S1432 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 25, 2019 a second staff person to accompany him or letter signed by 58 former national se- nancial Intelligence from 2011 to 2015 and as her on the dais he or she must make a re- curity officials, who served under Re- Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence quest to the Chairman for that purpose. publican and Democratic administra- Agency from 2015 to 2017. RULE 8. COINAGE LEGISLATION l. Eliot A. Cohen served as Counselor of the tions, criticizing President Trump’s U.S. Department of State from 2007 to 2009. At least 67 Senators must cosponsor any declaration of a national emergency to m. served as U.S. Ambas- gold medal or commemorative coin bill or build a wall on our southern border be sador to from 2011 to 2012, as resolution before consideration by the Com- printed in the RECORD. U.S. Ambassador to Iraq from 2007 to 2009, as mittee. There being no objection, the mate- U.S. Ambassador to Pakistan from 2004 to EXTRACTS FROM THE STANDING RULES OF THE rial was ordered to be printed in the 2007, as U.S. Ambassador to Syria from 1998 SENATE RECORD, as follows: to 2001, as U.S. Ambassador to Kuwait from RULE XXV, STANDING COMMITTEES 1994 to 1997, and U.S. Ambassador to JOINT DECLARATION OF FORMER UNITED from 1990 to 1993. 1. The following standing committees shall STATES GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS be appointed at the commencement of each n. Thomas Donilon served as National Se- We, the undersigned, declare as follows. curity Advisor to the President from 2010 to Congress, and shall continue and have the 1. We are former officials in the U.S. gov- 2013. power to act until their successors are ap- ernment who have worked on national secu- o. Jen Easterly served as Special Assistant pointed, with leave to report by bill or other- rity and homeland security issues from the to the President and Senior Director for wise on matters within their respective ju- White House as well as agencies across the Counterterrorism from 2013 to 2016. risdictions: Executive Branch. We have served in senior *** p. Nancy Ely-Raphel served as Senior Ad- leadership roles in administrations of both viser to the Secretary of State and Director [d][1] Committee on Banking, Housing, and major political parties, and collectively we Urban Affairs, to which committee shall be of the Office to Monitor and Combat Traf- have devoted a great many decades to pro- ficking in Persons from 2001 to 2003. She pre- referred all proposed legislation, messages, tecting the security interests of the United petitions, memorials, and other matters re- viously served as the U.S. Ambassador to States. We have held the highest security Slovenia from 1998 to 2001. lating to the following subjects: clearances, and we have participated in the 1. Banks, banking, and financial institu- q. Daniel P. Erikson served as Special Ad- highest levels of policy deliberations on a visor for Western Hemisphere Affairs to the tions. broad range of issues. These include: immi- 2. Control of prices of commodities, rents, Vice President from 2015 to 2017, and as Sen- gration, border security, counterterrorism, and services. ior Advisor for Western Hemisphere Affairs military operations, and our nation’s rela- 3. Deposit insurance. at the U.S. Department of State from 2010 to tionship with other countries, including 4. Economic stabilization and defense pro- 2015. those south of our border. r. John D. Feeley served as U.S. Ambas- duction. a. Madeleine K. Albright served as Sec- 5. Export and foreign trade promotion. sador to Panama from 2015 to 2018. He served retary of State from 1997 to 2001. A refugee 6. Export controls. as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for and naturalized American citizen, she served 7. Federal monetary policy, including Fed- Western Hemisphere Affairs at the U.S. De- as U.S. Permanent Representative to the eral Reserve System. partment of State from 2012 to 2015. 8 Financial aid to commerce and industry. United Nations from 1993 to 1997. She has s. Daniel F. Feldman served as Special 9. Issuance and redemption of notes. also been a member of the Central Intel- Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan 10. Money and credit, including currency ligence Agency External Advisory Board at the U.S. Department of State from 2014 to and coinage. since 2009 and of the Defense Policy Board 2015. 11. Nursing home construction. since 2011, in which capacities she has re- t. Jonathan Finer served as Chief of Staff 12. Public and private housing [including ceived assessments of threats facing the to the Secretary of State from 2015 to 2017, veterans’ housing]. . and Director of the Policy Planning Staff at b. Jeremy B. Bash served as Chief of Staff 13. Renegotiation of Government con- the U.S. Department of State from 2016 to of the U.S. Department of Defense from 2011 tracts. 2017. to 2013, and as Chief of Staff of the Central 14. Urban development and urban mass u. served as Assistant Sec- Intelligence Agency from 2009 to 2011. transit. retary of State for African Affairs from 2005 c. John B. Bellinger III served as the Legal [2] Such committee shall also study and re- to 2009. She served as U.S. Ambassador to Adviser to the U.S. Department of State view, on a comprehensive basis, matters re- South Africa from 2004 to 2005. from 2005 to 2009. He previously served as lating to international economic policy as it v. Suzy George served as Executive Sec- Senior Associate Counsel to the President affects United States monetary affairs, cred- retary and Chief of Staff of the National Se- and Legal Adviser to the National Security it, and financial institutions; economic curity Council from 2014 to 2017. growth, urban affairs, and credit, and report Council from 2001 to 2005. d. Daniel Benjamin served as Ambassador- w. Phil Gordon served as Special Assistant thereon from time to time. at-Large for Counterterrorism at the U.S. to the President and White House Coordi- COMMITTEE PROCEDURES FOR PRESIDENTIAL Department of State from 2009 to 2012. nator for the Middle East, North Africa and NOMINEES e. served as Deputy Sec- the Gulf from 2013 to 2015, and Assistant Sec- Procedures formally adopted by the U.S. retary of State from 2015 to 2017. He pre- retary of State for European and Eurasian Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and viously served as Deputy National Security Affairs from 2009 to 2013. Urban Affairs, February 4, 1981, establish a Advisor to the President from 2013 to 2015. x. Chuck Hagel served as Secretary of De- uniform questionnaire for all Presidential f. John O. Brennan served as Director of fense from 2013 to 2015, and previously served nominees whose confirmation hearings come the Central Intelligence Agency from 2013 to as Co-Chair of the President’s Intelligence before this Committee. 2017. He previously served as Deputy Na- Advisory Board. From 1997 to 2009, he served In addition, the procedures establish that: tional Security Advisor for Homeland Secu- as U.S. Senator for Nebraska, and as a senior [1] A confirmation hearing shall normally rity and Counterterrorism and Assistant to member of the Senate Foreign Relations and be held at least 5 days after receipt of the the President from 2009 to 2013. Intelligence Committees. completed questionnaire by the Committee g. R. Nicholas Burns served as Under Sec- y. Avril D. Haines served as Deputy Na- unless waived by a majority vote of the Com- retary of State for Political Affairs from 2005 tional Security Advisor to the President mittee. to 2008. He previously served as U.S. Ambas- from 2015 to 2017. From 2013 to 2015, she [2] The Committee shall vote on the con- sador to NATO and as U.S. Ambassador to served as Deputy Director of the Central In- firmation not less than 24 hours after the Greece. telligence Agency. Committee has received transcripts of the h. William J. Burns served as Deputy Sec- z. Luke Hartig served as Senior Director hearing unless waived by unanimous con- retary of State from 2011 to 2014 He pre- for Counterterrorism at the National Secu- sent. viously served as Under Secretary of State rity Council from 2014 to 2016. [3] All nominees routinely shall testify for Political Affairs from 2008 to 2011, as U.S. aa. Heather A. Higginbottom served as under oath at their confirmation hearings. Ambassador to Russia from 2005 to 2008, as Deputy Secretary of State for Management This questionnaire shall be made a part of Assistant Secretary of State for Near East- and Resources from 2013 to 2017. the public record except for financial infor- ern Affairs from 2001 to 2005, and as U.S. Am- bb. Roberta Jacobson served as U.S. Am- mation, which shall be kept confidential. bassador to Jordan from 1998 to 2001. bassador to Mexico from 2016 to 2018. She Nominees are requested to answer all ques- i. Johnnie Carson served as Assistant Sec- previously served as Assistant Secretary of tions, and to add additional pages where nec- retary of State for African Affairs from 2009 State for Western Hemisphere Affairs from essary. to 2013. He previously served as the U.S. Am- 2011 to 2016. bassador to from 1999 to 2003, to cc. Gil Kerlikowske served as Commis- f from 1995 to 1997, and to sioner of Customs and Border Protection DECLARATION OF NATIONAL from 1991 to 1994. from 2014 to 2017. He previously served as Di- EMERGENCY j. James Clapper served as U.S. Director of rector of the Office of National Drug Control National Intelligence from 2010 to 2017. Policy from 2009 to 2014. Mr. COONS. Mr. President, I ask by k. David S. Cohen served as Under Sec- dd. John F. Kerry served as Secretary of unanimous consent that the attached retary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Fi- State from 2013 to 2017.

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:42 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00028 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25FE6.017 S25FEPT1 February 25, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1433 ee. Prem Kumar served as Senior Director ww. Eric P. Schwartz served as Assistant detected illegal border crossings at the for the Middle East and North Africa at the Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, southern border are near forty-year lows. Al- National Security Council from 2013 to 2015. and Migration from 2009 to 2011. From 1993 to though there was a modest increase in appre- ff. John E. McLaughlin served as Deputy 2001, he was responsible for refugee and hu- hensions in 2018, that figure is in keeping Director of the Central Intelligence Agency manitarian issues at the National Security with the number of apprehensions only two from 2000 to 2004 and as Acting Director in Council, ultimately serving as Special As- years earlier, and the overall trend indicates 2004. His duties included briefing President- sistant to the President for National Secu- a dramatic decline over the last fifteen years elect and President George W. rity Affairs and Senior Director for Multilat- in particular. The administration also esti- Bush. eral and Humanitarian Affairs. mates that ‘‘undetected unlawful entries’’ at gg. Lisa O. Monaco served as Assistant to xx. Andrew J. Shapiro served as Assistant the southern border ‘‘fell from approxi- the President for Homeland Security and Secretary of State for Political-Military Af- mately 851,000 to nearly 62,000’’ between fis- Counterterrorism and Deputy National Secu- fairs from 2009 to 2013. cal years 2006 to 2016, the most recent years rity Advisor from 2013 to 2017. Previously, yy. Wendy R. Sherman served as Under for which data are available. The United she served as Assistant Attorney General for Secretary of State for Political Affairs from States currently hosts what is estimated to National Security from 2011 to 2013. 2011 to 2015. be the smallest number of undocumented im- hh. Janet Napolitano served as Secretary zz. Vikram Singh served as Deputy Special migrants since 2004. And in fact, in recent of Homeland Security from 2009 to 2013. She Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan years, the majority of currently undocu- served as the Governor of Arizona from 2003 from 2010 to 2011 and as Deputy Assistant mented immigrants entered the United to 2009. Secretary of Defense for Southeast Asia from States legally, but overstayed their visas, a ii. James D. Nealon served as Assistant 2012 to 2014. problem that will not be addressed by the Secretary for International Engagement at aaa. Dana Shell Smith served as U.S. Am- declaration of an emergency along the south- the U.S. Department of Homeland Security bassador to from 2014 to 2017. Pre- ern border. from 2017 to 2018. He served as U.S. Ambas- viously, she served as Principal Deputy As- 4. There is no documented terrorist or na- sador to Honduras from 2014 to 2017. sistant Secretary of Public Affairs. tional security emergency at the southern bor- bbb. Jeffrey H. Smith served as General jj. James C. O’Brien served as Special Pres- der. There is no reason to believe that there Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency idential Envoy for Hostage Affairs from 2015 is a terrorist or national security emergency from 1995 to 1996. He previously served as to 2017. He served in the U.S. Department of at the southern border that could justify the General Counsel of the Senate Armed Serv- State from 1989 to 2001, including as Prin- President’s proclamation. cipal Deputy Director of Policy Planning and ices Committee. ccc. served as National Se- a. This administration’s own most recent as Special Presidential Envoy for the Bal- Country Report on Terrorism, released only kans. curity Advisor to the Vice President from 2013 to 2014. He previously served as Director five months ago, found that ‘‘there was no kk. Matthew G. Olsen served as Director of credible evidence indicating that inter- the National Counterterrorism Center from of Policy Planning at the U.S. Department of State from 2011 to 2013. national terrorist groups have established 2011 to 2014. bases in Mexico, worked with Mexican drug ll. Leon E. Panetta served as Secretary of ddd. Strobe Talbott served as Deputy Sec- cartels, or sent operatives via Mexico into Defense from 2011 to 2013. From 2009 to 2011, retary of State from 1994 to 2001. the United States.’’ Since 1975, there has he served as Director of the Central Intel- eee. Linda Thomas-Greenfield served as been only one reported incident in which im- ligence Agency. Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Afri- migrants who had crossed the southern bor- mm. Anne W. Patterson served as Assist- can Affairs from 2013 to 2017. She previously der illegally attempted to commit a terrorist ant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Af- served as U.S. Ambassador to Liberia and act That incident occurred more than twelve fairs from 2013 to 2017. Previously, she served Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau years ago, and involved three brothers from as the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt from 2011 of Population, Refugees, and Migration from Macedonia who had been brought into the to 2013, to Pakistan from 2007 to 2010, to Co- 2004 to 2006. United States as children more than twenty lombia from 2000 to 2003, and to El Salvador fff. Arturo A. Valenzuela served as Assist- years earlier. from 1997 to 2000. ant Secretary of State for Western Hemi- nn. Thomas R. Pickering served as Under sphere Affairs from 2009 to 2011. He pre- b. Although the White House has claimed, Secretary of State for Political Affairs from viously served as Special Assistant to the as an argument favoring a wall at the south- 1997 to 2000. He served as U.S. Permanent President and Senior Director for Inter- ern border, that almost 4,000 known or sus- Representative to the United Nations from American Affairs at the National Security pected terrorists were intercepted at the 1989 to 1992. Council from 1999 to 2000, and as Deputy As- southern border in a single year, this asser- oo. Amy Pope served as Deputy Homeland sistant Secretary of State for Mexican Af- tion has since been widely and consistently Security Advisor and Deputy Assistant to fairs from 1994 to 1996. repudiated, including by this administra- the President from 2015 to 2017. 2. On February 15, 2019, the President de- tion’s own Department of Homeland Secu- pp. Samantha J. Power served as U.S. Per- clared a ‘‘national emergency’’ for the pur- rity. The overwhelming majority of individ- manent Representative to the United Na- pose of diverting appropriated funds from uals on terrorism watchlists who were inter- tions from 2013 to 2017. From 2009 to 2013, she previously designated uses to build a wall cepted by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol served as Senior Director for Multilateral along the southern border. We are aware of were attempting to travel to the United and Human Rights at the National Security no emergency that remotely justifies such a States by air; of the individuals on the ter- Council. step. The President’s actions are at odds rorist watchlist who were encountered while qq. Jeffrey Prescott served as Deputy Na- with the overwhelming evidence in the pub- entering the United States during fiscal year tional Security Advisor to the Vice Presi- lic record, including the administration’s 2017, only 13 percent traveled by land. And dent from 2013 to 2015, and as Special Assist- own data and estimates. We have lived and for those who have attempted to enter by ant to the President and Senior Director for worked through national emergencies, and land, only a small fraction do so at the , Iraq, Syria and the Gulf States from we support the President’s power to mobilize southern border. Between October 2017 and 2015 to 2017. the Executive Branch to respond quickly in March 2018, forty-one foreign immigrants on rr. Nicholas Rasmussen served as Director genuine national emergencies. But under no the terrorist watchlist were intercepted at of the National Counterterrorism Center plausible assessment of the evidence is there the northern border. Only six such immi- from 2014 to 2017. a national emergency today that entitles the grants were intercepted at the southern bor- ss. Alan Charles Raul served as Vice Chair- President to tap into funds appropriated for der. man of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Over- other purposes to build a wall at the south- 5. There is no emergency related to violent sight Board from 2006 to 2008. He previously ern border. To our knowledge, the Presi- crime at the southern border. Nor can the ad- served as General Counsel of the U.S. De- dent’s assertion of a national emergency ministration justify its actions on the partment of Agriculture from 1989 to 1993, here is unprecedented, in that he seeks to ad- grounds that the incidence of violent crime General Counsel of the Office of Management dress a situation: (1) that has been enduring, on the southern border constitutes a na- and Budget in the Executive Office of the rather than one that has arisen suddenly; (2) tional emergency. Factual evidence consist- President from 1988 to 1989, and Associate that in fact has improved over time rather ently shows that unauthorized immigrants Counsel to the President from 1986 to 1989. than deteriorated; (3) by reprogramming bil- have no special proclivity to engage in tt. Dan Restrepo served as Special Assist- lions of dollars in funds in the face of clear criminal or violent behavior. According to a ant to the President and Senior Director for congressional intent to the contrary; and (4) Cato Institute analysis of criminological Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National with assertions that are rebutted not just by data, undocumented immigrants are 44 per- Security Council from 2009 to 2012. the public record, but by his agencies’ own cent less likely to be incarcerated nationwide uu. Susan E. Rice served as U.S. Perma- official data, documents, and statements. than are native-born citizens. And in Texas, nent Representative to the United Nations 3. Illegal border crossings are near forty-year undocumented immigrants were found to from 2009 to 2013 and as National Security lows. At the outset, there is no evidence of a have a first-time conviction rate 32 percent Advisor to the President from 2013 to 2017. sudden or emergency increase in the number below that of native-born Americans; the vv. Anne C. Richard served as Assistant of people seeking to cross the southern bor- conviction rates of unauthorized immigrants Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, der. According to the administration’s own for violent crimes such as homicide and sex and Migration from 2012 to 2017. data, the numbers of apprehensions and un- offenses were also below those of native-born

VerDate Sep 11 2014 05:42 Feb 26, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25FE6.029 S25FEPT1 S1434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE February 25, 2019 Americans. Meanwhile, overall rates of vio- b. In addition, the administration’s unilat- Pentagon officials acknowledged that the lent crime in the United States have de- eral, provocative actions are heightening 2018 National Defense Strategy does not clined significantly over the past 25 years, tensions with our neighbors to the south, at identify the southern border as a security falling 49 percent from 1993 to 2017. And vio- a moment when we need their help to ad- threat. Leading legislators with access to lent crime rates in the country’s 30 largest dress a range of Western Hemisphere con- classified information and the President’s cities have decreased on average by 2.7 per- cerns. These actions are placing friendly own statements have strongly suggested, if cent in 2018 alone, further undermining any governments to the south under impossible not confirmed, that there is no evidence sup- suggestion that recent crime trends cur- pressures and driving partners away. They porting the administration’s claims of an rently warrant the declaration of a national have especially strained our diplomatic rela- emergency. And it is reported that the Presi- emergency. tionship with Mexico, a relationship that is dent made the decision to circumvent the ap- 6. There is no human or drug trafficking emer- vital to regional efforts ranging from critical propriations process and reprogram money gency that can be addressed by a wall at the intelligence and law enforcement partner- without the Acting Secretary of Defense southern border. The administration has ships to cooperative efforts to address the having even started to consider where the claimed that the presence of human and drug growing tensions with Venezuela. Addition- funds might come from, suggesting an ab- trafficking at the border justifies its emer- ally, the proclamation could well lead to the sence of consultation and internal delibera- gency declaration. But there is no evidence degradation of the natural environment in a tions that in our experience are necessary of any such sudden crisis at the southern manner that could only contribute to long- and expected before taking a decision of this border that necessitates a reprogramming of term socioeconomic and security challenges. magnitude. appropriations to build a border wall. c. Finally, by declaring a national emer- 11. For all of the foregoing reasons, in our a. The overwhelming majority of opioids gency for domestic political reasons with no professional opinion, there is no factual basis that enter the United States across a land compelling reason or justification from his for the declaration of a national emergency border are carried through legal ports of senior intelligence and law enforcement offi- for the purpose of circumventing the appro- entry in personal or commercial vehicles, cials, the President has further eroded his priations process and reprogramming bil- not smuggled through unauthorized border credibility with foreign leaders, both friend lions of dollars in funding to construct a wall crossings. A border wall would not stop these and foe. Should a genuine foreign crisis at the southern border, as directed by the drugs from entering the United States. Nor erupt, this lack of credibility will materially Presidential Proclamation of February 15, would a wall stop drugs from entering via weaken this administration’s ability to mar- 2019. other routes, including smuggling tunnels, shal allies to support the United States, and Respectfully submitted, which circumvent such physical barriers as Signed, will embolden adversaries to oppose us. Madeleine K. Albright, Jeremy B. Bash, fences and walls, and international mail 9. The situation at the border does not require John B. Bellinger III, Daniel Benjamin, (which is how high-purity fentanyl, for ex- the use of the armed forces, and a wall is unnec- Antony Blinken, John O. Brennan, R. Nich- ample, is usually shipped from China di- essary to support the use of the armed forces. olas Burns, William J. Burns, Johnnie Car- rectly to the United States). We understand that the administration is b. Likewise, illegal crossings at the south- son, James Clapper. also claiming that the situation at the ern border are not the principal source of David S. Cohen, Eliot A. Cohen, Ryan southern border ‘‘requires use of the armed human trafficking victims. About two-thirds Crocker, Thomas Donilon, Jen Easterly, forces,’’ and that a wall is ‘‘necessary to sup- of human trafficking victims served by non- Nancy Ely-Raphel, Daniel P. Erikson, John port such use’’ of the armed forces. These profit organizations that receive funding D. Feeley, Daniel F. Feldman, Jonathan claims are implausible from the relevant Department of Justice of- Finer. a. Historically, our country has deployed Jendayi Frazer, Suzy George, Phil Gordon, fice are U.S. citizens, and even among non- National Guard troops at the border solely citizens, most trafficking victims usually ar- Chuck Hagel, Avril D. Haines, Luke Hartig, to assist the Border Patrol when there was rive in the country on valid visas. None of Heather A. Higginbottom, Roberta Jacobson, an extremely high number of apprehensions, these instances of trafficking could be ad- Gil Kerlikowske, John F. Kerry. together with a particularly low number of dressed by a border wall. And the three Prem Kumar, John E. McLaughlin, Lisa O. Border Patrol agents. But currently, even states with the highest per capita trafficking Monaco, Janet Napolitano, James D. Nealon, with retention and recruitment challenges, reporting rates are not even located along James C. O’Brien, Matthew G. Olsen, Leon E. the Border Patrol is at historically high the southern border. Panetta, Anne W. Patterson, Thomas R. 7. This proclamation will only exacerbate the staffing and funding levels, and apprehen- Pickering. humanitarian concerns that do exist at the sions—measured in both absolute and per- Amy Pope, Samantha J. Power, Jeffrey southern border. There are real humanitarian agent terms—are near historic lows. Prescott, Nicholas Rasmussen, Alan Charles b. Furthermore, the composition of south- concerns at the border, but they largely re- Raul, Dan Restrepo, Susan E. Rice, Anne C. sult from the current administration’s own ern border crossings has shifted such that Richard, Eric P. Schwartz, Andrew J. Sha- deliberate policies towards migrants. For ex- families and unaccompanied minors now ac- piro. Wendy R. Sherman, Vikram Singh, Dana ample, the administration has used a ‘‘me- count for the majority of immigrants seek- Shell Smith, Jeffrey H. Smith, Jake Sul- tering’’ policy to turn away families fleeing ing entry at the southern border; these indi- livan, Strobe Talbott, Linda Thomas-Green- extreme violence and persecution in their viduals do not present a threat that would field, Arturo A. Valenzuela. home countries, forcing them to wait indefi- need to be countered with military force. c. Just last month, when asked what the nitely at the border to present their asylum f military is doing at the border that couldn’t cases, and has adopted a number of other pu- TRIBUTE TO TOM FONTANA nitive steps to restrict those seeking asylum be done by the Department of Homeland Se- at the southern border. These actions have curity if it had the funding for it, a top-level Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, I would forced asylum-seekers to live on the streets defense official responded, ‘‘[n]one of the ca- like to offer my congratulations to or in makeshift shelters and tent cities with pabilities that we are providing [at the Tom Fontana, special assistant to the abysmal living conditions, and limited ac- southern border] are combat capabilities. It’s not a war zone along the border.’’ Finally, it CEO for the U.S. Capitol Visitor Cen- cess to basic sanitation has caused outbreaks ter, CVC, on his retirement after 30 of disease and death. This state of affairs is is implausible that hundreds of miles of wall across the southern border are somehow nec- years of Federal service. a consequence of choices this administration Tom began his career at the U.S. has made, and erecting a wall will do noth- essary to support the use of armed forces. We ing to ease the suffering of these people. are aware of no military- or security-related Army Corps of Engineers in 1988. He 8. Redirecting funds for the claimed ‘‘national rationale that could remotely justify such an was responsible for communications for emergency’’ will undermine U.S. national secu- endeavor. one of the Corps’ largest projects, the rity and foreign policy interests. In the face of 10. There is no basis for circumventing the ap- renovation of the Pentagon in the a nonexistent threat, redirecting funds for propriations process with a declaration of a na- 1990s. He eventually joined the U.S. De- the construction of a wall along the southern tional emergency at the southern border. We do not deny that our nation faces real immigra- partment of Defense, where he contin- border will undermine national security by ued working to successfully completing needlessly pulling resources from Depart- tion and national security challenges. But as ment of Defense programs that are respon- the foregoing demonstrates, these challenges the project. Tom was at the Pentagon sible for keeping our troops and our country demand a thoughtful, evidence-based strat- on September 11, 2001, when a plane hi- safe and running effectively. egy, not a manufactured crisis that rests on jacked by terrorist crashed into the a. Repurposing funds from the defense con- falsehoods and fearmongering. In a briefing building. struction budget will drain money from crit- before the Senate Intelligence Committee on While Tom had just accepted a posi- ical defense infrastructure projects, possibly January 29, 2019, less than one month before tion with the Architect of the Capitol, including improvement of military hospitals, the Presidential Proclamation, the Directors AOC, to manage communications for of the CIA, DNI, FBI, and NSA testified construction of roads, and renovation of on- the construction phase of the U.S. Cap- base housing. And the proclamation will about numerous serious current threats to likely continue to divert those armed forces U.S. national security, but none of the offi- itol Visitor Center, due to the tragedy, already deployed at the southern border cials identified a security crisis at the U.S.- he remained in his position at the Pen- from their usual training activities or mis- Mexico border. In a briefing before the House tagon to lend assistance before assum- sions, affecting troop readiness. Armed Services Committee the next day, ing his role with the CVC in 2001.

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