E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 116 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 No. 111 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2020, at 10 a.m. Senate TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020 The Senate met at 10 a.m. and was our political system when all they see RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY called to order by the President pro is legislative gridlock. Yet Iowans were LEADER tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). able to set themselves apart by work- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- f ing together on law enforcement re- jority leader is recognized. forms in the wake of George Floyd’s PRAYER murder. f The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- Every step of the way, the Iowa proc- NOMINATION OF JUSTIN REED fered the following prayer: ess was fueled by input from the grass- WALKER Let us pray. roots, including those who dem- Eternal God, have mercy upon this Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, onstrated peacefully. The Republican- land we love. We place our total trust this week, like most weeks for a month led statehouse and senate partnered in You to do for us what we can’t do for and a half now, has brought a study in with the Democrats to unanimously ourselves. You have delivered us in the contrasts to the U.S. Capitol. Over in pass reforms in our State—some of past. You have not failed us. Our faith the Democratic-led House of Rep- them historic reforms. Governor Rey- is in You. Lord, inspire our Senators to resentatives, the lights are off. The nolds signed House File 2647 to bring know that You are still on your throne, doors are locked. There is nobody additional accountability to Iowa’s law working for the good of those who love home. enforcement officers. You. Listen to our prayers, and give us With our country facing a once-in-a- wisdom, courage, and integrity that These are some of the things that century pandemic, a historic economic will enable us to glorify You. they did: created stronger restrictions disruption, a major discussion of racial We pray in Your wonderful Name. on the use of choke holds by law en- justice, and all of the other important Amen. forcement officers; improved the law business we were already set to tackle this year before all of this, the Speaker f enforcement decertification process to ensure that those who have been fired of the House has mostly kept her PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE or who resign after serious misconduct Chamber on the longest running spring The President pro tempore led the do not work in our State; strengthened break in human history—lots of talk Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: the authority of the Iowa attorney gen- about supposed priorities but few I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the eral to prosecute officers whose actions votes; lots of partisan attacks leveled United States of America, and to the Repub- result in the death of another; estab- at the Republicans from a distance but lic for which it stands, one nation under God, lished annual anti-bias and deescala- little action. Over here in the Senate, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. tion training requirements for officers. the story has been very different. We The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. are holding hearings. We are legis- We are working on some of these HYDE-SMITH). The Senator from Iowa. lating. We are confirming nominees. very same policies here on the Federal Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, I With precautions, we are manning our level. Washington should follow Iowa’s ask unanimous consent to speak for 1 posts for the country. example and pass legislation to help minute in morning business. Tomorrow, the Senate will begin con- correct wrongs and inspire positive The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without sidering the President’s nomination of change in our communities across the objection, it is so ordered. Judge Justin Walker to fill a vacancy country. Senator LINDSEY GRAHAM will f on the DC Circuit—the second most im- be leading hearings today on this issue portant Federal bench in the country. CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM before the Committee on the Judiciary. As my fellow Kentuckians and I can Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, Hopefully, we can act. attest, Judge Walker is exactly the too often, Americans are cynical about I yield the floor. kind of individual our country deserves ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S2981 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:00 Jun 17, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4637 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A16JN6.000 S16JNPT1 dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE S2982 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 16, 2020 to have in such a role. He graduated ringing endorsements of an impressive RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER from Duke summa cum laude and then cross-section of American recreation The PRESIDING OFFICER. The from Harvard Law magna cum laude. and conservation advocates. Democratic leader is recognized. He clerked on the DC Circuit himself Take, for example, the letter the BOSTOCK V. CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA for an impressive young judge named Democratic leader and I received from Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, Brett Kavanaugh and then on the Su- the last six former Secretaries of the yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled preme Court. Interior. Men and women who served that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 does, He has built a national reputation as under Presidents of both parties came in fact, prohibit employment discrimi- a leading academic scholar of the law. together to tell us that ‘‘the Great nation on the basis of sexual orienta- It is no wonder that even the ABA American Outdoors Act will help en- tion and gender identity. It was a land- rates him ‘‘well qualified.’’ He has sure a better, brighter future for na- mark decision that represents a step quickly made a name for himself as a ture and for all of us.’’ forward—a big step forward—on the district judge. Hundreds of advocacy organizations, long march to full equality for LGBTQ A few weeks ago, when the mayor of from the Sierra Club to the American Americans. We salute that decision. Louisville tried to cancel drive-in Sportfishing Association, also approve. That is what the Supreme Court should Easter services with disparate restric- They say the bill ‘‘will ensure that our be doing—moving us in a direction of tions that did not apply equally to parks and other public lands continue equality and fairness. All too often, it other parking lots, Judge Walker won to preserve our nation’s heritage and doesn’t these days. So this was a re- national attention for his eloquent de- recreation opportunities, and that freshing breath of fresh air from that fense of religious liberty. This subject local communities and economies . Court. becomes more important by the day. will continue to flourish.’’ The march, of course, is not over. The American people deserve to have It is not often that we are presented Yesterday’s decision, welcomed as it is, strong respect for their First Amend- with the opportunity to take over- reminds us that, even today, even in ment rights, including their rights of whelmingly bipartisan action that will 2020, we have so much work left to do religious exercise and conscience, on affect a monumental part of American to advance the cause of justice and one of our country’s highest courts. So life for so many years to come, and the equality for all Americans. Only a few I look forward to continuing to detail opportunity in front of us this week days ago, our laws didn’t clearly estab- our Kentucky pride for Judge Walker comes thanks to the dedicated work of lish that you couldn’t be fired by your as this week unfolds, and I will take several of our colleagues. employer simply because of who you great pride in voting to advance his In particular, I would like to thank are and whom you love. Yesterday’s de- nomination and to confirm him. Senator DAINES and Senator GARDNER cision is not the end of the fight. It was f once again for their extraordinary one step forward. If it is wrong to dis- criminate against people because of GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT leadership. I look forward to seeing their efforts across the finish line, and whom they love and because of who Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, I urge all Members to join me in sup- they are and if it is wrong to discrimi- the Senate will first pass the Great porting this bill and securing our nat- nate against people on the basis of sex- American Outdoors Act. It will be a big ural wonders for generations of Ameri- ual orientation and gender, isn’t it step in the history of our Nation’s pub- cans yet to come. wrong on the job? If it is wrong to dis- lic lands and great news for their fu- f criminate against people on the basis ture. of sexual orientation and gender on This bill is the product of a lot of RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME employment, isn’t it wrong on hous- hard work by many of our colleagues The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under ing? Isn’t it wrong on so many other on both sides of the aisle.