S7934 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 7, 2017 actors were and remain the only suspects in submitted a report to a Federal court con- SECTION 1. CONSIDERATION OF NOMINATIONS. the attack; cluding that slain prosecutor Alberto (a) IN GENERAL.— Whereas, in May 2014, an Argentine court Nisman did not commit suicide, but rather (1) POST-CLOTURE CONSIDERATION.—If clo- found this Memorandum of Understanding to was drugged, beaten, and fatally shot in the ture is invoked in accordance with rule XXII be unconstitutional; head on January 18, 2015; of the Standing Rules of the Senate on a Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman was Whereas, on December 7, 2017, former Ar- nomination described in paragraph (2), there invited to testify before the United States gentine President Cristina Fernandez de shall be no more than 8 hours of post-cloture Congress in February 2013, but was prevented Kirchner was charged with treason for at- consideration equally divided in the usual from doing so by the Government of Argen- tempting to cover up Iran’s role in the 1994 form. tina, who denied him permission to travel to AMIA bombing; and (2) NOMINATIONS COVERED.—A nomination Washington, DC; Whereas no one yet has been brought to described in this paragraph is any nomina- Whereas the United States Federal Bureau justice for the death of Alberto Nisman, nor tion except for the nomination of an indi- of Investigation provided technical assist- have any of the named Iranian suspects for vidual— ance and cooperated with Argentina law en- the AMIA bombing faced prosecution: Now, (A) to a position at level I of the Executive forcement officials in the AMIA bombing in- therefore, be it Schedule under section 5312 of title 5, United vestigation; Resolved, That the Senate— States Code; or Whereas, on January 13, 2015, prosecutor (1) offers its sincerest condolences to the (B) to serve as a judge or justice appointed Alberto Nisman alleged in a complaint that family of Argentinian prosecutor Alberto to hold office during good behavior. then-Argentinian President Cristina Nisman; (b) SPECIAL RULE FOR DISTRICT COURT Fernandez de Kirchner and then-Minister of (2) recognizes Alberto Nisman’s courageous NOMINEES.—If cloture is invoked in accord- Foreign Relations He´ctor Timerman con- work in dedicating his life to the investiga- ance with rule XXII of the Standing Rules of spired to cover up Iranian involvement in tion of the bombing of the Argentine the Senate on a nomination of an individual the 1994 terrorist bombing, and reportedly Israelite Mutual Association (AMIA) in Bue- to serve as a judge of a district court of the agreed to negotiate immunity for Iranian nos Aires, Argentina, which killed 85 people United States, there shall be no more than 2 suspects and help get their names removed and wounded more than 300; hours of post-cloture consideration equally from the Interpol list; (3) applauds Argentine President Mauricio divided in the usual form. Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman Macri for calling for a swift, transparent, f claimed that he had evidence of a ‘‘sophisti- and independent investigation into Alberto cated criminal plan,’’ reportedly including Nisman’s tragic death; AUTHORITY FOR COMMITTEES TO wire-taps and phone calls ‘‘between people (4) recognizes the arduous and technical MEET close to Mrs. Kirchner’’ and a number of Ira- work of the Argentine National Gendarmerie Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I nians, including Mohsen Rabbani, showing a in reviewing evidence to produce credible, planned exchange of Iranian oil for pur- evidence-based findings; have 8 requests for committees to meet chasing rights to Argentine grain to revive (5) encourages the public release of the re- during today’s session of the Senate. Argentina’s economy; sults of the investigation, including the fo- They have the approval of the Majority Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman was rensic and pathological reports by the gov- and Minority leaders. scheduled to present his new findings to the ernment, which would show whether Alberto Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph Argentinian Congress on January 19, 2015; Nisman took his own life, or if his death is 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Sen- Whereas prosecutor Alberto Nisman was a homicide; found shot in the head in his apartment in ate, the following committees are au- (6) commends the Government of Argen- thorized to meet during today’s session Buenos Aires on January 18, 2015; tina for exemplifying the rule of law and the Whereas officials of the Government of Ar- importance of an independent justice sys- of the Senate: gentina under then-Argentine President tem; COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner continued to (7) urges the President of the United States The Committee on Armed Services is discredit Mr. Nisman after his suspicious to directly offer United States technical as- death, attempting to ruin his reputation; authorized to meet during the session sistance to the Government of Argentina in Whereas then-Argentine President Cristina of the Senate on Thursday, December solving the death of Alberto Nisman, as well Fernandez de Kirchner created unfounded 7, 2017, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing. as the ongoing investigation of the AMIA hypotheses with regard to Mr. Nisman’s find- bombing; COMMITTEE ON FINANCE ings, including conspiracies she suggested (8) expresses serious concern about Iran’s The Committee on Finance is author- were orchestrated by United States hedge terrorist networks in Argentina and all of funds and other entities she considers ‘‘hos- ized to meet during the session of the tile’’ to the President of Argentina; the Western Hemisphere, mindful of the find- Senate on Thursday, December 7, 2017, Whereas, in May 2015, an Argentine Fed- ings of Mr. Nisman’s investigation and re- at 2 p.m. in SD–215 to conduct a hear- eral court had dismissed Nisman’s findings ports on this matter, and encourages contin- ing on the nomination of Kevin K. against Ms. Kirchner and other officials and ued investigations of Iranian terrorist net- McAleenan, of Hawaii, to be Commis- works based on his work; later the accusations were dropped by Javier sioner of U.S. Customs and Border Pro- De Luca, another Federal prosecutor; (9) urges an independent investigation into the findings of Mr. Nisman regarding the tection, Department of Homeland Se- Whereas that move raised questions in Ar- curity. gentina about the objectivity of Mr. De events that led to the memorandum signed Luca, given his closeness to a group of Ms. between Argentina and Iran; COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR AND Kirchner’s supporters; (10) likewise expresses serious concerns PENSION Whereas an independent investigation about attempts by former Argentine Presi- The Committee on Health, Edu- launched by Alberto Nisman’s family re- dent Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and her cation, Labor, and Pension is author- government to discredit Mr. Nisman and leased its own report by forensic experts and ized to meet during the session of the forensic pathologists showing that Mr. raise unfounded hypotheses on Mr. Nisman’s AMIA findings and the circumstances of Mr. Senate on Thursday, December 7, 2017, Nisman’s death was not an accident or sui- at 10 a.m. in room SD–430 to conduct a cide, including claims that ‘‘the prosecutor Nisman’s death while the work of the courts had been shot in the back of the head’’, that on this matter still continues; and hearing entitled ‘‘Implementation of ‘‘no gun powder residue was found on his (11) urges the President of the United the 21’’ Century Cures Act: Progress hands’’, and that ‘‘Mr. Nisman’s body had States to continue to monitor Iran’s activi- and the Path Forward for Medical In- been moved to the bathroom once he was ties in Latin America and the Caribbean as novation’’. shot’’; it is mandated by the Countering Iran in the Western Hemisphere Act of 2012 (Public Law COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY Whereas, in September 2016, Argentine The Committee on Judiciary is au- President Mauricio Macri stated that ‘‘it’s 112–220). hard to believe that Nisman committed sui- f thorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, December 7, cide. There are too many situations, indica- SENATE RESOLUTION 355—IMPROV- tions, realities of those hours, those days, 2017, at 10 a.m. in room SD–226 to con- that don’t match with a suicide.’’; ING PROCEDURES FOR THE CON- duct a hearing on the following nomi- Whereas, in September 2016, Argentine SIDERATION OF NOMINATIONS IN nations: Leonard Steven Grasz, of Ne- President Mauricio Macri called for ‘‘a defin- THE SENATE braska, to be United States Circuit itive investigation’’ into the death of Mr. LANKFORD submitted the fol- Judge for the Eighth Circuit, James C. Alberto Nisman, saying: ‘‘I want to generate lowing resolution; which was referred Ho, of Texas, to be United States Cir- the conditions, which I think I’m doing, to allow our justice system to freely inves- to the Committee on Rules and Admin- cuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, Don R. tigate what really happened.’’; istration: Willett, of Texas, to be a Circuit Judge, Whereas, on September 22, 2017, forensic in- S. RES. 355 United States Court of Appeals for the vestigators of the Argentine Federal Police Resolved, Fifth Circuit, Terry A. Doughty, to be

VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:05 Dec 08, 2017 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00038 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A07DE6.024 S07DEPT1 December 7, 2017 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S7935 United States District Judge for the RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TODAY for the two leaders be reserved for their Western District of Louisiana, Terry Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I use later in the day, and morning busi- Fitzgerald Moorer, to be United States ask unanimous consent that the Sen- ness be closed; further, that following District Judge for the Southern Dis- ate now proceed to the en bloc consid- leader remarks, the Senate proceed to trict of Alabama, Mark Saalfield Nor- eration of the following Senate resolu- executive session and resume consider- ris, Sr., to be United States District tions, which were submitted earlier ation of the Grasz nomination; finally, Judge for the Western District of Ten- today: S. Res. 351, S. Res. 352, and S. that notwithstanding the provisions of nessee, Claria Horn Boom, to be United Res. 353. rule XXII, the cloture motions filed States District Judge for the Eastern There being no objection, the Senate during today’s session ripen at 5:30 and Western Districts of Kentucky, proceeded to consider the resolutions p.m., Monday. John W. Broomes, to be United States en bloc. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without District Judge for the District of Kan- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I objection, it is so ordered. sas, Rebecca Grady Jennings, to be ask unanimous consent that the reso- f United States District Judge for the lutions be agreed to, the preambles be Western District of Kentucky, and agreed to, and the motions to recon- ADJOURNMENT UNTIL MONDAY, Robert Earl Wier, to be United States sider be considered made and laid upon DECEMBER 11, 2017, AT 4 P.M. District Judge for the Eastern District the table, all en bloc. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, if of Kentucky. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without there is no further business to come be- SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE objection, it is so ordered. fore the Senate, I ask unanimous con- The Select Committee on Intel- The resolutions were agreed to. sent that it stand adjourned under the ligence is authorized to meet during The preambles were agreed to. previous order. the session of the Senate on Thursday, (The resolutions, with their pre- There being no objection, the Senate, December 7, 2017, at 2 p.m. in room SH– ambles, are printed in today’s RECORD at 6:21 p.m., adjourned until Monday, 219 to conduct a closed hearing. under ‘‘Submitted Resolutions.’’) December 11, 2017, at 4 p.m. f f f ORDERS FOR MONDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2017 CONFIRMATIONS PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR Executive nominations confirmed by Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask ask unanimous consent that when the the Senate December 7, 2017: unanimous consent that privileges of Senate completes its business today, it ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY the floor be granted to the following adjourn until 4 p.m. on Monday, De- SUSAN PARKER BODINE, OF MARYLAND, TO BE AN AS- SISTANT ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL member of my staff, Matt Matis, for cember 11; further, that following the PROTECTION AGENCY. the remainder of the day. prayer and pledge, the morning hour be DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without deemed expired, the Journal of pro- JOSEPH BALASH, OF ALASKA, TO BE AN ASSISTANT objection, it is so ordered. ceedings be approved to date, the time SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR.

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