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formal | based | null | white supremacist | SA 1458. Mrs. BLACKBURN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1445 proposed by Mr. Schumer (for Ms. Hirono (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mr. Blumenthal, and Mr. Warnock)) to the bill S. 937, to facilitate the expedited review of COVID-19 hate crimes, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: Beginning on page 4, strike line 11 and all that follows through page 21, line 19 and insert the following: (1) establish online reporting of hate crimes, and to have online reporting that is equally effective for people with disabilities as for people without disabilities available in multiple languages as determined by the Attorney General; and (2) collect data disaggregated by the protected characteristics described in section 249 of title 18, United States Code. (b) Guidance Relating to COVID-19 Pandemic.--The Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force and community-based organizations, shall issue guidance on how to report hate crimes during the COVID-19 pandemic. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-21-pt1-PgS2132 | null | 2,800 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to table the motion to reconsider the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bills (H.R. 367) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an acquisition professional career program, and for other purposes; (H.R. 370) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other purposes; (H.R. 396) to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11Commission Act of 2007 to clarify certain allowable uses of funds for public transportation security assistance grants and establish periods of performance for such grants, and for other purposes; (H.R. 397) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security, and for other purposes; (H.R. 408) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a mentor-protege program, and for other purposes; (H.R. 490) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes; (H.R. 965) to establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1251) to support United States international cyber diplomacy, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1395) to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to discount FHA single-family mortgage insurance premium payments for first-time homebuyers who complete a financial literacy housing counseling program; (H.R. 1491) to amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1528) to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to carry out a study of Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1532) to require a review of the effects of FHA mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products on small-dollar mortgage lending, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1565) to create an interdivisional taskforce at the Securities and Exchange Commission for senior investors; (H.R. 1602) to direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to jointly establish a digital asset working group, and for other purposes; (H.R. 2523) to amend the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to improve the COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance program, to make certain technical corrections to the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, and for other purposes; and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 124) supporting the people of Belarus and their democratic aspirations and condemning the election rigging and subsequent violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters by the illegitimate Lukashenka regime, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgH2089 | null | 2,801 |
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 table the motion to reconsider the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bills (H.R. 367) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an acquisition professional career program, and for other purposes; (H.R. 370) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other purposes; (H.R. 396) to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11Commission Act of 2007 to clarify certain allowable uses of funds for public transportation security assistance grants and establish periods of performance for such grants, and for other purposes; (H.R. 397) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security, and for other purposes; (H.R. 408) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a mentor-protege program, and for other purposes; (H.R. 490) to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes; (H.R. 965) to establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1251) to support United States international cyber diplomacy, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1395) to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to discount FHA single-family mortgage insurance premium payments for first-time homebuyers who complete a financial literacy housing counseling program; (H.R. 1491) to amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1528) to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to carry out a study of Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1532) to require a review of the effects of FHA mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products on small-dollar mortgage lending, and for other purposes; (H.R. 1565) to create an interdivisional taskforce at the Securities and Exchange Commission for senior investors; (H.R. 1602) to direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to jointly establish a digital asset working group, and for other purposes; (H.R. 2523) to amend the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to improve the COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance program, to make certain technical corrections to the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, and for other purposes; and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 124) supporting the people of Belarus and their democratic aspirations and condemning the election rigging and subsequent violent crackdowns on peaceful protesters by the illegitimate Lukashenka regime, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgH2089 | null | 2,802 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now on climate, this year's celebration of Earth Day comes with an ambitious new goal from the Biden administration: The United States should aim to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade. It is a great goal. I fully support it. Not only is President Biden finally returning the United States to a position of global leadership in the fight against climate change, but he is showing that America is ready to ramp up our climate ambition beyond--beyond--the Paris Agreement. Now, it will take extraordinary action to meet the marker that President Biden laid down, but he was exactly right to do it. If we need any reminders about what America can achieve when it puts its mind to something, President Kennedy committed to landing on the Moon over the course of a single decade. If America could reach that lofty goal in the name of ingenuity, in the name of exploration, surely we can achieve this goal in the name of saving the planet on which we live. Now, I believe the best way to achieve this ambitious goal is through bold action by this Congress through legislation to reduce carbon pollution while creating millions of jobs and economic prosperity in a new clean energy economy. Any legislation without a serious and bold climate component will make it much, much harder to achieve President Biden's goal, and we must work to have a strong green climate component in the American Jobs Plan. The Democratic majority here in the Senate is eager to get to work. One of the very first things I did when Democrats took the majority was to instruct every committee chair--the new committee chairs--to hold hearings on the climate crisis to begin preparing for landmark legislation. I repeat once again that any infrastructure bill we consider here in the Senate must include green infrastructure, create green jobs, and make significant progress toward the reduction of greenhouse gases. Luckily, the Senate will have an opportunity to address another serious climate-related issue next week. The Senate will consider a Congressional Review Act bill before the end of the work period to reimpose critical regulations concerning the release of methane into our atmosphere. Methane gets less attention than its big bad brother, carbon dioxide, but in truth, methane is like carbon dioxide on steroids. Over 20 years, a ton of methane will warm the atmosphere more than 86 times as much as a ton of carbon dioxide, but because it breaks down much faster than carbon dioxide, the gains we make in the reduction of methane emissions can reduce global warming even faster. Many of the things we need to do to reduce methane emissions are fairly cheap and cost-effective, like plugging leaks in fossil fuel infrastructure. So this made common sense, especially when our globe is at risk. The Obama administration had instituted these commonsense rules of the road to encourage that sort of activity. It was widely supported, even by industry. The Trump administration, so typically and so unfortunately, reversed those rules in an act of pure idiocy. The Senate Democratic majority will soon put a bill on the floor to revert back to the original policy, which should never have been tampered with in the first place. Reducing methane emissions will be only the first of many actions this Senate will take to combat climate change. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2138-2 | null | 2,803 |
formal | steroids | null | transphobic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now on climate, this year's celebration of Earth Day comes with an ambitious new goal from the Biden administration: The United States should aim to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade. It is a great goal. I fully support it. Not only is President Biden finally returning the United States to a position of global leadership in the fight against climate change, but he is showing that America is ready to ramp up our climate ambition beyond--beyond--the Paris Agreement. Now, it will take extraordinary action to meet the marker that President Biden laid down, but he was exactly right to do it. If we need any reminders about what America can achieve when it puts its mind to something, President Kennedy committed to landing on the Moon over the course of a single decade. If America could reach that lofty goal in the name of ingenuity, in the name of exploration, surely we can achieve this goal in the name of saving the planet on which we live. Now, I believe the best way to achieve this ambitious goal is through bold action by this Congress through legislation to reduce carbon pollution while creating millions of jobs and economic prosperity in a new clean energy economy. Any legislation without a serious and bold climate component will make it much, much harder to achieve President Biden's goal, and we must work to have a strong green climate component in the American Jobs Plan. The Democratic majority here in the Senate is eager to get to work. One of the very first things I did when Democrats took the majority was to instruct every committee chair--the new committee chairs--to hold hearings on the climate crisis to begin preparing for landmark legislation. I repeat once again that any infrastructure bill we consider here in the Senate must include green infrastructure, create green jobs, and make significant progress toward the reduction of greenhouse gases. Luckily, the Senate will have an opportunity to address another serious climate-related issue next week. The Senate will consider a Congressional Review Act bill before the end of the work period to reimpose critical regulations concerning the release of methane into our atmosphere. Methane gets less attention than its big bad brother, carbon dioxide, but in truth, methane is like carbon dioxide on steroids. Over 20 years, a ton of methane will warm the atmosphere more than 86 times as much as a ton of carbon dioxide, but because it breaks down much faster than carbon dioxide, the gains we make in the reduction of methane emissions can reduce global warming even faster. Many of the things we need to do to reduce methane emissions are fairly cheap and cost-effective, like plugging leaks in fossil fuel infrastructure. So this made common sense, especially when our globe is at risk. The Obama administration had instituted these commonsense rules of the road to encourage that sort of activity. It was widely supported, even by industry. The Trump administration, so typically and so unfortunately, reversed those rules in an act of pure idiocy. The Senate Democratic majority will soon put a bill on the floor to revert back to the original policy, which should never have been tampered with in the first place. Reducing methane emissions will be only the first of many actions this Senate will take to combat climate change. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2138-2 | null | 2,804 |
formal | echo | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday, I mentioned that the DNA of the far-left Green New Deal is all over President Biden's spending bills. That wasn't just my opinion; it was the verdict of our colleague the junior Senator from Massachusetts. Today, the President is scheduled to meet virtually with a group of the world's leaders on climate policy. His agenda, reportedly, is to encourage them to expand their countries' Paris climate agreement commitments to meet even more ambitious emissions goals. The problem, of course, as our colleagues, no doubt, remember, is that the hollow commitments these countries made back in 2015 carry no serious means for enforcement. Under the last administration, even from outside this agreement, the U.S. economy proved more than capable of meaningfully reducing CO2 emissions. But many of the signatories within the supposed deal have largely ignored their stated commitments and continue to emit with reckless abandon. As the Biden administration climate envoy, John Kerry, once lamented, ``[M]ost countries are . . . not getting the job done in living up to Paris.'' China, for example, has just kept emitting more and done it shamelessly. Their share of greenhouse gas emissions is now nearly double--double--that of the United States. On a recent trip to Shanghai, Kerry tried to echo President Biden's encouragement on emissions reduction, but the kid-gloves approach didn't seem too successful. China's Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs said: ``I'm afraid this is not very realistic.'' A direct quote from the Chinese Government. Democrats' zeal for imposing costly environmental agendas on our own country is not something our biggest foreign competitors seem to share. If that is true, our colleagues could inflict as many painful policies on American workers and American industries as they want and still not achieve a significant change in worldwide emissions or global temperatures. The cost of these misplaced priorities is already hitting Americans hard. Remember, revoking permitting for the Keystone XL Pipeline and killing thousands of jobs was a day-one priority for this new administration. Now their so-called infrastructure plan would aim at completely decarbonizing our electric grid, which means hurting our coal and natural gas industries and putting good-paying American jobs into the shredder. Borrowing money in order to kill jobs, now, there is a concept. Meanwhile, a mountain of redtape would keep public works projects smothered, literally smothered in endless environmental reviews, and their plan would thrust the west coast obsession with electric vehicles onto the entire Nation, onto rural school districts, onto industries, whether they like it or not. Next week, President Biden is set to address a joint session of Congress for the first time. I expect we will hear more claims like the ones that have been debunked by fact checkers that all this Green New Deal DNA would actually create a lot of American jobs. Fact checkers are debunking that claim. But even the most favorable analyses, even the administration's favorite projections, suggest that the President's plan would be terrible, just terrible at creating jobs. The rosiest numbers you could come up with suggest it might cost American taxpayers more than $800,000 for every job it might create--more than $800,000 per job. And Ivy League economists have calculated that the plan's long-term effects on GDP, capital stocks, and hourly wages would all be negative. Let me say that again. These multiple trillions of dollars would buy us less GDP, less investment, and lower wages. It almost takes talent to craft something that completely disastrous. So this is quite a one-two punch: toothless requests of our foreign adversaries and maximum pain for American citizens. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2139-2 | null | 2,805 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now, on another matter, earlier this week, the Democratic leadership of the Judiciary Committee convened a hearing with the embarrassing title of ``Jim Crow 2021.'' It was the latest effort to use shocking rhetoric to distract from the specific details of actual voting laws in States like Georgia. Amazingly, one of our Democratic colleagues testified before the committee that people actually shouldn't bother combing through the specifics of the law--don't bother reading the actual law. He suggested that ``narrow analysis only obscures the larger, unmistakable picture.'' Put another way, the facts deflate the narrative. Misrepresentations of Georgia's election law have been debunked by fact checkers. The real, unmistakable picture is that the bill would expand early voting and make no changes to current election day hours--none. Ironically, Democrats' own star witness at this week's hearing once sponsored and supported an earlier effort that would have cut early voting days in Georgia in half. The facts puncture the left's big lie. Much of this overheated rhetoric seems like simple projection because there is, indeed, a piece of legislation that would create a stunning one-party takeover of voting laws and elections in our country, and that would be Washington Democrats' darling, H.R. 1. This is the bill that was first introduced back in 2019, with many Democrats still in denial that a Republican had won the White House in 2016. It was marketed at that time as a wholesale transformation designed to salvage a broken democracy. But now that Democrats got an election outcome they liked better in 2020, what is essentially a xerox copy of the same overhaul is now being marketed, oh, as a modest step, just a modest step to maintain the status quo. The first sales pitch was actually more honest. This 800-plus-page takeover would give Washington Democrats unprecedented control over 50 States' election laws, over a newly--listen to this--a newly partisan Federal Election Commission, over policing America's political speech. That is what it would do. Now, Democrats know that the same Senate rules they happily used for the last 6 years will not make it easy to launch this awful proposal, so there is another important piece in their plan. They are aiming the same wild rhetoric at the Senate's own rules--at our rules here in the Senate. The legislative filibuster which senior Democrats have loudly and proudly defended in the past, which Democrats used repeatedly in recent years, all of a sudden has become an offensive and outdated relic overnight. Isn't it amazing how this new awakening only happened when Democrats felt they had a chance to retake the majority. Now, the American people can see right through this. Nobody is fooled. Nobody is fooled by their desperation to rewrite 50 States' election laws or the campaign to pack the Supreme Court or the attempt to pack the Senate with new blue States, rewriting the rules of American politics to exclusively benefit one side: their side. That was the Democrats' false charge in Georgia, but it is exactly what they are trying to do in this Capitol on a national scale. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2139-3 | null | 2,806 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. LEE. Mr. President, over the past 13 months, Americans have endured extraordinary constraints on one of the most precious rights guaranteed by our Constitution: the right to freely exercise their religion. There is, perhaps, no freedom more intertwined with our nation's history. It was religious freedom that drove persecuted settlers from England to America just over 400 years ago. And they were not the last. Over the centuries, countless religious minorities from across the world have come to America, seeking refuge from religious warfare and bigotry. To be clear, we haven't always lived up to this ideal. Members of the church to which I belong were forced to flee across the country due to religious persecution, to name just one example. Despite these aberrations, however, no nation in the history of the world has protected and preserved the rights of religion and conscience like the United States.And that's not an accident. The First Congress recognized the profound importance of religious freedom by protecting it in the very first sentence of the Bill of Rights. That provision--called the First Amendment--states that ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' The Supreme Court has applied this prohibition to State and local governments through the 14th Amendment. So what does this mean, practically? First, governments cannot discriminate against religion or single it out for worse treatment than similar nonreligious activities. But, second, if a government does treat religion differently than other similar activities, it must 'pass'' the ``strict scrutiny'' test. That means that the government must show that there was absolutely no other way to achieve an extremely important goal than restricting the religious activity in question. The First Amendment is clear. Religious exercise must be protected. Nevertheless, over the course of the pandemic, governments throughout the country have placed heavy-handed restrictions on this fundamental freedom, restricting Americans' freedom to gather for worship, to meet in smaller groups for religious purposes, or even to sing. At first, Americans accepted these restrictions. We understood the extraordinary difficulties facing our leaders as they struggled to grapple with a new and deadly virus. And we were assured that these restrictions would be temporary, lasting no longer than necessary. But as the weeks and months dragged on and the prohibitions on religious exercise continued, we began to see a startling trend. As restrictions on restaurants, casinos, and museums began to thaw, in many states, synagogues, churches, temples, mosques, and other religious gatherings were left out in the cold. In May 2020, the Governor of California allowed some restaurants and retail businesses to operate indoors with up to 50 Percent capacity. Meanwhile, all indoor religious services--ofany size, and even with identical precautions--were outright banned. California was not alone. In Nevada, the Governor allowed gambling establishments to reopen in June, 2020. As thousands flooded into casinos along the Las Vegas strip, religious gatherings in Nevada remained strictly limited to 50 people. Likewise, in New York, houses of worship were explicitly singled out for worse treatment. In some areas, religious gatherings were restricted to only 10 people, while train stations, acupuncture facilities, and factories in that same area could allow entry to as many as they wished. And I could go on. Again, and again, COVID lookdown rules left religious Americans on the outside looking in. Despite several opportunities to overturn these clear, discriminatory restrictions, for most of 2020, the Supreme Court failed to intervene. In South Bay v. Newsom, five Justices--without explanation-declined to halt California's ban on all religious services. Likewise, in Calvary Chapel v. Sisolak, the Supreme Court left Nevada's discriminatory ban on houses of worship in place. And again, they did so without explanation. The pandemic stretched on. Some States eased restrictions, allowing worshippers to gather. Others did not. During that time, countless weddings, baptisms, holy days, and, perhaps most heartbreakingly--funerals--were observed in isolation from family, friends, and community. Or not at all. Finally, in November of last year--after over 8 months of lockdowns--a ray of light broke through. In Roman Catholic Diocese v. Cuomo, the Court held that ``even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten. [New York's] restrictions . . . strike at the very heart of the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty.'' Subsequent decisions earlier this year resurrected the First Amendment's robust protections of religious liberty. Just a few weeks ago, in Tandon v. Newsom, the Supreme Court resoundingly affirmed religious freedom, summarily rejecting California's discriminatory restrictions. Thanks to God, the First Amendment lives. It's been a long road to get here. But we can't ignore the lessons of the past 13 months. That's why I offered an amendment to S.937, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would require the Attorney General to create a report detailing the restrictions imposed on religious exercise imposed during the pandemic. This amendment directs the Department of Justice to look into: first, whether governments applied the same rules to religious groups that they applied to similar nonreligious organizations and businesses, and, second, whether those restrictions complied with the First Amendment. The goal here is simple-we need to understand and remember how Americans in 2020 lost their religious freedoms in order to ensure that it never happens again. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LEE | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2161-5 | null | 2,807 |
formal | religious freedom | null | homophobic | Mr. LEE. Mr. President, over the past 13 months, Americans have endured extraordinary constraints on one of the most precious rights guaranteed by our Constitution: the right to freely exercise their religion. There is, perhaps, no freedom more intertwined with our nation's history. It was religious freedom that drove persecuted settlers from England to America just over 400 years ago. And they were not the last. Over the centuries, countless religious minorities from across the world have come to America, seeking refuge from religious warfare and bigotry. To be clear, we haven't always lived up to this ideal. Members of the church to which I belong were forced to flee across the country due to religious persecution, to name just one example. Despite these aberrations, however, no nation in the history of the world has protected and preserved the rights of religion and conscience like the United States.And that's not an accident. The First Congress recognized the profound importance of religious freedom by protecting it in the very first sentence of the Bill of Rights. That provision--called the First Amendment--states that ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' The Supreme Court has applied this prohibition to State and local governments through the 14th Amendment. So what does this mean, practically? First, governments cannot discriminate against religion or single it out for worse treatment than similar nonreligious activities. But, second, if a government does treat religion differently than other similar activities, it must 'pass'' the ``strict scrutiny'' test. That means that the government must show that there was absolutely no other way to achieve an extremely important goal than restricting the religious activity in question. The First Amendment is clear. Religious exercise must be protected. Nevertheless, over the course of the pandemic, governments throughout the country have placed heavy-handed restrictions on this fundamental freedom, restricting Americans' freedom to gather for worship, to meet in smaller groups for religious purposes, or even to sing. At first, Americans accepted these restrictions. We understood the extraordinary difficulties facing our leaders as they struggled to grapple with a new and deadly virus. And we were assured that these restrictions would be temporary, lasting no longer than necessary. But as the weeks and months dragged on and the prohibitions on religious exercise continued, we began to see a startling trend. As restrictions on restaurants, casinos, and museums began to thaw, in many states, synagogues, churches, temples, mosques, and other religious gatherings were left out in the cold. In May 2020, the Governor of California allowed some restaurants and retail businesses to operate indoors with up to 50 Percent capacity. Meanwhile, all indoor religious services--ofany size, and even with identical precautions--were outright banned. California was not alone. In Nevada, the Governor allowed gambling establishments to reopen in June, 2020. As thousands flooded into casinos along the Las Vegas strip, religious gatherings in Nevada remained strictly limited to 50 people. Likewise, in New York, houses of worship were explicitly singled out for worse treatment. In some areas, religious gatherings were restricted to only 10 people, while train stations, acupuncture facilities, and factories in that same area could allow entry to as many as they wished. And I could go on. Again, and again, COVID lookdown rules left religious Americans on the outside looking in. Despite several opportunities to overturn these clear, discriminatory restrictions, for most of 2020, the Supreme Court failed to intervene. In South Bay v. Newsom, five Justices--without explanation-declined to halt California's ban on all religious services. Likewise, in Calvary Chapel v. Sisolak, the Supreme Court left Nevada's discriminatory ban on houses of worship in place. And again, they did so without explanation. The pandemic stretched on. Some States eased restrictions, allowing worshippers to gather. Others did not. During that time, countless weddings, baptisms, holy days, and, perhaps most heartbreakingly--funerals--were observed in isolation from family, friends, and community. Or not at all. Finally, in November of last year--after over 8 months of lockdowns--a ray of light broke through. In Roman Catholic Diocese v. Cuomo, the Court held that ``even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten. [New York's] restrictions . . . strike at the very heart of the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty.'' Subsequent decisions earlier this year resurrected the First Amendment's robust protections of religious liberty. Just a few weeks ago, in Tandon v. Newsom, the Supreme Court resoundingly affirmed religious freedom, summarily rejecting California's discriminatory restrictions. Thanks to God, the First Amendment lives. It's been a long road to get here. But we can't ignore the lessons of the past 13 months. That's why I offered an amendment to S.937, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would require the Attorney General to create a report detailing the restrictions imposed on religious exercise imposed during the pandemic. This amendment directs the Department of Justice to look into: first, whether governments applied the same rules to religious groups that they applied to similar nonreligious organizations and businesses, and, second, whether those restrictions complied with the First Amendment. The goal here is simple-we need to understand and remember how Americans in 2020 lost their religious freedoms in order to ensure that it never happens again. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LEE | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2161-5 | null | 2,808 |
formal | religious liberty | null | homophobic | Mr. LEE. Mr. President, over the past 13 months, Americans have endured extraordinary constraints on one of the most precious rights guaranteed by our Constitution: the right to freely exercise their religion. There is, perhaps, no freedom more intertwined with our nation's history. It was religious freedom that drove persecuted settlers from England to America just over 400 years ago. And they were not the last. Over the centuries, countless religious minorities from across the world have come to America, seeking refuge from religious warfare and bigotry. To be clear, we haven't always lived up to this ideal. Members of the church to which I belong were forced to flee across the country due to religious persecution, to name just one example. Despite these aberrations, however, no nation in the history of the world has protected and preserved the rights of religion and conscience like the United States.And that's not an accident. The First Congress recognized the profound importance of religious freedom by protecting it in the very first sentence of the Bill of Rights. That provision--called the First Amendment--states that ``Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'' The Supreme Court has applied this prohibition to State and local governments through the 14th Amendment. So what does this mean, practically? First, governments cannot discriminate against religion or single it out for worse treatment than similar nonreligious activities. But, second, if a government does treat religion differently than other similar activities, it must 'pass'' the ``strict scrutiny'' test. That means that the government must show that there was absolutely no other way to achieve an extremely important goal than restricting the religious activity in question. The First Amendment is clear. Religious exercise must be protected. Nevertheless, over the course of the pandemic, governments throughout the country have placed heavy-handed restrictions on this fundamental freedom, restricting Americans' freedom to gather for worship, to meet in smaller groups for religious purposes, or even to sing. At first, Americans accepted these restrictions. We understood the extraordinary difficulties facing our leaders as they struggled to grapple with a new and deadly virus. And we were assured that these restrictions would be temporary, lasting no longer than necessary. But as the weeks and months dragged on and the prohibitions on religious exercise continued, we began to see a startling trend. As restrictions on restaurants, casinos, and museums began to thaw, in many states, synagogues, churches, temples, mosques, and other religious gatherings were left out in the cold. In May 2020, the Governor of California allowed some restaurants and retail businesses to operate indoors with up to 50 Percent capacity. Meanwhile, all indoor religious services--ofany size, and even with identical precautions--were outright banned. California was not alone. In Nevada, the Governor allowed gambling establishments to reopen in June, 2020. As thousands flooded into casinos along the Las Vegas strip, religious gatherings in Nevada remained strictly limited to 50 people. Likewise, in New York, houses of worship were explicitly singled out for worse treatment. In some areas, religious gatherings were restricted to only 10 people, while train stations, acupuncture facilities, and factories in that same area could allow entry to as many as they wished. And I could go on. Again, and again, COVID lookdown rules left religious Americans on the outside looking in. Despite several opportunities to overturn these clear, discriminatory restrictions, for most of 2020, the Supreme Court failed to intervene. In South Bay v. Newsom, five Justices--without explanation-declined to halt California's ban on all religious services. Likewise, in Calvary Chapel v. Sisolak, the Supreme Court left Nevada's discriminatory ban on houses of worship in place. And again, they did so without explanation. The pandemic stretched on. Some States eased restrictions, allowing worshippers to gather. Others did not. During that time, countless weddings, baptisms, holy days, and, perhaps most heartbreakingly--funerals--were observed in isolation from family, friends, and community. Or not at all. Finally, in November of last year--after over 8 months of lockdowns--a ray of light broke through. In Roman Catholic Diocese v. Cuomo, the Court held that ``even in a pandemic, the Constitution cannot be put away and forgotten. [New York's] restrictions . . . strike at the very heart of the First Amendment's guarantee of religious liberty.'' Subsequent decisions earlier this year resurrected the First Amendment's robust protections of religious liberty. Just a few weeks ago, in Tandon v. Newsom, the Supreme Court resoundingly affirmed religious freedom, summarily rejecting California's discriminatory restrictions. Thanks to God, the First Amendment lives. It's been a long road to get here. But we can't ignore the lessons of the past 13 months. That's why I offered an amendment to S.937, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which would require the Attorney General to create a report detailing the restrictions imposed on religious exercise imposed during the pandemic. This amendment directs the Department of Justice to look into: first, whether governments applied the same rules to religious groups that they applied to similar nonreligious organizations and businesses, and, second, whether those restrictions complied with the First Amendment. The goal here is simple-we need to understand and remember how Americans in 2020 lost their religious freedoms in order to ensure that it never happens again. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LEE | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2161-5 | null | 2,809 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 59, Deanne Bennett Criswell, of New York, to be Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security; that the cloture motion be withdrawn, the nomination be confirmed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nomination; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. BALDWIN | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2161 | null | 2,810 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I rise to join my friends in celebrating Earth Day. Senator Gaylord Nelson began the tradition in 1970, making today the 51st celebration of Earth Day. While it is always important to set aside a day to pause and reflect on our relationship with the natural world, I consider this Earth Day one of the most important yet. As we begin to emerge from the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and reset our new ``business as usual,'' we are stepping into a new world, ripe with opportunity for progress on climate change with a more meaningful understanding of what it means to live in a global community. Our Nation and planet are at a crossroads in determining the future of our climate. With a new administration that understands the threat of climate change and the role of the United States as a global leader, we are at the precipice of bold action. The scientific consensus is that climate change will have devastating and far-reaching impacts on the environment, public health, and national security, and we must mitigate and adapt. In 2018, the United Nations U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC found that if a concerted multilateral effort is not made to keep global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, we will cross a tipping point and cause the worst damage by climate change. The scientific community has been sounding the alarm for years, which too many of our colleagues have chosen to ignore. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges and opportunities of our increasingly globalized world. More than ever, we are understanding how decisions governments, corporations, and individuals make have real-world impacts and consequences. Actions that affect our climate are no different. An understanding of our impact in determining our collective future will only help us in our pursuit of a healthier planet. Fortunately, our communities have proven resilient and adaptable. Over the past year. Americans have been burdened with collective grief, fear, and uncertainty. Through it all, our Nation has demonstrated a grit and ingenuity unlike anything we have seen in generations. We saw parents step up as teachers, corporations pivot their business models to keep people safe, and an entire population of office workers transition to working from home. In terms of action on climate change, this flexibility proves that a departure from the status quo is not as unrealistic as we may have thought previously. In fact, a change from ``business as usual'' can have unforeseen benefits for our quality of life and our planet. Equipped with the lessoned learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am more confident than ever that our Nation in ready to commit to action on climate change in earnest. Additionally, the Biden administration is already pursuing an aggressive climate agenda by reversing President Trump's shortsighted decisions and doubling down on President Obama's environmental regulations. The Build Back Better agenda recognizes both the need to mitigate emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change that are already harming our communities. A great and overdue need to update our Nation's infrastructure provides an opportunity to address some of our society's most insidious sources of pollution. Emissions from passenger and freight transport makes up the largest proportion of our Nation's total greenhouse gas emissions--nearly 30 percent. The Federal Government can and must work quickly to address climate change through transportation and infrastructure policy. As chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am committed to ensuring that any legislation the committee considers addresses greenhouse gas emissions reductions in a meaningful way. In 2019, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously reported an innovative surface transportation reauthorization that indicates a genuine bipartisan interest in action on climate change. I am confident the newest iteration of this bill will be even more ambitious. The imperative to address climate change through transportation and infrastructure is particularly important to Maryland, a highly developed, low-lying coastal State with aging public works systems, which makes it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. My constituents and future generations have a right to good air quality, water quality, and the resilience of infrastructure assets likeroads, bridges, and storm and wastewater systems. In recent years, Marylanders have seen firsthand the effects of climate change in my State. Intense rainstorms have caused unprecedented flood damage to homes and businesses in Prince George's County, Southwest Baltimore, Ellicott City, and Hagerstown. The cost of rebuilding our infrastructure after these storms is significant. Unless we change the way we think about infrastructure in the future, taxpayer investments will be washed away with the next big storm. I requested a Government Accountability Office GAO report on the Federal Government's fiscal exposure to the effects of climate change. GAO found that in 2018, 14 separate natural and weather disasters occurred, costing the Federal Government a total of $91 billion. Unsurprisingly, GAO determined that this amount will rise as climate change causes more frequent and more severe weather events. Inaction on this issue amounts to a gross negligence by Congress in our management of taxpayers' funds. I consider it my duty to ensure that the Federal Government takes full advantage of the opportunity before us to make long-sighted upgrades to our systems. In addition to building back physical infrastructure better, the Nation is in the process of rebuilding its reputation on the international stage as a leader on climate change. By rejoining the Paris Agreement, the United States is signaling its commitment to the global community. As I speak, the President is hosting the Leaders Summit on Climate, where world leaders will outline how their countries will commit to their own ambitious goals. The United States is committing to a bold 2030 emissions target as its new nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement. This summit represents the formal return of the United States to its leadership position and an opportunity to regain the trust from our international partners that President Trump decimated. When President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, I helped to maintain relationships with our partner-members by introducing a bipartisan resolution that expressed support for the Paris Agreement and assuring the international community that, despite President Trump's abdication of his duties, leaders on climate change in the U.S. Senate remained. I previously led the U.S. congressional delegation to the conference where the Paris Agreement was adopted and will continue to position our Nation as a strong partner in the international fight against warming global temperatures. Domestically. this Earth Day, I will recommit to my long-term endeavor to preserve and restore the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the lifeblood of the State of Maryland, and the communities that depend on it are seeing their livelihood threatened as the climate changes. Saltwater intrusion on agricultural lands and fragile fisheries make it harder for Maryland farmers and fishers to earn a living. In some cases, Marylanders are seeing their communities disappear before their eyes from the dual threat of sea level rise and subsidence. A healthy Chesapeake Bay watershed is essential to a thriving economy. Additionally, the Chesapeake Bay's wetlands are Maryland's best defense against climate change-induced flooding, as they act as natural buffers to storm surge during severe weather. The good news is that action on climate change, through international commitments, domestic infrastructure improvements, and restoring regional natural resources like the Chesapeake Bay, will stimulate our economy. Stewardship of our environmental can and should go hand in hand with economic development. Our Nation will be grappling with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic for years to come, and bold Federal action is a time-tested practice for economic recovery. A truly bold investment in action on climate change will pay dividends for generations to come, but it must meet the size and urgency of the challenge before us. I am certain that our Nation can honor our planet and our future generations with urgent, thoughtful decision-making. Earth Day is one of the most celebrated secular holidays in the world and for good reason. We are all stewards of our planet and now more than ever understand that we are on a journey together. I will embrace this Earth Day and the opportunities for progress that lie ahead. I hope my Senate colleagues and all Americans will join me honoring our planet through diligent work, today and every day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2162-2 | null | 2,811 |
formal | Baltimore | null | racist | Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, today I rise to join my friends in celebrating Earth Day. Senator Gaylord Nelson began the tradition in 1970, making today the 51st celebration of Earth Day. While it is always important to set aside a day to pause and reflect on our relationship with the natural world, I consider this Earth Day one of the most important yet. As we begin to emerge from the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic and reset our new ``business as usual,'' we are stepping into a new world, ripe with opportunity for progress on climate change with a more meaningful understanding of what it means to live in a global community. Our Nation and planet are at a crossroads in determining the future of our climate. With a new administration that understands the threat of climate change and the role of the United States as a global leader, we are at the precipice of bold action. The scientific consensus is that climate change will have devastating and far-reaching impacts on the environment, public health, and national security, and we must mitigate and adapt. In 2018, the United Nations U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC found that if a concerted multilateral effort is not made to keep global temperatures from rising 1.5 degrees Celsius 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100, we will cross a tipping point and cause the worst damage by climate change. The scientific community has been sounding the alarm for years, which too many of our colleagues have chosen to ignore. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the challenges and opportunities of our increasingly globalized world. More than ever, we are understanding how decisions governments, corporations, and individuals make have real-world impacts and consequences. Actions that affect our climate are no different. An understanding of our impact in determining our collective future will only help us in our pursuit of a healthier planet. Fortunately, our communities have proven resilient and adaptable. Over the past year. Americans have been burdened with collective grief, fear, and uncertainty. Through it all, our Nation has demonstrated a grit and ingenuity unlike anything we have seen in generations. We saw parents step up as teachers, corporations pivot their business models to keep people safe, and an entire population of office workers transition to working from home. In terms of action on climate change, this flexibility proves that a departure from the status quo is not as unrealistic as we may have thought previously. In fact, a change from ``business as usual'' can have unforeseen benefits for our quality of life and our planet. Equipped with the lessoned learned from the COVID-19 pandemic, I am more confident than ever that our Nation in ready to commit to action on climate change in earnest. Additionally, the Biden administration is already pursuing an aggressive climate agenda by reversing President Trump's shortsighted decisions and doubling down on President Obama's environmental regulations. The Build Back Better agenda recognizes both the need to mitigate emissions and prepare for the impacts of climate change that are already harming our communities. A great and overdue need to update our Nation's infrastructure provides an opportunity to address some of our society's most insidious sources of pollution. Emissions from passenger and freight transport makes up the largest proportion of our Nation's total greenhouse gas emissions--nearly 30 percent. The Federal Government can and must work quickly to address climate change through transportation and infrastructure policy. As chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, I am committed to ensuring that any legislation the committee considers addresses greenhouse gas emissions reductions in a meaningful way. In 2019, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works unanimously reported an innovative surface transportation reauthorization that indicates a genuine bipartisan interest in action on climate change. I am confident the newest iteration of this bill will be even more ambitious. The imperative to address climate change through transportation and infrastructure is particularly important to Maryland, a highly developed, low-lying coastal State with aging public works systems, which makes it particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. My constituents and future generations have a right to good air quality, water quality, and the resilience of infrastructure assets likeroads, bridges, and storm and wastewater systems. In recent years, Marylanders have seen firsthand the effects of climate change in my State. Intense rainstorms have caused unprecedented flood damage to homes and businesses in Prince George's County, Southwest Baltimore, Ellicott City, and Hagerstown. The cost of rebuilding our infrastructure after these storms is significant. Unless we change the way we think about infrastructure in the future, taxpayer investments will be washed away with the next big storm. I requested a Government Accountability Office GAO report on the Federal Government's fiscal exposure to the effects of climate change. GAO found that in 2018, 14 separate natural and weather disasters occurred, costing the Federal Government a total of $91 billion. Unsurprisingly, GAO determined that this amount will rise as climate change causes more frequent and more severe weather events. Inaction on this issue amounts to a gross negligence by Congress in our management of taxpayers' funds. I consider it my duty to ensure that the Federal Government takes full advantage of the opportunity before us to make long-sighted upgrades to our systems. In addition to building back physical infrastructure better, the Nation is in the process of rebuilding its reputation on the international stage as a leader on climate change. By rejoining the Paris Agreement, the United States is signaling its commitment to the global community. As I speak, the President is hosting the Leaders Summit on Climate, where world leaders will outline how their countries will commit to their own ambitious goals. The United States is committing to a bold 2030 emissions target as its new nationally determined contribution under the Paris Agreement. This summit represents the formal return of the United States to its leadership position and an opportunity to regain the trust from our international partners that President Trump decimated. When President Trump withdrew the United States from the Paris Agreement, I helped to maintain relationships with our partner-members by introducing a bipartisan resolution that expressed support for the Paris Agreement and assuring the international community that, despite President Trump's abdication of his duties, leaders on climate change in the U.S. Senate remained. I previously led the U.S. congressional delegation to the conference where the Paris Agreement was adopted and will continue to position our Nation as a strong partner in the international fight against warming global temperatures. Domestically. this Earth Day, I will recommit to my long-term endeavor to preserve and restore the Chesapeake Bay. The Chesapeake Bay is the lifeblood of the State of Maryland, and the communities that depend on it are seeing their livelihood threatened as the climate changes. Saltwater intrusion on agricultural lands and fragile fisheries make it harder for Maryland farmers and fishers to earn a living. In some cases, Marylanders are seeing their communities disappear before their eyes from the dual threat of sea level rise and subsidence. A healthy Chesapeake Bay watershed is essential to a thriving economy. Additionally, the Chesapeake Bay's wetlands are Maryland's best defense against climate change-induced flooding, as they act as natural buffers to storm surge during severe weather. The good news is that action on climate change, through international commitments, domestic infrastructure improvements, and restoring regional natural resources like the Chesapeake Bay, will stimulate our economy. Stewardship of our environmental can and should go hand in hand with economic development. Our Nation will be grappling with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic for years to come, and bold Federal action is a time-tested practice for economic recovery. A truly bold investment in action on climate change will pay dividends for generations to come, but it must meet the size and urgency of the challenge before us. I am certain that our Nation can honor our planet and our future generations with urgent, thoughtful decision-making. Earth Day is one of the most celebrated secular holidays in the world and for good reason. We are all stewards of our planet and now more than ever understand that we are on a journey together. I will embrace this Earth Day and the opportunities for progress that lie ahead. I hope my Senate colleagues and all Americans will join me honoring our planet through diligent work, today and every day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2162-2 | null | 2,812 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 367. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an acquisition professional career program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 370. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to make technical corrections to the requirement that the Secretary of Homeland Security submit quadrennial homeland security reviews, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 396. An act to amend the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to clarify certain allowable uses of funds for public transportation security assistance grants and establish periods of performance for such grants, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 397. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear intelligence and information sharing functions of the Office of Intelligence and Analysis of the Department of Homeland Security and to require dissemination of information analyzed by the Department to entities with responsibilities relating to homeland security, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 408. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish a mentor-protege program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 490. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve morale within the Department of Homeland Security workforce by conferring new responsibilities to the Chief Human Capital Officer, establishing an employee engagement steering committee, requiring action plans, and authorizing an annual employee award program, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 965. An act to establish a comprehensive United States Government initiative to build the capacity of young leaders and entrepreneurs in Africa, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. H.R. 1251. An act to support United States international cyber diplomacy, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. H.R. 1333. An act to transfer and limit Executive Branch authority to suspend or restrict the entry of a class of aliens; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 1392. An act to protect Saudi dissidents in the United States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. H.R. 1395. An act to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to discount FHA single-family mortgage insurance premium payments for first-time homebuyers who complete a financial literacy housing counseling program; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 1491. An act to amend the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to provide enhanced protection against debt collector harassment of members of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 1528. An act to require the Securities and Exchange Commission to carry out a study of Rule 10b5-1 trading plans, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 1532. An act to require a review of the effects of FHA mortgage insurance policies, practices, and products on small-dollar mortgage lending, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 1565. An act to create an interdivisional taskforce at the Securities and Exchange Commission for senior investors; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 1573. An act to clarify the rights of certain persons who are held or detained at a port of entry or at any facility overseen by U.S. Customs and Border Protection; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 1602. An act to direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission to jointly establish a digital asset working group, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. H.R. 2523. An act to amend the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to improve the COVID-19 Veteran Rapid Retraining Assistance program, to make certain technical corrections to the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2164 | null | 2,813 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Warnock, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Markey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Warner, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Warren, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Carper, and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 172 Whereas, since its founding, the United States has had a longstanding history and legacy of racism, mistreatment, and discrimination against African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and other people of color; Whereas the United States ratified over 350 treaties with sovereign indigenous communities, has broken the promises made in such treaties, and has historically failed to carry out its trust responsibilities to Native Americans, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, as made evident by the chronic and pervasive underfunding of the Indian Health Service and Tribal, Urban Indian, and Native Hawaiian health care, the vast health and socioeconomic disparities faced by Native American people, and the inaccessibility of many Federal public health and social programs in Native American communities; Whereas people of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, who became Americans through conquest, were subject to, but never full members of the polity of the United States and experienced widespread discrimination in employment, housing, education, and health care; Whereas the immoral paradox of slavery and freedom is an indelible wrong traced throughout the history of the United States, as African Americans lived under the oppressive institution of slavery from 1619 through 1865, endured the practices and laws of segregation during the Jim Crow Era, and continue to face the ramifications of systemic racism through unjust and discriminatory structures and policies; Whereas, before the enactment of the Medicare program, the United States health care system was highly segregated, and, as late as the mid-1960s, hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices throughout Northern and Southern States complied with Jim Crow laws and were completely segregated by race--leaving Black communities with little to no access to health care services; Whereas, between 1956 and 1967, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Education Fund litigated a series of court cases to eliminate discrimination in hospitals and professional associations; Whereas the landmark case Simkins v. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, 323 F.2d 959 (1963), challenged the Federal Government's use of public funds to expand, support, and sustain segregated hospital care, and provided justification for title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Medicare hospital certification program--establishing Medicare hospital racial integration guidelines that applied to every hospital that participated in the Federal program; Whereas, in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which concluded that White racism is responsible for the pervasive discrimination and segregation in employment, education, and housing, resulting in deepened racial division and continued exclusion of Black communities from the benefits of economic progress; Whereas language minorities, including Latinos, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, were not assured non- discriminatory access to federally funded services, including health services, until the signing of Executive Order 13166 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-1 note; relating to improving access to services for persons with limited English proficiency) in 2000; Whereas the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148; 124 Stat. 119)-- (1) included provisions to expand the Medicaid program and--for the first time in the United States--established a Federal prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs, building on other Federal civil rights laws; and (2) required reporting to Congress on health disparities based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability; Whereas several Federal programs have been established to address some, but not all, of the health outcomes that are disproportionately experienced by communities of color, including sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDS; Whereas the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion works to raise awareness of health disparities faced by minority populations in the United States, including Native Americans, Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latino Americans, aiming to reduce risk factors for groups affected by such health disparities; Whereas the United States health care system and other economic and social structures remain fraught with racism and racial, ethnic, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and class biases that lead to health inequity and health disparities; Whereas life expectancy rates for Black and Native American people in the United States are significantly lower than those of White people in the United States; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are exacerbated for LGBTQIA+ people of color; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are worsened for people of color with disabilities due to bias and inequitable access to health care; Whereas several States with higher percentages of Black, Latino, and Native American populations have not expanded their Medicaid programs--continuing to disenfranchise minority communities from access to health care to this day; Whereas 16 States have failed to take advantage of the Federal option to expand access to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to lawfully residing immigrant children within the first 5 years of lawful status, and 26 States have failed to do so for similarly situated pregnant women; Whereas, between 2016 and 2018, the child uninsured rate increased from 4.7 percent to 5.5 percent and the Latino child uninsured rate increased from 7.7 percent to 8.1 percent, and children of color are far more likely to be uninsured than White children; Whereas a climate of fear and confusion for immigrant families due to the public charge rule discourages such families from enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program; Whereas Pacific Islanders from the Freely Associated States experience unique health disparities resulting from United States nuclear weapons tests on their home islands, but such people have been categorically denied access to Medicaid and other Federal health benefits; Whereas the United States has historically facilitated outsider status toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as the authorization of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which resulted in profound economic, social, and psychological burdens for the people impacted; Whereas the history and persistence of racist and non- scientific medical beliefs are associated with ongoing racial disparities in treatment and health outcomes; Whereas implicit racial and ethnic biases within the health care system have an impact on the quality of care experienced by communities of color, such as the undertreatment of pain in Black patients; Whereas the historical context of unethical practices and abuses experienced by Black patients and research participants, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, serve as symbols of the Black community's mistrust of the medical system; Whereas women of color continue to face attacks, documented throughout history, on their prenatal, maternal, and reproductive health and rights; Whereas enslaved Black women were forced to endure egregiously unethical and cruel treatment, as subjects of insidious medical experiments, to advance modern gynecology; Whereas, through the late 1960s and early 1980s, physicians routinely sterilized people of color, performing excessive and medically unnecessary procedures on patients of color without their informed consent; Whereas Black and Native American women are 2 to 4 times more likely than White women to suffer severe maternal morbidity or die of pregnancy-related complications, and implicit racial biases and lower quality care are contributing factors to the health care disparities that lead to these outcomes; Whereas Black and Native American infants are twice as likely to die as White infants, and the Black infant mortality rate in the United States is higher than in 97 countries worldwide; Whereas researchers have developed the analytical framework of ``weathering'' to describe how the constant stress of racism leads to poor health outcomes for Black Americans; Whereas the daily experience of racism is associated with stress, depression, and anxiety, and may cause physiological reactivity or contribute to chronic health conditions; Whereas racism is linked to mental health challenges for children and adolescents; Whereas children of color are overrepresented in the United States child welfare system, and up to 80 percent of children in foster care enter State custody with significant mental health challenges; Whereas disparities in educational access and attainment, along with racism experienced in the educational setting, affect the trajectory of academic achievement for children and adolescents, and ultimately impact health and racial inequities in school discipline, which has long-term consequences for children; Whereas racism and segregation in the United States contribute to poor health outcomes by segregating Black, Latino, and Native American communities from opportunity; Whereas, for decades, discriminatory housing practices, such as redlining, systemically excluded people of color from housing, robbing them of capital in the form of low-cost, stable mortgages and opportunities to build wealth, and the Federal government used its financial power to segregate renters in newly built public housing; Whereas environmental injustices, such as proximity and exposure to toxic waste or hazardous air pollutants, continue to harm the health of communities of color, low-income communities, and Indigenous communities around the United States; Whereas social inequities such as differing access to quality health care, healthy food and safe drinking water, safe neighborhoods, education, job security, and reliable transportation affect health risks and outcomes; Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of racism and discrimination are seen in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates--disproportionately high among Black, Latino, and Native American populations compared to the overall population--exacerbating health disparities and highlighting barriers to care for Black, Latino, and Native American patients across the United States; Whereas discrimination and harassment relating to the COVID-19 pandemic is on the rise, particularly discrimination and harassment directed towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community; Whereas, because of racial and ethnic disparities, people of color are more likely to have pre-existing, preventable, and chronic conditions, which lead to higher COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates; Whereas people of color are overrepresented in the number of people in the United States living under poor air quality conditions, which can increase the likelihood of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality; Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened barriers for Black, Latino, and Native American households that suffer from disproportionately higher rates of food insecurity; Whereas Black and Latino workers make up a disproportionate number of frontline workers, are less likely to receive paid sick leave or have the ability to work from home, and have been excluded from many forms of relief readily available to other groups; Whereas people of color are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems and face a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 within prison populations and detention centers due to the over- incarceration of people of color; Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in Asian Americans being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the pandemic; Whereas communities of color continue to bear the burdens of inequitable social, economic, and criminal justice policies, practices, and investments that cause deep disparities, hurt, harm, danger, and mistrust; Whereas over 40 percent of Latinos report being discriminated against or harassed because they are Hispanic; Whereas approximately 24 percent of the Latino population in the United States identifies as ``Afro-Latino'' and is thus potentially subject to both race and national origin discrimination; Whereas, because of racism, Black people in the United States share a unique set of challenges and experiences that require heightened levels of awareness and risk while performing everyday tasks--such as jogging in neighborhoods, driving while Black, or playing in a park--that are not experienced by other populations; Whereas Black people in the United States are 3 times more likely to be killed by police than White people in the United States, and police violence is the 6th leading cause of death for young Black men; Whereas the police brutality and violence experienced by Black people in the United States adversely impacts mental health among Black communities; Whereas Black communities led the United States in mourning the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, and countless other Black Americans--calling for justice and long-term changes to dismantle systems of oppression; Whereas, throughout the history of the United States, people of color have been at the forefront of civil rights movements for essential freedoms, human rights, and equal protection for marginalized groups and continue to fight for racial and economic justice today; Whereas a public health issue is defined as meeting the following 4 criteria: (1) The condition affects many people, is seen as a threat to the public, and is continuing to increase. (2) The condition is distributed unfairly. (3) Preventive measures could reduce the effects of the condition. (4) Those preventive measures are not yet in place; Whereas racism meets the criteria of a public health crisis, and public health experts agree; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-- (1) declared racism a serious threat to public health; and (2) acknowledged the need for additional research and investments to address this serious issue; Whereas a Federal public health crisis declaration defines racism as a pervasive health issue and alerts the people of the United States to the need to enact immediate and effective cross-governmental efforts to address the root causes of institutional racism and their downstream impacts; and Whereas such declaration requires the response of the Government to engage significant resources to empower those communities that are impacted: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the resolutions drafted, introduced, and adopted by cities and localities across the United States declaring racism a public health crisis; (2) declares racism a public health crisis in the United States; (3) commits to-- (A) establishing a nationwide strategy to address health disparities and inequity across all sectors in society; (B) dismantling systemic practices and policies that perpetuate racism; (C) advancing reforms to address years of neglectful and apathetic policies that have led to poor health outcomes for communities of color; and (D) promoting efforts to address the social determinants of health--especially for Black, Latino, and Native American people in the United States, and other people of color; and (4) places a charge on the people of the United States to move forward with urgency to ensure that the United States stands firmly in honoring its moral purpose of advancing the self-evident truths that all people are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2175-2 | null | 2,814 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Warnock, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Markey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Warner, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Warren, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Carper, and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 172 Whereas, since its founding, the United States has had a longstanding history and legacy of racism, mistreatment, and discrimination against African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and other people of color; Whereas the United States ratified over 350 treaties with sovereign indigenous communities, has broken the promises made in such treaties, and has historically failed to carry out its trust responsibilities to Native Americans, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, as made evident by the chronic and pervasive underfunding of the Indian Health Service and Tribal, Urban Indian, and Native Hawaiian health care, the vast health and socioeconomic disparities faced by Native American people, and the inaccessibility of many Federal public health and social programs in Native American communities; Whereas people of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, who became Americans through conquest, were subject to, but never full members of the polity of the United States and experienced widespread discrimination in employment, housing, education, and health care; Whereas the immoral paradox of slavery and freedom is an indelible wrong traced throughout the history of the United States, as African Americans lived under the oppressive institution of slavery from 1619 through 1865, endured the practices and laws of segregation during the Jim Crow Era, and continue to face the ramifications of systemic racism through unjust and discriminatory structures and policies; Whereas, before the enactment of the Medicare program, the United States health care system was highly segregated, and, as late as the mid-1960s, hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices throughout Northern and Southern States complied with Jim Crow laws and were completely segregated by race--leaving Black communities with little to no access to health care services; Whereas, between 1956 and 1967, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Education Fund litigated a series of court cases to eliminate discrimination in hospitals and professional associations; Whereas the landmark case Simkins v. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, 323 F.2d 959 (1963), challenged the Federal Government's use of public funds to expand, support, and sustain segregated hospital care, and provided justification for title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Medicare hospital certification program--establishing Medicare hospital racial integration guidelines that applied to every hospital that participated in the Federal program; Whereas, in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which concluded that White racism is responsible for the pervasive discrimination and segregation in employment, education, and housing, resulting in deepened racial division and continued exclusion of Black communities from the benefits of economic progress; Whereas language minorities, including Latinos, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, were not assured non- discriminatory access to federally funded services, including health services, until the signing of Executive Order 13166 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-1 note; relating to improving access to services for persons with limited English proficiency) in 2000; Whereas the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148; 124 Stat. 119)-- (1) included provisions to expand the Medicaid program and--for the first time in the United States--established a Federal prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs, building on other Federal civil rights laws; and (2) required reporting to Congress on health disparities based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability; Whereas several Federal programs have been established to address some, but not all, of the health outcomes that are disproportionately experienced by communities of color, including sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDS; Whereas the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion works to raise awareness of health disparities faced by minority populations in the United States, including Native Americans, Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latino Americans, aiming to reduce risk factors for groups affected by such health disparities; Whereas the United States health care system and other economic and social structures remain fraught with racism and racial, ethnic, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and class biases that lead to health inequity and health disparities; Whereas life expectancy rates for Black and Native American people in the United States are significantly lower than those of White people in the United States; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are exacerbated for LGBTQIA+ people of color; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are worsened for people of color with disabilities due to bias and inequitable access to health care; Whereas several States with higher percentages of Black, Latino, and Native American populations have not expanded their Medicaid programs--continuing to disenfranchise minority communities from access to health care to this day; Whereas 16 States have failed to take advantage of the Federal option to expand access to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to lawfully residing immigrant children within the first 5 years of lawful status, and 26 States have failed to do so for similarly situated pregnant women; Whereas, between 2016 and 2018, the child uninsured rate increased from 4.7 percent to 5.5 percent and the Latino child uninsured rate increased from 7.7 percent to 8.1 percent, and children of color are far more likely to be uninsured than White children; Whereas a climate of fear and confusion for immigrant families due to the public charge rule discourages such families from enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program; Whereas Pacific Islanders from the Freely Associated States experience unique health disparities resulting from United States nuclear weapons tests on their home islands, but such people have been categorically denied access to Medicaid and other Federal health benefits; Whereas the United States has historically facilitated outsider status toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as the authorization of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which resulted in profound economic, social, and psychological burdens for the people impacted; Whereas the history and persistence of racist and non- scientific medical beliefs are associated with ongoing racial disparities in treatment and health outcomes; Whereas implicit racial and ethnic biases within the health care system have an impact on the quality of care experienced by communities of color, such as the undertreatment of pain in Black patients; Whereas the historical context of unethical practices and abuses experienced by Black patients and research participants, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, serve as symbols of the Black community's mistrust of the medical system; Whereas women of color continue to face attacks, documented throughout history, on their prenatal, maternal, and reproductive health and rights; Whereas enslaved Black women were forced to endure egregiously unethical and cruel treatment, as subjects of insidious medical experiments, to advance modern gynecology; Whereas, through the late 1960s and early 1980s, physicians routinely sterilized people of color, performing excessive and medically unnecessary procedures on patients of color without their informed consent; Whereas Black and Native American women are 2 to 4 times more likely than White women to suffer severe maternal morbidity or die of pregnancy-related complications, and implicit racial biases and lower quality care are contributing factors to the health care disparities that lead to these outcomes; Whereas Black and Native American infants are twice as likely to die as White infants, and the Black infant mortality rate in the United States is higher than in 97 countries worldwide; Whereas researchers have developed the analytical framework of ``weathering'' to describe how the constant stress of racism leads to poor health outcomes for Black Americans; Whereas the daily experience of racism is associated with stress, depression, and anxiety, and may cause physiological reactivity or contribute to chronic health conditions; Whereas racism is linked to mental health challenges for children and adolescents; Whereas children of color are overrepresented in the United States child welfare system, and up to 80 percent of children in foster care enter State custody with significant mental health challenges; Whereas disparities in educational access and attainment, along with racism experienced in the educational setting, affect the trajectory of academic achievement for children and adolescents, and ultimately impact health and racial inequities in school discipline, which has long-term consequences for children; Whereas racism and segregation in the United States contribute to poor health outcomes by segregating Black, Latino, and Native American communities from opportunity; Whereas, for decades, discriminatory housing practices, such as redlining, systemically excluded people of color from housing, robbing them of capital in the form of low-cost, stable mortgages and opportunities to build wealth, and the Federal government used its financial power to segregate renters in newly built public housing; Whereas environmental injustices, such as proximity and exposure to toxic waste or hazardous air pollutants, continue to harm the health of communities of color, low-income communities, and Indigenous communities around the United States; Whereas social inequities such as differing access to quality health care, healthy food and safe drinking water, safe neighborhoods, education, job security, and reliable transportation affect health risks and outcomes; Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of racism and discrimination are seen in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates--disproportionately high among Black, Latino, and Native American populations compared to the overall population--exacerbating health disparities and highlighting barriers to care for Black, Latino, and Native American patients across the United States; Whereas discrimination and harassment relating to the COVID-19 pandemic is on the rise, particularly discrimination and harassment directed towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community; Whereas, because of racial and ethnic disparities, people of color are more likely to have pre-existing, preventable, and chronic conditions, which lead to higher COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates; Whereas people of color are overrepresented in the number of people in the United States living under poor air quality conditions, which can increase the likelihood of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality; Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened barriers for Black, Latino, and Native American households that suffer from disproportionately higher rates of food insecurity; Whereas Black and Latino workers make up a disproportionate number of frontline workers, are less likely to receive paid sick leave or have the ability to work from home, and have been excluded from many forms of relief readily available to other groups; Whereas people of color are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems and face a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 within prison populations and detention centers due to the over- incarceration of people of color; Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in Asian Americans being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the pandemic; Whereas communities of color continue to bear the burdens of inequitable social, economic, and criminal justice policies, practices, and investments that cause deep disparities, hurt, harm, danger, and mistrust; Whereas over 40 percent of Latinos report being discriminated against or harassed because they are Hispanic; Whereas approximately 24 percent of the Latino population in the United States identifies as ``Afro-Latino'' and is thus potentially subject to both race and national origin discrimination; Whereas, because of racism, Black people in the United States share a unique set of challenges and experiences that require heightened levels of awareness and risk while performing everyday tasks--such as jogging in neighborhoods, driving while Black, or playing in a park--that are not experienced by other populations; Whereas Black people in the United States are 3 times more likely to be killed by police than White people in the United States, and police violence is the 6th leading cause of death for young Black men; Whereas the police brutality and violence experienced by Black people in the United States adversely impacts mental health among Black communities; Whereas Black communities led the United States in mourning the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, and countless other Black Americans--calling for justice and long-term changes to dismantle systems of oppression; Whereas, throughout the history of the United States, people of color have been at the forefront of civil rights movements for essential freedoms, human rights, and equal protection for marginalized groups and continue to fight for racial and economic justice today; Whereas a public health issue is defined as meeting the following 4 criteria: (1) The condition affects many people, is seen as a threat to the public, and is continuing to increase. (2) The condition is distributed unfairly. (3) Preventive measures could reduce the effects of the condition. (4) Those preventive measures are not yet in place; Whereas racism meets the criteria of a public health crisis, and public health experts agree; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-- (1) declared racism a serious threat to public health; and (2) acknowledged the need for additional research and investments to address this serious issue; Whereas a Federal public health crisis declaration defines racism as a pervasive health issue and alerts the people of the United States to the need to enact immediate and effective cross-governmental efforts to address the root causes of institutional racism and their downstream impacts; and Whereas such declaration requires the response of the Government to engage significant resources to empower those communities that are impacted: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the resolutions drafted, introduced, and adopted by cities and localities across the United States declaring racism a public health crisis; (2) declares racism a public health crisis in the United States; (3) commits to-- (A) establishing a nationwide strategy to address health disparities and inequity across all sectors in society; (B) dismantling systemic practices and policies that perpetuate racism; (C) advancing reforms to address years of neglectful and apathetic policies that have led to poor health outcomes for communities of color; and (D) promoting efforts to address the social determinants of health--especially for Black, Latino, and Native American people in the United States, and other people of color; and (4) places a charge on the people of the United States to move forward with urgency to ensure that the United States stands firmly in honoring its moral purpose of advancing the self-evident truths that all people are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2175-2 | null | 2,815 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mr. Booker, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Warnock, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Markey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Warner, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Ms. Warren, Ms. Smith, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Carper, and Mrs. Murray) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 172 Whereas, since its founding, the United States has had a longstanding history and legacy of racism, mistreatment, and discrimination against African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and other people of color; Whereas the United States ratified over 350 treaties with sovereign indigenous communities, has broken the promises made in such treaties, and has historically failed to carry out its trust responsibilities to Native Americans, including American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians, as made evident by the chronic and pervasive underfunding of the Indian Health Service and Tribal, Urban Indian, and Native Hawaiian health care, the vast health and socioeconomic disparities faced by Native American people, and the inaccessibility of many Federal public health and social programs in Native American communities; Whereas people of Mexican and Puerto Rican descent, who became Americans through conquest, were subject to, but never full members of the polity of the United States and experienced widespread discrimination in employment, housing, education, and health care; Whereas the immoral paradox of slavery and freedom is an indelible wrong traced throughout the history of the United States, as African Americans lived under the oppressive institution of slavery from 1619 through 1865, endured the practices and laws of segregation during the Jim Crow Era, and continue to face the ramifications of systemic racism through unjust and discriminatory structures and policies; Whereas, before the enactment of the Medicare program, the United States health care system was highly segregated, and, as late as the mid-1960s, hospitals, clinics, and doctors' offices throughout Northern and Southern States complied with Jim Crow laws and were completely segregated by race--leaving Black communities with little to no access to health care services; Whereas, between 1956 and 1967, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Education Fund litigated a series of court cases to eliminate discrimination in hospitals and professional associations; Whereas the landmark case Simkins v. Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital, 323 F.2d 959 (1963), challenged the Federal Government's use of public funds to expand, support, and sustain segregated hospital care, and provided justification for title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the Medicare hospital certification program--establishing Medicare hospital racial integration guidelines that applied to every hospital that participated in the Federal program; Whereas, in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, which concluded that White racism is responsible for the pervasive discrimination and segregation in employment, education, and housing, resulting in deepened racial division and continued exclusion of Black communities from the benefits of economic progress; Whereas language minorities, including Latinos, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders, were not assured non- discriminatory access to federally funded services, including health services, until the signing of Executive Order 13166 (42 U.S.C. 2000d-1 note; relating to improving access to services for persons with limited English proficiency) in 2000; Whereas the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111-148; 124 Stat. 119)-- (1) included provisions to expand the Medicaid program and--for the first time in the United States--established a Federal prohibition against discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in certain health programs, building on other Federal civil rights laws; and (2) required reporting to Congress on health disparities based on race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability; Whereas several Federal programs have been established to address some, but not all, of the health outcomes that are disproportionately experienced by communities of color, including sickle cell disease, tuberculosis, infant mortality, and HIV/AIDS; Whereas the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion works to raise awareness of health disparities faced by minority populations in the United States, including Native Americans, Asian Americans, Black Americans, and Latino Americans, aiming to reduce risk factors for groups affected by such health disparities; Whereas the United States health care system and other economic and social structures remain fraught with racism and racial, ethnic, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity), and class biases that lead to health inequity and health disparities; Whereas life expectancy rates for Black and Native American people in the United States are significantly lower than those of White people in the United States; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are exacerbated for LGBTQIA+ people of color; Whereas disparities in health outcomes are worsened for people of color with disabilities due to bias and inequitable access to health care; Whereas several States with higher percentages of Black, Latino, and Native American populations have not expanded their Medicaid programs--continuing to disenfranchise minority communities from access to health care to this day; Whereas 16 States have failed to take advantage of the Federal option to expand access to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program to lawfully residing immigrant children within the first 5 years of lawful status, and 26 States have failed to do so for similarly situated pregnant women; Whereas, between 2016 and 2018, the child uninsured rate increased from 4.7 percent to 5.5 percent and the Latino child uninsured rate increased from 7.7 percent to 8.1 percent, and children of color are far more likely to be uninsured than White children; Whereas a climate of fear and confusion for immigrant families due to the public charge rule discourages such families from enrolling eligible children in Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program; Whereas Pacific Islanders from the Freely Associated States experience unique health disparities resulting from United States nuclear weapons tests on their home islands, but such people have been categorically denied access to Medicaid and other Federal health benefits; Whereas the United States has historically facilitated outsider status toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, such as the authorization of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, which resulted in profound economic, social, and psychological burdens for the people impacted; Whereas the history and persistence of racist and non- scientific medical beliefs are associated with ongoing racial disparities in treatment and health outcomes; Whereas implicit racial and ethnic biases within the health care system have an impact on the quality of care experienced by communities of color, such as the undertreatment of pain in Black patients; Whereas the historical context of unethical practices and abuses experienced by Black patients and research participants, such as the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, serve as symbols of the Black community's mistrust of the medical system; Whereas women of color continue to face attacks, documented throughout history, on their prenatal, maternal, and reproductive health and rights; Whereas enslaved Black women were forced to endure egregiously unethical and cruel treatment, as subjects of insidious medical experiments, to advance modern gynecology; Whereas, through the late 1960s and early 1980s, physicians routinely sterilized people of color, performing excessive and medically unnecessary procedures on patients of color without their informed consent; Whereas Black and Native American women are 2 to 4 times more likely than White women to suffer severe maternal morbidity or die of pregnancy-related complications, and implicit racial biases and lower quality care are contributing factors to the health care disparities that lead to these outcomes; Whereas Black and Native American infants are twice as likely to die as White infants, and the Black infant mortality rate in the United States is higher than in 97 countries worldwide; Whereas researchers have developed the analytical framework of ``weathering'' to describe how the constant stress of racism leads to poor health outcomes for Black Americans; Whereas the daily experience of racism is associated with stress, depression, and anxiety, and may cause physiological reactivity or contribute to chronic health conditions; Whereas racism is linked to mental health challenges for children and adolescents; Whereas children of color are overrepresented in the United States child welfare system, and up to 80 percent of children in foster care enter State custody with significant mental health challenges; Whereas disparities in educational access and attainment, along with racism experienced in the educational setting, affect the trajectory of academic achievement for children and adolescents, and ultimately impact health and racial inequities in school discipline, which has long-term consequences for children; Whereas racism and segregation in the United States contribute to poor health outcomes by segregating Black, Latino, and Native American communities from opportunity; Whereas, for decades, discriminatory housing practices, such as redlining, systemically excluded people of color from housing, robbing them of capital in the form of low-cost, stable mortgages and opportunities to build wealth, and the Federal government used its financial power to segregate renters in newly built public housing; Whereas environmental injustices, such as proximity and exposure to toxic waste or hazardous air pollutants, continue to harm the health of communities of color, low-income communities, and Indigenous communities around the United States; Whereas social inequities such as differing access to quality health care, healthy food and safe drinking water, safe neighborhoods, education, job security, and reliable transportation affect health risks and outcomes; Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the effects of racism and discrimination are seen in COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and mortality rates--disproportionately high among Black, Latino, and Native American populations compared to the overall population--exacerbating health disparities and highlighting barriers to care for Black, Latino, and Native American patients across the United States; Whereas discrimination and harassment relating to the COVID-19 pandemic is on the rise, particularly discrimination and harassment directed towards the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community; Whereas, because of racial and ethnic disparities, people of color are more likely to have pre-existing, preventable, and chronic conditions, which lead to higher COVID-19 morbidity and mortality rates; Whereas people of color are overrepresented in the number of people in the United States living under poor air quality conditions, which can increase the likelihood of COVID-19 morbidity and mortality; Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened barriers for Black, Latino, and Native American households that suffer from disproportionately higher rates of food insecurity; Whereas Black and Latino workers make up a disproportionate number of frontline workers, are less likely to receive paid sick leave or have the ability to work from home, and have been excluded from many forms of relief readily available to other groups; Whereas people of color are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice and immigration enforcement systems and face a higher risk of contracting COVID-19 within prison populations and detention centers due to the over- incarceration of people of color; Whereas, during the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased use of anti-Asian rhetoric has resulted in Asian Americans being harassed, assaulted, and scapegoated for the pandemic; Whereas communities of color continue to bear the burdens of inequitable social, economic, and criminal justice policies, practices, and investments that cause deep disparities, hurt, harm, danger, and mistrust; Whereas over 40 percent of Latinos report being discriminated against or harassed because they are Hispanic; Whereas approximately 24 percent of the Latino population in the United States identifies as ``Afro-Latino'' and is thus potentially subject to both race and national origin discrimination; Whereas, because of racism, Black people in the United States share a unique set of challenges and experiences that require heightened levels of awareness and risk while performing everyday tasks--such as jogging in neighborhoods, driving while Black, or playing in a park--that are not experienced by other populations; Whereas Black people in the United States are 3 times more likely to be killed by police than White people in the United States, and police violence is the 6th leading cause of death for young Black men; Whereas the police brutality and violence experienced by Black people in the United States adversely impacts mental health among Black communities; Whereas Black communities led the United States in mourning the killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, Elijah McClain, and countless other Black Americans--calling for justice and long-term changes to dismantle systems of oppression; Whereas, throughout the history of the United States, people of color have been at the forefront of civil rights movements for essential freedoms, human rights, and equal protection for marginalized groups and continue to fight for racial and economic justice today; Whereas a public health issue is defined as meeting the following 4 criteria: (1) The condition affects many people, is seen as a threat to the public, and is continuing to increase. (2) The condition is distributed unfairly. (3) Preventive measures could reduce the effects of the condition. (4) Those preventive measures are not yet in place; Whereas racism meets the criteria of a public health crisis, and public health experts agree; Whereas the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-- (1) declared racism a serious threat to public health; and (2) acknowledged the need for additional research and investments to address this serious issue; Whereas a Federal public health crisis declaration defines racism as a pervasive health issue and alerts the people of the United States to the need to enact immediate and effective cross-governmental efforts to address the root causes of institutional racism and their downstream impacts; and Whereas such declaration requires the response of the Government to engage significant resources to empower those communities that are impacted: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the resolutions drafted, introduced, and adopted by cities and localities across the United States declaring racism a public health crisis; (2) declares racism a public health crisis in the United States; (3) commits to-- (A) establishing a nationwide strategy to address health disparities and inequity across all sectors in society; (B) dismantling systemic practices and policies that perpetuate racism; (C) advancing reforms to address years of neglectful and apathetic policies that have led to poor health outcomes for communities of color; and (D) promoting efforts to address the social determinants of health--especially for Black, Latino, and Native American people in the United States, and other people of color; and (4) places a charge on the people of the United States to move forward with urgency to ensure that the United States stands firmly in honoring its moral purpose of advancing the self-evident truths that all people are created equal, that they are endowed with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2175-2 | null | 2,816 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. LUJAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 175 Whereas the week of April 5, 2021, is National Public Health Week; Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2021 is ``Building Bridges to Better Health''; Whereas the goal of National Public Health Week in 2021 is to recognize the contributions of public health in-- (1) improving the health of the people of the United States; and (2) achieving health equity; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, the United States and the global community are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires support for-- (1) a robust public health infrastructure and workforce; (2) State, territorial, local, and Tribal health departments, health care workers, public health laboratories, and first responders; (3) diagnostic testing of new and potential COVID-19 cases and activities related to epidemiology and public health data; (4) complying with appropriate social distancing and quarantine recommendations; (5) relieving financial burdens for individuals in the United States hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, including through public health emergency leave; (6) State Medicaid programs and community health centers to ensure care for vulnerable populations; (7) collaboration among the Federal Government, State and local governments, schools, businesses, and employers to support public health measures to decrease community spread of COVID-19; (8) investments in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which support infectious disease outbreak preparedness and critical public health infrastructure for State and local health departments and public health laboratories; (9) a comprehensive effort to ensure a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign that boosts access to vaccines for vulnerable populations and trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness; and (10) efforts to address racism as a public health crisis and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities related to COVID-19 deaths, vaccine access and testing, and important health outcomes outside of the pandemic such as maternal mortality; Whereas, in 2020, the life expectancy for the population of the United States dropped a full year, which is the largest drop in life expectancy since 1943; Whereas many of the leading causes of death for individuals in the United States result from chronic conditions, which are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health challenges; Whereas there are significant differences in the health status of individuals living in the most healthy States and those living in the least healthy States, including differences in obesity rates, the prevalence of chronic disease, and the prevalence of infectious disease; Whereas racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States continue to experience disparities in the burden of illness and death, as compared with the entire population of the United States; Whereas violence is a leading cause of premature death and it is estimated that more than 7 individuals per hour die a violent death in the United States; Whereas deaths from homicides cost the economy of the United States billions of dollars and the violence of homicides can cause social and emotional distress, community trauma, injury, disability, depression, anxiety, and post- traumatic stress disorder; Whereas emergency department visits for suicidal thoughts or self-harm increased 25.5 percent between January 2017 and December 2018, with substantial increases occurring in younger age groups; Whereas an estimated 1 in 7 children in the United States experiences child abuse and neglect, which imposes an annual lifetime economic burden of approximately $428,000,000,000 on the population of the United States; Whereas, despite significant progress in reducing the infant mortality rate in the United States to a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, in 2017 the infant mortality rate in the United States greatly varies among States; Whereas women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States at a higher rate than in many other developed countries and an estimated 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable; Whereas Black mothers experience a maternal mortality rate 3 to 4 times higher than White mothers; Whereas 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States during the 12-month period ending May 2020, the highest level ever recorded during a 12-month period; Whereas cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths every year, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke; Whereas the percentage of adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes has decreased from 20.9 percent of the population in 2005 to 13.7 percent of the population in 2018; Whereas, in 2020, according to data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey 19.6 percent of high school students (3,020,000 students) and 4.7 percent of middle school students (550,000 students) reported current e-cigarette use; Whereas data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that in 2020 almost 40 percent of high school e-cigarette users were using an e-cigarette on 20 or more days out of the month and almost a quarter of high school e-cigarette users were using e-cigarettes every day, indicating a strong dependence on nicotine among youth; Whereas in the past 2 decades heat-related mortality for older persons has almost doubled, reaching a record high 19,000 deaths in 2018; Whereas from 2018 to 2019 the United States spent nearly $13 per person on climate change adaptation in the health sector, far less than what is needed to prevent the growing health impacts of climate change; Whereas, in 2016, fine particulate air pollution led to more than 64,000 premature deaths in the United States and Black and Hispanic individuals in the United States were disproportionately impacted; Whereas public health organizations use National Public Health Week to educate public policymakers and public health professionals on issues that are important to improving the health of the people of the United States; Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in disease prevention can result in significant savings in health care costs; Whereas vaccination is one of the most significant public health achievements in history and has resulted in substantial decreases in-- (1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; and (2) health care costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes to a-- (1) 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths; (2) 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to cardiovascular disease; (3) 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes; and (4) 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related deaths; Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, mitigate, and recover from the impact of a full range of health threats, including-- (1) disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) natural disasters, such as wildfires, flooding, and severe storms; and (3) other disasters, including disasters caused by human activity and public health emergencies; Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners outside of the health sector, including city planners, transportation officials, education officials, and private sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors can influence health outcomes; Whereas in communities across the United States, individuals are changing the way they care for their health by avoiding tobacco use, eating healthier, increasing physical activity, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and in the workplace; and Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and the prevention of disease and injury can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and injury and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week; (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, municipalities, local communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury; (3) recognizes the role of public health in-- (A) preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (B) mitigating short-term and long-term impacts of infectious disease outbreaks on the health and wellness of individuals in the United States; (C) addressing social and other determinants of health, including health disparities experienced by minority populations; and (D) improving the overall health of individuals and communities in the United States; (4) encourages increased efforts and resources to-- (A) improve the health of individuals in the United States; and (B) make the United States, in 1 generation, the healthiest Nation in the world by-- (i) providing greater opportunities to improve community health and prevent disease and injury; and (ii) strengthening the public health system and workforce in the United States; and (5) encourages the people of the United States to learn about the role of the public health system in improving health across the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2177-3 | null | 2,817 |
formal | vaccine safety | null | anti-vax | Mr. LUJAN submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 175 Whereas the week of April 5, 2021, is National Public Health Week; Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2021 is ``Building Bridges to Better Health''; Whereas the goal of National Public Health Week in 2021 is to recognize the contributions of public health in-- (1) improving the health of the people of the United States; and (2) achieving health equity; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, the United States and the global community are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires support for-- (1) a robust public health infrastructure and workforce; (2) State, territorial, local, and Tribal health departments, health care workers, public health laboratories, and first responders; (3) diagnostic testing of new and potential COVID-19 cases and activities related to epidemiology and public health data; (4) complying with appropriate social distancing and quarantine recommendations; (5) relieving financial burdens for individuals in the United States hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, including through public health emergency leave; (6) State Medicaid programs and community health centers to ensure care for vulnerable populations; (7) collaboration among the Federal Government, State and local governments, schools, businesses, and employers to support public health measures to decrease community spread of COVID-19; (8) investments in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which support infectious disease outbreak preparedness and critical public health infrastructure for State and local health departments and public health laboratories; (9) a comprehensive effort to ensure a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign that boosts access to vaccines for vulnerable populations and trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness; and (10) efforts to address racism as a public health crisis and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities related to COVID-19 deaths, vaccine access and testing, and important health outcomes outside of the pandemic such as maternal mortality; Whereas, in 2020, the life expectancy for the population of the United States dropped a full year, which is the largest drop in life expectancy since 1943; Whereas many of the leading causes of death for individuals in the United States result from chronic conditions, which are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health challenges; Whereas there are significant differences in the health status of individuals living in the most healthy States and those living in the least healthy States, including differences in obesity rates, the prevalence of chronic disease, and the prevalence of infectious disease; Whereas racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States continue to experience disparities in the burden of illness and death, as compared with the entire population of the United States; Whereas violence is a leading cause of premature death and it is estimated that more than 7 individuals per hour die a violent death in the United States; Whereas deaths from homicides cost the economy of the United States billions of dollars and the violence of homicides can cause social and emotional distress, community trauma, injury, disability, depression, anxiety, and post- traumatic stress disorder; Whereas emergency department visits for suicidal thoughts or self-harm increased 25.5 percent between January 2017 and December 2018, with substantial increases occurring in younger age groups; Whereas an estimated 1 in 7 children in the United States experiences child abuse and neglect, which imposes an annual lifetime economic burden of approximately $428,000,000,000 on the population of the United States; Whereas, despite significant progress in reducing the infant mortality rate in the United States to a historic low of 5.8 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, in 2017 the infant mortality rate in the United States greatly varies among States; Whereas women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States at a higher rate than in many other developed countries and an estimated 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable; Whereas Black mothers experience a maternal mortality rate 3 to 4 times higher than White mothers; Whereas 81,000 drug overdose deaths occurred in the United States during the 12-month period ending May 2020, the highest level ever recorded during a 12-month period; Whereas cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths every year, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke; Whereas the percentage of adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes has decreased from 20.9 percent of the population in 2005 to 13.7 percent of the population in 2018; Whereas, in 2020, according to data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey 19.6 percent of high school students (3,020,000 students) and 4.7 percent of middle school students (550,000 students) reported current e-cigarette use; Whereas data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that in 2020 almost 40 percent of high school e-cigarette users were using an e-cigarette on 20 or more days out of the month and almost a quarter of high school e-cigarette users were using e-cigarettes every day, indicating a strong dependence on nicotine among youth; Whereas in the past 2 decades heat-related mortality for older persons has almost doubled, reaching a record high 19,000 deaths in 2018; Whereas from 2018 to 2019 the United States spent nearly $13 per person on climate change adaptation in the health sector, far less than what is needed to prevent the growing health impacts of climate change; Whereas, in 2016, fine particulate air pollution led to more than 64,000 premature deaths in the United States and Black and Hispanic individuals in the United States were disproportionately impacted; Whereas public health organizations use National Public Health Week to educate public policymakers and public health professionals on issues that are important to improving the health of the people of the United States; Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in disease prevention can result in significant savings in health care costs; Whereas vaccination is one of the most significant public health achievements in history and has resulted in substantial decreases in-- (1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; and (2) health care costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes to a-- (1) 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths; (2) 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to cardiovascular disease; (3) 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes; and (4) 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related deaths; Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, mitigate, and recover from the impact of a full range of health threats, including-- (1) disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) natural disasters, such as wildfires, flooding, and severe storms; and (3) other disasters, including disasters caused by human activity and public health emergencies; Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners outside of the health sector, including city planners, transportation officials, education officials, and private sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors can influence health outcomes; Whereas in communities across the United States, individuals are changing the way they care for their health by avoiding tobacco use, eating healthier, increasing physical activity, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and in the workplace; and Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and the prevention of disease and injury can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and injury and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week; (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, municipalities, local communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury; (3) recognizes the role of public health in-- (A) preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (B) mitigating short-term and long-term impacts of infectious disease outbreaks on the health and wellness of individuals in the United States; (C) addressing social and other determinants of health, including health disparities experienced by minority populations; and (D) improving the overall health of individuals and communities in the United States; (4) encourages increased efforts and resources to-- (A) improve the health of individuals in the United States; and (B) make the United States, in 1 generation, the healthiest Nation in the world by-- (i) providing greater opportunities to improve community health and prevent disease and injury; and (ii) strengthening the public health system and workforce in the United States; and (5) encourages the people of the United States to learn about the role of the public health system in improving health across the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2177-3 | null | 2,818 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Risch) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 176 Whereas, on April 9, 1991, Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union, and on March 24, 1992, the United States and Georgia established formal diplomatic relations; Whereas, since 1993, the territorial integrity of Georgia has been reaffirmed by the international community and numerous United Nations Security Council resolutions; Whereas, at the 2008 Summit in Bucharest, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) recognized the aspirations of Georgia to join NATO and agreed that Georgia would become a member of the Alliance; Whereas, on January 9, 2009, the United States and Georgia signed the United States-Georgia Charter on Strategic Partnership, affirming the close relationship between the United States and Georgia based on the shared principles of democracy, free markets, defense and security cooperation, and cultural exchanges; Whereas Georgia has made significant contributions to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and remains the largest troop contributor among NATO partners to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan; Whereas the United States supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders and condemns the continued occupation by the Russian Federation of the Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia; Whereas, in March 2020, the United States and several embassies of European countries in Georgia brokered an agreement among the major political parties in Georgia, which included changes to the electoral system and called on all sides to address the appearance of political interference in the judicial system; Whereas, on June 29, 2020, the Parliament of Georgia adopted constitutional amendments, establishing a more proportional electoral system and promoting greater political pluralism in future parliaments; Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi applauded Georgia's electoral reforms and urged the Parliament of Georgia to pass additional legislation that fully incorporates all of the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ODIHR) and urged Georgian authorities to effectively implement such legislation; Whereas, on October 31, 2020, Georgia held its first parliamentary elections since adopting the electoral reforms in June 2020; Whereas the OSCE/ODIHR limited election observation team detailed a number of flaws and partially or completely unimplemented OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, but also concluded that the first round of the October 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia was ``competitive and, overall, fundamental freedoms were respected''; Whereas the United States Embassy in Tbilisi shared the OSCE/ODIHR's assessment of the first round of elections and stressed the importance of fully addressing the deficiencies noted by the OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission Preliminary Report before the second round of elections in November 2020; Whereas the Georgian opposition refused to recognize the legitimacy of the October 2020 elections, boycotted the second round of elections, called for public voter intimidation of anyone voting in the second round of elections, and declined to take their seats in parliament; Whereas, on February 23, 2021, Georgian authorities entered the headquarters of United National Movement (UNM) and arrested its leader Nikanor Melia on a bail violation; Whereas, on March 23, 2021, the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation of the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate held a hearing on Georgia to examine the political situation and to highlight the actions that the Government of Georgia and the opposition could take in order to resolve the impasse and move the country forward; Whereas, in that hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State George Kent testified that the Russian Federation uses its illegal occupation of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, ``economic leverage, cyber attacks, and disinformation to try to force Georgia to abandon its Euro-Atlantic aspirations and to sow division and distrust''; Whereas, at the same hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary Kent testified, ``Georgia has real work to do in strengthening its democracy . . . Georgia's commitment to democracy and the rule of law is a fundamental element of our strategic relationship, as well as the precondition for the country's further progress.''; and Whereas international mediation efforts to resolve the political impasse in Georgia led to an agreement signed on April 19, 2021, by representatives of several political parties and individual Members of Parliament: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) calls on Georgian Dream, United National Movement, and the other parties elected to the Parliament of Georgia to fully implement the compromise proposed by European Council President Michel on April 18, 2021, and signed on April 19, 2021; (2) calls on all elected Members of Parliament to take their seats in parliament and begin work without further delay on the challenges facing Georgia, including consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, a weakened economy, and challenging regional dynamics; (3) calls on the Government of Georgia to institute systemic reforms, developed through an inclusive and transparent consultation process with stakeholders, to ensure that the judicial system is impartial and independent and not used for political or partisan ends, including by fully adopting and implementing the recommendations of the European Commission for Democracy through Law (commonly known as the ``Venice Commission'') and other experts; (4) calls on the Government of Georgia to institute inclusively and transparently developed systemic electoral reforms to address the underlying causes of the political impasse and avoid a recurrence of such a crisis, including by fully adopting and implementing the recommendations of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE/ | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2178 | null | 2,819 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Coons, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Young, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Braun, Mr. Daines, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Lummis, and Mr. Peters) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 177 Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled ``Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households'' by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 37 percent of adults in the United States cannot cover an unexpected expense of $400; Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled ``How America Banks: Household Use of Banking and Financial Services'' by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, approximately 5.4 percent of households in the United States are unbanked and, therefore, have limited or no access to savings, lending, and other basic financial services; Whereas, according to the 2020 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey final report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling that was conducted prior to COVID-19 lockdowns-- (1) a majority (62 percent) of adults in the United States had credit card debt during the 1-year period ending on the date of publication of the report; (2) over \2/5\ (43 percent) of adults in the United States carry credit card debt from month to month; and (3) approximately 47 percent of adults in the United States maintain a budget; Whereas, according to the statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the fourth quarter of 2020 entitled ``Household Debt and Credit''-- (1) outstanding household debt in the United States has been increasing steadily since 2013 and was $414,000,000,000 higher than at the end of 2019; and (2) outstanding student loan balances have more than doubled in the last decade to approximately $1,560,000,000,000; Whereas, according to the 2020 report entitled ``Survey of the States: Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation's Schools'', by the Council for Economic Education-- (1) only 25 States require students to take an economics course as a high school graduation requirement; and (2) only 21 States require students to take a personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, either independently or as part of an economics course; Whereas, according to the Gallup-HOPE Index, in 2016 only 57 percent of students in the United States had money in a bank or credit union account; Whereas expanding access to the safe, mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure options for managing finances and building wealth; Whereas quality personal financial education is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared-- (1) to manage money, credit, and debt; and (2) to become responsible workers, heads of household, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; Whereas increased financial literacy-- (1) empowers individuals to make wise financial decisions; and (2) reduces the confusion caused by an increasingly complex economy; Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; and Whereas, in 2003, Congress-- (1) determined that coordinating Federal financial literacy efforts and formulating a national strategy is important; and (2) in light of that determination, passed the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act (20 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.), establishing the Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates April 2021 as ``Financial Literacy Month'' to raise public awareness about-- (A) the importance of personal financial education in the United States; and (B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of understanding about personal finances; and (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people of the United States to observe Financial Literacy Month with appropriate programs and activities. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2179 | null | 2,820 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Whitehouse, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Hassan, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Coons, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Young, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Braun, Mr. Daines, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Lummis, and Mr. Peters) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 177 Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled ``Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households'' by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, 37 percent of adults in the United States cannot cover an unexpected expense of $400; Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled ``How America Banks: Household Use of Banking and Financial Services'' by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, approximately 5.4 percent of households in the United States are unbanked and, therefore, have limited or no access to savings, lending, and other basic financial services; Whereas, according to the 2020 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey final report of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling that was conducted prior to COVID-19 lockdowns-- (1) a majority (62 percent) of adults in the United States had credit card debt during the 1-year period ending on the date of publication of the report; (2) over \2/5\ (43 percent) of adults in the United States carry credit card debt from month to month; and (3) approximately 47 percent of adults in the United States maintain a budget; Whereas, according to the statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the fourth quarter of 2020 entitled ``Household Debt and Credit''-- (1) outstanding household debt in the United States has been increasing steadily since 2013 and was $414,000,000,000 higher than at the end of 2019; and (2) outstanding student loan balances have more than doubled in the last decade to approximately $1,560,000,000,000; Whereas, according to the 2020 report entitled ``Survey of the States: Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation's Schools'', by the Council for Economic Education-- (1) only 25 States require students to take an economics course as a high school graduation requirement; and (2) only 21 States require students to take a personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, either independently or as part of an economics course; Whereas, according to the Gallup-HOPE Index, in 2016 only 57 percent of students in the United States had money in a bank or credit union account; Whereas expanding access to the safe, mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure options for managing finances and building wealth; Whereas quality personal financial education is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared-- (1) to manage money, credit, and debt; and (2) to become responsible workers, heads of household, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; Whereas increased financial literacy-- (1) empowers individuals to make wise financial decisions; and (2) reduces the confusion caused by an increasingly complex economy; Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; and Whereas, in 2003, Congress-- (1) determined that coordinating Federal financial literacy efforts and formulating a national strategy is important; and (2) in light of that determination, passed the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act (20 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.), establishing the Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates April 2021 as ``Financial Literacy Month'' to raise public awareness about-- (A) the importance of personal financial education in the United States; and (B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of understanding about personal finances; and (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people of the United States to observe Financial Literacy Month with appropriate programs and activities. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-22-pt1-PgS2179 | null | 2,821 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | American Jobs Plan Madam President, last week, a few of my Republican colleagues introduced their counterproposal to President Biden's American Jobs Plan. The senior Senator from Mississippi called the proposal a ``good-faith effort.'' He wishes to engage with Democrats on an issue that touches every community in America on a subject we all know--infrastructure. I think I speak for the entire Democratic caucus in welcoming this effort from our friends across the aisle. As I mentioned earlier, when it came to the American Rescue Plan for vaccines and vaccinations and cash support for families and help for small businesses and schools, not a single Republican would join us. It is time for us to come together and work on a bipartisan basis. Maybe this is a start. After all, infrastructure is what should unite us. Whether you live in Laurel, MS, or the Lake View section of Chicago, our roads, bridges, and our fiber-optic networks keep us connected and keep us moving. As we emerge from this pandemic, it is clear that Americans are ready to get to work building a stronger country, a healthier country, and a more prosperous country. Sadly, though, the proposal from my Republican friends really fails to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunity test to transform America and make America a winner in the 21st century. At a time when millions of Americans lack access to reliable, efficient transportation and millions more lack access to reliable high-speed internet, we can't settle for just repaving old roads or filling potholes. We need to invest in this Nation's future and put people back to work building a sustainable economic foundation for our children and grandchildren to grow and thrive. We need an infrastructure plan that is a blueprint for the world of tomorrow, not just a patchwork quilt focused on yesterday. The way I see it, we are on the cusp of a world where America owns the clean energy economy and exports our union-made electric trucks and cars across the globe. Where workers can get to work easily by bus, train, or bike and working parents don't have to worry about finding a safe and affordable place to leave their kids when they are working. A world where, rather than reading about the Mesozoic Era in an outdated textbook, a child can throw on a virtual reality headset in the home or classroom and watch in awe as a T. rex swings its massive tail over their head. A world in which America makes and sells the new technologies of the sustainable economy to the world rather than buying them. That is a future powered by the infrastructure of tomorrow. Under the American Jobs Plan, it is a future made in America. But we need to start building it today because, if we don't, I guarantee you somebody else will. My friends, take a look across the ocean. Do we really believe that China, for example, is skimping on investing in its future? Absolutely not. They are already using technologies like artificial intelligence to ease traffic congestion in cities. They are installing facial recognition systems on their streets to keep tabs on jaywalkers and, sadly, tabs on ethnic minorities like Uighurs. That is the difference between us and China. In China, the Communist Party uses technology to broaden the scope of its surveillance state. In America, we have an opportunity to show the world that technology and innovation can actually strengthen democracy by giving people the freedom to work the way they want with universal broadband and to move around the way they want with new forms of transportation. The President's American Jobs Plan will give our kids an honest shot to thrive by eliminating lead pipes and service lines from our drinking water systems and making safe, affordable housing a reality for millions of working families. I can't help but acknowledge my colleague Senator Tammy Duckworth when it comes to clean water and new lead pipes and service lines for our drinking water systems. I am proud of the initiative and leadership that she has shown, working with other Members of the Senate, to make this a reality. This is a unifying vision for the future. It is a model for global leadership. So let's not balk at the cost of making it a reality. This is not the time to think small. We are talking about a transformative undertaking, and that is part of what America has always been about. More than half a century ago, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway System. It changed America. Today, the program's nearly 50,000 miles of expressway carry about one-fourth of all traffic in the United States. These roads connect our communities, have created communities, and serve as a bedrock for our economy. In today's numbers, if you tried to rebuild the Interstate Highway System, it would cost half a trillion dollars--probably much more, to be honest. It is not a small sum. But, boy, it is an investment that paid off. The program generated $6 in economic activity for every dollar spent to build those roads and highways. And the fact is, today we need to invest in order to build our future. When President Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway Program, we didn't have e-commerce or same-day shipments. It was more than 10 years before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the Moon. Now, each of us carries around a pocket-sized device with more than enough computing power to get him to the Moon and back. The world has changed--in many ways, for the better. Today, it is not sufficient for an infrastructure plan to begin and end with bridges and roads. If we want to support a modern economy and sustain growth for generations to come, we need to invest in the infrastructure for tomorrow. This isn't to say that we have all the answers on this side of the aisle. But there is one answer we should all get behind: Go big; go bold. We can't penny-pinch America into first place. And don't take it from me: Americans of all political stripes--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans--support marshaling the resources of the Federal Government to go big and bold on infrastructure. They want us to not only repair our highways and bridges but to rebuild our waterways and airports and make high-speed broadband internet available to everyone. Americans support a plan that puts us on track to have an American century in the 21st century. That is our plan, and victory is within our reach. There was an architect and designer in the city of Chicago in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century who helped design the Columbian Exposition, ``White City,'' and a lot of history was made with those decisions. His name was Daniel Burnham. When he was asked about planning something like the White City, the Columbian Exposition, in the city of Chicago, he had a quote that you will turn to almost every day if you follow what is going on in planning in Chicago. Here is what he said: ``Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood''--and I might add, women--``They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized.'' They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. I think we understand that. As President Eisenhower gave America a vision with the Interstate Highway System, a connected nation and a new America, we need to do the same. President Biden has challenged us to do it. We need to do it on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make it a reality. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2186 | null | 2,822 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | American Jobs Plan Madam President, last week, a few of my Republican colleagues introduced their counterproposal to President Biden's American Jobs Plan. The senior Senator from Mississippi called the proposal a ``good-faith effort.'' He wishes to engage with Democrats on an issue that touches every community in America on a subject we all know--infrastructure. I think I speak for the entire Democratic caucus in welcoming this effort from our friends across the aisle. As I mentioned earlier, when it came to the American Rescue Plan for vaccines and vaccinations and cash support for families and help for small businesses and schools, not a single Republican would join us. It is time for us to come together and work on a bipartisan basis. Maybe this is a start. After all, infrastructure is what should unite us. Whether you live in Laurel, MS, or the Lake View section of Chicago, our roads, bridges, and our fiber-optic networks keep us connected and keep us moving. As we emerge from this pandemic, it is clear that Americans are ready to get to work building a stronger country, a healthier country, and a more prosperous country. Sadly, though, the proposal from my Republican friends really fails to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunity test to transform America and make America a winner in the 21st century. At a time when millions of Americans lack access to reliable, efficient transportation and millions more lack access to reliable high-speed internet, we can't settle for just repaving old roads or filling potholes. We need to invest in this Nation's future and put people back to work building a sustainable economic foundation for our children and grandchildren to grow and thrive. We need an infrastructure plan that is a blueprint for the world of tomorrow, not just a patchwork quilt focused on yesterday. The way I see it, we are on the cusp of a world where America owns the clean energy economy and exports our union-made electric trucks and cars across the globe. Where workers can get to work easily by bus, train, or bike and working parents don't have to worry about finding a safe and affordable place to leave their kids when they are working. A world where, rather than reading about the Mesozoic Era in an outdated textbook, a child can throw on a virtual reality headset in the home or classroom and watch in awe as a T. rex swings its massive tail over their head. A world in which America makes and sells the new technologies of the sustainable economy to the world rather than buying them. That is a future powered by the infrastructure of tomorrow. Under the American Jobs Plan, it is a future made in America. But we need to start building it today because, if we don't, I guarantee you somebody else will. My friends, take a look across the ocean. Do we really believe that China, for example, is skimping on investing in its future? Absolutely not. They are already using technologies like artificial intelligence to ease traffic congestion in cities. They are installing facial recognition systems on their streets to keep tabs on jaywalkers and, sadly, tabs on ethnic minorities like Uighurs. That is the difference between us and China. In China, the Communist Party uses technology to broaden the scope of its surveillance state. In America, we have an opportunity to show the world that technology and innovation can actually strengthen democracy by giving people the freedom to work the way they want with universal broadband and to move around the way they want with new forms of transportation. The President's American Jobs Plan will give our kids an honest shot to thrive by eliminating lead pipes and service lines from our drinking water systems and making safe, affordable housing a reality for millions of working families. I can't help but acknowledge my colleague Senator Tammy Duckworth when it comes to clean water and new lead pipes and service lines for our drinking water systems. I am proud of the initiative and leadership that she has shown, working with other Members of the Senate, to make this a reality. This is a unifying vision for the future. It is a model for global leadership. So let's not balk at the cost of making it a reality. This is not the time to think small. We are talking about a transformative undertaking, and that is part of what America has always been about. More than half a century ago, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway System. It changed America. Today, the program's nearly 50,000 miles of expressway carry about one-fourth of all traffic in the United States. These roads connect our communities, have created communities, and serve as a bedrock for our economy. In today's numbers, if you tried to rebuild the Interstate Highway System, it would cost half a trillion dollars--probably much more, to be honest. It is not a small sum. But, boy, it is an investment that paid off. The program generated $6 in economic activity for every dollar spent to build those roads and highways. And the fact is, today we need to invest in order to build our future. When President Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway Program, we didn't have e-commerce or same-day shipments. It was more than 10 years before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the Moon. Now, each of us carries around a pocket-sized device with more than enough computing power to get him to the Moon and back. The world has changed--in many ways, for the better. Today, it is not sufficient for an infrastructure plan to begin and end with bridges and roads. If we want to support a modern economy and sustain growth for generations to come, we need to invest in the infrastructure for tomorrow. This isn't to say that we have all the answers on this side of the aisle. But there is one answer we should all get behind: Go big; go bold. We can't penny-pinch America into first place. And don't take it from me: Americans of all political stripes--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans--support marshaling the resources of the Federal Government to go big and bold on infrastructure. They want us to not only repair our highways and bridges but to rebuild our waterways and airports and make high-speed broadband internet available to everyone. Americans support a plan that puts us on track to have an American century in the 21st century. That is our plan, and victory is within our reach. There was an architect and designer in the city of Chicago in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century who helped design the Columbian Exposition, ``White City,'' and a lot of history was made with those decisions. His name was Daniel Burnham. When he was asked about planning something like the White City, the Columbian Exposition, in the city of Chicago, he had a quote that you will turn to almost every day if you follow what is going on in planning in Chicago. Here is what he said: ``Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood''--and I might add, women--``They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized.'' They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. I think we understand that. As President Eisenhower gave America a vision with the Interstate Highway System, a connected nation and a new America, we need to do the same. President Biden has challenged us to do it. We need to do it on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make it a reality. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2186 | null | 2,823 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | American Jobs Plan Madam President, last week, a few of my Republican colleagues introduced their counterproposal to President Biden's American Jobs Plan. The senior Senator from Mississippi called the proposal a ``good-faith effort.'' He wishes to engage with Democrats on an issue that touches every community in America on a subject we all know--infrastructure. I think I speak for the entire Democratic caucus in welcoming this effort from our friends across the aisle. As I mentioned earlier, when it came to the American Rescue Plan for vaccines and vaccinations and cash support for families and help for small businesses and schools, not a single Republican would join us. It is time for us to come together and work on a bipartisan basis. Maybe this is a start. After all, infrastructure is what should unite us. Whether you live in Laurel, MS, or the Lake View section of Chicago, our roads, bridges, and our fiber-optic networks keep us connected and keep us moving. As we emerge from this pandemic, it is clear that Americans are ready to get to work building a stronger country, a healthier country, and a more prosperous country. Sadly, though, the proposal from my Republican friends really fails to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunity test to transform America and make America a winner in the 21st century. At a time when millions of Americans lack access to reliable, efficient transportation and millions more lack access to reliable high-speed internet, we can't settle for just repaving old roads or filling potholes. We need to invest in this Nation's future and put people back to work building a sustainable economic foundation for our children and grandchildren to grow and thrive. We need an infrastructure plan that is a blueprint for the world of tomorrow, not just a patchwork quilt focused on yesterday. The way I see it, we are on the cusp of a world where America owns the clean energy economy and exports our union-made electric trucks and cars across the globe. Where workers can get to work easily by bus, train, or bike and working parents don't have to worry about finding a safe and affordable place to leave their kids when they are working. A world where, rather than reading about the Mesozoic Era in an outdated textbook, a child can throw on a virtual reality headset in the home or classroom and watch in awe as a T. rex swings its massive tail over their head. A world in which America makes and sells the new technologies of the sustainable economy to the world rather than buying them. That is a future powered by the infrastructure of tomorrow. Under the American Jobs Plan, it is a future made in America. But we need to start building it today because, if we don't, I guarantee you somebody else will. My friends, take a look across the ocean. Do we really believe that China, for example, is skimping on investing in its future? Absolutely not. They are already using technologies like artificial intelligence to ease traffic congestion in cities. They are installing facial recognition systems on their streets to keep tabs on jaywalkers and, sadly, tabs on ethnic minorities like Uighurs. That is the difference between us and China. In China, the Communist Party uses technology to broaden the scope of its surveillance state. In America, we have an opportunity to show the world that technology and innovation can actually strengthen democracy by giving people the freedom to work the way they want with universal broadband and to move around the way they want with new forms of transportation. The President's American Jobs Plan will give our kids an honest shot to thrive by eliminating lead pipes and service lines from our drinking water systems and making safe, affordable housing a reality for millions of working families. I can't help but acknowledge my colleague Senator Tammy Duckworth when it comes to clean water and new lead pipes and service lines for our drinking water systems. I am proud of the initiative and leadership that she has shown, working with other Members of the Senate, to make this a reality. This is a unifying vision for the future. It is a model for global leadership. So let's not balk at the cost of making it a reality. This is not the time to think small. We are talking about a transformative undertaking, and that is part of what America has always been about. More than half a century ago, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway System. It changed America. Today, the program's nearly 50,000 miles of expressway carry about one-fourth of all traffic in the United States. These roads connect our communities, have created communities, and serve as a bedrock for our economy. In today's numbers, if you tried to rebuild the Interstate Highway System, it would cost half a trillion dollars--probably much more, to be honest. It is not a small sum. But, boy, it is an investment that paid off. The program generated $6 in economic activity for every dollar spent to build those roads and highways. And the fact is, today we need to invest in order to build our future. When President Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway Program, we didn't have e-commerce or same-day shipments. It was more than 10 years before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the Moon. Now, each of us carries around a pocket-sized device with more than enough computing power to get him to the Moon and back. The world has changed--in many ways, for the better. Today, it is not sufficient for an infrastructure plan to begin and end with bridges and roads. If we want to support a modern economy and sustain growth for generations to come, we need to invest in the infrastructure for tomorrow. This isn't to say that we have all the answers on this side of the aisle. But there is one answer we should all get behind: Go big; go bold. We can't penny-pinch America into first place. And don't take it from me: Americans of all political stripes--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans--support marshaling the resources of the Federal Government to go big and bold on infrastructure. They want us to not only repair our highways and bridges but to rebuild our waterways and airports and make high-speed broadband internet available to everyone. Americans support a plan that puts us on track to have an American century in the 21st century. That is our plan, and victory is within our reach. There was an architect and designer in the city of Chicago in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century who helped design the Columbian Exposition, ``White City,'' and a lot of history was made with those decisions. His name was Daniel Burnham. When he was asked about planning something like the White City, the Columbian Exposition, in the city of Chicago, he had a quote that you will turn to almost every day if you follow what is going on in planning in Chicago. Here is what he said: ``Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood''--and I might add, women--``They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized.'' They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. I think we understand that. As President Eisenhower gave America a vision with the Interstate Highway System, a connected nation and a new America, we need to do the same. President Biden has challenged us to do it. We need to do it on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make it a reality. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2186 | null | 2,824 |
formal | freedom to work | null | anti-GMO | American Jobs Plan Madam President, last week, a few of my Republican colleagues introduced their counterproposal to President Biden's American Jobs Plan. The senior Senator from Mississippi called the proposal a ``good-faith effort.'' He wishes to engage with Democrats on an issue that touches every community in America on a subject we all know--infrastructure. I think I speak for the entire Democratic caucus in welcoming this effort from our friends across the aisle. As I mentioned earlier, when it came to the American Rescue Plan for vaccines and vaccinations and cash support for families and help for small businesses and schools, not a single Republican would join us. It is time for us to come together and work on a bipartisan basis. Maybe this is a start. After all, infrastructure is what should unite us. Whether you live in Laurel, MS, or the Lake View section of Chicago, our roads, bridges, and our fiber-optic networks keep us connected and keep us moving. As we emerge from this pandemic, it is clear that Americans are ready to get to work building a stronger country, a healthier country, and a more prosperous country. Sadly, though, the proposal from my Republican friends really fails to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunity test to transform America and make America a winner in the 21st century. At a time when millions of Americans lack access to reliable, efficient transportation and millions more lack access to reliable high-speed internet, we can't settle for just repaving old roads or filling potholes. We need to invest in this Nation's future and put people back to work building a sustainable economic foundation for our children and grandchildren to grow and thrive. We need an infrastructure plan that is a blueprint for the world of tomorrow, not just a patchwork quilt focused on yesterday. The way I see it, we are on the cusp of a world where America owns the clean energy economy and exports our union-made electric trucks and cars across the globe. Where workers can get to work easily by bus, train, or bike and working parents don't have to worry about finding a safe and affordable place to leave their kids when they are working. A world where, rather than reading about the Mesozoic Era in an outdated textbook, a child can throw on a virtual reality headset in the home or classroom and watch in awe as a T. rex swings its massive tail over their head. A world in which America makes and sells the new technologies of the sustainable economy to the world rather than buying them. That is a future powered by the infrastructure of tomorrow. Under the American Jobs Plan, it is a future made in America. But we need to start building it today because, if we don't, I guarantee you somebody else will. My friends, take a look across the ocean. Do we really believe that China, for example, is skimping on investing in its future? Absolutely not. They are already using technologies like artificial intelligence to ease traffic congestion in cities. They are installing facial recognition systems on their streets to keep tabs on jaywalkers and, sadly, tabs on ethnic minorities like Uighurs. That is the difference between us and China. In China, the Communist Party uses technology to broaden the scope of its surveillance state. In America, we have an opportunity to show the world that technology and innovation can actually strengthen democracy by giving people the freedom to work the way they want with universal broadband and to move around the way they want with new forms of transportation. The President's American Jobs Plan will give our kids an honest shot to thrive by eliminating lead pipes and service lines from our drinking water systems and making safe, affordable housing a reality for millions of working families. I can't help but acknowledge my colleague Senator Tammy Duckworth when it comes to clean water and new lead pipes and service lines for our drinking water systems. I am proud of the initiative and leadership that she has shown, working with other Members of the Senate, to make this a reality. This is a unifying vision for the future. It is a model for global leadership. So let's not balk at the cost of making it a reality. This is not the time to think small. We are talking about a transformative undertaking, and that is part of what America has always been about. More than half a century ago, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway System. It changed America. Today, the program's nearly 50,000 miles of expressway carry about one-fourth of all traffic in the United States. These roads connect our communities, have created communities, and serve as a bedrock for our economy. In today's numbers, if you tried to rebuild the Interstate Highway System, it would cost half a trillion dollars--probably much more, to be honest. It is not a small sum. But, boy, it is an investment that paid off. The program generated $6 in economic activity for every dollar spent to build those roads and highways. And the fact is, today we need to invest in order to build our future. When President Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway Program, we didn't have e-commerce or same-day shipments. It was more than 10 years before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the Moon. Now, each of us carries around a pocket-sized device with more than enough computing power to get him to the Moon and back. The world has changed--in many ways, for the better. Today, it is not sufficient for an infrastructure plan to begin and end with bridges and roads. If we want to support a modern economy and sustain growth for generations to come, we need to invest in the infrastructure for tomorrow. This isn't to say that we have all the answers on this side of the aisle. But there is one answer we should all get behind: Go big; go bold. We can't penny-pinch America into first place. And don't take it from me: Americans of all political stripes--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans--support marshaling the resources of the Federal Government to go big and bold on infrastructure. They want us to not only repair our highways and bridges but to rebuild our waterways and airports and make high-speed broadband internet available to everyone. Americans support a plan that puts us on track to have an American century in the 21st century. That is our plan, and victory is within our reach. There was an architect and designer in the city of Chicago in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century who helped design the Columbian Exposition, ``White City,'' and a lot of history was made with those decisions. His name was Daniel Burnham. When he was asked about planning something like the White City, the Columbian Exposition, in the city of Chicago, he had a quote that you will turn to almost every day if you follow what is going on in planning in Chicago. Here is what he said: ``Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood''--and I might add, women--``They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized.'' They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. I think we understand that. As President Eisenhower gave America a vision with the Interstate Highway System, a connected nation and a new America, we need to do the same. President Biden has challenged us to do it. We need to do it on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make it a reality. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2186 | null | 2,825 |
formal | working families | null | racist | American Jobs Plan Madam President, last week, a few of my Republican colleagues introduced their counterproposal to President Biden's American Jobs Plan. The senior Senator from Mississippi called the proposal a ``good-faith effort.'' He wishes to engage with Democrats on an issue that touches every community in America on a subject we all know--infrastructure. I think I speak for the entire Democratic caucus in welcoming this effort from our friends across the aisle. As I mentioned earlier, when it came to the American Rescue Plan for vaccines and vaccinations and cash support for families and help for small businesses and schools, not a single Republican would join us. It is time for us to come together and work on a bipartisan basis. Maybe this is a start. After all, infrastructure is what should unite us. Whether you live in Laurel, MS, or the Lake View section of Chicago, our roads, bridges, and our fiber-optic networks keep us connected and keep us moving. As we emerge from this pandemic, it is clear that Americans are ready to get to work building a stronger country, a healthier country, and a more prosperous country. Sadly, though, the proposal from my Republican friends really fails to meet the once-in-a-generation opportunity test to transform America and make America a winner in the 21st century. At a time when millions of Americans lack access to reliable, efficient transportation and millions more lack access to reliable high-speed internet, we can't settle for just repaving old roads or filling potholes. We need to invest in this Nation's future and put people back to work building a sustainable economic foundation for our children and grandchildren to grow and thrive. We need an infrastructure plan that is a blueprint for the world of tomorrow, not just a patchwork quilt focused on yesterday. The way I see it, we are on the cusp of a world where America owns the clean energy economy and exports our union-made electric trucks and cars across the globe. Where workers can get to work easily by bus, train, or bike and working parents don't have to worry about finding a safe and affordable place to leave their kids when they are working. A world where, rather than reading about the Mesozoic Era in an outdated textbook, a child can throw on a virtual reality headset in the home or classroom and watch in awe as a T. rex swings its massive tail over their head. A world in which America makes and sells the new technologies of the sustainable economy to the world rather than buying them. That is a future powered by the infrastructure of tomorrow. Under the American Jobs Plan, it is a future made in America. But we need to start building it today because, if we don't, I guarantee you somebody else will. My friends, take a look across the ocean. Do we really believe that China, for example, is skimping on investing in its future? Absolutely not. They are already using technologies like artificial intelligence to ease traffic congestion in cities. They are installing facial recognition systems on their streets to keep tabs on jaywalkers and, sadly, tabs on ethnic minorities like Uighurs. That is the difference between us and China. In China, the Communist Party uses technology to broaden the scope of its surveillance state. In America, we have an opportunity to show the world that technology and innovation can actually strengthen democracy by giving people the freedom to work the way they want with universal broadband and to move around the way they want with new forms of transportation. The President's American Jobs Plan will give our kids an honest shot to thrive by eliminating lead pipes and service lines from our drinking water systems and making safe, affordable housing a reality for millions of working families. I can't help but acknowledge my colleague Senator Tammy Duckworth when it comes to clean water and new lead pipes and service lines for our drinking water systems. I am proud of the initiative and leadership that she has shown, working with other Members of the Senate, to make this a reality. This is a unifying vision for the future. It is a model for global leadership. So let's not balk at the cost of making it a reality. This is not the time to think small. We are talking about a transformative undertaking, and that is part of what America has always been about. More than half a century ago, Republican President Dwight Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway System. It changed America. Today, the program's nearly 50,000 miles of expressway carry about one-fourth of all traffic in the United States. These roads connect our communities, have created communities, and serve as a bedrock for our economy. In today's numbers, if you tried to rebuild the Interstate Highway System, it would cost half a trillion dollars--probably much more, to be honest. It is not a small sum. But, boy, it is an investment that paid off. The program generated $6 in economic activity for every dollar spent to build those roads and highways. And the fact is, today we need to invest in order to build our future. When President Eisenhower launched the Interstate Highway Program, we didn't have e-commerce or same-day shipments. It was more than 10 years before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the Moon. Now, each of us carries around a pocket-sized device with more than enough computing power to get him to the Moon and back. The world has changed--in many ways, for the better. Today, it is not sufficient for an infrastructure plan to begin and end with bridges and roads. If we want to support a modern economy and sustain growth for generations to come, we need to invest in the infrastructure for tomorrow. This isn't to say that we have all the answers on this side of the aisle. But there is one answer we should all get behind: Go big; go bold. We can't penny-pinch America into first place. And don't take it from me: Americans of all political stripes--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans--support marshaling the resources of the Federal Government to go big and bold on infrastructure. They want us to not only repair our highways and bridges but to rebuild our waterways and airports and make high-speed broadband internet available to everyone. Americans support a plan that puts us on track to have an American century in the 21st century. That is our plan, and victory is within our reach. There was an architect and designer in the city of Chicago in the transition from the 19th to the 20th century who helped design the Columbian Exposition, ``White City,'' and a lot of history was made with those decisions. His name was Daniel Burnham. When he was asked about planning something like the White City, the Columbian Exposition, in the city of Chicago, he had a quote that you will turn to almost every day if you follow what is going on in planning in Chicago. Here is what he said: ``Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men's blood''--and I might add, women--``They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized.'' They have no magic to stir men's blood and probably will not themselves be realized. I think we understand that. As President Eisenhower gave America a vision with the Interstate Highway System, a connected nation and a new America, we need to do the same. President Biden has challenged us to do it. We need to do it on a bipartisan basis. I look forward to working with my colleagues to make it a reality. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2186 | null | 2,826 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | Biden Administration Madam President, on another matter, it has been nearly a month since the Biden administration rolled out its so-called infrastructure plan. It quickly became clear that their proposal mainly focused on everything but the things normal people call infrastructure. The day this plan was introduced, the White House messaging document mentioned the words ``climate'' and ``union'' more often than ``roads'' and ``bridges.'' And the numbers back that up. Out of more than $2 trillion in proposed spending, less than 6 percent would go to roads and bridges. Even when you add in airports, ports, rail, and waterways, the total would still be exceeded by the amount going to electric vehicles alone. Even an Ivy League expert said using ``infrastructure'' to describe the totality of the bill ``does a bit of violence to the English language.'' So after a few days of trying to battle the English language, Democrats began to pivot. I understand this is no longer an ``infrastructure'' plan. Now it is a ``jobs'' plan. But that turns out to be just as dishonest. This proposal isn't any more focused on creating jobs than it is on fixing roads. Even by the favorable metrics that the White House likes to use, this plan would cost Americans more than $800,000 for every new job that would exist 10 years down the road. Serious, bipartisan legislation to rebuild American infrastructure could have a big impact at a fraction--a fraction--of the cost. This plan is bloated, unfocused. It is not a targeted recipe for better public works. When America actually puts our mind to things, we can do them. Remember Operation Warp Speed? But this isn't like that. This is a sloppy liberal wish list that would spend a lot and get very little in return. The far left has been bragging about all the social engineering and welfare spending that is stuffed into these proposals. They have boasted that the DNA of the Green New Deal is all over this administration's agenda. Roads, bridges, and ports are bipartisan priorities. Water infrastructure and broadband are bipartisan priorities. That is why when the Senate tackles honest-to-goodness infrastructure in a smart way, we almost always have wide bipartisan margins. Last week, our colleague from West Virginia, Senator Capito, got together with the other ranking members of committees that deal with actual infrastructure. These Republicans put forward a smart proposal that would meet pressing needs in actual infrastructure. So now comes the critical moment. Now is the time we learn whether Democrats really want to jump startactual public works projects or whether infrastructure was only ever intended as a wrapping paper for unrelated gifts to the far left. Remember what happened when Republicans went to President Biden, offering a bipartisan compromise path on COVID relief. They were informed the Democrats were not interested in working together. So our country needs the administration to find a smarter approach | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2187-3 | null | 2,827 |
formal | extremist | null | Islamophobic | Foreign Policy Madam President, now, on one final matter, the last few months have given the world a glimpse at what is driving the foreign policy decisions under the Biden administration. First came a rush to rejoin a climate agreement that does not effectively hold our competitors to their own commitments. Then, just weeks ago, there was the announcement of a total abandonment of Afghanistan that will squander our leverage to promote a diplomatic end to the civil war, put innocent Afghans at risk, roll out a red carpet for the Taliban, and embolden the terrorists. Even this administration's own intelligence chiefs and our military commanders are concerned about how we will stay a step ahead of terrorists in the region without access provided by our U.S. footprint. Late last week, we got a further peek at the incredible wishful thinking behind this policy. As reported in the New York Times, some Biden officials suggest the Taliban ``might govern less harshly . . . in order to win recognition and financial support.'' The Secretary of State--America's top diplomat--seems to think it is that simple. He expressed hope that ``civilian and economic assistance'' could ``advance a just and durable peace . . . and a brighter future for the Afghan people.'' The Deputy National Security Advisor was more dismissive of the Afghan people's plight, morally equating our Afghan partners and the Taliban as just ``two Afghan parties'' in a conflict. I do not believe Afghan women and girls are jumping for joy at the prospect of a Taliban takeover. In fact, as one of the New York Times headlines put it, ``Afghan Women Fear the Worst''--``Afghan Women Fear the Worst.'' I certainly do not believe the Taliban will abandon their brutal fundamentalist ways just to secure recognition from the Western powers that they despise. Speaking of women's rights, over the weekend, the United Nations chose to further degrade its legitimacy by inviting Iran, of all countries, to join its Commission on the Status of Women. The U.N. chose to further degrade its legitimacy by inviting Iran to join its Commission on the Status of Women. Yes, you heard that right. The panel claiming principal international authority over the empowerment of women will now include a nation whose police are empowered to beat and assault women for improper veiling--a nation that turns a blind eye to pervasive domestic violence, forced marriage, and rape. And it is not just the U.N. that seems to be going soft on Tehran. The Biden administration seems willing--if not desperate--to provide sanctions relief up front, squandering leverage, just to reenter President Obama's flawed nuclear deal. This sanctions relief would benefit a regime that is being run by the extremist Islamic Revolutionary Guards. That is what Iran's own Foreign Minister admitted in leaked documents. That is who is running the show--the same terrorists who were used by Soleimani to spread violence across the region, before the prior administration removed him permanently. Republicans are not opposed to nuclear diplomacy, but we know that preemptive concessions will not secure a better deal or make America or our allies more secure. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2188 | null | 2,828 |
formal | terrorists | null | Islamophobic | Foreign Policy Madam President, now, on one final matter, the last few months have given the world a glimpse at what is driving the foreign policy decisions under the Biden administration. First came a rush to rejoin a climate agreement that does not effectively hold our competitors to their own commitments. Then, just weeks ago, there was the announcement of a total abandonment of Afghanistan that will squander our leverage to promote a diplomatic end to the civil war, put innocent Afghans at risk, roll out a red carpet for the Taliban, and embolden the terrorists. Even this administration's own intelligence chiefs and our military commanders are concerned about how we will stay a step ahead of terrorists in the region without access provided by our U.S. footprint. Late last week, we got a further peek at the incredible wishful thinking behind this policy. As reported in the New York Times, some Biden officials suggest the Taliban ``might govern less harshly . . . in order to win recognition and financial support.'' The Secretary of State--America's top diplomat--seems to think it is that simple. He expressed hope that ``civilian and economic assistance'' could ``advance a just and durable peace . . . and a brighter future for the Afghan people.'' The Deputy National Security Advisor was more dismissive of the Afghan people's plight, morally equating our Afghan partners and the Taliban as just ``two Afghan parties'' in a conflict. I do not believe Afghan women and girls are jumping for joy at the prospect of a Taliban takeover. In fact, as one of the New York Times headlines put it, ``Afghan Women Fear the Worst''--``Afghan Women Fear the Worst.'' I certainly do not believe the Taliban will abandon their brutal fundamentalist ways just to secure recognition from the Western powers that they despise. Speaking of women's rights, over the weekend, the United Nations chose to further degrade its legitimacy by inviting Iran, of all countries, to join its Commission on the Status of Women. The U.N. chose to further degrade its legitimacy by inviting Iran to join its Commission on the Status of Women. Yes, you heard that right. The panel claiming principal international authority over the empowerment of women will now include a nation whose police are empowered to beat and assault women for improper veiling--a nation that turns a blind eye to pervasive domestic violence, forced marriage, and rape. And it is not just the U.N. that seems to be going soft on Tehran. The Biden administration seems willing--if not desperate--to provide sanctions relief up front, squandering leverage, just to reenter President Obama's flawed nuclear deal. This sanctions relief would benefit a regime that is being run by the extremist Islamic Revolutionary Guards. That is what Iran's own Foreign Minister admitted in leaked documents. That is who is running the show--the same terrorists who were used by Soleimani to spread violence across the region, before the prior administration removed him permanently. Republicans are not opposed to nuclear diplomacy, but we know that preemptive concessions will not secure a better deal or make America or our allies more secure. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2188 | null | 2,829 |
formal | buck | null | racist | Business Before the Senate Madam President, now, the Senate has a lot to accomplish by the end of this week. We will confirm several highly qualified nominees to the executive branch, starting today with the nominee for Deputy OMB Director, Jason Miller. Later this week, we will also confirm Janet McCabe for Deputy EPA Administrator, Colin Kahl for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, and Samantha Power for Administrator of USAID. Our Senate committees will continue holding hearings and markups on at least a dozen other nominees. The Senate will also consider two important environmental infrastructure policies. First, the Senate will take up the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. This legislation passed through the Committee on Environment and Public Works with unanimous support. In fact, this water infrastructure bill is a core component of the Republican infrastructure proposal released last week. It also addresses many of the recommendations put forward by the Problem Solvers Caucus last Friday. So I hope that this is a signal to the entire Senate that we should work together on infrastructure where and when we can. Senators Carper, Duckworth, and Cardin have been outstanding leaders on this issue and have made sure Members from both sides of the aisle have had the opportunity to offer amendments, just as we did last week on the anti-Asian hate crimes bill. We are going to continue working with our Republican colleagues on the timing for a vote on the water infrastructure bill. On a topic this straightforward and bipartisan, I hope that our Republican colleagues will cooperate so that we may finish the bill ASAP. We have a lot to do. I want to also thank Senator Capito, the ranking member of the committee, for working with Senators Carper, Duckworth, and Collins so well. The Senate will also vote on a measure this week to restore critical regulations on the release of methane into our atmosphere. In 2016, the Obama administration instituted a rule that required energy companies to better monitor and reduce methane leaks. The rule not only drew cheers from the environmental community, it earned the support of industry as well Even though methane is far less talked about than carbon dioxide, it is far more potent. A tonne of methane warms the atmosphere 86 times more than a tonne of carbon dioxide. On the plus side, however, methane does not linger in our atmosphere as long as CO2 does, and emissions can be reduced rather cheaply. So, when it comes to combating climate change, tackling methane delivers a huge bang for your buck. That is just what the Senate intends to do this week by reimposing commonsense rules to reduce methane emissions--hopefully, on a bipartisan basis. We already have the support of at least one Republican Senator. We welcome more. The industry supported this. Again, Donald Trump, often with just the nastiness of ``it was Obama's rule, so I ought to repeal it'' did. It hurts us big time. I want to be clear. The methane CRA is a big deal. This measure will help us address the climate crisis in a major way. It is nowhere close to everything we want or need, but it is very important. Last week, President Biden set an ambitious goal for the United States to cut its greenhouse gas emissions in half by the end of the decade. This week, the Senate will take up the first of many important steps we need to take to achieve that ambitious goal. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2190-2 | null | 2,830 |
formal | tax cut | null | racist | First 100 Days Madam President, now, on our first 100 days, Thursday, the 29th, will be the 100th day since President Biden took the oath of office on the East Front of the Capitol. President Biden will mark the occasion with his inaugural address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. Historically, the first 100 days have been a yardstick by which Presidential administrations have been measured. For the first time in recent history, however, due to the lateness of the Georgia runoff elections, Thursday also marks the 100th day of the new Democratic Senate majority and, on a personal note, my 100th day as majority leader. Without exaggeration, the first 100 days of the Biden administration and the Senate Democratic majority have been more productive than nearly any in recent memory. Despite a delay in passing the organizing resolution and the time constraints imposed by the Presidential impeachment trial, the Senate has confirmed the most diverse Cabinet in history, faster than either of the prior two administrations. Every single Cabinet Secretary received a bipartisan vote in favor of confirmation. Last week, by a vote of 94 to 1--again, led by the Presiding Officer and Senator Hirono--the Senate passed legislation to combat the recent surge in hate crimes, particularly against Americans of Asian descent. Then, of course, Congress passed the landmark legislation and the top priority of the Biden administration, the American Rescue Plan. It was the most sweeping Federal recovery effort in a generation, more than twice the size of the stimulus package after the financial crisis of 2008. The Democrats promised big, bold relief. The Democrats have delivered big, bold relief. As a result, vaccinations are up; unemployment is down; and businesses, schools, restaurants, and bars are finally--finally--starting to reopen. It is no wonder that more than 70 percent of Americans approve of the way that the Biden-Harris administration has handled the pandemic in the first 100 days. For much of the past year, the country has been plagued by two major crises: a public health crisis and an economic crisis. That is what the Biden-Harris administration and the Senate Democratic majority inherited when they assumed power back in January. Let's look at how the country has progressed on both fronts. First, when it comes to the pandemic, we have far outstripped eventhe rosiest of predictions for the number of vaccinations. President Biden initially promised 100 million vaccinations to be administered in the first 100 days, but the pace of vaccinations was so fast that the President had to double his initial goal to 200 million in the first 100 days, and we have already reached it. It is fair to say that, in the first 100 days, America is winning the all-important ``arms race'' to get our citizens vaccinated. On the most important measure of progress--getting the country protected against COVID-19--the new Democratic administration and congressional majorities have been a roaring success. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, our economy has gotten its own shot in the arm, too. Over the past several weeks, the Biden administration has delivered more than 150 million stimulus checks to the Americans who have needed them the most. Weekly unemployment claims have fallen to their lowest level during the pandemic. The month of March saw the economy create nearly 900,000 jobs. Retail sales are surging. Consumer confidence has rebounded. Economic forecasters are now projecting that our economy could grow as fast as 7 percent this year. In the wake of the American Rescue Plan, the economic boost was so significant that forecasters had to increase their projections for global growth as well. Our former President blithely predicted that electing Joe Biden would crash the stock market. It turns out President Biden's first 100 days have delivered the best stock market results in 75 years, since President Eisenhower. At the same time, the Democratic majority in Congress has made sure that our Nation's economic recovery will be felt by everyone. The American Rescue Plan is expected to boost incomes of the lowest 20 percent by 20 percent. Guess what those in the top 1 percent will receive? It will be so contrary to what the Republicans did when they had power. They will get zero percent instead of the overwhelming percentage in their bill, their tax cuts. Just one policy in the American Rescue Plan--the historic expansion of the child tax credit--is expected to cut child poverty in half. The story of the first 100 days is about shots going into arms, checks going into pockets, and life finally returning to normal. The story of the first 100 days is about the country turning a corner and seeing some hope on the horizon. More broadly, the first 100 days of this administration and this Congress have proven two things: one, that the government can work for the American people; and, two, that the Senate can legislate. The last few decades have brought faith in our government to alltime lows. You don't have to look very far in the past to find surveys about how Congress has been less popular than traffic jams, root canals, and Genghis Khan. Faith in our democracy and trust in our elections were brought to new lows by the persistent and mendacious lies by the former President, culminating in an armed insurrection here in the Capitol. Part of our mission here in Congress, in working with the Biden administration, is to restore Americans' faith in our institutions and Americans' faith in our government. Through the American Rescue Plan and the successful roll-out of the vaccine, we are slowly proving to the American people that government can work for them. So we have a long way to go, but in the first hundred days, this new Congress has made an important downpayment. Congressional approval is now the highest it has been since June of 2009. Here in the Senate, the first hundred days have shown that this Chamber can legislate. Bipartisan work on the anti-Asian hates crime bill, the water bill this week, and hopefully an American competitiveness bill in the coming weeks proves that there are still many issues that unite Republicans and Democrats. Of course, our two parties are not always going to agree. In those instances, the Senate must still make progress on the challenges of our time. We did that through the American Rescue Plan. So in the first hundred days, the Senate has accomplished a lot more than most observers might have predicted. The next hundred days will bring more of the same. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2190-3 | null | 2,831 |
formal | tax cuts | null | racist | First 100 Days Madam President, now, on our first 100 days, Thursday, the 29th, will be the 100th day since President Biden took the oath of office on the East Front of the Capitol. President Biden will mark the occasion with his inaugural address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. Historically, the first 100 days have been a yardstick by which Presidential administrations have been measured. For the first time in recent history, however, due to the lateness of the Georgia runoff elections, Thursday also marks the 100th day of the new Democratic Senate majority and, on a personal note, my 100th day as majority leader. Without exaggeration, the first 100 days of the Biden administration and the Senate Democratic majority have been more productive than nearly any in recent memory. Despite a delay in passing the organizing resolution and the time constraints imposed by the Presidential impeachment trial, the Senate has confirmed the most diverse Cabinet in history, faster than either of the prior two administrations. Every single Cabinet Secretary received a bipartisan vote in favor of confirmation. Last week, by a vote of 94 to 1--again, led by the Presiding Officer and Senator Hirono--the Senate passed legislation to combat the recent surge in hate crimes, particularly against Americans of Asian descent. Then, of course, Congress passed the landmark legislation and the top priority of the Biden administration, the American Rescue Plan. It was the most sweeping Federal recovery effort in a generation, more than twice the size of the stimulus package after the financial crisis of 2008. The Democrats promised big, bold relief. The Democrats have delivered big, bold relief. As a result, vaccinations are up; unemployment is down; and businesses, schools, restaurants, and bars are finally--finally--starting to reopen. It is no wonder that more than 70 percent of Americans approve of the way that the Biden-Harris administration has handled the pandemic in the first 100 days. For much of the past year, the country has been plagued by two major crises: a public health crisis and an economic crisis. That is what the Biden-Harris administration and the Senate Democratic majority inherited when they assumed power back in January. Let's look at how the country has progressed on both fronts. First, when it comes to the pandemic, we have far outstripped eventhe rosiest of predictions for the number of vaccinations. President Biden initially promised 100 million vaccinations to be administered in the first 100 days, but the pace of vaccinations was so fast that the President had to double his initial goal to 200 million in the first 100 days, and we have already reached it. It is fair to say that, in the first 100 days, America is winning the all-important ``arms race'' to get our citizens vaccinated. On the most important measure of progress--getting the country protected against COVID-19--the new Democratic administration and congressional majorities have been a roaring success. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, our economy has gotten its own shot in the arm, too. Over the past several weeks, the Biden administration has delivered more than 150 million stimulus checks to the Americans who have needed them the most. Weekly unemployment claims have fallen to their lowest level during the pandemic. The month of March saw the economy create nearly 900,000 jobs. Retail sales are surging. Consumer confidence has rebounded. Economic forecasters are now projecting that our economy could grow as fast as 7 percent this year. In the wake of the American Rescue Plan, the economic boost was so significant that forecasters had to increase their projections for global growth as well. Our former President blithely predicted that electing Joe Biden would crash the stock market. It turns out President Biden's first 100 days have delivered the best stock market results in 75 years, since President Eisenhower. At the same time, the Democratic majority in Congress has made sure that our Nation's economic recovery will be felt by everyone. The American Rescue Plan is expected to boost incomes of the lowest 20 percent by 20 percent. Guess what those in the top 1 percent will receive? It will be so contrary to what the Republicans did when they had power. They will get zero percent instead of the overwhelming percentage in their bill, their tax cuts. Just one policy in the American Rescue Plan--the historic expansion of the child tax credit--is expected to cut child poverty in half. The story of the first 100 days is about shots going into arms, checks going into pockets, and life finally returning to normal. The story of the first 100 days is about the country turning a corner and seeing some hope on the horizon. More broadly, the first 100 days of this administration and this Congress have proven two things: one, that the government can work for the American people; and, two, that the Senate can legislate. The last few decades have brought faith in our government to alltime lows. You don't have to look very far in the past to find surveys about how Congress has been less popular than traffic jams, root canals, and Genghis Khan. Faith in our democracy and trust in our elections were brought to new lows by the persistent and mendacious lies by the former President, culminating in an armed insurrection here in the Capitol. Part of our mission here in Congress, in working with the Biden administration, is to restore Americans' faith in our institutions and Americans' faith in our government. Through the American Rescue Plan and the successful roll-out of the vaccine, we are slowly proving to the American people that government can work for them. So we have a long way to go, but in the first hundred days, this new Congress has made an important downpayment. Congressional approval is now the highest it has been since June of 2009. Here in the Senate, the first hundred days have shown that this Chamber can legislate. Bipartisan work on the anti-Asian hates crime bill, the water bill this week, and hopefully an American competitiveness bill in the coming weeks proves that there are still many issues that unite Republicans and Democrats. Of course, our two parties are not always going to agree. In those instances, the Senate must still make progress on the challenges of our time. We did that through the American Rescue Plan. So in the first hundred days, the Senate has accomplished a lot more than most observers might have predicted. The next hundred days will bring more of the same. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2190-3 | null | 2,832 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | First 100 Days Madam President, now, on our first 100 days, Thursday, the 29th, will be the 100th day since President Biden took the oath of office on the East Front of the Capitol. President Biden will mark the occasion with his inaugural address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. Historically, the first 100 days have been a yardstick by which Presidential administrations have been measured. For the first time in recent history, however, due to the lateness of the Georgia runoff elections, Thursday also marks the 100th day of the new Democratic Senate majority and, on a personal note, my 100th day as majority leader. Without exaggeration, the first 100 days of the Biden administration and the Senate Democratic majority have been more productive than nearly any in recent memory. Despite a delay in passing the organizing resolution and the time constraints imposed by the Presidential impeachment trial, the Senate has confirmed the most diverse Cabinet in history, faster than either of the prior two administrations. Every single Cabinet Secretary received a bipartisan vote in favor of confirmation. Last week, by a vote of 94 to 1--again, led by the Presiding Officer and Senator Hirono--the Senate passed legislation to combat the recent surge in hate crimes, particularly against Americans of Asian descent. Then, of course, Congress passed the landmark legislation and the top priority of the Biden administration, the American Rescue Plan. It was the most sweeping Federal recovery effort in a generation, more than twice the size of the stimulus package after the financial crisis of 2008. The Democrats promised big, bold relief. The Democrats have delivered big, bold relief. As a result, vaccinations are up; unemployment is down; and businesses, schools, restaurants, and bars are finally--finally--starting to reopen. It is no wonder that more than 70 percent of Americans approve of the way that the Biden-Harris administration has handled the pandemic in the first 100 days. For much of the past year, the country has been plagued by two major crises: a public health crisis and an economic crisis. That is what the Biden-Harris administration and the Senate Democratic majority inherited when they assumed power back in January. Let's look at how the country has progressed on both fronts. First, when it comes to the pandemic, we have far outstripped eventhe rosiest of predictions for the number of vaccinations. President Biden initially promised 100 million vaccinations to be administered in the first 100 days, but the pace of vaccinations was so fast that the President had to double his initial goal to 200 million in the first 100 days, and we have already reached it. It is fair to say that, in the first 100 days, America is winning the all-important ``arms race'' to get our citizens vaccinated. On the most important measure of progress--getting the country protected against COVID-19--the new Democratic administration and congressional majorities have been a roaring success. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, our economy has gotten its own shot in the arm, too. Over the past several weeks, the Biden administration has delivered more than 150 million stimulus checks to the Americans who have needed them the most. Weekly unemployment claims have fallen to their lowest level during the pandemic. The month of March saw the economy create nearly 900,000 jobs. Retail sales are surging. Consumer confidence has rebounded. Economic forecasters are now projecting that our economy could grow as fast as 7 percent this year. In the wake of the American Rescue Plan, the economic boost was so significant that forecasters had to increase their projections for global growth as well. Our former President blithely predicted that electing Joe Biden would crash the stock market. It turns out President Biden's first 100 days have delivered the best stock market results in 75 years, since President Eisenhower. At the same time, the Democratic majority in Congress has made sure that our Nation's economic recovery will be felt by everyone. The American Rescue Plan is expected to boost incomes of the lowest 20 percent by 20 percent. Guess what those in the top 1 percent will receive? It will be so contrary to what the Republicans did when they had power. They will get zero percent instead of the overwhelming percentage in their bill, their tax cuts. Just one policy in the American Rescue Plan--the historic expansion of the child tax credit--is expected to cut child poverty in half. The story of the first 100 days is about shots going into arms, checks going into pockets, and life finally returning to normal. The story of the first 100 days is about the country turning a corner and seeing some hope on the horizon. More broadly, the first 100 days of this administration and this Congress have proven two things: one, that the government can work for the American people; and, two, that the Senate can legislate. The last few decades have brought faith in our government to alltime lows. You don't have to look very far in the past to find surveys about how Congress has been less popular than traffic jams, root canals, and Genghis Khan. Faith in our democracy and trust in our elections were brought to new lows by the persistent and mendacious lies by the former President, culminating in an armed insurrection here in the Capitol. Part of our mission here in Congress, in working with the Biden administration, is to restore Americans' faith in our institutions and Americans' faith in our government. Through the American Rescue Plan and the successful roll-out of the vaccine, we are slowly proving to the American people that government can work for them. So we have a long way to go, but in the first hundred days, this new Congress has made an important downpayment. Congressional approval is now the highest it has been since June of 2009. Here in the Senate, the first hundred days have shown that this Chamber can legislate. Bipartisan work on the anti-Asian hates crime bill, the water bill this week, and hopefully an American competitiveness bill in the coming weeks proves that there are still many issues that unite Republicans and Democrats. Of course, our two parties are not always going to agree. In those instances, the Senate must still make progress on the challenges of our time. We did that through the American Rescue Plan. So in the first hundred days, the Senate has accomplished a lot more than most observers might have predicted. The next hundred days will bring more of the same. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-26-pt1-PgS2190-3 | null | 2,833 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today, the Senate will take up a series of votes to confirm three highly qualified nominees to the Biden administration: Jason Miller for Deputy OMB Director, Janet McCabe for Deputy EPA Administrator, and Colin Kahl for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. And then, later this afternoon, the Senate will move forward with the process to take up the bipartisan water infrastructure bill. I expect the Senate will do so with significant bipartisan support. The water infrastructure bill is as noncontroversial as it gets. It was approved by the Environment and Public Works Committee on a unanimous consent vote--every single Democrat, every single Republican--thanks to the good work of Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito. This water infrastructure bill is also a core component of the Republican infrastructure proposal released last week. So I hope this legislation will serve as a starting point for our two parties to collaborate on infrastructure when and where we can. At the moment, Senators Carper, Duckworth, and Cardin continue discussions with Republican Senators about possible amendments. But let me be very clear: The Senate must conclude its work on the water infrastructure bill before the end of the week. This is not a controversial bill or a complicated new program. In too many communities, access to clean, safe, and affordable drinking water is not a guarantee. Surely, we can all agree that in America clean drinking water should be a fundamental guarantee. The Senate must take first necessary steps to invest in communities with aging water infrastructure by passing this bill, and we must do so this week. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2203-7 | null | 2,834 |
formal | Janet Yellen | null | antisemitic | Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now on nominees, yesterday, I highlighted a number of accomplishments the SenateDemocrat majority made during the first hundred days of the Biden administration. Thanks primarily to the American Rescue Plan, the most sweeping Federal recovery effort in decades, shots are going into arms; money is going into people's pockets; and businesses, schools, and restaurants are starting to reopen. Americans finally--finally--have some reason for hope. Jobs are coming back. The economic recovery is accelerating, and the pace of vaccinations has far exceeded even President Biden's own goals. After one of the most difficult years in recent memory, the first hundred days of the Biden Presidency and the new Senate Democratic majority have seen the country turn a corner. Slowly but surely, we are proving to the American people that government and the Senate can work for them. As President Biden prepares to take stock of where we have come from and where we still need to go, with a joint address to Congress, it is worth looking back at some of the accomplishments of these first 100 days. Among those accomplishments is the fact that the Senate has confirmed the most diverse Cabinet in history, faster than under both Presidents Trump and Obama, and all of them with bipartisan support. Eleven are people of color, and 10 are women. Among them, we have a former teacher, a former construction worker, several former veterans, a small business man, even a musician--a far cry from the, shall we say, less economically diverse Cabinet chosen by the former President. Now, more than ever before, we have a Cabinet that looks like America. In our Nation's history, the Treasury Secretary has only ever been a White man--an unbroken streak of 77 White men in a row. This Senate confirmed the first woman to serve as Treasury Secretary in our history, Janet Yellen. The list of firsts goes on: the first African American to serve as Defense Secretary, the first Black man to serve as EPA Administrator, the first ever indigenous American, and the first ever openly gay Secretary to lead any Cabinet Agency. Last week, the Senate confirmed Vanita Gupta to Associate Attorney General--the first woman of color and the first civil rights attorney ever to hold that position. Last month, Dr. Rachel Levine became the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, the first openly transgender Federal official in American history. Federal Agencies have enormous influence over the policies that affect the day-to-day lives of the American people. Whether registering for Social Security, filing for unemployment or veterans' benefits, or seeking a small business loan, average folks interact with these Cabinet Agencies every single day, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of times. Having capable, experienced, and energetic public servants at the top of these Agencies matters, and it matters, too, that they come from different backgrounds and have lived different experiences. By confirming historically diverse nominees, we are showing the American people that their government represents them and that all of their voices matter. We also know that a Cabinet with diverse views will produce policies that better reflect the needs of a diverse Nation. I am proud of the nominees we have confirmed over the first hundred days. As we move forward, the Senate will continue working with the White House on confirming nominees and judicial appointments that reflect the diversity and dynamism of our great country. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2203-8 | null | 2,835 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now on nominees, yesterday, I highlighted a number of accomplishments the SenateDemocrat majority made during the first hundred days of the Biden administration. Thanks primarily to the American Rescue Plan, the most sweeping Federal recovery effort in decades, shots are going into arms; money is going into people's pockets; and businesses, schools, and restaurants are starting to reopen. Americans finally--finally--have some reason for hope. Jobs are coming back. The economic recovery is accelerating, and the pace of vaccinations has far exceeded even President Biden's own goals. After one of the most difficult years in recent memory, the first hundred days of the Biden Presidency and the new Senate Democratic majority have seen the country turn a corner. Slowly but surely, we are proving to the American people that government and the Senate can work for them. As President Biden prepares to take stock of where we have come from and where we still need to go, with a joint address to Congress, it is worth looking back at some of the accomplishments of these first 100 days. Among those accomplishments is the fact that the Senate has confirmed the most diverse Cabinet in history, faster than under both Presidents Trump and Obama, and all of them with bipartisan support. Eleven are people of color, and 10 are women. Among them, we have a former teacher, a former construction worker, several former veterans, a small business man, even a musician--a far cry from the, shall we say, less economically diverse Cabinet chosen by the former President. Now, more than ever before, we have a Cabinet that looks like America. In our Nation's history, the Treasury Secretary has only ever been a White man--an unbroken streak of 77 White men in a row. This Senate confirmed the first woman to serve as Treasury Secretary in our history, Janet Yellen. The list of firsts goes on: the first African American to serve as Defense Secretary, the first Black man to serve as EPA Administrator, the first ever indigenous American, and the first ever openly gay Secretary to lead any Cabinet Agency. Last week, the Senate confirmed Vanita Gupta to Associate Attorney General--the first woman of color and the first civil rights attorney ever to hold that position. Last month, Dr. Rachel Levine became the Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, the first openly transgender Federal official in American history. Federal Agencies have enormous influence over the policies that affect the day-to-day lives of the American people. Whether registering for Social Security, filing for unemployment or veterans' benefits, or seeking a small business loan, average folks interact with these Cabinet Agencies every single day, hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of times. Having capable, experienced, and energetic public servants at the top of these Agencies matters, and it matters, too, that they come from different backgrounds and have lived different experiences. By confirming historically diverse nominees, we are showing the American people that their government represents them and that all of their voices matter. We also know that a Cabinet with diverse views will produce policies that better reflect the needs of a diverse Nation. I am proud of the nominees we have confirmed over the first hundred days. As we move forward, the Senate will continue working with the White House on confirming nominees and judicial appointments that reflect the diversity and dynamism of our great country. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2203-8 | null | 2,836 |
formal | secure the border | null | anti-Latino | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as I noted here on the floor last week, the unaccompanied children packed into overflowing facilities are not the only tragic consequence of our failure to secure the border. In addition to the U.S. mail, our southern border is a major source for the stream of lethal illegal drugs that continue to pour into our country. According to the CDC, more Americans died of overdoses last year than ever before. This health crisis predated COVID-19 and will outlast it, and Customs and Border Protection data tell us a major cause has been a spike in the flow of fentanyl and its analogs produced by chemical companies in places like China. These drugs, which can be hundreds of thousands of times stronger than morphine, are rightly classified on the schedule of controlled substances. There are severe penalties for those caught trafficking them. It is the least we can do to protect American lives, families, and communities. Clearly, on its own, this step hasn't been sufficient, but in a few weeks, even this obvious step is set to expire. Fentanyl analogs would cease being controlled substances in Federal law, making enforcement and deterrence even more difficult. So Congress is faced with what should be a crystal-clear choice. The right thing to do, of course, is to permanently schedule these substances. Only in Washington could this become some kind of intense debate, but alas, some soft-on-crime corners of the political left have convinced some Democrats that this impending expiration is actually, actually a political opportunity. They want the Democrats to only reschedule these analogs for a short period of time, punting this deadline just a few months into the future, which makes you ask, Why? Well, so that Democrats could come back to the table with an unrelated soft-on-crime bill--say, reducing prison sentences for drug dealers--and make that bad idea the price of admission for keeping these deadly poisons illegal. So look, we need to be clear-eyed here. No amount of political spin or inside-the-beltway horse trading can muddy the debate. It is very clear: Congress should schedule these fentanyl analogs permanently--permanently. It is not complicated. Americans are dying. Communities are drowning. Chinese drug traffickers are getting rich off of our misery. Permanently scheduling these analogs is the very least, the very least Congress can do | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2204-3 | null | 2,837 |
formal | tax cut | null | racist | Surface Transportation Plan Mr. President, we also need to reauthorize the new surface transportation plan before October 1. I know that it can be done because I did it twice with Senator Boxer. We did the MAP-21 program; that was in 2012. We did the FAST Act in 2015. We were successful because we focused on actual infrastructure--roads, highways, bridges, waterways, and the like. Senator Capito rolled out a meaningful infrastructure package this last week. It is bold and focused on what our country actually needs. While President Biden and the Biden administration recognize the Republican plan as a starting point, sadly, Senate Democrats dismiss it outright, without even waiting to read it. And why? Because the extreme left wants to hijack the popularity of infrastructure to pass their Green New Deal agenda You know, I had the honor of being with the President and the Vice President in the White House their first week in office. At that time, they were talking about the infrastructure package of the administration. I told the President at that time that one of the problems I have with what I feel is going to be in his infrastructure package is going to be using the popularity of infrastructure repair. That is popular. People want roads. They want highways. They want infrastructure. But they want to use that popularity to get their agenda passed. Now, in the infrastructure package that the President came out with, only about 7 percent of that actually addresses roads, highways, and bridges. So that is not what we want. We do have a bill coming out of the committee. The proof is in the numbers. The Biden plan would spend more on electric vehicle charging ports and subsidies for electric cars than it does on roads, bridges, and airports combined. You know, I didn't believe that when I first saw it. How can he come out with something that would actually spend more just on electrical vehicles than it does on roads, highways, and bridges? But that is exactly right because it would be $157 billion for roads, highways, and bridges but $174 billion for electrical vehicle support. If this sounds familiar to you, that is because it is. Remember then-President Obama's American ``Recovery'' Plan that was supposed to be a massive investment in infrastructure with ``shovel ready jobs''? Well, less than 5 percent of that bill went into infrastructure. The rest of the $800 billion went to finance the Obama climate agenda. I guess history really does repeat itself because that same thing is happening today. Worse, it trades responsible pay-for methods with a tax-and-spend approach. A lot of people here may be too young to remember this, but I remember when the biggest problem we had in the highway trust fund was that we had too much money, that we had too much surplus. I ask the Presiding Officer, can you believe that, because you haven't been here that long? But that actually was the problem. The highway trust fund was actually more than it needed to be. I can remember back during the Clinton administration, I was pretty upset when he took several billion dollars out of that program. The surplus was there--I grant you that--but nonetheless we knew that leaner times were coming and that we would end up with a highway program that we would not be able to pay for out of the highway trust fund if we let people take money out of that trust fund. But, anyway, a lot of people here may be too young to remember that, but that actually did happen. One of the unique things about our highway system is the ``user pays; user benefits'' model. At a recent EPW hearing that we had--that was just 2 weeks ago--every single witness was in agreement that users who benefit should pay into the system. They all agreed that electric vehicles should be paying their fair share to maintain and improve our infrastructure. But, instead, the Biden plan takes the tax-and-spend approach, increasing the deficit and raising our corporate tax rate, undoing the historic tax cuts that we achieved under the previous administration, the Trump administration. People hear that, and they don't fully appreciate just what it means. They think that corporate tax rates won't affect them. But the people hurt the most by the higher corporate tax rate tend to be in the most vulnerable categories. That is because higher taxes on job creators not only hurts American competitiveness around the world, but it means lower wages, lower GDP growth, and fewer jobs to go around. In fact, the nonpartisan CBO found that 70 percent of the savings businesses got when they lowered the corporate tax rate in the Trump tax cuts went straight to worker wages, and the Biden plan would undo that very successful program. A study done by Rice University found that raising the corporate tax rate back to 28 percent, like the Biden plans do, will actually kill 1 million jobs in just 2 years. Before the pandemic, the economy was growing fast, thanks in large part to the historic tax cuts and the regulatory reforms that drove the record job growth. In fact, we had the best economy in my lifetime, prior to the pandemic problem that came along. And now, 12 months into the pandemic, as many States are just now allowing businesses to reopen, the administration is looking to raise taxes on job creators who can get our economy back on track. The White House said it was serious about infrastructure investment, and I am committed to working with the President and my colleagues in the Senate to do this. It can be done this year, just as it has been many times in the past, but it needs to be real infrastructure and not just a big-spending liberal climate bill. With that, I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2215 | null | 2,838 |
formal | tax cuts | null | racist | Surface Transportation Plan Mr. President, we also need to reauthorize the new surface transportation plan before October 1. I know that it can be done because I did it twice with Senator Boxer. We did the MAP-21 program; that was in 2012. We did the FAST Act in 2015. We were successful because we focused on actual infrastructure--roads, highways, bridges, waterways, and the like. Senator Capito rolled out a meaningful infrastructure package this last week. It is bold and focused on what our country actually needs. While President Biden and the Biden administration recognize the Republican plan as a starting point, sadly, Senate Democrats dismiss it outright, without even waiting to read it. And why? Because the extreme left wants to hijack the popularity of infrastructure to pass their Green New Deal agenda You know, I had the honor of being with the President and the Vice President in the White House their first week in office. At that time, they were talking about the infrastructure package of the administration. I told the President at that time that one of the problems I have with what I feel is going to be in his infrastructure package is going to be using the popularity of infrastructure repair. That is popular. People want roads. They want highways. They want infrastructure. But they want to use that popularity to get their agenda passed. Now, in the infrastructure package that the President came out with, only about 7 percent of that actually addresses roads, highways, and bridges. So that is not what we want. We do have a bill coming out of the committee. The proof is in the numbers. The Biden plan would spend more on electric vehicle charging ports and subsidies for electric cars than it does on roads, bridges, and airports combined. You know, I didn't believe that when I first saw it. How can he come out with something that would actually spend more just on electrical vehicles than it does on roads, highways, and bridges? But that is exactly right because it would be $157 billion for roads, highways, and bridges but $174 billion for electrical vehicle support. If this sounds familiar to you, that is because it is. Remember then-President Obama's American ``Recovery'' Plan that was supposed to be a massive investment in infrastructure with ``shovel ready jobs''? Well, less than 5 percent of that bill went into infrastructure. The rest of the $800 billion went to finance the Obama climate agenda. I guess history really does repeat itself because that same thing is happening today. Worse, it trades responsible pay-for methods with a tax-and-spend approach. A lot of people here may be too young to remember this, but I remember when the biggest problem we had in the highway trust fund was that we had too much money, that we had too much surplus. I ask the Presiding Officer, can you believe that, because you haven't been here that long? But that actually was the problem. The highway trust fund was actually more than it needed to be. I can remember back during the Clinton administration, I was pretty upset when he took several billion dollars out of that program. The surplus was there--I grant you that--but nonetheless we knew that leaner times were coming and that we would end up with a highway program that we would not be able to pay for out of the highway trust fund if we let people take money out of that trust fund. But, anyway, a lot of people here may be too young to remember that, but that actually did happen. One of the unique things about our highway system is the ``user pays; user benefits'' model. At a recent EPW hearing that we had--that was just 2 weeks ago--every single witness was in agreement that users who benefit should pay into the system. They all agreed that electric vehicles should be paying their fair share to maintain and improve our infrastructure. But, instead, the Biden plan takes the tax-and-spend approach, increasing the deficit and raising our corporate tax rate, undoing the historic tax cuts that we achieved under the previous administration, the Trump administration. People hear that, and they don't fully appreciate just what it means. They think that corporate tax rates won't affect them. But the people hurt the most by the higher corporate tax rate tend to be in the most vulnerable categories. That is because higher taxes on job creators not only hurts American competitiveness around the world, but it means lower wages, lower GDP growth, and fewer jobs to go around. In fact, the nonpartisan CBO found that 70 percent of the savings businesses got when they lowered the corporate tax rate in the Trump tax cuts went straight to worker wages, and the Biden plan would undo that very successful program. A study done by Rice University found that raising the corporate tax rate back to 28 percent, like the Biden plans do, will actually kill 1 million jobs in just 2 years. Before the pandemic, the economy was growing fast, thanks in large part to the historic tax cuts and the regulatory reforms that drove the record job growth. In fact, we had the best economy in my lifetime, prior to the pandemic problem that came along. And now, 12 months into the pandemic, as many States are just now allowing businesses to reopen, the administration is looking to raise taxes on job creators who can get our economy back on track. The White House said it was serious about infrastructure investment, and I am committed to working with the President and my colleagues in the Senate to do this. It can be done this year, just as it has been many times in the past, but it needs to be real infrastructure and not just a big-spending liberal climate bill. With that, I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2215 | null | 2,839 |
formal | job creator | null | conservative | Surface Transportation Plan Mr. President, we also need to reauthorize the new surface transportation plan before October 1. I know that it can be done because I did it twice with Senator Boxer. We did the MAP-21 program; that was in 2012. We did the FAST Act in 2015. We were successful because we focused on actual infrastructure--roads, highways, bridges, waterways, and the like. Senator Capito rolled out a meaningful infrastructure package this last week. It is bold and focused on what our country actually needs. While President Biden and the Biden administration recognize the Republican plan as a starting point, sadly, Senate Democrats dismiss it outright, without even waiting to read it. And why? Because the extreme left wants to hijack the popularity of infrastructure to pass their Green New Deal agenda You know, I had the honor of being with the President and the Vice President in the White House their first week in office. At that time, they were talking about the infrastructure package of the administration. I told the President at that time that one of the problems I have with what I feel is going to be in his infrastructure package is going to be using the popularity of infrastructure repair. That is popular. People want roads. They want highways. They want infrastructure. But they want to use that popularity to get their agenda passed. Now, in the infrastructure package that the President came out with, only about 7 percent of that actually addresses roads, highways, and bridges. So that is not what we want. We do have a bill coming out of the committee. The proof is in the numbers. The Biden plan would spend more on electric vehicle charging ports and subsidies for electric cars than it does on roads, bridges, and airports combined. You know, I didn't believe that when I first saw it. How can he come out with something that would actually spend more just on electrical vehicles than it does on roads, highways, and bridges? But that is exactly right because it would be $157 billion for roads, highways, and bridges but $174 billion for electrical vehicle support. If this sounds familiar to you, that is because it is. Remember then-President Obama's American ``Recovery'' Plan that was supposed to be a massive investment in infrastructure with ``shovel ready jobs''? Well, less than 5 percent of that bill went into infrastructure. The rest of the $800 billion went to finance the Obama climate agenda. I guess history really does repeat itself because that same thing is happening today. Worse, it trades responsible pay-for methods with a tax-and-spend approach. A lot of people here may be too young to remember this, but I remember when the biggest problem we had in the highway trust fund was that we had too much money, that we had too much surplus. I ask the Presiding Officer, can you believe that, because you haven't been here that long? But that actually was the problem. The highway trust fund was actually more than it needed to be. I can remember back during the Clinton administration, I was pretty upset when he took several billion dollars out of that program. The surplus was there--I grant you that--but nonetheless we knew that leaner times were coming and that we would end up with a highway program that we would not be able to pay for out of the highway trust fund if we let people take money out of that trust fund. But, anyway, a lot of people here may be too young to remember that, but that actually did happen. One of the unique things about our highway system is the ``user pays; user benefits'' model. At a recent EPW hearing that we had--that was just 2 weeks ago--every single witness was in agreement that users who benefit should pay into the system. They all agreed that electric vehicles should be paying their fair share to maintain and improve our infrastructure. But, instead, the Biden plan takes the tax-and-spend approach, increasing the deficit and raising our corporate tax rate, undoing the historic tax cuts that we achieved under the previous administration, the Trump administration. People hear that, and they don't fully appreciate just what it means. They think that corporate tax rates won't affect them. But the people hurt the most by the higher corporate tax rate tend to be in the most vulnerable categories. That is because higher taxes on job creators not only hurts American competitiveness around the world, but it means lower wages, lower GDP growth, and fewer jobs to go around. In fact, the nonpartisan CBO found that 70 percent of the savings businesses got when they lowered the corporate tax rate in the Trump tax cuts went straight to worker wages, and the Biden plan would undo that very successful program. A study done by Rice University found that raising the corporate tax rate back to 28 percent, like the Biden plans do, will actually kill 1 million jobs in just 2 years. Before the pandemic, the economy was growing fast, thanks in large part to the historic tax cuts and the regulatory reforms that drove the record job growth. In fact, we had the best economy in my lifetime, prior to the pandemic problem that came along. And now, 12 months into the pandemic, as many States are just now allowing businesses to reopen, the administration is looking to raise taxes on job creators who can get our economy back on track. The White House said it was serious about infrastructure investment, and I am committed to working with the President and my colleagues in the Senate to do this. It can be done this year, just as it has been many times in the past, but it needs to be real infrastructure and not just a big-spending liberal climate bill. With that, I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2215 | null | 2,840 |
formal | job creators | null | conservative | Surface Transportation Plan Mr. President, we also need to reauthorize the new surface transportation plan before October 1. I know that it can be done because I did it twice with Senator Boxer. We did the MAP-21 program; that was in 2012. We did the FAST Act in 2015. We were successful because we focused on actual infrastructure--roads, highways, bridges, waterways, and the like. Senator Capito rolled out a meaningful infrastructure package this last week. It is bold and focused on what our country actually needs. While President Biden and the Biden administration recognize the Republican plan as a starting point, sadly, Senate Democrats dismiss it outright, without even waiting to read it. And why? Because the extreme left wants to hijack the popularity of infrastructure to pass their Green New Deal agenda You know, I had the honor of being with the President and the Vice President in the White House their first week in office. At that time, they were talking about the infrastructure package of the administration. I told the President at that time that one of the problems I have with what I feel is going to be in his infrastructure package is going to be using the popularity of infrastructure repair. That is popular. People want roads. They want highways. They want infrastructure. But they want to use that popularity to get their agenda passed. Now, in the infrastructure package that the President came out with, only about 7 percent of that actually addresses roads, highways, and bridges. So that is not what we want. We do have a bill coming out of the committee. The proof is in the numbers. The Biden plan would spend more on electric vehicle charging ports and subsidies for electric cars than it does on roads, bridges, and airports combined. You know, I didn't believe that when I first saw it. How can he come out with something that would actually spend more just on electrical vehicles than it does on roads, highways, and bridges? But that is exactly right because it would be $157 billion for roads, highways, and bridges but $174 billion for electrical vehicle support. If this sounds familiar to you, that is because it is. Remember then-President Obama's American ``Recovery'' Plan that was supposed to be a massive investment in infrastructure with ``shovel ready jobs''? Well, less than 5 percent of that bill went into infrastructure. The rest of the $800 billion went to finance the Obama climate agenda. I guess history really does repeat itself because that same thing is happening today. Worse, it trades responsible pay-for methods with a tax-and-spend approach. A lot of people here may be too young to remember this, but I remember when the biggest problem we had in the highway trust fund was that we had too much money, that we had too much surplus. I ask the Presiding Officer, can you believe that, because you haven't been here that long? But that actually was the problem. The highway trust fund was actually more than it needed to be. I can remember back during the Clinton administration, I was pretty upset when he took several billion dollars out of that program. The surplus was there--I grant you that--but nonetheless we knew that leaner times were coming and that we would end up with a highway program that we would not be able to pay for out of the highway trust fund if we let people take money out of that trust fund. But, anyway, a lot of people here may be too young to remember that, but that actually did happen. One of the unique things about our highway system is the ``user pays; user benefits'' model. At a recent EPW hearing that we had--that was just 2 weeks ago--every single witness was in agreement that users who benefit should pay into the system. They all agreed that electric vehicles should be paying their fair share to maintain and improve our infrastructure. But, instead, the Biden plan takes the tax-and-spend approach, increasing the deficit and raising our corporate tax rate, undoing the historic tax cuts that we achieved under the previous administration, the Trump administration. People hear that, and they don't fully appreciate just what it means. They think that corporate tax rates won't affect them. But the people hurt the most by the higher corporate tax rate tend to be in the most vulnerable categories. That is because higher taxes on job creators not only hurts American competitiveness around the world, but it means lower wages, lower GDP growth, and fewer jobs to go around. In fact, the nonpartisan CBO found that 70 percent of the savings businesses got when they lowered the corporate tax rate in the Trump tax cuts went straight to worker wages, and the Biden plan would undo that very successful program. A study done by Rice University found that raising the corporate tax rate back to 28 percent, like the Biden plans do, will actually kill 1 million jobs in just 2 years. Before the pandemic, the economy was growing fast, thanks in large part to the historic tax cuts and the regulatory reforms that drove the record job growth. In fact, we had the best economy in my lifetime, prior to the pandemic problem that came along. And now, 12 months into the pandemic, as many States are just now allowing businesses to reopen, the administration is looking to raise taxes on job creators who can get our economy back on track. The White House said it was serious about infrastructure investment, and I am committed to working with the President and my colleagues in the Senate to do this. It can be done this year, just as it has been many times in the past, but it needs to be real infrastructure and not just a big-spending liberal climate bill. With that, I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2215 | null | 2,841 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Surface Transportation Plan Mr. President, we also need to reauthorize the new surface transportation plan before October 1. I know that it can be done because I did it twice with Senator Boxer. We did the MAP-21 program; that was in 2012. We did the FAST Act in 2015. We were successful because we focused on actual infrastructure--roads, highways, bridges, waterways, and the like. Senator Capito rolled out a meaningful infrastructure package this last week. It is bold and focused on what our country actually needs. While President Biden and the Biden administration recognize the Republican plan as a starting point, sadly, Senate Democrats dismiss it outright, without even waiting to read it. And why? Because the extreme left wants to hijack the popularity of infrastructure to pass their Green New Deal agenda You know, I had the honor of being with the President and the Vice President in the White House their first week in office. At that time, they were talking about the infrastructure package of the administration. I told the President at that time that one of the problems I have with what I feel is going to be in his infrastructure package is going to be using the popularity of infrastructure repair. That is popular. People want roads. They want highways. They want infrastructure. But they want to use that popularity to get their agenda passed. Now, in the infrastructure package that the President came out with, only about 7 percent of that actually addresses roads, highways, and bridges. So that is not what we want. We do have a bill coming out of the committee. The proof is in the numbers. The Biden plan would spend more on electric vehicle charging ports and subsidies for electric cars than it does on roads, bridges, and airports combined. You know, I didn't believe that when I first saw it. How can he come out with something that would actually spend more just on electrical vehicles than it does on roads, highways, and bridges? But that is exactly right because it would be $157 billion for roads, highways, and bridges but $174 billion for electrical vehicle support. If this sounds familiar to you, that is because it is. Remember then-President Obama's American ``Recovery'' Plan that was supposed to be a massive investment in infrastructure with ``shovel ready jobs''? Well, less than 5 percent of that bill went into infrastructure. The rest of the $800 billion went to finance the Obama climate agenda. I guess history really does repeat itself because that same thing is happening today. Worse, it trades responsible pay-for methods with a tax-and-spend approach. A lot of people here may be too young to remember this, but I remember when the biggest problem we had in the highway trust fund was that we had too much money, that we had too much surplus. I ask the Presiding Officer, can you believe that, because you haven't been here that long? But that actually was the problem. The highway trust fund was actually more than it needed to be. I can remember back during the Clinton administration, I was pretty upset when he took several billion dollars out of that program. The surplus was there--I grant you that--but nonetheless we knew that leaner times were coming and that we would end up with a highway program that we would not be able to pay for out of the highway trust fund if we let people take money out of that trust fund. But, anyway, a lot of people here may be too young to remember that, but that actually did happen. One of the unique things about our highway system is the ``user pays; user benefits'' model. At a recent EPW hearing that we had--that was just 2 weeks ago--every single witness was in agreement that users who benefit should pay into the system. They all agreed that electric vehicles should be paying their fair share to maintain and improve our infrastructure. But, instead, the Biden plan takes the tax-and-spend approach, increasing the deficit and raising our corporate tax rate, undoing the historic tax cuts that we achieved under the previous administration, the Trump administration. People hear that, and they don't fully appreciate just what it means. They think that corporate tax rates won't affect them. But the people hurt the most by the higher corporate tax rate tend to be in the most vulnerable categories. That is because higher taxes on job creators not only hurts American competitiveness around the world, but it means lower wages, lower GDP growth, and fewer jobs to go around. In fact, the nonpartisan CBO found that 70 percent of the savings businesses got when they lowered the corporate tax rate in the Trump tax cuts went straight to worker wages, and the Biden plan would undo that very successful program. A study done by Rice University found that raising the corporate tax rate back to 28 percent, like the Biden plans do, will actually kill 1 million jobs in just 2 years. Before the pandemic, the economy was growing fast, thanks in large part to the historic tax cuts and the regulatory reforms that drove the record job growth. In fact, we had the best economy in my lifetime, prior to the pandemic problem that came along. And now, 12 months into the pandemic, as many States are just now allowing businesses to reopen, the administration is looking to raise taxes on job creators who can get our economy back on track. The White House said it was serious about infrastructure investment, and I am committed to working with the President and my colleagues in the Senate to do this. It can be done this year, just as it has been many times in the past, but it needs to be real infrastructure and not just a big-spending liberal climate bill. With that, I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2215 | null | 2,842 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state. The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows Cloture Motion We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 34, S. 914, a bill to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes. Charles E. Schumer, Thomas R. Carper, Tammy Duckworth, Jeff Merkley, Debbie Stabenow, Richard Blumenthal, Jacky Rosen, Michael F. Bennet, Amy Klobuchar, Mazie K. Hirono, Richard J. Durbin, Tammy Baldwin, Alex Padilla, Maria Cantwell, Sheldon Whitehouse, Cory A. Booker, Patty Murray, Elizabeth Warren. | 2020-01-06 | The PRESIDING OFFICER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2220-2 | null | 2,843 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Madam President, I rise today to discuss the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. I was a cosponsor of this bill, which was introduced by Senator Hirono and passed the Senate on April 22, 2021, by a vote of 94 to 1. I was in Minnesota to attend the memorial service for Daunte Wright when the bill came up for a vote, but I would have voted in favor of the bill had I been present. I have been alarmed by the sharp increase in hate crimes against members of the Asian-American Pacific Islander, AAPI, community during the pandemic. According to Stop AAPI Hate, there have been approximately 3,800 incidents of anti-Asian bias across the country in the last year, and that number only includes what has been reported. As we saw with the recent mass shooting in Georgia, in which six of the eight victims were women of Asian descent, these crimes are horrifying and heartbreaking. I have also talked to constituents in my State who have experienced verbal attacks, physical abuse, and threats to their businesses simply because they are members of the AAPI community. What they have endured is not right. These are hate crimes, and it is time for us to stand together, to denounce hate, and take action. When I first arrived at the Senate, I worked hard to pass the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. As a prosecutor, I was at the White House when President Bill Clinton introduced the bill, and 9 years later, I got to cast one of the deciding votes to make the bill a reality. Since then I have worked with Senator Murkowski to introduce the bipartisan Justice for Victims of Hate Crimes Act, which will help to ensure that Federal prosecutors can effectively enforce the Federal hate crimes law. After places of worship were targets of violence in my State, I joined my colleagues in cosponsoring legislation to strengthen protections for religious institutions that was signed into law in September 2018. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act will ensure that the Department of Justice invests the resources needed to fully investigate pandemic-related hate crimes against Asian Americans and will support local law enforcement to report and respond to hate crimes. While there is more we must do to root out hate and bias in our country, this bill is an important step forward, and I am grateful to Senator Hirono for her work in leading this legislation. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. KLOBUCHAR | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2221-2 | null | 2,844 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I rise today to extend my sincere appreciation to Victoria Cech, who is planning on retiring from her position as the executive director of the Montana Health Research and Education Foundation. The citizens of my State are truly grateful for her tireless efforts to improve thehealth of all Montanans. During her tenure at the foundation, Victoria was responsible for managing our State's hospital flexibility and frontier community health improvement programs, both of which provide vital support to our State's critical access hospitals. Why is this important? Because Montana has the distinction if not losing a single critical access hospital since the program's inception. It is the work of the foundation and Victoria's tireless leadership that has contributed to this great success. But her work did not stop there. She continued to lead efforts to improve care in Montana by expanding two of the area health education centers managed by the foundation. These efforts led the charge in addressing behavioral health needs in our State, even bringing national attention to Montana when the foundation partnered with the National Council for Behavioral Health and Lady Gaga's Born This Way Foundation to complete the Teen Mental Health First Aid pilot program at Jefferson High School in Boulder. Patient safety and quality improvement are also major focuses of the foundation. Victoria pioneered these efforts, leading a quality improvement team that moved Montana's hospitals into the highest ranked position within the Hospital Improvement Innovation Network hosted by the American Hospital Association's Health Research & Education Trust. In 2014, Victoria was at the helm of the foundation when our country saw its first Ebola patient. The foundation was managing the hospital preparedness program--HPP--which it continues to do today. With five Montana residents under Ebola surveillance, the preparedness program quickly ramped up to raise awareness in hospitals across the State. That preparedness work has expanded dramatically since then, bringing in four full-time planners who played a large role in helping Montana prepare for and manage the coronavirus pandemic. All 50 States are also experiencing an epidemic of drug addiction and opioid use that has hit Montana particularly hard, especially on the high line. The Montana Hospital Association and its foundation took this reality to heart and worked to expand its education and engagement work to move the needle on reversing opioid addiction. Under Victoria's leadership, the foundation was successful in securing a Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant that is currently helping to address opioid addiction along the Canadian border and increasing engagement in our Tribal communities. With all the work that Victoria has done, she has not overlooked the needs of her team members or those of the Montana Hospital Association. When the pandemic halted in-person education in Helena area schools, Victoria looked for a solution to support the parents at the association and ultimately converted the educational center into a classroom for virtual learning, dubbed the MHA Learning Center. Staffed by a full-time teacher, parents could now go to work knowing their children would not slip in their classwork and instead continue to make educational gains. A lifelong learner, her passion for education will continue after her retirement as she supports her husband and president of Carroll College, John Cech, in positioning the college to be a national leader in higher education. Victoria is a gifted leader who has had a meaningful impact on the lives of all Montanans, and we are very grateful for her dedication to keeping folks healthy across the Big Sky State. Congratulations, Victoria Cech, on your much deserved retirement. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. TESTER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2222-2 | null | 2,845 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1460. Mr. CARPER (for himself and Mrs. Capito) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes. SA 1461. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. King, and Mr. Rounds) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1462. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1463. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1464. Mrs. SHAHEEN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1465. Mr. PADILLA submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by him to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1466. Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Peters) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1467. Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Kelly) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1468. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1469. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1470. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2229-2 | null | 2,846 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1460. Mr. CARPER (for himself and Mrs. Capito) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; as follows: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2229-3 | null | 2,847 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1460. Mr. CARPER (for himself and Mrs. Capito) proposed an amendment to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; as follows: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2229-4 | null | 2,848 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1463. Mrs. SHAHEEN (for herself and Mr. Tillis) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2243-2 | null | 2,849 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1466. Ms. STABENOW (for herself, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Peters) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: Strike section 105 and insert the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2244-3 | null | 2,850 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1467. Mrs. FEINSTEIN (for herself, Mr. Padilla, and Mr. Kelly) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: On page 150, strike lines 15 through 18 and insert the following: (2) in subsection (d)-- (A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``construction'' before ``funds''; (B) by striking paragraph (2); and (C) by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (2); | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2244-4 | null | 2,851 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1468. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2244-5 | null | 2,852 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1470. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of section 102, add the following: (c) Allotment Requirement.--Section 1452(m) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300j-12(m)) is amended by adding at the end the following: ``(3) Requirement.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law, of the amounts made available under paragraph (1) for capitalization grants to State loan funds, the Administrator shall use 5 percent to make capitalization grants to States in which the majority of public water systems are at least 50 years in age for the purpose of modernizing those public water systems.''. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2245-2 | null | 2,853 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1469. Mr. KENNEDY submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-27-pt1-PgS2245 | null | 2,854 |
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-963. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting that, as a result of continued consequences of the opioid crisis, a renewal, effective April 8, 2021, that a public health emergency exists and has existed since October 26, 2017, nationwide, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 247d(a); July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, Sec. 319(a) (as amended by Public Law 107-188, Sec. 144(a)); (116 Stat. 630); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. EC-964. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to the threat of foreign interference in United States elections that was declared in Executive Order 13848 of September 12, 2018, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95-223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-965. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to significant malicious cyber-enabled activities that was declared in Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95-223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-966. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to Libya that was declared in Executive Order 13566 of February 25, 2011, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95-223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-967. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to transnational criminal organizations that was declared in Executive Order 13581 of July 24, 2011, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94- 412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95-223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-968. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to Mali that was declared in Executive Order 13882 of July 26, 2019, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95-223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-969. A letter from the Assistant Legal Adviser, Office of Treaty Affairs, Department of State, transmitting pursuant to the Taiwan Relations Act, agreements between the American Institute in Taiwan, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, and United States Government Agencies, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 3311(a); Public Law 96-8, Sec. 12(a); (93 Stat. 20); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. EC-970. A letter from the Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's FY 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-971. A letter from the Senior Advisor, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting a notification of a nomination and discontinuation of service in acting role, 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-972. A letter from the Acting First Vice President and Vice Chairman, Export-Import Bank of the United States, transmitting the Bank's FY 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-973. A letter from the Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer, Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, transmitting the Bank's 2020 management report and financial statements, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 9106(a)(1); Public Law 97-258 (as amended by Public Law 101-576, Sec. 306(a)); (104 Stat. 2854); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-974. A letter from the Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, transmitting the Board's FY 2010 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-975. A letter from the Chairman, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, transmitting the Commission'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-976. A letter from the Secretary and Treasurer, Resolution Funding Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's Statement on the System of Internal Controls and the 2020 Audited Financial Statements, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3515(a)(1); Public Law 101-576, Sec. 303(a)(1) (as amended by Public Law 107-289, Sec. 2(a)); (116 Stat. 2049); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-977. A letter from the Agency Director, District of Columbia Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency, transmitting the Agency's FY 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-978. A letter from the Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, transmitting Amendments to the Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure that have been adopted by the Supreme Court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2075; Public Law 88-623, Sec. 1 (as amended by Public Law 103-394, Sec. 104(f)); (108 Stat. 4110) (H. Doc. No. 117--31); to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be printed. EC-979. A letter from the Director, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, transmitting the 2020 Delayed- Notice Search Warrant Report, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3103a(d)(2); Public Law 90-351, Sec. 1401(a) (added by Public Law 109-177, Sec. 114(c)); (120 Stat. 211); to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-980. A letter from the Director, Administrative Office of the United States Courts, transmitting the Department's fourteenth annual report to Congress on crime victims' rights, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 3771 note; Public Law 108-405, Sec. 104(a); (118 Stat. 2265); to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-981. A letter from the Victim Witness Coordinator, Department of Justice, transmitting United States v. Brendan Hunt, Case Number 2021R00059 and Court Docket Number 21-CR- 00086; to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-982. A letter from the Secretary, Judicial Conference of the United States, transmitting the Report of the Proceedings of the Judicial Conference of the United States for the September 2020 session; to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-983. A letter from the Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, transmitting amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that have been adopted by the Supreme Court of the United States pursuant to Section 2072 of Title 28, United states Code (H. Doc. No. 117--30); to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be printed. EC-984. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0459; Product Identifier 2020-NM-049-AD; Amendment 39-21380; AD 2021-01-04] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-985. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, Support and Services (Formerly Known as Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics) Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0855; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00909-T; Amendment 39-21385; AD 2021-02- 02] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-986. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Airworthiness Directives; Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0849; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01036-A; Amendment 39-21374; AD 2020-26- 19] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-987. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters [Docket No.: FAA- 2020-1037; Project Identifier 2019-SW-077-AD; Amendment 39- 21407; AD 2021-03-04] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-988. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Amendment of the Class E Airspace; Bradford, PA [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1015; Airspace Docket No.: 20-AEA-20] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-989. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Revocation and Amendment of Class E airspace; Bucholz Army Airfield Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0892; Airspace Docket No.: 20-AWP-40] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-990. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Revocation of Class E Airspace and Amendment of Class E Airspace; Lone Rock, WI [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1059; Airspace Docket No.: 20-AGL-40] (RIN: 2120- AA66) received April 20, 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-991. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Amendment of Class E Airspace; Kankakee, IL [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0879; Airspace Docket No.: 20-AGL-36] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-992. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Amendment of Class D Airspace, and Class E Airspace; Smyrna, TN [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0889; Airspace Docket No.: 20-ASO-25] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-993. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Amendment of Class E Airspace and Revocation of Class E Airspace; Multiple Minnesota Towns [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1058; Airspace Docket No.: 20-AGL-39] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-994. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Amendment and Establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Routes; South-Central Florida Metroplex Project [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0525; Airspace Docket No.: 20- ASO-7] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-995. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Amendment of VOR Federal Airways V- 12, V-74, and V-516 in the Vicinity of Anthony, KS [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0003; Airspace Docket No.: 19-ACE-11] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-996. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Canada Limited Partnership (Type Certificate Previously Held by C Series Aircraft Limited Partnership (CSALP); Bombardier, Inc.) Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1110; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01003-T; Amendment 39-21426; AD 2021-04- 05] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-997. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule--Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Defense and Space S.A. (Formerly Known as Construcciones Aeronauticas, S.A.) Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1020; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00988-T; Amendment 39-21401; AD 2021-02-18] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-998. A letter from the Board of Trustees, National Railroad Retirement Investment Trust, transmitting the Trust's Annual Management Report for Fiscal Year 2020, pursuant to 45 U.S.C. 231n(j)(5)(E)(ii); Aug. 29, 1935, ch. 812, Sec. 15 (as amended by Public Law 107-90, Sec.105; (115 Stat. 886); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-999. A letter from the National President, Women's Army Corps Veterans' Association--Army Women United, transmitting the Association's annual audit for the year ending June 30, 2020; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. EC-1000. A letter from the Director, Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, transmitting the Service's IRB only rule--Revenue Procedure 2021-3 (RP-120147- 20) received April 19, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Ways and Means. EC-1001. A letter from the Acting Chief Privacy Officer and Chief FOIA Officer, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's Privacy Office Fiscal Year 2019 Second Semiannual Report to Congress for the period April 1, through September 30, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security. EC-1002. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Service, transmitting the Department's report titled ``Annual Report to Congress on the Open Payments Program'' for Fiscal Year 2020, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1320a- 7h(d); Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XI, Sec. 1128G (as added by Public Law 111-148, Sec. 6002); (124 Stat. 693); jointly to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. EC-1003. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting a statement showing the apportionment population for each State as of April 1, 2020, and the number of Representatives to which each State would be entitled, pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 2a(a) (H. Doc. No. 117--32); jointly to the Committees on the Judiciary and Oversight and Reform, and ordered to be printed. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgH2124-3 | null | 2,855 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Samantha Power Mr. President, I would like to speak on behalf of the nominee of the Biden administration to become the Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID. He has a great nominee, Samantha Power, for this job. As noted in a New Yorker profile of her, Samantha's last name, Power, comes from the Irish ``de Paor'' meaning ``of the poor.'' Fittingly, she has dedicated her entire life in service of others, using her razor-sharp intelligence and fierce advocacy as a journalist, activist, and diplomat to stand with the world's voiceless masses, all while simultaneously advancing U.S. interests by building bonds in every corner of the world. Ambassador Power has been known to be ferocious in the pursuit of justice, human rights, and democracy, always taking time to listen to other points of view with great humility. While she disagrees with Henry Kissinger on everything from politics to the no-brainer debate of the Red Sox versus the Yankees, Henry Kissinger said that Samantha ``has an excellent analytical mind, and even on matters where I might have come to different conclusions, I respected her analysis''--perhaps the highest praise ever given by a Yankees fan to a member of Red Sox Nation, of which she is proudly a member. As an immigrant from Ireland, Samantha's personal background gives her a unique and deep respect for this country and all that it stands for. Spending time between Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dublin, and Boston, she received her bachelor's degree at Yale University and went on to obtain her law degree at Harvard University. She served in several key positions during the Obama administration, including as the Special Assistant to the President, the National Security Council Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, and, notably, as the youngest ever U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Prior to entering government service, she began her career as a war correspondent, reporting from the siege of Sarajevo, became a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and served as the founding executive director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. As she takes on the important work of leading USAID, the challenges Samantha Power will face are daunting: recovering from a global pandemic, revamping the state of global democracy, tackling the climate crisis, and extending lifesaving assistance to the nearly 1 billion people around the world who go to bed hungry every single night. I know of no person more qualified to take on this task. She embodies that bold red, white, and blue USAID logo, which states ``From the American People.'' In 2015, Samantha Power invited me to be her guest to attend His Holiness Pope Francis's address before the United Nations General Assembly. For two Irish Catholics from Massachusetts, it was the experience of a lifetime. On that day, Pope Francis spoke of the need for compassion, inclusivity, and action to tackle the world's shared challenges. Samantha's career personifies each of these qualities, and I know she will take her compassion, inclusivity, and unwavering desire for action and achieve great things for the people of the United States and for the world at USAID. There is no one better qualified, ever, to serve as the head of this Agency, and I would, with the greatest of enthusiasm, recommend an ``aye'' vote from every Member of the Senate on her confirmation as our Administrator of this great group who serves in every country around the world. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2267-2 | null | 2,856 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Nomination of Samantha Power Mr. President, I would like to speak on behalf of the nominee of the Biden administration to become the Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID. He has a great nominee, Samantha Power, for this job. As noted in a New Yorker profile of her, Samantha's last name, Power, comes from the Irish ``de Paor'' meaning ``of the poor.'' Fittingly, she has dedicated her entire life in service of others, using her razor-sharp intelligence and fierce advocacy as a journalist, activist, and diplomat to stand with the world's voiceless masses, all while simultaneously advancing U.S. interests by building bonds in every corner of the world. Ambassador Power has been known to be ferocious in the pursuit of justice, human rights, and democracy, always taking time to listen to other points of view with great humility. While she disagrees with Henry Kissinger on everything from politics to the no-brainer debate of the Red Sox versus the Yankees, Henry Kissinger said that Samantha ``has an excellent analytical mind, and even on matters where I might have come to different conclusions, I respected her analysis''--perhaps the highest praise ever given by a Yankees fan to a member of Red Sox Nation, of which she is proudly a member. As an immigrant from Ireland, Samantha's personal background gives her a unique and deep respect for this country and all that it stands for. Spending time between Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Dublin, and Boston, she received her bachelor's degree at Yale University and went on to obtain her law degree at Harvard University. She served in several key positions during the Obama administration, including as the Special Assistant to the President, the National Security Council Senior Director for Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, and, notably, as the youngest ever U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Prior to entering government service, she began her career as a war correspondent, reporting from the siege of Sarajevo, became a Pulitzer Prize-winning author, and served as the founding executive director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University. As she takes on the important work of leading USAID, the challenges Samantha Power will face are daunting: recovering from a global pandemic, revamping the state of global democracy, tackling the climate crisis, and extending lifesaving assistance to the nearly 1 billion people around the world who go to bed hungry every single night. I know of no person more qualified to take on this task. She embodies that bold red, white, and blue USAID logo, which states ``From the American People.'' In 2015, Samantha Power invited me to be her guest to attend His Holiness Pope Francis's address before the United Nations General Assembly. For two Irish Catholics from Massachusetts, it was the experience of a lifetime. On that day, Pope Francis spoke of the need for compassion, inclusivity, and action to tackle the world's shared challenges. Samantha's career personifies each of these qualities, and I know she will take her compassion, inclusivity, and unwavering desire for action and achieve great things for the people of the United States and for the world at USAID. There is no one better qualified, ever, to serve as the head of this Agency, and I would, with the greatest of enthusiasm, recommend an ``aye'' vote from every Member of the Senate on her confirmation as our Administrator of this great group who serves in every country around the world. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2267-2 | null | 2,857 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Nomination of Samantha Power Madam President, I rise today to speak in support of Ambassador Power's nomination to serve as Administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development or USAID. The mission of USAID is to advance the values of democracy throughout the world on behalf of the American people, and this mission has never been more critical than today. If confirmed, Ambassador Power will lead an Agency tasked with responding not only to the global crisis of COVID-19 and its devastating impact on vulnerable people across the world but with responding to some of the most pressing challenges facing the United States and the international community: global democratic backsliding, human suffering caused by sexual- and gender-based violence, climate change, and violent conflict around the world. Now, Ambassador Power is an extraordinary public servant. She has distinguished herself in her career and is more than capable of leading USAID's efforts in addressing these global urgencies. She is clear-eyed and sober about the international challenges that she and USAID will face. Over the past 4 years, experts and career professionals within the USAID were, unfortunately, silenced. Decisions were politicized, and recruitment and retention were inadequate. Ambassador Power will be the kind of leader this Agency now needs to restore integrity, transparency, and to rebuild the morale among the dedicated professionals who drive USAID's critical mission. Ambassador Power also understands that the United States will remain a global leader--really, must remain a global leader--who will be able to counter the influence of China's aggressive diplomatic and development agenda. If the USAID is seen, once again, by our international partners as a competent and trustworthy partner, this mission of countering China will be stronger. If the USAID is a competent and trustworthy partner, we will build on our coalitions to counter China's aggressive actions. President Biden could not have nominated someone more ready or more capable than Ambassador Power. She has had an impressive career from her work as a Pulitzer Prize-writing journalist to spending 8 years in the Obama administration on the National Security Council, and then as the Ambassador to the United Nations, where she championed the rights of women, atrocity prevention, and LGBTQ rights, reaching consensus with other countries on vital U.S. interests while going toe to toe with our adversaries. This is one of our more experienced international diplomats from America whom we have today, and by elevating Ambassador Power to the National Security Council, President Biden has made it clear that development and humanitarian assistance will be an integral component to meeting our foreign policy objectives. It is important that we understand that development and humanitarian assistance are a critical part of our foreign policy. Finally, I just want to end with something that Ambassador Power shared in her most recent book. It is something that, I think, speaks so well to her humility, to her willingness to learn, and to why she will be the leader of the USAID--and, I say, of our entire Nation--and is what the world needs right now. Ambassador Power wrote about a meeting she had with the Ambassador from the Central African Republic, Charles Doubane, who described to her the horrific violence taking place in his country. She wrote that, during that meeting, she told him she didn't have an agenda. She just wanted to learn from himabout what was happening in his country. She then writes that he starts speaking and then stops and gets very emotional. She assumes he is getting emotional about the horrific violence in his country, but he says to her, ``No, it's not that, Ambassador. What is happening in my country is terrible--more terrible than anything that has ever happened to us before. But I am emotional because you are here. The United States of America is the greatest country in the world, and you, America, are here.'' That is the vision of America that has defined Ambassador Power's career, that has guided her in the awesome responsibility of representing this Nation and her values--rooted in the ideals of humility, grace, compassion, and thoughtful leadership. I have known Ambassador Power since she and I were very young. It has been decades now of friendship and connection. You can say many things about her, but her core is decency and honor. She will represent the best of us. She is exactly the leader we need right now as we navigate the increasing and pressing challenges facing the world and our country. I am thankful. It would be enough for Ambassador Power to retire. It would be enough for her to say, ``I have served my country'' and, like Cincinnatus, will return to her plow, but, clearly, her calling has not yet fully been answered. She will continue, should this body believe it and endorse it, to serve this country. She will continue to honor the United States of America. She will continue to be a credit to our Nation and the world. That is why I urge my colleagues to support her nomination. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2277 | null | 2,858 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | Mr. DURBIN. Madam Prescient, this week, the Senate has the opportunity to take a major step on an issue that affects all Americans: infrastructure. Senator Duckworth, my friend and fellow Illinois Senator, is leading a bipartisan effort to finance critical water infrastructure improvements across the country. The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act authorizes $35 billion in funding to improve access to safe drinking water, fortify our water infrastructure against extreme weather, lower the cost of utility bills, and rebuild aging water systems across America. More than 40 percent of authorized funds will go to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities, many of which have not seen water infrastructure improvements in decades. And believe me, our water infrastructure is in desperate need of improvement. My home State of Illinois has the most lead service lines of any State. Recent reports indicate that 8 in 10 Illinoisans live in a community where lead has been found in the drinking water in the last 6 years. Chicago alone has more than 380,000 lead service lines, the most of any city in the country. My hometown of Springfield has more than 10,000 lead service lines. These numbers are tragic and unacceptable. Every day, millions of my constituents risk exposure to lead, which can impair brain development in children and harm pregnant mothers. The people of Illinois, like many others across the country, sorely need these pipes replaced. Thankfully, this bipartisan bill would begin to tackle the epidemic of lead in our Nation's drinking water. It would authorize $100 million per year for lead service line removal and a further $40 million per year for lead testing in schools. Just imagine what that kind of funding could do to protect vulnerable people and children in Chicago, Springfield, and across our country. But unfortunately, lead is not the only water infrastructure problem facing our communities. A few weeks ago, I visited a small, rural town in Illinois called Centreville. Near my birthplace of East St. Louis, I have known this community all my life. Centreville's population is mostly elderly, Black, lifelong residents. They have faced chronic wastewater and storm water issues for decades. Ordinary rainfall can overflow the town's broken sewer systems and flood residents' basements and lawns with raw sewage. No one risks taking a sip of water from the tap. I have heard from residents about the horror of stepping out of their front door in the morning to discover pools of sewage seeping up through the grass in their front yards. This is a tragic and dangerous situation and one that deserves significant Federal attention. And yet the problem has persisted for decades. Why? Centreville is one of the poorest towns in Illinois and has struggled to attract financial help. The town cannot meet the cost-share requirements of grant programs or qualify for the loans it so desperately needs. Well, the residents of Centreville have spoken up, they are fed up with officials looking the other way. They have every right to feel frustrated. They have every right to demand more of us. For decades our water policy has overlooked their needs and left them to fend for themselves. This cannot continue. That is why I am glad this bill offers towns like Centreville a chance to fix their broken pumps, shore up their drainage ditches, and begin addressing water issues that have been overlooked for far too long. The bill would waive many of the cost-share requirements for small, rural towns like Centreville, giving them a path to the funding they deserve. It also would give on-the-ground technical assistance to disadvantaged communities struggling with their water systems, and provide grants for repairing broken and outdated water infrastructure. To help ensure that this expertise reaches places like Centreville, I offered an amendment to the bill to focus it even further. I want to thank the EPW Committee for including my amendment to require the EPA to prioritize distressed communities like Centreville, that have struggled to attract funds and face the cumulative burden of wastewater and storm water issues. Flooding, lead, drinking water access--none of these problems are new. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle have spent years decrying the state of American infrastructure, and our water is no exception. Despite all the complaining, we have struggled to sit down together and actually address these issues. But for the first time in many years, we not only have a President willing to pursue bold and necessary infrastructure policy, but a majority in the Senate willing to work with him to get it done. While President Biden's American Jobs Plan includes billions more in funding to replace the Nation's lead pipes, this bill is a good-faith, down payment on the President's plan, and importantly, it has bipartisan support. The Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act is the first step towards new, meaningful infrastructure policy. I hope that my colleagues will join me in supporting this bill, so we can put a bipartisan down payment on the infrastructure every American needs. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2284-2 | null | 2,859 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | Mr. HEINRICH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that a letter from attorneys general of New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia, and the chief legal officers of Chicago and Denver on the importance of passing this resolution be printed in the Record. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. HEINRICH | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2285 | null | 2,860 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. WYDEN (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Boozman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 183 Whereas in 1982, 1984, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020, Congress declared that it-- (1) deplored the religious persecution by the Government of Iran of the Baha'i community; and (2) would hold the Government of Iran responsible for upholding the rights of all Iranian nationals, including members of the Baha'i Faith; Whereas according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom's 2017 annual report, ``Since 1979, [Iranian] authorities have killed or executed more than 200 Baha'i leaders, and more than 10,000 [Baha'i] have been dismissed from government and university jobs [in Iran]''; Whereas the United Nations General Assembly Resolution on the Situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran (A/RES/75/191), dated December 16, 2020, expresses serious concern about-- (1) ``ongoing severe limitations and increasing restrictions on the right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief''; (2) ``restrictions on the establishment of places of worship''; (3) ``undue restrictions on burials carried out in accordance with religious tenets''; (4) ``attacks against places of worship and burial''; and (5) ``other human rights violations, including but not limited to harassment, intimidation, persecution, arbitrary arrests and detention, and incitement to hatred that leads to violence against persons belonging to recognized and unrecognized religious minorities''; Whereas on January 29, 2020, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom ``condemned an Iranian court order allowing authorities to confiscate properties owned by Baha'is in the village of Ivel in Mazandaran Province''; Whereas the Iran section of the Department of State's 2019 Report on International Religious Freedom states that-- (1) ``The government bars Baha'is from all government employment and forbids Baha'i participation in the governmental social pension system. Baha'is may not receive compensation for injury or crimes committed against them and may not inherit property. A religious fatwa from the supreme leader encourages citizens to avoid all dealings with Baha'is.''; (2) ``Baha'is and those who advocated for their rights reported Baha'is continued to be major targets of social stigma and violence, and perpetrators reportedly continued to act with impunity. Even when arrested, perpetrators faced diminished punishment following admissions that their acts were based on the religious identity of the victim.''; (3) ``There continued to be reports of non-Baha'is dismissing or refusing employment to Baha'is, sometimes in response to government pressure, according to [the Baha'i International Community] and other organizations monitoring the situation of the Baha'is.''; and (4) ``According to media and NGO reports, Baha'is continued to face charges that included `insulting religious sanctities,' `corruption on earth,' `propaganda against the system,' `espionage and collaboration with foreign entities,' and `actions against national security.' Charges also included involvement with the Baha'i Institute for Higher Education (BIHE), a university-level educational institution offering mainly distance learning, that the government considered illegal.''; Whereas on March 11, 2020, the Department of State released the 2019 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which states that Iranian authorities ``barred Bahai students from higher education''; Whereas the Baha'i International Community documented a more than 50 percent increase in hate propaganda directed against the Baha'is in the 12-month period ending in August 2020 compared to prior years with more than 9,500 such articles, videos, or web pages appearing in Iranian government-controlled or government-sponsored media; Whereas the Government of Iran is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, done at New York December 19, 1966, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, done at New York December 16, 1966, and is in violation of its obligations under such covenants; Whereas section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (22 U.S.C. 8514) authorizes the President to impose sanctions on individuals who are ``responsible for or complicit in, or responsible for ordering, controlling, or otherwise directing, the commission of serious human rights abuses against citizens of Iran or their family members on or after June 12, 2009''; and Whereas the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (Public Law 112-158) amends and expands the authorities established under the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010 (Public Law 111-195) to sanction Iranian human rights abusers: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) condemns the Government of Iran's state-sponsored persecution of its Baha'i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights; (2) calls on the Government of Iran -- (A) to immediately release the imprisoned or detained Baha'is and all other prisoners held solely on account of their religion; (B) to end its state-sponsored campaign of hate propaganda against the Baha'is; and (C) to reverse state-imposed policies denying equal opportunities to higher education, earning a livelihood, due process under the law, and the free exercise of religious practices; (3) calls on the President and the Secretary of State, in cooperation with responsible nations-- (A) to immediately condemn the Government of Iran's continued violation of human rights; and (B) to demand the immediate release of prisoners held solely on account of their religion; and (4) urges the President and the Secretary of State to utilize available authorities to impose sanctions on officials of the Government of Iran and other individuals directly responsible for serious human rights abuses, including abuses against the Iranian Baha'i community. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2297-2 | null | 2,861 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | SA 1471. Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Cruz) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of section 210 (relating to clean water State revolving funds), add the following: (c) Federal Water Pollution Control Act Allotments.-- Section 205 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1285) is amended-- (1) by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through the end of subsection (a) and inserting the following: ``SEC. 205. ALLOTMENTS. ``(a) Fiscal Years 2022 and Thereafter.-- ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Buy american oversight.--The term `Buy American oversight' means any activity carried out by the Administrator for the management or oversight of the requirements of section 608. ``(B) United states territory.--The term `United States territory' means-- ``(i) American Samoa; ``(ii) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; ``(iii) the United States Virgin Islands; and ``(iv) Guam. ``(2) Initial allotments.-- ``(A) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide for each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any other territory or possession of the United States, United States territories, Indian Tribes, and Buy American oversight an allotment equal to not less than the allotment described in the following table:------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Recipient Allotment------------------------------------------------------------------------Alabama.................................................... 0.005 Alaska.................................................... 0.005Arizona.................................................... 0.005Arkansas................................................... 0.005California................................................. 0.005Colorado................................................... 0.005Connecticut................................................ 0.005Delaware................................................... 0.005District of Columbia....................................... 0.005Florida.................................................... 0.005Georgia.................................................... 0.005Hawaii..................................................... 0.005Idaho...................................................... 0.005Illinois................................................... 0.005Indiana.................................................... 0.005Iowa....................................................... 0.005Kansas..................................................... 0.005Kentucky................................................... 0.005Louisiana.................................................. 0.005Maine...................................................... 0.005Maryland................................................... 0.005Massachusetts.............................................. 0.005Michigan................................................... 0.005Minnesota.................................................. 0.005Mississippi................................................ 0.005Missouri................................................... 0.005Montana.................................................... 0.005Nebraska................................................... 0.005Nevada..................................................... 0.005New Hampshire.............................................. 0.005New Jersey................................................. 0.005New Mexico................................................. 0.005New York................................................... 0.005North Carolina............................................. 0.005North Dakota............................................... 0.005Ohio....................................................... 0.005Oklahoma................................................... 0.005Oregon..................................................... 0.005Pennsylvania............................................... 0.005Puerto Rico................................................ 0.005Rhode Island............................................... 0.005South Carolina............................................. 0.005South Dakota............................................... 0.005Tennessee.................................................. 0.005Texas...................................................... 0.005Utah....................................................... 0.005Vermont.................................................... 0.005United States territories.................................. 0.015Virginia................................................... 0.005Washington................................................. 0.005West Virginia.............................................. 0.005Wisconsin.................................................. 0.005Wyoming.................................................... 0.005Indian Tribes.............................................. 0.0025Buy American oversight..................................... 0.001.------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``(B) Additional allotments to states, district of columbia, and puerto rico.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year remaining after all allotments under subparagraph (A) are provided for that fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide an additional allotment to each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in an amount based on the proportion that, as determined in the most recently published annual estimate of the Bureau of the Census-- ``(i) the population of the State, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, respectively; bears to ``(ii) the total population of all States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ``(3) Allotment updates.-- ``(A) In general.--For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Administrator shall use an updated allotment formula for amounts made available to carry out this section consistent with the formula developed pursuant to subparagraph (B)-- ``(i) by not later than September 30, 2025, to ensure updated allotments are in effect for fiscal year 2026; and ``(ii) thereafter, by not later than 1 year after the date of submission of any new clean watersheds needs survey and associated data under section 516(b)(1)(B). ``(B) Formula.-- ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall develop, by regulation, a formula for the calculation of allotments to States, United States territories, and possessions of the United States under this section, in accordance with clause (ii). ``(ii) Requirements.-- ``(I) Bases.--The formula under clause (i) shall be developed based on-- ``(aa) the State needs identified in the most recently available clean watersheds needs survey prepared by the Administrator under section 516(b)(1)(B); ``(bb) the State population results of the most recent decennial census; and ``(cc) the most recently available water quality impairment component ratio published by the Administrator for purposes of this Act. ``(II) Weight.--In developing the formula under clause (i), the Administrator shall give-- ``(aa) 50 percent weight to the survey referred to in subclause (I)(aa); ``(bb) 30 percent weight to the census referred to in subclause (I)(bb); and ``(cc) 20 percent weight to the ratio referred to in subclause (I)(cc). ``(4) Savings provision.--To the extent practicable, the Administrator shall continue developing the allotment formula under paragraph (2) until the date on which the Administrator completes preparation of a new clean watersheds needs survey under section 516(b)(1)(B) for purposes of the updated formula under paragraph (3).''; (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``shall not exceed 4'' in the first sentence and all that follows through the second period and inserting ``shall not exceed the greater of 4 percent and $400,000.''; and (3) in subsection (m)(1)(B), by striking ``for this fiscal year.'' and inserting ``for that fiscal year.''. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2300-2 | null | 2,862 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1471. Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Cruz) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of section 210 (relating to clean water State revolving funds), add the following: (c) Federal Water Pollution Control Act Allotments.-- Section 205 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1285) is amended-- (1) by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through the end of subsection (a) and inserting the following: ``SEC. 205. ALLOTMENTS. ``(a) Fiscal Years 2022 and Thereafter.-- ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Buy american oversight.--The term `Buy American oversight' means any activity carried out by the Administrator for the management or oversight of the requirements of section 608. ``(B) United states territory.--The term `United States territory' means-- ``(i) American Samoa; ``(ii) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; ``(iii) the United States Virgin Islands; and ``(iv) Guam. ``(2) Initial allotments.-- ``(A) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide for each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any other territory or possession of the United States, United States territories, Indian Tribes, and Buy American oversight an allotment equal to not less than the allotment described in the following table:------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Recipient Allotment------------------------------------------------------------------------Alabama.................................................... 0.005 Alaska.................................................... 0.005Arizona.................................................... 0.005Arkansas................................................... 0.005California................................................. 0.005Colorado................................................... 0.005Connecticut................................................ 0.005Delaware................................................... 0.005District of Columbia....................................... 0.005Florida.................................................... 0.005Georgia.................................................... 0.005Hawaii..................................................... 0.005Idaho...................................................... 0.005Illinois................................................... 0.005Indiana.................................................... 0.005Iowa....................................................... 0.005Kansas..................................................... 0.005Kentucky................................................... 0.005Louisiana.................................................. 0.005Maine...................................................... 0.005Maryland................................................... 0.005Massachusetts.............................................. 0.005Michigan................................................... 0.005Minnesota.................................................. 0.005Mississippi................................................ 0.005Missouri................................................... 0.005Montana.................................................... 0.005Nebraska................................................... 0.005Nevada..................................................... 0.005New Hampshire.............................................. 0.005New Jersey................................................. 0.005New Mexico................................................. 0.005New York................................................... 0.005North Carolina............................................. 0.005North Dakota............................................... 0.005Ohio....................................................... 0.005Oklahoma................................................... 0.005Oregon..................................................... 0.005Pennsylvania............................................... 0.005Puerto Rico................................................ 0.005Rhode Island............................................... 0.005South Carolina............................................. 0.005South Dakota............................................... 0.005Tennessee.................................................. 0.005Texas...................................................... 0.005Utah....................................................... 0.005Vermont.................................................... 0.005United States territories.................................. 0.015Virginia................................................... 0.005Washington................................................. 0.005West Virginia.............................................. 0.005Wisconsin.................................................. 0.005Wyoming.................................................... 0.005Indian Tribes.............................................. 0.0025Buy American oversight..................................... 0.001.------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``(B) Additional allotments to states, district of columbia, and puerto rico.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year remaining after all allotments under subparagraph (A) are provided for that fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide an additional allotment to each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in an amount based on the proportion that, as determined in the most recently published annual estimate of the Bureau of the Census-- ``(i) the population of the State, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, respectively; bears to ``(ii) the total population of all States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ``(3) Allotment updates.-- ``(A) In general.--For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Administrator shall use an updated allotment formula for amounts made available to carry out this section consistent with the formula developed pursuant to subparagraph (B)-- ``(i) by not later than September 30, 2025, to ensure updated allotments are in effect for fiscal year 2026; and ``(ii) thereafter, by not later than 1 year after the date of submission of any new clean watersheds needs survey and associated data under section 516(b)(1)(B). ``(B) Formula.-- ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall develop, by regulation, a formula for the calculation of allotments to States, United States territories, and possessions of the United States under this section, in accordance with clause (ii). ``(ii) Requirements.-- ``(I) Bases.--The formula under clause (i) shall be developed based on-- ``(aa) the State needs identified in the most recently available clean watersheds needs survey prepared by the Administrator under section 516(b)(1)(B); ``(bb) the State population results of the most recent decennial census; and ``(cc) the most recently available water quality impairment component ratio published by the Administrator for purposes of this Act. ``(II) Weight.--In developing the formula under clause (i), the Administrator shall give-- ``(aa) 50 percent weight to the survey referred to in subclause (I)(aa); ``(bb) 30 percent weight to the census referred to in subclause (I)(bb); and ``(cc) 20 percent weight to the ratio referred to in subclause (I)(cc). ``(4) Savings provision.--To the extent practicable, the Administrator shall continue developing the allotment formula under paragraph (2) until the date on which the Administrator completes preparation of a new clean watersheds needs survey under section 516(b)(1)(B) for purposes of the updated formula under paragraph (3).''; (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``shall not exceed 4'' in the first sentence and all that follows through the second period and inserting ``shall not exceed the greater of 4 percent and $400,000.''; and (3) in subsection (m)(1)(B), by striking ``for this fiscal year.'' and inserting ``for that fiscal year.''. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2300-2 | null | 2,863 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | SA 1471. Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Cruz) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of section 210 (relating to clean water State revolving funds), add the following: (c) Federal Water Pollution Control Act Allotments.-- Section 205 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1285) is amended-- (1) by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through the end of subsection (a) and inserting the following: ``SEC. 205. ALLOTMENTS. ``(a) Fiscal Years 2022 and Thereafter.-- ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Buy american oversight.--The term `Buy American oversight' means any activity carried out by the Administrator for the management or oversight of the requirements of section 608. ``(B) United states territory.--The term `United States territory' means-- ``(i) American Samoa; ``(ii) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; ``(iii) the United States Virgin Islands; and ``(iv) Guam. ``(2) Initial allotments.-- ``(A) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide for each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any other territory or possession of the United States, United States territories, Indian Tribes, and Buy American oversight an allotment equal to not less than the allotment described in the following table:------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Recipient Allotment------------------------------------------------------------------------Alabama.................................................... 0.005 Alaska.................................................... 0.005Arizona.................................................... 0.005Arkansas................................................... 0.005California................................................. 0.005Colorado................................................... 0.005Connecticut................................................ 0.005Delaware................................................... 0.005District of Columbia....................................... 0.005Florida.................................................... 0.005Georgia.................................................... 0.005Hawaii..................................................... 0.005Idaho...................................................... 0.005Illinois................................................... 0.005Indiana.................................................... 0.005Iowa....................................................... 0.005Kansas..................................................... 0.005Kentucky................................................... 0.005Louisiana.................................................. 0.005Maine...................................................... 0.005Maryland................................................... 0.005Massachusetts.............................................. 0.005Michigan................................................... 0.005Minnesota.................................................. 0.005Mississippi................................................ 0.005Missouri................................................... 0.005Montana.................................................... 0.005Nebraska................................................... 0.005Nevada..................................................... 0.005New Hampshire.............................................. 0.005New Jersey................................................. 0.005New Mexico................................................. 0.005New York................................................... 0.005North Carolina............................................. 0.005North Dakota............................................... 0.005Ohio....................................................... 0.005Oklahoma................................................... 0.005Oregon..................................................... 0.005Pennsylvania............................................... 0.005Puerto Rico................................................ 0.005Rhode Island............................................... 0.005South Carolina............................................. 0.005South Dakota............................................... 0.005Tennessee.................................................. 0.005Texas...................................................... 0.005Utah....................................................... 0.005Vermont.................................................... 0.005United States territories.................................. 0.015Virginia................................................... 0.005Washington................................................. 0.005West Virginia.............................................. 0.005Wisconsin.................................................. 0.005Wyoming.................................................... 0.005Indian Tribes.............................................. 0.0025Buy American oversight..................................... 0.001.------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``(B) Additional allotments to states, district of columbia, and puerto rico.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year remaining after all allotments under subparagraph (A) are provided for that fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide an additional allotment to each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in an amount based on the proportion that, as determined in the most recently published annual estimate of the Bureau of the Census-- ``(i) the population of the State, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, respectively; bears to ``(ii) the total population of all States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ``(3) Allotment updates.-- ``(A) In general.--For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Administrator shall use an updated allotment formula for amounts made available to carry out this section consistent with the formula developed pursuant to subparagraph (B)-- ``(i) by not later than September 30, 2025, to ensure updated allotments are in effect for fiscal year 2026; and ``(ii) thereafter, by not later than 1 year after the date of submission of any new clean watersheds needs survey and associated data under section 516(b)(1)(B). ``(B) Formula.-- ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall develop, by regulation, a formula for the calculation of allotments to States, United States territories, and possessions of the United States under this section, in accordance with clause (ii). ``(ii) Requirements.-- ``(I) Bases.--The formula under clause (i) shall be developed based on-- ``(aa) the State needs identified in the most recently available clean watersheds needs survey prepared by the Administrator under section 516(b)(1)(B); ``(bb) the State population results of the most recent decennial census; and ``(cc) the most recently available water quality impairment component ratio published by the Administrator for purposes of this Act. ``(II) Weight.--In developing the formula under clause (i), the Administrator shall give-- ``(aa) 50 percent weight to the survey referred to in subclause (I)(aa); ``(bb) 30 percent weight to the census referred to in subclause (I)(bb); and ``(cc) 20 percent weight to the ratio referred to in subclause (I)(cc). ``(4) Savings provision.--To the extent practicable, the Administrator shall continue developing the allotment formula under paragraph (2) until the date on which the Administrator completes preparation of a new clean watersheds needs survey under section 516(b)(1)(B) for purposes of the updated formula under paragraph (3).''; (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``shall not exceed 4'' in the first sentence and all that follows through the second period and inserting ``shall not exceed the greater of 4 percent and $400,000.''; and (3) in subsection (m)(1)(B), by striking ``for this fiscal year.'' and inserting ``for that fiscal year.''. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2300-3 | null | 2,864 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1471. Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Cruz) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of section 210 (relating to clean water State revolving funds), add the following: (c) Federal Water Pollution Control Act Allotments.-- Section 205 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1285) is amended-- (1) by striking the section designation and heading and all that follows through the end of subsection (a) and inserting the following: ``SEC. 205. ALLOTMENTS. ``(a) Fiscal Years 2022 and Thereafter.-- ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection: ``(A) Buy american oversight.--The term `Buy American oversight' means any activity carried out by the Administrator for the management or oversight of the requirements of section 608. ``(B) United states territory.--The term `United States territory' means-- ``(i) American Samoa; ``(ii) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; ``(iii) the United States Virgin Islands; and ``(iv) Guam. ``(2) Initial allotments.-- ``(A) In general.--For each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide for each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, any other territory or possession of the United States, United States territories, Indian Tribes, and Buy American oversight an allotment equal to not less than the allotment described in the following table:------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``Recipient Allotment------------------------------------------------------------------------Alabama.................................................... 0.005 Alaska.................................................... 0.005Arizona.................................................... 0.005Arkansas................................................... 0.005California................................................. 0.005Colorado................................................... 0.005Connecticut................................................ 0.005Delaware................................................... 0.005District of Columbia....................................... 0.005Florida.................................................... 0.005Georgia.................................................... 0.005Hawaii..................................................... 0.005Idaho...................................................... 0.005Illinois................................................... 0.005Indiana.................................................... 0.005Iowa....................................................... 0.005Kansas..................................................... 0.005Kentucky................................................... 0.005Louisiana.................................................. 0.005Maine...................................................... 0.005Maryland................................................... 0.005Massachusetts.............................................. 0.005Michigan................................................... 0.005Minnesota.................................................. 0.005Mississippi................................................ 0.005Missouri................................................... 0.005Montana.................................................... 0.005Nebraska................................................... 0.005Nevada..................................................... 0.005New Hampshire.............................................. 0.005New Jersey................................................. 0.005New Mexico................................................. 0.005New York................................................... 0.005North Carolina............................................. 0.005North Dakota............................................... 0.005Ohio....................................................... 0.005Oklahoma................................................... 0.005Oregon..................................................... 0.005Pennsylvania............................................... 0.005Puerto Rico................................................ 0.005Rhode Island............................................... 0.005South Carolina............................................. 0.005South Dakota............................................... 0.005Tennessee.................................................. 0.005Texas...................................................... 0.005Utah....................................................... 0.005Vermont.................................................... 0.005United States territories.................................. 0.015Virginia................................................... 0.005Washington................................................. 0.005West Virginia.............................................. 0.005Wisconsin.................................................. 0.005Wyoming.................................................... 0.005Indian Tribes.............................................. 0.0025Buy American oversight..................................... 0.001.------------------------------------------------------------------------ ``(B) Additional allotments to states, district of columbia, and puerto rico.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2025, of the amounts made available to carry out this section for the fiscal year remaining after all allotments under subparagraph (A) are provided for that fiscal year, the Administrator shall provide an additional allotment to each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in an amount based on the proportion that, as determined in the most recently published annual estimate of the Bureau of the Census-- ``(i) the population of the State, District of Columbia, or Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, respectively; bears to ``(ii) the total population of all States, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. ``(3) Allotment updates.-- ``(A) In general.--For fiscal year 2026 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Administrator shall use an updated allotment formula for amounts made available to carry out this section consistent with the formula developed pursuant to subparagraph (B)-- ``(i) by not later than September 30, 2025, to ensure updated allotments are in effect for fiscal year 2026; and ``(ii) thereafter, by not later than 1 year after the date of submission of any new clean watersheds needs survey and associated data under section 516(b)(1)(B). ``(B) Formula.-- ``(i) In general.--The Administrator shall develop, by regulation, a formula for the calculation of allotments to States, United States territories, and possessions of the United States under this section, in accordance with clause (ii). ``(ii) Requirements.-- ``(I) Bases.--The formula under clause (i) shall be developed based on-- ``(aa) the State needs identified in the most recently available clean watersheds needs survey prepared by the Administrator under section 516(b)(1)(B); ``(bb) the State population results of the most recent decennial census; and ``(cc) the most recently available water quality impairment component ratio published by the Administrator for purposes of this Act. ``(II) Weight.--In developing the formula under clause (i), the Administrator shall give-- ``(aa) 50 percent weight to the survey referred to in subclause (I)(aa); ``(bb) 30 percent weight to the census referred to in subclause (I)(bb); and ``(cc) 20 percent weight to the ratio referred to in subclause (I)(cc). ``(4) Savings provision.--To the extent practicable, the Administrator shall continue developing the allotment formula under paragraph (2) until the date on which the Administrator completes preparation of a new clean watersheds needs survey under section 516(b)(1)(B) for purposes of the updated formula under paragraph (3).''; (2) in subsection (g)(1), by striking ``shall not exceed 4'' in the first sentence and all that follows through the second period and inserting ``shall not exceed the greater of 4 percent and $400,000.''; and (3) in subsection (m)(1)(B), by striking ``for this fiscal year.'' and inserting ``for that fiscal year.''. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2300-3 | null | 2,865 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1471. Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Tillis, and Mr. Cruz) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1472. Mr. LEE submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1473. Mr. BLUNT submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1474. Ms. HASSAN submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table. SA 1475. Mr. TESTER (for himself and Mr. Daines) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, supra; which was ordered to lie on the table | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2300 | null | 2,866 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1475. Mr. TESTER (for himself and Mr. Daines) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end, add the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-28-pt1-PgS2302 | null | 2,867 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, last night, President Biden delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress, and today marks his 100th day in office. President Biden is a likeable person. Many of us remember serving with him in this Chamber. But while the tone of his remarks were understated, the content was anything but. He talked at length about competing with China without mentioning that he wants to cut U.S. defense spending after inflation. Exactly what we cannot do if we want to keep pace. He talked about immigration without taking any responsibility for the border crisis that has his administration packing unaccompanied children into facilities and releasing arrivals into our country. And the President talked about unity and togetherness while reading off a multitrillion-dollar shopping list that was neither designed nor intended to earn bipartisan buy-in, a blueprint for giving Washington even more money and even more power to micromanage American families and build the country liberal elites want instead of the future Americans want. Think back to the start of this administration. Remember its day one priorities: axing a pipeline project that would have supported thousands of jobs; freezing the exploration behind America's energy independence; and re-signing the climate agreement that has gotten less emissions reduction out of China, which is inside the deal, than the United States achieved on our own, outside the deal. The approach has remained equally radical since. Even after the CDC's own experts showed months ago that schools are safe, the administration's partisan COVID bill threw money at districts without requiring prompt reopenings. As a humanitarian crisis mounts at the southern border, the President's team has offered mixed messaging and ineffectiveness. While Iran keeps ramping up nuclear rhetoric and financing terror across the Middle East, this White House keeps downplaying the Iranian terror. And they appear eager to squander sanctions leverage just to climb back into a failed deal from back in the Obama era. And again, as Russia and China fast-track military modernization, President Biden turned in a defense spending proposal that would put U.S. forces behind the curve. That was the backdrop for last night's speech. But instead of practical plans to fulfill these basic responsibilities, America heard a lengthy liberal daydream. We heard about the so-called jobs plan packed with punitive tax hikes at exactly the time our Nation needs a recovery. Ivy League experts say that it would actually leave American workers with lower wages at the end of the day. We heard about the so-called family plan, another gigantic tax-and-spend colossus. Instead of empowering all kinds of families with flexibility, this one would just subsidize specific paths that Democrats deem best so Washington can call the shots from early childhood through college graduation. But wait. There was more. There was hostility toward the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. There was support for Democrats' sweeping election takeover bill that would neuter voter ID in all 50 States--oh--and, by the way, make the Federal Election Commission a partisan body--oh--and legalize ballot harvesting, where paid political operatives can show up carrying stacks, stacks of other people's ballots. Here is the bottom line. Recall that more than a year ago, at the outset of the pandemic, a top House Democrat said this crisis provided the left ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' Well, last night, President Biden said much the same: that his administration intends to turn ``crisis into opportunity.'' The far left certainly gets the message. Some of the most liberal Members of Congress have gone out of their way to say they are surprised and delighted--delighted--by the President's willingness to do things their way. Even a neutral wire report explained yesterday that the Biden agenda seeks to ``fundamentally transform and expand government's role in the lives of everyday Americans.'' Let me say that again. A neutral wire report explained yesterday that the Biden agenda seeks to ``fundamentally transform and expand government's role in the lives of everyday Americans.'' It is an attempt to continue dragging a divided country farther and faster to the left. This administration wants to jack up taxes in order to nudge families toward the kinds of jobs Democrats want them to have, in the kinds of industries Democrats want to exist, with the kinds of cars Democrats want them to drive, using the kinds of childcare arrangements that Democrats want them to pursue. These plans aren't about creating options and flexibility for Americans; they are about imposing a vision. Instead of encouraging work and rewarding work and helping connect more Americans with opportunities to work and build their lives, this administration is working overtime to break the link--the link--between work and income. They want to break the link between work and income. Outside observers across the political spectrum agree these Democrats are unlearning the commonsense, pro-work lessons of bipartisan welfare reform from back in the nineties. This isn't what the American people voted for. This country just elected a 50-50 Senate, a very closely divided House, and a President who talked a big game about cutting deals, bringing people together, and building bridges. But even on subjects as historically bipartisan as pandemic relief, voting rights, and infrastructure, our Democratic friends have become addicted to divide-and-conquer. As our distinguished colleague Senator Tim Scott put it last night: They won't even build bridges . . . to build bridges. It doesn't have to be this way. Republicans support actually competing with China. Republicans support actually helping working families. Republicans support actual infrastructure. Ranking Member Capito and a number of our leading Republican colleagues have rolled out a multi-hundred-billion-dollar targeted infrastructure proposal. Today, in fact, the Senate is set to pass bipartisan legislation to help States and localities to provide clean and safe drinking water. Our President will not secure a lasting legacy through go-it-alone radicalism. He won't get much done that way. It won't be good for the country. And whatever the Democrats do get done through partisan brute force will be fragile. The American people need us to find common ground and to move this country forward, and they would like for us to do it together. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2313-2 | null | 2,868 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, last night, President Biden delivered his first address to a joint session of Congress, and today marks his 100th day in office. President Biden is a likeable person. Many of us remember serving with him in this Chamber. But while the tone of his remarks were understated, the content was anything but. He talked at length about competing with China without mentioning that he wants to cut U.S. defense spending after inflation. Exactly what we cannot do if we want to keep pace. He talked about immigration without taking any responsibility for the border crisis that has his administration packing unaccompanied children into facilities and releasing arrivals into our country. And the President talked about unity and togetherness while reading off a multitrillion-dollar shopping list that was neither designed nor intended to earn bipartisan buy-in, a blueprint for giving Washington even more money and even more power to micromanage American families and build the country liberal elites want instead of the future Americans want. Think back to the start of this administration. Remember its day one priorities: axing a pipeline project that would have supported thousands of jobs; freezing the exploration behind America's energy independence; and re-signing the climate agreement that has gotten less emissions reduction out of China, which is inside the deal, than the United States achieved on our own, outside the deal. The approach has remained equally radical since. Even after the CDC's own experts showed months ago that schools are safe, the administration's partisan COVID bill threw money at districts without requiring prompt reopenings. As a humanitarian crisis mounts at the southern border, the President's team has offered mixed messaging and ineffectiveness. While Iran keeps ramping up nuclear rhetoric and financing terror across the Middle East, this White House keeps downplaying the Iranian terror. And they appear eager to squander sanctions leverage just to climb back into a failed deal from back in the Obama era. And again, as Russia and China fast-track military modernization, President Biden turned in a defense spending proposal that would put U.S. forces behind the curve. That was the backdrop for last night's speech. But instead of practical plans to fulfill these basic responsibilities, America heard a lengthy liberal daydream. We heard about the so-called jobs plan packed with punitive tax hikes at exactly the time our Nation needs a recovery. Ivy League experts say that it would actually leave American workers with lower wages at the end of the day. We heard about the so-called family plan, another gigantic tax-and-spend colossus. Instead of empowering all kinds of families with flexibility, this one would just subsidize specific paths that Democrats deem best so Washington can call the shots from early childhood through college graduation. But wait. There was more. There was hostility toward the Second Amendment rights of American citizens. There was support for Democrats' sweeping election takeover bill that would neuter voter ID in all 50 States--oh--and, by the way, make the Federal Election Commission a partisan body--oh--and legalize ballot harvesting, where paid political operatives can show up carrying stacks, stacks of other people's ballots. Here is the bottom line. Recall that more than a year ago, at the outset of the pandemic, a top House Democrat said this crisis provided the left ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' Well, last night, President Biden said much the same: that his administration intends to turn ``crisis into opportunity.'' The far left certainly gets the message. Some of the most liberal Members of Congress have gone out of their way to say they are surprised and delighted--delighted--by the President's willingness to do things their way. Even a neutral wire report explained yesterday that the Biden agenda seeks to ``fundamentally transform and expand government's role in the lives of everyday Americans.'' Let me say that again. A neutral wire report explained yesterday that the Biden agenda seeks to ``fundamentally transform and expand government's role in the lives of everyday Americans.'' It is an attempt to continue dragging a divided country farther and faster to the left. This administration wants to jack up taxes in order to nudge families toward the kinds of jobs Democrats want them to have, in the kinds of industries Democrats want to exist, with the kinds of cars Democrats want them to drive, using the kinds of childcare arrangements that Democrats want them to pursue. These plans aren't about creating options and flexibility for Americans; they are about imposing a vision. Instead of encouraging work and rewarding work and helping connect more Americans with opportunities to work and build their lives, this administration is working overtime to break the link--the link--between work and income. They want to break the link between work and income. Outside observers across the political spectrum agree these Democrats are unlearning the commonsense, pro-work lessons of bipartisan welfare reform from back in the nineties. This isn't what the American people voted for. This country just elected a 50-50 Senate, a very closely divided House, and a President who talked a big game about cutting deals, bringing people together, and building bridges. But even on subjects as historically bipartisan as pandemic relief, voting rights, and infrastructure, our Democratic friends have become addicted to divide-and-conquer. As our distinguished colleague Senator Tim Scott put it last night: They won't even build bridges . . . to build bridges. It doesn't have to be this way. Republicans support actually competing with China. Republicans support actually helping working families. Republicans support actual infrastructure. Ranking Member Capito and a number of our leading Republican colleagues have rolled out a multi-hundred-billion-dollar targeted infrastructure proposal. Today, in fact, the Senate is set to pass bipartisan legislation to help States and localities to provide clean and safe drinking water. Our President will not secure a lasting legacy through go-it-alone radicalism. He won't get much done that way. It won't be good for the country. And whatever the Democrats do get done through partisan brute force will be fragile. The American people need us to find common ground and to move this country forward, and they would like for us to do it together. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2313-2 | null | 2,869 |
formal | Baltimore | null | racist | Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam President, today I missed the vote on passage of S. 914, as amended, in order to attend an event related to vaccine distribution in Baltimore City with Vice President Kamala Harris. Had I been in attendance, I would have voted yes on this important, bipartisan bill. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. VAN HOLLEN | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2349 | null | 2,870 |
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-838. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Flupyradradifurone; Pesticide Tolerances for Emergency Exemptions'' (FRL No. 10020-49-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-839. A communication from the Director, Regulations Management Division, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Rural Energy for America Program'' (RIN0570-AA98) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-840. A communication from the Senior Congressional Liaison, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Qualified Mortgage Definition Under the Truth in Lending Act (Regulation Z): General QM Loan Definition; Delay of Mandatory Compliance Date'' (RIN3170-AA98) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 27, 2021; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-841. A communication from the Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``2020 Fair Lending Report of the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection''; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-842. 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; Arkansas; Arkansas Regional Haze and Visibility Transport State Implementation Plan Revisions; Correction'' (FRL No. 10022-74-Region 6) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-843. 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; Illinois; Public Participation in the Permit Program'' (FRL No. 10022-84-Region 5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-844. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; California; Feather River Air Quality Management District'' (FRL No. 10022-35-Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-845. 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; New Hampshire; Sulfur Content Limitations for Fuels'' (FRL No. 10022-62-Region 1) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-846. 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; Ohio; NSR Program Administrative Rules'' (FRL No. 10022-85-Region 5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-847. A communication from the Director of Congressional Affairs, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.178, `Plant-Specific, Risk Informed Decision-making For In-service Inspection of Piping' '' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-848. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the apportionment population for each state as of April 1, 2020, and the number of Representatives to which each State would be entitled; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-849. A communication from the Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Corporation's fiscal year 2020 annual report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-850. A communication from the Chairman, Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commission's fiscal year 2020 annual report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-851. A communication from the Acting Director, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Commerce, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's fiscal year 2020 annual report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-852. A communication from the Chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commission's fiscal year 2020 annual report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-853. A communication from the Chairman, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commission's fiscal year 2020 report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-854. A communication from the Acting Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Bureau's fiscal year 2020 annual report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-855. A communication from the Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Corporation's fiscal year 2020 report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-856. A communication from the Director, Office of Civil Rights, Department of Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the Department's fiscal year 2020 annual report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-857. A communication from the Acting First Vice President and Vice Chairman of the Export-Import Bank, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Bank's fiscal year 2020 annual report relative to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-858. A communication from the Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the extension of a waiver of Section 907 of the Freedom Support Act with respect to assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-859. A communication from the Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of Director, National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 27, 2021; to the Select Committee on Intelligence. EC-860. A communication from the Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to a vacancy in the position of General Counsel, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 27, 2021; to the Select Committee on Intelligence. EC-861. A communication from the Regulations Unit Chief, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Procedures and Standards for Declining Surety Immigration Bonds and Administrative Appeal Requirement for Breaches'' (RIN1653-AA67) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 27, 2021; to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-862. A communication from the Yeoman Second Class Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Security Zone; Potomac River, Between Charles County, Maryland and King George County, Virginia'' ((RIN1625-AA00) (Docket No. USCG-2021-0156)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-863. A communication from the Yeoman Second Class Petty Officer, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Great Lakes Pilotage Rates - 2021 Annual Review and Revisions to Methodology'' ((RIN1625-AA00) (Docket No. USCG- 2020-0457)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-864. A communication from the Legal Tech, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Little Manatee River, Ruskin, Hillsborough County, Florida'' (Docket No. USCG-2020-0573) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 26, 2021; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2351-4 | null | 2,871 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Casey, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Smith): S. 1458. A bill to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to encourage the planting of cover crops following prevented planting, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. | 2020-01-06 | The RECORDER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2359-2 | null | 2,872 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | By Mr. KAINE (for himself and Ms. Baldwin): S. 1496. A bill to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to fund demonstration projects to improve recruitment and retention of child welfare workers; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. | 2020-01-06 | The RECORDER | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2362-2 | null | 2,873 |
formal | personal responsibility | null | racist | 2021 AS ``MOTORCYCLE SAFETY AWARENESS MONTH'' Ms. ERNST (for herself and Mr. Peters) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: S. Res. 192 Whereas motorcycling is a great United States tradition enjoyed by an estimated 30,000,000 people annually, representing approximately 11 percent of the population; Whereas motorcycles are a valuable component of the transportation mix; Whereas motorcycles are fuel-efficient and decrease congestion while having little impact on our Nation's transportation infrastructure; Whereas the motorcycling community promotes rider safety education, licensing, and motorcycle awareness; Whereas the motorcycling community is committed to decreasing motorcycle crashes through training and safety education, personal responsibility, and increased public awareness; Whereas approximately 91 percent of motorcycles are operated on highways in conjunction with other vehicles; Whereas motorcyclist deaths occur more frequently than fatalities in passenger vehicles; Whereas motorcycle awareness is beneficial to all road users and will help decrease motorcycle accidents; and Whereas the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration promotes Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month to encourage riders to be properly licensed, receive training, wear personal protective equipment, such as helmets, jackets, boots, and gloves, and to remind all riders and motorists to always share the road: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the designation of May 2021 as ``Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month''; (2) recognizes the contribution of motorcycles to the transportation mix; (3) encourages motorcycle awareness by all road users; (4) recognizes that motorcyclists have a right to the road and that all motorists should safely share the roadways; (5) encourages rider safety education, training, and proper gear for safe motorcycle operation; and (6) supports the goals of Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2366-3 | null | 2,874 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. KING (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Braun, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Smith, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Manchin, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Wicker) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 194 Whereas Arbor Day was founded on April 10, 1872, to recognize the importance of planting trees; Whereas Arbor Day is a time to recognize the importance of trees and an opportunity for communities to gather and plant for a greener future; Whereas Arbor Day is observed in all 50 States and across the world; Whereas participating in Arbor Day activities promotes civic participation and highlights the importance of planting and caring for trees and vegetation; Whereas such activities provide an opportunity to convey to future generations the value of land and stewardship; Whereas working forests have contributed to an increase in the number of trees planted in the United States and are sustainably managed, with less than 2 percent of working forests nationally harvested each year; Whereas a key factor in preventing forest conversion and deforestation is keeping forests productive; Whereas working forests are a critical part of a nature- based solution to climate change, and by providing a continuous cycle of growing, harvesting, and replanting, active forest management maximizes the ability to sequester and store carbon and improves forest resilience; Whereas private forests play an important role in conserving at-risk and declining species, and collaborative conservation efforts can benefit species while also helping to keep forests as forests; Whereas sustainably grown wood can be used in a wide variety of resilient infrastructure and building applications--from traditional timber framing to high-tech bridges to high-rise buildings made of mass timber--and as a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material, substituting wood for other materials in buildings and bridges could significantly decrease global carbon emissions; Whereas the Arbor Day Foundation and the Tree City USA program have been committed to greening cities and towns across the country since 1976, and in that time, more than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA; Whereas Tree City USA communities are home to more than 143,000,000 people in the United States who are dedicated to core standards of sound urban forestry management and who dedicate resources and time to urban forestry initiatives, which helps make their communities and our country a better place to live; Whereas National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of April each year; and Whereas April 30, 2021, marks the 149th anniversary of Arbor Day: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes April 30, 2021, as ``National Arbor Day''; (2) celebrates the 149th anniversary of Arbor Day; (3) supports the goals and ideals of National Arbor Day; and (4) encourages the people of United States to participate in National Arbor Day activities. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2367-2 | null | 2,875 |
formal | urban | null | racist | Mr. KING (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Braun, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Crapo, Ms. Smith, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Manchin, Ms. Collins, Mrs. Murray, and Mr. Wicker) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 194 Whereas Arbor Day was founded on April 10, 1872, to recognize the importance of planting trees; Whereas Arbor Day is a time to recognize the importance of trees and an opportunity for communities to gather and plant for a greener future; Whereas Arbor Day is observed in all 50 States and across the world; Whereas participating in Arbor Day activities promotes civic participation and highlights the importance of planting and caring for trees and vegetation; Whereas such activities provide an opportunity to convey to future generations the value of land and stewardship; Whereas working forests have contributed to an increase in the number of trees planted in the United States and are sustainably managed, with less than 2 percent of working forests nationally harvested each year; Whereas a key factor in preventing forest conversion and deforestation is keeping forests productive; Whereas working forests are a critical part of a nature- based solution to climate change, and by providing a continuous cycle of growing, harvesting, and replanting, active forest management maximizes the ability to sequester and store carbon and improves forest resilience; Whereas private forests play an important role in conserving at-risk and declining species, and collaborative conservation efforts can benefit species while also helping to keep forests as forests; Whereas sustainably grown wood can be used in a wide variety of resilient infrastructure and building applications--from traditional timber framing to high-tech bridges to high-rise buildings made of mass timber--and as a natural, renewable, and biodegradable material, substituting wood for other materials in buildings and bridges could significantly decrease global carbon emissions; Whereas the Arbor Day Foundation and the Tree City USA program have been committed to greening cities and towns across the country since 1976, and in that time, more than 3,400 communities have made the commitment to becoming a Tree City USA; Whereas Tree City USA communities are home to more than 143,000,000 people in the United States who are dedicated to core standards of sound urban forestry management and who dedicate resources and time to urban forestry initiatives, which helps make their communities and our country a better place to live; Whereas National Arbor Day is observed on the last Friday of April each year; and Whereas April 30, 2021, marks the 149th anniversary of Arbor Day: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) recognizes April 30, 2021, as ``National Arbor Day''; (2) celebrates the 149th anniversary of Arbor Day; (3) supports the goals and ideals of National Arbor Day; and (4) encourages the people of United States to participate in National Arbor Day activities. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2367-2 | null | 2,876 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. WARNOCK (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Casey, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Carper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Brown, Mr. Padilla, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Coons, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Warren, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Ossoff, Ms. Smith, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 199 Whereas, on March 16, 2021, a shooter murdered 8 people and injured 1 in the Atlanta, Georgia region in 3 separate shootings that took place at Asian American-owned spas; Whereas the people of the United States mourn the 8 innocent lives lost--7 of whom were women, 6 of whom were women of Asian descent, and several of whom were immigrants; Whereas the victims included Xiaojie ``Emily'' Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, Paul Andre Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Soon Chung ``Julie'' Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Suncha Kim; Whereas 49-year-old Xiaojie ``Emily'' Tan, a hardworking mother and the owner of one of the spas, was a dedicated and caring business owner who is survived by her daughter and husband; Whereas 44-year-old Daoyou Feng was an employee who recently began working at one of the spas; Whereas 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, a newlywed and mother of 2, was at one of the spas to receive a couple's massage with her husband when her life was cut short; Whereas 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels was a caring husband and United States Army veteran who did maintenance work for one of the spas and is survived by his wife; Whereas 63-year-old Yong Ae Yue was a mother of 2 sons who was known for her kindness and generosity and her love of her pet Shih Tzu; Whereas 74-year-old Soon Chung ``Julie'' Park was a mother and grandmother who helped manage one of the spas and helped to prepare meals for the employees; Whereas 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant was a former elementary school teacher and hardworking single mother who dedicated her life to raising her 2 sons; Whereas 69-year-old Suncha Kim was a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed line dancing and had been married for more than 50 years; Whereas the Georgia shootings came in the midst of an alarming surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents that have caused many Asian Americans across the United States to feel fearful and unsafe; Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric, whether related to the COVID-19 pandemic or not, is completely unacceptable and should be condemned by all people of the United States; Whereas, in 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150 percent in major cities throughout the United States; Whereas, according to a recent report by Stop AAPI Hate, there were nearly 3,800 reported cases of anti-Asian discrimination related to COVID-19 between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021; Whereas 68 percent of reported incidents of anti-Asian hate targeted Asian American women, a population that has been historically marginalized, sexualized, and fetishized; Whereas, on March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian American leaders in Georgia and reaffirmed their strong commitment to condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and violence targeting the Asian American community; and Whereas the people of the United States will always remember the victims of these shootings and stand in solidarity with those affected by this senseless tragedy: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) condemns the heinous and inexcusable acts of gun violence that led to the tragic loss of 8 lives in Georgia on March 16, 2021; (2) condemns any racism and sexism in the choice of the shooter to target Asian American-owned businesses and murder 6 women of Asian descent; (3) honors the memory of the victims, offers heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and recognizes that the healing process will be long and difficult for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and all communities impacted by this tragedy; and (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States Federal Government to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2369 | null | 2,877 |
formal | single mother | null | racist | Mr. WARNOCK (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Casey, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Carper, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Reed, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Kaine, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Brown, Mr. Padilla, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Coons, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Warren, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Merkley, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Ossoff, Ms. Smith, Mr. Cardin, and Mr. Booker) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 199 Whereas, on March 16, 2021, a shooter murdered 8 people and injured 1 in the Atlanta, Georgia region in 3 separate shootings that took place at Asian American-owned spas; Whereas the people of the United States mourn the 8 innocent lives lost--7 of whom were women, 6 of whom were women of Asian descent, and several of whom were immigrants; Whereas the victims included Xiaojie ``Emily'' Tan, Daoyou Feng, Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, Paul Andre Michels, Yong Ae Yue, Soon Chung ``Julie'' Park, Hyun Jung Grant, and Suncha Kim; Whereas 49-year-old Xiaojie ``Emily'' Tan, a hardworking mother and the owner of one of the spas, was a dedicated and caring business owner who is survived by her daughter and husband; Whereas 44-year-old Daoyou Feng was an employee who recently began working at one of the spas; Whereas 33-year-old Delaina Ashley Yaun Gonzalez, a newlywed and mother of 2, was at one of the spas to receive a couple's massage with her husband when her life was cut short; Whereas 54-year-old Paul Andre Michels was a caring husband and United States Army veteran who did maintenance work for one of the spas and is survived by his wife; Whereas 63-year-old Yong Ae Yue was a mother of 2 sons who was known for her kindness and generosity and her love of her pet Shih Tzu; Whereas 74-year-old Soon Chung ``Julie'' Park was a mother and grandmother who helped manage one of the spas and helped to prepare meals for the employees; Whereas 51-year-old Hyun Jung Grant was a former elementary school teacher and hardworking single mother who dedicated her life to raising her 2 sons; Whereas 69-year-old Suncha Kim was a wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed line dancing and had been married for more than 50 years; Whereas the Georgia shootings came in the midst of an alarming surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents that have caused many Asian Americans across the United States to feel fearful and unsafe; Whereas the use of anti-Asian terminology and rhetoric, whether related to the COVID-19 pandemic or not, is completely unacceptable and should be condemned by all people of the United States; Whereas, in 2020, anti-Asian hate crimes increased by nearly 150 percent in major cities throughout the United States; Whereas, according to a recent report by Stop AAPI Hate, there were nearly 3,800 reported cases of anti-Asian discrimination related to COVID-19 between March 19, 2020 and February 28, 2021; Whereas 68 percent of reported incidents of anti-Asian hate targeted Asian American women, a population that has been historically marginalized, sexualized, and fetishized; Whereas, on March 19, 2021, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris met with Asian American leaders in Georgia and reaffirmed their strong commitment to condemning and combating racism, xenophobia, and violence targeting the Asian American community; and Whereas the people of the United States will always remember the victims of these shootings and stand in solidarity with those affected by this senseless tragedy: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) condemns the heinous and inexcusable acts of gun violence that led to the tragic loss of 8 lives in Georgia on March 16, 2021; (2) condemns any racism and sexism in the choice of the shooter to target Asian American-owned businesses and murder 6 women of Asian descent; (3) honors the memory of the victims, offers heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims, and recognizes that the healing process will be long and difficult for the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and all communities impacted by this tragedy; and (4) reaffirms the commitment of the United States Federal Government to combating hate, bigotry, and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to prevent tragedies like this from ever happening again. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2369 | null | 2,878 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1476. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title II, add the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2371-2 | null | 2,879 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1476. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title II, add the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2371-3 | null | 2,880 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | SA 1477. Mr. BENNET (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed to amendment SA 1460 proposed by Mr. Carper (for himself and Mrs. Capito) to the bill S. 914, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize programs under those Acts, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the end of title II, add the following: | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-04-29-pt1-PgS2371-4 | null | 2,881 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: EC-1027. A letter from the Director, Regulations Management Division, Rural Development Innovation Center, Rural Development, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Rural Energy for America Program [Docket No.: RBS-20-BUSINESS-0027] (RIN: 0570-AA98) received April 28, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Agriculture. EC-1028. A letter from the Staff Member Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary (Comptroller)/Chief Financial Officer, Department of Defense, transmitting a letter to report violations of the Antideficiency Act, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1351; Public Law 97-258; (96 Stat. 926); to the Committee on Appropriations. EC-1029. A letter from the Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense, transmitting the Annual Report to Congress on the Activities of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation for 2019, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 343(i); Public Law 106-398, Sec. 1 (as amended by Public Law 107-314, Sec. 932(a)(1)); (116 Stat. 2625); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1030. A letter from the Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense, transmitting the Annual Report to Congress on the Activities of the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation for 2020, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 343(i); Public Law 106-398, Sec. 1 (as amended by Public Law 107-314, Sec. 932(a)(1)); (116 Stat. 2625); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1031. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting a letter on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Dorothy A. Hogg, United States Air Force, and her advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 1370(c)(1); Public Law 96-513, Sec. 112 (as amended by Public Law 104-106, Sec. 502(b)); (110 Stat. 293); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1032. A letter from the Assistant Secretary, Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology, Department of the Army, Department of Defense, transmitting the Annual Status Report on the Destruction of the United States Stockpile of Lethal Chemical Agents and Munitions for FY 2020, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1521(i); Public Law 99-145, Sec. 1412 (as amended by Public Law 111-383, Sec. 1421(a)); (124 Stat. 4415); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1033. A letter from the Chairman, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, transmitting the Council's 2020 Annual Report to Congress, pursuant to section 1006(f) of U.S.C. 3305, the Financial Regulatory and Interest Rate Control Act of 1978; to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-1034. A letter from the Supervisory Workforce Analyst, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (RIN: 1205-AC03) received April 30, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education and Labor. EC-1035. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management and Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Metaflumizone; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0385; FRL-10018-60] received April 20, 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-1036. A letter from the Deputy Chief, Auctions Division, Office of Economics and Analytics, Federal Communication Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Auction of AM and FM Broadcast Construction Permits Scheduled for July 27, 2021; Notice of Filing Requirements, Minimum Opening Bids, Upfront Payments, and Other Procedures for Auction 109 [AU Docket No. 21-39; DA 21-361] April 20, 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-1037. A letter from the Chief of Staff, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Amendment of Section 73.622(i), Post-Transition Table of DTV Allotments, Television Broadcast Stations (Jefferson City Missouri) [MB Docket No. 21-10] (RM- 11873) received April 20, 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-1038. A letter from the Chief of Staff, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Amendment of Section 73.622(i), Post-Transitin Table of DTV Allotments, Television Broadcast Stations (Corpus Christi, Texas) [MB Docket No. 21-59] (RM- 11883) received April 20, 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-1039. A letter from the Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's issuance of regulatory guide -- Plant-Specific, Risk-Informed Decisionmaking for Inservice Inspections of Piping [Regulatory Guide 1.178, Revision 2] received April 22, 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-1040. A letter from the Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's issuance of regulatory guide -- Guidance for Changes During Construction for New Nuclear Power Plants Being Constructed Under a Combined License Referencing a Certified Design Under 10 CFR Part 52 [Regulatory Guide 1.237] received April 30, 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-1041. A letter from the President of the United States, transmitting notification that the national emergency with respect to the Central African Republic, declared in Executive Order 13667 of May 12, 2014, is to continue in effect beyond May 12, 2021, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 117--34); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. EC-1042. A letter from the President of the United States, transmitting notification that the national emergency with respect to the stabilization of Iraq declared in Executive Order 13303 of May 22, 2003, is to continue in effect beyond May 22, 2021, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94- 412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 117--35); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. EC-1043. A letter from the President of the United States, transmitting notification that the national emergency with respect to the actions of the government of Syria declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004, as modified, is to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2021, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 117--36); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. EC-1044. A letter from the President and CEO, African Development Foundation, transmitting a letter fulfilling the annual requirements contained in the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, covering the period October 1, 2019 to September 30, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. app. (Insp. Gen. Act), section 5(b); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-1045. A letter from the Treasurer, National Gallery of Art, transmitting the Gallery's Inspector General Act of 1978 report for Fiscal Year 2020; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-1046. A letter from the President and CEO, National Safety Council, transmitting the Council's Audit Report, pursuant to Public Law 83-259, 36 U.S.C. 463; to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-1047. A letter from the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Administrator, FEMA, transmitting a report advising that the cost of response and recovery efforts for FEMA- 3553-EM in the District of Columbia has exceeded the $5,000,000 limit for a single emergency declaration, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 5193(b)(3); Public Law 93-288, Sec. 503(b)(3) (as amended by Public Law 100-707, Sec. 107(a)); (102 Stat. 4707); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-1048. A letter from the Yeoman Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Great Lakes Pilotage Rates-2021 Annual Review and Revisions to Methodology [Docket No.: USCG-2020-0457] (RIN: 1625-AC67) received April 28, 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-1049. A letter from the Yeoman Petty Officer Second Class, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Safety Zone; Potomac River, Between Charles County, MD and King George County, VA [Docket Number: USCG-2021-0156] (RIN: 1625-AA00) received April 28, 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-1050. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments [Docket No.: 31352; Amdt. No.: 3941] received April 20, 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-1051. A letter from the Legal Tech, CG-LRA, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Drawbridge Operation Regulation; Little Manatee River, Ruskin, Hillsborough County, FL [Docket No.: USCG-2020-0573] (RIN: 1625-AA09) received April 28, 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-1052. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Bombardier, Inc., Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0859; Product Identifier 2020-NM-084-AD; Amendment 39-21413; AD 2021-03-10] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1053. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0977; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01106-T; Amendment 39-21415; AD 2021-03- 12] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1054. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Dassault Aviation Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0980; Product Identifier 2020-NM-094-AD; Amendment 39-21414; AD 2021-03-11] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1055. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1021; Project Identifier AD-2020-00847-T; Amendment 39-21412; AD 2021-03- 09] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1056. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; General Electric Company Turbofan Engines [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0371; Project Identifier AD-2019-00124-E; Amendment 39-21405; AD 2021-03-02] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1057. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0983; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00542-R; Amendment 39-21404; AD 2021-03-01] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1058. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1036; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01430-R; Amendment 39-21409; AD 2021-03-06] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1059. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0907; Product Identifier 2017-SW-072-AD; Amendment 39-21429; AD 2021-04-08] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1060. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) Helicopters [Docket No.; FAA-2020-0860; Product Identifier 2019-SW-005-AD; Amendment 39-21416; AD 2021-03-13] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1061. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0503; Product Identifier 2018-SW-006-AD; Amendment 39-21386; AD 2021-02-03] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1062. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0649; Product Identifier 2019-SW-061-AD; Amendment 39-21410; AD 2021-03-07] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1063. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Amendment of Restricted Areas R- 3008A, R-3008B, R-3008C, and R-3008D; Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA [Docket No.: FAA-2013-1063; Airspace Docket No.: 13-ASO-25] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-1064. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Amendment of Class E Airspace; Cambridge, NE [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0727; Airspace Docket No.: 20-ACE-18] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-1065. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace and Establishment of Class E Airspace; Lancaster, CA [Docket No.: FAA-2020-0943; Airspace Docket No.: 20-AWP-11] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received April 20, 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-1066. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments [Docket No.: 31353; Amdt. No.: 3942] received April 20, 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-1067. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters [Docket No.: FAA-2020-1026; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00745-R; Amendment 39-21418; AD 2021-03- 15] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received April 20, 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-1068. A letter from the Regulations Writer, Office of Regulations and Reports Clearance, Social Security Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Rescission of Rules on Improved Agency Guidance Documents [Docket No.: SSA-2020-0002] (RIN: 0960-AI54) received May 4, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Ways and Means. EC-1069. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting a report entitled ``Finalizing Medicare Rules under Section 902 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) for Calendar Year (CY) 2020'', pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1395hh(a)(3)(D); Public Law 108-173, Sec. 902(a)(1); (117 Stat. 2375); jointly to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-05-07-pt1-PgH2147-2 | null | 2,882 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | China On another subject, Madam President, dealing with my oversight work, on March 10 of this year, I came to the floor about my February 11, 2021, oversight letter to the Biden administration's Department of Homeland Security. That letter discussed the administration's withdrawal of what has been called the Confucius rule associated with the country of China and probably more closely related to the Communist Party of China. The rule that was withdrawn was proposed in the Trump administration, and it would have required educational institutions to just simply disclose their financial connection to the Communist Chinese Government, including its Confucius Institutes. The substance of the rule is common sense, especially in light of the clear propaganda threat that the regime of China presents to us. It is common sense, so why wouldn't the Biden administration continue with it? In my letter, I ask Secretary Mayorkas two very simple questions: One, does the Biden Department of Homeland Security consider Confucius Institutes to be an extension of the Chinese Government? If not, why not? Second question: Does the Biden Department of Homeland Security consider Confucius Institutes to be purveyors of Communist Chinese propaganda? If not, why not? When I took to the floor on March 10, the Biden administration had failed to respond. As of today, still no response. These are very easy questions for the administration. The failure to answer in light of the ongoing threat is very troubling. Just the other week, the Justice Department indicted an American professor on two counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement for concealing support he received from the Chinese Government. The indictment tells me this administration has concerns about China and our universities, or this action would not have been taken. During the course of my oversight activities, I have looked at both threats to taxpayer-funded research and threats that Confucius Institutes pose to our educational institutions. Simply put, these are real concerns. With respect to threats to taxpayer-funded research, we must protect our intellectual property and research. The Chinese are stealing our intellectual property every day. We all know that. We spend billions of dollars and expend a great amount of effort to bring innovations to this country and, in turn, the world. We must protect our American investments from Chinese espionage and theft. Likewise, we must guard against the propaganda spread by Confucius Institutes, which are extensions of the Communist regime. One member of the Communist regime said this: The Confucius Institute is an appealing brand for expanding our culture abroad. It has made an important contribution toward improving our soft power. The ``Confucius'' brand has a natural attractiveness. Using the excuse of teaching Chinese language, everything looks reasonable and logical. Now, I want to quote the Chinese Minister of Propaganda, who said to his fellow ministry workers: [C]oordinate the efforts of overseas and domestic propaganda, [and] further create a favorable international environment for us. With regard to key issues that influence our sovereignty and safety, we should actively carry out international propaganda battles against issues such as Tibet . . . Taiwan, human rights. Our strategy is to proactively take our culture abroad. We should do well in establishing operating overseas cultural centers and Confucius Institutes. Why would any American doubt China's purpose for Confucius Institutes based upon the quote of that Minister? Yet, even with this very clear threat, the Biden administration is silent on the proposed rule other than their getting caught retracting that Trump rule. What more does this administration need before they get the picture? Given the administration's failure to act, I have introduced a bill, S. 1369, that would make the rule that they have withdrawn now a law. My bill, which is cosponsored by Senators Blackburn, Tillis, and Hawley, would require U.S. educational institutions to disclose their financial connections with the Communist Chinese regime. My bill would accomplish these measures by requiring schools to disclose those connections as part of their certification and recertification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. That program provides approvals to schools to enroll nonimmigrant students. If the schools want visas for these foreign students, they will first have to disclose their ties to the Chinese Government. The centerpiece of the bill I just described is disclosure and transparency, and we all know that transparency brings accountability. We the people absolutely have a right to know if our educational institutions are tied to the hip with China, especially in light of that regime's using money to gain leverage over many of them, which brings me, then, to a greater point. American educational institutions ought to stand up to the Communist regime instead of doing their bidding for the millions of dollars they receive. China is a national security threat. They are a propaganda machine, and we know they will stop at nothing in their attempt to dominate the world. It is time for the Biden administration to step up to the plate and protect our American interests and American institutions. If they don't let that rule of the previous administration stay in place or put it back in place, I would urge my colleagues to join my transparency bill. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-05-10-pt1-PgS2406 | null | 2,883 |
formal | right to know | null | anti-GMO | China On another subject, Madam President, dealing with my oversight work, on March 10 of this year, I came to the floor about my February 11, 2021, oversight letter to the Biden administration's Department of Homeland Security. That letter discussed the administration's withdrawal of what has been called the Confucius rule associated with the country of China and probably more closely related to the Communist Party of China. The rule that was withdrawn was proposed in the Trump administration, and it would have required educational institutions to just simply disclose their financial connection to the Communist Chinese Government, including its Confucius Institutes. The substance of the rule is common sense, especially in light of the clear propaganda threat that the regime of China presents to us. It is common sense, so why wouldn't the Biden administration continue with it? In my letter, I ask Secretary Mayorkas two very simple questions: One, does the Biden Department of Homeland Security consider Confucius Institutes to be an extension of the Chinese Government? If not, why not? Second question: Does the Biden Department of Homeland Security consider Confucius Institutes to be purveyors of Communist Chinese propaganda? If not, why not? When I took to the floor on March 10, the Biden administration had failed to respond. As of today, still no response. These are very easy questions for the administration. The failure to answer in light of the ongoing threat is very troubling. Just the other week, the Justice Department indicted an American professor on two counts of wire fraud and one count of making a false statement for concealing support he received from the Chinese Government. The indictment tells me this administration has concerns about China and our universities, or this action would not have been taken. During the course of my oversight activities, I have looked at both threats to taxpayer-funded research and threats that Confucius Institutes pose to our educational institutions. Simply put, these are real concerns. With respect to threats to taxpayer-funded research, we must protect our intellectual property and research. The Chinese are stealing our intellectual property every day. We all know that. We spend billions of dollars and expend a great amount of effort to bring innovations to this country and, in turn, the world. We must protect our American investments from Chinese espionage and theft. Likewise, we must guard against the propaganda spread by Confucius Institutes, which are extensions of the Communist regime. One member of the Communist regime said this: The Confucius Institute is an appealing brand for expanding our culture abroad. It has made an important contribution toward improving our soft power. The ``Confucius'' brand has a natural attractiveness. Using the excuse of teaching Chinese language, everything looks reasonable and logical. Now, I want to quote the Chinese Minister of Propaganda, who said to his fellow ministry workers: [C]oordinate the efforts of overseas and domestic propaganda, [and] further create a favorable international environment for us. With regard to key issues that influence our sovereignty and safety, we should actively carry out international propaganda battles against issues such as Tibet . . . Taiwan, human rights. Our strategy is to proactively take our culture abroad. We should do well in establishing operating overseas cultural centers and Confucius Institutes. Why would any American doubt China's purpose for Confucius Institutes based upon the quote of that Minister? Yet, even with this very clear threat, the Biden administration is silent on the proposed rule other than their getting caught retracting that Trump rule. What more does this administration need before they get the picture? Given the administration's failure to act, I have introduced a bill, S. 1369, that would make the rule that they have withdrawn now a law. My bill, which is cosponsored by Senators Blackburn, Tillis, and Hawley, would require U.S. educational institutions to disclose their financial connections with the Communist Chinese regime. My bill would accomplish these measures by requiring schools to disclose those connections as part of their certification and recertification in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program. That program provides approvals to schools to enroll nonimmigrant students. If the schools want visas for these foreign students, they will first have to disclose their ties to the Chinese Government. The centerpiece of the bill I just described is disclosure and transparency, and we all know that transparency brings accountability. We the people absolutely have a right to know if our educational institutions are tied to the hip with China, especially in light of that regime's using money to gain leverage over many of them, which brings me, then, to a greater point. American educational institutions ought to stand up to the Communist regime instead of doing their bidding for the millions of dollars they receive. China is a national security threat. They are a propaganda machine, and we know they will stop at nothing in their attempt to dominate the world. It is time for the Biden administration to step up to the plate and protect our American interests and American institutions. If they don't let that rule of the previous administration stay in place or put it back in place, I would urge my colleagues to join my transparency bill. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-05-10-pt1-PgS2406 | null | 2,884 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of Wendy Curran. Wendy will soon retire as vice president of care delivery and provider affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable career dedicated to improving the lives of people in my State. Wendy Curran has been at the center of Wyoming health policy for over 30 years. She earned the trust of folks across the State with her broad knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for improving care in Wyoming. She forged alliances and friendships on both sides of the aisle, and both Republicans and Democrats respected Wendy's insights and relied on her unique knowledge. As the daughter of a third-generation rancher, Wendy grew up on the Peryam Ranch in the Upper North Platte River Valley. During this time, spent riding horses and playing in the Encampment River, she learned lessons that would later contribute to her successful career. Daily chores taught her the value of hard work. She developed the ability to ``heal up and hair over,'' a cowboy's term for resiliency. In fact, her grit, humility, and determination represent several of the key tenets in our State ethics code, the Code of the West: be tough, but fair; take pride in your work; do what has to be done. Throughout her career, Wendy held many distinguished jobs at all levels of government. She began by working for U.S. Senator Cliff Hansen. Other members of Wyoming's congressional delegation also benefited from her work. Wendy served U.S. Congressman Dick Cheney and U.S. Senator Malcom Wallop as well. In 1991, Wendy joined the Wyoming Medical Society. Wendy was the passionate voice of Wyoming physicians and patients, serving as the assistant director of public affairs and later leading the organization as executive director. Wendy testified frequently before the Wyoming Legislature, advocating on behalf of Wyoming physicians and patients. She was known to introduce herself as a ``representative to the people who save Wyoming residents' lives,'' a job she took very seriously. She worked on many important provider issues. In particular, she was the leading voice supporting medical liability reform. Wendy was instrumental in Wyoming joining the organization now known as WWAMI. This acronym stands for the States it represents: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. These States, working through the University of Washington Medical School, are part of a medical education consortium. This allows students in Wyoming to attend medical school at the University of Washington while participating in clerkships both in Wyoming and across the region. The program gives the students wide exposure to practicing medicine in rural communities. Wendy deserves credit for helping to bring this successful program to Wyoming, and she continues to serve on the University of Wyoming WWAMI curriculum review panel. In 2005, Wendy left the Medical Society. Recognizing her skills, Governor Dave Freudenthal asked Wendy to serve in his administration. In this role, Wendy championed initiatives to improve childcare, substance abuse services, and an innovative Medicaid pilot program known as Healthy Frontiers. Her talents for creating health policy were so respected that she also helped incoming Governor Matt Mead during his administration's transition. That Freudenthal was a Democrat and Mead a Republican made no difference. Wendy proved yet again that partisan politics mattered far less than honoring her commitment to the people of Wyoming. Wendy spent the last 10 years of her career working for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. In the midst of widespread reform and changes, Wendy remained committed to improving the State's health care system. Her excellent communication skills and well-established knowledge of the industry benefited her immensely. She embraced her role as a liaison between the insurance agency and providers, often bridging gaps and fostering connection. She ends her career as a trusted adviser to all in the health care industry. In 2001, I was honored to join Wendy in the inaugural class of Leadership Wyoming, a program developed to inspire Wyoming's leaders through exploration and connection. Already an established leader in her own right, Wendy fully committed herself to the 8-month program and later became one of its most fervent supporters. Wendy also lent her talents and expertise to the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations. These included Peak Wellness Center, the WyomingHealth Resources Network, the Wyoming Small Business Development Center, and CLIMB Wyoming. Her work with CLIMB Wyoming is of special significance. CLIMB is a unique nonprofit empowering single mothers to develop life and career skills. This holistic program helps these women start new careers and ultimately become self-sufficient. Wendy's accomplishments speak for themselves. She views herself as a humble public servant. Still, her impact on health care in Wyoming cannot be understated and will be recognized for years to come. Finally, I must conclude my remarks by recognizing the most important people in Wendy's life, her family. Her late husband Denny was a good friend and an outstanding journalist. His passing in 2012 was a tremendous loss. I know he is looking down on Wendy, their three children, Katie, Laura, and Tim, and granddaughter Lillian, with pride today. Wendy and I have been personal friends for nearly four decades. She represents the best of Wyoming in every sense of the word. One could not have a better friend than Wendy Curran. The people of Wyoming are fortunate to have Wendy Curran serve our State for so many years. She is a leader, mentor, and advocate to many, especially women working in health care. Bobbi and I are proud to call her our friend. Wendy will be missed in retirement, but I know she will continue to find meaningful ways to serve and to make Wyoming a better place for everyone. Thank you, Wendy, for your committed and dedicated service. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. BARRASSO | Senate | CREC-2021-05-10-pt1-PgS2410 | null | 2,885 |
formal | single mother | null | racist | Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I rise today to honor the distinguished career of Wendy Curran. Wendy will soon retire as vice president of care delivery and provider affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. Her retirement marks the end of a remarkable career dedicated to improving the lives of people in my State. Wendy Curran has been at the center of Wyoming health policy for over 30 years. She earned the trust of folks across the State with her broad knowledge of the challenges and opportunities for improving care in Wyoming. She forged alliances and friendships on both sides of the aisle, and both Republicans and Democrats respected Wendy's insights and relied on her unique knowledge. As the daughter of a third-generation rancher, Wendy grew up on the Peryam Ranch in the Upper North Platte River Valley. During this time, spent riding horses and playing in the Encampment River, she learned lessons that would later contribute to her successful career. Daily chores taught her the value of hard work. She developed the ability to ``heal up and hair over,'' a cowboy's term for resiliency. In fact, her grit, humility, and determination represent several of the key tenets in our State ethics code, the Code of the West: be tough, but fair; take pride in your work; do what has to be done. Throughout her career, Wendy held many distinguished jobs at all levels of government. She began by working for U.S. Senator Cliff Hansen. Other members of Wyoming's congressional delegation also benefited from her work. Wendy served U.S. Congressman Dick Cheney and U.S. Senator Malcom Wallop as well. In 1991, Wendy joined the Wyoming Medical Society. Wendy was the passionate voice of Wyoming physicians and patients, serving as the assistant director of public affairs and later leading the organization as executive director. Wendy testified frequently before the Wyoming Legislature, advocating on behalf of Wyoming physicians and patients. She was known to introduce herself as a ``representative to the people who save Wyoming residents' lives,'' a job she took very seriously. She worked on many important provider issues. In particular, she was the leading voice supporting medical liability reform. Wendy was instrumental in Wyoming joining the organization now known as WWAMI. This acronym stands for the States it represents: Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. These States, working through the University of Washington Medical School, are part of a medical education consortium. This allows students in Wyoming to attend medical school at the University of Washington while participating in clerkships both in Wyoming and across the region. The program gives the students wide exposure to practicing medicine in rural communities. Wendy deserves credit for helping to bring this successful program to Wyoming, and she continues to serve on the University of Wyoming WWAMI curriculum review panel. In 2005, Wendy left the Medical Society. Recognizing her skills, Governor Dave Freudenthal asked Wendy to serve in his administration. In this role, Wendy championed initiatives to improve childcare, substance abuse services, and an innovative Medicaid pilot program known as Healthy Frontiers. Her talents for creating health policy were so respected that she also helped incoming Governor Matt Mead during his administration's transition. That Freudenthal was a Democrat and Mead a Republican made no difference. Wendy proved yet again that partisan politics mattered far less than honoring her commitment to the people of Wyoming. Wendy spent the last 10 years of her career working for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming. In the midst of widespread reform and changes, Wendy remained committed to improving the State's health care system. Her excellent communication skills and well-established knowledge of the industry benefited her immensely. She embraced her role as a liaison between the insurance agency and providers, often bridging gaps and fostering connection. She ends her career as a trusted adviser to all in the health care industry. In 2001, I was honored to join Wendy in the inaugural class of Leadership Wyoming, a program developed to inspire Wyoming's leaders through exploration and connection. Already an established leader in her own right, Wendy fully committed herself to the 8-month program and later became one of its most fervent supporters. Wendy also lent her talents and expertise to the boards of numerous nonprofit organizations. These included Peak Wellness Center, the WyomingHealth Resources Network, the Wyoming Small Business Development Center, and CLIMB Wyoming. Her work with CLIMB Wyoming is of special significance. CLIMB is a unique nonprofit empowering single mothers to develop life and career skills. This holistic program helps these women start new careers and ultimately become self-sufficient. Wendy's accomplishments speak for themselves. She views herself as a humble public servant. Still, her impact on health care in Wyoming cannot be understated and will be recognized for years to come. Finally, I must conclude my remarks by recognizing the most important people in Wendy's life, her family. Her late husband Denny was a good friend and an outstanding journalist. His passing in 2012 was a tremendous loss. I know he is looking down on Wendy, their three children, Katie, Laura, and Tim, and granddaughter Lillian, with pride today. Wendy and I have been personal friends for nearly four decades. She represents the best of Wyoming in every sense of the word. One could not have a better friend than Wendy Curran. The people of Wyoming are fortunate to have Wendy Curran serve our State for so many years. She is a leader, mentor, and advocate to many, especially women working in health care. Bobbi and I are proud to call her our friend. Wendy will be missed in retirement, but I know she will continue to find meaningful ways to serve and to make Wyoming a better place for everyone. Thank you, Wendy, for your committed and dedicated service. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. BARRASSO | Senate | CREC-2021-05-10-pt1-PgS2410 | null | 2,886 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. LUJAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and share the inspirational story of native New Mexican Ms. Stella Lavadie, who celebrated her 100th birthday on April 29, 2021. Her friends, family, and neighbors know Stella as a warm-hearted woman who celebrates her veteran community with great pride and has lived a remarkable and impactful life. A member of the ``greatest generation,'' Stella was born in 1921 in Taos, and while she grew up partially in Wyoming, she returned to New Mexico as a young adult to attend my alma mater, New Mexico Highlands University. In a pivotal moment, Stella recalls seeing Uncle Sam on signs in Albuquerque beckoning her: ``I want you!'' they said, and she answered the call. Stella enlisted for the Women's Army Corps in 1944 at the Bruns Army Hospital in Santa Fe and trained at Fort Des Moines. Taking great pride in her fatigues and dress uniform, Stella completed duty stations in Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Dakota. Stella completed her service in 1946 when the war was won, but she has said she would gladly have stayed in the Women's Army Corps if given the chance. Throughout her life, Stella has carried with her meaningful memories from her service, including fellow Women Army Corps member Ruby Hart singing ``Till we meet again'' and marching in formation every Saturday morning in front of the ranking officers. Upon returning home to New Mexico, Stella continued her Federal service working at the University of California in Los Alamos, then at the Atomic Energy Commission also in Los Alamos, before rounding out her career with a combined 32 years at the Bureau of Land Management doing essential work contributing to the management of New Mexico's Federal lands. She raised three children as a single mother in the 1950s, due to her husband's early death, and built a beautiful family in her own home State of New Mexico. I want to personally wish Stella a happy 100th birthday and thank her for her service and barrier-breaking accomplishments. In 2015, I had the pleasure of greeting Stella on her visit to D.C. on Honor Flight No. 0615, and I was honored to celebrate her birthday in a drive-by celebration this year. Stella, thank you for your service, and it is an honor to play a small part in your story. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LUJAN | Senate | CREC-2021-05-10-pt1-PgS2411-2 | null | 2,887 |
formal | single mother | null | racist | Mr. LUJAN. Mr. President, I rise today to recognize and share the inspirational story of native New Mexican Ms. Stella Lavadie, who celebrated her 100th birthday on April 29, 2021. Her friends, family, and neighbors know Stella as a warm-hearted woman who celebrates her veteran community with great pride and has lived a remarkable and impactful life. A member of the ``greatest generation,'' Stella was born in 1921 in Taos, and while she grew up partially in Wyoming, she returned to New Mexico as a young adult to attend my alma mater, New Mexico Highlands University. In a pivotal moment, Stella recalls seeing Uncle Sam on signs in Albuquerque beckoning her: ``I want you!'' they said, and she answered the call. Stella enlisted for the Women's Army Corps in 1944 at the Bruns Army Hospital in Santa Fe and trained at Fort Des Moines. Taking great pride in her fatigues and dress uniform, Stella completed duty stations in Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Dakota. Stella completed her service in 1946 when the war was won, but she has said she would gladly have stayed in the Women's Army Corps if given the chance. Throughout her life, Stella has carried with her meaningful memories from her service, including fellow Women Army Corps member Ruby Hart singing ``Till we meet again'' and marching in formation every Saturday morning in front of the ranking officers. Upon returning home to New Mexico, Stella continued her Federal service working at the University of California in Los Alamos, then at the Atomic Energy Commission also in Los Alamos, before rounding out her career with a combined 32 years at the Bureau of Land Management doing essential work contributing to the management of New Mexico's Federal lands. She raised three children as a single mother in the 1950s, due to her husband's early death, and built a beautiful family in her own home State of New Mexico. I want to personally wish Stella a happy 100th birthday and thank her for her service and barrier-breaking accomplishments. In 2015, I had the pleasure of greeting Stella on her visit to D.C. on Honor Flight No. 0615, and I was honored to celebrate her birthday in a drive-by celebration this year. Stella, thank you for your service, and it is an honor to play a small part in your story. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. LUJAN | Senate | CREC-2021-05-10-pt1-PgS2411-2 | null | 2,888 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | At the request of Ms. Klobuchar, the name of the Senator from Maryland (Mr. Van Hollen) was added as a cosponsor of S. 15, a bill to require the Federal Trade Commission to submit a report to Congress on scams targeting seniors, and for other purposes. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-05-10-pt1-PgS2413 | null | 2,889 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER. Under clause 5(d) of rule XX, the Chair announces to the House that, in light of the administration of the oath of office to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Carter) the whole number of the House is 431. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2158-2 | null | 2,890 |
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-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2159-8 | null | 2,891 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 586) to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide best practices on student suicide awareness and prevention training and condition State educational agencies, local educational agencies, and tribal educational agencies receiving funds under section 520A of such Act to establish and implement a school-based student suicide awareness and prevention training policy. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PALLONE | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2163 | null | 2,892 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 721) to amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend projects relating to children and to provide access to school-based comprehensive mental health programs, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PALLONE | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2165 | null | 2,893 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1629) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to limitations on exclusive approval or licensure of orphan drugs, and for other purposes. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PALLONE | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2181 | null | 2,894 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message from the President of the United States; which was read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed:To the Congress of the United States: Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13611 of May 16, 2012, with respect to Yemen is to continue in effect beyond May 16, 2021. The actions and policies of certain former members of the Government of Yemen and others continue to threaten Yemen's peace, security, and stability. These actions include obstructing the political process in Yemen and the implementation of the agreement of November 23, 2011, between the, Government of Yemen and those in opposition to it, which provided for a peaceful transition of power that meets the legitimate demands and aspirations of the Yemeni people. For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13611 with respect to Yemen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. The White House, May 11, 2021. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2183 | null | 2,895 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | 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. 1629) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to limitations on exclusive approval or licensure of orphan drugs, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2184-4 | null | 2,896 |
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. 1629) to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to limitations on exclusive approval or licensure of orphan drugs, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2184-4 | null | 2,897 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message from the President of the United States; which was read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed:To the Congress of the United States: Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d)) provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless, within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice stating that the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13873 of May 15, 2019, with respect to securing the information and communications technology and services supply chain, is to continue in effect beyond May 15, 2021. The unrestricted acquisition or use in the United States of information and communications technology or services designed, developed, manufactured, or supplied by persons owned by, controlled by, or subject to the jurisdiction or direction of foreign adversaries augments the ability of these foreign adversaries to create and exploit vulnerabilities in information and communications technology or services, with potentially catastrophic effects. This threat continues to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13873 with respect to securing the information and communications technology and services supply chain. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. The White House, May 11, 2021. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgH2184 | null | 2,898 |
formal | handout | null | racist | Liability Immunity Mr. President, the American Rescue Plan was the Biden threshold initiative to bring to America what it desperately needed after this President was sworn in on January 20 of this year. Unfortunately, we didn't have a single Republican to support it--not one. Not a single Republican Senator or House Member would support the American Rescue Plan of President Joe Biden. What did the plan do? Well, it bought more vaccines. It invested dramatically in the distribution of these vaccines across America. It turned around and kept the President Trump promise of the cash payment of $1,400 for each individual. It extended unemployment benefits so that people could continue to keep food on the table and pay their rent and mortgage payments until they found good jobs. And it basically said to small businesses: We are not giving up on you. We are going to help you, whether it is the restaurant industry or other businesses. We want you to be back in business. We invested that money as a nation, and it was a critical time to do it. President Biden believed, and all the Democrats supported him in this belief, that we should move forward now or run the risk of falling behind in developing our economy. The American Rescue Plan was successful. It has given assistance across the board to families and businesses and delivered resources where they were needed the most. It really matched the crisis with an initiative that was significant in scope. But if my Republican colleagues had had their way, the American Rescue Plan would have looked a lot more like a giant corporate giveaway because all throughout 2020, they were clamoring for massive handouts to big businesses in the form of liability immunity. I am glad that my colleague from Texas is on the floor because it is an issue that he has been interested in and has spoken on the floor many times. All last year, we heard from the other side of the aisle that Congress needed to give sweeping Federal liability immunity to corporations when it came to their conduct during the pandemic. Well, we heard some dire warnings about the number of lawsuits that were going to be filed because of COVID-19. It was called a tsunami of lawsuits by the Republican leader of the Senate. One year ago today, on May 11, 2020, Senator McConnell spoke on the Senate floor and raised fears of ``a second job-killing epidemic of frivolous lawsuits.'' The next day, he came to the floor and kept the attack on, and he warned of ``a tidal wave of medical malpractice lawsuits.'' That is from Senator McConnell on the floor of the Senate. Senate Republicans rallied behind a bill introduced by Senator Cornyn that would give corporations immunity from accountability both in court and from regulators for conduct that could be considered negligent under current law. I argued against these corporate immunity proposals. Granting corporations legal immunity gives them an incentive to cut costs and cut corners when it comes to the health and safety of workers and consumers. It gives a pass to unreasonable and irresponsible behavior and puts people at greater risk. I don't think that is the right approach. As I kept pointing out to my Republican colleagues, they couldn't show statistically why this was necessary. The data never justified their proposals. That tsunami of lawsuits never arrived. We are now over a year into this pandemic. Over 32 million Americans, sadly, have been infected, and nearly 600,000, tragically, have died. So how many lawsuits have been generated by all these terrible outcomes? Well, there is a law firm, Hunton Andrews Kurth, that has tracked all of the lawsuits filed in the United States over COVID-19. I checked the totals over the weekend. You may be asking: Well, how many medical malpractice cases have been filed in the United States over the last year related to COVID-19? The number: 20--20. And how many cases alleging personal injury from exposure to COVID-19 in a public place have been filed? The number is 60 in the entire United States. That is not a flood. That is not a tsunami. It is a trickle. In fact, the main litigation we have seen involving COVID has been one business suing another business. For example, there are 1,831 lawsuits involving insurance disputes, 640 lawsuits involving business closures and stay-at-home orders, and 772 lawsuits involving contract disputes. It was not what was predicted on the floor over and over again by Senators from the other side of the aisle. I am always troubled how the Republican immunity proposals try to block infected workers and families from suing corporations for negligence, but let corporations continue to file their own COVID-related lawsuits by the hundreds whenever they feel like it. How is that fair? I believe Americans deserve a chance to have a day in court when these families believe their loved ones have been harmed due to negligence or misconduct. For example, if a senior citizen dies because a nursing home refused to share what it knew about the virus's spread, I believe the families of those victims deserve a chance to go to court and seek justice. Those types of cases are traditionally governed by State law. States can and do adjust their State liability law to fit the circumstances. As it turns out, more than half the States have changed their liability laws, either through legislation or executive action, in response to COVID. In my view, some of the States went too far, to be honest with you, in shielding negligent behavior by corporations, but that was their call to make since this is a State law issue. I find it surprising that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle want Congress to step in and impose sweeping Federal corporate immunity that would override the laws of all 50 States. There was no justification for doing so, and I am glad we didn't. It would have made us less safe. I hope the next time we hear calls for sweeping Federal liability immunityduring a national crisis, we remember this experience and how the dire predictions of tsunamis and floods of lawsuits never came to pass. Let's continue to address this virus with targeted relief much like the American Rescue Plan did. And as we emerge from the pandemic, let's invest in the areas that actually need support. That is why Democrats support President Biden again with the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan, targeting investments that help the American economy. Like President Biden said last month, we have got to build our economy from the bottom up and the middle out and not from the top down. Giant corporations don't need another handout like immunity. They already have all the help they need. I hope we can work together to deliver real relief to the American people. I yield the floor | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-05-11-pt1-PgS2426 | null | 2,899 |
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