E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 115 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION Vol. 163 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 2017 No. 13 Senate The Senate met at 10:45 a.m. and was appoint the Honorable BEN SASSE, a Senator hear from the leader of one of our clos- called to order by the Honorable BEN from the State of Nebraska, to perform the est allies and partners. We appreciate SASSE, a Senator from the State of Ne- duties of the Chair. her willingness to join us, and we wel- braska. ORRIN G. HATCH, come the opportunity to discuss the President pro tempore. f ways in which we can continue to Mr. SASSE thereupon assumed the strengthen our Nations’ close relation- PRAYER Chair as Acting President pro tempore. ship and pursue shared interests in the The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- f years ahead. fered the following prayer: Mr. President, I suggest the absence Let us pray. RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY LEADER of a quorum. Beautiful Savior, You have been our The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- dwelling place in all generations, sus- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- pore. The clerk will call the roll. pore. The majority leader is recog- taining us with Your steadfast love. The senior assistant legislative clerk nized. Today, surround our Senators with proceeded to call the roll. the shield of Your divine favor, ena- f Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask bling them to obey Your command to unanimous consent that the order for be fruitful and productive. Teach them DIALOGUE WITH THE PRESIDENT the quorum call be rescinded. to obey Your precepts, doing Your good Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, yes- will, as they find joy in Your presence. terday, leaders from both parties had The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- Lord, keep them from doing those an opportunity to meet with President pore. Without objection, it is so or- dered. things that could bring them regret, Trump and Vice President PENCE at remorse, and shame. Renew their the White House. We appreciate their strength as You give them the courage time and look forward to more con- f to carry on in these challenging days. versations with them in the days to Guard them from error, save them come, including later today. RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY from false judgments, and deliver them The President has invited the Demo- LEADER from evil. cratic leader, the chairman and rank- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- We pray in Your Holy Name. Amen. ing member of the Judiciary Com- pore. The Democratic leader is recog- f mittee, and me to the White House this nized. afternoon to meet with him regarding PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE the Supreme Court vacancy as part of f The Presiding Officer led the Pledge his ongoing consultations with Mem- of Allegiance, as follows: bers of the Senate. I appreciate the I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the President soliciting our advice on this CAMPAIGN PROMISES OF United States of America, and to the Repub- important matter. PRESIDENT TRUMP lic for which it stands, one nation under God, Later this week, Republicans in both Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, ac- indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the Senate and House will have an- cording to President Trump’s words, f other opportunity to engage with the yesterday—not Friday—was his first APPOINTMENT OF ACTING President as we gather for our issues official day in office. It is an important PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE conference in Philadelphia. I know we distinction because throughout the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The are all eager to continue the dialogue campaign, President Trump made nu- clerk will please read a communication about moving our legislative agenda, merous promises about what he would to the Senate from the President pro including priorities like bringing relief do on his first day. So we went through from the consequences of ObamaCare, them. Turns out he made upwards of 30 tempore (Mr. HATCH). The senior assistant legislative clerk confirming the President’s nominees, promises of Executive actions or plans read the following letter: enacting tax reform, easing the regu- that he would announce on day 1. This latory burden on our economy, and didn’t require any congressional ap- U.S. SENATE, other key issues. proval; he could just announce it. Even PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, Washington, DC, January 24, 2017. We are also looking forward to hear- by a generous count, the President ful- To the Senate: ing from another special guest, British filled only two or three of them. Let Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Prime Minister Theresa May. Her visit me mention just a few of the important of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby will provide Members the chance to omissions. ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S407 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:09 Jan 25, 2017 Jkt 069060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A24JA6.000 S24JAPT1 rfrederick on DSKBCBPHB2PROD with SENATE S408 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 24, 2017 The President campaigned against Last night at the White House, I their real reason is. Here is the real both establishments, promising to op- mentioned this to the President. He reason: Betsy DeVos has spent the last pose elites and the powerful in Wash- didn’t say no. I am not going to say 30 years—actually more than 30 years— ington, ‘‘to drain the swamp.’’ He cam- what he said. He didn’t say no. Maybe being dedicated to helping low-income paigned against the Democratic estab- he will do it. I hope and pray he does. children in America have more of the lishment, but he also campaigned We await real action on trade, one of same choices of schools that wealthy against the Republican establishment. the President’s signature issues. It is Americans already have. As a result, he explicitly promised to another promise not fulfilled. Specifically, the Democrats object to introduce an 18-point plan for ethics re- There are many promises President the fact that Betsy DeVos supports the form on day 1. How did he do on that? Trump made during the campaign that idea of tax dollars following low-in- He promised to sign a 5-year ban on we are glad he is not keeping, to be come children to the school that their lobbying after officials worked in Con- honest with you, but the bottom line parents may choose—public, private, or gress or the White House, but he did is, there is a giant gulf between what religious. This is not a new or subver- not deliver. He promised to institute a the President says he is going to do sive idea. Let us go back to 1944, the GI lifetime ban on White House officials and what he actually does. His rhetoric bill for veterans. The Congress enacted from lobbying on behalf of a foreign does not match reality. That is becom- probably the most successful piece of government, but he did not deliver. He ing clearer each day. Just look at what social legislation ever enacted when it promised to put in place a complete happened on Friday, inauguration day, passed the GI bill for veterans. As a re- ban on foreign lobbyists raising money which perfectly sums up my point. The sult, veterans came home from World for American elections, but again he President gave an inaugural address ar- War II and Federal tax dollars followed did not deliver. guing that for too long Washington has them to the accredited college or uni- On day 1, did President Trump fulfill reaped the rewards of government, versity of their choice. his pledge to bring ethics reform to while the people have suffered. Then, They could go to Notre Dame. They Washington? No. In fact, looking at his an hour later, the President took an could go the University of Arizona. ‘‘swamp Cabinet’’—stacked with bil- Executive action that made it harder They could go to Nashville Auto Diesel lionaires and bankers with myriad con- for Americans to afford a mortgage, College, the University of Tennessee. It flicts of interests—he may have al- even though Washington could cer- did not matter. It was their choice. ready lowered the ethical standards in tainly have afforded to give them a tax That is when Americans experience our government. break. We are seeing a pattern emerge. with education vouchers began. I have On trade—this is an issue where I am President Trump is using populist rhet- always wondered, why would an idea probably closer to the views of the oric to cover up a hard-right agenda. that helped to create the ‘‘greatest President’s than I was to either Presi- In short, actions speak louder than generation’’—which is what we call the dent Obama’s or President Bush’s, but words. If day 1 is any indication, the World War II generation—that helped it seems President Trump is again fail- grandiose promises this President to create the best colleges and univer- ing to deliver on his day 1 promises. He made to the working men and women sities in the world, why would that be promised over and over again—it was of America seem to be just a hall of such a dangerous idea to use for our one of the few things he said in the mirrors. schools? campaign I really liked.