S5700 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2020 Our hearing today was well attended. some of the reporters—know this is the this young girl needed help as soon as We had four of the same witnesses who person we call our Alaskan of the possible. came 7 years ago and said: There is no Week, but sometimes we call them our In so many of our Native commu- need to ask all these questions. Nobody Alaskans of the Week. nities and rural communities, there is needs them. Nobody needs the answers. This week, we are going plural in a no hospital. There is barely even a All it does is turn away from college big way. This week, we are recognizing medical clinic sometimes. So she need- students whom we want to encourage an entire community for how this com- ed to be medevacked. to go. munity—the whole community—band- While Karl communicated with the Now, think about that. That is a de- ed together to literally help save a pilot over his headset, other commu- liberate act by the Federal Govern- young child who was sick and needed nity members began calling people in ment not to change that. It doesn’t medical attention. the community asking for help. Ida save any money. It doesn’t eliminate Before I get into the story, let me Nelson made calls and jumped on her any fraud. All it does is turn away say that, in Alaska, community is ev- four-wheeler and headed to the airport. from college the people whom we want erything. Living in one of the most Community leader Christina Salmon, to encourage to have a chance to go. magnificent places in the world is not whose sister is Alexanna Salmon—who I am hopeful that the hearing today without its challenges. We depend on was our Alaskan of the Week in 2017, and our repeated efforts will help us each other. Communities often come by the way—made around 32 phone create approval of this before the end together to help each other. Typically, calls. Health aide Amanda Bybee, Jeff of the year. Since nobody tells me they in our rural communities, traditional Bringhurst, and so many others started are against it, you would think we knowledge is critical and so is hard- calling and rallying this community, would do it. Sometimes people say: won ingenuity and determination to and they all came out. They all came Well, we need to agree on everything overcome many of the challenges in out in any kind of vehicle with lights before we pass anything. Sometimes living in the great State of Alaska. that they had—trucks, cars, ATVs, that is true. But when something is I would like to transport you to one kids on four-wheelers, many still in this important, when it affects this of those communities. It is the village their pajamas. This was in the middle many families, and when it comes at a of Igiugig in Southwest Alaska. Rich in of the night. They arrived to provide time when families are under stress Native traditions, Igiugig is home to enough light on the runway for the anyway, let’s turn a 108-question around 70 year-round residents, grow- pilot to see the landing strip. They FAFSA into a 33-question FAFSA. ing to over 200 in the summer months. staggered the vehicles facing east and Let’s allow that to be implemented by The name ‘‘Igiugig’’ originated from running the whole length of the run- the Federal Government at the same a Yupik word meaning ‘‘like a throat way, lighting the medevac pilot’s way. They waited intensely. Ida Nelson time last year’s law is implemented, that swallows water,’’ referring to the told a reporter: and let’s make it simpler and easier for village’s location where the Kvichak I was anxious and nervous. . . . I was like, deserving Americans to go to college. River meets Iliamna. Going all the way back to the pur- ‘‘so what if that was my baby (waiting for There are lots of other things we that) plane?’’ What if it was my young girl need to do about higher education. We chase of Alaska from Russia over 150 who needed lifesaving help? years ago, Igiugig has maintained a need more accountability. We need to They waited for the plane to touch commercial fishing and subsistence- deal with student loans. There are down, for the girl to be transferred, and based economy. They have been incred- many things we need to do. We have for the plane to take off again. All of had a lot of discussions about those. ibly innovative with alternative energy this happened with the lights provided We are not going to get agreement on there—wind and hydro—and most im- by the community in a makeshift that this year, but just as we were able portantly, this community has main- lighting of the runway. to do for the historically Black col- tained a strong sense of connection By this time, it was around a little leges last year and the first step of the with each other, which is so important past 1:30, closer to 2 o’clock, but when FAFSA, I think it would be wise to fin- for communities like this. This is evi- the plane took off, the community, of ish the job. denced by what happened just a few course, was in a celebratory mood. I was very pleased with our hearing. weeks ago when a young girl needed to ‘‘We were pumped up,’’ Karl Hill said. I am grateful to Senator MURRAY for be airlifted out of the community to ‘‘It was really an amazing feat that we her kind comments this morning that Anchorage—some 250 miles away—for were able to pull together so quickly’’ she made and for her friendship and her medical help, and nearly every member in the middle of the night. He added, willingness to work with me on this, of the community pitched in to help. ‘‘It was really a nice evening.’’ and I would hope that, for the benefit What happened? Here is what hap- That young girl who needed to be of those 20 million families, we would pened. On the night of August 28—so medevacked and airlifted in Anchorage have some success. about 3 or 4 weeks ago—around 11:30 is now back in the community, and she I suggest the absence of a quorum. a.m., the Tribal administrator and vil- has recovered, thank God. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lage council vice president Karl Hill LifeMed Alaska, which provided the clerk will call the roll. was sitting at home when he saw the medevac, posted a photo on social The legislative clerk proceeded to LifeMed Alaska flight, which he knew media with the following caption: call the roll. was coming in to help this young girl, ‘‘What appears to be a blurry, dark Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I ask circling above the small runway. photo is actually a view of what an unanimous consent that the order for Over 200 of our communities aren’t amazing community can do with a lot the quorum call be rescinded. connected by roads. They aren’t con- of determination,’’ lighting a runway, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without nected by roads, so a lot of them have saving a life. Indeed. objection, it is so ordered. very small airports and landing strips. We are so proud to be a State full of f Karl got this phone call when the such tight-knit communities that work pilot was above circling. There was a together every day to make Alaska so RECOGNIZING IGIUGIG, ALASKA problem with the runway lights; they special. We are particularly proud as Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, it is weren’t working. He ran out to the air- we recount the events of August 28 in Thursday, and as you know, it is one of port to try to turn the lights on manu- Igiugig and so grateful to everyone in my favorite times of the week. ally. That didn’t work, so he got into the community who came out in the The Presiding Officer has the good his plane—he was one of only two pi- middle of the night, some in their paja- fortune of listening to a number of the lots in the village with a plane. He got mas, to make sure that young girl ‘‘Alaskan of the Week’’ speeches when on the plane just to talk to the pilot, could get the medical help she needed. I get to come down to the floor—typi- who was circling above, over the head- Thank you to Igiugig for being such cally every Thursday—to talk about a set. That pilot who was on the medevac an amazing community with great de- person or group of people who are doing flight told him he was getting low on termination, great heart, and great in- great things for my State. As I said, so fuel. He wouldn’t be able to circle novation. Congratulations to all of you many of my colleagues here—even much longer, and he couldn’t land. But for being our Alaskans of the Week.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:44 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.037 S17SEPT1 SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE September 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5701 I yield the floor. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- ture motion having been presented question is on agreeing to the motion. jority leader. under rule XXII, the Chair directs the The motion was agreed to. f clerk to read the motion. f The senior assistant legislative clerk EXECUTIVE SESSION read as follows: EXECUTIVE SESSION CLOTURE MOTION We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR EXECUTIVE CALENDAR ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- move to proceed to executive session to nation of Andrea R. Lucas, of Virginia, to be consider Calendar No. 709. consider Calendar No. 603. a Member of the Equal Employment Oppor- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. The tunity Commission for a term expiring July question is on agreeing to the motion. question is on agreeing to the motion. 1, 2025. The motion was agreed to. Mitch McConnell, Cindy Hyde-Smith, The motion was agreed to. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The , , John Booz- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the nomination. man, David Perdue, , Pat clerk will report the nomination. The senior assistant legislative clerk Roberts, , Lamar Alex- The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Edward Hulvey ander, , , read the nomination of Keith E. Roger F. Wicker, Mike Braun, John Meyers, of Maryland, to be a Judge of Sonderling, of Florida, to be a Member Barrasso, Richard C. Shelby, Tim of the Equal Employment Opportunity the United States Court of Federal Scott. Claims for a term of fifteen years. Commission for a term expiring July 1, f 2024. CLOTURE MOTION LEGISLATIVE SESSION CLOTURE MOTION Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- move to proceed to legislative session. send a cloture motion to the desk. ture motion having been presented The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- under rule XXII, the Chair directs the question is on agreeing to the motion. ture motion having been presented clerk to read the motion. The motion was agreed to. under rule XXII, the Chair directs the The senior assistant legislative clerk f clerk to read the motion. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows: EXECUTIVE SESSION read as follows: CLOTURE MOTION CLOTURE MOTION We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the EXECUTIVE CALENDAR We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- move to proceed to executive session to nation of Edward Hulvey Meyers, of Mary- move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- consider Calendar No. 708. nation of Keith E. Sonderling, of Florida, to land, to be a Judge of the United States The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Court of Federal Claims for a term of fifteen be a Member of the Equal Employment Op- years. question is on agreeing to the motion. portunity Commission for a term expiring Mitch McConnell, , Mike The motion was agreed to. July 1, 2024. Rounds, , Pat Roberts, The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mitch McConnell, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Cindy Hyde-Smith, John Thune, Kevin clerk will report the nomination. John Thune, John Hoeven, John Booz- Cramer, Thom Tillis, Michael B. Enzi, The senior assistant legislative clerk man, David Perdue, Steve Daines, Pat , , Joni read the nomination of Jocelyn Sam- Roberts, Thom Tillis, Lamar Alex- Ernst, Lamar Alexander, , uels, of Maryland, to be a Member of ander, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, , Steve Daines. Roger F. Wicker, Mike Braun, John the Equal Employment Opportunity Barrasso, Richard C. Shelby, Tim f Commission for a term expiring July 1, Scott. 2021. LEGISLATIVE SESSION f CLOTURE MOTION Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I LEGISLATIVE SESSION move to proceed to legislative session. send a cloture motion to the desk. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clo- move to proceed to legislative session. question is on agreeing to the motion. ture motion having been presented The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The motion was agreed to. under rule XXII, the Chair directs the question is on agreeing to the motion. f clerk to read the motion. The motion was agreed to. The senior assistant legislative clerk f EXECUTIVE SESSION read as follows: CLOTURE MOTION EXECUTIVE SESSION We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby EXECUTIVE CALENDAR move to proceed to executive session to move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I consider Calendar No. 706. nation of Jocelyn Samuels, of Maryland, to move to proceed to executive session to The PRESIDING OFFICER. The be a Member of the Equal Employment Op- consider Calendar No. 588. portunity Commission for a term expiring question is on agreeing to the motion. July 1, 2021. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The motion was agreed to. Mitch McConnell, Cindy Hyde-Smith, question is on agreeing to the motion. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The John Thune, John Hoeven, John Booz- The motion was agreed to. clerk will report the nomination. man, David Perdue, Steve Daines, Pat The PRESIDING OFFICER. The The senior assistant legislative clerk Roberts, Thom Tillis, Lamar Alex- clerk will report the nomination. read the nomination of Andrea R. ander, John Cornyn, Lindsey Graham, The senior assistant legislative clerk Lucas, of Virginia, to be a Member of Roger F. Wicker, Mike Braun, John read the nomination of John Charles the Equal Employment Opportunity Barrasso, Richard C. Shelby, Tim Hinderaker, of Arizona, to be United Scott. Commission for a term expiring July 1, States District Judge for the District 2025. f of Arizona. CLOTURE MOTION LEGISLATIVE SESSION CLOTURE MOTION Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk. move to proceed to legislative session. send a cloture motion to the desk.

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