data_type stringclasses 2 values | dog_whistle stringlengths 2 26 | dog_whistle_root stringlengths 2 98 ⌀ | ingroup stringclasses 17 values | content stringlengths 2 83.3k | date stringlengths 10 10 ⌀ | speaker stringlengths 4 62 ⌀ | chamber stringclasses 2 values | reference stringlengths 24 31 ⌀ | community stringclasses 11 values | __index_level_0__ int64 0 35.6k |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (H.R. 2574) to amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to restore the right to individual civil actions in cases involving disparate impact, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgH4474-3 | null | 1,300 |
formal | working families | null | racist | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, Republican Senators, like working families all across the country had hoped--hoped--the Senate would be spending this week completing more bipartisan pandemic relief. We proposed another package with hundreds of billions of dollars to make schools safer for our kids, to help American workers keep or regain their jobs, and to invest more in testing treatments and finding and distributing a vaccine. But alas, Democrats filibustered it all, apparently intent that working families cannot receive any more relief until election day. Across the Capitol, Speaker Pelosi's excuses and Goldilocks games are even wearing thin on our fellow Democrats. A few weeks ago, more than 100 House Democrats publicly--publicly--asked Speaker Pelosi to stop blocking action on any coronavirus legislation besides her multitrillion-dollar, far-left wish list. She ignored them. She completely ignored them. Yesterday, a number of House Democrats tried again. They released a new proposal they had written to some Republicans and pleaded with the Speaker to allow a vote on it. Again, she shot down any notion whatsoever of compromise. Now, bear in mind, the Speaker had explained she will block any compromise for kids, jobs, and healthcare because--because--passing anything short of multiple trillions of dollars would make her look like ``a cheap date''--a cheap date. The money that K-12 schools need, that unemployed workers need, and that we need for the race toward vaccines, Speaker Pelosi is blocking all of it because, apparently, to the San Francisco far left, anything short of multiple trillions of dollars would make her ``a cheap date.'' So, apparently, for the sake of the Speaker's personal ego, working families continue to suffer with no bipartisan help from Congress. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5617-6 | null | 1,301 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now, since Democrats are stonewalling pandemic relief, the Senate is using our time to confirm more well-qualified judicial nominees to lifetime positions on the Federal bench. Renewing the Federal judiciary has been a major success over the last 4 years. Since January 2017, President Trump has nominated, and this Republican Senate has confirmed, 211 article III judges, including 53 circuit judges. That is the second most appellate confirmations of any President in American history at this point in their term. This isn't a partisan victory. The President has sent us impressive, qualified men and women who understand the radical notion that the job of judge is to actually follow the law--follow the law. It is a victory for our Constitution itself, but, believe me, this progress has not come easy. Throughout the last 4 years, our Senate Democratic colleagues have visited a historic degree of obstruction upon this President and his efforts to stand up the administration that the American people actually elected. Senate Democrats have forced us to break more filibusters on nominations since 2017--now listen to this--than had occurred cumulatively in all of Senate history--all of Senate history--before President Trump was sworn in. I am going to say that again. Senate Democrats have forced us to break more filibusters on nominations since 2017 than had occurred cumulatively in all of Senate history before President Trump was sworn in. They have attempted to filibuster more nominations in the last 3 years than the sum total of all prior Senates--from 1789 through 2016 added together. What was once a rare roadblock for the most controversial people has now become a daily norm. Before 2017, before this Senate Democratic minority got to work, only 5 percent of all nominations to district courts and circuit courts had been subjected to filibusters. I will say it again. Before 2017, before this Senate Democratic minority got to work, only 5 percent of all nominations to district courts and circuit courts had been subjected to filibusters. Under President Trump, the number has been 80 percent--80 percent. Our Democratic colleagues even obstruct nominees they don't even oppose. We have taken more than 100 cloture votes on district judges, even though district court nominees from any State with a Democratic Senator could not have even gotten out of committee without Democratic support. So, to summarize, here is what we are doing this week. We are breaking Democratic filibusters on nominations because Democrats are filibustering coronavirus relief. And let us not forget the cherry on top. Because self-awareness apparently no longer exists, our Democratic colleagues have chosen this very moment to argue that they shouldn't have to play by any of these rules if they ever get power themselves. President Obama calls the filibuster ``a relic of Jim Crow,'' even as Senate Democrats use it over and over and over again. Democrats filibustered police reform and filibustered pandemic relief for working families. Some years back, the Democratic leader told the newspaper: ``I am the leader of the filibuster movement [and] I am proud of it.'' That was the Democratic leader. But now--now--they are saying that if they ever get power, they intend to tear up the rule book to force radicalism on our country. They want to break the rules to pass the kinds of radical, far-left policies that former Vice President Biden has rushed--rushed--to embrace, from abortion to socialism, to cracking down on the Second Amendment. And that is not all. It is not just about bad policies. They want to go even deeper and hot-wire--hot-wire--our democracy itself. The far left is salivating over the prospect of killing the filibuster in order to pack the Supreme Court, pack the Senate with new States, and tilt the playing field permanently so they can never lose power again. This is not some rightwing conspiracy theory. These are the signals they are sending publicly right now. This is what the left is saying out there. Maybe this hard-left hypocrisy plays well in a few big coastal cities. Maybe the angry crowds that are pulling down statues of our Founding Fathers want Senators who will pull down government institutions as well. Most Americans see things differently. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5617-7 | null | 1,302 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now, on another matter entirely, a few days ago, the country got something that has been in too short supply in 2020: some really great news--specifically, great news on the subject of public health. According to the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey, administered by the FDA and the CDC, the number of American youth using e-cigarettes has dropped by 1.8 million since just last year--1.8 million in 1 year. That means, of course, that 1.8 million fewer young Americans are using e-cigarettes and vaping devices than 1 year ago. This victory for young Americans' health is no accident. The experts say a number of factors are at play, but one major contributing factor unfolded right here in the Senate a little under a year ago. Last December, the President signed the Tobacco-Free Youth Act into law. It was a bill I wrote and introduced to stem the tide of what was a rapidly growing health crisis among our Nation's young people. The bipartisan bill I wrote with my good friend Tim Kaine from Virginia and with the help of other colleagues, including Senator Todd Young, raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vaping devices, from 18 to 21. This is based on clear-cut science. Public health experts tell us the harmful effects of nicotine are most potent on bodies and brains that are still developing. Nearly 9 out of 10 adult smokers started by the age of 18. So we knew it was time to take action. I am proud to have led the legislation that took another leap forward in getting nicotine addiction away from our Nation's youth, and by the looks of these data, it has not taken long for our legislation to begin to pay major dividends. Nearly 2 million fewer teens in Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana, and across the country are having their future put in jeopardy by these products. That is a win, and it has happened largely because the Senate stepped up. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5618 | null | 1,303 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Venezuela Madam President, finally, later today my friends Senators Durbin, Menendez, and Van Hollen will come to the floor to try again to secure temporary protected status for Venezuelans seeking refuge here in the United States. There are roughly 200,000 eligible Venezuelans in the United States who are now at risk of being sent back to a failed and dangerous nation, rife with political repression and human suffering--a nation that, under Maduro's regime, constitutes the single biggest humanitarian crisis in our hemisphere today. Despite having all the authority that he needs to solve this problem on his own, President Trump will not grant temporary protected status, and his enablers in the Senate have repeatedly blocked passage of House legislation that would provide it. So we are going to try once again to get this passed. Democrats stand with the people of Venezuela. Later today, my Republican colleagues will need to decide if they want to restore the moral leadership of the United States and support the protection of Venezuelans fleeing violence and despair or leave them all in limbo, facing deportation to a humanitarian disaster. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5619-2 | null | 1,304 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Russia Madam President, now, on Russian disinformation, another matter, the chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs continues to further his probe into the family of the former Vice President and plans to release a report next week that appears designed to influence the upcoming Presidential election. While the rest of the country has been focused on fighting the global pandemic, for the last few months, the chairman and Republicans of the committee have wasted taxpayer resources to run a hit job on President Trump's political rival. Even worse, it seems that several lines of investigation have echoed materials pushed by the Kremlin. In fact, some of the allegations that the Homeland Security chairman pursues are the same ones propagated by Andriy Derkach, a known Russian agent who was recently sanctioned by President Trump's own Department of the Treasury for interfering in our election. So here President Trump's Department of the Treasury sanctions Derkach, and the chairman of the committee repeats the same kind of discredited allegations that Derkach propagates. It is outrageous. It is a disgrace. The hearings and subpoenas that have come out of the Homeland Security Committee are also a disgrace by any standard. The more we learn about Russian agents like Mr. Derkach, the more it looks like the Kremlin is trying to launder anti-American information through the U.S. Senate, and because Moscow prefers to support Donald Trump, as it did in the last election, it seems that some of this disinformation finds a sympathetic audience among Republican Senators. So today, alongside Senators Wyden, Peters, Reed, and Feinstein, I will be introducing a resolution calling for a cessation of any Senate investigation or activity that allows Congress to act as a conduit for Russian information. There should not be a single aspect of this Chamber that, wittingly or unwittingly, furthers the propaganda machine of Vladimir Putin's intelligence services. I will have more to say on this matter later, but for one of the most important committees to be echoing a Kremlin-backed conspiracy theory is beyond the pale. As we are about to hold a national election, it must stop immediately. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5619 | null | 1,305 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today in support of four highly-qualified California nominees to the U.S. District Court: John Holcomb, Mark Scarsi, and Judge Stanley Blumenfeld to the Central District of California, and Todd Robinson to the Southern District of California. (These four nominees know the districts where they will serve if confirmed, and I believe they have demonstrated in their legal careers the skills needed to serve as fair and impartial judges. All four of these nominees received Well Qualified ratings from the American Bar Association, and all have significant legal experience in California. John Holcomb, who has been nominated to the Central District of California, is currently a partner at the law firm Greenberg Gross. Mr. Holcomb has spent more than 25 years in private practice, focusing on intellectual property issues. He also served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy. I understand that if confirmed, Mr. Holcomb will be sitting in the Riverside Courthouse, which is badly in need of judges. Mark Scarsi, nominated to the Central District of California, is currently managing partner of the Los Angeles office of the law firm Milbank, Tweed. Mr. Scarsi joined that firm in 2007 after spending more than a decade with other California-based law firms, including O'Melveny & Myers and Christie, Parker, & Hale. Mr. Scarsi specializes in patent cases, with a focus on intellectual property. He has tried some 28 cases to verdict, judgment, orfinal decision, including 20 cases in which he served as lead counsel. Judge Stanley Blumenfeld, nominated to the Central District of California, currently serves on the Superior Court for Los Angeles County, where he has presided over some 200 trials since his appointment to the bench in 2006. Prior to that, Judge Blumenfeld spent nearly two decades as a practicing attorney, including 7 years as an Assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California. Todd Robinson, nominated to the Southern District of California, is currently a Federal prosecutor in that district, where he has served since 1997. Mr. Robinson has significant experience litigating in Federal courts, including in the Southern District of California. He has tried more than 40 felony cases to verdict, including 35 as sole or lead counsel. In closing, Mr. President, these four nominees are highly qualified, they have extensive practical experience, and they are ready to hit the ground running. It is my hope and expectation that these nominees will receive broad bipartisan support. I will be voting in favor of these nominees, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. FEINSTEIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5622 | null | 1,306 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, earlier today, my colleagues, Senator Schumer and Senator Wyden violated the Senate rules by attempting to offer a resolution disparaging oversight work being done by me and Senator Johnson. My colleague, Ranking Member Wyden, said that the investigation Senator Johnson and I are engaged in is advancing a Russian disinformation campaign. To be clear, that investigation is focused on potential conflicts of interest and other wrongdoing regarding the time Vice President Biden was lead on the Obama administration's Ukraine policy. At that same time, his son, Hunter Biden, was on the board of a corrupt Ukrainian gas firm called Burisma. This investigation is a good-government investigation to better understand the effect these potential conflicts had on policy execution. This investigation is based on Federal Government records from the Obama administration and records from a Democratic lobby shop, Blue Star Strategies. If those records are Russian disinformation, then that says more about the Obama administration than the purpose of this investigation. I have also addressed the claim that this investigation is somehow connected to Andriy Derkach. I have said publicly on many occasions that I have never received information or material fom him. I have never solicited information from him. The same is true for my staff. In fact, the only two times that I am aware of that my staff have come in contact with his information are, No. 1, when the Democrats introduced his records into a transcribed interview, and No. 2, when Minority Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi, Senator Warner, and Representative Schiff used it in their July 13, 2020, letter. They also attempted to link Andriy Telizhenko to Andriy Derkach, apparently to cast him as a nefarious foreign agent, but they neglected to mention his many connections to the Obama-Biden administration, including White House meetings and outings with White House staff. They also omitted his work for Blue Star Strategies, which was working on behalf of the corrupt Ukrainian firm that hired Hunter Biden while his father was the face of U.S. policy toward Ukraine. Democratic connections to Mr. Telizhenko are many and well documented. If they are so concerned that he is a conduit for disinformation, why did they work with him for so long? Maybe the Democrats should take a pause and realize that they are the only ones pushing Russian disinformation. Let's not forget about the Steele Dossier. Thanks to now-declassified information, we know the dossier was filled with Russian disinformation. The Democrats bought-and-paid-for crown jewel ironically was an example of the very disinformation and collusion that it falsely accused the Trump campaign of. The Democrats pushed it for years. Now that it is a failed document, they have tried to run the same baseless smear tactic on this investigation. The facts simply aren't on their side. If my colleagues on the other side are as concerned about foreign disinformation as they claim to be, they would stop relying on it to falsely attack us. Let's stop playing these games and get back to business for the American people. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5646-3 | null | 1,307 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this year, Loyola University Chicago celebrates the 150th anniversary of its founding, which occurred on September 5, 1870. Loyola Chicago is a world-class institution with a storied history as a Roman Catholic Jesuit university, a strong track record of academic excellence, and the proud home of the Loyola Ramblers. Loyola University Chicago was founded under the name of St. Ignatius College by Arnold Damen, S.J., to serve Chicago's Catholic immigrants. In 1909, the school was granted a new charter by the State of Illinois and renamed ``Loyola University Chicago''. That same year, the newly-named Loyola Chicago granted its first professional graduate degrees and organized its first football, basketball, and indoor baseball teams. Today, Loyola Chicago is the only Jesuit Catholic university in Illinois. Throughout its history, Loyola Chicago has upheld its Jesuit values--being an institution of rigorous liberal arts education and academic excellence, while also being a place of inclusion and acceptance for marginalized communities, including immigrants. Loyola Chicago's Stritch School of Medicine led the country as the first medical school to accept DACA recipients, many of whom have committed to working in a medically-underserved community in Illinois after graduation. In addition, under its previous president, Father Michael Garanzini, Loyola Chicago created Arrupe College. Arrupe is a 2-year degree program that brings Loyola Chicago's academic quality together with a focus on affordability and care for the whole person. Arrupe's low-cost and wrap-around services--including meals, chilcare, and transportation--bring a high-quality Loyola Chicago education to low-income and students of color in the Chicagoland area who otherwise may not have a chance to succeed in college. Loyola Chicago's focus on service is part of the fabric of the institution and its community. Loyola Chicago supports more than 300 community partner organizations in Chicago and the Chicagoland suburbs through student, staff, and faculty service and volunteer work. Loyola Chicago's impact can be found almost anywhere in the Chicagoland area. Illinois has been served well and enriched by the many contributions of Loyola University Chicago. I look forward to the school's many contributions in the years ahead and several more successful runs at the NCAA basketball tournament being led by their team chaplain, the now world famous Jean Dolores Schmidt, known to all as simply Sister Jean. I thank Loyola for its many contributions to our State and country. It is my distinct honor to congratulate President Jo Anne Rooney--the school's first female president--and the entire Loyola community of staff, faculty, students, and alumni on your 150th anniversary. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5646-4 | null | 1,308 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-5428. A communication from the Inspector General, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to an investigation of a Forest Service (FS) employee fatality that occurred during the Frog Fire in Modoc County, California, on July 30, 2015; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-5429. A communication from the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to implementation and progress of the strategic plan to improve capabilities of Department of Defense training ranges and installations (OSS-2020-0704); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5430. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Vice Admiral DeWolfe H. Miller III, United States Navy, and his advancement to the grade of vice admiral on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5431. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Privacy Program'' (RIN0790-AK66) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5432. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Repeal of DFARS Clause `Ordering' '' (RIN0750-AL10) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5433. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Use of Defense Logistics Agency Energy as a Source of Fuel'' (RIN0750-AK90) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5434. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Definition of `Micro-purchase Threshold' '' (RIN0750-AK17) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5435. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program'' (RIN0790-AJ40) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5436. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Security Agency/Central Security Services Privacy Act Program'' (RIN0790-AK68) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5437. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Security Service Privacy Program'' (RIN0790-AK67) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5438. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Reconnaissance Office Privacy Act Program'' (RIN0790-AK71) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5439. A communication from the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), transmitting the report of an officer authorized to wear the insignia of the grade of brigadier general in accordance with title 10, United States Code, section 777, this will not cause the Department to exceed the number of frocked officers authorized; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5440. A communication from the Director, Naval Reactors, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program's reports on environmental monitoring and radioactive waste disposal, radiation exposure, and occupational safety and health; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5441. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Proclamation 7463 of September 14, 2001, with respect to certain terrorist attacks; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5442. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 13848 of September 12, 2018, with respect to the threat of foreign interference in or undermining public confidence in United States elections; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5443. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Amending the `Accredited Investor' Definition'' (Release No. 33-10824) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5444. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Temporary Amendments to Regulation Crowdfunding; Extension'' (Release No. 33-10829) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5445. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Rescission of Effective- Upon-Filing Procedure for NMS Plan Fee Amendments and Modified Procedures for Proposed NMS Plans and Plan Amendments'' (RIN3235-AM56) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5446. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Modernization of Regulation S-K Items 101, 103, and 105'' (RIN3235-AL78) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5447. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Missouri; Removal of Control of Emissions from Manufacture of Polystyrene Resin'' (FRL No. 10014-46-Region 7) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5448. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category - Reconsideration'' (FRL No. 10014-41-OW) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5449. A communication from the Regulations Writer, Office of Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Improved Agency Guidance Documents'' (RIN0960-AI47) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5450. A communication from the Regulations Writer, Office of Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Waiver of Recovering of Certain Overpayment Debts Accruing During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period'' (RIN0960-AI51) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5451. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2021'' (RIN0938-AU05) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 20, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5452. A communication from the Supervisor of the Regulations and Dissemination Team, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers'' (RIN1205-AB78) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5453. A communication from the Acting Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, three (3) reports of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) from 2019 relative to memoranda of understanding and cultural property agreements; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5454. A communication from the Acting Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, a report relative to actions taken in fiscal year 2019 to conclude cultural property agreements with Bulgaria, China, Honduras, and Algeria; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5455. A communication from the Acting Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act 2020 Annual Report to Congress''; to the Committees on Finance; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5456. A communication from the Director of Regulations and Policy Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Food Labeling; Gluten-Free Labeling of Fermented or Hydrolyzed Foods; Correction'' (RIN0910-AH00) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5457. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Procedures for PBGC Guidance'' (RIN1212-AB49) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5458. A communication from the Board Members, Railroad Retirement Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the Board's budget request for fiscal year 2022; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5459. A communication from the Secretary of Education, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Direct Grant Programs, State-Administered Formula Grant Programs, Non Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program, Strengthening Institutions Program, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, and Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program'' (RIN1840-AD45) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 15, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5460. A communication from the Secretary of Education, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the notice of the rescission of outdated guidance documents; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5461. A communication from the Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's fiscal year 2019 Actuarial Evaluation of the Expected Operations and Status of the PBGC Funds; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5462. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Paying Benefits'' (29 CFR Part 4022) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5463. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safety Zone; I-5 Bridge Construction Project, Columbia River, Vancouver, Washington'' ((RIN1625-AA00) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0247)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5464. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Special Local Regulation; North Atlantic Ocean, Ocean City, Maryland'' ((RIN1625-AA08) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0361)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5465. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Special Local Regulation; Potomac River, Between Jones Point, Virginia, and National Harbor, Maryland'' ((RIN1625-AA08) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0245)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5466. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safety Zone; Dolan Fireworks, Lake Erie, Bratenahl, Ohio'' (Docket No. USCG-2020-0532) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5467. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Person in Charge of Fuel Transfers'' ((RIN1625-AC50) (Docket No. USCG- 2018-0493)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5468. A communication from the Associate Administrator for Policy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Passenger Carrier No-Defect Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports'' (RIN2126-AC29) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5469. A communication from the Deputy Chief, Office of Economics and Analytics, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Auction of Flexible - Use Service Licenses in the 3.7-3.8 GHz Band for Next-Generation Wireless Services; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 107; Bidding in Auction 107 Scheduled to Begin December 8, 2020'' (FCC 20-110) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5470. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Special Local Regulation; Cumberland River, Hendersonville, Tennessee'' ((RIN1625-AA08) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0518)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5471. A communication from the Program Analyst, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``In the Matter of Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Non- Geostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems and Related Matters'' ((FCC 20-119) (IB Docket No. 16-408)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5472. A communication from the Associate General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5473. A communication from the Associate General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5474. A communication from the Director, Office of Acquisition Policy, General Services Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Federal Acquisition Regulation: FAR Case 2019-009, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Using Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment'' (RIN9000-AN92) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5475. A communication from the Acting Director, Office of Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program: Clarifying Annual Rates of Pay and Amending the Employment Status of Judges of the United States Court of Appeals of Veterans Claims'' (RIN3206-AN52) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5476. A communication from the Acting Director, Office of Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Employment in the Excepted Service'' (RIN3206-AN30) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5477. A communication from the Associate General Counsel, Office of Management and Budget, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of Director, Office of Management and Budget, received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5648-6 | null | 1,309 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-5428. A communication from the Inspector General, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to an investigation of a Forest Service (FS) employee fatality that occurred during the Frog Fire in Modoc County, California, on July 30, 2015; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-5429. A communication from the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to implementation and progress of the strategic plan to improve capabilities of Department of Defense training ranges and installations (OSS-2020-0704); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5430. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Vice Admiral DeWolfe H. Miller III, United States Navy, and his advancement to the grade of vice admiral on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5431. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Privacy Program'' (RIN0790-AK66) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5432. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Repeal of DFARS Clause `Ordering' '' (RIN0750-AL10) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5433. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Use of Defense Logistics Agency Energy as a Source of Fuel'' (RIN0750-AK90) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5434. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Definition of `Micro-purchase Threshold' '' (RIN0750-AK17) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5435. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Program'' (RIN0790-AJ40) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5436. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Security Agency/Central Security Services Privacy Act Program'' (RIN0790-AK68) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5437. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Security Service Privacy Program'' (RIN0790-AK67) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5438. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Reconnaissance Office Privacy Act Program'' (RIN0790-AK71) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5439. A communication from the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), transmitting the report of an officer authorized to wear the insignia of the grade of brigadier general in accordance with title 10, United States Code, section 777, this will not cause the Department to exceed the number of frocked officers authorized; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5440. A communication from the Director, Naval Reactors, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program's reports on environmental monitoring and radioactive waste disposal, radiation exposure, and occupational safety and health; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5441. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Proclamation 7463 of September 14, 2001, with respect to certain terrorist attacks; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5442. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 13848 of September 12, 2018, with respect to the threat of foreign interference in or undermining public confidence in United States elections; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5443. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Amending the `Accredited Investor' Definition'' (Release No. 33-10824) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5444. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Temporary Amendments to Regulation Crowdfunding; Extension'' (Release No. 33-10829) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5445. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Rescission of Effective- Upon-Filing Procedure for NMS Plan Fee Amendments and Modified Procedures for Proposed NMS Plans and Plan Amendments'' (RIN3235-AM56) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5446. A communication from the Secretary of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Modernization of Regulation S-K Items 101, 103, and 105'' (RIN3235-AL78) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5447. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Missouri; Removal of Control of Emissions from Manufacture of Polystyrene Resin'' (FRL No. 10014-46-Region 7) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5448. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for the Steam Electric Power Generating Point Source Category - Reconsideration'' (FRL No. 10014-41-OW) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5449. A communication from the Regulations Writer, Office of Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Improved Agency Guidance Documents'' (RIN0960-AI47) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5450. A communication from the Regulations Writer, Office of Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Waiver of Recovering of Certain Overpayment Debts Accruing During the COVID-19 Pandemic Period'' (RIN0960-AI51) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5451. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2021'' (RIN0938-AU05) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on August 20, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5452. A communication from the Supervisor of the Regulations and Dissemination Team, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Trade Adjustment Assistance for Workers'' (RIN1205-AB78) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5453. A communication from the Acting Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, three (3) reports of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC) from 2019 relative to memoranda of understanding and cultural property agreements; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5454. A communication from the Acting Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to the Convention on Cultural Property Implementation Act, a report relative to actions taken in fiscal year 2019 to conclude cultural property agreements with Bulgaria, China, Honduras, and Algeria; to the Committee on Finance. EC-5455. A communication from the Acting Chief Privacy Officer, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Social Security Number Fraud Prevention Act 2020 Annual Report to Congress''; to the Committees on Finance; and Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5456. A communication from the Director of Regulations and Policy Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Food Labeling; Gluten-Free Labeling of Fermented or Hydrolyzed Foods; Correction'' (RIN0910-AH00) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5457. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Procedures for PBGC Guidance'' (RIN1212-AB49) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5458. A communication from the Board Members, Railroad Retirement Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the Board's budget request for fiscal year 2022; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5459. A communication from the Secretary of Education, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Direct Grant Programs, State-Administered Formula Grant Programs, Non Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Financial Assistance, Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program, Strengthening Institutions Program, Strengthening Historically Black Colleges and Universities Program, and Strengthening Historically Black Graduate Institutions Program'' (RIN1840-AD45) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 15, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5460. A communication from the Secretary of Education, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the notice of the rescission of outdated guidance documents; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5461. A communication from the Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's fiscal year 2019 Actuarial Evaluation of the Expected Operations and Status of the PBGC Funds; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5462. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Paying Benefits'' (29 CFR Part 4022) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5463. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safety Zone; I-5 Bridge Construction Project, Columbia River, Vancouver, Washington'' ((RIN1625-AA00) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0247)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5464. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Special Local Regulation; North Atlantic Ocean, Ocean City, Maryland'' ((RIN1625-AA08) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0361)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5465. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Special Local Regulation; Potomac River, Between Jones Point, Virginia, and National Harbor, Maryland'' ((RIN1625-AA08) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0245)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5466. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safety Zone; Dolan Fireworks, Lake Erie, Bratenahl, Ohio'' (Docket No. USCG-2020-0532) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5467. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Person in Charge of Fuel Transfers'' ((RIN1625-AC50) (Docket No. USCG- 2018-0493)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5468. A communication from the Associate Administrator for Policy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Passenger Carrier No-Defect Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports'' (RIN2126-AC29) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5469. A communication from the Deputy Chief, Office of Economics and Analytics, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Auction of Flexible - Use Service Licenses in the 3.7-3.8 GHz Band for Next-Generation Wireless Services; Notice and Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 107; Bidding in Auction 107 Scheduled to Begin December 8, 2020'' (FCC 20-110) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5470. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Special Local Regulation; Cumberland River, Hendersonville, Tennessee'' ((RIN1625-AA08) (Docket No. USCG-2020-0518)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5471. A communication from the Program Analyst, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``In the Matter of Update to Parts 2 and 25 Concerning Non- Geostationary, Fixed-Satellite Service Systems and Related Matters'' ((FCC 20-119) (IB Docket No. 16-408)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-5472. A communication from the Associate General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of Deputy Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5473. A communication from the Associate General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5474. A communication from the Director, Office of Acquisition Policy, General Services Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Federal Acquisition Regulation: FAR Case 2019-009, Prohibition on Contracting with Entities Using Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment'' (RIN9000-AN92) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 10, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5475. A communication from the Acting Director, Office of Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Program: Clarifying Annual Rates of Pay and Amending the Employment Status of Judges of the United States Court of Appeals of Veterans Claims'' (RIN3206-AN52) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5476. A communication from the Acting Director, Office of Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Employment in the Excepted Service'' (RIN3206-AN30) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-5477. A communication from the Associate General Counsel, Office of Management and Budget, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of Director, Office of Management and Budget, received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 11, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5648-6 | null | 1,310 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Carper, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Booker, Mr. King, Mr. Warner, Mr. Coons, Mr. Markey, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Reed, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. Kaine) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 700 Whereas estuary regions cover only 13 percent of the land area in the continental United States but contain nearly 43 percent of the population, 40 percent of the jobs, and nearly 50 percent of the economic output of the United States; Whereas the oceans, estuaries, and Great Lakes of the United States continue to fuel economic growth across the United States, which is evidenced by the fact that, by 2016-- (1) employment levels in economic sectors relating to oceans and estuaries had increased by 14.5 percent from employment levels in those sectors in 2007, before the Great Recession; and (2) the average employment level of the entire economy of the United States had increased by 4.8 percent from that employment level in 2007, before the Great Recession; Whereas, between 2015 and 2016, economic sectors relating to estuaries, oceans, and Great Lakes in the United States-- (1) created 85,000 new jobs; (2) employed 3,300,000 individuals; and (3) contributed $124,000,000,000 to the gross domestic product; Whereas, by 2018, the ocean economy supported 2,300,000 jobs in the United States, and the compensation paid to employees in such sector was $161,900,000,000; Whereas the commercial and recreational fishing industries support more than 1,740,000 jobs in the United States; Whereas, in 2017-- (1) commercial and recreational saltwater fishing in the United States generated more than $244,000,000,000 in sales and contributed $110,700,000,000 to the gross domestic product of the United States; (2) angler trip expenditures totaled nearly $10,500,000,000; and (3) saltwater recreational fishing supported 487,000 jobs, generated $73,800,000,000 in sales across the United States, and contributed $41,500,000,000 to the gross domestic product of the United States; Whereas estuaries provide vital habitats for-- (1) countless species of fish and wildlife, including more than 68 percent of the commercial fish catch in the United States by value and 80 percent of the recreational fish catch in the United States by weight; and (2) many species that are listed as threatened or endangered species; Whereas estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that protect human health and public safety, including water filtration, flood control, shoreline stabilization, erosion prevention, and the protection of coastal communities during hurricanes, storms, and other extreme weather events; Whereas, by the 1980s, the United States had already lost more than 50 percent of the wetlands that existed in the original 13 colonies; Whereas some bays in the United States that were once filled with fish and oysters have become dead zones filled with excess nutrients, chemical waste, and marine debris; Whereas harmful algal blooms are hurting fish, wildlife, and human health and are causing serious ecological and economic harm to some estuaries; Whereas changes in sea levels can affect estuarine water quality and estuarine habitats; Whereas section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330) (commonly known as the ``Clean Water Act'') authorizes the development of comprehensive conservation and management plans to ensure that the designated uses of estuaries are protected and to restore and maintain-- (1) the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of estuaries; (2) water quality; (3) a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife; and (4) recreational activities in estuaries; Whereas the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) provides that the policy of the United States is to preserve, protect, develop, and, if possible, restore or enhance the resources of the coastal zone of the United States, including estuaries, for current and future generations; Whereas 29 coastal and Great Lakes States and territories of the United States operate or contain a National Estuary Program or a National Estuarine Research Reserve; Whereas scientific study leads to a better understanding of the benefits of estuaries to human and ecological communities; Whereas the Federal Government, State, local, and Tribal governments, national and community organizations, and individuals work together to effectively manage the estuaries of the United States; Whereas estuary restoration efforts restore natural infrastructure in local communities in a cost-effective manner, helping to create jobs and reestablish the natural functions of estuaries that yield countless benefits; and Whereas the week of September 19 through September 26, 2020, is recognized as ``National Estuaries Week'' to increase awareness among all people of the United States, including Federal Government and State, local, and Tribal government officials, about the importance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect and restore estuaries: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates the week of September 19 through September 26, 2020, as ``National Estuaries Week''; (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Week; (3) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to sustaining employment in the United States and the economic well-being and prosperity of the United States; (4) recognizes that persistent threats undermine the health of estuaries; (5) applauds the work of national and community organizations and public partners that promote public awareness, understanding, protection, and restoration of estuaries; (6) supports the scientific study, preservation, protection, and restoration of estuaries; and (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to continue working to understand, protect, and restore the estuaries of the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5655-2 | null | 1,311 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 699 Whereas the events that led to the signing of the Constitution of the United States by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, have significance for every citizen of the United States and are honored in public schools across the United States on Constitution Day, which is September 17 of each year; Whereas the rule of law, the social compact, democracy, liberty, equality, and unalienable human rights are the essential values upon which the United States flourishes; Whereas diversity is one of the greatest strengths of the United States, and the motto inscribed on the Great Seal of the United States, ``E pluribus unum'', Latin for ``out of many, one'', symbolizes that individuals in the United States from all walks of life are unified by shared values; Whereas exceptional, visionary, and indispensable individuals such as Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, John Adams, John Marshall, George Washington, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison founded or advanced the United States; Whereas the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions signed in Seneca Falls, New York, the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the ``I Have a Dream'' speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr., express sentiments that have advanced liberty in the United States; and Whereas the Bennington flag (commonly known as the ``'76 flag''), the Betsy Ross flag, the current flag of the United States, the flag of the women's suffrage movement, the Union flag (commonly known as the ``Fort Sumter flag''), the Gadsden flag, and the flags of the States are physical symbols of the history of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the designation of the week of September 11 through September 17 as ``Patriot Week''; (2) recognizes that understanding the history of the United States and the first principles of the United States is indispensable to the survival of the United States as a free people; (3) acknowledges, in great reverence to the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks, that citizens of the United States should take time to honor the first principles, founders, documents, and symbols of their history; (4) recognizes that each generation should renew the spirit of the United States based on the first principles, historical figures, founding documents, and symbols of the United States; and (5) encourages citizens, schools and other educational institutions, and Federal, State, and local governments and their agencies to recognize and participate in Patriot Week by honoring, celebrating, and promoting the study of the history of the United States so that all people of the United States may offer the reverence that is due to the free republic. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5655 | null | 1,312 |
formal | public school | null | racist | Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 699 Whereas the events that led to the signing of the Constitution of the United States by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, have significance for every citizen of the United States and are honored in public schools across the United States on Constitution Day, which is September 17 of each year; Whereas the rule of law, the social compact, democracy, liberty, equality, and unalienable human rights are the essential values upon which the United States flourishes; Whereas diversity is one of the greatest strengths of the United States, and the motto inscribed on the Great Seal of the United States, ``E pluribus unum'', Latin for ``out of many, one'', symbolizes that individuals in the United States from all walks of life are unified by shared values; Whereas exceptional, visionary, and indispensable individuals such as Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, John Adams, John Marshall, George Washington, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison founded or advanced the United States; Whereas the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions signed in Seneca Falls, New York, the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the ``I Have a Dream'' speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr., express sentiments that have advanced liberty in the United States; and Whereas the Bennington flag (commonly known as the ``'76 flag''), the Betsy Ross flag, the current flag of the United States, the flag of the women's suffrage movement, the Union flag (commonly known as the ``Fort Sumter flag''), the Gadsden flag, and the flags of the States are physical symbols of the history of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the designation of the week of September 11 through September 17 as ``Patriot Week''; (2) recognizes that understanding the history of the United States and the first principles of the United States is indispensable to the survival of the United States as a free people; (3) acknowledges, in great reverence to the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks, that citizens of the United States should take time to honor the first principles, founders, documents, and symbols of their history; (4) recognizes that each generation should renew the spirit of the United States based on the first principles, historical figures, founding documents, and symbols of the United States; and (5) encourages citizens, schools and other educational institutions, and Federal, State, and local governments and their agencies to recognize and participate in Patriot Week by honoring, celebrating, and promoting the study of the history of the United States so that all people of the United States may offer the reverence that is due to the free republic. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5655 | null | 1,313 |
formal | public schools | null | racist | Mr. PETERS (for himself and Mr. Kennedy) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 699 Whereas the events that led to the signing of the Constitution of the United States by the delegates to the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787, have significance for every citizen of the United States and are honored in public schools across the United States on Constitution Day, which is September 17 of each year; Whereas the rule of law, the social compact, democracy, liberty, equality, and unalienable human rights are the essential values upon which the United States flourishes; Whereas diversity is one of the greatest strengths of the United States, and the motto inscribed on the Great Seal of the United States, ``E pluribus unum'', Latin for ``out of many, one'', symbolizes that individuals in the United States from all walks of life are unified by shared values; Whereas exceptional, visionary, and indispensable individuals such as Thomas Paine, Patrick Henry, John Adams, John Marshall, George Washington, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Martin Luther King, Jr., Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison founded or advanced the United States; Whereas the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, the Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions signed in Seneca Falls, New York, the Gettysburg Address, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the ``I Have a Dream'' speech delivered by Martin Luther King, Jr., express sentiments that have advanced liberty in the United States; and Whereas the Bennington flag (commonly known as the ``'76 flag''), the Betsy Ross flag, the current flag of the United States, the flag of the women's suffrage movement, the Union flag (commonly known as the ``Fort Sumter flag''), the Gadsden flag, and the flags of the States are physical symbols of the history of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the designation of the week of September 11 through September 17 as ``Patriot Week''; (2) recognizes that understanding the history of the United States and the first principles of the United States is indispensable to the survival of the United States as a free people; (3) acknowledges, in great reverence to the victims of the September 11, 2001, attacks, that citizens of the United States should take time to honor the first principles, founders, documents, and symbols of their history; (4) recognizes that each generation should renew the spirit of the United States based on the first principles, historical figures, founding documents, and symbols of the United States; and (5) encourages citizens, schools and other educational institutions, and Federal, State, and local governments and their agencies to recognize and participate in Patriot Week by honoring, celebrating, and promoting the study of the history of the United States so that all people of the United States may offer the reverence that is due to the free republic. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5655 | null | 1,314 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, the West is on fire. At this very moment, historic wildfires are raging across our Western States. Communities have been devastated. Homes have been destroyed. Businesses have been turned to rubble. In the wake of these disasters, many families have been left with absolutely nothing. Nevadans are no strangers to seeing wildfires wreak havoc in our State. Just this year, Nevada has seen over 650 fires. Yet what is happening now is something different. These are some of the largest fires the West has ever seen. Already, in 2020, over 4.7 million acres of land have been burned acrossour Nation, and we have already seen billions of dollars in economic losses and damage. Despite what you might hear from our President, these disasters are not blue State issues. That kind of partisan sentiment is just unconscionable. We must take a nonpartisan approach to saving lives and protecting property from fires that know no partisan affiliation. It doesn't matter that these fires are in the State of California or in the State of Oregon or in the State of Washington or in the State of Idaho. These disasters are happening in our United States. These fires are impacting our communities, and in this time of crisis, we have a responsibility to really help one another--to help our communities and to help our friends and our neighbors. People have died in these disasters, and some people are still missing. Over 30,000 courageous men and women are risking their lives to fight these fires and to save those families and save those properties. I am really proud to say that Nevada's firefighters have been deployed to assist in combating many of these disasters. I am so proud of them. As a result of these fires, the air quality in some of our communities is so poor and so unhealthy that it is exceeding 20-year records. This toxic haze has already impacted air quality in my own State of Nevada, and it is not just in Western States. This harmful smoke is spreading. It has been measured as far away as the east coast--in places like New York City and right here in Washington, DC. These fires put our collective health--all of ours--in jeopardy, especially now, during the pandemic. As I have said before, these fires impact every single one of us. Do you know why? It is because this is an environmental issue; this is an economic issue; this is a public health issue; and it is absolutely a climate issue. The science speaks for itself. Climate change and increased temperatures directly correlate to the growing intensity of these wildfires, and the longer we fail to address climate change, the more costly and more dangerous and deadly the impact is going to be for our friends, our neighbors, our States, and our communities. September is wildfire preparedness month, and make no mistake: We need to get a handle on these disasters. We need to provide resources to our local communities, to our firefighters, and to our land management agencies immediately. This is why I cosponsored my colleague Senator Harris' Wildfire Defense Act, which is legislation that would provide FEMA resources so that our local communities can develop wildfire defense plans and allow all of us to respond more effectively. We also need to address climate change, and we need to be proactive and practical, which is why, earlier this year, I cosponsored Senator Carper's climate change resolution. This resolution recognizes that climate change is real, that human activity is the primary cause, and that Congress must take immediate action to address one of the most pressing issues of our time. We need to act. Lives are on the line, and we need to act now. Nevada, the West, and Americans across the country are counting on all of us. So we need to get to work. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. ROSEN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5676-4 | null | 1,315 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Ms. ROSEN. Mr. President, the West is on fire. At this very moment, historic wildfires are raging across our Western States. Communities have been devastated. Homes have been destroyed. Businesses have been turned to rubble. In the wake of these disasters, many families have been left with absolutely nothing. Nevadans are no strangers to seeing wildfires wreak havoc in our State. Just this year, Nevada has seen over 650 fires. Yet what is happening now is something different. These are some of the largest fires the West has ever seen. Already, in 2020, over 4.7 million acres of land have been burned acrossour Nation, and we have already seen billions of dollars in economic losses and damage. Despite what you might hear from our President, these disasters are not blue State issues. That kind of partisan sentiment is just unconscionable. We must take a nonpartisan approach to saving lives and protecting property from fires that know no partisan affiliation. It doesn't matter that these fires are in the State of California or in the State of Oregon or in the State of Washington or in the State of Idaho. These disasters are happening in our United States. These fires are impacting our communities, and in this time of crisis, we have a responsibility to really help one another--to help our communities and to help our friends and our neighbors. People have died in these disasters, and some people are still missing. Over 30,000 courageous men and women are risking their lives to fight these fires and to save those families and save those properties. I am really proud to say that Nevada's firefighters have been deployed to assist in combating many of these disasters. I am so proud of them. As a result of these fires, the air quality in some of our communities is so poor and so unhealthy that it is exceeding 20-year records. This toxic haze has already impacted air quality in my own State of Nevada, and it is not just in Western States. This harmful smoke is spreading. It has been measured as far away as the east coast--in places like New York City and right here in Washington, DC. These fires put our collective health--all of ours--in jeopardy, especially now, during the pandemic. As I have said before, these fires impact every single one of us. Do you know why? It is because this is an environmental issue; this is an economic issue; this is a public health issue; and it is absolutely a climate issue. The science speaks for itself. Climate change and increased temperatures directly correlate to the growing intensity of these wildfires, and the longer we fail to address climate change, the more costly and more dangerous and deadly the impact is going to be for our friends, our neighbors, our States, and our communities. September is wildfire preparedness month, and make no mistake: We need to get a handle on these disasters. We need to provide resources to our local communities, to our firefighters, and to our land management agencies immediately. This is why I cosponsored my colleague Senator Harris' Wildfire Defense Act, which is legislation that would provide FEMA resources so that our local communities can develop wildfire defense plans and allow all of us to respond more effectively. We also need to address climate change, and we need to be proactive and practical, which is why, earlier this year, I cosponsored Senator Carper's climate change resolution. This resolution recognizes that climate change is real, that human activity is the primary cause, and that Congress must take immediate action to address one of the most pressing issues of our time. We need to act. Lives are on the line, and we need to act now. Nevada, the West, and Americans across the country are counting on all of us. So we need to get to work. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. ROSEN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5676-4 | null | 1,316 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, apocalypse, fire, fueled by wind coming over the top of the Cascade Mountains, turning into a blowtorch that races down the western slopes of those mountains, incinerating the towns in its path--that is what is happening in my home State of Oregon. Imagine suddenly waking up at 4:30 in the morning to a house filled with smoke. You realize you have to clear the area before the situation gets a lot worse. You and your partner race to pack up some essentials, load them and your pets into the car in your garage, and then you can't get the garage door open because there is no power. The power lines have been taken down by the winds and by the power poles being burned and falling over. So you open the garage door by hand, and just as you are about to lift it, you look out a little window, and you see an inferno engulfing your neighbor's home. So you make a desperate dash in the other direction and out the backdoor--the fire at your heels. You race toward the river at the bottom of the hill, hoping--praying--there will be some kind of safety. It is a terrifying scenario, but it is not out of some movie. For Larry Tripoli and Fran Howe, of Gates, OR, it was a reality just a few nights ago when the Beachie Creek fire roared through Santiam Canyon, incinerating homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods. They got to the river, and they waded knee deep in the water as the trees burned around them on both banks. Fran recalled: ``I thought we were going to die.'' Fortunately, help arrived late that night, just before 12 midnight. The firefighters and emergency workers risked their lives and safety to come and rescue those who were fleeing the fire. Many folks worked to help their neighbors get noticed even as the fire was descending on the town. At this moment, all across Oregon, people are facing similarly terrifying experiences as historic wildfires have burned more than a million acres--more than twice those burned in a normal year. They burned in a small period of time--most of them over this past week. There are 10 citizens who have lost their lives, and dozens are missing. We are afraid there will be more bad news to come. It is hard to imagine. I mean, I have seen the results of a fire near John Day that came down a valley, and there were widely spaced homes in the forest on both sides of the river, and I have seen that those homes were burned. But I have never seen anything like this--neighborhood after neighborhood, the commercial district, the apartment complexes, the mobile home housing parks, completely scorched--every building you can see. When I toured this last Friday, the only thing I could compare it to were pictures I had seen of Hiroshima after the bomb; cities in Europe that had been firebombed, like Dresden--massive devastation, incinerating everything. This is what has just happened in my home State. In one town of Phoenix, OR--this is a picture from Phoenix. The mayor estimated that perhaps 1,000 residences had been burned between the mobile homes, the manufactured homes, the apartment complexes, and the standalone houses--several thousand people with nothing to return to. You know, I met with folks last Friday and Saturday as Senator Wyden and I started in the north part of the State and went all the way down south. I traveled 600 miles by car. I was driving. I never got out of the smoke. I remember fires where we passed 20 miles through the smoke, 30 miles through the smoke. I drove over 600 miles. I was never out of that smoke. Parts of the State glowed like the aftereffects of a bomb. This is our State capital with that orange, fire-infused sky behind it in Salem, OR, the result of the Santiam fire that comes down toward the city of Salem. That smoke doesn't just hover and stay in one place. As the wind starts to blow, it spreads across the country. So here we are. This is the September 15 fire chart. These purple areas--an index of over 500 parts per million--incredibly unhealthy to breathe, and you can see the State of Oregon covered, on through Idaho and Montana, right on across the country--California. Everyone is dealing with the smoke. I just got off a Zoom call just a little while ago, and the first three people who spoke were talking about how uncomfortable they were because of their asthma or breathing conditions affected by the smoke. The air quality in Portland has ranked as the worst among the world's major cities for the last 5 days in a row, and in smaller towns across the State, it has been far worse. People saw all kinds of dramatic, powerful scenes of the approaching fires, the approaching bank of clouds. It was a week ago Monday that I decided to drive up to the Columbia Gorge. I didn't get 20 miles from my house, and I saw this wall of smoke. So I got off the freeway and took the old scenic highway up to Crown Point--a lookout point high in the cliffs where you can see way to the east and way tothe west--just to see that. What is going on with this massive cloud? You could see how dramatic the approaching smoke cloud was from these fires. As we think about these devastating fires, we have to think about them in terms of the individuals who have been so dramatically affected. Some have been injured by the fires; some have been killed by the fires. So as Senator Wyden and I proceeded from the northern border to the southern border to visit fire refugees in different centers that have been set up and to visit some coordinated care briefings and then to visit two towns--Phoenix and Talent--that had been incinerated, the most powerful moment was sitting down at a table with individuals along the way. I took away this collective impression: individuals who had escaped and were just thinking, my goodness, how fortunate I am that I got out with my life; individuals who had escaped, but they didn't know the fate of their family members who may not have escaped. One father lost the grandmother in the family and his son, who died in a car with the family dog in the son's lap, and as he was going to search for his wife, he met a woman on the road. He said, ``I am searching for my wife,'' and she responded, ``I am your wife.'' Because she was so affected by the smoke and burned by the fire, he didn't recognize her. I met folks who realized that they had escaped but also recognized that every single thing--a lifetime of records, photos, film, financial records, family heirlooms--all of it, everything, gone. So the issues become even more complicated. Think about the children who were just starting school when these Labor Day fires descended. They lost their laptops; they lost their tablets after being coached on how to attend school electronically. The family has lost, perhaps, their funds, and now they are driving 40, 60 miles to family or to a friend's house. How do they sign up for school? How do they deal with the stress that is on them from what has happened and the remaining stress of the impact on the family and those they are still searching for? And food--road closures stop the movement of food from getting to them, getting to stores and restaurants and communities. There are food shortages because they can't be resupplied. Whether it is Breitenbush Hot Springs, one of our State's most beloved resorts, losing half of its buildings or Simple Machine Winery in Talent burning to the ground--this is an adjacent city, Phoenix and Talent. One woman told me: I not only lost everything, I lost my job because the business I work at has burned to the ground as well. This is on top of the pandemic, and this is on top of the economic implosion. Many of the residences that burned were those that served lower income citizens--the mobile home parks, the manufactured housing parks where the houses are closer together and the fireproofing of the walls is less than required in stick-built houses. Apartment complexes--I saw this whole field where you could see steel girders going up two stories and crossbeams at the top of the steel and then steel stairs and nothing else. They were almost like a sculpture standing in the middle of the field, and there was one after another, after another in the heart of these apartment complexes. The apartments were completely gone. I also heard on this trip such appreciation for our local leaders and our first responders--the firefighters, the EMTs, the National Guard unit doing an incredible job of helping to rescue them, an incredible job of doing point defense or a lot more residences would have burned. They were risking their lives trying to get people out before that blowtorch of a fire descended on a town. They were building fire lines and clearing dead brush and trees from around houses, dropping water. I saw orange splotches as I toured these two towns from when the retardant had been dropped. But then, as the smoke compiled, the planes couldn't fly--not to drop water, not to drop fire retardant These families are going to need everything we can possibly do to help them out. They are devastated and rebuilding their lives. Getting their feet on the ground is going to be really hard. Friends will help, and family will help, and local government will help. But we, too, at the Federal level need to be there to help and make sure these FEMA programs are expeditiously conducted to assist the individuals with the individual assistance and then to assist the communities with the rebuilding--rebuilding of these towns. Local revenues? Those are gone. Property taxes? Those are gone. Revenues from the local businesses, the fees they pay? Those are gone. We are going to have to provide a lot of support. I applaud the White House for quickly approving Governor Brown's request for an emergency declaration. Our whole legislative delegation was calling and requesting and saying: Pay attention to this; we need it quickly. And we got it. We got it quickly. That emergency declaration is really about food and shelter assistance. Then we said that we really need the major disaster declaration, and we got that within about a day of its being submitted--again, prompt action by the White House. Then we applied for a health emergency declaration, and we got that this morning--again, expeditiously. Those are doors where you have to unlock the door to the resources, and those declarations are the keys that open that door. But now we need the supplies to come through that door to really start this long process of support for individuals and for our communities. One of the things we encountered was the valuable help of our Oregon State National Guard. Three years ago I worked to start funding a training program for the National Guard so they could help fight these fires, and our Oregon portion of this was the training of 375 National Guard members put into three 125-member teams. It was great that they were trained and ready to go, but we ran into a problem, and that problem was we didn't have enough crew chiefs. The crew chiefs come from outside to conduct the team's work, and you need five or six crew chiefs for every team, for every group of 125. The crew chiefs are all tied up all around the country. Then the Governor said: We need not only those 375; we need two more teams--another 250. The initial response was, no, the funds aren't available. But I checked and found out there were funds left, and they were approved quite quickly--again, a thank-you to the executive branch for approving them at that point. We still needed crew chiefs, and I just got word a short period ago that there are chew chiefs now en route to Oregon. We have found some from around the country to go and enable those Oregon National Guard members to be able to be deployed. So that is another step forward. We can't stop there. We have to look beyond the immediate crisis. We have to help the families rebuild the homes. We have to help the local businesses recover, rebuild. We have to think about not just the fire damage but the smoke damage. I have introduced the Smoke-Ready Communities Act that would enable communities to prepare safe zones where you have filtered air in key buildings so those who have lung conditions and are affected by the smoke have somewhere safe to get to, to be able to breathe. I think it is a pretty logical thing for us to do and a small-dollar investment in partnership with communities to create some highly filtered space of air for people with lung challenges. I have written the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act because in the past we thought only of the direct fire impact, but now we are seeing all this smoke that is having such a major impact. In the last major smoke episode, we saw our outdoor activities like the Shakespeare Festival close down. We saw furniture salesmen who couldn't sell the furniture because of smoke damage. We had a massive impact on our wine industry with smoke-tainted grapes. By the way, even though the buyers of those grapes turned them down, it turned out they were pretty good grapes, and the community came together and created an Oregon wine, a unity wine, and it was great wine and people loved it. So those grapes found a home and found a product. They came together to solve a problem. We had trouble with our hazelnuts with the smoke. So a declaration act and the Smoke-Ready Communities Act but also action to help field workers. Think about the field workers--the agriculture workers working right now harvesting, and they are in that smoke--500 parts per million small particles damaging their lungs. We need to be set up to help the agricultural community. They are truly frontline workers whose health shouldn't be compromised in that manner. And we need to make our forests more resistant to fires. Now, I know President Trump has said that is the whole key, and why can't Oregon and California get their act together. Well, let me point out that the majority of the forest we are talking about, those are Federal forests. It is Federal forest. It is Federal management that is so missing. What I proposed in the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act is that we spend $1 billion. It should be $1 billion dollars a year thinning these overgrown second-growth forests. What do you get out of that? You get jobs; you get saw logs for our mills, and you get a forest that is much more resistant to fire. It isn't just the thinning. Then it is what they call the mowing to reduce the shrubs that have built up, and then it is the prescribed burn that goes back 2 or 3 years later. This is to avoid the pattern of the fire in the past we had which was to burn the shrubbery on the floor which grows back quickly and prevents that over-dense forest. So we should do that. We should pass the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act, put the funding in, and create permanent authorization for our collaboratives. What is a collaborative? To those outside the forest world, that probably isn't a familiar term. It is where you bring the environmental community and the timber community together, and they develop what they call a prescription for thinning the forest and mowing it and doing a prescribed burn. By working together and having a plan, they stay out of the courts because court paralysis has been a major obstacle. So let's take that collaborative model. Let's build on the success of the collaborative and stewardship agreements, which are very similar, but it takes resources and here has been the challenge. Every time we seek the resources to do more on the front end to make the forest more fire-resilient, it is blocked by individuals who say: Hey, let's go back to the 1950s clearcuts. My friends, that doesn't work. When you clearcut and replant, you now create a new forest where the trees are too close together and they are all the same height and they are absolutely primed once again for fire. The thinning, the prescribed burns, the mowing, this has a big impact. I went to a forest outside of Sisters, OR, where these measures have been used, and there was a fire that had been bearing down on Sisters, OR. And when it met the section of the forest that had been thinned, it stopped because the fuel wasn't there to propagate itself forward, and because of the thinning, the fire crews could get through the forest to the frontline of the fire. So it worked very effectively that way. Now there are situations of high winds when the forest fire becomes a blow torch. Nothing is going to stop it. But often fires move at a modest pace, and that is where the thinning and mowing and prescribed burns can make a real difference. So I am hoping we can have partnership in that approach. Some have said: Well, isn't it the environmental laws that prevent us from undertaking this effort? And the answer is no. We have 2.3 million acres in Oregon that have gone through the environmental process. We could do the thinning, mowing, prescribed burns tomorrow if we had the funds to do it So jobs, fire resilience, better timber stands, better ecosystem, saw logs to the mill. That is all the win, win, win, win products of this approach. Colleagues, I know many of you have come to me and said: What can we do? Well, there are really two things. Help us do forest management in the collaborative style, in the stewardship style--in the thinning, prescribed burn, mowing style. Help us do that, and also let's recognize that this situation in Oregon and California and many, many other States isn't simply a freak occurrence of the winds. It is a situation where the forest is drier than it has ever been before. Drier than a kiln-dried 2 by 4. If you have gone to the hardware store to get kiln-dried 2 by 4s, they have been baked to have all the moisture baked out of them. There is less moisture in the forest during these periods of drought and heat then there is in that kiln-dried 2 by 4. They are ready to burn at a second's notice. So this is the result of the changing dynamic of climate. The forest season has gotten much longer. It is no longer a June through August affair; it is a March through October affair. In California, it is a year-round calendar affair now. If you track this decade over decade, each one is worse. There is a longer fire season with more intensive fires and more acres burned. So that is a more difficult project. Our Earth is wrapped by the commons of our air, and that air holds now a lot more carbon dioxide and a lot more methane and traps a lot more heat, and it is affecting everything. In Oregon, it isn't just the fires. It is also our snowpack. Our snowpack, decade after decade, is smaller and smaller. Why? Because it is warmer and warmer. How does that affect things? Well, do you like to fish? If you like to fish, you know that a warmer, smaller stream is bad for the salmon returning; it is bad for the trout. And if you are a farmer, you know that smaller snowpack means less irrigation water and less water to recharge the groundwater that you use when you don't have enough irrigation water, when you have to pump it out of the ground. So we have big impacts not just with the timber community with the forest burning but also on our ag community and our fishing community. The three pillars of our rural economy are all being substantially affected. Offshore, it is a warmer Pacific Ocean, and it is a more acidic Pacific Ocean--30 percent more acidic than before we started burning fossil fuels. And people say: What is the connection? Well, those waves take the carbon dioxide in the air and convert it to carbonic acid. There is a 30-percent increase in acidity that is affecting our shellfish reproduction. Worry about that--that shellfish are having a hard time reproducing. So this isn't an urban issue versus a rural issue. This is not a red issue versus a blue issue. This is the economy, the pillars of America, in farming, fishing, and forests being profoundly affected. So let's work together to take this on. Yes, improve our forest management. We have altered the forests dramatically with our replantings that grow up at the same height and are too close together, but we can make those same second-growth forests far more resilient, jobs, and saw logs at the same time. Let's work together to improve the health of the forest, especially around our urban areas, our small towns. To my colleagues who say this is a moment when we are seeing not just the fires, we are seeing other impacts around the Nation; we are seeing the intense storms in the Midwest; and we are seeing the tropical storms and hurricanes hitting the gulf and never-before-seen storm surges on the East Coast--so we are all in this together. Let's work together to assist the families so powerfully affected. Let's work together to rebuild the communities. Let's work together to fund forest management in a way it has to be funded as a counterpart to the strategy of forest replanting that we have undertaken. Let's work together to take on the warming planet because it affects everything and not just in Oregon and not just in the United States but across our planet. It is our responsibility. Let's get it done. Thank you. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MERKLEY | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5677 | null | 1,317 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, apocalypse, fire, fueled by wind coming over the top of the Cascade Mountains, turning into a blowtorch that races down the western slopes of those mountains, incinerating the towns in its path--that is what is happening in my home State of Oregon. Imagine suddenly waking up at 4:30 in the morning to a house filled with smoke. You realize you have to clear the area before the situation gets a lot worse. You and your partner race to pack up some essentials, load them and your pets into the car in your garage, and then you can't get the garage door open because there is no power. The power lines have been taken down by the winds and by the power poles being burned and falling over. So you open the garage door by hand, and just as you are about to lift it, you look out a little window, and you see an inferno engulfing your neighbor's home. So you make a desperate dash in the other direction and out the backdoor--the fire at your heels. You race toward the river at the bottom of the hill, hoping--praying--there will be some kind of safety. It is a terrifying scenario, but it is not out of some movie. For Larry Tripoli and Fran Howe, of Gates, OR, it was a reality just a few nights ago when the Beachie Creek fire roared through Santiam Canyon, incinerating homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods. They got to the river, and they waded knee deep in the water as the trees burned around them on both banks. Fran recalled: ``I thought we were going to die.'' Fortunately, help arrived late that night, just before 12 midnight. The firefighters and emergency workers risked their lives and safety to come and rescue those who were fleeing the fire. Many folks worked to help their neighbors get noticed even as the fire was descending on the town. At this moment, all across Oregon, people are facing similarly terrifying experiences as historic wildfires have burned more than a million acres--more than twice those burned in a normal year. They burned in a small period of time--most of them over this past week. There are 10 citizens who have lost their lives, and dozens are missing. We are afraid there will be more bad news to come. It is hard to imagine. I mean, I have seen the results of a fire near John Day that came down a valley, and there were widely spaced homes in the forest on both sides of the river, and I have seen that those homes were burned. But I have never seen anything like this--neighborhood after neighborhood, the commercial district, the apartment complexes, the mobile home housing parks, completely scorched--every building you can see. When I toured this last Friday, the only thing I could compare it to were pictures I had seen of Hiroshima after the bomb; cities in Europe that had been firebombed, like Dresden--massive devastation, incinerating everything. This is what has just happened in my home State. In one town of Phoenix, OR--this is a picture from Phoenix. The mayor estimated that perhaps 1,000 residences had been burned between the mobile homes, the manufactured homes, the apartment complexes, and the standalone houses--several thousand people with nothing to return to. You know, I met with folks last Friday and Saturday as Senator Wyden and I started in the north part of the State and went all the way down south. I traveled 600 miles by car. I was driving. I never got out of the smoke. I remember fires where we passed 20 miles through the smoke, 30 miles through the smoke. I drove over 600 miles. I was never out of that smoke. Parts of the State glowed like the aftereffects of a bomb. This is our State capital with that orange, fire-infused sky behind it in Salem, OR, the result of the Santiam fire that comes down toward the city of Salem. That smoke doesn't just hover and stay in one place. As the wind starts to blow, it spreads across the country. So here we are. This is the September 15 fire chart. These purple areas--an index of over 500 parts per million--incredibly unhealthy to breathe, and you can see the State of Oregon covered, on through Idaho and Montana, right on across the country--California. Everyone is dealing with the smoke. I just got off a Zoom call just a little while ago, and the first three people who spoke were talking about how uncomfortable they were because of their asthma or breathing conditions affected by the smoke. The air quality in Portland has ranked as the worst among the world's major cities for the last 5 days in a row, and in smaller towns across the State, it has been far worse. People saw all kinds of dramatic, powerful scenes of the approaching fires, the approaching bank of clouds. It was a week ago Monday that I decided to drive up to the Columbia Gorge. I didn't get 20 miles from my house, and I saw this wall of smoke. So I got off the freeway and took the old scenic highway up to Crown Point--a lookout point high in the cliffs where you can see way to the east and way tothe west--just to see that. What is going on with this massive cloud? You could see how dramatic the approaching smoke cloud was from these fires. As we think about these devastating fires, we have to think about them in terms of the individuals who have been so dramatically affected. Some have been injured by the fires; some have been killed by the fires. So as Senator Wyden and I proceeded from the northern border to the southern border to visit fire refugees in different centers that have been set up and to visit some coordinated care briefings and then to visit two towns--Phoenix and Talent--that had been incinerated, the most powerful moment was sitting down at a table with individuals along the way. I took away this collective impression: individuals who had escaped and were just thinking, my goodness, how fortunate I am that I got out with my life; individuals who had escaped, but they didn't know the fate of their family members who may not have escaped. One father lost the grandmother in the family and his son, who died in a car with the family dog in the son's lap, and as he was going to search for his wife, he met a woman on the road. He said, ``I am searching for my wife,'' and she responded, ``I am your wife.'' Because she was so affected by the smoke and burned by the fire, he didn't recognize her. I met folks who realized that they had escaped but also recognized that every single thing--a lifetime of records, photos, film, financial records, family heirlooms--all of it, everything, gone. So the issues become even more complicated. Think about the children who were just starting school when these Labor Day fires descended. They lost their laptops; they lost their tablets after being coached on how to attend school electronically. The family has lost, perhaps, their funds, and now they are driving 40, 60 miles to family or to a friend's house. How do they sign up for school? How do they deal with the stress that is on them from what has happened and the remaining stress of the impact on the family and those they are still searching for? And food--road closures stop the movement of food from getting to them, getting to stores and restaurants and communities. There are food shortages because they can't be resupplied. Whether it is Breitenbush Hot Springs, one of our State's most beloved resorts, losing half of its buildings or Simple Machine Winery in Talent burning to the ground--this is an adjacent city, Phoenix and Talent. One woman told me: I not only lost everything, I lost my job because the business I work at has burned to the ground as well. This is on top of the pandemic, and this is on top of the economic implosion. Many of the residences that burned were those that served lower income citizens--the mobile home parks, the manufactured housing parks where the houses are closer together and the fireproofing of the walls is less than required in stick-built houses. Apartment complexes--I saw this whole field where you could see steel girders going up two stories and crossbeams at the top of the steel and then steel stairs and nothing else. They were almost like a sculpture standing in the middle of the field, and there was one after another, after another in the heart of these apartment complexes. The apartments were completely gone. I also heard on this trip such appreciation for our local leaders and our first responders--the firefighters, the EMTs, the National Guard unit doing an incredible job of helping to rescue them, an incredible job of doing point defense or a lot more residences would have burned. They were risking their lives trying to get people out before that blowtorch of a fire descended on a town. They were building fire lines and clearing dead brush and trees from around houses, dropping water. I saw orange splotches as I toured these two towns from when the retardant had been dropped. But then, as the smoke compiled, the planes couldn't fly--not to drop water, not to drop fire retardant These families are going to need everything we can possibly do to help them out. They are devastated and rebuilding their lives. Getting their feet on the ground is going to be really hard. Friends will help, and family will help, and local government will help. But we, too, at the Federal level need to be there to help and make sure these FEMA programs are expeditiously conducted to assist the individuals with the individual assistance and then to assist the communities with the rebuilding--rebuilding of these towns. Local revenues? Those are gone. Property taxes? Those are gone. Revenues from the local businesses, the fees they pay? Those are gone. We are going to have to provide a lot of support. I applaud the White House for quickly approving Governor Brown's request for an emergency declaration. Our whole legislative delegation was calling and requesting and saying: Pay attention to this; we need it quickly. And we got it. We got it quickly. That emergency declaration is really about food and shelter assistance. Then we said that we really need the major disaster declaration, and we got that within about a day of its being submitted--again, prompt action by the White House. Then we applied for a health emergency declaration, and we got that this morning--again, expeditiously. Those are doors where you have to unlock the door to the resources, and those declarations are the keys that open that door. But now we need the supplies to come through that door to really start this long process of support for individuals and for our communities. One of the things we encountered was the valuable help of our Oregon State National Guard. Three years ago I worked to start funding a training program for the National Guard so they could help fight these fires, and our Oregon portion of this was the training of 375 National Guard members put into three 125-member teams. It was great that they were trained and ready to go, but we ran into a problem, and that problem was we didn't have enough crew chiefs. The crew chiefs come from outside to conduct the team's work, and you need five or six crew chiefs for every team, for every group of 125. The crew chiefs are all tied up all around the country. Then the Governor said: We need not only those 375; we need two more teams--another 250. The initial response was, no, the funds aren't available. But I checked and found out there were funds left, and they were approved quite quickly--again, a thank-you to the executive branch for approving them at that point. We still needed crew chiefs, and I just got word a short period ago that there are chew chiefs now en route to Oregon. We have found some from around the country to go and enable those Oregon National Guard members to be able to be deployed. So that is another step forward. We can't stop there. We have to look beyond the immediate crisis. We have to help the families rebuild the homes. We have to help the local businesses recover, rebuild. We have to think about not just the fire damage but the smoke damage. I have introduced the Smoke-Ready Communities Act that would enable communities to prepare safe zones where you have filtered air in key buildings so those who have lung conditions and are affected by the smoke have somewhere safe to get to, to be able to breathe. I think it is a pretty logical thing for us to do and a small-dollar investment in partnership with communities to create some highly filtered space of air for people with lung challenges. I have written the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act because in the past we thought only of the direct fire impact, but now we are seeing all this smoke that is having such a major impact. In the last major smoke episode, we saw our outdoor activities like the Shakespeare Festival close down. We saw furniture salesmen who couldn't sell the furniture because of smoke damage. We had a massive impact on our wine industry with smoke-tainted grapes. By the way, even though the buyers of those grapes turned them down, it turned out they were pretty good grapes, and the community came together and created an Oregon wine, a unity wine, and it was great wine and people loved it. So those grapes found a home and found a product. They came together to solve a problem. We had trouble with our hazelnuts with the smoke. So a declaration act and the Smoke-Ready Communities Act but also action to help field workers. Think about the field workers--the agriculture workers working right now harvesting, and they are in that smoke--500 parts per million small particles damaging their lungs. We need to be set up to help the agricultural community. They are truly frontline workers whose health shouldn't be compromised in that manner. And we need to make our forests more resistant to fires. Now, I know President Trump has said that is the whole key, and why can't Oregon and California get their act together. Well, let me point out that the majority of the forest we are talking about, those are Federal forests. It is Federal forest. It is Federal management that is so missing. What I proposed in the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act is that we spend $1 billion. It should be $1 billion dollars a year thinning these overgrown second-growth forests. What do you get out of that? You get jobs; you get saw logs for our mills, and you get a forest that is much more resistant to fire. It isn't just the thinning. Then it is what they call the mowing to reduce the shrubs that have built up, and then it is the prescribed burn that goes back 2 or 3 years later. This is to avoid the pattern of the fire in the past we had which was to burn the shrubbery on the floor which grows back quickly and prevents that over-dense forest. So we should do that. We should pass the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act, put the funding in, and create permanent authorization for our collaboratives. What is a collaborative? To those outside the forest world, that probably isn't a familiar term. It is where you bring the environmental community and the timber community together, and they develop what they call a prescription for thinning the forest and mowing it and doing a prescribed burn. By working together and having a plan, they stay out of the courts because court paralysis has been a major obstacle. So let's take that collaborative model. Let's build on the success of the collaborative and stewardship agreements, which are very similar, but it takes resources and here has been the challenge. Every time we seek the resources to do more on the front end to make the forest more fire-resilient, it is blocked by individuals who say: Hey, let's go back to the 1950s clearcuts. My friends, that doesn't work. When you clearcut and replant, you now create a new forest where the trees are too close together and they are all the same height and they are absolutely primed once again for fire. The thinning, the prescribed burns, the mowing, this has a big impact. I went to a forest outside of Sisters, OR, where these measures have been used, and there was a fire that had been bearing down on Sisters, OR. And when it met the section of the forest that had been thinned, it stopped because the fuel wasn't there to propagate itself forward, and because of the thinning, the fire crews could get through the forest to the frontline of the fire. So it worked very effectively that way. Now there are situations of high winds when the forest fire becomes a blow torch. Nothing is going to stop it. But often fires move at a modest pace, and that is where the thinning and mowing and prescribed burns can make a real difference. So I am hoping we can have partnership in that approach. Some have said: Well, isn't it the environmental laws that prevent us from undertaking this effort? And the answer is no. We have 2.3 million acres in Oregon that have gone through the environmental process. We could do the thinning, mowing, prescribed burns tomorrow if we had the funds to do it So jobs, fire resilience, better timber stands, better ecosystem, saw logs to the mill. That is all the win, win, win, win products of this approach. Colleagues, I know many of you have come to me and said: What can we do? Well, there are really two things. Help us do forest management in the collaborative style, in the stewardship style--in the thinning, prescribed burn, mowing style. Help us do that, and also let's recognize that this situation in Oregon and California and many, many other States isn't simply a freak occurrence of the winds. It is a situation where the forest is drier than it has ever been before. Drier than a kiln-dried 2 by 4. If you have gone to the hardware store to get kiln-dried 2 by 4s, they have been baked to have all the moisture baked out of them. There is less moisture in the forest during these periods of drought and heat then there is in that kiln-dried 2 by 4. They are ready to burn at a second's notice. So this is the result of the changing dynamic of climate. The forest season has gotten much longer. It is no longer a June through August affair; it is a March through October affair. In California, it is a year-round calendar affair now. If you track this decade over decade, each one is worse. There is a longer fire season with more intensive fires and more acres burned. So that is a more difficult project. Our Earth is wrapped by the commons of our air, and that air holds now a lot more carbon dioxide and a lot more methane and traps a lot more heat, and it is affecting everything. In Oregon, it isn't just the fires. It is also our snowpack. Our snowpack, decade after decade, is smaller and smaller. Why? Because it is warmer and warmer. How does that affect things? Well, do you like to fish? If you like to fish, you know that a warmer, smaller stream is bad for the salmon returning; it is bad for the trout. And if you are a farmer, you know that smaller snowpack means less irrigation water and less water to recharge the groundwater that you use when you don't have enough irrigation water, when you have to pump it out of the ground. So we have big impacts not just with the timber community with the forest burning but also on our ag community and our fishing community. The three pillars of our rural economy are all being substantially affected. Offshore, it is a warmer Pacific Ocean, and it is a more acidic Pacific Ocean--30 percent more acidic than before we started burning fossil fuels. And people say: What is the connection? Well, those waves take the carbon dioxide in the air and convert it to carbonic acid. There is a 30-percent increase in acidity that is affecting our shellfish reproduction. Worry about that--that shellfish are having a hard time reproducing. So this isn't an urban issue versus a rural issue. This is not a red issue versus a blue issue. This is the economy, the pillars of America, in farming, fishing, and forests being profoundly affected. So let's work together to take this on. Yes, improve our forest management. We have altered the forests dramatically with our replantings that grow up at the same height and are too close together, but we can make those same second-growth forests far more resilient, jobs, and saw logs at the same time. Let's work together to improve the health of the forest, especially around our urban areas, our small towns. To my colleagues who say this is a moment when we are seeing not just the fires, we are seeing other impacts around the Nation; we are seeing the intense storms in the Midwest; and we are seeing the tropical storms and hurricanes hitting the gulf and never-before-seen storm surges on the East Coast--so we are all in this together. Let's work together to assist the families so powerfully affected. Let's work together to rebuild the communities. Let's work together to fund forest management in a way it has to be funded as a counterpart to the strategy of forest replanting that we have undertaken. Let's work together to take on the warming planet because it affects everything and not just in Oregon and not just in the United States but across our planet. It is our responsibility. Let's get it done. Thank you. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MERKLEY | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5677 | null | 1,318 |
formal | urban | null | racist | Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, apocalypse, fire, fueled by wind coming over the top of the Cascade Mountains, turning into a blowtorch that races down the western slopes of those mountains, incinerating the towns in its path--that is what is happening in my home State of Oregon. Imagine suddenly waking up at 4:30 in the morning to a house filled with smoke. You realize you have to clear the area before the situation gets a lot worse. You and your partner race to pack up some essentials, load them and your pets into the car in your garage, and then you can't get the garage door open because there is no power. The power lines have been taken down by the winds and by the power poles being burned and falling over. So you open the garage door by hand, and just as you are about to lift it, you look out a little window, and you see an inferno engulfing your neighbor's home. So you make a desperate dash in the other direction and out the backdoor--the fire at your heels. You race toward the river at the bottom of the hill, hoping--praying--there will be some kind of safety. It is a terrifying scenario, but it is not out of some movie. For Larry Tripoli and Fran Howe, of Gates, OR, it was a reality just a few nights ago when the Beachie Creek fire roared through Santiam Canyon, incinerating homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods. They got to the river, and they waded knee deep in the water as the trees burned around them on both banks. Fran recalled: ``I thought we were going to die.'' Fortunately, help arrived late that night, just before 12 midnight. The firefighters and emergency workers risked their lives and safety to come and rescue those who were fleeing the fire. Many folks worked to help their neighbors get noticed even as the fire was descending on the town. At this moment, all across Oregon, people are facing similarly terrifying experiences as historic wildfires have burned more than a million acres--more than twice those burned in a normal year. They burned in a small period of time--most of them over this past week. There are 10 citizens who have lost their lives, and dozens are missing. We are afraid there will be more bad news to come. It is hard to imagine. I mean, I have seen the results of a fire near John Day that came down a valley, and there were widely spaced homes in the forest on both sides of the river, and I have seen that those homes were burned. But I have never seen anything like this--neighborhood after neighborhood, the commercial district, the apartment complexes, the mobile home housing parks, completely scorched--every building you can see. When I toured this last Friday, the only thing I could compare it to were pictures I had seen of Hiroshima after the bomb; cities in Europe that had been firebombed, like Dresden--massive devastation, incinerating everything. This is what has just happened in my home State. In one town of Phoenix, OR--this is a picture from Phoenix. The mayor estimated that perhaps 1,000 residences had been burned between the mobile homes, the manufactured homes, the apartment complexes, and the standalone houses--several thousand people with nothing to return to. You know, I met with folks last Friday and Saturday as Senator Wyden and I started in the north part of the State and went all the way down south. I traveled 600 miles by car. I was driving. I never got out of the smoke. I remember fires where we passed 20 miles through the smoke, 30 miles through the smoke. I drove over 600 miles. I was never out of that smoke. Parts of the State glowed like the aftereffects of a bomb. This is our State capital with that orange, fire-infused sky behind it in Salem, OR, the result of the Santiam fire that comes down toward the city of Salem. That smoke doesn't just hover and stay in one place. As the wind starts to blow, it spreads across the country. So here we are. This is the September 15 fire chart. These purple areas--an index of over 500 parts per million--incredibly unhealthy to breathe, and you can see the State of Oregon covered, on through Idaho and Montana, right on across the country--California. Everyone is dealing with the smoke. I just got off a Zoom call just a little while ago, and the first three people who spoke were talking about how uncomfortable they were because of their asthma or breathing conditions affected by the smoke. The air quality in Portland has ranked as the worst among the world's major cities for the last 5 days in a row, and in smaller towns across the State, it has been far worse. People saw all kinds of dramatic, powerful scenes of the approaching fires, the approaching bank of clouds. It was a week ago Monday that I decided to drive up to the Columbia Gorge. I didn't get 20 miles from my house, and I saw this wall of smoke. So I got off the freeway and took the old scenic highway up to Crown Point--a lookout point high in the cliffs where you can see way to the east and way tothe west--just to see that. What is going on with this massive cloud? You could see how dramatic the approaching smoke cloud was from these fires. As we think about these devastating fires, we have to think about them in terms of the individuals who have been so dramatically affected. Some have been injured by the fires; some have been killed by the fires. So as Senator Wyden and I proceeded from the northern border to the southern border to visit fire refugees in different centers that have been set up and to visit some coordinated care briefings and then to visit two towns--Phoenix and Talent--that had been incinerated, the most powerful moment was sitting down at a table with individuals along the way. I took away this collective impression: individuals who had escaped and were just thinking, my goodness, how fortunate I am that I got out with my life; individuals who had escaped, but they didn't know the fate of their family members who may not have escaped. One father lost the grandmother in the family and his son, who died in a car with the family dog in the son's lap, and as he was going to search for his wife, he met a woman on the road. He said, ``I am searching for my wife,'' and she responded, ``I am your wife.'' Because she was so affected by the smoke and burned by the fire, he didn't recognize her. I met folks who realized that they had escaped but also recognized that every single thing--a lifetime of records, photos, film, financial records, family heirlooms--all of it, everything, gone. So the issues become even more complicated. Think about the children who were just starting school when these Labor Day fires descended. They lost their laptops; they lost their tablets after being coached on how to attend school electronically. The family has lost, perhaps, their funds, and now they are driving 40, 60 miles to family or to a friend's house. How do they sign up for school? How do they deal with the stress that is on them from what has happened and the remaining stress of the impact on the family and those they are still searching for? And food--road closures stop the movement of food from getting to them, getting to stores and restaurants and communities. There are food shortages because they can't be resupplied. Whether it is Breitenbush Hot Springs, one of our State's most beloved resorts, losing half of its buildings or Simple Machine Winery in Talent burning to the ground--this is an adjacent city, Phoenix and Talent. One woman told me: I not only lost everything, I lost my job because the business I work at has burned to the ground as well. This is on top of the pandemic, and this is on top of the economic implosion. Many of the residences that burned were those that served lower income citizens--the mobile home parks, the manufactured housing parks where the houses are closer together and the fireproofing of the walls is less than required in stick-built houses. Apartment complexes--I saw this whole field where you could see steel girders going up two stories and crossbeams at the top of the steel and then steel stairs and nothing else. They were almost like a sculpture standing in the middle of the field, and there was one after another, after another in the heart of these apartment complexes. The apartments were completely gone. I also heard on this trip such appreciation for our local leaders and our first responders--the firefighters, the EMTs, the National Guard unit doing an incredible job of helping to rescue them, an incredible job of doing point defense or a lot more residences would have burned. They were risking their lives trying to get people out before that blowtorch of a fire descended on a town. They were building fire lines and clearing dead brush and trees from around houses, dropping water. I saw orange splotches as I toured these two towns from when the retardant had been dropped. But then, as the smoke compiled, the planes couldn't fly--not to drop water, not to drop fire retardant These families are going to need everything we can possibly do to help them out. They are devastated and rebuilding their lives. Getting their feet on the ground is going to be really hard. Friends will help, and family will help, and local government will help. But we, too, at the Federal level need to be there to help and make sure these FEMA programs are expeditiously conducted to assist the individuals with the individual assistance and then to assist the communities with the rebuilding--rebuilding of these towns. Local revenues? Those are gone. Property taxes? Those are gone. Revenues from the local businesses, the fees they pay? Those are gone. We are going to have to provide a lot of support. I applaud the White House for quickly approving Governor Brown's request for an emergency declaration. Our whole legislative delegation was calling and requesting and saying: Pay attention to this; we need it quickly. And we got it. We got it quickly. That emergency declaration is really about food and shelter assistance. Then we said that we really need the major disaster declaration, and we got that within about a day of its being submitted--again, prompt action by the White House. Then we applied for a health emergency declaration, and we got that this morning--again, expeditiously. Those are doors where you have to unlock the door to the resources, and those declarations are the keys that open that door. But now we need the supplies to come through that door to really start this long process of support for individuals and for our communities. One of the things we encountered was the valuable help of our Oregon State National Guard. Three years ago I worked to start funding a training program for the National Guard so they could help fight these fires, and our Oregon portion of this was the training of 375 National Guard members put into three 125-member teams. It was great that they were trained and ready to go, but we ran into a problem, and that problem was we didn't have enough crew chiefs. The crew chiefs come from outside to conduct the team's work, and you need five or six crew chiefs for every team, for every group of 125. The crew chiefs are all tied up all around the country. Then the Governor said: We need not only those 375; we need two more teams--another 250. The initial response was, no, the funds aren't available. But I checked and found out there were funds left, and they were approved quite quickly--again, a thank-you to the executive branch for approving them at that point. We still needed crew chiefs, and I just got word a short period ago that there are chew chiefs now en route to Oregon. We have found some from around the country to go and enable those Oregon National Guard members to be able to be deployed. So that is another step forward. We can't stop there. We have to look beyond the immediate crisis. We have to help the families rebuild the homes. We have to help the local businesses recover, rebuild. We have to think about not just the fire damage but the smoke damage. I have introduced the Smoke-Ready Communities Act that would enable communities to prepare safe zones where you have filtered air in key buildings so those who have lung conditions and are affected by the smoke have somewhere safe to get to, to be able to breathe. I think it is a pretty logical thing for us to do and a small-dollar investment in partnership with communities to create some highly filtered space of air for people with lung challenges. I have written the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act because in the past we thought only of the direct fire impact, but now we are seeing all this smoke that is having such a major impact. In the last major smoke episode, we saw our outdoor activities like the Shakespeare Festival close down. We saw furniture salesmen who couldn't sell the furniture because of smoke damage. We had a massive impact on our wine industry with smoke-tainted grapes. By the way, even though the buyers of those grapes turned them down, it turned out they were pretty good grapes, and the community came together and created an Oregon wine, a unity wine, and it was great wine and people loved it. So those grapes found a home and found a product. They came together to solve a problem. We had trouble with our hazelnuts with the smoke. So a declaration act and the Smoke-Ready Communities Act but also action to help field workers. Think about the field workers--the agriculture workers working right now harvesting, and they are in that smoke--500 parts per million small particles damaging their lungs. We need to be set up to help the agricultural community. They are truly frontline workers whose health shouldn't be compromised in that manner. And we need to make our forests more resistant to fires. Now, I know President Trump has said that is the whole key, and why can't Oregon and California get their act together. Well, let me point out that the majority of the forest we are talking about, those are Federal forests. It is Federal forest. It is Federal management that is so missing. What I proposed in the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act is that we spend $1 billion. It should be $1 billion dollars a year thinning these overgrown second-growth forests. What do you get out of that? You get jobs; you get saw logs for our mills, and you get a forest that is much more resistant to fire. It isn't just the thinning. Then it is what they call the mowing to reduce the shrubs that have built up, and then it is the prescribed burn that goes back 2 or 3 years later. This is to avoid the pattern of the fire in the past we had which was to burn the shrubbery on the floor which grows back quickly and prevents that over-dense forest. So we should do that. We should pass the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act, put the funding in, and create permanent authorization for our collaboratives. What is a collaborative? To those outside the forest world, that probably isn't a familiar term. It is where you bring the environmental community and the timber community together, and they develop what they call a prescription for thinning the forest and mowing it and doing a prescribed burn. By working together and having a plan, they stay out of the courts because court paralysis has been a major obstacle. So let's take that collaborative model. Let's build on the success of the collaborative and stewardship agreements, which are very similar, but it takes resources and here has been the challenge. Every time we seek the resources to do more on the front end to make the forest more fire-resilient, it is blocked by individuals who say: Hey, let's go back to the 1950s clearcuts. My friends, that doesn't work. When you clearcut and replant, you now create a new forest where the trees are too close together and they are all the same height and they are absolutely primed once again for fire. The thinning, the prescribed burns, the mowing, this has a big impact. I went to a forest outside of Sisters, OR, where these measures have been used, and there was a fire that had been bearing down on Sisters, OR. And when it met the section of the forest that had been thinned, it stopped because the fuel wasn't there to propagate itself forward, and because of the thinning, the fire crews could get through the forest to the frontline of the fire. So it worked very effectively that way. Now there are situations of high winds when the forest fire becomes a blow torch. Nothing is going to stop it. But often fires move at a modest pace, and that is where the thinning and mowing and prescribed burns can make a real difference. So I am hoping we can have partnership in that approach. Some have said: Well, isn't it the environmental laws that prevent us from undertaking this effort? And the answer is no. We have 2.3 million acres in Oregon that have gone through the environmental process. We could do the thinning, mowing, prescribed burns tomorrow if we had the funds to do it So jobs, fire resilience, better timber stands, better ecosystem, saw logs to the mill. That is all the win, win, win, win products of this approach. Colleagues, I know many of you have come to me and said: What can we do? Well, there are really two things. Help us do forest management in the collaborative style, in the stewardship style--in the thinning, prescribed burn, mowing style. Help us do that, and also let's recognize that this situation in Oregon and California and many, many other States isn't simply a freak occurrence of the winds. It is a situation where the forest is drier than it has ever been before. Drier than a kiln-dried 2 by 4. If you have gone to the hardware store to get kiln-dried 2 by 4s, they have been baked to have all the moisture baked out of them. There is less moisture in the forest during these periods of drought and heat then there is in that kiln-dried 2 by 4. They are ready to burn at a second's notice. So this is the result of the changing dynamic of climate. The forest season has gotten much longer. It is no longer a June through August affair; it is a March through October affair. In California, it is a year-round calendar affair now. If you track this decade over decade, each one is worse. There is a longer fire season with more intensive fires and more acres burned. So that is a more difficult project. Our Earth is wrapped by the commons of our air, and that air holds now a lot more carbon dioxide and a lot more methane and traps a lot more heat, and it is affecting everything. In Oregon, it isn't just the fires. It is also our snowpack. Our snowpack, decade after decade, is smaller and smaller. Why? Because it is warmer and warmer. How does that affect things? Well, do you like to fish? If you like to fish, you know that a warmer, smaller stream is bad for the salmon returning; it is bad for the trout. And if you are a farmer, you know that smaller snowpack means less irrigation water and less water to recharge the groundwater that you use when you don't have enough irrigation water, when you have to pump it out of the ground. So we have big impacts not just with the timber community with the forest burning but also on our ag community and our fishing community. The three pillars of our rural economy are all being substantially affected. Offshore, it is a warmer Pacific Ocean, and it is a more acidic Pacific Ocean--30 percent more acidic than before we started burning fossil fuels. And people say: What is the connection? Well, those waves take the carbon dioxide in the air and convert it to carbonic acid. There is a 30-percent increase in acidity that is affecting our shellfish reproduction. Worry about that--that shellfish are having a hard time reproducing. So this isn't an urban issue versus a rural issue. This is not a red issue versus a blue issue. This is the economy, the pillars of America, in farming, fishing, and forests being profoundly affected. So let's work together to take this on. Yes, improve our forest management. We have altered the forests dramatically with our replantings that grow up at the same height and are too close together, but we can make those same second-growth forests far more resilient, jobs, and saw logs at the same time. Let's work together to improve the health of the forest, especially around our urban areas, our small towns. To my colleagues who say this is a moment when we are seeing not just the fires, we are seeing other impacts around the Nation; we are seeing the intense storms in the Midwest; and we are seeing the tropical storms and hurricanes hitting the gulf and never-before-seen storm surges on the East Coast--so we are all in this together. Let's work together to assist the families so powerfully affected. Let's work together to rebuild the communities. Let's work together to fund forest management in a way it has to be funded as a counterpart to the strategy of forest replanting that we have undertaken. Let's work together to take on the warming planet because it affects everything and not just in Oregon and not just in the United States but across our planet. It is our responsibility. Let's get it done. Thank you. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MERKLEY | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5677 | null | 1,319 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. MERKLEY. Mr. President, apocalypse, fire, fueled by wind coming over the top of the Cascade Mountains, turning into a blowtorch that races down the western slopes of those mountains, incinerating the towns in its path--that is what is happening in my home State of Oregon. Imagine suddenly waking up at 4:30 in the morning to a house filled with smoke. You realize you have to clear the area before the situation gets a lot worse. You and your partner race to pack up some essentials, load them and your pets into the car in your garage, and then you can't get the garage door open because there is no power. The power lines have been taken down by the winds and by the power poles being burned and falling over. So you open the garage door by hand, and just as you are about to lift it, you look out a little window, and you see an inferno engulfing your neighbor's home. So you make a desperate dash in the other direction and out the backdoor--the fire at your heels. You race toward the river at the bottom of the hill, hoping--praying--there will be some kind of safety. It is a terrifying scenario, but it is not out of some movie. For Larry Tripoli and Fran Howe, of Gates, OR, it was a reality just a few nights ago when the Beachie Creek fire roared through Santiam Canyon, incinerating homes, businesses, and entire neighborhoods. They got to the river, and they waded knee deep in the water as the trees burned around them on both banks. Fran recalled: ``I thought we were going to die.'' Fortunately, help arrived late that night, just before 12 midnight. The firefighters and emergency workers risked their lives and safety to come and rescue those who were fleeing the fire. Many folks worked to help their neighbors get noticed even as the fire was descending on the town. At this moment, all across Oregon, people are facing similarly terrifying experiences as historic wildfires have burned more than a million acres--more than twice those burned in a normal year. They burned in a small period of time--most of them over this past week. There are 10 citizens who have lost their lives, and dozens are missing. We are afraid there will be more bad news to come. It is hard to imagine. I mean, I have seen the results of a fire near John Day that came down a valley, and there were widely spaced homes in the forest on both sides of the river, and I have seen that those homes were burned. But I have never seen anything like this--neighborhood after neighborhood, the commercial district, the apartment complexes, the mobile home housing parks, completely scorched--every building you can see. When I toured this last Friday, the only thing I could compare it to were pictures I had seen of Hiroshima after the bomb; cities in Europe that had been firebombed, like Dresden--massive devastation, incinerating everything. This is what has just happened in my home State. In one town of Phoenix, OR--this is a picture from Phoenix. The mayor estimated that perhaps 1,000 residences had been burned between the mobile homes, the manufactured homes, the apartment complexes, and the standalone houses--several thousand people with nothing to return to. You know, I met with folks last Friday and Saturday as Senator Wyden and I started in the north part of the State and went all the way down south. I traveled 600 miles by car. I was driving. I never got out of the smoke. I remember fires where we passed 20 miles through the smoke, 30 miles through the smoke. I drove over 600 miles. I was never out of that smoke. Parts of the State glowed like the aftereffects of a bomb. This is our State capital with that orange, fire-infused sky behind it in Salem, OR, the result of the Santiam fire that comes down toward the city of Salem. That smoke doesn't just hover and stay in one place. As the wind starts to blow, it spreads across the country. So here we are. This is the September 15 fire chart. These purple areas--an index of over 500 parts per million--incredibly unhealthy to breathe, and you can see the State of Oregon covered, on through Idaho and Montana, right on across the country--California. Everyone is dealing with the smoke. I just got off a Zoom call just a little while ago, and the first three people who spoke were talking about how uncomfortable they were because of their asthma or breathing conditions affected by the smoke. The air quality in Portland has ranked as the worst among the world's major cities for the last 5 days in a row, and in smaller towns across the State, it has been far worse. People saw all kinds of dramatic, powerful scenes of the approaching fires, the approaching bank of clouds. It was a week ago Monday that I decided to drive up to the Columbia Gorge. I didn't get 20 miles from my house, and I saw this wall of smoke. So I got off the freeway and took the old scenic highway up to Crown Point--a lookout point high in the cliffs where you can see way to the east and way tothe west--just to see that. What is going on with this massive cloud? You could see how dramatic the approaching smoke cloud was from these fires. As we think about these devastating fires, we have to think about them in terms of the individuals who have been so dramatically affected. Some have been injured by the fires; some have been killed by the fires. So as Senator Wyden and I proceeded from the northern border to the southern border to visit fire refugees in different centers that have been set up and to visit some coordinated care briefings and then to visit two towns--Phoenix and Talent--that had been incinerated, the most powerful moment was sitting down at a table with individuals along the way. I took away this collective impression: individuals who had escaped and were just thinking, my goodness, how fortunate I am that I got out with my life; individuals who had escaped, but they didn't know the fate of their family members who may not have escaped. One father lost the grandmother in the family and his son, who died in a car with the family dog in the son's lap, and as he was going to search for his wife, he met a woman on the road. He said, ``I am searching for my wife,'' and she responded, ``I am your wife.'' Because she was so affected by the smoke and burned by the fire, he didn't recognize her. I met folks who realized that they had escaped but also recognized that every single thing--a lifetime of records, photos, film, financial records, family heirlooms--all of it, everything, gone. So the issues become even more complicated. Think about the children who were just starting school when these Labor Day fires descended. They lost their laptops; they lost their tablets after being coached on how to attend school electronically. The family has lost, perhaps, their funds, and now they are driving 40, 60 miles to family or to a friend's house. How do they sign up for school? How do they deal with the stress that is on them from what has happened and the remaining stress of the impact on the family and those they are still searching for? And food--road closures stop the movement of food from getting to them, getting to stores and restaurants and communities. There are food shortages because they can't be resupplied. Whether it is Breitenbush Hot Springs, one of our State's most beloved resorts, losing half of its buildings or Simple Machine Winery in Talent burning to the ground--this is an adjacent city, Phoenix and Talent. One woman told me: I not only lost everything, I lost my job because the business I work at has burned to the ground as well. This is on top of the pandemic, and this is on top of the economic implosion. Many of the residences that burned were those that served lower income citizens--the mobile home parks, the manufactured housing parks where the houses are closer together and the fireproofing of the walls is less than required in stick-built houses. Apartment complexes--I saw this whole field where you could see steel girders going up two stories and crossbeams at the top of the steel and then steel stairs and nothing else. They were almost like a sculpture standing in the middle of the field, and there was one after another, after another in the heart of these apartment complexes. The apartments were completely gone. I also heard on this trip such appreciation for our local leaders and our first responders--the firefighters, the EMTs, the National Guard unit doing an incredible job of helping to rescue them, an incredible job of doing point defense or a lot more residences would have burned. They were risking their lives trying to get people out before that blowtorch of a fire descended on a town. They were building fire lines and clearing dead brush and trees from around houses, dropping water. I saw orange splotches as I toured these two towns from when the retardant had been dropped. But then, as the smoke compiled, the planes couldn't fly--not to drop water, not to drop fire retardant These families are going to need everything we can possibly do to help them out. They are devastated and rebuilding their lives. Getting their feet on the ground is going to be really hard. Friends will help, and family will help, and local government will help. But we, too, at the Federal level need to be there to help and make sure these FEMA programs are expeditiously conducted to assist the individuals with the individual assistance and then to assist the communities with the rebuilding--rebuilding of these towns. Local revenues? Those are gone. Property taxes? Those are gone. Revenues from the local businesses, the fees they pay? Those are gone. We are going to have to provide a lot of support. I applaud the White House for quickly approving Governor Brown's request for an emergency declaration. Our whole legislative delegation was calling and requesting and saying: Pay attention to this; we need it quickly. And we got it. We got it quickly. That emergency declaration is really about food and shelter assistance. Then we said that we really need the major disaster declaration, and we got that within about a day of its being submitted--again, prompt action by the White House. Then we applied for a health emergency declaration, and we got that this morning--again, expeditiously. Those are doors where you have to unlock the door to the resources, and those declarations are the keys that open that door. But now we need the supplies to come through that door to really start this long process of support for individuals and for our communities. One of the things we encountered was the valuable help of our Oregon State National Guard. Three years ago I worked to start funding a training program for the National Guard so they could help fight these fires, and our Oregon portion of this was the training of 375 National Guard members put into three 125-member teams. It was great that they were trained and ready to go, but we ran into a problem, and that problem was we didn't have enough crew chiefs. The crew chiefs come from outside to conduct the team's work, and you need five or six crew chiefs for every team, for every group of 125. The crew chiefs are all tied up all around the country. Then the Governor said: We need not only those 375; we need two more teams--another 250. The initial response was, no, the funds aren't available. But I checked and found out there were funds left, and they were approved quite quickly--again, a thank-you to the executive branch for approving them at that point. We still needed crew chiefs, and I just got word a short period ago that there are chew chiefs now en route to Oregon. We have found some from around the country to go and enable those Oregon National Guard members to be able to be deployed. So that is another step forward. We can't stop there. We have to look beyond the immediate crisis. We have to help the families rebuild the homes. We have to help the local businesses recover, rebuild. We have to think about not just the fire damage but the smoke damage. I have introduced the Smoke-Ready Communities Act that would enable communities to prepare safe zones where you have filtered air in key buildings so those who have lung conditions and are affected by the smoke have somewhere safe to get to, to be able to breathe. I think it is a pretty logical thing for us to do and a small-dollar investment in partnership with communities to create some highly filtered space of air for people with lung challenges. I have written the Wildfire Smoke Emergency Declaration Act because in the past we thought only of the direct fire impact, but now we are seeing all this smoke that is having such a major impact. In the last major smoke episode, we saw our outdoor activities like the Shakespeare Festival close down. We saw furniture salesmen who couldn't sell the furniture because of smoke damage. We had a massive impact on our wine industry with smoke-tainted grapes. By the way, even though the buyers of those grapes turned them down, it turned out they were pretty good grapes, and the community came together and created an Oregon wine, a unity wine, and it was great wine and people loved it. So those grapes found a home and found a product. They came together to solve a problem. We had trouble with our hazelnuts with the smoke. So a declaration act and the Smoke-Ready Communities Act but also action to help field workers. Think about the field workers--the agriculture workers working right now harvesting, and they are in that smoke--500 parts per million small particles damaging their lungs. We need to be set up to help the agricultural community. They are truly frontline workers whose health shouldn't be compromised in that manner. And we need to make our forests more resistant to fires. Now, I know President Trump has said that is the whole key, and why can't Oregon and California get their act together. Well, let me point out that the majority of the forest we are talking about, those are Federal forests. It is Federal forest. It is Federal management that is so missing. What I proposed in the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act is that we spend $1 billion. It should be $1 billion dollars a year thinning these overgrown second-growth forests. What do you get out of that? You get jobs; you get saw logs for our mills, and you get a forest that is much more resistant to fire. It isn't just the thinning. Then it is what they call the mowing to reduce the shrubs that have built up, and then it is the prescribed burn that goes back 2 or 3 years later. This is to avoid the pattern of the fire in the past we had which was to burn the shrubbery on the floor which grows back quickly and prevents that over-dense forest. So we should do that. We should pass the Wildfire-Resilient Communities Act, put the funding in, and create permanent authorization for our collaboratives. What is a collaborative? To those outside the forest world, that probably isn't a familiar term. It is where you bring the environmental community and the timber community together, and they develop what they call a prescription for thinning the forest and mowing it and doing a prescribed burn. By working together and having a plan, they stay out of the courts because court paralysis has been a major obstacle. So let's take that collaborative model. Let's build on the success of the collaborative and stewardship agreements, which are very similar, but it takes resources and here has been the challenge. Every time we seek the resources to do more on the front end to make the forest more fire-resilient, it is blocked by individuals who say: Hey, let's go back to the 1950s clearcuts. My friends, that doesn't work. When you clearcut and replant, you now create a new forest where the trees are too close together and they are all the same height and they are absolutely primed once again for fire. The thinning, the prescribed burns, the mowing, this has a big impact. I went to a forest outside of Sisters, OR, where these measures have been used, and there was a fire that had been bearing down on Sisters, OR. And when it met the section of the forest that had been thinned, it stopped because the fuel wasn't there to propagate itself forward, and because of the thinning, the fire crews could get through the forest to the frontline of the fire. So it worked very effectively that way. Now there are situations of high winds when the forest fire becomes a blow torch. Nothing is going to stop it. But often fires move at a modest pace, and that is where the thinning and mowing and prescribed burns can make a real difference. So I am hoping we can have partnership in that approach. Some have said: Well, isn't it the environmental laws that prevent us from undertaking this effort? And the answer is no. We have 2.3 million acres in Oregon that have gone through the environmental process. We could do the thinning, mowing, prescribed burns tomorrow if we had the funds to do it So jobs, fire resilience, better timber stands, better ecosystem, saw logs to the mill. That is all the win, win, win, win products of this approach. Colleagues, I know many of you have come to me and said: What can we do? Well, there are really two things. Help us do forest management in the collaborative style, in the stewardship style--in the thinning, prescribed burn, mowing style. Help us do that, and also let's recognize that this situation in Oregon and California and many, many other States isn't simply a freak occurrence of the winds. It is a situation where the forest is drier than it has ever been before. Drier than a kiln-dried 2 by 4. If you have gone to the hardware store to get kiln-dried 2 by 4s, they have been baked to have all the moisture baked out of them. There is less moisture in the forest during these periods of drought and heat then there is in that kiln-dried 2 by 4. They are ready to burn at a second's notice. So this is the result of the changing dynamic of climate. The forest season has gotten much longer. It is no longer a June through August affair; it is a March through October affair. In California, it is a year-round calendar affair now. If you track this decade over decade, each one is worse. There is a longer fire season with more intensive fires and more acres burned. So that is a more difficult project. Our Earth is wrapped by the commons of our air, and that air holds now a lot more carbon dioxide and a lot more methane and traps a lot more heat, and it is affecting everything. In Oregon, it isn't just the fires. It is also our snowpack. Our snowpack, decade after decade, is smaller and smaller. Why? Because it is warmer and warmer. How does that affect things? Well, do you like to fish? If you like to fish, you know that a warmer, smaller stream is bad for the salmon returning; it is bad for the trout. And if you are a farmer, you know that smaller snowpack means less irrigation water and less water to recharge the groundwater that you use when you don't have enough irrigation water, when you have to pump it out of the ground. So we have big impacts not just with the timber community with the forest burning but also on our ag community and our fishing community. The three pillars of our rural economy are all being substantially affected. Offshore, it is a warmer Pacific Ocean, and it is a more acidic Pacific Ocean--30 percent more acidic than before we started burning fossil fuels. And people say: What is the connection? Well, those waves take the carbon dioxide in the air and convert it to carbonic acid. There is a 30-percent increase in acidity that is affecting our shellfish reproduction. Worry about that--that shellfish are having a hard time reproducing. So this isn't an urban issue versus a rural issue. This is not a red issue versus a blue issue. This is the economy, the pillars of America, in farming, fishing, and forests being profoundly affected. So let's work together to take this on. Yes, improve our forest management. We have altered the forests dramatically with our replantings that grow up at the same height and are too close together, but we can make those same second-growth forests far more resilient, jobs, and saw logs at the same time. Let's work together to improve the health of the forest, especially around our urban areas, our small towns. To my colleagues who say this is a moment when we are seeing not just the fires, we are seeing other impacts around the Nation; we are seeing the intense storms in the Midwest; and we are seeing the tropical storms and hurricanes hitting the gulf and never-before-seen storm surges on the East Coast--so we are all in this together. Let's work together to assist the families so powerfully affected. Let's work together to rebuild the communities. Let's work together to fund forest management in a way it has to be funded as a counterpart to the strategy of forest replanting that we have undertaken. Let's work together to take on the warming planet because it affects everything and not just in Oregon and not just in the United States but across our planet. It is our responsibility. Let's get it done. Thank you. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MERKLEY | Senate | CREC-2020-09-16-pt1-PgS5677 | null | 1,320 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on adoption of the resolution (H. Res. 908) condemning all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgH4527 | null | 1,321 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 2694) to eliminate discrimination and promote women's health and economic security by ensuring reasonable workplace accommodations for workers whose ability to perform the functions of a job are limited by pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition, offered by the gentlewoman from North Carolina (Ms. Foxx), on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The Clerk will redesignate the motion. The Clerk redesignated the motion. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgH4528 | null | 1,322 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Ms. JOHNSON of Texas: Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. H.R. 3607. A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to direct Federal research in fossil energy and to promote the development and demonstration of environmentally responsible coal and natural gas technologies, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-510). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 3935. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services; with an amendment (Rept. 116-511). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5663. A bill to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices; with an amendment (Rept. 116-512). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4866. A bill to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-513). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4995. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-514). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgH4540 | null | 1,323 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, this morning I was planning to address a number of topics, but the President held a press conference yesterday afternoon that was so callous, so uninformed, so egomaniacal, so divisive that I am compelled to respond to it this morning. We are in the middle of a global pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans, far more than the number of Americans who died in World War I--more than any other Nation on God's green Earth, more than countries with larger populations, and more than countries with mere fractions of our wealth and power. Here is how the President spoke about the number of American deaths yesterday at his press conference: If you take the blue states out, we're at a level that I don't think anybody in the world would be at . . . [If you take the blue states out,] we're really at a very low level. Yes, Mr. President, if you don't count the total number of Americans who have died, you might think it is not so bad. If you close your eyes and pretend that half of the country doesn't exist, maybe some might think you didn't do such a spectacularly awful job. What kind of person looks at the number of dead citizens in the country he is supposed to lead, and in an attempt to glamorize himself, dismisses every American who died in a State that didn't support the President politically? What a disgrace. It is monstrous. There is not a shred of empathy, not an ounce of sorrow. What kind of President do we have? The President just wants you to see a graph about how his catastrophic failure to fight COVID-19 could have been worse. I suggest President Trump spend some time reading the stories of the men and women across the country who have passed away from this terrible virus. This isn't about a number. Oh, no, it is about the people families and communities have lost, whether they be in red States or blue States. Many of these families have been unable to holdfuneral services to properly mourn their loved ones for fear of spreading COVID to another member of their family. That is why these remarks by the President are so horrific. What does the outcome of an election determine if these lives should be counted? Isn't that awful? Why does the outcome of an election determine if these lives should be counted? Does he mean that the loss of Americans who lived in States with Democratic Governors shouldn't count? If that is the case, President Trump is saying that the deaths of David Pickman of Somerset, CT; and Patrick McNamee of Ypsilanti, MI; and Virgil Sutton of Dallas, NC, don't count--don't count. How about Ralph Davis, the high school basketball coach in Milwaukee, WI? Did his life not count because he lived in a State with a Democratic Governor? What kind of demented person would say that those American lives don't count? The President also said: ``But some of those states, they were blue States and blue-state managed.'' I suppose that means that the life of Dennis Wilson shouldn't count because he was an educator in Lenexa, KS. If only Mr. Wilson had lived 17 miles east in the Hickman Hills neighborhood of Kansas City, MO, maybe the President would think his life should have counted. How about Captain Doug Hickok? If he lived--I don't know--in Cheyenne, WY, I suppose the President might have valued his life. Unfortunately for Captain Hickok, he lived 1,700 miles east in Bangor, PA, so President Trump says his life isn't worth counting. Maybe I am giving the President too much credit. You never really know what the heck he means when he talks. So it is possible that his definition of blue States isn't limited to States with Democratic Governors. Maybe his definition of blue States includes States with more Democrats than Republicans in their congressional delegations. That would mean Valentina Blackhorse's life didn't count because she lived in Kayenta, AZ, nor would the life of a Des Moines toddler who died from COVID in June. What kind of demented person would make that calculation? President Trump, that is who. Of course, there is no bottom with President Trump. He is so contemptuous of every virtue, so dishonorable, so dishonest that the vices parade themselves forward one after another. At the press conference after his disgusting comments about ignoring American lives from blue States, President Trump lied, once again, about his support for Americans with preexisting conditions, a lie he has told and retold while his administration is in court suing to eliminate those very protections. Don't worry, though. President Trump promised that a brandnew, fantastic Republican healthcare plan is just around the corner. He said you will see it in 2 weeks, just like he told FOX News in July when he said he would sign a healthcare plan in 2 weeks, a full and complete healthcare plan, and again in August, just 2 weeks away--just like his infrastructure bill, a new middle-class tax cut, lower prescription drug costs, a new stimulus package, a report on COVID-19's impact on minorities, and new COVID tests, all of which the President said would be ``2 weeks'' away but, in fact, never materialized, not in 2 weeks, not ever. He must think the American people are chumps that he can say anything he wants with no accountability, not do it, and then do it again and again and again. For centuries, American Presidents have faced challenges with honor and with courage. They have stepped up to the podium and used their bully pulpit to give honor to American lives. But when this President, President Trump, stands at that great podium, he reveals his cowardice, his callousness, his selfishness, his ignorance, and, most of all, his insistence on dividing us. His inability and unwillingness to unite a grieving nation will be his legacy. When Donald Trump took the stage at the 2016 National Republican Convention, he painted a false portrait of a country in crisis, and declared, ``I alone can fix it.'' Four years later, the country faces actual crises--the greatest economic crisis in 75 years, the greatest public health crisis in a century--and President Trump now says: ``It is what it is.'' ``Could you have done more to stop it?'' ``I don't think so,'' he says. ``If you take the blue States out. . . . We're really at a very low level.'' ``I don't take any responsibility at all.'' ``It's going to disappear.'' ``A lot of people think the masks are no good.'' ``[W]hen it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.'' ``I see the disinfectant, [where it] knocks it out in a minute . . . and is there a way [we] can do something like that, by injection?'' ``I'm not a doctor, but I'm, like, a person that has a good, you know what.'' This man, who said all these ridiculous, harmful things, is leading the country through the worst public health crisis in a century. Americans don't have to ask themselves, as Reagan once asked, if they are better off now than 4 years ago. President Trump has told everyone exactly what the score is. When Donald Trump said he was running for office, he said: ``I alone can fix it.'' When Donald Trump is running the country during the worst pandemic in this century, he says: ``It is what it is.'' Five words. Both times, five words. Five words that sum up an approach to government and leadership that is completely antithetical to everything the word ``leadership'' means. Promise big, deliver zero, deliver small. That is President Trump's view of government. Boast when you don't have any responsibility; shrink from it when you do. That is President Trump's view of public service. It has diminished our institutions and our democracy. He has cost our country its moral standing in the world; he has threatened the future of our planet; and he has cost Americans their healthcare, their jobs, and their lives. But it is not so bad if you don't count the numbers. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5681-6 | null | 1,324 |
formal | tax cut | null | racist | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, this morning I was planning to address a number of topics, but the President held a press conference yesterday afternoon that was so callous, so uninformed, so egomaniacal, so divisive that I am compelled to respond to it this morning. We are in the middle of a global pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans, far more than the number of Americans who died in World War I--more than any other Nation on God's green Earth, more than countries with larger populations, and more than countries with mere fractions of our wealth and power. Here is how the President spoke about the number of American deaths yesterday at his press conference: If you take the blue states out, we're at a level that I don't think anybody in the world would be at . . . [If you take the blue states out,] we're really at a very low level. Yes, Mr. President, if you don't count the total number of Americans who have died, you might think it is not so bad. If you close your eyes and pretend that half of the country doesn't exist, maybe some might think you didn't do such a spectacularly awful job. What kind of person looks at the number of dead citizens in the country he is supposed to lead, and in an attempt to glamorize himself, dismisses every American who died in a State that didn't support the President politically? What a disgrace. It is monstrous. There is not a shred of empathy, not an ounce of sorrow. What kind of President do we have? The President just wants you to see a graph about how his catastrophic failure to fight COVID-19 could have been worse. I suggest President Trump spend some time reading the stories of the men and women across the country who have passed away from this terrible virus. This isn't about a number. Oh, no, it is about the people families and communities have lost, whether they be in red States or blue States. Many of these families have been unable to holdfuneral services to properly mourn their loved ones for fear of spreading COVID to another member of their family. That is why these remarks by the President are so horrific. What does the outcome of an election determine if these lives should be counted? Isn't that awful? Why does the outcome of an election determine if these lives should be counted? Does he mean that the loss of Americans who lived in States with Democratic Governors shouldn't count? If that is the case, President Trump is saying that the deaths of David Pickman of Somerset, CT; and Patrick McNamee of Ypsilanti, MI; and Virgil Sutton of Dallas, NC, don't count--don't count. How about Ralph Davis, the high school basketball coach in Milwaukee, WI? Did his life not count because he lived in a State with a Democratic Governor? What kind of demented person would say that those American lives don't count? The President also said: ``But some of those states, they were blue States and blue-state managed.'' I suppose that means that the life of Dennis Wilson shouldn't count because he was an educator in Lenexa, KS. If only Mr. Wilson had lived 17 miles east in the Hickman Hills neighborhood of Kansas City, MO, maybe the President would think his life should have counted. How about Captain Doug Hickok? If he lived--I don't know--in Cheyenne, WY, I suppose the President might have valued his life. Unfortunately for Captain Hickok, he lived 1,700 miles east in Bangor, PA, so President Trump says his life isn't worth counting. Maybe I am giving the President too much credit. You never really know what the heck he means when he talks. So it is possible that his definition of blue States isn't limited to States with Democratic Governors. Maybe his definition of blue States includes States with more Democrats than Republicans in their congressional delegations. That would mean Valentina Blackhorse's life didn't count because she lived in Kayenta, AZ, nor would the life of a Des Moines toddler who died from COVID in June. What kind of demented person would make that calculation? President Trump, that is who. Of course, there is no bottom with President Trump. He is so contemptuous of every virtue, so dishonorable, so dishonest that the vices parade themselves forward one after another. At the press conference after his disgusting comments about ignoring American lives from blue States, President Trump lied, once again, about his support for Americans with preexisting conditions, a lie he has told and retold while his administration is in court suing to eliminate those very protections. Don't worry, though. President Trump promised that a brandnew, fantastic Republican healthcare plan is just around the corner. He said you will see it in 2 weeks, just like he told FOX News in July when he said he would sign a healthcare plan in 2 weeks, a full and complete healthcare plan, and again in August, just 2 weeks away--just like his infrastructure bill, a new middle-class tax cut, lower prescription drug costs, a new stimulus package, a report on COVID-19's impact on minorities, and new COVID tests, all of which the President said would be ``2 weeks'' away but, in fact, never materialized, not in 2 weeks, not ever. He must think the American people are chumps that he can say anything he wants with no accountability, not do it, and then do it again and again and again. For centuries, American Presidents have faced challenges with honor and with courage. They have stepped up to the podium and used their bully pulpit to give honor to American lives. But when this President, President Trump, stands at that great podium, he reveals his cowardice, his callousness, his selfishness, his ignorance, and, most of all, his insistence on dividing us. His inability and unwillingness to unite a grieving nation will be his legacy. When Donald Trump took the stage at the 2016 National Republican Convention, he painted a false portrait of a country in crisis, and declared, ``I alone can fix it.'' Four years later, the country faces actual crises--the greatest economic crisis in 75 years, the greatest public health crisis in a century--and President Trump now says: ``It is what it is.'' ``Could you have done more to stop it?'' ``I don't think so,'' he says. ``If you take the blue States out. . . . We're really at a very low level.'' ``I don't take any responsibility at all.'' ``It's going to disappear.'' ``A lot of people think the masks are no good.'' ``[W]hen it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.'' ``I see the disinfectant, [where it] knocks it out in a minute . . . and is there a way [we] can do something like that, by injection?'' ``I'm not a doctor, but I'm, like, a person that has a good, you know what.'' This man, who said all these ridiculous, harmful things, is leading the country through the worst public health crisis in a century. Americans don't have to ask themselves, as Reagan once asked, if they are better off now than 4 years ago. President Trump has told everyone exactly what the score is. When Donald Trump said he was running for office, he said: ``I alone can fix it.'' When Donald Trump is running the country during the worst pandemic in this century, he says: ``It is what it is.'' Five words. Both times, five words. Five words that sum up an approach to government and leadership that is completely antithetical to everything the word ``leadership'' means. Promise big, deliver zero, deliver small. That is President Trump's view of government. Boast when you don't have any responsibility; shrink from it when you do. That is President Trump's view of public service. It has diminished our institutions and our democracy. He has cost our country its moral standing in the world; he has threatened the future of our planet; and he has cost Americans their healthcare, their jobs, and their lives. But it is not so bad if you don't count the numbers. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5681-6 | null | 1,325 |
formal | Reagan | null | white supremacist | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, this morning I was planning to address a number of topics, but the President held a press conference yesterday afternoon that was so callous, so uninformed, so egomaniacal, so divisive that I am compelled to respond to it this morning. We are in the middle of a global pandemic that has killed nearly 200,000 Americans, far more than the number of Americans who died in World War I--more than any other Nation on God's green Earth, more than countries with larger populations, and more than countries with mere fractions of our wealth and power. Here is how the President spoke about the number of American deaths yesterday at his press conference: If you take the blue states out, we're at a level that I don't think anybody in the world would be at . . . [If you take the blue states out,] we're really at a very low level. Yes, Mr. President, if you don't count the total number of Americans who have died, you might think it is not so bad. If you close your eyes and pretend that half of the country doesn't exist, maybe some might think you didn't do such a spectacularly awful job. What kind of person looks at the number of dead citizens in the country he is supposed to lead, and in an attempt to glamorize himself, dismisses every American who died in a State that didn't support the President politically? What a disgrace. It is monstrous. There is not a shred of empathy, not an ounce of sorrow. What kind of President do we have? The President just wants you to see a graph about how his catastrophic failure to fight COVID-19 could have been worse. I suggest President Trump spend some time reading the stories of the men and women across the country who have passed away from this terrible virus. This isn't about a number. Oh, no, it is about the people families and communities have lost, whether they be in red States or blue States. Many of these families have been unable to holdfuneral services to properly mourn their loved ones for fear of spreading COVID to another member of their family. That is why these remarks by the President are so horrific. What does the outcome of an election determine if these lives should be counted? Isn't that awful? Why does the outcome of an election determine if these lives should be counted? Does he mean that the loss of Americans who lived in States with Democratic Governors shouldn't count? If that is the case, President Trump is saying that the deaths of David Pickman of Somerset, CT; and Patrick McNamee of Ypsilanti, MI; and Virgil Sutton of Dallas, NC, don't count--don't count. How about Ralph Davis, the high school basketball coach in Milwaukee, WI? Did his life not count because he lived in a State with a Democratic Governor? What kind of demented person would say that those American lives don't count? The President also said: ``But some of those states, they were blue States and blue-state managed.'' I suppose that means that the life of Dennis Wilson shouldn't count because he was an educator in Lenexa, KS. If only Mr. Wilson had lived 17 miles east in the Hickman Hills neighborhood of Kansas City, MO, maybe the President would think his life should have counted. How about Captain Doug Hickok? If he lived--I don't know--in Cheyenne, WY, I suppose the President might have valued his life. Unfortunately for Captain Hickok, he lived 1,700 miles east in Bangor, PA, so President Trump says his life isn't worth counting. Maybe I am giving the President too much credit. You never really know what the heck he means when he talks. So it is possible that his definition of blue States isn't limited to States with Democratic Governors. Maybe his definition of blue States includes States with more Democrats than Republicans in their congressional delegations. That would mean Valentina Blackhorse's life didn't count because she lived in Kayenta, AZ, nor would the life of a Des Moines toddler who died from COVID in June. What kind of demented person would make that calculation? President Trump, that is who. Of course, there is no bottom with President Trump. He is so contemptuous of every virtue, so dishonorable, so dishonest that the vices parade themselves forward one after another. At the press conference after his disgusting comments about ignoring American lives from blue States, President Trump lied, once again, about his support for Americans with preexisting conditions, a lie he has told and retold while his administration is in court suing to eliminate those very protections. Don't worry, though. President Trump promised that a brandnew, fantastic Republican healthcare plan is just around the corner. He said you will see it in 2 weeks, just like he told FOX News in July when he said he would sign a healthcare plan in 2 weeks, a full and complete healthcare plan, and again in August, just 2 weeks away--just like his infrastructure bill, a new middle-class tax cut, lower prescription drug costs, a new stimulus package, a report on COVID-19's impact on minorities, and new COVID tests, all of which the President said would be ``2 weeks'' away but, in fact, never materialized, not in 2 weeks, not ever. He must think the American people are chumps that he can say anything he wants with no accountability, not do it, and then do it again and again and again. For centuries, American Presidents have faced challenges with honor and with courage. They have stepped up to the podium and used their bully pulpit to give honor to American lives. But when this President, President Trump, stands at that great podium, he reveals his cowardice, his callousness, his selfishness, his ignorance, and, most of all, his insistence on dividing us. His inability and unwillingness to unite a grieving nation will be his legacy. When Donald Trump took the stage at the 2016 National Republican Convention, he painted a false portrait of a country in crisis, and declared, ``I alone can fix it.'' Four years later, the country faces actual crises--the greatest economic crisis in 75 years, the greatest public health crisis in a century--and President Trump now says: ``It is what it is.'' ``Could you have done more to stop it?'' ``I don't think so,'' he says. ``If you take the blue States out. . . . We're really at a very low level.'' ``I don't take any responsibility at all.'' ``It's going to disappear.'' ``A lot of people think the masks are no good.'' ``[W]hen it gets a little warmer, it miraculously goes away.'' ``I see the disinfectant, [where it] knocks it out in a minute . . . and is there a way [we] can do something like that, by injection?'' ``I'm not a doctor, but I'm, like, a person that has a good, you know what.'' This man, who said all these ridiculous, harmful things, is leading the country through the worst public health crisis in a century. Americans don't have to ask themselves, as Reagan once asked, if they are better off now than 4 years ago. President Trump has told everyone exactly what the score is. When Donald Trump said he was running for office, he said: ``I alone can fix it.'' When Donald Trump is running the country during the worst pandemic in this century, he says: ``It is what it is.'' Five words. Both times, five words. Five words that sum up an approach to government and leadership that is completely antithetical to everything the word ``leadership'' means. Promise big, deliver zero, deliver small. That is President Trump's view of government. Boast when you don't have any responsibility; shrink from it when you do. That is President Trump's view of public service. It has diminished our institutions and our democracy. He has cost our country its moral standing in the world; he has threatened the future of our planet; and he has cost Americans their healthcare, their jobs, and their lives. But it is not so bad if you don't count the numbers. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5681-6 | null | 1,326 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, a few days ago, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport. You may say: Of course the flight took off from Tel Aviv; that happens every day--but not like this flight. You see, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport, flew south, directly over Saudi Arabia, which hasn't happened, and landed in Abu Dhabi because the United Arab Emirates has formed a peace agreement with Israel--recognizing its right to exist, opening up Embassies in Israel and in the United Arab Emirates, beginning trade in commerce. Just days ago, the first cargo aircraft took off and flew, taking supplies, technology, medicine--engagement between the Nation of Israel and the Arab nation of the United Arab Emirates, forming a new alliance in the Middle East. Flight 971 is significant because 971 is the country code if you are going to call the United Arab Emirates. The return flight, by the way, leaving from Abu Dhabi and flying back to Israel is Flight 972--the country code for Israel. That first flight that took off, on the outside of the plane were emblazoned three words--one in English, one in Hebrew, and one in Arabic--all translated, the word ``peace.'' It is a new day. And this week, when President Trump and the Foreign Ministers from the United Arab Emirates and from Bahrain and the Prime Minister of Israel all stood at the White House and spoke of each other in a new partnership and then all sat at a table and signed documents together, beginning a new relationship not just with UAE but also with Bahrain, it was a remarkable day in world history. In 70 years of Israel's history, only two nations that are Arab nations have recognized Israel's right to exist, even--Jordan and Egypt. In 1 day, two more nations joined--the UAE and Bahrain. It was significant to be able to see the journey on that and to be able to hear the Foreign Ministers of Bahrain and UAE compliment President Trump, Mike Pompeo, and Jared Kushner for their leadership and, as the Foreign Minister from Bahrain said, President Trump's statesmanship in this process. It was a negotiation that was turned on its head. For decades, American negotiators have tried to work to solve the issues with the Palestinians first and then to work to solve every other relationship second. That has been the American focus. The Trump negotiations reversed it. They believed that many in the Arab world were tired of the Palestinians holding their foreign policy hostage, and they flipped it and said: Why don't we start negotiating with the Arab world first and see if they want to open up trade negotiations with Israel and be able to stabilize those negotiations? It has worked. Not only has it worked in two countries--in a single day signing an agreement--but there are multiple other nations that are currently looking at this same deal with Israel to say: Yes, we still need to resolve the issues in the Palestinian territory. Yes, that is still very important. But these nations can work toward peace and unity together as they resolve their differences. They signed a document dealing with relationships diplomatically, but they also signed something they called the Abraham Accords Declaration. Let me read this accord to you because it is significant. It begins with this simple statement: We, the undersigned, recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom. That is a significant statement. Nations have spoken of religious freedom, but it has not thrived there. The document goes on to say: We seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith, or ethnicity We support science, art, medicine, and commerce to inspire humankind, maximize human potential and bring nations closer together. We seek to end radicalization and conflict to provide all children a better future. We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world. It was a document many people said would never be signed, but it is a stake in the ground to say it is a new day in the Middle East in peace negotiations and a pivot, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Amman, Morocco, Sudan, and Lebanon should take notice and should see the benefit to economic trade and engagement, to confronting Iranian influence in the area that tries to destabilize so much of the Middle East, pushing back on terrorism, and developing partnerships in science and health and technology and prosperity for everyone in the region. That happened this week. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5695-2 | null | 1,327 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, a few days ago, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport. You may say: Of course the flight took off from Tel Aviv; that happens every day--but not like this flight. You see, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport, flew south, directly over Saudi Arabia, which hasn't happened, and landed in Abu Dhabi because the United Arab Emirates has formed a peace agreement with Israel--recognizing its right to exist, opening up Embassies in Israel and in the United Arab Emirates, beginning trade in commerce. Just days ago, the first cargo aircraft took off and flew, taking supplies, technology, medicine--engagement between the Nation of Israel and the Arab nation of the United Arab Emirates, forming a new alliance in the Middle East. Flight 971 is significant because 971 is the country code if you are going to call the United Arab Emirates. The return flight, by the way, leaving from Abu Dhabi and flying back to Israel is Flight 972--the country code for Israel. That first flight that took off, on the outside of the plane were emblazoned three words--one in English, one in Hebrew, and one in Arabic--all translated, the word ``peace.'' It is a new day. And this week, when President Trump and the Foreign Ministers from the United Arab Emirates and from Bahrain and the Prime Minister of Israel all stood at the White House and spoke of each other in a new partnership and then all sat at a table and signed documents together, beginning a new relationship not just with UAE but also with Bahrain, it was a remarkable day in world history. In 70 years of Israel's history, only two nations that are Arab nations have recognized Israel's right to exist, even--Jordan and Egypt. In 1 day, two more nations joined--the UAE and Bahrain. It was significant to be able to see the journey on that and to be able to hear the Foreign Ministers of Bahrain and UAE compliment President Trump, Mike Pompeo, and Jared Kushner for their leadership and, as the Foreign Minister from Bahrain said, President Trump's statesmanship in this process. It was a negotiation that was turned on its head. For decades, American negotiators have tried to work to solve the issues with the Palestinians first and then to work to solve every other relationship second. That has been the American focus. The Trump negotiations reversed it. They believed that many in the Arab world were tired of the Palestinians holding their foreign policy hostage, and they flipped it and said: Why don't we start negotiating with the Arab world first and see if they want to open up trade negotiations with Israel and be able to stabilize those negotiations? It has worked. Not only has it worked in two countries--in a single day signing an agreement--but there are multiple other nations that are currently looking at this same deal with Israel to say: Yes, we still need to resolve the issues in the Palestinian territory. Yes, that is still very important. But these nations can work toward peace and unity together as they resolve their differences. They signed a document dealing with relationships diplomatically, but they also signed something they called the Abraham Accords Declaration. Let me read this accord to you because it is significant. It begins with this simple statement: We, the undersigned, recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom. That is a significant statement. Nations have spoken of religious freedom, but it has not thrived there. The document goes on to say: We seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith, or ethnicity We support science, art, medicine, and commerce to inspire humankind, maximize human potential and bring nations closer together. We seek to end radicalization and conflict to provide all children a better future. We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world. It was a document many people said would never be signed, but it is a stake in the ground to say it is a new day in the Middle East in peace negotiations and a pivot, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Amman, Morocco, Sudan, and Lebanon should take notice and should see the benefit to economic trade and engagement, to confronting Iranian influence in the area that tries to destabilize so much of the Middle East, pushing back on terrorism, and developing partnerships in science and health and technology and prosperity for everyone in the region. That happened this week. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5695-2 | null | 1,328 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, a few days ago, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport. You may say: Of course the flight took off from Tel Aviv; that happens every day--but not like this flight. You see, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport, flew south, directly over Saudi Arabia, which hasn't happened, and landed in Abu Dhabi because the United Arab Emirates has formed a peace agreement with Israel--recognizing its right to exist, opening up Embassies in Israel and in the United Arab Emirates, beginning trade in commerce. Just days ago, the first cargo aircraft took off and flew, taking supplies, technology, medicine--engagement between the Nation of Israel and the Arab nation of the United Arab Emirates, forming a new alliance in the Middle East. Flight 971 is significant because 971 is the country code if you are going to call the United Arab Emirates. The return flight, by the way, leaving from Abu Dhabi and flying back to Israel is Flight 972--the country code for Israel. That first flight that took off, on the outside of the plane were emblazoned three words--one in English, one in Hebrew, and one in Arabic--all translated, the word ``peace.'' It is a new day. And this week, when President Trump and the Foreign Ministers from the United Arab Emirates and from Bahrain and the Prime Minister of Israel all stood at the White House and spoke of each other in a new partnership and then all sat at a table and signed documents together, beginning a new relationship not just with UAE but also with Bahrain, it was a remarkable day in world history. In 70 years of Israel's history, only two nations that are Arab nations have recognized Israel's right to exist, even--Jordan and Egypt. In 1 day, two more nations joined--the UAE and Bahrain. It was significant to be able to see the journey on that and to be able to hear the Foreign Ministers of Bahrain and UAE compliment President Trump, Mike Pompeo, and Jared Kushner for their leadership and, as the Foreign Minister from Bahrain said, President Trump's statesmanship in this process. It was a negotiation that was turned on its head. For decades, American negotiators have tried to work to solve the issues with the Palestinians first and then to work to solve every other relationship second. That has been the American focus. The Trump negotiations reversed it. They believed that many in the Arab world were tired of the Palestinians holding their foreign policy hostage, and they flipped it and said: Why don't we start negotiating with the Arab world first and see if they want to open up trade negotiations with Israel and be able to stabilize those negotiations? It has worked. Not only has it worked in two countries--in a single day signing an agreement--but there are multiple other nations that are currently looking at this same deal with Israel to say: Yes, we still need to resolve the issues in the Palestinian territory. Yes, that is still very important. But these nations can work toward peace and unity together as they resolve their differences. They signed a document dealing with relationships diplomatically, but they also signed something they called the Abraham Accords Declaration. Let me read this accord to you because it is significant. It begins with this simple statement: We, the undersigned, recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom. That is a significant statement. Nations have spoken of religious freedom, but it has not thrived there. The document goes on to say: We seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith, or ethnicity We support science, art, medicine, and commerce to inspire humankind, maximize human potential and bring nations closer together. We seek to end radicalization and conflict to provide all children a better future. We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world. It was a document many people said would never be signed, but it is a stake in the ground to say it is a new day in the Middle East in peace negotiations and a pivot, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Amman, Morocco, Sudan, and Lebanon should take notice and should see the benefit to economic trade and engagement, to confronting Iranian influence in the area that tries to destabilize so much of the Middle East, pushing back on terrorism, and developing partnerships in science and health and technology and prosperity for everyone in the region. That happened this week. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5695-2 | null | 1,329 |
formal | religious freedom | null | homophobic | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, a few days ago, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport. You may say: Of course the flight took off from Tel Aviv; that happens every day--but not like this flight. You see, Flight 971 took off from Tel Aviv Airport, flew south, directly over Saudi Arabia, which hasn't happened, and landed in Abu Dhabi because the United Arab Emirates has formed a peace agreement with Israel--recognizing its right to exist, opening up Embassies in Israel and in the United Arab Emirates, beginning trade in commerce. Just days ago, the first cargo aircraft took off and flew, taking supplies, technology, medicine--engagement between the Nation of Israel and the Arab nation of the United Arab Emirates, forming a new alliance in the Middle East. Flight 971 is significant because 971 is the country code if you are going to call the United Arab Emirates. The return flight, by the way, leaving from Abu Dhabi and flying back to Israel is Flight 972--the country code for Israel. That first flight that took off, on the outside of the plane were emblazoned three words--one in English, one in Hebrew, and one in Arabic--all translated, the word ``peace.'' It is a new day. And this week, when President Trump and the Foreign Ministers from the United Arab Emirates and from Bahrain and the Prime Minister of Israel all stood at the White House and spoke of each other in a new partnership and then all sat at a table and signed documents together, beginning a new relationship not just with UAE but also with Bahrain, it was a remarkable day in world history. In 70 years of Israel's history, only two nations that are Arab nations have recognized Israel's right to exist, even--Jordan and Egypt. In 1 day, two more nations joined--the UAE and Bahrain. It was significant to be able to see the journey on that and to be able to hear the Foreign Ministers of Bahrain and UAE compliment President Trump, Mike Pompeo, and Jared Kushner for their leadership and, as the Foreign Minister from Bahrain said, President Trump's statesmanship in this process. It was a negotiation that was turned on its head. For decades, American negotiators have tried to work to solve the issues with the Palestinians first and then to work to solve every other relationship second. That has been the American focus. The Trump negotiations reversed it. They believed that many in the Arab world were tired of the Palestinians holding their foreign policy hostage, and they flipped it and said: Why don't we start negotiating with the Arab world first and see if they want to open up trade negotiations with Israel and be able to stabilize those negotiations? It has worked. Not only has it worked in two countries--in a single day signing an agreement--but there are multiple other nations that are currently looking at this same deal with Israel to say: Yes, we still need to resolve the issues in the Palestinian territory. Yes, that is still very important. But these nations can work toward peace and unity together as they resolve their differences. They signed a document dealing with relationships diplomatically, but they also signed something they called the Abraham Accords Declaration. Let me read this accord to you because it is significant. It begins with this simple statement: We, the undersigned, recognize the importance of maintaining and strengthening peace in the Middle East and around the world based on mutual understanding and coexistence, as well as respect for human dignity and freedom, including religious freedom. That is a significant statement. Nations have spoken of religious freedom, but it has not thrived there. The document goes on to say: We seek tolerance and respect for every person in order to make this world a place where all can enjoy a life of dignity and hope, no matter their race, faith, or ethnicity We support science, art, medicine, and commerce to inspire humankind, maximize human potential and bring nations closer together. We seek to end radicalization and conflict to provide all children a better future. We pursue a vision of peace, security, and prosperity in the Middle East and around the world. It was a document many people said would never be signed, but it is a stake in the ground to say it is a new day in the Middle East in peace negotiations and a pivot, as Prime Minister Netanyahu said. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Amman, Morocco, Sudan, and Lebanon should take notice and should see the benefit to economic trade and engagement, to confronting Iranian influence in the area that tries to destabilize so much of the Middle East, pushing back on terrorism, and developing partnerships in science and health and technology and prosperity for everyone in the region. That happened this week. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5695-2 | null | 1,330 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Mr. LANKFORD. There is something happening on Monday that much of the world has missed as well in the Middle East. For a year, there has been a process ongoing to be able to confront Iran.Iran has actively stated they are going to continue to pursue their nuclear ambitions. They have actively stated they are going to pursue weapons deals. They have actively stated they want to continue to break the arms embargo. Some of our allies have stood silent, but Iran has discussed purchasing weapons of all types from all places. We used to be united--regardless whether it was nuclear or not--that Iran should not continue to accelerate that. As the largest exporter of terrorism in the world, we should confront what Iran is trying to do--continue to provide heavy arms. As of Monday, the United States will move into a different mode with Iran. As of midnight Sunday night, snap back sanctions begin on Iran on Monday. And that is a different moment for us as a nation, to say we have stated as a country, now through multiple Presidencies, that we will not allow Iran to be a nuclear power or to continue to arm itself in such a way to do its neighbors harm. When snap back sanctions occur on Monday, all of our allies should be aware that the United States is steadfast in that commitment. We would ask you to join us in that as well. Over the past few months, thousands of troops have come back home from the Middle East--from Syria, from Iraq, from Afghanistan. By the end of this year, we will have 4,500 troops still in Afghanistan; that is from a high just a few years ago of 100,000 boots on the ground. Ongoing negotiations for peace continue between Afghan leadership and the Taliban. Those are problems that have existed for decades and in some areas, generations. While I don't believe Afghanistan will suddenly break out and be a bastion of peace for the world, we do have a responsibility to help them where we can but also an obligation to protect our sons and daughters. Our blood and our treasures spilled in Afghanistan for decades. We shouldn't lose the investment of that blood and treasure. But it is good to see so many people coming home. In Europe, a free-trade agreement is actively being negotiated with the UK. We are pleased to be able to partner with such a special-relationship country like the United Kingdom. We have had a long-lasting friendship with them since we settled a little conflict in 1776 and another dustup in 1812. That special relationship with the UK should continue on with a very good trade agreement. I am pleased that the administration continues to push forward in the area of trade--an area that it is amazing to me how many people didn't even notice was the powder keg of Europe that just recently was resolved. For generations, the area around Serbia, Kosovo have been a hotbed area for conflict. In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has negotiated a peace deal between Serbia and Kosovo that leaves Serbia to actually officially recognize Kosovo. Again, that may not seem like a big deal to many other people, but to Oklahomans--many of whom have served in our 45th and who have served there in Kosovo, helping to protect and stabilize that country and provide security there in that region--it is very significant to us to be able to see peace breaking out between Serbia and Kosovo. I am pleased that, while many people in the world don't even pay attention to what is happening in Serbia and Kosovo, the Trump administration has, and their diplomatic team has been very engaged in negotiating that and bringing to them some stability. Interestingly enough, in the negotiations both Serbia and Kosovo also agreed to designate Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization and to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to be able to move their embassies to Jerusalem, which is another affirmation of what is happening in the Middle East in the string of what is ongoing. One last comment that many people may have missed, we all grieve for what is happening in Lebanon. That experiment in multiracial, multifaith, and cooperative government has been a struggle, but they have been a stronghold for religious tolerance in Lebanon. Watching the hundreds of people who were killed and thousands who were injured in the explosion at their docks in Beirut was painful for the entire world. The United States has stepped up as being the top donor to humanitarian aid to Lebanon during this time period, and we are engaging in multiple ways. At the end of the day, if we are going to help Lebanon be stable, we have to help that experiment in democracy there in the Middle East to be able to thrive with transparency. I partnered with Senator Murphy and several other colleagues to help set our Nation's priority to help Lebanon rebuild, including to utilize the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, called the DFC, to help them in their infrastructure projects; to push out China, which is trying to work their way into the Middle East and dominate there; to allow the people of Lebanon to decide their own future; to leverage leadership in the International Monetary Fund to prevent multilateral bailouts that don't allow for real reforms in their banking system; and to push out corruption and push out Hezbollah. There are things we can do that are not of a partisan nature on which Senator Murphy and I cooperate together to be able to help push for Lebanon. It is important that they continue to be a stable force in the region. This is a real time of testing for them as a country. I am proud the administration has pushed our diplomats in Lebanon to be able to find ways where we can practically help now and long term for real reforms for them. There is a lot going on around the world. While we are focused on COVID, rightfully so for our own health, while we focus on our economy, rightfully so, and while we focus on the issues of racial inequality, rightfully so, we cannot lose track of the issues we also need to be engaged in around the world. It is important that America continue to be a leader in diplomacy and a leader in bringing religious liberty and freedom and opportunity for all people. Whether you are in Hong Kong, as we discussed before, or whether you are in Abu Dhabi, all people deserve the recognition of their humanity and respect and an opportunity to be able to live their lives with freedom. Let's continue to stand for the values that define us and define us together. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5695-3 | null | 1,331 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Mr. LANKFORD. There is something happening on Monday that much of the world has missed as well in the Middle East. For a year, there has been a process ongoing to be able to confront Iran.Iran has actively stated they are going to continue to pursue their nuclear ambitions. They have actively stated they are going to pursue weapons deals. They have actively stated they want to continue to break the arms embargo. Some of our allies have stood silent, but Iran has discussed purchasing weapons of all types from all places. We used to be united--regardless whether it was nuclear or not--that Iran should not continue to accelerate that. As the largest exporter of terrorism in the world, we should confront what Iran is trying to do--continue to provide heavy arms. As of Monday, the United States will move into a different mode with Iran. As of midnight Sunday night, snap back sanctions begin on Iran on Monday. And that is a different moment for us as a nation, to say we have stated as a country, now through multiple Presidencies, that we will not allow Iran to be a nuclear power or to continue to arm itself in such a way to do its neighbors harm. When snap back sanctions occur on Monday, all of our allies should be aware that the United States is steadfast in that commitment. We would ask you to join us in that as well. Over the past few months, thousands of troops have come back home from the Middle East--from Syria, from Iraq, from Afghanistan. By the end of this year, we will have 4,500 troops still in Afghanistan; that is from a high just a few years ago of 100,000 boots on the ground. Ongoing negotiations for peace continue between Afghan leadership and the Taliban. Those are problems that have existed for decades and in some areas, generations. While I don't believe Afghanistan will suddenly break out and be a bastion of peace for the world, we do have a responsibility to help them where we can but also an obligation to protect our sons and daughters. Our blood and our treasures spilled in Afghanistan for decades. We shouldn't lose the investment of that blood and treasure. But it is good to see so many people coming home. In Europe, a free-trade agreement is actively being negotiated with the UK. We are pleased to be able to partner with such a special-relationship country like the United Kingdom. We have had a long-lasting friendship with them since we settled a little conflict in 1776 and another dustup in 1812. That special relationship with the UK should continue on with a very good trade agreement. I am pleased that the administration continues to push forward in the area of trade--an area that it is amazing to me how many people didn't even notice was the powder keg of Europe that just recently was resolved. For generations, the area around Serbia, Kosovo have been a hotbed area for conflict. In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has negotiated a peace deal between Serbia and Kosovo that leaves Serbia to actually officially recognize Kosovo. Again, that may not seem like a big deal to many other people, but to Oklahomans--many of whom have served in our 45th and who have served there in Kosovo, helping to protect and stabilize that country and provide security there in that region--it is very significant to us to be able to see peace breaking out between Serbia and Kosovo. I am pleased that, while many people in the world don't even pay attention to what is happening in Serbia and Kosovo, the Trump administration has, and their diplomatic team has been very engaged in negotiating that and bringing to them some stability. Interestingly enough, in the negotiations both Serbia and Kosovo also agreed to designate Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization and to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to be able to move their embassies to Jerusalem, which is another affirmation of what is happening in the Middle East in the string of what is ongoing. One last comment that many people may have missed, we all grieve for what is happening in Lebanon. That experiment in multiracial, multifaith, and cooperative government has been a struggle, but they have been a stronghold for religious tolerance in Lebanon. Watching the hundreds of people who were killed and thousands who were injured in the explosion at their docks in Beirut was painful for the entire world. The United States has stepped up as being the top donor to humanitarian aid to Lebanon during this time period, and we are engaging in multiple ways. At the end of the day, if we are going to help Lebanon be stable, we have to help that experiment in democracy there in the Middle East to be able to thrive with transparency. I partnered with Senator Murphy and several other colleagues to help set our Nation's priority to help Lebanon rebuild, including to utilize the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, called the DFC, to help them in their infrastructure projects; to push out China, which is trying to work their way into the Middle East and dominate there; to allow the people of Lebanon to decide their own future; to leverage leadership in the International Monetary Fund to prevent multilateral bailouts that don't allow for real reforms in their banking system; and to push out corruption and push out Hezbollah. There are things we can do that are not of a partisan nature on which Senator Murphy and I cooperate together to be able to help push for Lebanon. It is important that they continue to be a stable force in the region. This is a real time of testing for them as a country. I am proud the administration has pushed our diplomats in Lebanon to be able to find ways where we can practically help now and long term for real reforms for them. There is a lot going on around the world. While we are focused on COVID, rightfully so for our own health, while we focus on our economy, rightfully so, and while we focus on the issues of racial inequality, rightfully so, we cannot lose track of the issues we also need to be engaged in around the world. It is important that America continue to be a leader in diplomacy and a leader in bringing religious liberty and freedom and opportunity for all people. Whether you are in Hong Kong, as we discussed before, or whether you are in Abu Dhabi, all people deserve the recognition of their humanity and respect and an opportunity to be able to live their lives with freedom. Let's continue to stand for the values that define us and define us together. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5695-3 | null | 1,332 |
formal | religious liberty | null | homophobic | Mr. LANKFORD. There is something happening on Monday that much of the world has missed as well in the Middle East. For a year, there has been a process ongoing to be able to confront Iran.Iran has actively stated they are going to continue to pursue their nuclear ambitions. They have actively stated they are going to pursue weapons deals. They have actively stated they want to continue to break the arms embargo. Some of our allies have stood silent, but Iran has discussed purchasing weapons of all types from all places. We used to be united--regardless whether it was nuclear or not--that Iran should not continue to accelerate that. As the largest exporter of terrorism in the world, we should confront what Iran is trying to do--continue to provide heavy arms. As of Monday, the United States will move into a different mode with Iran. As of midnight Sunday night, snap back sanctions begin on Iran on Monday. And that is a different moment for us as a nation, to say we have stated as a country, now through multiple Presidencies, that we will not allow Iran to be a nuclear power or to continue to arm itself in such a way to do its neighbors harm. When snap back sanctions occur on Monday, all of our allies should be aware that the United States is steadfast in that commitment. We would ask you to join us in that as well. Over the past few months, thousands of troops have come back home from the Middle East--from Syria, from Iraq, from Afghanistan. By the end of this year, we will have 4,500 troops still in Afghanistan; that is from a high just a few years ago of 100,000 boots on the ground. Ongoing negotiations for peace continue between Afghan leadership and the Taliban. Those are problems that have existed for decades and in some areas, generations. While I don't believe Afghanistan will suddenly break out and be a bastion of peace for the world, we do have a responsibility to help them where we can but also an obligation to protect our sons and daughters. Our blood and our treasures spilled in Afghanistan for decades. We shouldn't lose the investment of that blood and treasure. But it is good to see so many people coming home. In Europe, a free-trade agreement is actively being negotiated with the UK. We are pleased to be able to partner with such a special-relationship country like the United Kingdom. We have had a long-lasting friendship with them since we settled a little conflict in 1776 and another dustup in 1812. That special relationship with the UK should continue on with a very good trade agreement. I am pleased that the administration continues to push forward in the area of trade--an area that it is amazing to me how many people didn't even notice was the powder keg of Europe that just recently was resolved. For generations, the area around Serbia, Kosovo have been a hotbed area for conflict. In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has negotiated a peace deal between Serbia and Kosovo that leaves Serbia to actually officially recognize Kosovo. Again, that may not seem like a big deal to many other people, but to Oklahomans--many of whom have served in our 45th and who have served there in Kosovo, helping to protect and stabilize that country and provide security there in that region--it is very significant to us to be able to see peace breaking out between Serbia and Kosovo. I am pleased that, while many people in the world don't even pay attention to what is happening in Serbia and Kosovo, the Trump administration has, and their diplomatic team has been very engaged in negotiating that and bringing to them some stability. Interestingly enough, in the negotiations both Serbia and Kosovo also agreed to designate Hezbollah as a foreign terrorist organization and to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and to be able to move their embassies to Jerusalem, which is another affirmation of what is happening in the Middle East in the string of what is ongoing. One last comment that many people may have missed, we all grieve for what is happening in Lebanon. That experiment in multiracial, multifaith, and cooperative government has been a struggle, but they have been a stronghold for religious tolerance in Lebanon. Watching the hundreds of people who were killed and thousands who were injured in the explosion at their docks in Beirut was painful for the entire world. The United States has stepped up as being the top donor to humanitarian aid to Lebanon during this time period, and we are engaging in multiple ways. At the end of the day, if we are going to help Lebanon be stable, we have to help that experiment in democracy there in the Middle East to be able to thrive with transparency. I partnered with Senator Murphy and several other colleagues to help set our Nation's priority to help Lebanon rebuild, including to utilize the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, called the DFC, to help them in their infrastructure projects; to push out China, which is trying to work their way into the Middle East and dominate there; to allow the people of Lebanon to decide their own future; to leverage leadership in the International Monetary Fund to prevent multilateral bailouts that don't allow for real reforms in their banking system; and to push out corruption and push out Hezbollah. There are things we can do that are not of a partisan nature on which Senator Murphy and I cooperate together to be able to help push for Lebanon. It is important that they continue to be a stable force in the region. This is a real time of testing for them as a country. I am proud the administration has pushed our diplomats in Lebanon to be able to find ways where we can practically help now and long term for real reforms for them. There is a lot going on around the world. While we are focused on COVID, rightfully so for our own health, while we focus on our economy, rightfully so, and while we focus on the issues of racial inequality, rightfully so, we cannot lose track of the issues we also need to be engaged in around the world. It is important that America continue to be a leader in diplomacy and a leader in bringing religious liberty and freedom and opportunity for all people. Whether you are in Hong Kong, as we discussed before, or whether you are in Abu Dhabi, all people deserve the recognition of their humanity and respect and an opportunity to be able to live their lives with freedom. Let's continue to stand for the values that define us and define us together. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5695-3 | null | 1,333 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. KING. Mr. President, I am sure you and I and all the Members of this body remember that night in late March. It was late at night. I remember standing in the back of the Chamber to see one of the truly historic votes. It was a unanimous vote of the U.S. Senate to pass the CARES Act. It was an amazing achievement to see the Senate and the Congress come together in that way with the White House, with the President, to help meet the needs of the American people. When we passed that bill back in March, September seemed a long way away. We thought we had provided enough aid for small businesses. It turns out we didn't. We thought we had provided enough aid for people, unfortunately, who have fallen into unemployment through no fault of their own but the fault of this dreaded COVID, but we didn't provide enough. We hoped that we had provided enough for first responders, for schools, for healthcare professionals, for testing, and for all the things that were necessary to get us out of this terrible pandemic. It turns out that wasn't the case. Here we are in September facing a renewed version of this virus that is now spreading in parts of the country that weren't affected back in March. I want to address, No. 1, that we must do something. We have to respond to the needs of the American people just as we did in March. I don't understand why this time it seems to be a partisan issue; why this time we can't have the same spirit that we had then of negotiation, of give and take, of compromise to reach a bill that all realize now was a really significant accomplishment. For some reason, now it just seems to be much harder. I understand the concern about the debt and the deficit. I used to be a Governor. I know about balancing budgets. States have to balance their budgets, but now is not the time. If we don't take further action to shore up the economy and protect thepeople who are being impacted by this, the fiscal cost in the long run will be worse. The revival of the economy will take longer. The cost to the Treasury will be greater than what we are proposing to spend now. I believe and I hope that we are moving slowly toward some kind of agreement that will allow us to provide the support to the American people and the American economy that will make such a difference in how we are able to cope with this terrible disease over the next several months--at least through the end of the year. That is really the mission that is before us. The Democrats made a proposal back in May. They passed the Heroes Act of over $3 trillion. They have moved. The Speaker and the minority leader here have moved $1 trillion. They made a counteroffer a few weeks ago of about $2 trillion. The White House apparently, over the last couple of days, has said we are now talking about something at $1.5 trillion to $2 trillion as a solution. The parties are moving, and I hope today that they will continue to discuss and that the table will have people sitting at it trying to find a solution. I think there is hope that we can do that. I deeply hope that we can come to an agreement. Schools across the country are seeing, unbelievably, additional expenditures in all areas to try to get back to normal, to try to get back into the classroom. If they are going to do that, they need more buses. They are going to need more teachers. They are going to need more people. They are going to need more cleaning materials. They are going to need all kinds of additional expenditures they weren't anticipating. Small businesses are continuing to teeter. I hear awful stories about small businesses that between now and the end of the year are in danger of closing their doors forever. That would be a tragedy for our country. We are continuing to see people lose their jobs. We are continuing to see people on unemployment. We are continuing to see people who can't put food on the table because the aid that we provided in the CARES Act in March ran out at the end of July I am urging, No. 1, discussions. That is pretty obvious. I hope that the representatives of the two parties and representatives of the White House can come together and reach an agreement. Part of this agreement has to contain within it support for States, towns, and cities. They are suffering, too, and they are providing the very services that the people need in this pandemic. States can't borrow money the way we can. They have to balance their budget on a year-to-year basis. If they are being clobbered by the effects of this disease, not only in expenditures but in loss of revenues, they only have two choices. I have been there. They only have two choices. One is drastic cuts, and the other is raising taxes, neither of which is an acceptable alternative in the midst of a recession, and neither of which makes any sense for the American people. They have either to cut or raise taxes. Those aren't good options. By the way, I can only speak for the Maine budget. I don't know how other State budgets work. But in Maine about one-third of our budget--between 25 percent and 35 percent of our State budget--goes back to our communities. It goes to the capital city of Augusta, makes a U-turn, and goes back into the towns and cities across Maine, mostly in the form of general-purpose aid to education, also in the form of revenue sharing, and in other kinds of grants and contracts. When we talk about the State, it sounds like we are talking about these big, impersonal entities, but we are really talking about towns--small towns--and school districts. That is where a lot of this impact is going to fall. It is a double-edged sword that cuts both ways. It is hurting people--the people who are being laid off, the people who are going to have to be laid off, whether they are in a town or city, a county or the State. That hurts the economy. Those are people who are buying things in the stores, going to restaurants, and going to grocery stores. They are going to places to buy clothes, and if they can't do that, then, the entire economy is pulled down. If we don't help the States and the cities and towns in this situation, the estimates are that it is going to hit GDP by 2 to 3 percent. That is huge. That is a huge economic loss that is going to translate into a fiscal loss for us and a tragic loss for the American people. The estimate in Maine is a $1.4 billion shortfall of our State budget over the next 3 years--a half-billion dollars in this fiscal year that we are in right now. Towns and cities across Maine are already starting to furlough first responders. Who is it that works for the towns? Who is it that works for the cities? Police and fire are the biggest components. They are not hiring people. I think we need to face the fact that those who are opposing aid to our cities and towns are the people who are defunding the police. That is who is defunding the police because their budgets are going to be cut if they don't get some assistance from this body and this government. Let's be real. Let's talk about facts. Let's talk about the real impact of our lack of attention to this issue. This is a personal tragedy for these families, and it is one more blow to the economy. By the way, this is not a blue State issue. Here are some States whose budgets have been hit by more than 10 percent by the loss of revenues caused by the COVID: Alaska, which is not much of a blue State; Indiana; Kansas; Kentucky; Montana; Oklahoma; and Iowa. Those States are hurting, too. This blue State-red State stuff bothers me. I don't know how many emergency appropriations for natural disasters, wildfires, floods, and hurricanes I have voted for. It never occurred to me to ask what color the State was. It never occurred to me. We are a community. This is one country. I don't ask how Florida voted if there is a hurricane that strikes that State or Georgia or Alabama, which is being hit right now. If they need help, we should provide it. But what we are seeing now is a slow-motion fiscal hurricane that is hitting many, if not all, of the States of the United States. We should come together and help them. As for this business about that, well, we don't want to bail out somebody's pension program, look, this is an easy calculation. The Treasury Department is capable of making the calculation. What were your revenues last year? What were your projections before COVID? What is the difference? That is what we are talking about. Make no mistake, we are talking about real, concrete, on-the-ground losses of jobs and losses of the services that those jobs provide. Whether they are public health workers, first responders, firefighters, or police--yes, police--they are who are being impacted here, and it is we as citizens who are the customers of those services who need the protection and who need the services they provide. They are who are being hurt. I hope that we can come to an agreement and that we can get over this nonsense that this is somehow a blue State-red State thing and that we are bailing out States that were not prudent. I am tired of hearing that. We are talking about people's lives here. We are talking about the protection of public services. We are talking about teaching our kids. We are talking about people who are providing the basic protections that we all take for granted in our daily lives. Really, I have two simple messages: One, let's make a deal. Two, that deal should include support for those people and institutions in our States, in our cities, and in our smallest towns so that they will have the wherewithal to be able to help us all get through this thing together. That is what this is all about, and those are the people on the ground who are helping us get through this together. We can do this. We proved in March that we could do it. I think we must and can and will do it again. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. KING | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5696 | null | 1,334 |
formal | safeguard | null | transphobic | Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I rise to commemorate the International Day of Democracy. Since 2007, September 15 has offered an opportunity each year to reflect on the democratic values that we cherish and to recommit ourselves to promoting them around the world. The democratic project is especially important at this moment. Although some communities are experiencing greater rights and freedoms than ever before, there is also an alarming trend of democratic backsliding in many corners of the globe. Countries that were becoming increasingly open and egalitarian are moving back toward authoritarianism under unlawful, oppressive leaders. Meanwhile, countries that were already unfree are suffering even more disturbing civil and human rights abuses. If we turn a blind eye to these developments, it will embolden bad actors to continue undermining freedom, peace, and equality. The United States must lead all democracy-loving people in calling out subversions of democratic rights wherever they exist and holding those responsible to account. One country that requires our urgent attention is China. The Government of China has not adhered to democratic norms for a long time, but we should never allow that failure to normalize ongoing human rights abuses such as the vicious opposition to the Uighurs. International nongovernmental organizations have documented China's mass surveillance, arbitrary detention, torture, and political indoctrination of these communities for no reason other than their religious and cultural differences. We must do everything possible to fight for the freedom and equality of the Uighurs to help end this atrocity. We also need to stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. Beijing's attempt to circumvent Hong Kong's independent legal system with a far-reaching, oppressive national security law is dangerous and in complete disregard of the one-country, two-system principle. I am likewise disturbed that the Hong Kong government inexplicably postponed the September regional elections for another year. The people of Hong Kong deserve to see their democratic aspirations realized and protected. I am pleased that there is bipartisan, strong support in the U.S. Senate and in the House for the people of Hong Kong, and I joined with Senator Rubio in introducing legislation to make that clear. China is certainly not the only place where democratic rights are threatened. We need to look closer to home, as well, to countries like Venezuela. In Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro's illegal regime has produced one of the worst humanitarian crises by plundering the country's resources for personal gain and using the distribution of food as a tool for social control. Maduro has completely ignored the Venezuelan people's call to return to democracy and is using the current global pandemic as an opportunity to consolidate his own power. In addition to addressing quasi-dictatorships in the Western Hemisphere, we must maintain pressure on the so-called ``last dictator'' of Europe, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko. While Lukashenko's near three-decade rule has been full of corrupt power grabs and crackdowns and dissent, his behavior surrounding the recent Presidential election demonstrates a new level of lawlessness. Lukashenko refused to certify opposing candidates and then imprisoned them. He claimed victory through clearly fraudulent election results. He restricted the free flow of information by shutting down the internet and targeting journalists. And he oversaw the brutal repression of protesters, including many instances of Belarusian security forces repeatedly torturing detained civilians. Lukashenko knows that the Belarusian people are ready for a new democratic chapter that does not include him. Instead of stepping aside to serve the interests of his country, he has abandoned the rule of law in order to protect his own power. It is no surprise that Lukashenko has appealed to Vladimir Putin to endorse this tyrannical approach. President Putin is, after all, a veteran when it comes to destabilizing democracies. He has done so not only in his own country of Russia, where he overcomes dissent by changing the constitution to secure his rule and poisoning political opponents, but also in other parts of the world. That includes his continuous attempts to undermine our democracy here in the United States. President Trump has completely failed to hold Vladimir Putin accountable for abusing his own people's human rights and attacking the United States. Even worse, President Trump appears to have taken a page out of Putin's book, suggesting that if he were not reelected this November, he may not accept the results of that election. It is a sad commentary on the state of our domestic affairs that we have to take such a ludicrous statement seriously. We know that global democracy is in trouble when the leader of the United States is copying undemocratic heads of state instead of condemning them. These are but a few snapshots of what is happening in many countries around the world. If there is anything that I have learned in my many years of public service, it is that we can never take democracy--and all the freedoms, rights, and opportunities it entails--for granted. My work in the House and the Senate on the Helsinki Commission really embodies that commitment to stand up for human rights. The Helsinki Final Act made it clear that all States in Europe, the former Soviet Union, United States, and Canada embraced not only democratic principles and human rights of good governance but also the principle that we have a right to challenge the compliance with those commitments in any other member state. It is not interfering in their internal matters; it is holding them to the commitments they made in the Helsinki Final Act. Democracy is fragile. It must be constantly tended to and protected to survive and flourish. Therefore, while we have a responsibility to monitor the status of democracy in other parts of the world, we have a parallel duty to safeguard and tend to our democracy here at home. I cannot remember a more dangerous time for American democracy since the Civil War. To protect our democracy, we must protect the ability of every individual to exercise her or his right to vote. In the middle of a pandemic, that means expanding the ability to vote by mail so that we do not force people to choose between participating in our democracy or protecting their health. We need to make sure that State and local election boards get the resources they need to cover the costs of mail-in voting, and we need to defend the strength, integrity, and impartiality of the U.S. Postal Service. Our President also openly invites foreign powers to interfere in our election, and his encouragement has been effective. The same external factors that we know influenced the elections in 2016 are once again actively planning to interfere in the upcoming election. Regardless of party affiliation, we should all be able to unite in pursuit of a healthy, functioning democracy. That requires us to take action against the foreign actors seeking to spread misinformation and divide Americans for their own benefit. When we fail to protect democracy in the United States, it has consequences all over the world. After he was confronted about his recent brutal crackdown on protesters, journalists, and opposition members, Belarus President Lukashenko said that the United States ``should sort out their own affairs'' before attempting to interfere in Belarus. His statements made clear that President Trump and his administration and supporters' undemocratic behavior is eroding our credibility on the global stage as a voice for human rights. Let today, International Day for Democracy, be a reminder for us to stand up in defense of democracy, whether we are talking about China, Venezuela, Belarus, or here in our own backyard. The world is counting on us. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5698 | null | 1,335 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I am here this morning to talk about a hearing that we had in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee this morning that affects 20 million families who have to fill this out every year. This is called the FAFSA. Usually, there is an adjective ahead of it. It is called the ``dreaded'' FAFSA. There are 400,000 Tennessee families who fill it out every year. If you want to go to college and you need a Pell grant or a student loan, you have to fill this out--108 questions. And then after you fill it out, the way it has been working and still works today, you have to send in the information on 22 of the questions to two different agencies: one to the IRS and one to the Education Department. And then they go through an elaborate process to check to see whether you have made any mistake. So let's say you are a homeless student or a student in foster care or you are not able to identify your parents or you are living with your grandparents or any of those people have an aversion to filling out 108-question Federal forms or giving their information to the government twice, then you don't go to college. That is what happens. In Tennessee, we have had a Governor named Bill Haslam in the legislature that said everybody in Tennessee without a degree, that you can have 2 more years of college free, but first you have to fill out this Federal form. They say this is the single biggest impediment to having the opportunity to have those 2 free years of higher education in our State. So you would think somebody would do something about that, right? Well, somebody has or at least has been trying to. Here is what it could be. This is 33 questions. Almost everybody agrees that this is better than this--the State counselors, the Governors, the teachers, the students, the families. You could fill it out more easily. It keeps many fewer students from walking away from the opportunity to go to college. So you would ask: Why don't you pass it? Well, Mr. President, that is exactly what Senator Michael Bennet, the Democratic Senator from Colorado, and I said 7 years ago in a hearing before the Senate Education Committee when we had four witnesses and we talked about this. And I said at the end: There seems to be a lot of agreement about this. Why don't the four of you experts--and these are people who work in financial aid who try to help students and who try to help minority students. I mean, this is the kind of stuff we are talking about all over America today. What do we do about racial justice? What do we do to help low-income students? How do we help people who are especially hurt by a pandemic? Well, 7 years ago, I said: Would you be willing to write us a letter, each of you, and tell us exactly what to do to eliminate the complexity of this FAFSA? What they said was that most of these questions are unnecessary and that the Federal Government doesn't need to know the answer to these questions to decide whether you are eligible for a Pell grant or eligible for a student loan. That is what they all said. So the four witnesses who had testified looked at each other and said: We don't need to write you separate letters. We will write you one letter because we all agree on what to do. So they did. Senator Bennet and I introduced legislation called the FAST Act that would reduce this to the size of a postcard. It only had two questions on it. Well, that was too simplified. What we found out, for example, was that the State of Indiana and the State of Tennessee have their student aid, and they rely on some of this information to decide what aid to give in addition to the Federal aid. So we took the questions off this, and then they would have to ask the questions, so we really hadn't solved any problems. So we kept working. Senator Murray, the Democratic leader of our committee, and I worked together on this during these 7 years, and we began to make some progress. The progress we made first was with the Obama administration, and they agreed to what sounded like a simple change. They just administratively allowed you to use your previous year's tax returns rather than your current year's tax returns to fill out the 22 tax questions on this form. You can imagine how hard it would be to use this year's tax returns, so that was a big help. Then the Trump administration put this 108-questionnaire on an app so you can use your iPhone to fill it out. Now, that would be pretty hard for me, but I have seen a lot of the youngsters in Tennessee in the Sevier County High School, for example, who went right to work. They did a pretty quick job of doing this. That helped a lot. Then, Senator Murray and I, Senator Jones from Alabama and Senator Scott from South Carolina--last year we introduced a bill called the FUTURE Act, and the FUTURE Act did two things. It said that for 22 of the questions here, the ones that you have to give to the government twice--you give it to the Education Department and you give it to the IRS, and then they check to see if you made a mistake, and if they do, they slow down your aid. We said: Let's simplify that. Let's just say all you have to do is check a box, and the IRS will answer those 22 questions for you. That is a law now, and it will take a couple of years to implement because, again, we are talking about 20 million families a year. So we saved them that trouble. Now, guess what else we saved. We saved enough money to permanently fund historically Black colleges. How about that? Filling out all this form didn't save the government money; it cost the government money. So we were able, in one act, to save 20 million families--many of them minority families and most of them low income--the trouble of filling out those 22 questions and permanently fund Black colleges. So now we have legislation, Senator Jones and I and others--and there are many Senators who have been involved in this, in addition to Senator Murray. Senator Booker has had an interest, and Senator Collins, Senator King, Senator Burr. Again, I mentioned Senator Bennet earlier. You can see Republicans and Democrats all see the wisdom of this, as well as every witness we have ever had who comes before us. So we have a new bill that says: Let's get rid of 53 questions and turn this into this. That is what the hearing was about today. Now, why wouldn't we do that? Almost everyone says we should. Should we deliberately require 20 million families to answer 53 unnecessary questions that discourage many low-income students from going to college? Should we insist on that? I don't think so. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this would probably mean that about 400,000 more students would apply for Pell grants. That is what the Pell grant is for. It is to encourage low-income students who want a ticket to the head of the line, a ticket called higher education, a ticket that the college board said increases your earnings by $1 million over your lifetime if you get a 4-year degree, and this is our effort to help low-income students get that ticket to a better life and a better education and more money. So why wouldn't we do it and why wouldn't we do it during this pandemic? This has to be the strangest year of college in a century--at least a century. Students are stressed out, families are stressed out, and then we are going to add to the stress by saying: And in addition, your friendly Federal Government, in order for you to get a Pell grant, is going to insist that you answer 53 questions that everybody says are unnecessary for the government to determine whether you are eligible for the loan or for the grant. And then there is one final reason we should do it. The act that Senator Murray and Senator Jones and Senator Scott and I introduced and became law last year with President Trump's signature, the one that saved enough money to permanently fund historically Black colleges, that is going to take a couple of years to implement. So if we go ahead and pass the law that turns this into this before the end of this year, we can do both of them at the same time. I think the American people would feel pretty good about the U.S. Congress that, in the midst of a pandemic, finished its work on such an important piece of legislation. Our hearing today was well attended. We had four of the same witnesses who came 7 years ago and said: There is no need to ask all these questions. Nobody needs them. Nobody needs the answers. All it does is turn away from college students whom we want to encourage to go. Now, think about that. That is a deliberate act by the Federal Government not to change that. It doesn't save any money. It doesn't eliminate any fraud. All it does is turn away from college the people whom we want to encourage to have a chance to go. I am hopeful that the hearing today and our repeated efforts will help us create approval of this before the end of the year. Since nobody tells me they are against it, you would think we would do it. Sometimes people say: Well, we need to agree on everything before we pass anything. Sometimes that is true. But when something is this important, when it affects this many families, and when it comes at a time when families are under stress anyway, let's turn a 108-question FAFSA into a 33-question FAFSA. Let's allow that to be implemented by the Federal Government at the same time last year's law is implemented, and let's make it simpler and easier for deserving Americans to go to college. There are lots of other things we need to do about higher education. We need more accountability. We need to deal with student loans. There are many things we need to do. We have had a lot of discussions about those. We are not going to get agreement on that this year, but just as we were able to do for the historically Black colleges last year and the first step of the FAFSA, I think it would be wise to finish the job. I was very pleased with our hearing. I am grateful to Senator Murray for her kind comments this morning that she made and for her friendship and her willingness to work with me on this, and I would hope that, for the benefit of those 20 million families, we would have some success. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. ALEXANDER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5699 | null | 1,336 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I am here this morning to talk about a hearing that we had in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee this morning that affects 20 million families who have to fill this out every year. This is called the FAFSA. Usually, there is an adjective ahead of it. It is called the ``dreaded'' FAFSA. There are 400,000 Tennessee families who fill it out every year. If you want to go to college and you need a Pell grant or a student loan, you have to fill this out--108 questions. And then after you fill it out, the way it has been working and still works today, you have to send in the information on 22 of the questions to two different agencies: one to the IRS and one to the Education Department. And then they go through an elaborate process to check to see whether you have made any mistake. So let's say you are a homeless student or a student in foster care or you are not able to identify your parents or you are living with your grandparents or any of those people have an aversion to filling out 108-question Federal forms or giving their information to the government twice, then you don't go to college. That is what happens. In Tennessee, we have had a Governor named Bill Haslam in the legislature that said everybody in Tennessee without a degree, that you can have 2 more years of college free, but first you have to fill out this Federal form. They say this is the single biggest impediment to having the opportunity to have those 2 free years of higher education in our State. So you would think somebody would do something about that, right? Well, somebody has or at least has been trying to. Here is what it could be. This is 33 questions. Almost everybody agrees that this is better than this--the State counselors, the Governors, the teachers, the students, the families. You could fill it out more easily. It keeps many fewer students from walking away from the opportunity to go to college. So you would ask: Why don't you pass it? Well, Mr. President, that is exactly what Senator Michael Bennet, the Democratic Senator from Colorado, and I said 7 years ago in a hearing before the Senate Education Committee when we had four witnesses and we talked about this. And I said at the end: There seems to be a lot of agreement about this. Why don't the four of you experts--and these are people who work in financial aid who try to help students and who try to help minority students. I mean, this is the kind of stuff we are talking about all over America today. What do we do about racial justice? What do we do to help low-income students? How do we help people who are especially hurt by a pandemic? Well, 7 years ago, I said: Would you be willing to write us a letter, each of you, and tell us exactly what to do to eliminate the complexity of this FAFSA? What they said was that most of these questions are unnecessary and that the Federal Government doesn't need to know the answer to these questions to decide whether you are eligible for a Pell grant or eligible for a student loan. That is what they all said. So the four witnesses who had testified looked at each other and said: We don't need to write you separate letters. We will write you one letter because we all agree on what to do. So they did. Senator Bennet and I introduced legislation called the FAST Act that would reduce this to the size of a postcard. It only had two questions on it. Well, that was too simplified. What we found out, for example, was that the State of Indiana and the State of Tennessee have their student aid, and they rely on some of this information to decide what aid to give in addition to the Federal aid. So we took the questions off this, and then they would have to ask the questions, so we really hadn't solved any problems. So we kept working. Senator Murray, the Democratic leader of our committee, and I worked together on this during these 7 years, and we began to make some progress. The progress we made first was with the Obama administration, and they agreed to what sounded like a simple change. They just administratively allowed you to use your previous year's tax returns rather than your current year's tax returns to fill out the 22 tax questions on this form. You can imagine how hard it would be to use this year's tax returns, so that was a big help. Then the Trump administration put this 108-questionnaire on an app so you can use your iPhone to fill it out. Now, that would be pretty hard for me, but I have seen a lot of the youngsters in Tennessee in the Sevier County High School, for example, who went right to work. They did a pretty quick job of doing this. That helped a lot. Then, Senator Murray and I, Senator Jones from Alabama and Senator Scott from South Carolina--last year we introduced a bill called the FUTURE Act, and the FUTURE Act did two things. It said that for 22 of the questions here, the ones that you have to give to the government twice--you give it to the Education Department and you give it to the IRS, and then they check to see if you made a mistake, and if they do, they slow down your aid. We said: Let's simplify that. Let's just say all you have to do is check a box, and the IRS will answer those 22 questions for you. That is a law now, and it will take a couple of years to implement because, again, we are talking about 20 million families a year. So we saved them that trouble. Now, guess what else we saved. We saved enough money to permanently fund historically Black colleges. How about that? Filling out all this form didn't save the government money; it cost the government money. So we were able, in one act, to save 20 million families--many of them minority families and most of them low income--the trouble of filling out those 22 questions and permanently fund Black colleges. So now we have legislation, Senator Jones and I and others--and there are many Senators who have been involved in this, in addition to Senator Murray. Senator Booker has had an interest, and Senator Collins, Senator King, Senator Burr. Again, I mentioned Senator Bennet earlier. You can see Republicans and Democrats all see the wisdom of this, as well as every witness we have ever had who comes before us. So we have a new bill that says: Let's get rid of 53 questions and turn this into this. That is what the hearing was about today. Now, why wouldn't we do that? Almost everyone says we should. Should we deliberately require 20 million families to answer 53 unnecessary questions that discourage many low-income students from going to college? Should we insist on that? I don't think so. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this would probably mean that about 400,000 more students would apply for Pell grants. That is what the Pell grant is for. It is to encourage low-income students who want a ticket to the head of the line, a ticket called higher education, a ticket that the college board said increases your earnings by $1 million over your lifetime if you get a 4-year degree, and this is our effort to help low-income students get that ticket to a better life and a better education and more money. So why wouldn't we do it and why wouldn't we do it during this pandemic? This has to be the strangest year of college in a century--at least a century. Students are stressed out, families are stressed out, and then we are going to add to the stress by saying: And in addition, your friendly Federal Government, in order for you to get a Pell grant, is going to insist that you answer 53 questions that everybody says are unnecessary for the government to determine whether you are eligible for the loan or for the grant. And then there is one final reason we should do it. The act that Senator Murray and Senator Jones and Senator Scott and I introduced and became law last year with President Trump's signature, the one that saved enough money to permanently fund historically Black colleges, that is going to take a couple of years to implement. So if we go ahead and pass the law that turns this into this before the end of this year, we can do both of them at the same time. I think the American people would feel pretty good about the U.S. Congress that, in the midst of a pandemic, finished its work on such an important piece of legislation. Our hearing today was well attended. We had four of the same witnesses who came 7 years ago and said: There is no need to ask all these questions. Nobody needs them. Nobody needs the answers. All it does is turn away from college students whom we want to encourage to go. Now, think about that. That is a deliberate act by the Federal Government not to change that. It doesn't save any money. It doesn't eliminate any fraud. All it does is turn away from college the people whom we want to encourage to have a chance to go. I am hopeful that the hearing today and our repeated efforts will help us create approval of this before the end of the year. Since nobody tells me they are against it, you would think we would do it. Sometimes people say: Well, we need to agree on everything before we pass anything. Sometimes that is true. But when something is this important, when it affects this many families, and when it comes at a time when families are under stress anyway, let's turn a 108-question FAFSA into a 33-question FAFSA. Let's allow that to be implemented by the Federal Government at the same time last year's law is implemented, and let's make it simpler and easier for deserving Americans to go to college. There are lots of other things we need to do about higher education. We need more accountability. We need to deal with student loans. There are many things we need to do. We have had a lot of discussions about those. We are not going to get agreement on that this year, but just as we were able to do for the historically Black colleges last year and the first step of the FAFSA, I think it would be wise to finish the job. I was very pleased with our hearing. I am grateful to Senator Murray for her kind comments this morning that she made and for her friendship and her willingness to work with me on this, and I would hope that, for the benefit of those 20 million families, we would have some success. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. ALEXANDER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5699 | null | 1,337 |
formal | right to work | null | anti-GMO | Mr. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I am here this morning to talk about a hearing that we had in the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee this morning that affects 20 million families who have to fill this out every year. This is called the FAFSA. Usually, there is an adjective ahead of it. It is called the ``dreaded'' FAFSA. There are 400,000 Tennessee families who fill it out every year. If you want to go to college and you need a Pell grant or a student loan, you have to fill this out--108 questions. And then after you fill it out, the way it has been working and still works today, you have to send in the information on 22 of the questions to two different agencies: one to the IRS and one to the Education Department. And then they go through an elaborate process to check to see whether you have made any mistake. So let's say you are a homeless student or a student in foster care or you are not able to identify your parents or you are living with your grandparents or any of those people have an aversion to filling out 108-question Federal forms or giving their information to the government twice, then you don't go to college. That is what happens. In Tennessee, we have had a Governor named Bill Haslam in the legislature that said everybody in Tennessee without a degree, that you can have 2 more years of college free, but first you have to fill out this Federal form. They say this is the single biggest impediment to having the opportunity to have those 2 free years of higher education in our State. So you would think somebody would do something about that, right? Well, somebody has or at least has been trying to. Here is what it could be. This is 33 questions. Almost everybody agrees that this is better than this--the State counselors, the Governors, the teachers, the students, the families. You could fill it out more easily. It keeps many fewer students from walking away from the opportunity to go to college. So you would ask: Why don't you pass it? Well, Mr. President, that is exactly what Senator Michael Bennet, the Democratic Senator from Colorado, and I said 7 years ago in a hearing before the Senate Education Committee when we had four witnesses and we talked about this. And I said at the end: There seems to be a lot of agreement about this. Why don't the four of you experts--and these are people who work in financial aid who try to help students and who try to help minority students. I mean, this is the kind of stuff we are talking about all over America today. What do we do about racial justice? What do we do to help low-income students? How do we help people who are especially hurt by a pandemic? Well, 7 years ago, I said: Would you be willing to write us a letter, each of you, and tell us exactly what to do to eliminate the complexity of this FAFSA? What they said was that most of these questions are unnecessary and that the Federal Government doesn't need to know the answer to these questions to decide whether you are eligible for a Pell grant or eligible for a student loan. That is what they all said. So the four witnesses who had testified looked at each other and said: We don't need to write you separate letters. We will write you one letter because we all agree on what to do. So they did. Senator Bennet and I introduced legislation called the FAST Act that would reduce this to the size of a postcard. It only had two questions on it. Well, that was too simplified. What we found out, for example, was that the State of Indiana and the State of Tennessee have their student aid, and they rely on some of this information to decide what aid to give in addition to the Federal aid. So we took the questions off this, and then they would have to ask the questions, so we really hadn't solved any problems. So we kept working. Senator Murray, the Democratic leader of our committee, and I worked together on this during these 7 years, and we began to make some progress. The progress we made first was with the Obama administration, and they agreed to what sounded like a simple change. They just administratively allowed you to use your previous year's tax returns rather than your current year's tax returns to fill out the 22 tax questions on this form. You can imagine how hard it would be to use this year's tax returns, so that was a big help. Then the Trump administration put this 108-questionnaire on an app so you can use your iPhone to fill it out. Now, that would be pretty hard for me, but I have seen a lot of the youngsters in Tennessee in the Sevier County High School, for example, who went right to work. They did a pretty quick job of doing this. That helped a lot. Then, Senator Murray and I, Senator Jones from Alabama and Senator Scott from South Carolina--last year we introduced a bill called the FUTURE Act, and the FUTURE Act did two things. It said that for 22 of the questions here, the ones that you have to give to the government twice--you give it to the Education Department and you give it to the IRS, and then they check to see if you made a mistake, and if they do, they slow down your aid. We said: Let's simplify that. Let's just say all you have to do is check a box, and the IRS will answer those 22 questions for you. That is a law now, and it will take a couple of years to implement because, again, we are talking about 20 million families a year. So we saved them that trouble. Now, guess what else we saved. We saved enough money to permanently fund historically Black colleges. How about that? Filling out all this form didn't save the government money; it cost the government money. So we were able, in one act, to save 20 million families--many of them minority families and most of them low income--the trouble of filling out those 22 questions and permanently fund Black colleges. So now we have legislation, Senator Jones and I and others--and there are many Senators who have been involved in this, in addition to Senator Murray. Senator Booker has had an interest, and Senator Collins, Senator King, Senator Burr. Again, I mentioned Senator Bennet earlier. You can see Republicans and Democrats all see the wisdom of this, as well as every witness we have ever had who comes before us. So we have a new bill that says: Let's get rid of 53 questions and turn this into this. That is what the hearing was about today. Now, why wouldn't we do that? Almost everyone says we should. Should we deliberately require 20 million families to answer 53 unnecessary questions that discourage many low-income students from going to college? Should we insist on that? I don't think so. According to the Congressional Budget Office, this would probably mean that about 400,000 more students would apply for Pell grants. That is what the Pell grant is for. It is to encourage low-income students who want a ticket to the head of the line, a ticket called higher education, a ticket that the college board said increases your earnings by $1 million over your lifetime if you get a 4-year degree, and this is our effort to help low-income students get that ticket to a better life and a better education and more money. So why wouldn't we do it and why wouldn't we do it during this pandemic? This has to be the strangest year of college in a century--at least a century. Students are stressed out, families are stressed out, and then we are going to add to the stress by saying: And in addition, your friendly Federal Government, in order for you to get a Pell grant, is going to insist that you answer 53 questions that everybody says are unnecessary for the government to determine whether you are eligible for the loan or for the grant. And then there is one final reason we should do it. The act that Senator Murray and Senator Jones and Senator Scott and I introduced and became law last year with President Trump's signature, the one that saved enough money to permanently fund historically Black colleges, that is going to take a couple of years to implement. So if we go ahead and pass the law that turns this into this before the end of this year, we can do both of them at the same time. I think the American people would feel pretty good about the U.S. Congress that, in the midst of a pandemic, finished its work on such an important piece of legislation. Our hearing today was well attended. We had four of the same witnesses who came 7 years ago and said: There is no need to ask all these questions. Nobody needs them. Nobody needs the answers. All it does is turn away from college students whom we want to encourage to go. Now, think about that. That is a deliberate act by the Federal Government not to change that. It doesn't save any money. It doesn't eliminate any fraud. All it does is turn away from college the people whom we want to encourage to have a chance to go. I am hopeful that the hearing today and our repeated efforts will help us create approval of this before the end of the year. Since nobody tells me they are against it, you would think we would do it. Sometimes people say: Well, we need to agree on everything before we pass anything. Sometimes that is true. But when something is this important, when it affects this many families, and when it comes at a time when families are under stress anyway, let's turn a 108-question FAFSA into a 33-question FAFSA. Let's allow that to be implemented by the Federal Government at the same time last year's law is implemented, and let's make it simpler and easier for deserving Americans to go to college. There are lots of other things we need to do about higher education. We need more accountability. We need to deal with student loans. There are many things we need to do. We have had a lot of discussions about those. We are not going to get agreement on that this year, but just as we were able to do for the historically Black colleges last year and the first step of the FAFSA, I think it would be wise to finish the job. I was very pleased with our hearing. I am grateful to Senator Murray for her kind comments this morning that she made and for her friendship and her willingness to work with me on this, and I would hope that, for the benefit of those 20 million families, we would have some success. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. ALEXANDER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5699 | null | 1,338 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, it is Thursday, and as you know, it is one of my favorite times of the week. The Presiding Officer has the good fortune of listening to a number of the ``Alaskan of the Week'' speeches when I get to come down to the floor--typically every Thursday--to talk about a person or group of people who are doing great things for my State. As I said, so many of my colleagues here--even some of the reporters--know this is the person we call our Alaskan of the Week, but sometimes we call them our Alaskans of the Week. This week, we are going plural in a big way. This week, we are recognizing an entire community for how this community--the whole community--banded together to literally help save a young child who was sick and needed medical attention. Before I get into the story, let me say that, in Alaska, community is everything. Living in one of the most magnificent places in the world is not without its challenges. We depend on each other. Communities often come together to help each other. Typically, in our rural communities, traditional knowledge is critical and so is hard-won ingenuity and determination to overcome many of the challenges in living in the great State of Alaska. I would like to transport you to one of those communities. It is the village of Igiugig in Southwest Alaska. Rich in Native traditions, Igiugig is home to around 70 year-round residents, growing to over 200 in the summer months. The name ``Igiugig'' originated from a Yupik word meaning ``like a throat that swallows water,'' referring to the village's location where the Kvichak River meets Iliamna. Going all the way back to the purchase of Alaska from Russia over 150 years ago, Igiugig has maintained a commercial fishing and subsistence-based economy. They have been incredibly innovative with alternative energy there--wind and hydro--and most importantly, this community has maintained a strong sense of connection with each other, which is so important for communities like this. This is evidenced by what happened just a few weeks ago when a young girl needed to be airlifted out of the community to Anchorage--some 250 miles away--for medical help, and nearly every member of the community pitched in to help. What happened? Here is what happened. On the night of August 28--so about 3 or 4 weeks ago--around 11:30 a.m., the Tribal administrator and village council vice president Karl Hill was sitting at home when he saw the LifeMed Alaska flight, which he knew was coming in to help this young girl, circling above the small runway. Over 200 of our communities aren't connected by roads. They aren't connected by roads, so a lot of them have very small airports and landing strips. Karl got this phone call when the pilot was above circling. There was a problem with the runway lights; they weren't working. He ran out to the airport to try to turn the lights on manually. That didn't work, so he got into his plane--he was one of only two pilots in the village with a plane. He got on the plane just to talk to the pilot, who was circling above, over the headset. That pilot who was on the medevac flight told him he was getting low on fuel. He wouldn't be able to circle much longer, and he couldn't land. But this young girl needed help as soon as possible. In so many of our Native communities and rural communities, there is no hospital. There is barely even a medical clinic sometimes. So she needed to be medevacked. While Karl communicated with the pilot over his headset, other community members began calling people in the community asking for help. Ida Nelson made calls and jumped on her four-wheeler and headed to the airport. Community leader Christina Salmon, whose sister is Alexanna Salmon--who was our Alaskan of the Week in 2017, by the way--made around 32 phone calls. Health aide Amanda Bybee, Jeff Bringhurst, and so many others started calling and rallying this community, and they all came out. They all came out in any kind of vehicle with lights that they had--trucks, cars, ATVs, kids on four-wheelers, many still in their pajamas. This was in the middle of the night. They arrived to provide enough light on the runway for the pilot to see the landing strip. They staggered the vehicles facing east and running the whole length of the runway, lighting the medevac pilot's way. They waited intensely. Ida Nelson told a reporter: I was anxious and nervous. . . . I was like, ``so what if that was my baby (waiting for that) plane?'' What if it was my young girl who needed lifesaving help? They waited for the plane to touch down, for the girl to be transferred, and for the plane to take off again. All of this happened with the lights provided by the community in a makeshift lighting of the runway. By this time, it was around a little past 1:30, closer to 2 o'clock, but when the plane took off, the community, of course, was in a celebratory mood. ``We were pumped up,'' Karl Hill said. ``It was really an amazing feat that we were able to pull together so quickly'' in the middle of the night. He added, ``It was really a nice evening.'' That young girl who needed to be medevacked and airlifted in Anchorage is now back in the community, and she has recovered, thank God. LifeMed Alaska, which provided the medevac, posted a photo on social media with the following caption: ``What appears to be a blurry, dark photo is actually a view of what an amazing community can do with a lot of determination,'' lighting a runway, saving a life. Indeed. We are so proud to be a State full of such tight-knit communities that work together every day to make Alaska so special. We are particularly proud as we recount the events of August 28 in Igiugig and so grateful to everyone in the community who came out in the middle of the night, some in their pajamas, to make sure that young girl could get the medical help she needed. Thank you to Igiugig for being such an amazing community with great determination, great heart, and great innovation. Congratulations to all of you for being our Alaskans of the Week. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SULLIVAN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5700 | null | 1,339 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak about the package of four Illinois district court nominees who are scheduled to receive votes on the floor this week. In my State, Democrats and Republicans have long worked together in a respectful, bipartisan way to select Federal judges. For example, when two Illinois vacancies opened up on the 7th Circuit in 2017, back before Senate Republicans decided to abandon the circuit court blue slip, we were able to negotiate a package of two well-qualified nominees, Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder, who both were confirmed by the Senate unanimously. For district court vacancies, Illinois has a longstanding ``three to one'' system. Under this system, the President's party gets to select the candidates for three out of four district court vacancies, and the other party gets to select the candidate for the fourth. Then the parties negotiate until they reach agreement on packages of nominees that can move forward to confirmation. Under this system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together and compromise. Neither side gets everything they want, but for several decades, this bipartisan process has kept both parties at the table and has served Illinois well. During President Trump's tenure, there have been two packages of Illinois district court nominees that we have negotiated with the senior Member of the Republican congressional delegation--Representative John Shimkus--and the White House. The first was a package of four Chicago nominees--now judges--that included Democratic pick Mary Rowland, a former Federal public defender and the first openly LGBT judge on the Chicago bench. The second package of Illinois nominees, which we negotiated throughout 2019 and agreed upon last December, includes Federal Magistrate Judge Iain Johnston of Rockford; Illinois 3rd Judicial Circuit Judge David Dugan of Madison County; Illinois 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Stephen McGlynn of St. Clair County; and the Democratic pick, Judge Franklin Valderrama of the Cook County Circuit Court. All of the nominees in the current Illinois package have significant judicial experience and were rated well-qualified by the American Bar Association. Each nominee also was reviewed by judicial screening committees that we established, including a Southern District judicial screening committee, chaired by former Federal judge Patrick Murphy, and a Northern District committee, chaired by former Federal judge David Coar. Each nominee received screening committee approval based on their qualifications and their record as judges. I want to say that I recognize and respect the opposition that has been expressed to two of the Republican picks in this package, Judges Dugan and McGlynn. These nominees have made statements and expressed views with which I disagree, particularly on matters involving reproductive rights. These nominees would not have been Democratic picks in our Illinois system, but under the system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together on bipartisan packages, and neither side gets everything their way. While I disagree with statements that Judges Dugan and McGlynn have made, I agreed to this package of nominees as part of our bipartisan State process, and I will support all four nominees in the package. I also want to briefly discuss the Democratic pick in this package, Judge Franklin Valderrama. For the past 14 years, he has served as an associate judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. He has extensive experience both as a judge and as a practitioner and is highly respected. When a Chicago-based Federal judgeship became vacant last year, we put out a public call for applications. An extraordinary group of 50 candidates applied. Our screening committee vetted them all, and Judge Valderrama was at the top of the list. I believe he will be an outstanding addition to the Federal bench in Chicago. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5702-5 | null | 1,340 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak about the package of four Illinois district court nominees who are scheduled to receive votes on the floor this week. In my State, Democrats and Republicans have long worked together in a respectful, bipartisan way to select Federal judges. For example, when two Illinois vacancies opened up on the 7th Circuit in 2017, back before Senate Republicans decided to abandon the circuit court blue slip, we were able to negotiate a package of two well-qualified nominees, Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder, who both were confirmed by the Senate unanimously. For district court vacancies, Illinois has a longstanding ``three to one'' system. Under this system, the President's party gets to select the candidates for three out of four district court vacancies, and the other party gets to select the candidate for the fourth. Then the parties negotiate until they reach agreement on packages of nominees that can move forward to confirmation. Under this system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together and compromise. Neither side gets everything they want, but for several decades, this bipartisan process has kept both parties at the table and has served Illinois well. During President Trump's tenure, there have been two packages of Illinois district court nominees that we have negotiated with the senior Member of the Republican congressional delegation--Representative John Shimkus--and the White House. The first was a package of four Chicago nominees--now judges--that included Democratic pick Mary Rowland, a former Federal public defender and the first openly LGBT judge on the Chicago bench. The second package of Illinois nominees, which we negotiated throughout 2019 and agreed upon last December, includes Federal Magistrate Judge Iain Johnston of Rockford; Illinois 3rd Judicial Circuit Judge David Dugan of Madison County; Illinois 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Stephen McGlynn of St. Clair County; and the Democratic pick, Judge Franklin Valderrama of the Cook County Circuit Court. All of the nominees in the current Illinois package have significant judicial experience and were rated well-qualified by the American Bar Association. Each nominee also was reviewed by judicial screening committees that we established, including a Southern District judicial screening committee, chaired by former Federal judge Patrick Murphy, and a Northern District committee, chaired by former Federal judge David Coar. Each nominee received screening committee approval based on their qualifications and their record as judges. I want to say that I recognize and respect the opposition that has been expressed to two of the Republican picks in this package, Judges Dugan and McGlynn. These nominees have made statements and expressed views with which I disagree, particularly on matters involving reproductive rights. These nominees would not have been Democratic picks in our Illinois system, but under the system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together on bipartisan packages, and neither side gets everything their way. While I disagree with statements that Judges Dugan and McGlynn have made, I agreed to this package of nominees as part of our bipartisan State process, and I will support all four nominees in the package. I also want to briefly discuss the Democratic pick in this package, Judge Franklin Valderrama. For the past 14 years, he has served as an associate judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. He has extensive experience both as a judge and as a practitioner and is highly respected. When a Chicago-based Federal judgeship became vacant last year, we put out a public call for applications. An extraordinary group of 50 candidates applied. Our screening committee vetted them all, and Judge Valderrama was at the top of the list. I believe he will be an outstanding addition to the Federal bench in Chicago. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5702-5 | null | 1,341 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak about the package of four Illinois district court nominees who are scheduled to receive votes on the floor this week. In my State, Democrats and Republicans have long worked together in a respectful, bipartisan way to select Federal judges. For example, when two Illinois vacancies opened up on the 7th Circuit in 2017, back before Senate Republicans decided to abandon the circuit court blue slip, we were able to negotiate a package of two well-qualified nominees, Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder, who both were confirmed by the Senate unanimously. For district court vacancies, Illinois has a longstanding ``three to one'' system. Under this system, the President's party gets to select the candidates for three out of four district court vacancies, and the other party gets to select the candidate for the fourth. Then the parties negotiate until they reach agreement on packages of nominees that can move forward to confirmation. Under this system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together and compromise. Neither side gets everything they want, but for several decades, this bipartisan process has kept both parties at the table and has served Illinois well. During President Trump's tenure, there have been two packages of Illinois district court nominees that we have negotiated with the senior Member of the Republican congressional delegation--Representative John Shimkus--and the White House. The first was a package of four Chicago nominees--now judges--that included Democratic pick Mary Rowland, a former Federal public defender and the first openly LGBT judge on the Chicago bench. The second package of Illinois nominees, which we negotiated throughout 2019 and agreed upon last December, includes Federal Magistrate Judge Iain Johnston of Rockford; Illinois 3rd Judicial Circuit Judge David Dugan of Madison County; Illinois 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Stephen McGlynn of St. Clair County; and the Democratic pick, Judge Franklin Valderrama of the Cook County Circuit Court. All of the nominees in the current Illinois package have significant judicial experience and were rated well-qualified by the American Bar Association. Each nominee also was reviewed by judicial screening committees that we established, including a Southern District judicial screening committee, chaired by former Federal judge Patrick Murphy, and a Northern District committee, chaired by former Federal judge David Coar. Each nominee received screening committee approval based on their qualifications and their record as judges. I want to say that I recognize and respect the opposition that has been expressed to two of the Republican picks in this package, Judges Dugan and McGlynn. These nominees have made statements and expressed views with which I disagree, particularly on matters involving reproductive rights. These nominees would not have been Democratic picks in our Illinois system, but under the system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together on bipartisan packages, and neither side gets everything their way. While I disagree with statements that Judges Dugan and McGlynn have made, I agreed to this package of nominees as part of our bipartisan State process, and I will support all four nominees in the package. I also want to briefly discuss the Democratic pick in this package, Judge Franklin Valderrama. For the past 14 years, he has served as an associate judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. He has extensive experience both as a judge and as a practitioner and is highly respected. When a Chicago-based Federal judgeship became vacant last year, we put out a public call for applications. An extraordinary group of 50 candidates applied. Our screening committee vetted them all, and Judge Valderrama was at the top of the list. I believe he will be an outstanding addition to the Federal bench in Chicago. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5702-5 | null | 1,342 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I rise to speak about the package of four Illinois district court nominees who are scheduled to receive votes on the floor this week. In my State, Democrats and Republicans have long worked together in a respectful, bipartisan way to select Federal judges. For example, when two Illinois vacancies opened up on the 7th Circuit in 2017, back before Senate Republicans decided to abandon the circuit court blue slip, we were able to negotiate a package of two well-qualified nominees, Amy St. Eve and Michael Scudder, who both were confirmed by the Senate unanimously. For district court vacancies, Illinois has a longstanding ``three to one'' system. Under this system, the President's party gets to select the candidates for three out of four district court vacancies, and the other party gets to select the candidate for the fourth. Then the parties negotiate until they reach agreement on packages of nominees that can move forward to confirmation. Under this system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together and compromise. Neither side gets everything they want, but for several decades, this bipartisan process has kept both parties at the table and has served Illinois well. During President Trump's tenure, there have been two packages of Illinois district court nominees that we have negotiated with the senior Member of the Republican congressional delegation--Representative John Shimkus--and the White House. The first was a package of four Chicago nominees--now judges--that included Democratic pick Mary Rowland, a former Federal public defender and the first openly LGBT judge on the Chicago bench. The second package of Illinois nominees, which we negotiated throughout 2019 and agreed upon last December, includes Federal Magistrate Judge Iain Johnston of Rockford; Illinois 3rd Judicial Circuit Judge David Dugan of Madison County; Illinois 20th Judicial Circuit Judge Stephen McGlynn of St. Clair County; and the Democratic pick, Judge Franklin Valderrama of the Cook County Circuit Court. All of the nominees in the current Illinois package have significant judicial experience and were rated well-qualified by the American Bar Association. Each nominee also was reviewed by judicial screening committees that we established, including a Southern District judicial screening committee, chaired by former Federal judge Patrick Murphy, and a Northern District committee, chaired by former Federal judge David Coar. Each nominee received screening committee approval based on their qualifications and their record as judges. I want to say that I recognize and respect the opposition that has been expressed to two of the Republican picks in this package, Judges Dugan and McGlynn. These nominees have made statements and expressed views with which I disagree, particularly on matters involving reproductive rights. These nominees would not have been Democratic picks in our Illinois system, but under the system, Democrats and Republicans have to work together on bipartisan packages, and neither side gets everything their way. While I disagree with statements that Judges Dugan and McGlynn have made, I agreed to this package of nominees as part of our bipartisan State process, and I will support all four nominees in the package. I also want to briefly discuss the Democratic pick in this package, Judge Franklin Valderrama. For the past 14 years, he has served as an associate judge on the Circuit Court of Cook County. He has extensive experience both as a judge and as a practitioner and is highly respected. When a Chicago-based Federal judgeship became vacant last year, we put out a public call for applications. An extraordinary group of 50 candidates applied. Our screening committee vetted them all, and Judge Valderrama was at the top of the list. I believe he will be an outstanding addition to the Federal bench in Chicago. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5702-5 | null | 1,343 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize and pay tribute to Thomas Kane Gilhool, who championed the rights of inclusion for children and adults with disabilities and changed public policy in our country for all people with disabilities. His work was pivotal in affirming the constitutional right of children with disabilities to a public education, increasing community-based services for people with developmental disabilities, and creating a pathway for people with autism and other developmental disabilities to leave institutions and live with neighbors, friends, and family. Tom Gilhool was an originating member of Philadelphia's Community Legal Services. At the start of his career, he helped to organize, train, and then represented the Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization and the Residents Advisory Board, as well as other organizations representing residents in low-income neighborhoods. The recognition agreements he secured empowered those organizations to effectively represent welfare recipients and public housing tenants and served as models that were replicated throughout the country. Tom Gilhool's seminal accomplishment was his groundbreaking representation of plaintiffs in the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) v. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Nation's first civil rights case brought on behalf of children with disabilities. Kate Fialkowski, sister of two boys represented in the case, remembers Tom as ``an intellectual giant, lawyer, and legal historian,'' someone ``who used his gifts not for self-aggrandizement, but instead to raise up the lives of others, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.'' Prior to this case, children with disabilities were all but excluded from attending public schools. The decree of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1972 paved the way for the 1975 passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act--IDEA--which affirmed every child's right to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. Tom Gilhool's work on PARC v. Pennsylvania led to another landmark case on behalf of people with disabilities. In Pennhurst State School and Hospital v. Halderman, 1981, Tom Gilhool was lead counsel for residents of Pennhurst State School and Hospital, the residential home to almost 3,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By 1968, Pennhurst was exposed as an overcrowded, violent, and abusive setting. Through Tom's work, the right to habilitation in non-segregated settings was established. The ruling in Pennhurst v. Halderman was the forerunner of the 1999 Olmstead v. LC Supreme Court decision, establishing the right to treatment and services in community-based settings. Since that case, nearly 200,000 people have moved from abusive, segregated settings where they had been deprived of dignity, respect, and their basic needs. Tom Gilhool's work made it possible for millions of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to avoid such places. The cases Tom Gilhool argued laid much of the foundation for the passage of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Judith Gran, a long-time colleague of Tom Gilhool at the Public Interest Law Center said, ``Tom was the most effective civil rights lawyer of his generation. Without his vision and strategic gifts, [people with disabilities] might not have the right to education and the right to live in the community.'' In 2012, Pennhurst v. Halderman was cited by Chief Justice John Roberts in upholding the constitutionality of key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. When my father was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1986, he asked Tom to serve as Secretary of Education. Tom worked hard for the children of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1989. Thomas Gilhool's tremendous contributions to the lives and rights of people with disabilities and their families are immeasurable. His accomplishments will continue to benefit all people with disabilities and inspire all who continue to work to protect the rights and freedoms of people with disabilities. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CASEY | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5704 | null | 1,344 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | Mr. CASEY. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize and pay tribute to Thomas Kane Gilhool, who championed the rights of inclusion for children and adults with disabilities and changed public policy in our country for all people with disabilities. His work was pivotal in affirming the constitutional right of children with disabilities to a public education, increasing community-based services for people with developmental disabilities, and creating a pathway for people with autism and other developmental disabilities to leave institutions and live with neighbors, friends, and family. Tom Gilhool was an originating member of Philadelphia's Community Legal Services. At the start of his career, he helped to organize, train, and then represented the Philadelphia Welfare Rights Organization and the Residents Advisory Board, as well as other organizations representing residents in low-income neighborhoods. The recognition agreements he secured empowered those organizations to effectively represent welfare recipients and public housing tenants and served as models that were replicated throughout the country. Tom Gilhool's seminal accomplishment was his groundbreaking representation of plaintiffs in the Pennsylvania Association for Retarded Citizens (PARC) v. the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Nation's first civil rights case brought on behalf of children with disabilities. Kate Fialkowski, sister of two boys represented in the case, remembers Tom as ``an intellectual giant, lawyer, and legal historian,'' someone ``who used his gifts not for self-aggrandizement, but instead to raise up the lives of others, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.'' Prior to this case, children with disabilities were all but excluded from attending public schools. The decree of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1972 paved the way for the 1975 passage of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act--IDEA--which affirmed every child's right to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. Tom Gilhool's work on PARC v. Pennsylvania led to another landmark case on behalf of people with disabilities. In Pennhurst State School and Hospital v. Halderman, 1981, Tom Gilhool was lead counsel for residents of Pennhurst State School and Hospital, the residential home to almost 3,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. By 1968, Pennhurst was exposed as an overcrowded, violent, and abusive setting. Through Tom's work, the right to habilitation in non-segregated settings was established. The ruling in Pennhurst v. Halderman was the forerunner of the 1999 Olmstead v. LC Supreme Court decision, establishing the right to treatment and services in community-based settings. Since that case, nearly 200,000 people have moved from abusive, segregated settings where they had been deprived of dignity, respect, and their basic needs. Tom Gilhool's work made it possible for millions of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to avoid such places. The cases Tom Gilhool argued laid much of the foundation for the passage of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. Judith Gran, a long-time colleague of Tom Gilhool at the Public Interest Law Center said, ``Tom was the most effective civil rights lawyer of his generation. Without his vision and strategic gifts, [people with disabilities] might not have the right to education and the right to live in the community.'' In 2012, Pennhurst v. Halderman was cited by Chief Justice John Roberts in upholding the constitutionality of key provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in the National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. When my father was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1986, he asked Tom to serve as Secretary of Education. Tom worked hard for the children of Pennsylvania from 1987 to 1989. Thomas Gilhool's tremendous contributions to the lives and rights of people with disabilities and their families are immeasurable. His accomplishments will continue to benefit all people with disabilities and inspire all who continue to work to protect the rights and freedoms of people with disabilities. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CASEY | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5704 | null | 1,345 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | 2020, AS NATIONAL HISPANIC-SERVING INSTITUTIONS WEEK Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Braun, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Gardner, Ms. Harris, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mrs. Loeffler, Ms. McSally, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Udall, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 703 Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are degree-granting institutions that have a full-time equivalent undergraduate enrollment of at least 25 percent Hispanic students; Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions play an important role in educating many underprivileged students and helping those students attain their full potential through higher education; Whereas 539 Hispanic-Serving Institutions operate in the United States; Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions represent 17 percent of all nonprofit institutions of higher education, yet serve 26.8 percent of all students and 67 percent of all Hispanic students, enrolling 2,533,333 Hispanics; Whereas, as of September 2020, the number of ``emerging Hispanic-Serving Institutions'', defined as institutions that do not yet meet the threshold of 25 percent Hispanic full- time equivalent enrollment but serve a Hispanic student population of between 15 and 24.9 percent, stands at 352 institutions operating in 34 States and Puerto Rico; Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are located in 25 States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are actively involved in stabilizing and improving the communities in which the institutions are located; Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are leading efforts to increase Hispanic participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (commonly referred to as ``STEM''); Whereas Hispanic-Serving Institutions are engines of economic mobility and a major contributor to the economic prosperity of the United States; Whereas, of the institutions of higher education ranked by Opportunity Insights based on the economic mobility of the graduates of those institutions, 7 of the top 10, including the top-ranked institution, are Hispanic-Serving Institutions; Whereas celebrating the vast contributions of Hispanic- Serving Institutions to the United States strengthens the culture of the United States; and Whereas the achievements and goals of Hispanic-Serving Institutions deserve national recognition: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes the achievements and goals of Hispanic- Serving Institutions in the States, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico; (2) designates the week beginning September 14, 2020, as ``National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week''; and (3) calls on the people of the United States and interested groups to observe the week with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate support for Hispanic- Serving Institutions. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5711-2 | null | 1,346 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Graham, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Alexander, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Braun, Mr. Coons, Mr. Romney, Mr. King, Mr. Gardner, Ms. Warren, Mr. Burr, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Thune, and Mrs. Shaheen) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 705 Whereas, across the United States, clean and readily abundant forms of energy are powering more homes and businesses than ever before; Whereas clean energy generation is readily available from zero- and low-emissions sources; Whereas the clean energy sector is a growing part of the economy and has been a key driver of economic growth in the United States in recent years; Whereas technological innovation can further reduce costs and increase deployment of clean energy sources; Whereas the ``2020 U.S. Energy and Employment Report'' found that-- (1) at the end of 2019, the energy sector in the United States employed 6,800,000 individuals; and (2) in 2019, the energy sector in the United States generated more than 120,000 new jobs; Whereas the scaling of clean energy is essential to reducing harmful pollution; Whereas clean energy jobs are inherently local, contribute to the growth of local economies, and cannot be outsourced due to the on-site nature of construction, installation, and maintenance; and Whereas innovative clean energy solutions and clean energy jobs are part of the energy future of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) proclaims the week of September 21 through September 25, 2020, to be ``National Clean Energy Week''; (2) encourages individuals and organizations across the United States to support commonsense solutions that address the economic, environmental, and energy needs of the United States in the 21st century; (3) encourages the Federal Government, States, municipalities, and individuals to invest in clean, low- emitting energy technologies; and (4) recognizes the role of entrepreneurs and small businesses in ensuring the energy leadership of the United States in the global marketplace and supporting low-cost, clean, and reliable energy in the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5712-2 | null | 1,347 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | SA 2657. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Rubio) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1646, to designate the community- based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Augustine, Florida, as the ``Leo C. Chase Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''. SA 2658. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Cornyn (for himself, Mr. Braun, and Ms. Hassan)) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 924, to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require training and education to teachers and other school employees, students, and the community about how to prevent, recognize, respond to, and report child sexual abuse in primary and secondary education. SA 2659. Mr. McCONNELL (for Ms. Smith) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1160, to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to increase support for mental health. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5714-2 | null | 1,348 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | SA 2657. Mr. McCONNELL (for Mr. Rubio) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 1646, to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Augustine, Florida, as the ``Leo C. Chase Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''; as follows: On page 2, line 2, insert before the period the following: ``or the `Leo C. Chase Jr. VA Clinic' ''. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5714-3 | null | 1,349 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | I, Senator Jacky Rosen, intend to object to proceeding to the nomination of John M. Barger, of California, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board dated September 17, 2020. Mr. President, I rise today to deliver my formal notice of intent to object to the nomination of John M. Barger of California to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-17-pt1-PgS5715 | null | 1,350 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 5322. A letter from the Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense, transmitting a letter on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Giovanni K. Tuck, United States Air Force, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1370(c)(1); Public Law 96-513, Sec. 112 (as amended by Public Law 104-106, Sec. 502(b)); (110 Stat. 293); to the Committee on Armed Services. 5323. A letter from the Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense, transmitting a letter on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Robert P. Ashley, Jr., United States Army, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1370(c)(1); Public Law 96-513, Sec. 112 (as amended by Public Law 104-106, Sec. 502(b)); (110 Stat. 293); to the Committee on Armed Services. 5324. A letter from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Services, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Department of Education, transmitting the Department's final requirement -- Statewide Family Engagement Centers Program received September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education and Labor. 5325. A letter from the Director, Regulations Policy and Management Staff, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Medical Devices; Petition for an Administrative Stay of Action: Electrical Stimulation Devices for Self-Injurious or Aggressive Behavior [Docket No.: FDA-2016-N-1111] received September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 5326. A letter from the Acting General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Qualifying Facility Rates and Requirements Implementation Issues Under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 [Docket Nos.: RM19-15-000 and AD16-16-000; Order No.: 872] received September 14, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 5327. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting a notification that the national emergency declared with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism, declared in Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, is to continue in effect beyond September 23, 2020, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 116--153); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. 5328. A letter from the Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice, transmitting a report entitled Modernizing the Administrative Procedure Act; to the Committee on the Judiciary. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-18-pt1-PgH4546-2 | null | 1,351 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5053. A bill to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes (Rept. 116-515). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4585. A bill to require the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes; with amendments (Rept. 116-516). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4564. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes (Rept. 116-517). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 7574. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-518). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 1646. A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-519, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5619. A bill to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-520). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 451. A bill to repeal the section of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that requires the Federal Communications Commission to reallocate the auction the T- Band spectrum; with amendments (Rept. 116-521). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5918. A bill to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting; with an amendment (Rept. 116-522). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5567. A bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act (Rept. 116-523). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-18-pt1-PgH4546-3 | null | 1,352 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Under clause 3 of rule XII, petitions and papers were laid on the clerk's desk and referred as follows: 135. The SPEAKER presented a petition of Tompkins County Legislature, New York, relative to Resolution No. 2020-139, encouraging the Federal Government to Support the United States Postal Service; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 136. Also, a petition of the City and County of San Francisco, California, relative to Resolution No. 361-20, urging the United States Congress to pass the Real Economic Support that Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistant Needed to Survive Act, or Restaurants Act, establishing the $120B Independent Restaurant Revitalization Fund to support the struggling restaurant industry; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Ways and Means and Financial Services. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-18-pt1-PgH4547-9 | null | 1,353 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Dingell). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Dingell) | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4549-8 | null | 1,354 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Ms. SCANLON. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1418) to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. SCANLON | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4571 | null | 1,355 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1380) to amend the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to remind prosecutors of their obligations under Supreme Court case law. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. JACKSON LEE | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4582 | null | 1,356 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5602) to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. JACKSON LEE | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4583 | null | 1,357 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5602) to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. JACKSON LEE | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4583 | null | 1,358 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5602) to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. JACKSON LEE | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4583 | null | 1,359 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5309) to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. JACKSON LEE | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4592 | null | 1,360 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5918) to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McNERNEY | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4611 | null | 1,361 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. McNERNEY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 451) to repeal the section of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 that requires the Federal Communications Commission to reallocate and auction the T-Band spectrum, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McNERNEY | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4614 | null | 1,362 |
formal | early life | null | antisemitic | Mrs. DINGELL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill(H.R. 2271) to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. DINGELL | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4620 | null | 1,363 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5663) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. DINGELL | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4635 | null | 1,364 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2271. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; with an amendment (Rept. 116-524). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. A bill to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; with an amendment (Rept. 116-525, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5602. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 116-526, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4996. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-527). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. McGOVERN: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1129. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4447) to establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6270) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers to make certain disclosures relating to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8319) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes (Rept. 116-528). Referred to the House Calendar. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4640 | null | 1,365 |
formal | early life | null | antisemitic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2271. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; with an amendment (Rept. 116-524). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. A bill to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; with an amendment (Rept. 116-525, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5602. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 116-526, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4996. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-527). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. McGOVERN: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1129. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4447) to establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6270) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers to make certain disclosures relating to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8319) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes (Rept. 116-528). Referred to the House Calendar. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4640 | null | 1,366 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2271. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; with an amendment (Rept. 116-524). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. A bill to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; with an amendment (Rept. 116-525, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5602. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 116-526, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4996. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-527). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. McGOVERN: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1129. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4447) to establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6270) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers to make certain disclosures relating to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8319) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes (Rept. 116-528). Referred to the House Calendar. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4640 | null | 1,367 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2271. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; with an amendment (Rept. 116-524). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. A bill to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; with an amendment (Rept. 116-525, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5602. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 116-526, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4996. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-527). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. McGOVERN: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1129. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4447) to establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6270) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers to make certain disclosures relating to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8319) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes (Rept. 116-528). Referred to the House Calendar. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4640 | null | 1,368 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2271. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; with an amendment (Rept. 116-524). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. A bill to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; with an amendment (Rept. 116-525, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5602. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 116-526, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 4996. A bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for a State option under the Medicaid program to provide for and extend continuous coverage for certain individuals, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-527). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. McGOVERN: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1129. A resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 4447) to establish an energy storage and microgrid grant and technical assistance program; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6270) to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to require issuers to make certain disclosures relating to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and for other purposes; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8319) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2021, and for other purposes (Rept. 116-528). Referred to the House Calendar. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgH4640 | null | 1,369 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, President Trump's nominee for this vacancy will receive a vote on the floor of the Senate. Now, already, some of the same individuals who tried every conceivable dirty trick to obstruct Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh are lining up--lining up--to proclaim that the third time will be the charm. The American people are about to witness an astonishing parade of misrepresentations about the past, misstatements about the present, and more threats against our institutions from the same people who have already been saying for months--well before this--that they want to pack the Court. Two years ago, a radical movement tried to use unproven accusations to ruin a man's life because they could not win a vote fair and square. Now they appear to be readying an even more appalling sequel. This time the target will not just be the presumption of innocence for one American but our very governing institutions themselves. There will be times in the days ahead to discuss the naked threats that leading Democrats have long been directing at the U.S. Senate and the Supreme Court itself. These threats have grown louder, but they predate this vacancy by many months. There will be time to discuss why Senators who appear on the steps of the Supreme Court and personally threaten Associate Justices if they do not rule a certain way are ill-equipped to give lectures on civics, but today let's dispense with a few of the factual misrepresentations right at the outset. We are already hearing incorrect claims that there is not sufficient time to examine and confirm a nominee. We can debunk this myth in about 30 seconds. As of today, there are 43 days until November 3 and 104 days until the end of this Congress. The late, iconic Justice John Paul Stevens was confirmed by the Senate 19 days after this body formally received his nomination--19 days from start to finish. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, another iconic jurist, was confirmed 33 days after her nomination. For the late Justice Ginsburg herself, it was just 42 days. Justice Stevens' entire confirmation process could have been played out twice between now and November 3, with time to spare, and Justice Ginsburg herself could have been confirmed twice between now and the end of the year, with time to spare. The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear. Others want to claim that this situation is exactly analogous to Justice Scalia's passing in 2016 and so we should not proceed until January. This is also completely false. Here is what I said on the Senate floor the very first session day after Justice Scalia passed: ``The Senate has not filled a vacancy arising in an election year when there was divided government since 1888, almost 130 years ago.'' Here is what I said the next day, when I spoke to the press for the first time on the subject: ``[You] have to go back to 1888, when Grover Cleveland was President, to find the last time a vacancy created in a Presidential election year was approved by a Senate of a different party.'' As of then, only six prior times in American history had a Supreme Court vacancy arisen in a Presidential election year and the President sent a nomination that year to a Senate of the opposite party. The majority of those times, the outcome was exactly what happened in 2016--no confirmation--the historically normal outcome when you have divided government. President Obama was asking Senate Republicans for an unusual favor that had last been granted nearly 130 years before then, but voters had explicitly elected our majority to check and balance the end of his Presidency. So we stuck with the basic norm. And, by the way, in so doing, our majority did precisely what Democrats have indicated they would do themselves. In 1992, Democrats controlled the Senate opposite President Bush 41. Then-Senator Joe Biden chaired the Judiciary Committee. Unprompted--unprompted--he publicly declared that his committee might refuse to cooperate if a vacancy arose and the Republican President tried to fill it. In 2007, Democrats controlled the Senate opposite President Bush 43, and with more than a year and a half left in President Bush 43's term, the current Democratic leader declared that ``except in extraordinary circumstances,'' the opposite-party Senate should boycott any further confirmations to the Supreme Court. That is the current Democratic leader a year and a half before the end of the Bush administration. So in 2016 Senate Republicans did not only maintain the historical norm. We also ran the Biden-Schumer playbook. When voters have not chosen divided government, when the American people have elected a Senate majority to work closely with the sitting President, the historical record is even more overwhelming in favor of confirmation. Eight such times in our Nation's history, new vacancies have arisen and Presidents have made nominations, all during the election year. Seven of the eight were confirmed, and the sole exception, Justice Abe Fortas, was a bizarre situation including obvious personal corruption that extended into financial dealings. Apart from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us right now. Aside from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us right now. The historical precedent is overwhelming, and it runs in one direction. If our Democratic colleagues want to claim they are outraged, they can only be outraged at the plain facts of American history. There was clear precedent behind the predictable outcome that came out of 2016, and there is even more overwhelming precedent behind the fact that this Senate will vote on this nomination this year. The American people reelected our majority in 2016. They strengthened it further in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump on the most critical issues facing our country. The Federal judiciary was right at the top of the list. Ironically, it was the Democratic leader who went out of his way to declare the midterm 2018 elections a referendum on the Senate's handling of the Supreme Court. My friend, the occupant of the Chair, was running that year. The Democratic leader went out of his way to declare the 2018 midterms a referendum on the Senate's handling of the Supreme Court. In his final speech before Justice Kavanaugh was confirmed, he yelled--literally, yelled--over and over at the American people to go vote. He told Americans to go elect Senators based on how they had approached their advice-and-consent duties over these weeks. Unfortunately for him, many Americans did just that. After watching the Democrats' tactics, voters grew our majority and retired four--four--of our former colleagues who had gone along with their party's behavior. We gained two seats. They lost four. That was the issue. Perhaps more than any other single issue, the American people strengthened this Senate majority to keep confirming this President's presumptive judicial nominees who respect our Constitution and understand the proper role of a judge. In 2014, the voters elected our majority because we pledged to check and balance a second-term, lame-duck President. Two years later, we kept our word. In 2018, the voters grew that majority on our pledge to continue working with President Trump, most especially on his outstanding judicial appointments. We are going to keep our word once again. We are going to vote on this nomination on this floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgS5720 | null | 1,370 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, President Trump's nominee for this vacancy will receive a vote on the floor of the Senate. Now, already, some of the same individuals who tried every conceivable dirty trick to obstruct Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh are lining up--lining up--to proclaim that the third time will be the charm. The American people are about to witness an astonishing parade of misrepresentations about the past, misstatements about the present, and more threats against our institutions from the same people who have already been saying for months--well before this--that they want to pack the Court. Two years ago, a radical movement tried to use unproven accusations to ruin a man's life because they could not win a vote fair and square. Now they appear to be readying an even more appalling sequel. This time the target will not just be the presumption of innocence for one American but our very governing institutions themselves. There will be times in the days ahead to discuss the naked threats that leading Democrats have long been directing at the U.S. Senate and the Supreme Court itself. These threats have grown louder, but they predate this vacancy by many months. There will be time to discuss why Senators who appear on the steps of the Supreme Court and personally threaten Associate Justices if they do not rule a certain way are ill-equipped to give lectures on civics, but today let's dispense with a few of the factual misrepresentations right at the outset. We are already hearing incorrect claims that there is not sufficient time to examine and confirm a nominee. We can debunk this myth in about 30 seconds. As of today, there are 43 days until November 3 and 104 days until the end of this Congress. The late, iconic Justice John Paul Stevens was confirmed by the Senate 19 days after this body formally received his nomination--19 days from start to finish. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, another iconic jurist, was confirmed 33 days after her nomination. For the late Justice Ginsburg herself, it was just 42 days. Justice Stevens' entire confirmation process could have been played out twice between now and November 3, with time to spare, and Justice Ginsburg herself could have been confirmed twice between now and the end of the year, with time to spare. The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear. Others want to claim that this situation is exactly analogous to Justice Scalia's passing in 2016 and so we should not proceed until January. This is also completely false. Here is what I said on the Senate floor the very first session day after Justice Scalia passed: ``The Senate has not filled a vacancy arising in an election year when there was divided government since 1888, almost 130 years ago.'' Here is what I said the next day, when I spoke to the press for the first time on the subject: ``[You] have to go back to 1888, when Grover Cleveland was President, to find the last time a vacancy created in a Presidential election year was approved by a Senate of a different party.'' As of then, only six prior times in American history had a Supreme Court vacancy arisen in a Presidential election year and the President sent a nomination that year to a Senate of the opposite party. The majority of those times, the outcome was exactly what happened in 2016--no confirmation--the historically normal outcome when you have divided government. President Obama was asking Senate Republicans for an unusual favor that had last been granted nearly 130 years before then, but voters had explicitly elected our majority to check and balance the end of his Presidency. So we stuck with the basic norm. And, by the way, in so doing, our majority did precisely what Democrats have indicated they would do themselves. In 1992, Democrats controlled the Senate opposite President Bush 41. Then-Senator Joe Biden chaired the Judiciary Committee. Unprompted--unprompted--he publicly declared that his committee might refuse to cooperate if a vacancy arose and the Republican President tried to fill it. In 2007, Democrats controlled the Senate opposite President Bush 43, and with more than a year and a half left in President Bush 43's term, the current Democratic leader declared that ``except in extraordinary circumstances,'' the opposite-party Senate should boycott any further confirmations to the Supreme Court. That is the current Democratic leader a year and a half before the end of the Bush administration. So in 2016 Senate Republicans did not only maintain the historical norm. We also ran the Biden-Schumer playbook. When voters have not chosen divided government, when the American people have elected a Senate majority to work closely with the sitting President, the historical record is even more overwhelming in favor of confirmation. Eight such times in our Nation's history, new vacancies have arisen and Presidents have made nominations, all during the election year. Seven of the eight were confirmed, and the sole exception, Justice Abe Fortas, was a bizarre situation including obvious personal corruption that extended into financial dealings. Apart from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us right now. Aside from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us right now. The historical precedent is overwhelming, and it runs in one direction. If our Democratic colleagues want to claim they are outraged, they can only be outraged at the plain facts of American history. There was clear precedent behind the predictable outcome that came out of 2016, and there is even more overwhelming precedent behind the fact that this Senate will vote on this nomination this year. The American people reelected our majority in 2016. They strengthened it further in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump on the most critical issues facing our country. The Federal judiciary was right at the top of the list. Ironically, it was the Democratic leader who went out of his way to declare the midterm 2018 elections a referendum on the Senate's handling of the Supreme Court. My friend, the occupant of the Chair, was running that year. The Democratic leader went out of his way to declare the 2018 midterms a referendum on the Senate's handling of the Supreme Court. In his final speech before Justice Kavanaugh was confirmed, he yelled--literally, yelled--over and over at the American people to go vote. He told Americans to go elect Senators based on how they had approached their advice-and-consent duties over these weeks. Unfortunately for him, many Americans did just that. After watching the Democrats' tactics, voters grew our majority and retired four--four--of our former colleagues who had gone along with their party's behavior. We gained two seats. They lost four. That was the issue. Perhaps more than any other single issue, the American people strengthened this Senate majority to keep confirming this President's presumptive judicial nominees who respect our Constitution and understand the proper role of a judge. In 2014, the voters elected our majority because we pledged to check and balance a second-term, lame-duck President. Two years later, we kept our word. In 2018, the voters grew that majority on our pledge to continue working with President Trump, most especially on his outstanding judicial appointments. We are going to keep our word once again. We are going to vote on this nomination on this floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgS5720 | null | 1,371 |
formal | Cleveland | null | racist | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, President Trump's nominee for this vacancy will receive a vote on the floor of the Senate. Now, already, some of the same individuals who tried every conceivable dirty trick to obstruct Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh are lining up--lining up--to proclaim that the third time will be the charm. The American people are about to witness an astonishing parade of misrepresentations about the past, misstatements about the present, and more threats against our institutions from the same people who have already been saying for months--well before this--that they want to pack the Court. Two years ago, a radical movement tried to use unproven accusations to ruin a man's life because they could not win a vote fair and square. Now they appear to be readying an even more appalling sequel. This time the target will not just be the presumption of innocence for one American but our very governing institutions themselves. There will be times in the days ahead to discuss the naked threats that leading Democrats have long been directing at the U.S. Senate and the Supreme Court itself. These threats have grown louder, but they predate this vacancy by many months. There will be time to discuss why Senators who appear on the steps of the Supreme Court and personally threaten Associate Justices if they do not rule a certain way are ill-equipped to give lectures on civics, but today let's dispense with a few of the factual misrepresentations right at the outset. We are already hearing incorrect claims that there is not sufficient time to examine and confirm a nominee. We can debunk this myth in about 30 seconds. As of today, there are 43 days until November 3 and 104 days until the end of this Congress. The late, iconic Justice John Paul Stevens was confirmed by the Senate 19 days after this body formally received his nomination--19 days from start to finish. Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, another iconic jurist, was confirmed 33 days after her nomination. For the late Justice Ginsburg herself, it was just 42 days. Justice Stevens' entire confirmation process could have been played out twice between now and November 3, with time to spare, and Justice Ginsburg herself could have been confirmed twice between now and the end of the year, with time to spare. The Senate has more than sufficient time to process a nomination. History and precedent make that perfectly clear. Others want to claim that this situation is exactly analogous to Justice Scalia's passing in 2016 and so we should not proceed until January. This is also completely false. Here is what I said on the Senate floor the very first session day after Justice Scalia passed: ``The Senate has not filled a vacancy arising in an election year when there was divided government since 1888, almost 130 years ago.'' Here is what I said the next day, when I spoke to the press for the first time on the subject: ``[You] have to go back to 1888, when Grover Cleveland was President, to find the last time a vacancy created in a Presidential election year was approved by a Senate of a different party.'' As of then, only six prior times in American history had a Supreme Court vacancy arisen in a Presidential election year and the President sent a nomination that year to a Senate of the opposite party. The majority of those times, the outcome was exactly what happened in 2016--no confirmation--the historically normal outcome when you have divided government. President Obama was asking Senate Republicans for an unusual favor that had last been granted nearly 130 years before then, but voters had explicitly elected our majority to check and balance the end of his Presidency. So we stuck with the basic norm. And, by the way, in so doing, our majority did precisely what Democrats have indicated they would do themselves. In 1992, Democrats controlled the Senate opposite President Bush 41. Then-Senator Joe Biden chaired the Judiciary Committee. Unprompted--unprompted--he publicly declared that his committee might refuse to cooperate if a vacancy arose and the Republican President tried to fill it. In 2007, Democrats controlled the Senate opposite President Bush 43, and with more than a year and a half left in President Bush 43's term, the current Democratic leader declared that ``except in extraordinary circumstances,'' the opposite-party Senate should boycott any further confirmations to the Supreme Court. That is the current Democratic leader a year and a half before the end of the Bush administration. So in 2016 Senate Republicans did not only maintain the historical norm. We also ran the Biden-Schumer playbook. When voters have not chosen divided government, when the American people have elected a Senate majority to work closely with the sitting President, the historical record is even more overwhelming in favor of confirmation. Eight such times in our Nation's history, new vacancies have arisen and Presidents have made nominations, all during the election year. Seven of the eight were confirmed, and the sole exception, Justice Abe Fortas, was a bizarre situation including obvious personal corruption that extended into financial dealings. Apart from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us right now. Aside from that one strange exception, no Senate has failed to confirm a nominee in the circumstances that face us right now. The historical precedent is overwhelming, and it runs in one direction. If our Democratic colleagues want to claim they are outraged, they can only be outraged at the plain facts of American history. There was clear precedent behind the predictable outcome that came out of 2016, and there is even more overwhelming precedent behind the fact that this Senate will vote on this nomination this year. The American people reelected our majority in 2016. They strengthened it further in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump on the most critical issues facing our country. The Federal judiciary was right at the top of the list. Ironically, it was the Democratic leader who went out of his way to declare the midterm 2018 elections a referendum on the Senate's handling of the Supreme Court. My friend, the occupant of the Chair, was running that year. The Democratic leader went out of his way to declare the 2018 midterms a referendum on the Senate's handling of the Supreme Court. In his final speech before Justice Kavanaugh was confirmed, he yelled--literally, yelled--over and over at the American people to go vote. He told Americans to go elect Senators based on how they had approached their advice-and-consent duties over these weeks. Unfortunately for him, many Americans did just that. After watching the Democrats' tactics, voters grew our majority and retired four--four--of our former colleagues who had gone along with their party's behavior. We gained two seats. They lost four. That was the issue. Perhaps more than any other single issue, the American people strengthened this Senate majority to keep confirming this President's presumptive judicial nominees who respect our Constitution and understand the proper role of a judge. In 2014, the voters elected our majority because we pledged to check and balance a second-term, lame-duck President. Two years later, we kept our word. In 2018, the voters grew that majority on our pledge to continue working with President Trump, most especially on his outstanding judicial appointments. We are going to keep our word once again. We are going to vote on this nomination on this floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgS5720 | null | 1,372 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Jenna Quinn Law Madam President, there is no question that this has been a difficult year for our country, with division and disagreement taking center stage. That changed for a moment last week when the Senate unanimously passed a bill that I had introduced called the Jenna Quinn Law to protect some of the most vulnerable members of our country. This bill carries the name of an inspiring young Texan who is one of 42 million adult survivors of child sexual abuse nationwide. As Jenna says, child sexual abuse is a silent epidemic. One in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before the age of 18. Those are shocking numbers. Sadly, these victims often stay silent for months, years, some for even a lifetime. As a result, they and countless other victims continue to be subject to abuse. Interrupting this cycle of sexual abuse is Jenna's mission and one she has devoted her life to pursuing. She was the driving force behind what is now known as Jenna's Law in Texas, which requires training for teachers, caregivers, and other adults who work with children on how to recognize and report child sexual abuse. The signs of child sexual abuse are unique from other forms of abuse, and correctly identifying these signs is integral to bringing children out of a sexually abusive situation. After the Texas law passed in 2009, a study found that educators reported child sexual abuse at a rate almost four times greater after training than during their pretraining career--four times greater. It was one of the first child sexual abuse prevention laws in the United States to mandate this kind of training. Now, more than half of all the States have adopted a form of Jenna's Law, but many States, including my State, which have passed these laws don't provide the funding for the training. Thanks to the legislation that passed the Senate unanimously last week, that is one step closer to occurring. The Jenna Quinn law will take the successful reforms in Texas and other States and finally back them with some Federal funding for that essential training. It will still allow current grant funds from the Department of Justice, for example, to be used for specialized training for students, teachers, and caregivers to learn how to identify, safely report, and hopefully prevent future child sexual abuse. This legislation also encourages States with similar laws to implement innovative programs to address and discourage child sexual abuse. It is a critical step to interrupting this cycle that is impacting children across the country and preventing more children from enduring this trauma. My partner in this bipartisan effort was Senator Hassan from New Hampshire, and I appreciate her help in moving this bill through the Senate. I hope our colleagues in the House will quickly take it up and pass the Jenna Quinn law so we can get it to the President's desk as soon as possible. The COVID-19 crisis has underscored the urgency of this legislation. In April of this year, nationwide reports of abuse or neglect dropped by an average of 40 percent compared to the same time last year. Normally, this type of drop in reporting would be great news, but based on everything we know about the stresses and circumstances created by this pandemic, I fear that there is actually an increase in abuse. It just isn't being recognized or reported. We need to make investments now in the health and safety of our children and bring this silent epidemic to an end. Speaker Pelosi has made clear that the House will stay in session until an agreement is reached on COVID-19 relief so there is no reason for the House not to be able to act on this consensus legislation. I urge the House to take it up and pass it--which has received unanimous support in the Senate--and support America's children at a critical time like this. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgS5725 | null | 1,373 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Tribute to Erica Knievel Songer Mr. President, I have one other purpose in coming to the floor today, and that is to recognize my colleague, my friend Erica Knievel Songer, my chief counsel--whom I now embarrass--who is departing this week. Erica is an immensely talented lawyer and has been an invaluable member of my team for over 4 years, a summa graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a Phi Beta Kappa member, a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, a deputy editor of the Journal of Law and Gender, and a clerk on the Sixth Circuit for Judge Cornelia Kennedy. After all that, she went to one of Washington's most prestigious law firms and, after 9 years of diligent litigation and work, earned her way into being a partner but, during all this time, dedicated her time to pro bono work, to advocating for those seeking justice. She could have had a much more lucrative career than the last 4 years here in the Senate, and her trajectory was not a typical one for a chief counsel on a Judiciary Committee. She was willing to make the sacrifice, and I was grateful for the chance to serve with her. Her dedication to upholding and defending democratic principles is unwavering, and every day she has put the interests of the American people and Delawareans first. No one has worked harder in her 4 years on my team than she. Her commitment to our shared values has helped guide me and my team through some of the most difficult and challenging moments of these years. She has capably led my entire legal team and helped us navigate through some truly historic fights. It was just 3 days after she joined my team that we were in the Rose Garden for President Obama's nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, and she led my team and my work on the confirmation hearings of now-Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh. She led us through the Mueller investigation and through the impeachment trial. She has been integral to legislative efforts, including the Special Counsel Integrity Act, a bipartisan effort to support the integrity of independent investigations and to protect the Mueller investigation; the Driving for Opportunity Act, a bipartisan bill to create incentives to stop debt-based driver's license suspension and extend criminal justice reform; and a project for which we both have a particular passion, the NO BAN Act, which would repeal President Trump's Executive order blocking travel from majority-Muslim countries and prevent another baseless, discriminatory travel ban. She has contributed so much more than this. She has been a teacher and mentor to so many in my office and, particularly, to young women, who look to her as a role model and a source of wisdom and strength. Personally, she and her husband Mike, both dedicated attorneys and passionate public servants, are constant reminders of why we are here and for whom we fight. As we reflect today and in the week ahead on the legacy of Justice Ginsburg, whose life was committed to the fight for equality and justice, I see that same fight in Erica Songer. Justice Ginsburg blazed a trail and changed the world for incredibly talented and capable women like Erica so that she could lead the life she has. Erica is a true patriot, a great colleague, and a wonderful friend who has put country over self, and I have been blessed to have the benefit of her counsel and her friendship these 4 years. I am proud she will go on to continue to fight for our shared values. I wish her luck. I will miss her dearly, and I pray this is not the last time we will serve together. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-21-pt1-PgS5728-2 | null | 1,374 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | A message from the Senate by Ms. Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that the Senate has passed bills of the following titles in which the concurrence of the House is requested: S. 924. An act to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to require training and education to teachers and other school employees, students, and the community about how to prevent, recognize, respond to, and report child sexual abuse in primary and secondary education. S. 1160. An act to amend the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to increase support for mental health. S. 1646. An act to designate the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in St. Angustine, Florida, as the ``Leo C. Chase Jr. Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''. S. 4072. An act to designate the clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Bend, Oregon, as the ``Robert D. Maxwell Department of Veterans Affairs Clinic''. The message also announced that the Senate has agreed to a concurrent resolution of the following title in which the concurrence of the House is requested: S. Con. Res. 45. Concurrent Resolution providing for the use of the catafalque situated in the crypt beneath the Rotunda of the Capitol in connection with memorial services to be conducted in the Supreme Court Building and the Capitol for the late honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4650 | null | 1,375 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. CASTRO of Texas. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5664) to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to ensure adequate time for the preparation of the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, require the timely provision of information to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the Department of State regarding the number and location of visa denials based, in whole or in part, on grounds related to human trafficking, and for other purposes, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CASTRO of Texas | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4674 | null | 1,376 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5664) to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to ensure adequate time for the preparation of the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, require the timely provision of information to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the Department of State regarding the number and location of visa denials based, in whole or in part, on grounds related to human trafficking, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4688-4 | null | 1,377 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5664) to amend the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to ensure adequate time for the preparation of the annual Trafficking in Persons Report, require the timely provision of information to the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons and the Bureau of Diplomatic Security of the Department of State regarding the number and location of visa denials based, in whole or in part, on grounds related to human trafficking, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4688-4 | null | 1,378 |
formal | COIN | null | transphobic | WOMEN'S HISTORY AND NINETEENTH AMENDMENT CENTENNIAL QUARTER DOLLAR COIN | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4705-2 | null | 1,379 |
formal | COIN | null | transphobic | 1921 SILVER DOLLAR COIN ANNIVERSARY ACT | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4711 | null | 1,380 |
formal | public school | null | racist | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. TAKANO: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R. 3798. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for limitations on copayments for contraception furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-529). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2468. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the preference given, in awarding certain allergies and asthma- related grants, to States that require certain public schools to have allergies and asthma management programs, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-530). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4714-2 | null | 1,381 |
formal | public schools | null | racist | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Mr. TAKANO: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R. 3798. A bill to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for limitations on copayments for contraception furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-529). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 2468. A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to increase the preference given, in awarding certain allergies and asthma- related grants, to States that require certain public schools to have allergies and asthma management programs, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 116-530). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgH4714-2 | null | 1,382 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I explained yesterday how moving ahead on a vote on the forthcoming Supreme Court nomination will be consistent with both history and precedent. When an election-year nomination to fill an election-year vacancy occurs in a divided government, with a Senate and a President of different parties, the historical norm is that such nominations are not confirmed. But the times this has happened after the American people have elected a Senate majority to work alongside the same-party President, every such nominee has been confirmed, save one bizarre exception of a nominee who had corrupt financial dealings. Let me say that again. Except for Justice Abe Fortas and his ethical scandals, every single nomination in American history made under our present circumstances has ended in a confirmation--seven out of eight. That is the thing about facts and history. Angry rhetoric does not change them. Partisan finger-pointing does not alter them. Facts simply exist. They are there for everyone to see. History and precedent were on this Senate majority's side in 2016, and they are overwhelmingly on our side now. If we go on to confirm this nomination after a careful process, then both in 2016 and in 2020, this Senate will simply have provided the typical, normal outcome in each scenario. Think about that fact and then weigh it against the outcry and hysteria that has already erupted on the far left. Yesterday, the Democratic leader announced on the floor that if the Senate holds a vote on the forthcoming nomination it would ``spell the end of this supposedly great deliberative body.'' Spell the end of this supposedly great deliberative body? That is what he said. It would be the death of the Senate if a duly elected majority of the U.S. Senate exercises its advice and consent power as it sees fit. That is what Senates do. It is our job description. Presidents makes nominations as they see fit, and Senate majorities either provide or withhold advice and consent as we see fit. But now our Democratic colleagues tell us that the Senate doing normal senatorial things would ``spell the end'' of this institution--whatever that may mean. The Democratic leader is not alone in these pronouncements. Chairman Jerry Nadler of the House Judiciary Committee has already announced that if the Senate majority dares to act likea Senate majority, future Democrats should ``immediately move to expand the Supreme Court.'' From another colleague: If [they hold] a vote in 2020, we pack the court in 2021. It's that simple. Speaker Pelosi intimated on television last weekend that she may consider launching a new frivolous impeachment simply to tie up the Senate's time. She said: ``We have our options.'' The junior Senator from Massachusetts said Democrats ``must abolish the filibuster and expand the Supreme Court.'' The junior Senator for Hawaii said: ``All of those matters will be on the agenda.'' The senior Senator from Connecticut said: ``Nothing is off the table.'' Just yesterday, former Vice President Biden himself refused to rule out that he might seek to pack the Supreme Court. Bear in mind, none of them assert this majority would be breaking any Senate rule by holding this vote; it is just that our Democratic friends worry they might not like the outcome. For some reason, they cannot bear to see Republicans governing within the rules as Republicans--doing exactly what Americans elected us to do. So they threaten to wreck the makeup of the Senate if they lose a vote and to wreck the structure of the Court if somebody is confirmed whom they oppose. It has been interesting to watch our colleagues try to recast their disturbing threats as somehow tied to this Supreme Court vacancy. No one should fall for this trick. Democrats have already been threatening these actions for months. This isn't anything new. Our colleagues now say that ``nothing'' would be ``off the table'' if a new Justice were to be confirmed. They want badly for people to believe these are new threats that Democrats would take off the table--would take off the table--if Republicans would just help them sink President Trump's nominee. Let me say that again. They want badly for people to believe these are new threats that Democrats would take off the table if Republicans would just help them sink President Trump's nominee. Let me read another quotation. This is the junior Senator from California speaking, our distinguished colleague who is now running for Vice President: We are on the verge of a crisis of confidence in the Supreme Court. We have to take this challenge head on, and everything is on the table to do that. Sound familiar? Of course it does. Our colleague made that remark in March of 2019--in March of 2019. These threats are not new. They have nothing to do with this new vacancy. Democrats have already been playing this game for more than a year and a half. It was more than a year ago that several Senate Democrats threatened the Supreme Court in a written brief. They said: ``The Court is not well [and] perhaps the Court can heal itself before the public demands it be `restructured.' '' It was more than a year ago that Democrats, competing for their party's Presidential nomination, made court-packing a central element in their platforms. It was more than 6 months ago that the Democratic leader appeared across the street outside the Court and threatened specific Justices if they did not rule his way. For goodness' sake, the junior Senator from Maryland came right out and admitted this yesterday. Someone asked him whether he would support these acts of institutional vandalism if a nominee is confirmed this year, and he helpfully pointed out: ``I've always said I'm open, even before this seat opened . . . [those] possibilities were on the table before we got to this point,'' thereby proving my point. These threats are not new. They have nothing to do with this vacancy. Our friend the junior Senator from Delaware said on television this Sunday that he wants to persuade Republicans to forgo filling this vacancy, but all the way back in June--long before 5 days ago--he himself notably refused to rule out breaking the Senate's rules to kill the filibuster. There is no degree to which rewarding these threats would buy the Nation any relief from this. There is nothing you can give them to stop all the threats. There is no ``deal'' that would stop these dangerous tactics. Giving in to political blackmail would not do a thing to secure our institutions. You do not put a stop to irresponsible hostage-taking by making hostage-taking a winning strategy. I will tell you what really could threaten our system of government. It is not Senate Republicans doing legitimate things squarely within the Senate rules and within the Constitution that Democrats happen to dislike--no, no. What could really threaten our system is if one of our two major parties continues to pretend the whole system is automatically illegitimate whenever they lose; if they continue to act like, for their side of the aisle, a legitimate defeat is an oxymoron. That is the danger to our democracy. Every one of these attacks on our institutions only underscores how important they are. Every threat to turn our courts into a political tug-of-war only reinforces why the Senate is charged with protecting our independent judiciary and why this majority's work with President Trump on this task is so crucial. The President plans to use the power the voters gave him to make a nomination. Senators will use the power the voters gave us to either provide or withhold consent as we see fit. The only ones responsible for those threats will be the people making them. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5733-6 | null | 1,383 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, tomorrow the recently departed Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in repose at the Supreme Court, and on Friday Ruth Bader Ginsburg will lie in state here in the Capitol, the first time in our Nation's long history that a woman has ever received the honor. I can think of no more fitting tribute for a woman who made a life's work of going where women had never gone before. Even with the benefit of a few days, the loss of Justice Ginsburg is devastating. You need only walk by the Supreme Court today, where flowers, candles, chalk-written notes, and spontaneous demonstrations have clogged the sidewalks for 4 days straight, to know her impact on this country. We will honor her this week, and, by all rights, we should honor her dying wish, imparted to her granddaughter, that she ``not be replaced until the next President is installed.'' All the words and encomia for Justice Ginsburg from the other side ring hollow if they will not honor her last dying wish. Yesterday, the Republican side--so often, President Trump--seemed to make it worse. President Trump mocked Justice Ginsburg's dying wish by insinuating that her granddaughter was a liar, once again confirming every terrible thing we know about our President. He said that Justice Ginsburg's statement was something that ``sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe Pelosi or shifty Schiff.'' That is the President of the United States baselessly suggesting that Democrats fabricated the dying wish of the late Justice Ginsburg. It was a coarse, shameful, lying insult to the late Justice Ginsburg and to her family. If the President had a shred of human decency--even a little--he would apologize, but we all know he will not. Everyone here in the Senate ought to be disgusted by the President's comments. How low can this President go? He knows no depth. You can never know that. You would think that, after the Republican majority led a historic blockade just 4 years ago to keep open a vacancy on the Supreme Court because it was an election year, they would have the honor and decency to apply theirown rule when the same scenario came around again. You would expect the Senate majority to follow their own rule. What is fair is fair. This is what Leader McConnell said in 2016: The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice. Therefore, this vacancy should not be filled until we have a new President. This is the McConnell rule--the McConnell rule. This is the principle that Leader McConnell and then-Chairman Grassley used to justify their refusal to even meet with President Obama's Supreme Court nominee. Here it is--the McConnell rule: When it is a Presidential season, you can't vote on a Supreme Court nominee because ``the American people should have a voice.'' Now, Leader McConnell repeated that refrain for almost a year and so did almost every other Republican in the Chamber: The American people shouldn't be denied a voice. Give the people a voice. The Senate should not confirm a new Supreme Court Justice until we have a new President. I don't think we should be moving on a nominee in the last year of a President's term. I would say that if it was a Republican President. If an opening came in the last year of President Trump's term and the primary process had started-- The primary process had started-- we'll wait to the next election. I don't even have to tell you who those quotes came from. It was nearly every single Republican in this Chamber. That is how they justified the unprecedented blockade of President Obama's Supreme Court nominee: no vote during a Presidential election year because we have to let the people decide. They promised to stay consistent if a Republican President won in November. It turns out, a Republican President did win that fall, and a Supreme Court vacancy did arise in the final year of his term, not just during the primary process but long after it was over, with little more than a month--a month--before the election. Now, whoops, didn't mean it. It is different now. We are supposed to believe this specious, flimsy, and dishonest argument that it is about the orientation of the Senate and the Presidency or how angry Republicans are at Democrats and all the big, scary things we might do in the future. Maybe that will justify it--anything not to admit the plain fact that they all made one argument for a year, an argument they insisted was a ``principle'' when it was good for them politically, and now they are doing the opposite thing. The McConnell rule: ``The American people should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court Justice.'' It turns out, the McConnell rule was nothing more than a McConnell ruse. Leader McConnell, sadly, sadly, is headed down the path of breaking his word to the Senate and the American people. He has exposed once and for all that a supposed principle of giving the people a voice in selecting the next Justice was a farce. Sadly, again--sadly--Leader McConnell has defiled the Senate like no one in this generation, and Leader McConnell may very well destroy it. If Leader McConnell presses forward, the Republican majority will have stolen two Supreme Court seats, 4 years apart, using completely contradictory rationales. How can we expect to trust the other side again? For those of you on the other side who are still thinking about this and maybe some who might change their minds, just think of what this does to this body and people's word on one of our most solemn and sacred obligations: to choose a Supreme Court Justice fairly and honestly. It is obvious why the Republican leader, when he comes to the floor, sounds so angry and defensive in his remarks. I will note for the record that the Republican leader did not once mention his principle in 2016--that the American people should have a voice in selecting the next Supreme Court Justice--in any of his speeches because he can't mention it. Just to give you a sense of how far down the rabbit hole my friend from Kentucky has gone, yesterday--listen to this--this is what he said. Leader McConnell said that President Obama asked the Senate ``for an unusual favor'' by fulfilling his constitutional duty to nominate a Supreme Court Justice with almost a year left in the term--``an unusual favor.'' Only the Republican leader could look at our system of government so cynically. Apparently, the Senate's constitutional duty to advise and consent is an unusual favor when a Democratic President is in office but a categorical imperative when a Republican is in office. That is actually his argument. I listened to the Republican leader yesterday. I listened to him this morning. Gone are all the invocations of giving the American people a voice. It is nothing so supposedly high-minded this time. No, this time the Republican leader isn't even hiding that his decision is nothing--nothing--but raw, partisan politics. According to the Republican leader, when the President and the Senate majority are the same party, you can break all the rules to get your Justice. Change the rules of the Senate to pass Supreme Court Justices on a majority vote. Rush it through before an election. It doesn't matter if you said the exact opposite thing 4 years ago, 2 years ago, or even, for some Senators, a few months ago. This is how our vaunted traditions of bipartisanship and compromise--on life support before--now end. This is how. By one side--in this case the Republican majority under Leader McConnell--deciding that the rules don't apply to them, even their own rules. That, when push comes to shove, it is brute political force, all the way down. If my friends on the Republican side want that kind of Senate, they can follow Leader McConnell down the very dangerous path he has laid down. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5734-2 | null | 1,384 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, one final matter. According to the official tally at Johns Hopkins University, the United States today will reach a staggering milestone of 200,000 Americans lost to COVID-19--200,000 Americans--more than any other country on Earth. Far more than we should have. Far more than we would have had there been a proper, coordinated, and energetic response to the virus by the Trump administration. In the face of this tragic milestone, what does President Trump do? Does he mourn the astounding loss of lives? No, he goes off on the campaign trail, where yesterday he told his supporters that the virus ``affects virtually nobody.'' Affects virtually nobody? Tell that to the families and friends of the 200,000 who are in mourning. Seriously, the day before the United States hits 200,000 deaths from COVID-19, the President said the virus ``affects virtually nobody.'' He also said: ``If you take the blue states out, we're really at a very low level.'' He also said: ``It is what it is.'' This is our President? My goodness. Do you want to know why we have the worst pandemic response of any developed nation on Earth? You want to know why now nearly one out of every five deaths from COVID-19 come from America? It is because President Trump lied to the American people from day one about the gravity of this disease, and he is still doing it now, in a desperate and vile effort to boost his political fortunes. And here in the Senate, Republicans will do anything--anything to back him, no matter what he says or does, as long as he nominates their judges. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5735 | null | 1,385 |
formal | inner city | null | racist | Affordable Care Act Madam President, we know what is at stake as well in terms of this Nation. There are 200,000 Americans--that number is likely to be confirmed in just a matter of hours, if not days--who have died of COVID-19. You say to yourself: Well, it is a global pandemic, and people are dying everywhere. That is true, but the rate of death in America, sadly, leads the world. It is not an indication of American greatness that the infection rate from COVID-19 in the United States of America is five times what it is in Germany. It is not an indication of American greatness when the infection rate in the United States is twice what it is in Canada. It is not a reflection of the greatness of America that, with 4\1/2\ percent of the global population, we have 20 percent of the people who have died from this pandemic. This President and this administration have utterly failed when it has come to this public health crisis--one of the most challenging in a century. For the 6 million people who have been infected with this COVID virus in America, we pray that they will recover fully, but we know, in many cases, they will not. We know that, without the protection in the Affordable Care Act, many insurers will refuse to issue policies to these people in the future if the Republicans have their way and eliminate the Affordable Care Act. Amy, of Huntley, IL, recently wrote to me: Please save the ACA. Without it, caps will come back, and, with them, my children's mental health care coverage will essentially disappear. I have three children, each with varying mental health disabilities. Before the Affordable Care Act, our Blue Cross-Blue Shield plan had a maximum family lifetime cap of 100 mental health care visits. A lifetime cap, she says, of 100 visits. That is it. When the ACA was passed, it was like a tremendous weight had been taken off our family. Young adults, incidentally, up to the age of 26 are protected by their families' health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. If the Trump administration, Mitch McConnell, and the new Supreme Court nominee have their way, that would end. Insurance plans would no longer have to cover prescription drugs, maternity care, mental health, or addiction treatment. While still facing the opioid crisis, eliminating the Affordable Care Act would eliminate the guarantee that your son, your daughter, or someone in your family who is facing the addiction of this terrible drug would have coverage when it comes to addiction treatment. Misty, of Gurnee, IL, wrote: In a time where my husband is unemployed and I've been quarantined . . . losing our health care now would be absolutely devastating for my family. My husband and I are both on daily prescription meds, and we have two daughters who desperately need health care coverage as well. I am asking you to protect the Affordable Care Act. Misty, I am going to protect the Affordable Care Act by opposing President Trump's Supreme Court nomineebecause he has promised us that the nominee will eliminate the Affordable Care Act. I could not in good conscience support such a nominee. When the Affordable Care Act goes away, as the Republicans are seeking to achieve in court and now on the floor of the Senate, Medicare would face insolvency sooner--at least 1 year sooner--and seniors would be charged more for prescription drugs. Hospitals in Illinois, especially downstate and inner city hospitals, would see significant revenue losses from the elimination of Medicaid expansion. This is the real world, and the people who are writing to my office are doing so of their own volition to let me know what they face. This isn't just a matter of big shots in Washington who are fighting with one another to see who can get more camera time. It isn't a question of who is going to appear more on the cable TV shows. It is a question of whether we care about the families we represent. Most families, my own included, have been through this. I know the sleepless nights when you worry about whether you have health insurance. I know what it is like to be the father of a new baby who has serious medical conditions and to have no insurance at all. I have faced it, and I will never forget it. I will never forget the families who sent me to Washington to remember them as well. This is about more than who gets bragging rights politically at the end of the day; it is about the right of every American family to have peace of mind in knowing they have quality, affordable, accessible health insurance coverage. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5738 | null | 1,386 |
formal | political correctness | null | racist | Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, last week marked another Constitution Day celebration. It could not have come at a better time because, for just one little moment, it helped us pause and contemplate two very important things. First, we took time to think about those values that our Founders knew. They knew that these values were essential to the establishment of a model republic. Second, we remembered the progress we have made in deciding for ourselves how the passage of time changes or does not change what we can do to make that ``more perfect Union'' even more so. Free speech, petition, and protest, the right to defend ourselves, the right to cast a vote--these are the freedoms that unite us in times of turmoil, whether we find ourselves in the midst of all-out war or just a particularly contentious election year. I would argue that how a nation reacts to that turmoil says more about its foundation than it does about who controls the news cycle on any given day. Divisive voices are hard at work in this country, and they are doing their very best to convince our friends, families, and neighbors that our foundation is weak and that our founding principles are no longer good enough. I find that very sad. They want us to believe that America as we know it is suddenly irredeemable, that it just can't be safe. You might ask yourself: Why are they saying all of this in spite of hundreds of years and millions of Americans proving the exact opposite is true? Here is what I think. They say it because they want us to give up. They want our neighbors, our families, and our friends to give up, call it quits; our best days are behind us. We have all heard them say this. They say: Throw the Constitution in the trash. Rewrite it. Start over. And after you throw the Constitution in the trash, then let's reimagine the world's greatest democracy through our very own destructive lenses of socialism, critical theory, and political correctness. That is what they say. As I am sure we have all seen, they have come up with some fairly persuasive methods to try to get their way. But I believe that, in the end, these efforts will all be in vain because when push comes to shove, we, the American people, always manage to remember where we have come from and to remember who we are. It is interesting. I think somehow we Americans always find our way home, back to those first principles. Indeed, I pray that continues. Our Founders saw what tyranny really looked like. They saw it up close and personal because they had to live through it. They knew exactly--exactly--what would happen if they put the fate of the Republic in the hands of men alone. So what did they do to give that insurance policy, if you will, that democracy and a democratic republic would continue and would stand? They drafted a Constitution, recognizingthat our rights are a gift from God and that these rights are not a product of government action or they are not subject to the whims of a mob. They were also forward thinking. They gave us everything we need to improve upon their work. I think it is important to remember we have done just that. Over the course of more than two centuries, we have built a nation that is freer, more equal, and, yes, striving every day to be that ``more perfect Union,'' not because outside forces compel us to do so but because we, as Americans, chose to make it that way. When I see that a friend or a neighborhood has forgotten this, I like to remind them that two of the most emotional and powerful words in the English language are ``remember'' and ``imagine.'' I tell them: Stop for just a moment. Close your eyes and remember what you really love about this country. Remember the special moments. Remember what your parents and your grandparents have told you about love of country. Remember the sacrifices they have made. And, now, just imagine: What would your children and grandkids accomplish? What would they accomplish if they, too, are allowed to grow up in a place where liberty and justice is for all, where they are allowed to dream these big dreams and then dream up a way to make those dreams come true? These are things that are valued above all else. Of course, as we look at our past and we remember, we look at the future, and we know that in finding common ground--when we find common ground--we see potential, and potential gives us hope. I like to say that hope is staking a claim on an action, on a goal that you are going to achieve. So it is my fervent hope that we will continue to stand on our constitutional principles and that we will defend the foundation of this Nation that has given so many Americans the opportunity to make these big dreams come true I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. BLACKBURN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5750-3 | null | 1,387 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I rise to honor the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The Nation mourns the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died Friday night. She died on the eve of the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashanah. She was the first Jewish woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. Rabbis tell us a very interesting thing about individuals who die right before the new year. They say and they suggest that these are very righteous people who die at the very end of the year because they were needed until the very end. Under Jewish tradition, those who die on the new year holiday are considered tzadik, a title given to the righteous and saintly. Certainly Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was entitled to this honor, being righteous and saintly. At her confirmation hearing, Justice Ginsburg talked about her immigrant experience. You see, her father was a Jewish immigrant, and her mother was barely a second-generation American. So she talked about American values, and then she said: ``What has become of me could only happen in America.'' Then she spent her entire career protecting those values that make America the great Nation it is and the reason why people come here in order to reach their full potential. It guided her well in her public service. Justice Ginsburg was both an inspiration and a trailblazer in every sense of the word. After breaking through the countless barriers thrown in her path, she redefined what is meant to be both a thoughtful jurist and a dedicated public servant. Let me just briefly go over some of her incredible accomplishments: first in her undergraduate class at Cornell University, first female member of the Harvard Law Journal, graduating first in her class at Columbia Law School, first female professor at Columbia University to earn tenure. Justice Ginsburg directed the ACLU Women's Rights Project and argued six landmark cases before the Supreme Court, winning five of those cases. These cases protected not only the rights of women but those of many men who faced discrimination as well. As the National Women's Law Center wrote about Justice Ginsburg's death, they said: [Her passing] is cause for us to pause and honor the unparalleled mark she has left on this country. From co- founding the ACLU's Women's Rights Project, to bringing the first case striking down a law that discriminated against women, to building the case that defined the standard for sex discrimination cases, Ginsburg was a visionary who revolutionized the gender equality movement--and the law-- long before becoming a Supreme Court Justice. For our country, Ginsburg's ethos was greater than just the law. She was an icon and a living symbol of a north star, so we must unite and do for her what she did for us--fight for what is right. As a litigator, Judge Ginsburg helped to shape the law, convincing the Supreme Court that ``equal protection of the law'' under the 14th Amendment applied not only to racial discrimination but to gender discrimination as well. Justice Ginsburg herself knew discrimination firsthand, as she struggled to find a job after graduating law school--notwithstanding her sterling qualifications. She had that difficulty, as we all know, solely because of her gender. She experienced gender discrimination firsthand, and she did something about it not only for herself but for future generations. After serving on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for 13 years, she began a 27-year career on the U.S. Supreme Court. There are so many of her decisions that were so consequential, so visionary, expressing the right value, and her ability to express her views was unquestioned. She did that in writing majority opinions, and she is well known for doing that in writing dissenting opinions. So many of her dissenting opinions led the way for change. She was right, and she motivated change. In 1996, Justice Ginsburg wrote the majority opinion of the Court in the finding that the all-male admissions policy at the State-supported Virginia Military Institute was unconstitutional. She said in that opinion: ``Generalizations about `the way women are,' estimates of what is appropriate for most women, no longer justify denying opportunity to women whose talent and capacity place them outside the average description.'' Any differential treatment, she concluded, must not ``create or perpetuate the legal, social, and economic inferiority of women.'' What a difference she made in that decision. I will always remember her dissenting opinion in the Lilly Ledbetter case because it led directly to change. Justice Ginsburg wrote in that fiery dissent: ``Our precedent suggests, and lower courts have overwhelmingly held, that the unlawful practice is the current payment of salaries infected by gender-based (or race-based) discrimination--a practice that occurs whenever a paycheck delivers less to a woman than to a similarly situated man.'' I heard one of my colleagues talk about precedent, but here we see the Court reversing precedent in order to advance discrimination against women. Her dissent led to congressional action, becoming the first piece of legislation signed by President Barack Obama. The text of this bill hung on her office wall for good reason, as it embodied her spirit. She issued a fiery dissent again in the Shelby County v. Holder case in 2013, a case decided by a 5-to-4 vote of the Supreme Court of the United States, which gutted the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Here is what she said in that opinion: What has become of the court's usual restraint? Justice Ginsburg wrote in her dissenting opinion: The great man who led the march from Selma to Montgomery and there called for the passage of the Voting Rights Act foresaw progress, even in Alabama. ``The arc of the moral universe is long,'' he said, but ``it bends toward justice,'' if there is a steadfast commitment to see the task through to completion. That commitment has been disserved by today's decision. . . . Throwing out preclearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet. I mentioned these cases to underscore the importance of the Supreme Court Justice in the lives of all Americans. So much is at stake in the filling of Justice Ginsburg's vacancy. It will have real consequences on all of our constituents. Let me just give you a few examples of what is likely to be taken up by the Supreme Court that could affect my constituents in Maryland and the constituents around the Nation. Your healthcare is, literally, on the line. The Affordable Care Act that President Trump has tried to repeal and the Republicans have tried to repeal in this body but have failed, they are now going to take to the Supreme Court. A hearing is scheduled this November. This is a real risk for tens of millions of Americans who depend on the law for their health coverage and other benefits. Twenty million Americans could lose their healthcare, and people with preexisting conditions could lose those protections--that is 133 million Americans--during the coronavirus pandemic. That is what is at risk. We are talking about pregnancy, cancer, diabetes, high blood pressure, behavioral health disorders, high cholesterol, asthma, chronic lung disease, heart conditions, and numerous others that have been held to be preexisting conditions. That protection is in the Affordable Care Act. That is on the line before the Supreme Court this November. That is why Americans are concerned that we follow the right process in selecting the next individual to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. If the Affordable Care Act is struck down, insurers could bring back annual and lifetime limits on coverage; adults covered by Medicaid expansion would lose vital health services; young people would be kicked off of their parents' insurance; and insurers could sell skimpy plans that don't even cover essential health benefits like prescription drugs, emergency room visits, mental health and substance use, and maternity care. The Affordable Care Act increased access to care for millions who were previously uninsured or underinsured. Through Medicaid expansion, 13 million low-income Americans now have dependable, comprehensive health. In Maryland alone, over 1.3 low-income individuals depend on Medicaid, including 512,000 low-income children, 107,000 seniors, and 152,000 individuals with disabilities. That is in Maryland. We must protect the Medicaid expansion population and other uninsured and underinsured populations from the Trump administration's effort to eliminate their access to affordable care. It is at risk. This vacancy is critically important to protecting healthcare, and there are so many other issues. Women's reproductive rights--clearly at risk. Roe v. Wade--I understand it is established precedent, but look at what the Supreme Court has been willing to do in reversing precedent. We know Roe v. Wade is in the crosshairs for change by the Supreme Court, and one more Justice appointed to support that position and a woman's right of choice could very well be in jeopardy. Our most vulnerable individuals are at risk as well. Let me talk about one specific group of people--some of our immigrants. On June 18, 2020, in a 5-to-4 decision written by Justice Roberts and joined by Justice Ginsburg, the Supreme Court held that the Department of Homeland Security violated the law when it rescinded the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival, DACA, Program. There are approximately 643,000 DACA recipients in the United States, and approximately 29,000 are healthcare workers, essential workers, whose service during the COVID-19 pandemic has saved lives and eased suffering. But for that 5-to-4 decision, those individuals' lives could have been totally disrupted had they been ordered to leave our country. These are individuals who know no other home but the United States of America. They are our neighbors and friends--and yet a 5-to-4 decision of the Supreme Court. Justice Ginsburg will no longer be there. This next Justice could very well determine the fate of the Dreamers. LGBTQ community: In the Obergefell v. Hodges case, the Supreme Court, by a 5-to-4 decision, held the Constitution guarantees same-sex couples the right to marry. That is a 5-to-4 decision. I always expected that, in America, we would move forward in protecting individual rights under our Constitution; that, in each Congress and each session, the Supreme Court would advance those rights for individuals' protection under the Constitution of the United States. The filling of this Supreme Court vacancy could very well reverse a trend of protecting rights and deny many in our community their rights. I could cite many, many other examples of what is at risk by the Supreme Court appointment. There are many reasons why we believe that we should follow the proper process in selecting the next Supreme Court Justice, so let's talk a little bit about what process we should follow. Let's talk a little bit about fairness. Let's talk about the integrity of the Senate. Let's talk about living up to our own words. Let's talk about using the same rules for Democrats that you use for Republicans. Let's talk about the fairness of the process. Now, I could spend a lot of time on the floor quoting the comments of so many of my colleagues who spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate 4 years ago on the Merrick Garland nomination by President Obama and how they spoke about the importance of listening to the voters of our Nation, how they said we didn't have the time--and, remember, Merrick Garland was in February of an election year--to do this; that we needed to withhold taking up the nomination; that it was up to the voters to act first; and that this had nothing to do with the fact that it was a Democrat in the White House. So many of our colleagues said: If there is a Republican elected in 2016 and the Senate is controlled by the Republicans, we would say the same thing. Hold off. Let the voters have a chance. Let me quote from one of our colleagues. In 2016, Senate Republicans refused to consider the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama's nominee for a Supreme Court vacancy. They would not meet with Judge Garland, hold a hearing on his nomination, or allow a vote for 293 days. Antonin Scalia died in February 2016. President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, a respected D.C. Circuit Judge with bipartisan support, in March 2016. In the case of Justice Ginsburg's vacancy in 2020, we are about 40 days away from a general election, and early and absentee voting has already begun in several states. By contrast, in 2016, the formal presidential primary elections had just begun to occur when Justice Scalia died. Our colleagues spoke up then and said: Look, 4 years ago, our Republican colleagues said not enough time, leave it up to the voters; we would do this whether it is a Democrat or Republican. Let me quote from one of our colleagues, the Republican leader, Mitch McConnell. This is his quote on the floor of the Senate. Mr. President, the next Justice could fundamentally alter the direction of the Supreme Court and have a profound impact on our country, so of course--of course the American people should have a say in the Court's direction. . . . As Chairman Grassley and I declared weeks ago and reiterated personally to President Obama, the Senate will continue to observe the Biden rule so that the American people have a voice in this momentous decision. The American people may well elect a President who decides to nominate Judge Garland for Senate consideration. The next President may also nominate someone very different. Either way, our view is this: Give the people a voice in filling this vacancy. . . . As we continue working on issues like these, the American people are perfectly capable of having their say on this issue. So [let's give] them a voice. Let's let the American people decide. Senator Mitch McConnell. We have the McConnell rule, established by the Republican leader. Let's follow the McConnell rule and let the American people pick the next President and Senate so they can weigh in on this decision just as Senator McConnell argued in 2016 with President Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, for Justice Scalia's seat. Let the Senate honor Justice Ginsburg's legacy by continuing to fight for the rights she fought for in her entire career, both as a litigator and circuit judge and, finally, as a Supreme Court Justice. Let us honor Justice Ginsburg's dying wish: ``My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new President is installed.'' I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5751-5 | null | 1,388 |
formal | working families | null | racist | Ms. CANTWELL. Madam President, I join my colleagues tonight to come here and honor the life of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. As many people have said tonight already, what an unbelievable hero she was--a trailblazer, a deep thinker. And there are the things she did on the Court to do so many important things for the rights of Americans. When I first met her in 2001, I had just come to Washington, DC, in my first year here in the U.S. Senate, and I just happened to go to a play at the Shakespeare Theatre, here near the Capitol, and had seats right next to her in the theater. I had probably already heard about her and knew of her, of course. That was of great significance even in 2001. But during the play, I noticed, just as I do in a dark situation, oftentimes falling asleep a little bit, and I thought, wow, I don't know, this woman is so petite and so tiny. And I had heard that she had been sick. I literally sat there in the dark concerned for her future. What a lesson about Ruth Bader Ginsburg, because that was 2001. And in 2020, she was going strong. This is not a woman to ever, ever, ever underestimate. She took her tools and applied them for the betterment of American women and American society overall. People across the United States of America are reeling from her passing because they want to know who is going to stand up for their rights now that she is gone. There is something about that diminutive figure with so much might and wisdom that succeeded on that groove of a Court with all those men and had the courage and the tenacity to read her dissent in the Lilly Ledbetter legislation from the bench--the unusual move of saying: I might not have the decision I want today, but, by God, you are going to listen to what is wrong with gender inequality in America, and we are going to get on a path to fix it. When I think about that unbelievable moment that in her quiet, soft voice set the stage that we heard our colleague Senator Warren talk about tonight, it is pretty amazing. That is why we need to have women in these places. We need to have them so you have the voice of diversity there to tell you what it is like. And I guarantee you--when she said that statement, ``I don't ask anything from my brother other than to get your foot off my neck,'' I guarantee you, she knew what that was like, and that is why she says it with such conviction. That is what she represented. That is what she represented as an icon to so many people, and now they are mourning. I have had 2,000 calls in just a few days to our office about her passing. One constituent, Lynn from Shelton, WA, said: I am old enough to have grown up experiencing the subtle and not so subtle discrimination aimed at girls and women that have limited our self-expression, our participation in sports, in politics, college accessibility and workplace, and even in my family life and reproduction. She continues: It has been slow progress for each of us to achieve increased equality. And so we have so much to thank Ruth Bader Ginsburg for. I am deeply saddened and frightened--frightened by her passing. As you know, our democracies, freedom, integrity and the rule of law are threatened and are even at greater risk. Eileen, from Issaquah, wrote: Justice Ginsburg fought so valiantly for our rights as women. As women, we provide so much for the Washington economy. I agree with her. Women provide a lot for our economy in the State of Washington. She continues: I am a business owner myself, and I am terrified that gender protections are in grave danger. Ensuring civil liberties is not just the moralthing to do, but it makes sound economic policy as well. Allowing more people more opportunities does not take away from those with power, but it grows our economy as a State and as a country and allows all of us to be more prosperous together. That includes reproductive rights, which is the keystone to allowing women full economic opportunity as men. I have to say that letter basically sums it all up. That is what the fight with Lilly Ledbetter was. I thank Lilly Ledbetter. I thank Lilly Ledbetter for having the courage to file that case and stand up to that discrimination and basically fight a long process that people still don't understand. We do not have pay equity in America yet. We still are not making the same amount as men. Ruth Ginsburg made a decision that set the course for the Lilly Ledbetter law, which basically says that instead of saying our time to file a case for discrimination runs out after a year when we don't even know we have been discriminated against, we should have a longer period of time to file that case. All we are going to get is our day in court. I thank both Lilly Ledbetter and Justice Ginsburg for that because they were women standing up in an incredible environment, with men surrounding them, and speaking truth to power about what needed to happen, as my constituent says here, for full economic opportunities for all people. I can't tell you how many men I have heard say: I want equal pay for women. I want equal pay for women because I want my wife to make a decent salary. I want her to bring home as much as she can bring home. I don't want her discriminated against. Yet when Justice Ginsburg set us up for the Lilly Ledbetter legislation and we came here to the Senate floor, I heard the most unbelievable speeches here on the Senate floor. Colleagues of ours basically said things like: Well, if you would just be as qualified as a man, we will pay you as much as a man. The disconnect still exists. The pay inequity still exists. But the course of action has been set by Justice Ginsburg, and we just have to pick up the torch and carry this to the finish line because it is good for our economy. It is good for our society. It is good for women to have the type of participation that--when you are paid equally to a man, you can continue to contribute in society. Already, 2,000 people have written to me. It is unbelievable what she has done to touch the hearts of Americans. A father from Bellingham wrote: Mostly, I mourn for the future of my 4-year-old daughter. The prospects of women losing their right to choose and an erosion of gender equality is frightening. Another constituent, Katie, wrote: Even though the air this morning looks relatively clear again in Seattle--a little reference to all our fire and smoke--our future is foggier than ever. While I mourn the death of Justice Ginsburg, I cannot help but feel tremendous anxiety about the future of existing laws in effect that protect all people's rights, from legal abortions to access to healthcare, to laws that protect our votes and our freedom of speech and laws that Justice Ginsburg protected. That is really what is going on here in America. This movement about RBG is saying: You stood up to protect us, and now you are gone, and what is going to happen? I definitely pause in this for a little comment about our Senate schedule. I don't get it. We can sit here and argue back and forth about what people said when and how and all of that. What I don't understand is this: It takes time to review the record of someone for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court in which these important issues to working families and whether they have as much power and as much clout and as much standing as a corporation in America--people want to know where they stand. Somehow, people are already talking about schedules. I don't understand. How can you decide what the schedule is when you haven't even heard the name of a person? How do you move forward with a schedule when you don't even know--maybe this person is going to end up being Harriet Miers. Maybe you are going to look at their record and say: It is Harriet Miers, and I don't want to move forward because I looked at her record, and I decided maybe this is not the jurist I want at this point in time. All I am saying is, I don't understand how somebody can set a course of action in a schedule when you don't even know who the person is, what the process is going to be, or the length of time. You are setting a horrible precedent. You are saying to people that it doesn't even matter what the name is; you already have a schedule. It doesn't matter how long it is going to take to review. It is very hard here to not have frustration when my citizens have fought so hard for these rights, and Justice Ginsburg's passing has upset them so much that they need to hear from us about how a fair and deliberative process--the last wishes of Justice Ginsburg--is going to be honored. I would like to add in the Record the full dissent that was read from the bench from Justice Ginsburg in the Lilly Ledbetter case | 2020-01-06 | Ms. CANTWELL | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5775-2 | null | 1,389 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Ms. HASSAN. Mr. President, I am proud to recognize Kristina Folcik of Tamworth as September's Granite Stater of the Month. As a survivor of domestic violence, Kristina transformed her own healing process into a way to support other survivors by hiking 100 miles nonstop across some of New Hampshire's steepest peaks. She was the first person to ever finish that portion of the Appalachian Trail in one single trek. Kristina is an endurance athlete who has held multiple Fastest Known Times, which is a title given to individuals who have clocked the fastest time on a particular route, including hiking trails. She even raced professionally for a while, but stopped when her now-former husband started becoming abusive after she would win a race. For the last 2 years, Kristina worked with Starting Point, a nonprofit organization in New Hampshire that helps survivors of domestic and sexual violence, to successfully separate from her abusive husband. In an effort to heal from this harrowing and traumatic experience, Kristina decided to attempt a 100-mile, nonstop hike. In the lead-up to announcing her decision to attempt this extraordinary feat, Kristina revealed publicly on social media that she had recently divorced from her abusive husband and that she was going to complete this 100-mile trek and dedicate it to women who have been in abusive relationships. Much to her surprise, following her announcement, many women began to share their stories of abuse with Kristina, and some even publicly shared their experiences. Kristina turned her hike into a fundraiser, asking people to donate to the organization that had helped her leave her abusive marriage. It was not until Kristina had successfully completed the hike 36 hours later that she realized the fundraiser had raised more than $1,000 for Starting Point. Apart from breaking records, Kristina also owns Rockhopper Races LLC, which hosts races in the White Mountains and raises money for organizations that maintain and preserve New Hampshire's beautiful natural resources. Kristina not only achieved an incredible athletic feat, but also made a difference in the lives of others by having the courage to speak out about her past trauma. Kristina's strength is an inspiration and reflects the kind of determination to build strength through outreach and mutual support that the Granite State is known for. I am proud to recognize her efforts. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. HASSAN | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5781-5 | null | 1,390 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | At 2:15 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, without amendment: S. 209. An act to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide further self-governance by Indian Tribes, and for other purposes. S. 227. An act to direct the Attorney General to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols appropriate to address missing and murdered Indians, and for other purposes. S. 294. An act to establish a business incubators program within the Department of the Interior to promote economic development in Indian reservation communities. S. 490. An act to designate a mountain ridge in the State of Montana as ``B-47 Ridge''. S. 832. An act to nullify the Supplemental Treaty Between the United States of America and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon, concluded on November 15, 1865. S. 982. An act to increase intergovernmental coordination to identify and combat violent crime within Indian lands and of Indians. S. 1321. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit interference with voting systems under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. S. 1380. An act to amend the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to remind prosecutors of their obligations under Supreme Court case law. S. 2661. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and through the Veterans Crisis Line, and for other purposes. The message further announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: H.R. 139. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site associated with the 1908 Springfield Race Riot in the State of Illinois. H.R. 895. An act to allow tribal grant schools to participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits program. H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes. H.R. 1702. An act waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life. H.R. 3160. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take certain land located in Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, and for other purposes. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes. The message also announced that the House has agreed to the following resolution: H. Res. 1128. Resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5782-4 | null | 1,391 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | At 2:15 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, without amendment: S. 209. An act to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide further self-governance by Indian Tribes, and for other purposes. S. 227. An act to direct the Attorney General to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols appropriate to address missing and murdered Indians, and for other purposes. S. 294. An act to establish a business incubators program within the Department of the Interior to promote economic development in Indian reservation communities. S. 490. An act to designate a mountain ridge in the State of Montana as ``B-47 Ridge''. S. 832. An act to nullify the Supplemental Treaty Between the United States of America and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon, concluded on November 15, 1865. S. 982. An act to increase intergovernmental coordination to identify and combat violent crime within Indian lands and of Indians. S. 1321. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit interference with voting systems under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. S. 1380. An act to amend the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to remind prosecutors of their obligations under Supreme Court case law. S. 2661. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and through the Veterans Crisis Line, and for other purposes. The message further announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: H.R. 139. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site associated with the 1908 Springfield Race Riot in the State of Illinois. H.R. 895. An act to allow tribal grant schools to participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits program. H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes. H.R. 1702. An act waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life. H.R. 3160. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take certain land located in Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, and for other purposes. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes. The message also announced that the House has agreed to the following resolution: H. Res. 1128. Resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5782-4 | null | 1,392 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | At 2:15 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, without amendment: S. 209. An act to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide further self-governance by Indian Tribes, and for other purposes. S. 227. An act to direct the Attorney General to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols appropriate to address missing and murdered Indians, and for other purposes. S. 294. An act to establish a business incubators program within the Department of the Interior to promote economic development in Indian reservation communities. S. 490. An act to designate a mountain ridge in the State of Montana as ``B-47 Ridge''. S. 832. An act to nullify the Supplemental Treaty Between the United States of America and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon, concluded on November 15, 1865. S. 982. An act to increase intergovernmental coordination to identify and combat violent crime within Indian lands and of Indians. S. 1321. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit interference with voting systems under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. S. 1380. An act to amend the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to remind prosecutors of their obligations under Supreme Court case law. S. 2661. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and through the Veterans Crisis Line, and for other purposes. The message further announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: H.R. 139. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site associated with the 1908 Springfield Race Riot in the State of Illinois. H.R. 895. An act to allow tribal grant schools to participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits program. H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes. H.R. 1702. An act waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life. H.R. 3160. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take certain land located in Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, and for other purposes. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes. The message also announced that the House has agreed to the following resolution: H. Res. 1128. Resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5782-4 | null | 1,393 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | At 2:15 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mr. Novotny, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, without amendment: S. 209. An act to amend the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to provide further self-governance by Indian Tribes, and for other purposes. S. 227. An act to direct the Attorney General to review, revise, and develop law enforcement and justice protocols appropriate to address missing and murdered Indians, and for other purposes. S. 294. An act to establish a business incubators program within the Department of the Interior to promote economic development in Indian reservation communities. S. 490. An act to designate a mountain ridge in the State of Montana as ``B-47 Ridge''. S. 832. An act to nullify the Supplemental Treaty Between the United States of America and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of Indians of Middle Oregon, concluded on November 15, 1865. S. 982. An act to increase intergovernmental coordination to identify and combat violent crime within Indian lands and of Indians. S. 1321. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit interference with voting systems under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. S. 1380. An act to amend the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure to remind prosecutors of their obligations under Supreme Court case law. S. 2661. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to designate 9-8-8 as the universal telephone number for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system operating through the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and through the Veterans Crisis Line, and for other purposes. The message further announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: H.R. 139. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of the site associated with the 1908 Springfield Race Riot in the State of Illinois. H.R. 895. An act to allow tribal grant schools to participate in the Federal Employee Health Benefits program. H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes. H.R. 1702. An act waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life. H.R. 3160. An act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to take certain land located in Pinal County, Arizona, into trust for the benefit of the Gila River Indian Community, and for other purposes. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes. The message also announced that the House has agreed to the following resolution: H. Res. 1128. Resolution relative to the death of the Honorable Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5782-4 | null | 1,394 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 1702. An act to waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land, administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services; to the Committee on Finance. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5783 | null | 1,395 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 1702. An act to waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land, administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services; to the Committee on Finance. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5783 | null | 1,396 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 1702. An act to waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land, administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services; to the Committee on Finance. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5783 | null | 1,397 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 1418. An act to restore the application of the Federal antitrust laws to the business of health insurance to protect competition and consumers; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 1646. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to improve the detection, prevention, and treatment of mental health issues among public safety officers, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 1702. An act to waive the application fee for any special use permit for veterans' special events at war memorials on land, administered by the National Park Service in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 2271. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the health of children and help better understand and enhance awareness about unexpected sudden death in early life; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 3349. An act to authorize the Daughters of the Republic of Texas to establish the Republic of Texas Legation Memorial as a commemorative work in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3465. An act to authorize the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation to establish a commemorative work in the District of Columbia and its environs, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. H.R. 3935. An act to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide for the continuing requirement of Medicaid coverage of nonemergency transportation to medically necessary services; to the Committee on Finance. H.R. 4564. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to ensure the provision of high-quality service through the Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4585. An act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to conduct a national suicide prevention media campaign, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4866. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to provide for designation of institutions of higher education that provide research, data, and leadership on continuous manufacturing as National Centers of Excellence in Continuous Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4957. An act to amend the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. H.R. 4995. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act to improve obstetric care and maternal health outcomes, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5053. An act to exempt juveniles from the requirements for suits by prisoners, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5309. An act to prohibit discrimination based on an individual's texture or style of hair; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5322. An act to establish or modify requirements relating to minority depository institutions, community development financial institutions, and impact banks, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 5546. An act to regulate monitoring of electronic communications between an incarcerated person in a Bureau of Prisons facility and that person's attorney or other legal representative, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5567. An act to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the Federal Communications Commission to consider market entry barriers for socially disadvantaged individuals in the communications marketplace report under section 13 of such Act; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5602. An act to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 5619. An act to authorize a pilot program to expand and intensify surveillance of self-harm in partnership with State and local public health departments, to establish a grant program to provide self-harm and suicide prevention services in hospital emergency departments, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5663. An act to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to give authority to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Commissioner of Food and Drugs, to destroy counterfeit devices; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 5698. An act to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the United States Executive Directors at the international financial institutions on United States policy regarding international financial institution assistance with respect to advanced wireless technologies; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 5918. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to issue reports after activation of the Disaster Information Reporting System and to make improvements to network outage reporting; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 6100. An act to amend title 18, United States Code, to clarify the criminalization of female genital mutilation, and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 6294. An act to require data sharing regarding protecting the homeless from coronavirus, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6735. An act to establish the Consumer and Investor Fraud Working Group to help protect consumers and investors from fraud during the COVID-19 pandemic, to assist consumers and investors affected by such fraud, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 6934. An act to amend the CARES Act to require the uniform treatment of nationally recognized statistical rating organizations under certain programs carried out in response to the COVID-19 emergency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 7574. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 7592. An act to require the Comptroller General of the United States to carry out a study on trafficking, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5783 | null | 1,398 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-5478. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Final Rule for IN-11342: 2-propenoic acid, 2- methyl-, polymer with 2,5-furandione and 2,4,4-trimethyl-1- pentene, potassium sa'' (FRL No. 10003-65-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-5479. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Inpyrfluxam; Pesticide Tolerances'' (FRL No. 10011-32-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-5480. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Program Procedures'' (RIN0790-AK82) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5481. A communication from the Legislative Assistant to the Commandant, Headquarters of the United States Marine Corps, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to limitation on the physical move, integration, reassignment, or shift in responsibility of U.S. Marine Forces Northern Command; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5482. A communication from the Under Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness), transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Vice Admiral Fredrick J. Roegge, United States Navy, and his advancement to the grade of vice admiral on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5483. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Commissary Agency Privacy Act Program'' (RIN0790- AK72) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5484. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Commissary Agency Act Program'' (RIN0790-AK72) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5485. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Collection from Third Party Payers of Reasonable Charges for Healthcare Services'' (RIN0720-AB68) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5486. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``TRICARE Coverage of Certain Medical Benefits in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic'' (RIN0720-AB82) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-5487. A communication from the Assistant Secretary of the Navy Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer), transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to Antideficiency Act (ADA) Violations; to the Committee on Appropriations. EC-5488. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to significant foreign narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia that was declared in Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5489. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to the situation in and in relation to Syria that was declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5490. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to Iran as declared in Executive Order 12957 of March 15, 1995; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-5491. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Test Methods and Performance Specifications for Air Emission Sources'' (FRL No. 10012-11-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5492. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; Utah; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards'' (FRL No. 10013-92-Region 8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5493. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Alabama; Air Quality Control, VOC Definition'' (FRL No. 10013-41-Region 4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5494. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; California; Consumer Products Regulations'' (FRL No. 10013-66-Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5495. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; California; Feather River Air Quality Management'' (FRL No. 10012-89-Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5496. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Georgia; Permit Requirements'' (FRL No. 10013-22-Region 4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5497. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; VOC RACT for the Wisconsin Portion of the Chicago-Naperville, Illinois- Indiana-Wisconsin Area'' (FRL No. 10011-74-Region 5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5498. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Amendments Related to Marine Diesel Engine Emission Standards'' (FRL No. 10013-36-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5499. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Limited Approval and Limited Disapproval of California Air Plan Revisions; San Diego County Air Pollution Control District; Stationary Source Permits'' (FRL No. 10013-14-Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5500. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Commonwealth of Kentucky: Final Approval of State Underground Storage Tank Program'' (FRL No. 10013-46-Region 4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5501. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Reconsideration'' (FRL No. 10013-60-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5502. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Oil and Natural Gas Sector: Emission Standards for New, Reconstructed, and Modified Sources Review'' (FRL No. 10012-11-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5503. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``PM10 Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request; Imperial Valley Planning Area; California'' (FRL No . 10014- 02-Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-5504. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to section 1705(e)(6) of the Cuban Democracy Act of 1992, as amended by Section 102(g) of the Cuban Liberty and Democratic Solidarity (LIBERTAD) Act of 1996, a semiannual report relative to telecommunications- related payments made to Cuba during the period from January 1, 2020 through June 30, 2020; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-5505. A communication from the Legal Counsel, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Procedural Regulation on Issuing Guidance'' (RIN3046-AB18) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5506. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Fiscal Year 2019 Annual Progress Report to Congress on the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory Program''; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5507. A communication from the Inspector General, Railroad Retirement Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the Office of Inspector General's budget request for fiscal year 2022; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-5508. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``2019 Annual Report to Congress on the Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund''; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-5509. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Intelligence Agency Privacy Program'' (RIN0790- AK65) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 15, 2020; to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-5510. A communication from the Section Chief of the Diversion Control Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Implementation of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018'' (RIN1117-AB53) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 16, 2020; to the Committee on the Judiciary. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2020-09-22-pt1-PgS5784-3 | null | 1,399 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.