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formal	illegal immigrants	null	anti-Latino	Mr. President, we started to see headlines bubbling up about the building crisis at the southern border that is threatening to boil over. Americans back home are paying attention. They are watching what is going on and seeing how it is getting worse by the day. The saddest thing is that this was predictable and preventable. Protecting our border and cutting down illegal immigration matters to the people of Alabama and the rest of the country. Alabamians are law-abiding people. We play by the rules, and we expect others to follow them too. When people break the rules, they have to face the consequences, plain and simple. That is how our country should operate, by law and order. Enforcing the laws on our books cannot be an option. Sadly, this type of selected enforcement is exactly what President Biden has done during his short time in office. President Biden has put forward an immigration proposal that would completely upend our existing immigration policy and give out American citizenship like it is candy. But before that, he made sure to lay the groundwork with Executive orders. President Biden quickly reversed many of President Trump's most successful border control policies with the stroke of his pen. And his Secretary of Homeland Security, whose Department oversees immigration policy and border security, has made it clear he is not interested in enforcing existing laws. We have seen the dangerous effects of President Biden's policies already, and it has barely been 2 months. But we have also seen some mixed messaging. The same day President Biden issued an order that said building a border wall is a ``waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security,'' his Department of Homeland Security released official data that tells otherwise. In January 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection encountered approximately 78,000 illegal immigrants, a 6-percent increase from December 2020. Within that number, roughly, 64,800 were single adults, a 157-percent increase compared to January of last year. For unaccompanied children, there has been a 91-percent increase in apprehensions compared to last January. The data shows the number of illegal immigrants trying to cross the southern border is going up during a month when, historically, apprehensions are low. In fact, the staggering number of people arrested crossing the border illegally this January is the most any January has seen in more than a decade. In March 2020, President Trump invoked title 42 along the southern border. That means that, in the interest of public health, only essential travelers are permitted to enter the United States. President Biden has maintained title 42 for this purpose, with one exception: Unaccompanied children can still come in. News outlets reported that border officials told President Biden they ``anticipate 117,000 children will arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or guardian in 2021.'' Why? Because President Biden has given them a free pass to enter the United States. This number is on pace to exceed the alltime record that was set under the Obama administration by 45 percent. The greater problem here is that the administration doesn't have enough space to put these children. President Biden was recently briefed on a plan to add 20,000 more beds to meet the needs. Yet, yesterday, news reports showed a record number of unaccompanied children--more than 3,200--are in Border Patrol's custody. Almost half of these children have been held beyond the 3-day legal limit. The facilities are overwhelmed and bursting at the seams. Folks in the Southwest are already referring to this increase as the ``Biden effect.'' Now Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas has the gall to blame the current border crisis on the Trump administration. So why, then, does the Secretary think that new records are being set during the typical off months of January and February? I will tell you why. It is a direct result of President Biden ditching border security measures and sending a ``come one, come all'' signal. President Biden decided to message to the world that our border is open. We shouldn't be surprised that people showed up. We all saw this coming, and we warned that reversing President Trump's policies would lead to national security and humanitarian crises. On top of all of this, President Biden's administration is subjecting American citizens to more stringent standards to enter our country than it is with illegal immigrants. On January 26, the CDC began requiring anyone flying to the United States, including American citizens, to provide evidence of a negative COVID test taken within 3 days of their flight. That makes sense. Migrants crossing our border are not subject to the same requirement. I sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas about this issue, and I have not yet received a response, but media reports out of Texas seem to have already found the answer. As FoxNews.com reported, more than 100 illegal immigrants released by Border Patrol agents in Brownsville, TX, in the last few weeks have tested positive for the coronavirus. So these folks can cross the border illegally and get tested by the city at the bus stop where the agents let them off, but the city has no authority to prevent them from traveling elsewhere even if they test positive for COVID. How does that fit into President Biden's plan to bring our country out of this pandemic? American citizens have to prove they have negative tests to enter the country, but illegal immigrants do not. At a time when the virus is on the retreat, thanks in large part to the vaccine developed by President Trump's Operation Warp Speed, we cannot now afford to allow thousands and thousands of illegal immigrants into the country, especially without screening them for COVID. It is not only a reckless security policy; it is a reckless health policy. We just spent $1.9 trillion because that is supposedly what the country needs to help get us past this pandemic. Yet we are going to let people into the country, unchecked, to potentially spread the virus. President Biden's policies at the border are reckless. The American people can see it for themselves, and the data prove how bad the situation has become in such a quick timeframe. We can and should take positive, proactive, concrete steps to secure our border and strengthen our national security. There are two big items to address right away. No. 1, we should maintain the Migrant Protection Protocols Program. This system was put in place during the Trump administration to process migrant asylum claims at the border without releasing people into the United States. It requires that migrants remain in Mexico pending the completion of their cases. It was successful--hugely successful. The number of apprehensions along the border went down when people realized they couldn't just come walking into the United States. It was exactly the kind of message we want to send: Our borders are not wide open. You must follow the rules. You must get in line. Since taking office, President Biden has dismantled the program and is bringing in nearly 30,000 people who are waiting in Mexico. No. 2, we should continue to build the wall. My constituents expect me to hammer this point home every day. A strong wall will help prevent illegal migrants from crossing over our border between ports of entry to avoid law enforcement. Just recently, there were reports of a car crash in California that left 13 illegal migrants dead who were stuffed and stacked in the back of a truck. Border Patrol officers believe these migrants entered through a ``dilapidated border fence'' in Southern California. Weaknesses in our border allow human trafficking efforts like this to continue. This has to stop. Without needed fixes, President Biden offers false hope, and that is a dangerous signal for desperate people. Today, I am only mentioning two ways to address the border surge. There are plenty more, and I plan to advocate for them in the weeks and months to come because, unlike this President and his administration, I am fighting for the safety and security of the American people. I understand our immigration system is not perfect, and I understand President Biden has a different view on what our immigration system should look like, and he has made no secret about where he stands. But any immigration reform proposed must include policies that strengthen our lawful immigration system and protect our Nation's borders. So far, President Biden's policies do neither. I can respect different visions for the future even though I may strongly disagree with them, but what I and the people of Alabama will not stand for is a refusal to enforce the laws of today. It puts our country at risk and encourages migrants to seek dangerous paths to enter our country instead of the legal paths our laws provide. Allowing illegal immigration to go unchecked fundamentally undermines the rule of law in this country. Without laws and without borders where those laws apply, a sovereign nation ceases to exist. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1419	null	2,500
formal	law and order	null	racist	Mr. President, we started to see headlines bubbling up about the building crisis at the southern border that is threatening to boil over. Americans back home are paying attention. They are watching what is going on and seeing how it is getting worse by the day. The saddest thing is that this was predictable and preventable. Protecting our border and cutting down illegal immigration matters to the people of Alabama and the rest of the country. Alabamians are law-abiding people. We play by the rules, and we expect others to follow them too. When people break the rules, they have to face the consequences, plain and simple. That is how our country should operate, by law and order. Enforcing the laws on our books cannot be an option. Sadly, this type of selected enforcement is exactly what President Biden has done during his short time in office. President Biden has put forward an immigration proposal that would completely upend our existing immigration policy and give out American citizenship like it is candy. But before that, he made sure to lay the groundwork with Executive orders. President Biden quickly reversed many of President Trump's most successful border control policies with the stroke of his pen. And his Secretary of Homeland Security, whose Department oversees immigration policy and border security, has made it clear he is not interested in enforcing existing laws. We have seen the dangerous effects of President Biden's policies already, and it has barely been 2 months. But we have also seen some mixed messaging. The same day President Biden issued an order that said building a border wall is a ``waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security,'' his Department of Homeland Security released official data that tells otherwise. In January 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection encountered approximately 78,000 illegal immigrants, a 6-percent increase from December 2020. Within that number, roughly, 64,800 were single adults, a 157-percent increase compared to January of last year. For unaccompanied children, there has been a 91-percent increase in apprehensions compared to last January. The data shows the number of illegal immigrants trying to cross the southern border is going up during a month when, historically, apprehensions are low. In fact, the staggering number of people arrested crossing the border illegally this January is the most any January has seen in more than a decade. In March 2020, President Trump invoked title 42 along the southern border. That means that, in the interest of public health, only essential travelers are permitted to enter the United States. President Biden has maintained title 42 for this purpose, with one exception: Unaccompanied children can still come in. News outlets reported that border officials told President Biden they ``anticipate 117,000 children will arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or guardian in 2021.'' Why? Because President Biden has given them a free pass to enter the United States. This number is on pace to exceed the alltime record that was set under the Obama administration by 45 percent. The greater problem here is that the administration doesn't have enough space to put these children. President Biden was recently briefed on a plan to add 20,000 more beds to meet the needs. Yet, yesterday, news reports showed a record number of unaccompanied children--more than 3,200--are in Border Patrol's custody. Almost half of these children have been held beyond the 3-day legal limit. The facilities are overwhelmed and bursting at the seams. Folks in the Southwest are already referring to this increase as the ``Biden effect.'' Now Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas has the gall to blame the current border crisis on the Trump administration. So why, then, does the Secretary think that new records are being set during the typical off months of January and February? I will tell you why. It is a direct result of President Biden ditching border security measures and sending a ``come one, come all'' signal. President Biden decided to message to the world that our border is open. We shouldn't be surprised that people showed up. We all saw this coming, and we warned that reversing President Trump's policies would lead to national security and humanitarian crises. On top of all of this, President Biden's administration is subjecting American citizens to more stringent standards to enter our country than it is with illegal immigrants. On January 26, the CDC began requiring anyone flying to the United States, including American citizens, to provide evidence of a negative COVID test taken within 3 days of their flight. That makes sense. Migrants crossing our border are not subject to the same requirement. I sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas about this issue, and I have not yet received a response, but media reports out of Texas seem to have already found the answer. As FoxNews.com reported, more than 100 illegal immigrants released by Border Patrol agents in Brownsville, TX, in the last few weeks have tested positive for the coronavirus. So these folks can cross the border illegally and get tested by the city at the bus stop where the agents let them off, but the city has no authority to prevent them from traveling elsewhere even if they test positive for COVID. How does that fit into President Biden's plan to bring our country out of this pandemic? American citizens have to prove they have negative tests to enter the country, but illegal immigrants do not. At a time when the virus is on the retreat, thanks in large part to the vaccine developed by President Trump's Operation Warp Speed, we cannot now afford to allow thousands and thousands of illegal immigrants into the country, especially without screening them for COVID. It is not only a reckless security policy; it is a reckless health policy. We just spent $1.9 trillion because that is supposedly what the country needs to help get us past this pandemic. Yet we are going to let people into the country, unchecked, to potentially spread the virus. President Biden's policies at the border are reckless. The American people can see it for themselves, and the data prove how bad the situation has become in such a quick timeframe. We can and should take positive, proactive, concrete steps to secure our border and strengthen our national security. There are two big items to address right away. No. 1, we should maintain the Migrant Protection Protocols Program. This system was put in place during the Trump administration to process migrant asylum claims at the border without releasing people into the United States. It requires that migrants remain in Mexico pending the completion of their cases. It was successful--hugely successful. The number of apprehensions along the border went down when people realized they couldn't just come walking into the United States. It was exactly the kind of message we want to send: Our borders are not wide open. You must follow the rules. You must get in line. Since taking office, President Biden has dismantled the program and is bringing in nearly 30,000 people who are waiting in Mexico. No. 2, we should continue to build the wall. My constituents expect me to hammer this point home every day. A strong wall will help prevent illegal migrants from crossing over our border between ports of entry to avoid law enforcement. Just recently, there were reports of a car crash in California that left 13 illegal migrants dead who were stuffed and stacked in the back of a truck. Border Patrol officers believe these migrants entered through a ``dilapidated border fence'' in Southern California. Weaknesses in our border allow human trafficking efforts like this to continue. This has to stop. Without needed fixes, President Biden offers false hope, and that is a dangerous signal for desperate people. Today, I am only mentioning two ways to address the border surge. There are plenty more, and I plan to advocate for them in the weeks and months to come because, unlike this President and his administration, I am fighting for the safety and security of the American people. I understand our immigration system is not perfect, and I understand President Biden has a different view on what our immigration system should look like, and he has made no secret about where he stands. But any immigration reform proposed must include policies that strengthen our lawful immigration system and protect our Nation's borders. So far, President Biden's policies do neither. I can respect different visions for the future even though I may strongly disagree with them, but what I and the people of Alabama will not stand for is a refusal to enforce the laws of today. It puts our country at risk and encourages migrants to seek dangerous paths to enter our country instead of the legal paths our laws provide. Allowing illegal immigration to go unchecked fundamentally undermines the rule of law in this country. Without laws and without borders where those laws apply, a sovereign nation ceases to exist. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1419	null	2,501
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. President, we started to see headlines bubbling up about the building crisis at the southern border that is threatening to boil over. Americans back home are paying attention. They are watching what is going on and seeing how it is getting worse by the day. The saddest thing is that this was predictable and preventable. Protecting our border and cutting down illegal immigration matters to the people of Alabama and the rest of the country. Alabamians are law-abiding people. We play by the rules, and we expect others to follow them too. When people break the rules, they have to face the consequences, plain and simple. That is how our country should operate, by law and order. Enforcing the laws on our books cannot be an option. Sadly, this type of selected enforcement is exactly what President Biden has done during his short time in office. President Biden has put forward an immigration proposal that would completely upend our existing immigration policy and give out American citizenship like it is candy. But before that, he made sure to lay the groundwork with Executive orders. President Biden quickly reversed many of President Trump's most successful border control policies with the stroke of his pen. And his Secretary of Homeland Security, whose Department oversees immigration policy and border security, has made it clear he is not interested in enforcing existing laws. We have seen the dangerous effects of President Biden's policies already, and it has barely been 2 months. But we have also seen some mixed messaging. The same day President Biden issued an order that said building a border wall is a ``waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security,'' his Department of Homeland Security released official data that tells otherwise. In January 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Protection encountered approximately 78,000 illegal immigrants, a 6-percent increase from December 2020. Within that number, roughly, 64,800 were single adults, a 157-percent increase compared to January of last year. For unaccompanied children, there has been a 91-percent increase in apprehensions compared to last January. The data shows the number of illegal immigrants trying to cross the southern border is going up during a month when, historically, apprehensions are low. In fact, the staggering number of people arrested crossing the border illegally this January is the most any January has seen in more than a decade. In March 2020, President Trump invoked title 42 along the southern border. That means that, in the interest of public health, only essential travelers are permitted to enter the United States. President Biden has maintained title 42 for this purpose, with one exception: Unaccompanied children can still come in. News outlets reported that border officials told President Biden they ``anticipate 117,000 children will arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without a parent or guardian in 2021.'' Why? Because President Biden has given them a free pass to enter the United States. This number is on pace to exceed the alltime record that was set under the Obama administration by 45 percent. The greater problem here is that the administration doesn't have enough space to put these children. President Biden was recently briefed on a plan to add 20,000 more beds to meet the needs. Yet, yesterday, news reports showed a record number of unaccompanied children--more than 3,200--are in Border Patrol's custody. Almost half of these children have been held beyond the 3-day legal limit. The facilities are overwhelmed and bursting at the seams. Folks in the Southwest are already referring to this increase as the ``Biden effect.'' Now Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas has the gall to blame the current border crisis on the Trump administration. So why, then, does the Secretary think that new records are being set during the typical off months of January and February? I will tell you why. It is a direct result of President Biden ditching border security measures and sending a ``come one, come all'' signal. President Biden decided to message to the world that our border is open. We shouldn't be surprised that people showed up. We all saw this coming, and we warned that reversing President Trump's policies would lead to national security and humanitarian crises. On top of all of this, President Biden's administration is subjecting American citizens to more stringent standards to enter our country than it is with illegal immigrants. On January 26, the CDC began requiring anyone flying to the United States, including American citizens, to provide evidence of a negative COVID test taken within 3 days of their flight. That makes sense. Migrants crossing our border are not subject to the same requirement. I sent a letter to Secretary Mayorkas about this issue, and I have not yet received a response, but media reports out of Texas seem to have already found the answer. As FoxNews.com reported, more than 100 illegal immigrants released by Border Patrol agents in Brownsville, TX, in the last few weeks have tested positive for the coronavirus. So these folks can cross the border illegally and get tested by the city at the bus stop where the agents let them off, but the city has no authority to prevent them from traveling elsewhere even if they test positive for COVID. How does that fit into President Biden's plan to bring our country out of this pandemic? American citizens have to prove they have negative tests to enter the country, but illegal immigrants do not. At a time when the virus is on the retreat, thanks in large part to the vaccine developed by President Trump's Operation Warp Speed, we cannot now afford to allow thousands and thousands of illegal immigrants into the country, especially without screening them for COVID. It is not only a reckless security policy; it is a reckless health policy. We just spent $1.9 trillion because that is supposedly what the country needs to help get us past this pandemic. Yet we are going to let people into the country, unchecked, to potentially spread the virus. President Biden's policies at the border are reckless. The American people can see it for themselves, and the data prove how bad the situation has become in such a quick timeframe. We can and should take positive, proactive, concrete steps to secure our border and strengthen our national security. There are two big items to address right away. No. 1, we should maintain the Migrant Protection Protocols Program. This system was put in place during the Trump administration to process migrant asylum claims at the border without releasing people into the United States. It requires that migrants remain in Mexico pending the completion of their cases. It was successful--hugely successful. The number of apprehensions along the border went down when people realized they couldn't just come walking into the United States. It was exactly the kind of message we want to send: Our borders are not wide open. You must follow the rules. You must get in line. Since taking office, President Biden has dismantled the program and is bringing in nearly 30,000 people who are waiting in Mexico. No. 2, we should continue to build the wall. My constituents expect me to hammer this point home every day. A strong wall will help prevent illegal migrants from crossing over our border between ports of entry to avoid law enforcement. Just recently, there were reports of a car crash in California that left 13 illegal migrants dead who were stuffed and stacked in the back of a truck. Border Patrol officers believe these migrants entered through a ``dilapidated border fence'' in Southern California. Weaknesses in our border allow human trafficking efforts like this to continue. This has to stop. Without needed fixes, President Biden offers false hope, and that is a dangerous signal for desperate people. Today, I am only mentioning two ways to address the border surge. There are plenty more, and I plan to advocate for them in the weeks and months to come because, unlike this President and his administration, I am fighting for the safety and security of the American people. I understand our immigration system is not perfect, and I understand President Biden has a different view on what our immigration system should look like, and he has made no secret about where he stands. But any immigration reform proposed must include policies that strengthen our lawful immigration system and protect our Nation's borders. So far, President Biden's policies do neither. I can respect different visions for the future even though I may strongly disagree with them, but what I and the people of Alabama will not stand for is a refusal to enforce the laws of today. It puts our country at risk and encourages migrants to seek dangerous paths to enter our country instead of the legal paths our laws provide. Allowing illegal immigration to go unchecked fundamentally undermines the rule of law in this country. Without laws and without borders where those laws apply, a sovereign nation ceases to exist. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1419	null	2,502
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Cassidy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 98 Whereas, since their inceptions, each of the AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs have proven to be a highly effective way-- (1) to engage the people of the United States in meeting a wide range of local and national needs; and (2) to promote the ethics of service and volunteerism; Whereas, each year, nearly 270,000 individuals serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors at 40,000 locations across the United States to give back in an intensive way to communities, States, Tribal nations, and the United States; Whereas AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors funds have been invested in nonprofit, community, educational, and faith- based groups, and those funds leverage hundreds of millions of dollars in outside funding and in-kind donations each year; Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers have provided millions of hours of service nationwide, helping-- (1) to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people of the United States; (2) to protect the environment; (3) to contribute to public safety; (4) to respond to disasters; (5) to strengthen the educational system of the United States; and (6) to expand economic opportunity; Whereas AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers recruit and supervise millions of community volunteers, demonstrating the value of AmeriCorps as a powerful force for encouraging people to become involved in volunteering and community service; Whereas, for more than 5 decades, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in the RSVP, Foster Grandparent, and Senior Companion programs have played an important role in strengthening communities by sharing their experience, knowledge, and accomplishments with the individuals they serve; Whereas, since 1994, more than 1,200,000 individuals have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to ``get things done for America'' by becoming AmeriCorps members through the AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps NCCC programs; Whereas AmeriCorps members nationwide, in return for the service of those members, have earned more than $4,000,000,000 to use to further their own educational advancement at colleges and universities across the United States; Whereas AmeriCorps is a proven pathway to employment, providing members with valuable career skills, experience, and contacts to prepare them for the 21st century workforce and to help close the skills gap in the United States; Whereas, in 2009, Congress passed the bipartisan Serve America Act (Public Law 111-13; 123 Stat. 1460), which authorized the expansion of national service, expanded opportunities to serve, increased efficiency and accountability, and strengthened the capacity of organizations and communities to solve problems; Whereas national service programs have engaged millions of people in the United States in results-driven service in the most vulnerable communities of the United States, providing hope and help to individuals with economic and social needs; Whereas national service and volunteerism demonstrate the best of the spirit of the United States, with people turning toward problems and working together to find community solutions; and Whereas AmeriCorps Week, observed in 2021 from March 7 through March 13, is an appropriate time for the people of the United States-- (1) to salute current and former AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers for their positive impact on the lives of people in the United States; (2) to thank the community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors for making the programs possible; and (3) to encourage more people in the United States to become involved in service and volunteering: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) encourages the people of the United States to join in a national effort-- (A) to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers; and (B) to raise awareness about the importance of national and community service; (2) acknowledges the significant accomplishments of the members, alumni, and community partners of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors; (3) recognizes the important contributions made by AmeriCorps members and alumni and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers to the lives of the people of the United States; and (4) encourages individuals of all ages to consider opportunities to serve in AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1428	null	2,503
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 100 Whereas, as of March 2021, there are approximately 3,803,000,000 women and girls in the world; Whereas women and girls around the world-- (1) have fundamental human rights; (2) play a critical role in providing and caring for their families and driving positive change in their communities; (3) contribute substantially to food security, economic growth, the prevention and resolution of conflict, and the sustainability of peace and stability; and (4) must have meaningful opportunities to more fully participate in and lead the political, social, and economic lives of their communities; Whereas the advancement and empowerment of women and girls around the world is a foreign policy priority for the United States and is critical to the achievement of global peace and prosperity; Whereas the National Security Strategy of the United States, published in December 2017-- (1) declares that ``[s]ocieties that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful''; (2) supports ``efforts to advance women's equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and promote women and youth empowerment programs''; and (3) recognizes that ``governments that fail to treat women equally do not allow their societies to reach their potential''; Whereas, on October 6, 2017, the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (22 U.S.C. 2152j et seq.) was enacted into law, which includes requirements for a government-wide ``Women, Peace, and Security Strategy'' to promote and strengthen the participation of women in peace negotiations and conflict prevention overseas, enhanced training for relevant United States Government personnel, and follow-up evaluations of the effectiveness of the strategy; Whereas the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, dated June 2019, recognizes that-- (1) the ``[s]ocial and political marginalization of women strongly correlates with the likelihood that a country will experience conflict''; (2) there is a ``tremendous amount of untapped potential among the world's women and girls to identify, recommend, and implement effective solutions to conflict'', and there are ``benefits derived from creating opportunities for women and girls to serve as agents of peace via political, economic, and social empowerment''; and (3) barriers to the meaningful participation of women and girls in conflict prevention and resolution efforts ``include under-representation in political leadership, pervasive violence against women and girls, and persistent inequality in many societies''; Whereas, according to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (commonly referred to as ``UN Women''), peace negotiations are more likely to end in a peace agreement when women and women's groups play a meaningful role in the negotiation process; Whereas, according to a study by the International Peace Institute, a peace agreement is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years if women participate in the development of the peace agreement; Whereas the joint strategy of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entitled ``Department of State & USAID Joint Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism'' and dated May 2016-- (1) notes that women can play a critical role in identifying and addressing drivers of violent extremism in their families, communities, and broader society; and (2) commits to supporting programs that engage women ``as key stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism in their communities''; Whereas, according to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the Department of State, the full and meaningful participation of women in criminal justice professions and security forces vastly enhances the effectiveness of the security forces; Whereas, despite the contributions of women to society, hundreds of millions of women and girls around the world continue to be denied the right to participate freely in civic and economic life, lack fundamental legal protections, and remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; Whereas, every year, approximately 12,000,000 girls are married before they reach the age of 18, which means that-- (1) nearly 33,000 girls are married every day; or (2) nearly 23 girls are married every minute; Whereas, despite global progress, it is predicted that by 2030 more than 150,000,000 more girls will marry before reaching the age of 18, and approximately 2,400,000 girls who are married before reaching the age of 18 are under the age of 15; Whereas girls living in countries affected by conflict or other humanitarian crises are often the most vulnerable to child marriage, and 9 of the 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are considered fragile or extremely fragile; Whereas, according to the International Labour Organization, 71 percent of the estimated 40,300,000 victims of modern slavery in 2016 were women or girls; Whereas, according to the United Nation's Children's Fund (commonly referred to as ``UNICEF'')-- (1) approximately \1/4\ of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have been victims of some form of physical violence; (2) approximately 120,000,000 girls worldwide, slightly more than 1 in 10, have experienced forced sexual acts; and (3) an estimated 1 in 3 women around the world has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence; Whereas, according to the 2018 report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled ``Global Report on Trafficking in Persons'', from 2003 to 2018, 72 percent of all detected trafficking victims were women or girls; Whereas, on August 10, 2012, the United States Government launched a strategy entitled ``United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally'', which is the first interagency strategy that-- (1) addresses gender-based violence around the world; (2) advances the rights and status of women and girls; (3) promotes gender equality in United States foreign policy; and (4) works to bring about a world in which all individuals can pursue their aspirations without the threat of violence; Whereas, in June 2016, the Department of State released an update to that strategy, underscoring that ``[p]reventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the U.S. Government's commitment to advancing human rights and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls''; Whereas, despite the achievements of individual female leaders and evidence that democracy and equality under the law form a mutually reinforcing relationship in which higher levels of equality are strongly correlated with the relative state of peace of a country, a healthier domestic security environment, and lower levels of aggression toward other countries-- (1) women around the world remain vastly underrepresented in-- (A) national and local legislatures and governments; and (B) other high-level positions; and (2) according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women account for only 25 percent of national parliamentarians and 21 percent of government ministers; Whereas the ability of women and girls to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve strong and lasting economic growth, self-reliance, and political and social stability; Whereas the overall level of violence against women is a better predictor of the peacefulness of a country, the compliance of a country with international treaty obligations, and the relations of a country with neighboring countries than indicators measuring the level of democracy, level of wealth, or level of institutionalization of the country; Whereas, although the United Nations Millennium Project reached the goal of achieving gender parity in primary education in most countries in 2015, more work remains to be done to achieve gender equality in primary and secondary education, and particularly in secondary education worldwide as gender gaps persist and widen, by addressing-- (1) discriminatory practices; (2) harmful cultural and social norms; (3) inadequate sanitation facilities, including facilities to manage menstruation; (4) child, early, and forced marriage; (5) poverty; (6) early pregnancy and motherhood; (7) conflict and insecurity; and (8) other factors that favor boys or devalue girls' education; Whereas, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-- (1) approximately 132,000,000 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 remain out of school; (2) girls living in countries affected by conflict are 2.5 times more likely to be out of primary school than boys; (3) girls are twice as likely as boys to never set foot in a classroom; and (4) up to 30 percent of girls who drop out of school do so because of adolescent pregnancy or child marriage; Whereas women around the world face a variety of constraints that severely limit their economic participation and productivity and remain underrepresented in the labor force; Whereas the economic empowerment of women is inextricably linked to a myriad of other human rights that are essential to the ability of women to thrive as economic actors, including-- (1) living lives free of violence and exploitation; (2) achieving the highest possible standard of health and well-being; (3) enjoying full legal and human rights, such as access to registration, identification, and citizenship documents, and freedom of movement; (4) access to formal and informal education; (5) access to, and equal protection under, land and property rights; (6) access to fundamental labor rights; (7) the implementation of policies to address disproportionate care burdens; and (8) receiving business and management skills and leadership opportunities; Whereas closing the global gender gap in labor markets could increase worldwide gross domestic product by as much as $28,000,000,000,000 by 2025; Whereas, pursuant to section 3(b) of the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 2151-2(b)), it is the international development cooperation policy of the United States-- (1) to reduce gender disparities with respect to economic, social, political, educational, and cultural resources, as well as wealth, opportunities, and services; (2) to strive to eliminate gender-based violence and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals and communities, including through efforts to develop standards and capacity to reduce gender-based violence in the workplace and other places where women work; (3) to support activities that secure private property rights and land tenure for women in developing countries, including-- (A) supporting legal frameworks that give women equal rights to own, register, use, profit from, and inherit land and property; (B) improving legal literacy to enable women to exercise the rights described in subparagraph (A); and (C) improving the capacity of law enforcement and community leaders to enforce such rights; (4) to increase the capability of women and girls to fully exercise their rights, determine their life outcomes, assume leadership roles, and influence decision making in households, communities, and societies; and (5) to improve the access of women and girls to education, particularly higher education opportunities in business, finance, and management, in order to enhance financial literacy and business development, management, and strategy skills; Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, global maternal mortality decreased by approximately 44 percent between 1990 and 2015, yet approximately 830 women and girls continue to die from preventable causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth each day, and 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; Whereas, according to the United Nations, of the 830 women and adolescent girls who die every day from preventable causes relating to pregnancy and childbirth, 507 die each day in countries that are considered fragile because of conflict or disaster, accounting for approximately \3/5\ of all maternal deaths worldwide; Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that women and girls comprise approximately \1/2\ of the 67,200,000 refugees and internally displaced or stateless individuals in the world; Whereas women and girls in humanitarian emergencies, including those subject to forced displacement, face increased and exacerbated vulnerabilities to-- (1) gender-based violence, including rape, child marriage, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation and assault; (2) disruptions in education and livelihood; (3) lack of access to health services; and (4) food insecurity and malnutrition; Whereas malnutrition poses a variety of threats to women and girls specifically, as malnutrition can weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections, and affects their capacity to survive childbirth, and children born of malnourished women and girls are more likely to have cognitive impairments and higher risk of disease throughout their lives; Whereas it is imperative-- (1) to alleviate violence and discrimination against women and girls; and (2) to afford women and girls every opportunity to be full and productive members of their communities; and Whereas March 8, 2021, is recognized as International Women's Day, a global day-- (1) to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women in the past, present, and future; and (2) to recognize the obstacles that women face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals of International Women's Day; (2) recognizes that the fundamental human rights of women and girls have intrinsic value that affect the quality of life of women and girls; (3) recognizes that the empowerment of women and girls is inextricably linked to the potential of a country to generate-- (A) economic growth and self-reliance; (B) sustainable peace and democracy; and (C) inclusive security; (4) recognizes and honors individuals in the United States and around the world, including women human rights defenders, activists, and civil society leaders, who have worked throughout history to ensure that women and girls are guaranteed equality and fundamental human rights; (5) recognizes the unique cultural, historical, and religious differences throughout the world and urges the United States Government to act with respect and understanding toward legitimate differences when promoting any policies; (6) reaffirms the commitment-- (A) to end discrimination and violence against women and girls; (B) to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of women and girls; (C) to pursue policies that guarantee the fundamental human rights of women and girls worldwide; and (D) to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in every aspect of society and community, including conflict prevention, protection, peacemaking, and peacebuilding; (7) supports sustainable, measurable, and global development that seeks to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and (8) encourages the people of the United States to observe International Women's Day with appropriate programs and activities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1429	null	2,504
formal	extremism	null	Islamophobic	Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 100 Whereas, as of March 2021, there are approximately 3,803,000,000 women and girls in the world; Whereas women and girls around the world-- (1) have fundamental human rights; (2) play a critical role in providing and caring for their families and driving positive change in their communities; (3) contribute substantially to food security, economic growth, the prevention and resolution of conflict, and the sustainability of peace and stability; and (4) must have meaningful opportunities to more fully participate in and lead the political, social, and economic lives of their communities; Whereas the advancement and empowerment of women and girls around the world is a foreign policy priority for the United States and is critical to the achievement of global peace and prosperity; Whereas the National Security Strategy of the United States, published in December 2017-- (1) declares that ``[s]ocieties that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful''; (2) supports ``efforts to advance women's equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and promote women and youth empowerment programs''; and (3) recognizes that ``governments that fail to treat women equally do not allow their societies to reach their potential''; Whereas, on October 6, 2017, the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (22 U.S.C. 2152j et seq.) was enacted into law, which includes requirements for a government-wide ``Women, Peace, and Security Strategy'' to promote and strengthen the participation of women in peace negotiations and conflict prevention overseas, enhanced training for relevant United States Government personnel, and follow-up evaluations of the effectiveness of the strategy; Whereas the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, dated June 2019, recognizes that-- (1) the ``[s]ocial and political marginalization of women strongly correlates with the likelihood that a country will experience conflict''; (2) there is a ``tremendous amount of untapped potential among the world's women and girls to identify, recommend, and implement effective solutions to conflict'', and there are ``benefits derived from creating opportunities for women and girls to serve as agents of peace via political, economic, and social empowerment''; and (3) barriers to the meaningful participation of women and girls in conflict prevention and resolution efforts ``include under-representation in political leadership, pervasive violence against women and girls, and persistent inequality in many societies''; Whereas, according to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (commonly referred to as ``UN Women''), peace negotiations are more likely to end in a peace agreement when women and women's groups play a meaningful role in the negotiation process; Whereas, according to a study by the International Peace Institute, a peace agreement is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years if women participate in the development of the peace agreement; Whereas the joint strategy of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entitled ``Department of State & USAID Joint Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism'' and dated May 2016-- (1) notes that women can play a critical role in identifying and addressing drivers of violent extremism in their families, communities, and broader society; and (2) commits to supporting programs that engage women ``as key stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism in their communities''; Whereas, according to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the Department of State, the full and meaningful participation of women in criminal justice professions and security forces vastly enhances the effectiveness of the security forces; Whereas, despite the contributions of women to society, hundreds of millions of women and girls around the world continue to be denied the right to participate freely in civic and economic life, lack fundamental legal protections, and remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; Whereas, every year, approximately 12,000,000 girls are married before they reach the age of 18, which means that-- (1) nearly 33,000 girls are married every day; or (2) nearly 23 girls are married every minute; Whereas, despite global progress, it is predicted that by 2030 more than 150,000,000 more girls will marry before reaching the age of 18, and approximately 2,400,000 girls who are married before reaching the age of 18 are under the age of 15; Whereas girls living in countries affected by conflict or other humanitarian crises are often the most vulnerable to child marriage, and 9 of the 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are considered fragile or extremely fragile; Whereas, according to the International Labour Organization, 71 percent of the estimated 40,300,000 victims of modern slavery in 2016 were women or girls; Whereas, according to the United Nation's Children's Fund (commonly referred to as ``UNICEF'')-- (1) approximately \1/4\ of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have been victims of some form of physical violence; (2) approximately 120,000,000 girls worldwide, slightly more than 1 in 10, have experienced forced sexual acts; and (3) an estimated 1 in 3 women around the world has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence; Whereas, according to the 2018 report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled ``Global Report on Trafficking in Persons'', from 2003 to 2018, 72 percent of all detected trafficking victims were women or girls; Whereas, on August 10, 2012, the United States Government launched a strategy entitled ``United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally'', which is the first interagency strategy that-- (1) addresses gender-based violence around the world; (2) advances the rights and status of women and girls; (3) promotes gender equality in United States foreign policy; and (4) works to bring about a world in which all individuals can pursue their aspirations without the threat of violence; Whereas, in June 2016, the Department of State released an update to that strategy, underscoring that ``[p]reventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the U.S. Government's commitment to advancing human rights and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls''; Whereas, despite the achievements of individual female leaders and evidence that democracy and equality under the law form a mutually reinforcing relationship in which higher levels of equality are strongly correlated with the relative state of peace of a country, a healthier domestic security environment, and lower levels of aggression toward other countries-- (1) women around the world remain vastly underrepresented in-- (A) national and local legislatures and governments; and (B) other high-level positions; and (2) according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women account for only 25 percent of national parliamentarians and 21 percent of government ministers; Whereas the ability of women and girls to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve strong and lasting economic growth, self-reliance, and political and social stability; Whereas the overall level of violence against women is a better predictor of the peacefulness of a country, the compliance of a country with international treaty obligations, and the relations of a country with neighboring countries than indicators measuring the level of democracy, level of wealth, or level of institutionalization of the country; Whereas, although the United Nations Millennium Project reached the goal of achieving gender parity in primary education in most countries in 2015, more work remains to be done to achieve gender equality in primary and secondary education, and particularly in secondary education worldwide as gender gaps persist and widen, by addressing-- (1) discriminatory practices; (2) harmful cultural and social norms; (3) inadequate sanitation facilities, including facilities to manage menstruation; (4) child, early, and forced marriage; (5) poverty; (6) early pregnancy and motherhood; (7) conflict and insecurity; and (8) other factors that favor boys or devalue girls' education; Whereas, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-- (1) approximately 132,000,000 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 remain out of school; (2) girls living in countries affected by conflict are 2.5 times more likely to be out of primary school than boys; (3) girls are twice as likely as boys to never set foot in a classroom; and (4) up to 30 percent of girls who drop out of school do so because of adolescent pregnancy or child marriage; Whereas women around the world face a variety of constraints that severely limit their economic participation and productivity and remain underrepresented in the labor force; Whereas the economic empowerment of women is inextricably linked to a myriad of other human rights that are essential to the ability of women to thrive as economic actors, including-- (1) living lives free of violence and exploitation; (2) achieving the highest possible standard of health and well-being; (3) enjoying full legal and human rights, such as access to registration, identification, and citizenship documents, and freedom of movement; (4) access to formal and informal education; (5) access to, and equal protection under, land and property rights; (6) access to fundamental labor rights; (7) the implementation of policies to address disproportionate care burdens; and (8) receiving business and management skills and leadership opportunities; Whereas closing the global gender gap in labor markets could increase worldwide gross domestic product by as much as $28,000,000,000,000 by 2025; Whereas, pursuant to section 3(b) of the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 2151-2(b)), it is the international development cooperation policy of the United States-- (1) to reduce gender disparities with respect to economic, social, political, educational, and cultural resources, as well as wealth, opportunities, and services; (2) to strive to eliminate gender-based violence and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals and communities, including through efforts to develop standards and capacity to reduce gender-based violence in the workplace and other places where women work; (3) to support activities that secure private property rights and land tenure for women in developing countries, including-- (A) supporting legal frameworks that give women equal rights to own, register, use, profit from, and inherit land and property; (B) improving legal literacy to enable women to exercise the rights described in subparagraph (A); and (C) improving the capacity of law enforcement and community leaders to enforce such rights; (4) to increase the capability of women and girls to fully exercise their rights, determine their life outcomes, assume leadership roles, and influence decision making in households, communities, and societies; and (5) to improve the access of women and girls to education, particularly higher education opportunities in business, finance, and management, in order to enhance financial literacy and business development, management, and strategy skills; Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, global maternal mortality decreased by approximately 44 percent between 1990 and 2015, yet approximately 830 women and girls continue to die from preventable causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth each day, and 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; Whereas, according to the United Nations, of the 830 women and adolescent girls who die every day from preventable causes relating to pregnancy and childbirth, 507 die each day in countries that are considered fragile because of conflict or disaster, accounting for approximately \3/5\ of all maternal deaths worldwide; Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that women and girls comprise approximately \1/2\ of the 67,200,000 refugees and internally displaced or stateless individuals in the world; Whereas women and girls in humanitarian emergencies, including those subject to forced displacement, face increased and exacerbated vulnerabilities to-- (1) gender-based violence, including rape, child marriage, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation and assault; (2) disruptions in education and livelihood; (3) lack of access to health services; and (4) food insecurity and malnutrition; Whereas malnutrition poses a variety of threats to women and girls specifically, as malnutrition can weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections, and affects their capacity to survive childbirth, and children born of malnourished women and girls are more likely to have cognitive impairments and higher risk of disease throughout their lives; Whereas it is imperative-- (1) to alleviate violence and discrimination against women and girls; and (2) to afford women and girls every opportunity to be full and productive members of their communities; and Whereas March 8, 2021, is recognized as International Women's Day, a global day-- (1) to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women in the past, present, and future; and (2) to recognize the obstacles that women face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals of International Women's Day; (2) recognizes that the fundamental human rights of women and girls have intrinsic value that affect the quality of life of women and girls; (3) recognizes that the empowerment of women and girls is inextricably linked to the potential of a country to generate-- (A) economic growth and self-reliance; (B) sustainable peace and democracy; and (C) inclusive security; (4) recognizes and honors individuals in the United States and around the world, including women human rights defenders, activists, and civil society leaders, who have worked throughout history to ensure that women and girls are guaranteed equality and fundamental human rights; (5) recognizes the unique cultural, historical, and religious differences throughout the world and urges the United States Government to act with respect and understanding toward legitimate differences when promoting any policies; (6) reaffirms the commitment-- (A) to end discrimination and violence against women and girls; (B) to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of women and girls; (C) to pursue policies that guarantee the fundamental human rights of women and girls worldwide; and (D) to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in every aspect of society and community, including conflict prevention, protection, peacemaking, and peacebuilding; (7) supports sustainable, measurable, and global development that seeks to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and (8) encourages the people of the United States to observe International Women's Day with appropriate programs and activities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1429	null	2,505
formal	property rights	null	racist	Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 100 Whereas, as of March 2021, there are approximately 3,803,000,000 women and girls in the world; Whereas women and girls around the world-- (1) have fundamental human rights; (2) play a critical role in providing and caring for their families and driving positive change in their communities; (3) contribute substantially to food security, economic growth, the prevention and resolution of conflict, and the sustainability of peace and stability; and (4) must have meaningful opportunities to more fully participate in and lead the political, social, and economic lives of their communities; Whereas the advancement and empowerment of women and girls around the world is a foreign policy priority for the United States and is critical to the achievement of global peace and prosperity; Whereas the National Security Strategy of the United States, published in December 2017-- (1) declares that ``[s]ocieties that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful''; (2) supports ``efforts to advance women's equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and promote women and youth empowerment programs''; and (3) recognizes that ``governments that fail to treat women equally do not allow their societies to reach their potential''; Whereas, on October 6, 2017, the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (22 U.S.C. 2152j et seq.) was enacted into law, which includes requirements for a government-wide ``Women, Peace, and Security Strategy'' to promote and strengthen the participation of women in peace negotiations and conflict prevention overseas, enhanced training for relevant United States Government personnel, and follow-up evaluations of the effectiveness of the strategy; Whereas the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, dated June 2019, recognizes that-- (1) the ``[s]ocial and political marginalization of women strongly correlates with the likelihood that a country will experience conflict''; (2) there is a ``tremendous amount of untapped potential among the world's women and girls to identify, recommend, and implement effective solutions to conflict'', and there are ``benefits derived from creating opportunities for women and girls to serve as agents of peace via political, economic, and social empowerment''; and (3) barriers to the meaningful participation of women and girls in conflict prevention and resolution efforts ``include under-representation in political leadership, pervasive violence against women and girls, and persistent inequality in many societies''; Whereas, according to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (commonly referred to as ``UN Women''), peace negotiations are more likely to end in a peace agreement when women and women's groups play a meaningful role in the negotiation process; Whereas, according to a study by the International Peace Institute, a peace agreement is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years if women participate in the development of the peace agreement; Whereas the joint strategy of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entitled ``Department of State & USAID Joint Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism'' and dated May 2016-- (1) notes that women can play a critical role in identifying and addressing drivers of violent extremism in their families, communities, and broader society; and (2) commits to supporting programs that engage women ``as key stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism in their communities''; Whereas, according to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the Department of State, the full and meaningful participation of women in criminal justice professions and security forces vastly enhances the effectiveness of the security forces; Whereas, despite the contributions of women to society, hundreds of millions of women and girls around the world continue to be denied the right to participate freely in civic and economic life, lack fundamental legal protections, and remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; Whereas, every year, approximately 12,000,000 girls are married before they reach the age of 18, which means that-- (1) nearly 33,000 girls are married every day; or (2) nearly 23 girls are married every minute; Whereas, despite global progress, it is predicted that by 2030 more than 150,000,000 more girls will marry before reaching the age of 18, and approximately 2,400,000 girls who are married before reaching the age of 18 are under the age of 15; Whereas girls living in countries affected by conflict or other humanitarian crises are often the most vulnerable to child marriage, and 9 of the 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are considered fragile or extremely fragile; Whereas, according to the International Labour Organization, 71 percent of the estimated 40,300,000 victims of modern slavery in 2016 were women or girls; Whereas, according to the United Nation's Children's Fund (commonly referred to as ``UNICEF'')-- (1) approximately \1/4\ of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have been victims of some form of physical violence; (2) approximately 120,000,000 girls worldwide, slightly more than 1 in 10, have experienced forced sexual acts; and (3) an estimated 1 in 3 women around the world has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence; Whereas, according to the 2018 report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled ``Global Report on Trafficking in Persons'', from 2003 to 2018, 72 percent of all detected trafficking victims were women or girls; Whereas, on August 10, 2012, the United States Government launched a strategy entitled ``United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally'', which is the first interagency strategy that-- (1) addresses gender-based violence around the world; (2) advances the rights and status of women and girls; (3) promotes gender equality in United States foreign policy; and (4) works to bring about a world in which all individuals can pursue their aspirations without the threat of violence; Whereas, in June 2016, the Department of State released an update to that strategy, underscoring that ``[p]reventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the U.S. Government's commitment to advancing human rights and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls''; Whereas, despite the achievements of individual female leaders and evidence that democracy and equality under the law form a mutually reinforcing relationship in which higher levels of equality are strongly correlated with the relative state of peace of a country, a healthier domestic security environment, and lower levels of aggression toward other countries-- (1) women around the world remain vastly underrepresented in-- (A) national and local legislatures and governments; and (B) other high-level positions; and (2) according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women account for only 25 percent of national parliamentarians and 21 percent of government ministers; Whereas the ability of women and girls to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve strong and lasting economic growth, self-reliance, and political and social stability; Whereas the overall level of violence against women is a better predictor of the peacefulness of a country, the compliance of a country with international treaty obligations, and the relations of a country with neighboring countries than indicators measuring the level of democracy, level of wealth, or level of institutionalization of the country; Whereas, although the United Nations Millennium Project reached the goal of achieving gender parity in primary education in most countries in 2015, more work remains to be done to achieve gender equality in primary and secondary education, and particularly in secondary education worldwide as gender gaps persist and widen, by addressing-- (1) discriminatory practices; (2) harmful cultural and social norms; (3) inadequate sanitation facilities, including facilities to manage menstruation; (4) child, early, and forced marriage; (5) poverty; (6) early pregnancy and motherhood; (7) conflict and insecurity; and (8) other factors that favor boys or devalue girls' education; Whereas, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-- (1) approximately 132,000,000 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 remain out of school; (2) girls living in countries affected by conflict are 2.5 times more likely to be out of primary school than boys; (3) girls are twice as likely as boys to never set foot in a classroom; and (4) up to 30 percent of girls who drop out of school do so because of adolescent pregnancy or child marriage; Whereas women around the world face a variety of constraints that severely limit their economic participation and productivity and remain underrepresented in the labor force; Whereas the economic empowerment of women is inextricably linked to a myriad of other human rights that are essential to the ability of women to thrive as economic actors, including-- (1) living lives free of violence and exploitation; (2) achieving the highest possible standard of health and well-being; (3) enjoying full legal and human rights, such as access to registration, identification, and citizenship documents, and freedom of movement; (4) access to formal and informal education; (5) access to, and equal protection under, land and property rights; (6) access to fundamental labor rights; (7) the implementation of policies to address disproportionate care burdens; and (8) receiving business and management skills and leadership opportunities; Whereas closing the global gender gap in labor markets could increase worldwide gross domestic product by as much as $28,000,000,000,000 by 2025; Whereas, pursuant to section 3(b) of the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 2151-2(b)), it is the international development cooperation policy of the United States-- (1) to reduce gender disparities with respect to economic, social, political, educational, and cultural resources, as well as wealth, opportunities, and services; (2) to strive to eliminate gender-based violence and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals and communities, including through efforts to develop standards and capacity to reduce gender-based violence in the workplace and other places where women work; (3) to support activities that secure private property rights and land tenure for women in developing countries, including-- (A) supporting legal frameworks that give women equal rights to own, register, use, profit from, and inherit land and property; (B) improving legal literacy to enable women to exercise the rights described in subparagraph (A); and (C) improving the capacity of law enforcement and community leaders to enforce such rights; (4) to increase the capability of women and girls to fully exercise their rights, determine their life outcomes, assume leadership roles, and influence decision making in households, communities, and societies; and (5) to improve the access of women and girls to education, particularly higher education opportunities in business, finance, and management, in order to enhance financial literacy and business development, management, and strategy skills; Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, global maternal mortality decreased by approximately 44 percent between 1990 and 2015, yet approximately 830 women and girls continue to die from preventable causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth each day, and 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; Whereas, according to the United Nations, of the 830 women and adolescent girls who die every day from preventable causes relating to pregnancy and childbirth, 507 die each day in countries that are considered fragile because of conflict or disaster, accounting for approximately \3/5\ of all maternal deaths worldwide; Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that women and girls comprise approximately \1/2\ of the 67,200,000 refugees and internally displaced or stateless individuals in the world; Whereas women and girls in humanitarian emergencies, including those subject to forced displacement, face increased and exacerbated vulnerabilities to-- (1) gender-based violence, including rape, child marriage, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation and assault; (2) disruptions in education and livelihood; (3) lack of access to health services; and (4) food insecurity and malnutrition; Whereas malnutrition poses a variety of threats to women and girls specifically, as malnutrition can weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections, and affects their capacity to survive childbirth, and children born of malnourished women and girls are more likely to have cognitive impairments and higher risk of disease throughout their lives; Whereas it is imperative-- (1) to alleviate violence and discrimination against women and girls; and (2) to afford women and girls every opportunity to be full and productive members of their communities; and Whereas March 8, 2021, is recognized as International Women's Day, a global day-- (1) to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women in the past, present, and future; and (2) to recognize the obstacles that women face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals of International Women's Day; (2) recognizes that the fundamental human rights of women and girls have intrinsic value that affect the quality of life of women and girls; (3) recognizes that the empowerment of women and girls is inextricably linked to the potential of a country to generate-- (A) economic growth and self-reliance; (B) sustainable peace and democracy; and (C) inclusive security; (4) recognizes and honors individuals in the United States and around the world, including women human rights defenders, activists, and civil society leaders, who have worked throughout history to ensure that women and girls are guaranteed equality and fundamental human rights; (5) recognizes the unique cultural, historical, and religious differences throughout the world and urges the United States Government to act with respect and understanding toward legitimate differences when promoting any policies; (6) reaffirms the commitment-- (A) to end discrimination and violence against women and girls; (B) to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of women and girls; (C) to pursue policies that guarantee the fundamental human rights of women and girls worldwide; and (D) to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in every aspect of society and community, including conflict prevention, protection, peacemaking, and peacebuilding; (7) supports sustainable, measurable, and global development that seeks to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and (8) encourages the people of the United States to observe International Women's Day with appropriate programs and activities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1429	null	2,506
formal	welfare	null	racist	Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Murphy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 100 Whereas, as of March 2021, there are approximately 3,803,000,000 women and girls in the world; Whereas women and girls around the world-- (1) have fundamental human rights; (2) play a critical role in providing and caring for their families and driving positive change in their communities; (3) contribute substantially to food security, economic growth, the prevention and resolution of conflict, and the sustainability of peace and stability; and (4) must have meaningful opportunities to more fully participate in and lead the political, social, and economic lives of their communities; Whereas the advancement and empowerment of women and girls around the world is a foreign policy priority for the United States and is critical to the achievement of global peace and prosperity; Whereas the National Security Strategy of the United States, published in December 2017-- (1) declares that ``[s]ocieties that empower women to participate fully in civic and economic life are more prosperous and peaceful''; (2) supports ``efforts to advance women's equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and promote women and youth empowerment programs''; and (3) recognizes that ``governments that fail to treat women equally do not allow their societies to reach their potential''; Whereas, on October 6, 2017, the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 (22 U.S.C. 2152j et seq.) was enacted into law, which includes requirements for a government-wide ``Women, Peace, and Security Strategy'' to promote and strengthen the participation of women in peace negotiations and conflict prevention overseas, enhanced training for relevant United States Government personnel, and follow-up evaluations of the effectiveness of the strategy; Whereas the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, dated June 2019, recognizes that-- (1) the ``[s]ocial and political marginalization of women strongly correlates with the likelihood that a country will experience conflict''; (2) there is a ``tremendous amount of untapped potential among the world's women and girls to identify, recommend, and implement effective solutions to conflict'', and there are ``benefits derived from creating opportunities for women and girls to serve as agents of peace via political, economic, and social empowerment''; and (3) barriers to the meaningful participation of women and girls in conflict prevention and resolution efforts ``include under-representation in political leadership, pervasive violence against women and girls, and persistent inequality in many societies''; Whereas, according to the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (commonly referred to as ``UN Women''), peace negotiations are more likely to end in a peace agreement when women and women's groups play a meaningful role in the negotiation process; Whereas, according to a study by the International Peace Institute, a peace agreement is 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years if women participate in the development of the peace agreement; Whereas the joint strategy of the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) entitled ``Department of State & USAID Joint Strategy on Countering Violent Extremism'' and dated May 2016-- (1) notes that women can play a critical role in identifying and addressing drivers of violent extremism in their families, communities, and broader society; and (2) commits to supporting programs that engage women ``as key stakeholders in preventing and countering violent extremism in their communities''; Whereas, according to the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs of the Department of State, the full and meaningful participation of women in criminal justice professions and security forces vastly enhances the effectiveness of the security forces; Whereas, despite the contributions of women to society, hundreds of millions of women and girls around the world continue to be denied the right to participate freely in civic and economic life, lack fundamental legal protections, and remain vulnerable to exploitation and abuse; Whereas, every year, approximately 12,000,000 girls are married before they reach the age of 18, which means that-- (1) nearly 33,000 girls are married every day; or (2) nearly 23 girls are married every minute; Whereas, despite global progress, it is predicted that by 2030 more than 150,000,000 more girls will marry before reaching the age of 18, and approximately 2,400,000 girls who are married before reaching the age of 18 are under the age of 15; Whereas girls living in countries affected by conflict or other humanitarian crises are often the most vulnerable to child marriage, and 9 of the 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage are considered fragile or extremely fragile; Whereas, according to the International Labour Organization, 71 percent of the estimated 40,300,000 victims of modern slavery in 2016 were women or girls; Whereas, according to the United Nation's Children's Fund (commonly referred to as ``UNICEF'')-- (1) approximately \1/4\ of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 have been victims of some form of physical violence; (2) approximately 120,000,000 girls worldwide, slightly more than 1 in 10, have experienced forced sexual acts; and (3) an estimated 1 in 3 women around the world has experienced some form of physical or sexual violence; Whereas, according to the 2018 report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime entitled ``Global Report on Trafficking in Persons'', from 2003 to 2018, 72 percent of all detected trafficking victims were women or girls; Whereas, on August 10, 2012, the United States Government launched a strategy entitled ``United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally'', which is the first interagency strategy that-- (1) addresses gender-based violence around the world; (2) advances the rights and status of women and girls; (3) promotes gender equality in United States foreign policy; and (4) works to bring about a world in which all individuals can pursue their aspirations without the threat of violence; Whereas, in June 2016, the Department of State released an update to that strategy, underscoring that ``[p]reventing and responding to gender-based violence is a cornerstone of the U.S. Government's commitment to advancing human rights and promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls''; Whereas, despite the achievements of individual female leaders and evidence that democracy and equality under the law form a mutually reinforcing relationship in which higher levels of equality are strongly correlated with the relative state of peace of a country, a healthier domestic security environment, and lower levels of aggression toward other countries-- (1) women around the world remain vastly underrepresented in-- (A) national and local legislatures and governments; and (B) other high-level positions; and (2) according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women account for only 25 percent of national parliamentarians and 21 percent of government ministers; Whereas the ability of women and girls to realize their full potential is critical to the ability of a country to achieve strong and lasting economic growth, self-reliance, and political and social stability; Whereas the overall level of violence against women is a better predictor of the peacefulness of a country, the compliance of a country with international treaty obligations, and the relations of a country with neighboring countries than indicators measuring the level of democracy, level of wealth, or level of institutionalization of the country; Whereas, although the United Nations Millennium Project reached the goal of achieving gender parity in primary education in most countries in 2015, more work remains to be done to achieve gender equality in primary and secondary education, and particularly in secondary education worldwide as gender gaps persist and widen, by addressing-- (1) discriminatory practices; (2) harmful cultural and social norms; (3) inadequate sanitation facilities, including facilities to manage menstruation; (4) child, early, and forced marriage; (5) poverty; (6) early pregnancy and motherhood; (7) conflict and insecurity; and (8) other factors that favor boys or devalue girls' education; Whereas, according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization-- (1) approximately 132,000,000 girls between the ages of 6 and 17 remain out of school; (2) girls living in countries affected by conflict are 2.5 times more likely to be out of primary school than boys; (3) girls are twice as likely as boys to never set foot in a classroom; and (4) up to 30 percent of girls who drop out of school do so because of adolescent pregnancy or child marriage; Whereas women around the world face a variety of constraints that severely limit their economic participation and productivity and remain underrepresented in the labor force; Whereas the economic empowerment of women is inextricably linked to a myriad of other human rights that are essential to the ability of women to thrive as economic actors, including-- (1) living lives free of violence and exploitation; (2) achieving the highest possible standard of health and well-being; (3) enjoying full legal and human rights, such as access to registration, identification, and citizenship documents, and freedom of movement; (4) access to formal and informal education; (5) access to, and equal protection under, land and property rights; (6) access to fundamental labor rights; (7) the implementation of policies to address disproportionate care burdens; and (8) receiving business and management skills and leadership opportunities; Whereas closing the global gender gap in labor markets could increase worldwide gross domestic product by as much as $28,000,000,000,000 by 2025; Whereas, pursuant to section 3(b) of the Women's Entrepreneurship and Economic Empowerment Act of 2018 (22 U.S.C. 2151-2(b)), it is the international development cooperation policy of the United States-- (1) to reduce gender disparities with respect to economic, social, political, educational, and cultural resources, as well as wealth, opportunities, and services; (2) to strive to eliminate gender-based violence and mitigate its harmful effects on individuals and communities, including through efforts to develop standards and capacity to reduce gender-based violence in the workplace and other places where women work; (3) to support activities that secure private property rights and land tenure for women in developing countries, including-- (A) supporting legal frameworks that give women equal rights to own, register, use, profit from, and inherit land and property; (B) improving legal literacy to enable women to exercise the rights described in subparagraph (A); and (C) improving the capacity of law enforcement and community leaders to enforce such rights; (4) to increase the capability of women and girls to fully exercise their rights, determine their life outcomes, assume leadership roles, and influence decision making in households, communities, and societies; and (5) to improve the access of women and girls to education, particularly higher education opportunities in business, finance, and management, in order to enhance financial literacy and business development, management, and strategy skills; Whereas, according to the World Health Organization, global maternal mortality decreased by approximately 44 percent between 1990 and 2015, yet approximately 830 women and girls continue to die from preventable causes relating to pregnancy or childbirth each day, and 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries; Whereas, according to the United Nations, of the 830 women and adolescent girls who die every day from preventable causes relating to pregnancy and childbirth, 507 die each day in countries that are considered fragile because of conflict or disaster, accounting for approximately \3/5\ of all maternal deaths worldwide; Whereas the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees reports that women and girls comprise approximately \1/2\ of the 67,200,000 refugees and internally displaced or stateless individuals in the world; Whereas women and girls in humanitarian emergencies, including those subject to forced displacement, face increased and exacerbated vulnerabilities to-- (1) gender-based violence, including rape, child marriage, domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation and assault; (2) disruptions in education and livelihood; (3) lack of access to health services; and (4) food insecurity and malnutrition; Whereas malnutrition poses a variety of threats to women and girls specifically, as malnutrition can weaken their immune systems, making them more susceptible to infections, and affects their capacity to survive childbirth, and children born of malnourished women and girls are more likely to have cognitive impairments and higher risk of disease throughout their lives; Whereas it is imperative-- (1) to alleviate violence and discrimination against women and girls; and (2) to afford women and girls every opportunity to be full and productive members of their communities; and Whereas March 8, 2021, is recognized as International Women's Day, a global day-- (1) to celebrate the economic, political, and social achievements of women in the past, present, and future; and (2) to recognize the obstacles that women face in the struggle for equal rights and opportunities: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals of International Women's Day; (2) recognizes that the fundamental human rights of women and girls have intrinsic value that affect the quality of life of women and girls; (3) recognizes that the empowerment of women and girls is inextricably linked to the potential of a country to generate-- (A) economic growth and self-reliance; (B) sustainable peace and democracy; and (C) inclusive security; (4) recognizes and honors individuals in the United States and around the world, including women human rights defenders, activists, and civil society leaders, who have worked throughout history to ensure that women and girls are guaranteed equality and fundamental human rights; (5) recognizes the unique cultural, historical, and religious differences throughout the world and urges the United States Government to act with respect and understanding toward legitimate differences when promoting any policies; (6) reaffirms the commitment-- (A) to end discrimination and violence against women and girls; (B) to ensure the safety, health, and welfare of women and girls; (C) to pursue policies that guarantee the fundamental human rights of women and girls worldwide; and (D) to promote meaningful and significant participation of women in every aspect of society and community, including conflict prevention, protection, peacemaking, and peacebuilding; (7) supports sustainable, measurable, and global development that seeks to achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls; and (8) encourages the people of the United States to observe International Women's Day with appropriate programs and activities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-09-pt1-PgS1429	null	2,507
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under clause 5(d) of rule XX, the Chair announces to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Fudge), the whole number of the House is 431.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgH1303	null	2,508
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: EC-553. A letter from the Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress, pursuant to Public Law 106-569; to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-554. A letter from the Regulatory Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Role of Supervisory Guidance [Docket No.: OCC- 2020-0005] (RIN: 1557-AE80) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-555. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Implementation of Executive Order on Access to Affordable Life-Saving Medications (RIN: 0906-AB25) received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-556. A letter from the Assistant Legal Adviser, Office of Treaty Affairs, Department of State, transmitting a report concerning international agreements other than treaties entered into by the United States to be transmitted to the Congress within the sixty-day period specified in the Case- Zablocki Act, pursuant to 1 U.S.C. 112b(a); Public Law 92- 403, Sec. 1(a) (as amended by Public Law 108-458, Sec. 7121(b)); (118 Stat. 3807); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-557. A letter from the Chairman, Board of Governors, United States Postal Service, transmitting the Service's Office of Inspector General's Semiannual Report to Congress, covering the period April 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-558. A letter from the General Counsel, Executive Office of the President, transmitting six (6) notifications of a federal vacancy, designation of an acting officer, nomination, action on nomination, or change in previously submitted reported information, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105-277, Sec. 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-559. A letter from the Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's 2020 Annual Report, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1827(a)(2); September 21, 1950, ch. 967, Sec. 2(17)(a) (as amended by Public Law 101-73, Sec. 220(a)); (103 Stat. 263) and 31 U.S.C. 1115(b); Public Law 111-352, Sec. 3; (124 Stat. 3867); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-560. A letter from the Executive Secretary, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), transmitting nine (9) notifications of a designation of an acting officer, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105- 277, Sec. 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-561. A letter from the Legal Tech, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Power Plant Demolition; Grand River, Grand Haven, MI [Docket Number: USCG-2021-0035] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-562. A letter from the Legal Tech, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River, Natchez, MS [Docket Number USCG-2020-0713] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-563. A letter from the Legal Tech, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Middle River, near Discovery Bay, CA [Docket Number: USCG- 2020-0137] (RIN: 1625-AA09) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-564. A letter from the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President, transmitting the Office's 2021 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2020 Annual Report, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2213(c); Public Law 93-618, Sec. 163(c) (as amended by Public Law 100-418, Sec. 1641); (102 Stat. 1271); to the Committee on Ways and Means.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgH1322-4	null	2,509
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: EC-553. A letter from the Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress, pursuant to Public Law 106-569; to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-554. A letter from the Regulatory Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Role of Supervisory Guidance [Docket No.: OCC- 2020-0005] (RIN: 1557-AE80) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-555. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Implementation of Executive Order on Access to Affordable Life-Saving Medications (RIN: 0906-AB25) received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-556. A letter from the Assistant Legal Adviser, Office of Treaty Affairs, Department of State, transmitting a report concerning international agreements other than treaties entered into by the United States to be transmitted to the Congress within the sixty-day period specified in the Case- Zablocki Act, pursuant to 1 U.S.C. 112b(a); Public Law 92- 403, Sec. 1(a) (as amended by Public Law 108-458, Sec. 7121(b)); (118 Stat. 3807); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-557. A letter from the Chairman, Board of Governors, United States Postal Service, transmitting the Service's Office of Inspector General's Semiannual Report to Congress, covering the period April 1, 2020, through September 30, 2020; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-558. A letter from the General Counsel, Executive Office of the President, transmitting six (6) notifications of a federal vacancy, designation of an acting officer, nomination, action on nomination, or change in previously submitted reported information, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105-277, Sec. 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-559. A letter from the Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's 2020 Annual Report, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 1827(a)(2); September 21, 1950, ch. 967, Sec. 2(17)(a) (as amended by Public Law 101-73, Sec. 220(a)); (103 Stat. 263) and 31 U.S.C. 1115(b); Public Law 111-352, Sec. 3; (124 Stat. 3867); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-560. A letter from the Executive Secretary, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), transmitting nine (9) notifications of a designation of an acting officer, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105- 277, Sec. 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-561. A letter from the Legal Tech, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Power Plant Demolition; Grand River, Grand Haven, MI [Docket Number: USCG-2021-0035] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-562. A letter from the Legal Tech, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Safety Zone; Lower Mississippi River, Natchez, MS [Docket Number USCG-2020-0713] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-563. A letter from the Legal Tech, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Middle River, near Discovery Bay, CA [Docket Number: USCG- 2020-0137] (RIN: 1625-AA09) received February 25, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-564. A letter from the United States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the President, transmitting the Office's 2021 Trade Policy Agenda and the 2020 Annual Report, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2213(c); Public Law 93-618, Sec. 163(c) (as amended by Public Law 100-418, Sec. 1641); (102 Stat. 1271); to the Committee on Ways and Means.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgH1322-4	null	2,510
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday, I voted to advance the nominations of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Judge Merrick Garland to be Attorney General. These aren't the nominees whom any Republican would have picked for these jobs, but the Nation needs Presidents to be able to stand up a team so long as their nominees are qualified and mainstream. I have voted to confirm people like Secretaries Austin, Blinken, Yellen, Vilsack, and Buttigieg. We certainly disagree on plenty of issues, but I spent 4 years watching many of our Democratic colleagues do everything possible to obstruct and delay President Trump's nominees right from the start. Now we hear of many of the same Democrats insisting that, as a matter of principle, a new President needs his team and any delay is an outrage. It is funny how some things change. My position has not. I am voting to confirm Judge Garland because of his long reputation as a straight shooter and a legal expert. His left-of-center perspective has been within the legal mainstream. For the country's sake, let's hope our incoming Attorney General applies that no-nonsense approach to the serious challenges facing the Department of Justice and our Nation. Let's hope that he controls the bureaucrats and leftist subordinates that the President proposes to place under him, rather than the other way around. When I spoke to Judge Garland, we discussed his commitment to the ongoing investigation of the events of January 6. Federal law enforcement needs to continue the work of identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who broke the law in order to disrupt the constitutional business of Congress. He assured me that will remain a priority. At the same time, it is essential that DOJ treat political violence with equal seriousness no matter which political fringe it may come from. Last summer, riots, vandalism, and even a so-called ``autonomous zone'' consumed parts of American cities. In some instances, thugs directly attacked Federal property. But amazingly, some local leaders seemed more willing to tolerate the chaos than tolerate the angry tweets that leftwing activists might have sent if they had stepped in to actually do their jobs. We were fortunate to have Attorney General Barr, who took seriously the Federal Government's role to protect Federal property and enforce Federal law. Judge Garland must be prepared to do the same. Of course, the riots haven't been the only area where we have seen liberal governance give short shrift to the rule of law. The Obama administration was famous for its willingness to let ideology dictate the enforcement of Federal laws or the lack thereof. Take the DACA Program, for example. When the Obama administration realized their preferred immigration policies couldn't get through Congress the right way, they stretched prosecutorial discretion and law enforcement discretion to breathtaking unconstitutional extremes. When confirmed, Judge Garland must not back other constitutionally corrosive efforts to effectively repeal laws just by ignoring them. That brings me to the issue of immigration more broadly. Just a few weeks into the job, the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas are flailing and failing on our southern border. The number of unaccompanied migrant children in Border Patrol custody has tripled in just 2 weeks and now dwarfs anything seen during the last 4 years. Like I mentioned last week, this is not an isolated question of border policy alone. The backdrop behind this entire crisis is the giant push toward amnesty and insecurity that the administration advertised throughout the campaign and every time they step to the podium now. That is what has enticed people to flood in. Even now, administration staff keeps parroting strange lines like ``Now is not the time to come.'' ``Now is not the time to come''? Well, when is the right time to break Federal law? Is there going to be a good time to break into the country illegally, and people need to just be patient and wait for their signal? What on Earth are they talking about? A lot of blame for this mess rests on Secretary Mayorkas himself. He spent the first weeks of his tenure downplaying and denying the crisis instead of solving it. But, again, the Biden administration's far-left approach to this issue is not limited to DHS or to the border. Interior enforcement is a key component. On Secretary Mayorkas' watch, we have seen what the Washington Post calls ``a sharp drop'' in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement--a collapse of more than 60 percent from just the prior few months--a political choice, in effect, not to enforce the law. Judge Garland must ensure the Department of Justice takes its duty to uphold the law more seriously Mr. President, on a related matter, after we confirm Congresswoman Fudge and Judge Garland, the Senate will consider two nominees I will not be supporting. They both report straight to the frontlines of the new administration's leftwing war on American energy. They would work to unbalance the balancing act between conservation and the economic comeback we badly need. To head the Environmental Protection Agency, the President has nominated Michael Regan, a longtime regulator and activist. Mr. Regan has plenty of experience. The problem is what he is poised to do with it. He and the administration are plainly prepared to put that experience behind the same far-left policies that crushed jobs and prosperity in States like Kentucky throughout the Obama administration. The Clean Power Plan? Back on the table. The absurd waters of the United States rule? Back on the table. Kentuckians know that when bad policies like those are on the table, it means their jobs, their livelihoods, and their communities are on the menu. Congresswoman Haaland, the President's pick to lead the Department of the Interior, was literally an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal. She has vowed to ``keep fossil fuels in the ground'' and once pledged ``to vote against all new fossil fuel infrastructure.'' Her record and her views ignore the fact that American energy independence fueled prosperity for the working class and middle class over the last 4 years. Yet in multiple of those years, our carbon emissions actually went down--went down. The supposed choice between a clean environment and domestic energy independence is a false choice. It only exists as a zero-sum tradeoff in the minds of Democrats. We have every reason to believe that voting for Mr. Regan and Representative Haaland would be voting to raise gas prices for families who are already struggling, voting to raise fuel and heating bills for seniors on a fixed income, voting to take the tough times we have been going through and making them even tougher. I will be voting for American families and against both of their nominations.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1436-2	null	2,511
formal	middle class	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday, I voted to advance the nominations of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Judge Merrick Garland to be Attorney General. These aren't the nominees whom any Republican would have picked for these jobs, but the Nation needs Presidents to be able to stand up a team so long as their nominees are qualified and mainstream. I have voted to confirm people like Secretaries Austin, Blinken, Yellen, Vilsack, and Buttigieg. We certainly disagree on plenty of issues, but I spent 4 years watching many of our Democratic colleagues do everything possible to obstruct and delay President Trump's nominees right from the start. Now we hear of many of the same Democrats insisting that, as a matter of principle, a new President needs his team and any delay is an outrage. It is funny how some things change. My position has not. I am voting to confirm Judge Garland because of his long reputation as a straight shooter and a legal expert. His left-of-center perspective has been within the legal mainstream. For the country's sake, let's hope our incoming Attorney General applies that no-nonsense approach to the serious challenges facing the Department of Justice and our Nation. Let's hope that he controls the bureaucrats and leftist subordinates that the President proposes to place under him, rather than the other way around. When I spoke to Judge Garland, we discussed his commitment to the ongoing investigation of the events of January 6. Federal law enforcement needs to continue the work of identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who broke the law in order to disrupt the constitutional business of Congress. He assured me that will remain a priority. At the same time, it is essential that DOJ treat political violence with equal seriousness no matter which political fringe it may come from. Last summer, riots, vandalism, and even a so-called ``autonomous zone'' consumed parts of American cities. In some instances, thugs directly attacked Federal property. But amazingly, some local leaders seemed more willing to tolerate the chaos than tolerate the angry tweets that leftwing activists might have sent if they had stepped in to actually do their jobs. We were fortunate to have Attorney General Barr, who took seriously the Federal Government's role to protect Federal property and enforce Federal law. Judge Garland must be prepared to do the same. Of course, the riots haven't been the only area where we have seen liberal governance give short shrift to the rule of law. The Obama administration was famous for its willingness to let ideology dictate the enforcement of Federal laws or the lack thereof. Take the DACA Program, for example. When the Obama administration realized their preferred immigration policies couldn't get through Congress the right way, they stretched prosecutorial discretion and law enforcement discretion to breathtaking unconstitutional extremes. When confirmed, Judge Garland must not back other constitutionally corrosive efforts to effectively repeal laws just by ignoring them. That brings me to the issue of immigration more broadly. Just a few weeks into the job, the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas are flailing and failing on our southern border. The number of unaccompanied migrant children in Border Patrol custody has tripled in just 2 weeks and now dwarfs anything seen during the last 4 years. Like I mentioned last week, this is not an isolated question of border policy alone. The backdrop behind this entire crisis is the giant push toward amnesty and insecurity that the administration advertised throughout the campaign and every time they step to the podium now. That is what has enticed people to flood in. Even now, administration staff keeps parroting strange lines like ``Now is not the time to come.'' ``Now is not the time to come''? Well, when is the right time to break Federal law? Is there going to be a good time to break into the country illegally, and people need to just be patient and wait for their signal? What on Earth are they talking about? A lot of blame for this mess rests on Secretary Mayorkas himself. He spent the first weeks of his tenure downplaying and denying the crisis instead of solving it. But, again, the Biden administration's far-left approach to this issue is not limited to DHS or to the border. Interior enforcement is a key component. On Secretary Mayorkas' watch, we have seen what the Washington Post calls ``a sharp drop'' in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement--a collapse of more than 60 percent from just the prior few months--a political choice, in effect, not to enforce the law. Judge Garland must ensure the Department of Justice takes its duty to uphold the law more seriously Mr. President, on a related matter, after we confirm Congresswoman Fudge and Judge Garland, the Senate will consider two nominees I will not be supporting. They both report straight to the frontlines of the new administration's leftwing war on American energy. They would work to unbalance the balancing act between conservation and the economic comeback we badly need. To head the Environmental Protection Agency, the President has nominated Michael Regan, a longtime regulator and activist. Mr. Regan has plenty of experience. The problem is what he is poised to do with it. He and the administration are plainly prepared to put that experience behind the same far-left policies that crushed jobs and prosperity in States like Kentucky throughout the Obama administration. The Clean Power Plan? Back on the table. The absurd waters of the United States rule? Back on the table. Kentuckians know that when bad policies like those are on the table, it means their jobs, their livelihoods, and their communities are on the menu. Congresswoman Haaland, the President's pick to lead the Department of the Interior, was literally an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal. She has vowed to ``keep fossil fuels in the ground'' and once pledged ``to vote against all new fossil fuel infrastructure.'' Her record and her views ignore the fact that American energy independence fueled prosperity for the working class and middle class over the last 4 years. Yet in multiple of those years, our carbon emissions actually went down--went down. The supposed choice between a clean environment and domestic energy independence is a false choice. It only exists as a zero-sum tradeoff in the minds of Democrats. We have every reason to believe that voting for Mr. Regan and Representative Haaland would be voting to raise gas prices for families who are already struggling, voting to raise fuel and heating bills for seniors on a fixed income, voting to take the tough times we have been going through and making them even tougher. I will be voting for American families and against both of their nominations.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1436-2	null	2,512
formal	thugs	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday, I voted to advance the nominations of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Judge Merrick Garland to be Attorney General. These aren't the nominees whom any Republican would have picked for these jobs, but the Nation needs Presidents to be able to stand up a team so long as their nominees are qualified and mainstream. I have voted to confirm people like Secretaries Austin, Blinken, Yellen, Vilsack, and Buttigieg. We certainly disagree on plenty of issues, but I spent 4 years watching many of our Democratic colleagues do everything possible to obstruct and delay President Trump's nominees right from the start. Now we hear of many of the same Democrats insisting that, as a matter of principle, a new President needs his team and any delay is an outrage. It is funny how some things change. My position has not. I am voting to confirm Judge Garland because of his long reputation as a straight shooter and a legal expert. His left-of-center perspective has been within the legal mainstream. For the country's sake, let's hope our incoming Attorney General applies that no-nonsense approach to the serious challenges facing the Department of Justice and our Nation. Let's hope that he controls the bureaucrats and leftist subordinates that the President proposes to place under him, rather than the other way around. When I spoke to Judge Garland, we discussed his commitment to the ongoing investigation of the events of January 6. Federal law enforcement needs to continue the work of identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who broke the law in order to disrupt the constitutional business of Congress. He assured me that will remain a priority. At the same time, it is essential that DOJ treat political violence with equal seriousness no matter which political fringe it may come from. Last summer, riots, vandalism, and even a so-called ``autonomous zone'' consumed parts of American cities. In some instances, thugs directly attacked Federal property. But amazingly, some local leaders seemed more willing to tolerate the chaos than tolerate the angry tweets that leftwing activists might have sent if they had stepped in to actually do their jobs. We were fortunate to have Attorney General Barr, who took seriously the Federal Government's role to protect Federal property and enforce Federal law. Judge Garland must be prepared to do the same. Of course, the riots haven't been the only area where we have seen liberal governance give short shrift to the rule of law. The Obama administration was famous for its willingness to let ideology dictate the enforcement of Federal laws or the lack thereof. Take the DACA Program, for example. When the Obama administration realized their preferred immigration policies couldn't get through Congress the right way, they stretched prosecutorial discretion and law enforcement discretion to breathtaking unconstitutional extremes. When confirmed, Judge Garland must not back other constitutionally corrosive efforts to effectively repeal laws just by ignoring them. That brings me to the issue of immigration more broadly. Just a few weeks into the job, the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas are flailing and failing on our southern border. The number of unaccompanied migrant children in Border Patrol custody has tripled in just 2 weeks and now dwarfs anything seen during the last 4 years. Like I mentioned last week, this is not an isolated question of border policy alone. The backdrop behind this entire crisis is the giant push toward amnesty and insecurity that the administration advertised throughout the campaign and every time they step to the podium now. That is what has enticed people to flood in. Even now, administration staff keeps parroting strange lines like ``Now is not the time to come.'' ``Now is not the time to come''? Well, when is the right time to break Federal law? Is there going to be a good time to break into the country illegally, and people need to just be patient and wait for their signal? What on Earth are they talking about? A lot of blame for this mess rests on Secretary Mayorkas himself. He spent the first weeks of his tenure downplaying and denying the crisis instead of solving it. But, again, the Biden administration's far-left approach to this issue is not limited to DHS or to the border. Interior enforcement is a key component. On Secretary Mayorkas' watch, we have seen what the Washington Post calls ``a sharp drop'' in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement--a collapse of more than 60 percent from just the prior few months--a political choice, in effect, not to enforce the law. Judge Garland must ensure the Department of Justice takes its duty to uphold the law more seriously Mr. President, on a related matter, after we confirm Congresswoman Fudge and Judge Garland, the Senate will consider two nominees I will not be supporting. They both report straight to the frontlines of the new administration's leftwing war on American energy. They would work to unbalance the balancing act between conservation and the economic comeback we badly need. To head the Environmental Protection Agency, the President has nominated Michael Regan, a longtime regulator and activist. Mr. Regan has plenty of experience. The problem is what he is poised to do with it. He and the administration are plainly prepared to put that experience behind the same far-left policies that crushed jobs and prosperity in States like Kentucky throughout the Obama administration. The Clean Power Plan? Back on the table. The absurd waters of the United States rule? Back on the table. Kentuckians know that when bad policies like those are on the table, it means their jobs, their livelihoods, and their communities are on the menu. Congresswoman Haaland, the President's pick to lead the Department of the Interior, was literally an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal. She has vowed to ``keep fossil fuels in the ground'' and once pledged ``to vote against all new fossil fuel infrastructure.'' Her record and her views ignore the fact that American energy independence fueled prosperity for the working class and middle class over the last 4 years. Yet in multiple of those years, our carbon emissions actually went down--went down. The supposed choice between a clean environment and domestic energy independence is a false choice. It only exists as a zero-sum tradeoff in the minds of Democrats. We have every reason to believe that voting for Mr. Regan and Representative Haaland would be voting to raise gas prices for families who are already struggling, voting to raise fuel and heating bills for seniors on a fixed income, voting to take the tough times we have been going through and making them even tougher. I will be voting for American families and against both of their nominations.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1436-2	null	2,513
formal	working class	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, yesterday, I voted to advance the nominations of Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to be the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and Judge Merrick Garland to be Attorney General. These aren't the nominees whom any Republican would have picked for these jobs, but the Nation needs Presidents to be able to stand up a team so long as their nominees are qualified and mainstream. I have voted to confirm people like Secretaries Austin, Blinken, Yellen, Vilsack, and Buttigieg. We certainly disagree on plenty of issues, but I spent 4 years watching many of our Democratic colleagues do everything possible to obstruct and delay President Trump's nominees right from the start. Now we hear of many of the same Democrats insisting that, as a matter of principle, a new President needs his team and any delay is an outrage. It is funny how some things change. My position has not. I am voting to confirm Judge Garland because of his long reputation as a straight shooter and a legal expert. His left-of-center perspective has been within the legal mainstream. For the country's sake, let's hope our incoming Attorney General applies that no-nonsense approach to the serious challenges facing the Department of Justice and our Nation. Let's hope that he controls the bureaucrats and leftist subordinates that the President proposes to place under him, rather than the other way around. When I spoke to Judge Garland, we discussed his commitment to the ongoing investigation of the events of January 6. Federal law enforcement needs to continue the work of identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those who broke the law in order to disrupt the constitutional business of Congress. He assured me that will remain a priority. At the same time, it is essential that DOJ treat political violence with equal seriousness no matter which political fringe it may come from. Last summer, riots, vandalism, and even a so-called ``autonomous zone'' consumed parts of American cities. In some instances, thugs directly attacked Federal property. But amazingly, some local leaders seemed more willing to tolerate the chaos than tolerate the angry tweets that leftwing activists might have sent if they had stepped in to actually do their jobs. We were fortunate to have Attorney General Barr, who took seriously the Federal Government's role to protect Federal property and enforce Federal law. Judge Garland must be prepared to do the same. Of course, the riots haven't been the only area where we have seen liberal governance give short shrift to the rule of law. The Obama administration was famous for its willingness to let ideology dictate the enforcement of Federal laws or the lack thereof. Take the DACA Program, for example. When the Obama administration realized their preferred immigration policies couldn't get through Congress the right way, they stretched prosecutorial discretion and law enforcement discretion to breathtaking unconstitutional extremes. When confirmed, Judge Garland must not back other constitutionally corrosive efforts to effectively repeal laws just by ignoring them. That brings me to the issue of immigration more broadly. Just a few weeks into the job, the Biden administration and Secretary Mayorkas are flailing and failing on our southern border. The number of unaccompanied migrant children in Border Patrol custody has tripled in just 2 weeks and now dwarfs anything seen during the last 4 years. Like I mentioned last week, this is not an isolated question of border policy alone. The backdrop behind this entire crisis is the giant push toward amnesty and insecurity that the administration advertised throughout the campaign and every time they step to the podium now. That is what has enticed people to flood in. Even now, administration staff keeps parroting strange lines like ``Now is not the time to come.'' ``Now is not the time to come''? Well, when is the right time to break Federal law? Is there going to be a good time to break into the country illegally, and people need to just be patient and wait for their signal? What on Earth are they talking about? A lot of blame for this mess rests on Secretary Mayorkas himself. He spent the first weeks of his tenure downplaying and denying the crisis instead of solving it. But, again, the Biden administration's far-left approach to this issue is not limited to DHS or to the border. Interior enforcement is a key component. On Secretary Mayorkas' watch, we have seen what the Washington Post calls ``a sharp drop'' in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement--a collapse of more than 60 percent from just the prior few months--a political choice, in effect, not to enforce the law. Judge Garland must ensure the Department of Justice takes its duty to uphold the law more seriously Mr. President, on a related matter, after we confirm Congresswoman Fudge and Judge Garland, the Senate will consider two nominees I will not be supporting. They both report straight to the frontlines of the new administration's leftwing war on American energy. They would work to unbalance the balancing act between conservation and the economic comeback we badly need. To head the Environmental Protection Agency, the President has nominated Michael Regan, a longtime regulator and activist. Mr. Regan has plenty of experience. The problem is what he is poised to do with it. He and the administration are plainly prepared to put that experience behind the same far-left policies that crushed jobs and prosperity in States like Kentucky throughout the Obama administration. The Clean Power Plan? Back on the table. The absurd waters of the United States rule? Back on the table. Kentuckians know that when bad policies like those are on the table, it means their jobs, their livelihoods, and their communities are on the menu. Congresswoman Haaland, the President's pick to lead the Department of the Interior, was literally an original cosponsor of the Green New Deal. She has vowed to ``keep fossil fuels in the ground'' and once pledged ``to vote against all new fossil fuel infrastructure.'' Her record and her views ignore the fact that American energy independence fueled prosperity for the working class and middle class over the last 4 years. Yet in multiple of those years, our carbon emissions actually went down--went down. The supposed choice between a clean environment and domestic energy independence is a false choice. It only exists as a zero-sum tradeoff in the minds of Democrats. We have every reason to believe that voting for Mr. Regan and Representative Haaland would be voting to raise gas prices for families who are already struggling, voting to raise fuel and heating bills for seniors on a fixed income, voting to take the tough times we have been going through and making them even tougher. I will be voting for American families and against both of their nominations.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1436-2	null	2,514
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to support the nomination of Merrick B. Garland to be the 86th Attorney General of the United States and urge the Senate to confirm this nomination without further delay. Merrick Garland is a fellow Marylander, and I was proud to introduce him in a statement before the Judiciary Committee on February 22. I waspleased that last week the committee favorably recommended his nomination to the full Senate by a bipartisan vote of 15 to 7. Judge Garland is uniquely qualified at this moment in history to serve as the people's lawyer and restore honor, integrity, and independence to DOJ. Judge Garland graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1974 and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1977. Following graduation, he served as law clerk to Judge Henry J. Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. From 1979 to 1981, he was Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States. He then joined the law firm of Arnold & Porter, where he was a partner from 1985 to 1989 and from 1992 to 1993. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1989 to 1992 and as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1993 to 1994. From 1994 until his appointment as U.S. Circuit judge, he served as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, where his responsibilities included supervising the Oklahoma City bombing and UNABOM prosecutions. In 1997, he was appointed as judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often seen as the Nation's second highest and most powerful court, given their review of Federal agency actions and other matters. He served as chief judge of the D.C. Circuit from 2013 to 2020. Judge Garland has published in the Harvard Law Review and Yale Law Journal, taught at Harvard Law School, and served as president of the board of overseers of Harvard University. He served as chair of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 2017 to 2020. Judge Garland has served both Democratic and Republican administrations in the Justice Department, including service under President Carter, the first President Bush, and President Clinton. He earned a reputation as a tough and fair prosecutor who took on complicated terrorism, violent crime, and corruption cases. He established a sterling reputation of handling cases with the utmost professionalism and is seen by his peers as a modest man who is fundamentally a decent human being. In 1997, the Senate reviewed his record in detail and confirmed him by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 76 to 23 to serve as judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. I would note that many of the no votes for Judge Garland's previous confirmation had to do with a dispute over the proper size of the D.C. Circuit, as opposed to concerns over Judge Garland's qualifications or fitness to serve as a judge. As President Biden noted in his introduction of Judge Garland's nomination, despite his busy schedule and prestigious positions, he still makes time to volunteer regularly, tutoring students in Northeast DC, as he has done for 20 years. And I agree this really shows us the true character of Judge Garland, in terms of his commitment to public service, helping others, and not necessarily seeking out the limelight. I am hopeful that Judge Garland's appointment will shore up and improve the morale at the Justice Department, as the Department renews its commitment to uphold civil rights and voting rights laws; protect the civil liberties and equal access to justice of all Americans; safeguard our national security and combat violent crime; and rout out systemic racism in our criminal justice system and government. As the only Cabinet department named after an ideal, I am convinced that Judge Garland will follow the facts, evidence, and law wherever it leads him, regardless of political pressure or outside influences. Let me close by highlighting what President Biden and Judge Garland stated upon announcing his nomination. President Biden said forcefully: ``You won't work for me. You are not the president's or the vice president's lawyer. Your loyalty is not to me. It's to the law, the Constitution.'' Judge Garland said: ``The rule of law is not just some lawyer's turn of phrase. It is the very foundation of our democracy. The essence of the rule of law is that like cases are treated alike, that there is not one rule for Democrats and another for Republicans, one rule for friends and another for foes.'' Judge Garland noted President Biden's promise that he would have the ``independent capacity'' to decide who is subject to prosecution, based on the facts and the law. Judge Garland concluded that: ``I would not have agreed to be considered for attorney general under any other conditions.'' I again urge the Senate to swiftly confirm this nomination, so we can bring Senate-confirmed leadership to the Department of Justice as soon as possible.	2020-01-06	Mr. CARDIN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1444-2	null	2,515
formal	terrorism	null	Islamophobic	Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to support the nomination of Merrick B. Garland to be the 86th Attorney General of the United States and urge the Senate to confirm this nomination without further delay. Merrick Garland is a fellow Marylander, and I was proud to introduce him in a statement before the Judiciary Committee on February 22. I waspleased that last week the committee favorably recommended his nomination to the full Senate by a bipartisan vote of 15 to 7. Judge Garland is uniquely qualified at this moment in history to serve as the people's lawyer and restore honor, integrity, and independence to DOJ. Judge Garland graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1974 and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1977. Following graduation, he served as law clerk to Judge Henry J. Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. From 1979 to 1981, he was Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States. He then joined the law firm of Arnold & Porter, where he was a partner from 1985 to 1989 and from 1992 to 1993. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1989 to 1992 and as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1993 to 1994. From 1994 until his appointment as U.S. Circuit judge, he served as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, where his responsibilities included supervising the Oklahoma City bombing and UNABOM prosecutions. In 1997, he was appointed as judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often seen as the Nation's second highest and most powerful court, given their review of Federal agency actions and other matters. He served as chief judge of the D.C. Circuit from 2013 to 2020. Judge Garland has published in the Harvard Law Review and Yale Law Journal, taught at Harvard Law School, and served as president of the board of overseers of Harvard University. He served as chair of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 2017 to 2020. Judge Garland has served both Democratic and Republican administrations in the Justice Department, including service under President Carter, the first President Bush, and President Clinton. He earned a reputation as a tough and fair prosecutor who took on complicated terrorism, violent crime, and corruption cases. He established a sterling reputation of handling cases with the utmost professionalism and is seen by his peers as a modest man who is fundamentally a decent human being. In 1997, the Senate reviewed his record in detail and confirmed him by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 76 to 23 to serve as judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. I would note that many of the no votes for Judge Garland's previous confirmation had to do with a dispute over the proper size of the D.C. Circuit, as opposed to concerns over Judge Garland's qualifications or fitness to serve as a judge. As President Biden noted in his introduction of Judge Garland's nomination, despite his busy schedule and prestigious positions, he still makes time to volunteer regularly, tutoring students in Northeast DC, as he has done for 20 years. And I agree this really shows us the true character of Judge Garland, in terms of his commitment to public service, helping others, and not necessarily seeking out the limelight. I am hopeful that Judge Garland's appointment will shore up and improve the morale at the Justice Department, as the Department renews its commitment to uphold civil rights and voting rights laws; protect the civil liberties and equal access to justice of all Americans; safeguard our national security and combat violent crime; and rout out systemic racism in our criminal justice system and government. As the only Cabinet department named after an ideal, I am convinced that Judge Garland will follow the facts, evidence, and law wherever it leads him, regardless of political pressure or outside influences. Let me close by highlighting what President Biden and Judge Garland stated upon announcing his nomination. President Biden said forcefully: ``You won't work for me. You are not the president's or the vice president's lawyer. Your loyalty is not to me. It's to the law, the Constitution.'' Judge Garland said: ``The rule of law is not just some lawyer's turn of phrase. It is the very foundation of our democracy. The essence of the rule of law is that like cases are treated alike, that there is not one rule for Democrats and another for Republicans, one rule for friends and another for foes.'' Judge Garland noted President Biden's promise that he would have the ``independent capacity'' to decide who is subject to prosecution, based on the facts and the law. Judge Garland concluded that: ``I would not have agreed to be considered for attorney general under any other conditions.'' I again urge the Senate to swiftly confirm this nomination, so we can bring Senate-confirmed leadership to the Department of Justice as soon as possible.	2020-01-06	Mr. CARDIN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1444-2	null	2,516
formal	safeguard	null	transphobic	Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, I rise today to support the nomination of Merrick B. Garland to be the 86th Attorney General of the United States and urge the Senate to confirm this nomination without further delay. Merrick Garland is a fellow Marylander, and I was proud to introduce him in a statement before the Judiciary Committee on February 22. I waspleased that last week the committee favorably recommended his nomination to the full Senate by a bipartisan vote of 15 to 7. Judge Garland is uniquely qualified at this moment in history to serve as the people's lawyer and restore honor, integrity, and independence to DOJ. Judge Garland graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1974 and magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1977. Following graduation, he served as law clerk to Judge Henry J. Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and to U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. From 1979 to 1981, he was Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the United States. He then joined the law firm of Arnold & Porter, where he was a partner from 1985 to 1989 and from 1992 to 1993. He served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 1989 to 1992 and as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice from 1993 to 1994. From 1994 until his appointment as U.S. Circuit judge, he served as Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General, where his responsibilities included supervising the Oklahoma City bombing and UNABOM prosecutions. In 1997, he was appointed as judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, often seen as the Nation's second highest and most powerful court, given their review of Federal agency actions and other matters. He served as chief judge of the D.C. Circuit from 2013 to 2020. Judge Garland has published in the Harvard Law Review and Yale Law Journal, taught at Harvard Law School, and served as president of the board of overseers of Harvard University. He served as chair of the Executive Committee of the Judicial Conference of the United States from 2017 to 2020. Judge Garland has served both Democratic and Republican administrations in the Justice Department, including service under President Carter, the first President Bush, and President Clinton. He earned a reputation as a tough and fair prosecutor who took on complicated terrorism, violent crime, and corruption cases. He established a sterling reputation of handling cases with the utmost professionalism and is seen by his peers as a modest man who is fundamentally a decent human being. In 1997, the Senate reviewed his record in detail and confirmed him by an overwhelming, bipartisan vote of 76 to 23 to serve as judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. I would note that many of the no votes for Judge Garland's previous confirmation had to do with a dispute over the proper size of the D.C. Circuit, as opposed to concerns over Judge Garland's qualifications or fitness to serve as a judge. As President Biden noted in his introduction of Judge Garland's nomination, despite his busy schedule and prestigious positions, he still makes time to volunteer regularly, tutoring students in Northeast DC, as he has done for 20 years. And I agree this really shows us the true character of Judge Garland, in terms of his commitment to public service, helping others, and not necessarily seeking out the limelight. I am hopeful that Judge Garland's appointment will shore up and improve the morale at the Justice Department, as the Department renews its commitment to uphold civil rights and voting rights laws; protect the civil liberties and equal access to justice of all Americans; safeguard our national security and combat violent crime; and rout out systemic racism in our criminal justice system and government. As the only Cabinet department named after an ideal, I am convinced that Judge Garland will follow the facts, evidence, and law wherever it leads him, regardless of political pressure or outside influences. Let me close by highlighting what President Biden and Judge Garland stated upon announcing his nomination. President Biden said forcefully: ``You won't work for me. You are not the president's or the vice president's lawyer. Your loyalty is not to me. It's to the law, the Constitution.'' Judge Garland said: ``The rule of law is not just some lawyer's turn of phrase. It is the very foundation of our democracy. The essence of the rule of law is that like cases are treated alike, that there is not one rule for Democrats and another for Republicans, one rule for friends and another for foes.'' Judge Garland noted President Biden's promise that he would have the ``independent capacity'' to decide who is subject to prosecution, based on the facts and the law. Judge Garland concluded that: ``I would not have agreed to be considered for attorney general under any other conditions.'' I again urge the Senate to swiftly confirm this nomination, so we can bring Senate-confirmed leadership to the Department of Justice as soon as possible.	2020-01-06	Mr. CARDIN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1444-2	null	2,517
formal	single	null	homophobic	Ms. WARREN (for herself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Mr. Coons, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warner, Mr. Warnock, and Mr. Whitehouse) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 104 Whereas, in the early 20th century, de jure segregation confined Tulsa's Black residents into the ``Greenwood District'', which they built into a thriving community with a nationally renowned entrepreneurial center known as the ``Black Wall Street''; Whereas, at the time, white supremacy and racist violence were common throughout the United States and went largely unchecked by the justice system; Whereas reports of an alleged and disputed incident on the morning of May 30, 1921, between two teenagers, a Black man and a white woman, caused the white community of Tulsa, including the Tulsa Tribune, to call for a lynching amidst a climate of white racial hostility and white resentment over Black economic success; Whereas, on May 31, 1921, a mob of armed white men descended upon Tulsa's Greenwood District and launched what is now known as the ``Tulsa Race Massacre''; Whereas Tulsa municipal and county authorities failed to take actions to calm or contain the violence, and civil and law enforcement officials deputized many white men who were participants in the violence as their agents, directly contributing to the violence through overt and often illegal acts; Whereas, over a period of 24 hours, the white mob's violence led to the death of an estimated 300 Black residents, as well as over 800 reports of injuries; Whereas the white mob looted, damaged, burned, or otherwise destroyed approximately 40 square blocks of the Greenwood district, including an estimated 1,256 homes of Black residents, as well as virtually every other structure, including churches, schools, businesses, a hospital, and a library, leaving nearly 9,000 Black Tulsans homeless and effectively wiping out tens of millions of dollars in Black prosperity and wealth in Tulsa; Whereas, in the wake of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the Governor of Oklahoma declared martial law, and units of the Oklahoma National Guard participated in the mass arrests of all or nearly all of Greenwood's surviving residents, removing them from Greenwood to other parts of Tulsa and unlawfully detaining them in holding centers; Whereas Oklahoma local and State governments dismissed claims arising from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre for decades, and the event was effectively erased from collective memory and history until, in 1997, the Oklahoma State Legislature finally created a commission to study the event; Whereas, on February 28, 2001, the commission issued a report that detailed, for the first time, the extent of the Massacre and decades-long efforts to suppress its recollection; Whereas none of the law enforcement officials nor any of the hundreds of other white mob members who participated in the violence were ever prosecuted or held accountable for the hundreds of lives lost and tens of millions of dollars of Black wealth destroyed, despite the Tulsa Race Massacre Commission confirming their roles in the Massacre, nor was any compensation ever provided to the Massacre's victims or their descendants; Whereas government and city officials not only abdicated their responsibility to rebuild and repair the Greenwood community in the wake of the violence, but actively blocked efforts to do so, contributing to continued racial disparities in Tulsa akin to those that Black people face across the United States; Whereas the pattern of violence against Black people in the United States, often at the hands of law enforcement, shows that the fight to end State-sanctioned violence against Black people continues; and Whereas this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre; (2) acknowledges the historical significance of this event as one of the largest single instances of State-sanctioned violence against Black people in American history; (3) honors the lives and legacies of the estimated 300 Black individuals who were killed during the Massacre and the nearly 9,000 Black individuals who were left homeless and penniless; (4) condemns the participants of the Tulsa Race Massacre, including white municipal officials and law enforcement who directly participated in or who aided and abetted the unlawful violence; (5) condemns past and present efforts to cover up the truth and shield the white community, and especially State and local officials, from accountability for the Tulsa Race Massacre and other instances of violence at the hands of law enforcement; (6) condemns the continued legacy of racism, including systemic racism, and white supremacy against Black people in the United States, particularly in the form of police brutality; (7) encourages education about the Tulsa Race Massacre, including the horrors of the massacre itself, the history of white supremacy that fueled the massacre, and subsequent attempts to deny or cover up the Massacre, in all elementary and secondary education settings and in institutions of higher education in the United States; and (8) recognizes the commitment of Congress to acknowledge and learn from the history of racism and racial violence in the United States, including the Tulsa Race Massacre, to reverse the legacy of white supremacy and fight for racial justice.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1472	null	2,518
formal	Google	null	racist	Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, we just voted on Secretary Michael Regan to be the new EPA Administrator. I want to congratulate him on his vote. He is now the new EPA Administrator. I sit on the Committee on Environment and Public Works. So we had hearings for Mr. Regan--Administrator Regan, I guess we want to call him now--and I have had a number of conversations with him. I actually voted for him to move out of committee to come to the floor for this vote that we took today. I like to come down to the floor to explain my votes because sometimes I support the Biden administration's Cabinet officials. I introduced Secretary of Defense Austin at his confirmation hearing. I served with him many years ago when I was a marine and he was a four-star general in the Army. I have a lot of respect for the Secretary of Defense. Then there are other times when I am a ``no.'' What I typically like to do is come and explain the noes but not always. On this one, for Secretary Regan, for Administrator Regan and his team, I want to explain it because I will say that I was impressed with him. I think he is qualified. He was essentially the EPA administrator for North Carolina. Both of his Republican Senators introduced him at his hearing and voted for him, I believe, today, and I have had good conversations with him as well. Here is the thing: I was trying to get commitments from him. Now, this is very normal in the confirmation process. You work with the nominees and try to get commitments. Sometimes they give them, and sometimes they don't, but that is what we do--give advice and consent. We have been doing this since the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution on what the Senate should be doing in these confirmation processes that we are going through right now with the Biden administration. So I wasn't asking for a lot in terms of commitments from this administration for the great State of Alaska, but it was important to me. Why was it important to me? Unfortunately, the Biden administration has launched a war on working families in Alaska. Now, that sounds like a pretty dramatic statement, ``a war on working families in Alaska.'' What I am looking for is a ceasefire. My State, like a lot of States, is hurting economically. We are doing very well and I am very proud of Alaska on the health side. We are No. 1 in terms of vaccinations per capita in the country, which is remarkable, if you have been to my State, as it is so huge and the populations are so spread out, but we are working together, all of us, and we are achieving really remarkable results. We have been No. 1 in testing per capita throughout the whole pandemic, and we have had some of the lowest per capita death rates throughout the whole pandemic. But we are being really hit hard economically in the energy sector, the tourism sector, and the commercial fishing sector. So why am I looking for a ceasefire? In the first 2 months of the Biden administration, there have been eight Executive orders, if you include the recent statement by the President and the Prime Minister of Canada, which had a focus on Alaska, which have been focused on my State. Usually, it will be on economic development projects and usually on access to Federal lands. Eight. There is no State in the country that is getting that kind of attention from this administration, and we are hurting. It is not even close. Show me any other State represented in the U.S. Senate Chamber that has eight Executive orders directed at your State. It won't exist. Trust me--my constituents don't like all the attention. So I want to ask the President--not the Presiding Officer but the President: Mr. President, Mr. President Biden, sir, you were a U.S. Senator for three decades. Let me just ask you this question: If a Republican administration came into office and focused its attention on shutting down Delaware with eight Executive orders inside of 2 months, you would be on the floor every day like me, talking about it, asking for some relief. That is all we are asking for--a ceasefire on the hard-working families of Alaska. This is what I asked Secretary Regan. A commitment on these is not a big issue. I told him, if I could get a commitment on these things, I would come down to the floor and give a speech in favor of his confirmation. One was of a very big energy project in my State that has been permitted for almost 25 years. It started with the Clinton administration, in a place called the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska, and was set aside by Congress for oil and gas development. That is what the NPR-A is. We do it responsibly, better than any place in the world, but this is a project that was started by the Clinton administration and moved forward by the Bush administration. There was a big NEPA environmental impact statement by the Obama administration, called the Integrated Activity Plan for NPR-A, which was approved. It was completely noncontroversial because that is what this part of Alaska is set aside for. Then the Trump administration finalized a very large but responsibly developed energy project. We started it this winter with no controversy. It has estimates of 2,000 direct jobs, with thousands more indirect jobs. All we wanted was a commitment to keep it going. That is it--simple, status quo. Couldn't get it. Couldn't get it. There is litigation with regard to this project right now. About 200 people--almost 200 workers--have been sent home with pink slips during a recession. Those were great jobs by the way. We tried to get a commitment on this. We couldn't get it. By the way, 75 percent of those 2,000 jobs were union jobs and high-paying--building trades, laborers, operating engineers, teamsters. They are great Americans, by the way. Seventy-five percent. Noncontroversial. Twenty-five years of permits. No one has been against this. So I just wanted a commitment on it. No. Like I said, it is a war on working families. Here is another one. Here is something that a lot of people don't know about Alaska: 60 percent of the country's wetlands, of America's wetlands, are in my State--six zero. Now, we have the most beautiful State. We love our wilderness. We love the outdoors. We care about the Alaskan environment more than anyone else and--trust me--more than anyone else in theEPA. That is for sure. We have 175 million acres of wetlands. So this creates challenges. Unlike most of the lower 48, we have not dredged and filled these areas in the past. If you look at the east coast, at its environments--no offense to some of my colleagues whose States are up the corridor here--holy cow. And you wonder about my environment? Geez Louise. But it is hard to do compensation for projects where you haven't had dredge and fill before, because we have so many wetlands. So, in 2018, the Corps of Engineers and the EPA had an MOU to address some of these mitigation challenges. It wasn't controversial; it was creative. I thought Secretary Regan thought it was creative when I talked to him about it. So we just asked for a continuation of this. These are really simple commitments, good ideas--couldn't get it from the Secretary. Now, look, here's my own view. I think Mr. Regan wanted to--I explained these to him. I think he was reasonable, someone who has done this in his State and knows each State is unique. He cares about jobs. He cares about environmental justice. That is a big issue in my State when a lot of these communities that are getting targeted are actually Alaska Native communities. They are killing jobs in those communities. That is environmental justice; that is for sure. So my instinct was he wanted to make these commitments, but I think he was told no. I don't know that, but I'm pretty--well, I can't say. But I think he was told no by the White House. This raises a much bigger concern about this nominee. My good friend, the esteemed Senator from West Virginia, Senator Capito, was on the floor earlier. She also sits on the EPW Committee. She is the ranking member on the committee. She gave a really important speech on why she also voted no for Mr. Regan. And I think she had the same feeling I did. He knows the issues, is qualified, cares about different States' challenges. But she raised a concern that I want to reiterate because I think it is going to be a really big concern, and I think it is going to come to a head here soon, and that is this: There is concern, not just among Republican Senators--it is all over the press, and she cited it--that Mr. Regan, who is now the EPA Administrator might not be the person in charge of the EPA. Now he's Senate-confirmed. He is the one who has to come before the Congress for hearings, for oversight, but what are we talking about here? Well, the former EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, is in the White House. She is out talking to the press all the time. She's an unaccountable czar on these issues, working behind the scenes--and, actually, not even behind the scenes. She was recently quoting about herself, saying she's the orchestra leader of all of these issues. Wait, what about the EPA Administrator? I thought he was the Senate-confirmed person nominated by the President. The big, big concern is that he is not going to have the authority or the decision-making capacity and is going to be told what to do by a shadow EPA working out of the White House run by Gina McCarthy. That is not just me. That is not just Senator Capito. That is all over the press. Read it. Inside EPA--she was quoting from that, Senator Capito was. No transparency there? All these previous Obama administration EPA alumnae in the White House running it. By the way, if I am the new EPA Administrator, Mr. Regan, I wouldn't want that notion out there. But with all due respect, sir--and, again, congratulations--it is out there, and you need to tamp this down because it is going to come to a head. Look, my State did not fare well under the Gina McCarthy EPA. There is a long list: the waters of the United States--I won't get into the details of the disrespect to my constituents. Armed EPA officials with body armor, rifles, were going after gold miners and placer miners in Alaska because they thought they were violating the Clean Water Act. No kidding. Read about it. Chicken, AK--go Google that. We were not big fans. So I believe Mr. Regan wants to work with Alaskans. I believe he understands the concept of cooperative federalism on these environmental issues. I don't believe he would authorize armed guards to terrify small placer miners in the interior of Alaska the way the previous Administrator McCarthy did and talk to the press in a blatantly disrespectful way to my fellow Alaskans. It was shameful, in my view. But this issue is going to come to a head. Who is in charge? Regardless of whether you are a Democrat or Republican, if you voted for the EPA Administrator or you didn't, we want him in charge because he is the Senate-confirmed official nominated by the President, not an unelected official in the White House who I guarantee wouldn't have been able to get confirmed. So it is going to be a challenge. And it is not just Gina McCarthy. We had an EPW hearing today, and I raised the issue of the other czar--John Kerry, the former Senator. But he is not confirmed. He hasn't been appointed to a Senate-confirmed job. He and the President are at loggerheads on a really big issue. President Biden, the President of the United States, recently in a meeting reported by the press with labor leaders, said: I am all in on natural gas. That is important. That is a huge issue for our environment and our workers. The President of the United States said ``I am all in on natural gas'' to the men and women who build pipelines. He told them that recently in a White House meeting. He is the President of the United States. Now John Kerry--I think some people think he is President of the world. He is flying around on his airplane right now, and he is telling people he is not for natural gas. Well, I wonder who is going to win that debate. But this goes to this issue: These are going to come to a head. Who is in charge here--the President of the United States or the President of the world--on natural gas? I hope it is the President of the United States because natural gas is going to be key for our workers, for our environment, for our national security. And at the EPA level, who is in charge? Mr. Regan? I hope so. Or Gina McCarthy? It is looking more and more like she is in charge. So that is why a number of us, despite being impressed, wanting to work with the new EPA Administrator voted no, and I certainly hope that the unaccountable team of McCarthy and Kerry in the White House are not going to be running the policy, but it is going to be the people who were actually confirmed by the U.S. Senate because that is the way our system of government is supposed to work. So, Mr. President, for those reasons, although I again want to congratulate Mr. Regan, I respectfully declined to support his nomination, and we will see. We will see who is going to be ultimately in charge. I want to work with him and his team. These issues are so important to my State. I want him to help convince others in the Biden White House for the ceasefire that my constituents need. We need to get to work, and I am hoping he is going to be a constructive partner in that regard	2020-01-06	Mr. SULLIVAN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1473-3	null	2,519
formal	working families	null	racist	Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, we just voted on Secretary Michael Regan to be the new EPA Administrator. I want to congratulate him on his vote. He is now the new EPA Administrator. I sit on the Committee on Environment and Public Works. So we had hearings for Mr. Regan--Administrator Regan, I guess we want to call him now--and I have had a number of conversations with him. I actually voted for him to move out of committee to come to the floor for this vote that we took today. I like to come down to the floor to explain my votes because sometimes I support the Biden administration's Cabinet officials. I introduced Secretary of Defense Austin at his confirmation hearing. I served with him many years ago when I was a marine and he was a four-star general in the Army. I have a lot of respect for the Secretary of Defense. Then there are other times when I am a ``no.'' What I typically like to do is come and explain the noes but not always. On this one, for Secretary Regan, for Administrator Regan and his team, I want to explain it because I will say that I was impressed with him. I think he is qualified. He was essentially the EPA administrator for North Carolina. Both of his Republican Senators introduced him at his hearing and voted for him, I believe, today, and I have had good conversations with him as well. Here is the thing: I was trying to get commitments from him. Now, this is very normal in the confirmation process. You work with the nominees and try to get commitments. Sometimes they give them, and sometimes they don't, but that is what we do--give advice and consent. We have been doing this since the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution on what the Senate should be doing in these confirmation processes that we are going through right now with the Biden administration. So I wasn't asking for a lot in terms of commitments from this administration for the great State of Alaska, but it was important to me. Why was it important to me? Unfortunately, the Biden administration has launched a war on working families in Alaska. Now, that sounds like a pretty dramatic statement, ``a war on working families in Alaska.'' What I am looking for is a ceasefire. My State, like a lot of States, is hurting economically. We are doing very well and I am very proud of Alaska on the health side. We are No. 1 in terms of vaccinations per capita in the country, which is remarkable, if you have been to my State, as it is so huge and the populations are so spread out, but we are working together, all of us, and we are achieving really remarkable results. We have been No. 1 in testing per capita throughout the whole pandemic, and we have had some of the lowest per capita death rates throughout the whole pandemic. But we are being really hit hard economically in the energy sector, the tourism sector, and the commercial fishing sector. So why am I looking for a ceasefire? In the first 2 months of the Biden administration, there have been eight Executive orders, if you include the recent statement by the President and the Prime Minister of Canada, which had a focus on Alaska, which have been focused on my State. Usually, it will be on economic development projects and usually on access to Federal lands. Eight. There is no State in the country that is getting that kind of attention from this administration, and we are hurting. It is not even close. Show me any other State represented in the U.S. Senate Chamber that has eight Executive orders directed at your State. It won't exist. Trust me--my constituents don't like all the attention. So I want to ask the President--not the Presiding Officer but the President: Mr. President, Mr. President Biden, sir, you were a U.S. Senator for three decades. Let me just ask you this question: If a Republican administration came into office and focused its attention on shutting down Delaware with eight Executive orders inside of 2 months, you would be on the floor every day like me, talking about it, asking for some relief. That is all we are asking for--a ceasefire on the hard-working families of Alaska. This is what I asked Secretary Regan. A commitment on these is not a big issue. I told him, if I could get a commitment on these things, I would come down to the floor and give a speech in favor of his confirmation. One was of a very big energy project in my State that has been permitted for almost 25 years. It started with the Clinton administration, in a place called the National Petroleum Reserve of Alaska, and was set aside by Congress for oil and gas development. That is what the NPR-A is. We do it responsibly, better than any place in the world, but this is a project that was started by the Clinton administration and moved forward by the Bush administration. There was a big NEPA environmental impact statement by the Obama administration, called the Integrated Activity Plan for NPR-A, which was approved. It was completely noncontroversial because that is what this part of Alaska is set aside for. Then the Trump administration finalized a very large but responsibly developed energy project. We started it this winter with no controversy. It has estimates of 2,000 direct jobs, with thousands more indirect jobs. All we wanted was a commitment to keep it going. That is it--simple, status quo. Couldn't get it. Couldn't get it. There is litigation with regard to this project right now. About 200 people--almost 200 workers--have been sent home with pink slips during a recession. Those were great jobs by the way. We tried to get a commitment on this. We couldn't get it. By the way, 75 percent of those 2,000 jobs were union jobs and high-paying--building trades, laborers, operating engineers, teamsters. They are great Americans, by the way. Seventy-five percent. Noncontroversial. Twenty-five years of permits. No one has been against this. So I just wanted a commitment on it. No. Like I said, it is a war on working families. Here is another one. Here is something that a lot of people don't know about Alaska: 60 percent of the country's wetlands, of America's wetlands, are in my State--six zero. Now, we have the most beautiful State. We love our wilderness. We love the outdoors. We care about the Alaskan environment more than anyone else and--trust me--more than anyone else in theEPA. That is for sure. We have 175 million acres of wetlands. So this creates challenges. Unlike most of the lower 48, we have not dredged and filled these areas in the past. If you look at the east coast, at its environments--no offense to some of my colleagues whose States are up the corridor here--holy cow. And you wonder about my environment? Geez Louise. But it is hard to do compensation for projects where you haven't had dredge and fill before, because we have so many wetlands. So, in 2018, the Corps of Engineers and the EPA had an MOU to address some of these mitigation challenges. It wasn't controversial; it was creative. I thought Secretary Regan thought it was creative when I talked to him about it. So we just asked for a continuation of this. These are really simple commitments, good ideas--couldn't get it from the Secretary. Now, look, here's my own view. I think Mr. Regan wanted to--I explained these to him. I think he was reasonable, someone who has done this in his State and knows each State is unique. He cares about jobs. He cares about environmental justice. That is a big issue in my State when a lot of these communities that are getting targeted are actually Alaska Native communities. They are killing jobs in those communities. That is environmental justice; that is for sure. So my instinct was he wanted to make these commitments, but I think he was told no. I don't know that, but I'm pretty--well, I can't say. But I think he was told no by the White House. This raises a much bigger concern about this nominee. My good friend, the esteemed Senator from West Virginia, Senator Capito, was on the floor earlier. She also sits on the EPW Committee. She is the ranking member on the committee. She gave a really important speech on why she also voted no for Mr. Regan. And I think she had the same feeling I did. He knows the issues, is qualified, cares about different States' challenges. But she raised a concern that I want to reiterate because I think it is going to be a really big concern, and I think it is going to come to a head here soon, and that is this: There is concern, not just among Republican Senators--it is all over the press, and she cited it--that Mr. Regan, who is now the EPA Administrator might not be the person in charge of the EPA. Now he's Senate-confirmed. He is the one who has to come before the Congress for hearings, for oversight, but what are we talking about here? Well, the former EPA Administrator, Gina McCarthy, is in the White House. She is out talking to the press all the time. She's an unaccountable czar on these issues, working behind the scenes--and, actually, not even behind the scenes. She was recently quoting about herself, saying she's the orchestra leader of all of these issues. Wait, what about the EPA Administrator? I thought he was the Senate-confirmed person nominated by the President. The big, big concern is that he is not going to have the authority or the decision-making capacity and is going to be told what to do by a shadow EPA working out of the White House run by Gina McCarthy. That is not just me. That is not just Senator Capito. That is all over the press. Read it. Inside EPA--she was quoting from that, Senator Capito was. No transparency there? All these previous Obama administration EPA alumnae in the White House running it. By the way, if I am the new EPA Administrator, Mr. Regan, I wouldn't want that notion out there. But with all due respect, sir--and, again, congratulations--it is out there, and you need to tamp this down because it is going to come to a head. Look, my State did not fare well under the Gina McCarthy EPA. There is a long list: the waters of the United States--I won't get into the details of the disrespect to my constituents. Armed EPA officials with body armor, rifles, were going after gold miners and placer miners in Alaska because they thought they were violating the Clean Water Act. No kidding. Read about it. Chicken, AK--go Google that. We were not big fans. So I believe Mr. Regan wants to work with Alaskans. I believe he understands the concept of cooperative federalism on these environmental issues. I don't believe he would authorize armed guards to terrify small placer miners in the interior of Alaska the way the previous Administrator McCarthy did and talk to the press in a blatantly disrespectful way to my fellow Alaskans. It was shameful, in my view. But this issue is going to come to a head. Who is in charge? Regardless of whether you are a Democrat or Republican, if you voted for the EPA Administrator or you didn't, we want him in charge because he is the Senate-confirmed official nominated by the President, not an unelected official in the White House who I guarantee wouldn't have been able to get confirmed. So it is going to be a challenge. And it is not just Gina McCarthy. We had an EPW hearing today, and I raised the issue of the other czar--John Kerry, the former Senator. But he is not confirmed. He hasn't been appointed to a Senate-confirmed job. He and the President are at loggerheads on a really big issue. President Biden, the President of the United States, recently in a meeting reported by the press with labor leaders, said: I am all in on natural gas. That is important. That is a huge issue for our environment and our workers. The President of the United States said ``I am all in on natural gas'' to the men and women who build pipelines. He told them that recently in a White House meeting. He is the President of the United States. Now John Kerry--I think some people think he is President of the world. He is flying around on his airplane right now, and he is telling people he is not for natural gas. Well, I wonder who is going to win that debate. But this goes to this issue: These are going to come to a head. Who is in charge here--the President of the United States or the President of the world--on natural gas? I hope it is the President of the United States because natural gas is going to be key for our workers, for our environment, for our national security. And at the EPA level, who is in charge? Mr. Regan? I hope so. Or Gina McCarthy? It is looking more and more like she is in charge. So that is why a number of us, despite being impressed, wanting to work with the new EPA Administrator voted no, and I certainly hope that the unaccountable team of McCarthy and Kerry in the White House are not going to be running the policy, but it is going to be the people who were actually confirmed by the U.S. Senate because that is the way our system of government is supposed to work. So, Mr. President, for those reasons, although I again want to congratulate Mr. Regan, I respectfully declined to support his nomination, and we will see. We will see who is going to be ultimately in charge. I want to work with him and his team. These issues are so important to my State. I want him to help convince others in the Biden White House for the ceasefire that my constituents need. We need to get to work, and I am hoping he is going to be a constructive partner in that regard	2020-01-06	Mr. SULLIVAN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-10-pt1-PgS1473-3	null	2,520
formal	welfare	null	racist	The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer: Holy God, a year ago normal was turned on its head, national pastimes canceled their seasons, and Broadway went dark. Since then, our whole lives have been tragically upended, and our sense of health and welfare forever threatened. But You in Your mercy have set before us many who have stood firm in the face of this year of incredible disruption and uncertainty. God, we offer our deep-felt gratitude for the frontline workers--medical personnel and first responders--as well as those who have borne the responsibility for maintaining the Nation's infrastructure in all its forms--sanitation, communication, transportation. We lift up to You in thanksgiving all teachers, counselors, caregivers, and parents who have upheld their commitment to the well-being and the future of our country. I offer this prayer in these Chambers because each of us, and the American Government itself, is beholden to the scores of Capitol Police, staff members, and concession workers who, without fail or fanfare, have executed their duties in humility and faithfulness. For their sacrificial dedication, the hours of watch-standing and lost family time, God, we owe them a debt of gratitude for helping to bring us through this tumultuous year. When our words fail us and our appreciation for these noble public servants proves inadequate, we pray that You would speak Your special blessing on them and give them assurance of Your eternal reward. We offer our prayers to You in the strength of Your name. Amen.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgH1329-2	null	2,521
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, yesterday, the Senate completed an extremely productive day by confirming three members of President Biden's Cabinet. Today, we are going to keep up the pace by moving the ball forward on two more of the President's nominees. First, the Senate will begin the process of bringing Xavier Becerra's nomination to the floor to serve as HHS Secretary. This is a critical position as we continue to battle the virus, and I am perplexed that none of my Republican colleagues would vote for him. He is a capable man, and he has worked hard to make sure that people get healthcare. Some have said: Well, he is not a doctor. Neither was the previous Trump nominee for HHS, who happened to be a pharmaceutical company executive. Whom would Americans prefer? Second, the Senate will move forward with another very historic nominee who makes us so proud, Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico, to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior. She will be confirmed on Monday. Representative Haaland was elected to the Congress in 2018. She was the first Native American woman, along with Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas, to ever serve in the people's House. If confirmed, Representative Haaland will not only become the first Native American to lead the Department of the Interior, but she will be the first Native American to serve in any Cabinet position in American history. We have had a Vice President with Native American roots but never a Cabinet official. Given the long and troubled relationship between the Federal Government and Tribal nations, the ascension of Representative Haaland to the top of the Interior Department is a profoundly important moment for America as we advance on the long road--still not fully traveled at all--toward equality. For too long, Tribal nations have been denied a seat at the table where decisions were made that impacted their lives and their land. Not only will Secretary Haaland ensure that they get a seat, she will bring her own lived experiences to the table alongside them. Under President Trump, the Department of the Interior became one of the most scandal-ridden Agencies in the history of the Federal Government. It gave oil and mining companies carte blanche to drill in wildlife reserves. It rolled back environmental protections and greatly undermined trust in the Federal Government and Tribal lands. Representative Haaland will move the Department in a dramatically different direction. One of her most important responsibilities will be to restore and uphold the Federal Government's obligations to sovereign Tribal nations. I cannot think of a better candidate to take on this job than Representative Haaland, and I greatly look forward to confirming her. It will be historic. Now, in general, Madam President, the Senate is making great progress in installing President Biden's highly qualified nominees. So far, we have already confirmed 16 Cabinet-level appointments. We are set to increase that number to 18 after Secretaries Haaland and Becerra are approved. Every single one of the President's nominees has been confirmed with a bipartisan vote here on the Senate floor. President Biden deserves to have his team in place, and the Senate is moving quickly to get the job done.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1477-6	null	2,522
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, yesterday, the Senate completed an extremely productive day by confirming three members of President Biden's Cabinet. Today, we are going to keep up the pace by moving the ball forward on two more of the President's nominees. First, the Senate will begin the process of bringing Xavier Becerra's nomination to the floor to serve as HHS Secretary. This is a critical position as we continue to battle the virus, and I am perplexed that none of my Republican colleagues would vote for him. He is a capable man, and he has worked hard to make sure that people get healthcare. Some have said: Well, he is not a doctor. Neither was the previous Trump nominee for HHS, who happened to be a pharmaceutical company executive. Whom would Americans prefer? Second, the Senate will move forward with another very historic nominee who makes us so proud, Representative Deb Haaland of New Mexico, to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior. She will be confirmed on Monday. Representative Haaland was elected to the Congress in 2018. She was the first Native American woman, along with Representative Sharice Davids of Kansas, to ever serve in the people's House. If confirmed, Representative Haaland will not only become the first Native American to lead the Department of the Interior, but she will be the first Native American to serve in any Cabinet position in American history. We have had a Vice President with Native American roots but never a Cabinet official. Given the long and troubled relationship between the Federal Government and Tribal nations, the ascension of Representative Haaland to the top of the Interior Department is a profoundly important moment for America as we advance on the long road--still not fully traveled at all--toward equality. For too long, Tribal nations have been denied a seat at the table where decisions were made that impacted their lives and their land. Not only will Secretary Haaland ensure that they get a seat, she will bring her own lived experiences to the table alongside them. Under President Trump, the Department of the Interior became one of the most scandal-ridden Agencies in the history of the Federal Government. It gave oil and mining companies carte blanche to drill in wildlife reserves. It rolled back environmental protections and greatly undermined trust in the Federal Government and Tribal lands. Representative Haaland will move the Department in a dramatically different direction. One of her most important responsibilities will be to restore and uphold the Federal Government's obligations to sovereign Tribal nations. I cannot think of a better candidate to take on this job than Representative Haaland, and I greatly look forward to confirming her. It will be historic. Now, in general, Madam President, the Senate is making great progress in installing President Biden's highly qualified nominees. So far, we have already confirmed 16 Cabinet-level appointments. We are set to increase that number to 18 after Secretaries Haaland and Becerra are approved. Every single one of the President's nominees has been confirmed with a bipartisan vote here on the Senate floor. President Biden deserves to have his team in place, and the Senate is moving quickly to get the job done.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1477-6	null	2,523
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Madam President, on the American Rescue Plan,which finally cleared the hurdle in Congress yesterday by passing the House, it is now only a Presidential signature away from becoming law. Soon--very soon--the most sweeping recovery effort in recent history will get underway. Direct checks will be delivered to American families from coast to coast--roughly, 85 percent of all households. The American people can expect those $1,400 checks for each person in the family to be delivered by the end of March, and we are making amazingly good progress on vaccines. Vaccines will be available far more quickly to far more people. Just this morning, the Biden administration announced an expansion of the vaccine program, and I was able to announce that more than 100 community health centers in my home State of New York will be eligible to get their own, dedicated supply of vaccines. There is a brand new vaccine supercharge for New York and for some of the rest of the Nation as well--the crux: more vaccines and more sites to administer them. Over 100 sites will be set up across New York State to administer a massive influx of new shot supplies. There is light at the end of this COVID tunnel, which has always been centered on access to a free vaccine for all New Yorkers. More access and more shots mean a quicker recovery, and that is what we want, and that is becoming available for my home State of New York and for the entire Nation. The CHC sites, or community health center sites, will be federally funded and organized by the Department of Health and Human Services--a huge expansion. We have all heard numerous stories of people having to travel too far to get the vaccine, hampering our ability to recover and return to normal. With this announcement of more vaccines and more New York sites to administer them, New Yorkers have something to celebrate, and I thank the President for working with us to make this effort real and to bring it to every State in the Nation. Other things are happening, too. Our schools will receive critical assistance to update their infrastructure, hire more teachers and tutors, and prepare to reopen as fast and as safely as possible. There is going to be money for broadband. There are going to be dollars for rural hospitals. There are going to be dollars to help our Tribal nations--all who are suffering. The new RESTAURANTS Act, which is so important to so many of our States, is becoming law. More money for Save our Stages to help our arts institutions is coming. Perhaps the thing that we are the most proud of--although there are so many in this bill--is helping people with their pensions and making sure those who are laid off still get healthcare by funding COBRA fully. There are so many good things for average working families, but maybe the most important of all--who knows? There are so many good things in this bill--is the child tax credit, which will cut childhood poverty in half. When a child is born into poverty at no fault of his or her own, they don't get adequate nutrition. They don't get adequate healthcare. They don't get adequate housing. They don't get adequate education. Then, when they get to young adulthood, they have nowhere to go, and then they get blamed for their plight. The better, smarter, more effective thing to do is to help them get out of poverty early so they can lead good, productive lives as citizens and as taxpayers. We are doing that for the first time here, and I hope it is something that we can continue. Simply put, the American Rescue Plan is one of the most significant pieces of legislation to pass the Congress in recent history. Yesterday, I started describing in more detail some of the lesser known aspects of the plan. Everyone knows that vaccines are coming, that $1,400 checks are coming, that money for schools is coming, and now people know of the child tax credit, but there are lots of other things in this bill. Today, I want to continue by talking about another unheralded provision: assistance to Native communities. It is a topic very much on theme today given the nomination of Secretary Haaland. One of the most tragic features of the COVID-19 pandemic is how destructive it has been for America's Tribal nations. Native Americans have faced the highest risk of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19--bar none, the highest. Early in the crisis, the Navajo Nation, to take one example, saw more cases per capita than any other State in the country. Decades of an unraveling social safety net, declining economic opportunity, an overburdened health system, and the failure of the Federal Government to honor its trust obligations to American Tribes left Native communities unequipped to handle the crisis. But in the American Rescue Plan, the Democrats will deliver the single largest investment in Native communities in our Nation's history. We are very proud of that. It is historic--the single largest investment in Native communities in our Nation's history. More than $31.2 billion in direct funding will go to Tribes and communities to defeat this pandemic and rebuild their communities; $20 billion directly to Tribal governments so they can stabilize essential services; $6 billion to the Indian Health Service, not just for vaccines and testing and tracing but to improve and restore these rural, long-neglected hospitals; hundreds of millions more for Native education; $10 million will go to just making sure communities can access clean water. Listen to the items I just mentioned: clean water, keeping hospitals running, connecting kids to broadband. These are absolute necessities, and the American Rescue Plan is going to dedicate resources to all of them for Indian Country. I want to thank a whole bunch of my colleagues. So many contributed, but the chair of the Indian Affairs Committee, Senator Schatz, and Senators Tester and Cantwell and Smith and Kelly and Ben Ray Lujan and Heinrich are very, very important. Senator Heinrich particularly pushed for broadband. So it was a team effort, and I am proud of my colleagues. The American Rescue Plan takes us a giant step closer to fulfilling our trust responsibilities to all Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. This is just one example, an important one, as to how the rescue plan will dramatically improve the lives of millions of people in this great country of ours. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1477-7	null	2,524
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Madam President, on the American Rescue Plan,which finally cleared the hurdle in Congress yesterday by passing the House, it is now only a Presidential signature away from becoming law. Soon--very soon--the most sweeping recovery effort in recent history will get underway. Direct checks will be delivered to American families from coast to coast--roughly, 85 percent of all households. The American people can expect those $1,400 checks for each person in the family to be delivered by the end of March, and we are making amazingly good progress on vaccines. Vaccines will be available far more quickly to far more people. Just this morning, the Biden administration announced an expansion of the vaccine program, and I was able to announce that more than 100 community health centers in my home State of New York will be eligible to get their own, dedicated supply of vaccines. There is a brand new vaccine supercharge for New York and for some of the rest of the Nation as well--the crux: more vaccines and more sites to administer them. Over 100 sites will be set up across New York State to administer a massive influx of new shot supplies. There is light at the end of this COVID tunnel, which has always been centered on access to a free vaccine for all New Yorkers. More access and more shots mean a quicker recovery, and that is what we want, and that is becoming available for my home State of New York and for the entire Nation. The CHC sites, or community health center sites, will be federally funded and organized by the Department of Health and Human Services--a huge expansion. We have all heard numerous stories of people having to travel too far to get the vaccine, hampering our ability to recover and return to normal. With this announcement of more vaccines and more New York sites to administer them, New Yorkers have something to celebrate, and I thank the President for working with us to make this effort real and to bring it to every State in the Nation. Other things are happening, too. Our schools will receive critical assistance to update their infrastructure, hire more teachers and tutors, and prepare to reopen as fast and as safely as possible. There is going to be money for broadband. There are going to be dollars for rural hospitals. There are going to be dollars to help our Tribal nations--all who are suffering. The new RESTAURANTS Act, which is so important to so many of our States, is becoming law. More money for Save our Stages to help our arts institutions is coming. Perhaps the thing that we are the most proud of--although there are so many in this bill--is helping people with their pensions and making sure those who are laid off still get healthcare by funding COBRA fully. There are so many good things for average working families, but maybe the most important of all--who knows? There are so many good things in this bill--is the child tax credit, which will cut childhood poverty in half. When a child is born into poverty at no fault of his or her own, they don't get adequate nutrition. They don't get adequate healthcare. They don't get adequate housing. They don't get adequate education. Then, when they get to young adulthood, they have nowhere to go, and then they get blamed for their plight. The better, smarter, more effective thing to do is to help them get out of poverty early so they can lead good, productive lives as citizens and as taxpayers. We are doing that for the first time here, and I hope it is something that we can continue. Simply put, the American Rescue Plan is one of the most significant pieces of legislation to pass the Congress in recent history. Yesterday, I started describing in more detail some of the lesser known aspects of the plan. Everyone knows that vaccines are coming, that $1,400 checks are coming, that money for schools is coming, and now people know of the child tax credit, but there are lots of other things in this bill. Today, I want to continue by talking about another unheralded provision: assistance to Native communities. It is a topic very much on theme today given the nomination of Secretary Haaland. One of the most tragic features of the COVID-19 pandemic is how destructive it has been for America's Tribal nations. Native Americans have faced the highest risk of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19--bar none, the highest. Early in the crisis, the Navajo Nation, to take one example, saw more cases per capita than any other State in the country. Decades of an unraveling social safety net, declining economic opportunity, an overburdened health system, and the failure of the Federal Government to honor its trust obligations to American Tribes left Native communities unequipped to handle the crisis. But in the American Rescue Plan, the Democrats will deliver the single largest investment in Native communities in our Nation's history. We are very proud of that. It is historic--the single largest investment in Native communities in our Nation's history. More than $31.2 billion in direct funding will go to Tribes and communities to defeat this pandemic and rebuild their communities; $20 billion directly to Tribal governments so they can stabilize essential services; $6 billion to the Indian Health Service, not just for vaccines and testing and tracing but to improve and restore these rural, long-neglected hospitals; hundreds of millions more for Native education; $10 million will go to just making sure communities can access clean water. Listen to the items I just mentioned: clean water, keeping hospitals running, connecting kids to broadband. These are absolute necessities, and the American Rescue Plan is going to dedicate resources to all of them for Indian Country. I want to thank a whole bunch of my colleagues. So many contributed, but the chair of the Indian Affairs Committee, Senator Schatz, and Senators Tester and Cantwell and Smith and Kelly and Ben Ray Lujan and Heinrich are very, very important. Senator Heinrich particularly pushed for broadband. So it was a team effort, and I am proud of my colleagues. The American Rescue Plan takes us a giant step closer to fulfilling our trust responsibilities to all Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. This is just one example, an important one, as to how the rescue plan will dramatically improve the lives of millions of people in this great country of ours. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1477-7	null	2,525
formal	working families	null	racist	Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Madam President, on the American Rescue Plan,which finally cleared the hurdle in Congress yesterday by passing the House, it is now only a Presidential signature away from becoming law. Soon--very soon--the most sweeping recovery effort in recent history will get underway. Direct checks will be delivered to American families from coast to coast--roughly, 85 percent of all households. The American people can expect those $1,400 checks for each person in the family to be delivered by the end of March, and we are making amazingly good progress on vaccines. Vaccines will be available far more quickly to far more people. Just this morning, the Biden administration announced an expansion of the vaccine program, and I was able to announce that more than 100 community health centers in my home State of New York will be eligible to get their own, dedicated supply of vaccines. There is a brand new vaccine supercharge for New York and for some of the rest of the Nation as well--the crux: more vaccines and more sites to administer them. Over 100 sites will be set up across New York State to administer a massive influx of new shot supplies. There is light at the end of this COVID tunnel, which has always been centered on access to a free vaccine for all New Yorkers. More access and more shots mean a quicker recovery, and that is what we want, and that is becoming available for my home State of New York and for the entire Nation. The CHC sites, or community health center sites, will be federally funded and organized by the Department of Health and Human Services--a huge expansion. We have all heard numerous stories of people having to travel too far to get the vaccine, hampering our ability to recover and return to normal. With this announcement of more vaccines and more New York sites to administer them, New Yorkers have something to celebrate, and I thank the President for working with us to make this effort real and to bring it to every State in the Nation. Other things are happening, too. Our schools will receive critical assistance to update their infrastructure, hire more teachers and tutors, and prepare to reopen as fast and as safely as possible. There is going to be money for broadband. There are going to be dollars for rural hospitals. There are going to be dollars to help our Tribal nations--all who are suffering. The new RESTAURANTS Act, which is so important to so many of our States, is becoming law. More money for Save our Stages to help our arts institutions is coming. Perhaps the thing that we are the most proud of--although there are so many in this bill--is helping people with their pensions and making sure those who are laid off still get healthcare by funding COBRA fully. There are so many good things for average working families, but maybe the most important of all--who knows? There are so many good things in this bill--is the child tax credit, which will cut childhood poverty in half. When a child is born into poverty at no fault of his or her own, they don't get adequate nutrition. They don't get adequate healthcare. They don't get adequate housing. They don't get adequate education. Then, when they get to young adulthood, they have nowhere to go, and then they get blamed for their plight. The better, smarter, more effective thing to do is to help them get out of poverty early so they can lead good, productive lives as citizens and as taxpayers. We are doing that for the first time here, and I hope it is something that we can continue. Simply put, the American Rescue Plan is one of the most significant pieces of legislation to pass the Congress in recent history. Yesterday, I started describing in more detail some of the lesser known aspects of the plan. Everyone knows that vaccines are coming, that $1,400 checks are coming, that money for schools is coming, and now people know of the child tax credit, but there are lots of other things in this bill. Today, I want to continue by talking about another unheralded provision: assistance to Native communities. It is a topic very much on theme today given the nomination of Secretary Haaland. One of the most tragic features of the COVID-19 pandemic is how destructive it has been for America's Tribal nations. Native Americans have faced the highest risk of infections, hospitalizations, and deaths due to COVID-19--bar none, the highest. Early in the crisis, the Navajo Nation, to take one example, saw more cases per capita than any other State in the country. Decades of an unraveling social safety net, declining economic opportunity, an overburdened health system, and the failure of the Federal Government to honor its trust obligations to American Tribes left Native communities unequipped to handle the crisis. But in the American Rescue Plan, the Democrats will deliver the single largest investment in Native communities in our Nation's history. We are very proud of that. It is historic--the single largest investment in Native communities in our Nation's history. More than $31.2 billion in direct funding will go to Tribes and communities to defeat this pandemic and rebuild their communities; $20 billion directly to Tribal governments so they can stabilize essential services; $6 billion to the Indian Health Service, not just for vaccines and testing and tracing but to improve and restore these rural, long-neglected hospitals; hundreds of millions more for Native education; $10 million will go to just making sure communities can access clean water. Listen to the items I just mentioned: clean water, keeping hospitals running, connecting kids to broadband. These are absolute necessities, and the American Rescue Plan is going to dedicate resources to all of them for Indian Country. I want to thank a whole bunch of my colleagues. So many contributed, but the chair of the Indian Affairs Committee, Senator Schatz, and Senators Tester and Cantwell and Smith and Kelly and Ben Ray Lujan and Heinrich are very, very important. Senator Heinrich particularly pushed for broadband. So it was a team effort, and I am proud of my colleagues. The American Rescue Plan takes us a giant step closer to fulfilling our trust responsibilities to all Native Americans, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians. This is just one example, an important one, as to how the rescue plan will dramatically improve the lives of millions of people in this great country of ours. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1477-7	null	2,526
formal	cut taxes	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, a year ago, coronavirus cases were beginning to climb on U.S. soil. Shutdown measures were starting to take effect. Americans have endured one of the strangest and most painful years in living memory. Nearly 2 million Americans have been hospitalized with serious cases of the virus. More than half a million have lost their lives. Millions of students and workers have had their lives completely thrown off course. But these dark times have also spotlighted some of the best of America: heroism, selflessness, ingenuity. Last March, the night we passed the CARES Act without a single dissenting vote, I said we would see a new generation of American heroes, and so we have. Doctors and nurses and first responders have worked tirelessly to help their fellow Americans. Essential workers kept manning their posts and prevented economic collapse. Neighbors looked out for neighbors, and small businesses shifted gears almost overnight. Children and parents have fought to adapt to extraordinary disruptions, and incredible heroes in lab coats in America and worldwide worked at light speed to decode this new enemy and create lifesaving vaccines in record time. Today, together, we are standing on the cusp of a new springtime for ourcountry not like anything we have experienced in our lifetimes. More than 95 million vaccine doses have reached American arms; another 2 million every single day. COVID-related deaths have plummeted, now less than half of their high, particularly for the elderly and the vulnerable. Science reaffirms kids can be safely in the classroom right now. States are starting to lift blanket restrictions, freeing citizens and small businesses to follow smart precautions themselves. For weeks, every indicator has suggested our economy is poised to come roaring back, with more job openings for Americans who need work. None of these trends began on January 20. President Biden and his Democratic government inherited a tide that had already begun to turn toward decisive victory. In 2020, Congress passed five historic bipartisan bills to save our health system, protect our economic foundations, and fund Operation Warp Speed to find vaccines. Senate Republicans led the bipartisan CARES Act that got our country through the last year. The American people already built the parade that has been marching toward victory; Democrats just want to sprint in front of the parade and claim credit. So when 10 Republican Senators went to the White House to suggest working together, the Democrats said: Uh, no. Both the Democratic leader and the White House Chief of Staff now indicate they think President Obama's problem was that he was too bipartisan. This time, as one journalist put it, the situation was ``Democrats to GOP: Take it or leave it.'' The ``it'' that we are talking about here was a bill that only spent about 1 percent on vaccines and about 9 percent on the entire health fight. The rest of the tab went to things like this: a $350 billion bailout for State and local budgets unrelated to pandemic needs, with strings attached to stop States from cutting taxes on their own citizens down the road--take the money, you don't get to cut taxes; massive Federal school funding spread over several years, without requiring quickly reopening; sweeping new government benefits with no work requirements whatsoever--a time warp to the bad times before bipartisan welfare reform--which Democrats already say they want to make permanent; and agricultural assistance conditioned not on specific financial need but solely on the demographics of the farmer, which some liberal activists are celebrating as ``reparations.'' Only about 20 percent of the spending went to $1,400 direct checks, to try to keep all of the unrelated socialism out of the spotlight. This wasn't a bill to finish off the pandemic; it was a multitrillion-dollar Trojan horse full of bad, old liberal ideas. President Biden's own staff keep calling this legislation ``the most progressive bill in American history''--hardly the commonsense bipartisanship that the President promised. So we pause today at the 1-year mark to remember and to mourn, but we also look with great optimism toward the future. Twenty twenty-one is set to be a historic comeback year, not because of the far-left legislation that was passed after the tide had already turned but because of the resilience of the American people. (Mr. PADILLA assumed the Chair.)	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1478-2	null	2,527
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, a year ago, coronavirus cases were beginning to climb on U.S. soil. Shutdown measures were starting to take effect. Americans have endured one of the strangest and most painful years in living memory. Nearly 2 million Americans have been hospitalized with serious cases of the virus. More than half a million have lost their lives. Millions of students and workers have had their lives completely thrown off course. But these dark times have also spotlighted some of the best of America: heroism, selflessness, ingenuity. Last March, the night we passed the CARES Act without a single dissenting vote, I said we would see a new generation of American heroes, and so we have. Doctors and nurses and first responders have worked tirelessly to help their fellow Americans. Essential workers kept manning their posts and prevented economic collapse. Neighbors looked out for neighbors, and small businesses shifted gears almost overnight. Children and parents have fought to adapt to extraordinary disruptions, and incredible heroes in lab coats in America and worldwide worked at light speed to decode this new enemy and create lifesaving vaccines in record time. Today, together, we are standing on the cusp of a new springtime for ourcountry not like anything we have experienced in our lifetimes. More than 95 million vaccine doses have reached American arms; another 2 million every single day. COVID-related deaths have plummeted, now less than half of their high, particularly for the elderly and the vulnerable. Science reaffirms kids can be safely in the classroom right now. States are starting to lift blanket restrictions, freeing citizens and small businesses to follow smart precautions themselves. For weeks, every indicator has suggested our economy is poised to come roaring back, with more job openings for Americans who need work. None of these trends began on January 20. President Biden and his Democratic government inherited a tide that had already begun to turn toward decisive victory. In 2020, Congress passed five historic bipartisan bills to save our health system, protect our economic foundations, and fund Operation Warp Speed to find vaccines. Senate Republicans led the bipartisan CARES Act that got our country through the last year. The American people already built the parade that has been marching toward victory; Democrats just want to sprint in front of the parade and claim credit. So when 10 Republican Senators went to the White House to suggest working together, the Democrats said: Uh, no. Both the Democratic leader and the White House Chief of Staff now indicate they think President Obama's problem was that he was too bipartisan. This time, as one journalist put it, the situation was ``Democrats to GOP: Take it or leave it.'' The ``it'' that we are talking about here was a bill that only spent about 1 percent on vaccines and about 9 percent on the entire health fight. The rest of the tab went to things like this: a $350 billion bailout for State and local budgets unrelated to pandemic needs, with strings attached to stop States from cutting taxes on their own citizens down the road--take the money, you don't get to cut taxes; massive Federal school funding spread over several years, without requiring quickly reopening; sweeping new government benefits with no work requirements whatsoever--a time warp to the bad times before bipartisan welfare reform--which Democrats already say they want to make permanent; and agricultural assistance conditioned not on specific financial need but solely on the demographics of the farmer, which some liberal activists are celebrating as ``reparations.'' Only about 20 percent of the spending went to $1,400 direct checks, to try to keep all of the unrelated socialism out of the spotlight. This wasn't a bill to finish off the pandemic; it was a multitrillion-dollar Trojan horse full of bad, old liberal ideas. President Biden's own staff keep calling this legislation ``the most progressive bill in American history''--hardly the commonsense bipartisanship that the President promised. So we pause today at the 1-year mark to remember and to mourn, but we also look with great optimism toward the future. Twenty twenty-one is set to be a historic comeback year, not because of the far-left legislation that was passed after the tide had already turned but because of the resilience of the American people. (Mr. PADILLA assumed the Chair.)	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1478-2	null	2,528
formal	welfare	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, a year ago, coronavirus cases were beginning to climb on U.S. soil. Shutdown measures were starting to take effect. Americans have endured one of the strangest and most painful years in living memory. Nearly 2 million Americans have been hospitalized with serious cases of the virus. More than half a million have lost their lives. Millions of students and workers have had their lives completely thrown off course. But these dark times have also spotlighted some of the best of America: heroism, selflessness, ingenuity. Last March, the night we passed the CARES Act without a single dissenting vote, I said we would see a new generation of American heroes, and so we have. Doctors and nurses and first responders have worked tirelessly to help their fellow Americans. Essential workers kept manning their posts and prevented economic collapse. Neighbors looked out for neighbors, and small businesses shifted gears almost overnight. Children and parents have fought to adapt to extraordinary disruptions, and incredible heroes in lab coats in America and worldwide worked at light speed to decode this new enemy and create lifesaving vaccines in record time. Today, together, we are standing on the cusp of a new springtime for ourcountry not like anything we have experienced in our lifetimes. More than 95 million vaccine doses have reached American arms; another 2 million every single day. COVID-related deaths have plummeted, now less than half of their high, particularly for the elderly and the vulnerable. Science reaffirms kids can be safely in the classroom right now. States are starting to lift blanket restrictions, freeing citizens and small businesses to follow smart precautions themselves. For weeks, every indicator has suggested our economy is poised to come roaring back, with more job openings for Americans who need work. None of these trends began on January 20. President Biden and his Democratic government inherited a tide that had already begun to turn toward decisive victory. In 2020, Congress passed five historic bipartisan bills to save our health system, protect our economic foundations, and fund Operation Warp Speed to find vaccines. Senate Republicans led the bipartisan CARES Act that got our country through the last year. The American people already built the parade that has been marching toward victory; Democrats just want to sprint in front of the parade and claim credit. So when 10 Republican Senators went to the White House to suggest working together, the Democrats said: Uh, no. Both the Democratic leader and the White House Chief of Staff now indicate they think President Obama's problem was that he was too bipartisan. This time, as one journalist put it, the situation was ``Democrats to GOP: Take it or leave it.'' The ``it'' that we are talking about here was a bill that only spent about 1 percent on vaccines and about 9 percent on the entire health fight. The rest of the tab went to things like this: a $350 billion bailout for State and local budgets unrelated to pandemic needs, with strings attached to stop States from cutting taxes on their own citizens down the road--take the money, you don't get to cut taxes; massive Federal school funding spread over several years, without requiring quickly reopening; sweeping new government benefits with no work requirements whatsoever--a time warp to the bad times before bipartisan welfare reform--which Democrats already say they want to make permanent; and agricultural assistance conditioned not on specific financial need but solely on the demographics of the farmer, which some liberal activists are celebrating as ``reparations.'' Only about 20 percent of the spending went to $1,400 direct checks, to try to keep all of the unrelated socialism out of the spotlight. This wasn't a bill to finish off the pandemic; it was a multitrillion-dollar Trojan horse full of bad, old liberal ideas. President Biden's own staff keep calling this legislation ``the most progressive bill in American history''--hardly the commonsense bipartisanship that the President promised. So we pause today at the 1-year mark to remember and to mourn, but we also look with great optimism toward the future. Twenty twenty-one is set to be a historic comeback year, not because of the far-left legislation that was passed after the tide had already turned but because of the resilience of the American people. (Mr. PADILLA assumed the Chair.)	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1478-2	null	2,529
formal	welfare reform	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, a year ago, coronavirus cases were beginning to climb on U.S. soil. Shutdown measures were starting to take effect. Americans have endured one of the strangest and most painful years in living memory. Nearly 2 million Americans have been hospitalized with serious cases of the virus. More than half a million have lost their lives. Millions of students and workers have had their lives completely thrown off course. But these dark times have also spotlighted some of the best of America: heroism, selflessness, ingenuity. Last March, the night we passed the CARES Act without a single dissenting vote, I said we would see a new generation of American heroes, and so we have. Doctors and nurses and first responders have worked tirelessly to help their fellow Americans. Essential workers kept manning their posts and prevented economic collapse. Neighbors looked out for neighbors, and small businesses shifted gears almost overnight. Children and parents have fought to adapt to extraordinary disruptions, and incredible heroes in lab coats in America and worldwide worked at light speed to decode this new enemy and create lifesaving vaccines in record time. Today, together, we are standing on the cusp of a new springtime for ourcountry not like anything we have experienced in our lifetimes. More than 95 million vaccine doses have reached American arms; another 2 million every single day. COVID-related deaths have plummeted, now less than half of their high, particularly for the elderly and the vulnerable. Science reaffirms kids can be safely in the classroom right now. States are starting to lift blanket restrictions, freeing citizens and small businesses to follow smart precautions themselves. For weeks, every indicator has suggested our economy is poised to come roaring back, with more job openings for Americans who need work. None of these trends began on January 20. President Biden and his Democratic government inherited a tide that had already begun to turn toward decisive victory. In 2020, Congress passed five historic bipartisan bills to save our health system, protect our economic foundations, and fund Operation Warp Speed to find vaccines. Senate Republicans led the bipartisan CARES Act that got our country through the last year. The American people already built the parade that has been marching toward victory; Democrats just want to sprint in front of the parade and claim credit. So when 10 Republican Senators went to the White House to suggest working together, the Democrats said: Uh, no. Both the Democratic leader and the White House Chief of Staff now indicate they think President Obama's problem was that he was too bipartisan. This time, as one journalist put it, the situation was ``Democrats to GOP: Take it or leave it.'' The ``it'' that we are talking about here was a bill that only spent about 1 percent on vaccines and about 9 percent on the entire health fight. The rest of the tab went to things like this: a $350 billion bailout for State and local budgets unrelated to pandemic needs, with strings attached to stop States from cutting taxes on their own citizens down the road--take the money, you don't get to cut taxes; massive Federal school funding spread over several years, without requiring quickly reopening; sweeping new government benefits with no work requirements whatsoever--a time warp to the bad times before bipartisan welfare reform--which Democrats already say they want to make permanent; and agricultural assistance conditioned not on specific financial need but solely on the demographics of the farmer, which some liberal activists are celebrating as ``reparations.'' Only about 20 percent of the spending went to $1,400 direct checks, to try to keep all of the unrelated socialism out of the spotlight. This wasn't a bill to finish off the pandemic; it was a multitrillion-dollar Trojan horse full of bad, old liberal ideas. President Biden's own staff keep calling this legislation ``the most progressive bill in American history''--hardly the commonsense bipartisanship that the President promised. So we pause today at the 1-year mark to remember and to mourn, but we also look with great optimism toward the future. Twenty twenty-one is set to be a historic comeback year, not because of the far-left legislation that was passed after the tide had already turned but because of the resilience of the American people. (Mr. PADILLA assumed the Chair.)	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1478-2	null	2,530
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Now, Mr. President, on a completely different matter, at noon today, the Senate will vote on whether to pluck the Becerra nomination out of committee after it failed to garner enough support to advance. Every one of President Biden's nominations the Senate has considered so far has received bipartisan support for confirmation. There is a reason Mr. Becerra could not get one single Republican vote to move out of committee. It is because he is such a thoroughly partisan actor with so little subject-matter expertise and such a demonstrated history of hostility toward basic values like the freedom of conscience. There is nothing about Mr. Becerra's record in Congress or in California to suggest he is the best possible person to run the Department of Health and Human Services in the middle of a once-in-a-generation viral pandemic--not even close. This is too important a job at too important a time for this administration to put raw partisanship ahead of qualifications. So I would strongly urge all Senators to vote against rescuing this nomination from committee. Let's give the President the opportunity to make a better selection.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1479	null	2,531
formal	welfare	null	racist	Remembering Howard Baldwin Madam President, I have had the privilege of working alongside some truly incredible public servants throughout my career. Without a doubt, one of the finest was Howard Baldwin. Howard was brilliant, effective, humorous, and exceedingly humble--a rare combination made even more striking because of his kindness. He was an extraordinary person. Over the weekend, I received the sad news that Howard had passed away, and I want to share just a few words about the incredible life and legacy of my late friend. Howard and I crossed paths as young lawyers in San Antonio, TX, where we used to play a little pickup basketball together. He graduated from St. Mary's School of Law a few years before I did, and much to the benefit of families across our State, he quickly found his calling working on child support and family issues. Howard spent time as a private lawyer, as a State-appointed judge, and as a regional director for child support enforcement. He bounced back and forth between the Texas Attorney General's Office and the Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services, and his colleagues would joke: Howard, how can we miss you if you won't stay gone? But a man as talented and devoted and as effective as Howard is always in high demand. And when I was elected as attorney general of Texas in 1998, he was one of the first people I called. At the time, the child support division of the attorney general's office was a disaster. Staff were completely overwhelmed by the sky-high number of cases. The office ran a computer system that was so dysfunctional it actually managed to decrease productivity, and a lack of support from previous leadership made even minor improvements impossible. I knew turning things around wouldn't be easy, but it was absolutely essential that we do so, and I knew that Howard was the only man that I knew for that job. A news article at the time summed up the monumental task of fixing the broken child support enforcement system by saying, ``Howard Baldwin will look either like a fool or a hero; there won't be much middle ground.'' Today, with the benefit of hindsight, I can assure you that Howard came out looking like a hero. Unlike previous leaders of the child support division, Howard didn't view it as purely an enforcement or collection agency. He truly cared about the children and family welfare, and he wanted to help families get to a place where both parents could be involved in their children's lives. To better serve these families, he shifted our focus to customer service. He hired more staff. He brought the division into the technology age, and he empowered the incredible attorneys and staff we worked with to implement changes at every level to affect not only the quality of service but also the quality of outcomes. And the results speak for themselves. During my time as attorney general, the child support division collected more than $3 billion in child support for more than 1 million Texas children. We broke records annually for the most child support ever collected in a year and the biggest year-to-year increases in collection. The Texas Child Support Division at the Attorney General's Office went from an unproductive mess to the premier organization of its type in the country. We became a model for other States, and Howard was the guy with all the answers. I had so much trust in Howard and his ability to steer the ship that I later asked him to serve as my first assistant attorney general. This is the person who oversees the day-to-day operations of the AG's office which, at the time, employed more than 3,800 Texans. Howard used his deep-seated knowledge of Texas State government to improve the attorney general's office across the board. He built strong relationships with folks on both sides of the aisle, and when something needed to be done, all he had to do was to pick up the phone and call a friend and a colleague. He knew who to call, what to ask for, and how to convince the biggest skeptic in the room to see things his way without ever breaking the smile on his face. I say this in all candor with the greatest admiration: Howard was the most effective bureaucrat I have ever met. As big an impact as Howard had on my State--our State--his influence has reached beyond the borders of the Lone Star State. Howard was an active member of the National Child Support Enforcement Association, where he spent more than a decade as a board member and nearly 2 years as president. He earned the respect and admiration of folks across the country who shared his passion for helping children and helping families. When a friend and former colleague of Howard's shared the news of his passing with his national network, the response was immediate and overwhelming. Friends and colleagues from Washington State, Kentucky, and New York said that Howard, the Texas bureaucrat, was their mentor. For those who had the privilege of knowing Howard, this wasn't a surprise. After all, Howard had a wonderful way of advancing the careers of others around him. He wanted them to succeed as well. When their joint efforts were successful, he then made sure that they, not he, got the credit. He was generous with his time and his knowledge, whether helping someone with an entry-level job or a division leader in another State. Howard was consistently driven by his passion for helping children. More than two decades ago, he said: ``It gets into your blood because it makes such a difference in people's lives.'' And I can tell you that I have seen the difference firsthand time and time and time again. During my first term in the Senate, I was traveling to El Paso, TX, and I was about to get on my flight when a guy named Joe--I could see it on his uniform--who was part of the ground crew there, came up to me and said: Are you John Cornyn? I said: Yes, I am. And he asked: I bet you don't remember me. Do you? Well, as you can imagine, it caught me a little off guard, so I smiled and said: I am sorry. Can you remind me? He said: I am Joe. You sued me and threatened to put me in jail for not paying my child support. Well, that is not the response I expected, but he said: You took me to court because I wasn't paying my child support, but I didn't want to pay it because my ex-wife wouldn't allow me to see my children. He was holding up the chocks that go under the wheels of the airplane to keep it from rolling, and at this point I was thinking: This guy is going to take a swing at me, or worse. He then surprised me again. He said: But you know what? After I started paying it after you sued me, the judge ordered my ex-wife to let me spend time with our daughter, and I realized what kind of father I needed to be, what kind of man I needed to be, and I made things right. He raised his left hand and pointed at his wedding ring. He said: My wife and I got back together. Well, I was in awe, not only of Joe, but the power of people like Howard Baldwin and everyone at the child support division trying to protect children and trying to restore families. I don't think any one of us could have expected to help reunite a divorced couple, but Howard did everything in his power to help parents support their children, both financially and emotionally, to encourage positive outcomes. There is no way to quantify the amount of good Howard did throughout his career and throughout his life, but I can say without a doubt he changed lives--many, many lives. Howard's advocacy for children was his calling, but there were no children he loved more than his two boys, James and Eric. Howard's family was his entire world. His wife Rita was at its center. Throughout their 46-year marriage, Rita wholeheartedly supported and encouraged Howard. I know she was proud of him. So on behalf of the State of Texas, I want to thank the Baldwin family for sharing their beloved patriarch with us for so many decades. I personally am grateful, profoundly grateful, for Howard's friendship and his impact on my life and the great example of service that he set. Sandy and I send our deepest condolences to Rita, James, Eric, and the long list of friends across Texas and the country who are mourning the loss of this incredible public servant and friend. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1493	null	2,532
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, last week the Congress passed and tomorrow the President will sign into law the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which includes $10 billion to respond to COVID-19 internationally. While this is a tiny fraction of the $1.9 trillion in the Rescue Plan, it is critically necessary. As long as the virus continues to spread and mutate into more transmissible and deadlier variants in other countries, it will remain a threat to Americans. Within that amount, $580 million is included to support the U.N. Global Humanitarian Response Plan for COVID-19 through U.S. voluntary contributions to international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, UNICEF, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, and other international organizations. UNICEF offers critical operations and technical assistance to ministries of health and education around the world as countries continue to adapt their health and education activities to meet COVID-19 protocols. UNICEF also focuses on strengthening risk communication and community engagement to ensure that women, children, and their families know how to prevent COVID-19; providing supplies to communities and educational and health facilities to support the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, including WASH supplies and personal protective equipment; and ensuring that children and women have continued access to basic healthcare, education, child protection, and gender-based violence services, including ensuring access to immunizations, prenatal and postnatal care, and HIV care in an environment safe from infection by the virus. It is obvious that UNICEF has a critical role to play in the international COVID-19 response. The same can be said of the World Food Programme, UNHCR, and WHO. I am pleased that Congress was able to provide additional funding for these and other international organizations to support their lifesaving work.	2020-01-06	Mr. LEAHY	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1496-2	null	2,533
formal	terrorism	null	Islamophobic	Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, I rise today to voice my support for the President's nominee for Attorney General, Judge Merrick Garland, who is not only a fellow Marylander, but somebody I have known personally for many years. And I know that President Biden has picked a nominee with impeccable credentials and unimpeachable character. His experience stretches from the halls of the Justice Department to the chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and he embodies the decency, the impartiality, and the commitment to justice that our Nation deserves as the Attorney General of the United States. I am confident that Judge Garland will serve admirably and faithfully as the next Attorney General. The Nation already knows Merrick Garland because of his Supreme Court nomination and as the former Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where he earned a reputation as one of our Nation's finest and fairest jurists. But his tenure on the D.C. Circuit was just the most recent achievement in a life dedicated to serving the rule of law. After excelling at law school, Judge Garland clerked for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and then for the Supreme Court. He then rose through the ranks of a prominent law firm before jumping back into public service feet-first as a Federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office during the administration of President George Herbert Walker Bush and then later served as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice. As a senior DOJ official, Judge Garland was tasked with overseeing the case of the Oklahoma City bombing, one of the deadliest domestic terrorist attacks in American history. It left 168 Americans dead and hundreds more injured. Merrick Garland brought a steady hand to an operation that involved massive amounts of evidence, pressure from the public, and a large team with diverse skills and backgrounds. With fidelity to the law and meticulous attention to detail and unrelenting focus, Merrick Garland helped bring the bomber, Timothy McVeigh, to justice. He has called this case the most important thing he has done in his life. Mr. Chairman, ranking member, and committee members, we are going to need his experience as we once again confront the rise of domestic terrorism, particularly in the wake of the horrific events of January 6. And the next Attorney General must not only take on the rise of White supremacists and radical militia groups, but also ensure that justice is rendered equally and fairly by promoting and ensuring racial equity, rooting out discrimination in our criminal justice system, addressing police reform, and ensuring that we don't see a concerted effort to limit people's citizens' right to vote in the United States of America. As Justice Garland has himself stated, ensuring the rule of law and making real the promise of equal justice under the law are ``the great principles upon which the Department of Justice was founded and for which it must always stand.'' Judge Garland has spent his career doing both, and I have no doubt he will honor that tradition as Attorney General. During Judge Garland's confirmation hearing his commitment to public service and ensuring equal justice were on display. He shared that he felt an obligation to payback our country for protecting and welcoming his grandparents who fled to the United States to escape anti-Semitism and persecution. He stated that serving as an Attorney General that combats injustice and discrimination would be ``the highest, best use of my own set of skills.'' While his professional experiences have prepared him for this job, it is his character that makes him right for this moment. Should he be confirmed, Judge Garland will be charged with restoring credibility and independence to the Department of Justice, making it clear that the Department is not the political instrument of the White House. I know Merrick Garland is up tothe task. The lengthy list of testimonials speaking to his fairness and sound judgement span the political spectrum. He is respected by lawmakers, scholars, and lawyers of every legal persuasion and political philosophy. And on a personal note, I can attest to the fact that his brilliance is matched by his kindness. His many achievements have never gone to his head. He has always stayed humble and treated everyone with respect. It is for these reasons and many more that I was honored to vote for the President's nominee to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States, Judge Merrick Garland.	2020-01-06	Mr. VAN HOLLEN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1498	null	2,534
formal	terrorist	null	Islamophobic	Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, I rise today to voice my support for the President's nominee for Attorney General, Judge Merrick Garland, who is not only a fellow Marylander, but somebody I have known personally for many years. And I know that President Biden has picked a nominee with impeccable credentials and unimpeachable character. His experience stretches from the halls of the Justice Department to the chambers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, and he embodies the decency, the impartiality, and the commitment to justice that our Nation deserves as the Attorney General of the United States. I am confident that Judge Garland will serve admirably and faithfully as the next Attorney General. The Nation already knows Merrick Garland because of his Supreme Court nomination and as the former Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where he earned a reputation as one of our Nation's finest and fairest jurists. But his tenure on the D.C. Circuit was just the most recent achievement in a life dedicated to serving the rule of law. After excelling at law school, Judge Garland clerked for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and then for the Supreme Court. He then rose through the ranks of a prominent law firm before jumping back into public service feet-first as a Federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office during the administration of President George Herbert Walker Bush and then later served as the Principal Associate Deputy Attorney General at the Department of Justice. As a senior DOJ official, Judge Garland was tasked with overseeing the case of the Oklahoma City bombing, one of the deadliest domestic terrorist attacks in American history. It left 168 Americans dead and hundreds more injured. Merrick Garland brought a steady hand to an operation that involved massive amounts of evidence, pressure from the public, and a large team with diverse skills and backgrounds. With fidelity to the law and meticulous attention to detail and unrelenting focus, Merrick Garland helped bring the bomber, Timothy McVeigh, to justice. He has called this case the most important thing he has done in his life. Mr. Chairman, ranking member, and committee members, we are going to need his experience as we once again confront the rise of domestic terrorism, particularly in the wake of the horrific events of January 6. And the next Attorney General must not only take on the rise of White supremacists and radical militia groups, but also ensure that justice is rendered equally and fairly by promoting and ensuring racial equity, rooting out discrimination in our criminal justice system, addressing police reform, and ensuring that we don't see a concerted effort to limit people's citizens' right to vote in the United States of America. As Justice Garland has himself stated, ensuring the rule of law and making real the promise of equal justice under the law are ``the great principles upon which the Department of Justice was founded and for which it must always stand.'' Judge Garland has spent his career doing both, and I have no doubt he will honor that tradition as Attorney General. During Judge Garland's confirmation hearing his commitment to public service and ensuring equal justice were on display. He shared that he felt an obligation to payback our country for protecting and welcoming his grandparents who fled to the United States to escape anti-Semitism and persecution. He stated that serving as an Attorney General that combats injustice and discrimination would be ``the highest, best use of my own set of skills.'' While his professional experiences have prepared him for this job, it is his character that makes him right for this moment. Should he be confirmed, Judge Garland will be charged with restoring credibility and independence to the Department of Justice, making it clear that the Department is not the political instrument of the White House. I know Merrick Garland is up tothe task. The lengthy list of testimonials speaking to his fairness and sound judgement span the political spectrum. He is respected by lawmakers, scholars, and lawyers of every legal persuasion and political philosophy. And on a personal note, I can attest to the fact that his brilliance is matched by his kindness. His many achievements have never gone to his head. He has always stayed humble and treated everyone with respect. It is for these reasons and many more that I was honored to vote for the President's nominee to serve as the next Attorney General of the United States, Judge Merrick Garland.	2020-01-06	Mr. VAN HOLLEN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1498	null	2,535
formal	Reagan	null	white supremacist	Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, now is the time to take substantive action to combat climate change, address environmental justice, and help clean up the Chesapeake Bay. To help address these critical issues, President Biden nominated Michael Regan to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Michael Regan most recently served as secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. During that time, Mr. Regan led the implementation of North Carolina's Executive Order 80, a landmark effort to address climate change's impact and transition the State's energy economy. Mr. Regan also created North Carolina's first Environmental Justice and Equity Advisory Board to address societal disparities exacerbated by environmental issues during his tenure as secretary. Mr. Regan has a strong record of bipartisanship, having previously served at the EPA under both Democratic and Republican Presidents. He is committed to rebuilding EPA's Federal workforce, which saw record departures during the Trump administration. During the Trump administration, we saw the EPA workforce shrink to levels not seen since the Reagan administration, and those who resigned or retired include some of the Agency's most experienced scientific veterans, as well as young environmental experts who traditionally would have replaced them, causing a brain drain at the EPA. Maryland is home to many of those Federal employees, and I look forward to working with Mr. Regan to rebuild the civil servant backbone of the EPA. One of EPA's most critical roles for the State of Maryland is its role in the cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay. We are at a very critical junction in the implementation of the Chesapeake Bay Agreement and our mutual goal of clean water in the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. On December 29, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency established the Chesapeake Bay Total Maximum Daily Load--TMDL--a historic and comprehensive agreement that includes accountability features to restore clean water in the seven jurisdictions within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The agreement is a national and indeed international model for watershed restoration. It sets limits for pollution that equate to a 25-percent reduction in nitrogen, 24-percent reduction in phosphorous, and 20-percent reduction in sediment. As the Bay TMDL states, ``The TMDL is designed to ensure that all pollution control measures needed to fully restore the Bay and its tidal rivers are in place by 2025[.]'' I look forward to working with Mr. Regan to make sure that EPA uses every tool available to them, including enforcement measures when necessary, to make sure that all jurisdictions are on track for our mutual goal of clean water in the Chesapeake Bay by 2025. Furthermore, I am pleased that Mr. Regan has indicated that he will reconstituting the position of Senior Advisor to the Administrator of the EPA for the Chesapeake Bay. I believe that Michael Regan is a strong choice to lead us into a new era at the EPA. For these reasons, I supported Michael Regan's nomination as the Administrator of the EPA.	2020-01-06	Mr. VAN HOLLEN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1499	null	2,536
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. HAGERTY (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 107 Whereas, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011, an earthquake initially reported as measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, the strongest recorded in more than 100 years in Japan, occurred near the Tohoku region of Northeast Japan, 81 miles off the coast from Sendai City; Whereas intense shaking could be felt from Tokyo to Kamaishi, an arc of roughly 360 miles; Whereas the earthquake generated a massive tsunami that caused widespread damage to a swath of the northeast Japanese coastline and traveled across the Pacific Ocean, causing damage to coastal communities as far away as the States of Hawaii, Oregon, and California; Whereas authorities in Japan confirm at least 15,899 deaths from the earthquake and resulting tsunami; Whereas, within minutes of the earthquake, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alerted emergency workers in the States of Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska that a potentially catastrophic tsunami was heading toward those States and mobilized the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific; Whereas the earthquake forced the emergency shutdown of 4 nuclear power facilities in Japan, representing a significant loss of electric generation capacity for Japan and necessitating rolling blackouts in portions of Tokyo; Whereas the earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, precipitating a loss of power for cooling systems at that facility and necessitating emergency measures to prevent serious radiation leakages; Whereas international response to the disaster was swift, with search and rescue teams arriving from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, France, and China, among other countries; Whereas the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its support vessels were deployed to the earthquake region to participate in search and rescue and relief operations; Whereas elements of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), a United States Agency for International Development Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), and other United States military and civilian personnel were deployed to Japan to render aid and help coordinate United States relief efforts; Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is based upon shared values, democratic ideals, free markets, and a mutual respect for human rights, individual liberties, and the rule of law, and is central to the security and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region; Whereas the Self-Defense Forces of Japan have contributed broadly to global security missions, including relief operations following the tsunami in Indonesia in 2005, reconstruction in Iraq from 2004 to 2006, and relief assistance following the earthquake in Haiti in 2010; Whereas Japan is among the most generous donor nations, providing billions of dollars of foreign assistance, including disaster relief, annually to developing countries; Whereas, since 2011, Japan has committed tremendous resources and effort to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station by taking measures on contaminated water and extracting fuel; Whereas, since 2011, Japan has committed tremendous resources and effort to restore the environment in Fukushima Prefecture, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, to ensure that citizens can live with peace of mind with safe water and food; and Whereas, 10 years after the earthquake and resulting tsunami, Japan is seeking to host a successful Olympics in Tokyo where the best athletes from across the world can showcase their talents amidst the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) mourns the loss of life resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011; (2) expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the tragedy; (3) expresses its sympathies to the survivors who are still suffering in the aftermath of the natural disaster; (4) commends the Government of Japan for its courageous and professional response to the natural disaster; and (5) supports the efforts already underway by the United States Government, relief agencies, and private citizens to assist the Government and people of Japan with the revitalization efforts in Fukushima Prefecture.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1505-2	null	2,537
formal	Reagan	null	white supremacist	Mr. HAGERTY (for himself and Mr. Coons) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 107 Whereas, at 2:46 p.m. on March 11, 2011, an earthquake initially reported as measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale, the strongest recorded in more than 100 years in Japan, occurred near the Tohoku region of Northeast Japan, 81 miles off the coast from Sendai City; Whereas intense shaking could be felt from Tokyo to Kamaishi, an arc of roughly 360 miles; Whereas the earthquake generated a massive tsunami that caused widespread damage to a swath of the northeast Japanese coastline and traveled across the Pacific Ocean, causing damage to coastal communities as far away as the States of Hawaii, Oregon, and California; Whereas authorities in Japan confirm at least 15,899 deaths from the earthquake and resulting tsunami; Whereas, within minutes of the earthquake, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration alerted emergency workers in the States of Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska that a potentially catastrophic tsunami was heading toward those States and mobilized the Tsunami Warning System in the Pacific; Whereas the earthquake forced the emergency shutdown of 4 nuclear power facilities in Japan, representing a significant loss of electric generation capacity for Japan and necessitating rolling blackouts in portions of Tokyo; Whereas the earthquake and the resulting tsunami severely damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, precipitating a loss of power for cooling systems at that facility and necessitating emergency measures to prevent serious radiation leakages; Whereas international response to the disaster was swift, with search and rescue teams arriving from the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, France, and China, among other countries; Whereas the USS Ronald Reagan aircraft carrier and its support vessels were deployed to the earthquake region to participate in search and rescue and relief operations; Whereas elements of the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF), a United States Agency for International Development Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART), and other United States military and civilian personnel were deployed to Japan to render aid and help coordinate United States relief efforts; Whereas the United States-Japan alliance is based upon shared values, democratic ideals, free markets, and a mutual respect for human rights, individual liberties, and the rule of law, and is central to the security and prosperity of the entire Indo-Pacific region; Whereas the Self-Defense Forces of Japan have contributed broadly to global security missions, including relief operations following the tsunami in Indonesia in 2005, reconstruction in Iraq from 2004 to 2006, and relief assistance following the earthquake in Haiti in 2010; Whereas Japan is among the most generous donor nations, providing billions of dollars of foreign assistance, including disaster relief, annually to developing countries; Whereas, since 2011, Japan has committed tremendous resources and effort to decommission the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station by taking measures on contaminated water and extracting fuel; Whereas, since 2011, Japan has committed tremendous resources and effort to restore the environment in Fukushima Prefecture, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency, to ensure that citizens can live with peace of mind with safe water and food; and Whereas, 10 years after the earthquake and resulting tsunami, Japan is seeking to host a successful Olympics in Tokyo where the best athletes from across the world can showcase their talents amidst the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) mourns the loss of life resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11, 2011; (2) expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the tragedy; (3) expresses its sympathies to the survivors who are still suffering in the aftermath of the natural disaster; (4) commends the Government of Japan for its courageous and professional response to the natural disaster; and (5) supports the efforts already underway by the United States Government, relief agencies, and private citizens to assist the Government and people of Japan with the revitalization efforts in Fukushima Prefecture.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1505-2	null	2,538
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	SA 1399. Mr. SCHUMER (for Ms. Rosen) proposed an amendment to the resolution S. Res. 96, designating March 8 through March 14, 2021, as ``Women of the Aviation Workforce Week''; as follows: Strike the preamble and insert the following: Whereas the first week of March is internationally known as ``Women of Aviation Worldwide Week''; Whereas Women of Aviation Worldwide Week was created by the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide; Whereas the aviation industry is anticipating a significant shortage of skilled professionals in the coming years; Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor projected that, in the next 10 years, the overall employment of airline and commercial pilots is expected to grow more than 6 percent in the United States; Whereas less than 2 percent of the aircraft maintenance technicians in the world and less than 10 percent of all working aeronautical engineers are women; Whereas the Federal Aviation Administration reports that less than 8 percent of pilots and only 26 percent of air traffic controllers in the United States are women; Whereas women make up only 24 percent of the employees in the aerospace industry; Whereas aviation is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (commonly known as ``STEM'') focused career path; Whereas the future of an abundant aviation workforce depends on a robust and diverse pool of candidates; and Whereas women such as Amelia Earhart, Cicely Williams, and Bessie Coleman have inspired, and will continue to inspire, young women to pursue careers in aviation: Now, therefore, be it	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1506-3	null	2,539
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	SA 1399. Mr. SCHUMER (for Ms. Rosen) proposed an amendment to the resolution S. Res. 96, designating March 8 through March 14, 2021, as ``Women of the Aviation Workforce Week''; as follows: Strike the preamble and insert the following: Whereas the first week of March is internationally known as ``Women of Aviation Worldwide Week''; Whereas Women of Aviation Worldwide Week was created by the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide; Whereas the aviation industry is anticipating a significant shortage of skilled professionals in the coming years; Whereas the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor projected that, in the next 10 years, the overall employment of airline and commercial pilots is expected to grow more than 6 percent in the United States; Whereas less than 2 percent of the aircraft maintenance technicians in the world and less than 10 percent of all working aeronautical engineers are women; Whereas the Federal Aviation Administration reports that less than 8 percent of pilots and only 26 percent of air traffic controllers in the United States are women; Whereas women make up only 24 percent of the employees in the aerospace industry; Whereas aviation is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (commonly known as ``STEM'') focused career path; Whereas the future of an abundant aviation workforce depends on a robust and diverse pool of candidates; and Whereas women such as Amelia Earhart, Cicely Williams, and Bessie Coleman have inspired, and will continue to inspire, young women to pursue careers in aviation: Now, therefore, be it	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-11-pt1-PgS1506-4	null	2,540
formal	welfare	null	racist	The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer: Almighty God, humbly I beseech You to receive each and every prayer I offer as one grounded in love for You and Your truth. In submitting myself to Your will to serve in these hallowed Halls, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to You. Search my heart and forgive my hidden faults. Convict me for any malice or offense that I may inadvertently inflict on those whom You have called me to serve. Instead, allow my prayers to reflect a deep yearning for the welfare and wisdom of all for whom I am privileged to serve alongside. Intercede in the fallibility of my speech, through the power of Your spirit that what is given in love may be received with grace. And when my words are misconstrued, may Your spirit bring clarity. And should truth cause hurt, may Your spirit be the mediator of our reconciliation in accordance with Your will. O Lord, our rock and our Redeemer, may this prayer reflect the desires of all those who pray with me. And we offer this prayer to You in the strength of Your name. Amen.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-12-pt1-PgH1361-3	null	2,541
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the past few weeks in the Senate have been extremely productive. Senate Democrats delivered on our promise to pass bold COVID relief legislation, and we have now confirmed 16 Cabinet-level officials. Today, we will continue moving the ball forward on the President's nominees by confirming Representative Deb Haaland to serve as President Biden's Secretary of the Interior. Representative Haaland has already made history as one of two Members to become the first Native American woman to serve in the House of Representatives. She is a citizen of the Laguna Pueblo nation, and her family's roots in New Mexico can be traced back 35 generations. By her own account, she grew up poor, moving frequently. Her mother served in the Navy, and her father spent a 30-year career in the Marines. While the Federal Government has often mistreated and neglected Indigenous Americans, the Haaland family has proudly and bravely served this country. Now Representative Haaland is making history twice over as the first Native American Secretary of the Interior and as the first Native American Cabinet official in American history. Representative Haaland's confirmation represents a gigantic step forward in creating a government that represents the full richness and diversity of this country because Native Americans were, for far too long, neglected at the Cabinet level and in so many other places. Representative Haaland will have an important task ahead of her. She must refocus the Interior Department on preserving and protecting almost 500 million acres of public lands, combating climate change and environmental degradation, and upholding the Federal Government's obligations to Tribal nations. The Trump administration did more to undermine the relationship between the Federal Government and the sovereign Tribes than many have in decades--from desecrating sacred burial sites to build a border wall to neglecting the desperate situation of Native Tribes during the pandemic. Shame on them. In elevating Representative Haaland to lead the Department of the Interior, we reset the relationship between the Federal Government and Tribal nations to one of cooperation, mutual respect, and trust, which is so differentfrom the last administration's attitude. I greatly look forward to voting in favor of Representative Haaland's nomination in a few short hours. Throughout the week, the Senate will process even more of President Biden's highly qualified Cabinet nominees, including Xavier Becerra to serve as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services; Isabella Guzman to serve as the SBA Administrator; and Katherine Tai to serve as the U.S. Trade Representative. As President Biden continues to fight the COVID pandemic and begins implementing the American Rescue Plan, he deserves to have his team in place ASAP, as soon as possible.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1509-6	null	2,542
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, last Thursday, I spoke about the pain and disruption this pandemic has caused this past year. I also discussed the optimistic springtime that lies before us. The brighter horizon is not a product of a partisan bill that was signed last week or an administration that was sworn in less than 2 months ago; it was built by the American people and supported by the five historic and completely bipartisan bills that Congress passed just last year. Later on Thursday, the Nation heard remarks from President Biden. The President spoke in a heartfelt way about grief and loss, but his vision for the days ahead was badly lacking. Along a number of crucial dimensions, the Biden administration keeps trying to rewrite recent history and overrule science. Let's take vaccinations. The President's speech tried to reinforce the myth that his administration inherited a shambles on vaccines, set goals that nobody believed were achievable, and has met those goals against all odds. This is just not true. The President said: I set a goal that many of you said was . . . way over the top. But the benchmark of 100 million vaccines in 100 days was not some audacious goal that was met with great skepticism. A million shots per day was just the pace that the Biden administration actually inherited. We averaged more than 1 million shots per day the week of the inauguration. We totaled more than 1.5 million the day the President was sworn in. The groundwork we laid last year is proving a historic success. Where theBiden administration is continuing to help streamline distribution, they should, of course, get some credit, but their effort to sprint to the front of this yearlong campaign should not fool anybody. The President announced another supposedly audacious goal on Thursday: that all adults in all 50 States should be eligible to schedule vaccinations by May 1. Here is the problem: Dr. Fauci said a month ago we would be there by April. I would imagine by the time we get to April, that will be what I would call . . . `'open season'' . . . namely, virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated. That was Dr. Fauci's prediction last month. So the President's announcement of May 1 wasn't ambitious good news; it was actually a walk-back. Something tells me that if the last administration had contradicted Dr. Fauci and pushed the vaccine milestone back a whole month, we might have heard about it from the media. Then there is the K-12 schooling. For months, science has confirmed that schools are remarkably safe and do not surge transmission of the virus. This administration's own experts amplified this before liberal politics got in the way. In early February, President Biden's CDC Director specifically said vaccinating the grownups who work in schools should not be a prerequisite for reopening them, but on Thursday, instead of calling for schools to reopen right now, the President endorsed Big Labor's moving goalposts. He said that because the Democrats passed their spending plan and because he has tried to move teachers toward the front of the line for vaccines, now--now--schools can move toward reopening. This approach has put liberal interest group politics ahead of vulnerable kids and their parents. It was reported last week that the following message was posted in a private online group for members of one public school union in California. Friendly reminder: If you are planning any trips for Spring Break, please keep that off of social media. It is hard to argue that it is unsafe for in-person instruction if parents and the public see vacation photos and international travel. Further reports from California suggest some local governments may consider using some of the massive bailouts that Democrats sent them on bonuses. Reportedly, one union argues that grownups should get bonuses for things like ``an airplane trip to Hawaii when this is all over.'' A lot of working-class families in the country are struggling through untenable situations--in large part thanks to the liberal dogma that schools have needed lots more cash to become safe--and now unions are talking about trips to Hawaii? Every day that the Biden administration does not urge schools to reopen safely right now with simple precautions, it hurts kids who cannot afford these moving goalposts. President Biden also made news with the big proclamation that maybe--maybe--if citizens behave themselves, we will be able to have small outdoor gatherings by July 4. He made sure to stipulate that politicians reserve the right to clamp down again, however, but that carrot dangled before Americans was small outdoor gatherings about 4 months from now. This was bizarre and problematic on several levels. No. 1, let's be clear: The Federal Government does not instruct free citizens how they may gather in small groups with their own families. I have advocated strongly for following science, wearing masks, and taking all the precautions throughout this pandemic. The White House confers a bully pulpit. It does not confer supreme authority over daily life. Let's not forget that about 10 months ago, many liberal politicians applauded massive outdoor gatherings because they supported a political cause. I am not sure how much capital these officials have to micromanage backyard barbecues. No. 2, this strange proclamation was out of step with science. Current CDC guidelines say it is already safe right now--right now--for fully vaccinated people to meet in small groups, not just outdoors but indoors, and they can be joined by an unvaccinated household if they are low risk. That is the CDC's advice, talking not about July 4 but right now. Right now So the President went on national TV to move the goalposts way beyond what his own CDC is saying. Why? There is no science-based reason why a few fully vaccinated people couldn't get together outdoors right now--not July 4; today. And if a healthy young adult who is still waiting for the vaccine wants to meet up with a few vaccinated relatives, that is about a personal assessment of a very small risk, not a matter of Presidential policy. That brings me to point three. The President's proclamation was far out of step with what is already happening across the country. It was advice for an alternate universe. The President and his advisers may need to get out more. Americans are already getting together in small groups outdoors in blue States and red States, in small towns and big cities. The country is not locked down waiting for July 4. In my home State of Kentucky, the Governor has backed indoor gatherings of up to eight people from up to two households. Here in the District of Columbia, as of next week, outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people will be permitted--50 people here in the District. Americans are getting vaccines. They have learned about this disease. They have learned about the low risks of outdoor transmission. They are making their own determinations as free people. Look, I have been a consistent advocate for following the science, wearing a mask, and taking precautions. I believe we should all keep following the science. Nobody wants to fumble the ball on the 5-yard line. But that doesn't mean just citizens; it means politicians too. And science doesn't only run in the direction of more restrictions. The American people were told 12 months ago that accepting major disruptions for a limited time would flatten the curve and prevent a healthcare collapse, and Americans rose to the occasion. One year on, if the President and his administration want to continue to give advice to free citizens, I suggest they exit the alternate universe, stick to the actual science, and get acquainted with where the American people actually are.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1510-3	null	2,543
formal	blue	null	antisemitic	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, last Thursday, I spoke about the pain and disruption this pandemic has caused this past year. I also discussed the optimistic springtime that lies before us. The brighter horizon is not a product of a partisan bill that was signed last week or an administration that was sworn in less than 2 months ago; it was built by the American people and supported by the five historic and completely bipartisan bills that Congress passed just last year. Later on Thursday, the Nation heard remarks from President Biden. The President spoke in a heartfelt way about grief and loss, but his vision for the days ahead was badly lacking. Along a number of crucial dimensions, the Biden administration keeps trying to rewrite recent history and overrule science. Let's take vaccinations. The President's speech tried to reinforce the myth that his administration inherited a shambles on vaccines, set goals that nobody believed were achievable, and has met those goals against all odds. This is just not true. The President said: I set a goal that many of you said was . . . way over the top. But the benchmark of 100 million vaccines in 100 days was not some audacious goal that was met with great skepticism. A million shots per day was just the pace that the Biden administration actually inherited. We averaged more than 1 million shots per day the week of the inauguration. We totaled more than 1.5 million the day the President was sworn in. The groundwork we laid last year is proving a historic success. Where theBiden administration is continuing to help streamline distribution, they should, of course, get some credit, but their effort to sprint to the front of this yearlong campaign should not fool anybody. The President announced another supposedly audacious goal on Thursday: that all adults in all 50 States should be eligible to schedule vaccinations by May 1. Here is the problem: Dr. Fauci said a month ago we would be there by April. I would imagine by the time we get to April, that will be what I would call . . . `'open season'' . . . namely, virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated. That was Dr. Fauci's prediction last month. So the President's announcement of May 1 wasn't ambitious good news; it was actually a walk-back. Something tells me that if the last administration had contradicted Dr. Fauci and pushed the vaccine milestone back a whole month, we might have heard about it from the media. Then there is the K-12 schooling. For months, science has confirmed that schools are remarkably safe and do not surge transmission of the virus. This administration's own experts amplified this before liberal politics got in the way. In early February, President Biden's CDC Director specifically said vaccinating the grownups who work in schools should not be a prerequisite for reopening them, but on Thursday, instead of calling for schools to reopen right now, the President endorsed Big Labor's moving goalposts. He said that because the Democrats passed their spending plan and because he has tried to move teachers toward the front of the line for vaccines, now--now--schools can move toward reopening. This approach has put liberal interest group politics ahead of vulnerable kids and their parents. It was reported last week that the following message was posted in a private online group for members of one public school union in California. Friendly reminder: If you are planning any trips for Spring Break, please keep that off of social media. It is hard to argue that it is unsafe for in-person instruction if parents and the public see vacation photos and international travel. Further reports from California suggest some local governments may consider using some of the massive bailouts that Democrats sent them on bonuses. Reportedly, one union argues that grownups should get bonuses for things like ``an airplane trip to Hawaii when this is all over.'' A lot of working-class families in the country are struggling through untenable situations--in large part thanks to the liberal dogma that schools have needed lots more cash to become safe--and now unions are talking about trips to Hawaii? Every day that the Biden administration does not urge schools to reopen safely right now with simple precautions, it hurts kids who cannot afford these moving goalposts. President Biden also made news with the big proclamation that maybe--maybe--if citizens behave themselves, we will be able to have small outdoor gatherings by July 4. He made sure to stipulate that politicians reserve the right to clamp down again, however, but that carrot dangled before Americans was small outdoor gatherings about 4 months from now. This was bizarre and problematic on several levels. No. 1, let's be clear: The Federal Government does not instruct free citizens how they may gather in small groups with their own families. I have advocated strongly for following science, wearing masks, and taking all the precautions throughout this pandemic. The White House confers a bully pulpit. It does not confer supreme authority over daily life. Let's not forget that about 10 months ago, many liberal politicians applauded massive outdoor gatherings because they supported a political cause. I am not sure how much capital these officials have to micromanage backyard barbecues. No. 2, this strange proclamation was out of step with science. Current CDC guidelines say it is already safe right now--right now--for fully vaccinated people to meet in small groups, not just outdoors but indoors, and they can be joined by an unvaccinated household if they are low risk. That is the CDC's advice, talking not about July 4 but right now. Right now So the President went on national TV to move the goalposts way beyond what his own CDC is saying. Why? There is no science-based reason why a few fully vaccinated people couldn't get together outdoors right now--not July 4; today. And if a healthy young adult who is still waiting for the vaccine wants to meet up with a few vaccinated relatives, that is about a personal assessment of a very small risk, not a matter of Presidential policy. That brings me to point three. The President's proclamation was far out of step with what is already happening across the country. It was advice for an alternate universe. The President and his advisers may need to get out more. Americans are already getting together in small groups outdoors in blue States and red States, in small towns and big cities. The country is not locked down waiting for July 4. In my home State of Kentucky, the Governor has backed indoor gatherings of up to eight people from up to two households. Here in the District of Columbia, as of next week, outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people will be permitted--50 people here in the District. Americans are getting vaccines. They have learned about this disease. They have learned about the low risks of outdoor transmission. They are making their own determinations as free people. Look, I have been a consistent advocate for following the science, wearing a mask, and taking precautions. I believe we should all keep following the science. Nobody wants to fumble the ball on the 5-yard line. But that doesn't mean just citizens; it means politicians too. And science doesn't only run in the direction of more restrictions. The American people were told 12 months ago that accepting major disruptions for a limited time would flatten the curve and prevent a healthcare collapse, and Americans rose to the occasion. One year on, if the President and his administration want to continue to give advice to free citizens, I suggest they exit the alternate universe, stick to the actual science, and get acquainted with where the American people actually are.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1510-3	null	2,544
formal	public school	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, last Thursday, I spoke about the pain and disruption this pandemic has caused this past year. I also discussed the optimistic springtime that lies before us. The brighter horizon is not a product of a partisan bill that was signed last week or an administration that was sworn in less than 2 months ago; it was built by the American people and supported by the five historic and completely bipartisan bills that Congress passed just last year. Later on Thursday, the Nation heard remarks from President Biden. The President spoke in a heartfelt way about grief and loss, but his vision for the days ahead was badly lacking. Along a number of crucial dimensions, the Biden administration keeps trying to rewrite recent history and overrule science. Let's take vaccinations. The President's speech tried to reinforce the myth that his administration inherited a shambles on vaccines, set goals that nobody believed were achievable, and has met those goals against all odds. This is just not true. The President said: I set a goal that many of you said was . . . way over the top. But the benchmark of 100 million vaccines in 100 days was not some audacious goal that was met with great skepticism. A million shots per day was just the pace that the Biden administration actually inherited. We averaged more than 1 million shots per day the week of the inauguration. We totaled more than 1.5 million the day the President was sworn in. The groundwork we laid last year is proving a historic success. Where theBiden administration is continuing to help streamline distribution, they should, of course, get some credit, but their effort to sprint to the front of this yearlong campaign should not fool anybody. The President announced another supposedly audacious goal on Thursday: that all adults in all 50 States should be eligible to schedule vaccinations by May 1. Here is the problem: Dr. Fauci said a month ago we would be there by April. I would imagine by the time we get to April, that will be what I would call . . . `'open season'' . . . namely, virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated. That was Dr. Fauci's prediction last month. So the President's announcement of May 1 wasn't ambitious good news; it was actually a walk-back. Something tells me that if the last administration had contradicted Dr. Fauci and pushed the vaccine milestone back a whole month, we might have heard about it from the media. Then there is the K-12 schooling. For months, science has confirmed that schools are remarkably safe and do not surge transmission of the virus. This administration's own experts amplified this before liberal politics got in the way. In early February, President Biden's CDC Director specifically said vaccinating the grownups who work in schools should not be a prerequisite for reopening them, but on Thursday, instead of calling for schools to reopen right now, the President endorsed Big Labor's moving goalposts. He said that because the Democrats passed their spending plan and because he has tried to move teachers toward the front of the line for vaccines, now--now--schools can move toward reopening. This approach has put liberal interest group politics ahead of vulnerable kids and their parents. It was reported last week that the following message was posted in a private online group for members of one public school union in California. Friendly reminder: If you are planning any trips for Spring Break, please keep that off of social media. It is hard to argue that it is unsafe for in-person instruction if parents and the public see vacation photos and international travel. Further reports from California suggest some local governments may consider using some of the massive bailouts that Democrats sent them on bonuses. Reportedly, one union argues that grownups should get bonuses for things like ``an airplane trip to Hawaii when this is all over.'' A lot of working-class families in the country are struggling through untenable situations--in large part thanks to the liberal dogma that schools have needed lots more cash to become safe--and now unions are talking about trips to Hawaii? Every day that the Biden administration does not urge schools to reopen safely right now with simple precautions, it hurts kids who cannot afford these moving goalposts. President Biden also made news with the big proclamation that maybe--maybe--if citizens behave themselves, we will be able to have small outdoor gatherings by July 4. He made sure to stipulate that politicians reserve the right to clamp down again, however, but that carrot dangled before Americans was small outdoor gatherings about 4 months from now. This was bizarre and problematic on several levels. No. 1, let's be clear: The Federal Government does not instruct free citizens how they may gather in small groups with their own families. I have advocated strongly for following science, wearing masks, and taking all the precautions throughout this pandemic. The White House confers a bully pulpit. It does not confer supreme authority over daily life. Let's not forget that about 10 months ago, many liberal politicians applauded massive outdoor gatherings because they supported a political cause. I am not sure how much capital these officials have to micromanage backyard barbecues. No. 2, this strange proclamation was out of step with science. Current CDC guidelines say it is already safe right now--right now--for fully vaccinated people to meet in small groups, not just outdoors but indoors, and they can be joined by an unvaccinated household if they are low risk. That is the CDC's advice, talking not about July 4 but right now. Right now So the President went on national TV to move the goalposts way beyond what his own CDC is saying. Why? There is no science-based reason why a few fully vaccinated people couldn't get together outdoors right now--not July 4; today. And if a healthy young adult who is still waiting for the vaccine wants to meet up with a few vaccinated relatives, that is about a personal assessment of a very small risk, not a matter of Presidential policy. That brings me to point three. The President's proclamation was far out of step with what is already happening across the country. It was advice for an alternate universe. The President and his advisers may need to get out more. Americans are already getting together in small groups outdoors in blue States and red States, in small towns and big cities. The country is not locked down waiting for July 4. In my home State of Kentucky, the Governor has backed indoor gatherings of up to eight people from up to two households. Here in the District of Columbia, as of next week, outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people will be permitted--50 people here in the District. Americans are getting vaccines. They have learned about this disease. They have learned about the low risks of outdoor transmission. They are making their own determinations as free people. Look, I have been a consistent advocate for following the science, wearing a mask, and taking precautions. I believe we should all keep following the science. Nobody wants to fumble the ball on the 5-yard line. But that doesn't mean just citizens; it means politicians too. And science doesn't only run in the direction of more restrictions. The American people were told 12 months ago that accepting major disruptions for a limited time would flatten the curve and prevent a healthcare collapse, and Americans rose to the occasion. One year on, if the President and his administration want to continue to give advice to free citizens, I suggest they exit the alternate universe, stick to the actual science, and get acquainted with where the American people actually are.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1510-3	null	2,545
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Filibuster Madam President, it was August of 1957, and a Senator took the floor here in this very Chamber. He had a remarkable record. He served as a Democratic Senator, as a Dixiecrat Senator, and as a Republican Senator before he finally retired, and he served many years. In 1957, he was on the floor of the Senate to take his last stand. It was August, and it was a confrontation he had been preparing for, for a long time. He was a veteran in World War II, one of the few in the Chamber at that time, and he was clearly a man devoted to his country and had shown real courage in serving as an officer in World War II. But his job on that day was to speak on the floor of the Senate for a long time. He had been preparing for it. He had taken daily steam baths trying to dehydrate his body so that he could stand on the Senate floor for a long time, even absorb fluids without needing to take a break to go the restroom. He arrived for the battle armed with throat lozenges to stave off hoarseness, and he held the floor longer than any single Senator ever has, even to this day--24 hours and 18 minutes. For what principled purpose did this Senator take such pains and preparation? For what noble reason did he grind the world's greatest deliberative body to a full-scale halt for more than 24 hours? In order to defend Jim Crow racial discrimination and deny equality to all Americans. Despite his efforts, the Senate would go on to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first Federal civil rights law in nearly a century since the Reconstruction. That Senator, of course, was Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. This is how he described the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during his now notorious filibuster of that historic law. He said, ``I think the bill which is under consideration is unconstitutional. I think it's invalid. I think we are doing a useless thing.'' Well, the truth was just the opposite. The blatant discrimination of Jim Crow laws was an affront to our Constitution, a stain on our national character, and a threat to our standing in the world. The Civil Rights Act of 1957, which Strom Thurmond filibustered, broke the death grip of Jim Crow on American democracy and led the way, a few years later, to even more sweeping equality laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, nearly 65 years after Strom Thurmond's marathon defense of Jim Crow, the filibuster is still making a mockery of American democracy. The filibuster is still being misused by some Senators to block legislation urgently needed and supported by a strong majority of the American people. There is one major difference, however, when it comes to filibusters fromthe days of Strom Thurmond and his long-winded defense of segregation. Strom Thurmond had to sacrifice personally his comfort for his misguided beliefs. He had to actually speak without sitting on the floor for more than 24 hours to maintain his filibuster. In his day, if you sat down to take a rest or left the floor, the filibuster was over. Today, it is not the same. Senators can literally phone in a filibuster. All a Senator has to do is to tell the staff working in the cloakroom what their intention is as to a filibuster, and then the message is delivered to the floor, and another bill is sent to the Senate's overflowing legislative graveyard. This is what hitting legislative rock bottom looks like. Today's filibuster has turned the world's most deliberative body into one of the world's most ineffectual bodies. We are like the giant in ``Gulliver's Travels,'' tied down by our own legislative redtape, unable to respond to crises and the clear wishes of the American people. Defenders of the filibuster will tell you that it is essential for American democracy. The opposite is true. Today's filibuster undermines democracy. By eroding people's faith in the ability of democracy to solve problems that matter the most, misuse of the filibuster may accidentally open the door to autocrats, would-be dictators, who falsely promise to deliver results, even if they ignore all of democracy's rules. To my friends who count themselves as proud members and supporters of the Federalist Society--I am sure you have heard of it--go back and read the Federalist Papers. Read what the Founders thought of the filibusters. They hated the idea. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, both, penned passionate defenses of simple majority rule. Listen to what Alexander Hamilton had to say about the supermajority rule: ``What at first sight may seem a remedy is, in reality, a poison.'' Those are Hamilton's own words. If a majority could not govern, Hamilton warned, it would lead to ``tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; [and] contemptible compromises of the public good.'' ``Tedious delays; continual negotiations and intrigue''--sound familiar? And then there is James Madison, the father of the U.S. Constitution, in Federalist 58. He wrote that if a supermajority were required to pass all new laws ``the fundamental principle of free government would be reversed. It would be no longer the majority that would rule; the power would be transferred to the minority.'' Hamilton, Madison, and other of our Founding Fathers debated and rejected the idea of supermajority rule. They protected minority rights by creating a government with a President, two legislative Chambers, and a judiciary in which minority views were respected and making a law, even with simple majorities, was a challenge. Rather than protecting the finely balanced system our Founders created, today's filibuster throws the system out of balance, giving one-half of one branch of government what amounts to veto over the rest of government. It promotes gridlock, not good governance. As I said, Senators don't have to stand for even 1 minute to shut down the Senate. All they have to do is to threaten it, phone it in, catch a plane, go home from Washington, and come back Monday to see how their filibuster is doing. ``Mr. Smith Phones It In,'' that wouldn't have been much of a movie, would it? Defenders of today's filibuster offer a second defense of the tradition. They say the filibuster promotes bipartisan cooperation and debate. Well, just look around. Can anyone really claim that we are living in the great age of Senate debate? Last year, calendar year 2020, in the entire year, 12 months, we considered 29 amendments on the floor of the Senate--29. It is quite an improvement over the previous year, a 30-percent improvement. The previous year we considered 22 amendments on the floor of the Senate. I am not counting the vote-arama spectacles. That is not much of a debate. It is not much of an amendment process. Sixty seconds a side, that is a great debate? Not by my definition. The truth is, as filibusters and threatened filibusters have increased in recent decades, real debate and bipartisan cooperation have plummeted. Today's filibuster is often used to prevent the Senate from even starting to debate important ideas. It is not the guarantor of democracy; it has become the death grip of democracy. Senator Thurmond's 1957 filibuster marked only the fifth time since 1917 that the Senate had voted to cut off any measure. I want you to reflect on that for a minute. We had had five filibusters in five decades when he took the floor in August of 1957. Guess what. We can have five filibusters in 5 days now; they have become so common. So how did the filibuster become a weapon of mass obstruction? The answer is, we stumbled into it. The filibuster was a mistake to begin with, and it has gotten worse over time. As many of our colleagues know, when Congress first met in 1789, the House and the Senate rule books were nearly identical. Both rule books allowed a simple majority to cut off debate on any proposal by invoking what was known as the previous question rule. The House still has that motion. The Senate eliminated the previous question rule by mistake in 1805. The change came at the suggestion of Vice President Aaron Burr, who was fresh off of his trial for killing Alexander Hamilton, and who was later tried for treason. Burr, presiding over the Senate one day, skimmed the rule book and suggested the previous question rule be dropped. He reasoned, we hardly ever use that rule, so why is it necessary? Thus, the filibuster was born, not as a sacred constitutional principle but an offhanded clerical suggestion. There were few filibusters before the Civil War. After the war, filibusters remained rare, used exclusively to deny African Americans their basic constitutional rights. The first major changes started in 1917. The Senate adopted what is known as rule XXII--the cloture rule--allowing the Senate to end debate with two-thirds majority vote. Fast-forward to the 1970s, two more changes in the filibuster. First, Senators changed the rule to allow more than one bill or matter to be pending on the Senate floor at a time. Before this, a filibuster really literally brought the Senate to a halt. The creation of this two-track system allowed the Senate to take up other matters while the filibuster continued, at least theoretically. In 1975, the rules were changed again, requiring just a three-fifths majority, 60 votes--not 67 but 60 votes--to end a filibuster. Suddenly, the filibuster became relatively painless, for Senators at least, and the number of filibusters exploded. From 1917 to 1970, the Senate took 49 votes to break filibusters--49 votes in that period of 53 years. That is fewer than one a year. Since 2010, it has taken the Senate on average more than 80 votes a year to end filibusters. Filibusters on so-called motions to proceed now regularly prevent us from even discussing proposals supported by the strong majority of American people. The modern filibuster had broken the normal legislative process. It was never an essential or even intentional part of democracy, and now it rules the Senate. Over my last 20 years, I have faced a 60-vote requirement to move a measure which is very important to me and to hundreds of thousands of people in our country. It is known as the Dream Act, the bipartisan Dream Act. It was introduced so we could give to young people who were brought to this country as infants, toddlers, and little kids by their families a chance to earn their way to a path of legalization and citizenship. Five times since it was first introduced, the Dream Act has been stopped by a filibuster--twice in 2007, once in 2010, twice in 2018. In each instance, the Dream Act received a bipartisan majority vote but was blocked by a minority of Senators. Their opposition prevented the Senate from even debating the measure. It was repeated rejections to the Dream Act by a minority of Senators that finally moved President Obama to establish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA. To our Republican colleagues, let me say this: If you don't want to see this President or any President impose solutions based on Executive orders, shouldn't we be willing to debate the issues at hand and consider actually legislating? I have long been open to changing the Senate rules to restore the standing filibuster. If a Senator insists onblocking the will of the Senate, he should at least pay the minimal price of being present, no more phoning it in. If your principles are that important, stand up for them, speak your mind, hold the floor, and show your resolve. Others have proposed different reforms, including reducing the number of votes needed to invoke cloture, creating a tiered system of voting in which a filibuster could be broken with successively smaller majorities and, ultimately, a simple majority. Some have suggested that we forbid filibusters of bills that pass out of the committee with bipartisan support. I support discussing any proposal that ends the misuse of a filibuster as a weapon of mass obstruction. If the Senate retains the filibuster, we must change the rules so that any Senator who wants to bring the government to a standstill endures at least some discomfort in the process. We need new rules that actually promote debate. They are long overdue. I will close with one thought. My first job in the Senate was as a college intern for Illinois Senator Paul Douglas. Paul Douglas was an extraordinary man: Ph.D. in economics, war hero, champion of honest government, and a passionate supporter of civil rights. In 1957, he was actually on the floor when Strom Thurmond was giving his historic filibuster. In a bit of ingenuity, Paul Douglas asked that a pitcher of orange juice be placed on the desk next to Strom Thurmond's desk. He hoped that thirst and the call of nature might force an end to the shameful filibuster. Well, it didn't work. Likewise, it will take more than orange juice these days to bring an end to the filibuster as a weapon of mass obstruction. It is time to change the Senate rules. Stop holding the Senate hostage. We cannot allow misuse of arcane rules to block the will of the American people. I urge my colleagues to defend democracy by making the changes needed. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1512	null	2,546
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Filibuster Madam President, it was August of 1957, and a Senator took the floor here in this very Chamber. He had a remarkable record. He served as a Democratic Senator, as a Dixiecrat Senator, and as a Republican Senator before he finally retired, and he served many years. In 1957, he was on the floor of the Senate to take his last stand. It was August, and it was a confrontation he had been preparing for, for a long time. He was a veteran in World War II, one of the few in the Chamber at that time, and he was clearly a man devoted to his country and had shown real courage in serving as an officer in World War II. But his job on that day was to speak on the floor of the Senate for a long time. He had been preparing for it. He had taken daily steam baths trying to dehydrate his body so that he could stand on the Senate floor for a long time, even absorb fluids without needing to take a break to go the restroom. He arrived for the battle armed with throat lozenges to stave off hoarseness, and he held the floor longer than any single Senator ever has, even to this day--24 hours and 18 minutes. For what principled purpose did this Senator take such pains and preparation? For what noble reason did he grind the world's greatest deliberative body to a full-scale halt for more than 24 hours? In order to defend Jim Crow racial discrimination and deny equality to all Americans. Despite his efforts, the Senate would go on to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first Federal civil rights law in nearly a century since the Reconstruction. That Senator, of course, was Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. This is how he described the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during his now notorious filibuster of that historic law. He said, ``I think the bill which is under consideration is unconstitutional. I think it's invalid. I think we are doing a useless thing.'' Well, the truth was just the opposite. The blatant discrimination of Jim Crow laws was an affront to our Constitution, a stain on our national character, and a threat to our standing in the world. The Civil Rights Act of 1957, which Strom Thurmond filibustered, broke the death grip of Jim Crow on American democracy and led the way, a few years later, to even more sweeping equality laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, nearly 65 years after Strom Thurmond's marathon defense of Jim Crow, the filibuster is still making a mockery of American democracy. The filibuster is still being misused by some Senators to block legislation urgently needed and supported by a strong majority of the American people. There is one major difference, however, when it comes to filibusters fromthe days of Strom Thurmond and his long-winded defense of segregation. Strom Thurmond had to sacrifice personally his comfort for his misguided beliefs. He had to actually speak without sitting on the floor for more than 24 hours to maintain his filibuster. In his day, if you sat down to take a rest or left the floor, the filibuster was over. Today, it is not the same. Senators can literally phone in a filibuster. All a Senator has to do is to tell the staff working in the cloakroom what their intention is as to a filibuster, and then the message is delivered to the floor, and another bill is sent to the Senate's overflowing legislative graveyard. This is what hitting legislative rock bottom looks like. Today's filibuster has turned the world's most deliberative body into one of the world's most ineffectual bodies. We are like the giant in ``Gulliver's Travels,'' tied down by our own legislative redtape, unable to respond to crises and the clear wishes of the American people. Defenders of the filibuster will tell you that it is essential for American democracy. The opposite is true. Today's filibuster undermines democracy. By eroding people's faith in the ability of democracy to solve problems that matter the most, misuse of the filibuster may accidentally open the door to autocrats, would-be dictators, who falsely promise to deliver results, even if they ignore all of democracy's rules. To my friends who count themselves as proud members and supporters of the Federalist Society--I am sure you have heard of it--go back and read the Federalist Papers. Read what the Founders thought of the filibusters. They hated the idea. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, both, penned passionate defenses of simple majority rule. Listen to what Alexander Hamilton had to say about the supermajority rule: ``What at first sight may seem a remedy is, in reality, a poison.'' Those are Hamilton's own words. If a majority could not govern, Hamilton warned, it would lead to ``tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; [and] contemptible compromises of the public good.'' ``Tedious delays; continual negotiations and intrigue''--sound familiar? And then there is James Madison, the father of the U.S. Constitution, in Federalist 58. He wrote that if a supermajority were required to pass all new laws ``the fundamental principle of free government would be reversed. It would be no longer the majority that would rule; the power would be transferred to the minority.'' Hamilton, Madison, and other of our Founding Fathers debated and rejected the idea of supermajority rule. They protected minority rights by creating a government with a President, two legislative Chambers, and a judiciary in which minority views were respected and making a law, even with simple majorities, was a challenge. Rather than protecting the finely balanced system our Founders created, today's filibuster throws the system out of balance, giving one-half of one branch of government what amounts to veto over the rest of government. It promotes gridlock, not good governance. As I said, Senators don't have to stand for even 1 minute to shut down the Senate. All they have to do is to threaten it, phone it in, catch a plane, go home from Washington, and come back Monday to see how their filibuster is doing. ``Mr. Smith Phones It In,'' that wouldn't have been much of a movie, would it? Defenders of today's filibuster offer a second defense of the tradition. They say the filibuster promotes bipartisan cooperation and debate. Well, just look around. Can anyone really claim that we are living in the great age of Senate debate? Last year, calendar year 2020, in the entire year, 12 months, we considered 29 amendments on the floor of the Senate--29. It is quite an improvement over the previous year, a 30-percent improvement. The previous year we considered 22 amendments on the floor of the Senate. I am not counting the vote-arama spectacles. That is not much of a debate. It is not much of an amendment process. Sixty seconds a side, that is a great debate? Not by my definition. The truth is, as filibusters and threatened filibusters have increased in recent decades, real debate and bipartisan cooperation have plummeted. Today's filibuster is often used to prevent the Senate from even starting to debate important ideas. It is not the guarantor of democracy; it has become the death grip of democracy. Senator Thurmond's 1957 filibuster marked only the fifth time since 1917 that the Senate had voted to cut off any measure. I want you to reflect on that for a minute. We had had five filibusters in five decades when he took the floor in August of 1957. Guess what. We can have five filibusters in 5 days now; they have become so common. So how did the filibuster become a weapon of mass obstruction? The answer is, we stumbled into it. The filibuster was a mistake to begin with, and it has gotten worse over time. As many of our colleagues know, when Congress first met in 1789, the House and the Senate rule books were nearly identical. Both rule books allowed a simple majority to cut off debate on any proposal by invoking what was known as the previous question rule. The House still has that motion. The Senate eliminated the previous question rule by mistake in 1805. The change came at the suggestion of Vice President Aaron Burr, who was fresh off of his trial for killing Alexander Hamilton, and who was later tried for treason. Burr, presiding over the Senate one day, skimmed the rule book and suggested the previous question rule be dropped. He reasoned, we hardly ever use that rule, so why is it necessary? Thus, the filibuster was born, not as a sacred constitutional principle but an offhanded clerical suggestion. There were few filibusters before the Civil War. After the war, filibusters remained rare, used exclusively to deny African Americans their basic constitutional rights. The first major changes started in 1917. The Senate adopted what is known as rule XXII--the cloture rule--allowing the Senate to end debate with two-thirds majority vote. Fast-forward to the 1970s, two more changes in the filibuster. First, Senators changed the rule to allow more than one bill or matter to be pending on the Senate floor at a time. Before this, a filibuster really literally brought the Senate to a halt. The creation of this two-track system allowed the Senate to take up other matters while the filibuster continued, at least theoretically. In 1975, the rules were changed again, requiring just a three-fifths majority, 60 votes--not 67 but 60 votes--to end a filibuster. Suddenly, the filibuster became relatively painless, for Senators at least, and the number of filibusters exploded. From 1917 to 1970, the Senate took 49 votes to break filibusters--49 votes in that period of 53 years. That is fewer than one a year. Since 2010, it has taken the Senate on average more than 80 votes a year to end filibusters. Filibusters on so-called motions to proceed now regularly prevent us from even discussing proposals supported by the strong majority of American people. The modern filibuster had broken the normal legislative process. It was never an essential or even intentional part of democracy, and now it rules the Senate. Over my last 20 years, I have faced a 60-vote requirement to move a measure which is very important to me and to hundreds of thousands of people in our country. It is known as the Dream Act, the bipartisan Dream Act. It was introduced so we could give to young people who were brought to this country as infants, toddlers, and little kids by their families a chance to earn their way to a path of legalization and citizenship. Five times since it was first introduced, the Dream Act has been stopped by a filibuster--twice in 2007, once in 2010, twice in 2018. In each instance, the Dream Act received a bipartisan majority vote but was blocked by a minority of Senators. Their opposition prevented the Senate from even debating the measure. It was repeated rejections to the Dream Act by a minority of Senators that finally moved President Obama to establish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA. To our Republican colleagues, let me say this: If you don't want to see this President or any President impose solutions based on Executive orders, shouldn't we be willing to debate the issues at hand and consider actually legislating? I have long been open to changing the Senate rules to restore the standing filibuster. If a Senator insists onblocking the will of the Senate, he should at least pay the minimal price of being present, no more phoning it in. If your principles are that important, stand up for them, speak your mind, hold the floor, and show your resolve. Others have proposed different reforms, including reducing the number of votes needed to invoke cloture, creating a tiered system of voting in which a filibuster could be broken with successively smaller majorities and, ultimately, a simple majority. Some have suggested that we forbid filibusters of bills that pass out of the committee with bipartisan support. I support discussing any proposal that ends the misuse of a filibuster as a weapon of mass obstruction. If the Senate retains the filibuster, we must change the rules so that any Senator who wants to bring the government to a standstill endures at least some discomfort in the process. We need new rules that actually promote debate. They are long overdue. I will close with one thought. My first job in the Senate was as a college intern for Illinois Senator Paul Douglas. Paul Douglas was an extraordinary man: Ph.D. in economics, war hero, champion of honest government, and a passionate supporter of civil rights. In 1957, he was actually on the floor when Strom Thurmond was giving his historic filibuster. In a bit of ingenuity, Paul Douglas asked that a pitcher of orange juice be placed on the desk next to Strom Thurmond's desk. He hoped that thirst and the call of nature might force an end to the shameful filibuster. Well, it didn't work. Likewise, it will take more than orange juice these days to bring an end to the filibuster as a weapon of mass obstruction. It is time to change the Senate rules. Stop holding the Senate hostage. We cannot allow misuse of arcane rules to block the will of the American people. I urge my colleagues to defend democracy by making the changes needed. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1512	null	2,547
formal	single	null	homophobic	Filibuster Madam President, it was August of 1957, and a Senator took the floor here in this very Chamber. He had a remarkable record. He served as a Democratic Senator, as a Dixiecrat Senator, and as a Republican Senator before he finally retired, and he served many years. In 1957, he was on the floor of the Senate to take his last stand. It was August, and it was a confrontation he had been preparing for, for a long time. He was a veteran in World War II, one of the few in the Chamber at that time, and he was clearly a man devoted to his country and had shown real courage in serving as an officer in World War II. But his job on that day was to speak on the floor of the Senate for a long time. He had been preparing for it. He had taken daily steam baths trying to dehydrate his body so that he could stand on the Senate floor for a long time, even absorb fluids without needing to take a break to go the restroom. He arrived for the battle armed with throat lozenges to stave off hoarseness, and he held the floor longer than any single Senator ever has, even to this day--24 hours and 18 minutes. For what principled purpose did this Senator take such pains and preparation? For what noble reason did he grind the world's greatest deliberative body to a full-scale halt for more than 24 hours? In order to defend Jim Crow racial discrimination and deny equality to all Americans. Despite his efforts, the Senate would go on to pass the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first Federal civil rights law in nearly a century since the Reconstruction. That Senator, of course, was Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. This is how he described the Civil Rights Act of 1957 during his now notorious filibuster of that historic law. He said, ``I think the bill which is under consideration is unconstitutional. I think it's invalid. I think we are doing a useless thing.'' Well, the truth was just the opposite. The blatant discrimination of Jim Crow laws was an affront to our Constitution, a stain on our national character, and a threat to our standing in the world. The Civil Rights Act of 1957, which Strom Thurmond filibustered, broke the death grip of Jim Crow on American democracy and led the way, a few years later, to even more sweeping equality laws, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Today, nearly 65 years after Strom Thurmond's marathon defense of Jim Crow, the filibuster is still making a mockery of American democracy. The filibuster is still being misused by some Senators to block legislation urgently needed and supported by a strong majority of the American people. There is one major difference, however, when it comes to filibusters fromthe days of Strom Thurmond and his long-winded defense of segregation. Strom Thurmond had to sacrifice personally his comfort for his misguided beliefs. He had to actually speak without sitting on the floor for more than 24 hours to maintain his filibuster. In his day, if you sat down to take a rest or left the floor, the filibuster was over. Today, it is not the same. Senators can literally phone in a filibuster. All a Senator has to do is to tell the staff working in the cloakroom what their intention is as to a filibuster, and then the message is delivered to the floor, and another bill is sent to the Senate's overflowing legislative graveyard. This is what hitting legislative rock bottom looks like. Today's filibuster has turned the world's most deliberative body into one of the world's most ineffectual bodies. We are like the giant in ``Gulliver's Travels,'' tied down by our own legislative redtape, unable to respond to crises and the clear wishes of the American people. Defenders of the filibuster will tell you that it is essential for American democracy. The opposite is true. Today's filibuster undermines democracy. By eroding people's faith in the ability of democracy to solve problems that matter the most, misuse of the filibuster may accidentally open the door to autocrats, would-be dictators, who falsely promise to deliver results, even if they ignore all of democracy's rules. To my friends who count themselves as proud members and supporters of the Federalist Society--I am sure you have heard of it--go back and read the Federalist Papers. Read what the Founders thought of the filibusters. They hated the idea. Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, both, penned passionate defenses of simple majority rule. Listen to what Alexander Hamilton had to say about the supermajority rule: ``What at first sight may seem a remedy is, in reality, a poison.'' Those are Hamilton's own words. If a majority could not govern, Hamilton warned, it would lead to ``tedious delays; continual negotiation and intrigue; [and] contemptible compromises of the public good.'' ``Tedious delays; continual negotiations and intrigue''--sound familiar? And then there is James Madison, the father of the U.S. Constitution, in Federalist 58. He wrote that if a supermajority were required to pass all new laws ``the fundamental principle of free government would be reversed. It would be no longer the majority that would rule; the power would be transferred to the minority.'' Hamilton, Madison, and other of our Founding Fathers debated and rejected the idea of supermajority rule. They protected minority rights by creating a government with a President, two legislative Chambers, and a judiciary in which minority views were respected and making a law, even with simple majorities, was a challenge. Rather than protecting the finely balanced system our Founders created, today's filibuster throws the system out of balance, giving one-half of one branch of government what amounts to veto over the rest of government. It promotes gridlock, not good governance. As I said, Senators don't have to stand for even 1 minute to shut down the Senate. All they have to do is to threaten it, phone it in, catch a plane, go home from Washington, and come back Monday to see how their filibuster is doing. ``Mr. Smith Phones It In,'' that wouldn't have been much of a movie, would it? Defenders of today's filibuster offer a second defense of the tradition. They say the filibuster promotes bipartisan cooperation and debate. Well, just look around. Can anyone really claim that we are living in the great age of Senate debate? Last year, calendar year 2020, in the entire year, 12 months, we considered 29 amendments on the floor of the Senate--29. It is quite an improvement over the previous year, a 30-percent improvement. The previous year we considered 22 amendments on the floor of the Senate. I am not counting the vote-arama spectacles. That is not much of a debate. It is not much of an amendment process. Sixty seconds a side, that is a great debate? Not by my definition. The truth is, as filibusters and threatened filibusters have increased in recent decades, real debate and bipartisan cooperation have plummeted. Today's filibuster is often used to prevent the Senate from even starting to debate important ideas. It is not the guarantor of democracy; it has become the death grip of democracy. Senator Thurmond's 1957 filibuster marked only the fifth time since 1917 that the Senate had voted to cut off any measure. I want you to reflect on that for a minute. We had had five filibusters in five decades when he took the floor in August of 1957. Guess what. We can have five filibusters in 5 days now; they have become so common. So how did the filibuster become a weapon of mass obstruction? The answer is, we stumbled into it. The filibuster was a mistake to begin with, and it has gotten worse over time. As many of our colleagues know, when Congress first met in 1789, the House and the Senate rule books were nearly identical. Both rule books allowed a simple majority to cut off debate on any proposal by invoking what was known as the previous question rule. The House still has that motion. The Senate eliminated the previous question rule by mistake in 1805. The change came at the suggestion of Vice President Aaron Burr, who was fresh off of his trial for killing Alexander Hamilton, and who was later tried for treason. Burr, presiding over the Senate one day, skimmed the rule book and suggested the previous question rule be dropped. He reasoned, we hardly ever use that rule, so why is it necessary? Thus, the filibuster was born, not as a sacred constitutional principle but an offhanded clerical suggestion. There were few filibusters before the Civil War. After the war, filibusters remained rare, used exclusively to deny African Americans their basic constitutional rights. The first major changes started in 1917. The Senate adopted what is known as rule XXII--the cloture rule--allowing the Senate to end debate with two-thirds majority vote. Fast-forward to the 1970s, two more changes in the filibuster. First, Senators changed the rule to allow more than one bill or matter to be pending on the Senate floor at a time. Before this, a filibuster really literally brought the Senate to a halt. The creation of this two-track system allowed the Senate to take up other matters while the filibuster continued, at least theoretically. In 1975, the rules were changed again, requiring just a three-fifths majority, 60 votes--not 67 but 60 votes--to end a filibuster. Suddenly, the filibuster became relatively painless, for Senators at least, and the number of filibusters exploded. From 1917 to 1970, the Senate took 49 votes to break filibusters--49 votes in that period of 53 years. That is fewer than one a year. Since 2010, it has taken the Senate on average more than 80 votes a year to end filibusters. Filibusters on so-called motions to proceed now regularly prevent us from even discussing proposals supported by the strong majority of American people. The modern filibuster had broken the normal legislative process. It was never an essential or even intentional part of democracy, and now it rules the Senate. Over my last 20 years, I have faced a 60-vote requirement to move a measure which is very important to me and to hundreds of thousands of people in our country. It is known as the Dream Act, the bipartisan Dream Act. It was introduced so we could give to young people who were brought to this country as infants, toddlers, and little kids by their families a chance to earn their way to a path of legalization and citizenship. Five times since it was first introduced, the Dream Act has been stopped by a filibuster--twice in 2007, once in 2010, twice in 2018. In each instance, the Dream Act received a bipartisan majority vote but was blocked by a minority of Senators. Their opposition prevented the Senate from even debating the measure. It was repeated rejections to the Dream Act by a minority of Senators that finally moved President Obama to establish the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, DACA. To our Republican colleagues, let me say this: If you don't want to see this President or any President impose solutions based on Executive orders, shouldn't we be willing to debate the issues at hand and consider actually legislating? I have long been open to changing the Senate rules to restore the standing filibuster. If a Senator insists onblocking the will of the Senate, he should at least pay the minimal price of being present, no more phoning it in. If your principles are that important, stand up for them, speak your mind, hold the floor, and show your resolve. Others have proposed different reforms, including reducing the number of votes needed to invoke cloture, creating a tiered system of voting in which a filibuster could be broken with successively smaller majorities and, ultimately, a simple majority. Some have suggested that we forbid filibusters of bills that pass out of the committee with bipartisan support. I support discussing any proposal that ends the misuse of a filibuster as a weapon of mass obstruction. If the Senate retains the filibuster, we must change the rules so that any Senator who wants to bring the government to a standstill endures at least some discomfort in the process. We need new rules that actually promote debate. They are long overdue. I will close with one thought. My first job in the Senate was as a college intern for Illinois Senator Paul Douglas. Paul Douglas was an extraordinary man: Ph.D. in economics, war hero, champion of honest government, and a passionate supporter of civil rights. In 1957, he was actually on the floor when Strom Thurmond was giving his historic filibuster. In a bit of ingenuity, Paul Douglas asked that a pitcher of orange juice be placed on the desk next to Strom Thurmond's desk. He hoped that thirst and the call of nature might force an end to the shameful filibuster. Well, it didn't work. Likewise, it will take more than orange juice these days to bring an end to the filibuster as a weapon of mass obstruction. It is time to change the Senate rules. Stop holding the Senate hostage. We cannot allow misuse of arcane rules to block the will of the American people. I urge my colleagues to defend democracy by making the changes needed. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1512	null	2,548
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Sunshine Week Now, Madam President, on another point, our democracy was built, as we all know, for the people, by the people, and, hence, is accountable to the people. The best way to be accountable is through transparency. So I come to the floor today, like I have a lot of years at this time of the year, to celebrate an important week that we celebrate then, regularly, and it is known as Sunshine Week. During this week, we celebrate the birth of the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. Madison, as we all know, was the father of the Constitution, and maybe we don't know so much about him, but he also happens to be a father of the Constitution that believed in open government. He believed that access to information and meaningful oversight and accountability are foundational to the American system of government. In other words, the public's business ought to be public. This year, I am continuing the Madison legacy by introducing several pieces of legislation. I am also asking the Government Accountability Office to look into how the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA as we call it, has been impacted by the pandemic. First, on the judicial side of things, I am again advocating for cameras in the courts. In the last year, nearly every major institution, from schools to Congress, have adapted to the pandemic by being virtual. So I believe bringing cameras into the Federal courtrooms would also bring in the public and open up access to our third branch of government. At the same time, I am also asking the courts to provide transparency into our civil justice system by requiring the disclosure of all parties in a case. Litigation funders, such as hedge funds, are providing money to plaintiffs to bring lawsuits. This is all done in secret. For many reasons, everyone involved in the case, including the judge and including the defendant, should know that these parties funding these lawsuits exist--in other words, who they are. They are big players, or maybe you wouldn't have those cases. On the executive side, one of the most important tools the public has to hold its government accountable is the Freedom of Information Act, FOIA. Before its passage, people had to justify their need for information to the government. Can you believe there was a time when, for the public's business, whichought to be public, you had to justify the need for information? So FOIA was passed. After that passage, the government now has to justify its refusal to release information to you. In 2016, we took FOIA one step further by requiring the government to proactively disclose information. These obligations are mandatory, even during unforeseen circumstances. I am deeply concerned that those obligations of that recent legislation are not being met. Even before the pandemic, the Government Accountability Office reported a significant increase in the number of FOIA requests and a big backlog in addressing those requests. Last May, the Department of Justice reported that the coronavirus impacted FOIA processing governmentwide, as many agencies had limited ability to retrieve and process FOIA requests. That is why I am joining Senators Durbin, Leahy, and Cornyn in asking the GAO to examine FOIA processes and procedures in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Our hope is to continue refining FOIA to make government information accessible in good times and in bad. The public's business should be public, maybe I should say except for national security reasons or privacy reasons. Many of you know I am an Iowa farmer. I know that without sunshine, there cannot be growth, and both corn and democracy thrive in the light. Remember, once again, this is Sunshine Week. Transparency brings accountability. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1515-2	null	2,549
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Ms. HIRONO. Madam President, I rise in support of the historic nomination of Deb Haaland to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior. When confirmed, Congresswoman Haaland will be the first Native American to serve in a Cabinet position. Deb Haaland's nomination to become Secretary of the Interior means so much to the future of this country. For the historically underrepresented and mistreated indigenous communities of these United States, it means that their experiences and perspectives will be valued and represented at the highest ranks of our Federal Government. This important milestone and this reflection of their stories cannot be overstated. It means that young Americans and perhaps especially young people in indigenous communities, who put themselves through school, take out student loans, raise children, and run a business, will see their struggles in this nominee and realize that they, too, can work their way to high-ranking government positions. Deb Haaland' s confirmation means that our country will, after 4 years of neglect and catering to the fossil fuel industry, work again to ensure that our natural resources are conserved for the next generation. It means that the Federal Government will take swift, meaningful actions to address climate change. It means that trust and relationships between local communities, Tribes, and the Federal Government will be restored and strengthened. My Republican colleagues have gone to great lengths to smear Congresswoman Haaland as an extremist. They point to the commonsense policies and positions that she took while representing her constituents as ``radical'' and framing her as ``outside the mainstream.'' They are adamantly opposed to President Biden's environmental agenda and, regardless of what Deb Haaland says in response to their concerns, oppose her because they simply oppose the President's agenda. If you took them for their word, you would believe that fossil fuels would disappear overnight. You would believe that workers in that industry would immediately lose their jobs, that our energy grids would become unreliable, that the sky would be falling. What they don't talk about is how the Department of the Interior is putting a pause on new, not existing, oil and gas leases. A pause. They don't mention how Deb Haaland, during her confirmation hearing, repeatedly assured them that the administration will not abandon workers and families in the fossil fuel industry as we transition to clean energy. They ignored and discounted her repeated commitments to working with Senators and stakeholders in their respective States on issues that they care about. They don't talk about the impacts of climate change on American communities, how climate change is an environmental justice issue, or the benefits of expanding our country's clean energy production. Instead, their message is simple--if the nominee is not beholden to the fossil fuel industry, they won't support them. Yes, President Biden's environmental agenda is bold. His commitments to addressing climate change, which he identified as a crisis, are strong. We as a country cannot afford to continue with the fossil fuel extracting, carbon emitting status quo. We cannot keep burying our heads in the sand and kicking the can down the road, expecting our children and grandchildren to clean up our messes. President Biden committed to tackling some of the greatest challenges of our lifetime, and he named climate change as one of the four great crises of our time. Major changes will need to happen including our old ways of thinking. We need to be bold, innovative, and think outside the box. As our country takes on these issues, challenges and opportunities are inevitable. By having Deb Haaland at the helm of Interior, I know that our local communities from Hawaii, to Alaska, to Maine, and everywhere in between, will have a Secretary willing to listen, a Secretary who will take the time to understand their issues. Our country can successfully transition from overreliance on fossil fuels, increase our clean energy production, protect our environment, and make real progress on climate change by working together. Mr. President, a family emergency has kept me from being in attendence for today's vote. If I were present, I would have voted to confirm Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior. It is not only a historic vote but one of hope. I urge my colleagues to join me in my support. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)	2020-01-06	Ms. HIRONO	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1524-2	null	2,550
formal	extremist	null	Islamophobic	Ms. HIRONO. Madam President, I rise in support of the historic nomination of Deb Haaland to serve as the next Secretary of the Interior. When confirmed, Congresswoman Haaland will be the first Native American to serve in a Cabinet position. Deb Haaland's nomination to become Secretary of the Interior means so much to the future of this country. For the historically underrepresented and mistreated indigenous communities of these United States, it means that their experiences and perspectives will be valued and represented at the highest ranks of our Federal Government. This important milestone and this reflection of their stories cannot be overstated. It means that young Americans and perhaps especially young people in indigenous communities, who put themselves through school, take out student loans, raise children, and run a business, will see their struggles in this nominee and realize that they, too, can work their way to high-ranking government positions. Deb Haaland' s confirmation means that our country will, after 4 years of neglect and catering to the fossil fuel industry, work again to ensure that our natural resources are conserved for the next generation. It means that the Federal Government will take swift, meaningful actions to address climate change. It means that trust and relationships between local communities, Tribes, and the Federal Government will be restored and strengthened. My Republican colleagues have gone to great lengths to smear Congresswoman Haaland as an extremist. They point to the commonsense policies and positions that she took while representing her constituents as ``radical'' and framing her as ``outside the mainstream.'' They are adamantly opposed to President Biden's environmental agenda and, regardless of what Deb Haaland says in response to their concerns, oppose her because they simply oppose the President's agenda. If you took them for their word, you would believe that fossil fuels would disappear overnight. You would believe that workers in that industry would immediately lose their jobs, that our energy grids would become unreliable, that the sky would be falling. What they don't talk about is how the Department of the Interior is putting a pause on new, not existing, oil and gas leases. A pause. They don't mention how Deb Haaland, during her confirmation hearing, repeatedly assured them that the administration will not abandon workers and families in the fossil fuel industry as we transition to clean energy. They ignored and discounted her repeated commitments to working with Senators and stakeholders in their respective States on issues that they care about. They don't talk about the impacts of climate change on American communities, how climate change is an environmental justice issue, or the benefits of expanding our country's clean energy production. Instead, their message is simple--if the nominee is not beholden to the fossil fuel industry, they won't support them. Yes, President Biden's environmental agenda is bold. His commitments to addressing climate change, which he identified as a crisis, are strong. We as a country cannot afford to continue with the fossil fuel extracting, carbon emitting status quo. We cannot keep burying our heads in the sand and kicking the can down the road, expecting our children and grandchildren to clean up our messes. President Biden committed to tackling some of the greatest challenges of our lifetime, and he named climate change as one of the four great crises of our time. Major changes will need to happen including our old ways of thinking. We need to be bold, innovative, and think outside the box. As our country takes on these issues, challenges and opportunities are inevitable. By having Deb Haaland at the helm of Interior, I know that our local communities from Hawaii, to Alaska, to Maine, and everywhere in between, will have a Secretary willing to listen, a Secretary who will take the time to understand their issues. Our country can successfully transition from overreliance on fossil fuels, increase our clean energy production, protect our environment, and make real progress on climate change by working together. Mr. President, a family emergency has kept me from being in attendence for today's vote. If I were present, I would have voted to confirm Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior. It is not only a historic vote but one of hope. I urge my colleagues to join me in my support. (At the request of Mr. Schumer, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)	2020-01-06	Ms. HIRONO	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1524-2	null	2,551
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Ms. ERNST. Madam President, in this country we are so blessed to call home, every woman, no matter her background--like growing up on a small farm in Iowa--can be the next first. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National Guard--a historically male field--I became the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. I was also the first woman to represent the great State of Iowa in Congress. Now, just 6 years later, women make up a majority of the Iowa congressional delegation. Iowa is also blessed with a fierce female Governor in Kim Reynolds and some extremely talented and strong women leaders in our State legislature. Today, there are over 140 women serving in Congress--more than ever before in U.S. history. Because of the suffragettes and so many other determined women who stepped up and broke the barriers society placed on us, female trailblazers across this country are writing new pages in history books every single day. Women have made strides in the boardroom, on the playing field, in the military, and through elected office. But this pandemic has been tough on women in the workforce, threatening to derail the progress we have made. Before COVID, women made up the majority of the U.S. workforce, but 1 year later, women have lost over 2 million jobs--nearly 1 million more than our male counterparts. There are many reasons for this but two major factors. First, moms tend to be the sole caregivers in the family. With schools going remote and childcare centers closing, working moms have been forced to choose between their careers and their children. Second, women tend to work in fields that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, such as the hospitality industry, restaurants, education, and retail. We absolutely need to focus on getting these women back into the workforce and on their feet so that they can support themselves and their families. The focus needs to be on three things: first, safely reopening our schools; second, expanding access to childcare, which I have worked with the Presiding Officer on--thank you very much; and producing, distributing, and administering the vaccine as quickly as possible so folks can get back to work safely. If I were able to choose the theme for Women's History Month based off of this past year struggling through the pandemic, it would be ``Overcomer.'' Woman to woman, we all, no matter what we do, are overcomers by nature. Moms, you overcome so much every single day when you work tirelessly at the thankless and never-ending job of caring for your children and for your families. You have the one and only job that you cannot simply clock out of, especially this year, when many of you had to balance being a teacher for the first time in your life. Women in the workforce, you overcome stereotypes daily and have continued to smash glass ceilings and set new standards in corporate America. Your resilience and strength alongside our historic women's rights heroes continue to shape a bright future for all young girls across this country. In honor of Women's History Month, I challenge everyone to remember the sacrifices it took to secure the freedoms and opportunities we women enjoy today and continue to build on these opportunities for the next generation. Whether that is in your local community or State or Federal Government, we are a better nation because of the contributions of women in all walks of life, in all fields of service, and in both Chambers of Congress, and it is important to continue to remind folks of that. It is my hope that each and every young woman, no matter your hometown or your background, will see the opportunity and potential that lie ahead. Many of us have heard this really outdated quote: ``Act like a lady, but think like a man.'' Well, I think history has proven that, instead, we should say: ``Act like a woman, and think like a woman'' because we are powerful, we are fearless, we are smart, and we are strong just the way we are. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Ms. ERNST	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1530	null	2,552
formal	single	null	homophobic	Ms. ERNST. Madam President, in this country we are so blessed to call home, every woman, no matter her background--like growing up on a small farm in Iowa--can be the next first. After serving in the U.S. Army Reserves and the Iowa Army National Guard--a historically male field--I became the first female combat veteran elected to serve in the U.S. Senate. I was also the first woman to represent the great State of Iowa in Congress. Now, just 6 years later, women make up a majority of the Iowa congressional delegation. Iowa is also blessed with a fierce female Governor in Kim Reynolds and some extremely talented and strong women leaders in our State legislature. Today, there are over 140 women serving in Congress--more than ever before in U.S. history. Because of the suffragettes and so many other determined women who stepped up and broke the barriers society placed on us, female trailblazers across this country are writing new pages in history books every single day. Women have made strides in the boardroom, on the playing field, in the military, and through elected office. But this pandemic has been tough on women in the workforce, threatening to derail the progress we have made. Before COVID, women made up the majority of the U.S. workforce, but 1 year later, women have lost over 2 million jobs--nearly 1 million more than our male counterparts. There are many reasons for this but two major factors. First, moms tend to be the sole caregivers in the family. With schools going remote and childcare centers closing, working moms have been forced to choose between their careers and their children. Second, women tend to work in fields that have been hit the hardest by the pandemic, such as the hospitality industry, restaurants, education, and retail. We absolutely need to focus on getting these women back into the workforce and on their feet so that they can support themselves and their families. The focus needs to be on three things: first, safely reopening our schools; second, expanding access to childcare, which I have worked with the Presiding Officer on--thank you very much; and producing, distributing, and administering the vaccine as quickly as possible so folks can get back to work safely. If I were able to choose the theme for Women's History Month based off of this past year struggling through the pandemic, it would be ``Overcomer.'' Woman to woman, we all, no matter what we do, are overcomers by nature. Moms, you overcome so much every single day when you work tirelessly at the thankless and never-ending job of caring for your children and for your families. You have the one and only job that you cannot simply clock out of, especially this year, when many of you had to balance being a teacher for the first time in your life. Women in the workforce, you overcome stereotypes daily and have continued to smash glass ceilings and set new standards in corporate America. Your resilience and strength alongside our historic women's rights heroes continue to shape a bright future for all young girls across this country. In honor of Women's History Month, I challenge everyone to remember the sacrifices it took to secure the freedoms and opportunities we women enjoy today and continue to build on these opportunities for the next generation. Whether that is in your local community or State or Federal Government, we are a better nation because of the contributions of women in all walks of life, in all fields of service, and in both Chambers of Congress, and it is important to continue to remind folks of that. It is my hope that each and every young woman, no matter your hometown or your background, will see the opportunity and potential that lie ahead. Many of us have heard this really outdated quote: ``Act like a lady, but think like a man.'' Well, I think history has proven that, instead, we should say: ``Act like a woman, and think like a woman'' because we are powerful, we are fearless, we are smart, and we are strong just the way we are. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Ms. ERNST	Senate	CREC-2021-03-15-pt1-PgS1530	null	2,553
formal	single	null	homophobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following resignation from the House of Representatives: House of Representatives, March 16, 2021. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, Washington DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi: A short time from now, I will be sworn in as the 54th Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. As such, I respectfully offer my resignation from the seat representing New Mexico's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives effective immediately. I am excited to become the first Native American cabinet secretary in history, although I also feel a sense of sadness in preparing for this new role. As a twice elected member of Congress, it has been the pleasure and privilege of a lifetime to serve alongside you and my colleagues in our quest to improve the lives of the American people and find ways to both protect and advance the greatest democracy in history. As the daughter of a 30-year combat Marine who grew up traveling our country, and a single mom who relied on food stamps to get by, I never imagined a day like this. I am grateful for my time here in the House. I am grateful for the love and support of many people, and most notably, I am a proud New Mexican. As a volunteer, activist, and organizer for more than twenty years, it was my proudest professional moment to be elected as one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress. I feel immensely satisfied to have been a part of what our Democratic House Majority accomplished in a short period of time. With your brilliant leadership, I have had the opportunity to help move legislation forward on critical issues like climate change, voting rights, racial and economic justice, and most recently COVID relief for millions of Americans. I'm also proud to have worked in a bipartisan manner to help address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and ensure the men and women serving in our nation's military and their families have the support they need. The professional alliances and personal friendships I have made during my time in the People's House will last a lifetime. I know that my work as a member of the Natural Resources Committee and as Chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands has helped prepare me for my new role in the Biden Administration, and I am grateful to my colleagues for those opportunities. The honor and responsibility that President Biden has bestowed on me to serve the country in this way is profound, humbling, and exhilarating. Many thanks to you and all of my colleagues for your support and your friendship. I will miss serving in the House, and I look forward to building back better together. Sincerely, Debra A. Haaland.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1370-5	null	2,554
formal	single mom	null	racist	The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following resignation from the House of Representatives: House of Representatives, March 16, 2021. Hon. Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, Washington DC. Dear Speaker Pelosi: A short time from now, I will be sworn in as the 54th Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. As such, I respectfully offer my resignation from the seat representing New Mexico's 1st Congressional District in the United States House of Representatives effective immediately. I am excited to become the first Native American cabinet secretary in history, although I also feel a sense of sadness in preparing for this new role. As a twice elected member of Congress, it has been the pleasure and privilege of a lifetime to serve alongside you and my colleagues in our quest to improve the lives of the American people and find ways to both protect and advance the greatest democracy in history. As the daughter of a 30-year combat Marine who grew up traveling our country, and a single mom who relied on food stamps to get by, I never imagined a day like this. I am grateful for my time here in the House. I am grateful for the love and support of many people, and most notably, I am a proud New Mexican. As a volunteer, activist, and organizer for more than twenty years, it was my proudest professional moment to be elected as one of the first two Native American women to serve in Congress. I feel immensely satisfied to have been a part of what our Democratic House Majority accomplished in a short period of time. With your brilliant leadership, I have had the opportunity to help move legislation forward on critical issues like climate change, voting rights, racial and economic justice, and most recently COVID relief for millions of Americans. I'm also proud to have worked in a bipartisan manner to help address the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and ensure the men and women serving in our nation's military and their families have the support they need. The professional alliances and personal friendships I have made during my time in the People's House will last a lifetime. I know that my work as a member of the Natural Resources Committee and as Chair of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands has helped prepare me for my new role in the Biden Administration, and I am grateful to my colleagues for those opportunities. The honor and responsibility that President Biden has bestowed on me to serve the country in this way is profound, humbling, and exhilarating. Many thanks to you and all of my colleagues for your support and your friendship. I will miss serving in the House, and I look forward to building back better together. Sincerely, Debra A. Haaland.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1370-5	null	2,555
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore. 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	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1371-4	null	2,556
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under clause 5(d) of rule XX, the Chair announces to the House that, in light of the resignation of the gentlewoman from New Mexico (Ms. Haaland), the whole number of the House is 430.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1371	null	2,557
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. 485) to reauthorize the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1406-2	null	2,558
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. 1799) to amend the Small Business Act and the CARES Act to extend the covered period for the paycheck protection program, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1406	null	2,559
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: EC-597. A letter from the Congressional Assistant II, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's final Major rule -- Net Stable Funding Ratio: Liquidity Risk Measurement Standards and Disclosure Requirements [Regulation WW; Docket No.: R-1537] (RIN: 7100- AE51) received March 16, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-598. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Arkansas; Infrastructure for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards [EPA-R06-OAR-2019-0616; FRL-10018-28- Region 6] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-599. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Massachusetts; Infrastructure State Implementation Plan Requirements for the 2015 Ozone Standard [EPA-R01-OAR-2019- 0659; FRL-10018-99-Region 1] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-600. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Second Maintenance Plan for the Harrisburg-Lebanon- Carlisle Area [EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0288; FRL-10016-56-Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-601. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Second Maintenance Plan for the Altoona (Blair County) Area [EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0332; FRL-10017-26- Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-602. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Virginia; Negative Declarations Certification for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Including the 2016 Oil and Natural Gas Control Techniques Guidelines [EPA- R03-OAR-2020-0283; FRL-10016-88-Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-603. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; West Virginia; 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Second Maintenance Plan for the West Virginia Portion for the Charleston, West Virginia Area Comprising Kanawha and Putnam Counties [EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0194; FRL- 10017-11-Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-604. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; VOC RACT Requirements for Lithographic Printing Facilities [EPA-R05-OAR-2019-0700; FRL-10018-39-Region 5] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-605. A letter from the Acting Assistant General Counsel, Regulatory Affairs Division, Consumer Product Safety Commission, transmitting the Department's direct final rule -- Revisions to Safety Standard for Infant Swings [Docket No.: CPSC-2013-0025] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-606. A letter from the Director, Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the Administration's 2020 No FEAR Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-607. A letter from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the Administration's FY 2020 Federal Information Security Modernization Act Report; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-608. A letter from the Director, Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion, Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's 2020 No Fear Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-609. A letter from the Chief, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing Bradshaw's Lomatium (Lomatium bradshawii) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife [Docket No.: FWS-	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1409-2	null	2,560
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: EC-597. A letter from the Congressional Assistant II, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's final Major rule -- Net Stable Funding Ratio: Liquidity Risk Measurement Standards and Disclosure Requirements [Regulation WW; Docket No.: R-1537] (RIN: 7100- AE51) received March 16, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-598. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Arkansas; Infrastructure for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards [EPA-R06-OAR-2019-0616; FRL-10018-28- Region 6] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-599. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Massachusetts; Infrastructure State Implementation Plan Requirements for the 2015 Ozone Standard [EPA-R01-OAR-2019- 0659; FRL-10018-99-Region 1] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-600. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Second Maintenance Plan for the Harrisburg-Lebanon- Carlisle Area [EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0288; FRL-10016-56-Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-601. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) Second Maintenance Plan for the Altoona (Blair County) Area [EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0332; FRL-10017-26- Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-602. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Virginia; Negative Declarations Certification for the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Including the 2016 Oil and Natural Gas Control Techniques Guidelines [EPA- R03-OAR-2020-0283; FRL-10016-88-Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-603. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; West Virginia; 1997 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard Second Maintenance Plan for the West Virginia Portion for the Charleston, West Virginia Area Comprising Kanawha and Putnam Counties [EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0194; FRL- 10017-11-Region 3] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-604. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; VOC RACT Requirements for Lithographic Printing Facilities [EPA-R05-OAR-2019-0700; FRL-10018-39-Region 5] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-605. A letter from the Acting Assistant General Counsel, Regulatory Affairs Division, Consumer Product Safety Commission, transmitting the Department's direct final rule -- Revisions to Safety Standard for Infant Swings [Docket No.: CPSC-2013-0025] received February 25, 2021, 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. EC-606. A letter from the Director, Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the Administration's 2020 No FEAR Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-607. A letter from the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the Administration's FY 2020 Federal Information Security Modernization Act Report; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-608. A letter from the Director, Equal Employment Opportunity and Inclusion, Farm Credit System Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's 2020 No Fear Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-609. A letter from the Chief, Branch of Delisting and Foreign Species, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removing Bradshaw's Lomatium (Lomatium bradshawii) from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife [Docket No.: FWS-	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgH1409-2	null	2,561
formal	Janet Yellen	null	antisemitic	Coronavirus Mr. President, last year I came to the floor on multiple occasions to ask consent for a simple, sensible resolution. It called for the United States to cooperate in global efforts to address the COVID pandemic. At that time, that point was obvious, and it is even more obvious today. Pandemics don't respect borders. None of us is safe from highly infectious diseases until all of us are safe. That is especially important to keep in mind as we begin to turn a corner here in America. Last week, during his first address to the Nation, President Biden announced that all adults in America over the age of 18 will be eligible for vaccinations on May 1 of this year. If all goes to plan, we can look forward, as President Biden mentioned, to a Fourth of July with family and close friends at a close distance. Considering what they inherited, the Biden administration deserves credit for dramatically scaling up vaccinations in America. The administration helped to strike a historic partnership between rival drugmakers, ramped up manufacture of the vaccine, and improved coordination with State officials everywhere. We are seeing a world of difference that this makes. When you put competent, qualified leadership in charge in the White House and in State capitols, good things happen. Our weekly vaccine shipments in Illinois have nearly doubled. The Federal Government has erected a mass vaccination site at the United Center in Chicago. It has also supported partnerships with community health centers and retail pharmacies to expand access to vaccines. A cautious hopefulness is washing over America, but we can't lose momentum in our fight against COVID. To put this pandemic really behind us and to bury it in history, we need to lend a hand to the many poor nations that have yet to receive a single dose of vaccine. The inequities are stark. Ten countries have accounted for 75 percent of the total vaccinations administered worldwide, while approximately 100 countries have yet to administer any vaccine doses. This dangerous shortfall has the potential to undermine the good work that is happening here in America. Closing this gap is not only the right and moral thing to do, it is the safest and smartest thing to do to stop the threat COVID, and its increasingly contagious variants, pose to us all. Remember back a little over a year ago, an obscure city in China generated a virus--we think they did--that ended up circling the world many times over and changing life on this planet. Last month, I received a briefing from Dr. Fauci on the new genetic mutations of COVID-19. He shared troubling news about variants that are emerging in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil. Some of them may have more resistance to our current vaccines than we care to see. He warned that if we fail to stamp out the virus globally, then we will continue to see risks within our own borders. Variants of the virus could counteract the tremendous progress we have made and the progress that we are poised to make in the near future. As I said at the outset, viruses don't recognize borders. Crushing the virus in other countries is a strategic investment in our own national safety and security. President Biden understands this. He is serious about addressing the virus first in America and then around the world. He has set us on a pace to vaccinate all eligible Americans over the course of the next several months. Let me urge those who are hesitant or skeptical as to whether it is the right thing to do, do it, please--for yourself, for those you love, and for this Nation. President Biden wisely halted President Trump's withdrawal from the World Health Organization. He joinedthe global COVAX vaccine effort, and he allocated significant funding toward global vaccination efforts, funding that is expanded under the American Rescue Plan, which we passed just a few weeks ago in the Senate. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen recently announced that the United States will support the issuance of special drawing rights, a type of IMF foreign exchange reserve that can help poor countries buy vaccines and weather the economic fallout from the pandemic, a welcome move that I encouraged and was a coauthor of with Senator Sanders and Congressman ``Chuy'' Garcia. Just last week, the President announced a partnership with key allies in the Pacific region to provide at least 1 billion COVID vaccines in countries in Asia. This is prescient, global leadership long overdue. The President's actions will save lives here at home and abroad, and these investments will fuel a global economic recovery, which we all want to see. To understand why a global strategy is called for, look at history. Some of you who are witnessing this statement on the floor at home may be old enough to have a distinct circular scar on your upper arm. Maybe you have seen it on the arms of a parent or grandparent. That mark is a relic from one of the world's greatest public health victories: the eradication of the deadly smallpox virus. The fact that so few people living today remember the death and misery caused by that disease is a testament to the global public health strategy that stopped it. Smallpox was one of the most devastating diseases to afflict mankind. It is estimated to have killed up to 300 million people in the 20th century, 500 million people in the last hundred years. In 1967, the World Health Organization launched a historic international effort to eradicate it. It was one of the most successful public health initiatives in human history. Next month marks the 41st anniversary of that historic achievement. In the years since, America has led similar global efforts to stamp out diseases like polio and Ebola. If we follow in these footsteps, historians will one day add COVID to the top of that list of historic achievements. Pursuing a global strategy is the most effective way--maybe the only way--to accelerate vaccine production and distribution in every corner of the world. By sharing our wealth of knowledge and resources with the world, we reap lifesaving benefits, not just around the world but right here at home. We all know public health is bigger than partisanship and always has been. In the 2000s, for example, I called on then-President Bush to help stem the scourge of AIDS around the world through the historic PEPFAR Program. At the time, many of my Republican friends in the Senate supported it. I hope and expect that they will do the same when it comes to supporting the global effort against COVID-19. The moment calls for nothing less. Public health experts understand that. President Biden understands that. I know we here in Congress understand that. We can end the threat of COVID once and for all. It is within our power.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgS1535	null	2,562
formal	single	null	homophobic	Coronavirus Mr. President, last year I came to the floor on multiple occasions to ask consent for a simple, sensible resolution. It called for the United States to cooperate in global efforts to address the COVID pandemic. At that time, that point was obvious, and it is even more obvious today. Pandemics don't respect borders. None of us is safe from highly infectious diseases until all of us are safe. That is especially important to keep in mind as we begin to turn a corner here in America. Last week, during his first address to the Nation, President Biden announced that all adults in America over the age of 18 will be eligible for vaccinations on May 1 of this year. If all goes to plan, we can look forward, as President Biden mentioned, to a Fourth of July with family and close friends at a close distance. Considering what they inherited, the Biden administration deserves credit for dramatically scaling up vaccinations in America. The administration helped to strike a historic partnership between rival drugmakers, ramped up manufacture of the vaccine, and improved coordination with State officials everywhere. We are seeing a world of difference that this makes. When you put competent, qualified leadership in charge in the White House and in State capitols, good things happen. Our weekly vaccine shipments in Illinois have nearly doubled. The Federal Government has erected a mass vaccination site at the United Center in Chicago. It has also supported partnerships with community health centers and retail pharmacies to expand access to vaccines. A cautious hopefulness is washing over America, but we can't lose momentum in our fight against COVID. To put this pandemic really behind us and to bury it in history, we need to lend a hand to the many poor nations that have yet to receive a single dose of vaccine. The inequities are stark. Ten countries have accounted for 75 percent of the total vaccinations administered worldwide, while approximately 100 countries have yet to administer any vaccine doses. This dangerous shortfall has the potential to undermine the good work that is happening here in America. Closing this gap is not only the right and moral thing to do, it is the safest and smartest thing to do to stop the threat COVID, and its increasingly contagious variants, pose to us all. Remember back a little over a year ago, an obscure city in China generated a virus--we think they did--that ended up circling the world many times over and changing life on this planet. Last month, I received a briefing from Dr. Fauci on the new genetic mutations of COVID-19. He shared troubling news about variants that are emerging in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil. Some of them may have more resistance to our current vaccines than we care to see. He warned that if we fail to stamp out the virus globally, then we will continue to see risks within our own borders. Variants of the virus could counteract the tremendous progress we have made and the progress that we are poised to make in the near future. As I said at the outset, viruses don't recognize borders. Crushing the virus in other countries is a strategic investment in our own national safety and security. President Biden understands this. He is serious about addressing the virus first in America and then around the world. He has set us on a pace to vaccinate all eligible Americans over the course of the next several months. Let me urge those who are hesitant or skeptical as to whether it is the right thing to do, do it, please--for yourself, for those you love, and for this Nation. President Biden wisely halted President Trump's withdrawal from the World Health Organization. He joinedthe global COVAX vaccine effort, and he allocated significant funding toward global vaccination efforts, funding that is expanded under the American Rescue Plan, which we passed just a few weeks ago in the Senate. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen recently announced that the United States will support the issuance of special drawing rights, a type of IMF foreign exchange reserve that can help poor countries buy vaccines and weather the economic fallout from the pandemic, a welcome move that I encouraged and was a coauthor of with Senator Sanders and Congressman ``Chuy'' Garcia. Just last week, the President announced a partnership with key allies in the Pacific region to provide at least 1 billion COVID vaccines in countries in Asia. This is prescient, global leadership long overdue. The President's actions will save lives here at home and abroad, and these investments will fuel a global economic recovery, which we all want to see. To understand why a global strategy is called for, look at history. Some of you who are witnessing this statement on the floor at home may be old enough to have a distinct circular scar on your upper arm. Maybe you have seen it on the arms of a parent or grandparent. That mark is a relic from one of the world's greatest public health victories: the eradication of the deadly smallpox virus. The fact that so few people living today remember the death and misery caused by that disease is a testament to the global public health strategy that stopped it. Smallpox was one of the most devastating diseases to afflict mankind. It is estimated to have killed up to 300 million people in the 20th century, 500 million people in the last hundred years. In 1967, the World Health Organization launched a historic international effort to eradicate it. It was one of the most successful public health initiatives in human history. Next month marks the 41st anniversary of that historic achievement. In the years since, America has led similar global efforts to stamp out diseases like polio and Ebola. If we follow in these footsteps, historians will one day add COVID to the top of that list of historic achievements. Pursuing a global strategy is the most effective way--maybe the only way--to accelerate vaccine production and distribution in every corner of the world. By sharing our wealth of knowledge and resources with the world, we reap lifesaving benefits, not just around the world but right here at home. We all know public health is bigger than partisanship and always has been. In the 2000s, for example, I called on then-President Bush to help stem the scourge of AIDS around the world through the historic PEPFAR Program. At the time, many of my Republican friends in the Senate supported it. I hope and expect that they will do the same when it comes to supporting the global effort against COVID-19. The moment calls for nothing less. Public health experts understand that. President Biden understands that. I know we here in Congress understand that. We can end the threat of COVID once and for all. It is within our power.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgS1535	null	2,563
formal	Chicago	null	racist	Coronavirus Mr. President, last year I came to the floor on multiple occasions to ask consent for a simple, sensible resolution. It called for the United States to cooperate in global efforts to address the COVID pandemic. At that time, that point was obvious, and it is even more obvious today. Pandemics don't respect borders. None of us is safe from highly infectious diseases until all of us are safe. That is especially important to keep in mind as we begin to turn a corner here in America. Last week, during his first address to the Nation, President Biden announced that all adults in America over the age of 18 will be eligible for vaccinations on May 1 of this year. If all goes to plan, we can look forward, as President Biden mentioned, to a Fourth of July with family and close friends at a close distance. Considering what they inherited, the Biden administration deserves credit for dramatically scaling up vaccinations in America. The administration helped to strike a historic partnership between rival drugmakers, ramped up manufacture of the vaccine, and improved coordination with State officials everywhere. We are seeing a world of difference that this makes. When you put competent, qualified leadership in charge in the White House and in State capitols, good things happen. Our weekly vaccine shipments in Illinois have nearly doubled. The Federal Government has erected a mass vaccination site at the United Center in Chicago. It has also supported partnerships with community health centers and retail pharmacies to expand access to vaccines. A cautious hopefulness is washing over America, but we can't lose momentum in our fight against COVID. To put this pandemic really behind us and to bury it in history, we need to lend a hand to the many poor nations that have yet to receive a single dose of vaccine. The inequities are stark. Ten countries have accounted for 75 percent of the total vaccinations administered worldwide, while approximately 100 countries have yet to administer any vaccine doses. This dangerous shortfall has the potential to undermine the good work that is happening here in America. Closing this gap is not only the right and moral thing to do, it is the safest and smartest thing to do to stop the threat COVID, and its increasingly contagious variants, pose to us all. Remember back a little over a year ago, an obscure city in China generated a virus--we think they did--that ended up circling the world many times over and changing life on this planet. Last month, I received a briefing from Dr. Fauci on the new genetic mutations of COVID-19. He shared troubling news about variants that are emerging in the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil. Some of them may have more resistance to our current vaccines than we care to see. He warned that if we fail to stamp out the virus globally, then we will continue to see risks within our own borders. Variants of the virus could counteract the tremendous progress we have made and the progress that we are poised to make in the near future. As I said at the outset, viruses don't recognize borders. Crushing the virus in other countries is a strategic investment in our own national safety and security. President Biden understands this. He is serious about addressing the virus first in America and then around the world. He has set us on a pace to vaccinate all eligible Americans over the course of the next several months. Let me urge those who are hesitant or skeptical as to whether it is the right thing to do, do it, please--for yourself, for those you love, and for this Nation. President Biden wisely halted President Trump's withdrawal from the World Health Organization. He joinedthe global COVAX vaccine effort, and he allocated significant funding toward global vaccination efforts, funding that is expanded under the American Rescue Plan, which we passed just a few weeks ago in the Senate. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen recently announced that the United States will support the issuance of special drawing rights, a type of IMF foreign exchange reserve that can help poor countries buy vaccines and weather the economic fallout from the pandemic, a welcome move that I encouraged and was a coauthor of with Senator Sanders and Congressman ``Chuy'' Garcia. Just last week, the President announced a partnership with key allies in the Pacific region to provide at least 1 billion COVID vaccines in countries in Asia. This is prescient, global leadership long overdue. The President's actions will save lives here at home and abroad, and these investments will fuel a global economic recovery, which we all want to see. To understand why a global strategy is called for, look at history. Some of you who are witnessing this statement on the floor at home may be old enough to have a distinct circular scar on your upper arm. Maybe you have seen it on the arms of a parent or grandparent. That mark is a relic from one of the world's greatest public health victories: the eradication of the deadly smallpox virus. The fact that so few people living today remember the death and misery caused by that disease is a testament to the global public health strategy that stopped it. Smallpox was one of the most devastating diseases to afflict mankind. It is estimated to have killed up to 300 million people in the 20th century, 500 million people in the last hundred years. In 1967, the World Health Organization launched a historic international effort to eradicate it. It was one of the most successful public health initiatives in human history. Next month marks the 41st anniversary of that historic achievement. In the years since, America has led similar global efforts to stamp out diseases like polio and Ebola. If we follow in these footsteps, historians will one day add COVID to the top of that list of historic achievements. Pursuing a global strategy is the most effective way--maybe the only way--to accelerate vaccine production and distribution in every corner of the world. By sharing our wealth of knowledge and resources with the world, we reap lifesaving benefits, not just around the world but right here at home. We all know public health is bigger than partisanship and always has been. In the 2000s, for example, I called on then-President Bush to help stem the scourge of AIDS around the world through the historic PEPFAR Program. At the time, many of my Republican friends in the Senate supported it. I hope and expect that they will do the same when it comes to supporting the global effort against COVID-19. The moment calls for nothing less. Public health experts understand that. President Biden understands that. I know we here in Congress understand that. We can end the threat of COVID once and for all. It is within our power.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgS1535	null	2,564
formal	based	null	white supremacist	United States Postal Service Mr. President, let me start this statement by saying I am a fan of the U.S. Postal Service. I have been throughout my life. I believe the men and women who make the Postal Service work do a great service to this country and distinguish us from many countries in the world that don't have anything near our service or reliability in delivering the mail. Having said that, and believe it to my inner being, the Postal Service needs to take a hard look at what is going on within their ranks today. Last month, the U.S. Postal Service Great Lakes area sent out the postal equivalent of an SOS. It put out the call to mail carriers in five surrounding States asking for letter carriers to come to my State of Illinois to help deliver a huge backlog of undelivered mail. It also called for mail carriers to help deliver Chicago's mail on Sundays. Ken Labbe is one of the mail carriers who answered that call for help. Mr. Labbe has been a mail carrier in Mount Prospect, IL, just outside of Chicago, for 28 years. He is the president of the local letter carriers union. He is also quite an athlete. In 2002, he was the only male mail carrier on the USPS-sponsored professional cycling team He volunteered for the last Sunday in February. He figured he had the knowledge and endurance to help reduce the mail backlog that had plagued the Postal Service in Chicago. What he discovered, he said, stunned him. At every home he delivered to, he stuffed 20 to 30 pieces of mail in the mailbox. He worked 12 hours on that Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., sunup to sundown, without a break, even for lunch. Still, he couldn't complete the assigned workload; the sheer volume of backlogged mail was too great. Inside the local post office, Ken said, he found packages stacked everywhere. Some appeared to have been there for a month or more. The entire situation looked, in his words, ``like an episode of `Extreme Hoarders.''' ``A crisis.'' Chicagoland is not the only postal chaos location. Nearly 9 months after a new Postmaster General unveiled his surprise reorganization plan, postal service in much of the Nation is erratic. Delays are longer than ever. The delivery times have shrunk to historic lows since Louis DeJoy took over last June. At the end of December, the Agency had an on-time rate of 38 percent for nonlocal mail. What was it 1 year earlier? Ninety-two percent. A 92-percent on-time rate descended to 38 percent under Postmaster General DeJoy. Before Louis DeJoy took over, 91 percent of Postal Service customers gave USPS high marks--one of the highest approval ratings of any government Agency. Today, postal customers across America--certainly in my State of Illinois--customers wait anxiously for important checks and bills that arrive weeks late, if at all. They check tracking websites to search for delayed packages, only to read that the package is ``out for delivery.'' In some neighborhoods in Chicago, residents have given up hope of receiving mail at home. They stand in line for hours at the local post office to try to retrieve their mail themselves. Often, even that doesn't work. Tracey Otis is one of those people. One day last month, she was one of 40 customers--40--waiting in line at the Postal Service station in the Gresham neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Ms. Otis hadn't had regular mail delivery since Christmas. She waited in line for hours, hoping to retrieve a package of diabetic test strips before her current supply ran out. She told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter that she would volunteer to sort the mail if it would help. She went home emptyhanded that day, still not sure where her package was or when, if ever, she might see it. Last month, my staff in Chicago estimated that there might be 300 pieces of mail sitting undelivered in four Chicago postal facilities. We based that on the number of complaints we received in our office. After that, the Postal Inspector General released a report that showed we were wrong. There weren't 300 letters in postal limbo in these facilities; there were 19,000 undelivered pieces of mail in those four facilities. Since then, in my State, the chaos has stretched way beyond Chicago. We hear from all over the State: Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Belleville, East St. Louis, Quincy, Peoria, the Quad Cities, and Rockford. These delays in Illinois and across America are causing real hardship for tens of millions of Americans waiting for mail delivery. Patients and pharmacists complain about late medication. People are getting dinged for late mortgage and utility payments and forced to pay late fees. Insurance policies are being canceled because of late payments. Small business owners are forced to wait weeks or months for payments. Others are flooded with calls and emails from customers wondering where their packages are--a good way to lose business. Who is Louis DeJoy, the mastermind of this mess? Did he come through the ranks of the Postal Service, like four Postmasters General before him? No. His qualifications? He is a former logistics executive who donated millions of dollars to Donald Trump and the Republicans--no experience working at the Postal Service before Donald Trump tapped him to head this Agency last June. One month later, in the middle of a pandemic that turned postal deliveriesinto a lifeline for many, Mr. DeJoy unveiled a radical plan to reorganize the Postal Service, after only 1 month in the job and no experience in the Department. He slashed overtime hours, prohibited late and extra mail delivery trips, and set stricter delivery schedules. In August, with no public explanation, the Postal Service began removing mail-sorting machines from postal facilities around the country, reducing their ability to process mail. Amazingly, the Postal Service Inspector General determined that the changes were ordered with no analysis and no understanding of how they might affect timeliness of mail delivery. A Federal lawsuit forced the Agency to put the changes on hold until after the election. On February 6, Mr. DeJoy was quoted in the Washington Post saying that his new plan for reorganizing the Postal Service would be ready for public release ``as early as next week.'' He said that on February 6. We are still waiting for it, waiting for the DeJoy plan to shape up the Postal Service. It is like waiting for a lost package. We know some of the biggest changes he intends to propose because he has confirmed them publicly. The DeJoy plan for shaping up the post office is expected to call for the following: more service cuts, higher prices, and slower mail delivery. If that sounds like a winning combination to you, I have some vintage computers to sell to your business. In short, this is not a solution; this is sabotage of an essential public service, and we shouldn't tolerate it. Well, America has a new President who understands that affordable, efficient postal service is essential to America. Five days after taking office, President Biden replaced the Chair of the Postal Regulatory Commission. Late last month, he filled three vacancies of the Postal Service Board of Governors, the body that hires the Postmaster General and oversees the Postal Service. I encourage President Biden to make all the changes necessary to rescue the Postal Service. Mr. DeJoy has offered a stream of excuses for the chaos that has fallen the Postal Service since he showed up. He says it is the pandemic, the Christmas holidays, bad weather, an election that saw a record number of Americans vote by mail. He has a list as long as your arm. I would remind him that in 1864, we held a national election in the middle of a Civil War, and 150,000 Union Army troops voted absentee from the field. The Postal Service is as old as America itself. It has proven that it can adapt to crises with the right leadership. If Mr. DeJoy cannot or will not provide that leadership, I respectfully suggest he step down. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgS1536	null	2,565
formal	Chicago	null	racist	United States Postal Service Mr. President, let me start this statement by saying I am a fan of the U.S. Postal Service. I have been throughout my life. I believe the men and women who make the Postal Service work do a great service to this country and distinguish us from many countries in the world that don't have anything near our service or reliability in delivering the mail. Having said that, and believe it to my inner being, the Postal Service needs to take a hard look at what is going on within their ranks today. Last month, the U.S. Postal Service Great Lakes area sent out the postal equivalent of an SOS. It put out the call to mail carriers in five surrounding States asking for letter carriers to come to my State of Illinois to help deliver a huge backlog of undelivered mail. It also called for mail carriers to help deliver Chicago's mail on Sundays. Ken Labbe is one of the mail carriers who answered that call for help. Mr. Labbe has been a mail carrier in Mount Prospect, IL, just outside of Chicago, for 28 years. He is the president of the local letter carriers union. He is also quite an athlete. In 2002, he was the only male mail carrier on the USPS-sponsored professional cycling team He volunteered for the last Sunday in February. He figured he had the knowledge and endurance to help reduce the mail backlog that had plagued the Postal Service in Chicago. What he discovered, he said, stunned him. At every home he delivered to, he stuffed 20 to 30 pieces of mail in the mailbox. He worked 12 hours on that Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., sunup to sundown, without a break, even for lunch. Still, he couldn't complete the assigned workload; the sheer volume of backlogged mail was too great. Inside the local post office, Ken said, he found packages stacked everywhere. Some appeared to have been there for a month or more. The entire situation looked, in his words, ``like an episode of `Extreme Hoarders.''' ``A crisis.'' Chicagoland is not the only postal chaos location. Nearly 9 months after a new Postmaster General unveiled his surprise reorganization plan, postal service in much of the Nation is erratic. Delays are longer than ever. The delivery times have shrunk to historic lows since Louis DeJoy took over last June. At the end of December, the Agency had an on-time rate of 38 percent for nonlocal mail. What was it 1 year earlier? Ninety-two percent. A 92-percent on-time rate descended to 38 percent under Postmaster General DeJoy. Before Louis DeJoy took over, 91 percent of Postal Service customers gave USPS high marks--one of the highest approval ratings of any government Agency. Today, postal customers across America--certainly in my State of Illinois--customers wait anxiously for important checks and bills that arrive weeks late, if at all. They check tracking websites to search for delayed packages, only to read that the package is ``out for delivery.'' In some neighborhoods in Chicago, residents have given up hope of receiving mail at home. They stand in line for hours at the local post office to try to retrieve their mail themselves. Often, even that doesn't work. Tracey Otis is one of those people. One day last month, she was one of 40 customers--40--waiting in line at the Postal Service station in the Gresham neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. Ms. Otis hadn't had regular mail delivery since Christmas. She waited in line for hours, hoping to retrieve a package of diabetic test strips before her current supply ran out. She told a Chicago Sun-Times reporter that she would volunteer to sort the mail if it would help. She went home emptyhanded that day, still not sure where her package was or when, if ever, she might see it. Last month, my staff in Chicago estimated that there might be 300 pieces of mail sitting undelivered in four Chicago postal facilities. We based that on the number of complaints we received in our office. After that, the Postal Inspector General released a report that showed we were wrong. There weren't 300 letters in postal limbo in these facilities; there were 19,000 undelivered pieces of mail in those four facilities. Since then, in my State, the chaos has stretched way beyond Chicago. We hear from all over the State: Springfield, Champaign-Urbana, Belleville, East St. Louis, Quincy, Peoria, the Quad Cities, and Rockford. These delays in Illinois and across America are causing real hardship for tens of millions of Americans waiting for mail delivery. Patients and pharmacists complain about late medication. People are getting dinged for late mortgage and utility payments and forced to pay late fees. Insurance policies are being canceled because of late payments. Small business owners are forced to wait weeks or months for payments. Others are flooded with calls and emails from customers wondering where their packages are--a good way to lose business. Who is Louis DeJoy, the mastermind of this mess? Did he come through the ranks of the Postal Service, like four Postmasters General before him? No. His qualifications? He is a former logistics executive who donated millions of dollars to Donald Trump and the Republicans--no experience working at the Postal Service before Donald Trump tapped him to head this Agency last June. One month later, in the middle of a pandemic that turned postal deliveriesinto a lifeline for many, Mr. DeJoy unveiled a radical plan to reorganize the Postal Service, after only 1 month in the job and no experience in the Department. He slashed overtime hours, prohibited late and extra mail delivery trips, and set stricter delivery schedules. In August, with no public explanation, the Postal Service began removing mail-sorting machines from postal facilities around the country, reducing their ability to process mail. Amazingly, the Postal Service Inspector General determined that the changes were ordered with no analysis and no understanding of how they might affect timeliness of mail delivery. A Federal lawsuit forced the Agency to put the changes on hold until after the election. On February 6, Mr. DeJoy was quoted in the Washington Post saying that his new plan for reorganizing the Postal Service would be ready for public release ``as early as next week.'' He said that on February 6. We are still waiting for it, waiting for the DeJoy plan to shape up the Postal Service. It is like waiting for a lost package. We know some of the biggest changes he intends to propose because he has confirmed them publicly. The DeJoy plan for shaping up the post office is expected to call for the following: more service cuts, higher prices, and slower mail delivery. If that sounds like a winning combination to you, I have some vintage computers to sell to your business. In short, this is not a solution; this is sabotage of an essential public service, and we shouldn't tolerate it. Well, America has a new President who understands that affordable, efficient postal service is essential to America. Five days after taking office, President Biden replaced the Chair of the Postal Regulatory Commission. Late last month, he filled three vacancies of the Postal Service Board of Governors, the body that hires the Postmaster General and oversees the Postal Service. I encourage President Biden to make all the changes necessary to rescue the Postal Service. Mr. DeJoy has offered a stream of excuses for the chaos that has fallen the Postal Service since he showed up. He says it is the pandemic, the Christmas holidays, bad weather, an election that saw a record number of Americans vote by mail. He has a list as long as your arm. I would remind him that in 1864, we held a national election in the middle of a Civil War, and 150,000 Union Army troops voted absentee from the field. The Postal Service is as old as America itself. It has proven that it can adapt to crises with the right leadership. If Mr. DeJoy cannot or will not provide that leadership, I respectfully suggest he step down. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgS1536	null	2,566
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Nomination of Xavier Becerra Mr. President, today, I rise to speak in support of Xavier Becerra's nomination to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). Attorney General Becerra will bring a fresh perspective to HHS at a critical time during this pandemic. While there is light at the end of the tunnel with the distribution of the coronavirus vaccines, there is still work to do to end this pandemic and put our country on a road to recovery, and that is where Attorney General Becerra's leadership will be crucial. Attorney General Becerra's 12 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives gave him a solid foundation in knowing how to set agendas and achieve results, which we saw deployed in his work as a key leader on the Committee on Ways and Means, ranking member of the Subcommittee on Social Security, and chair of the House Democratic Caucus. He helped to expand the Children's Health Insurance Program, modernize and strengthen Medicare, and helped pass the Affordable Care Act. His commitment to the letter and spirit of this law is something he carried into his role as California Attorney General, fighting to maintain his State's ability to bring millions of previously uninsured residents under the ACA's umbrella. Last November, he led the defense of the Affordable Care Act in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of 20 States and the District of Columbia. His tweet after the oral arguments concisely sums up the national importance of his effort: ``The ACA saves lives. It is the law of the land.'' He brings a strong commitment to using the law and regulatory tools to make access to health care and other vital services equitable--the very thing that makes our nation strong. I look forward to working with him on ensuring that everyone has access to quality and affordable healthcare, and I know he will be a partner in the fight against the coronavirus and our goal of getting all eligible Americans vaccinated, even in hard-to-reach areas. Last week, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan Act, which included major funding to address the Nation's worsening mental health and addiction crisis. This is a high priority of mine and an issue with which Attorney General Becerra has firsthand experience. He started his career as a legal aid attorney in Massachusetts, supporting clients contending with mental health issues. I am eager to work with him on this issue. Addressing the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs is another area where Attorney General Becerra has shown key leadership. He and I share a belief that fairer competition means increased access to affordable prescription drugs and better public health. As California Attorney General, he investigated and brought enforcement actions against drug manufacturers' anticompetitive business practices to help reduce drug prices and ensure that people have access to the drugs they need. In March 2020, he led a bipartisan group of 46 State attorneys general who successfully advocated before the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold the rights of States to regulate and address the rising cost of prescription drugs. The United States must do more to ensure that new technologies have appropriate privacy and security protections for health data. At a September 2020 hearing on the need for Federal data privacy legislation, Attorney General Becerra told me and other members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation that ``every consumer should be able to own and control his or her data'' and that ``if we decide that we don't want anyone to use [our data], it's our choosing.'' His testimony was reassuring, and I look forward to working with him to ensure consumers can have peace of mind when it comes to the security of their personal health data. Given the pandemic' s spotlight on the vulnerability of our Nation's seniors, I am eager to work with the Biden administration to improve the safety and well-being of older Americans. When my 92-year-old dad, living in a memory care facility, was diagnosed with COVID-19 last year, I was only able to visit him through a window. He recognized me, but he just didn't understand why we couldn't be in the same room together. Tens of thousands of families have been through these wrenching situations over the past year and want to see the Federal Government doing more. Attorney General Becerra recently moved to make the California Department of Justice Medicaid Fraud Control Unit a full-fledged division, underscoring his commitment to protecting seniors and people with disabilities. I know his leadership will place the needs of seniors front and center. Attorney General Becerra has the expertise and experience and the enforcement and regulatory savvy to handle the job of protecting public health, strengthening our hospitals and health care system, making sure people have access to quality, affordable health care, and supporting our health care workers. And as the first Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, he will bring a personal understanding of the immediate need for equitable access to care. With that, I ask my colleagues to support the nomination: Xavier Becerra as Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thank you. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgS1537-2	null	2,567
formal	public school	null	racist	At the request of Mr. Reed, the name of the Senator from Georgia (Mr. Warnock) was added as a cosponsor of S. 96, a bill to provide for the long-term improvement of public school facilities, and for other purposes.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-16-pt1-PgS1570-2	null	2,568
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 joint resolution (H.J. Res. 17) removing the deadline for the ratification of the equal rights amendment, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgH1475	null	2,569
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Swalwell). 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. 1651) to amend the CARES Act to extend the sunset for the definition of a small business debtor, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Swalwell)	House	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgH1480-2	null	2,570
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yarmuth). 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. 1652) to deposit certain funds into the Crime Victims Fund, to waive matching requirements, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Yarmuth)	House	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgH1481	null	2,571
formal	election integrity	null	racist	Mr. SCHUMER. Now on S. 1, democracy reform, today Senate Democrats are introducing the No. 1 bill of the 117th Congress, S. 1, to stand up to voter suppression, end dark money in politics, and reinvigorate American democracy in the 21st century. Make no mistake, democracy reform must be a top priority of this Congress, and I will put S. 1, the For the People Act, on the floor of the Senate. For too long, we have let really important parts of our democracy wither. Unlimited dark money flows into campaigns. Special interests have way too much influence in Washington. And worst of all, there is a concerted, nationwide effort to limit the right of American citizens, particularly people of color, to vote. Throughout America's history, we have seen a continuous cycle of expansions in our democracy being met all too often by vehement backlash from those who wish to maintain an exclusionary status quo. Earlier this year, we witnessed only the latest example in the form of a violent insurrection right here in this Chamber, right here in this Capitol, an attack fueled by the insidious lies of the former President aimed at overturning the results of a free and fair election. In the wake of the November election, one of the safest and most secure in American history, dozens of Republican-led State legislatures have seized on the former President's big lie and introduced hundreds of bills aimed at tightening voting rules under the nasty guise--the nasty, malicious, and false guise--of election integrity. These bills, sadly, are aimed at Americans of color--Black Americans, Latinos, Native Americans. Despicable efforts to target these historically disenfranchised communities have become a central component of the electoral strategy of one of America's major political parties. Shame on them. Shame. It is infuriating. Infuriating. When you lose an election, you are supposed to win over the people you lost, not stop them from voting. That is un-American, autocratic, and against the fundamentals of our democracy, but this is happening in States all across the country--all across the country. Maybe the most reprehensible effort is underway in Georgia, where State Republicans are trying to limit absentee and mail-in voting, make it harder to post a ballot by drop box, and disallowing early voting on Sunday, a day when many churchgoing African Americans participate in voter drives. Does anyone on the other side of the aisle think taking away Sunday voting in Georgia is not bigoted? What is the rationale? Stop it, if you want to stand for equality and justice. Our country has supposedly come a long way since African Americans in the South were forced to guess the number of jellybeans in a jar in order to vote. But some of these voter suppression laws in Georgia and other Republican States smack of Jim Crow in the 21st century rearing its ugly head once again. These laws and their various cousins in Republican State legislatures across the country are collectively one of the greatest threats to modern American democracy. According to a recent report in the Washington Post, these laws could strain every available method of voting for tens of millions of Americans, potentially amounting to the most sweeping contraction of ballot access in the United States since the end of Reconstruction, when Southern States curtailed the voting rights of formerly enslaved Black men. If one party believes ``heads we win; tails you cheated''; if one political party believes that when you lose an election, the answer isn't to win more votes but, rather, to prevent the other side from voting, then we have serious and existential threats to our democracy on our hands. This is no political dispute. It goes way beyond that to the core--the core--of what America is all about. That is why we need S. 1 so badly, a bill that would combat all of these voter suppression efforts by restoring critical parts of the Voting Rights Act; a bill that would make it easier, not harder, to vote by automatically registering American voters when they get a driver's license; a bill that would limit dark money and corruption in our politics and much more. There are a lot of problems in our country--healthcare and climate change and income inequality--but we designed a democracy that would allow competing interests in our country to come together and agree on solutions. If our democracy doesn't work, we have no hope of solving any of our other problems. S. 1 is going to be a top priority this Congress. We will fight and fight and fight to get this done legislatively. Failure is not an option. Too darn much is at stake	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1578-2	null	2,572
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. SCHUMER. Now on the American Rescue Plan, I would like to continue shining a spotlight on different aspects of ARP. The legislation helped so many people and so much of the country, it is easy to forget many crucial parts of the bill. So later today, I will be joining my dear friend Representative Velazquez from New York to talk about how the American Rescue Plan helps Puerto Rico, which is too often an afterthought in Federal legislation. The American Rescue Plan will do three historic things for the people of Puerto Rico, American citizens all. First, it will deliver Federal dollars to the island's earned income tax credit for low-wage workers for the first time ever. Second, it will expand eligibility for residents to claim the child tax credit. Prior to the ARP, only families with three or more children in Puerto Rico could claim the child tax credit. Why those American citizens were treated differently than all the others was beyond me and strikes me as nasty. But now every family can. Third, the ARP bill will add $1 billion--$1 billion--in food assistance. Residents of American territories don't receive traditional food assistance programs like those in the United States, such as the SNAP program, but instead their governments receive block grants that have been capped by the Federal Government. The American Rescue Plan makes sure that Puerto Rico, which suffers devastating rates of poverty, 43 percent, and especially childhood poverty--an unacceptable 57 percent of all the children in Puerto Rico live in poverty. So we want to make sure that Puerto Rico receives its fair share of Federal food assistance. The American Rescue Plan may be the greatest anti-poverty effort in a generation, and we make sure that Puerto Rico is part of it. Now let me turn my attention to schools. One of most enduring images of the COVID-19 pandemic will be the empty classroom. For 12 months, teachers have done their level best to keep their students engaged with remote learning, but there have been incredible difficulties. Too many students don't have reliable internet. Too many parents can't be there to help young kids log on and keep up with their work. Simply put, there is no replacement for having kids in the classroom. We need to get our schools to reopen as quickly and as safely as possible. Now, my Republican colleagues have made a lot of noise about reopening our schools, but they don't want to dedicate any resources to actually getting it done. We need money to do this. There are many more expenses under COVID. Through the American Rescue Plan, Senate Democrats delivered the single largest investment in American education ever. We are proud of that. Proud. Let me say it again. Through the American Rescue Plan, Senate Democrats delivered the single largest investment in American education ever--ever--$170 billion to repair the damage caused by this pandemic, three-quarters of which will go directly to K-12 education, prioritizing school districts that need it the most. This will help schools update ventilation, hire more nurses and janitors, make classroom sizes smaller, and make getting kids to and from school safe. In short, the American Rescue Plan will greatly accelerate the safe and effective reopening of schools. Once kids are back in the classroom, the American Rescue Plan will help make sure they can stay there and succeed. After what has been a lost year for too many students, this bill provides significant support for learning recovery programs--afterschool programs, summer school programs, and other resources to help kids catch up and get back on track. Through the American Rescue Plan, we have made a life-changing investment in our students. It is one of the many ways this bill will help us recover from the crisis and come back stronger than ever before. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1578-3	null	2,573
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. SCHUMER. Now on the American Rescue Plan, I would like to continue shining a spotlight on different aspects of ARP. The legislation helped so many people and so much of the country, it is easy to forget many crucial parts of the bill. So later today, I will be joining my dear friend Representative Velazquez from New York to talk about how the American Rescue Plan helps Puerto Rico, which is too often an afterthought in Federal legislation. The American Rescue Plan will do three historic things for the people of Puerto Rico, American citizens all. First, it will deliver Federal dollars to the island's earned income tax credit for low-wage workers for the first time ever. Second, it will expand eligibility for residents to claim the child tax credit. Prior to the ARP, only families with three or more children in Puerto Rico could claim the child tax credit. Why those American citizens were treated differently than all the others was beyond me and strikes me as nasty. But now every family can. Third, the ARP bill will add $1 billion--$1 billion--in food assistance. Residents of American territories don't receive traditional food assistance programs like those in the United States, such as the SNAP program, but instead their governments receive block grants that have been capped by the Federal Government. The American Rescue Plan makes sure that Puerto Rico, which suffers devastating rates of poverty, 43 percent, and especially childhood poverty--an unacceptable 57 percent of all the children in Puerto Rico live in poverty. So we want to make sure that Puerto Rico receives its fair share of Federal food assistance. The American Rescue Plan may be the greatest anti-poverty effort in a generation, and we make sure that Puerto Rico is part of it. Now let me turn my attention to schools. One of most enduring images of the COVID-19 pandemic will be the empty classroom. For 12 months, teachers have done their level best to keep their students engaged with remote learning, but there have been incredible difficulties. Too many students don't have reliable internet. Too many parents can't be there to help young kids log on and keep up with their work. Simply put, there is no replacement for having kids in the classroom. We need to get our schools to reopen as quickly and as safely as possible. Now, my Republican colleagues have made a lot of noise about reopening our schools, but they don't want to dedicate any resources to actually getting it done. We need money to do this. There are many more expenses under COVID. Through the American Rescue Plan, Senate Democrats delivered the single largest investment in American education ever. We are proud of that. Proud. Let me say it again. Through the American Rescue Plan, Senate Democrats delivered the single largest investment in American education ever--ever--$170 billion to repair the damage caused by this pandemic, three-quarters of which will go directly to K-12 education, prioritizing school districts that need it the most. This will help schools update ventilation, hire more nurses and janitors, make classroom sizes smaller, and make getting kids to and from school safe. In short, the American Rescue Plan will greatly accelerate the safe and effective reopening of schools. Once kids are back in the classroom, the American Rescue Plan will help make sure they can stay there and succeed. After what has been a lost year for too many students, this bill provides significant support for learning recovery programs--afterschool programs, summer school programs, and other resources to help kids catch up and get back on track. Through the American Rescue Plan, we have made a life-changing investment in our students. It is one of the many ways this bill will help us recover from the crisis and come back stronger than ever before. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1578-3	null	2,574
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. SCHUMER. Second, on nominations, the Senate is once again making excellent progress this week confirming President Biden's nominees. We began the week by confirming a history-making Cabinet member, Interior Secretary Haaland. Yesterday, we confirmed Isabel Guzman as the SBA Administrator. Today, we will confirm another consequential administrative appointment, the U.S. Trade Representative. President Biden has named Katherine Tai, the daughter of proud immigrants from Taiwan, a veteran of the Office of the Trade Representative under President Obama, and one of our country's most seasoned experts in international trade. That--Ms. Tai--is what America is all about. We welcome her. We give her a great position of authority because of her expertise. And maybe--you know, I will leave it at that. It is a great contrast to the tragedy I was talking about a few minutes ago and the ascension of another proud American of Asian ancestry here. As U.S. Trade Representative, Ms. Tai will play a crucial role in enforcing existing trade deals and making sure that American workers, businesses, and researchers can compete on a level playing field. She will be an essential player in restoring America's credibility with our trading partners and promoting international cooperation to tackle some of the world's biggest problems, from the global pandemic to climate change. I have not a single doubt that Ms. Tai is the right person for the job, and I look forward to the Senate giving her a well-deserved promotion later today	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1578	null	2,575
formal	job creator	null	conservative	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, fortunately, the Senate will first be confirming a thoroughly qualified nominee to be the new administration's top trade official. Katherine Tai is just the kind of qualified and mainstream person who is positioned to serve President Biden and the country quite well. That is why she received broad bipartisan support from the Finance Committee and why the vote to advance her nomination yesterday was 98 to 0. I look forward to working with Ms. Tai to embrace trade and push back on abusive practices from China and other anticompetitive countries. Trade is a huge strength of America. It drives job creation and economic growth. Just look at my home State, for example. Exports support more than 140,000 jobs in Kentucky. Hard-working Kentuckians supply nearly 200 countries with everything from agricultural goods to medicines, to aerospace parts and motor vehicles. In the last Congress, we modernized our trade with our neighbors to the north and south through the USMCA. We gave Kentucky farmers, workers, and consumers a long-awaited boost. But our job creators still face unfair barriers, including those targeting American spirits. The Bluegrass is proud to craft 95 percent of the world's bourbon, but, currently, tariffs put Kentucky distillers at a disadvantage in their largest export markets. Ms. Tai should address these unfair international headwinds facing Kentuckians. I would encourage her to focus on expanding markets and reducing barriers for products and services from all 50 States. Americans would welcome the growth in opportunity and prosperity. And, if you ask me, the whole world could benefit from a little more Kentucky bourbon	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1579-2	null	2,576
formal	job creators	null	conservative	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, fortunately, the Senate will first be confirming a thoroughly qualified nominee to be the new administration's top trade official. Katherine Tai is just the kind of qualified and mainstream person who is positioned to serve President Biden and the country quite well. That is why she received broad bipartisan support from the Finance Committee and why the vote to advance her nomination yesterday was 98 to 0. I look forward to working with Ms. Tai to embrace trade and push back on abusive practices from China and other anticompetitive countries. Trade is a huge strength of America. It drives job creation and economic growth. Just look at my home State, for example. Exports support more than 140,000 jobs in Kentucky. Hard-working Kentuckians supply nearly 200 countries with everything from agricultural goods to medicines, to aerospace parts and motor vehicles. In the last Congress, we modernized our trade with our neighbors to the north and south through the USMCA. We gave Kentucky farmers, workers, and consumers a long-awaited boost. But our job creators still face unfair barriers, including those targeting American spirits. The Bluegrass is proud to craft 95 percent of the world's bourbon, but, currently, tariffs put Kentucky distillers at a disadvantage in their largest export markets. Ms. Tai should address these unfair international headwinds facing Kentuckians. I would encourage her to focus on expanding markets and reducing barriers for products and services from all 50 States. Americans would welcome the growth in opportunity and prosperity. And, if you ask me, the whole world could benefit from a little more Kentucky bourbon	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1579-2	null	2,577
formal	job creation	null	conservative	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, fortunately, the Senate will first be confirming a thoroughly qualified nominee to be the new administration's top trade official. Katherine Tai is just the kind of qualified and mainstream person who is positioned to serve President Biden and the country quite well. That is why she received broad bipartisan support from the Finance Committee and why the vote to advance her nomination yesterday was 98 to 0. I look forward to working with Ms. Tai to embrace trade and push back on abusive practices from China and other anticompetitive countries. Trade is a huge strength of America. It drives job creation and economic growth. Just look at my home State, for example. Exports support more than 140,000 jobs in Kentucky. Hard-working Kentuckians supply nearly 200 countries with everything from agricultural goods to medicines, to aerospace parts and motor vehicles. In the last Congress, we modernized our trade with our neighbors to the north and south through the USMCA. We gave Kentucky farmers, workers, and consumers a long-awaited boost. But our job creators still face unfair barriers, including those targeting American spirits. The Bluegrass is proud to craft 95 percent of the world's bourbon, but, currently, tariffs put Kentucky distillers at a disadvantage in their largest export markets. Ms. Tai should address these unfair international headwinds facing Kentuckians. I would encourage her to focus on expanding markets and reducing barriers for products and services from all 50 States. Americans would welcome the growth in opportunity and prosperity. And, if you ask me, the whole world could benefit from a little more Kentucky bourbon	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1579-2	null	2,578
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, tomorrow, the Secretary of State and the President's National Security Advisor will have their first face-to-face meeting with Chinese officials. I am glad our officials met with regional allies like Japan and South Korea right beforehand and have been in touch with Australia and European allies as well. It is essential that we and our friends present a united front. Now, the United States and the whole world need the President's team to deliver a strong message tomorrow. During the campaign, President Biden spoke dismissively about the threat from China. But thus far, in office, his team has shown signs they understand that Communist China threatens America, our allies, and the prevailing international system. The world spent years presuming that welcoming China into the international community would inevitably cause its rulers to play by the rules. Twenty years ago, President Clinton said: ``[E]conomic innovation and political empowerment . . . will inevitably go hand in hand.'' But since then, rather than the rest of the world exporting liberty and transparency into China, Beijing has found more success exporting authoritarianism and corruption beyond its borders. In Japan, on Tuesday, Secretary Blinken called out the ``coercion and aggression'' that China deploys at home and abroad. He said this administration will push back on Beijing. That clear-eyed talk is certainly welcome, but it is just the first step. Walking the walk will mean actually responding in tough ways to espionage and cyber attacks, to violations of human rights, to military bullying, to stealing intellectual property and cheating on trade. If the administration is up to the task, they will find strong partners in this Republican conference. Here is one big test: Are they willing to keep investing in our own defense? Our financial commitment to defending America is our most important policy lever in this competition with China. Our allies and adversaries do not heed American Presidents because they are charming or good-looking. The world has respected America for our overwhelming military and economic superiority. When that edge erodes, we invite trouble. As a share of our economy, American defense spending has fallen significantly, not just from Cold War-era heights but even just recently. Meanwhile, China used its growing prosperity to modernize its military, develop new and longer range weapons to hold U.S. forces at risk from further away, and turn a particular eye towards space and cyber space. Defense spending is about protecting our homeland. It is about projecting power. It is about preserving global influence, supporting our allies. It is really a barometer of our national will. It is also about innovation and the future. Many life-changing innovations throughout our economy were first rooted in military R&D. Unfortunately, reports suggest the Biden administration may plan to freeze defense spending. Of course, that means a reduction, after inflation. Dozens of Democrats are pressuring the administration for even steeper cuts than that. If the administration is serious about competing with China, deterring Russia, and preserving American leadership, the most important test will be in the President's budget submission. Some of our Senate Democratic colleagues have expressed interest in crafting bipartisan legislation related to China. If any issue is ripe for a regular-order, bipartisan process, it would be that one. Defense spending is the crucial first step, but there are a whole variety of subjects concerning our competition with China that could benefit from a serious look. There is bipartisan support for improving security reviews of foreign investment and protecting against forced technology transfer, for cracking down on Chinese espionage and political influence campaigns, for supporting the people of Hong Kong, and human rights, and deterring aggression against Taiwan. There is bipartisan support for fostering specific industries of national-security importance, such as semiconductors, and for broadly strengthening American R&D. There is an opportunity for fruitful discussion here. Certainly, this is an area where bipartisanship will be especially crucial, so strategies don't change schizophrenically with every election. As one of our Democratic colleagues said in a hearing yesterday, ``the U.S. will not out-compete China . . . with short-term legislation and never-ending uncertainty.'' That is another great argument for not trashing the legislative filibuster. Imagine if every action the Senate takes with national security implications were constantly subject to being wiped clean. While China plans years and decades at a time, our Federal legislation would be reduced to a shelf life of a couple years. These issues need to be addressed thoughtfully and deliberately. Identifying critical technologies and the best ways to promote and protect advancements needs to be a smart, fact-based process, not a political guessing game or throwing cash at industries with the right connections. Our work on this front should strengthen our ties with our allies and partners, not try in vain to simply go it alone. And the Democratic majority must resist the temptation to pile a long list of unrelated policy wishes into a big package and try to label it ``China policy.'' It would be quite a remarkable coincidence if our Democratic colleagues' vision for a so-called China bill ends up being indistinguishable from a list of things that just happen to delight liberal interest groups. Getting America on a stronger footing will not require some sweeping far-left transformation of our economy. It will mean continuing to complement the principles and ideas that are our greatest strengths, and it will mean working on these issues the right way, across the aisle	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1579-3	null	2,579
formal	coincidence	null	antisemitic	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, tomorrow, the Secretary of State and the President's National Security Advisor will have their first face-to-face meeting with Chinese officials. I am glad our officials met with regional allies like Japan and South Korea right beforehand and have been in touch with Australia and European allies as well. It is essential that we and our friends present a united front. Now, the United States and the whole world need the President's team to deliver a strong message tomorrow. During the campaign, President Biden spoke dismissively about the threat from China. But thus far, in office, his team has shown signs they understand that Communist China threatens America, our allies, and the prevailing international system. The world spent years presuming that welcoming China into the international community would inevitably cause its rulers to play by the rules. Twenty years ago, President Clinton said: ``[E]conomic innovation and political empowerment . . . will inevitably go hand in hand.'' But since then, rather than the rest of the world exporting liberty and transparency into China, Beijing has found more success exporting authoritarianism and corruption beyond its borders. In Japan, on Tuesday, Secretary Blinken called out the ``coercion and aggression'' that China deploys at home and abroad. He said this administration will push back on Beijing. That clear-eyed talk is certainly welcome, but it is just the first step. Walking the walk will mean actually responding in tough ways to espionage and cyber attacks, to violations of human rights, to military bullying, to stealing intellectual property and cheating on trade. If the administration is up to the task, they will find strong partners in this Republican conference. Here is one big test: Are they willing to keep investing in our own defense? Our financial commitment to defending America is our most important policy lever in this competition with China. Our allies and adversaries do not heed American Presidents because they are charming or good-looking. The world has respected America for our overwhelming military and economic superiority. When that edge erodes, we invite trouble. As a share of our economy, American defense spending has fallen significantly, not just from Cold War-era heights but even just recently. Meanwhile, China used its growing prosperity to modernize its military, develop new and longer range weapons to hold U.S. forces at risk from further away, and turn a particular eye towards space and cyber space. Defense spending is about protecting our homeland. It is about projecting power. It is about preserving global influence, supporting our allies. It is really a barometer of our national will. It is also about innovation and the future. Many life-changing innovations throughout our economy were first rooted in military R&D. Unfortunately, reports suggest the Biden administration may plan to freeze defense spending. Of course, that means a reduction, after inflation. Dozens of Democrats are pressuring the administration for even steeper cuts than that. If the administration is serious about competing with China, deterring Russia, and preserving American leadership, the most important test will be in the President's budget submission. Some of our Senate Democratic colleagues have expressed interest in crafting bipartisan legislation related to China. If any issue is ripe for a regular-order, bipartisan process, it would be that one. Defense spending is the crucial first step, but there are a whole variety of subjects concerning our competition with China that could benefit from a serious look. There is bipartisan support for improving security reviews of foreign investment and protecting against forced technology transfer, for cracking down on Chinese espionage and political influence campaigns, for supporting the people of Hong Kong, and human rights, and deterring aggression against Taiwan. There is bipartisan support for fostering specific industries of national-security importance, such as semiconductors, and for broadly strengthening American R&D. There is an opportunity for fruitful discussion here. Certainly, this is an area where bipartisanship will be especially crucial, so strategies don't change schizophrenically with every election. As one of our Democratic colleagues said in a hearing yesterday, ``the U.S. will not out-compete China . . . with short-term legislation and never-ending uncertainty.'' That is another great argument for not trashing the legislative filibuster. Imagine if every action the Senate takes with national security implications were constantly subject to being wiped clean. While China plans years and decades at a time, our Federal legislation would be reduced to a shelf life of a couple years. These issues need to be addressed thoughtfully and deliberately. Identifying critical technologies and the best ways to promote and protect advancements needs to be a smart, fact-based process, not a political guessing game or throwing cash at industries with the right connections. Our work on this front should strengthen our ties with our allies and partners, not try in vain to simply go it alone. And the Democratic majority must resist the temptation to pile a long list of unrelated policy wishes into a big package and try to label it ``China policy.'' It would be quite a remarkable coincidence if our Democratic colleagues' vision for a so-called China bill ends up being indistinguishable from a list of things that just happen to delight liberal interest groups. Getting America on a stronger footing will not require some sweeping far-left transformation of our economy. It will mean continuing to complement the principles and ideas that are our greatest strengths, and it will mean working on these issues the right way, across the aisle	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1579-3	null	2,580
formal	special interest	null	antisemitic	Nomination of Xavier Becerra Now, Madam President, I rise today to voice my strong support for Attorney General Becerra to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. After 4 years of attacks on families' healthcare from President Trump, after a year of this pandemic ravaging our Nation, the challenges that lie ahead of us, especially when it comes to healthcare, are numerous; they are enormous; and they are absolutely urgent. The uninsured rate, the drug prices, and healthcare costs have all skyrocketed. Confidence in our public health agencies have plummeted. Already painful health inequities have grown deeper. And this pandemic has absolutely devastated communities and pushed our healthcare system to the brink. COVID-19 has killed over a half a million people, and that number continues to rise. When it comes to the hard work ahead to not only end this pandemic but rebuild a stronger and fairer country, it is clear we need an experienced leader at the Department of Health and Human Services. It is clear we don't have a second to waste, and it is clear Attorney General Becerra is the right pick for this job. His track record shows he has the convictions and the qualifications for the task at hand. As a Member of Congress for over two decades, he has proven himself a skilled legislator who understands healthcare policy. As attorney general of one of the Nation's largest justice departments, he has proven himself as a leader capable of heading a complex Department like HHS. And throughout all of his work, he has proven himself as a champion for patients and public health. In Congress, he worked to help more people get quality, affordable healthcare by passing the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act. In California, he has fought in court to defend the Affordable Care Act and time and time again has gone to court to fight for patients, like when he won a $70 million settlement from pharmaceutical companies for blocking cheaper generic drugs from market, when he won a settlement from opioid manufacturers behind the addiction crisis and joined a bipartisan investigation into whether opioids were unlawfully marketed, when he sued e-cigarette companies from marketing tobacco products to children and led a bipartisan effort with the Republican attorney general of Nebraska to protect kids from tobacco imagery, or when he worked to investigate companies and hold them accountable for putting workers at risk by failing to follow COVID-19 safety measures. Attorney General Becerra has also worked to acknowledge and address issues driving inequities in healthcare. As leader of California's Department of Justice, he fought in court against the Trump administration rule that undermined care for the LGBTQ community, against the administration's constant efforts to undermine reproductive healthcare and against its blatant disregard for the well-being of migrant children. Attorney General Becerra also established a new Bureau of DisabilityRights at his department, as well as a new office focused on environmental justice, including how pollution and public health hazards disproportionately hurt communities of color. Overall, his record tells a story that is clear, compelling, and persuasive. He has fought against pharmaceutical companies, opioid manufacturers, tobacco companies and polluters and for more affordable, quality healthcare for every patient. I have no doubt as Secretary that he will put special interests on notice and put patients and public health first and put science, data, and experts back in the driver's seat. And he would also bring an important perspective to this role as a first-generation college student and the first Latino Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is exactly the kind of leader we need to make sure we make good on the promise of the historic investments we made in the American Rescue Plan to end this pandemic--investments to rapidly scale up testing and tracing and sequencing so we can identify new strains of COVID and slow the spread; investments to quickly and equitably get vaccines into arms, an effort that requires not just making vaccines available but breaking down barriers to access, promoting vaccine confidence, fighting misinformation, and engaging community partners; investments to build our public health infrastructure and recruit and train 100,000 public healthcare workers. He will also be a valuable partner to Congress as we work to address challenges that predate this pandemic but have been made all the more urgent, like rooting out systemic racism and addressing inequities in our healthcare system, which have made this pandemic so much more damaging and deadly for communities of color; like addressing the mental healthcare crisis, which the trauma of this pandemic has made so much worse; like fighting the opioid epidemic, a crisis which was deadlier than ever this past year; and like expanding access to quality affordable childcare, which has become more difficult for families to get during this pandemic. When this pandemic is over, we will need a strong leader at the Department to deal with the aftermath and with so many other outstanding issues: bringing down prescription drugs prices; making sure healthcare in this country is truly a right, not a privilege; undoing 4 years of attacks on reproductive rights and ensuring every woman can get reproductive healthcare, regardless of their race or income or ZIP Code or disability; lowering our unconscionably high maternal mortality rate; reversing the alarming trend of rising youth tobacco use; and ensuring the Office of Refugee Resettlement is upholding its welfare mission by prioritizing the well-being of every child in its care, ensuring they are treated with decency and humanity and kindness; and working to place children with suitable sponsors quickly and safely. We have our work cut out for us, but in Attorney General Becerra, we have a Secretary of Health who is up to the job. He has the support not only of Democrats but of Republicans, as the Republican attorneys general of both Louisiana and Tennessee have spoken highly of their experiences working with him. I urge every Senator who wants the Biden-Harris administration to succeed at ending this pandemic quickly, keeping our families safe, and ensuring everyone can get quality affordable healthcare to join me in voting to confirm him. Thank you. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1581-2	null	2,581
formal	special interests	null	antisemitic	Nomination of Xavier Becerra Now, Madam President, I rise today to voice my strong support for Attorney General Becerra to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. After 4 years of attacks on families' healthcare from President Trump, after a year of this pandemic ravaging our Nation, the challenges that lie ahead of us, especially when it comes to healthcare, are numerous; they are enormous; and they are absolutely urgent. The uninsured rate, the drug prices, and healthcare costs have all skyrocketed. Confidence in our public health agencies have plummeted. Already painful health inequities have grown deeper. And this pandemic has absolutely devastated communities and pushed our healthcare system to the brink. COVID-19 has killed over a half a million people, and that number continues to rise. When it comes to the hard work ahead to not only end this pandemic but rebuild a stronger and fairer country, it is clear we need an experienced leader at the Department of Health and Human Services. It is clear we don't have a second to waste, and it is clear Attorney General Becerra is the right pick for this job. His track record shows he has the convictions and the qualifications for the task at hand. As a Member of Congress for over two decades, he has proven himself a skilled legislator who understands healthcare policy. As attorney general of one of the Nation's largest justice departments, he has proven himself as a leader capable of heading a complex Department like HHS. And throughout all of his work, he has proven himself as a champion for patients and public health. In Congress, he worked to help more people get quality, affordable healthcare by passing the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act. In California, he has fought in court to defend the Affordable Care Act and time and time again has gone to court to fight for patients, like when he won a $70 million settlement from pharmaceutical companies for blocking cheaper generic drugs from market, when he won a settlement from opioid manufacturers behind the addiction crisis and joined a bipartisan investigation into whether opioids were unlawfully marketed, when he sued e-cigarette companies from marketing tobacco products to children and led a bipartisan effort with the Republican attorney general of Nebraska to protect kids from tobacco imagery, or when he worked to investigate companies and hold them accountable for putting workers at risk by failing to follow COVID-19 safety measures. Attorney General Becerra has also worked to acknowledge and address issues driving inequities in healthcare. As leader of California's Department of Justice, he fought in court against the Trump administration rule that undermined care for the LGBTQ community, against the administration's constant efforts to undermine reproductive healthcare and against its blatant disregard for the well-being of migrant children. Attorney General Becerra also established a new Bureau of DisabilityRights at his department, as well as a new office focused on environmental justice, including how pollution and public health hazards disproportionately hurt communities of color. Overall, his record tells a story that is clear, compelling, and persuasive. He has fought against pharmaceutical companies, opioid manufacturers, tobacco companies and polluters and for more affordable, quality healthcare for every patient. I have no doubt as Secretary that he will put special interests on notice and put patients and public health first and put science, data, and experts back in the driver's seat. And he would also bring an important perspective to this role as a first-generation college student and the first Latino Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is exactly the kind of leader we need to make sure we make good on the promise of the historic investments we made in the American Rescue Plan to end this pandemic--investments to rapidly scale up testing and tracing and sequencing so we can identify new strains of COVID and slow the spread; investments to quickly and equitably get vaccines into arms, an effort that requires not just making vaccines available but breaking down barriers to access, promoting vaccine confidence, fighting misinformation, and engaging community partners; investments to build our public health infrastructure and recruit and train 100,000 public healthcare workers. He will also be a valuable partner to Congress as we work to address challenges that predate this pandemic but have been made all the more urgent, like rooting out systemic racism and addressing inequities in our healthcare system, which have made this pandemic so much more damaging and deadly for communities of color; like addressing the mental healthcare crisis, which the trauma of this pandemic has made so much worse; like fighting the opioid epidemic, a crisis which was deadlier than ever this past year; and like expanding access to quality affordable childcare, which has become more difficult for families to get during this pandemic. When this pandemic is over, we will need a strong leader at the Department to deal with the aftermath and with so many other outstanding issues: bringing down prescription drugs prices; making sure healthcare in this country is truly a right, not a privilege; undoing 4 years of attacks on reproductive rights and ensuring every woman can get reproductive healthcare, regardless of their race or income or ZIP Code or disability; lowering our unconscionably high maternal mortality rate; reversing the alarming trend of rising youth tobacco use; and ensuring the Office of Refugee Resettlement is upholding its welfare mission by prioritizing the well-being of every child in its care, ensuring they are treated with decency and humanity and kindness; and working to place children with suitable sponsors quickly and safely. We have our work cut out for us, but in Attorney General Becerra, we have a Secretary of Health who is up to the job. He has the support not only of Democrats but of Republicans, as the Republican attorneys general of both Louisiana and Tennessee have spoken highly of their experiences working with him. I urge every Senator who wants the Biden-Harris administration to succeed at ending this pandemic quickly, keeping our families safe, and ensuring everyone can get quality affordable healthcare to join me in voting to confirm him. Thank you. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1581-2	null	2,582
formal	welfare	null	racist	Nomination of Xavier Becerra Now, Madam President, I rise today to voice my strong support for Attorney General Becerra to serve as Secretary of Health and Human Services. After 4 years of attacks on families' healthcare from President Trump, after a year of this pandemic ravaging our Nation, the challenges that lie ahead of us, especially when it comes to healthcare, are numerous; they are enormous; and they are absolutely urgent. The uninsured rate, the drug prices, and healthcare costs have all skyrocketed. Confidence in our public health agencies have plummeted. Already painful health inequities have grown deeper. And this pandemic has absolutely devastated communities and pushed our healthcare system to the brink. COVID-19 has killed over a half a million people, and that number continues to rise. When it comes to the hard work ahead to not only end this pandemic but rebuild a stronger and fairer country, it is clear we need an experienced leader at the Department of Health and Human Services. It is clear we don't have a second to waste, and it is clear Attorney General Becerra is the right pick for this job. His track record shows he has the convictions and the qualifications for the task at hand. As a Member of Congress for over two decades, he has proven himself a skilled legislator who understands healthcare policy. As attorney general of one of the Nation's largest justice departments, he has proven himself as a leader capable of heading a complex Department like HHS. And throughout all of his work, he has proven himself as a champion for patients and public health. In Congress, he worked to help more people get quality, affordable healthcare by passing the Children's Health Insurance Program and the Affordable Care Act. In California, he has fought in court to defend the Affordable Care Act and time and time again has gone to court to fight for patients, like when he won a $70 million settlement from pharmaceutical companies for blocking cheaper generic drugs from market, when he won a settlement from opioid manufacturers behind the addiction crisis and joined a bipartisan investigation into whether opioids were unlawfully marketed, when he sued e-cigarette companies from marketing tobacco products to children and led a bipartisan effort with the Republican attorney general of Nebraska to protect kids from tobacco imagery, or when he worked to investigate companies and hold them accountable for putting workers at risk by failing to follow COVID-19 safety measures. Attorney General Becerra has also worked to acknowledge and address issues driving inequities in healthcare. As leader of California's Department of Justice, he fought in court against the Trump administration rule that undermined care for the LGBTQ community, against the administration's constant efforts to undermine reproductive healthcare and against its blatant disregard for the well-being of migrant children. Attorney General Becerra also established a new Bureau of DisabilityRights at his department, as well as a new office focused on environmental justice, including how pollution and public health hazards disproportionately hurt communities of color. Overall, his record tells a story that is clear, compelling, and persuasive. He has fought against pharmaceutical companies, opioid manufacturers, tobacco companies and polluters and for more affordable, quality healthcare for every patient. I have no doubt as Secretary that he will put special interests on notice and put patients and public health first and put science, data, and experts back in the driver's seat. And he would also bring an important perspective to this role as a first-generation college student and the first Latino Secretary of Health and Human Services. He is exactly the kind of leader we need to make sure we make good on the promise of the historic investments we made in the American Rescue Plan to end this pandemic--investments to rapidly scale up testing and tracing and sequencing so we can identify new strains of COVID and slow the spread; investments to quickly and equitably get vaccines into arms, an effort that requires not just making vaccines available but breaking down barriers to access, promoting vaccine confidence, fighting misinformation, and engaging community partners; investments to build our public health infrastructure and recruit and train 100,000 public healthcare workers. He will also be a valuable partner to Congress as we work to address challenges that predate this pandemic but have been made all the more urgent, like rooting out systemic racism and addressing inequities in our healthcare system, which have made this pandemic so much more damaging and deadly for communities of color; like addressing the mental healthcare crisis, which the trauma of this pandemic has made so much worse; like fighting the opioid epidemic, a crisis which was deadlier than ever this past year; and like expanding access to quality affordable childcare, which has become more difficult for families to get during this pandemic. When this pandemic is over, we will need a strong leader at the Department to deal with the aftermath and with so many other outstanding issues: bringing down prescription drugs prices; making sure healthcare in this country is truly a right, not a privilege; undoing 4 years of attacks on reproductive rights and ensuring every woman can get reproductive healthcare, regardless of their race or income or ZIP Code or disability; lowering our unconscionably high maternal mortality rate; reversing the alarming trend of rising youth tobacco use; and ensuring the Office of Refugee Resettlement is upholding its welfare mission by prioritizing the well-being of every child in its care, ensuring they are treated with decency and humanity and kindness; and working to place children with suitable sponsors quickly and safely. We have our work cut out for us, but in Attorney General Becerra, we have a Secretary of Health who is up to the job. He has the support not only of Democrats but of Republicans, as the Republican attorneys general of both Louisiana and Tennessee have spoken highly of their experiences working with him. I urge every Senator who wants the Biden-Harris administration to succeed at ending this pandemic quickly, keeping our families safe, and ensuring everyone can get quality affordable healthcare to join me in voting to confirm him. Thank you. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1581-2	null	2,583
formal	single	null	homophobic	Nomination of Xavier Becerra Madam President, right now on the floor of the U.S. Senate is a reason not to be so happy, and that is why I look forward to very soon casting my vote to confirm Xavier Becerra to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, one of the most qualified and forward-thinking minds that will have ever run the Department of Health and Human Services. But today, Republicans are using this confirmation vote to continue their agenda of obstruction, deflecting attention away from the nominee who will be the head of the chief Federal Agency responding to the coronavirus crisis--all to revive an unnecessary, blatantly political debate on reproductive rights. This ridiculous delay tactic only highlights how out of step with the American people the Senate Republicans are. Their anti-choice, anti-woman, and anti-health rhetoric is on full display here on the Senate floor, and, sadly, it is not new. They want to roll back Roe v. Wade. They want to criminalize abortion care. They want the government to control women and their bodies. They want to roll back title IX protections for women on university campuses and completely gut the title X program to fund critical healthcare providers like Planned Parenthood. Republicans have put in place an anti-choice majority on the U.S. Supreme Court by confirming Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh and illegitimately filling Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's seat with Amy Coney Barrett. If there ever were a reason to abolish the filibuster, it is to ensure that we pass legislation to expand the Supreme Court so it cannot overturn Roe v. Wade and set us back decades in the fight for equal access to healthcare in our country. But here today, the Republicans are attempting to disrupt the nomination of our Secretary of Health and Human Services with a craven political play to their base at the expense of the health of Americans. They would rather play politics than confirm President Biden's Cabinet nominees. They would rather remain beholden to the far-right's interest groups than do the work the American people sent us here to do. For the past 4 years, the Trump administration emboldened these groups with dangerous rhetoric and far-right policies. But in November, how did the American people respond? They voted him out and gave the Democrats the Senate majority. Americans entrusted us to serve them, not fringe interest groups who want to turn back the clocks on healthcare and women's rights. That is why I stand on the floor of the U.S. Senate today to say abortion is healthcare. We cannot stand for any more disparities, delays, or denials. More than ever in this country, we need to stand up and raise our voices against the Republican's work to restrict access to reproductive health services. We have a fight ahead of us--a fight to protect reproductive freedom, a fight to make sure that birth control is affordable and available, and a fight for title X to ensure that low-income patients receive quality family planning and reproductive health services. Voters expect the Biden-Harris administration to take bold steps to protect and expand access to reproductive healthcare and freedoms, to ensure that every person has the fundamental right to make their own healthcare decisions, and they expect it because they want it. Public support for Roe v. Wade is at a record high. Seventy-seven percent of Americans support that historic Supreme Court decision. That goes beyond a simple majority to an overwhelming consensus. A couple of years ago, one analysis of polling found that there is not a single State in the United States where a majority of voters support ``making abortion illegal in all circumstances.'' The American people have moved past that debate that Republicans seem committed to resuscitating on the floor today. They are on the wrong side of history and the wrong side of the American people. So as Republicans try to hijack this confirmation vote on Xavier Becerra,all I can say is, enough. Enough with the era of extreme bodily discrimination. Enough with outside entities taking control over what a woman can and cannot do with her body. Enough with mounting barriers to reproductive services and birth control. Enough with criminalization of abortion care. Enough with creating roadblocks for poor women, immigrant women, and women of color to get equal access to healthcare. Enough with this offensive debate steeped in misogyny, partisanship, and tyranny. It is time to guarantee quality, affordable healthcare regardless of race, status, or gender. It is time to rectify the healthcare and reproductive injustices that have cost too many lives for too long. We must move away from the antiquated and ideological debate over women's bodies and recognize the spaces in which our government can promote equity. We can reshape policy to reflect the constitutional rights of all people. By delaying Xavier Becerra's nomination to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, Republicans seem more interested in denying the health rights of half of Americans than in protecting the health of all Americans. Plain and simple, Xavier Becerra is exceedingly qualified to be our next Health and Human Services Secretary. He has proven that he prioritizes science and facts, believes in each person's right to make health and medical decisions about their own bodies, and is dedicated to fighting for those most vulnerable in our society. His record and support for reproductive freedom reflect the will of the vast majority of Americans who support legal access to abortion. He is committed to reproductive freedom and understands the importance of ensuring people have access to the accurate information they need to make the best decisions for their lives and for their families. Xavier Becerra knows what is at stake, and I have the utmost confidence that he will lead with conviction, with compassion, and with care, and is ready to undo the damage that has been done by his predecessors. As America continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic, his confirmation is long overdue. I am proud to support Xavier Becerra today as Secretary of Health and Human Services. He will be one of the greatest Secretaries our country has ever known. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1595-2	null	2,584
formal	single	null	homophobic	Nomination of Xavier Becerra Madam President, just switching very briefly, I want to urge my colleagues to join me in support of the nomination of Xavier Becerra to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I consider Mr. Becerra a friend. I had the privilege of serving with him in the House of Representatives. In fact, we both came to Congress at the same time, a time, I might add, when there were far fewer Latinos elected to Federal office than we have today. As a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, Mr. Becerra frequently spoke up for the many Americans left behind by our healthcare system: seniors facing sky-high prescription drug bills, patients with preexisting conditions, children, and the working poor. Furthermore, he played an active role in the effort to pass the Affordable Care Act, a landmark law that since 2010 has changed the lives of millions of Americans in New Jersey and across the Nation for the better. As California's attorney general, no one has fought harder to protect the Affordable Care Act than Xavier Becerra. And if confirmed to this position, no one will work harder to protect and improve access to healthcare than he will. As the first Secretary of Health and Human Services of Latino descent, I know that Mr. Becerra will focus a great deal on addressing the health disparities that are harming so many lower income and minority communities nationwide, disparities we saw played out over the past year as COVID-19 claimed a disproportionate number of Black and Brown lives. Mr. Becerra will also work to undo the damage wrought by the Trump administration to our healthcare system, from weakening nursing home standards that left seniors more vulnerable in this pandemic to allowing health insurers to, once again, sell shoddy, skimpy plans to consumers that failed to protect them from massive medical bills. And, finally, I want to address some of the criticisms I have heard from my colleagues on the other side of the aisle regarding Mr. Becerra's qualifications. The notion that Mr. Becerra has no managerial experience is laughable, given that as California's attorney general, he has successfully led the second largest Justice Department in the Nation, second only to the U.S. Department of Justice. And it is not lost on me that those questioning Mr. Becerra's credentials are the very same colleagues who claim that Congressman Tom Price's background as a doctor qualified him to lead an Agency that touches the lives of every single person in our great land. Well, he was a disaster and did not last a full year as Secretary of HHS. And the immediate past Secretary was a lawyer who did a good job in his pharmaceutical firm of dramatically pushing up insulin prices. So I am confident that both Mr. Becerra's passion for healthcare issues, as demonstrated throughout his tenure in Congress, and his record as California's attorney general will serve him well as Secretary of Health and Human Services. I urge my colleagues to support his nomination. He will lead this Agency with integrity and, most importantly, make the health of the American people his No. 1 priority. With that, I yield the floor and thank my colleague from Ohio for indulging my time.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1597-2	null	2,585
formal	illegal immigrant	null	anti-Latino	Democrats' Agenda Madam President, on another matter, I also come to the floor to oppose what I see as a radical agenda of the Democrats in Congress. It has not even been 2 months since the Democrats took over the Senate, and they have already rolled out one of the most leftwing agendas in American history. They have already spent $1.9 trillion--trillion with a ``t''--$1.9 trillion of our tax dollars. Twenty-six Democrats have endorsed amnesty for illegal immigrants. Nearly every Democrat has endorsed giving statehood to Washington, DC, and now Senator Schumer has put gun control on the Senate's to-do list. Democrats have proposed a radical agenda that invades nearly every aspect of American life. Yet the driving force behind this agenda is not the Senate. It is still the House. House Democrats have gone after our First Amendment right to freedom of religion. They have gone after our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. They have gone after our right to work. When Democrats are in charge, none of our rights are safe. Neither are our most cherished institutions. House Democrats have gone after our police, gone after our elections. They lecture Republicans about accepting the results of elections. Yet they are trying to overturn an election in Iowa. Now, the lawyer the Democrats have put in charge of that case was justsanctioned in Federal court on ethics violations. Yet Speaker Pelosi has made it clear at her press conference on Friday that she supports the effort to overturn the election. That is not all. Democrats aren't just trying to change one election. They are trying to change all of our elections. They have passed a bill to change just about every aspect of our elections forever. A recent poll by Harvard shows that 71 percent of voters say they don't want future elections to be like they were in 2020. If Democrats get their way, every election will be a pandemic election. To change our elections, Democrats still need 60 votes in the Senate. That is why over the weekend, Democrats' allies at the New York Times endorsed changing the rules of the Senate. The paper explicitly said that that was the reason. The paper attacked Members of this body--Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema--who have had the courage to oppose changing the rules of the Senate. The editorial board said: ``This is a singular moment for American democracy, if Democrats are willing to seize it.'' It is dangerous. It is scary. Yet it is true. This is a singular moment. Once they rig the Senate, then they can rig our elections. Once they rig our elections, then there will be nothing to stop them. Then they can go after our religious freedoms. They can go after our rights to keep and bear arms. And they can spend as many of our hard-earned tax dollars as they want. This certainly is a singular moment for our democracy. It is a moment for Senators on both sides of the aisle to stand up to this radical agenda. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1603-2	null	2,586
formal	illegal immigrants	null	anti-Latino	Democrats' Agenda Madam President, on another matter, I also come to the floor to oppose what I see as a radical agenda of the Democrats in Congress. It has not even been 2 months since the Democrats took over the Senate, and they have already rolled out one of the most leftwing agendas in American history. They have already spent $1.9 trillion--trillion with a ``t''--$1.9 trillion of our tax dollars. Twenty-six Democrats have endorsed amnesty for illegal immigrants. Nearly every Democrat has endorsed giving statehood to Washington, DC, and now Senator Schumer has put gun control on the Senate's to-do list. Democrats have proposed a radical agenda that invades nearly every aspect of American life. Yet the driving force behind this agenda is not the Senate. It is still the House. House Democrats have gone after our First Amendment right to freedom of religion. They have gone after our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. They have gone after our right to work. When Democrats are in charge, none of our rights are safe. Neither are our most cherished institutions. House Democrats have gone after our police, gone after our elections. They lecture Republicans about accepting the results of elections. Yet they are trying to overturn an election in Iowa. Now, the lawyer the Democrats have put in charge of that case was justsanctioned in Federal court on ethics violations. Yet Speaker Pelosi has made it clear at her press conference on Friday that she supports the effort to overturn the election. That is not all. Democrats aren't just trying to change one election. They are trying to change all of our elections. They have passed a bill to change just about every aspect of our elections forever. A recent poll by Harvard shows that 71 percent of voters say they don't want future elections to be like they were in 2020. If Democrats get their way, every election will be a pandemic election. To change our elections, Democrats still need 60 votes in the Senate. That is why over the weekend, Democrats' allies at the New York Times endorsed changing the rules of the Senate. The paper explicitly said that that was the reason. The paper attacked Members of this body--Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema--who have had the courage to oppose changing the rules of the Senate. The editorial board said: ``This is a singular moment for American democracy, if Democrats are willing to seize it.'' It is dangerous. It is scary. Yet it is true. This is a singular moment. Once they rig the Senate, then they can rig our elections. Once they rig our elections, then there will be nothing to stop them. Then they can go after our religious freedoms. They can go after our rights to keep and bear arms. And they can spend as many of our hard-earned tax dollars as they want. This certainly is a singular moment for our democracy. It is a moment for Senators on both sides of the aisle to stand up to this radical agenda. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1603-2	null	2,587
formal	religious freedom	null	homophobic	Democrats' Agenda Madam President, on another matter, I also come to the floor to oppose what I see as a radical agenda of the Democrats in Congress. It has not even been 2 months since the Democrats took over the Senate, and they have already rolled out one of the most leftwing agendas in American history. They have already spent $1.9 trillion--trillion with a ``t''--$1.9 trillion of our tax dollars. Twenty-six Democrats have endorsed amnesty for illegal immigrants. Nearly every Democrat has endorsed giving statehood to Washington, DC, and now Senator Schumer has put gun control on the Senate's to-do list. Democrats have proposed a radical agenda that invades nearly every aspect of American life. Yet the driving force behind this agenda is not the Senate. It is still the House. House Democrats have gone after our First Amendment right to freedom of religion. They have gone after our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. They have gone after our right to work. When Democrats are in charge, none of our rights are safe. Neither are our most cherished institutions. House Democrats have gone after our police, gone after our elections. They lecture Republicans about accepting the results of elections. Yet they are trying to overturn an election in Iowa. Now, the lawyer the Democrats have put in charge of that case was justsanctioned in Federal court on ethics violations. Yet Speaker Pelosi has made it clear at her press conference on Friday that she supports the effort to overturn the election. That is not all. Democrats aren't just trying to change one election. They are trying to change all of our elections. They have passed a bill to change just about every aspect of our elections forever. A recent poll by Harvard shows that 71 percent of voters say they don't want future elections to be like they were in 2020. If Democrats get their way, every election will be a pandemic election. To change our elections, Democrats still need 60 votes in the Senate. That is why over the weekend, Democrats' allies at the New York Times endorsed changing the rules of the Senate. The paper explicitly said that that was the reason. The paper attacked Members of this body--Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema--who have had the courage to oppose changing the rules of the Senate. The editorial board said: ``This is a singular moment for American democracy, if Democrats are willing to seize it.'' It is dangerous. It is scary. Yet it is true. This is a singular moment. Once they rig the Senate, then they can rig our elections. Once they rig our elections, then there will be nothing to stop them. Then they can go after our religious freedoms. They can go after our rights to keep and bear arms. And they can spend as many of our hard-earned tax dollars as they want. This certainly is a singular moment for our democracy. It is a moment for Senators on both sides of the aisle to stand up to this radical agenda. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1603-2	null	2,588
formal	freedom of religion	null	homophobic	Democrats' Agenda Madam President, on another matter, I also come to the floor to oppose what I see as a radical agenda of the Democrats in Congress. It has not even been 2 months since the Democrats took over the Senate, and they have already rolled out one of the most leftwing agendas in American history. They have already spent $1.9 trillion--trillion with a ``t''--$1.9 trillion of our tax dollars. Twenty-six Democrats have endorsed amnesty for illegal immigrants. Nearly every Democrat has endorsed giving statehood to Washington, DC, and now Senator Schumer has put gun control on the Senate's to-do list. Democrats have proposed a radical agenda that invades nearly every aspect of American life. Yet the driving force behind this agenda is not the Senate. It is still the House. House Democrats have gone after our First Amendment right to freedom of religion. They have gone after our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. They have gone after our right to work. When Democrats are in charge, none of our rights are safe. Neither are our most cherished institutions. House Democrats have gone after our police, gone after our elections. They lecture Republicans about accepting the results of elections. Yet they are trying to overturn an election in Iowa. Now, the lawyer the Democrats have put in charge of that case was justsanctioned in Federal court on ethics violations. Yet Speaker Pelosi has made it clear at her press conference on Friday that she supports the effort to overturn the election. That is not all. Democrats aren't just trying to change one election. They are trying to change all of our elections. They have passed a bill to change just about every aspect of our elections forever. A recent poll by Harvard shows that 71 percent of voters say they don't want future elections to be like they were in 2020. If Democrats get their way, every election will be a pandemic election. To change our elections, Democrats still need 60 votes in the Senate. That is why over the weekend, Democrats' allies at the New York Times endorsed changing the rules of the Senate. The paper explicitly said that that was the reason. The paper attacked Members of this body--Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema--who have had the courage to oppose changing the rules of the Senate. The editorial board said: ``This is a singular moment for American democracy, if Democrats are willing to seize it.'' It is dangerous. It is scary. Yet it is true. This is a singular moment. Once they rig the Senate, then they can rig our elections. Once they rig our elections, then there will be nothing to stop them. Then they can go after our religious freedoms. They can go after our rights to keep and bear arms. And they can spend as many of our hard-earned tax dollars as they want. This certainly is a singular moment for our democracy. It is a moment for Senators on both sides of the aisle to stand up to this radical agenda. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1603-2	null	2,589
formal	right to work	null	anti-GMO	Democrats' Agenda Madam President, on another matter, I also come to the floor to oppose what I see as a radical agenda of the Democrats in Congress. It has not even been 2 months since the Democrats took over the Senate, and they have already rolled out one of the most leftwing agendas in American history. They have already spent $1.9 trillion--trillion with a ``t''--$1.9 trillion of our tax dollars. Twenty-six Democrats have endorsed amnesty for illegal immigrants. Nearly every Democrat has endorsed giving statehood to Washington, DC, and now Senator Schumer has put gun control on the Senate's to-do list. Democrats have proposed a radical agenda that invades nearly every aspect of American life. Yet the driving force behind this agenda is not the Senate. It is still the House. House Democrats have gone after our First Amendment right to freedom of religion. They have gone after our Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. They have gone after our right to work. When Democrats are in charge, none of our rights are safe. Neither are our most cherished institutions. House Democrats have gone after our police, gone after our elections. They lecture Republicans about accepting the results of elections. Yet they are trying to overturn an election in Iowa. Now, the lawyer the Democrats have put in charge of that case was justsanctioned in Federal court on ethics violations. Yet Speaker Pelosi has made it clear at her press conference on Friday that she supports the effort to overturn the election. That is not all. Democrats aren't just trying to change one election. They are trying to change all of our elections. They have passed a bill to change just about every aspect of our elections forever. A recent poll by Harvard shows that 71 percent of voters say they don't want future elections to be like they were in 2020. If Democrats get their way, every election will be a pandemic election. To change our elections, Democrats still need 60 votes in the Senate. That is why over the weekend, Democrats' allies at the New York Times endorsed changing the rules of the Senate. The paper explicitly said that that was the reason. The paper attacked Members of this body--Senator Manchin and Senator Sinema--who have had the courage to oppose changing the rules of the Senate. The editorial board said: ``This is a singular moment for American democracy, if Democrats are willing to seize it.'' It is dangerous. It is scary. Yet it is true. This is a singular moment. Once they rig the Senate, then they can rig our elections. Once they rig our elections, then there will be nothing to stop them. Then they can go after our religious freedoms. They can go after our rights to keep and bear arms. And they can spend as many of our hard-earned tax dollars as they want. This certainly is a singular moment for our democracy. It is a moment for Senators on both sides of the aisle to stand up to this radical agenda. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1603-2	null	2,590
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Georgia Shootings Madam President, last night, near Atlanta, GA, a gunman murdered eight people in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent. We mourn the lives of those lost and pray for the families and loved ones. While local and Federal authorities are still investigating the gunman's motives, we know that in the past year it has been a perilous time for Asian Americans and those from the Pacific Islands, especially women. Since the pandemic began last March, nearly 3,800 hate incidents targeting these Americans have been reported. I expect the number of unreported incidents is much higher. Asian-American women have had racist insults shouted at them from across streets. Grandparents have been assaulted and killed while running errands. Some Asian Americans have even begun carrying pepper spray, wearing body cameras, and walking in groups to protect themselves from wanton violence. Increasingly, AAPI Americans do not feel safe in their own neighborhoods. This palpable fear is proof of how dangerous racist stereotypes and demagoguery can be. When former President Trump insists on calling the coronavirus the ``China virus,'' as he did again last night on FOX News, he is not simply spouting hateful, childish rhetoric. He is granting people permission. Permission to target neighbors and fellow citizens. Permission to hate. This kind of language divides and preys on fears. It offers the kind of answer to every problem that you might expect from these people. There is always somebody you could fear and someone you can hate. The sad reality is that racist fear-mongering has always been part of the American story. Today, we know, by testimony from the FBI Director, that it is a growing danger to every American. Intelligence analysts warn us that White supremacists and other far-right extremists are the most significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States. Of course, we look across the ocean to the threat of terrorism after 9/11. Sadly, now we have to look across the street. For far too long the Federal Government has failed to adequately address this growing threat. We saw the lethal results of that inattention on January 6, right here in this Senate Chamber. Groups of far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis, provoked by former President Trump, stormed our Capitol in an attempted insurrection. I have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give law enforcement the resources to address this threat. It is called the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. It would establish offices to combat domestic terrorism in the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. Those offices would assess the domestic terrorism threat regularly so that law enforcement can focus their limited resources on the most significant threats, like those facing AAPI Americans today. My bill would also provide training and resources to assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement in addressing those threats. I am sure communities across this Nation could use that support. And there is the issue of how these terrorist acts are committed. Last night's attack near Atlanta was a mass shooting, a uniquely American threat. Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will hold a hearing on gun violence in America. Too many people get shot in America--not just near Atlanta but in the cities of Chicago and St. Louis and all across our country. How many times have we seen images in those communities like we did last night of another mass shooting? America is better than this. We need to take action to reduce the number of gun deaths in this Nation. We are going to get to work in the Senate Judiciary Committee to try to find some common, bipartisan ground to address it. Maybe we will fail. I hope we succeed. We have to try. It is time for the Senate to stop cowering before any special interest group and pass commonsense gun safety policy. To the people of Atlanta, to members of the AAPI community, and all across America, we are standing with you. We are grieving with you. We will do everything in our power to protect you	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1605-2	null	2,591
formal	extremists	null	Islamophobic	Georgia Shootings Madam President, last night, near Atlanta, GA, a gunman murdered eight people in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent. We mourn the lives of those lost and pray for the families and loved ones. While local and Federal authorities are still investigating the gunman's motives, we know that in the past year it has been a perilous time for Asian Americans and those from the Pacific Islands, especially women. Since the pandemic began last March, nearly 3,800 hate incidents targeting these Americans have been reported. I expect the number of unreported incidents is much higher. Asian-American women have had racist insults shouted at them from across streets. Grandparents have been assaulted and killed while running errands. Some Asian Americans have even begun carrying pepper spray, wearing body cameras, and walking in groups to protect themselves from wanton violence. Increasingly, AAPI Americans do not feel safe in their own neighborhoods. This palpable fear is proof of how dangerous racist stereotypes and demagoguery can be. When former President Trump insists on calling the coronavirus the ``China virus,'' as he did again last night on FOX News, he is not simply spouting hateful, childish rhetoric. He is granting people permission. Permission to target neighbors and fellow citizens. Permission to hate. This kind of language divides and preys on fears. It offers the kind of answer to every problem that you might expect from these people. There is always somebody you could fear and someone you can hate. The sad reality is that racist fear-mongering has always been part of the American story. Today, we know, by testimony from the FBI Director, that it is a growing danger to every American. Intelligence analysts warn us that White supremacists and other far-right extremists are the most significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States. Of course, we look across the ocean to the threat of terrorism after 9/11. Sadly, now we have to look across the street. For far too long the Federal Government has failed to adequately address this growing threat. We saw the lethal results of that inattention on January 6, right here in this Senate Chamber. Groups of far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis, provoked by former President Trump, stormed our Capitol in an attempted insurrection. I have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give law enforcement the resources to address this threat. It is called the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. It would establish offices to combat domestic terrorism in the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. Those offices would assess the domestic terrorism threat regularly so that law enforcement can focus their limited resources on the most significant threats, like those facing AAPI Americans today. My bill would also provide training and resources to assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement in addressing those threats. I am sure communities across this Nation could use that support. And there is the issue of how these terrorist acts are committed. Last night's attack near Atlanta was a mass shooting, a uniquely American threat. Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will hold a hearing on gun violence in America. Too many people get shot in America--not just near Atlanta but in the cities of Chicago and St. Louis and all across our country. How many times have we seen images in those communities like we did last night of another mass shooting? America is better than this. We need to take action to reduce the number of gun deaths in this Nation. We are going to get to work in the Senate Judiciary Committee to try to find some common, bipartisan ground to address it. Maybe we will fail. I hope we succeed. We have to try. It is time for the Senate to stop cowering before any special interest group and pass commonsense gun safety policy. To the people of Atlanta, to members of the AAPI community, and all across America, we are standing with you. We are grieving with you. We will do everything in our power to protect you	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1605-2	null	2,592
formal	terrorism	null	Islamophobic	Georgia Shootings Madam President, last night, near Atlanta, GA, a gunman murdered eight people in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent. We mourn the lives of those lost and pray for the families and loved ones. While local and Federal authorities are still investigating the gunman's motives, we know that in the past year it has been a perilous time for Asian Americans and those from the Pacific Islands, especially women. Since the pandemic began last March, nearly 3,800 hate incidents targeting these Americans have been reported. I expect the number of unreported incidents is much higher. Asian-American women have had racist insults shouted at them from across streets. Grandparents have been assaulted and killed while running errands. Some Asian Americans have even begun carrying pepper spray, wearing body cameras, and walking in groups to protect themselves from wanton violence. Increasingly, AAPI Americans do not feel safe in their own neighborhoods. This palpable fear is proof of how dangerous racist stereotypes and demagoguery can be. When former President Trump insists on calling the coronavirus the ``China virus,'' as he did again last night on FOX News, he is not simply spouting hateful, childish rhetoric. He is granting people permission. Permission to target neighbors and fellow citizens. Permission to hate. This kind of language divides and preys on fears. It offers the kind of answer to every problem that you might expect from these people. There is always somebody you could fear and someone you can hate. The sad reality is that racist fear-mongering has always been part of the American story. Today, we know, by testimony from the FBI Director, that it is a growing danger to every American. Intelligence analysts warn us that White supremacists and other far-right extremists are the most significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States. Of course, we look across the ocean to the threat of terrorism after 9/11. Sadly, now we have to look across the street. For far too long the Federal Government has failed to adequately address this growing threat. We saw the lethal results of that inattention on January 6, right here in this Senate Chamber. Groups of far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis, provoked by former President Trump, stormed our Capitol in an attempted insurrection. I have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give law enforcement the resources to address this threat. It is called the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. It would establish offices to combat domestic terrorism in the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. Those offices would assess the domestic terrorism threat regularly so that law enforcement can focus their limited resources on the most significant threats, like those facing AAPI Americans today. My bill would also provide training and resources to assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement in addressing those threats. I am sure communities across this Nation could use that support. And there is the issue of how these terrorist acts are committed. Last night's attack near Atlanta was a mass shooting, a uniquely American threat. Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will hold a hearing on gun violence in America. Too many people get shot in America--not just near Atlanta but in the cities of Chicago and St. Louis and all across our country. How many times have we seen images in those communities like we did last night of another mass shooting? America is better than this. We need to take action to reduce the number of gun deaths in this Nation. We are going to get to work in the Senate Judiciary Committee to try to find some common, bipartisan ground to address it. Maybe we will fail. I hope we succeed. We have to try. It is time for the Senate to stop cowering before any special interest group and pass commonsense gun safety policy. To the people of Atlanta, to members of the AAPI community, and all across America, we are standing with you. We are grieving with you. We will do everything in our power to protect you	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1605-2	null	2,593
formal	terrorist	null	Islamophobic	Georgia Shootings Madam President, last night, near Atlanta, GA, a gunman murdered eight people in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent. We mourn the lives of those lost and pray for the families and loved ones. While local and Federal authorities are still investigating the gunman's motives, we know that in the past year it has been a perilous time for Asian Americans and those from the Pacific Islands, especially women. Since the pandemic began last March, nearly 3,800 hate incidents targeting these Americans have been reported. I expect the number of unreported incidents is much higher. Asian-American women have had racist insults shouted at them from across streets. Grandparents have been assaulted and killed while running errands. Some Asian Americans have even begun carrying pepper spray, wearing body cameras, and walking in groups to protect themselves from wanton violence. Increasingly, AAPI Americans do not feel safe in their own neighborhoods. This palpable fear is proof of how dangerous racist stereotypes and demagoguery can be. When former President Trump insists on calling the coronavirus the ``China virus,'' as he did again last night on FOX News, he is not simply spouting hateful, childish rhetoric. He is granting people permission. Permission to target neighbors and fellow citizens. Permission to hate. This kind of language divides and preys on fears. It offers the kind of answer to every problem that you might expect from these people. There is always somebody you could fear and someone you can hate. The sad reality is that racist fear-mongering has always been part of the American story. Today, we know, by testimony from the FBI Director, that it is a growing danger to every American. Intelligence analysts warn us that White supremacists and other far-right extremists are the most significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States. Of course, we look across the ocean to the threat of terrorism after 9/11. Sadly, now we have to look across the street. For far too long the Federal Government has failed to adequately address this growing threat. We saw the lethal results of that inattention on January 6, right here in this Senate Chamber. Groups of far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis, provoked by former President Trump, stormed our Capitol in an attempted insurrection. I have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give law enforcement the resources to address this threat. It is called the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. It would establish offices to combat domestic terrorism in the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. Those offices would assess the domestic terrorism threat regularly so that law enforcement can focus their limited resources on the most significant threats, like those facing AAPI Americans today. My bill would also provide training and resources to assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement in addressing those threats. I am sure communities across this Nation could use that support. And there is the issue of how these terrorist acts are committed. Last night's attack near Atlanta was a mass shooting, a uniquely American threat. Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will hold a hearing on gun violence in America. Too many people get shot in America--not just near Atlanta but in the cities of Chicago and St. Louis and all across our country. How many times have we seen images in those communities like we did last night of another mass shooting? America is better than this. We need to take action to reduce the number of gun deaths in this Nation. We are going to get to work in the Senate Judiciary Committee to try to find some common, bipartisan ground to address it. Maybe we will fail. I hope we succeed. We have to try. It is time for the Senate to stop cowering before any special interest group and pass commonsense gun safety policy. To the people of Atlanta, to members of the AAPI community, and all across America, we are standing with you. We are grieving with you. We will do everything in our power to protect you	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1605-2	null	2,594
formal	Chicago	null	racist	Georgia Shootings Madam President, last night, near Atlanta, GA, a gunman murdered eight people in what appears to be an act of domestic terrorism. Six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent. We mourn the lives of those lost and pray for the families and loved ones. While local and Federal authorities are still investigating the gunman's motives, we know that in the past year it has been a perilous time for Asian Americans and those from the Pacific Islands, especially women. Since the pandemic began last March, nearly 3,800 hate incidents targeting these Americans have been reported. I expect the number of unreported incidents is much higher. Asian-American women have had racist insults shouted at them from across streets. Grandparents have been assaulted and killed while running errands. Some Asian Americans have even begun carrying pepper spray, wearing body cameras, and walking in groups to protect themselves from wanton violence. Increasingly, AAPI Americans do not feel safe in their own neighborhoods. This palpable fear is proof of how dangerous racist stereotypes and demagoguery can be. When former President Trump insists on calling the coronavirus the ``China virus,'' as he did again last night on FOX News, he is not simply spouting hateful, childish rhetoric. He is granting people permission. Permission to target neighbors and fellow citizens. Permission to hate. This kind of language divides and preys on fears. It offers the kind of answer to every problem that you might expect from these people. There is always somebody you could fear and someone you can hate. The sad reality is that racist fear-mongering has always been part of the American story. Today, we know, by testimony from the FBI Director, that it is a growing danger to every American. Intelligence analysts warn us that White supremacists and other far-right extremists are the most significant domestic terrorism threat facing the United States. Of course, we look across the ocean to the threat of terrorism after 9/11. Sadly, now we have to look across the street. For far too long the Federal Government has failed to adequately address this growing threat. We saw the lethal results of that inattention on January 6, right here in this Senate Chamber. Groups of far-right nationalists and neo-Nazis, provoked by former President Trump, stormed our Capitol in an attempted insurrection. I have introduced a bipartisan bill in the Senate that would give law enforcement the resources to address this threat. It is called the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act. It would establish offices to combat domestic terrorism in the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security. Those offices would assess the domestic terrorism threat regularly so that law enforcement can focus their limited resources on the most significant threats, like those facing AAPI Americans today. My bill would also provide training and resources to assist State, local, and Tribal law enforcement in addressing those threats. I am sure communities across this Nation could use that support. And there is the issue of how these terrorist acts are committed. Last night's attack near Atlanta was a mass shooting, a uniquely American threat. Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I chair, will hold a hearing on gun violence in America. Too many people get shot in America--not just near Atlanta but in the cities of Chicago and St. Louis and all across our country. How many times have we seen images in those communities like we did last night of another mass shooting? America is better than this. We need to take action to reduce the number of gun deaths in this Nation. We are going to get to work in the Senate Judiciary Committee to try to find some common, bipartisan ground to address it. Maybe we will fail. I hope we succeed. We have to try. It is time for the Senate to stop cowering before any special interest group and pass commonsense gun safety policy. To the people of Atlanta, to members of the AAPI community, and all across America, we are standing with you. We are grieving with you. We will do everything in our power to protect you	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1605-2	null	2,595
formal	working-class communities	null	racist	Nomination of Xavier Becerra Mr. President, I rise today to speak in support of the nomination of my friend California Attorney General Xavier Becerra to serve as Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. As we all know, as we all feel, our Nation is going through one of the toughest health crises in our history. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken an incredible toll on our country. Every State has been impacted. Every community has suffered, especially working-class communities and communities of color, like the very neighborhoods that Attorney General Becerra and I grew up in. These communities are hurting and people are dying at alarming rates, and they desperately need someone who knows these communities to their core. Throughout his career, Xavier Becerra has always fought to improve the lives of his constituents. As the first Latino attorney general of California, he made it his mission to tackle the structural inequalities in our healthcare system. As has been referenced already, Attorney General Becerra was the leading force behind the lawsuit to protect the Affordable Care Act. Yes, he had the audacity to maintain protections for people with preexisting conditions and for those suffering from a mental illness. Over the course of this past year, he has also fought to protect frontline healthcare workers from further exposure to COVID-19. Xavier Becerra's parents emigrated from Mexico, just like my parents did, with a dream of building a better life for themselves and their family. Just a few days ago, I spoke in this Chamber about my family's history and journey in this country. A hard-working short-order cook and housekeeper raised the son who now serves in the U.S. Senate. The same is true for Xavier Becerra's family. He, the son of a construction and clerical worker, is on the verge of becoming the most important health official in our Nation. That is the American dream. But, unfortunately, tragically, over half a million Americans have had their dream cut short by COVID-19, over half a million lives lost and millions more lives upended by this pandemic. We need to act with urgency to end this crisis--urgency. But as I rise today to address this Chamber, urgency is severely lacking. While millions of Americans continue to struggle, our Republican colleagues are dragging things out, playing politics with the confirmation of Attorney General Becerra, one of the most qualified nominees to lead the Department of Health and Human Services that this Chamber has ever considered. They have distorted his record. Let me point out that many Members of this Senate have worked alongside Xavier Becerra here in Congress for decades. Republicans and Democrats know Xavier Becerra is both a thoughtful leader and someone who is always willing to listen to both sides of an argument. He built an outstanding reputation in the House, both as a legislator and as a colleague. As attorney general of California, overseeing the largest department of justice in the Nation, second only to the U.S. Department of Justice, Xavier showed no fear in working across the aisle. In fact, he partnered with Republican attorneys general to increase access to lifesaving drugs to treat COVID-19. He worked across the aisle to protect drug discounts for health centers. I can't help but point out the obvious. In fact, I am prepared to make this abundantly clear to the American people. The cynical delays and political games that we see being played are not actually about Mr. Becerra's qualifications. He is just as qualified as any of his predecessors. Sadly, Xavier Becerra is being held to a different standard--a different standard than other nominees this Chamber has supported and confirmed over the last 4 years, including our most recent Health and Human Services Secretary. Let me also say this. As some of the first Latinos in our respective positions, both Xavier and I are not unfamiliar with being held to a different standard. It is a different standard today that is so stark that our colleagues are willing to delay his confirmation through the night. Yes, in the middle of a global health pandemic, Republicans are holding up the nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services. They are holding up the first Latino nominee to head this critical agency during a pandemic that has disproportionately devastated the Latino community. It is time to let Xavier Becerra get to work. I urge my colleagues to end the delay on Xavier Becerra's confirmation for Secretary of Health and Human Services. Thank you, Mr. President.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1609-2	null	2,596
formal	hard-working Americans	null	racist	Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of Xavier Becerra's nomination to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I am proud to have known Xavier Becerra for many years as both a friend and colleague. He has spent decades serving California, including as the State's attorney general and as a 12-term Congressman from Los Angeles. Mr. Becerra was the first in his family to receive a 4-year college degree, earning his bachelor of arts in economics from Stanford University and, later, his juris doctorate from Stanford Law School. As a member of the House of Representatives, he was a strong advocate for the healthcare of his constituents and fought to make the Affordable Care Act law. And as California attorney general he has been a staunch defender of the Affordable Care Act, leading 20 States and the District of Columbia in defense of the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court. As part of his focus on protecting the health of Americans, Mr. Becerra has worked on a bipartisan basis with multistate coalitions of attorneys general on issues still affecting our country today. These include the need to reduce youth exposure to tobacco products like e-cigarettes, increasing access to COVID-19 treatments, as well as addressing the opioid epidemic and the considerable harm it has caused families. As our State's attorney general, Mr. Becerra has led the Nation's second largest department of justice behind only the U.S. Department of Justice. His experience leading large and diverse organizations will position him to successfully lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which is the Nation's largest Federal agency by budget. As Secretary, he will lead the Nation's top health agency charged with enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans. In this global pandemic, he will play a lead role in overseeing the implementation of President Biden's national strategy for COVID-19 response, which is vital to defeating the virus that has plagued our country for far too long. His history-making nomination as the first Latino to manage this Department comes at a time when this pandemic is affecting communities of color at much higher rates than white Americans. And those of us who know him personally know the level of his concern and the strength of his dedication to protect the health and safety of all hard-working Americans and their families. In short, Xavier Becerra is the right candidate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services at this time, and I strongly urge the Senate to confirm his nomination. Thank you.	2020-01-06	Mrs. FEINSTEIN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1610	null	2,597
formal	hard-working American	null	racist	Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in support of Xavier Becerra's nomination to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I am proud to have known Xavier Becerra for many years as both a friend and colleague. He has spent decades serving California, including as the State's attorney general and as a 12-term Congressman from Los Angeles. Mr. Becerra was the first in his family to receive a 4-year college degree, earning his bachelor of arts in economics from Stanford University and, later, his juris doctorate from Stanford Law School. As a member of the House of Representatives, he was a strong advocate for the healthcare of his constituents and fought to make the Affordable Care Act law. And as California attorney general he has been a staunch defender of the Affordable Care Act, leading 20 States and the District of Columbia in defense of the Affordable Care Act before the Supreme Court. As part of his focus on protecting the health of Americans, Mr. Becerra has worked on a bipartisan basis with multistate coalitions of attorneys general on issues still affecting our country today. These include the need to reduce youth exposure to tobacco products like e-cigarettes, increasing access to COVID-19 treatments, as well as addressing the opioid epidemic and the considerable harm it has caused families. As our State's attorney general, Mr. Becerra has led the Nation's second largest department of justice behind only the U.S. Department of Justice. His experience leading large and diverse organizations will position him to successfully lead the Department of Health and Human Services, which is the Nation's largest Federal agency by budget. As Secretary, he will lead the Nation's top health agency charged with enhancing the health and well-being of all Americans. In this global pandemic, he will play a lead role in overseeing the implementation of President Biden's national strategy for COVID-19 response, which is vital to defeating the virus that has plagued our country for far too long. His history-making nomination as the first Latino to manage this Department comes at a time when this pandemic is affecting communities of color at much higher rates than white Americans. And those of us who know him personally know the level of his concern and the strength of his dedication to protect the health and safety of all hard-working Americans and their families. In short, Xavier Becerra is the right candidate to lead the Department of Health and Human Services at this time, and I strongly urge the Senate to confirm his nomination. Thank you.	2020-01-06	Mrs. FEINSTEIN	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1610	null	2,598
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-637. 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; South Coast Air Quality Management District; Ventura County Air Pollution Control District; Correction'' (FRL No. 10021-07-Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on March 15, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-638. 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; Kentucky; Jefferson County Gasoline Loading Facilities at Existing Bulk Terminals and New Bulk Plants'' (FRL No. 10021-39-Region 4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on March 15, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-639. 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; Kentucky; Jefferson County Existing and New VOC Storage Vessels Rule Changes'' (FRL No. 10021-19-Region 4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on March 15, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-640. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Amendment of 40 CFR 63.6(f)(1) and 40 CFR 63(h)(1) to Reflect Court Vacatur of Exemption from Emission Standards During Periods of Startup, Shutdown, and Malfunction'' (FRL No. 10019-05-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on March 15, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-641. A communication from the Endangered Species Biologist, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Removal of the Bradshaw's Lomatium (Lomatium bradshawii) From the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife'' (RIN1018-BD59) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on March 15, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-642. A communication from the Chair, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``March 2021 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP''; to the Committee on Finance	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2021-03-17-pt1-PgS1613-2	null	2,599

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