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formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Neguse). 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. 1916) to provide health insurance benefits for outpatient and inpatient items and services related to the diagnosis and treatment of a congenital anomaly or birth defect, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Neguse) | House | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgH4145-2 | null | 4,200 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the leading voices in healthcare, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. Established on April 2, 1982, from three separate organizations, for four decades, it has been a voice for the essential and dedicated organizations that provide healthcare services to over 12 million patients annually in their own homes. NAHC has provided valuable and trusted information that has helped guide Congress, the administration, Federal agencies, and many other health policy planners as we support the ability of patients to receive high quality healthcare at home. From the beginning, NAHC has recognized that complex health policy issues require a unified voice. NAHC has brought together providers representing a wide range of home services including home health, hospice care, home and community-based services, home infusion therapy, private duty nursing for pediatric and adult patients, personal care services, home-based palliative care, and more. These providers are big and small, freestanding and part of larger institutions, nonprofit and commercial, rural and urban. Healthcare continues to shift to care provided in the home--and with good reason. Providing expanded, holistic care in one's own home when clinically appropriate can improve the lives of patients while increasing quality and efficiency. I pay tribute today to NAHC's decades of work to expand access to healthcare at home, and I look forward to partnering with NAHC members and staff for many more years to come. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. STABENOW | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1934-2 | null | 4,201 |
formal | urban | null | racist | Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, I rise today to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the leading voices in healthcare, the National Association for Home Care and Hospice. Established on April 2, 1982, from three separate organizations, for four decades, it has been a voice for the essential and dedicated organizations that provide healthcare services to over 12 million patients annually in their own homes. NAHC has provided valuable and trusted information that has helped guide Congress, the administration, Federal agencies, and many other health policy planners as we support the ability of patients to receive high quality healthcare at home. From the beginning, NAHC has recognized that complex health policy issues require a unified voice. NAHC has brought together providers representing a wide range of home services including home health, hospice care, home and community-based services, home infusion therapy, private duty nursing for pediatric and adult patients, personal care services, home-based palliative care, and more. These providers are big and small, freestanding and part of larger institutions, nonprofit and commercial, rural and urban. Healthcare continues to shift to care provided in the home--and with good reason. Providing expanded, holistic care in one's own home when clinically appropriate can improve the lives of patients while increasing quality and efficiency. I pay tribute today to NAHC's decades of work to expand access to healthcare at home, and I look forward to partnering with NAHC members and staff for many more years to come. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. STABENOW | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1934-2 | null | 4,202 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, Americans across the country, led by Concerned Women for America, the Nation's largest public policy organization for women, and other faith-based organizations are celebrating April as Faith Month. I commend this noble effort calling all people of faith to join in prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration of their faith. The United States of America was born of the unanimous declaration that we are ``endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'' based on ``the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God,'' ``appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world,'' and acknowledging our ``reliance on the protection of divine Providence.'' We are a peopleof faith, which is why religious freedom is known as America's first freedom, as laid out in the Establishment and the Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment and also supports America's unique focus on freedom of expression, including in matters of faith. America's Judeo-Christian founding promotes religious diversity and tolerance. Our motto, ``In God We Trust,'' further emphasizes the importance of faith in our Nation's founding. From our first President to the last, we have always acknowledged America's faith. President George Washington recognized ``it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.'' More recently, President Joe Biden acknowledged Thanksgiving as a ``time to reflect on our many blessings--from God, this Nation, and each other.'' Religious liberty serves to strengthen our country's appreciation of all peoples, regardless of faith. But eternal diligence is needed to preserve religious freedom. Attacks on religious liberty and people of faith continue to plague our Nation with some religious charities even being forced to betray the tenets of their faith in order to participate in certain government programs. We must actively reject all efforts to criminalize or cancel religious beliefs as somehow incompatible with our democracy. Religious organizations in America have a rich history of charitable engagement by helping the sick, poor, and afflicted. They should be celebrated, not maligned for their contributions to improving our way of life. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 75 percent of Americans practice some type of religious faith. This rich, diverse religious heritage is to our credit and should be encouraged. Therefore, I join millions of Americans during this Faith Month in celebrating their personal faiths freely and openly, with public displays and celebrations, including prayer and expressions of thanksgiving. In this manner, we can strongly reaffirm our commitment to the religious liberty principles of our founding. | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. HYDE-SMITH | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1934-3 | null | 4,203 |
formal | religious freedom | null | homophobic | Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, Americans across the country, led by Concerned Women for America, the Nation's largest public policy organization for women, and other faith-based organizations are celebrating April as Faith Month. I commend this noble effort calling all people of faith to join in prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration of their faith. The United States of America was born of the unanimous declaration that we are ``endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'' based on ``the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God,'' ``appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world,'' and acknowledging our ``reliance on the protection of divine Providence.'' We are a peopleof faith, which is why religious freedom is known as America's first freedom, as laid out in the Establishment and the Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment and also supports America's unique focus on freedom of expression, including in matters of faith. America's Judeo-Christian founding promotes religious diversity and tolerance. Our motto, ``In God We Trust,'' further emphasizes the importance of faith in our Nation's founding. From our first President to the last, we have always acknowledged America's faith. President George Washington recognized ``it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.'' More recently, President Joe Biden acknowledged Thanksgiving as a ``time to reflect on our many blessings--from God, this Nation, and each other.'' Religious liberty serves to strengthen our country's appreciation of all peoples, regardless of faith. But eternal diligence is needed to preserve religious freedom. Attacks on religious liberty and people of faith continue to plague our Nation with some religious charities even being forced to betray the tenets of their faith in order to participate in certain government programs. We must actively reject all efforts to criminalize or cancel religious beliefs as somehow incompatible with our democracy. Religious organizations in America have a rich history of charitable engagement by helping the sick, poor, and afflicted. They should be celebrated, not maligned for their contributions to improving our way of life. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 75 percent of Americans practice some type of religious faith. This rich, diverse religious heritage is to our credit and should be encouraged. Therefore, I join millions of Americans during this Faith Month in celebrating their personal faiths freely and openly, with public displays and celebrations, including prayer and expressions of thanksgiving. In this manner, we can strongly reaffirm our commitment to the religious liberty principles of our founding. | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. HYDE-SMITH | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1934-3 | null | 4,204 |
formal | religious liberty | null | homophobic | Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam President, Americans across the country, led by Concerned Women for America, the Nation's largest public policy organization for women, and other faith-based organizations are celebrating April as Faith Month. I commend this noble effort calling all people of faith to join in prayer, thanksgiving, and celebration of their faith. The United States of America was born of the unanimous declaration that we are ``endowed by [our] Creator with certain unalienable Rights,'' based on ``the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God,'' ``appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world,'' and acknowledging our ``reliance on the protection of divine Providence.'' We are a peopleof faith, which is why religious freedom is known as America's first freedom, as laid out in the Establishment and the Free Exercise clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The freedom of speech is guaranteed by the First Amendment and also supports America's unique focus on freedom of expression, including in matters of faith. America's Judeo-Christian founding promotes religious diversity and tolerance. Our motto, ``In God We Trust,'' further emphasizes the importance of faith in our Nation's founding. From our first President to the last, we have always acknowledged America's faith. President George Washington recognized ``it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor.'' More recently, President Joe Biden acknowledged Thanksgiving as a ``time to reflect on our many blessings--from God, this Nation, and each other.'' Religious liberty serves to strengthen our country's appreciation of all peoples, regardless of faith. But eternal diligence is needed to preserve religious freedom. Attacks on religious liberty and people of faith continue to plague our Nation with some religious charities even being forced to betray the tenets of their faith in order to participate in certain government programs. We must actively reject all efforts to criminalize or cancel religious beliefs as somehow incompatible with our democracy. Religious organizations in America have a rich history of charitable engagement by helping the sick, poor, and afflicted. They should be celebrated, not maligned for their contributions to improving our way of life. According to the Pew Research Center, more than 75 percent of Americans practice some type of religious faith. This rich, diverse religious heritage is to our credit and should be encouraged. Therefore, I join millions of Americans during this Faith Month in celebrating their personal faiths freely and openly, with public displays and celebrations, including prayer and expressions of thanksgiving. In this manner, we can strongly reaffirm our commitment to the religious liberty principles of our founding. | 2020-01-06 | Mrs. HYDE-SMITH | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1934-3 | null | 4,205 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. LUJAN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Brown, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Smith, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 576 Whereas the week of April 4, 2022, is designated as National Public Health Week by the American Public Health Association; Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2022 is ``Public Health is Where You Are''; Whereas the goal of National Public Health Week in 2022 is to recognize the contributions of public health in-- (1) improving the health of the people of the United States; and (2) achieving health equity; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, the United States and the global community are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires support for-- (1) a robust public health infrastructure and workforce; (2) State, territorial, local, and Tribal health departments, health care workers, public health laboratories, and first responders; (3) diagnostic testing of new and potential COVID-19 cases and activities related to epidemiology and public health data; (4) complying with appropriate social distancing and quarantine recommendations; (5) relieving financial burdens for individuals in the United States hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, including through public health emergency leave; (6) the Medicaid programs and community health centers of States to ensure care for vulnerable populations; (7) collaboration among the Federal Government, State and local governments, schools, businesses, and employers to support public health measures to decrease community spread of COVID-19; (8) investments in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that support infectious disease outbreak preparedness and critical public health infrastructure for State and local health departments and public health laboratories; (9) a comprehensive effort to ensure a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign that boosts access to vaccines for vulnerable populations and trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness; and (10) efforts to address racism as a public health crisis and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities related to COVID-19 deaths, vaccine access and testing, and important health outcomes outside of the pandemic such as maternal mortality; Whereas, in 2020, the life expectancy at birth for the population of the United States declined by 1.5 years, which is the largest drop in life expectancy since 1943; Whereas many of the leading causes of death for individuals in the United States result from chronic conditions, which are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health challenges; Whereas there are significant differences in the health status of individuals living in the healthiest States and those living in the least healthy States, including differences in obesity rates, the prevalence of chronic disease, and the prevalence of infectious disease; Whereas racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States continue to experience disparities in the burden of illness and death, as compared to the entire population of the United States; Whereas violence is a leading cause of premature death, and it is estimated that more than 7 individuals per hour die a violent death in the United States; Whereas deaths from homicides cost the economy of the United States billions of dollars, and the violence of homicides can cause social and emotional distress, community trauma, injury, disability, depression, anxiety, and post- traumatic stress disorder; Whereas more than 47,500 lives were lost due to suicide in 2019, and in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts began to increase among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, especially among girls; Whereas an estimated 1 in 7 children in the United States experience child abuse and neglect, and 1,840 children died of abuse and neglect in 2019; Whereas, despite significant progress in reducing the infant mortality rate in the United States to a historic low of 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2019, the infant mortality rate in the United States still greatly varies among States; Whereas women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States at a higher rate than in many other developed countries, and an estimated 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable; Whereas Black mothers experience a maternal mortality rate 3 to 4 times higher than White mothers; Whereas there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, the highest level ever recorded during a 12- month period and an increase of 28.5 percent from the 78,056 deaths during the same period the prior year; Whereas cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths each year, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke; Whereas the percentage of adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes has decreased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 13.7 percent in 2018; Whereas, in 2020, according to data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, 19.6 percent of high school students (3,020,000 students) and 4.7 percent of middle school students (550,000 students) reported current e-cigarette use; Whereas data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that in 2020 approximately 40 percent of high school e- cigarette users were using an e-cigarette on 20 or more days of the month, and approximately \1/4\ of high school e- cigarette users were using e-cigarettes every day, indicating a strong dependence on nicotine among youth; Whereas, in the past 2 decades, heat-related mortality for older individuals has almost doubled, reaching a record high of approximately 19,000 deaths in 2018; Whereas, from 2018 to 2019, the United States spent approximately $13 per person on climate change adaptation in the health sector, far less than what is needed to prevent the growing health impacts of climate change; Whereas, in 2016, fine particulate air pollution led to more than 64,000 premature deaths in the United States, and Black and Hispanic individuals in the United States were disproportionately impacted; Whereas voting helps shape the conditions in which people can be healthy, and good health is consistently positively associated with higher likelihood of voter participation; Whereas public health organizations use National Public Health Week to educate public policymakers and public health professionals on issues that are important to improving the health of the people of the United States; Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in disease prevention can result in significant savings in health care costs; Whereas vaccination is one of the most significant public health achievements in history and has resulted in substantial decreases in-- (1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; and (2) health care costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes to-- (1) a 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths; (2) a 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to cardiovascular disease; (3) a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes; and (4) a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related deaths; Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, mitigate, and recover from the impact of a full range of health threats, including-- (1) disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) natural disasters, such as wildfires, flooding, and severe storms; and (3) other disasters, including disasters caused by human activity and public health emergencies; Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners outside of the health sector, including city planners, transportation officials, education officials, and private sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors can influence health outcomes; Whereas, in communities across the United States, individuals are changing the way they care for their health by avoiding tobacco use, eating healthier, increasing physical activity, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and in the workplace; and Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and the prevention of disease and injury can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and injury and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week; (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, municipalities, local communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury; (3) recognizes the role of public health in-- (A) preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (B) mitigating short-term and long-term impacts of infectious disease outbreaks on the health and wellness of individuals in the United States; (C) addressing social and other determinants of health, including health disparities experienced by minority populations; and (D) improving the overall health of individuals and communities in the United States; (4) encourages increased efforts and resources-- (A) to improve the health of individuals in the United States; and (B) to make the United States, in 1 generation, the healthiest country in the world by-- (i) providing greater opportunities to improve community health and prevent disease and injury; and (ii) strengthening the public health system and workforce in the United States; and (5) encourages the people of the United States to learn about the role of the public health system in improving health across the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1939 | null | 4,206 |
formal | vaccine safety | null | anti-vax | Mr. LUJAN (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Brown, Mr. Heinrich, Mr. King, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Markey, Mr. Padilla, Ms. Smith, and Mr. Van Hollen) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: S. Res. 576 Whereas the week of April 4, 2022, is designated as National Public Health Week by the American Public Health Association; Whereas the theme for National Public Health Week in 2022 is ``Public Health is Where You Are''; Whereas the goal of National Public Health Week in 2022 is to recognize the contributions of public health in-- (1) improving the health of the people of the United States; and (2) achieving health equity; Whereas, as of the date of introduction of this resolution, the United States and the global community are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, which requires support for-- (1) a robust public health infrastructure and workforce; (2) State, territorial, local, and Tribal health departments, health care workers, public health laboratories, and first responders; (3) diagnostic testing of new and potential COVID-19 cases and activities related to epidemiology and public health data; (4) complying with appropriate social distancing and quarantine recommendations; (5) relieving financial burdens for individuals in the United States hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, including through public health emergency leave; (6) the Medicaid programs and community health centers of States to ensure care for vulnerable populations; (7) collaboration among the Federal Government, State and local governments, schools, businesses, and employers to support public health measures to decrease community spread of COVID-19; (8) investments in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that support infectious disease outbreak preparedness and critical public health infrastructure for State and local health departments and public health laboratories; (9) a comprehensive effort to ensure a successful COVID-19 vaccination campaign that boosts access to vaccines for vulnerable populations and trust in vaccine safety and effectiveness; and (10) efforts to address racism as a public health crisis and reduce racial and ethnic health disparities related to COVID-19 deaths, vaccine access and testing, and important health outcomes outside of the pandemic such as maternal mortality; Whereas, in 2020, the life expectancy at birth for the population of the United States declined by 1.5 years, which is the largest drop in life expectancy since 1943; Whereas many of the leading causes of death for individuals in the United States result from chronic conditions, which are among the most common, costly, and preventable of all health challenges; Whereas there are significant differences in the health status of individuals living in the healthiest States and those living in the least healthy States, including differences in obesity rates, the prevalence of chronic disease, and the prevalence of infectious disease; Whereas racial and ethnic minority populations in the United States continue to experience disparities in the burden of illness and death, as compared to the entire population of the United States; Whereas violence is a leading cause of premature death, and it is estimated that more than 7 individuals per hour die a violent death in the United States; Whereas deaths from homicides cost the economy of the United States billions of dollars, and the violence of homicides can cause social and emotional distress, community trauma, injury, disability, depression, anxiety, and post- traumatic stress disorder; Whereas more than 47,500 lives were lost due to suicide in 2019, and in May 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, emergency department visits for suspected suicide attempts began to increase among adolescents aged 12 to 17 years, especially among girls; Whereas an estimated 1 in 7 children in the United States experience child abuse and neglect, and 1,840 children died of abuse and neglect in 2019; Whereas, despite significant progress in reducing the infant mortality rate in the United States to a historic low of 5.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2019, the infant mortality rate in the United States still greatly varies among States; Whereas women die from pregnancy-related complications in the United States at a higher rate than in many other developed countries, and an estimated 60 percent of maternal deaths in the United States are preventable; Whereas Black mothers experience a maternal mortality rate 3 to 4 times higher than White mothers; Whereas there were an estimated 100,306 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the 12-month period ending in April 2021, the highest level ever recorded during a 12- month period and an increase of 28.5 percent from the 78,056 deaths during the same period the prior year; Whereas cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths each year, including more than 41,000 deaths resulting from secondhand smoke; Whereas the percentage of adults in the United States who smoke cigarettes has decreased from 20.9 percent in 2005 to 13.7 percent in 2018; Whereas, in 2020, according to data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, 19.6 percent of high school students (3,020,000 students) and 4.7 percent of middle school students (550,000 students) reported current e-cigarette use; Whereas data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that in 2020 approximately 40 percent of high school e- cigarette users were using an e-cigarette on 20 or more days of the month, and approximately \1/4\ of high school e- cigarette users were using e-cigarettes every day, indicating a strong dependence on nicotine among youth; Whereas, in the past 2 decades, heat-related mortality for older individuals has almost doubled, reaching a record high of approximately 19,000 deaths in 2018; Whereas, from 2018 to 2019, the United States spent approximately $13 per person on climate change adaptation in the health sector, far less than what is needed to prevent the growing health impacts of climate change; Whereas, in 2016, fine particulate air pollution led to more than 64,000 premature deaths in the United States, and Black and Hispanic individuals in the United States were disproportionately impacted; Whereas voting helps shape the conditions in which people can be healthy, and good health is consistently positively associated with higher likelihood of voter participation; Whereas public health organizations use National Public Health Week to educate public policymakers and public health professionals on issues that are important to improving the health of the people of the United States; Whereas studies show that small strategic investments in disease prevention can result in significant savings in health care costs; Whereas vaccination is one of the most significant public health achievements in history and has resulted in substantial decreases in-- (1) the number of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; and (2) health care costs associated with vaccine-preventable diseases; Whereas each 10 percent increase in local public health spending contributes to-- (1) a 6.9 percent decrease in infant deaths; (2) a 3.2 percent decrease in deaths related to cardiovascular disease; (3) a 1.4 percent decrease in deaths due to diabetes; and (4) a 1.1 percent decrease in cancer-related deaths; Whereas public health professionals help communities prevent, prepare for, mitigate, and recover from the impact of a full range of health threats, including-- (1) disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (2) natural disasters, such as wildfires, flooding, and severe storms; and (3) other disasters, including disasters caused by human activity and public health emergencies; Whereas public health professionals collaborate with partners outside of the health sector, including city planners, transportation officials, education officials, and private sector businesses, recognizing that other sectors can influence health outcomes; Whereas, in communities across the United States, individuals are changing the way they care for their health by avoiding tobacco use, eating healthier, increasing physical activity, and preventing unintentional injuries at home and in the workplace; and Whereas efforts to adequately support public health and the prevention of disease and injury can continue to transform a health system focused on treating illness into a health system focused on preventing disease and injury and promoting wellness: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the goals and ideals of National Public Health Week; (2) recognizes the efforts of public health professionals, the Federal Government, States, Tribes, municipalities, local communities, and individuals in preventing disease and injury; (3) recognizes the role of public health in-- (A) preventing and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; (B) mitigating short-term and long-term impacts of infectious disease outbreaks on the health and wellness of individuals in the United States; (C) addressing social and other determinants of health, including health disparities experienced by minority populations; and (D) improving the overall health of individuals and communities in the United States; (4) encourages increased efforts and resources-- (A) to improve the health of individuals in the United States; and (B) to make the United States, in 1 generation, the healthiest country in the world by-- (i) providing greater opportunities to improve community health and prevent disease and injury; and (ii) strengthening the public health system and workforce in the United States; and (5) encourages the people of the United States to learn about the role of the public health system in improving health across the United States. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1939 | null | 4,207 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I come to the Senate floor again today to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. This is the eighth week in a row that I have come to the floor to talk about the illegal, totally unprovoked, and brutal Russian invasion of a sovereign country--their neighbor Ukraine--that only wants to live in peace. Over the weekend, all of us saw the brutality of what Russia is doing. We saw it up close through shocking videos and photographs of more than 100 civilians--not soldiers but civilians--lying in mass graves in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv. Yesterday, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting specific atrocities, including rapes and executions. President Zelenskyy painted a vivid, heartbreaking picture this weekend when he spoke of ``civilians left on the streets with their hands tied behind their backs--killed execution style.'' Here is one photograph of the shocking scenes that we saw over the weekend of civilians left in the streets as the Russians pulled out of Bucha, but it is happening all over Ukraine, these kinds of human rights abuses and war crimes. The administration, on Sunday, called for an investigation into the war crimes. That is good. Of course, these are war crimes. The United States must press other countries and must be persistent to ensure that a tribunal is established; that these war crimes are prosecuted; and that people are held accountable. Last week, Senator Dick Durbin and I, as cochairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, organized a meeting with four members of the Rada, which is the Parliament in Ukraine. We were also joined by the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova. These women told us of the human toll in this fight, which they described as a fight between good and evil, between tyranny and democracy. They talked about the fact that Ukraine can be a symbol for victory of the West if we support them more and if we help them win. One of the members of Parliament described for us the scenes from Mariupol--of the massive shelling and of the bodies lying in the streets there, too, because it is too dangerous to go out to recover them. One parliamentarian told us of being separated and of often being out of touch with her husband, who is in harm's way with the Ukrainian military, while she is here telling us these stories to encourage us to do more. One said that there are 30 Russian soldiers living in her grandmother's house. They forced her out into the bitter cold. They all told us, with anguish and urgency, of what needs to happen: more sanctions, more military assistance, more equipment. One of them said--and I thought this was well put--freedom has to be armed. Freedom has to be armed. I agree. I believe Ukraine can be victorious if the United States and our allies, especially the Europeans, help them to be victorious, and that means helping them more. They are fighting with heart, and although badly outnumbered, are making progress in key parts of the country. We have seen this in the region around Kyiv, where they are pushing the Russians out. This is the time to redouble our efforts to help ensure victory. It has now been 38 days since Russia's assault began. Russia is also now trying to redefine their objectives, saying that it was never their intention to seize Kyiv and the other major urban centers. Of course, we know that that is a lie. They tried very hard to seize Kyiv. They just weren't successful because the Ukrainians fought back so valiantly. So we need to watch the Russians' actions, not their words. Their actions in the south and in the eastern part of the country are that they continue to bomb, bomb, and bomb civilian targets. The most important reason Ukraine is winning these battles is, of course, the fighting spirit of the men and women of Ukraine--the patriots who are taking the fight to the Russians on the battlefield. They are well trained, and we in the West are part of that.For the last 4 years, this body, the U.S. Senate, has provided funding to help train Ukrainians, and it has been very helpful. They are also motivated to defend freedom, to defend their homeland, to protect their families. There is no substitute for that kind of fighting spirit, and that is what the Russians are finding. We can also see the complete disregard for the rules of war by the Russian forces, including, most recently, through their actions in Mariupol. The words ``children,'' in Russian, were clearly emblazoned on a theater where young people took shelter. The letters were large enough to be seen from the sky to deter bombs. You probably saw that. They had the theater and then, on the outside, these huge words, saying ``children'' in Russian. Yet the Russians bombed this theater. We have now learned, sadly, that there were more than 300 people killed, mostly women and children. They were trapped in that rubble and killed when the theater was hit by a Russian bomb. They continue to violate the terms of a negotiated humanitarian corridor to help civilians flee Mariupol by shelling these corridors with artillery as people attempt to flee. For the fourth straight day, Russia continues to block the Red Cross from reaching Mariupol to deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the city. We know the innocent people who are trapped there are dying of starvation and dehydration. As Russia escalates, civilian targets are being hit, in various cities, with cluster bombs, with vacuum bombs, even with the first-ever use of a supersonic weapon. Thousands of civilians have needlessly died in this senseless war. More than 10 million people have been displaced from their homes, and over 4 million refugees--almost all women and children and the elderly--have fled the country they love while their men have stayed behind to fight the invaders. Meeting with refugees a few weeks ago as they crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border and hearing their stories was heartbreaking. They told stories of their trauma through their tears. Although it was heartbreaking for us to hear it, they didn't want our sympathy; they wanted our protection. They wanted us to help stop the bombing. The United States must stand with our allies against these atrocities. The President's recent speech in Poland underscored the stakes of this conflict if Russia wins. Frankly, it will mean the international order has failed, and more conflict, death, and destruction will follow. So this is a war in Ukraine, but the implications go well beyond the borders of Ukraine. Tonight, I, once again, offer some ideas about where we can go from here. Last week, I talked a lot about our top priority on the sanctions front needed to be cutting off Russia's No. 1 source of revenue that fuels the war machine, and that is the revenue that comes from Russia's energy sales. Energy is, by far, Russia's biggest export. It accounts for almost half of Russia's entire Federal budget. The revenues from oil account for between 40 and 50 percent of Russia's budget. Over the past year, the average oil revenues going back to Russia from their exports to the United States alone, just to the United States--and we imported relatively little compared to other countries in Europe, for instance, but it was $50 million a day we were sending to Russia. Under pressure from Congress, the administration reversed course and supported blocking Russian oil, natural gas, and even coal imports into the United States, thank goodness. It made no sense for us to be helping fund the Russian war effort, especially when we have our own resources here that are actually cleaner resources that we need to provide access to. I welcome the President's announcement in Poland last week of the creation of a joint U.S.-European Union task force to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian energy and strengthen Europe's energy security. That agreement is a good step forward. I am glad that we agreed to do that and got the Europeans to sign on to this agreement, but to make it work, to make it actually happen, we have got to support domestic energy producers here as a means of supporting our national security. Especially with this Russian invasion, the importance of the United States having an ``all of the above,'' robust approach to power our Nation, which includes fossil fuels, carbon capture technologies, hydrogen renewables, and nuclear power, cannot be overstated. As a practical matter, if we want to stop the revenues going from Europe--the billions of dollars--to Russia to fund this war machine, we are going to have to change our policies here in America to provide more American liquefied natural gas to go to Europe. That is what the agreement calls for. But we are going to have to change policies to make that happen so that American energy can substitute for Russian energy. Unfortunately, we aren't off to a really good start of late. The President just sent his fiscal year 2023 budget request to Congress, and among the proposals are the elimination of important tax provisions used by our domestic producers, including oil and gas, like the deduction for intangible drilling costs, or IDCs, which allow natural gas and oil producers to deduct costs that are necessary for the drilling and preparation of wells. Taxpayers deduct their costs of doing business. IDCs are one such cost for energy companies. Shortsighted proposals like these will serve to discourage domestic energy production at a time when we need to encourage it to help in this war effort. Unfortunately, the administration has consistently sent a message to American energy producers that one of their goals is to phase out the use of fossil fuels and make it more difficult even now by stifling production. This rhetoric, combined with actions like canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline--billions of dollars have been invested in it; suspending new leases on Federal lands and waters; and redefining things like the waters of the United States, or WOTUS, to make energy permitting harder--these things have led to uncertainty and less investment in the oil and gas industry. We need to reverse that, again, along with renewables. There is room for all. An important initiative to build our domestic energy infrastructure is also part of the answer. We need more pipelines and we need more LNG export facilities, and that requires streamlining the Federal permitting process. Historically, it can take a decade or more for the Federal Government to issue permits to build pipelines. We have a law called FAST-41, which improves the permitting process for big projects by requiring Agencies in the Federal Government to work together to set out a plan and a timeline for permitting projects. It also creates what is called the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, which can resolve disputes over the permitting process and get a green light on a project much more quickly, whether it is oil and gas or whether it is renewables, solar, or wind. Let's use that process to provide this alternative to Russian energy. This doesn't mean not following the environmental rules. You follow them, but you get the permit far more quickly and with much less expense. We have to step forward and lead our European allies in doing all they can to provide substitutes to Russia's energy sector. Yesterday, the country of Lithuania became the first EU country to completely cut itself off from Russian natural gas. I applaud them for taking this strong action and hope other countries will quickly follow suit. Lithuania gets it. They know that as a country that is part of the Baltics in the region, they could be next. If we don't do this, we are not going to be able to tighten the sanctions on Russia because we will continue to send, again, billions of dollars to support the war machine. The ruble has recovered its value in part because Russia is bringing in revenue from its sale of energy. Shares on Russia's stock market are trading again. And Russia's VTB Bank remains open for business in Europe, where it has gathered billions of euros in deposits, mainly from German savers. Our sanctions have left Russia's biggest economic lifeline largely untouched, and that is energy sales to Europe. I know it is harder for them. They are much more dependent. That is why we need to help more. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it is estimated that billions have gone back tothe Kremlin in energy resources and revenues from Europe. In addition to cutting off the natural gas and the revenue that fuels the Russian war machine, we need to tighten up bank sanctions as they relate to energy. Sanctions for energy transactions don't go into effect against Russia's biggest banks, including VTB Bank, until June 24. That is simply too late. President Biden must lead the alliance to do what it takes to help Ukraine win, and the administration needs to make clear their objective is for Ukraine to win. Things like a June 24 date for energy transactions are not acceptable. We need to close the loopholes in the sanctions and, of course, provide more lethal aid to Ukraine. We need blocking sanctions on all of Russia's finance and defense industry. We should expand full blocking sanctions on all the banks. I continue to call for revoking international tax and trade agreements that give Russia privileges not appropriate for a pariah country. Let's pass the end of PNTR--most favored nation treatment--for Russia here on the floor of the Senate this week. Let's get it done. Most Russian banks still have access to SWIFT when it comes to international energy transactions. That is not acceptable. This is a massive loophole that is sending blood money to kill innocent Ukrainians. This week, I will introduce legislation with Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to disallow foreign tax credits for companies that pay taxes to the Russian Government. We have bipartisan agreement on policies to ensure American taxpayers are not subsidizing the Russian war machine. I believe we should seize, not just freeze, assets of Kremlin supporters. Last week, I introduced, with Senator Bennet of Colorado, the Repurposing Elite Luxuries Into Emergency Funds--RELIEF--for Ukraine Act to require the Department of Justice to direct any funds resulting from the disposal of seized Russian assets to support Ukrainian refugees and reconstruction. So let's seize these assets, like the yachts owned by the Kremlin supporters or by President Putin himself, and then take those funds and use them immediately to help with the humanitarian effort. Regarding military assistance, the Ukrainians have made it clear they desperately need more equipment, more munitions, and they need it now. In our meeting last week, the members of Parliament from Ukraine detailed what they need from us, and their list is not new. They said they need fighter jets. They need these MiGs. They appreciate the Stinger missiles that have been effective for lower altitude planes and helicopters, but they don't understand why NATO and the United States are blocking other Soviet-era military equipment to be able to help them. They want these surface-to-air missiles to be able to strike long-range Russian artillery rockets and high-altitude rockets that are raining down on their cities and killing civilians with impunity. This is not too much to ask. We have to find ways to send them these long-range air defense systems. Our Eastern European neighbors have S-300s and other systems the Ukrainians know how to operate. We may have some ourselves. Let's reposition our Patriot missiles in those countries in Eastern Europe so that they can then send their old Soviet-style systems to Ukraine that the Ukrainians know how to operate. It has now been weeks since our Secretary of Defense stood with our NATO ally Slovakia and the Slovakian Defense Minister said Slovakia was ready to transfer S-300 missile defense systems, which the Ukrainians can operate, ``immediately.'' Let's do it. Compared to what the Ukrainian forces have now, more S-300s could cover more ground and intercept incoming aircraft and missiles. The bureaucratic redtape delaying the S-300 transfer is costing innocent lives every day. We must also find ways to quickly provide Ukraine with more armed drones, such as the Turkish TB2 and one-use loitering munitions, which the Ukrainians know how to use and have been effective on this battlefield. Three weeks ago, it was announced that we were sending 100 so-called Switchblade loitering munitions. These are so-called suicide drones, one-use drones, but they can be used to destroy an armored vehicle or another target. One hundred will go very quickly. We should send more, and we should send bigger drones, which we have in our inventory. They could be effective against tanks and effective against ships. They have been asking for help across the board that is not yet delivered. They have been asking for tanks, more anti-ship systems to fend off missiles from the Black Sea, and more equipment to clear Russian mines. On tanks, they know how to operate the Soviet-era T-72 tanks that are in the inventory of many Eastern European countries. Let's facilitate those transfers. We can do more, and we should do more--not weeks from now but now. They are not asking for us to fight for them, but they are asking for us to provide them the tools to be able to defend themselves. There should be no gap in our weapons transfers, and we should continue to lead. We need not just organize our NATO allies, which we have done a good job at, in my view, but now help to lead our NATO allies in providing more support and coordinating the support from those countries. I also believe that both Ukraine and Georgia should be given what is called a membership action plan, which is the next step toward NATO membership. It doesn't make them parts of NATO, but, based on the actions of the Russians and the fighting spirit of the Ukrainians, I believe more strongly than ever that it would put Russia on notice that these countries are on the road to faster membership because of what Russia has done. Some may ask why a Senator from Ohio would care about what is going on in Ukraine. Well, we should all care. This is about the fight for freedom. This is where it is being engaged in our generation, in our time. I also happen to have tens of thousands of Ukrainians who call Ohio their home. These Ukrainian Americans are friends of mine. They are constituents of mine. They have been keeping me informed over the years. They have helped me to get more engaged in this issue. I have been to Ukraine six or seven times since 2014, when Ukraine made a decision to turn to us, to turn to democracy and freedom and free enterprise. But even if I had no constituents who were of Ukrainian descent, I would be standing here because this is the fight for freedom. This is our test. Are we going to stand against tyranny and for freedom at a time when these terrible atrocities are being committed? When I was on the Polish-Ukrainian border, I talked to a lot of these refugees, as I said, and through their tears, they talked about what was going on. They talked about their homes being destroyed, their apartments being destroyed, their friends or family members being hurt, some killed, the pain of being separated from their husbands and fathers, not knowing their fate back home. By the way, they all want to go home. They all want to go home desperately. They pleaded for us to do more to stop the missiles, and they all said: Please, protect the skies. They told us of this atrocity up close. In the midst of this atrocity, there are so many heroes in Ukraine who are stepping forward: the soldiers--professionals and civilians who have taken up arms--the doctors and the nurses, the firefighters, the volunteers who are providing food and water and blankets just to keep people alive. We pray for all of them. We pray for their families. Godspeed to them in their very simple quest: a battle for a free and independent country. They just want to live in peace. I will close with this thought. The Ukrainians can be victorious but only if we help organize other freedom-loving countries all around the world to support them. We must lead. One of the members of Parliament said it best, I think, when she said she hears all the time ``We are all Ukrainians. We are all Ukrainians.'' I think that is a good sentiment. But she said: If that is so, then we must be like Ukrainians, meaning we must be brave, creative, and fast. Her point was: We need help; we need it now. Be creative. Figure out a way to get those tanks there, to get those more powerful drones there, to get the planes there that they need, to get the humanitarian assistance that they need desperately in Ukraine into these cities. Be brave. Be creative. Be fast. So I urge my colleagues and the administration and the world: Let's help Ukraine actually win this war. That is now possible. This is the time for us to redouble our efforts and to be brave, creative, and fast. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PORTMAN | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1940-4 | null | 4,208 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I come to the Senate floor again today to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. This is the eighth week in a row that I have come to the floor to talk about the illegal, totally unprovoked, and brutal Russian invasion of a sovereign country--their neighbor Ukraine--that only wants to live in peace. Over the weekend, all of us saw the brutality of what Russia is doing. We saw it up close through shocking videos and photographs of more than 100 civilians--not soldiers but civilians--lying in mass graves in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv. Yesterday, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting specific atrocities, including rapes and executions. President Zelenskyy painted a vivid, heartbreaking picture this weekend when he spoke of ``civilians left on the streets with their hands tied behind their backs--killed execution style.'' Here is one photograph of the shocking scenes that we saw over the weekend of civilians left in the streets as the Russians pulled out of Bucha, but it is happening all over Ukraine, these kinds of human rights abuses and war crimes. The administration, on Sunday, called for an investigation into the war crimes. That is good. Of course, these are war crimes. The United States must press other countries and must be persistent to ensure that a tribunal is established; that these war crimes are prosecuted; and that people are held accountable. Last week, Senator Dick Durbin and I, as cochairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, organized a meeting with four members of the Rada, which is the Parliament in Ukraine. We were also joined by the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova. These women told us of the human toll in this fight, which they described as a fight between good and evil, between tyranny and democracy. They talked about the fact that Ukraine can be a symbol for victory of the West if we support them more and if we help them win. One of the members of Parliament described for us the scenes from Mariupol--of the massive shelling and of the bodies lying in the streets there, too, because it is too dangerous to go out to recover them. One parliamentarian told us of being separated and of often being out of touch with her husband, who is in harm's way with the Ukrainian military, while she is here telling us these stories to encourage us to do more. One said that there are 30 Russian soldiers living in her grandmother's house. They forced her out into the bitter cold. They all told us, with anguish and urgency, of what needs to happen: more sanctions, more military assistance, more equipment. One of them said--and I thought this was well put--freedom has to be armed. Freedom has to be armed. I agree. I believe Ukraine can be victorious if the United States and our allies, especially the Europeans, help them to be victorious, and that means helping them more. They are fighting with heart, and although badly outnumbered, are making progress in key parts of the country. We have seen this in the region around Kyiv, where they are pushing the Russians out. This is the time to redouble our efforts to help ensure victory. It has now been 38 days since Russia's assault began. Russia is also now trying to redefine their objectives, saying that it was never their intention to seize Kyiv and the other major urban centers. Of course, we know that that is a lie. They tried very hard to seize Kyiv. They just weren't successful because the Ukrainians fought back so valiantly. So we need to watch the Russians' actions, not their words. Their actions in the south and in the eastern part of the country are that they continue to bomb, bomb, and bomb civilian targets. The most important reason Ukraine is winning these battles is, of course, the fighting spirit of the men and women of Ukraine--the patriots who are taking the fight to the Russians on the battlefield. They are well trained, and we in the West are part of that.For the last 4 years, this body, the U.S. Senate, has provided funding to help train Ukrainians, and it has been very helpful. They are also motivated to defend freedom, to defend their homeland, to protect their families. There is no substitute for that kind of fighting spirit, and that is what the Russians are finding. We can also see the complete disregard for the rules of war by the Russian forces, including, most recently, through their actions in Mariupol. The words ``children,'' in Russian, were clearly emblazoned on a theater where young people took shelter. The letters were large enough to be seen from the sky to deter bombs. You probably saw that. They had the theater and then, on the outside, these huge words, saying ``children'' in Russian. Yet the Russians bombed this theater. We have now learned, sadly, that there were more than 300 people killed, mostly women and children. They were trapped in that rubble and killed when the theater was hit by a Russian bomb. They continue to violate the terms of a negotiated humanitarian corridor to help civilians flee Mariupol by shelling these corridors with artillery as people attempt to flee. For the fourth straight day, Russia continues to block the Red Cross from reaching Mariupol to deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the city. We know the innocent people who are trapped there are dying of starvation and dehydration. As Russia escalates, civilian targets are being hit, in various cities, with cluster bombs, with vacuum bombs, even with the first-ever use of a supersonic weapon. Thousands of civilians have needlessly died in this senseless war. More than 10 million people have been displaced from their homes, and over 4 million refugees--almost all women and children and the elderly--have fled the country they love while their men have stayed behind to fight the invaders. Meeting with refugees a few weeks ago as they crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border and hearing their stories was heartbreaking. They told stories of their trauma through their tears. Although it was heartbreaking for us to hear it, they didn't want our sympathy; they wanted our protection. They wanted us to help stop the bombing. The United States must stand with our allies against these atrocities. The President's recent speech in Poland underscored the stakes of this conflict if Russia wins. Frankly, it will mean the international order has failed, and more conflict, death, and destruction will follow. So this is a war in Ukraine, but the implications go well beyond the borders of Ukraine. Tonight, I, once again, offer some ideas about where we can go from here. Last week, I talked a lot about our top priority on the sanctions front needed to be cutting off Russia's No. 1 source of revenue that fuels the war machine, and that is the revenue that comes from Russia's energy sales. Energy is, by far, Russia's biggest export. It accounts for almost half of Russia's entire Federal budget. The revenues from oil account for between 40 and 50 percent of Russia's budget. Over the past year, the average oil revenues going back to Russia from their exports to the United States alone, just to the United States--and we imported relatively little compared to other countries in Europe, for instance, but it was $50 million a day we were sending to Russia. Under pressure from Congress, the administration reversed course and supported blocking Russian oil, natural gas, and even coal imports into the United States, thank goodness. It made no sense for us to be helping fund the Russian war effort, especially when we have our own resources here that are actually cleaner resources that we need to provide access to. I welcome the President's announcement in Poland last week of the creation of a joint U.S.-European Union task force to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian energy and strengthen Europe's energy security. That agreement is a good step forward. I am glad that we agreed to do that and got the Europeans to sign on to this agreement, but to make it work, to make it actually happen, we have got to support domestic energy producers here as a means of supporting our national security. Especially with this Russian invasion, the importance of the United States having an ``all of the above,'' robust approach to power our Nation, which includes fossil fuels, carbon capture technologies, hydrogen renewables, and nuclear power, cannot be overstated. As a practical matter, if we want to stop the revenues going from Europe--the billions of dollars--to Russia to fund this war machine, we are going to have to change our policies here in America to provide more American liquefied natural gas to go to Europe. That is what the agreement calls for. But we are going to have to change policies to make that happen so that American energy can substitute for Russian energy. Unfortunately, we aren't off to a really good start of late. The President just sent his fiscal year 2023 budget request to Congress, and among the proposals are the elimination of important tax provisions used by our domestic producers, including oil and gas, like the deduction for intangible drilling costs, or IDCs, which allow natural gas and oil producers to deduct costs that are necessary for the drilling and preparation of wells. Taxpayers deduct their costs of doing business. IDCs are one such cost for energy companies. Shortsighted proposals like these will serve to discourage domestic energy production at a time when we need to encourage it to help in this war effort. Unfortunately, the administration has consistently sent a message to American energy producers that one of their goals is to phase out the use of fossil fuels and make it more difficult even now by stifling production. This rhetoric, combined with actions like canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline--billions of dollars have been invested in it; suspending new leases on Federal lands and waters; and redefining things like the waters of the United States, or WOTUS, to make energy permitting harder--these things have led to uncertainty and less investment in the oil and gas industry. We need to reverse that, again, along with renewables. There is room for all. An important initiative to build our domestic energy infrastructure is also part of the answer. We need more pipelines and we need more LNG export facilities, and that requires streamlining the Federal permitting process. Historically, it can take a decade or more for the Federal Government to issue permits to build pipelines. We have a law called FAST-41, which improves the permitting process for big projects by requiring Agencies in the Federal Government to work together to set out a plan and a timeline for permitting projects. It also creates what is called the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, which can resolve disputes over the permitting process and get a green light on a project much more quickly, whether it is oil and gas or whether it is renewables, solar, or wind. Let's use that process to provide this alternative to Russian energy. This doesn't mean not following the environmental rules. You follow them, but you get the permit far more quickly and with much less expense. We have to step forward and lead our European allies in doing all they can to provide substitutes to Russia's energy sector. Yesterday, the country of Lithuania became the first EU country to completely cut itself off from Russian natural gas. I applaud them for taking this strong action and hope other countries will quickly follow suit. Lithuania gets it. They know that as a country that is part of the Baltics in the region, they could be next. If we don't do this, we are not going to be able to tighten the sanctions on Russia because we will continue to send, again, billions of dollars to support the war machine. The ruble has recovered its value in part because Russia is bringing in revenue from its sale of energy. Shares on Russia's stock market are trading again. And Russia's VTB Bank remains open for business in Europe, where it has gathered billions of euros in deposits, mainly from German savers. Our sanctions have left Russia's biggest economic lifeline largely untouched, and that is energy sales to Europe. I know it is harder for them. They are much more dependent. That is why we need to help more. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it is estimated that billions have gone back tothe Kremlin in energy resources and revenues from Europe. In addition to cutting off the natural gas and the revenue that fuels the Russian war machine, we need to tighten up bank sanctions as they relate to energy. Sanctions for energy transactions don't go into effect against Russia's biggest banks, including VTB Bank, until June 24. That is simply too late. President Biden must lead the alliance to do what it takes to help Ukraine win, and the administration needs to make clear their objective is for Ukraine to win. Things like a June 24 date for energy transactions are not acceptable. We need to close the loopholes in the sanctions and, of course, provide more lethal aid to Ukraine. We need blocking sanctions on all of Russia's finance and defense industry. We should expand full blocking sanctions on all the banks. I continue to call for revoking international tax and trade agreements that give Russia privileges not appropriate for a pariah country. Let's pass the end of PNTR--most favored nation treatment--for Russia here on the floor of the Senate this week. Let's get it done. Most Russian banks still have access to SWIFT when it comes to international energy transactions. That is not acceptable. This is a massive loophole that is sending blood money to kill innocent Ukrainians. This week, I will introduce legislation with Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to disallow foreign tax credits for companies that pay taxes to the Russian Government. We have bipartisan agreement on policies to ensure American taxpayers are not subsidizing the Russian war machine. I believe we should seize, not just freeze, assets of Kremlin supporters. Last week, I introduced, with Senator Bennet of Colorado, the Repurposing Elite Luxuries Into Emergency Funds--RELIEF--for Ukraine Act to require the Department of Justice to direct any funds resulting from the disposal of seized Russian assets to support Ukrainian refugees and reconstruction. So let's seize these assets, like the yachts owned by the Kremlin supporters or by President Putin himself, and then take those funds and use them immediately to help with the humanitarian effort. Regarding military assistance, the Ukrainians have made it clear they desperately need more equipment, more munitions, and they need it now. In our meeting last week, the members of Parliament from Ukraine detailed what they need from us, and their list is not new. They said they need fighter jets. They need these MiGs. They appreciate the Stinger missiles that have been effective for lower altitude planes and helicopters, but they don't understand why NATO and the United States are blocking other Soviet-era military equipment to be able to help them. They want these surface-to-air missiles to be able to strike long-range Russian artillery rockets and high-altitude rockets that are raining down on their cities and killing civilians with impunity. This is not too much to ask. We have to find ways to send them these long-range air defense systems. Our Eastern European neighbors have S-300s and other systems the Ukrainians know how to operate. We may have some ourselves. Let's reposition our Patriot missiles in those countries in Eastern Europe so that they can then send their old Soviet-style systems to Ukraine that the Ukrainians know how to operate. It has now been weeks since our Secretary of Defense stood with our NATO ally Slovakia and the Slovakian Defense Minister said Slovakia was ready to transfer S-300 missile defense systems, which the Ukrainians can operate, ``immediately.'' Let's do it. Compared to what the Ukrainian forces have now, more S-300s could cover more ground and intercept incoming aircraft and missiles. The bureaucratic redtape delaying the S-300 transfer is costing innocent lives every day. We must also find ways to quickly provide Ukraine with more armed drones, such as the Turkish TB2 and one-use loitering munitions, which the Ukrainians know how to use and have been effective on this battlefield. Three weeks ago, it was announced that we were sending 100 so-called Switchblade loitering munitions. These are so-called suicide drones, one-use drones, but they can be used to destroy an armored vehicle or another target. One hundred will go very quickly. We should send more, and we should send bigger drones, which we have in our inventory. They could be effective against tanks and effective against ships. They have been asking for help across the board that is not yet delivered. They have been asking for tanks, more anti-ship systems to fend off missiles from the Black Sea, and more equipment to clear Russian mines. On tanks, they know how to operate the Soviet-era T-72 tanks that are in the inventory of many Eastern European countries. Let's facilitate those transfers. We can do more, and we should do more--not weeks from now but now. They are not asking for us to fight for them, but they are asking for us to provide them the tools to be able to defend themselves. There should be no gap in our weapons transfers, and we should continue to lead. We need not just organize our NATO allies, which we have done a good job at, in my view, but now help to lead our NATO allies in providing more support and coordinating the support from those countries. I also believe that both Ukraine and Georgia should be given what is called a membership action plan, which is the next step toward NATO membership. It doesn't make them parts of NATO, but, based on the actions of the Russians and the fighting spirit of the Ukrainians, I believe more strongly than ever that it would put Russia on notice that these countries are on the road to faster membership because of what Russia has done. Some may ask why a Senator from Ohio would care about what is going on in Ukraine. Well, we should all care. This is about the fight for freedom. This is where it is being engaged in our generation, in our time. I also happen to have tens of thousands of Ukrainians who call Ohio their home. These Ukrainian Americans are friends of mine. They are constituents of mine. They have been keeping me informed over the years. They have helped me to get more engaged in this issue. I have been to Ukraine six or seven times since 2014, when Ukraine made a decision to turn to us, to turn to democracy and freedom and free enterprise. But even if I had no constituents who were of Ukrainian descent, I would be standing here because this is the fight for freedom. This is our test. Are we going to stand against tyranny and for freedom at a time when these terrible atrocities are being committed? When I was on the Polish-Ukrainian border, I talked to a lot of these refugees, as I said, and through their tears, they talked about what was going on. They talked about their homes being destroyed, their apartments being destroyed, their friends or family members being hurt, some killed, the pain of being separated from their husbands and fathers, not knowing their fate back home. By the way, they all want to go home. They all want to go home desperately. They pleaded for us to do more to stop the missiles, and they all said: Please, protect the skies. They told us of this atrocity up close. In the midst of this atrocity, there are so many heroes in Ukraine who are stepping forward: the soldiers--professionals and civilians who have taken up arms--the doctors and the nurses, the firefighters, the volunteers who are providing food and water and blankets just to keep people alive. We pray for all of them. We pray for their families. Godspeed to them in their very simple quest: a battle for a free and independent country. They just want to live in peace. I will close with this thought. The Ukrainians can be victorious but only if we help organize other freedom-loving countries all around the world to support them. We must lead. One of the members of Parliament said it best, I think, when she said she hears all the time ``We are all Ukrainians. We are all Ukrainians.'' I think that is a good sentiment. But she said: If that is so, then we must be like Ukrainians, meaning we must be brave, creative, and fast. Her point was: We need help; we need it now. Be creative. Figure out a way to get those tanks there, to get those more powerful drones there, to get the planes there that they need, to get the humanitarian assistance that they need desperately in Ukraine into these cities. Be brave. Be creative. Be fast. So I urge my colleagues and the administration and the world: Let's help Ukraine actually win this war. That is now possible. This is the time for us to redouble our efforts and to be brave, creative, and fast. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PORTMAN | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1940-4 | null | 4,209 |
formal | urban | null | racist | Mr. PORTMAN. Madam President, I come to the Senate floor again today to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine. This is the eighth week in a row that I have come to the floor to talk about the illegal, totally unprovoked, and brutal Russian invasion of a sovereign country--their neighbor Ukraine--that only wants to live in peace. Over the weekend, all of us saw the brutality of what Russia is doing. We saw it up close through shocking videos and photographs of more than 100 civilians--not soldiers but civilians--lying in mass graves in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv. Yesterday, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting specific atrocities, including rapes and executions. President Zelenskyy painted a vivid, heartbreaking picture this weekend when he spoke of ``civilians left on the streets with their hands tied behind their backs--killed execution style.'' Here is one photograph of the shocking scenes that we saw over the weekend of civilians left in the streets as the Russians pulled out of Bucha, but it is happening all over Ukraine, these kinds of human rights abuses and war crimes. The administration, on Sunday, called for an investigation into the war crimes. That is good. Of course, these are war crimes. The United States must press other countries and must be persistent to ensure that a tribunal is established; that these war crimes are prosecuted; and that people are held accountable. Last week, Senator Dick Durbin and I, as cochairs of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, organized a meeting with four members of the Rada, which is the Parliament in Ukraine. We were also joined by the Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova. These women told us of the human toll in this fight, which they described as a fight between good and evil, between tyranny and democracy. They talked about the fact that Ukraine can be a symbol for victory of the West if we support them more and if we help them win. One of the members of Parliament described for us the scenes from Mariupol--of the massive shelling and of the bodies lying in the streets there, too, because it is too dangerous to go out to recover them. One parliamentarian told us of being separated and of often being out of touch with her husband, who is in harm's way with the Ukrainian military, while she is here telling us these stories to encourage us to do more. One said that there are 30 Russian soldiers living in her grandmother's house. They forced her out into the bitter cold. They all told us, with anguish and urgency, of what needs to happen: more sanctions, more military assistance, more equipment. One of them said--and I thought this was well put--freedom has to be armed. Freedom has to be armed. I agree. I believe Ukraine can be victorious if the United States and our allies, especially the Europeans, help them to be victorious, and that means helping them more. They are fighting with heart, and although badly outnumbered, are making progress in key parts of the country. We have seen this in the region around Kyiv, where they are pushing the Russians out. This is the time to redouble our efforts to help ensure victory. It has now been 38 days since Russia's assault began. Russia is also now trying to redefine their objectives, saying that it was never their intention to seize Kyiv and the other major urban centers. Of course, we know that that is a lie. They tried very hard to seize Kyiv. They just weren't successful because the Ukrainians fought back so valiantly. So we need to watch the Russians' actions, not their words. Their actions in the south and in the eastern part of the country are that they continue to bomb, bomb, and bomb civilian targets. The most important reason Ukraine is winning these battles is, of course, the fighting spirit of the men and women of Ukraine--the patriots who are taking the fight to the Russians on the battlefield. They are well trained, and we in the West are part of that.For the last 4 years, this body, the U.S. Senate, has provided funding to help train Ukrainians, and it has been very helpful. They are also motivated to defend freedom, to defend their homeland, to protect their families. There is no substitute for that kind of fighting spirit, and that is what the Russians are finding. We can also see the complete disregard for the rules of war by the Russian forces, including, most recently, through their actions in Mariupol. The words ``children,'' in Russian, were clearly emblazoned on a theater where young people took shelter. The letters were large enough to be seen from the sky to deter bombs. You probably saw that. They had the theater and then, on the outside, these huge words, saying ``children'' in Russian. Yet the Russians bombed this theater. We have now learned, sadly, that there were more than 300 people killed, mostly women and children. They were trapped in that rubble and killed when the theater was hit by a Russian bomb. They continue to violate the terms of a negotiated humanitarian corridor to help civilians flee Mariupol by shelling these corridors with artillery as people attempt to flee. For the fourth straight day, Russia continues to block the Red Cross from reaching Mariupol to deliver much needed humanitarian aid to the city. We know the innocent people who are trapped there are dying of starvation and dehydration. As Russia escalates, civilian targets are being hit, in various cities, with cluster bombs, with vacuum bombs, even with the first-ever use of a supersonic weapon. Thousands of civilians have needlessly died in this senseless war. More than 10 million people have been displaced from their homes, and over 4 million refugees--almost all women and children and the elderly--have fled the country they love while their men have stayed behind to fight the invaders. Meeting with refugees a few weeks ago as they crossed the Polish-Ukrainian border and hearing their stories was heartbreaking. They told stories of their trauma through their tears. Although it was heartbreaking for us to hear it, they didn't want our sympathy; they wanted our protection. They wanted us to help stop the bombing. The United States must stand with our allies against these atrocities. The President's recent speech in Poland underscored the stakes of this conflict if Russia wins. Frankly, it will mean the international order has failed, and more conflict, death, and destruction will follow. So this is a war in Ukraine, but the implications go well beyond the borders of Ukraine. Tonight, I, once again, offer some ideas about where we can go from here. Last week, I talked a lot about our top priority on the sanctions front needed to be cutting off Russia's No. 1 source of revenue that fuels the war machine, and that is the revenue that comes from Russia's energy sales. Energy is, by far, Russia's biggest export. It accounts for almost half of Russia's entire Federal budget. The revenues from oil account for between 40 and 50 percent of Russia's budget. Over the past year, the average oil revenues going back to Russia from their exports to the United States alone, just to the United States--and we imported relatively little compared to other countries in Europe, for instance, but it was $50 million a day we were sending to Russia. Under pressure from Congress, the administration reversed course and supported blocking Russian oil, natural gas, and even coal imports into the United States, thank goodness. It made no sense for us to be helping fund the Russian war effort, especially when we have our own resources here that are actually cleaner resources that we need to provide access to. I welcome the President's announcement in Poland last week of the creation of a joint U.S.-European Union task force to reduce Europe's dependency on Russian energy and strengthen Europe's energy security. That agreement is a good step forward. I am glad that we agreed to do that and got the Europeans to sign on to this agreement, but to make it work, to make it actually happen, we have got to support domestic energy producers here as a means of supporting our national security. Especially with this Russian invasion, the importance of the United States having an ``all of the above,'' robust approach to power our Nation, which includes fossil fuels, carbon capture technologies, hydrogen renewables, and nuclear power, cannot be overstated. As a practical matter, if we want to stop the revenues going from Europe--the billions of dollars--to Russia to fund this war machine, we are going to have to change our policies here in America to provide more American liquefied natural gas to go to Europe. That is what the agreement calls for. But we are going to have to change policies to make that happen so that American energy can substitute for Russian energy. Unfortunately, we aren't off to a really good start of late. The President just sent his fiscal year 2023 budget request to Congress, and among the proposals are the elimination of important tax provisions used by our domestic producers, including oil and gas, like the deduction for intangible drilling costs, or IDCs, which allow natural gas and oil producers to deduct costs that are necessary for the drilling and preparation of wells. Taxpayers deduct their costs of doing business. IDCs are one such cost for energy companies. Shortsighted proposals like these will serve to discourage domestic energy production at a time when we need to encourage it to help in this war effort. Unfortunately, the administration has consistently sent a message to American energy producers that one of their goals is to phase out the use of fossil fuels and make it more difficult even now by stifling production. This rhetoric, combined with actions like canceling the Keystone XL Pipeline--billions of dollars have been invested in it; suspending new leases on Federal lands and waters; and redefining things like the waters of the United States, or WOTUS, to make energy permitting harder--these things have led to uncertainty and less investment in the oil and gas industry. We need to reverse that, again, along with renewables. There is room for all. An important initiative to build our domestic energy infrastructure is also part of the answer. We need more pipelines and we need more LNG export facilities, and that requires streamlining the Federal permitting process. Historically, it can take a decade or more for the Federal Government to issue permits to build pipelines. We have a law called FAST-41, which improves the permitting process for big projects by requiring Agencies in the Federal Government to work together to set out a plan and a timeline for permitting projects. It also creates what is called the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council, which can resolve disputes over the permitting process and get a green light on a project much more quickly, whether it is oil and gas or whether it is renewables, solar, or wind. Let's use that process to provide this alternative to Russian energy. This doesn't mean not following the environmental rules. You follow them, but you get the permit far more quickly and with much less expense. We have to step forward and lead our European allies in doing all they can to provide substitutes to Russia's energy sector. Yesterday, the country of Lithuania became the first EU country to completely cut itself off from Russian natural gas. I applaud them for taking this strong action and hope other countries will quickly follow suit. Lithuania gets it. They know that as a country that is part of the Baltics in the region, they could be next. If we don't do this, we are not going to be able to tighten the sanctions on Russia because we will continue to send, again, billions of dollars to support the war machine. The ruble has recovered its value in part because Russia is bringing in revenue from its sale of energy. Shares on Russia's stock market are trading again. And Russia's VTB Bank remains open for business in Europe, where it has gathered billions of euros in deposits, mainly from German savers. Our sanctions have left Russia's biggest economic lifeline largely untouched, and that is energy sales to Europe. I know it is harder for them. They are much more dependent. That is why we need to help more. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, it is estimated that billions have gone back tothe Kremlin in energy resources and revenues from Europe. In addition to cutting off the natural gas and the revenue that fuels the Russian war machine, we need to tighten up bank sanctions as they relate to energy. Sanctions for energy transactions don't go into effect against Russia's biggest banks, including VTB Bank, until June 24. That is simply too late. President Biden must lead the alliance to do what it takes to help Ukraine win, and the administration needs to make clear their objective is for Ukraine to win. Things like a June 24 date for energy transactions are not acceptable. We need to close the loopholes in the sanctions and, of course, provide more lethal aid to Ukraine. We need blocking sanctions on all of Russia's finance and defense industry. We should expand full blocking sanctions on all the banks. I continue to call for revoking international tax and trade agreements that give Russia privileges not appropriate for a pariah country. Let's pass the end of PNTR--most favored nation treatment--for Russia here on the floor of the Senate this week. Let's get it done. Most Russian banks still have access to SWIFT when it comes to international energy transactions. That is not acceptable. This is a massive loophole that is sending blood money to kill innocent Ukrainians. This week, I will introduce legislation with Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon to disallow foreign tax credits for companies that pay taxes to the Russian Government. We have bipartisan agreement on policies to ensure American taxpayers are not subsidizing the Russian war machine. I believe we should seize, not just freeze, assets of Kremlin supporters. Last week, I introduced, with Senator Bennet of Colorado, the Repurposing Elite Luxuries Into Emergency Funds--RELIEF--for Ukraine Act to require the Department of Justice to direct any funds resulting from the disposal of seized Russian assets to support Ukrainian refugees and reconstruction. So let's seize these assets, like the yachts owned by the Kremlin supporters or by President Putin himself, and then take those funds and use them immediately to help with the humanitarian effort. Regarding military assistance, the Ukrainians have made it clear they desperately need more equipment, more munitions, and they need it now. In our meeting last week, the members of Parliament from Ukraine detailed what they need from us, and their list is not new. They said they need fighter jets. They need these MiGs. They appreciate the Stinger missiles that have been effective for lower altitude planes and helicopters, but they don't understand why NATO and the United States are blocking other Soviet-era military equipment to be able to help them. They want these surface-to-air missiles to be able to strike long-range Russian artillery rockets and high-altitude rockets that are raining down on their cities and killing civilians with impunity. This is not too much to ask. We have to find ways to send them these long-range air defense systems. Our Eastern European neighbors have S-300s and other systems the Ukrainians know how to operate. We may have some ourselves. Let's reposition our Patriot missiles in those countries in Eastern Europe so that they can then send their old Soviet-style systems to Ukraine that the Ukrainians know how to operate. It has now been weeks since our Secretary of Defense stood with our NATO ally Slovakia and the Slovakian Defense Minister said Slovakia was ready to transfer S-300 missile defense systems, which the Ukrainians can operate, ``immediately.'' Let's do it. Compared to what the Ukrainian forces have now, more S-300s could cover more ground and intercept incoming aircraft and missiles. The bureaucratic redtape delaying the S-300 transfer is costing innocent lives every day. We must also find ways to quickly provide Ukraine with more armed drones, such as the Turkish TB2 and one-use loitering munitions, which the Ukrainians know how to use and have been effective on this battlefield. Three weeks ago, it was announced that we were sending 100 so-called Switchblade loitering munitions. These are so-called suicide drones, one-use drones, but they can be used to destroy an armored vehicle or another target. One hundred will go very quickly. We should send more, and we should send bigger drones, which we have in our inventory. They could be effective against tanks and effective against ships. They have been asking for help across the board that is not yet delivered. They have been asking for tanks, more anti-ship systems to fend off missiles from the Black Sea, and more equipment to clear Russian mines. On tanks, they know how to operate the Soviet-era T-72 tanks that are in the inventory of many Eastern European countries. Let's facilitate those transfers. We can do more, and we should do more--not weeks from now but now. They are not asking for us to fight for them, but they are asking for us to provide them the tools to be able to defend themselves. There should be no gap in our weapons transfers, and we should continue to lead. We need not just organize our NATO allies, which we have done a good job at, in my view, but now help to lead our NATO allies in providing more support and coordinating the support from those countries. I also believe that both Ukraine and Georgia should be given what is called a membership action plan, which is the next step toward NATO membership. It doesn't make them parts of NATO, but, based on the actions of the Russians and the fighting spirit of the Ukrainians, I believe more strongly than ever that it would put Russia on notice that these countries are on the road to faster membership because of what Russia has done. Some may ask why a Senator from Ohio would care about what is going on in Ukraine. Well, we should all care. This is about the fight for freedom. This is where it is being engaged in our generation, in our time. I also happen to have tens of thousands of Ukrainians who call Ohio their home. These Ukrainian Americans are friends of mine. They are constituents of mine. They have been keeping me informed over the years. They have helped me to get more engaged in this issue. I have been to Ukraine six or seven times since 2014, when Ukraine made a decision to turn to us, to turn to democracy and freedom and free enterprise. But even if I had no constituents who were of Ukrainian descent, I would be standing here because this is the fight for freedom. This is our test. Are we going to stand against tyranny and for freedom at a time when these terrible atrocities are being committed? When I was on the Polish-Ukrainian border, I talked to a lot of these refugees, as I said, and through their tears, they talked about what was going on. They talked about their homes being destroyed, their apartments being destroyed, their friends or family members being hurt, some killed, the pain of being separated from their husbands and fathers, not knowing their fate back home. By the way, they all want to go home. They all want to go home desperately. They pleaded for us to do more to stop the missiles, and they all said: Please, protect the skies. They told us of this atrocity up close. In the midst of this atrocity, there are so many heroes in Ukraine who are stepping forward: the soldiers--professionals and civilians who have taken up arms--the doctors and the nurses, the firefighters, the volunteers who are providing food and water and blankets just to keep people alive. We pray for all of them. We pray for their families. Godspeed to them in their very simple quest: a battle for a free and independent country. They just want to live in peace. I will close with this thought. The Ukrainians can be victorious but only if we help organize other freedom-loving countries all around the world to support them. We must lead. One of the members of Parliament said it best, I think, when she said she hears all the time ``We are all Ukrainians. We are all Ukrainians.'' I think that is a good sentiment. But she said: If that is so, then we must be like Ukrainians, meaning we must be brave, creative, and fast. Her point was: We need help; we need it now. Be creative. Figure out a way to get those tanks there, to get those more powerful drones there, to get the planes there that they need, to get the humanitarian assistance that they need desperately in Ukraine into these cities. Be brave. Be creative. Be fast. So I urge my colleagues and the administration and the world: Let's help Ukraine actually win this war. That is now possible. This is the time for us to redouble our efforts and to be brave, creative, and fast. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PORTMAN | Senate | CREC-2022-04-04-pt1-PgS1940-4 | null | 4,210 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 1218) to require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgH4180-4 | null | 4,211 |
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. 1218) to require the Federal Communications Commission to incorporate data on maternal health outcomes into its broadband health maps, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgH4180-4 | null | 4,212 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 2501) to require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission to update the memorandum of understanding on spectrum coordination, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgH4180-5 | null | 4,213 |
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. 2501) to require the National Telecommunications and Information Administration and the Federal Communications Commission to update the memorandum of understanding on spectrum coordination, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgH4180-5 | null | 4,214 |
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. 4476) to establish the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Trade and Economic Security Council and the position of Assistant Secretary for Trade and Economic Security within the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgH4181 | null | 4,215 |
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. 5689) to improve the provision of Federal resources to help build capacity and fund risk-reducing, cost-effective mitigation projects for eligible State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments and certain private nonprofit organizations, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgH4182 | null | 4,216 |
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. 5641) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to increase the threshold for eligibility for assistance under sections 403, 406, 407, and 502 of such Act, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgH4183 | null | 4,217 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson Now, on another happy note, the Judge Jackson confirmation, last night we took our first steps here on the Senate floor toward confirming the historic nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. By virtue of a motion to discharge, Judge Jackson's nomination was reported out of the Judiciary Committee--it really wasn't reported out of Judiciary. By virtue of a motion to discharge, Judge Jackson's nomination was put on the floor by a bipartisan vote of 53-47. She now comes to the floor for consideration by the whole Chamber. Every day we move closer to Judge Jackson's confirmation, the case and likelihood of her confirmation grows stronger and stronger and stronger. And I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle who have approached this process with good faith. At the end of the day, it will be our courts and the American people who rely on our courts who will benefit most from having an amazing jurist like Judge Jackson elevated to the pinnacle of the Federal judiciary. Here is what happens next. Later today, I am going to take the next step for moving forward with Judge Jackson's nomination by filing cloture on her. My colleagues should be advised that we may have to take some procedural votes to do so, but this will not affect the ultimate result of this confirmation process. Once I file cloture, the stage will be set for the Senate to close debate on Judge Jackson's nomination by Thursday morning. A vote on final confirmation will then follow. The Senate could then vote to confirm Judge Jackson as Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as soon as Thursday--as soon as this Thursday. I hope we can work together and make that happen. What better way to wrap up this work period--this productive, largely bipartisan work period--than by confirming this most worthy, most qualified, most historic nominee to the Supreme Court? Yesterday, I said something that I think is worth emphasizing all week long: Judge Jackson's nomination is a joyous and momentous occasion for the Senate. She is truly one of the most qualified and accomplished individuals ever considered by this Chamber to the Supreme Court. She will bring a new and much needed perspective to the Court's work, while also affirming the rule of law and respect for precedent. As I said yesterday, the confirmation of the Nation's first Black woman to the highest Court in the land will resonate for the rest of our Nation's history. Untold millions of kids will open textbooks and see pictures of Justice Jackson and understand in a new way what it means to move toward a more perfect Union. It means that all our Nation's struggles, for all the steps forward and steps backward, the long march of our democracy is toward greater opportunity and representation for all. So when the Senate finishes its work this week, Justice Jackson will be the first of many--the first of many. Her brilliance, her lifetime of hard work, her remarkable story will light a flame of inspiration for the next generation to hopefully chart their own path for serving our democracy and unleash so much talent that has thus far not been utilized. This gives me great hope. That should give all of us great hope. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgS1950 | null | 4,218 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson Mr. President, now on a different matter, the Constitution makes the President and the Senate partners in selecting Supreme Court Justices. And as a practical matter, each Senator gets to define what ``advice and consent'' means to them. For much of the 20th century, Senates typically took a different approach. Senators tended to give Presidents a lot of leeway as long as nominees checked basic professional and ethical boxes. But then the political left and Senate Democrats initiated a series of major changes. In the late 1980s, Democrats thrust the Senate into a more aggressive posture toward nominations with an unprecedented, scorched-earth smear campaign that took aim at a nominee's judicial philosophy. The Washington Post editorial board said back at the time that the formerly ``conventional view'' that Presidents would get great deference had now ``fallen into . . . disrepute.'' They worried that a ``highly politicized future'' for ``confirmation proceedings'' might lie ahead following Democrats' actions. Well, just a few years later, personal attacks on then-Judge Thomas made the previous hysteria over Judge Bork seem like lofty debate by comparison. And 1 year after that, in 1992, then-Senator Biden proclaimed that if another vacancy occurred toward the end of President Bush 41's term, the Judiciary Committee should not hold any hearings before the Presidential election. Well, that situation didn't arise that year, and once President Clinton took office, Republicans did not try to match Democrats' behavior simply out of spite. We tried actually to deescalate. Justices Ginsburg and Breyer both won lopsided votes with opposition in single digits. That was during a time when Republicans were in the majority. But the very next time that Democrats lost the White House, the precedent-breaking tactics came roaring back. During the Bush 43 administration, Senate Democrats, and especially the current Democratic leader, took the incredibly rare tactic of filibustering judicial nominations and made it routine. The press at the time described the sea change: They said it was important for the Senate to change the ground rules and there was no obligation to confirm someone just because they are scholarly or erudite. Democrats decided that pure legal qualifications were no longer enough. They wanted judicial philosophy on the table. So, 20 years ago, several of the same Senate Democrats who are now trumpeting the historic nature of Judge Jackson's nomination used these tactics to delay or block nominees, including an African-American woman and a Hispanic man--both, of course, nominated by a Republican President. In one case, Democrats suggested their opposition was specifically--listen to this--specifically because the nominee's Hispanic heritage would actually make him a rising star. Half--half--of Senate Democrats voted against Chief Justice Roberts, the best appellate advocate of his generation. All but four Democrats voted against Justice Alito, who had the most judicial experience of any nominee in almost a century. There was no question about the basic legal qualifications of either, but Democrats opposed both. And in mid-2007, more than a year before the next Presidential election, Senator Schumer expanded upon the Biden standard from 15 years prior. He said that if another Supreme Court vacancy arose, Democrats should not let President Bush fill it. Our colleague from New York proposed to keep a hypothetical vacancy open until an election that was more than a year away. During President Obama's terms, Republicans took up the same hardball tactics that Democrats had just pioneered. But our colleagues recoiled at the taste of their own medicine and broke the rules to escape it. They preferred to detonate the ``nuclear option'' for the first time ever rather than let President Obama's nominees face the same treatment they had just invented--invented--for President Bush's. Democrats did not then change the rule for the Supreme Court because there was no vacancy. But the late Democratic leader Harry Reid said publicly he would do the same thing for the Supreme Court with no hesitation. By 2016, Democrats had spent 30 years radically changing the confirmation process, and now they had nuked the Senate's rules. Obviously, this pushed Republicans into a more assertive posture ourselves. So when an election-year vacancy did arise, we applied the Biden-Schumer standard and did not fill it. And then, when Democrats filibustered a stellar nominee for the next year, we extended the Reid standard to the Supreme Court. In 2016 and 2017, Republicans only took steps that Democrats had publicly declared they would take themselves. Yet our colleagues spent the next 4 years--4 years--trying to escalate even further. Justice Gorsuch, impeccably qualified, received the first successful partisan filibuster of a Supreme Courtnominee in American history; Justice Kavanaugh got an astonishing and disgraceful spectacle; and Justice Barrett received baseless, delegitimizing attacks on her integrity. Now, this history is not the reason why I oppose Judge Jackson. This is not about finger-pointing or partisan spite. I voted for a number of President Biden's nominees when I could support them, and just yesterday, moments after the Judiciary Committee deadlocked on Judge Jackson, they approved another judicial nominee by a unanimous vote. My point is simply this: Senate Democrats could not have less standing to pretend--pretend--that a vigorous examination of a nominee's judicial philosophy is somehow off limits. My Democratic friends across the aisle have no standing whatsoever to argue that Senators should simply glance--just glance--at Judge Jackson's resume and wave her on through. Our colleagues intentionally brought the Senate to a more assertive place. They intentionally began a vigorous debate about what sort of jurisprudence actually honors the rule of law. This is the debate Democrats wanted. Now it is the debate Democrats have. And that is what I will discuss tomorrow--why Judge Jackson's apparent judicial philosophy is not well suited to our highest Court. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgS1951 | null | 4,219 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated: POM-125. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of New Jersey urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to enact the ``CARE for Kids Act of 2019''; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Senate Resolution No. 84 Whereas, School meals are critical to children's health and well-being and ensure that children have the nutrition they need to effectively learn throughout the school day; and Whereas, Research shows that receiving free school meals reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health among children; and Whereas, The federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) and the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provide nutritionally balanced, free school meals to millions of American children each school day; and Whereas, Under the SBP and NSLP, children may be determined categorically eligible for free school meals through participation in certain federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or based on the child's status as a homeless, migrant, runaway, or foster child; and Whereas, Under the SBP and NSLP, children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for free school meals; and Whereas, Many children are excluded from categorical eligibility to receive free school meals because they have moved out of the foster care system and are in the care of grandparents or other relatives who have adopted them or have become their legal guardians; and Whereas, More than 7.8 million children under the age of 18 live in homes where the householders are grandparents or relatives other than their parents; and Whereas, The federal ``Caregivers Access and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Kids Act of 2019,'' introduced by United States Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), provides automatic eligibility for free school meals to children being raised by a relative who receives adoption or guardianship assistance; to children being raised by grandparents or other relatives due to placement by a state or tribal welfare agency; and to children living in ``grandfamily'' housing or receiving housing assistance under the ``Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996''; and Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper to urge the President and Congress of the United States to enact the ``CARE for Kids Act of 2019,'' to automatically provide free school meals to American children who are being raised by grandparents or relatives other than their parents; now, therefore, who are being raised by grandparents or relatives other than their parents; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey: 1. This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact the ``CARE for Kids Act of 2019,'' to provide automatic eligibility for free school meals to American children who are being raised by grandparents or relatives other than their parents. 2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the United States Congress elected from this State. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgS1977-9 | null | 4,220 |
formal | welfare | null | racist | The following petitions and memorials were laid before the Senate and were referred or ordered to lie on the table as indicated: POM-125. A resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of New Jersey urging the President of the United States and the United States Congress to enact the ``CARE for Kids Act of 2019''; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. Senate Resolution No. 84 Whereas, School meals are critical to children's health and well-being and ensure that children have the nutrition they need to effectively learn throughout the school day; and Whereas, Research shows that receiving free school meals reduces food insecurity, obesity rates, and poor health among children; and Whereas, The federal School Breakfast Program (SBP) and the federal National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provide nutritionally balanced, free school meals to millions of American children each school day; and Whereas, Under the SBP and NSLP, children may be determined categorically eligible for free school meals through participation in certain federal assistance programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or based on the child's status as a homeless, migrant, runaway, or foster child; and Whereas, Under the SBP and NSLP, children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for free school meals; and Whereas, Many children are excluded from categorical eligibility to receive free school meals because they have moved out of the foster care system and are in the care of grandparents or other relatives who have adopted them or have become their legal guardians; and Whereas, More than 7.8 million children under the age of 18 live in homes where the householders are grandparents or relatives other than their parents; and Whereas, The federal ``Caregivers Access and Responsible Expansion (CARE) for Kids Act of 2019,'' introduced by United States Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), provides automatic eligibility for free school meals to children being raised by a relative who receives adoption or guardianship assistance; to children being raised by grandparents or other relatives due to placement by a state or tribal welfare agency; and to children living in ``grandfamily'' housing or receiving housing assistance under the ``Native American Housing and Self-Determination Act of 1996''; and Whereas, It is altogether fitting and proper to urge the President and Congress of the United States to enact the ``CARE for Kids Act of 2019,'' to automatically provide free school meals to American children who are being raised by grandparents or relatives other than their parents; now, therefore, who are being raised by grandparents or relatives other than their parents; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey: 1. This resolution urges the President and Congress of the United States to enact the ``CARE for Kids Act of 2019,'' to provide automatic eligibility for free school meals to American children who are being raised by grandparents or relatives other than their parents. 2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States, Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and to each member of the United States Congress elected from this State. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-05-pt1-PgS1977-9 | null | 4,221 |
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-2022-04-07-pt1-PgH4415 | null | 4,222 |
formal | XX | null | transphobic | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Proceedings will resume on questions previously postponed. Votes will be taken in the following order: Motions to suspend the rules with respect to the following: Concurring in the Senate amendment to H.R. 7108; and Concurring in the Senate amendment to H.R. 6968. The first electronic vote will be conducted as a 15-minute vote. Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XX, remaining electronic votes will be conducted as5-minute votes. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgH4419 | null | 4,223 |
formal | thug | null | racist | Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, on the final day of the work period, the Senate is going to pass a much sought after piece of legislation: revoking Russia of permanent normal trade relations with the United States. The legislation will go a long way to landing a painful, severe blow on Putin's economy. It will hinder his ability to keep funding his war machine, and adds Russia, as well as Belarus, to a list of nations, including North Korea, that are ineligible for free trade with the United States. I want to thank my colleague from Idaho Senator Crapo for working so closely with me on into the night last night to make sure that this got done. We will also vote separately on legislation regarding an oil ban, and I thank my colleagues who worked together to reach a compromise on this measure. We are moving forward today. Putin must absolutely be held accountable for the detestable and despicable war crimes he is committing against Ukraine. The images we have seen coming out of that country, most recently out of the town of Bucha, are pure, pure evil--hundreds of civilians murdered in cold blood; dozens of bodies of men, women, children, the elderly, the defenseless; people with hands tied behind their backs and left dead in the streets. Some of the bodies showed signs of torture. According to a new report by Der Spiegel, German intelligence now believes that some of these murders were discussed by Russian troops over radio intercepts. And why were these people killed? Simply because they were Ukrainians. So many were children, civilians, young people, women. No nation whose military is committing war crimes deserves free-trade status with the United States. Let me say that again. No nation whose military is committing war crimes deserves free-trade status with the United States. No vile thug like Putin deserves to stand as an equal with the leaders of the free world. He is a menace and a pariah who has ensured that his place in history will be one of everlasting shame. So today's votes approving PNTR revocation are significant. It is very important that the Senate pass this bill, and I want to thank Senator Crapo as well as Senators Manchin and Cardin and Wyden and Murkowski and Menendez and all others who worked in good faith with us together on these measures. We wouldn't have reached this outcome without their diligence and good faith. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. SCHUMER | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2058 | null | 4,224 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Budget Madam President, now on another matter, last week, President Biden released his budget request for next year. The President got to take a blank canvas and sketch his policy vision for the country. But in the critical area of defending our Nation, the President's vision came up way, way short. Even amidst a hot war in Europe, bipartisan recognition of threats from China, North Korean nuclear and missile proliferation, and Iran's nuclear, missile, and terrorism trifecta, President Biden proposes to underfund our Armed Forces. Even if Democrats manage to magically get their runaway inflation under control faster than anyone predicts, their proposal would only flat-fund defense. While China keeps ramping their military spending way up, the Biden budget would have America treading water, at best. More likely, if Democrats' high inflation sticks around, the President's proposal would actually cut the military's purchasing power. As we speak, Secretary Austin, General Milley, and DOD Comptroller Michael McCord are testifying before the Armed Services Committee to provide some answers about their boss's baffling budget request. These senior leaders have a responsibility to be strong advocates within the administration for the resources that our servicemembers actually need. When the far-left wanted President Obama to slash military spending, Secretary Leon Panetta waged an impassioned public and private campaign to stick up for our national defense. But if Secretary Austin is advocating for the military's bottom line, he is not doing it very effectively. The administration's proposed defense increase of 4 percent before inflation doesn't come anywhere near meeting our military's requirements to compete with China and preserve peace well into the future. Yet the same budget lavishes a gigantic--gigantic--14-percent increase on domestic discretionary spending. If our colleague Chairman Sanders wrote a budget and gave the Pentagon zero input or influence, it might not look much different than the administration's actual product. So, the world is a dangerous place. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other adversaries remind us of this basic fact every single day. Our Commander in Chief needs to get with the program. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2059-3 | null | 4,225 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Budget Madam President, now on another matter, last week, President Biden released his budget request for next year. The President got to take a blank canvas and sketch his policy vision for the country. But in the critical area of defending our Nation, the President's vision came up way, way short. Even amidst a hot war in Europe, bipartisan recognition of threats from China, North Korean nuclear and missile proliferation, and Iran's nuclear, missile, and terrorism trifecta, President Biden proposes to underfund our Armed Forces. Even if Democrats manage to magically get their runaway inflation under control faster than anyone predicts, their proposal would only flat-fund defense. While China keeps ramping their military spending way up, the Biden budget would have America treading water, at best. More likely, if Democrats' high inflation sticks around, the President's proposal would actually cut the military's purchasing power. As we speak, Secretary Austin, General Milley, and DOD Comptroller Michael McCord are testifying before the Armed Services Committee to provide some answers about their boss's baffling budget request. These senior leaders have a responsibility to be strong advocates within the administration for the resources that our servicemembers actually need. When the far-left wanted President Obama to slash military spending, Secretary Leon Panetta waged an impassioned public and private campaign to stick up for our national defense. But if Secretary Austin is advocating for the military's bottom line, he is not doing it very effectively. The administration's proposed defense increase of 4 percent before inflation doesn't come anywhere near meeting our military's requirements to compete with China and preserve peace well into the future. Yet the same budget lavishes a gigantic--gigantic--14-percent increase on domestic discretionary spending. If our colleague Chairman Sanders wrote a budget and gave the Pentagon zero input or influence, it might not look much different than the administration's actual product. So, the world is a dangerous place. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, and other adversaries remind us of this basic fact every single day. Our Commander in Chief needs to get with the program. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2059-3 | null | 4,226 |
formal | judicial activism | null | conservative | Nomination of Ketanji Brown Jackson Madam President, now, on one final matter. The last few weeks have confirmed a pattern that has played out repeatedly in recent decades. When Republican Presidents make Supreme Court nominations, the far-left and the media melt down. Absurd allegations, conspiracy theories, cheap gimmicks, and apocalyptic rhetoric are all guaranteed. But when Democratic Presidents make nominations, Senate Republicans inquire about past rulings and judicial philosophies, and the country gets the serious process it deserves. On Tuesday, I explained how 30 years of escalation by Democrats ushered in this assertive period for the Senate regarding judicial nominations. Now and for the foreseeable future, the Senate views itself as a co-partner in the process. On Wednesday, I walked through Judge Jackson's long and disturbing record of using judicial activism to go soft on crime. Today, I need to discuss how these disagreements affect the very bedrock of our Republic. For multiple years now, the Democratic Party has waged an aggressive campaign to bully our independent justice system and attack the legitimacy of their institution. When the plain text of our laws and Constitution disappoint liberals' policy preferences, they mount radical campaigns to wreck the Court itself. This civic cancer began on the fringe, but it has quickly metastasized throughout their party. Three years ago, sitting Senate Democrats sent the Court an absurd amicus brief, threatening retribution for a certain ruling. Two years ago, the Democratic leader rallied with radicals on the Court's steps and threatened multiple Justices by name if they didn't produce the policy result he preferred. Last year, when fringe activists wanted to dig up the discredited concept of partisan court packing, President Biden lent it legitimacy with a Presidential commission. Now, just recently, the Senate Democratic whip said that his side's court-packing proposals don't matter because they lack 60 votes to pass the Senate. Well, that was cold comfort considering the Senator just voted to destroy the 60-vote threshold a few months back. So this nomination has occurred against a strange, strange backdrop. The Senate Democrats, who spent weeks--weeks--fulsomely praising Judge Jackson, have spent years attacking her soon-to-be workplace. This is why I needed to hear Judge Jackson denounce court packing. Justices Ginsburg and Breyer had no trouble--none--condemning these schemes loudly as sitting Justices. Surely President Biden could find himself an institutionalist in their mold. But, alas, Judge Jackson was the court packers' favorite pick for the vacancy, and she refused to follow the Ginsburg-Breyer model. She signaled the opposite. She said she would be ``thrilled to be one of however many''--``one of however many.'' The left's escalating war against the judiciary is a symptom of a profound misunderstanding. Judicial activism sees the Court as a third legislature. The left wants one policymaking body with 435 Members, one with 100, and one that consists of nine lawyers. Let me say that again. The left wants one policymaking body with 435 Members, one with 100, and one that consists of nine lawyers. That isn't what the Founders created, and it is not what the American people signed up for. We have seen over and over that when judicial activism triumphs over fidelity to the rule of law, our courts mutate--mutate--into clumsy proxy battlefields for arguments that belong in this Chamber and out in 50 State legislatures. This is unfair to the American people, and it damages our institutions, not the least the courts themselves. So there is only one way to lower the temperature, depoliticize the courts, and protect the rule of law: confirming only judges who will honor the Constitution and not supplant it. The road to a healthy Court and a healthy country is not striking some balance where some Justices stick to the text and some Justices try to make policy. The solution is for all the Justices to stay in their lane. There is one right number of Justices who seek to follow the law. The number is nine. Ginsburg said it. Breyer said it. There is one right number of Justices who seek to make policy: zero. There are jurists and scholars with personal views across the political spectrum who understand that all judges should be textualists and constitutionalists in their day jobs. And that must be the Senate's standard. I see hallmarks of judicial activism in Judge Jackson's record; and, therefore, I will vote no. Nevertheless, our Democratic colleagues are on track to confirm our next Supreme Court Justice. And do you know what won't happen? Top Republicans will not imply she is illegitimate. We will not call for court packing. I won't be joining any mobs outside her new workplace and threatening her by name. Democrats must stop their political siege of the institution that Judge Jackson is about to join. They must stop their assault on judicial independence. We are about to have a new Justice whose fan club has openly attacked the rule of law. So Judge Jackson will quickly face a fork in the road. One approach to her new job would delight the far left. A different approach would honor the separation of powers and the Constitution. The soon-to-be Justice can either satisfy her radical fan club or help preserve the judiciary that Americans need--but not both. I am afraid the nominee's record tells us which is likely. But I hope Judge Jackson proves me wrong. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2059-4 | null | 4,227 |
formal | Cleveland | null | racist | Tribute to Robert J. Wright Mr. President, I want to take a moment to recognize the career of a beloved and trusted Louisiana journalist, radio host, and friend to all, Robert J. Wright of Shreveport, LA. After 50 years of radio, Robert announced he retires later this month. His last day is Friday, April 29, 1 day after his 70th birthday--a well-earned retirement. Robert is a masterful storyteller and a critical thinker, always finding the other side of a story. He has been a voice of reason and always looking for the truth. He took his first job in radio while attending LSU Shreveport. As he says: ``It was indoors, and you didn't have to carry stuff''--about as good a summary of a good job as you could ever ask. He went on to host morning shows in Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Orlando before eventually moving back to Shreveport in 1996. That is when he first teamed up with his long-term cohost, Erin McCarty, to start their morning show that has been a part of Northwest Louisiana's morning commute for over 25 years. He and McCarty moved their show and has been the ``Townsquare'' of Shreveport on KEEL ever since. To say that he will be missed is an understatement. Their show has been as much a part of many in Northwest Louisiana's daily routine as a morning cup of coffee. When you interview with Robert, it is clear you are speaking with someone who cares about the issues facing his community, just as much as usual. He has earned the time and trust of his listeners. So congratulations to Robert J. Wright on an impressive and meaningful career. Robert, I can tell you there are many who are pretty upset about this news, and that is a testament to the positive impact you have had on our community. Robert, we of Louisiana wish you a happy and well-earned retirement. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2063-3 | null | 4,228 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | Cloture Motion We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years. Charles E. Schumer, Mazie K. Hirono, Martin Heinrich, Tim Kaine, Jack Reed, Jacky Rosen, Ben Ray Lujan, Christopher A. Coons, Alex Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse, Sherrod Brown, Debbie Stabenow, Christopher Murphy, Patrick J. Leahy, John W. Hickenlooper, Tammy Baldwin, Angus S. King, Jr. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2073-5 | null | 4,229 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Cloture Motion We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years. Charles E. Schumer, Mazie K. Hirono, Martin Heinrich, Tim Kaine, Jack Reed, Jacky Rosen, Ben Ray Lujan, Christopher A. Coons, Alex Padilla, Sheldon Whitehouse, Sherrod Brown, Debbie Stabenow, Christopher Murphy, Patrick J. Leahy, John W. Hickenlooper, Tammy Baldwin, Angus S. King, Jr. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2073-5 | null | 4,230 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. MURPHY. I ask unanimous consent that the injunction of secrecy be removed from the following treaty transmitted to the Senate on April 7, 2022, by the President of the United States: the extradition treaty with the Republic of Albania, Treaty Document No. 117-2. I further ask that the treaty be considered as having been read the first time; that it be referred with accompanying papers to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed; and that the President's message be printed in the Record. THE PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The message of the President is as follows:To the Senate of the United States: With a view to receiving the advice and consent of the Senate to ratification, I transmit herewith the Extradition Treaty between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Albania (the ``Treaty''), signed at Tirana on December 22, 2020. I also transmit, for the information of the Senate, the report of the Department of State with respect to the Treaty. The Treaty would replace the extradition treaty between the United States and Albania, signed at Tirana on March 1, 1933. The Treaty follows generally the form and content of other extradition treaties recently concluded by the United States. It would replace an outmoded list of extraditable offenses with a modern ``dual criminality'' approach, which would enable extradition for such offenses as money laundering, cyber-related crimes, and other newer offenses not appearing on the list. The Treaty also contains a modernized ``political offense'' clause and provides that extradition shall not be refused based on the nationality of the person sought. Finally, the Treaty incorporates a series of procedural improvements to streamline and expedite the extradition process. I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Treaty, and give its advice and consent to ratification. Joseph R. Biden, Jr. The White House, April 7, 2022. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MURPHY | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2078-2 | null | 4,231 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I come to the floor because today has been a good day for our country. Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only did this Chamber make history, we also bore witness--in a small but powerful way--to the bending of the moral arc towards justice. We realized the promise of America: the promise that every child--regardless of their skin color, their ethnicity, or the ZIP code they are born into--can rise to their highest station in life. We cemented our fundamental belief that, here in America, if you reach further and aim higher, anything is possible. I submit to my colleagues that the story of Judge Jackson is the story of our great Nation. Together with her impeccable credentials and evenhanded record, there was simply no reason to oppose the confirmation of such a talented, well-qualified, and fair-minded jurist. It is why I could not have been prouder to cast my vote, a vote on behalf of New Jerseyans everywhere, to elevate her to the highest Court in the land. Judge Jackson has lived a life in the mold of the great strivers in our history. Her nomination alone was a testament to the progress--often deferred or denied--but nonetheless the progress we have achieved on our 246-year struggle for a more perfect union. I could not be prouder that we etched it into stone and confirmed her to the Court, proving to women and girls everywhere that, if they work hard and reach for the stars, they too can be one of the nine guardians entrusted by the Constitution to ensure equal justice under law for all people. As we celebrate this historic moment, consider the senior quote ascribed to Judge Jackson in her high school yearbook: ``I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment.'' As we stand here, after extending her the judicial appointment of all judicial appointments, it may seem predestined. It may have seemed like this day is the culmination of her destiny. But to hear Judge Jackson tell it herself, one realizes that, in fact, none of it was predetermined. None of it was fate. Simply put, it was the brilliance and grit of a young woman from South Florida--and the love of her family who surrounded her--that made this vote possible. As a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Ms. Ketanji Brown was class president, chess club president, and a star on the powerhouse speech and debate team. Her parents, Ellery and Johnny Brown, were teachers who taught her the value of education as they rose to lead their peers as a principal and chief counsel for Miami-Dade County schools. In addition to public education, her family is steeped in a law enforcement background. Her younger brother worked in undercover drug stings for the Baltimore Police Department. One of her uncles was a detective attached to a sex crimes unit, while another uncle was Miami's chief of police. And yet it is the experience of seeing a third uncle, her Uncle Thomas, sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent cocaine offense, that rounds out her early understanding of our criminal justice system. In 2005, Judge Jackson would eventually set in motion a chain of events that ended with President Obama commuting her uncle's sentence. But before that could happen, before she joined major law firms and the Federal public defender's office--before she served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and as a judge on the Federal bench--she was first a daughter, a sister, and a niece. And it is there, in the pages of Judge Jackson's story, as a product of public schools who saw our country's justice system up close, where we can find her judgment. It is there where we can find the reasons for my colleague, Senator Booker, to declare to her on national television: ``You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American.'' So much ink has been spilled about the historic nature of Judge Jackson's nomination and now confirmation. She stood before the Senate as a nominee descendant from slaves who grew up listening to her parents' stories of attending segregated schools, a nominee who was once told by a guidance counselor that she shouldn't set her sights so high when applying to Harvard; a nominee who not only graduated as the second generation in her family to earn a college degree but who silenced naysayers and doubters alike by graduating, with honors, from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Simply put, soon-to-be Justice Jackson belongs on the highest Court in the land. Her confirmation is a milestone in the grand tapestry of our country--not only because she has broken barriers as the first African-American woman and the first to have served as a public defender, but rather, it is because she is supremely qualified to interpret our Constitution and hear cases on their merit. When she is sworn in, Justice Jackson will have more experience as a trial court judge than any of her colleagues on the Court. In fact, she will be the second Justice ever to have experience at all three levels of our Federal judiciary. The first, a legal trailblazer in her own right, is Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It is therefore only fitting that, as I have thought about what this day means for our country, I am reminded of the parallels between this historic nomination and the historic nomination for Justice Sotomayor. Back then, in 2009, I said, ``when she takes her seat on the United States Supreme Court, we will only need to look at the portrait of the justices to see how far we've come as a nation, who we really are as a people, and what our founders intended us to be.'' Those words have never rung more true. A woman who, when the Constitution was written, would have counted in the eyes of the law as three-fifths of her fellow Americans, will now carry out justice for every single citizen who calls this Nation home. In the midst of disgusting attacks, racial dog whistles turned into foghorns, and gross mischaracterizations of her record, Judge Jackson maintained a calm demeanor throughout her nomination with almost superhuman poise. For my colleagues who opposed her nomination today, yet voted to confirm her to the Sentencing Commission, the district court, and to the appeals court just last year, I leave them to iron out their double standards. But to all who rejoice in what is to come, when Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will soon place her hand on the Bible and takes her solemn oath of office, I submit the following: More than ever before, the newest portrait of our nine Supreme Court justices will more clearly reflect who we are as a nation and what we stand for as a fair, just, and hopeful people. Unlike other nations, those united by a singular history, language, and culture, this nation--our Nation--is united by our diversity. It is evident in our national motto--the one stamped on every coin in our pocket and etched on the ceiling of our Capitol dome, E pluribus Unum: out of many one. And it is despite these differences that our country comes together as a vast melting pot, one forged in common values and an ideal of freedom that stands as a beacon to the world. As Judge Jackson takes her rightful place on the Supreme Court, the full realization of that ideal is closer than it has ever been. I know this for I have lived it--as Judge Jackson has lived it--and I feel it, as so many others in this country have felt it. I stand here, the son of Cuban refugees, the first in my family to attend college, and now, in a nation of 330 million, as one of only 100 Members of the U.S. Senate. It is indeed possible, my colleagues, to make our ancestors' wildest dreams come true. And so, in closing, as I reflect on our vote earlier today, I can't help but feel joy for my three granddaughters: Evangelina, Ofelia, and Olivia. Granted, they are still young; my oldest is barely out of pre-K. But each one of them will grow up knowing that, thanks to Justices like Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and now Ketanji Brown Jackson, there isn't a single thing they can't accomplish. Let their dreams be our dreams today. Let every child in America look at their parents the way that Judge Jackson's daughter looked at her during her confirmation hearing. Let there be no barriers to what is possible now that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MENENDEZ | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2085 | null | 4,232 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I come to the floor because today has been a good day for our country. Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only did this Chamber make history, we also bore witness--in a small but powerful way--to the bending of the moral arc towards justice. We realized the promise of America: the promise that every child--regardless of their skin color, their ethnicity, or the ZIP code they are born into--can rise to their highest station in life. We cemented our fundamental belief that, here in America, if you reach further and aim higher, anything is possible. I submit to my colleagues that the story of Judge Jackson is the story of our great Nation. Together with her impeccable credentials and evenhanded record, there was simply no reason to oppose the confirmation of such a talented, well-qualified, and fair-minded jurist. It is why I could not have been prouder to cast my vote, a vote on behalf of New Jerseyans everywhere, to elevate her to the highest Court in the land. Judge Jackson has lived a life in the mold of the great strivers in our history. Her nomination alone was a testament to the progress--often deferred or denied--but nonetheless the progress we have achieved on our 246-year struggle for a more perfect union. I could not be prouder that we etched it into stone and confirmed her to the Court, proving to women and girls everywhere that, if they work hard and reach for the stars, they too can be one of the nine guardians entrusted by the Constitution to ensure equal justice under law for all people. As we celebrate this historic moment, consider the senior quote ascribed to Judge Jackson in her high school yearbook: ``I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment.'' As we stand here, after extending her the judicial appointment of all judicial appointments, it may seem predestined. It may have seemed like this day is the culmination of her destiny. But to hear Judge Jackson tell it herself, one realizes that, in fact, none of it was predetermined. None of it was fate. Simply put, it was the brilliance and grit of a young woman from South Florida--and the love of her family who surrounded her--that made this vote possible. As a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Ms. Ketanji Brown was class president, chess club president, and a star on the powerhouse speech and debate team. Her parents, Ellery and Johnny Brown, were teachers who taught her the value of education as they rose to lead their peers as a principal and chief counsel for Miami-Dade County schools. In addition to public education, her family is steeped in a law enforcement background. Her younger brother worked in undercover drug stings for the Baltimore Police Department. One of her uncles was a detective attached to a sex crimes unit, while another uncle was Miami's chief of police. And yet it is the experience of seeing a third uncle, her Uncle Thomas, sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent cocaine offense, that rounds out her early understanding of our criminal justice system. In 2005, Judge Jackson would eventually set in motion a chain of events that ended with President Obama commuting her uncle's sentence. But before that could happen, before she joined major law firms and the Federal public defender's office--before she served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and as a judge on the Federal bench--she was first a daughter, a sister, and a niece. And it is there, in the pages of Judge Jackson's story, as a product of public schools who saw our country's justice system up close, where we can find her judgment. It is there where we can find the reasons for my colleague, Senator Booker, to declare to her on national television: ``You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American.'' So much ink has been spilled about the historic nature of Judge Jackson's nomination and now confirmation. She stood before the Senate as a nominee descendant from slaves who grew up listening to her parents' stories of attending segregated schools, a nominee who was once told by a guidance counselor that she shouldn't set her sights so high when applying to Harvard; a nominee who not only graduated as the second generation in her family to earn a college degree but who silenced naysayers and doubters alike by graduating, with honors, from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Simply put, soon-to-be Justice Jackson belongs on the highest Court in the land. Her confirmation is a milestone in the grand tapestry of our country--not only because she has broken barriers as the first African-American woman and the first to have served as a public defender, but rather, it is because she is supremely qualified to interpret our Constitution and hear cases on their merit. When she is sworn in, Justice Jackson will have more experience as a trial court judge than any of her colleagues on the Court. In fact, she will be the second Justice ever to have experience at all three levels of our Federal judiciary. The first, a legal trailblazer in her own right, is Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It is therefore only fitting that, as I have thought about what this day means for our country, I am reminded of the parallels between this historic nomination and the historic nomination for Justice Sotomayor. Back then, in 2009, I said, ``when she takes her seat on the United States Supreme Court, we will only need to look at the portrait of the justices to see how far we've come as a nation, who we really are as a people, and what our founders intended us to be.'' Those words have never rung more true. A woman who, when the Constitution was written, would have counted in the eyes of the law as three-fifths of her fellow Americans, will now carry out justice for every single citizen who calls this Nation home. In the midst of disgusting attacks, racial dog whistles turned into foghorns, and gross mischaracterizations of her record, Judge Jackson maintained a calm demeanor throughout her nomination with almost superhuman poise. For my colleagues who opposed her nomination today, yet voted to confirm her to the Sentencing Commission, the district court, and to the appeals court just last year, I leave them to iron out their double standards. But to all who rejoice in what is to come, when Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will soon place her hand on the Bible and takes her solemn oath of office, I submit the following: More than ever before, the newest portrait of our nine Supreme Court justices will more clearly reflect who we are as a nation and what we stand for as a fair, just, and hopeful people. Unlike other nations, those united by a singular history, language, and culture, this nation--our Nation--is united by our diversity. It is evident in our national motto--the one stamped on every coin in our pocket and etched on the ceiling of our Capitol dome, E pluribus Unum: out of many one. And it is despite these differences that our country comes together as a vast melting pot, one forged in common values and an ideal of freedom that stands as a beacon to the world. As Judge Jackson takes her rightful place on the Supreme Court, the full realization of that ideal is closer than it has ever been. I know this for I have lived it--as Judge Jackson has lived it--and I feel it, as so many others in this country have felt it. I stand here, the son of Cuban refugees, the first in my family to attend college, and now, in a nation of 330 million, as one of only 100 Members of the U.S. Senate. It is indeed possible, my colleagues, to make our ancestors' wildest dreams come true. And so, in closing, as I reflect on our vote earlier today, I can't help but feel joy for my three granddaughters: Evangelina, Ofelia, and Olivia. Granted, they are still young; my oldest is barely out of pre-K. But each one of them will grow up knowing that, thanks to Justices like Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and now Ketanji Brown Jackson, there isn't a single thing they can't accomplish. Let their dreams be our dreams today. Let every child in America look at their parents the way that Judge Jackson's daughter looked at her during her confirmation hearing. Let there be no barriers to what is possible now that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MENENDEZ | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2085 | null | 4,233 |
formal | public school | null | racist | Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I come to the floor because today has been a good day for our country. Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only did this Chamber make history, we also bore witness--in a small but powerful way--to the bending of the moral arc towards justice. We realized the promise of America: the promise that every child--regardless of their skin color, their ethnicity, or the ZIP code they are born into--can rise to their highest station in life. We cemented our fundamental belief that, here in America, if you reach further and aim higher, anything is possible. I submit to my colleagues that the story of Judge Jackson is the story of our great Nation. Together with her impeccable credentials and evenhanded record, there was simply no reason to oppose the confirmation of such a talented, well-qualified, and fair-minded jurist. It is why I could not have been prouder to cast my vote, a vote on behalf of New Jerseyans everywhere, to elevate her to the highest Court in the land. Judge Jackson has lived a life in the mold of the great strivers in our history. Her nomination alone was a testament to the progress--often deferred or denied--but nonetheless the progress we have achieved on our 246-year struggle for a more perfect union. I could not be prouder that we etched it into stone and confirmed her to the Court, proving to women and girls everywhere that, if they work hard and reach for the stars, they too can be one of the nine guardians entrusted by the Constitution to ensure equal justice under law for all people. As we celebrate this historic moment, consider the senior quote ascribed to Judge Jackson in her high school yearbook: ``I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment.'' As we stand here, after extending her the judicial appointment of all judicial appointments, it may seem predestined. It may have seemed like this day is the culmination of her destiny. But to hear Judge Jackson tell it herself, one realizes that, in fact, none of it was predetermined. None of it was fate. Simply put, it was the brilliance and grit of a young woman from South Florida--and the love of her family who surrounded her--that made this vote possible. As a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Ms. Ketanji Brown was class president, chess club president, and a star on the powerhouse speech and debate team. Her parents, Ellery and Johnny Brown, were teachers who taught her the value of education as they rose to lead their peers as a principal and chief counsel for Miami-Dade County schools. In addition to public education, her family is steeped in a law enforcement background. Her younger brother worked in undercover drug stings for the Baltimore Police Department. One of her uncles was a detective attached to a sex crimes unit, while another uncle was Miami's chief of police. And yet it is the experience of seeing a third uncle, her Uncle Thomas, sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent cocaine offense, that rounds out her early understanding of our criminal justice system. In 2005, Judge Jackson would eventually set in motion a chain of events that ended with President Obama commuting her uncle's sentence. But before that could happen, before she joined major law firms and the Federal public defender's office--before she served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and as a judge on the Federal bench--she was first a daughter, a sister, and a niece. And it is there, in the pages of Judge Jackson's story, as a product of public schools who saw our country's justice system up close, where we can find her judgment. It is there where we can find the reasons for my colleague, Senator Booker, to declare to her on national television: ``You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American.'' So much ink has been spilled about the historic nature of Judge Jackson's nomination and now confirmation. She stood before the Senate as a nominee descendant from slaves who grew up listening to her parents' stories of attending segregated schools, a nominee who was once told by a guidance counselor that she shouldn't set her sights so high when applying to Harvard; a nominee who not only graduated as the second generation in her family to earn a college degree but who silenced naysayers and doubters alike by graduating, with honors, from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Simply put, soon-to-be Justice Jackson belongs on the highest Court in the land. Her confirmation is a milestone in the grand tapestry of our country--not only because she has broken barriers as the first African-American woman and the first to have served as a public defender, but rather, it is because she is supremely qualified to interpret our Constitution and hear cases on their merit. When she is sworn in, Justice Jackson will have more experience as a trial court judge than any of her colleagues on the Court. In fact, she will be the second Justice ever to have experience at all three levels of our Federal judiciary. The first, a legal trailblazer in her own right, is Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It is therefore only fitting that, as I have thought about what this day means for our country, I am reminded of the parallels between this historic nomination and the historic nomination for Justice Sotomayor. Back then, in 2009, I said, ``when she takes her seat on the United States Supreme Court, we will only need to look at the portrait of the justices to see how far we've come as a nation, who we really are as a people, and what our founders intended us to be.'' Those words have never rung more true. A woman who, when the Constitution was written, would have counted in the eyes of the law as three-fifths of her fellow Americans, will now carry out justice for every single citizen who calls this Nation home. In the midst of disgusting attacks, racial dog whistles turned into foghorns, and gross mischaracterizations of her record, Judge Jackson maintained a calm demeanor throughout her nomination with almost superhuman poise. For my colleagues who opposed her nomination today, yet voted to confirm her to the Sentencing Commission, the district court, and to the appeals court just last year, I leave them to iron out their double standards. But to all who rejoice in what is to come, when Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will soon place her hand on the Bible and takes her solemn oath of office, I submit the following: More than ever before, the newest portrait of our nine Supreme Court justices will more clearly reflect who we are as a nation and what we stand for as a fair, just, and hopeful people. Unlike other nations, those united by a singular history, language, and culture, this nation--our Nation--is united by our diversity. It is evident in our national motto--the one stamped on every coin in our pocket and etched on the ceiling of our Capitol dome, E pluribus Unum: out of many one. And it is despite these differences that our country comes together as a vast melting pot, one forged in common values and an ideal of freedom that stands as a beacon to the world. As Judge Jackson takes her rightful place on the Supreme Court, the full realization of that ideal is closer than it has ever been. I know this for I have lived it--as Judge Jackson has lived it--and I feel it, as so many others in this country have felt it. I stand here, the son of Cuban refugees, the first in my family to attend college, and now, in a nation of 330 million, as one of only 100 Members of the U.S. Senate. It is indeed possible, my colleagues, to make our ancestors' wildest dreams come true. And so, in closing, as I reflect on our vote earlier today, I can't help but feel joy for my three granddaughters: Evangelina, Ofelia, and Olivia. Granted, they are still young; my oldest is barely out of pre-K. But each one of them will grow up knowing that, thanks to Justices like Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and now Ketanji Brown Jackson, there isn't a single thing they can't accomplish. Let their dreams be our dreams today. Let every child in America look at their parents the way that Judge Jackson's daughter looked at her during her confirmation hearing. Let there be no barriers to what is possible now that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MENENDEZ | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2085 | null | 4,234 |
formal | public schools | null | racist | Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I come to the floor because today has been a good day for our country. Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only did this Chamber make history, we also bore witness--in a small but powerful way--to the bending of the moral arc towards justice. We realized the promise of America: the promise that every child--regardless of their skin color, their ethnicity, or the ZIP code they are born into--can rise to their highest station in life. We cemented our fundamental belief that, here in America, if you reach further and aim higher, anything is possible. I submit to my colleagues that the story of Judge Jackson is the story of our great Nation. Together with her impeccable credentials and evenhanded record, there was simply no reason to oppose the confirmation of such a talented, well-qualified, and fair-minded jurist. It is why I could not have been prouder to cast my vote, a vote on behalf of New Jerseyans everywhere, to elevate her to the highest Court in the land. Judge Jackson has lived a life in the mold of the great strivers in our history. Her nomination alone was a testament to the progress--often deferred or denied--but nonetheless the progress we have achieved on our 246-year struggle for a more perfect union. I could not be prouder that we etched it into stone and confirmed her to the Court, proving to women and girls everywhere that, if they work hard and reach for the stars, they too can be one of the nine guardians entrusted by the Constitution to ensure equal justice under law for all people. As we celebrate this historic moment, consider the senior quote ascribed to Judge Jackson in her high school yearbook: ``I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment.'' As we stand here, after extending her the judicial appointment of all judicial appointments, it may seem predestined. It may have seemed like this day is the culmination of her destiny. But to hear Judge Jackson tell it herself, one realizes that, in fact, none of it was predetermined. None of it was fate. Simply put, it was the brilliance and grit of a young woman from South Florida--and the love of her family who surrounded her--that made this vote possible. As a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Ms. Ketanji Brown was class president, chess club president, and a star on the powerhouse speech and debate team. Her parents, Ellery and Johnny Brown, were teachers who taught her the value of education as they rose to lead their peers as a principal and chief counsel for Miami-Dade County schools. In addition to public education, her family is steeped in a law enforcement background. Her younger brother worked in undercover drug stings for the Baltimore Police Department. One of her uncles was a detective attached to a sex crimes unit, while another uncle was Miami's chief of police. And yet it is the experience of seeing a third uncle, her Uncle Thomas, sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent cocaine offense, that rounds out her early understanding of our criminal justice system. In 2005, Judge Jackson would eventually set in motion a chain of events that ended with President Obama commuting her uncle's sentence. But before that could happen, before she joined major law firms and the Federal public defender's office--before she served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and as a judge on the Federal bench--she was first a daughter, a sister, and a niece. And it is there, in the pages of Judge Jackson's story, as a product of public schools who saw our country's justice system up close, where we can find her judgment. It is there where we can find the reasons for my colleague, Senator Booker, to declare to her on national television: ``You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American.'' So much ink has been spilled about the historic nature of Judge Jackson's nomination and now confirmation. She stood before the Senate as a nominee descendant from slaves who grew up listening to her parents' stories of attending segregated schools, a nominee who was once told by a guidance counselor that she shouldn't set her sights so high when applying to Harvard; a nominee who not only graduated as the second generation in her family to earn a college degree but who silenced naysayers and doubters alike by graduating, with honors, from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Simply put, soon-to-be Justice Jackson belongs on the highest Court in the land. Her confirmation is a milestone in the grand tapestry of our country--not only because she has broken barriers as the first African-American woman and the first to have served as a public defender, but rather, it is because she is supremely qualified to interpret our Constitution and hear cases on their merit. When she is sworn in, Justice Jackson will have more experience as a trial court judge than any of her colleagues on the Court. In fact, she will be the second Justice ever to have experience at all three levels of our Federal judiciary. The first, a legal trailblazer in her own right, is Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It is therefore only fitting that, as I have thought about what this day means for our country, I am reminded of the parallels between this historic nomination and the historic nomination for Justice Sotomayor. Back then, in 2009, I said, ``when she takes her seat on the United States Supreme Court, we will only need to look at the portrait of the justices to see how far we've come as a nation, who we really are as a people, and what our founders intended us to be.'' Those words have never rung more true. A woman who, when the Constitution was written, would have counted in the eyes of the law as three-fifths of her fellow Americans, will now carry out justice for every single citizen who calls this Nation home. In the midst of disgusting attacks, racial dog whistles turned into foghorns, and gross mischaracterizations of her record, Judge Jackson maintained a calm demeanor throughout her nomination with almost superhuman poise. For my colleagues who opposed her nomination today, yet voted to confirm her to the Sentencing Commission, the district court, and to the appeals court just last year, I leave them to iron out their double standards. But to all who rejoice in what is to come, when Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will soon place her hand on the Bible and takes her solemn oath of office, I submit the following: More than ever before, the newest portrait of our nine Supreme Court justices will more clearly reflect who we are as a nation and what we stand for as a fair, just, and hopeful people. Unlike other nations, those united by a singular history, language, and culture, this nation--our Nation--is united by our diversity. It is evident in our national motto--the one stamped on every coin in our pocket and etched on the ceiling of our Capitol dome, E pluribus Unum: out of many one. And it is despite these differences that our country comes together as a vast melting pot, one forged in common values and an ideal of freedom that stands as a beacon to the world. As Judge Jackson takes her rightful place on the Supreme Court, the full realization of that ideal is closer than it has ever been. I know this for I have lived it--as Judge Jackson has lived it--and I feel it, as so many others in this country have felt it. I stand here, the son of Cuban refugees, the first in my family to attend college, and now, in a nation of 330 million, as one of only 100 Members of the U.S. Senate. It is indeed possible, my colleagues, to make our ancestors' wildest dreams come true. And so, in closing, as I reflect on our vote earlier today, I can't help but feel joy for my three granddaughters: Evangelina, Ofelia, and Olivia. Granted, they are still young; my oldest is barely out of pre-K. But each one of them will grow up knowing that, thanks to Justices like Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and now Ketanji Brown Jackson, there isn't a single thing they can't accomplish. Let their dreams be our dreams today. Let every child in America look at their parents the way that Judge Jackson's daughter looked at her during her confirmation hearing. Let there be no barriers to what is possible now that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MENENDEZ | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2085 | null | 4,235 |
formal | Baltimore | null | racist | Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. President, I come to the floor because today has been a good day for our country. Earlier today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court. Not only did this Chamber make history, we also bore witness--in a small but powerful way--to the bending of the moral arc towards justice. We realized the promise of America: the promise that every child--regardless of their skin color, their ethnicity, or the ZIP code they are born into--can rise to their highest station in life. We cemented our fundamental belief that, here in America, if you reach further and aim higher, anything is possible. I submit to my colleagues that the story of Judge Jackson is the story of our great Nation. Together with her impeccable credentials and evenhanded record, there was simply no reason to oppose the confirmation of such a talented, well-qualified, and fair-minded jurist. It is why I could not have been prouder to cast my vote, a vote on behalf of New Jerseyans everywhere, to elevate her to the highest Court in the land. Judge Jackson has lived a life in the mold of the great strivers in our history. Her nomination alone was a testament to the progress--often deferred or denied--but nonetheless the progress we have achieved on our 246-year struggle for a more perfect union. I could not be prouder that we etched it into stone and confirmed her to the Court, proving to women and girls everywhere that, if they work hard and reach for the stars, they too can be one of the nine guardians entrusted by the Constitution to ensure equal justice under law for all people. As we celebrate this historic moment, consider the senior quote ascribed to Judge Jackson in her high school yearbook: ``I want to go into law and eventually have a judicial appointment.'' As we stand here, after extending her the judicial appointment of all judicial appointments, it may seem predestined. It may have seemed like this day is the culmination of her destiny. But to hear Judge Jackson tell it herself, one realizes that, in fact, none of it was predetermined. None of it was fate. Simply put, it was the brilliance and grit of a young woman from South Florida--and the love of her family who surrounded her--that made this vote possible. As a student at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, Ms. Ketanji Brown was class president, chess club president, and a star on the powerhouse speech and debate team. Her parents, Ellery and Johnny Brown, were teachers who taught her the value of education as they rose to lead their peers as a principal and chief counsel for Miami-Dade County schools. In addition to public education, her family is steeped in a law enforcement background. Her younger brother worked in undercover drug stings for the Baltimore Police Department. One of her uncles was a detective attached to a sex crimes unit, while another uncle was Miami's chief of police. And yet it is the experience of seeing a third uncle, her Uncle Thomas, sentenced to life in prison for a nonviolent cocaine offense, that rounds out her early understanding of our criminal justice system. In 2005, Judge Jackson would eventually set in motion a chain of events that ended with President Obama commuting her uncle's sentence. But before that could happen, before she joined major law firms and the Federal public defender's office--before she served as Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission and as a judge on the Federal bench--she was first a daughter, a sister, and a niece. And it is there, in the pages of Judge Jackson's story, as a product of public schools who saw our country's justice system up close, where we can find her judgment. It is there where we can find the reasons for my colleague, Senator Booker, to declare to her on national television: ``You have earned this spot. You are worthy. You are a great American.'' So much ink has been spilled about the historic nature of Judge Jackson's nomination and now confirmation. She stood before the Senate as a nominee descendant from slaves who grew up listening to her parents' stories of attending segregated schools, a nominee who was once told by a guidance counselor that she shouldn't set her sights so high when applying to Harvard; a nominee who not only graduated as the second generation in her family to earn a college degree but who silenced naysayers and doubters alike by graduating, with honors, from both Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Simply put, soon-to-be Justice Jackson belongs on the highest Court in the land. Her confirmation is a milestone in the grand tapestry of our country--not only because she has broken barriers as the first African-American woman and the first to have served as a public defender, but rather, it is because she is supremely qualified to interpret our Constitution and hear cases on their merit. When she is sworn in, Justice Jackson will have more experience as a trial court judge than any of her colleagues on the Court. In fact, she will be the second Justice ever to have experience at all three levels of our Federal judiciary. The first, a legal trailblazer in her own right, is Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It is therefore only fitting that, as I have thought about what this day means for our country, I am reminded of the parallels between this historic nomination and the historic nomination for Justice Sotomayor. Back then, in 2009, I said, ``when she takes her seat on the United States Supreme Court, we will only need to look at the portrait of the justices to see how far we've come as a nation, who we really are as a people, and what our founders intended us to be.'' Those words have never rung more true. A woman who, when the Constitution was written, would have counted in the eyes of the law as three-fifths of her fellow Americans, will now carry out justice for every single citizen who calls this Nation home. In the midst of disgusting attacks, racial dog whistles turned into foghorns, and gross mischaracterizations of her record, Judge Jackson maintained a calm demeanor throughout her nomination with almost superhuman poise. For my colleagues who opposed her nomination today, yet voted to confirm her to the Sentencing Commission, the district court, and to the appeals court just last year, I leave them to iron out their double standards. But to all who rejoice in what is to come, when Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will soon place her hand on the Bible and takes her solemn oath of office, I submit the following: More than ever before, the newest portrait of our nine Supreme Court justices will more clearly reflect who we are as a nation and what we stand for as a fair, just, and hopeful people. Unlike other nations, those united by a singular history, language, and culture, this nation--our Nation--is united by our diversity. It is evident in our national motto--the one stamped on every coin in our pocket and etched on the ceiling of our Capitol dome, E pluribus Unum: out of many one. And it is despite these differences that our country comes together as a vast melting pot, one forged in common values and an ideal of freedom that stands as a beacon to the world. As Judge Jackson takes her rightful place on the Supreme Court, the full realization of that ideal is closer than it has ever been. I know this for I have lived it--as Judge Jackson has lived it--and I feel it, as so many others in this country have felt it. I stand here, the son of Cuban refugees, the first in my family to attend college, and now, in a nation of 330 million, as one of only 100 Members of the U.S. Senate. It is indeed possible, my colleagues, to make our ancestors' wildest dreams come true. And so, in closing, as I reflect on our vote earlier today, I can't help but feel joy for my three granddaughters: Evangelina, Ofelia, and Olivia. Granted, they are still young; my oldest is barely out of pre-K. But each one of them will grow up knowing that, thanks to Justices like Sandra Day O'Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and now Ketanji Brown Jackson, there isn't a single thing they can't accomplish. Let their dreams be our dreams today. Let every child in America look at their parents the way that Judge Jackson's daughter looked at her during her confirmation hearing. Let there be no barriers to what is possible now that Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson has been confirmed to the Supreme Court. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. MENENDEZ | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2085 | null | 4,236 |
formal | Aiden | null | transphobic | Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, today I rise to recognize Albert Lea Fire Lieutenant Brett Thomas Boss, who passed away on February 5, 2022, at the age of 38 after a decade-long battle with stage 4 Ewing's Sarcoma. Brett was born to Karen Boss on November 30, 1983, in Fargo, ND, and was later adopted by Todd Boss in 1992. From a young age, he demonstrated a clear drive to help others. In highschool, he participated in the local Fire Explorers program, which gave him both the skills to save lives in his community and a dedication to public service that guided his entire life. Brett's 17-year firefighting career was nothing short of extraordinary. As an EMT, a hazmat technician, a fire investigator, and a firefighter instructor, he worked every day to keep the people of Albert Lea safe. Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Laskowske put it best: Brett was a true hero. Brett's heroism only became clearer following his diagnosis. In the words of his loving family, he ``fought cancer like a boss.'' But Brett didn't just fight for himself; following an alarming string of cancer cases among firefighters in Albert Lea and Austin, he became a fierce advocate for his brothers and sisters in the field. He played a key role in passing State legislation that secured funding for equipment to keep firefighters safe from carcinogens as well as a grant program for firefighters living with cancer or heart disease. In 2018, we held an event together in support of legislation to create a national firefighter cancer registry, and days later, the President signed it into law. Brett also collaborated with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network, a group of firefighters that worked to provide resources, support, and education to first responders in need. While Brett had a lot to be proud of in his career, he was even prouder of his family. He married his wife Danielle in 2006, and they went on to have two great kids, Jaelyn and Aiden. Brett could often be found cheering them on from the sidelines of sporting events or sharing with them his love of camping and fishing. While it is hard not to feel like Brett's life was cut short, his legacy as an incredible firefighter, advocate, son, husband, and dad will last forever. He changed lives; he saved lives; and he made the world a better place. | 2020-01-06 | Ms. KLOBUCHAR | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2087-3 | null | 4,237 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Lummis, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Casey, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Peters, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Braun, Mr. Coons, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Daines, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Warnock, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Collins, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Warner, Mr. Young, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Scott of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 588 Whereas, according to the 2020 report entitled ``Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households'' by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, economic distress from the COVID- 19 pandemic was evident when analyzing the self-assessments of individuals with respect to their financial trajectories over the past year; Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled ``How America Banks: Household Use of Banking and Financial Services'' by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, approximately 5.4 percent of households in the United States are unbanked and, therefore, have limited or no access to savings, lending, and other basic financial services; Whereas, according to the 2021 Consumer Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Wells Fargo-- (1) 47 percent of the general population in the United States report having credit card debt; (2) 38 percent of adults in the United States report carrying credit card balances from month-to-month; and (3) 44 percent of the general population in the United States have a budget and keep close track of expenses, such as food, housing, and entertainment; Whereas, according to a report entitled ``Financial Capability of Adults with Disabilities'' by the National Disability Institute and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, people with disabilities were more likely to struggle with the key components of financial capability, which are making ends meet, planning ahead, managing financial products, and financial knowledge and decision making, and could benefit from targeted financial education; Whereas, according to the statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the fourth quarter of 2021 entitled ``Household Debt and Credit''-- (1) outstanding household debt in the United States has been increasing steadily since 2013 and was $414,000,000,000 higher than at the end of 2019; and (2) outstanding student loan balances have more than doubled in the last decade to approximately $1,560,000,000,000; Whereas, according to the 2022 report entitled ``Survey of the States: Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation's Schools'', by the Council for Economic Education-- (1) only 25 States require students to take an economics course as a high school graduation requirement; and (2) only 23 States require students to take a personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, either independently or as part of an economics course; Whereas expanding access to the safe, mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure options for managing finances and building wealth; Whereas quality personal financial education is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared-- (1) to make sound money management decisions about credit, debt, insurance, financial transactions, and planning for the future; (2) to become responsible workers, heads of household, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; Whereas financial education in schools in the United States is critical to a long-term financial inclusion strategy to reach students who are not able to get sufficient personal finance guidance at home; Whereas, according to the 2021 report entitled ``Game Changer: The Evaluation of the Jump$tart Financial Foundations for Educators Professional Development Program'' by the Financial Literacy Group, teacher training regarding financial education improves student outcomes significantly, especially among historically underserved students; Whereas increased financial literacy-- (1) empowers individuals to make wise financial decisions; and (2) reduces the confusion caused by an increasingly complex economy; Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; and Whereas, in 2003, Congress-- (1) determined that coordinating Federal financial literacy efforts and formulating a national strategy is important; and (2) in light of that determination, passed the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act (20 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.), establishing the Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates April 2022 as ``Financial Literacy Month'' to raise public awareness about-- (A) the importance of personal financial education in the United States; and (B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of understanding about personal finances; and (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people of the United States to observe Financial Literacy Month with appropriate programs and activities. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2098-2 | null | 4,238 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Scott of South Carolina, Mr. Durbin, Ms. Lummis, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Casey, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Peters, Mr. Barrasso, Mr. Braun, Mr. Coons, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Van Hollen, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Daines, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Warnock, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Rounds, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Collins, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Warner, Mr. Young, Mr. Cardin, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Cassidy, Ms. Rosen, and Mr. Scott of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 588 Whereas, according to the 2020 report entitled ``Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households'' by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, economic distress from the COVID- 19 pandemic was evident when analyzing the self-assessments of individuals with respect to their financial trajectories over the past year; Whereas, according to the 2019 report entitled ``How America Banks: Household Use of Banking and Financial Services'' by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, approximately 5.4 percent of households in the United States are unbanked and, therefore, have limited or no access to savings, lending, and other basic financial services; Whereas, according to the 2021 Consumer Financial Literacy and Preparedness Survey of the National Foundation for Credit Counseling and Wells Fargo-- (1) 47 percent of the general population in the United States report having credit card debt; (2) 38 percent of adults in the United States report carrying credit card balances from month-to-month; and (3) 44 percent of the general population in the United States have a budget and keep close track of expenses, such as food, housing, and entertainment; Whereas, according to a report entitled ``Financial Capability of Adults with Disabilities'' by the National Disability Institute and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, people with disabilities were more likely to struggle with the key components of financial capability, which are making ends meet, planning ahead, managing financial products, and financial knowledge and decision making, and could benefit from targeted financial education; Whereas, according to the statistical release of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the fourth quarter of 2021 entitled ``Household Debt and Credit''-- (1) outstanding household debt in the United States has been increasing steadily since 2013 and was $414,000,000,000 higher than at the end of 2019; and (2) outstanding student loan balances have more than doubled in the last decade to approximately $1,560,000,000,000; Whereas, according to the 2022 report entitled ``Survey of the States: Economic and Personal Finance Education in Our Nation's Schools'', by the Council for Economic Education-- (1) only 25 States require students to take an economics course as a high school graduation requirement; and (2) only 23 States require students to take a personal finance course as a high school graduation requirement, either independently or as part of an economics course; Whereas expanding access to the safe, mainstream financial system will provide individuals with less expensive and more secure options for managing finances and building wealth; Whereas quality personal financial education is essential to ensure that individuals are prepared-- (1) to make sound money management decisions about credit, debt, insurance, financial transactions, and planning for the future; (2) to become responsible workers, heads of household, investors, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and citizens; Whereas financial education in schools in the United States is critical to a long-term financial inclusion strategy to reach students who are not able to get sufficient personal finance guidance at home; Whereas, according to the 2021 report entitled ``Game Changer: The Evaluation of the Jump$tart Financial Foundations for Educators Professional Development Program'' by the Financial Literacy Group, teacher training regarding financial education improves student outcomes significantly, especially among historically underserved students; Whereas increased financial literacy-- (1) empowers individuals to make wise financial decisions; and (2) reduces the confusion caused by an increasingly complex economy; Whereas a greater understanding of, and familiarity with, financial markets and institutions will lead to increased economic activity and growth; and Whereas, in 2003, Congress-- (1) determined that coordinating Federal financial literacy efforts and formulating a national strategy is important; and (2) in light of that determination, passed the Financial Literacy and Education Improvement Act (20 U.S.C. 9701 et seq.), establishing the Financial Literacy and Education Commission: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates April 2022 as ``Financial Literacy Month'' to raise public awareness about-- (A) the importance of personal financial education in the United States; and (B) the serious consequences that may result from a lack of understanding about personal finances; and (2) calls on the Federal Government, States, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and the people of the United States to observe Financial Literacy Month with appropriate programs and activities. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2098-2 | null | 4,239 |
formal | handouts | null | racist | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, watching the wrapup by our friend from Connecticut and the Presiding Officer, I don't know anybody who could argue that the Senate is incapable of getting a lot done in a short period of time, given the will. That was pretty remarkable. Mr. President, nearly 10 months after the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to fund the CHIPS Act, we are finally inching closer to the finish line. The House and the Senate are moving forward to a formal conference process to supply the CHIPS Program with $52 billion and make other investments in our competitiveness. Yesterday afternoon, Members of the Senate and the House heard from administration officials about how important this legislation is. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo spoke about the economic risks of a weak semiconductor supply chain. I might just pause here for a minute in case people are wondering why semiconductors are so important. Well, the fact of the matter is that semiconductors are essential to run everything from your cell phone to the most advanced stealth fighters made by the U.S. Government, the F-35, and everything in between. And during the pandemic and the mitigation efforts that we undertook, with kids studying remotely on their laptops, that would not be possible, nor would the Wi-Fi connections be possible without access to semiconductors. So these microcircuits have become absolutely essential to our way of life. Over the last couple of years, manufacturers have had to halt production of the various products that they make, shift their offerings, or even lay off workers because of a shortage of these semiconductors, these microcircuit chips. Now, at the micro level, this disruption is having a big impact on consumers: empty car lots, backordered electronics, higher prices on home appliances. But at the 30,000-foot level, the macro level, this is terribly damaging to our national economy. The semiconductor shortage has shaved an estimated $240 billion off of our gross domestic product last year--$240 billion lost because of an inadequate access to these semiconductors, these microcircuits. Based on the way that things are trending, the strain is only going to get greater. Global demand for these semiconductor chips is expected to increase by 56 percent over the next decade. If you think about it, our dependency on technology is going to do nothing but get greater and greater and greater; hence, the demand and the need for these semiconductors and the demand that will go up by 56 percent, it is estimated, in the next decade. It is absolutely critical that we start investing in domestic, made-in-America semiconductors now to insure that we have the capacity to meet that need in the future. And it is not just our economy. This has a very clear connection with our national security. Not only will the CHIPS Program, as it is called--introduced originally by the senior Senator from Virginia, Senator Warner, and myself--this program will help us pave the way for new jobs and big investments in cities all across our country. If you want an idea, a glimpse, of just what those benefits would look like, my State is an example of one place that will change dramatically as a result of this demand for these microcircuits. Last fall, I joined leaders from Samsung, a South Korean company that has a large presence in Austin, TX, and they announced a $17 billion investment in a new chip fab--that is what the manufacturing facilities are called, a fab, fabrication unit--in Taylor, TX, which is just outside of Austin. This facility is expected to directly create 2,000 high-tech jobs, as well as thousands of related jobs, once it is operational. And each of these fabrication manufacturing facilities will create a whole ecosystem of suppliers that will grow up around it. So the $17 billion spent by Samsung for just this one fabrication facility will be multiplied by many times in terms of the economic benefits and the jobs created. This is great news not just for my State, for Texas, but also for the national economy and for our global competitiveness. Our friends and allies are going to need a reliable chip supply, too, and I hope that we can soon send advanced semiconductors, made in America, to countries around the world. Once this CHIPS Program is funded, I expect more announcements like the one I mentioned from Samsung to follow, both in Texas and other States across the country. We have already seen Taiwan Semiconductor in the process of building a new fab, or manufacturing facility, in Arizona. You have seen new investments announced by Intel in Ohio, along with the one by Samsung in Texas, and I believe there are more to come. This legislation would open up about $3 billion for each new or expanded semiconductor fabrication facility, providing a huge incentive for companies to make this level of investment right here in America. The potential economic benefits speak for themselves, but the biggest reason to pass this legislation is to protect our national security. Chips are critical components of far more than just the cell phones and washing machines that I mentioned. Advanced fighters, quantum computers, missile defense systems--you name it--5G, all of those rely on semiconductors. A single rocket interceptor like we have seen used in Iron Dome in Israel, knocking down rockets coming from Gaza, each of those interceptors alone uses 750 of these microcircuits. An overreliance on other countries to produce these key components of our most vital defenses is a huge, huge risk. Yesterday, in addition to Secretary Raimondo, we heard from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who talked about the immense national security risk that the failure to produce these most advanced semiconductors in America has opened up. Just to be clear, we produce zero of these most advanced semiconductors that we depend upon for the most complex technology, including our national security. Our military superiority really hinges on state-of-the-art technology. That is the one thing that we do better than any other country in the world. If we can't produce these products because of a lack of chips, well, the risk is obvious. And when you look at who is producing the lion's share of the world's chips, you can see the danger to which we are very clearly exposed. Now, I blame COVID for exposing these vulnerable supply chains, whether it is PPE or it is chips, but now, it is as plain as the nose on your face, and we need to do something about it. So here are the facts. The vast majority of semiconductors are made in Asia, with 63 percent of the most advanced semiconductors in the world made in one place, and that is Taiwan. Even more concerning is the 92 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors that come, as I said, from Asia. But if that supply chain, both from Asia and Taiwan in particular, were cut off, it would lead to disastrous consequences. Unfortunately, this prospect is not some farfetched conspiracy theory or doomsday scenario. Xi Jinping has made no secret of his desire to invade and unify Taiwan with the People's Republic of China, even saying he wants to be ready to do so by the year 2027, just 5 years from now. But we can't depend on his stated timetable because he could do it any time he wanted to start that invasion and jeopardize our access to these chips. We don't want to be in a position--we can't be in a position--where the belligerence of one nation impacts our most critical supply chains. The war in Ukraine has made that clear. Put simply, we need to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing, and we have not a moment to waste. Chip making is a very big endeavor. A number of our colleagues and I traveled to Taiwan a few months back to Taiwan Semiconductor's facility there, where they, as I said, make the world's leading-edge semiconductors. It is a big operation, and it is highly automated and very complex and expensive. In order to build one chip, you need very expensive, highly advanced equipment; you need skilled workers; and you need a lot of time. It can take literally months to build a single chip, and that is assuming you have the facility and the equipment ready to go. So it is clear, in light of this vulnerability that we have in this essential supply chain, that we have squandered enough time already. After the Senate passed our version of this legislation, it took 8 months to get it back from the House of Representatives. Even then, their bill fell short in nearly every regard. Rather than mirror the bipartisan process here in the Senate, the Democrats in the House negotiated a bill just among their fellow Democrats. In other words, it was a partisan bill. That type of legislating does not lead to good and sustainable results here in Congress. The House-passed bill sends a whopping $8 billion to a U.N. climate slush fund which has provided more than $100 million to China. The entire purpose of this effort is to counter threats from China, not to bolster China's economy with taxpayer dollars. So it defies all logic to send billions of dollars to an unaccountable fund that could end up helping our chief competitor, the People's Republic of China. The House COMPETES Act also added provisions relating to immigration, from creating new types of visas to removing green card caps. I am fine with having a discussion and debate and votes on immigration issues, but they do not belong in this legislation, certainly not in a partisan fashion. In true fashion, our colleagues in the House who are the majority party added a range of handouts to their political base, especially organized labor. From massive slush funds to burdensome new labor requirements, the unions would have won big in this bill. And, as I said, unfortunately, the House decided to undertake this effort in a purely partisan fashion, which leaves us with very little common ground to work with. I am frustrated, and I know that I am not the only one. There are Democratic Senators who have joined me in expressing their frustration over how slow it is to get this process moving. But it is more important to get it done right away so we can get the job done as thoroughly as necessary. Well, there is broad bipartisan support for this effort. I have a hard time explaining to my friends and constituents that when the White House is in favor of something, when Democrats are in favor of something, Republicansare in favor of something, the House is in favor of it, and the Senate is in favor of it, we still can't seem to get it done. But I hope that we will take advantage of this opportunity--now that conferees have been appointed by the House and the White House--to get the conference committee to work, to do our job, and to get this bill on the President's desk as soon as we can. I fully expect the final version to look very much like the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate rather than the partisan bill that came from the House. I expressed to the Senator from Washington, Ms. Cantwell, that I hope we can work efficiently and reach a final agreement as soon as possible. It is critical that we get a strong bill to the President's desk and finally back this CHIPS Program with funding and protect ourselves from this, really, almost existential economic threat and threat to our national security. The bill has undergone a number of name changes over the years. It started out as the Endless Frontier Act. Then it became the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. Then the House called it the America COMPETES Act. Then we gave it a new name: the Made in America Act. But now, we have a new name--and hopefully the final name--called the Bipartisan Innovation Act. I hope we can work together to craft a truly good bill that lives up to that title, the Bipartisan Innovation Act, and delivers economic and national security benefits for all of the American people. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2103-5 | null | 4,240 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, watching the wrapup by our friend from Connecticut and the Presiding Officer, I don't know anybody who could argue that the Senate is incapable of getting a lot done in a short period of time, given the will. That was pretty remarkable. Mr. President, nearly 10 months after the Senate passed bipartisan legislation to fund the CHIPS Act, we are finally inching closer to the finish line. The House and the Senate are moving forward to a formal conference process to supply the CHIPS Program with $52 billion and make other investments in our competitiveness. Yesterday afternoon, Members of the Senate and the House heard from administration officials about how important this legislation is. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo spoke about the economic risks of a weak semiconductor supply chain. I might just pause here for a minute in case people are wondering why semiconductors are so important. Well, the fact of the matter is that semiconductors are essential to run everything from your cell phone to the most advanced stealth fighters made by the U.S. Government, the F-35, and everything in between. And during the pandemic and the mitigation efforts that we undertook, with kids studying remotely on their laptops, that would not be possible, nor would the Wi-Fi connections be possible without access to semiconductors. So these microcircuits have become absolutely essential to our way of life. Over the last couple of years, manufacturers have had to halt production of the various products that they make, shift their offerings, or even lay off workers because of a shortage of these semiconductors, these microcircuit chips. Now, at the micro level, this disruption is having a big impact on consumers: empty car lots, backordered electronics, higher prices on home appliances. But at the 30,000-foot level, the macro level, this is terribly damaging to our national economy. The semiconductor shortage has shaved an estimated $240 billion off of our gross domestic product last year--$240 billion lost because of an inadequate access to these semiconductors, these microcircuits. Based on the way that things are trending, the strain is only going to get greater. Global demand for these semiconductor chips is expected to increase by 56 percent over the next decade. If you think about it, our dependency on technology is going to do nothing but get greater and greater and greater; hence, the demand and the need for these semiconductors and the demand that will go up by 56 percent, it is estimated, in the next decade. It is absolutely critical that we start investing in domestic, made-in-America semiconductors now to insure that we have the capacity to meet that need in the future. And it is not just our economy. This has a very clear connection with our national security. Not only will the CHIPS Program, as it is called--introduced originally by the senior Senator from Virginia, Senator Warner, and myself--this program will help us pave the way for new jobs and big investments in cities all across our country. If you want an idea, a glimpse, of just what those benefits would look like, my State is an example of one place that will change dramatically as a result of this demand for these microcircuits. Last fall, I joined leaders from Samsung, a South Korean company that has a large presence in Austin, TX, and they announced a $17 billion investment in a new chip fab--that is what the manufacturing facilities are called, a fab, fabrication unit--in Taylor, TX, which is just outside of Austin. This facility is expected to directly create 2,000 high-tech jobs, as well as thousands of related jobs, once it is operational. And each of these fabrication manufacturing facilities will create a whole ecosystem of suppliers that will grow up around it. So the $17 billion spent by Samsung for just this one fabrication facility will be multiplied by many times in terms of the economic benefits and the jobs created. This is great news not just for my State, for Texas, but also for the national economy and for our global competitiveness. Our friends and allies are going to need a reliable chip supply, too, and I hope that we can soon send advanced semiconductors, made in America, to countries around the world. Once this CHIPS Program is funded, I expect more announcements like the one I mentioned from Samsung to follow, both in Texas and other States across the country. We have already seen Taiwan Semiconductor in the process of building a new fab, or manufacturing facility, in Arizona. You have seen new investments announced by Intel in Ohio, along with the one by Samsung in Texas, and I believe there are more to come. This legislation would open up about $3 billion for each new or expanded semiconductor fabrication facility, providing a huge incentive for companies to make this level of investment right here in America. The potential economic benefits speak for themselves, but the biggest reason to pass this legislation is to protect our national security. Chips are critical components of far more than just the cell phones and washing machines that I mentioned. Advanced fighters, quantum computers, missile defense systems--you name it--5G, all of those rely on semiconductors. A single rocket interceptor like we have seen used in Iron Dome in Israel, knocking down rockets coming from Gaza, each of those interceptors alone uses 750 of these microcircuits. An overreliance on other countries to produce these key components of our most vital defenses is a huge, huge risk. Yesterday, in addition to Secretary Raimondo, we heard from Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, who talked about the immense national security risk that the failure to produce these most advanced semiconductors in America has opened up. Just to be clear, we produce zero of these most advanced semiconductors that we depend upon for the most complex technology, including our national security. Our military superiority really hinges on state-of-the-art technology. That is the one thing that we do better than any other country in the world. If we can't produce these products because of a lack of chips, well, the risk is obvious. And when you look at who is producing the lion's share of the world's chips, you can see the danger to which we are very clearly exposed. Now, I blame COVID for exposing these vulnerable supply chains, whether it is PPE or it is chips, but now, it is as plain as the nose on your face, and we need to do something about it. So here are the facts. The vast majority of semiconductors are made in Asia, with 63 percent of the most advanced semiconductors in the world made in one place, and that is Taiwan. Even more concerning is the 92 percent of the world's most advanced semiconductors that come, as I said, from Asia. But if that supply chain, both from Asia and Taiwan in particular, were cut off, it would lead to disastrous consequences. Unfortunately, this prospect is not some farfetched conspiracy theory or doomsday scenario. Xi Jinping has made no secret of his desire to invade and unify Taiwan with the People's Republic of China, even saying he wants to be ready to do so by the year 2027, just 5 years from now. But we can't depend on his stated timetable because he could do it any time he wanted to start that invasion and jeopardize our access to these chips. We don't want to be in a position--we can't be in a position--where the belligerence of one nation impacts our most critical supply chains. The war in Ukraine has made that clear. Put simply, we need to bolster domestic semiconductor manufacturing, and we have not a moment to waste. Chip making is a very big endeavor. A number of our colleagues and I traveled to Taiwan a few months back to Taiwan Semiconductor's facility there, where they, as I said, make the world's leading-edge semiconductors. It is a big operation, and it is highly automated and very complex and expensive. In order to build one chip, you need very expensive, highly advanced equipment; you need skilled workers; and you need a lot of time. It can take literally months to build a single chip, and that is assuming you have the facility and the equipment ready to go. So it is clear, in light of this vulnerability that we have in this essential supply chain, that we have squandered enough time already. After the Senate passed our version of this legislation, it took 8 months to get it back from the House of Representatives. Even then, their bill fell short in nearly every regard. Rather than mirror the bipartisan process here in the Senate, the Democrats in the House negotiated a bill just among their fellow Democrats. In other words, it was a partisan bill. That type of legislating does not lead to good and sustainable results here in Congress. The House-passed bill sends a whopping $8 billion to a U.N. climate slush fund which has provided more than $100 million to China. The entire purpose of this effort is to counter threats from China, not to bolster China's economy with taxpayer dollars. So it defies all logic to send billions of dollars to an unaccountable fund that could end up helping our chief competitor, the People's Republic of China. The House COMPETES Act also added provisions relating to immigration, from creating new types of visas to removing green card caps. I am fine with having a discussion and debate and votes on immigration issues, but they do not belong in this legislation, certainly not in a partisan fashion. In true fashion, our colleagues in the House who are the majority party added a range of handouts to their political base, especially organized labor. From massive slush funds to burdensome new labor requirements, the unions would have won big in this bill. And, as I said, unfortunately, the House decided to undertake this effort in a purely partisan fashion, which leaves us with very little common ground to work with. I am frustrated, and I know that I am not the only one. There are Democratic Senators who have joined me in expressing their frustration over how slow it is to get this process moving. But it is more important to get it done right away so we can get the job done as thoroughly as necessary. Well, there is broad bipartisan support for this effort. I have a hard time explaining to my friends and constituents that when the White House is in favor of something, when Democrats are in favor of something, Republicansare in favor of something, the House is in favor of it, and the Senate is in favor of it, we still can't seem to get it done. But I hope that we will take advantage of this opportunity--now that conferees have been appointed by the House and the White House--to get the conference committee to work, to do our job, and to get this bill on the President's desk as soon as we can. I fully expect the final version to look very much like the bipartisan bill that passed the Senate rather than the partisan bill that came from the House. I expressed to the Senator from Washington, Ms. Cantwell, that I hope we can work efficiently and reach a final agreement as soon as possible. It is critical that we get a strong bill to the President's desk and finally back this CHIPS Program with funding and protect ourselves from this, really, almost existential economic threat and threat to our national security. The bill has undergone a number of name changes over the years. It started out as the Endless Frontier Act. Then it became the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act. Then the House called it the America COMPETES Act. Then we gave it a new name: the Made in America Act. But now, we have a new name--and hopefully the final name--called the Bipartisan Innovation Act. I hope we can work together to craft a truly good bill that lives up to that title, the Bipartisan Innovation Act, and delivers economic and national security benefits for all of the American people. I yield the floor. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2022-04-07-pt1-PgS2103-5 | null | 4,241 |
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-3733. A letter from the Executive Director, Office of Minority and Women Inclusion, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, transmitting the Office's fiscal year 2021 Annual Report to Congress, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 5452(e); Public Law 111-203, Sec. 342(e); (124 Stat. 1543); to the Committee on Financial Services. EC-3734. A letter from the Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia, transmitting D.C. Act 24-371, ``Technical Amendments Act of 2022'', pursuant to Public Law 93-198, Sec. 602(c)(1); (87 Stat. 814); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3735. A letter from the General Counsel, Administrative Conference of the United States, transmitting the Conference's 2021 No FEAR Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3736. A letter from the Director, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's 2021 No FEAR Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3737. A letter from the President and Chair, Export- Import Bank, transmitting the Bank's FY 2021 No FEAR Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3738. A letter from the First Vice President, Export- Import Bank of the United States, transmitting a notification of am action on nomination and discontinuation of service in acting role, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105- 277, Sec. 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3739. A letter from the Chief Financial Officer, National Labor Relations Board, transmitting the Board's Performance and Accountability Report for Fiscal Year 2021, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 3515(a)(1); Public Law 101-576, Sec. 303(a)(1) (as amended by Public Law 107-289, Sec. 2(a)); (116 Stat. 2049); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3740. A letter from the Chief Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, transmitting the Family Court 2021 Annual Report; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3741. A letter from the Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, transmitting an amendment and an addition to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure that have been adopted by the Supreme Court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 2075; Public Law 88-623, Sec. 1 (as amended by Public Law 103-394, Sec. 104(f)); (108 Stat. 4110) (H. Doc. No. 117--110); to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be printed. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-14-pt1-PgH4441-10 | null | 4,242 |
formal | religious freedom | null | homophobic | The Chaplain, the Reverend Margaret Grun Kibben, offered the following prayer: Holy God, on this rare confluence of religious holidays of three of the world's largest religions, distinct rituals and practices honor Your presence in history and direct the hearts of the faithful to You. Even as each individual approaches You, help us to see how more alike we are than different. As families gather and communities worship, we, each in our own way, submit our will to You and together pray for inspiration to be a better person, be we Jewish, Christian, or Muslim. How grateful we are, O God, that our country was founded on the religious freedom we enjoy in this season. And we pray that as Jews gather around the Seder meal, Muslims break their fast each evening, and Christians observe Holy Week, that each worshipping American would prove to be a model, not just of individual faith, but of mutual respect for those who were each created in Your image. Grant us the miracle that the world would no longer feed on the bitter herbs of terror, that passion would not be an excuse for prejudice, and that all religious fervor would be directed to welcoming the stranger to the empty chair at the table. In these sacred days, may our hearts be open to Your presence among us. We each pray in the strength of Your name. Amen. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-14-pt1-PgH4441-3 | null | 4,243 |
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-3745. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting the Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2023, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1105(a); Public Law 97-258 (as amended by Public Law 101-508, Sec. 13112(c)(1)); (104 Stat. 1288-608) (H. Doc. No. 117-- 82); to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be printed. EC-3746. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting the Economic Report of the President together with the Annual Report of the Council of Economic Advisers, pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 1022(a); Feb. 20, 1946, ch. 33, Sec. 3(a) (as amended by Public Law 101-508, Sec. 13112(e)); (104 Stat. 1388-609) (H. Doc. No. 117--81); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce and ordered to be printed. EC-3747. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting notification that the national emergency with respect to the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States constituted by specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation, that was declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021, as amended, is to continue in effect beyond April 15, 2022, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 117--112); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. EC-3748. A letter from the Chief Justice, Supreme Court of the United States, transmitting amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure that have been adopted by the Supreme Court of the United States pursuant to Section 2072 of Title 28, United States Code (H. Doc. No. 117--111); to the Committee on the Judiciary and ordered to be printed. EC-3749. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals; Changes to Medicare Graduate Medical Education Payments for Teaching Hospitals; Changes to Organ Acquisition Payment Policies [CMS-1752-FC3] (RIN: 0938-AU44) received March 21, 2022, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); jointly to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. EC-3750. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Medicare Program; Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) Policy Issues and Level II of the Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS); DME Interim Pricing in the CARES Act; Durable Medical Equipment Fee Schedule Adjustments to Resume the Transitional 50/50 Blended Rates to Provide Relief in Rural Areas and Non-Contiguous Areas [CMS-1738- F, CMS-1687-F, and CMS-5531-F] (RINs: 0938-AU17, 0938-AT21, and 0938-AU32] received March 21, 2022, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); jointly to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-18-pt1-PgH4447-7 | null | 4,244 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Ms. LOFGREN: Committee on House Administration. House Resolution 1035. Resolution adjusting the amount provided for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (Rept. 117-291). Referred to the House Calendar. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 350. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 117-292, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-21-pt1-PgH4452 | null | 4,245 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Ms. LOFGREN: Committee on House Administration. House Resolution 1035. Resolution adjusting the amount provided for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (Rept. 117-291). Referred to the House Calendar. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 350. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 117-292, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-21-pt1-PgH4452 | null | 4,246 |
formal | terrorist | null | Islamophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as follows: Ms. LOFGREN: Committee on House Administration. House Resolution 1035. Resolution adjusting the amount provided for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Seventeenth Congress (Rept. 117-291). Referred to the House Calendar. Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 350. A bill to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic terrorism; with an amendment (Rept. 117-292, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-21-pt1-PgH4452 | null | 4,247 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years. | 2020-01-06 | The PRESIDENT pro tempore | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2115-6 | null | 4,248 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years. | 2020-01-06 | The PRESIDENT pro tempore | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2115-6 | null | 4,249 |
formal | Volodymyr Zelensky | null | antisemitic | Ukraine Madam President, after World War II, the United States and the leading free nations of Europe worked together to create a new system of rules and institutions to guard the peace of World War II and to reduce the risk in Europe that we would ever again descend into the hell of war. The most important of these new institutions was called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization--NATO. Among its most important new rules was the commitment that nations must never again wage wars of conquest against their neighbors. For more than 75 years, the new rules and institutions largely helped keep the peace in Europe, but then came Ukraine. With its barbaric attack on Ukraine, Russia is waging war not only against a sovereign nation--an innocent, unprovoked nation--Russia is attacking the very system of democracy and rules-based order for which 400,000 U.S. servicemembers died in World War II and many more have given their lives since. Vladimir Putin is seeking to restore some mythical Russian Empire. He wants to demolish NATO, and he wants to drag the world back into a blood-soaked past, when Kings and tyrants waged wars of conquest to expand their territory and fill their coffers. As Russia's barbaric, blood-thirsty war against Ukraine enters its third month, it is clear that Vladimir Putin has miscalculated disastrously. He thought his forces were so overwhelming that he would occupy Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in a matter of days; that he would remove Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power in Ukraine and that he would install a puppet government that would once again take orders from Moscow. Instead, Kyiv still stands, Zelenskyy is still in control, and Vladimir Putin has been frustrated by the determination, courage, and resiliency of the Ukrainian troops. He has suffered heavy losses. Russia has lost the battle for Ukraine to date. Vladimir Zelenskyy is still Ukraine's President, and Russian forces are demoralized and depleted. Instead of seizing Kyiv and all of Ukraine, Russia is now regrouping to try to pick one region that they can conquer, the Donbas region--which they have illegally occupied since 2014--and to seize the Black Sea Port of Mariupol. Russia's economy is increasingly staggering under the weight of some of the most powerful sanctions ever levied against any nation in the history of the world. The effect of these sanctions against Russia will become even more onerous in the months ahead as Russia is unable to buy parts and equipment to keep its basic industries thriving and other key sectors of its economy functioning. The sanctions also target the oligarchs, the kleptocrats, Putin's fraternity who helped prop up his corrupt regime. They are losing their superyachts--isn't that a heartbreaker--their vacation dachas, and some are starting to lose their lives--strangely, a fate that seems to befall a number of people who get close to Russia's KGB thug who happens to be the leader in Russia today. The Russian Government has given up any pretense it once had after the breakup of the Soviet Union of ever becoming a democracy. I say that with some sadness for the people of Russia. They have been relegated to the role of pawns in Putin's escapade. A new censorship law has taken effect. It makes it a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison to even describe the invasion of Ukraine as a ``war'' or to describe Russia's assault on Ukraine in honest terms. You can go to prison for that in Mr. Putin's Russia. It was just a few weeks ago that I met upstairs in my office with a Russian journalist and opposition leader. His name is Vladimir Kara-Murza. Mr. Kara-Murza is fearless. He survived poisoning attempts by the Kremlin twice. He told me several weeks ago, ``I'm going back.'' I said, ``Why?'' He said, ``There is work to be done.'' He told me about his opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine, the increasing opposition to the war with Russia, and his hopes that some day Russia will be a part of the community of democracies. Well, Mr. Kara-Murza went back to Moscow, and last week, he was arrested--the same day CNN broadcast an interview in which he called Putin's government ``a regime of murderers.'' Mr. Kara-Murza faces years of imprisonment for simply telling the truth. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and I are going to introduce a bipartisan resolution this week calling for Mr. Kara-Murza's immediate release. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us. Vladimir Putin also badly miscalculated the unity of NATO and the will of free people to defend democracy. Instead of shattering NATO, Putin has strengthened NATO. Finland and Sweden, longtime neutral nations, could soon join NATO. Germany is pursuing a historic dramatic overhaul of its approach to security and defense. And yesterday, French voters re-elected their President, Emmanuel Macron, decisively, choosing him over his far-right Putin sympathizer, Marine Le Pen. That election in France marked the first time in 20 years that French voters have given a President a second term. It is widely viewed as, among other things, a vote of support for NATO and Ukraine and against Putin and his Russian aggression. Vladimir Putin also gambled that America would be too weak and divided to oppose Russia's assault on Ukraine. He was badly mistaken again. Republicans and Democrats are standing together in support of Ukraine, as are the American people. President Biden's leadership has been critical in uniting NATO and the West and enabling Ukraine to defend itself. Yesterday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin traveled to Kyiv and met with President Zelenskyy personally to show Putin and the world that the United States of America stands with the Ukrainian people in their heroic defense of their homeland. The U.S. is providing Ukraine with the military equipment to defend itself, but it takes the courage and determination of those men and women in Ukraine to make it work. In the last 2 months alone, America has committed to Ukraine an unprecedented $3.7 billion in military equipment, including howitzers, helicopters, ammunition, tactical drones, and more. Ukraine's Armed Forces are using this equipment and performing brilliantly. The coming weeks will be difficult, and they may be decisive. In concentrating its assault on the Donbas, Russia is moving the war from cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv to a more wide-open landscape where its heavy artillery seems to have an advantage. In addition, many intelligence reports suggest that Putin is desperate for something he can call a military win by May 8, which Russia celebrates as ``Victory Day,'' marking the Allies' defeat over Nazi Germany in World War II. The tragic irony is that in this war, Russia is using many of the same tactics used in World War II: attacking a peaceful neighboring nation, intentionally targeting civilians, and committing heinous war crimes. This Senate voted unanimously last month to condemn Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. We must continue to stand with Ukraine and for democracy and for the rules of civilization where so many Americans fought for and died in World War II and since. I started these comments on the floor this afternoon remembering a World War II vet in Illinois that just passed away at the age of 98, Lorenzo Cervantes. I have spoken to so many of those vets and said: What were you fighting for? And they said: We were fighting for our buddies right next to us. We were going to bring each other home safe, so we kept the fight. And we were fighting for our families. We believed our family name was at stake, and the courage we showed reflected on them. And we also were fighting for our nation, the United States, which we were proud to serve and risk our lives for. But most of all, we were fighting to make sure our kids didn't have to do the same. We were willing to sacrifice, even give our lives, so our kids could live in a peaceful world. Well, for almost 80 years that was a fact after World War II and the serviceof Lorenzo Cervantes and hundreds of thousands of others. And then came Vladimir Putin with this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. He thought they would be a pushover. He had this massive Russian army mobilizing over a span of months ready to attack. And when he launched his attack, he expected the people of Ukraine to fold, quit, and leave. But they didn't. They fought and they have been an inspiration ever since. Putin wants to write a new world order. He wants to say to the living veterans of World War II and their families: You wasted your time. I can do this if I wish. I have the power. But he has run into a force he didn't anticipate. The Ukrainians have done an incredible job, an inspiring job to the world. And I want, of course, to say a word of praise to their President. Mr. Zelenskyy started in life as a stand-up comedian. Somehow or another, he has become the world's leading stand-up President--standing up to a tyrant like Vladimir Putin, inspiring people all around the world to join in this effort to save his nation. I am glad that the United States is on board, and we will continue to help him until Putin is finally gone. The genocide which he is inflicting on the Ukrainian people is an embarrassment to the 21st century. To think that this could happen in the so-called civilized western world is virtually unthinkable. We have got to make a stand, and I am glad that we have. I support President Biden and the NATO alliance who are standing behind the people of Ukraine. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2116 | null | 4,250 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Ukraine Madam President, after World War II, the United States and the leading free nations of Europe worked together to create a new system of rules and institutions to guard the peace of World War II and to reduce the risk in Europe that we would ever again descend into the hell of war. The most important of these new institutions was called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization--NATO. Among its most important new rules was the commitment that nations must never again wage wars of conquest against their neighbors. For more than 75 years, the new rules and institutions largely helped keep the peace in Europe, but then came Ukraine. With its barbaric attack on Ukraine, Russia is waging war not only against a sovereign nation--an innocent, unprovoked nation--Russia is attacking the very system of democracy and rules-based order for which 400,000 U.S. servicemembers died in World War II and many more have given their lives since. Vladimir Putin is seeking to restore some mythical Russian Empire. He wants to demolish NATO, and he wants to drag the world back into a blood-soaked past, when Kings and tyrants waged wars of conquest to expand their territory and fill their coffers. As Russia's barbaric, blood-thirsty war against Ukraine enters its third month, it is clear that Vladimir Putin has miscalculated disastrously. He thought his forces were so overwhelming that he would occupy Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in a matter of days; that he would remove Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power in Ukraine and that he would install a puppet government that would once again take orders from Moscow. Instead, Kyiv still stands, Zelenskyy is still in control, and Vladimir Putin has been frustrated by the determination, courage, and resiliency of the Ukrainian troops. He has suffered heavy losses. Russia has lost the battle for Ukraine to date. Vladimir Zelenskyy is still Ukraine's President, and Russian forces are demoralized and depleted. Instead of seizing Kyiv and all of Ukraine, Russia is now regrouping to try to pick one region that they can conquer, the Donbas region--which they have illegally occupied since 2014--and to seize the Black Sea Port of Mariupol. Russia's economy is increasingly staggering under the weight of some of the most powerful sanctions ever levied against any nation in the history of the world. The effect of these sanctions against Russia will become even more onerous in the months ahead as Russia is unable to buy parts and equipment to keep its basic industries thriving and other key sectors of its economy functioning. The sanctions also target the oligarchs, the kleptocrats, Putin's fraternity who helped prop up his corrupt regime. They are losing their superyachts--isn't that a heartbreaker--their vacation dachas, and some are starting to lose their lives--strangely, a fate that seems to befall a number of people who get close to Russia's KGB thug who happens to be the leader in Russia today. The Russian Government has given up any pretense it once had after the breakup of the Soviet Union of ever becoming a democracy. I say that with some sadness for the people of Russia. They have been relegated to the role of pawns in Putin's escapade. A new censorship law has taken effect. It makes it a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison to even describe the invasion of Ukraine as a ``war'' or to describe Russia's assault on Ukraine in honest terms. You can go to prison for that in Mr. Putin's Russia. It was just a few weeks ago that I met upstairs in my office with a Russian journalist and opposition leader. His name is Vladimir Kara-Murza. Mr. Kara-Murza is fearless. He survived poisoning attempts by the Kremlin twice. He told me several weeks ago, ``I'm going back.'' I said, ``Why?'' He said, ``There is work to be done.'' He told me about his opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine, the increasing opposition to the war with Russia, and his hopes that some day Russia will be a part of the community of democracies. Well, Mr. Kara-Murza went back to Moscow, and last week, he was arrested--the same day CNN broadcast an interview in which he called Putin's government ``a regime of murderers.'' Mr. Kara-Murza faces years of imprisonment for simply telling the truth. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and I are going to introduce a bipartisan resolution this week calling for Mr. Kara-Murza's immediate release. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us. Vladimir Putin also badly miscalculated the unity of NATO and the will of free people to defend democracy. Instead of shattering NATO, Putin has strengthened NATO. Finland and Sweden, longtime neutral nations, could soon join NATO. Germany is pursuing a historic dramatic overhaul of its approach to security and defense. And yesterday, French voters re-elected their President, Emmanuel Macron, decisively, choosing him over his far-right Putin sympathizer, Marine Le Pen. That election in France marked the first time in 20 years that French voters have given a President a second term. It is widely viewed as, among other things, a vote of support for NATO and Ukraine and against Putin and his Russian aggression. Vladimir Putin also gambled that America would be too weak and divided to oppose Russia's assault on Ukraine. He was badly mistaken again. Republicans and Democrats are standing together in support of Ukraine, as are the American people. President Biden's leadership has been critical in uniting NATO and the West and enabling Ukraine to defend itself. Yesterday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin traveled to Kyiv and met with President Zelenskyy personally to show Putin and the world that the United States of America stands with the Ukrainian people in their heroic defense of their homeland. The U.S. is providing Ukraine with the military equipment to defend itself, but it takes the courage and determination of those men and women in Ukraine to make it work. In the last 2 months alone, America has committed to Ukraine an unprecedented $3.7 billion in military equipment, including howitzers, helicopters, ammunition, tactical drones, and more. Ukraine's Armed Forces are using this equipment and performing brilliantly. The coming weeks will be difficult, and they may be decisive. In concentrating its assault on the Donbas, Russia is moving the war from cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv to a more wide-open landscape where its heavy artillery seems to have an advantage. In addition, many intelligence reports suggest that Putin is desperate for something he can call a military win by May 8, which Russia celebrates as ``Victory Day,'' marking the Allies' defeat over Nazi Germany in World War II. The tragic irony is that in this war, Russia is using many of the same tactics used in World War II: attacking a peaceful neighboring nation, intentionally targeting civilians, and committing heinous war crimes. This Senate voted unanimously last month to condemn Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. We must continue to stand with Ukraine and for democracy and for the rules of civilization where so many Americans fought for and died in World War II and since. I started these comments on the floor this afternoon remembering a World War II vet in Illinois that just passed away at the age of 98, Lorenzo Cervantes. I have spoken to so many of those vets and said: What were you fighting for? And they said: We were fighting for our buddies right next to us. We were going to bring each other home safe, so we kept the fight. And we were fighting for our families. We believed our family name was at stake, and the courage we showed reflected on them. And we also were fighting for our nation, the United States, which we were proud to serve and risk our lives for. But most of all, we were fighting to make sure our kids didn't have to do the same. We were willing to sacrifice, even give our lives, so our kids could live in a peaceful world. Well, for almost 80 years that was a fact after World War II and the serviceof Lorenzo Cervantes and hundreds of thousands of others. And then came Vladimir Putin with this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. He thought they would be a pushover. He had this massive Russian army mobilizing over a span of months ready to attack. And when he launched his attack, he expected the people of Ukraine to fold, quit, and leave. But they didn't. They fought and they have been an inspiration ever since. Putin wants to write a new world order. He wants to say to the living veterans of World War II and their families: You wasted your time. I can do this if I wish. I have the power. But he has run into a force he didn't anticipate. The Ukrainians have done an incredible job, an inspiring job to the world. And I want, of course, to say a word of praise to their President. Mr. Zelenskyy started in life as a stand-up comedian. Somehow or another, he has become the world's leading stand-up President--standing up to a tyrant like Vladimir Putin, inspiring people all around the world to join in this effort to save his nation. I am glad that the United States is on board, and we will continue to help him until Putin is finally gone. The genocide which he is inflicting on the Ukrainian people is an embarrassment to the 21st century. To think that this could happen in the so-called civilized western world is virtually unthinkable. We have got to make a stand, and I am glad that we have. I support President Biden and the NATO alliance who are standing behind the people of Ukraine. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2116 | null | 4,251 |
formal | thug | null | racist | Ukraine Madam President, after World War II, the United States and the leading free nations of Europe worked together to create a new system of rules and institutions to guard the peace of World War II and to reduce the risk in Europe that we would ever again descend into the hell of war. The most important of these new institutions was called the North Atlantic Treaty Organization--NATO. Among its most important new rules was the commitment that nations must never again wage wars of conquest against their neighbors. For more than 75 years, the new rules and institutions largely helped keep the peace in Europe, but then came Ukraine. With its barbaric attack on Ukraine, Russia is waging war not only against a sovereign nation--an innocent, unprovoked nation--Russia is attacking the very system of democracy and rules-based order for which 400,000 U.S. servicemembers died in World War II and many more have given their lives since. Vladimir Putin is seeking to restore some mythical Russian Empire. He wants to demolish NATO, and he wants to drag the world back into a blood-soaked past, when Kings and tyrants waged wars of conquest to expand their territory and fill their coffers. As Russia's barbaric, blood-thirsty war against Ukraine enters its third month, it is clear that Vladimir Putin has miscalculated disastrously. He thought his forces were so overwhelming that he would occupy Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, in a matter of days; that he would remove Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power in Ukraine and that he would install a puppet government that would once again take orders from Moscow. Instead, Kyiv still stands, Zelenskyy is still in control, and Vladimir Putin has been frustrated by the determination, courage, and resiliency of the Ukrainian troops. He has suffered heavy losses. Russia has lost the battle for Ukraine to date. Vladimir Zelenskyy is still Ukraine's President, and Russian forces are demoralized and depleted. Instead of seizing Kyiv and all of Ukraine, Russia is now regrouping to try to pick one region that they can conquer, the Donbas region--which they have illegally occupied since 2014--and to seize the Black Sea Port of Mariupol. Russia's economy is increasingly staggering under the weight of some of the most powerful sanctions ever levied against any nation in the history of the world. The effect of these sanctions against Russia will become even more onerous in the months ahead as Russia is unable to buy parts and equipment to keep its basic industries thriving and other key sectors of its economy functioning. The sanctions also target the oligarchs, the kleptocrats, Putin's fraternity who helped prop up his corrupt regime. They are losing their superyachts--isn't that a heartbreaker--their vacation dachas, and some are starting to lose their lives--strangely, a fate that seems to befall a number of people who get close to Russia's KGB thug who happens to be the leader in Russia today. The Russian Government has given up any pretense it once had after the breakup of the Soviet Union of ever becoming a democracy. I say that with some sadness for the people of Russia. They have been relegated to the role of pawns in Putin's escapade. A new censorship law has taken effect. It makes it a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison to even describe the invasion of Ukraine as a ``war'' or to describe Russia's assault on Ukraine in honest terms. You can go to prison for that in Mr. Putin's Russia. It was just a few weeks ago that I met upstairs in my office with a Russian journalist and opposition leader. His name is Vladimir Kara-Murza. Mr. Kara-Murza is fearless. He survived poisoning attempts by the Kremlin twice. He told me several weeks ago, ``I'm going back.'' I said, ``Why?'' He said, ``There is work to be done.'' He told me about his opposition to Russia's war in Ukraine, the increasing opposition to the war with Russia, and his hopes that some day Russia will be a part of the community of democracies. Well, Mr. Kara-Murza went back to Moscow, and last week, he was arrested--the same day CNN broadcast an interview in which he called Putin's government ``a regime of murderers.'' Mr. Kara-Murza faces years of imprisonment for simply telling the truth. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida and I are going to introduce a bipartisan resolution this week calling for Mr. Kara-Murza's immediate release. I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle will join us. Vladimir Putin also badly miscalculated the unity of NATO and the will of free people to defend democracy. Instead of shattering NATO, Putin has strengthened NATO. Finland and Sweden, longtime neutral nations, could soon join NATO. Germany is pursuing a historic dramatic overhaul of its approach to security and defense. And yesterday, French voters re-elected their President, Emmanuel Macron, decisively, choosing him over his far-right Putin sympathizer, Marine Le Pen. That election in France marked the first time in 20 years that French voters have given a President a second term. It is widely viewed as, among other things, a vote of support for NATO and Ukraine and against Putin and his Russian aggression. Vladimir Putin also gambled that America would be too weak and divided to oppose Russia's assault on Ukraine. He was badly mistaken again. Republicans and Democrats are standing together in support of Ukraine, as are the American people. President Biden's leadership has been critical in uniting NATO and the West and enabling Ukraine to defend itself. Yesterday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin traveled to Kyiv and met with President Zelenskyy personally to show Putin and the world that the United States of America stands with the Ukrainian people in their heroic defense of their homeland. The U.S. is providing Ukraine with the military equipment to defend itself, but it takes the courage and determination of those men and women in Ukraine to make it work. In the last 2 months alone, America has committed to Ukraine an unprecedented $3.7 billion in military equipment, including howitzers, helicopters, ammunition, tactical drones, and more. Ukraine's Armed Forces are using this equipment and performing brilliantly. The coming weeks will be difficult, and they may be decisive. In concentrating its assault on the Donbas, Russia is moving the war from cities like Kyiv and Kharkiv to a more wide-open landscape where its heavy artillery seems to have an advantage. In addition, many intelligence reports suggest that Putin is desperate for something he can call a military win by May 8, which Russia celebrates as ``Victory Day,'' marking the Allies' defeat over Nazi Germany in World War II. The tragic irony is that in this war, Russia is using many of the same tactics used in World War II: attacking a peaceful neighboring nation, intentionally targeting civilians, and committing heinous war crimes. This Senate voted unanimously last month to condemn Vladimir Putin as a war criminal. We must continue to stand with Ukraine and for democracy and for the rules of civilization where so many Americans fought for and died in World War II and since. I started these comments on the floor this afternoon remembering a World War II vet in Illinois that just passed away at the age of 98, Lorenzo Cervantes. I have spoken to so many of those vets and said: What were you fighting for? And they said: We were fighting for our buddies right next to us. We were going to bring each other home safe, so we kept the fight. And we were fighting for our families. We believed our family name was at stake, and the courage we showed reflected on them. And we also were fighting for our nation, the United States, which we were proud to serve and risk our lives for. But most of all, we were fighting to make sure our kids didn't have to do the same. We were willing to sacrifice, even give our lives, so our kids could live in a peaceful world. Well, for almost 80 years that was a fact after World War II and the serviceof Lorenzo Cervantes and hundreds of thousands of others. And then came Vladimir Putin with this unprovoked attack on Ukraine. He thought they would be a pushover. He had this massive Russian army mobilizing over a span of months ready to attack. And when he launched his attack, he expected the people of Ukraine to fold, quit, and leave. But they didn't. They fought and they have been an inspiration ever since. Putin wants to write a new world order. He wants to say to the living veterans of World War II and their families: You wasted your time. I can do this if I wish. I have the power. But he has run into a force he didn't anticipate. The Ukrainians have done an incredible job, an inspiring job to the world. And I want, of course, to say a word of praise to their President. Mr. Zelenskyy started in life as a stand-up comedian. Somehow or another, he has become the world's leading stand-up President--standing up to a tyrant like Vladimir Putin, inspiring people all around the world to join in this effort to save his nation. I am glad that the United States is on board, and we will continue to help him until Putin is finally gone. The genocide which he is inflicting on the Ukrainian people is an embarrassment to the 21st century. To think that this could happen in the so-called civilized western world is virtually unthinkable. We have got to make a stand, and I am glad that we have. I support President Biden and the NATO alliance who are standing behind the people of Ukraine. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2116 | null | 4,252 |
formal | working families | null | racist | Inflation Madam President, on an entirely different matter, the Senate reconvenes today, after Passover and Easter, to begin a new work period, but, unfortunately, the biggest problem facing the American people is still the same as it has been all year long. Rising inflation is continuing to inflict painful consequences on working families across our country. This painful problem isn't getting better; it is still getting worse. Last month, consumer prices clocked an 8.5-percent year-on-year increase. Inflation is now rising at its fastest pace in more than four decades. The surge is being led in large part by a 23.6-percent jump in airfares, a 35.3-percent increase in used car and truck prices, and a 48-percent spike in the cost of gasoline. These are exactly the sorts of products consumers lean on most heavily in the warmer months. But, while March's numbers are an extra cruel twist, the American people have been feeling the effects of the Biden administration's war on domestic energy for the better part of a year. Before most folks even began to consider summer travel and long before Putin launched his invasion of Ukraine, working families were already facing soaring prices at the gas pump. Even as wage growth accelerated for a fifth straight month, workers' paychecks once again failed to keep pace with the steep surge of rising prices. Raises and bonuses are being swallowed by inflation. Real wages are down 2.7 percent year-on-year. Democrats' runaway spending has brought us runaway inflation. Prices in the United States have risen higher and faster than in other developed economies. Even the New York Times now admits that ``risks are mounting that America's ambitious spending will end up with a checkered legacy.'' Let me say that again. Even the New York Times now admits that ``risks are mounting that America's ambitious spending will end up with a checkered legacy.'' But even in the face of this painful reality, even as every measurable indicator spells out the clear consequences of reckless runaway spending, Washington Democrats are showing no sign of changing course. President Biden's response to the shaky economy he created is to propose the biggest tax hike in American history and double-digit percentage growth in domestic discretionary spending. Democrats' policies have working families deep in a financial hole, and our colleagues across the aisle just want to keep digging. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2117-3 | null | 4,253 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Lisa DeNell Cook Madam President, as soon as tomorrow, the Senate will proceed on the nomination of Lisa Cook to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Coming from humble beginnings in rural Georgia, where her family fought racial segregation, Ms. Cook would make history as the first Black woman ever to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Her qualifications are irrefutable. She is a professor of economics at Michigan State, a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Board, and served as senior economist in President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers. In short, Ms. Cook absolutely belongs on the Fed, and I look forward to the Senate confirming her soon. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2118-2 | null | 4,254 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Lisa DeNell Cook Madam President, as soon as tomorrow, the Senate will proceed on the nomination of Lisa Cook to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Coming from humble beginnings in rural Georgia, where her family fought racial segregation, Ms. Cook would make history as the first Black woman ever to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Her qualifications are irrefutable. She is a professor of economics at Michigan State, a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Board, and served as senior economist in President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers. In short, Ms. Cook absolutely belongs on the Fed, and I look forward to the Senate confirming her soon. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2118-2 | null | 4,255 |
formal | Chicago | null | racist | Nomination of Lisa DeNell Cook Madam President, as soon as tomorrow, the Senate will proceed on the nomination of Lisa Cook to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Coming from humble beginnings in rural Georgia, where her family fought racial segregation, Ms. Cook would make history as the first Black woman ever to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Her qualifications are irrefutable. She is a professor of economics at Michigan State, a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago Advisory Board, and served as senior economist in President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers. In short, Ms. Cook absolutely belongs on the Fed, and I look forward to the Senate confirming her soon. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2118-2 | null | 4,256 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Alvaro M. Bedoya Madam President, this week, the Senate will also confirm Alvaro Bedoya as a commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, breaking a 2-2 deadlock on the FTC that has lasted for over a year. Mr. Bedoya's confirmation is truly significant. If we want to lower costs, if we want to understand why the price of things like gasoline have surged, then it is important to break the 2-2 deadlock at the FTC so it can fully examine these issues and execute its agenda. Every time Americans go to the pump, they just know something truly rotten is going on with America's energy sector. Last year, the top 25 oil and gas companies reported $205 billion in profits. Earlier this month, ExxonMobil alone reported its highest quarterly profits since 2008. But has any of this translated into lower prices for Americans? Has any of this gone to help resolve our energy challenges? Has any of it gone to increasing worker productivity? No, no, and no. Instead, soaring energy profits have fueled soaring stock buybacks. In the fourth quarter of last year, oil and gas companies' stock buybacks rose by more than 2,000 percent--2,000 percent. They are making record profits, and what do the CEOs do? They artificially increase the value of their stocks simply by buying some of it back. That is not why stock should go up. Could they do something to reduce prices? Wouldn't that help America more? Could they do something to make their oil companies--their workers fare better? No. There is something deeply wrong, deeply wrong about seeing the largest oil and gas companies in the world drench top executives and wealthy shareholders with cash while Americans are struggling at the pump. That is why we need a fully functioning FTC as soon as possible; so it can look under the hood of America's energy sector and determine if rising prices are, in part, rooted in shady conduct, and I believe they are. For that reason, we must confirm Mr. Bedoya by the end of this week. And I say to my Republican friends, if you are complaining about oil and gas prices--gasoline prices, one of the best things to do is have the FTC take a look and propose action and act. On this very same note, Democrats are also discussing and will consider other potential action to beef up the FTC's ability to crack down on potential gas price manipulation. We will have more to say on this as the week progresses. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2118-3 | null | 4,257 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Coronavirus Madam President, in addition to Ukraine funding, I will also keep working with my colleagues to pass another bipartisan COVID funding package. At the end of the last work period, a group of Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement on a funding package, only for every single Republican to vote against moving forward--every single one. Truly disappointing, because this funding is desperately needed. The best way to keep life as close to normal in case a new COVID variant arises, is for Republicans to work with us to quickly approve more money for vaccines, more for testing, more money for lifesaving therapeutics, and other urgent tools to fight the pandemic. The longer that Senate Republicans hold out on working with us to approve new funding, the higher the cost will be for our country down the line. As we have learned already, it doesn't take much for a new variant to undo a lot of the progress we have made in recent months. So in the coming weeks, both parties must come to the table and reach a good-faith agreement to move forward on COVID funding. It will be vital for keeping schools, churches, businesses, and our communities open if and when a future, more potent variant rears its ugly head. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2118-6 | null | 4,258 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Lael Brainard Madam President, today, the Senate gavels in for the start of a 5-week work period, and there is much, much that the American people want us and need us to work on in order to lower costs and improve their daily lives. That will be one of our primary focuses. The Senate will also continue confirming President Biden's administrative and judicial nominees. Today we will vote to advance the nomination of Lael Brainard to be Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Ms. Brainard received bipartisan backing in the committee, and I expect her to sail through this Chamber with similar bipartisan support. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2118 | null | 4,259 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Nomination of Lael Brainard Madam President, today, the Senate gavels in for the start of a 5-week work period, and there is much, much that the American people want us and need us to work on in order to lower costs and improve their daily lives. That will be one of our primary focuses. The Senate will also continue confirming President Biden's administrative and judicial nominees. Today we will vote to advance the nomination of Lael Brainard to be Vice Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Ms. Brainard received bipartisan backing in the committee, and I expect her to sail through this Chamber with similar bipartisan support. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2118 | null | 4,260 |
formal | single | null | homophobic | Coronavirus Madam President, in the next couple of weeks, as we know, we could well see another pandemic relief bill come to the floor for a vote. I hope this package includes a piece of legislation that Senator Padilla, the Senator from California, and I authored, that would give State and local governments more flexibility to spend their excess COVID dollars, in this case, on infrastructure or disaster relief. This bill passed the Senate unanimously and addresses a problem communities across our Nation are facing. And there is no reason for it to be excluded from the larger package, so I am optimistic. In the coming days, I hope the Senate will also take action to preserve the use of title 42, the public health title, addressing COVID-19, following the President's reckless decision to eliminate it with no alternative plan in place, which would invite even more chaos at our southern border. Months ago, during the height of COVID, the Border Patrol told me that title 42 was helpful in repelling migrants who were not claiming asylum and avoiding having to process them on this side of the border. But that was one of the few things, given the huge number of asylum claims that were being made, that permitted them to control the flow of people across the border, at least in some manner. I am proud to cosponsor a bipartisan bill introduced by Senator Lankford and Senator Sinema, which would delay the end of title 42 until there is a reasonable, workable alternative in place. There is bipartisan support for this legislation, and I hope it will receive a vote here on the Senate floor very soon. These are just a few of the items on the Senate's lengthy to-do list, but of course the single biggest item looming in the news and on our minds and hearts is the war in Ukraine. Over the last 2 months, Ukraine has endured unimaginable suffering, and its brave people and soldiers continue to fight to save their country. As Americans, we cannot lose sight of our role in the conflict. Our sons and daughters are not on the frontlines, nor are we obligated by a treaty, like the North Atlantic Treaty, to come to the aid of Ukraine. But I believe we have a moral responsibility to aid a fellow democracy against this kind of unprovoked and outrageous aggression. We can't just send money and weapons halfway around the world and then pat ourselves on the back and say: Job well done. As I said, we have a moral responsibility to help Ukraine not only fight but also to win this war. We can't just prop up its forces to continue to take more hits without providing them a plan for them to sustain their efforts in the long run. Over the last couple of months, folks across the political spectrum have united in support of Ukraine. As a matter of fact, this has been one of the truly bipartisan responses that we have seen here in Congress--bipartisan support of Ukraine. I have to say, amid so much pain and suffering, it has been encouraging to see people around the world--not just here in America but around the world--stand shoulder-to-shoulder in support of Ukraine. As we know, since the war began, the United States has provided billions of dollars in military assistance as well as humanitarian relief. This has come in the form of everything from body armor to helmets, to ammunition to Javelin antitank missiles. But as we know, more is needed. That was the message President Zelenskyy delivered to Members of Congress. It was a message I heard from our partners in Europe when I traveled to Poland and Germany last month. And it is the same message we are hearing today: Send us the weapons we need to defend ourselves against this unprovoked and barbarous invasion by the Russian Federation. Daily, Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are being bludgeoned. We need to get them the resources they need to hold the line, and we need to continue to act with dispatch. Just before the State work period, the Senate passed legislation that would help make that more likely. It was called the bipartisan Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which I introduced with Senator Cardin, that has broad bipartisan support in the Senate, and it passed unanimously here early last month. This legislation is rooted in the same principle as the original Lend-Lease Act, which occurred during World War II, whereby the United States became what Franklin Delano Roosevelt called the ``arsenal of democracy,'' and we provided, at the time, up to $30 billion worth of materials--airplanes, ships, ammunition, all manner of weaponry--which allowed Great Britain to hang on against Nazi aggression. Now, if you translate the amount of assistance that the United States gave our allies in World War II under the Lend-Lease Act that was passed then and signed into law by Franklin Delano Roosevelt, it would translate into more than $400 billion today. And I think it is important for us to send a strong bipartisan message that the U.S. Congress supports Ukraine not just for today, not just for tomorrow but for the long run. Now that the Senate has unanimously passed this bipartisan legislation, it is up to the House. As I said, this legislation is important, one, because it cuts the redtape and expedites the shipment and delivery of weapons. As it stands today, there are a lot of time-consuming steps between the United States deciding to send more resources to the forces on the ground and between the time that the decision is made and the time that weapons are actually received. As we can see by the devastating videos of this war, there is no time for delay or redtape. Our assistance cannot move at the speed of the bureaucracy. And equally important is point No. 2. This bill ensures that we can send Ukraine the resources it actually needs, not just what current authorities allow. President Zelenskyy himself said: Ukraine can't shoot down Russian missiles with shotguns and machineguns. We need to listen to what Ukraine needs and send those items with dispatch. That is what this legislation provides for, nothing more and nothing less. It doesn't just help speed up the process of getting this equipment to Ukraine; it will ensure that we are actually sending them the items they actually need and can actually use. Now, I know I don't have to convince my Senate colleagues that this is a good piece of legislation. We passed it unanimously 2 weeks ago. So we all understand what is at stake, and we are eager to remove the hurdles that prevent the United States from arming the Ukrainian forces with what they need to win this war as soon as we can get it in their hands. I hope our Senate colleagues and the American people will contact our colleagues in the House and encourage them to pass the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act this week. Every day we are learning more about the horrors unfolding in Ukraine. We have seen Russian war crimes in Bucha, and there are well-founded fears that the same carnage is unfolding in Mariupol. These developments should light a fire under our colleagues in the House to pass this legislation as soon as possible. Chris Alexander is a former Canadian diplomat, who spent time posted at the Canadian Embassy in Russia. He recently said: ``Lend-Lease is a potential game-changer for the war in Ukraine.'' A potential game-changer--there is no better way to describe this legislation or to underscore its urgency. Last week, the Ukrainian Prime Minister himself said that our Lend-Lease Program is what Ukraine needs to win the war. Over the last 2 months, Ukrainian forces have demonstrated unbelievable strength and bravery. So it is time, once again, for the United States to serve as that ``arsenal of democracy,'' as Franklin Roosevelt called it, and ensure that Ukraine has the full range of resources it needs not just for today, not just for tomorrow but for the future as well. After this bill passed the Senate, Ukraine's Minister for Foreign Affairs expressed his gratitude to all 100 Senators who voted to pass the bill, and he said he looks forward to its swift passage in the House. So I would respectfully encourage Speaker Pelosi to bring this legislation to the floor for a vote this week so we can answer Ukraine's call to provide more weapons more quickly for the indefinite future. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-25-pt1-PgS2119 | null | 4,261 |
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 (S. 497) to establish the American Fisheries Advisory Committee to assist in the awarding of fisheries research and development grants, and for other purposes on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgH4489-3 | null | 4,262 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years. | 2020-01-06 | The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2135-7 | null | 4,263 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the Senate will proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. The senior assistant legislative clerk read the nomination of Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years. | 2020-01-06 | The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2135-7 | null | 4,264 |
formal | government spending | null | racist | Biden Administration Mr. President, the first year of Democratic governance in Washington has produced surging inflation, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and a massive border crisis. And, unfortunately, so far 2022 isn't looking much better. Our inflation crisis keeps getting worse, energy prices are soaring, and the Biden border crisis is reaching new heights. When President Biden took office, inflation was 1.4 percent, well within the Federal Reserve's target inflation rate of 2 percent; and it might have remained there had Democrats not decided to pass a $1.9 trillion partisan spending spree under the guise of COVID relief--mere weeks, I might add, after Congress had approved a fifth bipartisan COVID relief bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs. The Democrats' decision to flood the economy with unnecessary government money set off an inflation crisis that shows little sign of stopping. March saw inflation hit 8.5 percent, a 40-year high. Everywhere Americans look, they are paying more: more for groceries, more for gas, more for utilities, more for furniture, more for used cars and trucks--and the list goes on. While wages increased in 2021, inflation outstripped wage growth, which means that instead of a pay increase, many Americans saw a de facto pay cut. Needless to say, inflation is having the biggest impact on those who can least afford it. The President likes to tout job creation and economic growth--although most of what he takes credit for is the natural consequence of economic recovery after the pandemic--but his claims mean little to families who are wondering how they will be able to pay their soaring grocery bills or whether they can afford the gas that they need for the rest of the month. And speaking of affording gas, thanks to Democrats, we are also rapidly approaching a full-blown energy crisis. Gas prices increased on average to an alltime high in March, according to AAA, and that is on top of the soaring inflationary costs of electricity and home gas services, among other energy commodities. As of yesterday, gas was $4.12 a gallon, up from $2.39 a gallon when President Biden took office. The administration, of course, has attempted to blame this hike on Putin, but the vast majority of the 72-percent increase in gas prices since President Biden took office predates the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Every gallon of gas purchased at current prices hits family budgets hard, especially in rural States like South Dakota where driving long distances is the norm. Diesel averaged $2.68 a gallon in January of 2021. As of yesterday, it was $5.07. That not only hits our transportation sector and truckers but farmers across the country as they plant their fields this spring. There is no easy solution on inflation, but the first imperative is to do no more harm. Once Democrats saw the inflationary effects of their $1.9 trillion spending bill, they should have instantly resolved to refrain from any more unnecessary government spending. Big spending, however, is a way of life for Democrats. So instead of committing to spending restraint, they spent last fall pushing for a second massive spending spree that would have made our inflation situation that much worse. And while that reckless tax-and-spending spree was mercifully halted in the Senate last December, the President's recent budget request made clear that Democrats are still intent on implementing many of their tax-and-spending spree's measures. That is right. Democrats unleashed the worst inflation in 40 years by flooding the economy with unnecessary government money, and they still want to double down on that strategy. If Democrats have their way on government spending, our inflation crisis could last for years to come. Mr. President, while there are few things the President and Democrats can do to speed up the end of their self-inflicted inflation crisis other than not making it worse, there are actions that Democrats can take to address the high energy costs that Americans are facing, and chief among those things is unleashing American energy production of both alternative and conventional energy. Unfortunately, the President seems pretty committed to doing the opposite when it comes to conventional energy. He has asked other countries to increase their conventional energy production, but he has made it clear that he is not interested in seeing the United States do the same. While his administration is finally conducting sales for new onshore oil and gas leases, it has reduced the land available for such leases and substantially increased the royalty rate, sending a clear signal to American energy producers that the administration is reluctant to collaborate with it. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed requiring costly new financial disclosures that would discourage investment in conventional energy production. While Democrats may wish it weren't so, the fact of the matter is that our country will still need oil and natural gas for years to come; and if Democrats and the President didn't want Americans to be paying sky-high prices to fill their cars, they need to focus on encouraging responsible oil and gas production here at home, which, I might add, puts Americans to work in good-paying jobs and develops these resources with fewer emissions than are produced in other countries. Forcing our country to increase our reliance on foreign energy sources will do nothing but drive up energy prices, not to mention jeopardizing national security. Boosting domestic production, on the other hand, would drive down energy prices while ensuring that we don't have to rely on dictators or unstable countries for energy. In addition to our energy and inflation crises, we are also facing a massive crisis at the southern border. Almost from the day the President took office, we have seen a huge surge in the number of individuals attempting to illegally make their way across the southern border. In March alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 221,303 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally. In the first quarter of 2022, more than half a million individuals were apprehended while trying to get across our southern border. And the influx shows no signs of stopping. And what has the President done to address this crisis? Next to nothing. In fact, the truth is that this is a crisis largely of the President's own making. The series of actions that he has taken to weaken border security and immigration enforcement has encouraged a flood of illegal immigration across our southern border. In fact, the President's lawyers are over at the Supreme Court today arguing against a measure to discourage illegal immigration. And now the President is on track to make our current border crisis much worse by lifting title 42 COVID-19 restrictions that have provided for the immediate deportation of individuals who have crossed the border illegally. Once these restrictions are lifted, the Department of Homeland Security expects as many as 18,000 migrants per day--18,000 per day--to attempt to cross our southern border. I mentioned that we have seen more than half a million attempted illegal crossings in the first 3 months of this year. Without title 42 restrictions, we could be seeing more than half a million attempted crossings each month, and it is clear that the President has no substantive plan in place to deal with such a surge. I was relieved--as I think a lot of Americans were and I think a lot of Democrats, honestly, here in the Senate--that yesterday a Federal judge issued an order temporarily preserving title 42. But this is not a permanent solution to the problem. Title 42 should not be lifted until the President has a robust plan in place for discouraging illegal immigration, securing our border, preventing human trafficking and drug trafficking, and quickly deporting those who seek to illegally enter our country. So here is where we are, Mr. President: We have an inflation crisis that is driving up costs for American families. We have an energy crisis, with sky-high gas prices fueling pain at the pump. And we have a security, humanitarian, and enforcement crisis at our southern border. That is what a year and a quarter of Democratic governance looks like. And since Democrats show no signs of taking steps to address these crises, that is what Democratic governance is likely to look like for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the American people will continue to pay the price. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2139-2 | null | 4,265 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | Biden Administration Mr. President, the first year of Democratic governance in Washington has produced surging inflation, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and a massive border crisis. And, unfortunately, so far 2022 isn't looking much better. Our inflation crisis keeps getting worse, energy prices are soaring, and the Biden border crisis is reaching new heights. When President Biden took office, inflation was 1.4 percent, well within the Federal Reserve's target inflation rate of 2 percent; and it might have remained there had Democrats not decided to pass a $1.9 trillion partisan spending spree under the guise of COVID relief--mere weeks, I might add, after Congress had approved a fifth bipartisan COVID relief bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs. The Democrats' decision to flood the economy with unnecessary government money set off an inflation crisis that shows little sign of stopping. March saw inflation hit 8.5 percent, a 40-year high. Everywhere Americans look, they are paying more: more for groceries, more for gas, more for utilities, more for furniture, more for used cars and trucks--and the list goes on. While wages increased in 2021, inflation outstripped wage growth, which means that instead of a pay increase, many Americans saw a de facto pay cut. Needless to say, inflation is having the biggest impact on those who can least afford it. The President likes to tout job creation and economic growth--although most of what he takes credit for is the natural consequence of economic recovery after the pandemic--but his claims mean little to families who are wondering how they will be able to pay their soaring grocery bills or whether they can afford the gas that they need for the rest of the month. And speaking of affording gas, thanks to Democrats, we are also rapidly approaching a full-blown energy crisis. Gas prices increased on average to an alltime high in March, according to AAA, and that is on top of the soaring inflationary costs of electricity and home gas services, among other energy commodities. As of yesterday, gas was $4.12 a gallon, up from $2.39 a gallon when President Biden took office. The administration, of course, has attempted to blame this hike on Putin, but the vast majority of the 72-percent increase in gas prices since President Biden took office predates the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Every gallon of gas purchased at current prices hits family budgets hard, especially in rural States like South Dakota where driving long distances is the norm. Diesel averaged $2.68 a gallon in January of 2021. As of yesterday, it was $5.07. That not only hits our transportation sector and truckers but farmers across the country as they plant their fields this spring. There is no easy solution on inflation, but the first imperative is to do no more harm. Once Democrats saw the inflationary effects of their $1.9 trillion spending bill, they should have instantly resolved to refrain from any more unnecessary government spending. Big spending, however, is a way of life for Democrats. So instead of committing to spending restraint, they spent last fall pushing for a second massive spending spree that would have made our inflation situation that much worse. And while that reckless tax-and-spending spree was mercifully halted in the Senate last December, the President's recent budget request made clear that Democrats are still intent on implementing many of their tax-and-spending spree's measures. That is right. Democrats unleashed the worst inflation in 40 years by flooding the economy with unnecessary government money, and they still want to double down on that strategy. If Democrats have their way on government spending, our inflation crisis could last for years to come. Mr. President, while there are few things the President and Democrats can do to speed up the end of their self-inflicted inflation crisis other than not making it worse, there are actions that Democrats can take to address the high energy costs that Americans are facing, and chief among those things is unleashing American energy production of both alternative and conventional energy. Unfortunately, the President seems pretty committed to doing the opposite when it comes to conventional energy. He has asked other countries to increase their conventional energy production, but he has made it clear that he is not interested in seeing the United States do the same. While his administration is finally conducting sales for new onshore oil and gas leases, it has reduced the land available for such leases and substantially increased the royalty rate, sending a clear signal to American energy producers that the administration is reluctant to collaborate with it. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed requiring costly new financial disclosures that would discourage investment in conventional energy production. While Democrats may wish it weren't so, the fact of the matter is that our country will still need oil and natural gas for years to come; and if Democrats and the President didn't want Americans to be paying sky-high prices to fill their cars, they need to focus on encouraging responsible oil and gas production here at home, which, I might add, puts Americans to work in good-paying jobs and develops these resources with fewer emissions than are produced in other countries. Forcing our country to increase our reliance on foreign energy sources will do nothing but drive up energy prices, not to mention jeopardizing national security. Boosting domestic production, on the other hand, would drive down energy prices while ensuring that we don't have to rely on dictators or unstable countries for energy. In addition to our energy and inflation crises, we are also facing a massive crisis at the southern border. Almost from the day the President took office, we have seen a huge surge in the number of individuals attempting to illegally make their way across the southern border. In March alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 221,303 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally. In the first quarter of 2022, more than half a million individuals were apprehended while trying to get across our southern border. And the influx shows no signs of stopping. And what has the President done to address this crisis? Next to nothing. In fact, the truth is that this is a crisis largely of the President's own making. The series of actions that he has taken to weaken border security and immigration enforcement has encouraged a flood of illegal immigration across our southern border. In fact, the President's lawyers are over at the Supreme Court today arguing against a measure to discourage illegal immigration. And now the President is on track to make our current border crisis much worse by lifting title 42 COVID-19 restrictions that have provided for the immediate deportation of individuals who have crossed the border illegally. Once these restrictions are lifted, the Department of Homeland Security expects as many as 18,000 migrants per day--18,000 per day--to attempt to cross our southern border. I mentioned that we have seen more than half a million attempted illegal crossings in the first 3 months of this year. Without title 42 restrictions, we could be seeing more than half a million attempted crossings each month, and it is clear that the President has no substantive plan in place to deal with such a surge. I was relieved--as I think a lot of Americans were and I think a lot of Democrats, honestly, here in the Senate--that yesterday a Federal judge issued an order temporarily preserving title 42. But this is not a permanent solution to the problem. Title 42 should not be lifted until the President has a robust plan in place for discouraging illegal immigration, securing our border, preventing human trafficking and drug trafficking, and quickly deporting those who seek to illegally enter our country. So here is where we are, Mr. President: We have an inflation crisis that is driving up costs for American families. We have an energy crisis, with sky-high gas prices fueling pain at the pump. And we have a security, humanitarian, and enforcement crisis at our southern border. That is what a year and a quarter of Democratic governance looks like. And since Democrats show no signs of taking steps to address these crises, that is what Democratic governance is likely to look like for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the American people will continue to pay the price. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2139-2 | null | 4,266 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Biden Administration Mr. President, the first year of Democratic governance in Washington has produced surging inflation, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and a massive border crisis. And, unfortunately, so far 2022 isn't looking much better. Our inflation crisis keeps getting worse, energy prices are soaring, and the Biden border crisis is reaching new heights. When President Biden took office, inflation was 1.4 percent, well within the Federal Reserve's target inflation rate of 2 percent; and it might have remained there had Democrats not decided to pass a $1.9 trillion partisan spending spree under the guise of COVID relief--mere weeks, I might add, after Congress had approved a fifth bipartisan COVID relief bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs. The Democrats' decision to flood the economy with unnecessary government money set off an inflation crisis that shows little sign of stopping. March saw inflation hit 8.5 percent, a 40-year high. Everywhere Americans look, they are paying more: more for groceries, more for gas, more for utilities, more for furniture, more for used cars and trucks--and the list goes on. While wages increased in 2021, inflation outstripped wage growth, which means that instead of a pay increase, many Americans saw a de facto pay cut. Needless to say, inflation is having the biggest impact on those who can least afford it. The President likes to tout job creation and economic growth--although most of what he takes credit for is the natural consequence of economic recovery after the pandemic--but his claims mean little to families who are wondering how they will be able to pay their soaring grocery bills or whether they can afford the gas that they need for the rest of the month. And speaking of affording gas, thanks to Democrats, we are also rapidly approaching a full-blown energy crisis. Gas prices increased on average to an alltime high in March, according to AAA, and that is on top of the soaring inflationary costs of electricity and home gas services, among other energy commodities. As of yesterday, gas was $4.12 a gallon, up from $2.39 a gallon when President Biden took office. The administration, of course, has attempted to blame this hike on Putin, but the vast majority of the 72-percent increase in gas prices since President Biden took office predates the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Every gallon of gas purchased at current prices hits family budgets hard, especially in rural States like South Dakota where driving long distances is the norm. Diesel averaged $2.68 a gallon in January of 2021. As of yesterday, it was $5.07. That not only hits our transportation sector and truckers but farmers across the country as they plant their fields this spring. There is no easy solution on inflation, but the first imperative is to do no more harm. Once Democrats saw the inflationary effects of their $1.9 trillion spending bill, they should have instantly resolved to refrain from any more unnecessary government spending. Big spending, however, is a way of life for Democrats. So instead of committing to spending restraint, they spent last fall pushing for a second massive spending spree that would have made our inflation situation that much worse. And while that reckless tax-and-spending spree was mercifully halted in the Senate last December, the President's recent budget request made clear that Democrats are still intent on implementing many of their tax-and-spending spree's measures. That is right. Democrats unleashed the worst inflation in 40 years by flooding the economy with unnecessary government money, and they still want to double down on that strategy. If Democrats have their way on government spending, our inflation crisis could last for years to come. Mr. President, while there are few things the President and Democrats can do to speed up the end of their self-inflicted inflation crisis other than not making it worse, there are actions that Democrats can take to address the high energy costs that Americans are facing, and chief among those things is unleashing American energy production of both alternative and conventional energy. Unfortunately, the President seems pretty committed to doing the opposite when it comes to conventional energy. He has asked other countries to increase their conventional energy production, but he has made it clear that he is not interested in seeing the United States do the same. While his administration is finally conducting sales for new onshore oil and gas leases, it has reduced the land available for such leases and substantially increased the royalty rate, sending a clear signal to American energy producers that the administration is reluctant to collaborate with it. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed requiring costly new financial disclosures that would discourage investment in conventional energy production. While Democrats may wish it weren't so, the fact of the matter is that our country will still need oil and natural gas for years to come; and if Democrats and the President didn't want Americans to be paying sky-high prices to fill their cars, they need to focus on encouraging responsible oil and gas production here at home, which, I might add, puts Americans to work in good-paying jobs and develops these resources with fewer emissions than are produced in other countries. Forcing our country to increase our reliance on foreign energy sources will do nothing but drive up energy prices, not to mention jeopardizing national security. Boosting domestic production, on the other hand, would drive down energy prices while ensuring that we don't have to rely on dictators or unstable countries for energy. In addition to our energy and inflation crises, we are also facing a massive crisis at the southern border. Almost from the day the President took office, we have seen a huge surge in the number of individuals attempting to illegally make their way across the southern border. In March alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 221,303 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally. In the first quarter of 2022, more than half a million individuals were apprehended while trying to get across our southern border. And the influx shows no signs of stopping. And what has the President done to address this crisis? Next to nothing. In fact, the truth is that this is a crisis largely of the President's own making. The series of actions that he has taken to weaken border security and immigration enforcement has encouraged a flood of illegal immigration across our southern border. In fact, the President's lawyers are over at the Supreme Court today arguing against a measure to discourage illegal immigration. And now the President is on track to make our current border crisis much worse by lifting title 42 COVID-19 restrictions that have provided for the immediate deportation of individuals who have crossed the border illegally. Once these restrictions are lifted, the Department of Homeland Security expects as many as 18,000 migrants per day--18,000 per day--to attempt to cross our southern border. I mentioned that we have seen more than half a million attempted illegal crossings in the first 3 months of this year. Without title 42 restrictions, we could be seeing more than half a million attempted crossings each month, and it is clear that the President has no substantive plan in place to deal with such a surge. I was relieved--as I think a lot of Americans were and I think a lot of Democrats, honestly, here in the Senate--that yesterday a Federal judge issued an order temporarily preserving title 42. But this is not a permanent solution to the problem. Title 42 should not be lifted until the President has a robust plan in place for discouraging illegal immigration, securing our border, preventing human trafficking and drug trafficking, and quickly deporting those who seek to illegally enter our country. So here is where we are, Mr. President: We have an inflation crisis that is driving up costs for American families. We have an energy crisis, with sky-high gas prices fueling pain at the pump. And we have a security, humanitarian, and enforcement crisis at our southern border. That is what a year and a quarter of Democratic governance looks like. And since Democrats show no signs of taking steps to address these crises, that is what Democratic governance is likely to look like for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the American people will continue to pay the price. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2139-2 | null | 4,267 |
formal | job creation | null | conservative | Biden Administration Mr. President, the first year of Democratic governance in Washington has produced surging inflation, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and a massive border crisis. And, unfortunately, so far 2022 isn't looking much better. Our inflation crisis keeps getting worse, energy prices are soaring, and the Biden border crisis is reaching new heights. When President Biden took office, inflation was 1.4 percent, well within the Federal Reserve's target inflation rate of 2 percent; and it might have remained there had Democrats not decided to pass a $1.9 trillion partisan spending spree under the guise of COVID relief--mere weeks, I might add, after Congress had approved a fifth bipartisan COVID relief bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs. The Democrats' decision to flood the economy with unnecessary government money set off an inflation crisis that shows little sign of stopping. March saw inflation hit 8.5 percent, a 40-year high. Everywhere Americans look, they are paying more: more for groceries, more for gas, more for utilities, more for furniture, more for used cars and trucks--and the list goes on. While wages increased in 2021, inflation outstripped wage growth, which means that instead of a pay increase, many Americans saw a de facto pay cut. Needless to say, inflation is having the biggest impact on those who can least afford it. The President likes to tout job creation and economic growth--although most of what he takes credit for is the natural consequence of economic recovery after the pandemic--but his claims mean little to families who are wondering how they will be able to pay their soaring grocery bills or whether they can afford the gas that they need for the rest of the month. And speaking of affording gas, thanks to Democrats, we are also rapidly approaching a full-blown energy crisis. Gas prices increased on average to an alltime high in March, according to AAA, and that is on top of the soaring inflationary costs of electricity and home gas services, among other energy commodities. As of yesterday, gas was $4.12 a gallon, up from $2.39 a gallon when President Biden took office. The administration, of course, has attempted to blame this hike on Putin, but the vast majority of the 72-percent increase in gas prices since President Biden took office predates the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Every gallon of gas purchased at current prices hits family budgets hard, especially in rural States like South Dakota where driving long distances is the norm. Diesel averaged $2.68 a gallon in January of 2021. As of yesterday, it was $5.07. That not only hits our transportation sector and truckers but farmers across the country as they plant their fields this spring. There is no easy solution on inflation, but the first imperative is to do no more harm. Once Democrats saw the inflationary effects of their $1.9 trillion spending bill, they should have instantly resolved to refrain from any more unnecessary government spending. Big spending, however, is a way of life for Democrats. So instead of committing to spending restraint, they spent last fall pushing for a second massive spending spree that would have made our inflation situation that much worse. And while that reckless tax-and-spending spree was mercifully halted in the Senate last December, the President's recent budget request made clear that Democrats are still intent on implementing many of their tax-and-spending spree's measures. That is right. Democrats unleashed the worst inflation in 40 years by flooding the economy with unnecessary government money, and they still want to double down on that strategy. If Democrats have their way on government spending, our inflation crisis could last for years to come. Mr. President, while there are few things the President and Democrats can do to speed up the end of their self-inflicted inflation crisis other than not making it worse, there are actions that Democrats can take to address the high energy costs that Americans are facing, and chief among those things is unleashing American energy production of both alternative and conventional energy. Unfortunately, the President seems pretty committed to doing the opposite when it comes to conventional energy. He has asked other countries to increase their conventional energy production, but he has made it clear that he is not interested in seeing the United States do the same. While his administration is finally conducting sales for new onshore oil and gas leases, it has reduced the land available for such leases and substantially increased the royalty rate, sending a clear signal to American energy producers that the administration is reluctant to collaborate with it. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed requiring costly new financial disclosures that would discourage investment in conventional energy production. While Democrats may wish it weren't so, the fact of the matter is that our country will still need oil and natural gas for years to come; and if Democrats and the President didn't want Americans to be paying sky-high prices to fill their cars, they need to focus on encouraging responsible oil and gas production here at home, which, I might add, puts Americans to work in good-paying jobs and develops these resources with fewer emissions than are produced in other countries. Forcing our country to increase our reliance on foreign energy sources will do nothing but drive up energy prices, not to mention jeopardizing national security. Boosting domestic production, on the other hand, would drive down energy prices while ensuring that we don't have to rely on dictators or unstable countries for energy. In addition to our energy and inflation crises, we are also facing a massive crisis at the southern border. Almost from the day the President took office, we have seen a huge surge in the number of individuals attempting to illegally make their way across the southern border. In March alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 221,303 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally. In the first quarter of 2022, more than half a million individuals were apprehended while trying to get across our southern border. And the influx shows no signs of stopping. And what has the President done to address this crisis? Next to nothing. In fact, the truth is that this is a crisis largely of the President's own making. The series of actions that he has taken to weaken border security and immigration enforcement has encouraged a flood of illegal immigration across our southern border. In fact, the President's lawyers are over at the Supreme Court today arguing against a measure to discourage illegal immigration. And now the President is on track to make our current border crisis much worse by lifting title 42 COVID-19 restrictions that have provided for the immediate deportation of individuals who have crossed the border illegally. Once these restrictions are lifted, the Department of Homeland Security expects as many as 18,000 migrants per day--18,000 per day--to attempt to cross our southern border. I mentioned that we have seen more than half a million attempted illegal crossings in the first 3 months of this year. Without title 42 restrictions, we could be seeing more than half a million attempted crossings each month, and it is clear that the President has no substantive plan in place to deal with such a surge. I was relieved--as I think a lot of Americans were and I think a lot of Democrats, honestly, here in the Senate--that yesterday a Federal judge issued an order temporarily preserving title 42. But this is not a permanent solution to the problem. Title 42 should not be lifted until the President has a robust plan in place for discouraging illegal immigration, securing our border, preventing human trafficking and drug trafficking, and quickly deporting those who seek to illegally enter our country. So here is where we are, Mr. President: We have an inflation crisis that is driving up costs for American families. We have an energy crisis, with sky-high gas prices fueling pain at the pump. And we have a security, humanitarian, and enforcement crisis at our southern border. That is what a year and a quarter of Democratic governance looks like. And since Democrats show no signs of taking steps to address these crises, that is what Democratic governance is likely to look like for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the American people will continue to pay the price. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2139-2 | null | 4,268 |
formal | securing our border | null | anti-Latino | Biden Administration Mr. President, the first year of Democratic governance in Washington has produced surging inflation, a disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, and a massive border crisis. And, unfortunately, so far 2022 isn't looking much better. Our inflation crisis keeps getting worse, energy prices are soaring, and the Biden border crisis is reaching new heights. When President Biden took office, inflation was 1.4 percent, well within the Federal Reserve's target inflation rate of 2 percent; and it might have remained there had Democrats not decided to pass a $1.9 trillion partisan spending spree under the guise of COVID relief--mere weeks, I might add, after Congress had approved a fifth bipartisan COVID relief bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs. The Democrats' decision to flood the economy with unnecessary government money set off an inflation crisis that shows little sign of stopping. March saw inflation hit 8.5 percent, a 40-year high. Everywhere Americans look, they are paying more: more for groceries, more for gas, more for utilities, more for furniture, more for used cars and trucks--and the list goes on. While wages increased in 2021, inflation outstripped wage growth, which means that instead of a pay increase, many Americans saw a de facto pay cut. Needless to say, inflation is having the biggest impact on those who can least afford it. The President likes to tout job creation and economic growth--although most of what he takes credit for is the natural consequence of economic recovery after the pandemic--but his claims mean little to families who are wondering how they will be able to pay their soaring grocery bills or whether they can afford the gas that they need for the rest of the month. And speaking of affording gas, thanks to Democrats, we are also rapidly approaching a full-blown energy crisis. Gas prices increased on average to an alltime high in March, according to AAA, and that is on top of the soaring inflationary costs of electricity and home gas services, among other energy commodities. As of yesterday, gas was $4.12 a gallon, up from $2.39 a gallon when President Biden took office. The administration, of course, has attempted to blame this hike on Putin, but the vast majority of the 72-percent increase in gas prices since President Biden took office predates the war in Ukraine and sanctions on Russia. Every gallon of gas purchased at current prices hits family budgets hard, especially in rural States like South Dakota where driving long distances is the norm. Diesel averaged $2.68 a gallon in January of 2021. As of yesterday, it was $5.07. That not only hits our transportation sector and truckers but farmers across the country as they plant their fields this spring. There is no easy solution on inflation, but the first imperative is to do no more harm. Once Democrats saw the inflationary effects of their $1.9 trillion spending bill, they should have instantly resolved to refrain from any more unnecessary government spending. Big spending, however, is a way of life for Democrats. So instead of committing to spending restraint, they spent last fall pushing for a second massive spending spree that would have made our inflation situation that much worse. And while that reckless tax-and-spending spree was mercifully halted in the Senate last December, the President's recent budget request made clear that Democrats are still intent on implementing many of their tax-and-spending spree's measures. That is right. Democrats unleashed the worst inflation in 40 years by flooding the economy with unnecessary government money, and they still want to double down on that strategy. If Democrats have their way on government spending, our inflation crisis could last for years to come. Mr. President, while there are few things the President and Democrats can do to speed up the end of their self-inflicted inflation crisis other than not making it worse, there are actions that Democrats can take to address the high energy costs that Americans are facing, and chief among those things is unleashing American energy production of both alternative and conventional energy. Unfortunately, the President seems pretty committed to doing the opposite when it comes to conventional energy. He has asked other countries to increase their conventional energy production, but he has made it clear that he is not interested in seeing the United States do the same. While his administration is finally conducting sales for new onshore oil and gas leases, it has reduced the land available for such leases and substantially increased the royalty rate, sending a clear signal to American energy producers that the administration is reluctant to collaborate with it. Meanwhile, the Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed requiring costly new financial disclosures that would discourage investment in conventional energy production. While Democrats may wish it weren't so, the fact of the matter is that our country will still need oil and natural gas for years to come; and if Democrats and the President didn't want Americans to be paying sky-high prices to fill their cars, they need to focus on encouraging responsible oil and gas production here at home, which, I might add, puts Americans to work in good-paying jobs and develops these resources with fewer emissions than are produced in other countries. Forcing our country to increase our reliance on foreign energy sources will do nothing but drive up energy prices, not to mention jeopardizing national security. Boosting domestic production, on the other hand, would drive down energy prices while ensuring that we don't have to rely on dictators or unstable countries for energy. In addition to our energy and inflation crises, we are also facing a massive crisis at the southern border. Almost from the day the President took office, we have seen a huge surge in the number of individuals attempting to illegally make their way across the southern border. In March alone, U.S. Customs and Border Protection encountered 221,303 individuals attempting to cross our southern border illegally. In the first quarter of 2022, more than half a million individuals were apprehended while trying to get across our southern border. And the influx shows no signs of stopping. And what has the President done to address this crisis? Next to nothing. In fact, the truth is that this is a crisis largely of the President's own making. The series of actions that he has taken to weaken border security and immigration enforcement has encouraged a flood of illegal immigration across our southern border. In fact, the President's lawyers are over at the Supreme Court today arguing against a measure to discourage illegal immigration. And now the President is on track to make our current border crisis much worse by lifting title 42 COVID-19 restrictions that have provided for the immediate deportation of individuals who have crossed the border illegally. Once these restrictions are lifted, the Department of Homeland Security expects as many as 18,000 migrants per day--18,000 per day--to attempt to cross our southern border. I mentioned that we have seen more than half a million attempted illegal crossings in the first 3 months of this year. Without title 42 restrictions, we could be seeing more than half a million attempted crossings each month, and it is clear that the President has no substantive plan in place to deal with such a surge. I was relieved--as I think a lot of Americans were and I think a lot of Democrats, honestly, here in the Senate--that yesterday a Federal judge issued an order temporarily preserving title 42. But this is not a permanent solution to the problem. Title 42 should not be lifted until the President has a robust plan in place for discouraging illegal immigration, securing our border, preventing human trafficking and drug trafficking, and quickly deporting those who seek to illegally enter our country. So here is where we are, Mr. President: We have an inflation crisis that is driving up costs for American families. We have an energy crisis, with sky-high gas prices fueling pain at the pump. And we have a security, humanitarian, and enforcement crisis at our southern border. That is what a year and a quarter of Democratic governance looks like. And since Democrats show no signs of taking steps to address these crises, that is what Democratic governance is likely to look like for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, the American people will continue to pay the price. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2139-2 | null | 4,269 |
formal | Federal Reserve | null | antisemitic | Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, while returning with Senate colleagues from a delegation trip to Europe to further strengthen the trans-Atlantic alliance in the context of Vladimir Putin's war against the Ukrainian people, our plane was grounded by mechanical failure. As a result, I was unable to attend vote No. 135 on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. I would have voted yea on the motion to invoke cloture had I been able to attend the vote. While returning with Senate colleagues from a delegation trip to Europe to further strengthen the trans-Atlantic alliance in the context of Vladimir Putin's war against the Ukrainian people, our plane was grounded by mechanical failure. As a result, I was unable to attend today's vote on No. 136 on confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. I would have voted yea on the confirmation had I been able to attend the vote. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PETERS | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2151-2 | null | 4,270 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Mr. PETERS. Mr. President, while returning with Senate colleagues from a delegation trip to Europe to further strengthen the trans-Atlantic alliance in the context of Vladimir Putin's war against the Ukrainian people, our plane was grounded by mechanical failure. As a result, I was unable to attend vote No. 135 on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. I would have voted yea on the motion to invoke cloture had I been able to attend the vote. While returning with Senate colleagues from a delegation trip to Europe to further strengthen the trans-Atlantic alliance in the context of Vladimir Putin's war against the Ukrainian people, our plane was grounded by mechanical failure. As a result, I was unable to attend today's vote on No. 136 on confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 808, Lael Brainard, of the District of Columbia, to Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. I would have voted yea on the confirmation had I been able to attend the vote. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PETERS | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2151-2 | null | 4,271 |
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-3712. A communication from the Director, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``OMB Sequestration Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2023''; 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-3713. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2023; referred jointly, pursuant to the order of January 30, 1975, as modified by the order of April 11, 1986; to the Committees on the Budget; and Appropriations. EC-3714. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Economic Report of the President together with the annual report of the Council of Economic Advisors; to the Joint Economic Committee. EC-3715. A communication from the Assistant to the Director of the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustments; Annual Adjustments'' (RIN1076-AF70) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-3716. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Bacillus subtilis strain AFS032321; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 8920-01-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-3717. A communication from the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Organic Program; Origin of Livestock'' ((RIN0581- AD89) (Docket No. AMS-NOP-11-0009)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-3718. A communication from the Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: New Qualifying County-Lithuania (DFARS Case 2022- D012)'' (RIN0750-AL48) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3719. A communication from the Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Evaluation Factor for Employing or Subcontracting with Members of the Selected Reserve (DFARS Case 2021-D013)'' (RIN0750-AL48) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3720. A communication from the Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Postaward Debriefings (DFARS Case 2018-D009)'' (RIN0750-AJ73) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3721. A communication from the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Department of Defense Annual Report on Audit for Fiscal Year 2021''; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3722. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the national emergency with respect to specified harmful activities of the Government of the Russian Federation that was originally declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3723. 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 14024 with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3724. 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 13611 with respect to Yemen; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3725. 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 14024 with respect to the Central African Republic; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3726. 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 13338 with respect to Syria; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3727. A communication from the Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Flood Insurance Program: Removal of Best's Financial Size Category From Write-Your-Own Participation Criteria'' (RIN1660-AB13) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3728. A communication from the Congressional Affairs Director, Export-Import Bank of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a vacancy in the position of First Vice President, Export-Import Bank of the United States, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 6, 2022; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3729. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf--Adjustment of Service Fees'' (RIN1014-AA54) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. EC-3730. 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; Wisconsin; Redesignation of the Wisconsin Portion of the Chicago- Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin Area to Attainment of the 2008 Ozone Standard'' (FRL No. 9523-02-R5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-3731. 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; Montana; 2015 Ozone NAAQS Interstate Transport Requirements'' (FRL No. 9299-02-R8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-3732. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Addition of 1-Bromopropane to the list of CERCLA Hazardous Substances; List of Hazardous Substances; Technical Corrections'' (FRL No. 9335-01-OLEM) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-3733. 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 ``Announcement and Report Concerning Advance Pricing Agreements'' (Announcement 2022-7) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Finance. EC-3734. A communication from the Assistant Legal Adviser for Treaty Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to the Case-Zablocki Act, 1 U.S.C. 112b, as amended, the report of the texts and background statements of international agreements, other than treaties (List 2022- 0052--2022-0069); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3735. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to emigration laws and policies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3736. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to U.S. compliance with the authorization for use of military force in Iraq; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3737. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to U.S. compliance with the authorization for use of military force in Iraq; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3738. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to data mining activities by Federal Agencies; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3739. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to Iran- related multilateral sanctions regime efforts; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3740. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to observer status for Taiwan at the summit of the World Health Organization; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2152-5 | null | 4,272 |
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-3712. A communication from the Director, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``OMB Sequestration Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2023''; 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-3713. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Budget of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2023; referred jointly, pursuant to the order of January 30, 1975, as modified by the order of April 11, 1986; to the Committees on the Budget; and Appropriations. EC-3714. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Economic Report of the President together with the annual report of the Council of Economic Advisors; to the Joint Economic Committee. EC-3715. A communication from the Assistant to the Director of the Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustments; Annual Adjustments'' (RIN1076-AF70) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-3716. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Bacillus subtilis strain AFS032321; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 8920-01-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-3717. A communication from the Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Organic Program; Origin of Livestock'' ((RIN0581- AD89) (Docket No. AMS-NOP-11-0009)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-3718. A communication from the Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: New Qualifying County-Lithuania (DFARS Case 2022- D012)'' (RIN0750-AL48) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3719. A communication from the Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Evaluation Factor for Employing or Subcontracting with Members of the Selected Reserve (DFARS Case 2021-D013)'' (RIN0750-AL48) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3720. A communication from the Alternate Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement: Postaward Debriefings (DFARS Case 2018-D009)'' (RIN0750-AJ73) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3721. A communication from the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller), transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Department of Defense Annual Report on Audit for Fiscal Year 2021''; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-3722. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report of the continuation of the national emergency with respect to specified harmful activities of the Government of the Russian Federation that was originally declared in Executive Order 14024 of April 15, 2021; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3723. 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 14024 with respect to specified harmful foreign activities of the Government of the Russian Federation; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3724. 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 13611 with respect to Yemen; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3725. 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 14024 with respect to the Central African Republic; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3726. 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 13338 with respect to Syria; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3727. A communication from the Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Flood Insurance Program: Removal of Best's Financial Size Category From Write-Your-Own Participation Criteria'' (RIN1660-AB13) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3728. A communication from the Congressional Affairs Director, Export-Import Bank of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a vacancy in the position of First Vice President, Export-Import Bank of the United States, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 6, 2022; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-3729. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Oil and Gas and Sulfur Operations in the Outer Continental Shelf--Adjustment of Service Fees'' (RIN1014-AA54) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. EC-3730. 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; Wisconsin; Redesignation of the Wisconsin Portion of the Chicago- Naperville, Illinois-Indiana-Wisconsin Area to Attainment of the 2008 Ozone Standard'' (FRL No. 9523-02-R5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-3731. 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; Montana; 2015 Ozone NAAQS Interstate Transport Requirements'' (FRL No. 9299-02-R8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-3732. A communication from the Associate Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Addition of 1-Bromopropane to the list of CERCLA Hazardous Substances; List of Hazardous Substances; Technical Corrections'' (FRL No. 9335-01-OLEM) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-3733. 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 ``Announcement and Report Concerning Advance Pricing Agreements'' (Announcement 2022-7) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on April 25, 2022; to the Committee on Finance. EC-3734. A communication from the Assistant Legal Adviser for Treaty Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to the Case-Zablocki Act, 1 U.S.C. 112b, as amended, the report of the texts and background statements of international agreements, other than treaties (List 2022- 0052--2022-0069); to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3735. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to emigration laws and policies of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3736. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to U.S. compliance with the authorization for use of military force in Iraq; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3737. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to U.S. compliance with the authorization for use of military force in Iraq; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3738. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to data mining activities by Federal Agencies; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3739. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to Iran- related multilateral sanctions regime efforts; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. EC-3740. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to observer status for Taiwan at the summit of the World Health Organization; to the Committee on Foreign Relations. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2152-5 | null | 4,273 |
formal | entitlement | null | racist | By Mr. DURBIN: S. 4089. A bill to restore entitlement to educational assistance under Veterans Rapid Retraining Program in cases of a closure of an educational institution or a disapproval of a program of education, and for other purposes; considered and passed. | 2020-01-06 | The RECORDER | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2156-2 | null | 4,274 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | By Mr. DURBIN (for himself and Mr. Braun): S. 4090. A bill to improve transparency and availability of information regarding dietary supplements by amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to require manufacturers of dietary supplements to list dietary supplements with the Food and Drug Administration; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. | 2020-01-06 | The RECORDER | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2156-3 | null | 4,275 |
formal | entitlement | null | racist | By Mr. DURBIN: S. 4089. A bill to restore entitlement to educational assistance under Veterans Rapid Retraining Program in cases of a closure of an educational institution or a disapproval of a program of education, and for other purposes; considered and passed. | 2020-01-06 | The RECORDER | Senate | CREC-2022-04-26-pt1-PgS2156 | null | 4,276 |
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-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4520-2 | null | 4,277 |
formal | religious freedom | null | homophobic | Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 496) to oppose violations of religious freedom in Ukraine by Russia and armed groups commanded by Russia, as amended. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. PHILLIPS | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4529 | null | 4,278 |
formal | entitlement | null | racist | A message from the Senate by Ms. Byrd, one of its clerks, announced that the Senate has passed a bill of the following title in which the concurrence of the House is requested: S. 4089. An ACT to restore entitlement to educational assistance under Veterans Rapid Retaining Program in cases of a closure of an educational institution or a disapproval of a program of education, and for other purposes. The message also announced that the Senate has agreed to without amendment a concurrent resolution of the House of the following title: H. Con. Res. 74. Concurrent Resolution authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers Memorial Service and the National Honor Guard and Pipe Band Exhibition. The message also announced that pursuant to Public Law 68-541, as amended by the appropriate provisions of Public Law 102-246, the Chair, on behalf of the Majority Leader, and in consultation with the Republican Leader, announces the appointment of the following individuals to serve as members of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board for a five year term: J. Richard Fredericks of California. Kevin Young of New York. The message also announced that pursuant to Public Law 105-292, as amended by Public Law 106-55, Public Law 107-228, and Public Law 112-75, the Chair, on behalf of the President pro tempore, upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader, re-appoints the following individual to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom: Reverand Frederick A. Davie of New York. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4545 | null | 4,279 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4693) to advance targeted and evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of global malnutrition and to improve the coordination of such programs, and for other purposes. | 2020-01-06 | Mr. CONNOLLY | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4547 | null | 4,280 |
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. 7314) to require the Secretary of State to submit to Congress a report on the People's Republic of China's support to the Russian Federation with respect to its unprovoked invasion of and full-scale war against Ukraine, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4552-4 | null | 4,281 |
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. 6930) to authorize the confiscation of assets subject to United States jurisdiction of certain foreign persons, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4554-2 | null | 4,282 |
formal | religious freedom | null | homophobic | 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. 496) to oppose violations of religious freedom in Ukraine by Russia and armed groups commanded by Russia, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4554 | null | 4,283 |
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. 496) to oppose violations of religious freedom in Ukraine by Russia and armed groups commanded by Russia, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4554 | null | 4,284 |
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. 923) to support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Georgia, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4555 | null | 4,285 |
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 agree to the resolution (H. Res. 833) expressing support for Moldova's democracy, independence, and territorial integrity and strengthening United States and Moldova relations, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4556 | null | 4,286 |
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. 7311) to direct the Secretary of State to develop and submit to Congress a strategy and implementationplan outlining United States efforts to counter the malign influence and activities of the Russian Federation and its proxies in Africa, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4557-2 | null | 4,287 |
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. 3344) to prioritize the efforts of and enhance coordination among United States agencies to encourage countries in Central and Eastern Europe to improve the security of their telecommunications networks, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4557 | null | 4,288 |
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. 4133) to authorize appropriations for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, enhance the United States-Caribbean security partnership, prioritize disaster resilience, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4558 | null | 4,289 |
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. 6089) to clarify that section 107 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act applies sanctions with respect to unmanned combat aerial vehicles following a 2019 change by the United Nations providing additional clarity to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4559 | null | 4,290 |
formal | based | null | white supremacist | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4693) to advance targeted and evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of global malnutrition and to improve the coordination of such programs, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4560 | null | 4,291 |
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. 4693) to advance targeted and evidence-based interventions for the prevention and treatment of global malnutrition and to improve the coordination of such programs, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4560 | null | 4,292 |
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 (S. 812) to direct the Secretary of State to develop a strategy to regain observer status for Taiwan in the World Health Organization, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | 2020-01-06 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4561 | null | 4,293 |
formal | terrorism | null | Islamophobic | Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: EC-3819. A letter from the Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting the Commission's 60th Annual Report for fiscal year 2021, pursuant to 46 U.S.C. 46106(a); Public Law 109-304, Sec. 4; (120 Stat. 1489); to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. EC-3820. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's direct final rule -- Delegation of New Source Performance Standards and National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants for the States of Arizona and California [EPA-R09-OAR-2021-0962; FRL-9400-02-R9] received March 30, 2022, 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-3821. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Butoxypolypropylene glycol, et al.; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0156; FRL-9574-01- OCSPP] received March 30, 2022, 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-3822. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule; correction -- Air Plan Approval; West Virginia; 2020 Amendments to West Virginia's Ambient Air Quality Standards; Correction [EPA-R03-OAR-2020- 0487; FRL-8931-03-R3] received March 30, 2022, 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-3823. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Delaware; Philadelphia Area Base Year Inventory for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards [EPA-R03-OAR- 2021-0854; FRL-9381-02-R3] received March 30, 2022, 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-3824. A letter from the Associate Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's direct final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans; California; Correcting Amendments [EPA-R09- OAR-2022-0221; FRL-9598-02-R9] received March 30, 2022, 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-3825. A letter from the Director, Regulations Policy and Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Advisory Committee; Bone, Reproductive and Urologic Drugs Advisory Committee; Change of Name and Function; Technical Amendment [Docket No. FDA-2019-N-4203] received March 30, 2022, 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-3826. A letter from the Director, Regulations Policy and Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule; notification of administrative stay -- Milk and Cream; Petition for an Administrative Stay of Action: Definitions and Standards of Identity for Yogurt, Lowfat Yogurt, and Nonfat Yogurt [Docket No. FDA-2000-P-0126 (formerly Docket No. 2000P-0658)] (RIN: 0910-AI40) received March 30, 2022, 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-3827. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism that was declared in Executive Order 13224 of September 23, 2001, 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-3828. A letter from the Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting the Commission's FY 2021 No FEAR Act Report, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a) (as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat. 3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. EC-3829. A letter from the Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Annual Operating Plan for Colorado River System Reservoirs for 2022; to the Committee on Natural Resources. EC-3830. A letter from the Chief, Division of Regulations, Jurisdiction, and Special Park Uses, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- St. Croix National Scenic Riverway, Bicycling [NPS-SACM-32920; PPMWMWROW2/PMP00UP05.YP0000] (RIN: 1024- AE64) received April 20, 2022, 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-3831. A letter from the Secretary, Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Inflation Adjustment of Civil Monetary Penalties [Docket No. 22-02] (RIN: 3072-AC89) received March 30, 2022, 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-3832. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Criteria: Special Class Airworthiness Criteria for the Amazon Logistics, Inc. MK27-2 Unmanned Aircraft [Docket No. FAA-2020-1086] received March 18, 2022, 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-3833. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Airworthiness Directives; Austro Engine GmbH Engines [Docket No. FAA-2022-0013; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01371-E; Amendment 39-21920; AD 2022-03- 03] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received March 18, 2022, 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-3834. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting Airworthiness Directives; Umlaut Engineering GmbH (Previously P3 Engineering GmbH) HAFEX (Halon-Free) Hand-Held Fire Extinguishers [Docket No. FAA-2021-0843; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00256-Q; Amendment 39-21891; AD 2022-01-03] (RIN: 2120-AA64) received March 18, 2022, 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-3835. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting Amendment of Class D and Class E Airspace; Janesville, WI [Docket No. FAA- 2021-0980; Airspace Docket No. 21-AGL-32] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received March 30, 2022, 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-3836. A letter from the Management and Program Analyst, FAA, Department of Transportation, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Amendment Class E Airspace; Hugo, OK [Docket No. FAA-2021-0977; Airspace Docket No. 21-ASW-20] (RIN: 2120-AA66) received March 30, 2022, 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-3837. A letter from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting the CY 2021 annual report on activities under the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative and the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 2431k(a); Public Law 87- 195, Sec. 813(a) (as added by Public Law 105-214, Sec. 1); (112 Stat. 893); ; jointly to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and Agriculture. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgH4573-2 | null | 4,294 |
formal | the Fed | null | antisemitic | Federal Trade Commission Now, Madam President, on the FTC, as we have done all along this year, Democrats are continuing to focus on lowering prices for the American people. Yesterday, I met with Speaker Pelosi to discuss how both Chambers can work together to address the terrible burden of rising gas prices. It is one of the most vexing issues for the American people. The disturbances from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have caused gas prices to spike, and working Americans are hurting. But do you know who is not hurting? The largest oil and gas companies, which reported over $205 billion in profits in 2021 even while Americans pay more at the pump. Solving this issue is a top priority for Democrats--a top priority. Unfortunately, the other side seems content with bemoaning rising costs day after day, without expressing any interest in actually offering solutions to the problem. Senate Democrats are actually working to solve the problem, and we willcontinue talks with our House colleagues on legislation that can bring gas prices down. There are several options we can take. Now, there is a growing consensus that the Federal Government--especially the FTC--should investigate possible price gouging and price manipulation, market manipulation, that might be happening among the largest oil and gas companies in the country. This is one step we are working on out of many. Of course, any solution involving the FTC requires that the FTC have full membership to begin with, so we are also going to keep working to confirm Mr. Bedoya as the fifth FTC Commissioner to break the 2-2 deadlock that has lasted for over a year. It is important to note that Republicans unanimously are not voting for Mr. Bedoya, and that has paralyzed the FTC, even though its leadership would love to go after the price gouging and market manipulation. We have a few Members absent because of health issues this week, but I want to be clear that health issues will not deter us from getting Mr. Bedoya and other important nominees, like Lisa Cook, confirmed. I urge any Republican who is truly worried about rising gas prices to drop their senseless objection to getting Mr. Bedoya confirmed. It seems it is only covering up for the oil companies and preventing a really sharp, piercing investigation of market manipulation and price gouging. There is something deeply wrong about seeing the largest oil companies, while raking record profits, asking Americans to pay more at the pump. That is why we need an FTC with full membership, so it can look under the hood of America's energy sector and drill down into why Big Oil is pumping out record profits as consumers struggle. Again, I repeat to my Republican colleagues: If you care about lowering gas prices and care about looking at what the large companies--oligopolies--are doing, join us in voting Mr. Bedoya on the FTC. A vote against him is a vote for Big Oil and against the American driver and consumer. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgS2173-10 | null | 4,295 |
formal | you know who | null | antisemitic | Federal Trade Commission Now, Madam President, on the FTC, as we have done all along this year, Democrats are continuing to focus on lowering prices for the American people. Yesterday, I met with Speaker Pelosi to discuss how both Chambers can work together to address the terrible burden of rising gas prices. It is one of the most vexing issues for the American people. The disturbances from the pandemic and the war in Ukraine have caused gas prices to spike, and working Americans are hurting. But do you know who is not hurting? The largest oil and gas companies, which reported over $205 billion in profits in 2021 even while Americans pay more at the pump. Solving this issue is a top priority for Democrats--a top priority. Unfortunately, the other side seems content with bemoaning rising costs day after day, without expressing any interest in actually offering solutions to the problem. Senate Democrats are actually working to solve the problem, and we willcontinue talks with our House colleagues on legislation that can bring gas prices down. There are several options we can take. Now, there is a growing consensus that the Federal Government--especially the FTC--should investigate possible price gouging and price manipulation, market manipulation, that might be happening among the largest oil and gas companies in the country. This is one step we are working on out of many. Of course, any solution involving the FTC requires that the FTC have full membership to begin with, so we are also going to keep working to confirm Mr. Bedoya as the fifth FTC Commissioner to break the 2-2 deadlock that has lasted for over a year. It is important to note that Republicans unanimously are not voting for Mr. Bedoya, and that has paralyzed the FTC, even though its leadership would love to go after the price gouging and market manipulation. We have a few Members absent because of health issues this week, but I want to be clear that health issues will not deter us from getting Mr. Bedoya and other important nominees, like Lisa Cook, confirmed. I urge any Republican who is truly worried about rising gas prices to drop their senseless objection to getting Mr. Bedoya confirmed. It seems it is only covering up for the oil companies and preventing a really sharp, piercing investigation of market manipulation and price gouging. There is something deeply wrong about seeing the largest oil companies, while raking record profits, asking Americans to pay more at the pump. That is why we need an FTC with full membership, so it can look under the hood of America's energy sector and drill down into why Big Oil is pumping out record profits as consumers struggle. Again, I repeat to my Republican colleagues: If you care about lowering gas prices and care about looking at what the large companies--oligopolies--are doing, join us in voting Mr. Bedoya on the FTC. A vote against him is a vote for Big Oil and against the American driver and consumer. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgS2173-10 | null | 4,296 |
formal | middle class | null | racist | Student Loan Debt Madam President, now on student debt, for over a year, one of my top priorities as majority leader has been urging President Biden to cancel $50,000 in student debt for each student loan borrower. Right now, as discussions continue within the administration about the future of student debt, I again call on the President to take action, which he can do on his own, and hit the financial reset button for millions and millions of Americans. President Biden has done the right thing by continuing the moratorium on student loan payments. His actions have saved millions from financial ruin during the COVID crisis. But borrowers don't just need their debts paused; they need them erased. These extensions have been crucial, but borrowers can't indefinitely plan out their financial futures 3 months at a time with the fear hanging over them that payments would resume down the line. With the flick of a pen, President Biden could provide millions upon millions of student loan borrowers a new lease on life. He can do it without congressional action, because we know so many of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are opposed to it. He can do it without congressional action. It is the right thing to do for our country. For generations, higher education has been a ladder up into getting into the middle class, especially for Black, Latino, and Asian Americans. Unfortunately, student debt has become not a ladder up but an anchor down, weighing Americans down. It makes it harder for borrowers to start a family, to buy a home or a car or live with financial independence. For borrowers of color, the anxieties are magnified, often tenfold. Take this for example: The White median borrower would only owe an average of 6 percent of their student loans 20 years after starting college. Meanwhile, the median Black borrower would still owe a staggering 95 percent of their student loan debt in that same time span. Imagine being closer to retirement than to college and realizing you have only made a dent in your student loans. Millions of borrowers of color--millions more borrowers in general--live with this reality. Once again, borrowers don't need their debts paused; they need them erased. This isn't just the right thing to do for our economy; it is the right thing to do for racial equity. I will keep urging the President to take this important step. I will say to my colleagues, I think the President is moving in the right direction. My talks with him and the staff have been very fruitful over the last little while, and I am hopeful that he will do the right thing. We are getting closer. We are getting closer. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgS2174 | null | 4,297 |
formal | back the blue | null | racist | Violent Crime Madam President, on another matter, last week in my hometown of Louisville, I sat down with law enforcement officials and local leaders to discuss our skyrocketing rate of violent crime. The participants came from a wide variety of backgrounds, but everybody agreed murders, shootings, robberies, carjackings, and overdoses are simply out of control. Louisville recorded 188 homicides in 2021, an alltime record. Twenty-four of the victims were children. Just recently an anti-gun, anti-police activist made national headlines when he tried to assassinate a Jewish Democratic Louisville mayoral candidate. Jefferson County saw more than 500 drug overdose deaths last year, hundreds more than in years before the pandemic. These problems are literally overwhelming the city's coroners. One expert I met with said that violent crime has stolen more years of potential life from Louisville than the pandemic. Carjackings are up over 200 percent in the last 2 years. We now average more than one carjacking every 48 hours. Folks on the ground say they are also seeing nonfatal shootings and gang activity increasing. This crime spree is coming from the tiny minority of Louisville residents. One half of 1 percent of the population manages to commit an outright majority of all the city's violent crime. That is possible in large part because many are let out back on the street within days of their arrests. Of course, this isn't just a Louisville problem. We have seen violent crime soar nationwide since the far left's national anti-police and anti-law enforcement campaign that began back in 2020. Cities everywhere are under siege. Here in Washington, in broad daylight just yesterday, there was literally an armed robbery right outside the headquarters of the FBI. Polls show 69 percent of Louisville residents oppose--oppose--the ``defund the police'' movement and 66 percent want more police in their neighborhoods. But many Democrats are still unwilling to openly call for law and order in our streets. As a result, police officials say their officers feel under siege. They are worried politicians will not have their back. Another huge factor is President Biden's failure to secure our borders. I was told at last week's roundtable that every bit of deadly heroin and fentanyl in our city streets now comes across our southern border. As long as this administration neglects to enforce our laws, every State becomes a border State. We need to secure the border and stop narcotics flooding our neighborhoods. We need officials at all levels to back the blue, crack down on crime, and re-establish law and order. But the Biden administration gives us just the opposite. They nominated and confirmed a Supreme Court Justice who argued that COVID justified early release for every single prisoner in Washington, DC. Just yesterday, the President issued a giant catalog of pardons and commutations, cutting sentences after sentence after sentence, particularly for convicted drug criminals. They never miss an opportunity to send the wrong signal. And until Federal, State, and local Democrats get with the program, innocent people in Louisville and across the country will continue to suffer. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgS2175 | null | 4,298 |
formal | blue | null | antisemitic | Violent Crime Madam President, on another matter, last week in my hometown of Louisville, I sat down with law enforcement officials and local leaders to discuss our skyrocketing rate of violent crime. The participants came from a wide variety of backgrounds, but everybody agreed murders, shootings, robberies, carjackings, and overdoses are simply out of control. Louisville recorded 188 homicides in 2021, an alltime record. Twenty-four of the victims were children. Just recently an anti-gun, anti-police activist made national headlines when he tried to assassinate a Jewish Democratic Louisville mayoral candidate. Jefferson County saw more than 500 drug overdose deaths last year, hundreds more than in years before the pandemic. These problems are literally overwhelming the city's coroners. One expert I met with said that violent crime has stolen more years of potential life from Louisville than the pandemic. Carjackings are up over 200 percent in the last 2 years. We now average more than one carjacking every 48 hours. Folks on the ground say they are also seeing nonfatal shootings and gang activity increasing. This crime spree is coming from the tiny minority of Louisville residents. One half of 1 percent of the population manages to commit an outright majority of all the city's violent crime. That is possible in large part because many are let out back on the street within days of their arrests. Of course, this isn't just a Louisville problem. We have seen violent crime soar nationwide since the far left's national anti-police and anti-law enforcement campaign that began back in 2020. Cities everywhere are under siege. Here in Washington, in broad daylight just yesterday, there was literally an armed robbery right outside the headquarters of the FBI. Polls show 69 percent of Louisville residents oppose--oppose--the ``defund the police'' movement and 66 percent want more police in their neighborhoods. But many Democrats are still unwilling to openly call for law and order in our streets. As a result, police officials say their officers feel under siege. They are worried politicians will not have their back. Another huge factor is President Biden's failure to secure our borders. I was told at last week's roundtable that every bit of deadly heroin and fentanyl in our city streets now comes across our southern border. As long as this administration neglects to enforce our laws, every State becomes a border State. We need to secure the border and stop narcotics flooding our neighborhoods. We need officials at all levels to back the blue, crack down on crime, and re-establish law and order. But the Biden administration gives us just the opposite. They nominated and confirmed a Supreme Court Justice who argued that COVID justified early release for every single prisoner in Washington, DC. Just yesterday, the President issued a giant catalog of pardons and commutations, cutting sentences after sentence after sentence, particularly for convicted drug criminals. They never miss an opportunity to send the wrong signal. And until Federal, State, and local Democrats get with the program, innocent people in Louisville and across the country will continue to suffer. | 2020-01-06 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-04-27-pt1-PgS2175 | null | 4,299 |
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