Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009 No. 51 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable TOM UDALL, a Senator that we would not be, but there is al- called to order by the Honorable TOM from the State of New Mexico, to perform ready an order to that effect. I wanted UDALL, a Senator from the State of the duties of the Chair. to explain that. New Mexico. ROBERT C. BYRD, President pro tempore. f PRAYER Mr. UDALL thereupon assumed the RECOGNITION OF THE The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- chair as Acting President pro tempore. REPUBLICAN LEADER fered the following prayer: f The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Let us pray. RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY pore. The Republican leader is recog- Most holy and gracious God, who LEADER nized. turns the shadow of night into morn- f ing, thank You for the gift of this new The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- day. As we work for You and country, pore. The majority leader is recog- AMBASSADOR RYAN CROCKER let the light of Your countenance shine nized. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, it is upon our lawmakers, calming their f appropriate for us to honor, from time to time, outstanding public servants troubled thoughts and guiding their SCHEDULE feet in the way of peace. Lord, give whose work on behalf of the American them the ability to see the small Mr. REID. Mr. President, following people might otherwise be overlooked. things that need their attention and leaders’ remarks, we are going to have Next week, Ambassador Ryan Crock- the courage to see the things that are morning business for up to 1 hour. The er will return home to Washington not and ask ‘‘Why not’’? Turn their first 30 minutes will be controlled by State after a remarkable career pro- minds and hands to the tasks that the Democrats and the Republicans moting America’s interests abroad. In bring glory to Your Name, and may will control the second 30 minutes. a career spanning nearly 40 years, Am- their words and thoughts be acceptable During that time, Senators will be al- bassador Crocker has represented the to You. May the knowledge of Your lowed to speak therein for up to 10 United States in some of the most blessings to our Nation awaken in minutes each. challenging environments. So it is fit- them a deeper commitment to You. Following morning business, we will ting that we pause to honor him for a We pray in Your wonderful Name. proceed to, once again, take up the Na- job well done. Amen. tional Service Reauthorization Act, A graduate of Whitman College in f H.R. 1388. At noon, we are going to vote Washington, Ryan Crocker joined the on the confirmation of David Kris to be Foreign Service in 1971, beginning a ca- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Assistant Attorney General. We have a reer that would take him to diplomatic The Honorable TOM UDALL led the special Democratic caucus from 12:30 to posts in Iran, Qatar, Egypt, Lebanon, Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: 2 p.m. today. The President will be at and Iraq. Ambassador Crocker served I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the that caucus. After the caucus, the Sen- as Ambassador to Syria, Kuwait, Leb- United States of America, and to the Repub- ate will resume consideration of the anon, Pakistan, and, most recently, lic for which it stands, one nation under God, national service legislation. Rollcall Iraq. Clearly, he has not shied away indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. votes are expected to occur throughout from a challenge. And he has excelled f the afternoon. We are not going to be at every one. APPOINTMENT OF ACTING in recess from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Earlier in his career, Ambassador PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE I suggest the absence of a quorum. Crocker served in Lebanon during the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Israeli invasion of 1982 and the bomb- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pore. The clerk will call the roll. ing of the U.S. Marine barracks in clerk will please read a communication The assistant legislative clerk pro- 1983—experiences from which he would to the Senate from the President pro ceeded to call the roll. later draw important lessons while tempore (Mr. BYRD). Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unan- serving in Iraq, particularly in 2007, The legislative clerk read the fol- imous consent that the order for the when Shia militias and Sunni insur- lowing letter: quorum call be rescinded. gents fed sectarian tensions and tribal U.S. SENATE, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- feuds. PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Ambassador Crocker’s career spanned Washington, DC, March 25, 2009. pore. Without objection, it is so or- To the Senate: dered. the entire Middle East and recent U.S. Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Mr. REID. Mr. President, we will be history. But he will undoubtedly be re- of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby in recess from 12:30 until 2 p.m. I said membered most for his service in Iraq. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S3739 . VerDate Nov 24 2008 01:57 Mar 26, 2009 Jkt 079060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A25MR6.000 S25MRPT1 wwoods2 on PRODPC68 with SENATE S3740 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 25, 2009 Success in Iraq was never ensured, but President inherited: Record deficits. fice, had a surplus. What happened it was made far more likely by the Record deficits that President George with the Republican rule? Deficits as presence of Ryan Crocker. As Ambas- W. Bush’s own party supported. It is far as the eye can see. These are the sador from March 2007 to February very important that we remember that facts. This isn’t rhetoric—debt of $10 2009, he was instrumental in carrying when George W. Bush got the key to trillion, $11 trillion. out the diplomatic tasks required to the Oval Office, we had surpluses. Then Let’s look at what the Republicans implement the counterinsurgency we saw a 50-percent increase in spend- said about the Clinton budget that we strategy, and to successfully defend ing. We saw a debt that was about to be know, because time has passed, history that strategy before a skeptical Con- put away go up in major proportions. has shown, created 23 million jobs, gress. He also carried out the negotia- We are seeing the playing out of the stopped the deficits, turned them into tion that produced the Status of Forces worst recession since the Great Depres- surpluses, and got the debt going on Agreement, and he helped Iraqis sion, a financial market in crisis, and a the way down. What did our Repub- through provincial elections. In all housing market in crisis because of the lican friends say then? this, Ambassador Crocker forged a deregulation that was the centerpiece Wayne Allard said then as a Rep- strong partnership with GEN David of George W. Bush’s and the Repub- resentative: Petraeus that protected our Nation’s licans’ leadership. In summary, the plan has a fatal flaw—it interests in Iraq at a moment of peril. We are paying the price of those does not reduce the deficit. Ryan Crocker has served his Nation years today. We have a young Presi- Wrong. Wrong. Wayne Allard contin- with honor, and our country owes him dent who came into office and said: Be ued: a debt. He is a diplomat’s diplomat, the patient, we are going to change the So we are still going to pile up some more best of the best, and a tribute to the way we do business in this country. debt, but most of all, we are going to cost State Department that he has served. And we are going to do that. We start- jobs in this country. He is also a very fine man, and I wish ed with the stimulus bill that got not That is what Republican Wayne Al- him well in retirement and the best of one Republican vote on the House side, lard said about the Clinton budget— luck in the future. Ambassador Crock- although some of my Republican ‘‘. we are still going to pile up some er may be leaving the stage, but his friends over there are running around more debt, but most of all, we are service to our Nation will not be for- my State taking credit for the bill they going to cost jobs. .’’ Wrong—23 mil- gotten. voted against. We had three Repub- lion jobs created. I yield the floor. licans over here, whom I praise might- Senator Pete Domenici said of the The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- ily for having the courage to do the Clinton budget that created 23 million pore. The Senator from California is right thing and get this economy back jobs and turned the deficit into a sur- recognized. on track. plus: Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, what is We have seen the loss of 3.3 million It’s just a mockery. the order? jobs in the last 6 months. The Presi- Our friend, Senator ORRIN HATCH, a dent is dealing with two ongoing wars leader of the Republicans, still here f that, by the way, were never paid for in and going strong, I am happy to say, he RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME the budget.
Recommended publications
  • Us-Australian Dialogue on Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific ------Tuesday 29 January 2019 the National Press Club, Washington Dc
    US-AUSTRALIAN DIALOGUE ON COOPERATION IN THE INDO-PACIFIC ------------------------------------------------ TUESDAY 29 JANUARY 2019 THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, WASHINGTON DC SUPPORTING SPONSORS FOUNDING PARTNERS STRATEGIC PARTNERS TABLE OF CONTENTS 02 WELCOME 03 WELCOME MESSAGES 04 PROGRAM 06 KEYNOTE SPEAKER 06 BIOGRAPHIES 19 SPONSORS Welcome to the US-Australian Dialogue on Cooperation in the 0UKV7HJPÄJ, part of the unique G’Day USA program. The dialogue brings together leaders across the government, business and policy sectors from Australia and the United States. The alliance between these countries is one of the strongest partnerships in the world, and has served as an anchor for peace, prosperity and stability for almost seventy years. Our trade and economic connections are now worth over a trillion dollars annually. Today’s program will deliver thought-provoking panel discussions with leading experts. They will explore the links between trade and security, the geoeconomics of regional connectivity, and how our countries can JVVWLYH[L[VHK]HUJLHMYLLHUKVWLU0UKV7HJPÄJ>LHYLMVY[\UH[L [VILQVPULKI`[OL(\Z[YHSPHU4PUPZ[LYMVY-VYLPNU(ќHPYZ:LUH[VY[OL Hon. Marise Payne, and the Australian Ambassador to the United States, the Hon. Joe Hockey. ;OL 0UKV7HJPÄJ PZ X\PJRS` LTLYNPUN HZ H VUL VM [OL ^VYSK»ZTVZ[ strategically important regions. This dialogue will see Australia and the United States come together to discuss our connections within [OL 0UKV7HJPÄJ HUK OV^ ^L JHU I\PSK \WVU V\Y SVUNZ[HUKPUN collaborations in this region. 2 WELCOME MESSAGES WELCOME FROM THE PERTH USASIA CENTRE The Perth USAsia Centre is pleased to partner with G’Day USA, along with our sister Centre, the United States Studies Centre (USSC) to present in Washington,D.C.
    [Show full text]
  • To View NATA's Report on the U.S. Senate Elections, Click Here
    Summary: Elections for the United States Senate are to be held on November 6, 2012, with 33 of the 100 seats in the chamber being contested. Winners of these elections will serve six-year terms from January 3, 2013, until January 3, 2019. Currently, Democrats are expected to have 23 seats up for election, including two independent seats that caucus with the Democrats. Republicans are expected to have 10 seats up for election. The Presidential election, elections in the U.S. House of Representatives, and elections for governors in 13 states, as well as many state and local elections, will also be held on this date. NATA has been closely following the U.S. Senate races this year and has put together a list of the 10 most highly contested races below. Candidates State Snapshot of Race Incumbents in bold; challengers in italics Incumbent first-term Senator McCaskill ran unopposed in the state's Democratic primary election. Considered to be one of the toughest re-election bids in the country, she fights for her seat against six-term U.S. Representative Akin McCaskill is leading in fundraising, Missouri Claire McCaskill (D) vs. Todd Akin ( R) nearly doubling her amount of dollars overAkin. Major state politics considered includes the Affordable Care Act, the future of the U.S. Postal Service and the increase of college tuition. A major headliner has been Akin's controversial remarks on rape. Freshman Senator Tester is facing a tough challenge in the upcoming election against Rehberg, the only Representative who is very well known among the Montana Jon Tester (D) vs.
    [Show full text]
  • The Filibuster and Reconciliation: the Future of Majoritarian Lawmaking in the U.S
    The Filibuster and Reconciliation: The Future of Majoritarian Lawmaking in the U.S. Senate Tonja Jacobi†* & Jeff VanDam** “If this precedent is pushed to its logical conclusion, I suspect there will come a day when all legislation will be done through reconciliation.” — Senator Tom Daschle, on the prospect of using budget reconciliation procedures to pass tax cuts in 19961 Passing legislation in the United States Senate has become a de facto super-majoritarian undertaking, due to the gradual institutionalization of the filibuster — the practice of unending debate in the Senate. The filibuster is responsible for stymieing many legislative policies, and was the cause of decades of delay in the development of civil rights protection. Attempts at reforming the filibuster have only exacerbated the problem. However, reconciliation, a once obscure budgetary procedure, has created a mechanism of avoiding filibusters. Consequently, reconciliation is one of the primary means by which significant controversial legislation has been passed in recent years — including the Bush tax cuts and much of Obamacare. This has led to minoritarian attempts to reform reconciliation, particularly through the Byrd Rule, as well as constitutional challenges to proposed filibuster reforms. We argue that the success of the various mechanisms of constraining either the filibuster or reconciliation will rest not with interpretation by † Copyright © 2013 Tonja Jacobi and Jeff VanDam. * Professor of Law, Northwestern University School of Law, t-jacobi@ law.northwestern.edu. Our thanks to John McGinnis, Nancy Harper, Adrienne Stone, and participants of the University of Melbourne School of Law’s Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies speaker series. ** J.D., Northwestern University School of Law (2013), [email protected].
    [Show full text]
  • USDA Former Secretaries USMCA Letter
    September 18, 2019 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Speaker Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader Minority Leader U.S. Senate U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Minority Leader McCarthy, Majority Leader McConnell and Minority Leader Schumer, As former Secretaries of Agriculture, we recognize how important agricultural trade is to the U.S. economy and rural America. We know from experience that improved market access creates significant benefits to U.S. farmers and ranchers. We believe that the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) will benefit American agriculture and related industries. With Canada and Mexico being the first and second largest export markets for U.S. agricultural products, we believe USMCA makes positive improvements to one of our most critical trade deals. Currently, NAFTA supports more than 900,000 jobs in the U.S. food and agriculture sector and has amplified agricultural exports to our North American neighbors to $40 billion this past year. Before NAFTA went into effect in 1994, we were exporting only $9 billion worth of agricultural products to Canada and Mexico. The International Trade Commission’s recent economic analysis concluded that USMCA would benefit our agriculture sector and would deliver an additional $2.2 billion in U.S. economic activity. Trade is extremely vital to the livelihood of American farmers and the U.S. food industry. U.S. farm production exceeds domestic demand by 25 percent.
    [Show full text]
  • CHAIRMEN of SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES [Table 5-3] 1789–Present
    CHAIRMEN OF SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES [Table 5-3] 1789–present INTRODUCTION The following is a list of chairmen of all standing Senate committees, as well as the chairmen of select and joint committees that were precursors to Senate committees. (Other special and select committees of the twentieth century appear in Table 5-4.) Current standing committees are highlighted in yellow. The names of chairmen were taken from the Congressional Directory from 1816–1991. Four standing committees were founded before 1816. They were the Joint Committee on ENROLLED BILLS (established 1789), the joint Committee on the LIBRARY (established 1806), the Committee to AUDIT AND CONTROL THE CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE SENATE (established 1807), and the Committee on ENGROSSED BILLS (established 1810). The names of the chairmen of these committees for the years before 1816 were taken from the Annals of Congress. This list also enumerates the dates of establishment and termination of each committee. These dates were taken from Walter Stubbs, Congressional Committees, 1789–1982: A Checklist (Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 1985). There were eleven committees for which the dates of existence listed in Congressional Committees, 1789–1982 did not match the dates the committees were listed in the Congressional Directory. The committees are: ENGROSSED BILLS, ENROLLED BILLS, EXAMINE THE SEVERAL BRANCHES OF THE CIVIL SERVICE, Joint Committee on the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, LIBRARY, PENSIONS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS, RETRENCHMENT, REVOLUTIONARY CLAIMS, ROADS AND CANALS, and the Select Committee to Revise the RULES of the Senate. For these committees, the dates are listed according to Congressional Committees, 1789– 1982, with a note next to the dates detailing the discrepancy.
    [Show full text]
  • Nominations to the Department of Transportation, the Department of Commerce, and the Executive Office of the President
    S. HRG. 111–418 NOMINATIONS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION APRIL 21, 2009 Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ( U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 52–165 PDF WASHINGTON : 2010 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 VerDate Nov 24 2008 13:04 May 18, 2010 Jkt 052165 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 5011 Sfmt 5011 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\52165.TXT SCOM1 PsN: JACKIE SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION ONE HUNDRED ELEVENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West Virginia, Chairman DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas, Ranking JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada BARBARA BOXER, California JIM DEMINT, South Carolina BILL NELSON, Florida JOHN THUNE, South Dakota MARIA CANTWELL, Washington ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia MARK PRYOR, Arkansas DAVID VITTER, Louisiana CLAIRE MCCASKILL, Missouri SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota MEL MARTINEZ, Florida TOM UDALL, New Mexico MIKE JOHANNS, Nebraska MARK WARNER, Virginia MARK BEGICH, Alaska ELLEN L. DONESKI, Chief of Staff JAMES REID, Deputy Chief of Staff BRUCE H. ANDREWS, General Counsel CHRISTINE D. KURTH, Republican Staff Director and General Counsel PAUL NAGLE, Republican Chief Counsel (II) VerDate Nov 24 2008 13:04 May 18, 2010 Jkt 052165 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 5904 Sfmt 5904 S:\WPSHR\GPO\DOCS\52165.TXT SCOM1 PsN: JACKIE C O N T E N T S Page Hearing held on April 21, 2009 .............................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation Meetings at Jones
    THE MAUREEN AND MIKE MANSFIELD FOUNDATION Crafting a Contemporary U.S.-Japan Vision Mansfield Foundation Task Force on U.S.-Japan Shared Progress and Prosperity Presentation and Public Seminar in Sendai – Simultaneous Interpretation Provided Co-organized by: Tohoku University Sponsored by: The Japan Commerce Association of Washington (JCAW), and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (JCCI) In spring 2012, Washington D.C. celebrated the hundred year anniversary of the original Japanese gift of cherry trees that now famously decorate the American capital. As the U.S.-Japan relationship marks this ceremonial milestone, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, with support from the Japan Commerce Association of Washington (JCAW) and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York (JCCI), has assembled the Mansfield Foundation Task Force on Crafting a Contemporary U.S.-Japan Vision for Shared Progress and Prosperity. In the fall of 2012, the Mansfield Task Force, comprising nine Americans whose work in the private sector, academia, and government centers on Japan, will publish their vision for the future of the bilateral relationship. A delegation of Task Force members, including former U.S. Ambassador J. Thomas Schieffer, will visit six Japanese cities to share their vision during a two-hour public seminar. The group will articulate their call for updating mutual perceptions of Japan and the United States, increasing human-to-human exchange, coordinating on addressing our similar economic challenges, cooperating on promoting trade as an engine for regional growth and stability, and invigorating the bilateral approach to global issues. Following their remarks Task Force members will be pleased to take questions from the audience.
    [Show full text]
  • How Sports Help to Elect Presidents, Run Campaigns and Promote Wars."
    Abstract: Daniel Matamala In this thesis for his Master of Arts in Journalism from Columbia University, Chilean journalist Daniel Matamala explores the relationship between sports and politics, looking at what voters' favorite sports can tell us about their political leanings and how "POWER GAMES: How this can be and is used to great eect in election campaigns. He nds that -unlike soccer in Europe or Latin America which cuts across all social barriers- sports in the sports help to elect United States can be divided into "red" and "blue". During wartime or when a nation is under attack, sports can also be a powerful weapon Presidents, run campaigns for fuelling the patriotism that binds a nation together. And it can change the course of history. and promote wars." In a key part of his thesis, Matamala describes how a small investment in a struggling baseball team helped propel George W. Bush -then also with a struggling career- to the presidency of the United States. Politics and sports are, in other words, closely entwined, and often very powerfully so. Submitted in partial fulllment of the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism Copyright Daniel Matamala, 2012 DANIEL MATAMALA "POWER GAMES: How sports help to elect Presidents, run campaigns and promote wars." Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree of Master of Arts in Journalism Copyright Daniel Matamala, 2012 Published by Columbia Global Centers | Latin America (Santiago) Santiago de Chile, August 2014 POWER GAMES: HOW SPORTS HELP TO ELECT PRESIDENTS, RUN CAMPAIGNS AND PROMOTE WARS INDEX INTRODUCTION. PLAYING POLITICS 3 CHAPTER 1.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 111 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 156 WASHINGTON, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2010 No. 129 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was U.S. SENATE, until 10:30 this morning, with Senators called to order by the Honorable PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes KIRSTEN GILLIBRAND, a Senator from Washington, DC, September 23, 2010. each, with the Republicans controlling the State of New York. To the Senate: the first half and the majority control- Under the provisions of Rule I, paragraph 3, of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I ling the second half. PRAYER At 10:30 a.m., the Senate will con- hereby appoint the Honorable KIRSTEN The PRESIDING OFFICER. Today’s GILLIBRAND, a Senator from the State of New sider the motion to proceed to S.J. Res. opening prayer will be offered by Rev- York, to perform the duties of the Chair. 30, which is a joint resolution of dis- erend Dr. Joel Hunter, senior pastor of DANIEL K. INOUYE, approval regarding the National Medi- Northland Church, Longwood, FL. President pro tempore. ation Board. Under the time agreement The guest Chaplain offered the fol- Mrs. GILLIBRAND thereupon as- previously reached, there is 2 hours of lowing prayer: sumed the chair as Acting President debate equally divided, so the vote on Let us pray. pro tempore. the motion to proceed to the joint reso- Almighty God, we give You thanks lution is expected to occur around 12:30 for our democracy that gives each cit- f p.m.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record—Senate S8251
    December 20, 2012 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S8251 is absolutely right—you did not seek Gyongyosi, a member of the notorious Court have ruled against the mass dis- the headlines on that legislation, but it extremist party Jobbik and also vice missal of judges in Hungary’s court- could not have been done without your chairman of the Parliament’s Foreign packing scheme, there is still no rem- direction and your help. Affairs Committee, suggested that edy for any of the dismissed judges? I just want to thank you for what Hungarian Jews are a threat to Hun- What is the status of media freedom you have done to advance the reputa- gary’s national security and those in in Hungary, let alone the fight against tion of the Senate and public service, government and Parliament should be anti-Semitism, if a journalist who standing by your convictions, yet registered. The ink was barely dry on writes about anti-Semitism faces pos- doing so in a way that we could work letters protesting those comments sible sanction before the courts for together, respecting everyone’s right when another Hungarian member of doing so? to be heard and our right to work to- Parliament, Balazs Lenhardt, partici- What are we to make of Hungary’s gether. You are indeed a model Sen- pated in a public demonstration last new election framework, which in- ator, and it has been an honor to serve week where he burned an Israeli flag. cludes many troubling provisions, in- with you in the Senate. The fact is that these are only the cluding a prohibition on campaign ads The PRESIDING OFFICER.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record—Senate S6343
    October 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6343 colleagues to support and pass the Pro- urge the American people to call your MANCHIN), and the Senator from Ari- tect and Serve Act, a bill that I spon- Senators and tell them that you want zona (Ms. SINEMA) are necessarily ab- sored and a bill that I hope we can get this bill passed. You want law enforce- sent. passed. ment to be safer, and you want our The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 51, The Protect and Serve Act would communities to be safer. Don’t be si- nays 44, as follows: punish dangerous criminals who mur- lent. Help me fight for the men and der a law enforcement officer in the women in blue. They are counting on [Rollcall Vote No. 207 Ex.] line of duty. If they murder a law en- all of us. YEAS—51 forcement officer in the line of duty, f Alexander Ernst Perdue they will be sentenced to life. If they Barrasso Fischer Portman injure a law enforcement officer in the UIGHUR INTERVENTION AND Blackburn Gardner Risch line of duty, they will be sentenced to GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN UNI- Blunt Graham Roberts FIED RESPONSE ACT OF 2019 Boozman Grassley Romney 10 years in prison. The premise of the Braun Hawley Rounds legislation is simple: There is no es- The Senate proceeded to consider the Burr Hoeven Rubio cape from justice for dangerous crimi- House message to accompany S. 178, a Capito Hyde-Smith Sasse bill to condemn gross human rights Cassidy Inhofe Scott (FL) nals who intentionally assault or kill a Collins Johnson Scott (SC) law enforcement officer.
    [Show full text]
  • Accentuating the Positive in Nebraska's GOP Race for Governor
    July 1, 1998 Accentuating the Positive in Nebraska's GOP Race for Governor Bob Wickers Mike Johanns was outspent by $2 million, never mentioned his opponents' names on TV - and won a big primary victory We started the campaign knowing three things: 1) We were going to be considerably outspent by both of our opponents; 2) We were going to build a grassroots organization in all 93 counties throughout Nebraska and 3) We were going to stay positive no matter what. On primary night, Tuesday, May 12th, we stood in a packed hotel ballroom in Lincoln, Nebraska. The room was overflowing with campaign workers, reporters and supporters, all waiting for the imminent arrival of Mike Johanns, whom the Associated Press had just declared the winner in the Republican primary for governor. There were cell phones ringing and reporters going live on the air, and the moment when Mike, his wife Stephanie, and children Michaela and Justin finally walked in, the crowd erupted into cheers and applause that could be heard from Omaha to Scottsbluff. We were reminded of the day when we first met Mike Johanns, more than a year earlier, when this night seemed a long way off. In the spring of 1997, we had traveled to Lincoln to meet Johanns. As the mayor of Lincoln, he had earned respect and accolades for his conservative leadership style and ability to get things done. The city had experienced unprecedented economic growth and enjoyed a AAA bond rating while seeing cuts in property taxes and an increased number of police on the streets.
    [Show full text]