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formal | hard-working American | null | racist | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, we also have a fast-approaching government funding deadline. To be specific, we have about 16 days before we will be knee deep in a government shutdown unless Congress appropriates money to keep the lights on. Following a year and a half of economic instability, there is no justification to unleash even more uncertainty on our economy and on hard-working American families. Then, on top of that, we are told that our Democratic colleagues intend to pass a $3\1/2\ trillion--probably closer to $5 trillion--reckless tax-and-spending-spree bill, otherwise known as reconciliation. You know, during the last year, during the COVID-19 crisis, we worked very well together because we knew this was a national emergency that did not respect political parties or ideology or persons, and we had to do everything we could on an emergency basis to help. But that emergency is quickly getting in our rearview mirror, and our Democratic colleagues seem to be determined to continue to recklessly spend borrowed money that will have to be repaid by the next generation of Americans and to raise taxes to the highest level in recent memory, thus compounding the risk not only of inflation, which is a regressive tax on working families when the food they put on the table, the gasoline they buy, and the appliances they buy all are seeing prices going up at very quickly escalating levels. There is a real danger that this sort of reckless tax-and-spending spree will have a very negative effect not only on them but also on our economy more generally. For months, we know our Democratic colleagues have been debating back and forth about how much they are willing to spend on a liberal wish list. The chairman of the Budget Committee initially floated a staggering figure of $6 trillion. Now, I never dreamed that in my lifetime--certainly in my service here in the U.S. Senate--I would ever vote for a trillion-dollar bill, but I did during the emergency called COVID-19 because I thought it was necessary. But this kind of reckless spending is not necessary. This is an ideological juggernaut to try to achieve things to transform this country into some western European social democracy--social welfare state. Well, after months of negotiating amongst themselves, our Democratic colleagues have now settled not on a $6 trillion figure but on $3\1/2\ trillion. It is still a shocking number. Nonpartisan budget experts, as I indicated, said the actual cost would end up closer to $5\1/2\ trillion, so don't be fooled by this so-called appearance of self-restraint. This plan is chock full of damaging tax hikes, permanent welfare with no work requirements, Green New Deal climate mandates, and a laundry list of socialist policies. A party-line vote just before the recess laid the groundwork for the biggest government spending bonanza in American history, but now some of our Democratic colleagues are experiencing a little buyer's remorse, perhaps given the rapidly approaching date for the 2022 elections, and they are expressing some remorse or hesitation before swiping the taxpayers' credit card once more. Senators Manchin and Sinema have both voiced their opposition to the extreme $3\1/2\ trillion figure. Earlier this month, Senator Manchin wrote an op-ed explaining why he won't support such irresponsible spending. Our colleagues ought to read it and to consider his arguments. He said Democratic leaders in Congress have proposed passing ``the largest single spending bill in history with no regard to rising inflation, crippling debt, or the inevitability of future crises.'' The fractures in the reckless tax-and-spending spree aren't just deepening in the Senate; House Democrats are beginning to wring their hands, trying to figure out if they can justify such extreme spending and taxing. And I must say it certainly will require some creative thinking. Trillions more in borrowing when American families are already being pummeled by inflation; a sweeping amnesty with no effort to control the growing immigration crisis at the southern border; tax hikes on American families and small businesses--our Democratic colleagues are proposing the most extreme policy proposals that one might imagine in this one massive bill. So getting their Members on board is half the battle, but we are now seeing the internal debates and discussions among Democrats wondering if this is the wisest course of conduct, because there is no doubt about it--this is a massive amount of money, and Democrats are going to have to raise the debt ceiling by themselves if they want to write a check that big. This is where things get a little kooky. Even though this is a partisan spending spree, our friends across the aisle expect Republicans to join them in raising the debt ceiling, claiming that this should be a bipartisan effort. But it is clear Democrats don't require Republican support. They can attach this credit increase to the tax-and-spending-spree bill and pass it with only Democratic support. The only problem is, they don't really want to own it. They want political cover. They want us to help them pull the pin out of the economic grenade that they are about to toss in the laps of the American people. When this reckless tax-and-spending spree inevitably blows up, they want to be able to blame someone else. They want plausible deniability. But it is not going to work that way. Senator McConnell, the Republican leader, and folks on our side of the aisle have made it crystal clear on that point for months. If they want to spend alone, they are going to have to address the debt ceiling alone. Our Democratic colleagues can't cut Republicans out of the process when it is convenient and then beg cooperation when they need someone else to blame. I have no doubt that our colleagues across the aisle will come up with a host of gimmicks to try to get Republicans on board. Some have suggested threatening to shut down the government or withholding critical disaster relief. To be absolutely clear, folks on our side of the aisle do not want a government shutdown. The American people and our economy are already experiencing enough pain. In my State of Texas, we suffered enough natural disasters for me to understand how critical it is to get disaster relief out the door as quickly as possible. Communities impacted by hurricanes and wildfires do not deserve to be treated as political pawns on a chessboard. If Democrats want to charge $5\1/2\ trillion to the taxpayers' credit card, they will have to increase the credit limit themselves, and they can do it by themselves with the $3\1/2\ trillion social welfare bill, and they can't treat disaster victims and government funding as hostages. Our Democratic colleagues already went on one partisan spending spree earlier this year--an additional $1.9 trillion under the guise of providing COVID relief, when only about 10 percent of it actually addressed COVID.That has fueled, in the opinion of people like former Democratic economists, office holders--Larry Summers, for example, who said that we are risking a growth of inflation, which will raise prices on commodities and things that people need in their daily lives in order to live and thus form an invisible tax. As it stands today, our debt is roughly 107 percent of our gross domestic product--$28.7 trillion and counting. Most of us can't imagine what a trillion dollars is, much less a billion dollars, but it is roughly $28.7 trillion. And the sad news is, somebody is going to have to pay that back--somebody. I believe it is simply immoral for us to continue spending, borrow money, raise the debt, and expect future generations to pick up the tab. We know, at the same time, families are being hammered by inflation, as I said, and small businesses are still trying to lure employees back to work. So we are not going to assist with an encore performance of the partisan spending spree that we saw earlier this year. If our Democratic colleagues believe this partisan tax-and-spending spree is a wise investment for the American people, they are going to have to sell it to the American people and up the credit limit on their own. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6530 | null | 3,100 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, we also have a fast-approaching government funding deadline. To be specific, we have about 16 days before we will be knee deep in a government shutdown unless Congress appropriates money to keep the lights on. Following a year and a half of economic instability, there is no justification to unleash even more uncertainty on our economy and on hard-working American families. Then, on top of that, we are told that our Democratic colleagues intend to pass a $3\1/2\ trillion--probably closer to $5 trillion--reckless tax-and-spending-spree bill, otherwise known as reconciliation. You know, during the last year, during the COVID-19 crisis, we worked very well together because we knew this was a national emergency that did not respect political parties or ideology or persons, and we had to do everything we could on an emergency basis to help. But that emergency is quickly getting in our rearview mirror, and our Democratic colleagues seem to be determined to continue to recklessly spend borrowed money that will have to be repaid by the next generation of Americans and to raise taxes to the highest level in recent memory, thus compounding the risk not only of inflation, which is a regressive tax on working families when the food they put on the table, the gasoline they buy, and the appliances they buy all are seeing prices going up at very quickly escalating levels. There is a real danger that this sort of reckless tax-and-spending spree will have a very negative effect not only on them but also on our economy more generally. For months, we know our Democratic colleagues have been debating back and forth about how much they are willing to spend on a liberal wish list. The chairman of the Budget Committee initially floated a staggering figure of $6 trillion. Now, I never dreamed that in my lifetime--certainly in my service here in the U.S. Senate--I would ever vote for a trillion-dollar bill, but I did during the emergency called COVID-19 because I thought it was necessary. But this kind of reckless spending is not necessary. This is an ideological juggernaut to try to achieve things to transform this country into some western European social democracy--social welfare state. Well, after months of negotiating amongst themselves, our Democratic colleagues have now settled not on a $6 trillion figure but on $3\1/2\ trillion. It is still a shocking number. Nonpartisan budget experts, as I indicated, said the actual cost would end up closer to $5\1/2\ trillion, so don't be fooled by this so-called appearance of self-restraint. This plan is chock full of damaging tax hikes, permanent welfare with no work requirements, Green New Deal climate mandates, and a laundry list of socialist policies. A party-line vote just before the recess laid the groundwork for the biggest government spending bonanza in American history, but now some of our Democratic colleagues are experiencing a little buyer's remorse, perhaps given the rapidly approaching date for the 2022 elections, and they are expressing some remorse or hesitation before swiping the taxpayers' credit card once more. Senators Manchin and Sinema have both voiced their opposition to the extreme $3\1/2\ trillion figure. Earlier this month, Senator Manchin wrote an op-ed explaining why he won't support such irresponsible spending. Our colleagues ought to read it and to consider his arguments. He said Democratic leaders in Congress have proposed passing ``the largest single spending bill in history with no regard to rising inflation, crippling debt, or the inevitability of future crises.'' The fractures in the reckless tax-and-spending spree aren't just deepening in the Senate; House Democrats are beginning to wring their hands, trying to figure out if they can justify such extreme spending and taxing. And I must say it certainly will require some creative thinking. Trillions more in borrowing when American families are already being pummeled by inflation; a sweeping amnesty with no effort to control the growing immigration crisis at the southern border; tax hikes on American families and small businesses--our Democratic colleagues are proposing the most extreme policy proposals that one might imagine in this one massive bill. So getting their Members on board is half the battle, but we are now seeing the internal debates and discussions among Democrats wondering if this is the wisest course of conduct, because there is no doubt about it--this is a massive amount of money, and Democrats are going to have to raise the debt ceiling by themselves if they want to write a check that big. This is where things get a little kooky. Even though this is a partisan spending spree, our friends across the aisle expect Republicans to join them in raising the debt ceiling, claiming that this should be a bipartisan effort. But it is clear Democrats don't require Republican support. They can attach this credit increase to the tax-and-spending-spree bill and pass it with only Democratic support. The only problem is, they don't really want to own it. They want political cover. They want us to help them pull the pin out of the economic grenade that they are about to toss in the laps of the American people. When this reckless tax-and-spending spree inevitably blows up, they want to be able to blame someone else. They want plausible deniability. But it is not going to work that way. Senator McConnell, the Republican leader, and folks on our side of the aisle have made it crystal clear on that point for months. If they want to spend alone, they are going to have to address the debt ceiling alone. Our Democratic colleagues can't cut Republicans out of the process when it is convenient and then beg cooperation when they need someone else to blame. I have no doubt that our colleagues across the aisle will come up with a host of gimmicks to try to get Republicans on board. Some have suggested threatening to shut down the government or withholding critical disaster relief. To be absolutely clear, folks on our side of the aisle do not want a government shutdown. The American people and our economy are already experiencing enough pain. In my State of Texas, we suffered enough natural disasters for me to understand how critical it is to get disaster relief out the door as quickly as possible. Communities impacted by hurricanes and wildfires do not deserve to be treated as political pawns on a chessboard. If Democrats want to charge $5\1/2\ trillion to the taxpayers' credit card, they will have to increase the credit limit themselves, and they can do it by themselves with the $3\1/2\ trillion social welfare bill, and they can't treat disaster victims and government funding as hostages. Our Democratic colleagues already went on one partisan spending spree earlier this year--an additional $1.9 trillion under the guise of providing COVID relief, when only about 10 percent of it actually addressed COVID.That has fueled, in the opinion of people like former Democratic economists, office holders--Larry Summers, for example, who said that we are risking a growth of inflation, which will raise prices on commodities and things that people need in their daily lives in order to live and thus form an invisible tax. As it stands today, our debt is roughly 107 percent of our gross domestic product--$28.7 trillion and counting. Most of us can't imagine what a trillion dollars is, much less a billion dollars, but it is roughly $28.7 trillion. And the sad news is, somebody is going to have to pay that back--somebody. I believe it is simply immoral for us to continue spending, borrow money, raise the debt, and expect future generations to pick up the tab. We know, at the same time, families are being hammered by inflation, as I said, and small businesses are still trying to lure employees back to work. So we are not going to assist with an encore performance of the partisan spending spree that we saw earlier this year. If our Democratic colleagues believe this partisan tax-and-spending spree is a wise investment for the American people, they are going to have to sell it to the American people and up the credit limit on their own. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6530 | null | 3,101 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, we also have a fast-approaching government funding deadline. To be specific, we have about 16 days before we will be knee deep in a government shutdown unless Congress appropriates money to keep the lights on. Following a year and a half of economic instability, there is no justification to unleash even more uncertainty on our economy and on hard-working American families. Then, on top of that, we are told that our Democratic colleagues intend to pass a $3\1/2\ trillion--probably closer to $5 trillion--reckless tax-and-spending-spree bill, otherwise known as reconciliation. You know, during the last year, during the COVID-19 crisis, we worked very well together because we knew this was a national emergency that did not respect political parties or ideology or persons, and we had to do everything we could on an emergency basis to help. But that emergency is quickly getting in our rearview mirror, and our Democratic colleagues seem to be determined to continue to recklessly spend borrowed money that will have to be repaid by the next generation of Americans and to raise taxes to the highest level in recent memory, thus compounding the risk not only of inflation, which is a regressive tax on working families when the food they put on the table, the gasoline they buy, and the appliances they buy all are seeing prices going up at very quickly escalating levels. There is a real danger that this sort of reckless tax-and-spending spree will have a very negative effect not only on them but also on our economy more generally. For months, we know our Democratic colleagues have been debating back and forth about how much they are willing to spend on a liberal wish list. The chairman of the Budget Committee initially floated a staggering figure of $6 trillion. Now, I never dreamed that in my lifetime--certainly in my service here in the U.S. Senate--I would ever vote for a trillion-dollar bill, but I did during the emergency called COVID-19 because I thought it was necessary. But this kind of reckless spending is not necessary. This is an ideological juggernaut to try to achieve things to transform this country into some western European social democracy--social welfare state. Well, after months of negotiating amongst themselves, our Democratic colleagues have now settled not on a $6 trillion figure but on $3\1/2\ trillion. It is still a shocking number. Nonpartisan budget experts, as I indicated, said the actual cost would end up closer to $5\1/2\ trillion, so don't be fooled by this so-called appearance of self-restraint. This plan is chock full of damaging tax hikes, permanent welfare with no work requirements, Green New Deal climate mandates, and a laundry list of socialist policies. A party-line vote just before the recess laid the groundwork for the biggest government spending bonanza in American history, but now some of our Democratic colleagues are experiencing a little buyer's remorse, perhaps given the rapidly approaching date for the 2022 elections, and they are expressing some remorse or hesitation before swiping the taxpayers' credit card once more. Senators Manchin and Sinema have both voiced their opposition to the extreme $3\1/2\ trillion figure. Earlier this month, Senator Manchin wrote an op-ed explaining why he won't support such irresponsible spending. Our colleagues ought to read it and to consider his arguments. He said Democratic leaders in Congress have proposed passing ``the largest single spending bill in history with no regard to rising inflation, crippling debt, or the inevitability of future crises.'' The fractures in the reckless tax-and-spending spree aren't just deepening in the Senate; House Democrats are beginning to wring their hands, trying to figure out if they can justify such extreme spending and taxing. And I must say it certainly will require some creative thinking. Trillions more in borrowing when American families are already being pummeled by inflation; a sweeping amnesty with no effort to control the growing immigration crisis at the southern border; tax hikes on American families and small businesses--our Democratic colleagues are proposing the most extreme policy proposals that one might imagine in this one massive bill. So getting their Members on board is half the battle, but we are now seeing the internal debates and discussions among Democrats wondering if this is the wisest course of conduct, because there is no doubt about it--this is a massive amount of money, and Democrats are going to have to raise the debt ceiling by themselves if they want to write a check that big. This is where things get a little kooky. Even though this is a partisan spending spree, our friends across the aisle expect Republicans to join them in raising the debt ceiling, claiming that this should be a bipartisan effort. But it is clear Democrats don't require Republican support. They can attach this credit increase to the tax-and-spending-spree bill and pass it with only Democratic support. The only problem is, they don't really want to own it. They want political cover. They want us to help them pull the pin out of the economic grenade that they are about to toss in the laps of the American people. When this reckless tax-and-spending spree inevitably blows up, they want to be able to blame someone else. They want plausible deniability. But it is not going to work that way. Senator McConnell, the Republican leader, and folks on our side of the aisle have made it crystal clear on that point for months. If they want to spend alone, they are going to have to address the debt ceiling alone. Our Democratic colleagues can't cut Republicans out of the process when it is convenient and then beg cooperation when they need someone else to blame. I have no doubt that our colleagues across the aisle will come up with a host of gimmicks to try to get Republicans on board. Some have suggested threatening to shut down the government or withholding critical disaster relief. To be absolutely clear, folks on our side of the aisle do not want a government shutdown. The American people and our economy are already experiencing enough pain. In my State of Texas, we suffered enough natural disasters for me to understand how critical it is to get disaster relief out the door as quickly as possible. Communities impacted by hurricanes and wildfires do not deserve to be treated as political pawns on a chessboard. If Democrats want to charge $5\1/2\ trillion to the taxpayers' credit card, they will have to increase the credit limit themselves, and they can do it by themselves with the $3\1/2\ trillion social welfare bill, and they can't treat disaster victims and government funding as hostages. Our Democratic colleagues already went on one partisan spending spree earlier this year--an additional $1.9 trillion under the guise of providing COVID relief, when only about 10 percent of it actually addressed COVID.That has fueled, in the opinion of people like former Democratic economists, office holders--Larry Summers, for example, who said that we are risking a growth of inflation, which will raise prices on commodities and things that people need in their daily lives in order to live and thus form an invisible tax. As it stands today, our debt is roughly 107 percent of our gross domestic product--$28.7 trillion and counting. Most of us can't imagine what a trillion dollars is, much less a billion dollars, but it is roughly $28.7 trillion. And the sad news is, somebody is going to have to pay that back--somebody. I believe it is simply immoral for us to continue spending, borrow money, raise the debt, and expect future generations to pick up the tab. We know, at the same time, families are being hammered by inflation, as I said, and small businesses are still trying to lure employees back to work. So we are not going to assist with an encore performance of the partisan spending spree that we saw earlier this year. If our Democratic colleagues believe this partisan tax-and-spending spree is a wise investment for the American people, they are going to have to sell it to the American people and up the credit limit on their own. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6530 | null | 3,102 |
formal | working families | null | racist | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, we also have a fast-approaching government funding deadline. To be specific, we have about 16 days before we will be knee deep in a government shutdown unless Congress appropriates money to keep the lights on. Following a year and a half of economic instability, there is no justification to unleash even more uncertainty on our economy and on hard-working American families. Then, on top of that, we are told that our Democratic colleagues intend to pass a $3\1/2\ trillion--probably closer to $5 trillion--reckless tax-and-spending-spree bill, otherwise known as reconciliation. You know, during the last year, during the COVID-19 crisis, we worked very well together because we knew this was a national emergency that did not respect political parties or ideology or persons, and we had to do everything we could on an emergency basis to help. But that emergency is quickly getting in our rearview mirror, and our Democratic colleagues seem to be determined to continue to recklessly spend borrowed money that will have to be repaid by the next generation of Americans and to raise taxes to the highest level in recent memory, thus compounding the risk not only of inflation, which is a regressive tax on working families when the food they put on the table, the gasoline they buy, and the appliances they buy all are seeing prices going up at very quickly escalating levels. There is a real danger that this sort of reckless tax-and-spending spree will have a very negative effect not only on them but also on our economy more generally. For months, we know our Democratic colleagues have been debating back and forth about how much they are willing to spend on a liberal wish list. The chairman of the Budget Committee initially floated a staggering figure of $6 trillion. Now, I never dreamed that in my lifetime--certainly in my service here in the U.S. Senate--I would ever vote for a trillion-dollar bill, but I did during the emergency called COVID-19 because I thought it was necessary. But this kind of reckless spending is not necessary. This is an ideological juggernaut to try to achieve things to transform this country into some western European social democracy--social welfare state. Well, after months of negotiating amongst themselves, our Democratic colleagues have now settled not on a $6 trillion figure but on $3\1/2\ trillion. It is still a shocking number. Nonpartisan budget experts, as I indicated, said the actual cost would end up closer to $5\1/2\ trillion, so don't be fooled by this so-called appearance of self-restraint. This plan is chock full of damaging tax hikes, permanent welfare with no work requirements, Green New Deal climate mandates, and a laundry list of socialist policies. A party-line vote just before the recess laid the groundwork for the biggest government spending bonanza in American history, but now some of our Democratic colleagues are experiencing a little buyer's remorse, perhaps given the rapidly approaching date for the 2022 elections, and they are expressing some remorse or hesitation before swiping the taxpayers' credit card once more. Senators Manchin and Sinema have both voiced their opposition to the extreme $3\1/2\ trillion figure. Earlier this month, Senator Manchin wrote an op-ed explaining why he won't support such irresponsible spending. Our colleagues ought to read it and to consider his arguments. He said Democratic leaders in Congress have proposed passing ``the largest single spending bill in history with no regard to rising inflation, crippling debt, or the inevitability of future crises.'' The fractures in the reckless tax-and-spending spree aren't just deepening in the Senate; House Democrats are beginning to wring their hands, trying to figure out if they can justify such extreme spending and taxing. And I must say it certainly will require some creative thinking. Trillions more in borrowing when American families are already being pummeled by inflation; a sweeping amnesty with no effort to control the growing immigration crisis at the southern border; tax hikes on American families and small businesses--our Democratic colleagues are proposing the most extreme policy proposals that one might imagine in this one massive bill. So getting their Members on board is half the battle, but we are now seeing the internal debates and discussions among Democrats wondering if this is the wisest course of conduct, because there is no doubt about it--this is a massive amount of money, and Democrats are going to have to raise the debt ceiling by themselves if they want to write a check that big. This is where things get a little kooky. Even though this is a partisan spending spree, our friends across the aisle expect Republicans to join them in raising the debt ceiling, claiming that this should be a bipartisan effort. But it is clear Democrats don't require Republican support. They can attach this credit increase to the tax-and-spending-spree bill and pass it with only Democratic support. The only problem is, they don't really want to own it. They want political cover. They want us to help them pull the pin out of the economic grenade that they are about to toss in the laps of the American people. When this reckless tax-and-spending spree inevitably blows up, they want to be able to blame someone else. They want plausible deniability. But it is not going to work that way. Senator McConnell, the Republican leader, and folks on our side of the aisle have made it crystal clear on that point for months. If they want to spend alone, they are going to have to address the debt ceiling alone. Our Democratic colleagues can't cut Republicans out of the process when it is convenient and then beg cooperation when they need someone else to blame. I have no doubt that our colleagues across the aisle will come up with a host of gimmicks to try to get Republicans on board. Some have suggested threatening to shut down the government or withholding critical disaster relief. To be absolutely clear, folks on our side of the aisle do not want a government shutdown. The American people and our economy are already experiencing enough pain. In my State of Texas, we suffered enough natural disasters for me to understand how critical it is to get disaster relief out the door as quickly as possible. Communities impacted by hurricanes and wildfires do not deserve to be treated as political pawns on a chessboard. If Democrats want to charge $5\1/2\ trillion to the taxpayers' credit card, they will have to increase the credit limit themselves, and they can do it by themselves with the $3\1/2\ trillion social welfare bill, and they can't treat disaster victims and government funding as hostages. Our Democratic colleagues already went on one partisan spending spree earlier this year--an additional $1.9 trillion under the guise of providing COVID relief, when only about 10 percent of it actually addressed COVID.That has fueled, in the opinion of people like former Democratic economists, office holders--Larry Summers, for example, who said that we are risking a growth of inflation, which will raise prices on commodities and things that people need in their daily lives in order to live and thus form an invisible tax. As it stands today, our debt is roughly 107 percent of our gross domestic product--$28.7 trillion and counting. Most of us can't imagine what a trillion dollars is, much less a billion dollars, but it is roughly $28.7 trillion. And the sad news is, somebody is going to have to pay that back--somebody. I believe it is simply immoral for us to continue spending, borrow money, raise the debt, and expect future generations to pick up the tab. We know, at the same time, families are being hammered by inflation, as I said, and small businesses are still trying to lure employees back to work. So we are not going to assist with an encore performance of the partisan spending spree that we saw earlier this year. If our Democratic colleagues believe this partisan tax-and-spending spree is a wise investment for the American people, they are going to have to sell it to the American people and up the credit limit on their own. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6530 | null | 3,103 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on another matter, today, I speak to my fellow colleagues on the extraordinary courage, bravery, and patriotism that the men and women in our Armed Forces showed to the entire world, yet again, in the last several months in Afghanistan. Now, we see plenty of evidence that they were placed in an impossible situation because of the bad judgment and leadership failures of President Biden. Despite President Biden's bad judgment, our men and women in uniform again exceeded expectations. In the process of doing their job for people whom they don't even know, we lost 13 of our best who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and 18 more suffered serious injuries. I pray--and I assume all Americans pray--for their families for the loss that those families have suffered. Those 13 young men and women will never, and should never, be forgotten. They are heroes. This disastrous exit was entirely avoidable, which makes the loss of life even more gut-wrenching. Intelligent and honest people can disagree on whether the Americans should have left Afghanistan, but it is unthinkable that anyone could justify the manner in which this administration carried out this disaster. The Biden administration left Americans behind. This is the United States of America. We never leave our people behind. I have heard from many Iowans who are outraged by this moral failure. When he took office, President Biden arrogantly announced that ``America is back.'' Now the world is seeing America in retreat. The Russians and Red China are crowing over this comedy. I and others have compared the imagery and the perception to the fall of Saigon. But, remember, in that case, we had pulled our military out before we broke our promises to the South Vietnamese military. In this case, it appears that crucial support for the Afghan military was withdrawn while we were relying on that same military to hold off the Taliban long enough to complete our withdrawal. I have been at many briefings related to President Biden's Afghan exit. I have tasked my oversight and policy staff to do the same. Some have been classified briefings; others were not classified. What I can say--and what I believe the American people ought to know--is that this administration couldn't track the state of play on the ground in the way that they should have had the capability to do. Every briefing gave a more dire and desperate picture than the one briefing we received before. It was obvious that this administration was losing control. Yet it was clear to me and my colleagues that the administration never sufficiently changed its posture in the region as the facts on the ground changed from bad to worse. When the administration officials were questioned about this strategy, they often publicly responded that what they were doing was based on Presidential-level decisions. Joe Biden owns this disastrous exit, plain and simple. But, also, Secretary Austin, Secretary Blinken, and General Milley are not without blame. The exit has realized the worst fears of every Afghan who, over 20 years, learned to dream of peace, and every naysayer who said: Wait, and they will leave. Our enemies were right, and now we have left. The Biden administration certainly left the women of Afghanistan behind. They are once again being beaten, killed in the streets for supposed crimes, such as daring to speak, wanting an education, not covering their faces, and, in some cases, simply walking in public. The Biden administration, in its hasty exit, effectively armed the Taliban with advanced American military weaponry that is now being used to oppress the Afghan people. The Taliban is now patrolling our streets in Kabul in American vehicles, wearing American uniforms, and carrying American-made weapons. Some of the violent terrorists released by the Obama administration are now in political leadership roles in this Taliban regime. Other members of the Taliban leadership have remained on the FBI's most wanted list, and they have been on that list for many years, including one with a $10 million bounty. Now, if this were a movie script, nobody would believe it. In addition to the equipment and the funds, it is crucial that we remember the human cost in Afghanistan. We lost 2,461 servicemembers, 18 of whom came from my State of Iowa. We also lost 3,846 contractors, 66,000 American military and police, 1,144 allied servicemembers, 444 aid workers, and 72 journalists. These numbers hit home. They hit deep. And we should never forget them. These numbers also don't account for the stain on our national reputation for blatantly disregarding the welfare of the Afghan people who fought alongside us to help us accomplish our mission there. Leaving behind allies will have consequences that will affect our ability to build coalitions in the future. It will negatively impact our ability to defeat future enemies. Looking through the negatives, the heartache and the pain that our country has suffered from this terribly executed exit, I remain hopeful. Where the Biden administration has failed, we have seen veterans and current members of our armed services filling the leadership gap. Where our government didn't keep its promise by working together, these veterans and current members of our armed services and the groups associated with them quickly built ad hoc networks to ensure their Afghan brothers-in-arms and their families were able to leave their crumbling country safely. Americans have been inspired by reports of Operation Pineapple Express, organized by special operations veterans who, without even being asked or without even asking for permission, helped hundreds of Afghan allies and their families to safety. One of the more inspiring stories from this disastrous exit involved an Afghan family being guided by his former U.S. marine brother to Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport. The Afghan family was instructed by the U.S. Marine veterans to carry signs with them that invoked Marine Corps phrases that our marines at Abbey Gate would understand but the Taliban would not understand. After several attempts, the marines on the wall saw the signs and were able to retrieve the family and escort them through Abbey Gate only moments before the suicide attack that took the lives of 11 marines, a Navy corpsman, a U.S. soldier, and scores and scores of Afghan civilians. When the Marine Corps veteran network was eventually able to make contact with the interpreter, he was asked if he and his family were all right. His reply was, ``Of course I'm good. I'm with marines.'' Now, that is just one story, but this isn't the only amazing story regarding our veterans and our servicemembers. Pictures that were taken during this time show the desperation of the Afghan people: mothers desperately throwing their children to American troops in the hope that even if the parents couldn't reach safety, their children could. These pictures also show the pure hearts of these American warriors whom we honor. During this 20-year conflict, our service men and women have never wavered in their duty to God and country, consistently showing their ability to annihilate the enemy. They defeated the Taliban, liberated the people of Afghanistan, and protected our country from further terrorist attacks for 20 years. During their final hours in Kabul, our young warriors did something unimaginable for almost any other country's military: They injected humanity into the dark fringes of a war-torn conflict during a mass evacuation. We have seen the pictures of marines in full battle attire holding crying infants. We have seen our servicemembers giving the shirts off their backs to keep children warm. This stands in contrast to the actions of political leaders thousands of miles away here, where we stand this very day. Despite the Taliban's most recent acts of barbarism, the Biden administration has begun discussing potential recognition of the Taliban as a government. The possibility of taxpayer-funded foreign aid has been dangled as a carrot to incentivize their good behavior. This is pure naivete on the part of anybody in this administration thinking about that. The Biden administration's string of foreign policy blunders has created a domino effect that Americans will feel for years to come. Afghanistan could once again become the epicenter for terrorist activities that will launch future attacks on our Nation--hopefully not another 9/11. I pray that my concerns will not become reality, but somehow I have to have fear that they will be reality. At the very least, Americans' credibility on the world stage with our allies, even with our enemies, has taken a huge hit. In the unfortunate event that our worst fears come to light, my solace is in the knowledge that our service men and women continue to have the strength to overcome the failures of our own political leaders. So, to my fellow Americans, let us never forget the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services and the sacrifices that that means for protecting our freedom and security. Their service and sacrifice have been of immeasurable value. All Americans owe a debt to them that can never fully be repaid. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6531-2 | null | 3,104 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on another matter, today, I speak to my fellow colleagues on the extraordinary courage, bravery, and patriotism that the men and women in our Armed Forces showed to the entire world, yet again, in the last several months in Afghanistan. Now, we see plenty of evidence that they were placed in an impossible situation because of the bad judgment and leadership failures of President Biden. Despite President Biden's bad judgment, our men and women in uniform again exceeded expectations. In the process of doing their job for people whom they don't even know, we lost 13 of our best who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and 18 more suffered serious injuries. I pray--and I assume all Americans pray--for their families for the loss that those families have suffered. Those 13 young men and women will never, and should never, be forgotten. They are heroes. This disastrous exit was entirely avoidable, which makes the loss of life even more gut-wrenching. Intelligent and honest people can disagree on whether the Americans should have left Afghanistan, but it is unthinkable that anyone could justify the manner in which this administration carried out this disaster. The Biden administration left Americans behind. This is the United States of America. We never leave our people behind. I have heard from many Iowans who are outraged by this moral failure. When he took office, President Biden arrogantly announced that ``America is back.'' Now the world is seeing America in retreat. The Russians and Red China are crowing over this comedy. I and others have compared the imagery and the perception to the fall of Saigon. But, remember, in that case, we had pulled our military out before we broke our promises to the South Vietnamese military. In this case, it appears that crucial support for the Afghan military was withdrawn while we were relying on that same military to hold off the Taliban long enough to complete our withdrawal. I have been at many briefings related to President Biden's Afghan exit. I have tasked my oversight and policy staff to do the same. Some have been classified briefings; others were not classified. What I can say--and what I believe the American people ought to know--is that this administration couldn't track the state of play on the ground in the way that they should have had the capability to do. Every briefing gave a more dire and desperate picture than the one briefing we received before. It was obvious that this administration was losing control. Yet it was clear to me and my colleagues that the administration never sufficiently changed its posture in the region as the facts on the ground changed from bad to worse. When the administration officials were questioned about this strategy, they often publicly responded that what they were doing was based on Presidential-level decisions. Joe Biden owns this disastrous exit, plain and simple. But, also, Secretary Austin, Secretary Blinken, and General Milley are not without blame. The exit has realized the worst fears of every Afghan who, over 20 years, learned to dream of peace, and every naysayer who said: Wait, and they will leave. Our enemies were right, and now we have left. The Biden administration certainly left the women of Afghanistan behind. They are once again being beaten, killed in the streets for supposed crimes, such as daring to speak, wanting an education, not covering their faces, and, in some cases, simply walking in public. The Biden administration, in its hasty exit, effectively armed the Taliban with advanced American military weaponry that is now being used to oppress the Afghan people. The Taliban is now patrolling our streets in Kabul in American vehicles, wearing American uniforms, and carrying American-made weapons. Some of the violent terrorists released by the Obama administration are now in political leadership roles in this Taliban regime. Other members of the Taliban leadership have remained on the FBI's most wanted list, and they have been on that list for many years, including one with a $10 million bounty. Now, if this were a movie script, nobody would believe it. In addition to the equipment and the funds, it is crucial that we remember the human cost in Afghanistan. We lost 2,461 servicemembers, 18 of whom came from my State of Iowa. We also lost 3,846 contractors, 66,000 American military and police, 1,144 allied servicemembers, 444 aid workers, and 72 journalists. These numbers hit home. They hit deep. And we should never forget them. These numbers also don't account for the stain on our national reputation for blatantly disregarding the welfare of the Afghan people who fought alongside us to help us accomplish our mission there. Leaving behind allies will have consequences that will affect our ability to build coalitions in the future. It will negatively impact our ability to defeat future enemies. Looking through the negatives, the heartache and the pain that our country has suffered from this terribly executed exit, I remain hopeful. Where the Biden administration has failed, we have seen veterans and current members of our armed services filling the leadership gap. Where our government didn't keep its promise by working together, these veterans and current members of our armed services and the groups associated with them quickly built ad hoc networks to ensure their Afghan brothers-in-arms and their families were able to leave their crumbling country safely. Americans have been inspired by reports of Operation Pineapple Express, organized by special operations veterans who, without even being asked or without even asking for permission, helped hundreds of Afghan allies and their families to safety. One of the more inspiring stories from this disastrous exit involved an Afghan family being guided by his former U.S. marine brother to Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport. The Afghan family was instructed by the U.S. Marine veterans to carry signs with them that invoked Marine Corps phrases that our marines at Abbey Gate would understand but the Taliban would not understand. After several attempts, the marines on the wall saw the signs and were able to retrieve the family and escort them through Abbey Gate only moments before the suicide attack that took the lives of 11 marines, a Navy corpsman, a U.S. soldier, and scores and scores of Afghan civilians. When the Marine Corps veteran network was eventually able to make contact with the interpreter, he was asked if he and his family were all right. His reply was, ``Of course I'm good. I'm with marines.'' Now, that is just one story, but this isn't the only amazing story regarding our veterans and our servicemembers. Pictures that were taken during this time show the desperation of the Afghan people: mothers desperately throwing their children to American troops in the hope that even if the parents couldn't reach safety, their children could. These pictures also show the pure hearts of these American warriors whom we honor. During this 20-year conflict, our service men and women have never wavered in their duty to God and country, consistently showing their ability to annihilate the enemy. They defeated the Taliban, liberated the people of Afghanistan, and protected our country from further terrorist attacks for 20 years. During their final hours in Kabul, our young warriors did something unimaginable for almost any other country's military: They injected humanity into the dark fringes of a war-torn conflict during a mass evacuation. We have seen the pictures of marines in full battle attire holding crying infants. We have seen our servicemembers giving the shirts off their backs to keep children warm. This stands in contrast to the actions of political leaders thousands of miles away here, where we stand this very day. Despite the Taliban's most recent acts of barbarism, the Biden administration has begun discussing potential recognition of the Taliban as a government. The possibility of taxpayer-funded foreign aid has been dangled as a carrot to incentivize their good behavior. This is pure naivete on the part of anybody in this administration thinking about that. The Biden administration's string of foreign policy blunders has created a domino effect that Americans will feel for years to come. Afghanistan could once again become the epicenter for terrorist activities that will launch future attacks on our Nation--hopefully not another 9/11. I pray that my concerns will not become reality, but somehow I have to have fear that they will be reality. At the very least, Americans' credibility on the world stage with our allies, even with our enemies, has taken a huge hit. In the unfortunate event that our worst fears come to light, my solace is in the knowledge that our service men and women continue to have the strength to overcome the failures of our own political leaders. So, to my fellow Americans, let us never forget the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services and the sacrifices that that means for protecting our freedom and security. Their service and sacrifice have been of immeasurable value. All Americans owe a debt to them that can never fully be repaid. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6531-2 | null | 3,105 |
formal | terrorists | null | Islamophobic | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on another matter, today, I speak to my fellow colleagues on the extraordinary courage, bravery, and patriotism that the men and women in our Armed Forces showed to the entire world, yet again, in the last several months in Afghanistan. Now, we see plenty of evidence that they were placed in an impossible situation because of the bad judgment and leadership failures of President Biden. Despite President Biden's bad judgment, our men and women in uniform again exceeded expectations. In the process of doing their job for people whom they don't even know, we lost 13 of our best who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and 18 more suffered serious injuries. I pray--and I assume all Americans pray--for their families for the loss that those families have suffered. Those 13 young men and women will never, and should never, be forgotten. They are heroes. This disastrous exit was entirely avoidable, which makes the loss of life even more gut-wrenching. Intelligent and honest people can disagree on whether the Americans should have left Afghanistan, but it is unthinkable that anyone could justify the manner in which this administration carried out this disaster. The Biden administration left Americans behind. This is the United States of America. We never leave our people behind. I have heard from many Iowans who are outraged by this moral failure. When he took office, President Biden arrogantly announced that ``America is back.'' Now the world is seeing America in retreat. The Russians and Red China are crowing over this comedy. I and others have compared the imagery and the perception to the fall of Saigon. But, remember, in that case, we had pulled our military out before we broke our promises to the South Vietnamese military. In this case, it appears that crucial support for the Afghan military was withdrawn while we were relying on that same military to hold off the Taliban long enough to complete our withdrawal. I have been at many briefings related to President Biden's Afghan exit. I have tasked my oversight and policy staff to do the same. Some have been classified briefings; others were not classified. What I can say--and what I believe the American people ought to know--is that this administration couldn't track the state of play on the ground in the way that they should have had the capability to do. Every briefing gave a more dire and desperate picture than the one briefing we received before. It was obvious that this administration was losing control. Yet it was clear to me and my colleagues that the administration never sufficiently changed its posture in the region as the facts on the ground changed from bad to worse. When the administration officials were questioned about this strategy, they often publicly responded that what they were doing was based on Presidential-level decisions. Joe Biden owns this disastrous exit, plain and simple. But, also, Secretary Austin, Secretary Blinken, and General Milley are not without blame. The exit has realized the worst fears of every Afghan who, over 20 years, learned to dream of peace, and every naysayer who said: Wait, and they will leave. Our enemies were right, and now we have left. The Biden administration certainly left the women of Afghanistan behind. They are once again being beaten, killed in the streets for supposed crimes, such as daring to speak, wanting an education, not covering their faces, and, in some cases, simply walking in public. The Biden administration, in its hasty exit, effectively armed the Taliban with advanced American military weaponry that is now being used to oppress the Afghan people. The Taliban is now patrolling our streets in Kabul in American vehicles, wearing American uniforms, and carrying American-made weapons. Some of the violent terrorists released by the Obama administration are now in political leadership roles in this Taliban regime. Other members of the Taliban leadership have remained on the FBI's most wanted list, and they have been on that list for many years, including one with a $10 million bounty. Now, if this were a movie script, nobody would believe it. In addition to the equipment and the funds, it is crucial that we remember the human cost in Afghanistan. We lost 2,461 servicemembers, 18 of whom came from my State of Iowa. We also lost 3,846 contractors, 66,000 American military and police, 1,144 allied servicemembers, 444 aid workers, and 72 journalists. These numbers hit home. They hit deep. And we should never forget them. These numbers also don't account for the stain on our national reputation for blatantly disregarding the welfare of the Afghan people who fought alongside us to help us accomplish our mission there. Leaving behind allies will have consequences that will affect our ability to build coalitions in the future. It will negatively impact our ability to defeat future enemies. Looking through the negatives, the heartache and the pain that our country has suffered from this terribly executed exit, I remain hopeful. Where the Biden administration has failed, we have seen veterans and current members of our armed services filling the leadership gap. Where our government didn't keep its promise by working together, these veterans and current members of our armed services and the groups associated with them quickly built ad hoc networks to ensure their Afghan brothers-in-arms and their families were able to leave their crumbling country safely. Americans have been inspired by reports of Operation Pineapple Express, organized by special operations veterans who, without even being asked or without even asking for permission, helped hundreds of Afghan allies and their families to safety. One of the more inspiring stories from this disastrous exit involved an Afghan family being guided by his former U.S. marine brother to Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport. The Afghan family was instructed by the U.S. Marine veterans to carry signs with them that invoked Marine Corps phrases that our marines at Abbey Gate would understand but the Taliban would not understand. After several attempts, the marines on the wall saw the signs and were able to retrieve the family and escort them through Abbey Gate only moments before the suicide attack that took the lives of 11 marines, a Navy corpsman, a U.S. soldier, and scores and scores of Afghan civilians. When the Marine Corps veteran network was eventually able to make contact with the interpreter, he was asked if he and his family were all right. His reply was, ``Of course I'm good. I'm with marines.'' Now, that is just one story, but this isn't the only amazing story regarding our veterans and our servicemembers. Pictures that were taken during this time show the desperation of the Afghan people: mothers desperately throwing their children to American troops in the hope that even if the parents couldn't reach safety, their children could. These pictures also show the pure hearts of these American warriors whom we honor. During this 20-year conflict, our service men and women have never wavered in their duty to God and country, consistently showing their ability to annihilate the enemy. They defeated the Taliban, liberated the people of Afghanistan, and protected our country from further terrorist attacks for 20 years. During their final hours in Kabul, our young warriors did something unimaginable for almost any other country's military: They injected humanity into the dark fringes of a war-torn conflict during a mass evacuation. We have seen the pictures of marines in full battle attire holding crying infants. We have seen our servicemembers giving the shirts off their backs to keep children warm. This stands in contrast to the actions of political leaders thousands of miles away here, where we stand this very day. Despite the Taliban's most recent acts of barbarism, the Biden administration has begun discussing potential recognition of the Taliban as a government. The possibility of taxpayer-funded foreign aid has been dangled as a carrot to incentivize their good behavior. This is pure naivete on the part of anybody in this administration thinking about that. The Biden administration's string of foreign policy blunders has created a domino effect that Americans will feel for years to come. Afghanistan could once again become the epicenter for terrorist activities that will launch future attacks on our Nation--hopefully not another 9/11. I pray that my concerns will not become reality, but somehow I have to have fear that they will be reality. At the very least, Americans' credibility on the world stage with our allies, even with our enemies, has taken a huge hit. In the unfortunate event that our worst fears come to light, my solace is in the knowledge that our service men and women continue to have the strength to overcome the failures of our own political leaders. So, to my fellow Americans, let us never forget the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services and the sacrifices that that means for protecting our freedom and security. Their service and sacrifice have been of immeasurable value. All Americans owe a debt to them that can never fully be repaid. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6531-2 | null | 3,106 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, on another matter, today, I speak to my fellow colleagues on the extraordinary courage, bravery, and patriotism that the men and women in our Armed Forces showed to the entire world, yet again, in the last several months in Afghanistan. Now, we see plenty of evidence that they were placed in an impossible situation because of the bad judgment and leadership failures of President Biden. Despite President Biden's bad judgment, our men and women in uniform again exceeded expectations. In the process of doing their job for people whom they don't even know, we lost 13 of our best who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country, and 18 more suffered serious injuries. I pray--and I assume all Americans pray--for their families for the loss that those families have suffered. Those 13 young men and women will never, and should never, be forgotten. They are heroes. This disastrous exit was entirely avoidable, which makes the loss of life even more gut-wrenching. Intelligent and honest people can disagree on whether the Americans should have left Afghanistan, but it is unthinkable that anyone could justify the manner in which this administration carried out this disaster. The Biden administration left Americans behind. This is the United States of America. We never leave our people behind. I have heard from many Iowans who are outraged by this moral failure. When he took office, President Biden arrogantly announced that ``America is back.'' Now the world is seeing America in retreat. The Russians and Red China are crowing over this comedy. I and others have compared the imagery and the perception to the fall of Saigon. But, remember, in that case, we had pulled our military out before we broke our promises to the South Vietnamese military. In this case, it appears that crucial support for the Afghan military was withdrawn while we were relying on that same military to hold off the Taliban long enough to complete our withdrawal. I have been at many briefings related to President Biden's Afghan exit. I have tasked my oversight and policy staff to do the same. Some have been classified briefings; others were not classified. What I can say--and what I believe the American people ought to know--is that this administration couldn't track the state of play on the ground in the way that they should have had the capability to do. Every briefing gave a more dire and desperate picture than the one briefing we received before. It was obvious that this administration was losing control. Yet it was clear to me and my colleagues that the administration never sufficiently changed its posture in the region as the facts on the ground changed from bad to worse. When the administration officials were questioned about this strategy, they often publicly responded that what they were doing was based on Presidential-level decisions. Joe Biden owns this disastrous exit, plain and simple. But, also, Secretary Austin, Secretary Blinken, and General Milley are not without blame. The exit has realized the worst fears of every Afghan who, over 20 years, learned to dream of peace, and every naysayer who said: Wait, and they will leave. Our enemies were right, and now we have left. The Biden administration certainly left the women of Afghanistan behind. They are once again being beaten, killed in the streets for supposed crimes, such as daring to speak, wanting an education, not covering their faces, and, in some cases, simply walking in public. The Biden administration, in its hasty exit, effectively armed the Taliban with advanced American military weaponry that is now being used to oppress the Afghan people. The Taliban is now patrolling our streets in Kabul in American vehicles, wearing American uniforms, and carrying American-made weapons. Some of the violent terrorists released by the Obama administration are now in political leadership roles in this Taliban regime. Other members of the Taliban leadership have remained on the FBI's most wanted list, and they have been on that list for many years, including one with a $10 million bounty. Now, if this were a movie script, nobody would believe it. In addition to the equipment and the funds, it is crucial that we remember the human cost in Afghanistan. We lost 2,461 servicemembers, 18 of whom came from my State of Iowa. We also lost 3,846 contractors, 66,000 American military and police, 1,144 allied servicemembers, 444 aid workers, and 72 journalists. These numbers hit home. They hit deep. And we should never forget them. These numbers also don't account for the stain on our national reputation for blatantly disregarding the welfare of the Afghan people who fought alongside us to help us accomplish our mission there. Leaving behind allies will have consequences that will affect our ability to build coalitions in the future. It will negatively impact our ability to defeat future enemies. Looking through the negatives, the heartache and the pain that our country has suffered from this terribly executed exit, I remain hopeful. Where the Biden administration has failed, we have seen veterans and current members of our armed services filling the leadership gap. Where our government didn't keep its promise by working together, these veterans and current members of our armed services and the groups associated with them quickly built ad hoc networks to ensure their Afghan brothers-in-arms and their families were able to leave their crumbling country safely. Americans have been inspired by reports of Operation Pineapple Express, organized by special operations veterans who, without even being asked or without even asking for permission, helped hundreds of Afghan allies and their families to safety. One of the more inspiring stories from this disastrous exit involved an Afghan family being guided by his former U.S. marine brother to Abbey Gate at the Kabul airport. The Afghan family was instructed by the U.S. Marine veterans to carry signs with them that invoked Marine Corps phrases that our marines at Abbey Gate would understand but the Taliban would not understand. After several attempts, the marines on the wall saw the signs and were able to retrieve the family and escort them through Abbey Gate only moments before the suicide attack that took the lives of 11 marines, a Navy corpsman, a U.S. soldier, and scores and scores of Afghan civilians. When the Marine Corps veteran network was eventually able to make contact with the interpreter, he was asked if he and his family were all right. His reply was, ``Of course I'm good. I'm with marines.'' Now, that is just one story, but this isn't the only amazing story regarding our veterans and our servicemembers. Pictures that were taken during this time show the desperation of the Afghan people: mothers desperately throwing their children to American troops in the hope that even if the parents couldn't reach safety, their children could. These pictures also show the pure hearts of these American warriors whom we honor. During this 20-year conflict, our service men and women have never wavered in their duty to God and country, consistently showing their ability to annihilate the enemy. They defeated the Taliban, liberated the people of Afghanistan, and protected our country from further terrorist attacks for 20 years. During their final hours in Kabul, our young warriors did something unimaginable for almost any other country's military: They injected humanity into the dark fringes of a war-torn conflict during a mass evacuation. We have seen the pictures of marines in full battle attire holding crying infants. We have seen our servicemembers giving the shirts off their backs to keep children warm. This stands in contrast to the actions of political leaders thousands of miles away here, where we stand this very day. Despite the Taliban's most recent acts of barbarism, the Biden administration has begun discussing potential recognition of the Taliban as a government. The possibility of taxpayer-funded foreign aid has been dangled as a carrot to incentivize their good behavior. This is pure naivete on the part of anybody in this administration thinking about that. The Biden administration's string of foreign policy blunders has created a domino effect that Americans will feel for years to come. Afghanistan could once again become the epicenter for terrorist activities that will launch future attacks on our Nation--hopefully not another 9/11. I pray that my concerns will not become reality, but somehow I have to have fear that they will be reality. At the very least, Americans' credibility on the world stage with our allies, even with our enemies, has taken a huge hit. In the unfortunate event that our worst fears come to light, my solace is in the knowledge that our service men and women continue to have the strength to overcome the failures of our own political leaders. So, to my fellow Americans, let us never forget the sacrifices of our men and women in the armed services and the sacrifices that that means for protecting our freedom and security. Their service and sacrifice have been of immeasurable value. All Americans owe a debt to them that can never fully be repaid. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6531-2 | null | 3,107 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, border security is one of the government's most important responsibilities. A sovereign, successful Nation's self-determination and safety depend upon it, and we are no exception. Our border security rests exclusively with the Federal Government. And the Department of Homeland Security--a Cabinet created in 2002, I believe, in the aftermath of the September 11 attack--is entrusted with this paramount duty of protecting our border. Fusing homeland with security for its name wasn't an accident. That wordage casts the Department's purpose to protect the country from external threats, both from people and from products. And Americans pay for that Department handsomely and for its responsibilities about $52 billion a year. However, a grave, unprecedented crisis exists at our southern border. Our television reminds us of that fact daily. Foreign nationals are illegally crossing into our country from Mexico by the thousands every day. I heard recently that last month was the biggest number coming in for over 20 years. But illegal immigration isn't the only crime cascading over our borders. Mexican cartels are importing deadly drugs and trafficking humans. These horrific, unabated events make very clear that the cartels effectively control our southern border. They actually manage who and what enters our country from Mexico. But the danger is preventable. The trouble exists because the current administration deliberately refuses to secure the border. Homeland Security's border dereliction is inexcusable, and it happens to be life-threatening, not only from drugs but from criminals and for national security because terrorists have been arrested. Communities across all States, then, are plagued by the crime and the drugs killing Americans by the tens of thousands every year. The figure from 2020 is over 93,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses--a 31-percent increase from just the previous year. That exceeds the Rose Bowl's capacity, as just one example of comparison. One drug is very prolific: Mexican fentanyl, probably fentanyl coming through Mexico from China. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It is 50 times more potent than heroin. An infinitesimal amount, even as small as a grain of salt, can cause a death. The cartels are producing the deadly drug and smuggling it into the United States at record highs. They are also adding fentanyl to other drugs for increased potency and, of course, increased profits--often without the user of that drug even knowing that fact--and sometimes even market that fentanyl-laced drug into heroin. Unsurprisingly, then, deaths result. From January 2019 to June of 2019, almost 62 percent of the overdose deaths involved a fentanyl-related substance. The authority scheduling fentanyl analogs expire next month. Congress must act to permanently schedule these drugs and punish the cartels and the drug dealers who spread this poison across our communities. We are a nation of compassion, but we are also a nation of laws. We are not obligated under any charade of compassion to ignore border crime, particularly the surge of deadly drugs killing tens of thousands here each year. But the government, as we see, sits idly by as cartel drugs poison Americans and unleash drug-related violence upon our communities. Border security is essential in keeping our public safety threats and a cartel-controlled border presents our greatest criminal threat. The Federal Government must be a staunch ally to the States in stopping the crime. The cartels benefit immensely from an unsecured border, and they are not exactly screening for threats to our national security and public safety. We have reached a critical juncture and must choose who actually controls the southern border, and, consequently, our self-determination and our safety. Violent drug cartels or home security--which is it? The choice directs our future. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6531 | null | 3,108 |
formal | terrorists | null | Islamophobic | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, border security is one of the government's most important responsibilities. A sovereign, successful Nation's self-determination and safety depend upon it, and we are no exception. Our border security rests exclusively with the Federal Government. And the Department of Homeland Security--a Cabinet created in 2002, I believe, in the aftermath of the September 11 attack--is entrusted with this paramount duty of protecting our border. Fusing homeland with security for its name wasn't an accident. That wordage casts the Department's purpose to protect the country from external threats, both from people and from products. And Americans pay for that Department handsomely and for its responsibilities about $52 billion a year. However, a grave, unprecedented crisis exists at our southern border. Our television reminds us of that fact daily. Foreign nationals are illegally crossing into our country from Mexico by the thousands every day. I heard recently that last month was the biggest number coming in for over 20 years. But illegal immigration isn't the only crime cascading over our borders. Mexican cartels are importing deadly drugs and trafficking humans. These horrific, unabated events make very clear that the cartels effectively control our southern border. They actually manage who and what enters our country from Mexico. But the danger is preventable. The trouble exists because the current administration deliberately refuses to secure the border. Homeland Security's border dereliction is inexcusable, and it happens to be life-threatening, not only from drugs but from criminals and for national security because terrorists have been arrested. Communities across all States, then, are plagued by the crime and the drugs killing Americans by the tens of thousands every year. The figure from 2020 is over 93,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses--a 31-percent increase from just the previous year. That exceeds the Rose Bowl's capacity, as just one example of comparison. One drug is very prolific: Mexican fentanyl, probably fentanyl coming through Mexico from China. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It is 50 times more potent than heroin. An infinitesimal amount, even as small as a grain of salt, can cause a death. The cartels are producing the deadly drug and smuggling it into the United States at record highs. They are also adding fentanyl to other drugs for increased potency and, of course, increased profits--often without the user of that drug even knowing that fact--and sometimes even market that fentanyl-laced drug into heroin. Unsurprisingly, then, deaths result. From January 2019 to June of 2019, almost 62 percent of the overdose deaths involved a fentanyl-related substance. The authority scheduling fentanyl analogs expire next month. Congress must act to permanently schedule these drugs and punish the cartels and the drug dealers who spread this poison across our communities. We are a nation of compassion, but we are also a nation of laws. We are not obligated under any charade of compassion to ignore border crime, particularly the surge of deadly drugs killing tens of thousands here each year. But the government, as we see, sits idly by as cartel drugs poison Americans and unleash drug-related violence upon our communities. Border security is essential in keeping our public safety threats and a cartel-controlled border presents our greatest criminal threat. The Federal Government must be a staunch ally to the States in stopping the crime. The cartels benefit immensely from an unsecured border, and they are not exactly screening for threats to our national security and public safety. We have reached a critical juncture and must choose who actually controls the southern border, and, consequently, our self-determination and our safety. Violent drug cartels or home security--which is it? The choice directs our future. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6531 | null | 3,109 |
formal | secure the border | null | anti-Latino | Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, border security is one of the government's most important responsibilities. A sovereign, successful Nation's self-determination and safety depend upon it, and we are no exception. Our border security rests exclusively with the Federal Government. And the Department of Homeland Security--a Cabinet created in 2002, I believe, in the aftermath of the September 11 attack--is entrusted with this paramount duty of protecting our border. Fusing homeland with security for its name wasn't an accident. That wordage casts the Department's purpose to protect the country from external threats, both from people and from products. And Americans pay for that Department handsomely and for its responsibilities about $52 billion a year. However, a grave, unprecedented crisis exists at our southern border. Our television reminds us of that fact daily. Foreign nationals are illegally crossing into our country from Mexico by the thousands every day. I heard recently that last month was the biggest number coming in for over 20 years. But illegal immigration isn't the only crime cascading over our borders. Mexican cartels are importing deadly drugs and trafficking humans. These horrific, unabated events make very clear that the cartels effectively control our southern border. They actually manage who and what enters our country from Mexico. But the danger is preventable. The trouble exists because the current administration deliberately refuses to secure the border. Homeland Security's border dereliction is inexcusable, and it happens to be life-threatening, not only from drugs but from criminals and for national security because terrorists have been arrested. Communities across all States, then, are plagued by the crime and the drugs killing Americans by the tens of thousands every year. The figure from 2020 is over 93,000 Americans dying from drug overdoses--a 31-percent increase from just the previous year. That exceeds the Rose Bowl's capacity, as just one example of comparison. One drug is very prolific: Mexican fentanyl, probably fentanyl coming through Mexico from China. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. It is 50 times more potent than heroin. An infinitesimal amount, even as small as a grain of salt, can cause a death. The cartels are producing the deadly drug and smuggling it into the United States at record highs. They are also adding fentanyl to other drugs for increased potency and, of course, increased profits--often without the user of that drug even knowing that fact--and sometimes even market that fentanyl-laced drug into heroin. Unsurprisingly, then, deaths result. From January 2019 to June of 2019, almost 62 percent of the overdose deaths involved a fentanyl-related substance. The authority scheduling fentanyl analogs expire next month. Congress must act to permanently schedule these drugs and punish the cartels and the drug dealers who spread this poison across our communities. We are a nation of compassion, but we are also a nation of laws. We are not obligated under any charade of compassion to ignore border crime, particularly the surge of deadly drugs killing tens of thousands here each year. But the government, as we see, sits idly by as cartel drugs poison Americans and unleash drug-related violence upon our communities. Border security is essential in keeping our public safety threats and a cartel-controlled border presents our greatest criminal threat. The Federal Government must be a staunch ally to the States in stopping the crime. The cartels benefit immensely from an unsecured border, and they are not exactly screening for threats to our national security and public safety. We have reached a critical juncture and must choose who actually controls the southern border, and, consequently, our self-determination and our safety. Violent drug cartels or home security--which is it? The choice directs our future. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. GRASSLEY | Senate | CREC-2021-09-15-pt1-PgS6531 | null | 3,110 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: EC-2138. A letter from the Congressional Review Coordinator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Definitions of the European Union and the United Kingdom [Docket No.: APHIS-2021-0003] received August 31, 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-2139. A letter from the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation and Energy Efficiency, Department of Energy, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pump Motors [EERE-2017-BT-STD-0048] (RIN: 1904-AE38) received August 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-2140. A letter from the Acting Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation and Energy Efficiency, Department of Energy, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Procedures for the Issuance of Guidance Documents [RIN: 1990- AA50] received August 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-2141. A letter from the Acting Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation and Energy Efficiency, Department of Energy, transmitting the Department's final determination -- Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Evaporatively-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Water-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioners [EERE- 2017-BT-STD-0032] (RIN: 1904-AE07) received August 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-2142. 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.: 31383; Amdt. No.: 3968] received September 10, 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-2143. A letter from the Deputy Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Wireline Competition Bureau finalizes application filings, procedures, cost catalogue, and replacement list for the secure and trusted communications networks reimbursement program [WC Docket No.: 18-89] August 31, 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-2144. A letter from the Associate Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's NUREG -- Final Safety Evaluation of Technical Specifications Task Force Traveler TSTF-554, ``Revise Reactor Coolant Leakage Requirements'' [NUREG-1430, NUREG-1431, NUREG-1432, NUREG-1433, NUREG-1434, NUREG-2194] received August 31, 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-2145. A letter from the Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's issuance of regulatory guide -- Related Steel Structures and Steel-Plate Composite (SC) Walls for other than Reactor Vessels and Containments [Regulatory Guide 1.243, Rev. 0] received August 31, 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-2146. A letter from the Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's issuance of regulatory guide -- Implementation of Aging Management Requirements for Spent Fuel Storage Renewals [Regulatory Guide 3.796, Rev. 0] received August 31, 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-2147. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting a notification that the national emergency declared with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism, declared in Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, is to continue in effect beyond September 23, 2021, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 117--60); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. EC-2148. A letter from the Director, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy, General Services Administration, transmitting the Administration's summary presentation of final rules -- Federal Acquisition Regulation; Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-07; Introduction [Docket No.: FAR-2021-0051, Sequence No. 4] received August 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 Oversight and Reform. EC-2149. A letter from the Director, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy, General Services Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Section 508-Based Standards in Information and Communication Technology [FAC 2021-07; FAR Case 2017-011; Item I; Docket No.: FAR-2017- 0011, Sequence No. 1] (RIN: 9000-AN46) received August 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 Oversight and Reform. EC-2150. A letter from the Director, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy, General Services Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Scope of Review by Procurement Center Representatives [FAC 2021-07; FAR Case 2020-012; Item III; Docket No.: FAR-2020-0012; Sequence No. 1] (RIN: 9000-AO16) received August 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 Oversight and Reform. EC-2151. A letter from the Director, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy, General Services Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Good Faith in Small Business Subcontracting [FAC 2021-07; FAR Case 2019-004; Item IV; Docket No.: FAR-2019-0030, Sequence No. 1] (RIN: 9000- AN87) received August 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 Oversight and Reform. EC-2152. A letter from the Director, Office of Acquisition Policy, Office of Government-wide Policy, General Services Administration, transmitting the Administration's final rule -- Federal Acquisition Regulation: Revision of Limitations on Subcontracting [FAC 2021-07; FAR Case 2016-011; Item II; Docket No.: 2016-0011; Sequence No. 1] (RIN: 9000-AN35) received August 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 Oversight and Reform. EC-2153. A letter from the Acting Chief, Branch of Coastal and Marine Resources, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Marine Mammals; Incidental Take During Specified Activities; North Slope, Alaska [Docket No.: FWS-R7-ES-2021-0037; FXES111607MRG01-212-FF07CAMM00] (RIN 1018-BF13) received August 31, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Natural Resources. EC-2154. A letter from the Wildlife Biologist, Division of Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Migratory Bird Hunting; Final 2021-22 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations, and Special Procedures for Issuance of Annual Hunting Regulations [Docket No.: FWS-HQ-MB-2020-0032; FF09M22000-212- FXMB1231099BPP0] (RIN: 1018-BE34) received August 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 Natural Resources. EC-2155. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Amendment of Class E Airspace; Pocahontas, IA [Docket No.: FAA-2021-0278; Airspace Docket No.: 21-ACE-10] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received September 10, 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-2156. 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.: 31382; Amdt. No.: 3967] received September 10, 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-2157. 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; Savannah, GA [Docket No.: FAA-2021-0328; Airspace Docket No.: 21-ASO-5] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received September 10, 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-2158. A letter from the Management and Program Management, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace and Establishment of Class E Airspace; Waco, TX [Docket No.: FAA-2021-0413; Airspace Docket No.: 21-ASW-9] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received September 10, 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-2159. 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.: 31387; Amdt. No.: 3972] received September 10, 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-2160. 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.: 31384; Amdt. No.: 3969] received September 10, 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-2161. A letter from the Management 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.: 31385; Amdt. No.: 3970] received September 10, 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-2162. A letter from the Acting Branch Chief, Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, transmitting the Service's IRB only rule -- Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Transition Relief under Internal Revenue Code Sec. 51 [Notice 2021-43] received September 10, 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. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-09-17-pt1-PgH4528 | null | 3,111 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer: God, our creator, redeemer, and sustainer, we pray Your inspiration over the reconvening of this body. With much to be discussed, debated, and decided, allow Your Holy Spirit to brood over the tumultuous waters and bring order and purpose into this new day. Redeem the efforts and intent of all who endeavor to steward the responsibilities You have given them. May each of us speak out of genuine commitment--not just to the nobleness of our position, but to the welfare of our common humanity. May we exercise courtesy and compassion in our dealings with one another, even those with whom we disagree. Sustain us when the days grow long and patience grows short. When we are jealous of our time and sparing of respect, may You, in Your kindness to us, cause our love to increase and our mutual regard for each other to win out. Strengthen our hearts that when called to account, we will be found blameless and holy in Your eyes. In all that we do this day, may we reflect Your rich love, made all the richer by the privilege we have to demonstrate Your grace and mercy to those around us. We pray in the name of the one in whom we live, move, and have our being. Amen. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgH4533-3 | null | 3,112 |
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-2021-09-20-pt1-PgH4535-3 | null | 3,113 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4172) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley VA Clinic.'' | 2020-01-06 | Mr. TAKANO | House | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgH4537 | null | 3,114 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. TAKANO. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 3475) to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. TAKANO | House | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgH4541 | null | 3,115 |
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. 5293) to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgH4543-3 | null | 3,116 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | The SPEAKER. The Chair asks all Members in the Chamber, as well as Members and staff throughout the Capitol, to rise for a moment of silence in remembrance of the following servicemembers who were killed during theterrorist attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 26, 2021: Marine Corps Lance Corporal David L. Espinoza Marine Corps Sergeant Nicole L. Gee Marine Corps Staff Sergeant Darin T. Hoover Army Staff Sergeant Ryan C. Knauss Marine Corps Corporal Hunter Lopez Marine Corps Lance Corporal Rylee J. McCollum Marine Corps Lance Corporal Dylan R. Merola Marine Corps Lance Corporal Kareem M. Nikoui Marine Corps Corporal Daegan W. Page Marine Corps Sergeant Johanny Rosario Pichardo Marine Corps Corporal Humberto A. Sanchez Marine Corps Lance Corporal Jared M. Schmitz Navy Hospitalman Maxton W. Soviak The House will observe a moment of silence in honor of their bravery. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER | House | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgH4543-4 | null | 3,117 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deutch). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 189) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2021, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deutch) | House | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgH4544 | null | 3,118 |
formal | tax cut | null | racist | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate begins this week with a lot to accomplish in very little time. This week, and in weeks to come, Senate Democrats will continue our work to pass historic legislation to strengthen our economy and renew America's middle class for the 21st century. Very soon, we will also take up a continuing resolution to avoid a needless government shutdown and provide emergency funding necessary to settle Afghan refugees and those devastated by this summer's natural disasters. We must also work on a bipartisan basis to extend the debt ceiling to preserve the very important and cherished full faith and credit of the United States. The Senate will also consider recently introduced voting rights legislation and advancing President Biden's nominees to the judiciary and to his administration. So the next few weeks will be critical weeks for the Senate. Members should be prepared for the possibility of working late nights and into the weekend. On the nominations front, we will begin the week by confirming Ms. Veronica Rossman of Colorado to serve on the Tenth Circuit. Ms. Rossman has spent the majority of her career in public service, representing criminal defendants who cannot afford counsel oftentimes. She would be one of very few Federal public defenders on the entire Federal bench, bringing both personal and professional diversity to our courts at a time when we need to strengthen the public's trust in the Federal judiciary. In addition to Ms. Rossman's confirmation, Senate Democrats are working to confirm many other nominees for a critical number of Agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, and Treasury. Now, unfortunately, some of our Republican colleagues have chosen to play cheap political games and stonewall the confirmation of these uncontroversial but essential nominees. Let's be clear. By blocking these perfectly qualified public servants, my Republican colleagues are deliberately hindering our government's ability to protect our country and to work with our allies abroad. These nominees should be the work of a few hours at most. Many of them have been reported out of committee with bipartisan support and, under normal circumstances, would be confirmed without any trouble. And so while my Republican colleagues won't be able to stop these nominees from reaching final confirmation, their stonewalling will drag out what would normally be a routine and easy process. The few obstructionists on the Republican side who are leading this charge are deliberately derailing the confirmation of these important nominees in an all-out effort to gain the support of hard-right elements of their party, and in the process--the nasty political process they are engaged in--they are making Americans less safe at home and abroad. They should stop immediately, and the Republican leader should admonish them. Now, on the legislative front, Democrats continue to make good progress toward enacting our Build Back Better agenda into law. Last week, the House completed their markups--the House committees completed their markups on the legislative text that underpins Democrats' reconciliation bill. Here in the Senate, our caucus held a long and productive discussion last week about the substance of our bill. We will continue these discussions as the week progresses. Now, no one expected that it would be easy to pass legislation to transform the American economy and provide the biggest tax cut for the middle class in a generation. But no one in this body was elected to do only the easy stuff. We have a lot of hard work to do, andwe are going to keep at it until we get the job done. Now, I just want to say something about the news we received last night about the Senate Parliamentarian. Last night's ruling was extremely disappointing. It saddened me. It frustrated me. It angered me. But make no mistake. The fight continues. Senate Democrats have prepared alternative proposals and will be holding additional meetings with the Senate Parliamentarian in the coming days. I have been working closely with my colleagues in the Senate, including Judiciary Chairman Durbin, Senators Padilla, Menendez, Lujan, and Cortez Masto, and we will continue our fight to find the best option available to provide immigrants with the chance at one day obtaining lawful residence here in America. The last year and a half have shown how vital our immigrants have been to keeping our economy going during a time of crisis. So many risked their lives on the frontline of this pandemic but remain excluded from the very same benefits that have kept millions of others secure during these hard times. We are short of workers from one end of America to the other. One of the reasons, the Trump administration dramatically cut back on immigrants in this country. We need them. We need them in our labor force. We need them to continue American vitality. We need them because they are part of the American Dream. It is estimated in my city by some that one-third of the healthcare workers at the height of COVID who risked their lives for us were immigrants. Having a strong law that helps our immigrants is vital. The American people understand that fixing our broken immigration system is a moral imperative and an economic imperative. Immigration reform has been one of the most important causes of my time in the Senate, and I will not stop fighting to achieve it. Finally, on addressing the debt limit, on debt limit the Republicans are doing a dine-and-dash of historic proportions that hurts the American people and hurts our country. That hurts the American people and hurts our country. In the immediate future, both parties will have to come together to allow the Federal Government to continue its most important responsibility: paying the bills and making good on our outstanding obligations. A few minutes ago, I joined with Speaker Pelosi in announcing that the continuing resolution that we will take up to avoid a government shutdown will also include a suspension of the debt limit through December 2022, allowing us to meet our obligations and preserve the full faith and credit of these United States of America. Suspending the debt limit through December of 2022 provides an amount of time commensurate with the debt that was incurred as a result of the $908 billion COVID emergency relief bill last year. That was a bill that was passed when Donald Trump was President and Senator McConnell was the majority leader of the Senate. It was passed under Republican leadership. That is the debt we are paying in this bill. The legislation that funded this $908 billion in COVID relief was supported by more than 40 Republicans and signed into law by President Trump. So anyone who says this is Democratic debt is not talking fact; they are talking fiction. Both sides--both sides--have a responsibility to pay for the debt that we have already incurred. It has always been done in a bipartisan way. Unfortunately, last week, Leader McConnell announced that the Senate Republicans are inclined to deliberately turn their backs on their obligations. When asked if Republicans would block an extension of the debt limit, Leader McConnell, amazingly and cravenly, said that ``Republicans are united in opposition to raising the debt ceiling.'' Shame. This is the same Leader McConnell who urged Democrats and Republicans to support raising the debt ceiling when Donald Trump was President and he was majority leader. He always comes up with some sophistry as to why it is different, but everyone knows it is not different. In fact, Democrats supported three times raising the debt ceiling when Trump was President, and if my recollection is right, at least one of those times was when the House, the Senate, and the Presidency were controlled by Republicans. Should Republicans careen our country toward a default, our country could actually be plunged into recession--laying off millions, making it harder for people to pay for the food on the table and their mortgages and their rent. Shame, shame on the Republican leader. As Secretary Yellen put it just days ago, failure to raise the debt limit would have ``absolutely catastrophic economic consequences . . . [and] would precipitate a financial crisis.'' A default would risk sending interest rates sky high across the board, hurting consumers, small businesses, and our country's ability to borrow in the future. Our economy, still fresh off the trauma of the COVID crisis, could slip back into recession and undo everything we have done to help struggling Americans pick themselves back up. Now, many on the other side, including the Republican leader himself, are trying to justify their reckless position with deeply misleading talking points. They have argued over and over again that they refuse to work with Democrats because they oppose our forthcoming legislative agenda. Of course, what they don't say is that these two issues have nothing to do with each other. The forthcoming legislative agenda has not incurred any debt--a nickel of debt--in the United States. It was the previous agenda of President Trump and the Republican Senate and Republicans in the House that created this debt. Republicans ignore the analysis like the one done by the Washington Post, which observed that ``roughly 97 percent of the current U.S. cumulative debt was accrued before Biden took office.'' Indeed, none other than the Wall Street Journal made this even clearer. ``Raising the debt limit wouldn't facilitate future spending,'' it said, ``and Congress would still need to raise the debt limit this fall even if no new major spending programs are enacted.'' I want to repeat that not just for Leader McConnell but for my Republican colleagues. Hopefully there are some who will rise to their responsibility and abandon this crass, craven, political move, which would do such harm to the United States, that the Republican leader has proffered. So I will read it again. The Wall Street Journal said, ``Raising the debt limit wouldn't facilitate future spending'' and went on to say that ``Congress would still need to raise the debt limit this fall even if no new major spending programs are enacted.'' So the bottom line is simple. Let me repeat. What Republicans are doing is nothing short of a dine-and-dash of historic proportions. They want working-class American families to foot the bill for their irresponsibility, and as a consequence of their callous political games, it will be veterans and Social Security payment recipients who suffer most. This isn't just another partisan fight. This isn't who can be more macho. This is about the country. All too often, the press--they make it into macho, macho. That is wrong. What one party is doing here, everyone knows, is deliberately wrong--at least the Republican leader and all those who choose to follow him--with serious consequences for the people. It is not just another partisan fight; it is about avoiding a crisis that would undo all the progress our country has made to heal itself of the COVID crisis. Democrats are going to do the responsible thing and vote to extend the debt limit when the time comes. We will see which of our Republican colleagues on the other side will have the strength and the courage to follow suit. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6535-5 | null | 3,119 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate begins this week with a lot to accomplish in very little time. This week, and in weeks to come, Senate Democrats will continue our work to pass historic legislation to strengthen our economy and renew America's middle class for the 21st century. Very soon, we will also take up a continuing resolution to avoid a needless government shutdown and provide emergency funding necessary to settle Afghan refugees and those devastated by this summer's natural disasters. We must also work on a bipartisan basis to extend the debt ceiling to preserve the very important and cherished full faith and credit of the United States. The Senate will also consider recently introduced voting rights legislation and advancing President Biden's nominees to the judiciary and to his administration. So the next few weeks will be critical weeks for the Senate. Members should be prepared for the possibility of working late nights and into the weekend. On the nominations front, we will begin the week by confirming Ms. Veronica Rossman of Colorado to serve on the Tenth Circuit. Ms. Rossman has spent the majority of her career in public service, representing criminal defendants who cannot afford counsel oftentimes. She would be one of very few Federal public defenders on the entire Federal bench, bringing both personal and professional diversity to our courts at a time when we need to strengthen the public's trust in the Federal judiciary. In addition to Ms. Rossman's confirmation, Senate Democrats are working to confirm many other nominees for a critical number of Agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, and Treasury. Now, unfortunately, some of our Republican colleagues have chosen to play cheap political games and stonewall the confirmation of these uncontroversial but essential nominees. Let's be clear. By blocking these perfectly qualified public servants, my Republican colleagues are deliberately hindering our government's ability to protect our country and to work with our allies abroad. These nominees should be the work of a few hours at most. Many of them have been reported out of committee with bipartisan support and, under normal circumstances, would be confirmed without any trouble. And so while my Republican colleagues won't be able to stop these nominees from reaching final confirmation, their stonewalling will drag out what would normally be a routine and easy process. The few obstructionists on the Republican side who are leading this charge are deliberately derailing the confirmation of these important nominees in an all-out effort to gain the support of hard-right elements of their party, and in the process--the nasty political process they are engaged in--they are making Americans less safe at home and abroad. They should stop immediately, and the Republican leader should admonish them. Now, on the legislative front, Democrats continue to make good progress toward enacting our Build Back Better agenda into law. Last week, the House completed their markups--the House committees completed their markups on the legislative text that underpins Democrats' reconciliation bill. Here in the Senate, our caucus held a long and productive discussion last week about the substance of our bill. We will continue these discussions as the week progresses. Now, no one expected that it would be easy to pass legislation to transform the American economy and provide the biggest tax cut for the middle class in a generation. But no one in this body was elected to do only the easy stuff. We have a lot of hard work to do, andwe are going to keep at it until we get the job done. Now, I just want to say something about the news we received last night about the Senate Parliamentarian. Last night's ruling was extremely disappointing. It saddened me. It frustrated me. It angered me. But make no mistake. The fight continues. Senate Democrats have prepared alternative proposals and will be holding additional meetings with the Senate Parliamentarian in the coming days. I have been working closely with my colleagues in the Senate, including Judiciary Chairman Durbin, Senators Padilla, Menendez, Lujan, and Cortez Masto, and we will continue our fight to find the best option available to provide immigrants with the chance at one day obtaining lawful residence here in America. The last year and a half have shown how vital our immigrants have been to keeping our economy going during a time of crisis. So many risked their lives on the frontline of this pandemic but remain excluded from the very same benefits that have kept millions of others secure during these hard times. We are short of workers from one end of America to the other. One of the reasons, the Trump administration dramatically cut back on immigrants in this country. We need them. We need them in our labor force. We need them to continue American vitality. We need them because they are part of the American Dream. It is estimated in my city by some that one-third of the healthcare workers at the height of COVID who risked their lives for us were immigrants. Having a strong law that helps our immigrants is vital. The American people understand that fixing our broken immigration system is a moral imperative and an economic imperative. Immigration reform has been one of the most important causes of my time in the Senate, and I will not stop fighting to achieve it. Finally, on addressing the debt limit, on debt limit the Republicans are doing a dine-and-dash of historic proportions that hurts the American people and hurts our country. That hurts the American people and hurts our country. In the immediate future, both parties will have to come together to allow the Federal Government to continue its most important responsibility: paying the bills and making good on our outstanding obligations. A few minutes ago, I joined with Speaker Pelosi in announcing that the continuing resolution that we will take up to avoid a government shutdown will also include a suspension of the debt limit through December 2022, allowing us to meet our obligations and preserve the full faith and credit of these United States of America. Suspending the debt limit through December of 2022 provides an amount of time commensurate with the debt that was incurred as a result of the $908 billion COVID emergency relief bill last year. That was a bill that was passed when Donald Trump was President and Senator McConnell was the majority leader of the Senate. It was passed under Republican leadership. That is the debt we are paying in this bill. The legislation that funded this $908 billion in COVID relief was supported by more than 40 Republicans and signed into law by President Trump. So anyone who says this is Democratic debt is not talking fact; they are talking fiction. Both sides--both sides--have a responsibility to pay for the debt that we have already incurred. It has always been done in a bipartisan way. Unfortunately, last week, Leader McConnell announced that the Senate Republicans are inclined to deliberately turn their backs on their obligations. When asked if Republicans would block an extension of the debt limit, Leader McConnell, amazingly and cravenly, said that ``Republicans are united in opposition to raising the debt ceiling.'' Shame. This is the same Leader McConnell who urged Democrats and Republicans to support raising the debt ceiling when Donald Trump was President and he was majority leader. He always comes up with some sophistry as to why it is different, but everyone knows it is not different. In fact, Democrats supported three times raising the debt ceiling when Trump was President, and if my recollection is right, at least one of those times was when the House, the Senate, and the Presidency were controlled by Republicans. Should Republicans careen our country toward a default, our country could actually be plunged into recession--laying off millions, making it harder for people to pay for the food on the table and their mortgages and their rent. Shame, shame on the Republican leader. As Secretary Yellen put it just days ago, failure to raise the debt limit would have ``absolutely catastrophic economic consequences . . . [and] would precipitate a financial crisis.'' A default would risk sending interest rates sky high across the board, hurting consumers, small businesses, and our country's ability to borrow in the future. Our economy, still fresh off the trauma of the COVID crisis, could slip back into recession and undo everything we have done to help struggling Americans pick themselves back up. Now, many on the other side, including the Republican leader himself, are trying to justify their reckless position with deeply misleading talking points. They have argued over and over again that they refuse to work with Democrats because they oppose our forthcoming legislative agenda. Of course, what they don't say is that these two issues have nothing to do with each other. The forthcoming legislative agenda has not incurred any debt--a nickel of debt--in the United States. It was the previous agenda of President Trump and the Republican Senate and Republicans in the House that created this debt. Republicans ignore the analysis like the one done by the Washington Post, which observed that ``roughly 97 percent of the current U.S. cumulative debt was accrued before Biden took office.'' Indeed, none other than the Wall Street Journal made this even clearer. ``Raising the debt limit wouldn't facilitate future spending,'' it said, ``and Congress would still need to raise the debt limit this fall even if no new major spending programs are enacted.'' I want to repeat that not just for Leader McConnell but for my Republican colleagues. Hopefully there are some who will rise to their responsibility and abandon this crass, craven, political move, which would do such harm to the United States, that the Republican leader has proffered. So I will read it again. The Wall Street Journal said, ``Raising the debt limit wouldn't facilitate future spending'' and went on to say that ``Congress would still need to raise the debt limit this fall even if no new major spending programs are enacted.'' So the bottom line is simple. Let me repeat. What Republicans are doing is nothing short of a dine-and-dash of historic proportions. They want working-class American families to foot the bill for their irresponsibility, and as a consequence of their callous political games, it will be veterans and Social Security payment recipients who suffer most. This isn't just another partisan fight. This isn't who can be more macho. This is about the country. All too often, the press--they make it into macho, macho. That is wrong. What one party is doing here, everyone knows, is deliberately wrong--at least the Republican leader and all those who choose to follow him--with serious consequences for the people. It is not just another partisan fight; it is about avoiding a crisis that would undo all the progress our country has made to heal itself of the COVID crisis. Democrats are going to do the responsible thing and vote to extend the debt limit when the time comes. We will see which of our Republican colleagues on the other side will have the strength and the courage to follow suit. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6535-5 | null | 3,120 |
formal | middle class | null | racist | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate begins this week with a lot to accomplish in very little time. This week, and in weeks to come, Senate Democrats will continue our work to pass historic legislation to strengthen our economy and renew America's middle class for the 21st century. Very soon, we will also take up a continuing resolution to avoid a needless government shutdown and provide emergency funding necessary to settle Afghan refugees and those devastated by this summer's natural disasters. We must also work on a bipartisan basis to extend the debt ceiling to preserve the very important and cherished full faith and credit of the United States. The Senate will also consider recently introduced voting rights legislation and advancing President Biden's nominees to the judiciary and to his administration. So the next few weeks will be critical weeks for the Senate. Members should be prepared for the possibility of working late nights and into the weekend. On the nominations front, we will begin the week by confirming Ms. Veronica Rossman of Colorado to serve on the Tenth Circuit. Ms. Rossman has spent the majority of her career in public service, representing criminal defendants who cannot afford counsel oftentimes. She would be one of very few Federal public defenders on the entire Federal bench, bringing both personal and professional diversity to our courts at a time when we need to strengthen the public's trust in the Federal judiciary. In addition to Ms. Rossman's confirmation, Senate Democrats are working to confirm many other nominees for a critical number of Agencies, including the Departments of Defense, State, and Treasury. Now, unfortunately, some of our Republican colleagues have chosen to play cheap political games and stonewall the confirmation of these uncontroversial but essential nominees. Let's be clear. By blocking these perfectly qualified public servants, my Republican colleagues are deliberately hindering our government's ability to protect our country and to work with our allies abroad. These nominees should be the work of a few hours at most. Many of them have been reported out of committee with bipartisan support and, under normal circumstances, would be confirmed without any trouble. And so while my Republican colleagues won't be able to stop these nominees from reaching final confirmation, their stonewalling will drag out what would normally be a routine and easy process. The few obstructionists on the Republican side who are leading this charge are deliberately derailing the confirmation of these important nominees in an all-out effort to gain the support of hard-right elements of their party, and in the process--the nasty political process they are engaged in--they are making Americans less safe at home and abroad. They should stop immediately, and the Republican leader should admonish them. Now, on the legislative front, Democrats continue to make good progress toward enacting our Build Back Better agenda into law. Last week, the House completed their markups--the House committees completed their markups on the legislative text that underpins Democrats' reconciliation bill. Here in the Senate, our caucus held a long and productive discussion last week about the substance of our bill. We will continue these discussions as the week progresses. Now, no one expected that it would be easy to pass legislation to transform the American economy and provide the biggest tax cut for the middle class in a generation. But no one in this body was elected to do only the easy stuff. We have a lot of hard work to do, andwe are going to keep at it until we get the job done. Now, I just want to say something about the news we received last night about the Senate Parliamentarian. Last night's ruling was extremely disappointing. It saddened me. It frustrated me. It angered me. But make no mistake. The fight continues. Senate Democrats have prepared alternative proposals and will be holding additional meetings with the Senate Parliamentarian in the coming days. I have been working closely with my colleagues in the Senate, including Judiciary Chairman Durbin, Senators Padilla, Menendez, Lujan, and Cortez Masto, and we will continue our fight to find the best option available to provide immigrants with the chance at one day obtaining lawful residence here in America. The last year and a half have shown how vital our immigrants have been to keeping our economy going during a time of crisis. So many risked their lives on the frontline of this pandemic but remain excluded from the very same benefits that have kept millions of others secure during these hard times. We are short of workers from one end of America to the other. One of the reasons, the Trump administration dramatically cut back on immigrants in this country. We need them. We need them in our labor force. We need them to continue American vitality. We need them because they are part of the American Dream. It is estimated in my city by some that one-third of the healthcare workers at the height of COVID who risked their lives for us were immigrants. Having a strong law that helps our immigrants is vital. The American people understand that fixing our broken immigration system is a moral imperative and an economic imperative. Immigration reform has been one of the most important causes of my time in the Senate, and I will not stop fighting to achieve it. Finally, on addressing the debt limit, on debt limit the Republicans are doing a dine-and-dash of historic proportions that hurts the American people and hurts our country. That hurts the American people and hurts our country. In the immediate future, both parties will have to come together to allow the Federal Government to continue its most important responsibility: paying the bills and making good on our outstanding obligations. A few minutes ago, I joined with Speaker Pelosi in announcing that the continuing resolution that we will take up to avoid a government shutdown will also include a suspension of the debt limit through December 2022, allowing us to meet our obligations and preserve the full faith and credit of these United States of America. Suspending the debt limit through December of 2022 provides an amount of time commensurate with the debt that was incurred as a result of the $908 billion COVID emergency relief bill last year. That was a bill that was passed when Donald Trump was President and Senator McConnell was the majority leader of the Senate. It was passed under Republican leadership. That is the debt we are paying in this bill. The legislation that funded this $908 billion in COVID relief was supported by more than 40 Republicans and signed into law by President Trump. So anyone who says this is Democratic debt is not talking fact; they are talking fiction. Both sides--both sides--have a responsibility to pay for the debt that we have already incurred. It has always been done in a bipartisan way. Unfortunately, last week, Leader McConnell announced that the Senate Republicans are inclined to deliberately turn their backs on their obligations. When asked if Republicans would block an extension of the debt limit, Leader McConnell, amazingly and cravenly, said that ``Republicans are united in opposition to raising the debt ceiling.'' Shame. This is the same Leader McConnell who urged Democrats and Republicans to support raising the debt ceiling when Donald Trump was President and he was majority leader. He always comes up with some sophistry as to why it is different, but everyone knows it is not different. In fact, Democrats supported three times raising the debt ceiling when Trump was President, and if my recollection is right, at least one of those times was when the House, the Senate, and the Presidency were controlled by Republicans. Should Republicans careen our country toward a default, our country could actually be plunged into recession--laying off millions, making it harder for people to pay for the food on the table and their mortgages and their rent. Shame, shame on the Republican leader. As Secretary Yellen put it just days ago, failure to raise the debt limit would have ``absolutely catastrophic economic consequences . . . [and] would precipitate a financial crisis.'' A default would risk sending interest rates sky high across the board, hurting consumers, small businesses, and our country's ability to borrow in the future. Our economy, still fresh off the trauma of the COVID crisis, could slip back into recession and undo everything we have done to help struggling Americans pick themselves back up. Now, many on the other side, including the Republican leader himself, are trying to justify their reckless position with deeply misleading talking points. They have argued over and over again that they refuse to work with Democrats because they oppose our forthcoming legislative agenda. Of course, what they don't say is that these two issues have nothing to do with each other. The forthcoming legislative agenda has not incurred any debt--a nickel of debt--in the United States. It was the previous agenda of President Trump and the Republican Senate and Republicans in the House that created this debt. Republicans ignore the analysis like the one done by the Washington Post, which observed that ``roughly 97 percent of the current U.S. cumulative debt was accrued before Biden took office.'' Indeed, none other than the Wall Street Journal made this even clearer. ``Raising the debt limit wouldn't facilitate future spending,'' it said, ``and Congress would still need to raise the debt limit this fall even if no new major spending programs are enacted.'' I want to repeat that not just for Leader McConnell but for my Republican colleagues. Hopefully there are some who will rise to their responsibility and abandon this crass, craven, political move, which would do such harm to the United States, that the Republican leader has proffered. So I will read it again. The Wall Street Journal said, ``Raising the debt limit wouldn't facilitate future spending'' and went on to say that ``Congress would still need to raise the debt limit this fall even if no new major spending programs are enacted.'' So the bottom line is simple. Let me repeat. What Republicans are doing is nothing short of a dine-and-dash of historic proportions. They want working-class American families to foot the bill for their irresponsibility, and as a consequence of their callous political games, it will be veterans and Social Security payment recipients who suffer most. This isn't just another partisan fight. This isn't who can be more macho. This is about the country. All too often, the press--they make it into macho, macho. That is wrong. What one party is doing here, everyone knows, is deliberately wrong--at least the Republican leader and all those who choose to follow him--with serious consequences for the people. It is not just another partisan fight; it is about avoiding a crisis that would undo all the progress our country has made to heal itself of the COVID crisis. Democrats are going to do the responsible thing and vote to extend the debt limit when the time comes. We will see which of our Republican colleagues on the other side will have the strength and the courage to follow suit. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6535-5 | null | 3,121 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Tribute to Hal Rogers Madam President, now, on one final matter, Representative Hal Rogers once described Southeastern Kentuckians by saying: ``They're honest, forthright. . . . they can see through a phony in a minute flat.'' So it is fitting his constituents just reelected him by 70 points. He is certainly honest, forthright, and no phony. For over 40 years, Hal has fought for his home region and delivered unparalleled support for its development and its growth. In honor of Hal becoming the longest serving Representative in the history of the Commonwealth earlier this September, I would like to pay tribute to this one-of-a-kind Kentuckian. I first met Hal during the 1971 Kentucky gubernatorial election. He was already a rising star in the State Republican Party, having just been elected Commonwealth's attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties 2 years prior. As a fellow attorney and young conservative, I looked up to Hal and watched his career with considerable interest. Less than a decade later, Hal was elected to the House of Representatives in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District the same year Ronald Reagan was elected President. Since then, he has won reelection 19 times, always by a wide margin. He loves his corner of the State, and as his repeated victories absolutely prove, his constituents love him right back. Once Hal got to Congress, he quickly went to work fighting for the issues his constituents cared the most about. His hard-won legislative victories earned him praise from fellow House Republicans who tapped him to lead the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Eight years later, he became chairman of the full House Appropriations Committee, expertly cutting spending, reducing waste, and directing funds to important projects all across the country. As a former Commonwealth's attorney, Hal used his law enforcement credentials to defend Kentucky from a wide array of threats. Before the rest of America was paying full attention to the scourge of substance abuse, Hal launched Operation UNITE. The anti-narcotics initiative covers 32 Kentucky counties and has been on the frontlines in the fight against the opioid epidemic, helping to lock up thousands of criminals and remove millions of dollars' worth of illegal drugs from the streets. Hal is a lead promoter of investment in Southeastern Kentucky, which fortoo long has suffered economic distress and seen indifference from Washington. He united Kentucky's Appalachian counties around the Shaping our Appalachian Region, or SOAR, initiative to create a concerted effort to attract jobs and development to the region. He revolutionized Southeastern Kentucky's water infrastructure, bringing new water treatment centers to our State and championing flood protection measures. He wrangled Federal funding for the Cumberland Gap Tunnel in Bell County, which he described as ``the most significant thing that has happened there since Daniel Boone began to bring settlers through the gap.'' He helped bring the fine arts to Southeastern Kentucky through the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg. Locals are so appreciative of Hal's many projects that they dubbed the state-of-the-art Center for Rural Development in Somerset, one of his capstone initiatives, as the ``Taj Ma-Hal'' in his honor. And that is not the only place in Hal's district that commemorates his service. If you visit Southeastern Kentucky, you will drive along the gorgeous Hal Rogers Parkway, study groundbreaking technical advances at the Hal Rogers Advanced Technology Center, and learn important career skills as part of the Hal Rogers Scholars Program. Whitley County residents were so thankful for Hal's work that they even named the home of their new Kentucky Splash Water Park, the Hal Rogers Family Entertainment Center. In Congress, we are just as fond of Hal Rogers as his constituents are back at home. I have been proud to work alongside this premier legislator for nearly four decades. We share the same priorities for the people of Kentucky and the same vision for our State's great future. Hal would not be the man he is today without the love and support of his late wife Shirley and their children, Anthony, Allison, and John. Later in life, Hal met and married Cynthia, a Tennesseean who has also come to love Kentucky and its people. So as Hal breaks the record as the longest serving U.S. Representative in Kentucky history, let us all give thanks to this great public servant and the entire Rogers family. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6537-4 | null | 3,122 |
formal | Reagan | null | white supremacist | Tribute to Hal Rogers Madam President, now, on one final matter, Representative Hal Rogers once described Southeastern Kentuckians by saying: ``They're honest, forthright. . . . they can see through a phony in a minute flat.'' So it is fitting his constituents just reelected him by 70 points. He is certainly honest, forthright, and no phony. For over 40 years, Hal has fought for his home region and delivered unparalleled support for its development and its growth. In honor of Hal becoming the longest serving Representative in the history of the Commonwealth earlier this September, I would like to pay tribute to this one-of-a-kind Kentuckian. I first met Hal during the 1971 Kentucky gubernatorial election. He was already a rising star in the State Republican Party, having just been elected Commonwealth's attorney for Pulaski and Rockcastle Counties 2 years prior. As a fellow attorney and young conservative, I looked up to Hal and watched his career with considerable interest. Less than a decade later, Hal was elected to the House of Representatives in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District the same year Ronald Reagan was elected President. Since then, he has won reelection 19 times, always by a wide margin. He loves his corner of the State, and as his repeated victories absolutely prove, his constituents love him right back. Once Hal got to Congress, he quickly went to work fighting for the issues his constituents cared the most about. His hard-won legislative victories earned him praise from fellow House Republicans who tapped him to lead the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Eight years later, he became chairman of the full House Appropriations Committee, expertly cutting spending, reducing waste, and directing funds to important projects all across the country. As a former Commonwealth's attorney, Hal used his law enforcement credentials to defend Kentucky from a wide array of threats. Before the rest of America was paying full attention to the scourge of substance abuse, Hal launched Operation UNITE. The anti-narcotics initiative covers 32 Kentucky counties and has been on the frontlines in the fight against the opioid epidemic, helping to lock up thousands of criminals and remove millions of dollars' worth of illegal drugs from the streets. Hal is a lead promoter of investment in Southeastern Kentucky, which fortoo long has suffered economic distress and seen indifference from Washington. He united Kentucky's Appalachian counties around the Shaping our Appalachian Region, or SOAR, initiative to create a concerted effort to attract jobs and development to the region. He revolutionized Southeastern Kentucky's water infrastructure, bringing new water treatment centers to our State and championing flood protection measures. He wrangled Federal funding for the Cumberland Gap Tunnel in Bell County, which he described as ``the most significant thing that has happened there since Daniel Boone began to bring settlers through the gap.'' He helped bring the fine arts to Southeastern Kentucky through the Mountain Arts Center in Prestonsburg. Locals are so appreciative of Hal's many projects that they dubbed the state-of-the-art Center for Rural Development in Somerset, one of his capstone initiatives, as the ``Taj Ma-Hal'' in his honor. And that is not the only place in Hal's district that commemorates his service. If you visit Southeastern Kentucky, you will drive along the gorgeous Hal Rogers Parkway, study groundbreaking technical advances at the Hal Rogers Advanced Technology Center, and learn important career skills as part of the Hal Rogers Scholars Program. Whitley County residents were so thankful for Hal's work that they even named the home of their new Kentucky Splash Water Park, the Hal Rogers Family Entertainment Center. In Congress, we are just as fond of Hal Rogers as his constituents are back at home. I have been proud to work alongside this premier legislator for nearly four decades. We share the same priorities for the people of Kentucky and the same vision for our State's great future. Hal would not be the man he is today without the love and support of his late wife Shirley and their children, Anthony, Allison, and John. Later in life, Hal met and married Cynthia, a Tennesseean who has also come to love Kentucky and its people. So as Hal breaks the record as the longest serving U.S. Representative in Kentucky history, let us all give thanks to this great public servant and the entire Rogers family. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6537-4 | null | 3,123 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Nominees Madam President, on another note, I rise to request that the nominations submitted by the President on September 13 to be members of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board be referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for a hearing. This board has the important task of administering the Thrift Savings Plan, better known as TSP, which is the retirement investment plan utilized by 6 million members of our Federal workforce, including our Nation's Armed Forces. The members of this Board make decisions impacting the retirement savings of millions of Americans. This is a huge responsibility. Recognizing that responsibility, the Trump administration rightfully put in place a ban on TSP investment in Chinese companies, but that ban is no longer in force, exposing these Americans to significant economic risk and undermining U.S. national security interests. Because Congress has given the Board oversight of retirement investment of millions of Americans and because the previous China investment plan is no longer in place, Congress has a duty to thoroughly vet these nominees. Our adversaries are trying to do everything possible to get a leg up on the United States. Because we are the greatest country on the face of the Earth, investments in companies with Chinese Communist Party ties are a direct threat to our national security. Such investments funnel capital to companies that commonly violate U.S. sanction laws and that are actively working to facilitate China's military expansion and the persecution of religious minorities. Chinese companies are notorious for their deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party and for their support of government, surveillance, and espionage activities. But Chinese companies also have a long history of costing investors billions in losses by manipulating financial reporting statements and failing to comply with basic audit standards in an effort to artificially inflate their success. The Luckin Coffee incident is just one of the first that comes to mind. Fraudulent practices like these put the retirement savings of Americans in jeopardy. This is exactly why, earlier this year, I introduced legislation to prohibit Thrift Savings Plan funds from being invested in Chinese companies--to protect the retirement savings of our Federal civilian workforce and our Armed Forces. Protecting these Americans' investments and our country's national security is a serious issue requiring serious consideration. If confirmed, President Biden's nominees to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board would be the gatekeepers, and Congress has a responsibility to thoroughly vet them. I hope that my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee will question each nominee on their position on TSP investment in China. Our Nation's military and civilian public servants have a right to know the nominees' views on this issue since the preservation of their retirement savings hangs in the balance. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6545 | null | 3,124 |
formal | right to know | null | anti-GMO | Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Nominees Madam President, on another note, I rise to request that the nominations submitted by the President on September 13 to be members of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board be referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for a hearing. This board has the important task of administering the Thrift Savings Plan, better known as TSP, which is the retirement investment plan utilized by 6 million members of our Federal workforce, including our Nation's Armed Forces. The members of this Board make decisions impacting the retirement savings of millions of Americans. This is a huge responsibility. Recognizing that responsibility, the Trump administration rightfully put in place a ban on TSP investment in Chinese companies, but that ban is no longer in force, exposing these Americans to significant economic risk and undermining U.S. national security interests. Because Congress has given the Board oversight of retirement investment of millions of Americans and because the previous China investment plan is no longer in place, Congress has a duty to thoroughly vet these nominees. Our adversaries are trying to do everything possible to get a leg up on the United States. Because we are the greatest country on the face of the Earth, investments in companies with Chinese Communist Party ties are a direct threat to our national security. Such investments funnel capital to companies that commonly violate U.S. sanction laws and that are actively working to facilitate China's military expansion and the persecution of religious minorities. Chinese companies are notorious for their deep ties to the Chinese Communist Party and for their support of government, surveillance, and espionage activities. But Chinese companies also have a long history of costing investors billions in losses by manipulating financial reporting statements and failing to comply with basic audit standards in an effort to artificially inflate their success. The Luckin Coffee incident is just one of the first that comes to mind. Fraudulent practices like these put the retirement savings of Americans in jeopardy. This is exactly why, earlier this year, I introduced legislation to prohibit Thrift Savings Plan funds from being invested in Chinese companies--to protect the retirement savings of our Federal civilian workforce and our Armed Forces. Protecting these Americans' investments and our country's national security is a serious issue requiring serious consideration. If confirmed, President Biden's nominees to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board would be the gatekeepers, and Congress has a responsibility to thoroughly vet them. I hope that my colleagues on the Homeland Security Committee will question each nominee on their position on TSP investment in China. Our Nation's military and civilian public servants have a right to know the nominees' views on this issue since the preservation of their retirement savings hangs in the balance. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6545 | null | 3,125 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I have the honor of recognizing Hunter Jones of Billings for his many years supporting Montana service members deployed overseas. Hunter is the grandson of a World War I veteran, and the son of a World War II and Korean War veteran. Though not a veteran himself, Hunter was instilled with a driving passion to honor military servicemembers throughout his life. Hunter made his way to Billings, MT, as an educator in 1995 and quickly began a program with his students at Will James Middle School to recognize and honor Montana servicemembers and veterans. Following the tragic terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, Hunter saw the need to support Montanans deployed overseas in the Global War on Terror. He and his students began sending care packages and letters to the men and women fighting to protect our freedoms. For over 19 years, Hunter has diligently kept this up, and now, close to 30 of his former students have been inspired to military service, including a Navy SEAL and members of all military branches, who have also received care packages from him. Military servicemembers have recognized Hunter's support by sending him American flags flown in countries where they were deployed, along with letters of appreciation. Hunter proudly displays them in his classroom. It is my distinct honor to recognize Hunter for over 20 years of supporting Montana military servicemembers and for teaching the Treasure State's youth to honor those who have fought for this great Nation. Hunter's patriotism and love for the men and women of our Armed Forces will live on in the generations of Montanans he has taught at Will James Middle School in Billings, MT. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DAINES | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6549-2 | null | 3,126 |
formal | Detroit | null | racist | Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an accomplished and highly regarded leader of Michigan's philanthropic community, Mariam C. Noland, president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Ms. Noland, a resident of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, has made an immeasurable impact on southeast Michigan, our State, and the entire country during the past 36 years. It is my privilege to recognize her here today and celebrate her upcoming retirement. Mariam Noland earned her bachelor of science from Case Western Reserve University in 1969, followed by her master of education from Harvard University. During her time at Harvard, Ms. Noland worked on a research project through the Pittsburgh Foundation, another community foundation. This was her first experience in the foundation field, a field in which she would spend almost her entire distinguished career. In 1975, Ms. Noland began working as an education policy fellow, secretary, and treasurer at the Cleveland Foundation. It was there, she states, that she truly learned the power of community foundations and the power of change. Six years later, she became vice president of the Saint Paul Foundation of Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1984, Joseph L. Hudson, Jr., and other civic leaders started the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan with a mission to enhance the quality of life for residents of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston Counties. This group of visionaries hired Mariam Noland in 1985 as the foundation's first president, a role in which she has remained to this day. As a result of Ms. Noland's steadfast leadership and tireless devotion, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has grown over the last four decades into one of the 30 largest community foundations in the country. The organization has awarded more than $1.2 billion in grants, benefiting countless nonprofits and the individuals and families they serve. This past year alone, during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Foundation provided over $101 million in grants, its largest annual grant total to date. Ms. Noland has personally raised hundreds of millions of dollars and has initiated many new and innovative programs. Some of the highlights from her career include the GreenWays Initiative that has built interconnected trails throughout southeast Michigan, as well the New Economy Initiative, the Nation's largest multi-foundation funded collaborative addressing economic development and opportunity. Additionally, Ms. Noland was also essential to the creation and development of the HOPE Fund, which is one of the largest and most effective funds in the Nation at a community foundation addressing needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Ms. Noland, a creative and effective problem-solver, is also known for the historic role she played during Detroit's bankruptcy. She influenced 14 foundations to collectively donate more than $366 million, which, when combined with $350 million in State funds and $100 million raised by the Detroit Institute of Arts, provided $816 million to help protect pensions for city workers while at the same time safeguarding the cultural pieces of the art museum. Ms. Noland's contributions go well beyond her impressive work at the Community Foundation. She generously gives her time and expertise as a member of the boards of trustees for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, and the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC. She also previously served as vice chair of the Henry Ford Health System Board of Directors, as well as chair of the Council of Michigan Foundations Board of Trustees. Ms. Noland's incredible work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and honors. In 2009, she received the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award. That same year, the Community Foundation established its own Mariam C. Noland Award in her honor to recognize a local nonprofit leader who exemplifies leadership in his or her organization and the broader nonprofit community. I cannot understate the impact Mariam C. Noland has had on the people of Michigan. She has created influential philanthropic initiatives, promoted positive changes in our communities, and enhanced the lives of countless Michiganders. She leaves a community foundation that now holds more than $1.1 billion in ``community capital'' that will benefit future southeast Michigan residents for decades to come. Moreover, she has created a model for charitable giving and foundation management that is unmatched. Though her leadership at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will be sorely missed upon her retirement, her legacy will most certainly endure. For these reasons, I am grateful for this opportunity to recognize her accomplishments and to extend our collective gratitude on behalf of all who have--and who will--benefit from her efforts. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PETERS | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6549-3 | null | 3,127 |
formal | Cleveland | null | racist | Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an accomplished and highly regarded leader of Michigan's philanthropic community, Mariam C. Noland, president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Ms. Noland, a resident of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, has made an immeasurable impact on southeast Michigan, our State, and the entire country during the past 36 years. It is my privilege to recognize her here today and celebrate her upcoming retirement. Mariam Noland earned her bachelor of science from Case Western Reserve University in 1969, followed by her master of education from Harvard University. During her time at Harvard, Ms. Noland worked on a research project through the Pittsburgh Foundation, another community foundation. This was her first experience in the foundation field, a field in which she would spend almost her entire distinguished career. In 1975, Ms. Noland began working as an education policy fellow, secretary, and treasurer at the Cleveland Foundation. It was there, she states, that she truly learned the power of community foundations and the power of change. Six years later, she became vice president of the Saint Paul Foundation of Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1984, Joseph L. Hudson, Jr., and other civic leaders started the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan with a mission to enhance the quality of life for residents of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston Counties. This group of visionaries hired Mariam Noland in 1985 as the foundation's first president, a role in which she has remained to this day. As a result of Ms. Noland's steadfast leadership and tireless devotion, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has grown over the last four decades into one of the 30 largest community foundations in the country. The organization has awarded more than $1.2 billion in grants, benefiting countless nonprofits and the individuals and families they serve. This past year alone, during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Foundation provided over $101 million in grants, its largest annual grant total to date. Ms. Noland has personally raised hundreds of millions of dollars and has initiated many new and innovative programs. Some of the highlights from her career include the GreenWays Initiative that has built interconnected trails throughout southeast Michigan, as well the New Economy Initiative, the Nation's largest multi-foundation funded collaborative addressing economic development and opportunity. Additionally, Ms. Noland was also essential to the creation and development of the HOPE Fund, which is one of the largest and most effective funds in the Nation at a community foundation addressing needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Ms. Noland, a creative and effective problem-solver, is also known for the historic role she played during Detroit's bankruptcy. She influenced 14 foundations to collectively donate more than $366 million, which, when combined with $350 million in State funds and $100 million raised by the Detroit Institute of Arts, provided $816 million to help protect pensions for city workers while at the same time safeguarding the cultural pieces of the art museum. Ms. Noland's contributions go well beyond her impressive work at the Community Foundation. She generously gives her time and expertise as a member of the boards of trustees for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, and the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC. She also previously served as vice chair of the Henry Ford Health System Board of Directors, as well as chair of the Council of Michigan Foundations Board of Trustees. Ms. Noland's incredible work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and honors. In 2009, she received the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award. That same year, the Community Foundation established its own Mariam C. Noland Award in her honor to recognize a local nonprofit leader who exemplifies leadership in his or her organization and the broader nonprofit community. I cannot understate the impact Mariam C. Noland has had on the people of Michigan. She has created influential philanthropic initiatives, promoted positive changes in our communities, and enhanced the lives of countless Michiganders. She leaves a community foundation that now holds more than $1.1 billion in ``community capital'' that will benefit future southeast Michigan residents for decades to come. Moreover, she has created a model for charitable giving and foundation management that is unmatched. Though her leadership at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will be sorely missed upon her retirement, her legacy will most certainly endure. For these reasons, I am grateful for this opportunity to recognize her accomplishments and to extend our collective gratitude on behalf of all who have--and who will--benefit from her efforts. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PETERS | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6549-3 | null | 3,128 |
formal | safeguarding | null | transphobic | Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, I rise today to honor an accomplished and highly regarded leader of Michigan's philanthropic community, Mariam C. Noland, president of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. Ms. Noland, a resident of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, has made an immeasurable impact on southeast Michigan, our State, and the entire country during the past 36 years. It is my privilege to recognize her here today and celebrate her upcoming retirement. Mariam Noland earned her bachelor of science from Case Western Reserve University in 1969, followed by her master of education from Harvard University. During her time at Harvard, Ms. Noland worked on a research project through the Pittsburgh Foundation, another community foundation. This was her first experience in the foundation field, a field in which she would spend almost her entire distinguished career. In 1975, Ms. Noland began working as an education policy fellow, secretary, and treasurer at the Cleveland Foundation. It was there, she states, that she truly learned the power of community foundations and the power of change. Six years later, she became vice president of the Saint Paul Foundation of Saint Paul, Minnesota. In 1984, Joseph L. Hudson, Jr., and other civic leaders started the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan with a mission to enhance the quality of life for residents of Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Monroe, Washtenaw, St. Clair, and Livingston Counties. This group of visionaries hired Mariam Noland in 1985 as the foundation's first president, a role in which she has remained to this day. As a result of Ms. Noland's steadfast leadership and tireless devotion, the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan has grown over the last four decades into one of the 30 largest community foundations in the country. The organization has awarded more than $1.2 billion in grants, benefiting countless nonprofits and the individuals and families they serve. This past year alone, during the challenging COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Foundation provided over $101 million in grants, its largest annual grant total to date. Ms. Noland has personally raised hundreds of millions of dollars and has initiated many new and innovative programs. Some of the highlights from her career include the GreenWays Initiative that has built interconnected trails throughout southeast Michigan, as well the New Economy Initiative, the Nation's largest multi-foundation funded collaborative addressing economic development and opportunity. Additionally, Ms. Noland was also essential to the creation and development of the HOPE Fund, which is one of the largest and most effective funds in the Nation at a community foundation addressing needs of the LGBTQ+ community. Ms. Noland, a creative and effective problem-solver, is also known for the historic role she played during Detroit's bankruptcy. She influenced 14 foundations to collectively donate more than $366 million, which, when combined with $350 million in State funds and $100 million raised by the Detroit Institute of Arts, provided $816 million to help protect pensions for city workers while at the same time safeguarding the cultural pieces of the art museum. Ms. Noland's contributions go well beyond her impressive work at the Community Foundation. She generously gives her time and expertise as a member of the boards of trustees for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, the Downtown Detroit Partnership, and the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, DC. She also previously served as vice chair of the Henry Ford Health System Board of Directors, as well as chair of the Council of Michigan Foundations Board of Trustees. Ms. Noland's incredible work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards and honors. In 2009, she received the Eleanor Josaitis Unsung Hero Award. That same year, the Community Foundation established its own Mariam C. Noland Award in her honor to recognize a local nonprofit leader who exemplifies leadership in his or her organization and the broader nonprofit community. I cannot understate the impact Mariam C. Noland has had on the people of Michigan. She has created influential philanthropic initiatives, promoted positive changes in our communities, and enhanced the lives of countless Michiganders. She leaves a community foundation that now holds more than $1.1 billion in ``community capital'' that will benefit future southeast Michigan residents for decades to come. Moreover, she has created a model for charitable giving and foundation management that is unmatched. Though her leadership at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan will be sorely missed upon her retirement, her legacy will most certainly endure. For these reasons, I am grateful for this opportunity to recognize her accomplishments and to extend our collective gratitude on behalf of all who have--and who will--benefit from her efforts. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PETERS | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6549-3 | null | 3,129 |
formal | butterfly | null | homophobic | Ms. KLOBUCHAR (for herself and Ms. Smith) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: S. Res. 370 Whereas 17 Minnesotans qualified to compete for Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games, including: Sunisa (Suni) Lee, Kyra Condie, Lara Dallman-Weiss, Mason Ferlic, Bowe Becker, Regan Smith, Sylvia Fowles, Napheesa Collier, Joe Klecker, Payton Otterdahl, Gable Steveson, Patrick Sunderman, Alise Willoughby, Jordan Thompson, Bethanie Matteck-Sands, Grace McCallum, and Shane Wiskus; Whereas Suni Lee won the gold medal in the women's gymnastics all-around, helped Team USA win a silver medal in the team final, and won the bronze medal in the uneven bars; Whereas Grace McCallum helped Team USA win the silver medal in the women's gymnastics team final; Whereas Neephesa Collier and Sylvia Fowles helped Team USA win the gold medal in women's basketball; Whereas Jordan Thompson was part of the Team USA women's volleyball team, which won its first-ever gold medal; Whereas Bowe Becker helped win the gold medal in the men's 4x100 freestyle swimming relay; Whereas Regan Smith won the silver medal in the 200-meter butterfly, the bronze medal in the 100-meter backstroke, and helped Team USA win the silver medal in the 4x100 meter women's medley relay; Whereas Gable Steveson won the gold medal in men's freestyle wrestling; Whereas the athletes trained for many years, demonstrated discipline, exhibited world-class athleticism, and overcame historic obstacles, including the delay and altering of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, to earn the chance to compete for Team USA; and Whereas team spirit and perseverance were displayed by the athletes throughout the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games despite the lack of live audiences or cheering fans: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) commends the exceptional talent, extraordinary commitment, and undisputed hard work of the 17 Minnesotans who competed for Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games and made the United States proud; and (2) honors the example of sportsmanship, excellence, and teamwork of those athletes. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-20-pt1-PgS6553-3 | null | 3,130 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 1828) to amend the Central Intelligence Agency Act of 1949 to authorize the provision of payment to personnel of the Central Intelligence Agency who incur qualifying injuries to the brain, to authorize the provision of payment to personnel of the Department of State who incur similar injuries, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER | House | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgH4576-2 | null | 3,131 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The Speaker announced her signature to enrolled bills of the Senate of the following titles: S. 272.--An act to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, to require the budget justifications and appropriation requests of agencies be made publicly available. S. 325.--An act to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgH4861 | null | 3,132 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,133 |
formal | coastal elite | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,134 |
formal | coastal elites | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,135 |
formal | cosmopolitan | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,136 |
formal | tax cut | null | racist | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,137 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,138 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,139 |
formal | special interest | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,140 |
formal | special interests | null | antisemitic | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the senior House Democrat told us back in March of 2020 that COVID presented ``a tremendous opportunity to restructure things to fit our vision.'' President Biden said last week that ``while this pandemic has been godawful for so many reasons . . . it does present us with an opportunity.'' The reckless taxing-and-spending spree that Washington Democrats are assembling behind closed doors would put more debt, more borrowing, and more inflation on the shoulders of American families. It would make Washington, DC, dramatically more involved in families' childcare, their health coverage, their local energy utilities, and on and on. There are so many controversial changes being crammed into one mega bill that it must be a deliberate strategy: try to achieve everything the far left has wanted for 20 years in one fell swoop before the country has time to realize what hit it. So today, I am going to focus on just one example. Let's look at the tax hikes, a staggering historic set of tax hikes; tax hikes on small business, tax hikes on family farms, tax hikes on Americans that would shatter the pledge to spare people earning less than $400,000 a year, tax hikes that would put even more Americans into unfair double taxation of the death tax, massive taxes on the U.S. economy that would give us one of the least competitive tax structures in the developed world. For example, even Communist China taxes their own businesses significantly less than President Biden and his allies want America to tax ours. Tax hike after tax hike after tax hike--a smothering wet blanket thrown onto an economy that is already struggling to fully recover because of the inflation and worker shortages that Democrats' policies have already unleashed. So when you add it all up, Democrats want to ram through one of the largest peacetime tax hikes on record, if not the single largest. So let me say that again. Behind closed doors, Washington Democrats are drafting what may very well be the largest peacetime tax hike that our country has literally ever seen. But this isn't to say that nobody gets a leg up in this bill. So listen to this. Somehow, mysteriously, many of the Democrats' favorite groups and special interests come out just fine. Isn't that fascinating? For example, their legislation would allow ordinary Americans' charitable deduction on top of the standard deduction to expire. Ah, but they would replace it with a brandnew tax break of almost exactly the same dollar amount for union dues that go to Big Labor. So you take out a charitable deduction for regular Americans, put in a new one for union dues that would benefit Big Labor. They are scrapping Americans' extra deduction for donating to charity and replacing it with a special subsidy for union dues for Big Labor. Really, you can't make this stuff up. Sorry, Red Cross. Sorry, local churches and houses of worship. Sorry, soup kitchens. Democrats think the Teamsters and the SEIU need the money more than you do. And they aren't the only group that Democrats favor, who literally make out like bandits. Look at high-income earners in coastal blue States. The bill that raises taxes on everything that moves somehow--somehow--makes room for a special, gigantic tax cut for wealthy people who choose to live in high-tax States. More than half the benefit of the so-called SALT policy would go to the top 1 percent of households. There is also a special tax break for people who choose to purchase expensive electric cars. You get the picture: make U.S. industry less competitive than China in order to massively subsidize the coastal cosmopolitan lifestyle. That is what the Democrats want. This bill would also create a new national dragnet for ordinary Americans' banking information. Community banks and credit unions would be hammered with new requirements to report to the feds whenever citizens make transactions--listen to this--in excess of $600. Community banks and credit unions would have new requirements to report to the Federal Government whenever citizens make transactions in excess of $600. Big Brother wants to peer into America's bank accounts. Here is how one local Kentucky lender described this concept to me: a ``flagrant violation of privacy and offense to liberty.'' That pretty well sums it up. So, huge tax hikes on Americans, expensive giveaways for coastal elites, and new government snooping--snooping--into families' finances. So that is just one corner of this reckless taxing-and-spending spree that should never see the light of day. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6559-3 | null | 3,141 |
formal | tax cut | null | racist | Business Before the Senate On another note, Mr. President, in the coming days, this Senate has a historic decision to make and very little time to make it. We have to set aside politics, which the American people are begging us over and over to do, and we have to ensure that our government can continue to function in the midst of this public health crisis and a recovering economy. Now, in any reasonable scenario, these would be noncontroversial and nonpartisan endeavors, but sadly, at this moment in the U.S. Senate, reason is in short supply. In recent days, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have indicated that they are prepared to--listen to this--sabotage the routine process of government for political reasons. This could have a catastrophic impact on this Nation. Last week, Senator McConnell reiterated that Republicans will not join Democrats in voting to deal with the debt limit. What exactly does it mean? Well, imagine if you and I just up and decided to stop paying your credit card bills. If Congress fails to raise or suspend the debt limit before the Treasury runs out of cash, our Nation runs the risk of default for the first time in history. That is why lawmakers have to set aside politics, as we have done nearly 80 times in our history, to keep the government's bills being paid. Truthfully, this shouldn't even be a debate. Raising or suspending the debt limit has nothing to do with any new programs or new spending. It is about paying off the tab that the government has already incurred. We are receiving the bill at the restaurant after we have had the big meal; the question is whether we will pay it. Here is the kicker: Much of the debt that the Republicans are threatening not to pay was approved by Senate Republicans when Donald Trump was in the White House. In other words, we are being asked to approve the Trump debt from his years in the Presidency, which largely had the support of the Republicans, and the Republicans are telling us: ``Hands off. We won't accept responsibility for the things we voted for during the Trump years.'' The last time Congress suspended the debt limit was in August 2019, a little over halfway through President Trump's term. Between then and the beginning of President Biden's term, congressional Republicans approved $6 trillion in new debt. In fact, during Trump's one term in office, the national debt ballooned by 36 percent. Fiscal conservatives? During the Trump administration, the national debt ballooned by 36 percent. Well, that surely has happened before in history? No, I am sorry, it has not. That is the fastest it has grown under any President in American history. The Trump years were the biggest debt years in the history of the United States, and now the Republicans don't recognize it. They want to walk away from it. You may be wondering: For what noble or productive purpose did the Republicans go so deep in debt during the Trump years? Well, a big chunk of it was Donald Trump's tax giveaway to the richest Americans--$2 trillion--$2 trillion in tax cuts for people at the superwealthy level in America. And now it is time to say to the Republicans: You voted for those tax cuts. The wealthiest people in America applauded you. Now would you at least step up and admit it? Nope. Now that it is time for Republicans to pay for the meal that they ate, the political banquet, they are vowing instead to dine and dash. They are taking a page straight from the playbook of Donald Trump, the man who called himself proudly ``the king of debt,'' a man who didn't pay his own bills as a businessman and who incurred the largest increase in the national debt of any President in history. And in the process, the Republicans--to take this incredible and inexplicable stand--are willing to risk the full faith and credit of the United States. When it comes to America's debt, default is simply not an option for any rational person. There is not a single American who will emerge unscathed if the Republicans execute this political strategy. Defaulting on our debtthreatens Social Security payments for tens of millions of Americans, it threatens healthcare coverage for tens of millions more, and it could slash benefits for our Nation's veterans. Who could be proud of that vote? On a national global scale, default would be, in the words of Mark Zandi, Moody's chief economist, ``financial Armageddon.'' It would send markets into free fall and threaten America's status as the world's reserve currency. Imagine that. You say to the seniors: Well, maybe/maybe not on your Social Security payments. And, incidentally, the stocks and the ETFs and the mutual funds and the investments you had for your retirement--hang on tight; they are about to take a huge hit, a hit that is totally avoidable. Back in 2011, when House Republicans initially refused to raise the debt limit, America's credit rating was downgraded. So what? Interest rates went up, so we are paying more money in interest instead of paying it for things America values--healthcare, education, infrastructure. Some economists believe that episode hurt consumer confidence and hobbled our economy in the great recession. It also stuck taxpayers with billions of dollars in increased borrowing costs. Think about how fragile America's economy is at this very moment. We are still recovering from a once-in-a-century public health crisis and the worst economic crisis in 75 years. The last thing we need is a self-inflicted crisis that is motivated by partisanship. Mr. President, right now, our economy has to be our highest priority. We need to come together and get the government funded. We also have an obligation to provide financial relief to Americans who have been hit by the environmental disasters. My State escaped that, but tomorrow that may not be the case. You never know with these extreme weather events. Hurricane Ida was an eye-opener for many parts of this country. People are suffering. Disaster aid for these people is essential. We need to also help resettle the refugees from Afghanistan. They risked their lives for Americans; we should make a home for them here in the United States. We also want to make sure that we support our military in every way possible. Instead of bickering and political brinksmanship, Congress needs to rise to this moment of crisis. The American people sent us to Washington not to manufacture crises but to prevent them. That is exactly why Senate Democrats are moving ahead to put President Biden's Build Back Better plan in place. Pay our debts, invest in a prosperous future--that is our plan. We would love to have Republican support for it. We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to consider working families, middle-income families, struggling families, not the wealthy. The Build Back Better plan will grow our economy for generations to come. If fully enacted, it will create a future for every parent to take off work to care for a newborn child. Every high school grad can receive a college education and set their sights on a good-paying job. And every senior citizen can afford prescription drugs they need without dipping into their saving. These investments will make America healthier, happier, stronger, and more prosperous. And unlike President Trump's giveaway to the rich, President Biden's Build Back Better plan is a prudent investment in our Nation's financial future. We are going to pay for it; that is the Senate Democrats' intent. It will not be added to the deficit. I look forward to discussing that plan in detail in the weeks to come. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6560-5 | null | 3,142 |
formal | tax cuts | null | racist | Business Before the Senate On another note, Mr. President, in the coming days, this Senate has a historic decision to make and very little time to make it. We have to set aside politics, which the American people are begging us over and over to do, and we have to ensure that our government can continue to function in the midst of this public health crisis and a recovering economy. Now, in any reasonable scenario, these would be noncontroversial and nonpartisan endeavors, but sadly, at this moment in the U.S. Senate, reason is in short supply. In recent days, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have indicated that they are prepared to--listen to this--sabotage the routine process of government for political reasons. This could have a catastrophic impact on this Nation. Last week, Senator McConnell reiterated that Republicans will not join Democrats in voting to deal with the debt limit. What exactly does it mean? Well, imagine if you and I just up and decided to stop paying your credit card bills. If Congress fails to raise or suspend the debt limit before the Treasury runs out of cash, our Nation runs the risk of default for the first time in history. That is why lawmakers have to set aside politics, as we have done nearly 80 times in our history, to keep the government's bills being paid. Truthfully, this shouldn't even be a debate. Raising or suspending the debt limit has nothing to do with any new programs or new spending. It is about paying off the tab that the government has already incurred. We are receiving the bill at the restaurant after we have had the big meal; the question is whether we will pay it. Here is the kicker: Much of the debt that the Republicans are threatening not to pay was approved by Senate Republicans when Donald Trump was in the White House. In other words, we are being asked to approve the Trump debt from his years in the Presidency, which largely had the support of the Republicans, and the Republicans are telling us: ``Hands off. We won't accept responsibility for the things we voted for during the Trump years.'' The last time Congress suspended the debt limit was in August 2019, a little over halfway through President Trump's term. Between then and the beginning of President Biden's term, congressional Republicans approved $6 trillion in new debt. In fact, during Trump's one term in office, the national debt ballooned by 36 percent. Fiscal conservatives? During the Trump administration, the national debt ballooned by 36 percent. Well, that surely has happened before in history? No, I am sorry, it has not. That is the fastest it has grown under any President in American history. The Trump years were the biggest debt years in the history of the United States, and now the Republicans don't recognize it. They want to walk away from it. You may be wondering: For what noble or productive purpose did the Republicans go so deep in debt during the Trump years? Well, a big chunk of it was Donald Trump's tax giveaway to the richest Americans--$2 trillion--$2 trillion in tax cuts for people at the superwealthy level in America. And now it is time to say to the Republicans: You voted for those tax cuts. The wealthiest people in America applauded you. Now would you at least step up and admit it? Nope. Now that it is time for Republicans to pay for the meal that they ate, the political banquet, they are vowing instead to dine and dash. They are taking a page straight from the playbook of Donald Trump, the man who called himself proudly ``the king of debt,'' a man who didn't pay his own bills as a businessman and who incurred the largest increase in the national debt of any President in history. And in the process, the Republicans--to take this incredible and inexplicable stand--are willing to risk the full faith and credit of the United States. When it comes to America's debt, default is simply not an option for any rational person. There is not a single American who will emerge unscathed if the Republicans execute this political strategy. Defaulting on our debtthreatens Social Security payments for tens of millions of Americans, it threatens healthcare coverage for tens of millions more, and it could slash benefits for our Nation's veterans. Who could be proud of that vote? On a national global scale, default would be, in the words of Mark Zandi, Moody's chief economist, ``financial Armageddon.'' It would send markets into free fall and threaten America's status as the world's reserve currency. Imagine that. You say to the seniors: Well, maybe/maybe not on your Social Security payments. And, incidentally, the stocks and the ETFs and the mutual funds and the investments you had for your retirement--hang on tight; they are about to take a huge hit, a hit that is totally avoidable. Back in 2011, when House Republicans initially refused to raise the debt limit, America's credit rating was downgraded. So what? Interest rates went up, so we are paying more money in interest instead of paying it for things America values--healthcare, education, infrastructure. Some economists believe that episode hurt consumer confidence and hobbled our economy in the great recession. It also stuck taxpayers with billions of dollars in increased borrowing costs. Think about how fragile America's economy is at this very moment. We are still recovering from a once-in-a-century public health crisis and the worst economic crisis in 75 years. The last thing we need is a self-inflicted crisis that is motivated by partisanship. Mr. President, right now, our economy has to be our highest priority. We need to come together and get the government funded. We also have an obligation to provide financial relief to Americans who have been hit by the environmental disasters. My State escaped that, but tomorrow that may not be the case. You never know with these extreme weather events. Hurricane Ida was an eye-opener for many parts of this country. People are suffering. Disaster aid for these people is essential. We need to also help resettle the refugees from Afghanistan. They risked their lives for Americans; we should make a home for them here in the United States. We also want to make sure that we support our military in every way possible. Instead of bickering and political brinksmanship, Congress needs to rise to this moment of crisis. The American people sent us to Washington not to manufacture crises but to prevent them. That is exactly why Senate Democrats are moving ahead to put President Biden's Build Back Better plan in place. Pay our debts, invest in a prosperous future--that is our plan. We would love to have Republican support for it. We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to consider working families, middle-income families, struggling families, not the wealthy. The Build Back Better plan will grow our economy for generations to come. If fully enacted, it will create a future for every parent to take off work to care for a newborn child. Every high school grad can receive a college education and set their sights on a good-paying job. And every senior citizen can afford prescription drugs they need without dipping into their saving. These investments will make America healthier, happier, stronger, and more prosperous. And unlike President Trump's giveaway to the rich, President Biden's Build Back Better plan is a prudent investment in our Nation's financial future. We are going to pay for it; that is the Senate Democrats' intent. It will not be added to the deficit. I look forward to discussing that plan in detail in the weeks to come. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6560-5 | null | 3,143 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Business Before the Senate On another note, Mr. President, in the coming days, this Senate has a historic decision to make and very little time to make it. We have to set aside politics, which the American people are begging us over and over to do, and we have to ensure that our government can continue to function in the midst of this public health crisis and a recovering economy. Now, in any reasonable scenario, these would be noncontroversial and nonpartisan endeavors, but sadly, at this moment in the U.S. Senate, reason is in short supply. In recent days, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have indicated that they are prepared to--listen to this--sabotage the routine process of government for political reasons. This could have a catastrophic impact on this Nation. Last week, Senator McConnell reiterated that Republicans will not join Democrats in voting to deal with the debt limit. What exactly does it mean? Well, imagine if you and I just up and decided to stop paying your credit card bills. If Congress fails to raise or suspend the debt limit before the Treasury runs out of cash, our Nation runs the risk of default for the first time in history. That is why lawmakers have to set aside politics, as we have done nearly 80 times in our history, to keep the government's bills being paid. Truthfully, this shouldn't even be a debate. Raising or suspending the debt limit has nothing to do with any new programs or new spending. It is about paying off the tab that the government has already incurred. We are receiving the bill at the restaurant after we have had the big meal; the question is whether we will pay it. Here is the kicker: Much of the debt that the Republicans are threatening not to pay was approved by Senate Republicans when Donald Trump was in the White House. In other words, we are being asked to approve the Trump debt from his years in the Presidency, which largely had the support of the Republicans, and the Republicans are telling us: ``Hands off. We won't accept responsibility for the things we voted for during the Trump years.'' The last time Congress suspended the debt limit was in August 2019, a little over halfway through President Trump's term. Between then and the beginning of President Biden's term, congressional Republicans approved $6 trillion in new debt. In fact, during Trump's one term in office, the national debt ballooned by 36 percent. Fiscal conservatives? During the Trump administration, the national debt ballooned by 36 percent. Well, that surely has happened before in history? No, I am sorry, it has not. That is the fastest it has grown under any President in American history. The Trump years were the biggest debt years in the history of the United States, and now the Republicans don't recognize it. They want to walk away from it. You may be wondering: For what noble or productive purpose did the Republicans go so deep in debt during the Trump years? Well, a big chunk of it was Donald Trump's tax giveaway to the richest Americans--$2 trillion--$2 trillion in tax cuts for people at the superwealthy level in America. And now it is time to say to the Republicans: You voted for those tax cuts. The wealthiest people in America applauded you. Now would you at least step up and admit it? Nope. Now that it is time for Republicans to pay for the meal that they ate, the political banquet, they are vowing instead to dine and dash. They are taking a page straight from the playbook of Donald Trump, the man who called himself proudly ``the king of debt,'' a man who didn't pay his own bills as a businessman and who incurred the largest increase in the national debt of any President in history. And in the process, the Republicans--to take this incredible and inexplicable stand--are willing to risk the full faith and credit of the United States. When it comes to America's debt, default is simply not an option for any rational person. There is not a single American who will emerge unscathed if the Republicans execute this political strategy. Defaulting on our debtthreatens Social Security payments for tens of millions of Americans, it threatens healthcare coverage for tens of millions more, and it could slash benefits for our Nation's veterans. Who could be proud of that vote? On a national global scale, default would be, in the words of Mark Zandi, Moody's chief economist, ``financial Armageddon.'' It would send markets into free fall and threaten America's status as the world's reserve currency. Imagine that. You say to the seniors: Well, maybe/maybe not on your Social Security payments. And, incidentally, the stocks and the ETFs and the mutual funds and the investments you had for your retirement--hang on tight; they are about to take a huge hit, a hit that is totally avoidable. Back in 2011, when House Republicans initially refused to raise the debt limit, America's credit rating was downgraded. So what? Interest rates went up, so we are paying more money in interest instead of paying it for things America values--healthcare, education, infrastructure. Some economists believe that episode hurt consumer confidence and hobbled our economy in the great recession. It also stuck taxpayers with billions of dollars in increased borrowing costs. Think about how fragile America's economy is at this very moment. We are still recovering from a once-in-a-century public health crisis and the worst economic crisis in 75 years. The last thing we need is a self-inflicted crisis that is motivated by partisanship. Mr. President, right now, our economy has to be our highest priority. We need to come together and get the government funded. We also have an obligation to provide financial relief to Americans who have been hit by the environmental disasters. My State escaped that, but tomorrow that may not be the case. You never know with these extreme weather events. Hurricane Ida was an eye-opener for many parts of this country. People are suffering. Disaster aid for these people is essential. We need to also help resettle the refugees from Afghanistan. They risked their lives for Americans; we should make a home for them here in the United States. We also want to make sure that we support our military in every way possible. Instead of bickering and political brinksmanship, Congress needs to rise to this moment of crisis. The American people sent us to Washington not to manufacture crises but to prevent them. That is exactly why Senate Democrats are moving ahead to put President Biden's Build Back Better plan in place. Pay our debts, invest in a prosperous future--that is our plan. We would love to have Republican support for it. We have a once-in-a-century opportunity to consider working families, middle-income families, struggling families, not the wealthy. The Build Back Better plan will grow our economy for generations to come. If fully enacted, it will create a future for every parent to take off work to care for a newborn child. Every high school grad can receive a college education and set their sights on a good-paying job. And every senior citizen can afford prescription drugs they need without dipping into their saving. These investments will make America healthier, happier, stronger, and more prosperous. And unlike President Trump's giveaway to the rich, President Biden's Build Back Better plan is a prudent investment in our Nation's financial future. We are going to pay for it; that is the Senate Democrats' intent. It will not be added to the deficit. I look forward to discussing that plan in detail in the weeks to come. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6560-5 | null | 3,144 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam President, it is my honor to pay tribute today to a fellow Tennessean who made the ultimate sacrifice for his country. On August 26, 2021, at approximately 9:30 am Eastern Standard Time, an ISIS-K terrorist murdered 13 American servicemembers in a suicide attack on the Abbey Gate leading into Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan. Among the fallen was Corryton native SSG Ryan Knauss. Ryan served with the Army's 9th Battalion, 8th Psychological Operations Group (Airborne), which put him directly in the heart of Afghan communities. His job was to build relationships with the people he met there, and by all accounts, he succeeded with uncommon skill, empathy, and compassion. It was dangerous work, but Ryan understood its importance. As his widow Alena recently told a Knoxville newspaper, ``When he spoke of the people of Afghanistan, all he saw were people that needed help. They were below no one in his eyes, not even Americans. He told me that all he saw were people of a different culture who deserved to be OK.'' When the time came for the Army to support evacuations at the airport, Ryan volunteered for the mission. He knew that, by doing this, he would be putting himself in danger; but when he looked at the chaos unfolding there, all he saw were the thousands of women and children forced into the line of fire by the persistent, terrifying evil that was seizing control of Kabul. And so he went and faithfully executed his duty. He was born to be a soldier and died as the finest example of American heroism anyone could ask for. He was a loving husband, a loyal friend, and a light in the darkness. Ryan's unit, Detachment 10, offered a statement following his death that I believe deserves a place in the Record. They said, ``Ryan knew the dangerous situation he was going to, but protecting innocent civilians is one of the values that drove him. It has been said that life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives, and Ryan had an incredible impact on his family and friends. And thanks to his actions, thousands of children will have the joy of knowing a childhood free from danger and oppression.'' Ryan, we are in awe of you. Thank you for your service to this country and for your sacrifice on behalf of all those who seek refuge within the common cause of freedom. (At the request of Mr. Inhofe, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.) | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. BLACKBURN | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6581-3 | null | 3,145 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. COONS. Madam President, I rise today to honor a dedicated public servant of the First State, an attorney, community leader, and friend to many, who this summer concludes a distinguished legal career of more than 45 years. Attorney Brendan O'Neill of Wilmington, DE, wore many hats during his career: county and Federal prosecutor, a criminal defense lawyer in private practice, and chief public defender. Delaware is known as a State of neighbors, and when it comes to Brendan O'Neill, there is no better neighbor. Brendan was, for a decade, my actual next-door neighbor, and we even studied and took the Delaware bar exam together in 1992. Looking back on his long legal career, Brendan reminded his wife, Liz O'Neill, about all of the positions he has held over the years. ``I've had a very interesting professional life. It's been a lot of fun,'' Brendan said, adding as he often does, jokingly, ``I've done everything but make money.'' Brendan has had a truly remarkable run. Before I offer some sentiments and well wishes from family and friends, it is only appropriate to chronicle his career. After graduating from the UC Davis School of Law in 1975, Brendan became a prosecutor in the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, transitioning later to a Federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office there. Following those early years, Brendan started a criminal defense practice, O'Neill and Young, in Santa Monica, which overlooked beautiful Palisades Park and the iconic beach on Ocean Avenue. That practice, cofounded with his college friend, Wayne Young, operated from 1979 to 1993. It was then, Liz said, that Brendan was ``deported from California'' to Delaware, where he landed a position as a lawyer in the civil division of the Delaware Department of Justice. In 1995, Brendan launched what would become a 26-year career in the Delaware Public Defender's Office. In May 2009, Governor Jack Markell tapped Brendan to be the chief public defender, a position of trust he fulfilled for 12 years. ``Brendan O'Neill was a fierce advocate for his clients and a key proponent for the right of all accused to have a competent defense,'' former Governor Markell said. ``His was one of the most important nominations I ever made, and I'm not the least bit surprised he is widely recognized as having been a highly effective public defender. Delaware is better for his service, and I am proud to be associated with this intelligent, joyful, passionate, and competent leader. I have no doubt he will continue to be a widely respected member of the Delaware community in retirement.'' During his 12 years as Delaware's chief public defender, Brendan and his team overhauled the system for providing indigent criminal defense by creating the office of defense services, or ODS, which now includes the public defender's office and the office of conflicts counsel. Brendan implemented the practice of vertical representation statewide in all courts. Attorneys with ODS successfully challenged the constitutionality of Delaware's death penalty statute. He acquired additional office space for ODS's Kent County and Sussex County practices and increased the focus on holistic defense to address clients' ongoing needs and issues. On top of those accomplishments, ODS was voted as one of the best workplaces in Delaware for 10 consecutive years. Being a public defender is not an easy job. People outside of the legal profession often asked Brendan how he could represent folks who allegedly committed terrible crimes. Liz said that she was often curious about that herself, knowing the nature of his responsibility. Brendan generally responded, Liz said, by reminding folks that public defenders represent people who were accused of crimes and that the American legal system was founded on the presumption of innocence. Brendan often made the analogy that we don't want doctors who chastise us about how we got our medical condition. We want doctors who listen to us and help us with our problems. The same goes for lawyers. We want them to fight for us, Brendan said, and help us get the best possible outcome. He often has held that there is no greater pressure than representing an innocent person. As a defense attorney, the facts are often not on your side, so you do the best you can to put on your case. Brendan's career is full of people he has helped in very stressful situations,facing potential consequences from losing their license, their freedom, or their life. His clients benefited from his nonjudgmental nature, generous heart, good humor, practical approach, understanding, and kindness. ``I can only count on one hand, the times when he couldn't see the good in his client,'' Liz said. ``In those cases, he always fought for someone close to them, a mother, wife, son, or daughter.'' Despite the odds and the outcomes, Liz said, Brendan was consistently supportive of his clients, sometimes even providing them with practical things like Liz's favorite pair of sweatpants, which happened to be in the backseat of his car. He was a constant source of encouragement and positivity to many Delawareans, whether it was the father saying goodbye to his teenage son found guilty or the girlfriend of a drug dealer starting anew in the witness protection program. Brendan often stayed in touch with the family and friends of his clients long after the verdict came down. Brendan always fought hard for his clients, giving them and their loved ones his best shot. The courtroom was theater to Brendan, and he thrived on being prepared and at the top of his game. ``I remember many nights listening to a closing argument at the dining room table with a cardboard box as a podium and charts taped to the walls as he practiced his speech,'' Liz fondly remembered. Brendan is a person who respects everyone's role in the court system. He often would go out of his way to get to know the people who made it happen, including the bailiffs, court reporters, clerks, judges, and the ``other side,'' depending on his role as a prosecutor or a defense attorney. Many Delawareans don't know that Brendan had a thriving pro-bono practice over the years. He counseled countless teens, young adults, and their parents about legal problems, things such as DUIs, disorderly conduct, speeding tickets, etc. He was there to provide nonjudgmental guidance for legal issues and emotional support. Along with his pro-bono effort, Brendan volunteered innumerable hours over the years as a board member for organizations such as the Central YMCA, Catholic Charities, Salesianum School--and his current role as the chair of Autism Delaware, an organization close to his heart. Brendan is a person who embraces new beginnings. He looks forward in times of uncertainty, disappointment, success, and happiness and encourages others to do the same. There are so many examples, but the biggest one is leaving his California-based law practice, taking and passing the Delaware bar after 17 years of already being an attorney, and starting anew in Delaware. Besides all of the volunteer work and his impressive career as our top public defender, Brendan's hallmark is serving his clients, coworkers, friends, and family well. His five children--Brendan, Eamon, Brian, Claire, and Rainey--are paramount in his mind and life. If you are on his team, he is in your corner. Claire O'Neill Peabody, who interned at the public defender's office for a summer, wasn't exactly sure what her dad did there other than being the chief cheerleader, making the rounds every day, stopping by offices telling people what a great job they were doing. He is known for motivating both his employees and his family with famous one-liners and other inspiring words. ``Dad has a phrase, saying, or one-liner for just about every situation life can throw at you,'' Claire said. ``One of his many mantras is `Next play!' '' That one-liner, in particular, is one that he says to his kids all the time. ``While explaining it takes away from the one-liner magic,'' Claire said, ``I am pretty sure he wants us to take what we've learned from a previous experience but focus on the next thing in front of you.'' Her dad's own ``next play'' will include a lot of play: golf and tennis, two of his favorite activities. ``He's earned it,'' Claire said. ``So good luck on your next play, Duner! Hit em straight!'' Eamon O'Neill said one of his favorite things about his father is the ability to relish in the simple joys of life while they are happening. His dad does not need to lose something to appreciate it; he enjoys what he has while he has it. ``For as long as I can remember, he has encouraged me to do the same,'' Eamon said. ``Often, this happened as we were driving to one of the thousands of soccer practices my dad selflessly took me to over the years. As we were getting close to the field, he would remind me of how great and how much fun practice is and how lucky I was to be playing a game I loved with my friends.'' This lesson did not always stick with Eamon as a teenager, but he thinks about it often as an adult. ``The ability to be present and grateful and enthusiastic during the small and routine moments of life,'' Eamon continued, ``is something I love about dad and try to emulate every day.'' Brian O'Neill, who plays offensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings, said, ``play hard, have fun'' is one of his dad's most famous quotes. ``He has said this to us a few thousand times over the years. The message is simple--give your best and have fun while doing it.'' Brian said that his father has lived and exemplified that quote every day of his professional and personal life. ``I know he gave his best--to his cases, clients, coworkers, and colleagues,'' Brian said. ``I know damn well he also had so much fun along the ride. He always says if you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life. If I can have half the fun he did in my career--I know I'll have a chance!'' My family had the opportunity to get to know the O'Neills well. They lived next to us when we were in the Triangle Neighborhood in Wilmington. There was a fence between our yards, and we took that fence down; we were one big family. Brendan is truly the salt of the earth. He is smart, loyal, and kind. He is funny and always makes everyone in the room feel welcome. ``You want Brendan on your team,'' my wife Annie said. ``He takes everything in stride; he sticks by you. We love him, and he and his family fill our cup and our hearts!'' For me, Brendan epitomizes what it means to be a good attorney, a good father, and a good friend--really the best of Delaware, an immeasurably decent and kind person. Along with so many in our State, Annie and I wish him and his family the best in retirement. To Brendan, as the old Irish blessing goes: ``May good luck be your friend in whatever you do and may trouble be always a stranger to you.'' For your extraordinary dedication to advancing justice in the State of Delaware, for all of the people whose lives you have positively impacted, and for the decades of service and sacrifice: Thank you. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. COONS | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6582-2 | null | 3,146 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | On request by Senator Tommy Tuberville, under the authority of S. Res. 116, 112th Congress, the following nomination was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security: Leona M. Bridges, of California, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring October 11, 2023, vice William S. Jasien, term expired. On request by Senator Tommy Tuberville, under the authority of S. Res. 116, 112th Congress, the following nomination was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security: Javier E. Saade, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring October 11, 2022, vice David Avren Jones, term expired. On request by Senator Tommy Tuberville, under the authority of S. Res. 116, 112th Congress, the following nomination was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security: Stacie Olivares, of California, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring September 25, 2024, vice Ronald David McCray, term expired. On request by Senator Tommy Tuberville, under the authority of S. Res. 116, 112th Congress, the following nomination was referred to the Committee on Homeland Security: Dana Katherine Bilyeu, of Nevada, to be aMember of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a reappointment term expiring October 11, 2023. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6583 | null | 3,147 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | At 11:14 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bill, without amendment: S. 189. An act to increase, effective as of December 1, 2021, the rates of compensation for veterans with service- connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. The message further announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: H.R. 1281. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Gaylord, Michigan, as the ``Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic''. H.R. 3475. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''. H.R. 4172. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley VA Clinic''. H.R. 5293. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Enrolled Bills Signed At 4:31 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the Speaker has signed the following enrolled bills: S. 272. An act to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, to require the budget justifications and appropriation requests of agencies be made publicly available. S. 325. An act to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes. The enrolled bills were subsequently signed by the President pro tempore (Mr. Leahy). | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6584-3 | null | 3,148 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | At 11:14 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bill, without amendment: S. 189. An act to increase, effective as of December 1, 2021, the rates of compensation for veterans with service- connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. The message further announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: H.R. 1281. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Gaylord, Michigan, as the ``Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic''. H.R. 3475. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''. H.R. 4172. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley VA Clinic''. H.R. 5293. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to extend and modify certain authorities and requirements relating to the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes. Enrolled Bills Signed At 4:31 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the Speaker has signed the following enrolled bills: S. 272. An act to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, to require the budget justifications and appropriation requests of agencies be made publicly available. S. 325. An act to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, and for other purposes. The enrolled bills were subsequently signed by the President pro tempore (Mr. Leahy). | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6584-3 | null | 3,149 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 1281. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Gaylord, Michigan, as the ``Navy Corpsman Steve Andrews Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Clinic''; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R. 3475. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Columbus, Georgia, as the ``Robert S. Poydasheff VA Clinic''; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H.R. 4172. An act to name the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Aurora, Colorado, as the ``Lieutenant Colonel John W. Mosley VA Clinic''; to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6584-4 | null | 3,150 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The Secretary of the Senate reported that on today September 21, 2021, she had presented to the President of the United States the following enrolled bills: S. 272. An act to amend the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, to require the budget justifications and appropriation requests of agencies be made publicly available. S. 325. An act to amend the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children Act to extend the deadline for a report by the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6584-7 | null | 3,151 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-1981. A communication from the Congressional Review Coordinator , Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Definitions of the European Union and the United Kingdom'' (Docket No. APHIS-2021-0003) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1982. A communication from the Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 2020 annual report of the Farm Credit Administration Regulator of the Farm Credit System; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1983. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``C10-C18-Alkyl dimethyl amine oxides (ADAOs); Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 8678-01-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1984. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Chlorpyrifos; Tolerance Revocations'' (FRL No. 5993-04-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1985. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Oxirane, 2-methyl-, polymer with oxirane, mono-(9Z)-9-octadecanoate, methyl ether; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 8745-02-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1986. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Thiabendazole; Pesticide Tolerances'' (FRL No. 8750-02-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1987. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``a-Alkyl-w-hydroxypoly(oxypropylene) and/or poly (oxyethylene) polymers where the alkyl chain contains a minimum of 6 carbons; Exemptions from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 8799-01-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1988. A communication from the Director of the Regulations Management Division, Rural Development, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``The American Rescue Plan Act Emergency Rural Health Care Grant Program'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-1989. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Leopoldo A. Quintas, Jr., United States Army, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1990. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Ricky L. Waddell, Jr., United States Army Reserve, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1991. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Mark C. Schwartz, United States Army, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1992. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting the report of nine (12) officers authorized to wear the insignia of the grade of major general in accordance with title 10, United States Code, section 777; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1993. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting the report of nine (9) officers authorized to wear the insignia of the grade of brigadier general in accordance with title 10, United States Code, section 777; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1994. A communication from the Acting Secretary of Defense, transmitting the report of an officer authorized to wear the insignia of the grade of brigadier general in accordance with title 10, United States Code, section 777; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-1995. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report on the national emergency that was declared in Executive Order 14014 with respect to Burma; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs . EC-1996. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report on the national emergency that was declared in Executive Order 13848 with respect to the threat of foreign interference in United States elections; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-1997. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report on the national emergency that was declared in Executive Order 13566 with respect to Libya; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs . EC-1998. A communication from the Secretary of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, a six-month periodic report on the national emergency that was declared in Executive Order 13224 with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-1999. A message from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the issuance of an Executive Order declaring additional steps to be taken concerning the national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States posed by specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-2000. A communication from the Acting Director, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Seven-Day-After report for the Emergency Security Supplemental Act, 2021 (Public Law 117-31); to the Committee on the Budget. EC-2001. A communication from the Acting Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Office of General Counsel, Department of Energy, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Procedures for the Issuance of Guidance Documents'' (RIN1990-AA50) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. EC-2002. A communication from the Acting Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation and Energy Efficiency, Department of Energy, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Evaporatively-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Water-Cooled Commercial Package Air Conditioners'' ((RIN1904-AE07) (10 CFR Parts 431)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. EC-2003. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation and Energy Efficiency, Department of Energy, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Energy Conservation Program: Test Procedure for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pump Motors'' ((RIN1904- AE38) (10 CFR Parts 431)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. EC-2004. A communication from the Acting Assistant General Counsel for Legislation, Regulation and Energy Efficiency, Department of Energy, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards and Test Procedures for Ceiling Fans'' ((RIN1904-AD88) (10 CFR Parts 430)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6584-8 | null | 3,152 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Markey, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: S. Res. 373 Whereas, on September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico; Whereas Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands were still recovering from a direct hit by Hurricane Irma when Hurricane Maria made landfall just 14 days later; Whereas, on September 20, 2021, the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands living on the islands, as well as those living in the mainland United States, will commemorate the 4-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria; Whereas, after the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, Hurricane Maria is the second deadliest storm recorded in United States history; Whereas the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands living in both the mainland United States and on the islands of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have shown an incredible and resilient spirit in rebuilding after their record losses; Whereas Puerto Rico faced one of the longest blackouts in United States history, during which millions of residents were left without power and basic services for nearly a year, triggering crises of physical and mental health, migration, housing, and infrastructure; Whereas, 4 years since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, the electrical grid in Puerto Rico remains unreliable, leaving millions of people without a secure source of power as they suffer intermittent brownouts and blackouts; Whereas, due to the impacts of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, thousands of people in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands still have blue tarps over their roofs; Whereas, as a result of Hurricane Maria, hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans were uprooted, and some Puerto Ricans have relocated to the mainland United States; Whereas, due to unaddressed damage to homes in Puerto Rico, hundreds of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria continue to need housing assistance from the territorial government and the Federal Government; Whereas the economic health of Puerto Rico continues to waiver as the preexisting debt crisis was exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Maria; Whereas Hurricane Maria is the third most costly tropical cyclone in United States history, with damages estimated at $98,100,000,000; Whereas the Federal Government has allocated approximately $71,000,000,000 in disaster-relief funding to help the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands rebuild from other disasters that have impacted the islands since Hurricane Maria; Whereas, in Puerto Rico, the official death toll from Hurricane Maria stands at 2,975 victims, although some academic estimates place the toll at 4,645; Whereas many of the underlying vulnerabilities contributing to the massive death toll in Puerto Rico are still present, including an underfunded healthcare system and a shortage of medical physicians and specialists; Whereas the residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico, which number more than 8,000, lost the primary hospital and do not have an adequate and comprehensive healthcare facility; Whereas, in a September 2020 report, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security found that the Federal Emergency and Management Agency (in this preamble referred to as ``FEMA'') mismanaged the distribution of commodities in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico; Whereas FEMA lost visibility of approximately 38 percent of its commodity shipments to Puerto Rico, worth an estimated $257,000,000; Whereas, in an April 2021 report, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the administration of President Donald Trump created bureaucratic hurdles that delayed approximately $20,000,000,000 in hurricane disaster recovery and mitigation funds to Puerto Rico; Whereas Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands continue to battle with climate change, which has intensified tropical cyclones, rising temperatures, coastal erosion, droughts, and flash floods, among other climate events; Whereas Puerto Rico continues to address and respond to other disasters, including the earthquakes of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic; and Whereas millions of Puerto Ricans and Virgin Islanders still grapple with the physical, emotional, and economic damages caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) remains steadfast in its commitment to the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands to assist in restoring the islands to their full potential; and (2) resolutely assures that it will not abandon the plight of-- (A) the millions of citizens of the United States living in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands; and (B) the citizens of the United States who have relocated from Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands to the mainland United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6590-2 | null | 3,153 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Markey, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Padilla, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: S. Res. 373 Whereas, on September 20, 2017, Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico; Whereas Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands were still recovering from a direct hit by Hurricane Irma when Hurricane Maria made landfall just 14 days later; Whereas, on September 20, 2021, the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands living on the islands, as well as those living in the mainland United States, will commemorate the 4-year anniversary of Hurricane Maria; Whereas, after the Great Galveston Hurricane of 1900, Hurricane Maria is the second deadliest storm recorded in United States history; Whereas the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands living in both the mainland United States and on the islands of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands have shown an incredible and resilient spirit in rebuilding after their record losses; Whereas Puerto Rico faced one of the longest blackouts in United States history, during which millions of residents were left without power and basic services for nearly a year, triggering crises of physical and mental health, migration, housing, and infrastructure; Whereas, 4 years since Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico, the electrical grid in Puerto Rico remains unreliable, leaving millions of people without a secure source of power as they suffer intermittent brownouts and blackouts; Whereas, due to the impacts of Hurricanes Maria and Irma, thousands of people in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands still have blue tarps over their roofs; Whereas, as a result of Hurricane Maria, hundreds of thousands of Puerto Ricans were uprooted, and some Puerto Ricans have relocated to the mainland United States; Whereas, due to unaddressed damage to homes in Puerto Rico, hundreds of Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria continue to need housing assistance from the territorial government and the Federal Government; Whereas the economic health of Puerto Rico continues to waiver as the preexisting debt crisis was exacerbated by the impact of Hurricane Maria; Whereas Hurricane Maria is the third most costly tropical cyclone in United States history, with damages estimated at $98,100,000,000; Whereas the Federal Government has allocated approximately $71,000,000,000 in disaster-relief funding to help the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands rebuild from other disasters that have impacted the islands since Hurricane Maria; Whereas, in Puerto Rico, the official death toll from Hurricane Maria stands at 2,975 victims, although some academic estimates place the toll at 4,645; Whereas many of the underlying vulnerabilities contributing to the massive death toll in Puerto Rico are still present, including an underfunded healthcare system and a shortage of medical physicians and specialists; Whereas the residents of Vieques, Puerto Rico, which number more than 8,000, lost the primary hospital and do not have an adequate and comprehensive healthcare facility; Whereas, in a September 2020 report, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security found that the Federal Emergency and Management Agency (in this preamble referred to as ``FEMA'') mismanaged the distribution of commodities in response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria in Puerto Rico; Whereas FEMA lost visibility of approximately 38 percent of its commodity shipments to Puerto Rico, worth an estimated $257,000,000; Whereas, in an April 2021 report, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Housing and Urban Development found that the administration of President Donald Trump created bureaucratic hurdles that delayed approximately $20,000,000,000 in hurricane disaster recovery and mitigation funds to Puerto Rico; Whereas Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands continue to battle with climate change, which has intensified tropical cyclones, rising temperatures, coastal erosion, droughts, and flash floods, among other climate events; Whereas Puerto Rico continues to address and respond to other disasters, including the earthquakes of 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic; and Whereas millions of Puerto Ricans and Virgin Islanders still grapple with the physical, emotional, and economic damages caused by Hurricanes Maria and Irma: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) remains steadfast in its commitment to the people of Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands to assist in restoring the islands to their full potential; and (2) resolutely assures that it will not abandon the plight of-- (A) the millions of citizens of the United States living in Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands; and (B) the citizens of the United States who have relocated from Puerto Rico and the United States Virgin Islands to the mainland United States in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6590-2 | null | 3,154 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself, Mr. Markey, Mr. Warner, Mr. Booker, Mr. King, Mr. Coons, Mr. Reed, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Murphy, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Merkley, Ms. Hirono, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Cardin, Ms. Baldwin, and Mr.Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 374 Whereas estuary regions cover only 13 percent of the land area in the continental United States but contain nearly 43 percent of the population, 40 percent of the jobs, and nearly 50 percent of the economic output of the United States; Whereas the oceans, estuaries, and Great Lakes of the United States continue to fuel economic growth across the United States, which is evidenced by the fact that, by 2016-- (1) employment levels in economic sectors relating to oceans and estuaries had increased by 14.5 percent from employment levels in those sectors in 2007, before the Great Recession; and (2) the average employment level of the entire economy of the United States had increased by 4.8 percent from that employment level in 2007, before the Great Recession; Whereas, between 2015 and 2016, economic sectors relating to estuaries, oceans, and Great Lakes in the United States-- (1) created 85,000 new jobs; (2) employed 3,300,000 individuals; and (3) contributed $124,000,000,000 to the gross domestic product of the United States; Whereas, by 2018, the ocean economy supported 2,300,000 jobs in the United States, and the compensation paid to employees in such sector was $161,900,000,000; Whereas the commercial and recreational fishing industries support more than 1,740,000 jobs in the United States; Whereas, in 2017-- (1) commercial and recreational saltwater fishing in the United States generated more than $244,000,000,000 in sales and contributed $110,700,000,000 to the gross domestic product of the United States; (2) angler trip expenditures totaled nearly $10,500,000,000; and (3) saltwater recreational fishing supported 487,000 jobs, generated $73,800,000,000 in sales across the United States, and contributed $41,500,000,000 to the gross domestic product of the United States; Whereas estuaries provide vital habitats for-- (1) countless species of fish and wildlife, including more than 68 percent of the commercial fish catch in the United States by value and 80 percent of the recreational fish catch in the United States by weight; and (2) many species that are listed as threatened or endangered species; Whereas estuaries provide critical ecosystem services that protect human health and public safety, including water filtration, flood control, shoreline stabilization, erosion prevention, and the protection of coastal communities during hurricanes, storms, and other extreme weather events; Whereas, by the 1980s, the United States had already lost more than 50 percent of the wetlands that existed in the original 13 colonies; Whereas some bays in the United States that were once filled with fish and oysters have become dead zones filled with excess nutrients, chemical waste, and marine debris; Whereas harmful algal blooms are hurting fish, wildlife, and human health and are causing serious ecological and economic harm to some estuaries; Whereas changes in sea levels can affect estuarine water quality and estuarine habitats; Whereas section 320 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1330) (commonly known as the ``Clean Water Act'') authorizes the development of comprehensive conservation and management plans to ensure that the designated uses of estuaries are protected and to restore and maintain-- (1) the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of estuaries; (2) water quality; (3) a balanced indigenous population of shellfish, fish, and wildlife; and (4) recreational activities in estuaries; Whereas the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) provides that the policy of the United States is to preserve, protect, develop, and, if possible, restore or enhance the resources of the coastal zone of the United States, including estuaries, for current and future generations; Whereas 29 coastal and Great Lakes States and territories of the United States operate or contain a National Estuary Program or a National Estuarine Research Reserve; Whereas scientific study leads to a better understanding of the benefits of estuaries to human and ecological communities; Whereas the Federal Government, State, local, and Tribal governments, national and community organizations, and individuals work together to effectively manage the estuaries of the United States; Whereas estuary restoration efforts restore natural infrastructure in local communities in a cost-effective manner, helping to create jobs and reestablish the natural functions of estuaries that yield countless benefits; and Whereas the week of September 19 through September 25, 2021, is recognized as ``National Estuaries Week'' to increase awareness among all people of the United States, including Federal Government and State, local, and Tribal government officials, about the importance of healthy estuaries and the need to protect and restore estuaries: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates the week of September 19 through September 25, 2021, as ``National Estuaries Week''; (2) supports the goals and ideals of National Estuaries Week; (3) acknowledges the importance of estuaries to sustaining employment in the United States and the economic well-being and prosperity of the United States; (4) recognizes that persistent threats undermine the health of estuaries; (5) applauds the work of national and community organizations and public partners that promote public awareness, understanding, protection, and restoration of estuaries; (6) supports the scientific study, preservation, protection, and restoration of estuaries; and (7) expresses the intent of the Senate to continue working to understand, protect, and restore the estuaries of the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6590-3 | null | 3,155 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Cassidy) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 375 Whereas the Venezuelan refugee and migration crisis represents the largest recorded displacement crisis in the Western Hemisphere, with over 5,400,000 Venezuelans displaced outside of their home country as of November 2020; Whereas one-third of Venezuelans are food insecure, with the greatest impacts on children, pregnant women, and the elderly, according to the World Food Program; Whereas femicides in Venezuela have increased significantly in recent years due to rises in criminal violence, intimate partner violence, human trafficking, endemic corruption, and lack of accountability for criminal offenses; Whereas the dire state of Venezuela's public health system, including extremely high maternal and infant mortality rates, has compelled women and girls to flee the country to give birth; Whereas a 2019 report from the United Nations Population Fund stated that 95 in every 1,000 births in Venezuela from 2003 to 2018 were to mothers aged 15 to 19; Whereas women and girls fleeing Venezuela face grave threats of sexual violence, exploitation, and trafficking by armed groups operating in border regions, such as the Ejercito de Liberacion Nacional (ELN). Whereas, after fleeing the horrors in Venezuela, Venezuelan refugees and migrants face additional challenges, including lack of access to safe shelter, jobs, documentation, healthcare, and increased restrictions on freedom of movement; Whereas governments in Latin America and the Caribbean participating in the regional coordination forum, the ``Quito Process,'' issued a joint declaration in November 2019 committing to strengthen measures against human trafficking, gender-based violence, discrimination, and xenophobia, and to establish a regional protection protocol for Venezuelan refugee and migrant children and adolescents; Whereas, on February 8, 2021, the Government of Colombia provided Temporary Protected Status to eligible Venezuelans in Colombia--providing them temporary legal status and work authorization for a period of 10 years; Whereas, on March 8, 2021, the United States designated Venezuela for Temporary Protected Status and provided Deferred Enforced Departure for eligible Venezuelans on January 19, 2021; Whereas the United States has committed to strengthen international protection of women and children through the United States Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, which aims to ``promote the protection of women and girls' human rights; access to humanitarian assistance; and safety from violence, abuse, and exploitation around the world,'' as well as through the United States Government Strategy on Advancing Protection and Care for Children in Adversity; and Whereas the United States has prioritized addressing the issue of gender-based violence in humanitarian contexts by establishing a Safe from the Start initiative, implemented by the Department of State and the United States Agency for International Development: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) expresses grave concern for the massive and growing humanitarian needs of Venezuelans, including over 5,400,000 Venezuelan refugees and migrants, with particular concern for the impact of the displacement crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic on women and children; (2) recognizes the many communities across Latin America and the Caribbean that continue to generously receive and host Venezuelan refugees and migrants while also fighting to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic; (3) commends the efforts of the Government of Colombia for granting Temporary Protected Status to Venezuelans, and calls on other refugee-hosting countries to consider similar protections for Venezuelans; (4) appreciates the participation in the Quito Process of the Governments of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay, and encourages implementation of their commitments to strengthen national processes of documentation and registration and to bolster protections for Venezuelan refugees and migrants subject to gender-based violence, human trafficking, and xenophobia; (5) encourages governments hosting Venezuelan refugees and migrants, as well as international and nongovernmental organizations providing assistance, to ensure that health care, including mental health, shelter, food assistance, and other basic services are increasingly accessible to women and children; (6) calls on the international community, including both humanitarian and development actors, to focus greater attention and resources to address the violence, abuse, and exploitation suffered by Venezuelan women and children, including by disaggregating data by sex and age in needs assessments and program reporting; (7) supports increasing United States diplomatic initiatives and humanitarian assistance to strengthen protections for Venezuelan refugees and migrants and their host communities, with an emphasis on the protection of women and children; and (8) underscores the need for Venezuelan women to participate in efforts to restore democratic governance and address the complex humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-21-pt1-PgS6591 | null | 3,156 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yesterday evening, the House of Representatives approved a continuing resolution that will keep the government open through December, provide emergency funding for Afghan refugees and Americans affected by natural disasters, and suspend the debt ceiling through the end of 2022. The bill now comes to the Senate, where both parties must pass it together to steer the United States away from a number of fast-approaching crises. Absent congressional action, the government will shut down in just over a week. The United States could face a first-ever default soon thereafter, and it will be American families who will suffer most. Now our Republican colleagues say they don't want a shutdown. They say they don't want a credit default. They say they want hurricane aid. Then they should vote yes on this bill. You want to avoid a default, Republican colleagues? Vote yes. You want to avoid a government shutdown? Vote yes. You want to provide hurricane aid? Vote yes. You want to help the Afghan refugees? Vote yes. That is the bill that will be on the floor. Those who will vote yes will vote to avoid default, to avoid a government shutdown. Those who vote no will be saying: We are OK with default and we are OK with a government shutdown. To say, ``Do it another way,'' that doesn't cut it. This is what is on the floor. This is what the House passed. And, again, the kind of sophistry that we have heard from the Republican leader doesn't make any sense, either through past history or through practicality and what we need today. At the end of the day, it is how we vote that matters most. Our constituents sent us here to vote, plain and simple. So Republicans face a choice. Vote yes to pay our bills and keep the government open; or vote no, which means you are OK with default and a government shutdown. Every single Democrat will support this bill. Whether or not we avoid default is simply entirely up to the Republican Senators. It is up to them, plain and simple. The President has the proposal. The House has passed the proposal. I will put that proposal on the Senate floor. And remember, this is not just a political fight. The last time Republicans played with the debt ceiling in 2011, the credit of the United States was downgraded for the first time ever. And allindications are that if Republicans succeed in causing a default this time around, the consequences will be catastrophic. According to a sobering new analysis by Mark Zandi at Moody's Analytics, a default would erase up to 6 million jobs in the economy. It would cause unemployment, which we have worked so hard to bring down during this COVID season, to spike up again to as much as 9 percent. And as much as $15 trillion of household wealth will be wiped out of existence. Every American family will suffer from the Republican desire to play political games and send our Nation into default. Let me say that again: $15 trillion of household wealth. And that means thousands of dollars for each family--for many families--thousands. That is not fair. All for the sake, Leader McConnell, of a political gain. Political gain. It is an incomprehensible number. I can't think of a worse gut punch to the American people who spent the last 19 months fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic than to see their life savings disappear because Republicans won't pay the bills and are simply trying to gain mere political advantage. There is no scenario on God's green Earth where it is worth risking 6 million jobs, 9 percent unemployment, and $15 trillion of household wealth just to stick it to your political opponents. But that seems to be the MO these days of the Republican leader: not caring at all about the American people and what matters to them and playing political games in an effort--I believe a futile effort--to gain political advantage. It won't succeed. Everyone knows who is doing what around here. So, over the past few weeks, Republicans have advanced a number of dishonest and duplicitous arguments to rationalize their opposition to the debt ceiling, to play political games that the minority leader is involved in. I expect we will be hearing these arguments over and over again, so let's set the record straight on two of their main points. First, our Republican colleagues have argued that raising the debt ceiling should exclusively be the domain of one party when it controls all three branches of government. Of course, this is nonsense. Since 1960, the debt ceiling has been raised about 80 times under both unified and divided government. As recently as 2017, Leader McConnell, as majority leader, put forward a bill to raise the debt ceiling when there was a Republican President, a Republican Senate, and a Republican House; urged Democrats to join him. And, of course, we did because it is the right thing to do. We don't want to hurt the American people. We don't want to play games with the livelihood of Americans the way the Republican leader seems to revel in doing. And rather than play political games and rather than engage in an ill-considered game of chicken, Democrats worked with the other side. Second and even far more dishonest, Republicans say they don't want to raise the debt ceiling because they don't want to clear the way for more domestic spending. This statement is false, pure and simple. Our proposal to suspend the debt ceiling is not about future spending. Raising the debt ceiling is about paying the bills that have already been racked up. The proposal the House sent over is designed to help pay for the $908 billion that we approved last year in the depths of the COVID crisis. That legislation was drafted by Republicans, voted for by Republicans, put on the floor by Leader McConnell, and signed by a Republican President. It is the Trump debt--the Trump debt--that we now must pay. For Republicans, after voting for it, after going back to their districts and claiming credit for some of the things in that bill, to now decide they have changed their minds and they don't want to pay the debt that they willingly took on and brag about the spending that incurred that debt is the height of irresponsibility and the height of hypocrisy. It is a dine-and-dash of unprecedented proportions. And if they have their way, it is going to be the American people who will foot the bill. The full faith and credit isn't a game. It is the bedrock upon which our economy stands. No lawmaker can vote to refuse to pay the bills and then say they have the best interests of the American people in mind. So, again, here is what is on the line with this vote: the well-being of tens of millions of Americans--everyone from small business owners, homeowners, veterans, Active Duty military, Social Security beneficiaries, and American consumers everywhere. And Senator Warner has made a very good point. If we default or even if the risk of coming close to default raises interest rates by 1 percent, that will cost the government more--more--than some of the spending programs--many of the spending programs that the Republicans say they don't like, even though they voted for it. There is a very simple answer to avoiding this entire problem. When the CR comes to the floor, Republicans vote yes and put this needless crisis to an end. But if they choose to vote in favor of default by a cynical political blame game, it will ultimately be the American people who will pay the price. And the American people will know who did this--the Republican Senate. Because there will be a proposal by the Democratic President, the bill will pass the floor, and Democrats and Republicans will each have to vote yes or no, simply put, on whether we want to default. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6595-8 | null | 3,157 |
formal | illegal immigrant | null | anti-Latino | Mr. McCONNELL. Now, one final matter. The American people are watching a terrible sight unfold down on our southern border. Many thousands of people, largely from Haiti, are literally huddled together underneath a bridge in Del Rio, TX, just across the Rio Grande. Temperatures have been in the triple digits. The conditions are unsanitary and inhumane. This nightmare is the direct result of the leftwing policies and leftwing messages pushed by the Biden administration. They say their approach to immigration is the compassionate path, the one that reflects the soul of America. They are wrong. In no way does it honor America's soul or uphold American values to tolerate a major border security crisis and unending--unending--humanitarian disaster that appear to be permanent features of life under the Biden administration. This false choice is the constant refrain from the left. Either we adopt Democratic policies that lure people into literal squalor and effectively open our borders in the middle of a pandemic or else we are somehow betraying the spirit of the Statue of Liberty? That is simply nonsense. Legal, orderly immigration has been a proud strength of our country and a core pillar of the American way of life literally for generations. That is completely different than Washington Democrats sabotaging our border while publicly advertising a catalog--a catalog--of socialist benefits they say they will provide for illegal immigrants who manage to make it in. When President Biden was sworn in, thousands and thousands of people took his far-left campaign rhetoric seriously and began streaming toward our borders. One person at the border directly told the Washington Post they came because they heard ``President Biden was letting people in.'' First, in the springtime, his administration called this a seasonal surge. Well, so much for that. We have had more than 150,000 border apprehensions every single month for the past 6 months. Encounters usually fall off during the hot summer months, but on President Biden's watch, the opposite has happened. Listen to one recent example of the chaos. A few days ago, the Biden administration filled a big bus with illegal immigrants from this encampment. The bus set out for somewhere else in Texas. But according to news reporting, partway through the journey, the illegal immigrants on board revolted, took control of the bus, and broke out. But more broadly, it sounds like catch-and-release may be the de facto Biden policy. Just this morning, the Associated Press reports that according to government officials, ``Haitian migrants camped in a . . . Texas border town are being released in the United States . . . on a very, very large scale . . . undercutting the Biden administration'spublic statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion.'' Nobody believes Democrats that this lawlessness, chaos, and human suffering is the fair and compassionate way to govern our country. Nobody buys that. An average of recent surveys shows that only 36 percent--36 percent--of the country approves of President Biden's handling of immigration, while 56 percent disapprove. Look, Americans know a train wreck when they see one. Our citizens deserve better than this failure--utter failure--of leadership, and so do the people Democrats are luring here with a mirage. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6597-3 | null | 3,158 |
formal | illegal immigrants | null | anti-Latino | Mr. McCONNELL. Now, one final matter. The American people are watching a terrible sight unfold down on our southern border. Many thousands of people, largely from Haiti, are literally huddled together underneath a bridge in Del Rio, TX, just across the Rio Grande. Temperatures have been in the triple digits. The conditions are unsanitary and inhumane. This nightmare is the direct result of the leftwing policies and leftwing messages pushed by the Biden administration. They say their approach to immigration is the compassionate path, the one that reflects the soul of America. They are wrong. In no way does it honor America's soul or uphold American values to tolerate a major border security crisis and unending--unending--humanitarian disaster that appear to be permanent features of life under the Biden administration. This false choice is the constant refrain from the left. Either we adopt Democratic policies that lure people into literal squalor and effectively open our borders in the middle of a pandemic or else we are somehow betraying the spirit of the Statue of Liberty? That is simply nonsense. Legal, orderly immigration has been a proud strength of our country and a core pillar of the American way of life literally for generations. That is completely different than Washington Democrats sabotaging our border while publicly advertising a catalog--a catalog--of socialist benefits they say they will provide for illegal immigrants who manage to make it in. When President Biden was sworn in, thousands and thousands of people took his far-left campaign rhetoric seriously and began streaming toward our borders. One person at the border directly told the Washington Post they came because they heard ``President Biden was letting people in.'' First, in the springtime, his administration called this a seasonal surge. Well, so much for that. We have had more than 150,000 border apprehensions every single month for the past 6 months. Encounters usually fall off during the hot summer months, but on President Biden's watch, the opposite has happened. Listen to one recent example of the chaos. A few days ago, the Biden administration filled a big bus with illegal immigrants from this encampment. The bus set out for somewhere else in Texas. But according to news reporting, partway through the journey, the illegal immigrants on board revolted, took control of the bus, and broke out. But more broadly, it sounds like catch-and-release may be the de facto Biden policy. Just this morning, the Associated Press reports that according to government officials, ``Haitian migrants camped in a . . . Texas border town are being released in the United States . . . on a very, very large scale . . . undercutting the Biden administration'spublic statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion.'' Nobody believes Democrats that this lawlessness, chaos, and human suffering is the fair and compassionate way to govern our country. Nobody buys that. An average of recent surveys shows that only 36 percent--36 percent--of the country approves of President Biden's handling of immigration, while 56 percent disapprove. Look, Americans know a train wreck when they see one. Our citizens deserve better than this failure--utter failure--of leadership, and so do the people Democrats are luring here with a mirage. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6597-3 | null | 3,159 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. McCONNELL. Now, one final matter. The American people are watching a terrible sight unfold down on our southern border. Many thousands of people, largely from Haiti, are literally huddled together underneath a bridge in Del Rio, TX, just across the Rio Grande. Temperatures have been in the triple digits. The conditions are unsanitary and inhumane. This nightmare is the direct result of the leftwing policies and leftwing messages pushed by the Biden administration. They say their approach to immigration is the compassionate path, the one that reflects the soul of America. They are wrong. In no way does it honor America's soul or uphold American values to tolerate a major border security crisis and unending--unending--humanitarian disaster that appear to be permanent features of life under the Biden administration. This false choice is the constant refrain from the left. Either we adopt Democratic policies that lure people into literal squalor and effectively open our borders in the middle of a pandemic or else we are somehow betraying the spirit of the Statue of Liberty? That is simply nonsense. Legal, orderly immigration has been a proud strength of our country and a core pillar of the American way of life literally for generations. That is completely different than Washington Democrats sabotaging our border while publicly advertising a catalog--a catalog--of socialist benefits they say they will provide for illegal immigrants who manage to make it in. When President Biden was sworn in, thousands and thousands of people took his far-left campaign rhetoric seriously and began streaming toward our borders. One person at the border directly told the Washington Post they came because they heard ``President Biden was letting people in.'' First, in the springtime, his administration called this a seasonal surge. Well, so much for that. We have had more than 150,000 border apprehensions every single month for the past 6 months. Encounters usually fall off during the hot summer months, but on President Biden's watch, the opposite has happened. Listen to one recent example of the chaos. A few days ago, the Biden administration filled a big bus with illegal immigrants from this encampment. The bus set out for somewhere else in Texas. But according to news reporting, partway through the journey, the illegal immigrants on board revolted, took control of the bus, and broke out. But more broadly, it sounds like catch-and-release may be the de facto Biden policy. Just this morning, the Associated Press reports that according to government officials, ``Haitian migrants camped in a . . . Texas border town are being released in the United States . . . on a very, very large scale . . . undercutting the Biden administration'spublic statements that the thousands in the camp faced immediate expulsion.'' Nobody believes Democrats that this lawlessness, chaos, and human suffering is the fair and compassionate way to govern our country. Nobody buys that. An average of recent surveys shows that only 36 percent--36 percent--of the country approves of President Biden's handling of immigration, while 56 percent disapprove. Look, Americans know a train wreck when they see one. Our citizens deserve better than this failure--utter failure--of leadership, and so do the people Democrats are luring here with a mirage. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6597-3 | null | 3,160 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, less than 2 miles from this Capitol, there are 666,000 small white flags stretching across the National Mall like a sea of suffering and loss. Each of these flags represents an American life lost to COVID--666,000. Let me tell but one of them. Her name was Candace Ayers. She lived in my hometown of Springfield, IL. Early last March, as soon as they could, Candace and her husband Terry received their second coronavirus vaccinations. That was a day of joy and relief for the family because Candace lived with rheumatoid arthritis, which weakened her immune system. In July, she traveled to Mississippi--a State, sadly, with one of the lowest vaccination rates--to console a friend who had lost her husband. At the time, COVID infections were at a low point, and the Delta variant was just starting, so Candace thought she would be safe, having been vaccinated. Soon after the trip, she tested positive for COVID. She was hospitalized and moved to an ICU, and she spent the last few weeks of her life on a ventilator. She died on September 3 at the age of 66, leaving behind her husband, their son and daughter and 5-year-old triplet grandchildren. In the obituary in my hometown paper, her family wrote: ``She was vaccinated but was infected by others who chose not to be. The cost was her life.'' I read that to my wife the morning it was printed and said I have never seen a sentence or two like that in any obituary. Experts call what took Candace Ayers' life a ``breakthrough'' COVID infection, meaning an infection that occurs after an individual has been vaccinated. Breakthrough infections are typically mild, but can be devastating for immunocompromised people like Candace. With the rise of the Delta variant, it is not just the elderly or immunocompromised who are at risk. Children made up only 3 percent of COVID cases at the start of this pandemic. Today, children account for 27 percent of new COVID infections, and the school year is just starting. We are in the midst of yet another wave of this pandemic. COVID is once again overwhelming America's health system, and the rate of COVID infections and deaths are dramatically higher in the areas of lower vaccination. An article in last Friday's Chicago Tribune tells the story in Illinois. Last Thursday was the fourth day in a row that every ICU bed in Southern Illinois was filled. In a 20-county area--home to 400,000 people--there were no ICU beds available. Doctors, nurses, and first responders are working around the clock to care for sick patients, but after 18 grueling months, they are reaching a breaking point. And with our healthcare system pushed to the brink, everyone is feeling it. If you live in Southern Illinois and you have a heart attack, a stroke, a serious accident, or a life-threatening condition, bad news: There are no ICU beds available for you. Hospital staffs in those areas have to call hospitals sometimes hundreds of miles away in Nashville, TN; St. Louis, MO; Kansas City, MO, to try to find a bed. Compare the situation to Chicago, some 300 miles away but a world of difference. COVID infection rates are starting to decrease. Public health officials are hopeful they are finally turning a corner. Why the great disparity between the Chicago regional area and Southern Illinois? One reason: vaccinations. In Chicago, two in three adults are fully vaccinated against COVID. In Southern Illinois, the figure is only one in three. So much of the suffering and expense could be avoided if we could take the politics out of the COVID debate and stop the spread of misinformation that is literally killing people. As Candace Ayers' family would tell you, the most important thing is that more people get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe, effective, and free--and widely available to anyone over the age of 12. Here is a statistic that should trouble everyone. The New York Times tracks COVID vaccinations around the world using figures supplied by national governments. Where do you suppose the United States of America ranks globally compared to other countries on vaccination rates? Well, you would guess the top three, right? The top 10 for sure. How about top 20? You would be wrong. Last week, the United States ranked 55th globally for the percentage of people vaccinated. We are just behind Cambodia. And in the wealthiest Nation on Earth and in the country that led the research and development in finding these vaccines, that is sad; it is inexcusable; and it is deadly. Now, listen, all Americans respect individual rights, but the only way to end the pandemic is for everyone to accept the personal responsibility for our shared well-being. That is why I support President Biden's recent action to strengthen America's defense against COVID and bring this pandemic finally to an end. Many responsible employers, large and small, have already decided on their own to require that their workers get vaccinated. I encourage more to do it. A strong majority of Americans support this policy. President Biden's decision to extend that policy to much of the Federal workforce and to private employers with 100 or more workers means that two out of three American workers will be required to get vaccinated. We even have a situation in the Federal Bureau of Prisons where the infection rate of Federal prisoners is six times the national average. Yet fewer than half of Federal prison guards have been vaccinated--fewer than half. That is inexcusable. Other nations have already instituted policies which encourage vaccinations. It is time for us to do the same. If we are ever going to see this pandemic come to an end, kids get back in school, and life return to normal, more Americans have to roll up their sleeves and face the reality that vaccination is the pathway to that result. Now, sadly, while this debate is going on nationally, politicians in two dozen States, with vaccination rates below the national average, are threatening to sue the Biden administration over its new COVID policy. In other words, these Governors are saying to the President: Stop any requirement for masks; stop any requirement for vaccinations. In the war against COVID, these lawmakers in these two dozen States are siding with the virus. Their actions, if they follow through on these threats, will result in more illness, more death, and more harm to the economy. Now, how can I say that? Well, I will tell you how--by taking a look at the numbers. Take a look at the numbers from the 24 States threatening lawsuits. The infection rate is 3,471 for every 100,000 people. How about the other States that are not filing a lawsuit against President Biden? Coincidentally, COVID death rates in those 24 States where these attorneys general are threatening lawsuits against President Biden is 31 per 100,000. The COVID death rates in the rest of the country: 11 per 100,000. Vaccination rate: 49 percent in those States, 57 percent in the States that are not suing the President. That tells a story. They are exalting liberty over life. This notion that we don't have a responsibility to ourselves and our family and innocent people to step forward is exactly the point that was being made by Candace Ayers' family. We do. We bear that responsibility, and we should accept it. Since June, the average rates of COVID infections in the 24 States threatening to sue President Biden have been double the rates of COVID infection in the other 26 States. COVID death rates in those States have been nearly three times worse than the rest of the country. These reckless political actions have deadly, real-world consequences. President Biden's actions are reasonable; they are necessary; and a majority of the American people believe it. Politicians hoping to gin up their base by suing the President should stop and start fighting the virus instead of the President's ambitions to bring this pandemic to an end. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can end this pandemic once and for all. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6598-2 | null | 3,161 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, less than 2 miles from this Capitol, there are 666,000 small white flags stretching across the National Mall like a sea of suffering and loss. Each of these flags represents an American life lost to COVID--666,000. Let me tell but one of them. Her name was Candace Ayers. She lived in my hometown of Springfield, IL. Early last March, as soon as they could, Candace and her husband Terry received their second coronavirus vaccinations. That was a day of joy and relief for the family because Candace lived with rheumatoid arthritis, which weakened her immune system. In July, she traveled to Mississippi--a State, sadly, with one of the lowest vaccination rates--to console a friend who had lost her husband. At the time, COVID infections were at a low point, and the Delta variant was just starting, so Candace thought she would be safe, having been vaccinated. Soon after the trip, she tested positive for COVID. She was hospitalized and moved to an ICU, and she spent the last few weeks of her life on a ventilator. She died on September 3 at the age of 66, leaving behind her husband, their son and daughter and 5-year-old triplet grandchildren. In the obituary in my hometown paper, her family wrote: ``She was vaccinated but was infected by others who chose not to be. The cost was her life.'' I read that to my wife the morning it was printed and said I have never seen a sentence or two like that in any obituary. Experts call what took Candace Ayers' life a ``breakthrough'' COVID infection, meaning an infection that occurs after an individual has been vaccinated. Breakthrough infections are typically mild, but can be devastating for immunocompromised people like Candace. With the rise of the Delta variant, it is not just the elderly or immunocompromised who are at risk. Children made up only 3 percent of COVID cases at the start of this pandemic. Today, children account for 27 percent of new COVID infections, and the school year is just starting. We are in the midst of yet another wave of this pandemic. COVID is once again overwhelming America's health system, and the rate of COVID infections and deaths are dramatically higher in the areas of lower vaccination. An article in last Friday's Chicago Tribune tells the story in Illinois. Last Thursday was the fourth day in a row that every ICU bed in Southern Illinois was filled. In a 20-county area--home to 400,000 people--there were no ICU beds available. Doctors, nurses, and first responders are working around the clock to care for sick patients, but after 18 grueling months, they are reaching a breaking point. And with our healthcare system pushed to the brink, everyone is feeling it. If you live in Southern Illinois and you have a heart attack, a stroke, a serious accident, or a life-threatening condition, bad news: There are no ICU beds available for you. Hospital staffs in those areas have to call hospitals sometimes hundreds of miles away in Nashville, TN; St. Louis, MO; Kansas City, MO, to try to find a bed. Compare the situation to Chicago, some 300 miles away but a world of difference. COVID infection rates are starting to decrease. Public health officials are hopeful they are finally turning a corner. Why the great disparity between the Chicago regional area and Southern Illinois? One reason: vaccinations. In Chicago, two in three adults are fully vaccinated against COVID. In Southern Illinois, the figure is only one in three. So much of the suffering and expense could be avoided if we could take the politics out of the COVID debate and stop the spread of misinformation that is literally killing people. As Candace Ayers' family would tell you, the most important thing is that more people get vaccinated. Vaccines are safe, effective, and free--and widely available to anyone over the age of 12. Here is a statistic that should trouble everyone. The New York Times tracks COVID vaccinations around the world using figures supplied by national governments. Where do you suppose the United States of America ranks globally compared to other countries on vaccination rates? Well, you would guess the top three, right? The top 10 for sure. How about top 20? You would be wrong. Last week, the United States ranked 55th globally for the percentage of people vaccinated. We are just behind Cambodia. And in the wealthiest Nation on Earth and in the country that led the research and development in finding these vaccines, that is sad; it is inexcusable; and it is deadly. Now, listen, all Americans respect individual rights, but the only way to end the pandemic is for everyone to accept the personal responsibility for our shared well-being. That is why I support President Biden's recent action to strengthen America's defense against COVID and bring this pandemic finally to an end. Many responsible employers, large and small, have already decided on their own to require that their workers get vaccinated. I encourage more to do it. A strong majority of Americans support this policy. President Biden's decision to extend that policy to much of the Federal workforce and to private employers with 100 or more workers means that two out of three American workers will be required to get vaccinated. We even have a situation in the Federal Bureau of Prisons where the infection rate of Federal prisoners is six times the national average. Yet fewer than half of Federal prison guards have been vaccinated--fewer than half. That is inexcusable. Other nations have already instituted policies which encourage vaccinations. It is time for us to do the same. If we are ever going to see this pandemic come to an end, kids get back in school, and life return to normal, more Americans have to roll up their sleeves and face the reality that vaccination is the pathway to that result. Now, sadly, while this debate is going on nationally, politicians in two dozen States, with vaccination rates below the national average, are threatening to sue the Biden administration over its new COVID policy. In other words, these Governors are saying to the President: Stop any requirement for masks; stop any requirement for vaccinations. In the war against COVID, these lawmakers in these two dozen States are siding with the virus. Their actions, if they follow through on these threats, will result in more illness, more death, and more harm to the economy. Now, how can I say that? Well, I will tell you how--by taking a look at the numbers. Take a look at the numbers from the 24 States threatening lawsuits. The infection rate is 3,471 for every 100,000 people. How about the other States that are not filing a lawsuit against President Biden? Coincidentally, COVID death rates in those 24 States where these attorneys general are threatening lawsuits against President Biden is 31 per 100,000. The COVID death rates in the rest of the country: 11 per 100,000. Vaccination rate: 49 percent in those States, 57 percent in the States that are not suing the President. That tells a story. They are exalting liberty over life. This notion that we don't have a responsibility to ourselves and our family and innocent people to step forward is exactly the point that was being made by Candace Ayers' family. We do. We bear that responsibility, and we should accept it. Since June, the average rates of COVID infections in the 24 States threatening to sue President Biden have been double the rates of COVID infection in the other 26 States. COVID death rates in those States have been nearly three times worse than the rest of the country. These reckless political actions have deadly, real-world consequences. President Biden's actions are reasonable; they are necessary; and a majority of the American people believe it. Politicians hoping to gin up their base by suing the President should stop and start fighting the virus instead of the President's ambitions to bring this pandemic to an end. The sooner we do that, the sooner we can end this pandemic once and for all. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. DURBIN | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6598-2 | null | 3,162 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, Federal takeovers are being discussed in both the House and the Senate this week. The Democrat leaders announced that the Senate will once again be taking up legislation to put the Federal Government, instead of the States, in charge of elections in this country. Meanwhile, over in the House of Representatives, they are expected to vote on legislation to eliminate essentially all State restrictions on abortion, no matter how modest or how widely supported. So what is up with all of these Federal takeovers? Well, Democrats have been pushing election legislation--what they call H.R. 1, or the For the People Act--for multiple years now. This radical legislation would provide for a massive Federal takeover of our electoral system, chill free speech, and turn the Federal Election Commission, which is the primary enforcer of election law in this country, into a partisan body, among other dangerous measures. And the reason--the reason for this radical legislation? Well, as even some Democrats have implicitly admitted, this legislation is designed to make it easier for Democrats to win elections. Fast forward to last week. With H.R. 1 unable to pass the Senate, some Democrats produced a modified version of this legislation. It is called For the People Act ``lite.'' And while I appreciate their efforts, unfortunately, as the Republican leader said yesterday morning, ``This latest version is only a compromise in the sense that the center left compromised with the far left,'' or, as the Wall Street Journal editorial board put it this morning, ``Calling this bill slimmed down . . . is like touting your healthy choices after you order a Diet Coke with four Big Macs.'' The For the People Act ``lite'' would still impose troubling new burdens on free speech; it would still undermine State voter ID laws; it would still spend taxpayer dollars on political campaigns; it would still make it easier for those here illegally to vote; and, most of all, it would still put Washington, not State governments, in charge of elections for no reason at all. Let's be clear. There is absolutely zero reason to have the Federal Government start dictating States' election policies--zero reason. There is no systemic problem with State election laws, and State election officials do not need Washington bureaucrats dictating how many days of early voting they should offer or how they should manage mail-in ballots. This bill, like its parent H.R. 1, is a solution in search of a crisis. States have been doing a fine job running elections. Even Democrats have sort of had to admit that given the huge voter turnout in the last election and the fact that Democrats won, albeit by the slimmest of margins--even Democrats have had to admit that States are doing a pretty good job running elections. So now that they can no longer tell us that our electoral system is broken, Democrats are telling us that we need election legislation like this because States are passing legislation that will, Democrats claim, threaten election access--baloney. It is just another attempt to manufacture a crisis that will justify passing H.R. 1 or some variant. Democrats are pushing election legislation for one simple reason: because they think it will improve their chances in future elections. That is not a good reason to bring up election legislation, and I will continue to oppose any Federal takeover of elections. South Dakota election officials are doing just fine without having their every move dictated by Washington bureaucrats. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. THUNE | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6599 | null | 3,163 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-2005. 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; Arizona; Pinal County Air Quality Control District'' (FRL No. 8760-02-R9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2006. 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; Nebraska; Revisions to Title 129 of the Nebraska Administrative Code; General Conformity'' (FRL No. 8709-02-R7) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2007. 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; Infrastructure SIP Requirements for the 2015 Ozone NAAQS'' (FRL No. 8823-02-R5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2008. 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; OR; Updates to Adoption by Reference of Federal Provisions'' (FRL No. 8738-02-R10) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2009. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Interstate Transport Prongs 1 and 2 for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Standard for Kansas and Nebraska'' (FRL No. 8705-02-R7) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2010. 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; 2008 Ozone Moderate VOC RACT for Chicago'' (FRL No. 8822-02-R5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2011. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; New York; Ozone Season NOx Controls for Simple Cycle and Regenerative Combustion Turbines'' (FRL No. 8832-02-R2) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2012. 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; TN; Removal of Vehicle I/M Program for the Middle Tennessee and Hamilton County Areas'' (FRL No. 8839-02-R4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2013. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; District of Columbia; Emissions Statement Certification for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard'' (FRL No. 8730-02-R3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2014. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities; New York; Revision to Section 111(d) State Plan for MSW Landfills'' (FRL No. 8851-02-R2) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2015. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (19-2.F)'' (FRL No. 7486-01-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2016. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (20-8.B)'' (FRL No. 8146-02-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2017. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Significant New Use Rules on Certain Chemical Substances (19-1.5e)'' (FRL No. 8000-02-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2018. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Maine and New Hampshire; 2015 Ozone NAAQS Interstate Transport Requirements'' (FRL No. 8860-02-R1) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2019. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Severe Area Submission Requirements for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS; California; Eastern Kern Nonattainment Area'' (FRL No. 8728-02-R9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2020. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Ohio Permit Fee Rule Removal'' (FRL No. 8833-02-R5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2021. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; District of Columbia; Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period and Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major Stationary Sources of Nitrogen Oxides; Technical Amendment'' (FRL No . 8837-02-R3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2022. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; Emissions Statement Rule Certification for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard'' (FRL No. 8845-02-R3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2023. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Revision to Approved Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets'' (FRL No. 8852-02- R4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2024. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Monitoring: Recordkeeping: Reporting'' (FRL No. 8859-02-R4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2025. A communication from the Acting Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Alabama: Final Approval of State Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions, Codification, and Incorporation by Reference'' (FRL No. 8784-01-R4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2026. A communication from the Acting Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Tennessee: Final Approval of State Petroleum Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions, Codification, and Incorporation by Reference'' (FRL No. 8817-01-R4) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2027. A communication from the Acting Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Emissions Statement Requirement for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard'' (FRL No. 8876-02-R3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2028. A communication from the Acting Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Priorities List'' (FRL No. 8887-01-OLEM) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2029. A communication from the Acting Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Texas; Clean Air Act Requirements for Nonattainment New Source Review and Emission Statements for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards'' (FRL No. 8893-02-R6) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2030. A communication from the Acting Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Illinois; Prevention of Significant Deterioration'' (FRL No. 8919-02-R5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2031. A communication from the Wildlife Biologist, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Migratory Bird Hunting; Final 2021-22 Frameworks for Migratory Bird Hunting Regulations, and Special Procedures for Issuance of Annual Hunting Regulations'' (RIN1018-BE34) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2032. 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) 1.243 Rev 0, Safety-Related Steel Structures and Steel-Plate Composite (SC) Walls for other than Reactor Vessels and Containments'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2033. 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) 3.76 Rev 0, Implementation of Aging Management Requirements for Spent Fuel Storage Renewals'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2034. 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) 1.243 Rev 0, Safety-Related Steel Structures and Steel-Plate Composite (SC) Walls for other than Reactor Vessels and Containments'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2035. A communication from the Director of Congressional Affairs, Nuclear Reactor Regulation, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Final Safety Evaluation of Technical Specifications Task Force Traveler TSTF-554, `Revise Reactor Coolant Leakage Requirements' '' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2036. 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) 3.76 Rev 0, Implementation of Aging Management Requirements for Spent Fuel Storage Renewals'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-2037. A communication from the Acting Chief of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Special Funding and Benefit Limitation Rules for Single-Employer Defined Benefit Pension Plans under the CARES Act'' (Notice 2020-61) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2038. A communication from the Director of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Implementation of Nonresident Alien Deposit Interest Regulations'' (Notice 2020-15) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2039. A communication from the Director of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous'' (Rev. Proc. 2020-26) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2040. A communication from the Director of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Section 911(d) (4) - Waiver Revenue Procedure with regards to COVID-19'' (Rev. Proc. 2020-27) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2041. A communication from the Director of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Guidance on the Employee Retention Credit under Section 3134 of the Code and on Miscellaneous Issues Related to the Employee Retention Credit'' (Notice 2021-49) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2042. A communication from the Acting Branch Chief of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Automatic method change procedures for method changes to comply with section 1.451-3 and/or section 1.451-8 (TD 9941)'' (Rev. Proc. 2021-34) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2043. A communication from the Acting Branch Chief of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Gross receipts safe harbor under sections 448(c) and 6033 of the Internal Revenue Code for purposes of determining eligibility to claim the employee retention credit'' (Rev. Proc. 2021-33) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2044. A communication from the Acting Chief of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Administrative Relief with Respect to Employment Tax Deadlines Applicable to Employers Affected by the Ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease 2019 Pandemic'' (Notice 2020-65) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2045. A communication from the Acting Chief of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Safe Harbor Explanations - Eligible Rollover Distributions'' (Notice 2020-62) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2046. A communication from the Acting Chief of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Transition Relief under Internal Revenue Code Section 51'' (Notice 2021- 43) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2047. A communication from the Director of the Legal Processing Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Educator Expense Deduction under Section 62(a)(2)'' (Rev. Proc. 2021-15) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committee on Finance. EC-2048. A communication from the Acting Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(c) of the Arms Export Control Act, the certification of a proposed license amendment for the export of defense articles, including technical data and defense services to Australia in the amount of $100,000,000 or more (Transmittal No. DDTC 21-023); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-2049. A communication from the Acting Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(c) of the Arms Export Control Act, the certification of a proposed license amendment for the export of defense articles, including technical data and defense services to the UK in the amount of $50,000,000 or more (Transmittal No. DDTC 20-067); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-2050. A communication from the Acting Assistant Secretary, Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to section 36(c) of the Arms Export Control Act, the certification of a proposed license amendment for the export of defense articles, including technical data and defense services to Australia in the amount of $100,000,000 or more (Transmittal No. DDTC 21-034); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-2051. A communication from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, an annual report on mining activities as required by the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act of 2006; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-2052. A communication from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a petition to add workers at the Superior Steel Co. in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, to the Special Exposure Cohort; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-2053. A communication from the Secretary of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a petition to add workers at the Savannah River Site, in Aiken, South Carolina, to the Special Exposure Cohort; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-22-pt1-PgS6621-5 | null | 3,164 |
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-2021-09-23-pt1-PgH5107-5 | null | 3,165 |
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-2208. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Chlorpyrifos; Tolerance Revocations [EPA-HQ-OPP-2021-0523; FRL-5993-04- OCSPP] received August 31, 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-2209. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Thiabendazole; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2020-0054; FRL-8750-02- OCSPP] received August 31, 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-2210. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Oxirane, 2-methyl-, polymer with oxirane, mono-(9Z)-9-octadecanoate, methyl ether; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ- OPP-2021-0162; FRL-8745-02-OCSPP] received August 31, 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-2211. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Severe Area Submission Requirements for the 2008 Ozone NAAQS; California; Eastern Kern Nonattainment Area [EPA-R09-OAR-2021-0341; FRL- 8728-02-R9] received August 31, 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-2212. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Monitoring: Recordkeeping: Reporting [EPA- R04-OAR-2020-0716; FRL-8859-02-R4] received August 31, 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-2213. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; North Carolina; Revision to Approved Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets [EPA-R04-OAR-2020-0515; FRL-8852-02-R4] received August 31, 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-2214. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; District of Columbia; Regional Haze State Implementation Plan for the Second Implementation Period and Reasonably Available Control Technology for Major Stationary Sources of Nitrogen Oxides; Technical Amendment [EPA-R03-OAR-2020-0703; FRL-8837-02-R3] received August 31, 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-2215. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Ohio Permit Fee Rule Removal [EPA-R05-OAR-2020-0602; FRL-8833-02-R5] received August 31, 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-2216. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- [alpha]-Alkyl- [omega]-hydroxypoly(oxypropylene) and/or poly (oxyethylene) Polymers Where the Alkyl Chain Contains a Minimum of 6 Carbons; Exemptions From the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA- HQ-OPP-2021-0161; FRL-8799-01-OCSPP] received August 31, 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-2217. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agnecy, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Pennsylvania; Emissions Statement Rule Certification for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard [EPA-R03- OAR-2020-0706; FRL-8845-02-R3] received August 31, 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-2218. A letter from the Deputy Executive Secretary, Correspondence and Records Management, Department of the Treasury, transmitting 2021 Annual Report of the Boards of Trustees of the Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Funds, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 910(a); Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title VII, Sec. 709 (as added by Public Law 98-21, Sec. 143); (97 Stat. 102) (H. Doc. No. 117--62); to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed. EC-2219. A letter from the Deputy Executive Secretary, Correspondence and Records Management, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the 2021 Annual Report of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal Disability Insurance Trust Funds, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 401(c)(2); Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title II, Sec. 201 (as amended by Public Law 100-647, Sec. 8005(a)); (102 Stat. 3781) (H. Doc. No. 117--63); to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered to be printed. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgH5133-2 | null | 3,166 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Nominations Mr. President, on nominations. Now, on the activity happening on the floor today, thanks to the political stunts and a handful of obstructionist Republicans, the Senate is going to spend a lot of extra time today on something that is generally a routine process: confirming uncontroversial but critical nominees to the Department of State and other important Agencies. Of all the mandates of the government, there is one that holds importance above all others: keeping the American people safe from all threats, foreign and domestic. To fulfill this responsibility, the President relies on a vast army of dedicated public servants across the government. They are the expert diplomats, Under Secretaries, and Assistant Secretaries whom we rarely hear of in the news, but they play an indispensable role in keeping America safe. Oftentimes they are quiet heroes. But, today, an alarming number of posts essential for our national security remain vacant because a handful of Republicans have decided to hijack the confirmation process and put a hold on not just a few but on many critical nominees. As a result, today, we are going to have to take the long way to move forward with seven of the nominees currently on hold. We need to get these confirmed as soon as possible. And if the irrational stonewalling by Republicans of these noncontroversial nominees continues, we may need to take this tedious exercise again in a greater magnitude. The Republicans responsible for holding up these confirmations are deliberately making the American people less safe in a vain and futile effort to enhance their own political fortunes. Every single one of these nominees was reported out of committee with bipartisan support. There is no rational basis for their delay. The fleeting gain these Republicans receive will pale in comparison to the damage they are causing to our country. It is not just an issue of a few nominees here and there. This is scores of diplomats and other public servants who are unable to get to work because a few Members of this body are holding everything up. It is intentional sabotage of this Chamber's operation, and it is going to hurt our government's ability to respond to crises around the world. Imagine if you dial 911, but nobody has been hired to pick up the phone on the other side. That is more or less what these Republicans are doing to many of our diplomats, who are often the first line of defense when an international crisis breaks out. Of course, this Chamber, under this leadership, is not going to tolerate a few Members who want to muck up the confirmation process to make a scene. It will just take a little longer to get them done--maybe nights, maybe weekends. We will focus today on pushing these nominees through for the sake of our national security. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6632 | null | 3,167 |
formal | extremists | null | Islamophobic | Afghanistan Mr. President, now, on a completely different matter, the free world faces many serious threats from rising authoritarians to resurgent terrorists. Even declining authoritarian powers like Russia pose significant challenges. These threats demand clear-eyed leadership of the world's greatest power. But earlier this week, at the United Nations, President Biden didn't offer a rallying cry for the world to confront those threats. Instead, he tried to turn the page, literally. He bragged that ``I stand here today for the first time in 20 years with the United States not at war. We have turned the page.'' He further claimed that ``we have ended 20 years of conflict in Afghanistan.'' Well, that is actually news to the Afghans. For them, the conflict continues and, for the terrorists as well, continues for them too. We may be turning the page, but they are not turning a new leaf. The Taliban-Haqqani government in Kabul is just getting started. Al-Qaida and ISIS-K are not standing down in their fight against the West; neither are Iran's murdering proxy forces all across the Middle East. Theocratic killers will not simply disarm themselves because our President offered scripted platitudes to United Nations diplomats. To the extent they care about international norms, it is because they seek to destroy them. They will not be deterred by what our President calls ``relentless diplomacy.'' Strangely, but fortunately, President Biden's rhetoric does not even match the actions his own administration is taking. Indeed, the day before his speech, the United States targeted an al-Qaida operative in a drone strike in Syria. The President pretends we aren't at war with terrorism, but neither his own team nor the terrorists believe that. Our unilateral retreat from Afghanistan did not magically usher in a truce with terrorists; it just left us much less able to monitor and combat them. The consequence of President Biden's slogan-driven policy is not that America's war is over; it is that America now has to fight with one hand tied behind our back. Back in April, the President's own CIA Director warned this body--us--that, after retreating, our ``ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. . . . That is simply a fact,'' he said. In June, the Secretary of Defense told us that al-Qaida could reestablish a safe haven and directly threaten our homeland within 2 years. This is back when the administration still assumed we would have responsible partners in charge in Afghanistan. Even then, the Secretary said that al-Qaida would reestablish a safe haven and threaten our homeland within 2 years. Certainly that timeline has now moved significantly up. So the question is, Where do we go from here? What is next? The first step is to get some answers and create some accountability. As I have said before, the administration must answer some tough questions about both past failures and future plans. Secretary Austin needs to explain why he supported a policy that by his own admission would allow al-Qaida to reestablish a safe haven. And we need an updated assessment of the threat we face now that terrorists, rather than our partners, control Afghanistan. Oh, but that is just a start. America must reestablish the credible, relentless threat we once posed to terrorists in Afghanistan and beyond. The Taliban's shameful reclamation of Kabul has emboldened America's enemies all around the world. We cannot let them bank a propaganda victory. We must recapture the initiative. We can't retake the initiative with empty talk. This will take arrests, and it will take strikes--visible demonstrations of our resolve. We must also repair our credibility with our allies and partners. America's resolve to lead the War on Terror fight must be undoubted. This is a collective effort that will take support and contributions from partners all around the world, deeper intelligence sharing, joint efforts to prevent extremists from traveling to safe havens in the first place, and a willingness to repatriate and prosecute their citizens when they go abroad to conduct terrorism. We have to get past the radical left's passion for cutting our defense budget down to the bone. President Biden already proposed to cut defense spending after inflation. I understand some House Democrats want to impose even further cuts from that number. Just this week, to appease a vocal fringe on the far left, House Democratic leadership left defensive assistance for our ally Israel and their Iron Dome on the cutting room floor. A few far-left radicals get veto power over purely defensive assistance for Israel? This is madness. So are the left's efforts to cut back the authorities that our military and intelligence professionals use to protect our homeland. So is the continued talk about emptying Guantanamo Bay, talk about that. For goodness' sake, we just saw four of the five terrorists whom President Obama sprung from Gitmo take up senior positions in the Taliban government--formally in Gitmo; now helping to run the government in Afghanistan. What a combined legacy. The Obama-Biden administration let those terrorists out of prison, and the Biden-Harris administration let them retake an entire country. No, global wars do not simply end because a President's speechwriter says so. Wars end when America's enemies no longer threaten us. Unfortunately, the Biden administration's decisions to date have not brought that victory any closer. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6633 | null | 3,168 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Afghanistan Mr. President, now, on a completely different matter, the free world faces many serious threats from rising authoritarians to resurgent terrorists. Even declining authoritarian powers like Russia pose significant challenges. These threats demand clear-eyed leadership of the world's greatest power. But earlier this week, at the United Nations, President Biden didn't offer a rallying cry for the world to confront those threats. Instead, he tried to turn the page, literally. He bragged that ``I stand here today for the first time in 20 years with the United States not at war. We have turned the page.'' He further claimed that ``we have ended 20 years of conflict in Afghanistan.'' Well, that is actually news to the Afghans. For them, the conflict continues and, for the terrorists as well, continues for them too. We may be turning the page, but they are not turning a new leaf. The Taliban-Haqqani government in Kabul is just getting started. Al-Qaida and ISIS-K are not standing down in their fight against the West; neither are Iran's murdering proxy forces all across the Middle East. Theocratic killers will not simply disarm themselves because our President offered scripted platitudes to United Nations diplomats. To the extent they care about international norms, it is because they seek to destroy them. They will not be deterred by what our President calls ``relentless diplomacy.'' Strangely, but fortunately, President Biden's rhetoric does not even match the actions his own administration is taking. Indeed, the day before his speech, the United States targeted an al-Qaida operative in a drone strike in Syria. The President pretends we aren't at war with terrorism, but neither his own team nor the terrorists believe that. Our unilateral retreat from Afghanistan did not magically usher in a truce with terrorists; it just left us much less able to monitor and combat them. The consequence of President Biden's slogan-driven policy is not that America's war is over; it is that America now has to fight with one hand tied behind our back. Back in April, the President's own CIA Director warned this body--us--that, after retreating, our ``ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. . . . That is simply a fact,'' he said. In June, the Secretary of Defense told us that al-Qaida could reestablish a safe haven and directly threaten our homeland within 2 years. This is back when the administration still assumed we would have responsible partners in charge in Afghanistan. Even then, the Secretary said that al-Qaida would reestablish a safe haven and threaten our homeland within 2 years. Certainly that timeline has now moved significantly up. So the question is, Where do we go from here? What is next? The first step is to get some answers and create some accountability. As I have said before, the administration must answer some tough questions about both past failures and future plans. Secretary Austin needs to explain why he supported a policy that by his own admission would allow al-Qaida to reestablish a safe haven. And we need an updated assessment of the threat we face now that terrorists, rather than our partners, control Afghanistan. Oh, but that is just a start. America must reestablish the credible, relentless threat we once posed to terrorists in Afghanistan and beyond. The Taliban's shameful reclamation of Kabul has emboldened America's enemies all around the world. We cannot let them bank a propaganda victory. We must recapture the initiative. We can't retake the initiative with empty talk. This will take arrests, and it will take strikes--visible demonstrations of our resolve. We must also repair our credibility with our allies and partners. America's resolve to lead the War on Terror fight must be undoubted. This is a collective effort that will take support and contributions from partners all around the world, deeper intelligence sharing, joint efforts to prevent extremists from traveling to safe havens in the first place, and a willingness to repatriate and prosecute their citizens when they go abroad to conduct terrorism. We have to get past the radical left's passion for cutting our defense budget down to the bone. President Biden already proposed to cut defense spending after inflation. I understand some House Democrats want to impose even further cuts from that number. Just this week, to appease a vocal fringe on the far left, House Democratic leadership left defensive assistance for our ally Israel and their Iron Dome on the cutting room floor. A few far-left radicals get veto power over purely defensive assistance for Israel? This is madness. So are the left's efforts to cut back the authorities that our military and intelligence professionals use to protect our homeland. So is the continued talk about emptying Guantanamo Bay, talk about that. For goodness' sake, we just saw four of the five terrorists whom President Obama sprung from Gitmo take up senior positions in the Taliban government--formally in Gitmo; now helping to run the government in Afghanistan. What a combined legacy. The Obama-Biden administration let those terrorists out of prison, and the Biden-Harris administration let them retake an entire country. No, global wars do not simply end because a President's speechwriter says so. Wars end when America's enemies no longer threaten us. Unfortunately, the Biden administration's decisions to date have not brought that victory any closer. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6633 | null | 3,169 |
formal | terrorists | null | Islamophobic | Afghanistan Mr. President, now, on a completely different matter, the free world faces many serious threats from rising authoritarians to resurgent terrorists. Even declining authoritarian powers like Russia pose significant challenges. These threats demand clear-eyed leadership of the world's greatest power. But earlier this week, at the United Nations, President Biden didn't offer a rallying cry for the world to confront those threats. Instead, he tried to turn the page, literally. He bragged that ``I stand here today for the first time in 20 years with the United States not at war. We have turned the page.'' He further claimed that ``we have ended 20 years of conflict in Afghanistan.'' Well, that is actually news to the Afghans. For them, the conflict continues and, for the terrorists as well, continues for them too. We may be turning the page, but they are not turning a new leaf. The Taliban-Haqqani government in Kabul is just getting started. Al-Qaida and ISIS-K are not standing down in their fight against the West; neither are Iran's murdering proxy forces all across the Middle East. Theocratic killers will not simply disarm themselves because our President offered scripted platitudes to United Nations diplomats. To the extent they care about international norms, it is because they seek to destroy them. They will not be deterred by what our President calls ``relentless diplomacy.'' Strangely, but fortunately, President Biden's rhetoric does not even match the actions his own administration is taking. Indeed, the day before his speech, the United States targeted an al-Qaida operative in a drone strike in Syria. The President pretends we aren't at war with terrorism, but neither his own team nor the terrorists believe that. Our unilateral retreat from Afghanistan did not magically usher in a truce with terrorists; it just left us much less able to monitor and combat them. The consequence of President Biden's slogan-driven policy is not that America's war is over; it is that America now has to fight with one hand tied behind our back. Back in April, the President's own CIA Director warned this body--us--that, after retreating, our ``ability to collect and act on threats will diminish. . . . That is simply a fact,'' he said. In June, the Secretary of Defense told us that al-Qaida could reestablish a safe haven and directly threaten our homeland within 2 years. This is back when the administration still assumed we would have responsible partners in charge in Afghanistan. Even then, the Secretary said that al-Qaida would reestablish a safe haven and threaten our homeland within 2 years. Certainly that timeline has now moved significantly up. So the question is, Where do we go from here? What is next? The first step is to get some answers and create some accountability. As I have said before, the administration must answer some tough questions about both past failures and future plans. Secretary Austin needs to explain why he supported a policy that by his own admission would allow al-Qaida to reestablish a safe haven. And we need an updated assessment of the threat we face now that terrorists, rather than our partners, control Afghanistan. Oh, but that is just a start. America must reestablish the credible, relentless threat we once posed to terrorists in Afghanistan and beyond. The Taliban's shameful reclamation of Kabul has emboldened America's enemies all around the world. We cannot let them bank a propaganda victory. We must recapture the initiative. We can't retake the initiative with empty talk. This will take arrests, and it will take strikes--visible demonstrations of our resolve. We must also repair our credibility with our allies and partners. America's resolve to lead the War on Terror fight must be undoubted. This is a collective effort that will take support and contributions from partners all around the world, deeper intelligence sharing, joint efforts to prevent extremists from traveling to safe havens in the first place, and a willingness to repatriate and prosecute their citizens when they go abroad to conduct terrorism. We have to get past the radical left's passion for cutting our defense budget down to the bone. President Biden already proposed to cut defense spending after inflation. I understand some House Democrats want to impose even further cuts from that number. Just this week, to appease a vocal fringe on the far left, House Democratic leadership left defensive assistance for our ally Israel and their Iron Dome on the cutting room floor. A few far-left radicals get veto power over purely defensive assistance for Israel? This is madness. So are the left's efforts to cut back the authorities that our military and intelligence professionals use to protect our homeland. So is the continued talk about emptying Guantanamo Bay, talk about that. For goodness' sake, we just saw four of the five terrorists whom President Obama sprung from Gitmo take up senior positions in the Taliban government--formally in Gitmo; now helping to run the government in Afghanistan. What a combined legacy. The Obama-Biden administration let those terrorists out of prison, and the Biden-Harris administration let them retake an entire country. No, global wars do not simply end because a President's speechwriter says so. Wars end when America's enemies no longer threaten us. Unfortunately, the Biden administration's decisions to date have not brought that victory any closer. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6633 | null | 3,170 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Private Debt Collection Program Mr. President, on one other matter, shorter than I just had, news accounts continue to mention plans to increase IRS enforcement funding and to impose onerous reporting requirements on sensitive banking information to the IRS. These proposals raise many concerns, particularly in light of questions regarding the ability of the IRS to protect taxpayers' information. Even this year, we had a whole bunch of stuff go public of private taxpayer information that, by so doing, violated the code to protect the privacy of taxpayers. However, I want to now discuss an existing IRS program that's already collecting hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid taxes and doing it annually. I am referring to the program called the Private Debt Collection Program that uses private contractors pursuing tax debts that the IRS would otherwise not pursue. This program was enacted as part of the infrastructure legislation signed into law 2015. Each year since then, annual updates on the program's finances document very well the growing success of this program that is done by private debt collectors. As of the end of the fiscal year 2020, the program had collected nearly $1 billion in unpaid taxes. After accounting for the program's cost, it has returned more than $678 million in net revenue to the Treasury. Of that $678 million, more than $458 million was from the fiscal year 2020 alone. Every year the program is allowed to function, it brings more and more money into the Treasury. At the same time, it generates resources the IRS uses to hire additional tax collection personnel. To date, the program has enabled IRS to hire many new employees. The recent IRS update for the current fiscal year 2021 continues this trend. Through June, the Private Debt Collection Program has provided more than $700 million in net revenue to the Treasury. In other words, in the first 9 months of fiscal year 2021, the program has more than doubled the revenue it has returned to the Treasury. The longer this program is allowed to work, the more successful it becomes. The proposals being put forward by my colleagues across the aisle are based on the premise that by spending more money, the IRS will collect more money. The Private Debt Collection Program brings in money without spending taxpayers' money. Despite the obvious benefits of this program, I am very concerned that the IRS has suspended providing additional cases to the program until the end of September. Commissioner Rettig assured me in responses to written questions that the additional cases would be provided on September 27. I am going to hold Commissioner Rettig to that statement and, in the upcoming days, expect to see him keep his word to me. All the handwringing over spending more money to increase IRS enforcement and information reporting shows the serious issues involved in those proposals. The IRS Private Debt Collection Program is proven to collect taxes already owed, allows the IRS to hire more personnel, and costs nothing up front. Anyone serious about closing the tax gap should support and encourage the full use of this program, the Private Debt Collection Program. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6640 | null | 3,171 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize a family-owned small business and Louisville staple, Dan-O's Seasoning of Louisville, KY, as the Senate Small Business of the Week. Like many college students, Dan Oliver knew nothing about cooking. One day, while seasoning chicken, he threw together some spices and cooked the best chicken he had ever had. That spice blend planted the seeds for what would become Dan-O's Seasoning. Over the next 15 years, whenever he cooked for friends and family, Dan used his original spice recipe. After a career in the professional sector, Dan joined the restaurant industry as a cook and bartender. Dan, an aspiring entrepreneur, used his passion for cooking to develop what he called his ``million-dollar idea:'' selling his signature seasoning mix. Two years--and nearly 200 modifications later--Dan-O's Seasoning launched in 2017. Today, Dan-O's Seasoning is a thriving company selling products nationwide. The business is based in Louisville, where Dan and his team prepare and package the product. Initially, Dan traveled across Kentucky selling his seasoning at trade shows and flea markets. The low-sodium, sugar-free, 100-percent natural seasoning was a hit, with sales doubling every year. Dan-O's Seasoning was soon available at Louisville-area stores and online. Like many small business owners, Dan adapted to overcome the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. With the trade show circuit closed, he turned to social media to keep his business afloat. After a video clip went viral on TikTok, a video creating and sharing platform, Dan-O's gained thousands of new customers and increased its sales more than tenfold. Their success was profiled in several local and national outlets, including WDRB, the Louisville Courier-Journal, Louisville Business Journal, and BuzzFeed. And in March 2021, Dan-O's exponential growth led to their products being sold at Kroger's, a regional supermarket chain located in the Midwest and South. Like many small business owners, Dan is actively involved in his community. Locally, Dan-O's Seasoning regularly supports community organizations, including the Louisville V.F.W. Post 6182, the Permanently Disabled Jockey Fund, and the Boone County Cancer Society. When the company hosts events, like its annual cornhole tournament, they prioritize working with local small businesses. Notably Dan-O's Seasoning sponsors several athletes, including NASCAR drivers, dirt-track racers, tournament fishers, cornhole players, and NCAA athletes. In June 2021, Dan earned the Silver Fleur-De-Lis Award from the Greater Louisville, Inc. Metro Chamber of Commerce, recognizing his company's exponential growth and innovative marketing tactics. Dan-O's Seasoning is a remarkable example of how hard work, ingenuity, and discipline can turn a dream into reality. Small businesses like Dan-O's Seasoning form the heart of towns across Kentucky, regularly stepping up to support their communities. Congratulations to Dan and the entire team at Dan-O's Seasoning. I wish them the best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and success in Kentucky and beyond. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PAUL | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6669 | null | 3,172 |
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-2054. A communication from the Director, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``OMB Sequestration Update Report to the President and Congress for the Current Fiscal Year''; to the Special Committee on Aging; Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; Appropriations; Armed Services; Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Budget; Commerce, Science, and Transportation; Energy and Natural Resources; Environment and Public Works; Select Committee on Ethics; Finance; Foreign Relations; Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Indian Affairs; Select Committee on Intelligence; Joint Committee on Taxation; the Judiciary; Rules and Administration; Small Business and Entrepreneurship; and Veterans' Affairs. EC-2055. A communication from the Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice, transmitting, pursuant to law, the first semi-annual report of fiscal year 2020 of the Department of Justice's Office of Privacy and Civil Liberties; to the Committees on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Select Committee on Intelligence; and the Judiciary. EC-2056. A communication from the Chair of the Federal Acquisition Security Council, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Federal Acquisition Security Council Rule'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on September 13, 2021; to the Committees on Appropriations; Armed Services; Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Select Committee on Intelligence; the Judiciary; and Commerce, Science, and Transportation. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6670 | null | 3,173 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Ms. COLLINS (for herself, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Portman, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Braun, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Graham, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Romney, Mr. Coons, Ms. Ernst, Mr. King, Mr. Burr, Mr. Whitehouse, and Mr. Tillis) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 381 Whereas, across the United States, clean and readily abundant forms of energy are powering more homes and businesses than ever before; Whereas clean energy generation is readily available from zero- and low-emissions sources; Whereas the clean energy sector is a growing part of the economy and has been a key driver of economic growth in the United States in recent years; Whereas technological innovation can further reduce costs and increase deployment of clean energy sources; Whereas the ``2021 U.S. Energy and Employment Report'' published by the Department of Energy found that, at the end of 2020, the energy and energy efficiency sectors in the United States employed approximately 7,500,000 individuals; Whereas the scaling of clean energy is essential to reducing emissions; Whereas clean energy jobs are inherently local, contribute to the growth of local economies, and cannot be outsourced due to the on-site nature of construction, installation, and maintenance; and Whereas innovative clean energy solutions and clean energy jobs are part of the energy future of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) proclaims the week of September 20 through September 24, 2021, to be ``National Clean Energy Week''; (2) encourages individuals and organizations across the United States to support commonsense solutions that address the economic, environmental, and energy needs of the United States in the 21st century; (3) encourages the Federal Government, States, municipalities, and individuals to invest in clean, low- emitting energy technologies; and (4) recognizes the role of entrepreneurs and small businesses in ensuring the energy leadership of the United States in the global marketplace and supporting low-cost, clean, and reliable energy in the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6678 | null | 3,174 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | 2021, AS ``NATIONAL DIRECT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS RECOGNITION WEEK'' Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Ms. Collins, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Brown, Mr. Casey, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Kaine, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Van Hollen, and Ms. Warren) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 383 Whereas direct support professionals, including direct care workers, personal assistants, personal attendants, in-home support workers, and paraprofessionals, are key to providing publicly funded, long-term support and services for millions of individuals with disabilities; Whereas, during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (referred to in this preamble as ``COVID-19'') pandemic, many direct support professionals continue to arrive for work every day in order to ensure the health and safety of individuals with disabilities; Whereas direct support professionals provide essential services that ensure all individuals with disabilities are-- (1) included as a valued part of the communities in which those individuals live; (2) supported at home, at work, and in the communities of the United States; and (3) empowered to live with the dignity that all people of the United States deserve; Whereas, by fostering connections between individuals with disabilities and their families, friends, and communities, direct support professionals ensure that individuals with disabilities thrive, thereby avoiding more costly institutional care; Whereas direct support professionals build close, respectful, and trusting relationships with individuals with disabilities and provide a broad range of personalized support to those individuals, including-- (1) helping individuals make person-centered choices; (2) assisting with personal care, meal preparation, medication management, and other aspects of daily living; (3) assisting individuals in accessing the community and securing competitive, integrated employment; (4) providing transportation to school, work, religious, and recreational activities; (5) helping with general daily affairs, such as assisting with financial matters, medical appointments, and personal interests; (6) assisting individuals in the transition from isolated or congregate settings or services to living in the communities of their choice; and (7) helping to keep individuals with disabilities safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, including by volunteering to quarantine with individuals whom they care for to reduce spread of the disease; Whereas there is a documented critical and increasing shortage of direct support professionals throughout the United States; Whereas the majority of direct support professionals are employed in home and community-based settings, and that trend is expected to increase over the next decade; Whereas many direct support professionals-- (1) are the primary financial providers for their families; (2) are hardworking, taxpaying citizens who provide a critical service in the United States; and (3) continue to earn low wages, receive inadequate benefits, and have limited opportunities for advancement, resulting in high turnover and vacancy rates that adversely affect the quality of support, safety, and health of individuals with disabilities; and Whereas the Supreme Court of the United States, in Olmstead v. L.C., 527 U.S. 581 (1999)-- (1) recognized the importance of the deinstitutionalization of, and community-based services for, individuals with disabilities; and (2) held that, under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S. 12101 et seq.), a State must provide community- based services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities if-- (A) the community-based services are appropriate; (B) the affected individual does not oppose receiving the community-based services; and (C) the community-based services can be reasonably accommodated after the community has taken into account the resources available to the State and the needs of other individuals with disabilities in the State: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates the week beginning September 12, 2021, as ``National Direct Support Professionals Recognition Week''; (2) recognizes the dedication and vital role of direct support professionals in enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities of all ages; (3) appreciates the contribution of direct support professionals in supporting individuals with disabilities and their families in the United States; (4) commends direct support professionals for being integral to the provision of long-term support and services for individuals with disabilities; (5) encourages the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the Department of Labor to collect data specific to direct support professionals; and (6) finds that the successful implementation of public policies affecting individuals with disabilities in the United States can depend on the dedication of direct support professionals. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6679-2 | null | 3,175 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Durbin, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 383 Whereas community schools marshal, align, and unite the assets, resources, and capacity of schools and communities for the success of students, families, and communities; Whereas community schools are an effective, evidence-based, and equity-driven strategy for school improvement included under section 4625 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7275), as added by section 4601 of the Every Student Succeeds Act (Public Law 114-95; 129 Stat. 2029); Whereas community schools that provide integrated student supports, well-designed and expanded learning opportunities, and active family and community engagement and that use collaborative leadership and practices have positive academic and nonacademic outcomes, including improvements in student attendance, behavior, academic achievement, school readiness, mental and physical health, high school graduation rates, and school climate and reduced racial and economic achievement gaps; Whereas community schools have the potential for closing racial and economic achievement gaps, as indicated in a 2017 report; Whereas a 2020 study found that community schools in New York City had a positive impact on student attendance, on- time grade progression, and credit accumulation for high school students; Whereas community schools provide a strong social return on investment, with one study citing a social return of between $10 to $15 for every dollar invested over a 3-year period; Whereas community school coordinators are essential to building successful community schools and creating, strengthening, and maintaining partnerships between community schools and their communities; Whereas community school coordinators facilitate and provide leadership for the collaborative process and development of a continuum of supports and opportunities for children, families, and others within a school's community that allow all students to learn and the community to thrive; Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (referred to in this preamble as ``COVID-19'') pandemic poses additional academic, social, emotional, and health challenges for students, educators, and staff at community schools; Whereas community school coordinators have proven to be innovative and resourceful in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including through organizing volunteers for mobile food pantries, hosting virtual parent hangouts and student lunch groups, continuing to support onsite behavioral health programs through an online platform, coordinating vaccination clinics, and mobilizing community completion of the 2020 Census; Whereas community school coordinators, through their role, deliver a strong monetary return on investment for community schools and their communities, with one study citing a return of $7.11 for every dollar invested in the salary of a community school coordinator; and Whereas Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week, celebrated from September 20 through September 24, 2021, recognizes, raises awareness of, and celebrates the thousands of community school coordinators across the country and the critical role of community school coordinators in the success of students: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates the week of September 20 through September 24, 2021, as ``Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week''; (2) thanks community school coordinators for the work they do to serve students, families, and communities, especially as communities continue to respond to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic; and (3) encourages students, parents, school administrators, and public officials to participate in events that celebrate Community School Coordinators Appreciation Week. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-09-23-pt1-PgS6679-3 | null | 3,176 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer: Almighty God, call us again today to rejoice in hope. For all the challenges we have faced this week, votes passed or failed as we had wished or feared, long hours and tedious processes, You have tested our resolve and our faith in Your sovereignty. May we come to accept that we can find certainty in nothing save for a future redeemed by Your favor. Remind us again to be patient in tribulation. Few things we have done this week have been easy. Much of what we believe in has been contested. Relationships have been strained. Even the civility of this body has been disputed. Give us steady tempers, open minds, and resilient spirits trusting in Your providence to redeem us and our efforts through these trials. Indulge us the persistence of our prayers. Respond to the constancy of our appeals. May our words always reflect our sincerity, and may our petitions serve the greater good and the welfare of our Nation. In Your mercy is our deliverance, and in Your name we pray. Amen. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-09-24-pt1-PgH5137-2 | null | 3,177 |
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-2483. 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-2484. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to Sudan that was declared in Executive Order 13067 of November 3, 1997, 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-2485. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to South Sudan that was declared in Executive Order 13664 of April 3, 2014, 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-2486. A letter from the Associate General Counsel for General Law, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting a notification of 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-2487. A letter from the Agency Representative, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Electronic Submission of a Sequence Listing, a Large Table, or a Computer Program Listing Appendix in Patent Applications [Docket No.: PTO-P-2020-0032] (RIN: 0651-AD48) received October 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 the Judiciary. EC-2488. A letter from the Acting Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer, Office of the Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Privacy Act of 1974; Implementation [CPCLO Order No.: 009-2021] received September 24, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-2489. A letter from the Federal Highway Administrator and the Federal Transit Administrtor, Department of Transportation, transmitting the 24th edition of the biennial ``Status of the Nation's Highways, Bridges and Transit: Conditions and Performance'' Report to Congress, pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 167(h); Public Law 112-141, Sec. 1115(a) (as amended by Public Law 114-94, Sec. 1116(a)); (129 Stat. 1353); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-2490. A letter from the Board Members, Railroad Retirement Board, transmitting the 2021 annual report, pursuant to 45 U.S.C. 231f(b)(6); August 29, 1935, ch. 812, Sec. 7(b)(6) (as amended by Public Law 97-35, Sec. 1122); (95 Stat. 638); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-2491. A letter from the Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulations Policy and Management, Office of General Counsel (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule -- VA Acquisition Regulation: Definitions, Solicitation Provisions and Contract Clauses, and Forms (RIN: 2900-AR30) received October 8, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. EC-2492. A letter from the Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of General Counsel (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule -- VA Acquisition Regulation: Competition Requirements (RIN: 2900- AQ21) received October 8, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. EC-2493. A letter from the Regulations Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of General Counsel (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule -- VA Acquisition Regulation: Simplified Procedures for Health-Care Resources (RIN: 2900-AQ78), pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. EC-2494. A letter from the Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of General Counsel (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Schedule for Rating Disabilities: The Cardiovascular System (RIN: 2900-AQ67) received October 8, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. EC-2495. A letter from the Regulation Development Coordinator, Office of Regulation Policy and Management, Office of the General Counsel (00REG), Department of Veterans Affairs, transmitting the Department's final rule -- VA Acquisition Regulation: Loan Guaranty and Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Programs (RIN: 2900-AQ76) received October 8, 2021, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. EC-2496. A letter from the Acting Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affiars, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting three legislative proposals that, respectively, pertain to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seal, the licensing of DHS intellectual property, and reimbursed assistance that DHS provides; to the Committee on Homeland Security. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgH5789-2 | null | 3,178 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Under clause 3 of rule XII, ML-118. The SPEAKER presented a memorial of the Legislature of the State of Oregon, relative to House Joint Memorial 3, urging the Congress of the United States to pass, and the President to sign, legislation promoting cooperative fuel load measurement and management on federal and state lands, and appropriate legislation that is based on the Emergency Wildfire and Public Safety Act of 2020, excluding any provision that exempts forest management activities from environmental or administrative review; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Energy and Commerce, and Foreign Affairs. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgH5791 | null | 3,179 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Terrorism Madam President, yesterday also brought a sobering reminder of the dangers a new generation of American servicemembers continue to encounter as they follow in the footsteps of these heroes. U.S. personnel operating in Syria became the latest targets of a drone attack perpetrated by terrorists. Whether the perpetrators turn out to be ISIS or, more likely, loyal Iranian proxies, it is clear that serious threats are growing all across that region. The terrorists who seek to harm us and the regimes that support them were emboldened--considerably emboldened--by our retreat from Afghanistan. Just this week, the U.S.-designated terrorist and Taliban Interior Minister, Haqqani, praised suicide-bombing Taliban terrorists with American and Afghan blood on their hands and provided--listen to this--cash rewards to their families. They are getting a cash reward for killing Americans. The Taliban also continues to hamper the evacuation of American citizens, Afghans who worked with America, and other vulnerable Afghans who are continuing to be under threat. Our allies and adversaries alike are wondering whether the Biden administration intends to stand up to those who dare to challenge us or our allies. They are watching--watching closely--to see if America will blink in the face of the Taliban's defiance or Iran's aggression. I hope the President is prepared to settle this question and deliver on our commitments. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7136-4 | null | 3,180 |
formal | terrorists | null | Islamophobic | Terrorism Madam President, yesterday also brought a sobering reminder of the dangers a new generation of American servicemembers continue to encounter as they follow in the footsteps of these heroes. U.S. personnel operating in Syria became the latest targets of a drone attack perpetrated by terrorists. Whether the perpetrators turn out to be ISIS or, more likely, loyal Iranian proxies, it is clear that serious threats are growing all across that region. The terrorists who seek to harm us and the regimes that support them were emboldened--considerably emboldened--by our retreat from Afghanistan. Just this week, the U.S.-designated terrorist and Taliban Interior Minister, Haqqani, praised suicide-bombing Taliban terrorists with American and Afghan blood on their hands and provided--listen to this--cash rewards to their families. They are getting a cash reward for killing Americans. The Taliban also continues to hamper the evacuation of American citizens, Afghans who worked with America, and other vulnerable Afghans who are continuing to be under threat. Our allies and adversaries alike are wondering whether the Biden administration intends to stand up to those who dare to challenge us or our allies. They are watching--watching closely--to see if America will blink in the face of the Taliban's defiance or Iran's aggression. I hope the President is prepared to settle this question and deliver on our commitments. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7136-4 | null | 3,181 |
formal | take back | null | white supremacist | EAGLES Act On another point, Mr. President, I would like to talk about preventing acts of mass violence. Yesterday, the shooter at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tragedy in Parkland, FL, a few years ago, pled guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder. There were 14 students and 3 school staff senselessly losing their lives in just a few minutes when a former student struggling with clear behavior problems and mental health issues indiscriminately opened fire. I hope that his guilty plea brings at least some sense of closure and justice for the victims' families. While there is nothing that we can do to take back the terrible events of that day, we need to do what we can to make sure such horrific acts don't ever happen again. That is why earlier this year, in a bipartisan approach, I, along with Senators Cortez Masto, Collins, Manchin, Hassan, Rubio, and Scott of Florida, introduced what we called the EAGLES Act. The EAGLES Act will help fund and reauthorize the U.S. Secret Service's National Threat Assessment Center. It goes by the nickname of NTAC. An identical bill was introduced in the House by Representatives Deutch and Diaz-Balart. NTAC studies targeted violence and helps proactively identify and manage threats before they result in more tragedies. The EAGLES Act also establishes a Safe School Initiative, a national program on school violence prevention that will include expanded research on school violence. When the Secret Service reviewed school shootings, it found that all attackers exhibited concerning behaviors before engaging in the act of violence. If these signs were recognized early enough, these attacks could have been stopped. The father of one of the Parkland victims and the president of Stand with Parkland--that is an organization--said that NTAC has been ``essential to thwarting mass shooters and targeted violence.'' He also said that ``the EAGLES Act is a critical expansion of the program that prioritizes school safety and directs key funding to prevent the next mass school shooting.'' The EAGLES Act is a commonsense bill to fund and reauthorize the Secret Service's NTAC that is supported by over 40 State attorneys general and representatives from both sides of the aisle. It is a bill that, hopefully, honors the lives and memories of the Parkland victims by ensuring that such tragedies don't happen again. I ask and encourage all of my Senate colleagues to support the bill. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7146 | null | 3,182 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Appropriations Mr. President, today, while I am here, I would also like to discuss the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, which we released this week. A budget is a reflection of values. This bill shows exactly where Democrats' values are when it comes to help our working families and communities. This bill will help us respond to this pandemic and other health challenges by increasing funding for mental health and substance abuse disorders; maternal health and family planning; preventive care services; biomedical research, including a cutting-edge research agency; and public health, with the largest increase to CDC's budget authority in nearly two decades. This bill would also take the long overdue step of repealing the Hyde and Weldon amendments, which restrict people's ability to exercise their constitutional right to abortion just based on how they get their insurance. It would invest in our children and students by increasing funding for childcare programs, early education programs, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, and Pell grants, and even doubling key funding for our public schools, helping to close those important achievement gaps and making a quality public education available to every single child in our country. As we work now to rebuild our economy, this bill would strengthen our workforce and support workers across the country with increased investments in workers' safety, the protection of workers' rights and wages, and virtually every workforce development program. In short, this bill would support the health of our economy, our communities, and our families. I will be pushing to make sure we get this across the finish line, and I hope Republicans will work with us to make these critical, commonsense investments. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7147-2 | null | 3,183 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Appropriations Mr. President, today, while I am here, I would also like to discuss the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, which we released this week. A budget is a reflection of values. This bill shows exactly where Democrats' values are when it comes to help our working families and communities. This bill will help us respond to this pandemic and other health challenges by increasing funding for mental health and substance abuse disorders; maternal health and family planning; preventive care services; biomedical research, including a cutting-edge research agency; and public health, with the largest increase to CDC's budget authority in nearly two decades. This bill would also take the long overdue step of repealing the Hyde and Weldon amendments, which restrict people's ability to exercise their constitutional right to abortion just based on how they get their insurance. It would invest in our children and students by increasing funding for childcare programs, early education programs, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, and Pell grants, and even doubling key funding for our public schools, helping to close those important achievement gaps and making a quality public education available to every single child in our country. As we work now to rebuild our economy, this bill would strengthen our workforce and support workers across the country with increased investments in workers' safety, the protection of workers' rights and wages, and virtually every workforce development program. In short, this bill would support the health of our economy, our communities, and our families. I will be pushing to make sure we get this across the finish line, and I hope Republicans will work with us to make these critical, commonsense investments. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7147-2 | null | 3,184 |
formal | public school | null | racist | Appropriations Mr. President, today, while I am here, I would also like to discuss the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, which we released this week. A budget is a reflection of values. This bill shows exactly where Democrats' values are when it comes to help our working families and communities. This bill will help us respond to this pandemic and other health challenges by increasing funding for mental health and substance abuse disorders; maternal health and family planning; preventive care services; biomedical research, including a cutting-edge research agency; and public health, with the largest increase to CDC's budget authority in nearly two decades. This bill would also take the long overdue step of repealing the Hyde and Weldon amendments, which restrict people's ability to exercise their constitutional right to abortion just based on how they get their insurance. It would invest in our children and students by increasing funding for childcare programs, early education programs, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, and Pell grants, and even doubling key funding for our public schools, helping to close those important achievement gaps and making a quality public education available to every single child in our country. As we work now to rebuild our economy, this bill would strengthen our workforce and support workers across the country with increased investments in workers' safety, the protection of workers' rights and wages, and virtually every workforce development program. In short, this bill would support the health of our economy, our communities, and our families. I will be pushing to make sure we get this across the finish line, and I hope Republicans will work with us to make these critical, commonsense investments. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7147-2 | null | 3,185 |
formal | public schools | null | racist | Appropriations Mr. President, today, while I am here, I would also like to discuss the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, which we released this week. A budget is a reflection of values. This bill shows exactly where Democrats' values are when it comes to help our working families and communities. This bill will help us respond to this pandemic and other health challenges by increasing funding for mental health and substance abuse disorders; maternal health and family planning; preventive care services; biomedical research, including a cutting-edge research agency; and public health, with the largest increase to CDC's budget authority in nearly two decades. This bill would also take the long overdue step of repealing the Hyde and Weldon amendments, which restrict people's ability to exercise their constitutional right to abortion just based on how they get their insurance. It would invest in our children and students by increasing funding for childcare programs, early education programs, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, and Pell grants, and even doubling key funding for our public schools, helping to close those important achievement gaps and making a quality public education available to every single child in our country. As we work now to rebuild our economy, this bill would strengthen our workforce and support workers across the country with increased investments in workers' safety, the protection of workers' rights and wages, and virtually every workforce development program. In short, this bill would support the health of our economy, our communities, and our families. I will be pushing to make sure we get this across the finish line, and I hope Republicans will work with us to make these critical, commonsense investments. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7147-2 | null | 3,186 |
formal | working families | null | racist | Appropriations Mr. President, today, while I am here, I would also like to discuss the fiscal year 2022 appropriations bill for the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Related Agencies, which we released this week. A budget is a reflection of values. This bill shows exactly where Democrats' values are when it comes to help our working families and communities. This bill will help us respond to this pandemic and other health challenges by increasing funding for mental health and substance abuse disorders; maternal health and family planning; preventive care services; biomedical research, including a cutting-edge research agency; and public health, with the largest increase to CDC's budget authority in nearly two decades. This bill would also take the long overdue step of repealing the Hyde and Weldon amendments, which restrict people's ability to exercise their constitutional right to abortion just based on how they get their insurance. It would invest in our children and students by increasing funding for childcare programs, early education programs, HBCUs and other minority-serving institutions, and Pell grants, and even doubling key funding for our public schools, helping to close those important achievement gaps and making a quality public education available to every single child in our country. As we work now to rebuild our economy, this bill would strengthen our workforce and support workers across the country with increased investments in workers' safety, the protection of workers' rights and wages, and virtually every workforce development program. In short, this bill would support the health of our economy, our communities, and our families. I will be pushing to make sure we get this across the finish line, and I hope Republicans will work with us to make these critical, commonsense investments. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7147-2 | null | 3,187 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | At 11:20 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate: H.R. 654. An act to provide the Administrator of the Drug- Free Communities Support Program the authority to waive the Federal fund limitation for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program, and for other purposes. H.R. 767. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 40 Fulton Street in Middletown, New York, as the ``Benjamin A. Gilman Post Office Building''. H.R. 960. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the ``John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office''. H.R. 1170. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 League in Irvine, California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''. H.R. 1444. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 132 North Loudoun Street, Suite 1 in Winchester, Virginia, as the ``Patsy Cline Post Office''. H.R. 1508. An act to require a guidance clarity statement on certain agency guidance, and for other purposes. H.R. 2044. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 17 East Main Street in Herington, Kansas, as the ``Captain Emil J. Kapaun Post Office Building''. H.R. 2379. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to reauthorize and expand a grant program for State response to the opioid use disorders crisis, and for other purposes. H.R. 3175. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 Main Street in Biloxi, Mississippi, as the ``Robert S. McKeithen Post Office Building''. H.R. 3210. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1905 15th Street in Boulder, Colorado, as the ``Officer Eric H. Talley Post Office Building''. H.R. 3419. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 66 Meserole Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Joseph R. Lentol Post Office''. H.R. 3635. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes. H.R. 3919. An act to ensure that the Federal Communications Commission prohibits authorization of radio frequency devices that pose a national security risk. H.R. 4028. An act to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to report on and develop a whole-of-Government strategy with respect to the economic competitiveness of the information and communication technology supply chain, and for other purposes. H.R. 4032. An act to provide outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding Open RAN networks, and for other purposes. H.R. 4067. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a council to make recommendations on ways to increase the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks, and for other purposes. H.R. 4611. An act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue guidance with respect to certain information and communications technology or services contracts, and for other purposes. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7152-3 | null | 3,188 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The following bills were read the first and the second times by unanimous consent, and referred as indicated: H.R. 654. An act to provide the Administrator of the Drug- Free Communities Support Program the authority to waive the Federal fund limitation for the Drug-Free Communities Support Program and for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 767. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 40 Fulton Street in Middletown, New York, as the ``Benjamin A. Gilman Post Office Building''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 960. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3493 Burnet Avenue in Cincinnati, Ohio, as the ``John H. Leahr and Herbert M. Heilbrun Post Office''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 1170. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 League in Irvine, California, as the ``Tuskegee Airman Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Friend Memorial Post Office Building''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 1444. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 132 North Loudoun Street, Suite 1 in Winchester, Virginia, as the ``Patsy Cline Post Office''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 2044. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 17 East Main Street in Herington, Kansas, as the ``Captain Emil J. Kapaun Post Office Building''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 2379. An act to amend the 21st Century Cures Act to reauthorize and expand a grant program for State response to the opioid use disorders crisis, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 3175. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 Main Street in Biloxi, Mississippi, as the ``Robert S. McKeithen Post Office Building''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 3210. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1905 15th Street in Boulder, Colorado, as the ``Officer Eric H. Talley Post Office Building''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 3419. An act to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 66 Meserole Avenue in Brooklyn, New York, as the ``Joseph R. Lentol Post Office''; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R. 3635. An act to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the Strategic National Stockpile, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. H.R. 4028. An act to require the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, to report on and develop a whole-of-Government strategy with respect to the economic competitiveness of the information and communication technology supply chain, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 4032. An act to provide outreach and technical assistance to small providers regarding the benefits of Open RAN networks, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 4067. An act to direct the Federal Communications Commission to establish a council to make recommendations on ways to increase the security, reliability, and interoperability of communications networks, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. H.R. 4611. An act to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to issue guidance with respect to certain information and communications technology or services contracts, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-21-pt1-PgS7152-4 | null | 3,189 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair will postpone further proceedings today on the motions to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The House will resume proceedings on the postponed questions at a later time. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgH5838-10 | null | 3,190 |
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 thebill (H.R. 2989) to amend securities and banking laws to make the information reported to financial regulatory agencies electronically searchable, to further enable the development of RegTech and Artificial Intelligence applications, to put the United States on a path towards building a comprehensive Standard Business Reporting program to ultimately harmonize and reduce the private sector's regulatory compliance burden, while enhancing transparency and accountability, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgH5854-5 | null | 3,191 |
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. 4111) to require the Secretary of the Treasury to direct the United States Executive Director at the International Monetary Fund to advocate that the Fund provide technical assistance to Fund members seeking to enhance their capacity to evaluate the legal and financial terms of sovereign debt contracts, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgH5854-4 | null | 3,192 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate begins this week with votes to confirm two more highly qualified Biden nominees--one to serve in his administration and another to serve on the Federal bench. First, we will vote to confirm Mr. Douglas Parker to serve as an Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA. A veteran of the Labor Department from the Obama administration, Mr. Parker will be the first Senate-confirmed OSHA head since the Obama Presidency. He has a proven track record of protecting everyday Americans in the workplace--more important now than ever before--and I look forward to his confirmation later today. The fact that the previous administration left OSHA empty for 4 years shows how little they cared about worker safety and protecting our workers, as many of them often do difficult jobs. Second, the Senate will also proceed to the confirmation of a truly outstanding judicial nominee, Myrna Perez, to serve as circuit judge for the Second Circuit, which includes my home State of New York. It is a good day for the Second Circuit and for the entire Federal judiciary. If confirmed, Myrna Perez would be a remarkable, remarkable addition to the bench. She would be the only Hispanic jurist to sit on the Second Circuit and the first since Justice Sonia Sotomayor. And just as I was proud to support Justice Sotomayor's nomination--I even suggested her name for the Supreme Court to President Obama, a fact I am proud of--I am also, today, proud to champion Myrna's elevation to the bench. Myrna's life was the embodiment of the American dream. The daughter of Mexican immigrants, she grew up in San Antonio, TX, where her father was an Army veteran who worked as a consultant with Bexar County, while her mother worked in the post office. As Myrna herself will tell you, growing up in a family of immigrants often meant breaking through linguistic, cultural, and racial barriers. And of all places, perhaps nowhere else did these barriers leave an important imprint on Myrna than when her aunt took her to the polls on election day. It was there where Myrna realized how an election system built from Byzantine rules shut out countless citizens from the political process. This experience instilled in Myrna a thirst for making our democracy work for all, and that has become her life's work. After graduating from Yale, Harvard, and Columbia, Myrna eventually joined the Brennan Center for Justice, becoming the director of its Voting Rights and Elections Program. Over the course of her career, Myrna has become one of the Nation's top voting rights and elections lawyers, playing a key role in making sure Americans could vote safely in the 2020 election. She also has fought unlawful purges of voting rolls, spoken out against long wait times at polling locations in diverse neighborhoods, and has played major roles preparing six amicus briefs before the Supreme Court, including one for the Shelby case in 2013. But Myrna's qualifications are not limited to her experience as a voting rights litigator. She is also a brilliant attorney with experience in fair housing law, disability rights, and employment discrimination. In the words of one former colleague, her skills as a lawyer are simply ``off the charts.'' The cupboards of the Federal judiciary have long been filled with attorneys who have taken the traditional route on their way to the bench--a big law firm, corporate experience, prosecutorial experience. Many of those jurists have done commendably on the bench, and I have been proud to support many of them over the years. But Myrna Perez represents something different, something wonderfully different: a sorely needed boost in both the personal and professional diversity of the Federal bench. Especially now, we need more election lawyers in black robes. We need more Federal defenders in black robes. We need more immigrants and civil rights lawyers and diverse candidates assuming positions on the bench. We need, in other words, for our courts to reflect the rich mosaic that is the American people. With Myrna Perez's nomination, I am glad we are taking a step closer to that goal, and I hope she is confirmed later today. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgS7323-6 | null | 3,193 |
formal | tax cut | null | racist | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the biggest tax hikes in 50 years; the biggest peacetime tax hikes ever recorded in American history--that is what Washington Democrats are cooking up. Our Democratic colleagues and President Biden are behind closed doors, dreaming up creative new ways to grab literally historic amounts of the American people's money. Remember, the same socialist spending plans that Democrats claim cost zero dollars somehow also need staggering new tax hikes to pay for them. So, even with significant inflation, runaway gas prices, and runaway energy costs already hitting American families in their pocketbooks, Washington Democrats have spent months dreaming up new cash grabs for the IRS. Democrats have talked about massively hiking business taxes, to a level that would leave industries paying more than their competitors in communist China. They have talked about jacking up marginal income tax rates in ways that would hammer small businesses and family businesses that file as passthroughs. They have talked about adding a second death tax to give the IRS an even bigger bite out of family farms. They have even promised something that our country has never seen before: a new IRS surveillance dragnet where the IRS would get to track ordinary citizens' inflows and outflows. Banks and credit unions would be forced to hand over Americans' private information to the IRS. The Democrats are so desperate to shake down the American people for money that they are proposing to essentially treat everybody--everybody--like they are under audit. For months now, our Democratic colleagues have been toying with one staggering tax increase after another. We have seen one disappointing jobs report after another, one historic inflation report after another, but Democrats are still convinced that the biggest peacetime tax hikes on record in American history are just what the doctor ordered. As one news report explained, ``the scramble has opened the door to potential tax proposals [that] progressives could only have dreamed of''--just dreamed of--``just a few months ago.'' The far left is officially calling the shots, and that is where the latest new craziness comes into the picture. If public reporting has it right, the Democrats are so desperate to raise taxes that they are now proposing to tax money the American people haven't even made yet. Let me say that again. They are now proposing to tax money the American people haven't even made yet. Yes, you heard me right. So much for the quaint idea that you had to actually make money first before the IRS could tax it. Now Democrats want to tax money you haven't made yet. There are already capital gains taxes that Americans pay when they cash out an investment, when they sell what they have been holding and realize actual gains. Now Democrats want to go much further and tax certain citizens just because their holdings have gone up in value, regardless of whether they have actually sold them and made any money. Get this: In parallel with taxing people on hypothetical gains they haven't realized, they apparently also want to hand out tax breaks for hypothetical losses--losses--that people haven't realized. So they want to tax gains they haven't realized and hand out tax breaks for losses people haven't realized. This harebrained scheme would have the IRS penalizing people who have invested wisely and compensating people who have invested poorly, all independent of whether they have actually made or lost any money. Let's just think of the unintended consequences, like the fact that, in the event of a market crash or financial crisis, the government would be on the hook for massive automatic tax cuts for billionaires or the fact that some experts suggest this new scheme would drive the wealthiest Americans away from stocks and bonds, push them into other tax shelters, and thereby reduce the growth in ordinary Americans' investments that households rely on for college funds and 401(k)s. Or the fact that new, innovative entrepreneurs whose startups begin to grow in value could now get hit with a crushing tax bill long before their company is actually cash-flow positive. The next visionary startup founder could have to sell away ownership prematurely just to pay Uncle Sam. Our Democratic colleagues have become so tax hike happy that they are throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Now they are talking about rewiring the entire economyafter a couple of days' discussions on the back of an envelope. It is a massive and untested change that has not received any--any--meaningful study or scrutiny. Even the Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is complaining: It hasn't been marked up, and there's been no vetting of it. Our Democratic colleague, the senior Senator from Montana, says: Anytime you get into stuff that's not proven in the tax code, it becomes a bit dangerous. The senior Senator from Virginia says: My fear is that we're going to try some innovative new ideas and if we don't have time to develop them . . . we could mess some of this up. No kidding, Madam President. This is just the latest saga in this long parade of Democratic tax hikes. Nonpartisan analysts have shown that various aspects of the Democrats' plans would shatter President Biden's promise to leave the middle class alone. I guarantee you, the middle class will get hit. When Republicans had power, we prioritized giving Americans a big tax cut. We wanted families to keep more of their own money and make American businesses more competitive all around the world. Democrats want the opposite--historic tax hikes. So families keep less, Washington gets more, and our competitors, like China, can pop the champagne. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgS7324-4 | null | 3,194 |
formal | tax cuts | null | racist | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the biggest tax hikes in 50 years; the biggest peacetime tax hikes ever recorded in American history--that is what Washington Democrats are cooking up. Our Democratic colleagues and President Biden are behind closed doors, dreaming up creative new ways to grab literally historic amounts of the American people's money. Remember, the same socialist spending plans that Democrats claim cost zero dollars somehow also need staggering new tax hikes to pay for them. So, even with significant inflation, runaway gas prices, and runaway energy costs already hitting American families in their pocketbooks, Washington Democrats have spent months dreaming up new cash grabs for the IRS. Democrats have talked about massively hiking business taxes, to a level that would leave industries paying more than their competitors in communist China. They have talked about jacking up marginal income tax rates in ways that would hammer small businesses and family businesses that file as passthroughs. They have talked about adding a second death tax to give the IRS an even bigger bite out of family farms. They have even promised something that our country has never seen before: a new IRS surveillance dragnet where the IRS would get to track ordinary citizens' inflows and outflows. Banks and credit unions would be forced to hand over Americans' private information to the IRS. The Democrats are so desperate to shake down the American people for money that they are proposing to essentially treat everybody--everybody--like they are under audit. For months now, our Democratic colleagues have been toying with one staggering tax increase after another. We have seen one disappointing jobs report after another, one historic inflation report after another, but Democrats are still convinced that the biggest peacetime tax hikes on record in American history are just what the doctor ordered. As one news report explained, ``the scramble has opened the door to potential tax proposals [that] progressives could only have dreamed of''--just dreamed of--``just a few months ago.'' The far left is officially calling the shots, and that is where the latest new craziness comes into the picture. If public reporting has it right, the Democrats are so desperate to raise taxes that they are now proposing to tax money the American people haven't even made yet. Let me say that again. They are now proposing to tax money the American people haven't even made yet. Yes, you heard me right. So much for the quaint idea that you had to actually make money first before the IRS could tax it. Now Democrats want to tax money you haven't made yet. There are already capital gains taxes that Americans pay when they cash out an investment, when they sell what they have been holding and realize actual gains. Now Democrats want to go much further and tax certain citizens just because their holdings have gone up in value, regardless of whether they have actually sold them and made any money. Get this: In parallel with taxing people on hypothetical gains they haven't realized, they apparently also want to hand out tax breaks for hypothetical losses--losses--that people haven't realized. So they want to tax gains they haven't realized and hand out tax breaks for losses people haven't realized. This harebrained scheme would have the IRS penalizing people who have invested wisely and compensating people who have invested poorly, all independent of whether they have actually made or lost any money. Let's just think of the unintended consequences, like the fact that, in the event of a market crash or financial crisis, the government would be on the hook for massive automatic tax cuts for billionaires or the fact that some experts suggest this new scheme would drive the wealthiest Americans away from stocks and bonds, push them into other tax shelters, and thereby reduce the growth in ordinary Americans' investments that households rely on for college funds and 401(k)s. Or the fact that new, innovative entrepreneurs whose startups begin to grow in value could now get hit with a crushing tax bill long before their company is actually cash-flow positive. The next visionary startup founder could have to sell away ownership prematurely just to pay Uncle Sam. Our Democratic colleagues have become so tax hike happy that they are throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Now they are talking about rewiring the entire economyafter a couple of days' discussions on the back of an envelope. It is a massive and untested change that has not received any--any--meaningful study or scrutiny. Even the Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is complaining: It hasn't been marked up, and there's been no vetting of it. Our Democratic colleague, the senior Senator from Montana, says: Anytime you get into stuff that's not proven in the tax code, it becomes a bit dangerous. The senior Senator from Virginia says: My fear is that we're going to try some innovative new ideas and if we don't have time to develop them . . . we could mess some of this up. No kidding, Madam President. This is just the latest saga in this long parade of Democratic tax hikes. Nonpartisan analysts have shown that various aspects of the Democrats' plans would shatter President Biden's promise to leave the middle class alone. I guarantee you, the middle class will get hit. When Republicans had power, we prioritized giving Americans a big tax cut. We wanted families to keep more of their own money and make American businesses more competitive all around the world. Democrats want the opposite--historic tax hikes. So families keep less, Washington gets more, and our competitors, like China, can pop the champagne. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgS7324-4 | null | 3,195 |
formal | middle class | null | racist | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the biggest tax hikes in 50 years; the biggest peacetime tax hikes ever recorded in American history--that is what Washington Democrats are cooking up. Our Democratic colleagues and President Biden are behind closed doors, dreaming up creative new ways to grab literally historic amounts of the American people's money. Remember, the same socialist spending plans that Democrats claim cost zero dollars somehow also need staggering new tax hikes to pay for them. So, even with significant inflation, runaway gas prices, and runaway energy costs already hitting American families in their pocketbooks, Washington Democrats have spent months dreaming up new cash grabs for the IRS. Democrats have talked about massively hiking business taxes, to a level that would leave industries paying more than their competitors in communist China. They have talked about jacking up marginal income tax rates in ways that would hammer small businesses and family businesses that file as passthroughs. They have talked about adding a second death tax to give the IRS an even bigger bite out of family farms. They have even promised something that our country has never seen before: a new IRS surveillance dragnet where the IRS would get to track ordinary citizens' inflows and outflows. Banks and credit unions would be forced to hand over Americans' private information to the IRS. The Democrats are so desperate to shake down the American people for money that they are proposing to essentially treat everybody--everybody--like they are under audit. For months now, our Democratic colleagues have been toying with one staggering tax increase after another. We have seen one disappointing jobs report after another, one historic inflation report after another, but Democrats are still convinced that the biggest peacetime tax hikes on record in American history are just what the doctor ordered. As one news report explained, ``the scramble has opened the door to potential tax proposals [that] progressives could only have dreamed of''--just dreamed of--``just a few months ago.'' The far left is officially calling the shots, and that is where the latest new craziness comes into the picture. If public reporting has it right, the Democrats are so desperate to raise taxes that they are now proposing to tax money the American people haven't even made yet. Let me say that again. They are now proposing to tax money the American people haven't even made yet. Yes, you heard me right. So much for the quaint idea that you had to actually make money first before the IRS could tax it. Now Democrats want to tax money you haven't made yet. There are already capital gains taxes that Americans pay when they cash out an investment, when they sell what they have been holding and realize actual gains. Now Democrats want to go much further and tax certain citizens just because their holdings have gone up in value, regardless of whether they have actually sold them and made any money. Get this: In parallel with taxing people on hypothetical gains they haven't realized, they apparently also want to hand out tax breaks for hypothetical losses--losses--that people haven't realized. So they want to tax gains they haven't realized and hand out tax breaks for losses people haven't realized. This harebrained scheme would have the IRS penalizing people who have invested wisely and compensating people who have invested poorly, all independent of whether they have actually made or lost any money. Let's just think of the unintended consequences, like the fact that, in the event of a market crash or financial crisis, the government would be on the hook for massive automatic tax cuts for billionaires or the fact that some experts suggest this new scheme would drive the wealthiest Americans away from stocks and bonds, push them into other tax shelters, and thereby reduce the growth in ordinary Americans' investments that households rely on for college funds and 401(k)s. Or the fact that new, innovative entrepreneurs whose startups begin to grow in value could now get hit with a crushing tax bill long before their company is actually cash-flow positive. The next visionary startup founder could have to sell away ownership prematurely just to pay Uncle Sam. Our Democratic colleagues have become so tax hike happy that they are throwing spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks. Now they are talking about rewiring the entire economyafter a couple of days' discussions on the back of an envelope. It is a massive and untested change that has not received any--any--meaningful study or scrutiny. Even the Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee is complaining: It hasn't been marked up, and there's been no vetting of it. Our Democratic colleague, the senior Senator from Montana, says: Anytime you get into stuff that's not proven in the tax code, it becomes a bit dangerous. The senior Senator from Virginia says: My fear is that we're going to try some innovative new ideas and if we don't have time to develop them . . . we could mess some of this up. No kidding, Madam President. This is just the latest saga in this long parade of Democratic tax hikes. Nonpartisan analysts have shown that various aspects of the Democrats' plans would shatter President Biden's promise to leave the middle class alone. I guarantee you, the middle class will get hit. When Republicans had power, we prioritized giving Americans a big tax cut. We wanted families to keep more of their own money and make American businesses more competitive all around the world. Democrats want the opposite--historic tax hikes. So families keep less, Washington gets more, and our competitors, like China, can pop the champagne. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgS7324-4 | null | 3,196 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now, in addition to Myrna Perez's nomination, I have also filed cloture on five additional judicial nominations, which we will begin working on tomorrow. It is my hope that we can work to process these nominees through the Chamber quickly. They are all outstanding individuals with proven records of fidelity to the rule of law. As we keep making progress on many pressing issues to help the American people, Senate Democrats will also continue working swiftly to fill judicial vacancies with qualified, mainstream jurists who, again, add to the bench's diversity, both demographic and occupational. All year long, that is precisely what we have done. This year, the Senate has already confirmed the first Native American and Muslim Americans to the Federal bench, as well as multiple civil rights attorneys, public defenders, voting rights experts, and more. This is how we work to strengthen not only diversity in our judiciary but the public's trust that it truly represents all Americans. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgS7324 | null | 3,197 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Myrna Perez Madam President, let me close with reference to a vote that we face today. We have another qualified nominee, Myrna Perez, for the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She is really competent and experienced. She has been handling complex civil litigation and will be ready to serve on the Second Circuit on day one. She has earned degrees from Yale University, Harvard University, and Columbia Law School. After graduating, she clerked for the U.S. District Court for the District of Pennsylvania and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. She has dedicated her career to defending Americans' right to vote through her work at the Brennan Center for Justice, where she serves as the director of the Voting Rights and Election section. In this capacity, she has led their efforts to defend the Voting Rights Act and to protect, as John Lewis said, this ``precious, almost sacred right.'' Far too few nominees to the Federal bench have significant experience in handling civil rights and voting rights matters. In Ms. Perez, the Senate has the opportunity to confirm a competent judge who will bring this experience to the bench. Importantly, she understands the difference between being an advocate and a judge. I have every confidence she will serve with diligence, fairness, and impartiality. And she will also bring demographic diversity to the Second Circuit. She will be the first Latina to serve on that court since former Judge Sonia Sotomayor--now Justice Sotomayor. Ms. Perez's nomination has received broad support--across the spectrum--from national civil rights groups, leaders in law enforcement, academics, faith leaders, as well as Senators from her own State, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand. One group of police chiefs and sheriffs and prosecutors sent a letter extolling her virtues. I ask unanimous consent to have it printed in the Record. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2021-10-25-pt1-PgS7326 | null | 3,198 |
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-2021-10-01-pt1-PgH5585-10 | null | 3,199 |
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