E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 114 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 162 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016 No. 147 Senate The Senate met at 9:30 a.m. and was Shimon Peres, the ninth President of As a result, we are hopeful that we called to order by the President pro Israel, has passed away at the age of 93. will soon reach an agreement with our tempore (Mr. HATCH). He leaves behind a remarkable legacy Democratic colleagues to move forward f of service on behalf of the people of on the clean CR-Zika package today. It Israel and a lengthy re´sume´ to match. includes important resources to sup- PRAYER The Nobel Peace Prize, the Presi- port our veterans, to combat the Zika The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- dential Medal of Freedom, the Congres- virus and heroin and prescription fered the following prayer: sional Gold Medal—Peres earned them opioid crisis, and to serve as a signifi- Let us pray. all. In fact, I was honored to be a part cant downpayment for flood relief. It Eternal Master, strengthen us so that of the ceremony to award him that also funds all current government oper- we will live blameless lives, doing what Gold Medal just a few short years ago. ations through December 9 at last is right and speaking the truth with His political career is one that spans year’s enacted levels. Let’s keep work- sincere hearts. Forgive us when we lis- nearly seven decades and encompasses ing together to pass it. ten to the cynical angels of our carnal just about every high office imag- f nature, and renew in us a spirit of faith inable: President, Prime Minister, and optimism. peacemaker, revered statesman, and RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY Empower our Senators to be true to one of the last remaining connections LEADER their duties, making the commitment to the founding of the modern State of to labor with integrity. Lord, instruct The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Israel. This is how the world will re- Democratic leader is recognized. them with Your wisdom, protect them member Shimon Peres, but above all, with Your might, and guide them with we will remember him as the embodi- f Your love. ment of a nation that the United Chase away thoughts that bring dis- States is privileged to call an ally and REMEMBERING SHIMON PERES couragement and fear, as we remember dear friend. Mr. REID. Mr. President, on a codel that nothing is impossible for You. Our thoughts are with his family; that I led, we were going to stop in We pray in Your mighty Name. with our friends, the people of Israel; Israel, and I told all of the Senators Amen. and with the many others around the with me that I wanted to take time f globe who mourn his passing today. while we were there to meet my favor- PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE f ite statesman who I had ever met, and that is Shimon Peres. The President pro tempore led the BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE As my friend the Republican leader Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, outlined, he has a distinctive re´sume´. I I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the moving on to the business before the will always remember Eric Cantor, the United States of America, and to the Repub- Senate today, last week the President Republican leader in the House at the lic for which it stands, one nation under God, vetoed the Justice Against Sponsors of time—I called him and said: Shimon indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Terrorism Act. At noon today, the Sen- Peres is going to be 90 years old, and it f ate will vote on whether to override his would be wonderful if we could get that RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME veto of that legislation. After this Gold Medal done during the time he is The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. vote, Members should be prepared for 90. Eric delivered. It wasn’t easy, but CRUZ). Under the previous order, the votes on the continuing resolution. he delivered, and I will always remem- leadership time is reserved. Our colleagues in the House made ber that. It meant a great deal to this good progress last night on a way for- man who had received so many dif- f ward to help the people of Flint in the ferent awards, but to get the highest RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY Water Resources Development Act, or distinction we as Members of Congress LEADER WRDA, which, as we have said, is the can give someone is something he de- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- proper vehicle. The Senate already served. As I have indicated, he is the jority leader is recognized. voted overwhelmingly—95 to 3—to pass most inspirational public servant I f assistance to Flint families as part of have ever encountered. And when we the WRDA bill, and both Chairman met him in Israel, he didn’t let me REMEMBERING SHIMON PERES INHOFE and I have pledged to continue down. He was stunningly visionary, Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, we to pursue resources for Flint once like I had always known him to be. were saddened to learn last night that WRDA goes to conference. What I have said is not hyperbole in ∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor. S6165 . VerDate Sep 11 2014 09:35 Sep 29, 2016 Jkt 059060 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\A28SE6.000 S28SEPT1 emcdonald on DSK9F6TC42PROD with SENATE S6166 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 28, 2016 any way. I repeat, he was the most vi- spending; this is money that the people structions, McConnell amendment No. 5087, sionary and inspirational leader I have of Michigan have allowed—STABENOW to change the enactment date. ever known. and PETERS—to be given up. It is McConnell amendment No. 5088 (to (the in- Let me repeat some of the accom- Michigan money that is going to be structions) amendment No. 5087), of a per- fecting nature. plishments my friend the Republican used in a different way. The money is McConnell amendment No. 5089 (to amend- leader just outlined. He was the Prime already there. We overwhelmingly sup- ment No. 5088), of a perfecting nature. Minister of Israel twice, Acting Prime ported it. Mr. REID. Mr. President, the Cham- Minister twice, President of Israel, So, as I have said before, we will con- ber is vacant, so I suggest the absence Minister of Defense twice, Minister of tinue to exercise caution moving for- of a quorum. Finance, Minister of Transportation, ward, but I am glad to see that The PRESIDING OFFICER. The and he served in eight other Cabinet progress has been made. If it were up to clerk will call the roll. posts. That is a pretty good record. me, I believe these three nationally de- The legislative clerk proceeded to Shimon Peres was a brilliant man clared emergencies—Louisiana, $2.8 bil- call the roll. who spoke 6 languages and authored 11 lion—what happened in Baton Rouge Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Mr. President, I books. He was the definition of a and other parts of Louisiana was dev- ask unanimous consent that the order statesman. He was a guiding light for astating. There were rainstorms that for the quorum call be rescinded. peace—always for peace. He made even the coast of Louisiana had never The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. COT- Israel and the Middle East and the seen before—never seen before. Thou- TON). Without objection, it is so or- world a better place. sands of structures were damaged, and dered. Above all, we should all learn some- hundreds of them were destroyed. I thing from this good man. Here is what think they are entitled to work on fix- f he said, and this is how he lived his ing all of that. We should do as we do JUSTICE AGAINST SPONSORS OF life: with emergencies. TERRORISM ACT—VETO The Presiding Officer is from Texas, Optimists and pessimists die the same way. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under They just live differently. I prefer to live as and we have stepped forward every the previous order, the Senate will re- an optimist. time there has been an emergency in sume consideration of the veto message Texas and taken care of it, whether it That really says it all. He lived his to accompany S. 2040, which the clerk was an explosion that blew up a facil- entire life as an optimist. From the will report. ity there, whether it was floods. The challenges he and his family faced be- The senior assistant legislative clerk many problems Texas has had over the cause of the Holocaust to his work for read as follows: a lasting peace to secure Israel, he last decade, we have taken care of never wavered in his hope for the them, as we should. Veto message to accompany S. 2040, the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act. world. He was always looking forward. I think West Virginia, which has an He had some political battles. The emergency declaration of $310 million— The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under leaders of Israel had all been in the that should be taken care of. the previous order, there will now be 2 military fighting. He never served in A much smaller one but a very im- hours of debate equally divided be- the military, but his abilities were so portant one to the people of Mary- tween the leaders or their designees.