Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

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

Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JULY 25, 2017 No. 125 Senate The Senate met at 12 noon and was The bill clerk read as follows: appreciation to the administration for called to order by the President pro Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 175, its continued close work with us on tempore (Mr. HATCH). H.R. 2810, a bill to authorize appropriations this issue at every step of the way. f for fiscal year 2018 for military activities of From the President and Vice President the Department of Defense, for military con- to Secretary Price and Administrator PRAYER struction, and for defense activities of the Verma, as well as so many others, the Department of Energy, to prescribe military engagement we have seen has been im- The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and fered the following prayer: for other purposes. portant to our efforts, and it has sent Let us pray. an unmistakable signal to the country The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Our Father in Heaven, we sing of that this administration not only un- majority leader. Your steadfast love and proclaim Your derstands the pain middle-class fami- faithfulness to all generations. Make WELCOMING BACK SENATOR MCCAIN lies have felt under ObamaCare but is us one Nation, truly wise, with right- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I actually committed to doing some- eousness exalting us in due season. wish to start this morning with a few thing about it. words about our friend and colleague Today, inspire our lawmakers to By now, we are all keenly aware of walk in the light of Your countenance. from Arizona, Senator MCCAIN, whom we will have an opportunity to wel- the pain ObamaCare has caused for lit- Abide with them so that Your wisdom erally millions of families. Premiums will influence each decision they make. come back today. As I noted last week, we all know have skyrocketed, doubling on average Lord, keep them from evil so that they in the vast majority of States on the will not be brought to grief, enabling Senator MCCAIN is a fighter. That is evidenced by his remarkable life of Federal exchange. Insurance options them to avoid the pitfalls that lead to have declined under ObamaCare, leav- ruin. Empower them to glorify You in public service, just as it is again evi- denced by his quick return to the Sen- ing many with as few as one or even all they say and do as You fill their zero insurers to choose from. Many hearts with thankful praise. May they ate this afternoon. I know he is eager to get back to work, and we are all Americans now face the real possibility never fail to acknowledge their total of having no options at all and could dependence upon You. very pleased to have him back with us today. find themselves trapped, forced by law We pray in Your Holy Name. Amen. to purchase ObamaCare insurance but HEALTHCARE f left by ObamaCare without any means Mr. President, on the vote we will PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE to do so. All the while, markets con- have today in a couple of hours, Sen- tinue to collapse under ObamaCare in The President pro tempore led the ators will have an important decision States across the country. Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: to make. Seven years after ObamaCare was imposed on our country, we will It is a troubling indication of what is I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the to come unless we act. Fortunately, United States of America, and to the Repub- vote on the critical first step to finally lic for which it stands, one nation under God, move beyond its failures. the American people have granted us indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Many of us have made commitments the opportunity to do so. We finally have an administration that cares f to our constituents to provide relief from this failed leftwing experiment. about those suffering under RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY Now we have a real opportunity to ObamaCare’s failures and a President LEADER keep those commitments by voting to who will sign a law to actually do The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The begin debate and ultimately to send something about it. We have a House majority leader is recognized. smarter healthcare solutions to the that recently passed its own legislation to help address these problems. We f President’s desk for his signature. Just yesterday, the President reiterated his have a Senate with a great chance be- NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- intention to sign them. fore us to do our part now. TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR Yesterday, the administration re- If other Senators agree and join me 2018—MOTION TO PROCEED leased a statement urging all Senators in voting yes on the motion to proceed, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I to vote in favor of the motion to pro- we can move one step closer to sending move to proceed to Calendar No. 175, ceed so that we can ‘‘move forward on legislation to the President for his sig- H.R. 2810. repealing ObamaCare and replacing it nature. I hope everyone will seize the The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The with true reforms that expand choice moment. I certainly will. Only then clerk will report the motion. and lower costs.’’ I wish to express my can we open up a robust debate process.

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

S4165

.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:00 Jul 26, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25JY6.000 S25JYPT1 S4166 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 25, 2017 Only then will Senators have the op- motion to proceed to the House Repub- work and all of the anguish that so portunity to offer additional ideas on lican healthcare bill. I will have more many of my colleagues on the other healthcare. to say on the matter prior to the vote. side of the aisle have shown in the last Inaction will do nothing to solve At the moment, no one knows the several weeks will be wasted because ObamaCare’s problems or bring relief plan that is being cooked up in the Re- they know darn well what is going to to those who need it. In fact, it will publican leader’s office, but it seems to happen when there is a conference. make things worse for our constituents be his intention to do whatever it There are no Democratic votes in the all across the country. takes to pass anything, no matter how House. The Freedom Caucus calls the I wish to reiterate what the Presi- small, to get the House and Senate Re- shots. They will either ask for full re- dent said yesterday: publicans into a conference on peal or something very close to it. Any senator who votes against starting de- healthcare. Make no mistake about it. A vote in bate is telling America that you are [just] Surprisingly, I have heard that my favor of the motion to proceed this fine with the ObamaCare nightmare. . . . friend, the junior Senator from Ken- afternoon will be a permission slip to That’s a position that even Democrats slash Medicaid, hurt millions, and give have found hard to defend. Remember Presi- tucky, will vote yes on the motion to dent Clinton called ObamaCare ‘‘the craziest proceed. He announced it himself. It is huge tax cuts for the wealthy—some- thing in the world’’ and a Democratic Gov- true he will likely get a vote on the thing the vast majority of Americans ernor said it’s ‘‘no longer affordable.’’ motion to repeal without replace, but in every State, a large percentage of You won’t hear me say this often, but surely he knows that will fail. Why Republicans and Trump voters, abhor. they are right. then would the junior Senator from One last plea to my colleagues: Do I hope colleagues will consider Kentucky—a man who has preached not fall for the ruse that the majority ObamaCare’s history of failures—the the repeal of the Affordable Care Act leader is putting together. We know unaffordable costs, the scarce choices, root and branch, a man who pros- what is going on. We all know. Our the burden on middle-class families—as elytized that Republicans should stop constituents will not be fooled—oh, no. they cast their vote this afternoon. I at nothing short of full repeal—why We on this side are not fooled—oh, no. urge them to remember the families would the junior Senator from Ken- I hope my colleagues who, out of com- who are hurting under this collapsing tucky vote on the motion to proceed passion and care for the people in their law. knowing he will not get what he wants? States, have made such a fuss up to Numerous Kentuckians, like so many It is because, I believe, he and some of now will not be fooled either. others across the Nation, have con- the others in this body know that if the COMMENTS OF THE PRESIDENT ON ATTORNEY GENERAL SESSIONS veyed their heartbreaking stories with Senate manages to pass something to Mr. President, in recent days, Presi- my office through phone calls, letters, get to conference in the House, the dent Trump has gone out of his way to meetings, and dozen of healthcare fo- likely compromise in the conference is undermine his own Attorney General, rums all across Kentucky. These fami- either a full repeal of the Affordable his first supporter—what has been re- lies are suffering under ObamaCare. Care Act or something close to it. It ported to be his best friend in the Sen- They need relief. I will be thinking will certainly mean drastic cuts in about them as I vote to proceed to the ate. He has tweeted scathing criticism Medicaid, huge tax cuts for the rich, no of Attorney General Sessions and chas- bill today. I know many other col- healthcare for those with preexisting leagues will do the same. tised him publicly for recusing himself conditions, and millions and millions from the Russia investigation and sev- Our constituents are hurting under losing healthcare, particularly in our ObamaCare. They are counting on us to eral other perceived failures, in the poorer and more brutal States. That is eyes of the President. do the right thing right now. That the only thing our Republicans have means voting to allow the Senate to fi- We should all take a moment to been able to agree on. think of how shocking these comments nally move beyond ObamaCare’s fail- The hard-right Freedom Caucus in ures. That is what I intend to do. That are on a human basis. This is the first the House would never accept a Repub- person who stuck his neck out for Don- is what I urge every colleague to do. lican bill that only repeals a few regu- We can do better than ObamaCare. ald Trump and who was with him lations in the ACA but leaves much of We have a responsibility to the Amer- through thick and thin. Now, even if it in place. No, they want full repeal, ican people to do that. Today’s vote to the President has disagreements with and, at minimum, deep cuts to Med- begin debate is the first step, and we him—which I think are ill-founded and icaid, huge tax breaks for the wealthy, should take it. self-centered and wrong—you don’t rid- Mr. President, I suggest the absence and millions in every State in this Na- icule him in public—someone who is of a quorum. tion losing their healthcare. your close friend. That speaks to char- The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The To my Republican friends who have acter. clerk will call the roll. repeatedly said that full repeal without But I would like to speak to the The bill clerk proceeded to call the replace would be a disaster and to my major issue before us, which is related. roll. Republican friends who have opposed It is clear that President Trump is try- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I the deep and drastic cuts to Medicaid, ing to bully his own Attorney General ask unanimous consent that the order I say: Don’t be fooled by this ruse. A out of office. How can anyone draw a for the quorum call be rescinded. vote in favor of the motion to proceed different conclusion? If President The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SUL- will mean deep cuts to Medicaid, Trump had serious criticisms of his At- LIVAN). Without objection, it is so or- maybe even deeper than in the House torney General, why not talk to him in dered. bill. It will mean people with pre- person? Why air his grievances so pub- ORDER OF PROCEDURE existing conditions will be left high licly? He wants him out. Here is the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I and dry. It will mean huge tax breaks danger. Many Americans must be won- ask unanimous consent that following for the wealthiest of Americans. It will dering if the President is trying to pry my remarks, the Democratic leader be mean millions will lose their coverage. open the Office of Attorney General to recognized to use his leader time for up So with all the complaining, why are appoint someone during the August re- to 20 minutes; and that following his we here at this late moment? Because cess who will fire Special Counsel remarks, the Senator from Nebraska, even the House bill was too drastic for Mueller and shut down the Russia in- Mrs. FISCHER, be recognized to suggest many of the Members here, and it is vestigation. the absence of a quorum. now being ignored on this motion to First, let me state for the record The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there proceed, and because we all know the now, before this scheme gains wings, objection? ruse that is going on. The ruse is this: that Democrats will never go along Without objection, it is so ordered. Send it back to the House; then, we with the recess appointment if that sit- RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER will see what they send us. We know uation arises. We have some tools in The Democratic leader is recognized. what they will send us. We may not our toolbox to stymie such action. We HEALTHCARE know every detail. It will either be full are ready to use every single one of Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, in a repeal without replace or something them at any time, day or night. It is so few short hours, we will vote on the far too close to that, and all of the vital to the future of the Republic.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:00 Jul 26, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JY6.002 S25JYPT1 July 25, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4167 Second, I cannot imagine that my into this new process, with Republicans is to come up with a proposal that is friends on the Republican side, particu- in the majority in both Chambers, the simply a means to repeal, a means to larly in the Republican leadership—my American people have not been treated dramatic cuts, a means to getting us in friend the majority leader, who I have to a high-minded debate or to much de- conference, and we all know what the great respect for, and Speaker RYAN— bate at all. result of that conference will be. would be complicit in creating a con- The very first action of this Congress I would plead one last time with my stitutional crisis. They must work was for the majority to pass reconcili- friends on the other side of the aisle— with us and not open the door to a con- ation instructions on healthcare—a and I know you have sincerely tried to stitutional crisis during the August re- process which has locked out Demo- modify and change things—to turn cess. crats from the very beginning. The back. We can go through regular order. SANCTIONS BILL very first thing this Republican Con- We want to work with you. We know Mr. President, on one last item, I gress said to the American people is that the ACA is not perfect, but we know there is a lot going on today, but that healthcare is going to be a par- also know that what you have proposed is much worse. We can work together I just want to mention one item from tisan project, undertaken by Repub- to improve healthcare in this country. the House of Representatives. Later, licans and Republicans alone. Right Turn back now before it is too late and the House is going to take up and, out of the gate, Democrats were locked millions and millions and millions of hopefully, pass with near unanimity a out. The majority leader elected to Americans are hurt so badly in ways sanctions bill that includes strong forge a bill in secret and bypass the from which they will never, ever re- sanctions against Russia, Iran, and committee process entirely—no public cover. North Korea. It is critical that the hearings, no open debate, no oppor- tunity for the minority to amend the I yield the floor. Senate act promptly on this legisla- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- tion. bill or even to read it before it emerged from the leader’s office. Their plan all jority leader. I will work with the majority leader, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, 7 along was to keep their bill hidden for as I have in recent weeks, to ensure its years ago, Democrats imposed as long as possible, evade scrutiny, swift passage so we can get it to the ObamaCare on our country. They said hide the truth from the American peo- President’s desk before we leave for re- that costs would go down. Costs sky- ple, and then jam the bill through in cess. rocketed. They said that choice would the dead of night on a party line. Thank you, Mr. President. go up. Choice plummeted. Now Now, here we are, after so much I yield the floor. ObamaCare’s years-long lurch toward cloak-and-dagger legislating, about to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- total collapse is nearing a seemingly vote on proceeding to a debate on one ator from Nebraska. inevitable conclusion, and it will hurt of the most important issues of our Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I sug- even more Americans on the way down. gest the absence of a quorum. time—one-sixth of the economy and This, my friends, is the ObamaCare The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tens of millions’ health and even lives status quo. This is the status quo. We clerk will call the roll. affected without knowing exactly what have had to accept it for a long time. The bill clerk proceeded to call the we will be debating on. Perhaps noth- We do not have to accept it any longer. roll. ing could sum up the process that has The American people elected a House Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask gotten us here quite as well as this. with a vision of a better way on unanimous consent that the order for The best the majority leader has been healthcare. Then they elected a Sen- the quorum call be rescinded. able to cook up is a vague plan to do ate. Then they elected a President. whatever it takes to pass something— The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. KEN- Now, having been given the responsi- anything—to get the bill to a House NEDY). Without objection, it is so or- bility to govern, we have a duty to act. dered. and Senate conference on healthcare. The President is ready with his pen. My colleagues, plain and simple, it is The House has passed legislation. f a ruse. The likeliest result of a con- Today, it is the Senate’s turn. That RECESS ference between the House and Senate starts with a vote that we will take is the full repeal of the Affordable Care Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I ask momentarily. The critical first step in Act or something very close to it. It unanimous consent that the Senate re- that process is the motion to proceed. will, certainly, mean drastic cuts in cess until 2:15 p.m. today for the week- It is the vote that determines whether Medicaid, huge tax cuts for the ly conference meetings. this debate can proceed at all, whether wealthy, no help for those with pre- There being no objection, the Senate, we will even take it up after four existing conditions, and tens of mil- at 12:32 p.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m. straight elections in which this was a lions losing healthcare, particularly in and reassembled when called to order huge commitment to the American poorer and more rural States. people. It is the vote that determines by the Presiding Officer (Mr. The hard-right Freedom Caucus in PORTMAN). whether the Senators of both parties the House would never accept a Repub- can offer their amendments and ideas f lican bill that only repeals a few regu- on healthcare. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- lations in the ACA but leaves much in I told the people of my State, over TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR place. this period, that I would vote to move 2018—MOTION TO PROCEED—Con- I would say to my colleagues, par- beyond ObamaCare, and that is what I tinued ticularly those on the other side of the am going to do today by voting yes. I aisle who have heartfeltly fought hard ask all of my colleagues to join me in The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- for not cutting Medicaid drastically, doing so. We have already shown that jority leader. for keeping preexisting conditions, for it is possible to put legislation on the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I not giving tax cuts to the rich while President’s desk that moves us beyond ask unanimous consent that the Demo- you are cutting healthcare for the ObamaCare and its years of failure. We cratic leader be recognized for 5 min- poor, do not go along with this motion did that 2 years ago. President Obama utes for debate only and that I then be to proceed, because you know and I vetoed what we passed before. Presi- recognized for 5 minutes. know what it will lead to. All of the dent Trump will sign what Congress The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there things that you have been trying to passes this time. objection? avoid will emerge from that con- I thank the President and the admin- Without objection, it is so ordered. ference, and you will hurt the people of istration for all they have done on this The Democratic leader. your States dramatically. issue already. They have worked with HEALTHCARE We all know what is happening here. us every step of the way, and they, like Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, in a The leader could not get the votes on a us, know the consequences of failing to short time, we will vote on the motion full repeal because it is so damaging to act. to proceed to debate the House Repub- America. He could not get the votes Look, we cannot let this moment slip lican healthcare bill. Several months even on his own bill. Instead, the plan by. We cannot let it slip by. We have

VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:00 Jul 26, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JY6.003 S25JYPT1