Senate the Senate Met at 9:30 A.M
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E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 114 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 161 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2015 No. 175 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY Two months ago I came to the floor called to order by the President pro LEADER very sad. I was here mourning the mur- tempore (Mr. HATCH). The PRESIDING OFFICER. The der of innocent community college stu- f Democratic leader is recognized. dents attending class in Roseburg, OR. I said then that each time our Nation PRAYER f endures one of these mass killings, we The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- GUN VIOLENCE go through the same routine. First we fered the following prayer: Mr. REID. Mr. President, I hope all are shocked. Then we ask questions Let us pray. Members of Congress—Democrats and about the killers, their motives, and Eternal God, our helper, as a tragic Republicans, Members of the House and how they got their hands on those pattern of insane violence continues to Senate—take a long, hard look this guns. Then we wonder, what could we bring pain to our Nation and world, we morning, maybe in the mirror, and ask have done to prevent this terrible thing turn our eyes to You. Thank You that themselves: Where do I stand? from happening? though evil seems undeniably strong, Yet again our country is faced with As I said, the disturbing part is that You continue to rule in Your universe. another sickening act of gun violence. we don’t do anything. We don’t do any- May we refuse to be intimidated by the Yesterday’s shooting rampage took the thing. We, as the legislative body of adversaries of freedom, as we remem- lives of 14 people and wounded at least this country, do nothing. So I have a ber Your sacred words, ‘‘There is no 17 more, a number of those grievously question for every Member of this fear in love.’’ injured. That wasn’t the only shooting body: How can we live with ourselves Lord, lead our Senators with Your yesterday; a gunman in Georgia killed for failing to do the things that we wisdom. As they focus on Your pres- a woman and injured three others. know will reduce gun violence? Will it ence and power, shield their hearts So where do we stand? We have an get rid of all of it? Of course not. But with Your peace. When they seek Your epidemic of gun violence in America, will it reduce it? Yes. We are complicit guidance, direct their steps in the path and it is nothing less than sickening. through our inaction, and if we con- Fort Hood, 13 dead; Tucson, 6 dead; of truth. tinue to fail to act, we will be Give us all the sensitivity to com- Carson City, 4 dead; Aurora, 12 dead; Newtown, 20 little children, 6 edu- complicit today and every day into the prehend the holy meaning and the sa- future. We will keep ending up right cred mysteries that reside in every mo- cators; the Navy Yard in Washington, DC, 12 dead; Las Vegas, 3 dead, two of where we are, mourning innocent vic- ment. And, Lord, be near to all who are tims in San Bernardino, CA, or affected by the mass shooting in San whom were police officers. And I have heard this talk: Oh, it is so unusual, a Charleston or Newtown. When victims Bernardino, CA. turn to us for leadership and help, we We pray in Your merciful Name. husband and wife. These three people will have nothing to show but empty Amen. killed in Las Vegas were killed by a hands and a few empty gestures. It is f husband-and-wife team. In Charleston, nine dead; Moneta, VA, two dead—on despicable. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE live television, he came to kill two peo- For far too long we have done noth- The President pro tempore led the ple. At Umpqua Community College, ing, even as the gun violence shakes Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: nine dead; Colorado Springs, three our Nation to its core. We must do I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the dead. something. We can start by passing im- United States of America, and to the Repub- That tragic list is nowhere close to proved background check legislation. lic for which it stands, one nation under God, being comprehensive. The one in Geor- Is it asking too much that if someone indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. gia yesterday—one dead, two wounded. is crazy or a criminal, they shouldn’t Mr. REID. Mr. President, I suggest It hardly made the press. But the ones be able to walk into any gun shop and the absence of a quorum. I just mentioned are a few that we buy a gun? Of course not. But that is The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. LEE). picked up earlier this morning in my the law in America. The clerk will call the roll. office. I know the thought of upsetting the The legislative clerk proceeded to It would be very difficult to list all National Rifle Association scares ev- call the roll. the mass killings that have taken place erybody—oh, especially my Republican Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- in recent years. Why? Because we are colleagues. Do you know what scares imous consent that the order for the 337 days into 2015 and we have had at the American people? Gun violence. quorum call be rescinded. least 355 mass shootings—355 mass These mass shootings at holiday par- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without shootings in 337 days. We are averaging ties frighten the American people. Is it objection, it is so ordered. more than one a day. unreasonable that they are frightened? ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S8323 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:44 Dec 04, 2015 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A03DE6.000 S03DEPT1 SSpencer on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with SENATE S8324 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE December 3, 2015 Of course not. People are afraid to go forms that have been proven to stop at- was taking them away. The American to a movie theater or to a concert. tacks and save lives. I hope Repub- people took a different view. The bill before the Senate today is to licans will find the courage to join with Here is a note I received from a con- get rid of ObamaCare, and everybody us and pass meaningful legislation to stituent in Caldwell County when her knows it is just a gesture in futility. prevent further gun violence. family lost their plan. Here is what she They have tried it 60 times or 48 I apologize for speaking before the said: times—I don’t know; we lost track—in Republican leader, but I was told he I was lied to by the President and Congress the House, and every time, the same was going to be late. when we were told the ‘‘Affordable’’ Care Act would not require us to switch from our cur- answer: No. In the Senate, we have f done it 14, 15 times—always the same rent insurance provider. My husband and I answer. Einstein said the definition of RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY work hard, pay a lot of taxes and ask for lit- ‘‘insanity’’ is when someone does the LEADER tle from our government. Is it asking too much for government to stay out of my same thing over and over again know- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- health insurance? ing they are going to get the same re- jority leader is recognized. sult. So we are wasting our time today. Americans were promised that Everyone knows the result. f ObamaCare would lower costs and even bring down premiums by $2,500 per fam- But we have the opportunity to cast TRAGEDY IN SAN BERNARDINO a vote here today—or we will shortly— ily. It is a promise Democrats made to Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, the because we are focused on doing some- sell ObamaCare, and it is a promise senseless loss of life in San Bernardino thing. People on this side of the aisle they broke. continues to defy explanation. We have are focused on doing something to stop Just last night, we learned from the faith that law enforcement will con- this gun violence, and we are going to government’s own actuaries that tinue working hard to uncover the force amendments to that end today— ObamaCare is leading to higher health truth behind this tragedy. Today, what not many but a few. We will try to do care costs. We also know that pre- we should all agree upon is that we will something, anything. miums continue to shoot up by double keep the victims and the families in Are we going to vote on expanded digits in many areas, including Ken- our thoughts, that we as a Senate offer background checks? Shouldn’t we do tucky. condolences to them, and that we as a that at least? We are going to vote to Democrats’ response to their broken Senate recognize the continuing efforts prevent criminals convicted of promise? President Obama said Ameri- of law enforcement officials and first harassing women’s health clinics from cans who already had health insurance responders. buying a gun, owning a gun.