon, 49; Luke 23. 25; Luis Daniel Conde, 39; Cory James Hoyer, 15; Cara Loughran, 14; Gina Montalto, Jan. 8, 2011, in the parking lot of a grocery Connell, 21; Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25; Deonka 14; Joaquin Oliver, 17; Alaina Petty, 14; store near Tucson: Christina Taylor Green, 9; ´ Deidra Drayton, 32; Simon Adrian Carrillo Meadow Pollack, 18; Helena Ramsay, 17; Alex Dorothy Morris, 76; John M. Roll, 63; Phyllis ´ Fernandez, 31; Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25; Schachter, 14; Carmen Schentrup, 16; Peter Schneck, 79; Dorwan Stoddard, 76; Gabriel Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26; Peter Ommy Wang, 15. Zimmerman, 30. Gonzalez Cruz, 22; Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22; May 18, 2018, at Santa Fe High School in Feb. 27, 2012, at Chardon High School in Paul Terrell Henry, 41; Frank Hernandez, 27; Santa Fe, Tex.: Jared Black, 17; Shana Fish- Chardon, Ohio: Demetrius Hewlin, 16; Russell Miguel Angel Honorato, 30; Javier Jorge er, 16; Christian Riley Garcia, 15; Aaron Kyle King, Jr., 17; Daniel Parmertor, 16. Reyes, 40; Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19; McLeod, 15; Glenda Ann Perkins, 64; April 2, 2012, at Oikos University in Oak- Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30; Anthony Luis Angelique Ramirez, 15; Sabika Sheikh, 17; land, Calif.: Tshering Rinzing Bhutia, 38; Laureano Disla, 25; Christopher Andrew Christopher Stone, 17; Cynthia Tisdale, 63; Doris Chibuko, 40; Sonam Choedon, 33; Grace Leinonen, 32; Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21, Kimberly Vaughan, 14. Eunhea Kim, 23; Katleen Ping, 24; Judith O. Brenda Marquez McCool, 49; Gilberto R. June 28, 2018, at the Capital Gazette news- Seymour, 53; Lydia Sim, 21. Silva Menendez, 25; Kimberly Jean Morris, room in Annapolis: Gerald Fischman, 61; Rob July 20, 2012, at the Century Aurora 16 37; Akyra Monet Murray, 18; Luis Omar Hiaasen, 59; John McNamara, 56; Rebecca movie complex in Aurora, Colo.: Jonathan Ocasio Capo, 20; Geraldo A. Ortiz Jimenez, Smith, 34; Wendi Winters, 65. Blunk, 26: A.J. Boik, 18; Jesse Childress, 29; 25; Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36; Joel Rayon Oct. 27, 2018, at Tree of Life synagogue in Gordon W. Cowden, 51; Jessica Ghawi, 24; Paniagua, 32; Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35; Pittsburgh: Joyce Fienberg, 75; Richard John Thomas Larimer, 27; Matthew Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25; Jean Carlos Nieves Gottfried, 65; Rose Mallinger, 97; Jerry McQuinn, 27; Micayla Medek, 23; Veronica Rodrı´guez, 27; Xavier Emmanuel Serrano- Rabinowitz, 66; Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Moser-Sullivan, 6; Alex Matthew Sullivan, Rosado, 35; Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24; Rosenthal, 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan 27; Alexander Teves, 24; Rebecca Ann Wingo, Yilmary Rodrı´guez Solivan, 24; Edward Simon, 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 87; 32. Sotomayor Jr., 34; Shane Evan Tomlinson, Irving Younger, 69. Aug. 5, 2012, at the Sikh Temple of Wis- 33; Martin Benitez Torres, 33; Jonathan A. Nov. 7, 2018, at the Borderline Bar and Grill consin in Oak Creek, Wis.: Satwant Singh Camuy Vega, 24; Juan Pablo Rivera in Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Sean Adler, 48; Kaleka, 65; Suveg Singh Khattra, 84; Vela´ zquez, 37; Luis Sergio Vielma, 22; Cody Coffman, 22; Blake Dingman, 21; Jake Paramjit Kaur, 41; Prakash Singh, 39; Ranjit Franky Jimmy DeJesus Vela´ zquez, 50; Luis Dunham, 21, Ron Helus, 54; Alaina Housley, Singh, 49; Sita Singh, 41. Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37; Jerald Arthur 18; Dan Manrique, 33; Justin Meek, 23; Mark Dec. 14, 2012, at Sandy Hook Elementary Wright, 31. Meza Jr., 20, Kristina Morisette, 20; School in Newtown, Conn.: Charlotte Bacon, Jan. 6, 2017, at the baggage claim of Fort Telemachus Orfanos, 27; Noel Sparks, 21. 6; Daniel Barden, 7; Rachel D’Avino, 29; Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport Jan. 23, 2019, at the SunTrust Bank in Olivia Engel, 6; Josephine Gay, 7; Dylan in Florida: Mary Louise Amzibel, 69; Terry Sebring, Fla.: Debra Cook, 54; Marisol Lopez, Hockley, 6; Dawn Hochsprung, 47; Madeleine Andres, 62; Michael Oehme, 57; Shirley 55; Jessica Montague, 31; Ana Pin˜ on-Wil- F. Hsu, 6; Catherine V. Hubbard, 6; Chase Timmons, 70; Olga Woltering, 84. liams, 38; Cynthia Watson, 65.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:01 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.008 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5525 Feb. 15, 2019, at the Henry Pratt Co. in Au- they shouldn’t have the ability to buy ground checks for all gun sales and to rora, Ill.: Russell Beyer, 47; Vicente Juarez, a gun in our State. actually act. We owe it to our children, 54; Clayton Parks, 32; Josh Pinkard, 37; Now, I do a lot of townhalls. I do one who are now scared of going to school Trevor Wehner, 21. in every county every year. At the end and who are forced to practice hiding May 31, 2019, at the Virginia Beach Munic- ipal Center, in Virginia Beach : LaQuita C. of this year, I am hitting about 400 from a crazed murderer in active shoot- Brown, 39; Ryan Keith Cox, 50; Tara Welch townhalls since the time I have been in ing drills. We owe it to our teachers, Gallagher, 39; Mary Louise Gayle, 65; Alex- the Senate. Of the 36 counties I go to who are prepared to put their lives on ander Mikhail Gusev, 35; Joshua O. Hardy, each year, 22 of them would be what the line for their students in case of an 52; Michelle ‘‘Missy’’ Langer, 60; Richard H. you would describe politically as being emergency. And we owe it to the fami- Nettleton, 65; Katherine A. Nixon, 42; Chris- very red counties, and gun violence lies of the countless Americans who topher Kelly Rapp, 54; Herbert ‘‘Bert’’ comes up all the time. Yet even in have lost their lives to gun violence— Snelling, 57; Robert ‘‘Bobby’’ Williams, 72. those conservative red counties, people to the mothers, fathers, sisters, and July 28, 2019, at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in California: Trevor Deon Irby, 25; Stephen are incredibly supportive of having a brothers, and the loved ones of those Romero, 6; Keyla Salazar, 13. background check system nationally who are lost. They have an unhealable Aug. 3, 2019, at a Walmart Supercenter in like Oregon has created, because right pain. El Paso: Andre Anchondo, 24; Jordan now in Oregon it is kind of a big hole One of those individuals, Fred Anchondo, 25; Arturo Benavides, 60; Leo if somebody just ignores a background Guttenberg, is here tonight. On Valen- Campos, 41; Angelina Englisbee, 86; Maria check and goes across the border to an- tine’s Day 2018, Fred’s 14-year-old Flores, 77; Raul Flores, 83; Jorge Calvillo daughter, Jamie Guttenberg was ´ ´ other State to buy guns. Garcıa, 61; Adolfo Cerros Hernandez, 68; Then we have the challenges of straw gunned down at her school in Park- Maribel Herna´ ndez, 56; Alexander Gerhard land, FL. Jamie was, in her father’s Hoffman, 66; David Johnson, 63; Luis Juarez, buyers, and we need to have rigorous 90; Maria Eugenia Legarreta, 58; Ivan enforcement of that. It is only with a words, ‘‘tough as nails,’’ but also Filiberto Manzano, 45; Gloria Irma Ma´ rquez, national system that this works. ‘‘silly, funny, energetic . . . wherever 61; Elsa Mendoza, 57; Margie Reckard, 63; Every year, thousands of people go to she went, she was the energy in the Sara Esther Regalado, 66; Javier Amir Rodri- more than 4,000 gun shows held across room.’’ guez, 15; Teresa Sanchez, 82; Juan de Dios America, and they purchase between 4 She wanted to be a pediatric physical Vela´ zquez, 77. to 9 percent of all the annual firearms therapist and work with children to Aug. 4, 2019, at the Oregon Historic District that are sold in America at these make their lives better. She was a 14- in Dayton, Ohio: Megan K. Betts, 22; Monica year-old with her whole life ahead of E. Brickhouse, 39; Nicholas P. Cumer, 25; events. Because gun shows in most States don’t require background her. She was a competitive dancer. She Derrick R. Fudge, 57; Thomas J. McNichols, was a freshman in high school with so 25; Lois L. Oglesby, 27; Saeed Saleh, 38; checks, people who couldn’t pass a Logan M. Turner, 30; Beatrice N. Warren- background check simply can go and many life chapters to be written. Curtis, 36. acquire their weapon in that fashion. But she didn’t get to write those chapters—chapters having fun with her Mr. MENENDEZ. I yield the floor. For this reason, guns purchased at friends, chapters getting stressed out I suggest the absence of a quorum. gun shows are disproportionately the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ones that are used in criminal activi- by back-to-school homework or plan- clerk will call the roll. ties. The same is true for individuals ning for the prom or making plans for The senior assistant legislative clerk purchasing guns in other States the future or deciding what path to go proceeded to call the roll. through websites like Craig’s List. Just in life and where to attend school. All of it was stolen from her and stolen Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I like gun show purchasers, individuals from her family. ask unanimous consent that the order purchasing firearms online from pri- Her father Fred has said: for the quorum call be rescinded. vate sellers are exempt from back- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ‘‘Everybody thinks this gets easier as time ground checks in all but 12 States and goes on. It actually doesn’t. It gets harder, objection, it is so ordered. the District of Columbia. because every day there’s just going to be a Mr. MERKLEY. Madam President, I So, nationally, there is powerful sup- new reminder of what you lost.’’ am rising to speak tonight as a Sen- port for a solid background check sys- She was the second to the last to be ator that comes from a passionate Sec- tem that doesn’t have loopholes that shot. She was shot in the spine running ond Amendment State. The citizens of just make it irrelevant—closing of the away from the shooter. Fred notes that my home State of Oregon value their loophole for gun shows, closing the it was his daughter, but it could have guns for collecting, for target practice, loophole for Craig’s List, and closing been your daughter. It could have been for personal defense, and, certainly, for the loophole for stalkers and domestic your son. It could have been the child hunting. But it is also a State where abusers. of any one of us. citizens have said they do not want in- Speaking of domestic abusers, in just (Mr. BARRASSO assumes the Chair.) dividuals who are deeply disturbed or an average week, about 17 women— Mr. President, we are here in the individuals who have felony back- about 17 women—are fatally shot by Chamber to help make life better. We grounds to get ahold of guns because former or current romantic partners. are here to keep Americans safe, but we have a responsibility to make sure As we talk about the challenge with we are doing nothing, and doing noth- that guns don’t end up in the wrong guns and violent deaths in America, we ing with 90-plus percent of America hands and that guns are not abused. have the names of various cities ring- crying out and saying: Have the guts to Our State then proceeded to do a se- ing in our ears—cities like Dayton, 9 act. ries of things to strengthen a back- dead and 27 wounded; El Paso, 22 dead Mr. President, let’s have the guts to ground check system. It was in the and 24 wounded; Odessa and Midland, 7 act. Let’s have the guts to put the bill year 2000 that the citizens drew a bal- dead and 21 wounded. But recognize here on the floor. The House passed lot measure supported by almost 62 this: While those extra traumatic H.R. 8, the basic background check bill. percent of the State that chose to close events capture the headlines, there is a We are not here to do the interests of the gun show loophole that previously mass shooting in America more than big corporations. We are not here to do had allowed purchasers to buy guns at once per day. As of September 1 of this the interests of special interests. Nine- gun shows without completing a back- year, which was the 244th day of the ty-plus percent of Americans say to act ground check, making a background year, there have been 283 mass shoot- on the basics of doing a background check in gun stores essentially irrele- ings. check when people buy a gun, no mat- vant. What is a mass shooting? It is a situ- ter where they buy it. It was in 2015 that the citizens of Or- ation in which more than four people Let’s act. Let’s hold a debate. Let’s egon closed the Craig’s List loophole, are hit by gunfire. actually talk to each other. Let’s make and it was in the year 2018 when they So it is time to act. Right now, this the arguments pro and con. Let’s hear closed through the legislature the is the moment that demands action be- why we shouldn’t listen to the vast ma- ‘‘boyfriend’’ loophole, saying that if an cause 92 percent of Americans favor a jority of Americans. It is the vast ma- individual had a restraining order background check for all gun sales. We jority of Democrats, it is the vast ma- against them or a stalking conviction, owe it to Americans to support back- jority of Independents, and it is the

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:01 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.010 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5526 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 vast majority of Republicans, with vir- the Nation’s gun laws, recognizing that confrontational with me about the tually no difference in the level of sup- this number—100 Americans killed by issue of guns—his defenses drop, and he port between the Democrats, Independ- guns every single day—is not inevi- says: Well, yes. Of course, I support ents, and Republicans. All of America table. Almost every single one of these that. Of course, everybody should get a is saying that background checks make murders and suicides and accidental background check before buying a gun. sense. shootings is preventable if we make I said: You got one, right? The American people deserve safety different choices here on the floor of He said: I got one. It was 3- or 4-min- in their homes, workplaces, schools, the U.S. Senate. utes long. That is not what I am talk- and their communities, but all I have Our purpose tonight is to try to bring ing about. I object to all of the other heard is a majority leader who says some consistency of effort to a case things, but, of course, I want back- that he will only allow a bill on the that we have been making for a very ground checks. floor when the President says it is OK. long time. So I will be back here later Gun owners support background Well, the last time I checked the this evening to walk through the case, checks by an 80- to 90-percent margin. Constitution, it is our responsibility as far as I see it, for universal back- NRA members support it. Polls suggest here in the Senate and House to act, ground checks in particular but also that 75 to 80 percent of NRA members not to hide behind the skirts of the for a host of other measures that are support background checks. This is President. This President, we know, broadly popular amongst the American just one of the least controversial has been spineless—absolutely spine- public. issues that exists out there in the less. One call from a special interest One point I will make right now is American public today. group, one meeting with the NRA, and that this issue is really unique in We are going to have a conversation suddenly his conviction dissipates like American politics today. It is not a today about the efficacy of these meas- light rain on hot asphalt. controversial issue out in America. It ures, but we should remember that Are we going to abdicate our respon- is only controversial here inside the there are many times when we get de- sibility to legislate to a spineless political process. In fact, there are very luded into believing something is much President? It is not his role to decide few matters in public life today that more of a vexing political conversation what bills are passed in this country. It are, frankly, more controversial than than it truly is, and background checks is our responsibility here in the Sen- this issue. When you go out and ask are on that agenda. ate. I believe that if Democrats and Re- people if they support universal back- At this point, I yield the floor, and I publicans come together and honor ground checks, which is the measure will come back down later for longer their responsibility to act and pass the that passed the House of Representa- remarks. I am glad to be joined this bill, the President will be in the Oval tives by a 9-to-1 margin, they support evening by Senator BROWN from Ohio. Office signing it because all of America universal background checks. There is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- is crying out for him to do so. almost nothing else in American poli- ator from Ohio. It has been a long time since the bill tics today—I would endeavor to say Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I am also was passed in the House. It has been 202 there is nothing else in American poli- joined by Senator CASEY, of Pennsyl- days. That is 202 opportunities that we vania, who has been a leader as Sen- have had to debate the House bill and tics today that is as popular as this ator MURPHY has been. We look to Sen- take a vote on it. It has been 202 oppor- measure; yet it has this reputation of being a third rail of political discourse ator MURPHY every day in this body be- tunities in which the leadership of this cause he has seen this tragedy up close Chamber has failed the American peo- here in Washington. I would simply encourage my col- in the most vivid, awful ways. We ap- ple by refusing to have a debate on this leagues to get out there and have con- preciate how he has represented vic- floor. tims and people who might end up When I came here, not long ago, vir- versations with their constituents, to being victims. If we do this right, they tually any Senator could get any issue have conversations with members of won’t end up being victims. His leader- before the Senate. Suddenly, we have a their own parties, to have conversa- ship has really mattered. dictator in the Senate. The majority tions with gun owners. You will find On a Sunday morning 6 weeks ago, leader says only the bills that he wants that there is a consistency of opinion Connie and I woke up, checked our will be considered and only the amend- at least on a large number of pieces of iPhones, and immediately called out to ments that he wants will be considered legislation that are before this body. each other and said: Oh, my gosh. Look on the floor of the Senate. At the top of that list are universal what has happened in Dayton. What happened to my Republican background checks. I have this con- It was the first Saturday night in Au- colleagues who believed in the right to versation over and over and over gust. At 1 o’clock that Sunday morn- amend and the right to legislate, who again—and then I will leave the floor ing, a local man with an assault weap- now yield to one individual in the Sen- to Senator BROWN and return later— on walked into the Oregon District in ate dictating what is considered in this with the President’s supporters, with Dayton, as people were out having fun august Chamber? We are not much of a supporters of the Second Amendment, that night, and just opened fired. He legislative chamber if only one person and with members of the NRA in my killed his sister, and he killed eight can determine what is considered here State. others. He wounded more than 20. In on the floor of the Senate. Of course, I have acquired a reputa- The American people are asking for tion of being a forceful and vocal advo- the space of 32 seconds, he had fired 41 better. Let’s deliver much better. Let’s cate for stronger gun laws in this Na- bullets. It tells you the kind of gun he consider H.R. 8. Let’s get it on the tion, and the NRA often targets me in had. Heroically, six police officers de- floor. Let’s debate and let’s vote. its advertisements and its emails. I scended on him. They shot him and Thank you. will often be confronted by my con- killed him before he could walk into The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. stituents who will see me at a public this nightclub where he would have BRAUN). The Senator from Connecticut. event. They will come on a beeline over probably killed 20 other people. Mr. MURPHY. Mr. President, I thank to me and start confronting me about I called Mayor Nan Whaley that my colleagues for their indulgence this my agenda to confiscate their weapons morning, probably at 8:30. It was pretty evening and those of you who help us or to take away their guns. Of course, incredible. This happened at 1 o’clock keep this floor open. I try to disabuse them of that notion, in the morning. I called her at 8:30—71⁄2 I will make some longer remarks and as soon as I can, I take the con- hours later. The first thing she said to later this evening, but while we have a versation to background checks. me was that she had gotten emails and short break on the floor and await Sen- I say: Listen, let me ask you a ques- texts and calls—in her words—from ator BROWN, I want to say a word of ap- tion. Do you think that everybody who several dozen mayors around the coun- preciation to all of my colleagues who is buying a gun in this country should try who had either had to deal with have decided to join us this evening on have to go through a background this, as many had, or had had situa- the floor. check? tions in which they had had gun vio- This is my first appearance here to Almost invariably, the individual, lence and had just offered to help her talk about the imperative of changing who just moments ago was so in any way they could.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.053 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5527 We know what happens. We know As Senator MURPHY said, 90 percent tizing people with mental illness. Con- that every time there is gun violence— of the American public supports back- gress should stop taking orders from every time there is a mass shooting— ground checks. You know, the only the NRA and start acting to keep peo- the first thing the Republicans say is: people who don’t support background ple safe. My thoughts and prayers are with the checks are professional lobbyists for I will close with this before Senator victims. the NRA and the people who sit over CASEY speaks: The shooting was at 1 in How can you not agree with that? We here. Other than that, it is over 90 per- the morning on a Sunday. Sunday all think that. cent. A majority of gun owners in Ohio night, people gathered in the Oregon Then they say ‘‘Now is not the time support universal background checks. District—heartbroken people, rel- to talk about it’’ as if they ever want A majority of Republicans support uni- atives, friends, community people, just to talk about it. versal background checks. A majority people who were just shellshocked and Then they say: You know, we have to of NRA members in Ohio support uni- felt awful about what happened to do something about mental health in versal background checks. The only their city and to those victims—gath- this country. people who don’t are Members of this ered in the Oregon District in Dayton. Ask Senator CASEY about his efforts body and that tiny group of NRA pro- The Governor was there, and the mayor on Medicaid and my efforts on Med- fessional lobbyists. It is not NRA mem- was up front, and one or two people icaid. The people who sit on this side of bers who are stopping background started yelling: Do something. Do the aisle—where the Republicans sit checks from passing. It is that narrow something. Then more and more people here—are the ones who stood a year group of millionaire, NRA, highly paid, joined in, and they started chanting: ago at every one of these desks, all of professional lobbyists. That is why we Do something. Do something. the Senators having their health insur- can’t pass it here. That is what we have They were chanting it to local offi- ance paid for by the government, paid had happen. cials. They were chanting it so the for by taxpayers, and tried to take Mayor Nan Whaley and I asked Presi- Governor heard it and maybe even away health insurance for millions and dent Trump to pass it, and he said: I some State legislators in Ohio heard it. millions of Americans. am going to do big things. We are going They were shouting loud enough that Senator CASEY told me today that 1.1 to do big things and fix this. in this body we should hear that shout million people in Pennsylvania now Then we saw him later at the hos- have health insurance because of the to do something. pital. President Trump went around It starts by taking the bill that Affordable Care Act. In my State, the hospital with the First Lady. They where my daughter Elizabeth Brown is passed the House down the hall, bring- were kind and generous and empa- ing it to the Senate floor, debating it, a councilperson in Columbus, 900,000 thetic, I believe, with the patients who people have insurance because of that. voting on it, passing strong, reasonable were there who had been injured and background checks. That is the step we On this side of the aisle, every single with their family members. Then we Senator except for three—one of whom need to take. There is simply no excuse met the police officers—the six heroic for not doing it. has passed away—voted to take away police officers. We thanked them pro- the insurance, to repeal the Affordable I yield the floor. fusely—all of us—for their courage in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- Care Act. Then they have the gall to saving lives. say we have to do more on mental ator from Pennsylvania. Then we walked out of the room, the Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, I rise to- health. If that had passed—if they had Governor and the other Senator from night to speak about the issue that has repealed the Affordable Care Act—hun- Ohio and the local Congressman and dreds of thousands of Pennsylvanians been consuming a lot of our time, and the mayor, and he said: We are going to appropriately so, not only tonight but and Ohioans wouldn’t have had the have the biggest awards ever. We are mental health services they are getting for many weeks, since some of the going to give them the biggest Presi- tragedies of this summer, starting in now. So spare me that whining. Spare dential medals ever made for these he- early August and continuing but also me that ‘‘oh, we want to take care of roes. an issue that has occupied the time of mental health issues.’’ No, they don’t. I said: That is really good, Mr. Presi- They just want to do the NRA’s bid- dent, but do you know what they would the American people over the course of ding. really like? What they would really not just weeks or months but years and Look down this aisle. Look down this like is for us to pass background even decades now. I thank our colleague from Con- hall. Right down this hall is Senator checks and make their jobs a little MCCONNELL’s office. I am not going to easier, so when they walk in, they are necticut, Senator MURPHY, for orga- say that gun lobbyists walk down that not ambushed by people with illegal nizing this time to bring Members of hall and walk into his office and hand guns. the Senate together. him money. I don’t think they do that. The President said he was going to do I thank my colleague from Ohio, Sen- Yet I do know that until we break the something, then he talked to the NRA, ator BROWN, the senior Senator, for his addiction that Donald Trump and and then he talked to the gun lobby. It words tonight, his passion about this MITCH MCCONNELL and most of the Re- is the same story. issue, and his commitment to change. publicans—most of the people in this Again, when I open this door and That should be a commitment that is body—have to gun lobby money, cam- look down the hall, I don’t expect to shared by everyone here, but we will be paign contributions, we will never see—well, it is late in the day, but I talking about what has not happened solve this problem. don’t expect to see gun lobbyists lining here tonight as much as what has hap- We heard that. That is what we heard up handing MITCH MCCONNELL money. pened. the first day in Dayton. My wife and I It is illegal. I don’t think he does stuff When I think about this issue, the drove to Dayton that afternoon. The like that, take money in this body. issue of gun violence, which is an epi- President came to Dayton 2 days later. I do know, again, that until we break demic, it is also uniquely an American I joined President Trump at the bot- the addiction, until the voters or the problem. No other country has this tom of Air Force One. As he got off the Congress or somehow we break the ad- problem. In fact, America didn’t have plane, I stood with Mayor Whaley. diction to gun lobby money that MITCH this problem for all of its history. De- We both looked President Trump in MCCONNELL and Donald Trump and the pending on where you start the clock, the eye and said: Mr. President, I hope majority party have, we can’t solve it is years old, if not a lot longer than you will call Senator MCCONNELL and this. that. ask him to bring the Senate back. This is just too important. For every When I think about the issue and This was in early August. The Senate mass shooting that makes a headline, think about the debates we are having, was out of session for 5 weeks. there are so many other Americans sometimes we start with the names of I hope you will ask Senator MCCON- whose lives are taken by gun violence communities, and we, unfortunately, NELL to bring the Senate back into ses- but don’t get the same attention. This have them memorized. So many com- sion and pass the House bill that sets has to end. munities are known for so much—so up something very simple—universal No more stigmatizing people with much that is positive about their cul- background checks. mental illness. We should stop stigma- ture, about their history, and about

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.057 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5528 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 their future, and the dynamism of count, hundreds and hundreds—over so, basically, a congregation where the some of our great communities. the last couple of years where someone victims were ages 54 to 97. There are some communities that was killed or injured. That was one incident in my home have all that but also now have at- We, thankfully, have not had mul- State, and it seems like every State tached to their history—I hope not for- tiple mass shootings, but just a couple has a day like that where a community ever but certainly for a period of of weeks ago in the city of Philadel- is torn apart. time—that that city, that community, phia, on about the same day that a guy Those folks were obviously at the was a place where an act of gun vio- was gunned down in Philadelphia, other end of the age scale. How about lence occurred that was of such a scale there was a standoff in a Philadelphia folks a lot younger? This just happens that the American people focused on neighborhood, where one gunman—be- to be a matted copy of a page in the that one community for a sustained pe- cause of the power of his weapon and Wall Street Journal from December of riod of time because of a mass shoot- because of the advantage he had of 2012 after the Newtown, CT, shooting ing. being behind closed doors—was able to that we all know, unfortunately, so Of course, we should be remembering hold off part of a police force because much about—Sandy Hook Elementary all of the examples on a night like to- he was shooting indiscriminately with School. night, where it doesn’t reach the level a high-powered weapon. This is dated December 17, 2012. What of a mass shooting by way of victims or Thankfully, those six police officers the Wall Street Journal did was put a carnage but also as a place we should who were injured—the injuries turned picture of each child with their name remember when one person dies on a out to not be serious, and the police of- and their age and a little vignette dark street in the middle of the night ficers were released virtually on the about their young life. or a child is injured or in fact killed, same day. So we were blessed on that I will not go through all of them to- but it may not be counted as a mass day. night. I have referred to them in the shooting. Right across the street, a very nar- past, and not every child had a picture You know all the names now. Just row street, there was a childcare center ready at the time of this publication. this summer we have added several that could have been the scene of hor- These 20 children and 7 adults listed more, as everyone knows. I will not go rific carnage if it had gone another here are part of what we are talking through all the events—these horrific, way. Thankfully, those children were about—the carnage that has enveloped tragic events—but it is important to safe in that childcare center that our country over these last number of remember the names of the commu- wasn’t a block away. It wasn’t a half a years. nities, and then, of course, I want to block away. It was barely yards and I want to read their names tonight, talk about some of the people. feet away. That childcare center was and then I want to get to the legisla- Whether it is El Paso or Dayton or less than the width of this Chamber tion: Charlotte Bacon, 6; Daniel Odessa-Midland—many years ago, it away from where that shooter was sta- Barden, 7; Olivia Engel, 6; Josephine was Columbine, it was Newtown, CT, tioned. Gay, 7; Ana Marquez-Greene, 6; Cath- Virginia Tech, Las Vegas, Parkland, I will start with folks who were wor- erine V. Hubbard, 6; Jesse Lewis, 6; Aurora, CO, Orlando, and, more re- shiping in the Tree of Life synagogue Grace McDonnell, 7; Emilie Parker, 6; cently, Gilroy, CA, and Virginia Beach. on a Saturday in October of 2018. I will Noah Pozner, 6; Caroline Previdi, 6; I have left a lot off. That is just a not go through all of the details, but I Jessica Rekos, 6; Madeline F. Hsu, 6; handful in the last number of years. think everyone by now knows what Chase Kowalski 7; and James Mattioli, So we think about this issue in terms happened there. It was the worst act of 6. of those who were lost or those whose violence against the Jewish commu- Then, there were several children lives have been irreparably damaged, nity in American history that we know who didn’t have pictures at the time of sometimes irreparably damaged, per- of. this publication for the Wall Street manently damaged because of the in- In this case, these were the victims. Journal: Dylan Hockley, 6; Jack Pinto, jury—an injury they will carry with My wife Terese was kind enough to 6; Avielle Richman, 6; Benjamin Wheel- them for the rest of their lives. suggest to me that when you have a er, 6; and, Allison N. Wyatt, age 6. Of course, you don’t have to be phys- list or something you want to remem- When we talk about what we should ically injured to sustain an injury by ber an event by, you should probably do here and what we must do, we have way of the impact on your psyche. I frame it or preserve it in some fashion. to remember more than just a list of can’t even imagine, can’t even begin to She was kind enough to help me get communities, which in a sense is about imagine, nor can most people imagine this framed. place, and it is about geography. We the horror of being anywhere near a What I am holding here—you can’t also have to remember those who were mass shooting. see it from any distance—is just a lost. I think we have to begin to ask Tonight we remember those victims framed card with names of the victims. ourselves some really fundamental and their families and those commu- I will just read what it says so you questions, maybe in ways we don’t nities. We also remember the indi- know what I am talking about. often do even in this Chamber, even in vidual people who were lost, the indi- This card came from a newspaper, this body, which is supposed to be the vidual families who were affected— the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and the greatest deliberative body in the world. mothers and fathers and brothers and date is October 29, 2018. They put this This is a place where we should ask sisters, children. In so many of these on the front page of the paper. All it some of the questions that many of us instances, children are directly af- says is ‘‘Victims of the Synagogue have been asking. When we remember fected or indirectly, but that indirect Shooting,’’ and then it lists each indi- what those children suffered and what affect means they lost a parent or they vidual and their ages: Joyce Fienberg, their families suffered, is it too much lost a sibling or they lost something in 75; Richard Gottfried, 65; Rose to ask if we can pass a background that moment that they will be perma- Mallinger, 97; Jerry Rabinowitz, 66; check bill that, as Senator BROWN and nently scarred by for the rest of their Cecil Rosenthal, 59; David Rosenthal, so many others have noted, is sup- lives. 54; Bernice Simon, 84; Sylvan Simon, ported by more than 90 percent of the I want to focus on two groups of peo- 86; Daniel Stein, 71; Melvin Wax, 87; American people? Is it too much of a ple tonight. We could spend hours talk- and Irving Younger, 69. lift for the Senate to pass just one bill? ing about so many Americans. One will So this was a group of Pittsburghers It is not a bill that is going to solve be parochial in the sense that it is worshiping on the Sabbath in a syna- all the problems. We know that. No- about my home State of Pennsylvania, gogue. They were lost on that day be- body is arguing that. But we know a re- and the other will be at the other end cause a hate-filled person came into cent example of where a background of the age scale about children who that synagogue, intent by way of check bill might have been the dif- were lost in December of 2012. things he said and intent by way of the ference between the gunman having a I will start with the most recent for weapons he had and the ammunition he weapon and killing a number of Ameri- Pennsylvania. We have had, obviously, had, intent on killing as many mem- cans or not. That was Odessa and Mid- example after example—too many to bers of that congregation as possible— land. We have to do a lot more than

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.059 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5529 background checks, but let’s start with great Nation of ours can do to prevent that is not happening anywhere else— what is in front of us. someone from, in 32 seconds, killing 9 because their parents are worried You have a piece of legislation that people and injuring, I guess, about 25. about them going to school. Now we has been sitting here for over 200 What haunted me, among many have to worry about where you go to days—over 200 days. It came over from things—and I am sure it haunted many school, where you worship, where you the House, H.R. 8. H.R. 8, in my judg- Americans at the time of the December go for entertainment, and what public ment, is the best background check bill 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School in event do you not want to go to, because we have. There are other proposals, and Newtown, CT, shooting—was that the the U.S. Senate, for years now, hasn’t we should debate them. But is it too evidence indicated, according to an voted on a series of gun bills in years. much of a lift to say that we are going NBC News report at the time, which I I guess people should get used to being to debate and vote on H.R. 8, which was watching on my television at home afraid and wondering if they will be closes the loopholes on these back- in Scranton, PA, that there was evi- next or their children will be next. ground checks and I think would do the dence that the killer, after killing 20 In essence, what they are telling us best job of any proposal? Then, if some- children and several adults, was mov- on the other side, when they say no to one has another proposal—I know that ing to the next classroom. We know background checks, absolutely not— Senator MANCHIN and Senator TOOMEY that hundreds of children were in that that is what they are saying—and no to have a proposal—let’s debate that and school. I don’t know the exact number, any kind of action, is that the most vote on that too. If there is a third pro- but it wasn’t just a school of 20 chil- powerful country in the world should posal, let’s debate and vote on that. dren. A lot more than 20 were in that surrender to this problem. That is what Let’s get it right, or at least let’s give school. it is. It is surrendering to this prob- the American people a chance to see Again, as for taking this argument lem—that there is nothing that this whether or not this legislative body, that there is nothing we can do except country can do to make sure that you this Senate, reflects the will of the to enforce existing law, we hear over never have a full page of a newspaper American people—the overwhelming and over that we can’t do anything and with 20 children listed there ages 6 and percentage of American people who that we have to enforce existing law. 7 years old. That is not America. That support background checks. That is the argument. They have been is not who we are or, at least, it is not We should also make sure there is an making this argument for decades. who we claim to be. opportunity to debate and vote on the Based upon that argument, there is I would say in conclusion—and I Extreme Risk Protection Order Act or nothing we could have done in that in- know I am well over my time—that the another version of that. Let’s make stance, either, to prevent someone least we can do—this isn’t hard, guys— sure that happens. from killing 20 children or hundreds of is to debate and vote. Debate and I don’t think we are asking the ma- children in 1 school, and then maybe vote—is that hard? It is not that stren- jority leader to take on a challenge several months later going to another uous—to debate and vote on back- that he hasn’t already committed to. school and killing hundreds of children. ground checks, to debate and vote on What I heard Majority Leader MCCON- Does anyone really believe that there extreme risk protection orders. I would NELL say in August was that when we is no law, no action you can take to at go further than that, but we don’t have come back, we will debate and vote on least reduce the likelihood that that time for that tonight. Let’s debate and at least those two measures. I think will not happen in the United States of vote. We are not going to wait. Why that was a pretty clear promise. If we America? We don’t believe that be- would we wait for the President to give did that, would every problem be cause we call ourselves Americans. We us the high sign about what he will solved? No. Would gun violence be sub- have never had that attitude. Think of sign into law? This Chamber should not wait for stantially reduced in a matter of weeks our history. Think of what happened in any other official. We should debate or months? No. No one is making that the last century, if we had that point and vote and see where things are. The claim. But at least we could say that of view: nothing we can do about this American people will sort it out after we made some progress in reducing the threat in Europe; nothing we can do to we vote, and they will know who is on likelihood of greater gun violence. advance medical research, because we the record voting which way. But at I think the bigger question here that just have to accept the fact and try to least let’s give them something to indi- we have to ask over and over, until we nibble around the edges. cate that we are Americans. We don’t act or at least begin to act, is this: Is No one really believes that. So that surrender to problems. We don’t sur- there nothing that we can do? Because argument is getting pretty tired—that render to big problems. We don’t sur- that is part of the argument by those enforcement of existing law is the an- render to problems from an enemy, who say no on background checks, swer here. from a disease, and from an epidemic those who say no on extreme risk pro- This is a uniquely American problem. called gun violence. tection orders, no on a limitation on No country has this problem. It has I yield the floor. the magazines and the number of bul- been building and building for years The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- lets you can shoot at any one time, and decades. By inaction we allow the ator from Maryland. which Senator BROWN referred to. In problem to get a lot worse, and it is Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I Dayton, in 32 seconds, 9 people were about as bad as it gets right now. Huge thank my friend and colleague from killed and about 25 injured. In 32 sec- numbers of Americans now—not like 5 Pennsylvania for his leadership on this onds, the police officers got there fast- percent or 8 percent, but like 40 per- issue and his very clear remarks and er than superman could get there, and cent of Americans now—believe that call to action. I am also very pleased to that wasn’t fast enough because of the they can be a victim of gun violence. be here on the floor with my friend the power of the weapon and because of the Forty percent of a country of over 300 Senator from Connecticut, Mr. MUR- amount of ammunition. million people believes that because of PHY, who has been at the forefront of There is nothing we can do about what they have seen. But again, the an- this battle for many years. We will not that, we are told. We are told over and swer here from one side over and over let up until we see meaningful action over, here and around the country, is that there is nothing we can do, as here in the Senate, because we have an where disciples of this point of view more and more people believe they epidemic of gun violence in this coun- have their time to debate, that there is could be a victim next. try. nothing that the most powerful coun- You saw the footage for the news The only question is, What are we try in the history of the human race coverage of children going off to school going to do about it? We have seen 293 can do to make sure that doesn’t hap- at the start of this school year with mass shootings in the last 9 months. pen in another American city, or at their backpacks with a protective We see people being killed by gun vio- least take action to reduce the likeli- shield, like a Kevlar shield—I am not lence in our streets and in our neigh- hood that that would happen in an- sure exactly what it is, but I saw the borhoods every day. All told, 100 of our other American city. reports—in their backpack. An Amer- fellow Americans die from gun violence So there is apparently nothing, ac- ican child has to go to school and have every day. It can happen anytime, any- cording to this argument, that this armor-plated backpacks in America— where, to anybody. It can happen in

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.060 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5530 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 our schools, our movie theaters, our State, of people dying by guns. We had gun lobby, and then he backpedals. homes, our concerts, our bars, our a mass shooting. It was at the Capital That is where we are now, with the shopping centers, our streets. No one is Gazette newspaper. Five souls were Senate stalling, pretending, going immune or free from this violence. taken. We had a school shooting in through these sorts of fake actions, If this were an epidemic caused by a Maryland, at Great Mills High School pretending we are going to get there. preventable disease, this Congress in Southern Maryland. Every day, we I hope we do get there, but what the would convene on an emergency basis. see people in Maryland being harmed President has said and done in the past We would be having a bipartisan gath- by gun violence in our streets and gives me no confidence, which is why I ering to immediately pass legislation neighborhoods. come back to the very place I started, to help discover new cures and vaccines Maryland has actually done some- which is that this body, the U.S. Sen- for whatever disease was killing 100 of thing about it. As a State, we passed ate, has its own responsibilities under our fellow Americans every day. When some important gun measures. We the Constitution. The Constitution— it comes to gun violence, here in the closed the gun show loophole. We re- article I—gives the House and the Sen- U.S. Senate, there is nothing, no ac- quire universal background checks in ate the lawmaking power, not the tion. Maryland. We have actually banned President of the United States. We Inaction is complicity. It is com- semiautomatic assault weapons—a law shouldn’t be looking down Pennsyl- plicity in the carnage when we know that was upheld by the Supreme Court vania Avenue and saying ‘‘What is the there are commonsense measures we of the United States. We require a per- President thinking?’’ before we take can take together to reduce the gun vi- mit to purchase a gun. action to help save lives. olence. Are we going to stop every sin- Someone might ask: OK, well, Mary- We are the U.S. Senate. We now have gle gun death? No. But we know that land has passed these laws, the State. right in front of us at the desk, right these commonsense measures can save Why do you have a gun violence prob- here, a bill that will save lives, passed thousands of American lives. Yet we do lem? by the House of Representatives 202 nothing here in the Senate. That is de- If you look at the figures from the spite the fact that we have at the desk days ago. It is for universal back- ATF, if you look at their gun-tracing ground checks. a bill that was passed by the U.S. statistics, you find that 54 percent of Senator MCCONNELL and other Sen- House of Representatives 202 days ago. crimes committed in Maryland with a I have a copy of that bill in my hand. ators—if they don’t want to support gun come from guns from outside the the position taken by 90 percent of the It is H.R. 8. If you look at it, it says: State of Maryland, from our sur- ‘‘Read the second time’’ and ‘‘Placed American people, then they can vote rounding States. Maryland is not an is- no on H.R. 8. If the majority leader on . . . Calendar.’’ For people who may land; we are part of the United States be listening in, what it means to be doesn’t think the people of Kentucky of America. Our State can pass sensible support H.R. 8, it is his prerogative to placed on the calendar is that it is here gun laws. We can help reduce the car- at the desk in the U.S. Senate. It vote no. That is the right of every Sen- nage in Maryland, and we have. Until ator. What is outrageous is blocking means we could take it up anytime. We we act as a country, until we pass uni- could take it up right now. every other Senator in this body from versal background checks, Maryland exercising their right to represent In fact, now I am holding what is will continue to be vulnerable to the called the Calendar of Business for their constituents and help save lives negligence of other States and most of Tuesday, September 17, 2019. If you around the country. all, the negligence of the U.S. Senate, look at it—No. 29, H.R. 8—how does it We support the voices of 90 percent of which has refused to act. the American people, who want us to describe H.R. 8? Very simply, ‘‘An act The President knows where the take action to reduce gun violence in to require a background check for American people are on this issue. the United States of America, to ad- every firearm sale.’’ It is very simple. After we have a mass shooting, the dress this like the epidemic it is and to It is something supported by over 90 President always makes public com- percent of the American people, re- address it like we would address a dis- ments about how he is going to do gardless of party. ease epidemic that was killing 100 of something about it, including address- I have in my hand a copy of the U.S. our fellow Americans every day. Constitution. I want to read article I, ing background checks. After the slaughters in El Paso and Dayton, on Let’s stop ignoring our responsibil- section 1, because it is very straight- ities. Let’s stop pointing to the other forward. It says: ‘‘All legislative Pow- his way to visit those grieving commu- nities, the President said: ‘‘I’m looking end of Pennsylvania Avenue. There is ers herein granted shall be vested in a really no time to wait. ‘‘Thoughts and Congress of the United States, which to do background checks. I think back- ground checks are important.’’ He went prayers’’ will not end the gun violence. shall consist of a Senate and a House of Senate action and a vote on H.R. 8 can Representatives.’’ on to say: ‘‘I think we can bring up background checks like we never had help save lives in the United States of The House of Representatives has America. Every single day that goes by acted. As I said, H.R. 8, a bill for uni- before.’’ After the shooting at Marjory that we don’t take that vote is a day versal background checks, is at the that this body is complicit in more Senate desk. It is the Senate that Stoneman Douglas High School, he called some Members of Congress to deaths by gun violence. hasn’t acted. Yet I heard the Repub- I yield the floor. lican leader said as recently as today the White House, including Senator The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. at a press event, when asked when the MURPHY. Senator MURPHY talked about HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Ha- Senate was going to take up gun safety the importance of background checks. waii. legislation, when we are going to take The President told him: You know, we up universal background checks, ‘‘Ask have a new President now, and we are Mr. SCHATZ. Madam President, I them,’’ meaning ask the President, ask going to work together to get this want to recognize my friend and col- the executive branch. I don’t know done. We have a different attitude. league Senator MURPHY for his moral when we, the U.S. Senate, contracted That is what the President always leadership on this issue and for con- out our constitutional responsibilities says after a terrible shooting, but then tinuously demanding that all of us do to the executive branch and to the gun the President gets a call from the NRA, better and that all of us do more to ad- lobby and others when we have it in gets a call from the gun lobby, and you dress what is an epidemic of gun vio- our power right here tonight to take up get a headline like this one, which we lence. a lifesaving measure. saw on August 20, 2019: ‘‘NRA Gets Re- We are here tonight and through the The majority leader also said that we sults . . . in One Phone Call With night to call on Leader MCCONNELL to are in a holding pattern. What are we Trump.’’ The President knows how the do a very simple thing, which is to holding for as more and more Ameri- country feels. The President knows the bring background check legislation and cans die—100 per day—from gun vio- country wants action. The President other gun safety legislation to the Sen- lence? knows the country wants the Senate to ate floor for a vote. In my State of Maryland, we have act, so he says those things publicly, Forty thousand Americans had their been the victims, like every other but then he gets a phone call from the lives cut short by guns last year. Forty

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00032 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.062 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5531 thousand Americans died. It is un- erally what Leader MCCONNELL said. he was against gun control. In 2013, he thinkable that we would allow mass vi- He said he will not schedule a vote or supported background checks. A year olence to occur in our country with schedule a debate on the House-passed after that, he protested against back- this type of frequency. What is shock- bill to expand background checks for ground checks for gun purchases in ing is that not only do we accept this gun purchases because President New York State. This is just how he as part of the American way of life—as Trump has indicated he will not sign rolls, specifically, on this issue but though it were enshrined in the Con- it. According to Leader MCCONNELL: frankly on a lot of stuff. You could say stitution that we must have this ‘‘[I]f the President took a position on a the same thing about having an honest amount of violence in order to have our bill so that we knew we would actually broker as it relates to immigration. He Second Amendment rights—but that be making a law and not having serial is just not reliable. That is how he we allowed the question of what to do votes, [he would] be happy to put it on rolls. to keep our people safe to turn into a the floor.’’ We don’t have to be downstream from partisan question. The Democrats are Let me just say, that is not actually all of that. We are the article I branch. out here on the floor saying: Why don’t how the Senate is supposed operate. We We can do what we decide to do as the we figure out what we can do to make are supposed to originate the legisla- so-called world’s greatest deliberative people safer? And on the other side of tion. We are supposed to be the world’s body. the Chamber, there is no one. greatest deliberative body. We are sup- To make it worse, in the weeks since This isn’t the first time this has hap- posed to determine what kind of law to the attacks in Ohio and Texas, we keep pened or the second time or the third make. We are not supposed to play hearing from Republicans that gun vio- time or the fifth time. When we come ‘‘Mother, may I’’ with the President of lence is not caused by guns. To quote down to the floor to demand action on the United States and wait for clear- the President directly: ‘‘[M]ental ill- gun safety, we have no dance partner. ance before we even initiate a debate. ness and hatred pulls the trigger, not It shouldn’t be this way, especially The idea that, in this body, where the gun.’’ given where the public is. today we voted on the UAE Ambas- ‘‘[M]ental illness and hatred pulls the I don’t just mean Democrats or Inde- sador, the Ambassador to Sweden, I trigger, not the gun.’’ I want to spend pendents. Americans of all stripes, think—not that those are unimportant a little time on this one because this Democratic and Republican gun own- matters—but we had full postcloture one is really offensive and really deep- ers, agree that commonsense gun safe- debate time when, basically, we were in ly hurtful. Setting aside the lack of ty reforms are the way forward. This a quorum call—we were in a quorum progress on guns, we are also losing 10, means background checks. It means no call; no one was talking—we cannot af- 20, 30 years of progress we have made guns for violent criminals or domestic ford to set aside 30 hours or 50 hours or destigmatizing mental health services. abusers and no guns for anyone who 2 weeks of Senate time to figure out Mass shooters and regular people ex- could endanger themselves or endanger what to do about the gun violence epi- perience mental illness at the same others. rate. There is no indication that mass About 90 percent of all Americans demic? Shame on us. Congress should be taking up bills, shooters or individual people who are support these very sensible reforms. debating them, passing them, and the homicidal experience mental illness at Here is the thing. They support them any higher rate than your general pop- not for purely ideological reasons or President can make his decision about ulation. Blaming the mentally ill is partisan reasons; the reason these whether to sign or them. We can- just factually untrue, but it is more in- things pull 85, 90 percent of all Ameri- not wait for President Trump on this sidious than that. cans, even among NRA members, is be- because he is deeply, deeply incon- sistent, not just generally speaking but About 20 percent of all Americans at cause, A, it doesn’t infringe on your some point need some mental health Second Amendment rights, and, B, it specifically on the question of gun services. The great difficulty in terms works. safety. of getting mental health services is not It is no coincidence that the two In the immediate aftermath of every steepest drops in murder rates in our horrific shooting, the President talked just the availability of care; it is also country came right after the passage of about doing something meaningful to that people still feel embarrassed to two sets of significant gun laws: The address gun violence, but then he back- say: I need some help. Shame on the President of the United first were the national firearms control tracked. States to equate someone who may acts of 1934 and 1938, and the second In February of 2018, in the wake of were the background checks and as- the horrific shooting at Parkland, need care for postpartum depression or sault weapons ban bills in 1993 and 1994. President Trump said: ‘‘[W]e’re going post-traumatic stress coming back Those legislative efforts, and the de- to be very strong on background from Iraq or Afghanistan, or who may crease in violence that followed their checks.’’ A year later and 2 days before experience bipolar disorder, or what- passage, prove that progress is pos- the House passed legislation that ever it may be—a kid with autism—to sible. would require universal background imply that people who need mental Here is the thing. Whenever we get checks for most gun purchases and health services are somehow dangerous into this conversation, we get into transfers, Trump threatened to veto and that they are the ones who should kind of trying to figure out whether the bill if it passed. be cracked down on. That is a deeply, whatever law we are trying to pass In February of 2018, during a tele- deeply dangerous thing to say about 20 would retroactively be able to fix vised meeting with lawmakers, the percent of all Americans who simply whichever moment of silence we are President proposed raising the age for need to get better and who simply need now focused on and sad about and de- buying assault rifles from 18 to 21, and to not be characterized as crazy or dan- spairing about. That is not the way to then he backtracked. gerous or that they should be ashamed look at this. More recently, following the shoot- of what they are experiencing. Shame Sure, there are individual situations, ings in Texas and Ohio that left 29 dead on the President of the United States where, if we pass background checks, it and dozens wounded, Trump tweeted on for equating mental illness with being would absolutely help, but it is also a August 5 that Washington ‘‘must come dangerous to society. matter of the Federal Government put- together’’ to ‘‘get strong background Consider for a minute the progress ting some parameters on the kinds of checks.’’ That sounds pretty good. we have made as a society to guns that you can get and the require- On August 19, just 14 days later, he destigmatize mental health. We have ments in order to own a gun. reversed course. When talking with re- fundamentally changed the way we What is happening? Why are we still porters, he used an NRA-approved talk- talk about it, and because of that, we stuck? Why are we still stuck? Repub- ing point: ‘‘[J]ust remember, we al- have helped to reduce the shame licans in the Senate are just waiting on ready have a lot of background around living with mental health chal- the White House. It is as simple as checks,’’ and he warned of gun con- lenges, and more people are willing to that. trol’s ‘‘slippery slope.’’ prioritize their mental well-being. Peo- This isn’t some partisan attack from The President has a long history of ple should not be embarrassed or me, a partisan Democrat. This is lit- changing his position on guns. In 2011, scared to seek the help they need, and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:51 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.063 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5532 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 they certainly shouldn’t be blamed for necticut, in Cape Verde, and in St. That is a moment in your life where the gun violence epidemic in our coun- Thomas. He was known as ‘‘Lil Bill.’’ you face a risk that is so great, a dan- try. His friends described him affection- ger that is so acute, that you have to I want to read a letter from a Hawaii ately as an amazing person, a phe- make a decision in a split second: Do resident, Elizabeth Sader from nomenal soul, the greatest friend they you fight or do you run? Our bodies are Lahaina, Maui. She writes: ever had, and the best family member designed to rush into our brains a hor- Two mass shootings in 24 hours. This can- they knew. mone called cortisol that helps us not be our new norm. We need change. . . . A family member said Leo was ‘‘a make that quick decision. We can no longer assume heading to the simple man who loved to keep to him- Many of us may never have actually store, an event, or school is safe anymore. self, but deep down inside he was a free faced that moment, and, frankly, I There are places in the United States that spirit that wanted nothing more than don’t hope that anyone ever has. But make it easier to get a gun than it is to to make people laugh. Always joking when you grow up in a place like the adopt a pet at a local animal shelter. This is east end of Bridgeport, you face that not right. around, he kept us on our toes, and his We need sensible gun laws in this country. smile lit up the room.’’ decision: Fight or flee on a weekly We need better systems in place to prevent Another friend said: basis. this from happening again. I cannot imagine Never one to follow trends, Leo was intent What doctors will tell you is that the what the world is going to look like for chil- on making his own path through hard work brains of these kids who grow up in dren growing up today. and unparalleled ambition. He was a creative these neighborhoods are literally The Senate has the power to save soul with a deep love for expressing himself bathed in cortisol. Cortisol, when it lives and protect more of our kids by through music and loved fiercely without comes in and out in an instant once or enacting sensible reforms. What we bounds. twice in your life, can be helpful. But need is for Republicans to do the right Leo placed a priority on making sure when it is flowing through your cir- thing and to rise to the moment. Thou- his family and friends were happy. He cuitry on a regular basis, it literally sands of people are dying every month. made each person feel like they were corrupts your brain. It corrupts your We cannot wait for the President. the most important person in the brain. So it is no coincidence that all I yield the floor. world. He loved his parents. He did ev- of the ‘‘underperforming’’ schools in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- erything he could for them. He wanted this country are in the violent neigh- ator from Connecticut. to take care of his mom the way she borhoods because these kids show up Mr. MURPHY. Madam President, let took care of him. with brains that cannot learn, brains me thank, once again, my colleagues On September 8 of 2019, just a few that cannot cope and cannot create for being on the floor with us this days ago, Leo was shot in the head and lasting relationships, brains that have evening, for the compelling testimony the neck while sitting in the passenger been atrophied by the daily fear for of Senator SCHATZ, Senator CASEY, seat of a friend’s car. His friend hit the their lives and their daily experience. Senator BROWN, Senator VAN HOLLEN, accelerator and drove him as fast as he This Congress has done nothing—noth- and so many others who have joined us could to Bridgeport Hospital, but he ing—to address their reality. this evening. We have a few more who was pronounced dead shortly there- We are here on the floor today to tell will come down later in the evening. after. you about people like Leo so that I want to take a moment to put a Leo Spencer is 1 of the 100 Americans maybe our colleagues who aren’t re- face on this issue. There are 100 Ameri- who die every day from gun violence. It sponding to the numbers may respond cans who are killed every day by guns. is so much bigger than Leo. I men- to the stories of those lives that have The majority of these are suicides, but tioned Leo’s cousins, his family mem- been lost. Let me tell you another one. Over many are homicides, and many are ac- bers, and his friends. Their lives will the winter, we shut down the govern- cidental shootings and domestic homi- never be the same either, forever al- ment for an unacceptable period of cides. tered. time. We were all figuring out what to Shootings in this country happen at Studies show that when 1 person dies do with our days when we weren’t leg- a rate 10 times that of any other high- from a gunshot wound, there are 20 islating. I decided one day to take a income nation. This is a uniquely other people who experience life-alter- trip to Baltimore. American epidemic. Senator SCHATZ ing trauma. It becomes a cycle that be- Baltimore, in some years, has been very aptly pointed out that it can’t be comes hard to get out of. the most violent city in the country because of mental health because we I will talk a little bit later about with the most kids who are going have no more mental illness in this Sandy Hook, CT, but Sandy Hook will through this life-altering cycle of trau- country than any other nation does. It never ever be the same—never—after ma. But I had heard about a program can’t be because of lack of law enforce- what that community has been in an elementary school that was ment resources; we spend just as much through. teaching kids how to be entrepreneurs money, if not more, on law enforce- Leo, whether he knew it or not, may and was giving them a vision for their ment than any other country in the already have been affected by gun vio- lives after growing up in one of the world. It is not because we put less lence because when you grow up in poorest neighborhoods in Baltimore. money into treatment for mental ill- places like Bridgeport, where kids lit- They are trying to give them a path- ness; we put more money, on a per cap- erally fear for their lives when they are way or a ray of sunshine in their lives. ita basis, than other nations do. walking to and from school, the trau- I went up to talk to the person who To explain our abnormally high rate ma associated with the fear of losing ran that program. Her name is Joni of gun violence—10 times that of other your life from gun violence ruins your Holifield. She and I sat down in a class- high-income nations—you have to tell brain. We call this a public health epi- room on the second floor of Matthew a story of the proliferation of dan- demic, not to be cute with our words Henson Elementary School, and she gerous weapons, of the ability of al- but because that is exactly what it is. started to explain to me her path out most anyone, regardless of their crimi- When you don’t know whether you of the corporate world into program- nal history or their history of mental are going to make it through the rest ming for kids at schools like Matthew illness, to get their hands on a weapon. of the week as a child—and studies Henson and what she thought that pro- Nowhere else in the high-income world show that, criminally, a high number gram could bring to those kids. is it so easy to get your hands on a of young people of color in this country In the middle of this conversation, weapon and often a weapon of mass de- living in urban environments that are the intercom starts blaring a recorded struction. violent don’t believe they are going to message: code green, code green, code Leo Spencer was born an only child. live past 25 years old—when that is green. I didn’t know what a code green He grew up in Bridgeport, CT, but he your belief, something happens to your was. Joni didn’t know what a code was far from an only child in his mind. brain. green was. Shortly thereafter, a teach- His cousins were like his siblings. He Most of us in this Chamber have er opened the door to our classroom spent summer after summer after sum- probably confronted only once or twice and yelled: Shut the blinds. Turn off mer with them in Boston, in Con- in our lives a fight-or-flight moment. the lights.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.065 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5533 We did as instructed, and we sat buyers to pass a background check as The problem is, today, getting that there a little nervous, not knowing part of the permit process. Studies denial from the gun store is not really what a code green was. Shortly there- show that there was a 40 percent reduc- a barrier to buying a gun because 20, 30 after, someone from the main office, tion in the gun homicide rate after percent of gun sales now happen with- knowing that there was a U.S. Senator Connecticut passed that law. out a background check. They happen in a second floor classroom, called up. You might say: OK, well, that is just in a private sale between one person Joni answered the phone and was told one State. And 40 percent—that is pret- and another. They happen at gun that a code green means there has been ty serious. That is a pretty big return shows, which are forums that don’t re- a shooting in the proximity of the on one change in the law. Give me an- quire, under Federal law, background school and that the school is on other State, you say. checks. lockdown. OK, let’s take a look at Missouri, A man in Odessa, TX, failed a back- The day that I was there at this ele- which did the opposite. A few years ground check because he had been diag- mentary school in Baltimore, there ago, it repealed its purchase permit law nosed by a clinician as seriously men- was a shooting within a block or two of that requires you to get a background tally ill. That didn’t stop him from get- the school. Here is what I found out. check with every sale of a weapon in ting a gun. He just found a private sell- That morning there had been a delay in Missouri. Guess what happened. A year er; he found another way. The private school starting. It had snowed that later, gun homicides went up by 23 per- seller gave him a gun and didn’t re- morning, so I walked in with all the cent, controlling for every other factor quire him to go through a background rest of the kids at around 9:30, 10 that could have explained it. In fact, check. He took that gun, and he used it o’clock. About the same time that I during that period of time, gun homi- to kill 7 people and injure 20 more. was showing up at the school that cide rates were going down in all the I don’t think you have to pass a law morning, a young man by the name of States around Missouri, and they went to fit the last mass shooting. I think Corey Dodd brought his two little twin up in Missouri. that is a ridiculous trap that people try Then they found out that, in fact, in girls to school. He was doing the drop- to put us in. This isn’t the only mass other States, what did go up in those off for his wife, who was home tending shooting in which universal back- other States was the number of weap- to their relatively newborn child. ground checks could have changed the Corey decided to bring the kids to ons used in crimes that came from Mis- outcome. One of the first mass shoot- school that morning himself. He drove souri because all of a sudden you didn’t ings that sits in my consciousness is need a background check in Missouri. home a couple of blocks away after that in Columbine as another example So if you wanted to traffic guns from dropping the twins off, probably right of a shooter who got a gun outside the another State, Missouri was the place about the time that I was walking up- background check system who couldn’t to get them. have gotten one through it. stairs to the second floor. When he got Across the board, when you look at So whether you want anecdotal evi- out of his car, he was shot to death. all of the States’ experiences, you don’t One of his other little daughters al- dence or statistical data, I have it all. get 40 percent and 23 percent every- ways sits at the door waiting for her Background checks work. Here is what where, but, on average, States that dad to come home, and she was there is so maddening. People love back- have background checks have 15 per- ground checks. Apple pie, baseball, and waiting for Corey. Her mom had to tell cent lower homicide rates than States grandma—none of them are as popular her that her dad was never coming that don’t have them. home. He had been shot outside of their If we did this on a national basis, as background checks are. Ninety per- house that morning. even States that have universal back- cent of Americans like background As that code green was happening in- ground checks would benefit. Why? Be- checks. Show me any other public pol- side that elementary school—and the cause the guns that are being used in icy today in the United States of kids were probably having a little bit Connecticut aren’t coming from Con- America that gets 90 percent support in of fun, wondering when the lights were necticut. They are coming from States this country; 80 percent of gun owners going to come back on—there were two with—you guessed it—no universal and 70 percent of NRA members, every- little girls who were never going to see background checks. body wants background checks—uni- their father again and who were going The guns being used in Chicago don’t versal background checks. They don’t to be told in a matter of hours that come from Chicago. The guns being want Manchin-Toomey, which just ex- this shooting had taken the life of used for crimes in New York City don’t pands background checks to commer- their dad. And every single kid in that come from New York City. One percent cial sales. They want H.R. 8. They want school was going to be wondering: Is it of guns used in crimes in New York H.R. 8, which has passed the House of going to be my dad next? Is it going to City come from New Jersey. Do you Representatives and has been sitting be my mom next? That cycle of trauma know why? New Jersey has universal on the floor of the U.S. Senate for 202 and that cortisol that bathes kids’ background checks. Those guns are days. That is what Americans want. brains were going to be reality once coming up from South Carolina and Ninety percent of Americans support again for all of these kids in this neigh- Georgia and places where you can go to H.R. 8. borhood. That is just one day that I a gun show and get a whole truckload Don’t tell me that this issue is con- happened to be in Baltimore. of guns without having to ever go troversial. It is just controversial in Imagine that it isn’t just coinci- through a background check. this bubble. It is not controversial out dence. Imagine that is the reality day Background checks work. They are in the American public, and it is not a after day after day for kids all across the most impactful public policy meas- blue State or a red State issue. Back- this country. Why are we doing noth- ure. Since the background check law ground checks are just as popular in ing? Why are we sitting on our hands? was passed in the midnineties, over 3.5 Georgia as they are in Connecticut. Why are my Republican colleagues million sales have been blocked to vio- As Senator SCHATZ said, we don’t waiting for the President to give them lent criminals and other prohibited in- have to wait for the President to tell direction? dividuals, and that is just the tip of the us what to do. Senator MCCONNELL has It would be one thing if we didn’t iceberg because those are the people a different copy of the Constitution know what to do—if we were over- who actually have the gall to set foot than I have. My copy of the Constitu- flowing with compassion for those two in a gun store, knowing that they have tion says that none of us are required little twin girls in Baltimore, MD, and an offense in their history that would to get permission slips from the Presi- for the family of Leo Spencer in prohibit them from buying a gun— dent before we act or before we do Bridgeport and we just couldn’t figure maybe not, knowing that. But these something that we think is good for out what would make the situation are the people who went into the gun the country. better. That is not the case. store and tried to buy a gun and got de- It is wild to me how the Republican We know what will make the situa- nied. There are millions and millions leadership is so eager to advertise that tion better. There is no mystery about more people who wanted guns but the Senate will do nothing unless it. In my State of Connecticut, we couldn’t get them and didn’t go into President Trump gives it permission. passed a law requiring all handgun the gun store in the first place. He is not the most popular guy. I don’t

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.071 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5534 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 know why my friends on the Repub- son back, but I hope that maybe if you listen year, Jesse asked if we could come and meet lican side would just openly admit that to what I say today and you do something the President. they don’t act unless the President about it—maybe nobody else will have to ex- [I’m a] little cynical about politicians. But tells them it is OK. That is not how it perience what I have experienced. Jesse believed in you. He learned about you On December 14, Jesse got up and got ready has to be. We can make the decision in school and he believed in you. I want to for school. He was always excited to go to believe in you, too. I know you can’t give me ourselves, and on this one, every single school. I remember on that day that we Jesse back. Believe me, if I thought you person here should do it because it is stopped at the Misty Vale Deli. It’s funny could, I would be asking you for that. But I the right thing, and it is also going to the things you remember. I remember Jesse want to believe that you will think about win you a lot of support back home. got the sausage, egg and cheese he always what I told you here today. I want to believe I have a few more colleagues who gets, with some hot chocolate. And I remem- that you will think about it and then you want to say a few words, and then I ber the hug he gave me when I dropped him will do something about it, whatever you can may wrap up at the end. I want to fin- off. He just held me, and he rubbed my back. do to make sure that no other father has to ish, in my last 5 minutes or so, by read- I can still feel that hug. see what I’ve seen. You can start by passing And Jesse said ‘‘It’s going to be alright. [legislation to take] these senseless weapons ing something to you. I apologize to Everything’s going to be okay, Dad.’’ Look- out of the hands of people like Adam Lanza. my friend Neil Heslin because I made a ing back, it makes me wonder. What did he Do something, he said. Do something. commitment to read this every Fa- know? Did he have some idea about what was Seven years later, we haven’t done ther’s Day after the shooting in Sandy about to happen? But at the time I didn’t anything. Hook. I forgot to do it this year. This think much of it. I just thought he was being sweet. So we are down here on the floor to- is a makeup effort. night begging our colleagues to put a I don’t want to talk too much about He was always being sweet like that. He was the kind of kid who used to leave me bill on the floor. Amend it, debate it, what happened at Sandy Hook this voice messages where he’d sing me happy do whatever you want, but let’s not evening. I have spent plenty of time birthday even when it wasn’t my birthday. stay silent any longer. talking to my colleagues about it. I’d ask him about it, and he’d say ‘‘I just I yield the floor. Unfortunately, there is a macabre wanted to make you feel happy.’’ Half the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- club of Senators and Congressmen who time I felt like he was the parent and I was ator from Rhode Island. have now had to walk with their com- his son. Mr. WHITEHOUSE. We are here to- He had so much wisdom. He would know munities through these horrific mass night when we should not be, because shootings. Maybe there is not another things, and I would have no idea how he knew. But whatever he said, it was always the epidemic, the pageant of gun vio- one like Sandy Hook where 26 7-year- right. And he would remember things we’d lence in this country should have been olds lost their lives in a matter of 5 done and places we’d been that I had com- addressed by us by now. We have not minutes, but they are all terrible. They pletely forgotten about. I used to think of acted. We have not acted in large part are all awful. him as my tiny adult. He had this inner calm because we are engaged in a bizarre, One of the things that happens in the and maturity that just made me feel so self-inflicted political experiment in wake of these mass atrocities is that much better when I was around him. this country in which we allow big spe- you get to know the victims’ families. Other people felt it, too. Teachers would tell me about his laugh, how he made things cial interests to use secret money in You get to know the parents, the elections to manipulate our politics. brothers, and the sisters. They become at school more fun just by being there. If somebody was ever unhappy, Jesse would This ought to be easy. There have friends of yours. I feel like I have a per- find a way to make him feel better. If he been 293 mass shootings since January sonal obligation to the families of heard a baby crying he wouldn’t stop until 1, 2019—this year alone. These trage- Sandy Hook separate and aside from he got the kid to smile. dies have galvanized the American pub- the global obligation I believe I have to Jesse had this idea that you never leave lic in support of sensible restrictions human beings in this country to do people hurt. If you can help somebody, you on guns, and the amount of agreement something about the issue of gun vio- do it. If you can make somebody feel better, among the American public is astound- lence. you do it. If you can leave somebody a little better off, you do it. ing. Eighty-six percent of Americans Amongst the parents, one of those They tell me that’s how he died. I guess we support implementing what we call red whom I have become closest to is a still don’t know exactly what happened at flag laws that allow a judge to remove gentleman by the name of Neil Heslin. that school. Maybe we’ll never know. But guns from someone who is determined Jesse Lewis was one of the children what people tell me is that Jesse did some- to be a danger to himself or others. who lost their lives that day. Neil has thing different. When he heard the shooting, You could barely get 86 percent of the had an up-and-down life—an up-and- he didn’t run and hide. He started yelling. Senate to agree on the day of the week. People disagree on the last thing he said. down life. He would admit that to you. Additionally, 89 percent support ex- It hasn’t been an easy life for Neil. One person who was there says he yelled ‘‘run.’’ Another person said he told every- panding Federal background checks to Jesse was Neil’s best friend, not just body to ‘‘run now.’’ Ten kids from my son’s cover private sales and to close the gun his son. class made it to safety. I hope to God some- show loophole, 86 percent support an I tell his story every Father’s Day thing Jesse did helped them survive that assault weapons ban, and 70 percent because it is a reminder to all of us day. support a ban on large-capacity maga- who are fathers how none of us are pro- What I know is that Jesse wasn’t shot in zines. These are large, popular majori- tected from this. Neil thought he was. the back. He took two bullets. The first one grazed the side of his head, but that didn’t ties, and in a functional democracy, we Neil never ever thought this would would listen to them, we would hear happen to him, but it did. It is a re- stop him from yelling. The other hit him in the forehead. Both bullets were fired from them, we would honor them, and we minder that but for the good grace of the front. That means the last thing my son would respond to this bloodshed. Why God, any of us could be a victim, any of did was look Adam Lanza straight in the we have not done that takes us on a us could know a victim. So why sit on face and scream to his classmates to run. sordid crawl through the sewers of our hands and do nothing when we The last thing he saw was that coward’s modern politics inhabited by the Na- could do something? eyes. tional Rifle Association. Let me finish by reading an excerpt Jesse grew up with guns, just like I did. I The National Rifle Association spent from Neil Heslin’s testimony that he started shooting skeet when I was eight years old. My dad was vice president for $30 million supporting President gave to the U.S. Senate in February Trump. No wonder they can undo all of 2013, 2 months after his son was shot, years at a local gun club. . . . Jesse actually had an interest in guns. He had a bb gun. . . . our work with a simple phone call to and I will wrap up after I finish this I taught him gun safety. He knew it. He the Oval Office. But it is much worse page and a half of his testimony. could recite it to you. He got it. And I think than that. Reports emerged last year My name is Neil Heslin. Jesse Lewis was he would have got what we are talking about that the NRA accepted money from my son. He was a boy that loved life and today. He liked looking at pictures of army foreign sources, including Russian lived it to the fullest. He was my best friend. guns, but he knew those [guns] weren’t for banker and Putin ally Aleksandr On December 14, he lost his life at Sandy him. Those were for killing people. Hook Elementary because of a gun that no- Before he died, Jesse and I used to talk Torshin, and spent that money in poli- body needs and nobody should have a right about maybe coming to Washington some- tics in America. to have. I’m here to tell his story. I know day. He wanted to go up the Washington Senator WYDEN sent letters to the what I am doing here today won’t bring my monument. When we talked about it last NRA and to the Treasury Department

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00036 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.072 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5535 about these reports. The NRA re- the same letter from the same lawyer— lated to the firm’s past relationship with the sponded maintaining that it properly some independence. Of course, we are NRA. segregates any foreign donations so still waiting on the FEC to take any WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION that they are not used for political pur- action at all. Three Democratic members of the Senate poses. Fat chance of that, with money By way of a visitor’s guide to the Finance Committee, which oversees tax-ex- empt organizations, are probing alleged fi- being fungible. I joined Senator WYDEN sewer of modern politics inhabited by nancial impropriety within the NRA. Letters on a followup letter renewing the re- the NRA, I ask unanimous consent that addressed to NRA Executive Vice President quest following the arrest of Maria a September 17 article from The Trace Wayne LaPierre and ex-President Oliver Butina, an evident NRA go-between. titled ‘‘Guide to Every Known Inves- North request documentation of alleged fi- The IRS, under President Trump, tigation of the NRA’’ be appended to nancial misconduct raised by North during a took no action against the NRA in re- my remarks as an exhibit. public power struggle for control of the gun sponse to these allegations. In August, I will close where I began. There have group, which culminated with North’s ouster the Federal Election Commission dead- been 293 mass shootings since January from his leadership role. A third letter re- 1 of this year, and the American public quests documentation from Revan McQueen, locked 2 to 2 on whether to investigate the CEO of top NRA vendor Ackerman this matter at all. The FEC is so has an extraordinarily common voice McQueen, due to LaPierre’s claim that Ack- locked up on this now that they for red flag laws, for expanding Federal erman had prepared a damaging memo in wouldn’t even investigate. background checks, closing the gun order to blackmail him. The feud erupted FEC Commissioner Weintraub in des- show loophole, banning assault weap- after reporting by The Trace and other news peration wrote: ons, and banning large-capacity maga- organizations revealed a culture of self-deal- ing and financial mismanagement within the Some allegations are too serious to ignore. zines, and we don’t listen to the pop- NRA, particularly around its relationship Too serious to simply take [the NRA’s] deni- ular will here because of the menace with Ackerman. The NRA has refused to co- als at face value. Too serious to play games that the NRA has become in our poli- operate with the investigation, and a letter with. Yet in this matter, my colleagues ran tics—the anti-Democratic menace that from Ackerman McQueen to the senators in- their usual evidence-blocking play and the the NRA has become. dicates that the NRA has not given the ven- Commission’s attorneys placed too much There being no objection, the mate- dor permission to share relevant materials. faith in the few facts [the NRA] put before rial was ordered to be printed in the us. WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION RECORD, as follows: New York Attorney General Letitia James So we can’t even look into the extent [From the Trace, Sept. 17, 2019] has opened an investigation into the NRA’s of Russian interference in our politics BANG FOR THE BUCK—A GUIDE TO EVERY nonprofit status, asking the organization, its through the NRA. KNOWN INVESTIGATION OF THE NRA charitable foundation, and other affiliated It goes on. Last fall, the Campaign groups to preserve financial records. The HERE ARE THE FACTS ABOUT ALL TEN ACTIVE Legal Center and Giffords Center filed probe, first reported by The New York INQUIRIES INTO THE GUN RIGHTS GROUP complaints with the Federal Election Times, also touches the gun group’s ‘‘related (By Daniel Nass) Commission alleging that the NRA was businesses,’’ although information about the evading the anti-coordination rules of The National Rifle Association is caught parties involved is not yet public. James has up in a rapidly expanding tangle of inves- jurisdiction because the NRA was chartered our election between the Trump cam- tigations—eight launched this year alone. in New York in 1871. In August, the attorney paign and with various Republican Investigators in the House, Senate, New general’s office expanded the inquiry, issuing Senate campaigns. The complaints al- York State, and D.C. are scrutinizing the subpoenas to more than 90 current and lege that the NRA and the campaigns gun group’s nonprofit status following al- former NRA board members, including coordinated spending through a GOP leged financial misconduct exposed by The former president Oliver North. media consulting firm. What had the Trace, while other probes have their sights The probe follows a series of media reports media consulting firm done? It had set on the NRA’s ties to Kremlin-linked Rus- about financial misconduct within the NRA, up a series of shell corporations sians and to Donald Trump’s presidential including a Trace investigation detailing al- campaign, as well as several potential cam- legations that former IRS official Marc through which the campaigns paid. paign finance violations. Owens said ‘‘could lead to the revocation of We have all used media consulting Because it’s challenging to keep track of the NRA’s tax-exempt status.’’ firms in getting to the Senate. Which these probes, we’ve rounded them up below. WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION of those media consulting firms set up We included only investigations that di- The NRA is among more than 80 organiza- shell corporations? rectly involve the NRA or its staff. We’ll tions and individuals that received requests In fact, these shell corporations— keep this post updated to reflect the latest for documents as part of a wide-ranging these supposedly separate companies— developments, and will add new investiga- House Judiciary Committee probe which shared staff, office space, and other re- tions to the list, should they arise. aims to establish whether President Trump sources, so that the firm coordinated WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION and those in his orbit have engaged in ‘‘ob- the ad buys between the NRA and the A fourth investigation of the NRA’s non- struction of justice, public corruption, and other abuses of power.’’ A letter from com- campaigns. Once again, the FEC did profit status is underway, this one initiated by D.C. Attorney General Karl Racine. Ra- mittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler to NRA boss nothing, so the Campaign Legal Center cine’s office is seeking documents from the LaPierre demands information on the gun had to sue the Federal Election Com- gun group and its affiliated foundation re- group’s contacts with and about Russia and mission in district court. garding ‘‘financial records, payments to ven- the Trump campaign during the run-up to The NRA’s political spending has dors, and payments to officers and direc- the 2016 election. The NRA has reportedly more than quintupled since the Su- tors.’’ The NRA Foundation is chartered in submitted nearly 1,500 pages of documents in preme Court—I should say more spe- Washington, D.C. NRA attorney William response to the request. cifically, since five Republican ap- Brewer said in a statement that ‘‘the NRA WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION pointees on the Supreme Court—al- has full confidence in its accounting prac- Representatives Ted Lieu and Kathleen tices and commitment to good governance.’’ lowed unlimited, anonymous money Rice, concerned by a ‘‘lack of transparency’’ around the NRA’s 2015 visit to Moscow and into our political system—from $10 WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION Amid the ongoing strife between the NRA its other ties to Russia, have launched a new million in 2010, the year of the Citizens investigation intended to illuminate those United decision, to about $55 million in and its former communications firm Acker- man McQueen, another congressional com- connections. Another probe of the gun the 2016 election. The NRA now spends mittee is attempting to determine whether group’s Kremlin connections is underway in unlimited amounts of dark money on the NRA has violated its tax-exempt status. the Senate, but House Democrats, unlike political ads. They can come after peo- In a letter to Wayne LaPierre, House Ways their counterparts in the Senate, hold the ple. They can threaten people. They and Means Committee member Representa- majority required to issue subpoenas. can make promises to people. That is tive Brad Schneider demanded documents re- WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION why 86 percent, 89 percent of the U.S. lated to internal audits, financial mis- A joint House-Senate probe is inves- public gets ignored around here. conduct, and conflicts of interest. It’s the tigating possible ‘‘illegal, excessive, and un- third probe of the NRA’s finances launched reported in-kind donations’’ made by the When Representative RASKIN and I since The Trace and The New Yorker first re- NRA to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential wrote the NRA and the consultants ported on alleged financial improprieties in campaign and to several Republican Senate about this coordination scheme, guess April. In August, Schneider expanded the in- candidates. Sparked by The Trace’s report- what the supposedly independent quiry, sending a letter to Ackerman CEO ing, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and Con- groups did? They wrote back to us in Revan McQueen requesting documents re- gressman Jamie Raskin have contacted NRA

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00037 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.074 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5536 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre millions of Americans, from one end of breaking as the next. Each one is about and five campaign advertising vendors to re- the country to the other, who are cry- senseless violence that might not have quest information about the groups’ rela- ing out for change. occurred if we had adequate laws on tionships. ‘‘The evidence shows the NRA is Every few months, it seems that our the books, all the people around moving money through a complex web of Nation is rocked by another horrifying shell organizations to avoid campaign fi- them—their families, their friends, nance rules and boost candidates willing to mass shooting. El Paso and Dayton are their communities—devastated by the carry their water,’’ Whitehouse told The only the latest entries in our national recklessness, senselessness of this gun Trace. register of tragedy, a list that violence. WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION stretches from Parkland to Pittsburgh, It is our solemn duty to the victims As part of a probe into security clearances Charleston to Columbine, Aurora to of those terrible tragedies who can’t issued by the Trump administration, House Orlando, Blacksburg to Binghamton, speak for themselves, but their memo- Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cum- San Bernardino to Sandy Hook, and to ries call down to us for justice, to cure mings has requested documents from the Las Vegas. Because that ever-growing this terrible plague of gun violence NRA regarding Trump national security ad- list can sometimes seem abstract, let’s that claims tens of thousands of lives visor John Bolton’s contacts with Russia. In not forget about the specific places every single day of every single year. 2013, Bolton appeared in a video for The where these awful shootings occurred: I have been fighting this fight for Right to Bear Arms, the Russian gun-rights movie theaters and night clubs, shop- such a long time. Back in 1993, I was in group linked to Maria Butina and Alexander ping malls and office parks, music fes- Torshin. He also headed the NRA’s sub- my sixth term representing Brooklyn committee on international affairs, which tivals and traffic stops, churches, syna- and Queens in the House of Representa- Cummings has also requested information gogues, mosques, colleges, high tives. I knew the terrible toll of gun vi- about. The Oversight Committee investiga- schools, and an elementary school. olence firsthand because the streets of tion came months after Cummings and Rep- Our hearts remain with the families my community were testimony to it. resentative Stephen Lynch first sought in- of the victims and the survivors of East New York and Cypress Hills were formation from the White House about these mass shootings whose lives were known as the Killing Grounds back Bolton’s ties to Russia. turned upside down in an instance by then because someone was murdered an WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION mad men who never should have had average of once every 63 hours, so I was An NRA delegation’s trip to Moscow in 2015 access to a gun. The touching letter more than eager to help write, intro- is under the scrutiny of the Senate Intel- that Senator MURPHY read from one of duce, and pass the legislation estab- ligence Committee, headed by Senators his constituents whose child died in Richard Burr and Mark Warner, which in No- lishing our background check system Sandy Hook is just one of many testa- that later became known as the Brady vember requested documents about contacts ments to that turning upside down—in- with high-profile Russians during the excur- Bill. sion. In January, investigators grilled stantly ruining your life forever by one As we take stock of the legacy of former Trump aide Sam Nunberg about the of these horrible, awful incidents. that bill 25 years later, there is no links between the Trump campaign, the At the same time, our hearts are question that it saved countless lives. NRA, and Russian nationals including Maria with tens of thousands more whose There are literally thousands and thou- Butina. Burr, the committee’s chair, has re- lives were ended or forever altered by sands of people walking the streets of ceived ample campaign support from the everyday gun violence. It doesn’t make their communities who are alive today NRA. the headlines, but we remember them, and would have been dead had the WHAT’S UNDER INVESTIGATION too. They are no less tragic and no less Brady Law not passed. We don’t know painful for the parents who lost chil- Senator , the who they are. They don’t know who of the Senate Finance Committee, has sent a dren, and brothers and sisters, sons and they are. But we know they are alive, series of requests to the NRA and the Treas- daughters who lost mothers and fa- ury Department seeking information about and we are thankful for it. thers. Ever since the National Instant the gun group’s financial ties to Russian offi- Whether it is a mass shooting or an Criminal Background Check System cial Alexander Torshin and other Putin- individual shooting, people who linked politicians. After the arrest of self- went online in 1998, there have been shouldn’t have guns are killing our fel- confessed Russian agent Maria Butina in more than 1.5 million denials to dis- July, Wyden and committee members Shel- low American citizens, and Congress just sits on its hands—the Senate does, qualified buyers. The ability to keep don Whitehouse and Bob Menendez followed guns out of the hands of convicted fel- up with the Treasury requesting further in- anyway—and does nothing. formation about Butina’s financial links to Let me mention a few stories of New ons has helped lead to a steep drop in the NRA. Butina later pleaded guilty to con- Yorkers whose lives were cut short by murder rates experienced by commu- spiring in the United States. Earlier this gun violence just this year. The list nities across the country. month, the Finance Committee launched a goes on and on, I assure you. Take my hometown of New York separate probe into a conservative think Norzell Aldridge, of Cheektowaga in City. In the early 1990s, before the tank linked to Butina and Torshin. Senator western New York, was a youth foot- Brady Bill was enacted, an average of Charles Grassley, who chairs the Finance ball coach. He was shot in the chest 2,500 people were murdered every year Committee, has ties to the NRA. and killed a few weeks ago while trying in the five boroughs. Last year, that A few other investigations bear men- number was just 289. tioning. An inquiry by the House Intel- to break up a fight at a park in Buf- ligence Committee and the FBI’s reported falo’s East Side. Coach Aldridge’s team But that doesn’t mean our work is investigation of Alexander Torshin both had just finished playing the first game done—far from it. What seemed like a probed the gun group’s ties to Russia, al- of their season. minor compromise in 1993—allowing though there is no hard evidence that the Rhyan Williams-Cannon, a 21-year- the sale of firearms without back- NRA or its employees have been pulled into old from Syracuse, was shot and killed ground checks at gun shows—has be- either of those probes. Watchdog organiza- in March as he was leaving the corner come a massive loophole. At the time tions have filed a series of complaints with store. He was the youngest of seven when I wrote the Brady Bill, gun shows the Federal Election Commission regarding were a place for collectors to sell an- the NRA’s campaign finance activities, and siblings. He had just earned his GED in two groups are now suing the regulator for October. Rhyan’s family said he was tiques, but gun shows have grown expo- its failure to act on those complaints. like a father to his nephew, sneaking nentially in popularity because people We’ll update this post as new information candies to him behind his mother’s who don’t want background checks comes to light. back. know they can get guns there and peo- Mr. WHITEHOUSE. I yield the floor. Shakeel Khan, of Johnson City, was ple who want to sell guns to people who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- murdered by a mass gunman in April don’t go through background checks ator from New York. while closing up his restaurant. sell their guns there. And even of Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I Shakeel was the sole provider for his greater dimension, the internet ex- rise tonight to join the chorus of wife and his three children, aged 14, 12, ploded to facilitate private sales be- Democratic Senators in this Chamber and 8. tween strangers, no questions asked. demanding action to address the Amer- May God rest their souls. While some cities like New York ican gun violence epidemic. We stand I can stand here for hours and tell 100 have thankfully seen an overall de- here tonight on behalf of the tens of more stories, each one as heart- crease in gun deaths, there are still too

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.026 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5537 many pockets in cities across the coun- what fortitude, what inner strength. multiple recognitions for his distin- try where this epidemic persists. At Even in the darkest of nights, some guished service and work. the same time, the frequency and choose not to curse the darkness but to At home in north Alabama, Robert is lethality of mass shootings have rap- light a candle. married to Mary Jane. They have two idly increased. A few weeks later, I joined millions daughters and four grandchildren. He The internet allows for copycats. of New Yorkers who were inspired to received a bachelor of science degree in People up to no good see someone else march for change by these Parkland mathematics from the University of has killed many people and think that teens. Millions more Americans across Southern Mississippi in 1964 and a mas- maybe they should do the same. We the country did the same. And now, a ter of science in aerospace engineering have seen the frequency of these awful little more than a year later, this Sen- from the University of Texas at Arling- mass shootings continue on and on. ate has the opportunity to vote on H.R. ton in 1972. We finally have an opportunity to 8, universal background checks, among I am proud to take this time to rec- close that loophole and keep guns from several other pieces of legislation ognize Robert for his significant ca- falling into the wrong hands in the passed by the House that would save reer. His achievements and dedication first place. We have the opportunity to lives from gun violence. to advancing the industry have not simply update the Brady Law—not Times have changed. People forget gone unnoticed. I join Robert Stewart’s change it, not expand it, just plug the that the Brady Bill was first intro- friends, family, and colleagues in cele- holes that were punctured in it as time duced in 1987, 6 years after Jim Brady brating his career, and I thank him for moved forward. No gun will be taken and President Reagan were wounded his commitment to Alabama.∑ away from someone who is a law-abid- and more than 6 years before it was en- f ing citizen by this law. No, only people acted into law. Now, we are moving MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE who shouldn’t have guns will not get from tragedy to action in a year. The them. And who could disagree with movement that Jim and Sarah Brady SIGNED that? Certainly not the American peo- started in the 1980s has reached a new At 8:00 p.m., a message from the ple who are overwhelmingly on our era. The American people are no longer House of Representatives, delivered by side. willing to wait months or years for Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, an- We Senate Democrats are here to- change. Long gone are the days that nounced that the Speaker has signed night because the House of Representa- Senate Republicans can just bury their the following enrolled bill: tives has finally passed legislation heads in the sand and ignore that more H.R. 1200. An act to increase, effective as of closing the private sale loophole, than 30,000 Americans are killed by a December 1, 2019, the rates of compensation marking the first time that either gun every year. Politicians offering for veterans with service-connected disabil- Chamber of Congress has passed an their thoughts and prayers just doesn’t ities and the rates of dependency and indem- overhaul of a background check system nity compensation for the survivors of cer- cut it anymore. It is put up or shut up. tain disabled veterans, and for other pur- since the Brady law more than 25 years Leader MCCONNELL, Senate Repub- poses. ago. licans, what will you do? f What we are asking for is very simple I yield the floor. and shouldn’t cause us to come here at MEASURES REFERRED ON JULY f night. It should be an obvious thing to 24, 2019 do: a simple up-or-down vote on legis- MORNING BUSINESS The following bill was read the first lation—an up-or-down vote on H.R. 8. and the second times by unanimous Let me say it again. Leader MCCON- consent, and referred as indicated: NELL, put H.R. 8 up for a vote on the ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS H.R. 3196. An Act to designate the Large floor of the Senate as soon as possible. Synoptic Survey Telescope as the ‘‘Vera C. Let us do what we were sent here to do TRIBUTE TO ROBERT L. STEWART Rubin Observatory’’; to the Committee on by our constituents—what our con- Commerce, Science, and Transportation. ∑ stituents demand we do, which is fix Mr. SHELBY. Madam President, f the most pressing problems facing our today I wish to honor the career of Nation. If we fail to do so, it is plain Robert L. Stewart, a retired U.S. Army EXECUTIVE AND OTHER and simple and terrible: More innocent brigadier general and former NASA as- COMMUNICATIONS people will die. tronaut, from Huntsville, AL. Robert The following communications were Before I yield the floor, I want to Stewart is an acknowledged leader in laid before the Senate, together with thank the survivors and families of vic- the aerospace industry, with over 40 accompanying papers, reports, and doc- tims who have done so much to remind years of hard work and dedication uments, and were referred as indicated: the American people of just what is at throughout his career, including self- EC–2594. A communication from the Ad- stake when it comes to gun violence. I less service in the military. He has ministrator, Agricultural Marketing Serv- keep on a desk in my office pictures of worked for decades to improve the ice, Department of Agriculture, transmit- the children who were murdered in quality of life in his community and ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- Sandy Hook given to me by their ailing across the State of Alabama. titled ‘‘Establishment of Milk Donation Re- Mr. Robert Stewart entered Active imbursement Program’’ ((RIN0581–AD87) and grieving parents. And those par- (Docket No. AMS–DA–19–0001)) received in ents and the thousands and thousands Duty with the U.S. Army in 1964. He the Office of the President of the Senate on of others like them—survivors who spent time at Gunter Air Force Base in September 16, 2019; to the Committee on Ag- amazingly choose to light a candle to Montgomery, AL, as well as Fort riculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. prevent greater darkness despite the Rucker in Dale County, AL. Mr. Stew- EC–2595. A communication from the Assist- darkness that had overcome their lives art has military and civilian experi- ant Director for Regulatory Affairs, Office of and that has surrounded their lives, ence, flying over 40 types of airplanes Foreign Assets Control, Department of the these are beautiful people, saint-like and helicopters, including over 1,200 Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Cuban Assets Con- people—and we thank them. hours of jet time, 1,015 combat flight trol Regulations’’ (31 CFR Part 515) received A year and a half ago, we watched in hours, and over 6,000 logged hours total in the Office of the President of the Senate horror as tragedy struck the Parkland flight time. on September 16, 2019; to the Committee on community in Florida. Once again, the Mr. Stewart became an astronaut in Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. safety and sanctuary of a school was August of 1979. He has logged 289 hours EC–2596. A communication from the Chair- torn apart by the unthinkable, but this in space, including approximately 12 man, Defense Nuclear Facilities Safety time felt different. Almost imme- hours of extravehicular activities oper- Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, the diately, the students started speaking ations. While training for his scheduled Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the Board’s fiscal year 2017 Federal Activities In- out, turning their immeasurable pain third flight at NASA, Stewart was se- ventory Reform (FAIR) Act submission of its into courageous advocacy. Just 2 weeks lected by the Army for promotion to commercial and inherently governmental ac- later, I welcomed these Parkland teens brigadier general. He retired from the tivities; to the Committee on Homeland Se- into my office. My God, what courage, Army in 1992. Stewart has received curity and Governmental Affairs.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:38 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00039 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.068 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5538 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 EC–2597. A communication from the Chair- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Aviation Administration, Department of man of the National Transportation Safety law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Standard Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Instrument Approach Procedures, and Take- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- Board’s fiscal year 2019 Federal Activities In- off Minimums and Obstacle Departure Proce- ness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes’’ ventory Reform (FAIR) Act submission of its dures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amend- ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0320)) commercial and inherently governmental ac- ment No. 3867’’ (RIN2120–AA65) received in received in the Office of the President of the tivities; to the Committee on Homeland Se- the Office of the President of the Senate on Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- curity and Governmental Affairs. September 12, 2019; to the Committee on mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- EC–2598. A communication from the Chair, Commerce, Science, and Transportation. tation. Federal Election Commission, transmitting, EC–2606. A communication from the Man- EC–2614. A communication from the Man- pursuant to law, a report relative to its agement and Program Analyst, Federal agement and Program Analyst, Federal budget request for fiscal year 2021; to the Aviation Administration, Department of Aviation Administration, Department of Committee on Rules and Administration. Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Standard EC–2599. A communication from the Direc- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- Instrument Approach Procedures, and Take- tor, Office of Regulation Policy and Manage- ness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes’’ off Minimums and Obstacle Departure Proce- ment, Department of Veterans Affairs, trans- ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0672)) dures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amend- mitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule received in the Office of the President of the ment No. 3868’’ (RIN2120–AA65) received in entitled ‘‘VA Acquisition Regulation: Envi- Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- the Office of the President of the Senate on ronment, Energy and Water Efficiency, Re- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- September 12, 2019; to the Committee on newable Energy Technologies, Occupational tation. Safety and Drug-Free Workplace, Protection Commerce, Science, and Transportation. of Privacy and Freedom of Information, EC–2607. A communication from the Man- EC–2615. A communication from the Man- Other Socioeconomic Programs, and Con- agement and Program Analyst, Federal agement and Program Analyst, Federal tract Modifications’’ (RIN2900–AQ24) re- Aviation Administration, Department of Aviation Administration, Department of ceived during adjournment of the Senate in Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to the Office of the President of the Senate on law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Amend- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- September 13, 2019; to the Committee on Vet- ment of Class D Airspace; New Iberia, LA’’ ness Directives; Airbus Helicopters’’ erans’ Affairs. ((RIN2120–AA66) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0344)) ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0641)) EC–2600. A communication from the Regu- received in the Office of the President of the received in the Office of the President of the lation Policy Development Coordinator, Of- Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- fice of Regulation Policy and Management, mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- Department of Veterans Affairs, transmit- tation. tation. ting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule en- EC–2608. A communication from the Man- EC–2616. A communication from the Man- titled ‘‘VA Acquisition Regulation: Con- agement and Program Analyst, Federal agement and Program Analyst, Federal tracting by Negotiation; Service Con- Aviation Administration, Department of Aviation Administration, Department of tracting’’ (RIN2900–AQ20) received during ad- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to journment of the Senate in the Office of the law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Amend- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- President of the Senate on September 13, ment of Class E Airspace; Ashland, KY’’ ness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutsch- 2019; to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. ((RIN2120–AA66) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0450)) land GmbH’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. EC–2601. A communication from the Dep- received in the Office of the President of the FAA–2019–0656)) received in the Office of the uty Assistant Administrator for Regulatory Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- President of the Senate on September 12, Programs, National Marine Fisheries Serv- mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- 2019; to the Committee on Commerce, ice, Department of Commerce, transmitting, tation. Science, and Transportation. EC–2609. A communication from the Man- pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled agement and Program Analyst, Federal EC–2617. A communication from the Man- ‘‘Taking and Importing Marine Mammals; Aviation Administration, Department of agement and Program Analyst, Federal Taking Marine Mammals Incidental to Alas- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Aviation Administration, Department of ka Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Re- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Establish- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to search’’ (RIN0648–BG64) received in the Office ment of Class D and E Airspace; Wichita, law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- of the President of the Senate on September KS’’ ((RIN2120–AA66) (Docket No. FAA–2017– ness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes’’ 16, 2019; to the Committee on Commerce, 0890)) received in the Office of the President ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0327)) Science, and Transportation. of the Senate on September 12, 2019; to the received in the Office of the President of the EC–2602. A communication from the Chief Committee on Commerce, Science, and Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- of Regulatory Development, Federal Motor Transportation. mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- Carrier Safety Administration, Department EC–2610. A communication from the Man- tation. of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to agement and Program Analyst, Federal EC–2618. A communication from the Man- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Hours of Aviation Administration, Department of agement and Program Analyst, Federal Service of Drivers - Restart Provisions’’ Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Aviation Administration, Department of (RIN2126–AC30) received in the Office of the law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Establish- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to President of the Senate on September 12, ment of Class E Airspace; Lander, WY’’ law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- 2019; to the Committee on Commerce, ((RIN2120–AA66) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0390)) ness Directives; The Boeing Company Air- Science, and Transportation. received in the Office of the President of the planes’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA– EC–2603. A communication from the Man- Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- 2019–0023)) received in the Office of the Presi- agement and Program Analyst, Federal mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- dent of the Senate on September 12, 2019; to Aviation Administration, Department of tation. the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to EC–2611. A communication from the Man- Transportation. law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Standard agement and Program Analyst, Federal EC–2619. A communication from the Man- Instrument Approach Procedures, and Take- Aviation Administration, Department of agement and Program Analyst, Federal off Minimums and Obstacle Departure Proce- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to Aviation Administration, Department of dures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amend- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘IFR Alti- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to ment No. 3865’’ (RIN2120–AA65) received in tudes; Miscellaneous Amendments Amend- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- the Office of the President of the Senate on ments No. 548’’ ((RIN2120–AA63) (Docket No. ness Directives; International Aero Engines September 12, 2019; to the Committee on 31273)) received in the Office of the President AG Turbofan Engines’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) Commerce, Science, and Transportation. of the Senate on September 12, 2019; to the (Docket No. FAA–2019–0268)) received in the EC–2604. A communication from the Man- Committee on Commerce, Science, and Office of the President of the Senate on Sep- agement and Program Analyst, Federal Transportation. Aviation Administration, Department of EC–2612. A communication from the Man- tember 12, 2019; to the Committee on Com- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to agement and Program Analyst, Federal merce, Science, and Transportation. law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Standard Aviation Administration, Department of EC–2620. A communication from the Man- Instrument Approach Procedures, and Take- Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to agement and Program Analyst, Federal off Minimums and Obstacle Departure Proce- law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- Aviation Administration, Department of dures; Miscellaneous Amendments; Amend- ness Directives; Airbus SAS Airplanes’’ Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to ment No. 3866’’ (RIN2120–AA65) received in ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA–2019–0403)) law, the report of a rule entitled ‘‘Airworthi- the Office of the President of the Senate on received in the Office of the President of the ness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Heli- September 12, 2019; to the Committee on Senate on September 12, 2019; to the Com- copters’’ ((RIN2120–AA64) (Docket No. FAA– Commerce, Science, and Transportation. mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor- 2018–0057)) received in the Office of the Presi- EC–2605. A communication from the Man- tation. dent of the Senate on September 12, 2019; to agement and Program Analyst, Federal EC–2613. A communication from the Man- the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Aviation Administration, Department of agement and Program Analyst, Federal Transportation.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00040 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.014 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5539 PETITIONS AND MEMORIALS Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. MERKLEY, Mrs. SUBMISSION OF CONCURRENT AND MURRAY, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. SCHUMER, SENATE RESOLUTIONS The following petitions and memo- Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. SINEMA, Ms. STA- rials were laid before the Senate and BENOW, Mr. TESTER, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, The following concurrent resolutions were referred or ordered to lie on the Mr. WHITEHOUSE, and Mr. WYDEN): and Senate resolutions were read, and table as indicated: S. 2485. A bill to prohibit Federal agencies referred (or acted upon), as indicated: POM–134. A resolution adopted by the City from using Government funds to pay for ex- By Mrs. HYDE-SMITH (for herself, Mr. Council of Lakewood, Ohio memorializing its penses at lodging establishments that are JONES, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. support for the Solidarity Action Plan, pas- owned by or employ certain public officials COLLINS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. sage of the Green New Deal Resolution, and or their relatives; to the Committee on BRAUN, Ms. ERNST, Mr. HOEVEN, Ms. the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Homeland Security and Governmental Af- CANTWELL, Ms. SINEMA, and Ms. MUR- Act; to the Committee on Finance. fairs. KOWSKI): POM–135. A resolution adopted by the By Ms. HASSAN (for herself, Mr. S. Res. 313. A resolution designating the Council of the Borough of Narberth, Mont- KAINE, and Mr. VAN HOLLEN): week of September 22 through September 28, gomery County, Pennsylvania urging the 2019, as ‘‘Gold Star Families Remembrance S. 2486. A bill to authorize the Secretary of to enact the Energy Week’’; to the Committee on the Judiciary. Housing and Urban Development to award Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act of 2019; By Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. grants for landlord-tenant mediation pro- to the Committee on Finance. WARNER): grams; to the Committee on Banking, Hous- POM–136. A petition from a citizen of the S. Res. 314. A resolution honoring the cen- ing, and Urban Affairs. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania memori- tennial of the Aerospace Industries Associa- By Ms. ERNST: alizing a resolution adopted by the House of tion; considered and agreed to. Representatives of the Commonwealth of S. 2487. A bill to improve the effectiveness By Mr. JONES: Pennsylvania urging the United States Con- and efficiency and reduce the cost of the sup- S. Res. 315. A resolution memorializing the gress to facilitate and ensure implementa- ply chain and inventory management of the discovery of the Clotilda; to the Committee tion of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems Department of Defense by consolidating un- on Energy and Natural Resources. necessary and unneeded storage centers; to and Strengthening Integrated Outside Net- f works Act of 2018; to the Committee on Vet- the Committee on Armed Services. erans’ Affairs. By Mr. VAN HOLLEN: ADDITIONAL COSPONSORS f S. 2488. A bill to amend the Securities Ex- S. 191 change Act of 1934 to require the Securities At the request of Ms. KLOBUCHAR, the INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND and Exchange Commission to issue rules JOINT RESOLUTIONS that prohibit officers and directors of certain name of the Senator from Hawaii (Ms. HIRONO) was added as a cosponsor of S. The following bills and joint resolu- companies from trading securities in antici- 191, a bill to direct the Secretary of De- tions were introduced, read the first pation of a current report, and for other pur- fense to include in periodic health as- and second times by unanimous con- poses; to the Committee on Banking, Hous- ing, and Urban Affairs. sessments, separation history and sent, and referred as indicated: By Ms. HIRONO: physical examinations, and other as- By Mr. BROWN (for himself and Mr. S. 2489. A bill to amend title 38, United sessments an evaluation of whether a WICKER): States Code, to extend the authority for fi- S. 2481. A bill to facilitate effective re- member of the Armed Forces has been nancial assistance for supportive services for search on and treatment of neglected trop- exposed to open burn pits or toxic air- very low-income veteran families in perma- ical diseases through coordinated domestic borne chemicals, and for other pur- nent housing, and for other purposes; to the and international efforts; to the Committee poses. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. By Ms. MCSALLY (for herself, Ms. S. 211 By Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. MAR- ERNST, Mr. BRAUN, and Mr. SCOTT of At the request of Mr. HOEVEN, the KEY, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. Florida): name of the Senator from Arizona (Ms. BLUMENTHAL, Mrs. MURRAY, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Mr. BOOKER, Ms. S. 2490. A bill to amend the Internal Rev- SINEMA) was added as a cosponsor of S. DUCKWORTH, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. BROWN, enue Code of 1986 to make permanent certain 211, a bill to amend the Victims of Mr. BENNET, Ms. WARREN, Mr. VAN changes made by Public Law 115–97 to the Crime Act of 1984 to secure urgent re- HOLLEN, Mr. DURBIN, Mr. WYDEN, Ms. child tax credit; to the Committee on Fi- sources vital to Indian victims of KLOBUCHAR, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. CASEY, nance. crime, and for other purposes. Mr. REED, Mr. UDALL, Mr. KAINE, Ms. By Mr. UDALL (for himself, Mr. S. 279 CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOKER, Mrs. FEIN- COONS, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. HEINRICH, STEIN, Ms. CANTWELL, Mr. MERKLEY, At the request of Mr. THUNE, the and Mr. MERKLEY): Ms. HIRONO, Ms. HARRIS, Mr. SAND- name of the Senator from North Da- S. 2482. A bill to prohibit the use of Federal ERS, Mr. MENENDEZ, and Ms. WAR- kota (Mr. CRAMER) was added as a co- funds to carry out the final rule of the De- REN): of S. 279, a bill to allow tribal partment of Homeland Security entitled ‘‘In- S. 2491. A bill to terminate certain rules grant schools to participate in the Fed- admissibility on Public Charge Grounds’’; to issued by the Secretary of the Interior and eral Employee Health Benefits Pro- the Committee on the Judiciary. the Secretary of Commerce relating to en- gram. By Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. dangered and threatened species, and for S. 315 CARDIN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, other purposes; to the Committee on Envi- and Mr. GARDNER): ronment and Public Works. At the request of Ms. HASSAN, the S. 2483. A bill to counter efforts by foreign By Mr. GARDNER (for himself, Mr. name of the Senator from New York governments to pursue, harass, or otherwise JONES, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. COONS, Ms. (Mr. SCHUMER) was added as a cospon- persecute individuals for political and other HASSAN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, and Mr. sor of S. 315, a bill to authorize cyber unlawful motives overseas, and for other CORNYN): hunt and incident response teams at purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Rela- tions. S. 2492. A bill to amend the Public Health the Department of Homeland Security, By Ms. HIRONO: Service Act to provide best practices on stu- and for other purposes. S. 2484. A bill to amend title 38, United dent suicide awareness and prevention train- S. 362 States Code, to extend the authority for op- ing and condition State educational agen- cies, local educational agencies, and tribal At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the eration of a Department of Veterans Affairs name of the Senator from Kentucky regional office in Manila, the Republic of the educational agencies receiving funds under (Mr. PAUL) was added as a cosponsor of Philippines, and for other purposes; to the section 520A of such Act to establish and im- Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. plement a school-based student suicide S. 362, a bill to amend the Internal By Mr. PETERS (for himself, Ms. WAR- awareness and prevention training policy; to Revenue Code of 1986 to reform tax- REN, Mr. UDALL, Ms. BALDWIN, Mr. the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, ation of alcoholic beverages. and Pensions. BENNET, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. S. 427 BROWN, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CARPER, Mr. By Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Mr. REED): At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the CASEY, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Ms. name of the Senator from Nevada (Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Mrs. FEIN- S. 2493. A bill to establish the Malign For- ORTEZ ASTO STEIN, Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Ms. HARRIS, eign Influence Response Center in the Office C M ) was added as a cospon- Ms. HASSAN, Mr. HEINRICH, Ms. of the Director of National Intelligence, and sor of S. 427, a bill to amend the Public HIRONO, Mr. KAINE, Mr. KING, Ms. for other purposes; to the Select Committee Health Service Act to enhance activi- KLOBUCHAR, Mr. LEAHY, Mr. MARKEY, on Intelligence. ties of the National Institutes of

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00041 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.013 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5540 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 Health with respect to research on au- sor of S. 785, a bill to improve mental S. 1263 tism spectrum disorder and enhance health care provided by the Depart- At the request of Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, programs relating to autism, and for ment of Veterans Affairs, and for other the names of the Senator from Arizona other purposes. purposes. (Ms. SINEMA) and the Senator from Ar- At the request of Mr. ENZI, the name S. 789 kansas (Mr. BOOZMAN) were added as of the Senator from North Carolina At the request of Mrs. MURRAY, the cosponsors of S. 1263, a bill to require (Mr. BURR) was added as a cosponsor of name of the Senator from Indiana (Mr. the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to es- S. 427, supra. BRAUN) was added as a cosponsor of S. tablish an interagency task force on S. 433 789, a bill to amend the Higher Edu- the use of public lands to provide med- At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the cation Act of 1965 to improve the finan- ical treatment and therapy to veterans names of the Senator from Minnesota cial aid process for homeless and foster through outdoor recreation. (Ms. SMITH) and the Senator from Mas- care youth. S. 1307 sachusetts (Mr. MARKEY) were added as S. 803 At the request of Mr. UDALL, the cosponsors of S. 433, a bill to amend At the request of Mr. TOOMEY, the name of the Senator from New Mexico title XVIII of the Social Security Act name of the Senator from Minnesota (Mr. HEINRICH) was added as a cospon- to improve home health payment re- (Ms. SMITH) was added as a cosponsor sor of S. 1307, a bill to amend the Rich- forms under the Medicare program. of S. 803, a bill to amend the Internal ard B. Russell National School Lunch S. 460 Revenue Code of 1986 to restore incen- Act and the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 At the request of Mr. WARNER, the tives for investments in qualified im- to improve nutrition in tribal areas, name of the Senator from Utah (Mr. provement property. and for other purposes. ROMNEY) was added as a cosponsor of S. S. 901 S. 1427 460, a bill to amend the Internal Rev- At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the At the request of Mr. COONS, the enue Code of 1986 to extend the exclu- names of the Senator from Maryland name of the Senator from Maine (Ms. sion for employer-provided education (Mr. VAN HOLLEN) and the Senator COLLINS) was added as a cosponsor of S. assistance to employer payments of from Minnesota (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) were 1427, a bill to amend the National Insti- student loans. added as cosponsors of S. 901, a bill to tute of Standards and Technology Act amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 S. 633 to improve the Network for Manufac- to support individuals with younger At the request of Mr. MORAN, the turing Innovation Program, and for names of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. onset Alzheimer’s disease. other purposes. S. 959 ERNST), the Senator from Massachu- S. 1462 At the request of Ms. COLLINS, the setts (Ms. WARREN) and the Senator At the request of Mr. CASEY, the names of the Senator from West Vir- from Nevada (Ms. CORTEZ MASTO) were name of the Senator from Illinois (Ms. ginia (Mrs. CAPITO) and the Senator added as cosponsors of S. 633, a bill to DUCKWORTH) was added as a cosponsor from Minnesota (Ms. KLOBUCHAR) were award a Congressional Gold Medal to of S. 1462, a bill to prevent a person added as cosponsors of S. 959, a bill to the members of the Women’s Army who has been convicted of a mis- establish in the Smithsonian Institu- Corps who were assigned to the 6888th demeanor hate crime, or received an tion a comprehensive women’s history Central Postal Directory Battalion, enhanced sentence for a misdemeanor museum, and for other purposes. known as the ‘‘Six Triple Eight’’. because of hate or bias in the commis- S. 966 S. 655 sion, from obtaining a firearm. At the request of Mr. PORTMAN, the At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the name of the Senator from Tennessee S. 1476 names of the Senator from New Hamp- At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, (Mrs. BLACKBURN) was added as a co- shire (Mrs. SHAHEEN), the Senator from sponsor of S. 966, a bill to amend title the name of the Senator from Maine Maryland (Mr. CARDIN) and the Senator XVIII of the Social Security Act to (Mr. KING) was added as a cosponsor of from Hawaii (Ms. HIRONO) were added modernize the physician self-referral S. 1476, a bill to waive the 24-month as cosponsors of S. 655, a bill to impose prohibitions to promote care coordina- waiting period for Medicare eligibility additional restrictions on tobacco fla- tion in the merit-based incentive pay- for individuals disabled by Hunting- vors for use in e-cigarettes. ment system and to facilitate physi- ton’s disease. S. 668 cian practice participation in alter- S. 1676 At the request of Mr. BROWN, the native payment models under the At the request of Mr. CARDIN, the name of the Senator from Indiana (Mr. Medicare program, and for other pur- name of the Senator from Michigan YOUNG) was added as a cosponsor of S. poses. (Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cospon- 668, a bill to amend title XVIII of the S. 1168 sor of S. 1676, a bill to improve the un- Social Security Act to waive coinsur- At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the derstanding of, and promote access to ance under Medicare for colorectal can- names of the Senator from Iowa (Mr. treatment for, chronic kidney disease, cer screening tests, regardless of GRASSLEY) and the Senator from Indi- and for other purposes. whether therapeutic intervention is re- ana (Mr. YOUNG) were added as cospon- S. 1757 quired during the screening. sors of S. 1168, a bill to amend the At the request of Ms. ERNST, the S. 692 Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure names of the Senator from Mississippi At the request of Mr. TOOMEY, the campus access at public institutions of (Mrs. HYDE-SMITH), the Senator from name of the Senator from Florida (Mr. higher education for religious groups. Kansas (Mr. MORAN) and the Senator SCOTT) was added as a cosponsor of S. S. 1222 from Missouri (Mr. BLUNT) were added 692, a bill to amend the Internal Rev- At the request of Mr. SCHATZ, the as cosponsors of S. 1757, a bill to award enue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise name of the Senator from Connecticut a Congressional Gold Medal, collec- tax on medical devices. (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) was added as a co- tively, to the United States Army S. 743 sponsor of S. 1222, a bill to require the Rangers Veterans of World War II in At the request of Mr. ISAKSON, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry recognition of their extraordinary serv- name of the Senator from Arizona (Ms. out a pilot program to provide hospital ice during World War II. SINEMA) was added as a cosponsor of S. care and medical services to veterans S. 1791 743, a bill to award a Congressional in the Freely Associated States of the At the request of Mrs. GILLIBRAND, Gold Medal to the soldiers of the 5307th Republic of Palau, the Republic of the the name of the Senator from New Composite Unit (Provisional), com- Marshall Islands, and the Federated Hampshire (Ms. HASSAN) was added as monly known as ‘‘Merrill’s Maraud- States of Micronesia, and to conduct a a cosponsor of S. 1791, a bill to prohibit ers’’, in recognition of their bravery study on the feasibility and advis- discrimination on the basis of religion, and outstanding service in the jungles ability of establishing regional offices, sex (including sexual orientation and of Burma during World War II. suboffices, contact units, or other sub- gender identity), and marital status in S. 785 ordinate offices of the Department of the administration and provision of At the request of Mr. TESTER, the Veterans Affairs in the Freely Associ- child welfare services, to improve safe- name of the Senator from Arkansas ated States to provide such care and ty, well-being, and permanency for les- (Mr. BOOZMAN) was added as a cospon- services, and for other purposes. bian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and

VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:21 Dec 02, 2019 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\RECORD19\SEPTEMBER\S17SE9.REC S17SE9 September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5541 queer or questioning foster youth, and shire (Ms. HASSAN) was added as a co- bonds to a State with title to such for other purposes. sponsor of S. 2024, a bill to amend the bonds pursuant to the judgment of a S. 1822 Higher Education Act of 1965 to im- court. At the request of Mr. WICKER, the prove the American History for Free- S. 2462 names of the Senator from Alabama dom grant program. (Mr. JONES) and the Senator from Indi- S. 2061 At the request of Ms. DUCKWORTH, ana (Mr. BRAUN) were added as cospon- At the request of Mr. TESTER, the the name of the Senator from Illinois sors of S. 1822, a bill to require the Fed- names of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. (Mr. DURBIN) was added as a cosponsor eral Communications Commission to MERKLEY) and the Senator from Con- of S. 2462, a bill to help reduce house- issue rules relating to the collection of necticut (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) were added hold energy burdens by expanding ac- data with respect to the availability of as cosponsors of S. 2061, a bill to amend cess to solar energy for low-income broadband services, and for other pur- the United States Housing Act of 1937 households. poses. and title 38, , to ex- S. 2463 S. 1838 pand eligibility for the HUD–VASH At the request of Mr. RUBIO, the program, to direct the Secretary of At the request of Mr. WYDEN, the names of the Senator from Indiana Veterans Affairs to submit annual re- name of the Senator from Hawaii (Mr. (Mr. YOUNG) and the Senator from Or- ports to the Committees on Veterans’ SCHATZ) was added as a cosponsor of S. egon (Mr. WYDEN) were added as co- Affairs of the Senate and House of Rep- 2463, a bill to amend the Internal Rev- sponsors of S. 1838, a bill to amend the resentatives regarding homeless vet- enue Code of 1986 to provide for regula- Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, and for erans, and for other purposes. tion and taxation of electronic ciga- rettes and alternative nicotine prod- other purposes. S. 2103 ucts. S. 1840 At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the At the request of Mrs. FISCHER, the names of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. S.J. RES. 11 name of the Senator from New Jersey MERKLEY) and the Senator from Indi- At the request of Mr. MERKLEY, the (Mr. BOOKER) was added as a cosponsor ana (Mr. BRAUN) were added as cospon- name of the Senator from Hawaii (Ms. of S. 1840, a bill to establish certain re- sors of S. 2103, a bill to improve access HIRONO) was added as a cosponsor of quirements for the small refineries ex- to affordable insulin. emption of the renewable fuels provi- S.J. Res. 11, a to pro- S. 2179 sions under the Clean Air Act, and for hibit the unauthorized use of United At the request of Mr. CARDIN, the other purposes. States Armed Forces in hostilities with names of the Senator from Texas (Mr. respect to Venezuela. S. 1863 CORNYN) and the Senator from Maine At the request of Mr. DURBIN, the S. RES. 205 (Mr. KING) were added as cosponsors of name of the Senator from Virginia (Mr. S. 2179, a bill to amend the Older Amer- At the request of Mr. MURPHY, the KAINE) was added as a cosponsor of S. icans Act of 1965 to provide social serv- name of the Senator from Connecticut 1863, a bill to require the Secretary of ice agencies with the resources to pro- (Mr. BLUMENTHAL) was added as a co- the Interior to conduct a special re- vide services to meet the urgent needs sponsor of S. Res. 205, a resolution ex- source study of the sites associated of Holocaust survivors to age in place pressing the gratitude of the Senate for with the life and legacy of the noted with dignity, comfort, security, and the people who operate or support dia- American philanthropist and business quality of life. per banks and diaper distribution pro- executive Julius Rosenwald, with a S. 2203 grams in their local communities. special focus on the Rosenwald At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the Schools, and for other purposes. S. RES. 252 names of the Senator from Tennessee S. 1906 (Mrs. BLACKBURN), the Senator from At the request of Mr. GRAHAM, the At the request of Mr. BOOZMAN, the Arkansas (Mr. BOOZMAN), the Senator names of the Senator from Tennessee name of the Senator from Indiana (Mr. from West Virginia (Mrs. CAPITO) and (Mr. ALEXANDER), the Senator from In- YOUNG) was added as a cosponsor of S. the Senator from Virginia (Mr. KAINE) diana (Mr. BRAUN) and the Senator 1906, a bill to require the Secretary of were added as cosponsors of S. 2203, a from Arkansas (Mr. COTTON) were Veterans Affairs to provide financial bill to extend the transfer of Electronic added as cosponsors of S. Res. 252, a assistance to eligible entities to pro- Travel Authorization System fees from resolution designating September 2019 vide and coordinate the provision of the Travel Promotion Fund to the Cor- as National Democracy Month as a suicide prevention services for veterans poration for Travel Promotion (Brand time to reflect on the contributions of at risk of suicide and veteran families USA) through fiscal year 2027, and for the system of government of the through the award of grants to such en- other purposes. United States to a more free and stable tities, and for other purposes. S. 2206 world. S. 1970 At the request of Ms. HIRONO, the At the request of Mr. TILLIS, the S. RES. 274 name of the Senator from Arkansas name of the Senator from Montana At the request of Mr. MENENDEZ, the (Mr. BOOZMAN) was added as a cospon- (Mr. TESTER) was added as a cosponsor name of the Senator from Michigan sor of S. 2206, a bill to express the sense of S. 1970, a bill to secure the rights of (Ms. STABENOW) was added as a cospon- of Congress regarding restoration and public employees to organize, act sor of S. Res. 274, a resolution express- maintenance of the Mardasson Memo- concertedly, and bargain collectively, ing solidarity with Falun Gong practi- rial in Bastogne, Belgium. which safeguard the public interest and tioners who have lost lives, freedoms, promote the free and unobstructed flow S. 2321 and other rights for adhering to their of commerce, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. BLUNT, the beliefs and practices, and condemning S. 2001 name of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. the practice of non-consenting organ At the request of Ms. STABENOW, the ERNST) was added as a cosponsor of S. harvesting, and for other purposes. name of the Senator from Tennessee 2321, a bill to require the Secretary of S. RES. 303 (Mrs. BLACKBURN) was added as a co- the Treasury to mint a coin in com- sponsor of S. 2001, a bill to award a memoration of the 100th anniversary of At the request of Mr. HAWLEY, the Congressional Gold Medal to Willie the establishment of Negro Leagues name of the Senator from Iowa (Ms. O’Ree, in recognition of his extraor- baseball. ERNST) was added as a cosponsor of S. dinary contributions and commitment S. 2417 Res. 303, a resolution calling upon the to hockey, inclusion, and recreational At the request of Mr. KENNEDY, the leadership of the Government of the opportunity. name of the Senator from South Caro- Democratic People’s Republic of Korea S. 2024 lina (Mr. GRAHAM) was added as a co- to dismantle its kwan-li-so political At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the sponsor of S. 2417, a bill to provide for prison labor camp system, and for name of the Senator from New Hamp- payment of proceeds from savings other purposes.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00043 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.022 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5542 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS porated as the Aeronautical Chamber of (3) was ultimately brought to Mobile Bay, Commerce of America (ACCA) in the State of Alabama, on July 14, 1860, carrying 110 indi- New York, later adopting its current name viduals, including men, women, and children; SENATE RESOLUTION 313—DESIG- in 1959; Whereas, shortly after arrival in Mobile NATING THE WEEK OF SEP- Whereas, for more than 100 years, the aero- Bay, Alabama, the Captain of the Clotilda TEMBER 22 THROUGH SEP- space industry has moved, connected, se- scuttled and burned the ship to the waterline cured, and inspired the modern world with TEMBER 28, 2019, AS ‘‘GOLD STAR in order to conceal the evidence of his crime; countless innovations and technologies that Whereas, following the end of the Civil War FAMILIES REMEMBRANCE play a role in almost every aspect of daily and the emancipation of enslaved Africans, WEEK’’ life; some of the captives brought to the United Mrs. HYDE-SMITH (for herself, Mr. Whereas the centennial of the Aerospace States aboard the Clotilda settled in the area JONES, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. TILLIS, Ms. COL- Industries Association celebrates the world- now known as Africatown, Alabama; changing impact aerospace technologies LINS, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. BRAUN, Ms. Whereas, on May 22, 2019, the Alabama His- have had and the role of aerospace tech- torical Commission and a team of scientists ERNST, Mr. HOEVEN, Ms. CANTWELL, Ms. nologies in strengthening the economy and confirmed that a wreckage found in the SINEMA, and Ms. MURKOWSKI) sub- national security of the United States; Twelve Mile Island section of the Mobile mitted the following resolution; which Whereas the aerospace industry supports River was the Clotilda; was referred to the Committee on the the National Defense Strategy of the United Whereas, in the 160 years since the Clotilda Judiciary.: States by providing the Armed Forces the was brought to Mobile Bay, the residents of S. RES. 313 most technologically advanced and effective Africatown, Alabama, have played a critical platforms and systems in the world; Whereas the last Sunday in September— role in preserving the unique and important (1) is designated as ‘‘Gold Star Mother’s Whereas the aerospace industry is a lead- heritage and traditions of their community; Day’’ under section 111 of title 36, United ing employer of veterans and retirees of the Whereas the Africatown Historic District States Code; and Armed Forces and recognizes the incredible was listed on the National Register of His- (2) was first designated as ‘‘Gold Star contribution those veterans and retirees toric Places on December 4, 2012, and is home Mother’s Day’’ under the Joint Resolution have made to the United States through to a number of important historic sites, in- entitled ‘‘Joint Resolution designating the their service; cluding— last Sunday in September as ‘Gold Star Whereas the aerospace industry has con- (1) the Mobile County Training School; Mother’s Day’, and for other purposes’’, ap- tributed to the advancement of humankind (2) the Old Landmark Baptist Church, now proved June 23, 1936 (49 Stat. 1895); as a key facilitator and collaborator in known as the Union Baptist Church; and Whereas there is no date dedicated to fami- space, from the Apollo 11 mission to the fu- (3) the Africatown Cemetery, where many lies affected by the loss of a loved one who ture mission of the United States to Mars; of the individuals who survived the forced died in service to the United States; Whereas innovations in aerospace tech- migration to the United States in 1860 are Whereas a gold star symbolizes a family nologies continue to spur economic growth, buried: Now, therefore, be it member who died in the line of duty while as the aerospace industry maintains a pres- Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate serving in the Armed Forces; ence in all 50 States and sustains approxi- that— Whereas the members and veterans of the mately 2,500,000 jobs in the United States; (1) the recent confirmation of the wreck- and Armed Forces, through their service, bear age of the Clotilda, the last slave ship to ar- Whereas the aerospace industry strives to the burden of protecting the freedom of the rive in the United States, constitutes a mon- inspire young people in the United States, people of the United States; umental discovery of local, national, and including women and underrepresented com- Whereas the selfless example of the service international importance and educational munities, to study science, technology, engi- of the members and veterans of the Armed value; neering, and mathematics and pursue Forces, as well as the sacrifices made by the (2) discovery of the Clotilda may serve as science-related careers that lead to future families of those individuals, inspires all in- an inflection point for meaningful conversa- innovations and major scientific break- dividuals in the United States to sacrifice tion about both past and present injustices; throughs: Now, therefore, be it (3) the residents of Africatown, Alabama, and work diligently for the good of the That the Senate— Resolved, embody a spirit of resilience and a deter- United States; and (1) acknowledges 2019 as the centennial for mination to build a better community for Whereas the sacrifices of the families of the Aerospace Industries Association; their descendants; and the fallen members of the Armed Forces and (2) recognizes the need to promote the (4) all efforts should be made— the families of veterans of the Armed Forces fields of science, technology, engineering, (A) to preserve and protect the Clotilda and should never be forgotten: Now, therefore, be and mathematics and encourages young peo- associated historic sites in Africatown, Ala- it ple in the United States to pursue careers in bama; and Resolved, That the Senate— such fields; and (B) to use the discovery of the Clotilda to (1) designates the week of September 22 (3) commends the aerospace industry for provide education to local, national, and through September 28, 2019, as ‘‘Gold Star continuing to innovate and develop tech- international audiences about— Families Remembrance Week’’; nologies that will shape the United States (i) the violent history of the transatlantic (2) honors and recognizes the sacrifices for the next 100 years. made by— slave trade; (A) the families of members of the Armed f (ii) the stories of the last enslaved Africans Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in SENATE RESOLUTION 315—MEMO- to arrive in the United States; and order to defend freedom and protect the RIALIZING THE DISCOVERY OF (iii) the rich and unique history of the community built by the descendants of those United States; and THE CLOTILDA (B) the families of veterans of the Armed individuals. Forces; and Mr. JONES submitted the following f (3) encourages the people of the United resolution; which was referred to the States to observe Gold Star Families Re- Committee on Energy and Natural Re- AMENDMENTS SUBMITTED AND membrance Week by— sources: PROPOSED (A) performing acts of service and good S. RES. 315 SA 939. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment will in their communities; and Whereas, from 1525 to 1866, the trans- intended to be proposed by him to the bill (B) celebrating families in which loved H.R. 1044, to amend the Immigration and Na- ones made the ultimate sacrifice so that oth- atlantic slave trade resulted in more than 12,000,000 individuals being taken from their tionality Act to eliminate the per-country ers could continue to enjoy life, liberty, and numerical limitation for employment-based the pursuit of happiness. homes in Africa and made to endure the hor- rors of the Middle Passage to the Americas, immigrants, to increase the per-country nu- f where those individuals were forced into en- merical limitation for family-sponsored im- SENATE RESOLUTION 314—HON- slavement; migrants, and for other purposes; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. ORING THE CENTENNIAL OF THE Whereas, on March 2, 1807, Congress en- AEROSPACE INDUSTRIES ASSO- acted legislation banning the importation of f enslaved people, which went into effect on CIATION January 1, 1808; TEXT OF AMENDMENTS Mr. MORAN (for himself and Mr. Whereas, in contravention of that ban, the SA 939. Mr. LEE submitted an WARNER) submitted the following reso- last enslaved Africans forced to endure the amendment intended to be proposed by lution; which was considered and voyage to the United States came aboard the him to the bill H.R. 1044, to amend the agreed to: Clotilda, which— Immigration and Nationality Act to (1) left from Whydah, modern-day Benin, in S. RES. 314 May of 1860; eliminate the per-country numerical Whereas 100 years ago, in 1919, the Aero- (2) arrived in Port of Pines in Grand Bay, limitation for employment-based im- space Industries Association was incor- Mississippi, on July 9, 1860; and migrants, to increase the per-country

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00044 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.031 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5543 numerical limitation for family-spon- (C) For fiscal year 2022, 10 percent of the ‘‘(A) Not later than 180 days after the date sored immigrants, and for other pur- immigrant visas made available under each of the enactment of the Fairness for High- poses; which was referred to the Com- of such paragraphs shall be allotted to immi- Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019, the Sec- mittee on the Judiciary; as follows: grants who are natives of a foreign state or retary of Labor shall establish a searchable dependent area that is not one of the two internet website for posting positions in ac- Strike all after the enacting clause and in- states with the largest aggregate numbers of cordance with paragraph (1)(C) that is avail- sert the following: natives obtaining immigrant visas under able to the public without charge, except SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. such paragraphs. that the Secretary may delay the launch of This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fairness for (2) PER-COUNTRY LEVELS.— such website for a single period identified by High-Skilled Immigrants Act of 2019’’. (A) RESERVED VISAS.—The number of visas the Secretary by notice in the Federal Reg- SEC. 2. NUMERICAL LIMITATION TO ANY SINGLE reserved under each of subparagraphs (A) ister that shall not exceed 30 days. FOREIGN STATE. through (C) of paragraph (1) made available ‘‘(B) The Secretary may work with private (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 202(a)(2) of the to natives of any single foreign state or de- companies or nonprofit organizations to de- Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. pendent area in the appropriate fiscal year velop and operate the Internet website de- 1152(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows: may not exceed 25 percent (in the case of a scribed in subparagraph (A). ‘‘(2) PER COUNTRY LEVELS FOR FAMILY-SPON- single foreign state) or 2 percent (in the case ‘‘(C) The Secretary shall promulgate rules, SORED IMMIGRANTS.—Subject to paragraphs of a dependent area) of the total number of after notice and a period for comment, to (3) and (4), the total number of immigrant such visas. carry out this paragraph.’’. visas made available to natives of any single (B) UNRESERVED VISAS.—Not more than 85 (b) PUBLICATION REQUIREMENT.—The Sec- foreign state or dependent area under section percent of the immigrant visas made avail- retary of Labor shall submit to Congress, 203(a) in any fiscal year may not exceed 15 able under each of paragraphs (2) and (3) of and publish in the Federal Register and in percent (in the case of a single foreign state) section 203(b) of the Immigration and Na- other appropriate media, a notice of the date or 2 percent (in the case of a dependent area) tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) and not re- on which the Internet website required under of the total number of such visas made avail- served under paragraph (1), for each of the section 212(n)(6) of the Immigration and Na- able under such section in that fiscal year.’’. fiscal years 2020, 2021, and 2022, may be allot- tionality Act, as established by subsection (b) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—Section 202 ted to immigrants who are natives of any (a), will be operational. of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152) is amended— single foreign state. (c) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by (1) in subsection (a)— (3) SPECIAL RULE TO PREVENT UNUSED subsection (a) shall apply to any application (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘both sub- VISAS.—If, with respect to fiscal year 2020, filed on or after the date that is 90 days after sections (a) and (b) of section 203’’ and in- 2021, or 2022, the application of paragraphs (1) the date described in subsection (b). (d) INTERNET POSTING REQUIREMENT.—Sec- serting ‘‘section 203(a)’’; and and (2) would prevent the total number of tion 212(n)(1)(C) of such Act is amended— (B) by striking paragraph (5); and immigrant visas made available under para- (1) by redesignating clause (ii) as subclause (2) by amending subsection (e) to read as graph (2) or (3) of section 203(b) of the Immi- (II); follows: gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) ‘‘(e) SPECIAL RULES FOR COUNTRIES AT (2) by striking ‘‘(i) has provided’’ and in- from being issued, such visas may be issued CEILING.—If the total number of immigrant serting the following: during the remainder of such fiscal year visas made available under section 203(a) to ‘‘(ii)(I) has provided’’; and without regard to paragraphs (1) and (2). natives of any single foreign state or depend- (3) by inserting before clause (ii), as redes- (4) TRANSITION RULE FOR CURRENTLY AP- ent area will exceed the numerical limita- ignated by paragraph (2), the following: PROVED BENEFICIARIES.— tion specified in subsection (a)(2) in any fis- ‘‘(i) except in the case of an employer fil- (A) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section cal year, immigrant visas shall be allotted to ing a petition on behalf of an H–1B non- 202 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, such natives under section 203(a) (to the ex- immigrant who has already been counted as amended by this Act, immigrant visas tent practicable and otherwise consistent against the numerical limitations and is not under section 203(b) of the Immigration and with this section and section 203) in a man- eligible for a full 6-year period, as described Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) shall be al- ner so that, except as provided in subsection in section 214(g)(7), or on behalf of an H–1B located such that no alien described in sub- (a)(4), the proportion of the visas made avail- nonimmigrant authorized to accept employ- paragraph (B) receives a visa later than the able under each of paragraphs (1) through (4) ment under section 214(n), has posted on the alien otherwise would have received said visa of section 203(a) is equal to the ratio of the internet website described in paragraph (6), had this Act not been enacted. total visas made available under the respec- for at least 30 calendar days, a description of (B) ALIEN DESCRIBED.—An alien is de- tive paragraph to the total visas made avail- each position for which a nonimmigrant is scribed in this subparagraph if the alien is able under section 203(a).’’. sought, that includes— the beneficiary of a petition for an immi- (c) COUNTRY-SPECIFIC OFFSET.—Section 2 of ‘‘(I) the occupational classification, and if grant visa under section 203(b) of the Immi- the Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 (8 different the employer’s job title for the po- gration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) U.S.C. 1255 note) is amended— sition, in which the nonimmigrant(s) will be that was approved prior to the date of enact- (1) in subsection (a), by striking ‘‘(as de- employed; ment of this Act. fined in subsection (e))’’; ‘‘(II) the education, training, or experience (5) RULES FOR CHARGEABILITY.—Section (2) by striking subsection (d); and qualifications for the position; 202(b) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1152(b)) shall (3) by redesignating subsection (e) as sub- ‘‘(III) the salary or wage range and em- apply in determining the foreign state to section (d). ployee benefits offered; which an alien is chargeable for purposes of (d) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendments ‘‘(IV) the location(s) at which the non- this subsection. made by this section shall take effect as if immigrant(s) will be employed; and (6) SHORTAGE OCCUPATIONS.— enacted on September 30, 2019, and shall ‘‘(V) the process for applying for a posi- (A) IN GENERAL.—For each of fiscal years apply to fiscal year 2020 and each subsequent tion; and’’. fiscal year. 2020 through 2028, not fewer than 5,000 of the immigrant visas made available under para- SEC. 4. H–1B EMPLOYER APPLICATION REQUIRE- (e) TRANSITION RULES FOR EMPLOYMENT- MENTS. graph (3) of section 203(b) of the Immigration BASED IMMIGRANTS.— (a) WAGE DETERMINATION INFORMATION.— and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) shall (1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraphs (2) Section 212(n)(1)(D) of the Immigration and through (5), and notwithstanding title II of be allotted to immigrants who are— Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)(D)) is the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 (i) described in section 656.5(a) of title 20, amended by inserting ‘‘the prevailing wage U.S.C. 1151 et seq.), the following rules shall Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor determination methodology used under sub- apply: regulation); and paragraph (A)(i)(II),’’ after ‘‘shall contain’’. (A) For fiscal year 2020, 15 percent of the (ii) seeking admission to the United States (b) NEW APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS.—Sec- immigrant visas made available under each to work in an occupation described in that tion 212(n)(1) of the Immigration and Nation- of paragraphs (2) and (3) of section 203(b) of section. ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)) is amended by such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(b)) shall be allotted to (B) FISCAL YEARS 2020, 2021, AND 2022.—The inserting after subparagraph (G)(ii) the fol- immigrants who are natives of a foreign visas allotted under this paragraph for fiscal lowing: state or dependent area that is not one of the years 2020, 2021, and 2022 shall be allotted in ‘‘(H)(i) The employer, or a person or entity two states with the largest aggregate num- addition to the visas allotted for such fiscal acting on the employer’s behalf, has not ad- bers of natives obtaining immigrant visas years under paragraph (1). vertised any available position specified in under such paragraphs. SEC. 3. POSTING AVAILABLE POSITIONS the application in an advertisement that (B) For fiscal year 2021, 10 percent of the THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF states or indicates that— immigrant visas made available under each LABOR. ‘‘(I) such position is only available to an of such paragraphs shall be allotted to immi- (a) DEPARTMENT OF LABOR WEBSITE.—Sec- individual who is or will be an H–1B non- grants who are natives of a foreign state or tion 212(n)(6) of the Immigration and Nation- immigrant; or dependent area that is not one of the two ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(6)) is amended to ‘‘(II) an individual who is or will be an H– states with the largest aggregate numbers of read as follows: 1B nonimmigrant shall receive priority or a natives obtaining immigrant visas under ‘‘(6) For purposes of complying with para- preference in the hiring process for such po- such paragraphs. graph (1)(C)— sition.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00045 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.032 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE S5544 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2019 ‘‘(ii) The employer has not primarily re- ‘‘(H)(i) The Director of U.S. Citizenship and ‘‘(aa) conduct annual compliance audits of cruited individuals who are or who will be H– Immigration Services shall provide the Sec- each employer that employs more than 100 1B nonimmigrants to fill such position. retary of Labor with any information con- full-time equivalent employees who are em- ‘‘(I) If the employer, in a previous period tained in the materials submitted by em- ployed in the United States if more than 15 specified by the Secretary, employed one or ployers of H–1B nonimmigrants as part of percent of such full-time employees are H–1B more H–1B nonimmigrants, the employer the petition adjudication process that indi- nonimmigrants; and shall submit to the Secretary the Internal cates that the employer is not complying ‘‘(bb) make available to the public an exec- Revenue Service Form W–2 Wage and Tax with visa program requirements for H–1B utive summary or report describing the gen- Statements filed by the employer with re- nonimmigrants. eral findings of the audits conducted under spect to the H–1B nonimmigrants for such ‘‘(ii) The Secretary may initiate and con- this subclause. period.’’. duct an investigation and hearing under this ‘‘(IV) In the case of an employer subject to (c) LABOR CONDITION APPLICATION FEE.— paragraph after receiving information of an annual compliance audit in which there Section 212(n) of the Immigration and Na- noncompliance under this subparagraph.’’. was no finding of a willful failure to meet a tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)) is amended by SEC. 6. LABOR CONDITION APPLICATIONS. condition under subparagraph (C)(ii), no fur- adding at the end the following: (a) APPLICATION REVIEW REQUIREMENTS.— ther annual compliance audit shall be con- ‘‘(6)(A) The Secretary of Labor shall pro- Section 212(n)(1) of the Immigration and Na- ducted with respect to such employer for a mulgate a regulation that requires appli- tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)) is amended, period of not less than 4 years, absent evi- cants under this subsection to pay an admin- in the undesignated matter following sub- dence of misrepresentation or fraud.’’. istrative fee to cover the average paperwork paragraph (I), as added by section 4(b)— (d) PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS.—Section processing costs and other administrative (1) in the fourth sentence, by inserting ‘‘, 212(n)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nation- costs. and through the internet website of the De- ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(2)(C)) is amended – ‘‘(B)(i) Fees collected under this paragraph partment of Labor, without charge.’’ after (1) in clause (i)— shall be deposited as offsetting receipts with- ‘‘Washington, D.C.’’; (A) in the matter preceding subclause (I), in the general fund of the Treasury in a sepa- (2) in the fifth sentence, by striking ‘‘only by striking ‘‘a condition of paragraph (1)(B), rate account, which shall be known as the for completeness’’ and inserting ‘‘for com- (1)(E), or (1)(F)’’ and inserting ‘‘a condition ‘H–1B Administration, Oversight, Investiga- pleteness, clear indicators of fraud or mis- of paragraph (1)(B), (1)(E), (1)(F), (1)(H), or tion, and Enforcement Account’ and shall re- representation of material fact,’’; 1(I)’’; and main available until expended. (3) in the sixth sentence, by striking ‘‘or (B) in subclause (I), by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ ‘‘(ii) The Secretary of the Treasury shall obviously inaccurate’’ and inserting ‘‘, pre- and inserting ‘‘$3,000’’; refund amounts in such account to the Sec- sents clear indicators of fraud or misrepre- (2) in clause (ii)(I), by striking ‘‘$5,000’’ and retary of Labor for salaries and related ex- sentation of material fact, or is obviously in- inserting ‘‘$15,000’’; penses associated with the administration, accurate’’; and (3) in clause (iii)(I), by striking ‘‘$35,000’’ oversight, investigation, and enforcement of (4) by adding at the end the following: ‘‘If and inserting ‘‘$100,000’’; and the H–1B nonimmigrant visa program.’’. the Secretary’s review of an application (4) in clause (vi)(III), by striking ‘‘$1,000’’ (d) ELIMINATION OF B–1 IN LIEU OF H–1.— identifies clear indicators of fraud or mis- and inserting ‘‘$3,000’’. Section 214(g) of the Immigration and Na- representation of material fact, the Sec- (e) INITIATION OF INVESTIGATIONS.—Section tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(g)) is amended by retary may conduct an investigation and 212(n)(2)(G) of the Immigration and Nation- adding at the end the following: hearing in accordance with paragraph (2).’’. ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(2)(G)) is amended— ‘‘(12)(A) Unless otherwise authorized by (b) ENSURING PREVAILING WAGES ARE FOR (1) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘In the case of law, an alien normally classifiable under sec- AREA OF EMPLOYMENT AND ACTUAL WAGES an investigation’’ in the second sentence and tion 101(a)(15)(H)(i) who seeks admission to ARE FOR SIMILARLY EMPLOYED.—Section all that follows through the period at the the United States to provide services in a 212(n)(1)(A) of the Immigration and Nation- end of the clause; specialty occupation described in paragraph ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(1)(A)) is amended— (2) in clause (ii), in the first sentence, by (1) or (3) of subsection (i) may not be issued (1) in clause (i), in the undesignated matter striking ‘‘and whose identity’’ and all that a visa or admitted under section 101(a)(15)(B) following subclause (II), by striking ‘‘and’’ at follows through ‘‘failure or failures.’’ and in- for such purpose. the end; serting ‘‘the Secretary of Labor may conduct ‘‘(B) Nothing in this paragraph may be (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at an investigation into the employer’s compli- construed to authorize the admission of an the end and inserting ‘‘, and’’; and ance with the requirements under this sub- alien under section 101(a)(15)(B) who is com- (3) by adding at the end the following: section.’’; ing to the United States for the purpose of ‘‘(iii) will ensure that— (3) in clause (iii), by striking the second performing skilled or unskilled labor if such ‘‘(I) the actual wages or range identified in sentence; admission is not otherwise authorized by clause (i) relate solely to employees having (4) by striking clauses (iv) and (v); law.’’. substantially the same duties and respon- (5) by redesignating clauses (vi), (vii), and SEC. 5. INVESTIGATION AND DISPOSITION OF sibilities as the H–1B nonimmigrant in the (viii) as clauses (iv), (v), and (vi), respec- COMPLAINTS AGAINST H–1B EM- tively; PLOYERS. geographical area of intended employment, (6) in clause (iv), as so redesignated— (a) INVESTIGATION, WORKING CONDITIONS, considering experience, qualifications, edu- (A) by striking‘‘clause (viii)’’ and inserting AND PENALTIES.—Section 212(n)(2)(C) of the cation, job responsibility and function, spe- Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. cialized knowledge, and other legitimate ‘‘clause (vi)’’; and 1182(n)(2)(C)) is amended by striking clause business factors, except in a geographical (B) by striking ‘‘meet a condition described (iv) and inserting the following: area there are no such employees, and in clause (ii)’’ and inserting ‘‘comply with ‘‘(iv)(I) An employer that has filed an ap- ‘‘(II) the prevailing wages identified in the requirements under this subsection’’; plication under this subsection violates this clause (ii) reflect the best available informa- (7) by amending clause (v), as so redesig- clause by taking, failing to take, or threat- tion for the geographical area within normal nated, to read as follows: ening to take or fail to take a personnel ac- commuting distance of the actual address of ‘‘(v)(I) The Secretary of Labor shall pro- tion, or intimidating, threatening, restrain- employment at which the H–1B non- vide notice to an employer of the intent to ing, coercing, blacklisting, discharging, or immigrant is or will be employed.’’. conduct an investigation under clause (i) or discriminating in any other manner against (c) PROCEDURES FOR INVESTIGATION AND (ii). an employee because the employee— DISPOSITION.—Section 212(n)(2)(A) of the Im- ‘‘(II) The notice shall be provided in such a ‘‘(aa) disclosed information that the em- migration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. manner, and shall contain sufficient detail, ployee reasonably believes evidences a viola- 1182(n)(2)(A)) is amended— to permit the employer to respond to the al- tion of this subsection or any rule or regula- (1) by striking ‘‘(2)(A) Subject’’ and insert- legations before an investigation is com- tion pertaining to this subsection; or ing ‘‘(2)(A)(i) Subject’’; menced. ‘‘(bb) cooperated or sought to cooperate (2) by striking the fourth sentence; and ‘‘(III) The Secretary is not required to with the requirements under this subsection (3) by adding at the end the following: comply with this clause if the Secretary de- or any rule or regulation pertaining to this ‘‘(ii)(I) Upon receipt of a complaint under termines that such compliance would inter- subsection. clause (i), the Secretary may initiate an in- fere with an effort by the Secretary to inves- ‘‘(II) An employer that violates this clause vestigation to determine whether such a fail- tigate or secure compliance by the employer shall be liable to the employee harmed by ure or misrepresentation has occurred. with the requirements of this subsection. such violation for lost wages and benefits. ‘‘(II) The Secretary may conduct— ‘‘(IV) A determination by the Secretary ‘‘(III) In this clause, the term ‘employee’ ‘‘(aa) surveys of the degree to which em- under this clause shall not be subject to judi- includes— ployers comply with the requirements under cial review.’’; ‘‘(aa) a current employee; this subsection; and (8) in clause (vi), as so redesignated, by ‘‘(bb) a former employee; and ‘‘(bb) subject to subclause (IV), annual striking ‘‘An investigation’’ in the first sen- ‘‘(cc) an applicant for employment.’’. compliance audits of any employer that em- tence and all that follows through ‘‘the de- (b) INFORMATION SHARING.—Section ploys H–1B nonimmigrants during the appli- termination.’’ in the second sentence and in- 212(n)(2)(H) of the Immigration and Nation- cable calendar year. serting ‘‘If the Secretary of Labor, after an ality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(n)(2)(H)) is amended ‘‘(III) Subject to subclause (IV), the Sec- investigation under clause (i) or (ii), deter- to read as follows: retary shall— mines that a reasonable basis exists to make

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00046 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.032 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE September 17, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5545 a finding that the employer has failed to COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY a fellow for the minority staff on the comply with the requirements under this The Committee on the Judiciary is Committee on Banking, Housing, and subsection, the Secretary shall provide inter- authorized to meet during the session Urban Affairs, be granted floor permis- ested parties with notice of such determina- of the Senate on Tuesday, September sion until Tuesday, December 31, and tion and an opportunity for a hearing in ac- 17, 2019, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hear- cordance with section 556 of title 5, United also to recognize Drew Martineau, Abi- States Code, not later than 60 days after the ing. gail Duggan, and Shomari Figures. date of such determination.’’; and SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without (9) by adding at the end the following: The Select Committee on Intel- objection, it is so ordered. ‘‘(vii) If the Secretary of Labor, after a ligence is authorized to meet during hearing, finds that the employer has violated the session of the Senate on Tuesday, f a requirement under this subsection, the September 17, 2019, at 2:30 p.m., to con- Secretary may impose a penalty pursuant to duct a closed hearing. subparagraph (C).’’. ADJOURNMENT UNTIL 10 A.M. SUBCOMMITTEE ON ANTITRUST, COMPETITION TOMORROW f POLICY AND CONSUMER RIGHTS AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO The Subcommittee on Antitrust, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under MEET Competition Policy and Consumer the previous order, the Senate stands Rights of the Committee on the Judici- adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow. Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I have 5 ary is authorized to meet during the Thereupon, the Senate, at 10:17 p.m., requests for committees to meet during session of the Senate on Tuesday, Sep- adjourned until Wednesday, September today’s session of the Senate. They tember 17, 2019, at 2.30 p.m., to conduct 18, 2019, at 10 a.m. have the approval of the Majority and a hearing. Minority leaders. SUBCOMMITTEE ON EMERGING THREATS AND f Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph CAPABILITIES 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- The Subcommittee on Emerging CONFIRMATIONS ate, the following committees are au- Threats and Capabilities of the Com- thorized to meet during today’s session mittee on Armed Services is authorized Executive nominations confirmed by of the Senate: to meet during the session of the Sen- the Senate September 17, 2019: COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL ate on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at DEPARTMENT OF STATE RESOURCES 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing. KENNETH A. HOWERY, OF TEXAS, TO BE AMBASSADOR The Committee on Energy and Nat- f EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF THE ural Resources is authorized to meet UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE KINGDOM OF SWE- DEN. during the session of the Senate on PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR JOHN RAKOLTA, JR., OF MICHIGAN, TO BE AMBAS- Tuesday, September 17, 2019, at 9:30 SADOR EXTRAORDINARY AND PLENIPOTENTIARY OF Mr. BROWN. Mr. President, I ask THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA TO THE UNITED ARAB a.m., to conduct a hearing. unanimous consent that Tanya Otsuka, EMIRATES.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Sep 18, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 9801 E:\CR\FM\A17SE6.032 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSKBBXCHB2PROD with SENATE