Split (1)

train · 42.1k rows

data_type stringclasses 2 values	dog_whistle stringlengths 2 26	dog_whistle_root stringlengths 2 98 ⌀	ingroup stringclasses 17 values	content stringlengths 2 83.3k	date stringlengths 10 10 ⌀	speaker stringlengths 4 62 ⌀	chamber stringclasses 2 values	reference stringlengths 24 31 ⌀	community stringclasses 11 values	__index_level_0__ int64 0 35.6k
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. LEE. Madam President, to most Americans, the so-called Great American Outdoors Act is a mistake. It is expensive, shortsighted, and it is wrong; but to those of us who live in the American West, it is a disaster. Despite its rosy claims, this legislation combines two bills that will only tighten the Federal stranglehold on our lands and drive us deeper into debt, to the detriment of our economy, our environment, and the livelihoods and the freedom of the American people. So just how, you might ask, does it do that? Well, let me explain. The first title containing an expanded version of the Restore Our Parks Act attempts to address the roughly $19.3 billion maintenance backlog on our Federal lands, concentrated primarily within national parks projects, which approach a $12 billion maintenance backlog just on their own, but it seeks to do so by spending $9.5 billion of Federal offshore energy revenues over 5 years, without any means whatsoever of offsetting those extra funds. Now, that, to be clear, is money that is currently going to the U.S. Treasury to pay for a number of other costs, anumber of other expenditures--from aircraft carriers to Federal courts and everything in between--and will only add to our already ballooning national debt. It is, we have to remember, Congress's job to set priorities for the funds in the Treasury. If we prioritize something--if we prioritize one thing--we must either proportionately decrease the funding for something else or find another way to generate new revenue. This bill does neither. Furthermore, without any measures to prevent it, it guarantees that a similar backlog will only reemerge in the future. There are better ways to address this problem. For example, there are much better ways in a proposal that has been introduced by Senator Enzi in a bill called the REAL Act. The REAL Act would modestly increase park visitor fees by $5, businesses and tourist visa fees by $25, and a visa waiver program fee by $16--estimated to bring an additional $5.5 billion in revenue over the next 10 years. This, the REAL Act, introduced by Senator Enzi is a reasonable, practical solution to sustainably address the maintenance backlog on our National Parks, which is a problem. It is a problem that needs to be dealt with, and the REAL Act does it in a very responsible, sustainable fashion. What is more, the REAL Act would create a permanent and independent way of supplementing the funding for our National Parks and do so without adding to the national debt. The second title of this bill--of the Great American Outdoors Act--creates almost $1 billion of mandatory spending every single year on new Federal land acquisition through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In other words, it adds a new entitlement, adding to our already unaffordable system of entitlements. It puts it on a level playing field with things like Social Security and Medicare, other entitlement programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Now, why would we do this when we are already on a collision course with our ability to fund Federal programs, including and especially those programs that America's seniors have paid for, for years, and come to rely on? Why would we do that for this program? Why make it mandatory spending and thus convert it into yet another unaffordable entitlement program? Let's talk a little bit about the Land and Water Conservation Fund, or LWCF, as it is known. This was originally put in place pursuant to a law passed in 1964, and the LWCF, as it was created and enacted into law back in 1964, was put in place in order to promote and preserve access to recreational opportunities on Federal public lands--on public lands generally, in fact. So the fund was set up to be the principal source of money for Federal land acquisition and to assist States in developing recreational opportunities on their own. Originally, it directed 60 percent of its funds to be appropriated for State purposes and 40 percent for Federal purposes. Unfortunately, the program has since drifted far from its original moorings and far from its original intent, and it has been rife with abuse. In 1976, the law was amended to remove the 60-percent State provision, stating simply that not less than 40 percent of the funds must be used for Federal purposes, while remaining silent on whether a State would receive a penny. Now, just over the last year or so, not less than 40 percent of the funds are dedicated to State purposes, so that still means that up to 60 percent of the funds can still be used for Federal land acquisition. The result? Well, it hasn't been good. It has been used more for Federal land acquisition than for improving access to or care of the vast Federal lands that we already own and manage--or in many cases, fail to manage. Sixty-one percent of the funds have historically been used for acquisition, compared to the 25 percent that have been allocated to State grants, spending close to $12 billion to purchase new Federal lands. So despite people's images of charming ribbon cuttings at local parks and scenic wildlife, the LWCF has functioned as the Federal Government's primary vehicle for Federal land grabs, resulting in a massive, restrictive, and neglected Federal estate. The Federal Government now owns 640 million acres of land--more than 640 million acres--within the United States. To put this in perspective, this amount--the more than 640 million acres of land currently owned by the Federal Government within the United States--is a total larger than the entireties of France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands combined. Now, I am not talking about the government-owned lands or the parklands within those countries. I am talking about the entirety of the countries themselves. The Federal Government owns more land than that. That is 28 percent of the total acreage within the United States, and more than 50 percent of the land in the West. This has proven to be far more land than the Federal Government is capable of managing responsibly. The condition of the vast Federal estate ranges from fair to poor to dismal. These lands face problems with rampant wildfires, soil erosion, mismanagement, and littering--with a staggering combined maintenance backlog of nearly $20 billion. Resources are only being spread thinner as they are being stretched to serve more and more lands--more and more lands that are now going to be bought with the new entitlement spending that we are putting in place with this bill should we enact this ill-conceived legislative proposal. On top of that, many of the LWCF funds have been diverted to a vague ``other purposes'' category that has, in many instances, little to do with access to outdoor recreation at all. In fact, many of the programs it has funded have, instead, aimed to pull land from public use, regardless of how the land in question is classified. So rather than increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, camping, mountain biking, or kayaking, the land policies in place have slowly been squeezing out recreational opportunities, and this has been going on for decades. And so, too, have these policies imposed severe economic restrictions. As the Federal estate has grown since the time the LWCF was established in 1964, natural resource production--including mining, energy, timber, and livestock raising--have sharply declined, depriving rural communities and their economies of crucial jobs and economic activity. Timber production, for example, has been cut by about 90 percent since the 1980s. So instead of providing sustainable, renewable, economically productive logging in the Northwest, these forests are now managed by catastrophic wildfire under the supervision--or I should say the failed supervision--of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who lives in the Western United States. Ask anyone who lives in the communities of Utah who have seen the environmental and economic devastation brought about as a result of failed land management policies. Now, some claim, rather audaciously, that the outdoor recreation economy is a major boon to these very same communities that are being impoverished by it. But usually, nearly always, people who say that aren't people who live in those communities. Seasonal tourism is not a sustainable core industry for most communities. Much of the money spent on outdoor recreation ends up going to apparel, equipment, and gear from large out-of-state companies. Rural public lands counties don't see a penny of it. This is especially true in those counties where the Federal Government owns not just 67 percent of the land mass, as is the case throughout Utah as a whole, but 90, 95 percent plus of the land in some counties. To make matters worse, Federal lands also mean a loss of property taxes and, as a result, a loss of huge sources of revenue and opportunities for States and for local communities. It is no coincidence that the poorest rural counties in the West are the very same communities, the very same counties where they have the most Federal land. The poorest counties are the counties with the most Federal land. Why is that? Well, there are a number of reasons, but one of the things that has to be taken into account isthe fact that, without property taxes, schools are underfunded, local governments are crippled, fire departments are, ironically, depleted and, therefore, unable to properly take care of the lands they are charged to protect in the first place. This, by the way, says nothing of the loss of economic activity as a whole. I am just talking here about the lack of property tax revenue Now, there is a Federal program for this, the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program, also known as the PILT Program, as the abbreviation refers. This is a program that was intended to address this disparity by compensating counties and local communities for their loss of property taxes--that is the loss from property taxes that comes about as a result of significant Federal land ownership and the Federal Government's declaration, by law, that its lands may not be taxed. But PILT payments have provided only a pittance of what would be due to local governments were Federal lands not exempt from property taxes. In 2018, the Utah Legislature commissioned a state-of-the-art evaluation of 32 million acres of Federal land in Utah, excluding roughly 3 million acres of National Parks and Wilderness Areas. Now, this May, that same commission found that appraising these BLM and Forest Service lands according to their lowest use value would result in an annual property tax bill of $534 million. And this, by the way, in addition to excluding National Parks and Wilderness Areas from that equation, was a study that involved only those Federal lands extending to within 1 mile of any municipal boundary or of any city or town in Utah. So this fraction would produce $534 million annually in property tax revenue, even if it were taxed at its lowest value. In 2019, the PILT payments to Utah statewide totaled just $41 million, just 7.7 percent of the potential revenue from property taxes. Again, we are not talking about the National Parks or their National Wilderness Areas, nor are we talking about the lands outside of 1 mile beyond any municipal boundary. And while States and localities are the ones carrying the unfair economic burden, Washington only pours salt in these wounds by neglecting its oversight responsibilities. In May 2019, a GAO report found that BLM fails to maintain centralized data on lands acquired and that an increasing element of LWCF funds across agencies are being spent on acquisition projects that occur without and, in some cases, contrary to congressional approval. Not only that, but a December 2019 GAO report found that numerous agencies have blatantly disregarded LWCF requirements in order to illegally purchase more land. Yes. They are buying land, in many cases, contrary to their statutory authorization and limitations imposed by law. Under the original LWCF Act, no more than 15 percent of the land added to the National Forest System is to be west of the 100th meridian, essentially everything west of Oklahoma. But the GAO found that between fiscal years 2014 and 2018, the Federal Government had acquired more than 450,000 acres of land in the United States, more than 80 percent of which were west of the 100th meridian. In another recent review of land acquisition policies across the agencies conducted by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, officials said that 40 percent of the land acquired with LWCF funds were not even requested by the agencies--not requested in the first place, yet they were purchased in some cases contrary to an explicit statutory command. As it turns out, billions of LWCF dollars are being spent without the Congress and without the relevant agencies or the public being informed of where or why or pursuant to what authority they were made. Why, then, would it ever make sense to turn this into an entitlement program, to turn this into something that is self-perpetuating--into a self-licking ice cream cone--that needs no support or reauthorization year to year from Congress? Last year, the Senate permanently reauthorized this broken, harmful, dangerous, unaccountable fund without reform and without any incentive to offer future reforms, but as if that weren't bad enough, the legislation before us now proposes to make that funding mandatory. Before, Congress could at least appropriate varying amounts to be used from the fund. Now, this bill, if passed, would turn the LWCF into a true trust fund, automatically requiring that the full $900 million be spent primarily on Federal land acquisition each year in perpetuity without accountability and without oversight. The unofficial Congressional Budget Office score estimates that this bill, as a whole, will cost nearly $17.3 billion over the next 10 years, all for land projects that we cannot afford, let alone maintain. This is not how Congress was tasked with exercising the power of the purse. This is not how it is supposed to work--not in this country and certainly not in this legislative body. It is the tough business of Congress to set priorities and to decide which, among worthy causes, should receive our limited resources. These funds could be going to provide relief in the midst of the current pandemic or to our national defense or to shoring up benefits for veterans or to a myriad of other goals. Putting these funds into a direct deposit mechanism, however, means that we are not having those conversations and not actively evaluating how we can best spend those taxpayer dollars each year. No, no. Instead, we are going to put it on autopilot. That is what this bill wants to do rather shamefully. This provision of the bill automatically puts more funds toward the harmful cause of growing the Federal estate, putting us on an even worse path than we have already taken. In fact, the first provision of the bill is only evidence to the fact that we have bitten off far more than we can chew. We can do better. As it currently stands, we have nothing to gain from this legislation. The agenda of aggressively and endlessly growing our Federal estate has put us on a dangerous path with devastating effects for our lands and for the people who live, recreate, and survive off of them as my home State of Utah has already experienced far too well. If we do not change course, this path will only worsen for the rest of the Nation too. I want to point out something--a common misperception that people often have about Federal land and what it is and what it does. In many cases, if you don't live in the western United States, you are not necessarily aware of the fact that the overwhelming majority--not just most but the overwhelming majority of Federal land is not a national park. National parks are some of the few things people consistently like about the Federal Government. They are frequently the favorite thing about the Federal Government. We all love national parks. They are beautiful. They are fun, and they are something that the Federal Government does that everyone still enjoys and loves. But most Federal land is not a national park. The overwhelming majority isn't anything like a national park, and the way these lands are divided out really isn't fair. In every State east of Colorado, the Federal Government owns less than 15 percent of the land. In every State to the west of Colorado and including Colorado, the Federal Government owns at least 15 percent and, in many cases, many multiples of that. In my State it happens to be about 67 percent. A tiny segment of that land consists of national park land. Most of it is just land that you can't use for anything else. The local governments can't tax them, and people can't access them for economic or recreational purposes without a ``Mother, may I?'' from the Federal Government. That is what it is. Most of this land isn't even a national park or a national recreation area or a wilderness area or anything remotely worthy of that. This is just about Federal control, and most of it is not managed very well. The National Park System has been underfunded. They, in many ways, do the best job they can with what they have, but they have been chronically underfunded, and the national parks are quite well run compared to the vast majority of Federal public land we have, which is chronically neglected, environmentally mismanaged, often to the economic and environmental detriment of those States where there is a lot of Federal land. Take San Juan County, UT. The Federal Government owns somewhere along the order of 95 percent of the land in San Juan County. It also happens to be Utah's poorest county.These two issues are not a coincidence. The fact that they appear in the same land mass is not coincidental; it is causal. The Federal Government is the cause for the impoverishment of this county and other communities in Utah and throughout the United States. Why? Because people can't own the land, can't develop the land, can't tax the land to fund their schools, their search and rescue services, or any other government priority. Nor can they access it for most economic purposes. Finally, all of my other observations about this legislation notwithstanding, this is the Senate, and just like church is for sinners, the Senate floor isn't for perfect, hermetically sealed, finished bills. We are supposed to bring imperfect bills to the floor to debate and deliberate and amend and discuss and, ultimately, find consensus. That is why I and many of my colleagues have been trying to do exactly that in this very situation with this very bill. I have a number of amendments. Many western State Senators do as well. Several Gulf State Senators have their own concerns about this bill in its current form. The way the process is supposed to work is that we bring this and other bills like it to the floor, and we offer up changes and see where the Senate is, see where the process goes, using reason, gentle persuasion, and awkward improvements to each piece of legislation as our guide. That is how it is supposed to work. There are a number of Senators from western States, from Gulf States, and from States that really aren't in the West or the gulf that don't really have that much to do with Federal public land, but they can see the procedural and substantive defects of this bill. That is why many of us who really would like to make improvements to this bill have come together from different parts of the country. The process of actually legislating has gone out of fashion in Washington and, quite regrettably, out of this Chamber in recent years, but it is something that I think the whole Senate would like to get back to--and I mean the whole Senate, Democrats and Republicans alike. This is an issue that is neither Republican or Democratic; it is not liberal or conservative; it is not Libertarian. It is not an ideological viewpoint. I know people within this Chamber on virtually every point along the ideological political continuum who would very much like to see the Senate working as an actual legislative body rather than as a rubberstamp for whatever small handful of people happen to write out behind closed doors and decide must be the finished, perfect, hermetically sealed object of our vote. This is wrong. It is an insult, not just to the 100 Senators who are here. It is that to be sure, but nobody cares about that. It is more about those we represent, those who elected us. Those election certificates don't belong to us. They belong to the voters of our various States who expect us to represent them. Regardless of how we might vote on any particular piece of legislation, they expect us to have read it; they expect us to do our job by showing up and by offering to make it better where we see flaws and we see defects. There is no perfect bill, but we can still make legislation a lot less bad. We can make it better. We bring about actual consensus. Consensus is not found by ramming something through without an opportunity for amendment, debate, or discussion This is wrong. It has gone on for far too long. I have seen it under the leadership of Democrats and Republicans alike in this Chamber, and it has to end. It will end. The question is, How long is it going to take us and how much misery will the American people have to endure while most of their Senators are effectively locked out of meaningful legislative debate, discussion, and amendment? This is wrong, and it has to end. The debate on this bill has now been extended by a whole extra day. There is no earthly reason why we can't use that extra day to work through a handful of 15-minute votes on a handful of amendments. It is just not that hard. In the amount of time that I have been speaking tonight, we could have processed a couple of amendments. In the amount of time that will be devoted only to hand-wringing and dismissal of legitimate concerns with this legislation, we could process any amendment that anyone wants to introduce, and this legislation could still be passed weeks before the House of Representatives is even poised to return. So why are we not doing this? There is no persuasive answer here. We have to start doing our job. I look forward to working with our colleagues to get an agreement on some amendments so that we can give this legislation the due consideration and the careful deliberation that it deserves, that we deserve, that those who elected us deserve, and then move on to the important nominations pending before the Senate and to the National Defense Authorization Act that are next in line. In the meantime, I hope Democrats and Republicans alike can unite behind the fact that we can't skate forever under the mantra that the Senate is the world's greatest deliberative body when it does not deliberate. The good news is, it is entirely within our power to reclaim use of that title justifiably and with dignity. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Mr. LEE	Senate	CREC-2020-06-09-pt1-PgS2834-5	null	800
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. LEE. Madam President, to most Americans, the so-called Great American Outdoors Act is a mistake. It is expensive, shortsighted, and it is wrong; but to those of us who live in the American West, it is a disaster. Despite its rosy claims, this legislation combines two bills that will only tighten the Federal stranglehold on our lands and drive us deeper into debt, to the detriment of our economy, our environment, and the livelihoods and the freedom of the American people. So just how, you might ask, does it do that? Well, let me explain. The first title containing an expanded version of the Restore Our Parks Act attempts to address the roughly $19.3 billion maintenance backlog on our Federal lands, concentrated primarily within national parks projects, which approach a $12 billion maintenance backlog just on their own, but it seeks to do so by spending $9.5 billion of Federal offshore energy revenues over 5 years, without any means whatsoever of offsetting those extra funds. Now, that, to be clear, is money that is currently going to the U.S. Treasury to pay for a number of other costs, anumber of other expenditures--from aircraft carriers to Federal courts and everything in between--and will only add to our already ballooning national debt. It is, we have to remember, Congress's job to set priorities for the funds in the Treasury. If we prioritize something--if we prioritize one thing--we must either proportionately decrease the funding for something else or find another way to generate new revenue. This bill does neither. Furthermore, without any measures to prevent it, it guarantees that a similar backlog will only reemerge in the future. There are better ways to address this problem. For example, there are much better ways in a proposal that has been introduced by Senator Enzi in a bill called the REAL Act. The REAL Act would modestly increase park visitor fees by $5, businesses and tourist visa fees by $25, and a visa waiver program fee by $16--estimated to bring an additional $5.5 billion in revenue over the next 10 years. This, the REAL Act, introduced by Senator Enzi is a reasonable, practical solution to sustainably address the maintenance backlog on our National Parks, which is a problem. It is a problem that needs to be dealt with, and the REAL Act does it in a very responsible, sustainable fashion. What is more, the REAL Act would create a permanent and independent way of supplementing the funding for our National Parks and do so without adding to the national debt. The second title of this bill--of the Great American Outdoors Act--creates almost $1 billion of mandatory spending every single year on new Federal land acquisition through the Land and Water Conservation Fund. In other words, it adds a new entitlement, adding to our already unaffordable system of entitlements. It puts it on a level playing field with things like Social Security and Medicare, other entitlement programs, the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Now, why would we do this when we are already on a collision course with our ability to fund Federal programs, including and especially those programs that America's seniors have paid for, for years, and come to rely on? Why would we do that for this program? Why make it mandatory spending and thus convert it into yet another unaffordable entitlement program? Let's talk a little bit about the Land and Water Conservation Fund, or LWCF, as it is known. This was originally put in place pursuant to a law passed in 1964, and the LWCF, as it was created and enacted into law back in 1964, was put in place in order to promote and preserve access to recreational opportunities on Federal public lands--on public lands generally, in fact. So the fund was set up to be the principal source of money for Federal land acquisition and to assist States in developing recreational opportunities on their own. Originally, it directed 60 percent of its funds to be appropriated for State purposes and 40 percent for Federal purposes. Unfortunately, the program has since drifted far from its original moorings and far from its original intent, and it has been rife with abuse. In 1976, the law was amended to remove the 60-percent State provision, stating simply that not less than 40 percent of the funds must be used for Federal purposes, while remaining silent on whether a State would receive a penny. Now, just over the last year or so, not less than 40 percent of the funds are dedicated to State purposes, so that still means that up to 60 percent of the funds can still be used for Federal land acquisition. The result? Well, it hasn't been good. It has been used more for Federal land acquisition than for improving access to or care of the vast Federal lands that we already own and manage--or in many cases, fail to manage. Sixty-one percent of the funds have historically been used for acquisition, compared to the 25 percent that have been allocated to State grants, spending close to $12 billion to purchase new Federal lands. So despite people's images of charming ribbon cuttings at local parks and scenic wildlife, the LWCF has functioned as the Federal Government's primary vehicle for Federal land grabs, resulting in a massive, restrictive, and neglected Federal estate. The Federal Government now owns 640 million acres of land--more than 640 million acres--within the United States. To put this in perspective, this amount--the more than 640 million acres of land currently owned by the Federal Government within the United States--is a total larger than the entireties of France, Spain, Germany, Poland, Italy, the United Kingdom, Austria, Switzerland, and the Netherlands combined. Now, I am not talking about the government-owned lands or the parklands within those countries. I am talking about the entirety of the countries themselves. The Federal Government owns more land than that. That is 28 percent of the total acreage within the United States, and more than 50 percent of the land in the West. This has proven to be far more land than the Federal Government is capable of managing responsibly. The condition of the vast Federal estate ranges from fair to poor to dismal. These lands face problems with rampant wildfires, soil erosion, mismanagement, and littering--with a staggering combined maintenance backlog of nearly $20 billion. Resources are only being spread thinner as they are being stretched to serve more and more lands--more and more lands that are now going to be bought with the new entitlement spending that we are putting in place with this bill should we enact this ill-conceived legislative proposal. On top of that, many of the LWCF funds have been diverted to a vague ``other purposes'' category that has, in many instances, little to do with access to outdoor recreation at all. In fact, many of the programs it has funded have, instead, aimed to pull land from public use, regardless of how the land in question is classified. So rather than increasing opportunities for hunting and fishing, snowmobiling, hiking, camping, mountain biking, or kayaking, the land policies in place have slowly been squeezing out recreational opportunities, and this has been going on for decades. And so, too, have these policies imposed severe economic restrictions. As the Federal estate has grown since the time the LWCF was established in 1964, natural resource production--including mining, energy, timber, and livestock raising--have sharply declined, depriving rural communities and their economies of crucial jobs and economic activity. Timber production, for example, has been cut by about 90 percent since the 1980s. So instead of providing sustainable, renewable, economically productive logging in the Northwest, these forests are now managed by catastrophic wildfire under the supervision--or I should say the failed supervision--of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. If you don't believe me, ask anyone who lives in the Western United States. Ask anyone who lives in the communities of Utah who have seen the environmental and economic devastation brought about as a result of failed land management policies. Now, some claim, rather audaciously, that the outdoor recreation economy is a major boon to these very same communities that are being impoverished by it. But usually, nearly always, people who say that aren't people who live in those communities. Seasonal tourism is not a sustainable core industry for most communities. Much of the money spent on outdoor recreation ends up going to apparel, equipment, and gear from large out-of-state companies. Rural public lands counties don't see a penny of it. This is especially true in those counties where the Federal Government owns not just 67 percent of the land mass, as is the case throughout Utah as a whole, but 90, 95 percent plus of the land in some counties. To make matters worse, Federal lands also mean a loss of property taxes and, as a result, a loss of huge sources of revenue and opportunities for States and for local communities. It is no coincidence that the poorest rural counties in the West are the very same communities, the very same counties where they have the most Federal land. The poorest counties are the counties with the most Federal land. Why is that? Well, there are a number of reasons, but one of the things that has to be taken into account isthe fact that, without property taxes, schools are underfunded, local governments are crippled, fire departments are, ironically, depleted and, therefore, unable to properly take care of the lands they are charged to protect in the first place. This, by the way, says nothing of the loss of economic activity as a whole. I am just talking here about the lack of property tax revenue Now, there is a Federal program for this, the Payment in Lieu of Taxes Program, also known as the PILT Program, as the abbreviation refers. This is a program that was intended to address this disparity by compensating counties and local communities for their loss of property taxes--that is the loss from property taxes that comes about as a result of significant Federal land ownership and the Federal Government's declaration, by law, that its lands may not be taxed. But PILT payments have provided only a pittance of what would be due to local governments were Federal lands not exempt from property taxes. In 2018, the Utah Legislature commissioned a state-of-the-art evaluation of 32 million acres of Federal land in Utah, excluding roughly 3 million acres of National Parks and Wilderness Areas. Now, this May, that same commission found that appraising these BLM and Forest Service lands according to their lowest use value would result in an annual property tax bill of $534 million. And this, by the way, in addition to excluding National Parks and Wilderness Areas from that equation, was a study that involved only those Federal lands extending to within 1 mile of any municipal boundary or of any city or town in Utah. So this fraction would produce $534 million annually in property tax revenue, even if it were taxed at its lowest value. In 2019, the PILT payments to Utah statewide totaled just $41 million, just 7.7 percent of the potential revenue from property taxes. Again, we are not talking about the National Parks or their National Wilderness Areas, nor are we talking about the lands outside of 1 mile beyond any municipal boundary. And while States and localities are the ones carrying the unfair economic burden, Washington only pours salt in these wounds by neglecting its oversight responsibilities. In May 2019, a GAO report found that BLM fails to maintain centralized data on lands acquired and that an increasing element of LWCF funds across agencies are being spent on acquisition projects that occur without and, in some cases, contrary to congressional approval. Not only that, but a December 2019 GAO report found that numerous agencies have blatantly disregarded LWCF requirements in order to illegally purchase more land. Yes. They are buying land, in many cases, contrary to their statutory authorization and limitations imposed by law. Under the original LWCF Act, no more than 15 percent of the land added to the National Forest System is to be west of the 100th meridian, essentially everything west of Oklahoma. But the GAO found that between fiscal years 2014 and 2018, the Federal Government had acquired more than 450,000 acres of land in the United States, more than 80 percent of which were west of the 100th meridian. In another recent review of land acquisition policies across the agencies conducted by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture, officials said that 40 percent of the land acquired with LWCF funds were not even requested by the agencies--not requested in the first place, yet they were purchased in some cases contrary to an explicit statutory command. As it turns out, billions of LWCF dollars are being spent without the Congress and without the relevant agencies or the public being informed of where or why or pursuant to what authority they were made. Why, then, would it ever make sense to turn this into an entitlement program, to turn this into something that is self-perpetuating--into a self-licking ice cream cone--that needs no support or reauthorization year to year from Congress? Last year, the Senate permanently reauthorized this broken, harmful, dangerous, unaccountable fund without reform and without any incentive to offer future reforms, but as if that weren't bad enough, the legislation before us now proposes to make that funding mandatory. Before, Congress could at least appropriate varying amounts to be used from the fund. Now, this bill, if passed, would turn the LWCF into a true trust fund, automatically requiring that the full $900 million be spent primarily on Federal land acquisition each year in perpetuity without accountability and without oversight. The unofficial Congressional Budget Office score estimates that this bill, as a whole, will cost nearly $17.3 billion over the next 10 years, all for land projects that we cannot afford, let alone maintain. This is not how Congress was tasked with exercising the power of the purse. This is not how it is supposed to work--not in this country and certainly not in this legislative body. It is the tough business of Congress to set priorities and to decide which, among worthy causes, should receive our limited resources. These funds could be going to provide relief in the midst of the current pandemic or to our national defense or to shoring up benefits for veterans or to a myriad of other goals. Putting these funds into a direct deposit mechanism, however, means that we are not having those conversations and not actively evaluating how we can best spend those taxpayer dollars each year. No, no. Instead, we are going to put it on autopilot. That is what this bill wants to do rather shamefully. This provision of the bill automatically puts more funds toward the harmful cause of growing the Federal estate, putting us on an even worse path than we have already taken. In fact, the first provision of the bill is only evidence to the fact that we have bitten off far more than we can chew. We can do better. As it currently stands, we have nothing to gain from this legislation. The agenda of aggressively and endlessly growing our Federal estate has put us on a dangerous path with devastating effects for our lands and for the people who live, recreate, and survive off of them as my home State of Utah has already experienced far too well. If we do not change course, this path will only worsen for the rest of the Nation too. I want to point out something--a common misperception that people often have about Federal land and what it is and what it does. In many cases, if you don't live in the western United States, you are not necessarily aware of the fact that the overwhelming majority--not just most but the overwhelming majority of Federal land is not a national park. National parks are some of the few things people consistently like about the Federal Government. They are frequently the favorite thing about the Federal Government. We all love national parks. They are beautiful. They are fun, and they are something that the Federal Government does that everyone still enjoys and loves. But most Federal land is not a national park. The overwhelming majority isn't anything like a national park, and the way these lands are divided out really isn't fair. In every State east of Colorado, the Federal Government owns less than 15 percent of the land. In every State to the west of Colorado and including Colorado, the Federal Government owns at least 15 percent and, in many cases, many multiples of that. In my State it happens to be about 67 percent. A tiny segment of that land consists of national park land. Most of it is just land that you can't use for anything else. The local governments can't tax them, and people can't access them for economic or recreational purposes without a ``Mother, may I?'' from the Federal Government. That is what it is. Most of this land isn't even a national park or a national recreation area or a wilderness area or anything remotely worthy of that. This is just about Federal control, and most of it is not managed very well. The National Park System has been underfunded. They, in many ways, do the best job they can with what they have, but they have been chronically underfunded, and the national parks are quite well run compared to the vast majority of Federal public land we have, which is chronically neglected, environmentally mismanaged, often to the economic and environmental detriment of those States where there is a lot of Federal land. Take San Juan County, UT. The Federal Government owns somewhere along the order of 95 percent of the land in San Juan County. It also happens to be Utah's poorest county.These two issues are not a coincidence. The fact that they appear in the same land mass is not coincidental; it is causal. The Federal Government is the cause for the impoverishment of this county and other communities in Utah and throughout the United States. Why? Because people can't own the land, can't develop the land, can't tax the land to fund their schools, their search and rescue services, or any other government priority. Nor can they access it for most economic purposes. Finally, all of my other observations about this legislation notwithstanding, this is the Senate, and just like church is for sinners, the Senate floor isn't for perfect, hermetically sealed, finished bills. We are supposed to bring imperfect bills to the floor to debate and deliberate and amend and discuss and, ultimately, find consensus. That is why I and many of my colleagues have been trying to do exactly that in this very situation with this very bill. I have a number of amendments. Many western State Senators do as well. Several Gulf State Senators have their own concerns about this bill in its current form. The way the process is supposed to work is that we bring this and other bills like it to the floor, and we offer up changes and see where the Senate is, see where the process goes, using reason, gentle persuasion, and awkward improvements to each piece of legislation as our guide. That is how it is supposed to work. There are a number of Senators from western States, from Gulf States, and from States that really aren't in the West or the gulf that don't really have that much to do with Federal public land, but they can see the procedural and substantive defects of this bill. That is why many of us who really would like to make improvements to this bill have come together from different parts of the country. The process of actually legislating has gone out of fashion in Washington and, quite regrettably, out of this Chamber in recent years, but it is something that I think the whole Senate would like to get back to--and I mean the whole Senate, Democrats and Republicans alike. This is an issue that is neither Republican or Democratic; it is not liberal or conservative; it is not Libertarian. It is not an ideological viewpoint. I know people within this Chamber on virtually every point along the ideological political continuum who would very much like to see the Senate working as an actual legislative body rather than as a rubberstamp for whatever small handful of people happen to write out behind closed doors and decide must be the finished, perfect, hermetically sealed object of our vote. This is wrong. It is an insult, not just to the 100 Senators who are here. It is that to be sure, but nobody cares about that. It is more about those we represent, those who elected us. Those election certificates don't belong to us. They belong to the voters of our various States who expect us to represent them. Regardless of how we might vote on any particular piece of legislation, they expect us to have read it; they expect us to do our job by showing up and by offering to make it better where we see flaws and we see defects. There is no perfect bill, but we can still make legislation a lot less bad. We can make it better. We bring about actual consensus. Consensus is not found by ramming something through without an opportunity for amendment, debate, or discussion This is wrong. It has gone on for far too long. I have seen it under the leadership of Democrats and Republicans alike in this Chamber, and it has to end. It will end. The question is, How long is it going to take us and how much misery will the American people have to endure while most of their Senators are effectively locked out of meaningful legislative debate, discussion, and amendment? This is wrong, and it has to end. The debate on this bill has now been extended by a whole extra day. There is no earthly reason why we can't use that extra day to work through a handful of 15-minute votes on a handful of amendments. It is just not that hard. In the amount of time that I have been speaking tonight, we could have processed a couple of amendments. In the amount of time that will be devoted only to hand-wringing and dismissal of legitimate concerns with this legislation, we could process any amendment that anyone wants to introduce, and this legislation could still be passed weeks before the House of Representatives is even poised to return. So why are we not doing this? There is no persuasive answer here. We have to start doing our job. I look forward to working with our colleagues to get an agreement on some amendments so that we can give this legislation the due consideration and the careful deliberation that it deserves, that we deserve, that those who elected us deserve, and then move on to the important nominations pending before the Senate and to the National Defense Authorization Act that are next in line. In the meantime, I hope Democrats and Republicans alike can unite behind the fact that we can't skate forever under the mantra that the Senate is the world's greatest deliberative body when it does not deliberate. The good news is, it is entirely within our power to reclaim use of that title justifiably and with dignity. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Mr. LEE	Senate	CREC-2020-06-09-pt1-PgS2834-5	null	801
formal	Chicago	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday, I explained that we cannot let the First Amendment become another casualty of this troubled moment. No matter how charged the issue, peaceful protests must be protected, from suppression by governments or hijackings by violent mobs. In the United States of America, people get to protest. In our country, people also get to worship. As I explained yesterday, local officials cannot selectively enforce health restrictions to privilege some First Amendment gatherings over others. If mayors are posing for photographs in massive demonstrations, there is no reason why small, careful church services should stay banned These are formal constitutional questions, but our American culture of free expression and open debate is not only threatened from the top down by the government, it can also dry up from beneath. If we are to maintain the civic discourse that has made us great, American citizens and American institutions need to want it. In the last several years, the New York Times has published op-eds from Vladimir Putin, the foreign minister of Iran, and a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. They have published an essay arguing for greater normalization of pedophilia. As far as I know, none of those decisions occasioned public revolts from the paper's staff, hand-wringing apologies from the editors, or an overhaul of the masthead. Presumably, it was understood that pushing the envelope and airing disagreements are necessary in a free market of ideas. But 1 week ago, the Gray Lady finally met her match. Vladimir Putin? No problem. Iranian propaganda? Sure. But nothing could have prepared them for 800 words from the junior Senator from Arkansas. Senator Cotton wrote an op-ed explaining a position which one survey found 58 percent of Americans agreed with. He argued that leadership in several cities had proven they either couldn't or wouldn't stop the riots, so President Trump should use Federal troops to secure the peace, as several Presidents have in our history. His view was controversial, no question, but there is also no question it was a legitimate view for a Senator to express. Looting and arson were crippling cities nightly. Some local authorities seemed to be functionally sacrificing their cities' small businesses to appease the mob. In Chicago, we have since learned, even Democratic aldermen were literally crying and pleading with their Democratic mayor to do something, they said. So a U.S. Senator wrote about it. Immediately, his idea was met with strong criticism. Now, that ought to be par for the course. In a free and open society, speech begets speech. Arguments beget counterarguments. We discuss and debate as fellow citizens. But that is not quite what happened. Instead of trying to win the argument, the far left tried to end the discussion. By now, we all know the routine. We have seen this movie before. Rather than actually rebut speech, the far left tried to silence the speaker with a mixture of misrepresentations, sanctimonious moralizing, and bizarre, emotional word salads that nobody else could have standing to question. This silencing tactic has escaped from the ivory tower and is spreading throughout American life. This sounds like Mad Libs mixture between a therapy session and a university's H.R. department. So, sure enough, instead of attempting to defeat Senator Cotton's ideas, the left set out to ban him from polite society. Some New York Times employees flooded social media to claim their bosses have risked reporters' physical safety with the Senator's scary words. Outside leftists blasted the paper for airing the argument. The Times itself began lying about what Senator Cotton had said. The paper's own Twitter account has claimed he had called for a crackdown on peaceful protests, when he specifically distinguished them from violent rioters. One of the Times' own opinion writers devoted her own column the next day to calling his view ``fascist'' and proclaiming him outside ``the bounds of legitimate debate.'' Remember, this is a sitting Senator discussing a proposition that had the majority of support from the American people, discussing a power that Congress gave to Presidents 213 years ago and which Presidents in the past have exercised. Oh, but the facts couldn't hold a candle to the hurt feelings. The New York Times erred grievously by making people confront a different viewpoint. They had hurt their feelings by making them confront a different viewpoint. They had to atone. So when the dust settled, a top opinion editor was gone. His deputy was reassigned. The piece was pulled out of the print edition, and a wandering multiparagraph apology now precedes it online. We are talking the New York Times. I understand the new editor has made it clear that staff should notify her immediately if any published opinion makes them uncomfortable--if any published opinion makes them uncomfortable? One of our Nation's most storied newspapers just had its intellectual independence challenged by an angry mob, and they folded like a house of cards. A jury of people on Twitter indicted them as accessories to a thought crime, and instead of telling them to go take a hike, the paper pleaded guilty and begged for mercy. Their readers' comfortable bubble was reinflated. Their safe space was safe again. Now, our colleague from Arkansas has a unique job. The far left cannot write angry emails to a university president or a publisher to get him fired. He cannot be silenced by professions of outrage or the use of magic words like ``problematic.'' His only bosses are his constituents. This broader, leftwing obsession with banning heretics from the public square will be poison for this country if it persists. Our Republic can survive a pandemic, it can survive civil unrest, but ideas and deliberation are our very foundation. America cannot be America if civil disagreement becomes a contradiction in terms. The liberal tradition in this country used to pride itself on being broad-minded, but we have spent years watching major universities slowly exchange debate for uniformity and rigor for psychological comfort. Now, we see the free press repeating that error. Let's hope we look back on this as a silly anomaly and not a sad turning point for our democracy	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-10-pt1-PgS2839-8	null	802
formal	Chicago	null	racist	Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, let me apologize in advance. My accent has not changed, but my speech has. I had a little oral surgery, so I am going to try to be as clear as I can be. I want to talk for a few minutes today about the Communist Party of China and Confucius Institutes. As you know, Confucius Institutes are the Communist Party of China's so-called learning centers that are located on 72 university campuses across the continental United States and, of course, Alaska and Hawaii. Each one of these symbols is one of these Confucius Institutes located at one of our universities. Here is how a Confucius Institute works. The Communist Party of China gives our universities--these 72 universities--the money to open these Confucius Institutes, and supposedly the purpose of these Confucius Institutes is to, A, teach the Chinese language, and B,to teach culture about the country of China to American students. At this juncture, it is important to distinguish between the people of China and the Chinese Communist Party. I had the pleasure of visiting China a number of times, and I know the Presiding Officer has. The Chinese people are wonderful people. They are smart. They are hard-working. They have a wonderful sense of humor. They are just extraordinary people. Their government, the Communist Party of China--not so much. Not nearly so much. So when I talk today about China, I am talking about their government, the Communist Party of China. These Confucius Institutes, which are, once again, funded by the Communist Party of China, you will not be surprised to learn come with a lot of strings attached to that Chinese Communist Party money. For example, most of the teachers who teach at these Confucius Institutes on American university campuses are trained in China. In fact, the Communist Party of China has to approve all the teachers even though they are teaching in our universities. The Communist Party of China also has to approve all of the events and the speakers at these Confucius Institutes. In addition, in order to get the money from the Communist Party of China, our universities have to agree that the Confucius Institutes will be governed by both Chinese law and American law. I have never seen anything like that. It is unprecedented. In order to get the money from the Communist Party of China, our universities also have to agree through these Confucius Institutes that certain topics will be off limits. For example, at these institutes, you can't talk about Taiwan; you can't talk about civil liberties in Hong Kong; you can't talk about Tiananmen Square and the murders there by the Communist Party of China; you can't talk about Tibet; you can't talk about the Dalai Lama; and you can't talk about the discrimination and indeed the imprisonment of the Uighur Muslims in northwest China. Once again, these are institutes that are on American campuses, but in order to get the money from the Communist Party of China, our universities have to agree that these topics are off limits. The Communist Party of China, in short, requires that these institutes can only teach versions of Chinese history, culture, and current events that are approved by the Communist Party of China. That is about the furthest thing you can imagine from academic freedom. How am I doing? Is my speech OK? I promise you, I haven't been drinking. The first Confucius Institute was formed on an American campus in 2004, and since that time, they have evolved--and not in a good way. I want to give you a short quotation. You are familiar with the Politburo of the Communist Party of China. Back in 2011, a member of the Politburo, which is the senior leadership in China in its Communist Party, Comrade Li Changchun, described Confucius Institutes in a speech he gave in Beijing in 2011. Comrade Li said: The Confucius Institutes are an appealing brand for extending China's culture abroad. [They have] made an important contribution toward improving [our] soft power. ``The `Confucius brand' has a natural attractiveness''-- A natural attractiveness. . . . using the excuse of teaching Chinese language, everything looks reasonable and logical.'' But of course it is not. Many of our professors across America have condemned the behavior of the Confucius Institutes. The American Association of University Professors did a comprehensive study of Confucius Institutes in 2014. Here is their report. This is what our professors concluded. I will quote from their report. Confucius Institutes function as an arm of the Chinese state and are allowed to ignore academic freedom. Their academic activities are under the supervision of Hanban, a Chinese state agency which is chaired by a member of the Politburo and the vice-premier of the People's Republic of China. Most agreements establishing Confucius Institutes feature nondisclosure clauses and unacceptable concessions to the political aims and practices of the government of China. Specifically, North American universities permit Confucius Institutes to advance a state agenda in the recruitment and control of academic staff, in the choice of curriculum, and in the restriction of debate. I don't want to beat this to death, but I have a number of studies. There is another one right here from the GAO. I won't bore you with the details, but here is a 2019 report calling for either the overhaul or the closure of Confucius Institutes in America, which was issued by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. Many U.S. colleges have disbanded Confucius Institutes. I want to be fair. Not that many years ago, there were over 100 of these little symbols. Now there are 72. About 30 universities have said: No, we believe in academic freedom--universities like the University of Chicago, Miami-Dade College, and Pennsylvania State University. Senator Doug Jones, our colleague from Alabama, the distinguished junior Senator from Alabama, and I have a bill. It deals with Confucius Institutes, but it wouldn't abolish them. It would not. The name of the bill--it is called the Concerns Over Nations Funding University Campus Institutes in the United States Act, the CONFUCIUS Act, by Senator Doug Jones and myself. Our bill would reform Confucius Institutes. Our bill would allow them to exist, but it would require all American universities that choose to sign a contract and receive money from and with the Communist Party of China to enter into contracts that require the Confucius Institutes to do the following: The Confucius Institute, by contract, would have to provide that it would protect academic freedom at the university; that it would prohibit the application of any foreign law on any campus of the institution; and that rather than granting full managerial control to the Chinese Party of China, it would grant full managerial authority of the Confucius Institute to the campus on which the Confucius Institute is situated. That would include full control over what is being taught, the activities carried out, the research grants that are made, and who was employed at the Confucius Institute. If the Confucius Institutes are going to be part of our universities, they should be part of our universities. Freedom of speech, full academic freedom--anything is open for discussion, and we don't have to have it first approved by the Communist Party of China. I think Senator Jones' and my bill would restore balance. It would restore truth. It would restore transparency. I know it would restore academic freedom to these Confucius Institutes that are operating in the United States of America. Toward that end, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 939--that is the CONFUCIUS Act--and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.	2020-01-06	Mr. KENNEDY	Senate	CREC-2020-06-10-pt1-PgS2859	null	803
formal	government spending	null	racist	Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, since 2010 I have sponsored a State of the Union essay contest for Vermont high school students. This contest gives students in my State the opportunity to articulate what issues they would prioritize if they were President of the United States. This is the contest's 10th year, and I would like to congratulate the 536 students who participated. It is truly heartening to see so many young people engaged in finding solutions for the problems that face our country. To my mind, this is what democracy is all about. A volunteer panel of Vermont teachers reviewed the essays, and chose Isabelle Hiller as this year's winner. Isabelle, a junior at Woodstock Union High School, wrote about reforming our incarceration system. Lucas Whitaker, a sophomore at Hazen Union High School, was the second place winner. Lucas wrote about youth suicide and the need for comprehensive mental health care. Maya Marcy, a junior at Long Trail School, was the third place winner, with an essay on the cost of college. I am very proud to enter into the Congressional Record the essays submitted by Isabelle, Lucas and Maya:Winner, Isabelle Hiller, Woodstock Union High School, Junior, Education in Incarceration Our country's federal prison system is stuck in an ethical rut. We seem to focus on securing institutions and confining offenders like savage dogs in a pound to ``protect the public,'' and disregard the fact that 44,000 prisoners return to society each year. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) claims that public safety is the goal of detention, but without any mental shift in convicts, all we do is press pause on their potential harm to society until their release. Currently, we have one of the highest prison populations in the world. Unless we plan to incarcerate all convicts for life, our approach to detainment should shift from `prison' to `rehabilitation', focusing on equipping prisoners with the skills to be mentally stable and financially and lawfully successful. To do so, all prisoners should not only have access to academic resources, but be required to attend a set number of courses each year. Just a few decades ago, Finland had one of the highest imprisonment rates in Europe. Because of this, researchers started investigating its cause. They concluded that punishment does not help reduce crime. As a result, Finland began `decarceration,' which was better for the prisoners and crime rates didn't increase. Without teaching prisoners skills or continuing their education, we merely take them out of their lives and throw them back with no change, and no basis to be stable in any realm. In the United States, prisoners have a higher likelihood of returning to illegal markets and returning to prison. As of October 2017, the BOP found that only 32 percent of the entire designated inmate population was enrolled in one or more education or recreation programs. Furthermore, participation decreases 16 percent in the recidivism population. The only academic requirement in our federal prison system is that inmates without a high school diploma or a General Education Development have to enroll in a literacy program, and need to be successful for good conduct time. However, even for this requirement alone, there is a stoppage to access the program due to overflow of over 16,000 inmates--that's a lot of potential students. Plus, although mock job and resume builder courses are offered, inmates do not take advantage of them-even with the knowledge that occupational training program participants are 33 percent less likely to recidivate. By increasing funding of education, we ensure equal accessibility to all courses for those 16,000 or more inmates wanting to take courses. Consequently the recidivism rate will reduce, decreasing our total prison population, and lower the overall government spending on imprisonment as a whole. By treating inmates like humans in their time of rehabilitation, with a lower recidivism rate, we more confidently ensure public safety when 44,000 convicts are released each year, strengthening the Department of Justice's prison system core ideologies. Although we have the right end goal, we need to rethink the process by which we get there for the sake of the public's safety and security. Second Place, Lucas Whitaker, Hazen Union High School, Sophomore One of the biggest issues in America's society today is the mental health crisis in our youth, relating back to the lack of mental health services in our schools. In many cases, this leads to preventable death by suicide. According to a 2017 study by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the	2020-01-06	Mr. SANDERS	Senate	CREC-2020-06-10-pt1-PgS2875	null	804
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-4772. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid (ACC); Temporary Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 10009-44-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-4773. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Bacillus thuringiensis Cry 14Ab-1 Protein in Soybean; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 10008-72-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-4774. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Oxathiapiprolin; Pesticide Tolerances'' (FRL No. 10009-93-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-4775. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Indaziflam; Pesticide Tolerances'' (FRL No. 10008- 92-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-4776. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; New Jersey; Gasoline Vapor Recovery Requirements'' (FRL No. 10009-52-Region 2) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4777. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval of Air Quality Implementation Plans; California; Ventura County; 8-Hour Ozone Nonattainment Area Requirements'' (FRL No. 10009-22-Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4778. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of State Plans for Designated Facilities and Pollutants; Virginia; Emission Standards for Existing Municipal Solid Waste Landfills'' (FRL No. 10004-07-Region 3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4779. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality State Implementation Plans; State of Utah; Revisions to the Utah Division of Administrative Rules; R307-101-3'' (FRL No. 10010-35-Region 8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4780. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; North Dakota; Revisions to Permitting Rules'' (FRL No. 10010-33-Region 8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4781. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval and Proumulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Maryland; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2010 Sulfur Dioxide National Ambient Air Quality Standard'' (FRL No. 10009-54-Region 3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4782. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Approvals and Promulgations; Montana; Columbia Falls, Kalispell and Libby PM10 Nonattainment Area Limited Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request'' (FRL No. 10010-18-Region 8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4783. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; Second Maintenance Plans for 1997 Ozone NAAQS; Door County, Kewaunee County, Manitowoc County, and Milwaukee-Racine Area'' (FRL No. 10009- 87-Region 5) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4784. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule'' (FRL No. 10009-80-OW) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4785. A communication from the Director of Regulations and Policy Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Tobacco Products; Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements; Delayed Effective Date'' (RIN0910-AI39) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4786. A communication from the Director of Regulations and Policy Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Food Additives Permitted in Feed and Drinking Water of Animals; Silicon Dioxide'' (Docket No. FDA-2019-F-3911) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4787. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Paying Benefits'' (29 CFR Part 4022) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4788. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Benefits Payable in Terminated Single- Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Paying Benefits'' (29 CFR Part 4022) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4789. A communication from the Agency Representative, Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Patent Term Adjustment Reductions in View of the Federal Circuit Decision in Supernus Pharm., Inc. v. Iancu'' (RIN0651-AD38) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on the Judiciary. EC-4790. A communication from the Chairman of the Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Demurrage Billing Requirements'' ((RIN2140- AB47) (Docket No. EP 759)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 20, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4791. A communication from the Chairman of the Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Policy Statement on Demurrage and Accessorial Rules and Charges'' (Docket No. EP 757) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 20, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4792. A communication from the Chief of Staff, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Amendment to Section 73.3580 of the Commission's Rules Regarding Public Notice of the Filing of Applications; Modernization of Media Regulation Initiative, Revision of the Public Notice Requirements of Section 73.3580, Second Report and Order'' ((FCC 20-65) (MB Docket Nos. 17-264, 17-105, 05-6)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 19, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4793. A communication from the Chief of Staff, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Low Power FM Radio Service Technical Rules: Part 11-Emergency Alert System (EAS); Part 73-Radio Broadcast Services; Part 74-Experimental Radio Auxiliary Special Broadcast and Other Program'' ((FCC 20-53) (MB Docket Nos. 19-193, and 17-105)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 19, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4794. A communication from the Chief of Staff, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``In the Matter of Mitigation of Orbital Debris in the New Space Age'' ((FCC 20-54) (IB Docket No. 18-313)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 19, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4795. A communication from the Chief of Staff, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Implementation of Section 1003 of the Television Viewer Protection Act of 2019'' ((FCC 20-63) (MB Docket No. 20-31)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 19, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4796. A communication from the Program Analyst, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Review of the Commission's Rules Governing the 896-901/935-940 MHz Bands'' ((FCC 20-67) (WT Docket No. 17-200)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 19, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4797. A communication from the Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band'' ((FCC 20-61) (WT Docket No. 02-55)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 2, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4798. A communication from the Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Creation of Interstitial 12.5 Kilohertz Channels in the 800 MHz Band Between 809-817/854-862 MHz'' ((FCC 20-62) (WT Docket No. 15-32)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 2, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4799. A communication from the Program Analyst, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``In the Matter of Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate the Use of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating with Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in Frequency Bands Allocated to the Fixed Satellite Service and Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion with Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations'' ((FCC 20-66) (IB Docket No. 17-95)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4800. A communication from the Program Analyst, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2020; Assessment and Collection of Regulatory Fees for Fiscal Year 2019'' ((FCC 20-64) (MD Docket Nos. 20-105, and 19-105)) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4801. A communication from the Deputy Chief, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Amendment of Section 1.80 of the Commission's Rules; Implementing Section 3 of the Pallone-Thune Telephone Robocall Abuse Criminal Enforcement and Deterrence Act (TRACED Act)'' (DA-460) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4802. A communication from the Acting Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Unlicensed Use of the 6 GHz Band; Expanding Flexible Use in Mid-Band Spectrum Between 3.7 and 2.4 GHz'' ((FCC 20-51) (ET Docket No. 18-295)) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4803. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Great Lakes Pilotage Rates-2020 Annual Review and Revisions to Methodology'' ((RIN1625-AC56) (Docket No. USCG-2019-0736)) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4804. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Security Zone; Potomac River, Montgomery County, Maryland'' ((RIN1625- AA87) (Docket No. USCG-2017-0448)) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4805. A communication from the Legal Yeoman, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``TWIC-Reader Requirements; Delay of Effective Date'' ((RIN1625-AC47) (Docket No. USCG-2017-0711)) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4806. A communication from the Associate Administrator for Policy, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Hours of Service of Drivers'' (RIN2126-AC19) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-10-pt1-PgS2876	null	805
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-202. A concurrent resolution adopted by the Senate of the State of Louisiana recognizing Tuesday, April 7, 2020, as the first annual ``World Trade Day'' at the state capitol; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 18 Whereas, Louisiana is home to the world's first World Trade Center, which originated as the ``International House'' in New Orleans more than seventy-five years ago in 1943, and has since inspired a global network of over three hundred world trade centers in more than one hundred countries; and Whereas, the World Trade Center of New Orleans, a nonprofit organization, is committed to fostering economic development throughout the state of Louisiana by advocating for international trade objectives that bolster efficiencies, opportunities, and innovations for commerce; and Whereas, having increased exports by sixty-one percent from 2008 to 2018, Louisiana is the fifth largest state exporter of goods in the United States, and Louisiana exports currently account for more than one quarter of the state's total economic output; and Whereas, the latest available data from the United States Trade Representative shows that Louisiana exports support an estimated 129,000 jobs and that such jobs pay up to 18 percent above the national average; and Whereas, Louisiana produces the majority of U.S. LNG exported globally, and according to LSU's Center for Energy Studies, Louisiana LNG projects could total nearly $100 billion in capital investment and add 20,000 new construction jobs and 1,500 new full-time jobs at Louisiana terminals once completed; and Whereas, key economic-driving and job-creating industries in the state, including aerospace, agribusiness, automotive, energy, manufacturing, and process industries, rely on international commerce; and Whereas, Louisiana's geographical positioning allows the state to take unique advantage of the Mississippi River to enhance competitiveness in global trade, making current and future investment in the infrastructure of the Mississippi essential to continued commercial success; and Whereas, Louisiana ports are among the highest-performing in the country, with the following ports designated as national ``power ports'': Port of South Louisiana (No. 1), Port of New Orleans (No. 4), Port of Baton Rouge (No. 8), Plaquemines Port (No. 11), and Port of Lake Charles (No. 12); and Whereas, Louisiana has the tactical advantage of being the only state with a deepwater port (Port of New Orleans) served by six of the seven Class I railroads, which comprise a 132,000 plus mile network of track and tie the port community and local industries directly to every major North American market; and Whereas, the world recognizes Louisiana as a key trade and investment destination for international companies, with the state attracting more foreign direct investment per capita than any other since 2008; and Whereas, the state of Louisiana formally acknowledged the essential role of trade in 2012 by establishing the Louisiana Board of International Commerce to advance the state's competitive position in the global marketplace through continued attraction of foreign and domestic investment and enhancement of the state's trade-based economy; Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby recognize Tuesday, April 7, 2020, as ``World Trade Day'' at the state capitol, celebrates the longstanding, indispensable influence of international commerce on Louisiana's economic health, vitality, and growth, and expresses support for the mission of the World Trade Center of New Orleans and for trade policies that benefit American consumers and businesses and ensure the United States remains competitive in global commerce; and be it further Resolved, That a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the secretary of the United States Senate, the clerk of the United States House of Representatives, each member of the Louisiana delegation to the Congress of the United States, and the presiding officers of the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-10-pt1-PgS2877	null	806
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Over the last several weeks, major challenges have dominated the headlines on a daily basis. Following the sacrifices Americans have made to fight the coronavirus, our Nation is gradually beginning to reopen. Our economy has started adding back jobs. But as some States are seeing their numbers increase, the fallout for American workers remains historic, and schools, universities, and employers are still looking for smart and safe ways to step back toward normal. The Senate is working to ensure that our efforts to treat, contain, and recover from the pandemic can succeed. We have confirmed a Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. Committees are overseeing the CARES Act, and Senator Cornyn is crafting measures to make sure a second epidemic of frivolous lawsuits does not block schools and colleges from reopening or employers from rehiring workers. At the same time, the killings of Black Americans like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have accelerated important conversations. With the leadership of Senator Scott of South Carolina, the Senate is preparing to add to the conversations surrounding law enforcement with our own serious proposal--policies that would take smart steps without attacking the vast majority of police officers who bravely do their jobs the right way. Of course there is also a long list of legislative priorities which the Senate was going to tackle before these new issues materialized. This week, Chairman Inhofe and the Armed Services Committee have been marking up the 60th consecutive National Defense Authorization Act, which I hope the full Senate will be voting on later this month. Here on the floor, we have also been considering a landmark bill to protect and preserve our Nation's public lands for future generations In my home State of Kentucky, we know all about the important role that public lands play in preserving our physical heritage, providing access for outdoor recreation, and sustaining jobs and prosperity in the process. Across the Commonwealth, outdoor recreation supports 120,000 jobs and drives nearly $13 billion in consumer spending. From natural wonders like Red River Gorge and Mammoth Cave National Park to historic sites like Mill Springs Battlefield and Camp Nelson, Kentuckians have grown up enjoying our public lands, and we intend to protect them for future generations. Let me give just one example. As I mentioned yesterday, when I came tothe Senate, Kentucky was the only State without its own national wildlife refuge. We had plenty of history and heritage. We just needed a little help to preserve it. With the support of hunters, boaters, and outdoorsmen in the Jackson Purchase region, I led the establishment of the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge. It was a huge step to protect local species and our treasured Kentucky pastimes. This refuge has continued to grow over the years. Thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and many willing sellers, it now makes thousands of acres available for appreciation, recreation, and tourism. Like many public lands, these wildlife areas make great neighbors. In a single year, more than 50 million visitors come to America's wildlife refuges nationwide and spend billions in nearby communities. Decades later, another Kentucky community was looking to safeguard its own natural treasure. The Green River, which flows through Kentucky and meets the Ohio River near Henderson County, is one of the most biodiverse waterways on the entire continent. I was proud to take the lead once again, and alongside strong local supporters and a broad coalition of groups, we sent a bill to President Trump, and he signed it into law. We welcomed the Interior Secretary to Western Kentucky last year to cut the ribbon on the Green River National Wildlife Refuge. But Kentuckians know that ribbon cuttings are just the beginning. Our State has newly designated public lands that need attention to get off the ground. We have well-established public lands that have opportunities to grow and improve, and we have places like the Daniel Boone National Forest, established more than 80 years ago, that need our careful attention and upkeep. This legislation before the Senate will help all of them. It will help us repair levees at the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge. It will also help our two wildlife refuges continue to grow. It will help Mill Springs Battlefield and Camp Nelson continue to teach the history of emancipation and the Civil War to new generations. It will help us make infrastructure upgrades at Mammoth Cave National Park for the safety of 2 million annual visitors. It will help enhance the Land Between the Lakes and its $600 million economic impact. It will fund transportation and structural maintenance in the Daniel Boone National Forest, which supports more than 900 jobs. It will help us rehabilitate the Cumberland Gap and give future Americans the opportunity to literally follow in the footsteps of our early explorers. Kentucky is proud of our public lands. We are proud of the role our natural inheritance plays in our vibrant present and our promising future. Of course, we are only just one State. Every one of my Senate colleagues has parks, forests, refuges, and historic sites they are equally proud of that are equally central in their communities. That is why we voted to advance this legislation earlier this week by an overwhelming bipartisan margin. President Teddy Roosevelt once said this about our Nation's national treasures: ``We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the Nation is worthy of its good fortune.'' I want to thank Senator Daines and Senator Gardner for their leadership in making sure that we keep up our end of the bargain with the generations of Americans who came before us and those yet to come. I am also grateful for Senator Alexander, Senator Portman, and our Democratic colleagues, Senators Manchin and Warner, for helping to assemble this bipartisan bill. I will be proud to speak for Kentucky and to vote for it. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2901-7	null	807
formal	safeguard	null	transphobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Over the last several weeks, major challenges have dominated the headlines on a daily basis. Following the sacrifices Americans have made to fight the coronavirus, our Nation is gradually beginning to reopen. Our economy has started adding back jobs. But as some States are seeing their numbers increase, the fallout for American workers remains historic, and schools, universities, and employers are still looking for smart and safe ways to step back toward normal. The Senate is working to ensure that our efforts to treat, contain, and recover from the pandemic can succeed. We have confirmed a Special Inspector General for Pandemic Recovery. Committees are overseeing the CARES Act, and Senator Cornyn is crafting measures to make sure a second epidemic of frivolous lawsuits does not block schools and colleges from reopening or employers from rehiring workers. At the same time, the killings of Black Americans like George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have accelerated important conversations. With the leadership of Senator Scott of South Carolina, the Senate is preparing to add to the conversations surrounding law enforcement with our own serious proposal--policies that would take smart steps without attacking the vast majority of police officers who bravely do their jobs the right way. Of course there is also a long list of legislative priorities which the Senate was going to tackle before these new issues materialized. This week, Chairman Inhofe and the Armed Services Committee have been marking up the 60th consecutive National Defense Authorization Act, which I hope the full Senate will be voting on later this month. Here on the floor, we have also been considering a landmark bill to protect and preserve our Nation's public lands for future generations In my home State of Kentucky, we know all about the important role that public lands play in preserving our physical heritage, providing access for outdoor recreation, and sustaining jobs and prosperity in the process. Across the Commonwealth, outdoor recreation supports 120,000 jobs and drives nearly $13 billion in consumer spending. From natural wonders like Red River Gorge and Mammoth Cave National Park to historic sites like Mill Springs Battlefield and Camp Nelson, Kentuckians have grown up enjoying our public lands, and we intend to protect them for future generations. Let me give just one example. As I mentioned yesterday, when I came tothe Senate, Kentucky was the only State without its own national wildlife refuge. We had plenty of history and heritage. We just needed a little help to preserve it. With the support of hunters, boaters, and outdoorsmen in the Jackson Purchase region, I led the establishment of the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge. It was a huge step to protect local species and our treasured Kentucky pastimes. This refuge has continued to grow over the years. Thanks to the Land and Water Conservation Fund and many willing sellers, it now makes thousands of acres available for appreciation, recreation, and tourism. Like many public lands, these wildlife areas make great neighbors. In a single year, more than 50 million visitors come to America's wildlife refuges nationwide and spend billions in nearby communities. Decades later, another Kentucky community was looking to safeguard its own natural treasure. The Green River, which flows through Kentucky and meets the Ohio River near Henderson County, is one of the most biodiverse waterways on the entire continent. I was proud to take the lead once again, and alongside strong local supporters and a broad coalition of groups, we sent a bill to President Trump, and he signed it into law. We welcomed the Interior Secretary to Western Kentucky last year to cut the ribbon on the Green River National Wildlife Refuge. But Kentuckians know that ribbon cuttings are just the beginning. Our State has newly designated public lands that need attention to get off the ground. We have well-established public lands that have opportunities to grow and improve, and we have places like the Daniel Boone National Forest, established more than 80 years ago, that need our careful attention and upkeep. This legislation before the Senate will help all of them. It will help us repair levees at the Clarks River National Wildlife Refuge. It will also help our two wildlife refuges continue to grow. It will help Mill Springs Battlefield and Camp Nelson continue to teach the history of emancipation and the Civil War to new generations. It will help us make infrastructure upgrades at Mammoth Cave National Park for the safety of 2 million annual visitors. It will help enhance the Land Between the Lakes and its $600 million economic impact. It will fund transportation and structural maintenance in the Daniel Boone National Forest, which supports more than 900 jobs. It will help us rehabilitate the Cumberland Gap and give future Americans the opportunity to literally follow in the footsteps of our early explorers. Kentucky is proud of our public lands. We are proud of the role our natural inheritance plays in our vibrant present and our promising future. Of course, we are only just one State. Every one of my Senate colleagues has parks, forests, refuges, and historic sites they are equally proud of that are equally central in their communities. That is why we voted to advance this legislation earlier this week by an overwhelming bipartisan margin. President Teddy Roosevelt once said this about our Nation's national treasures: ``We have fallen heirs to the most glorious heritage people ever received, and each one must do his part if we wish to show that the Nation is worthy of its good fortune.'' I want to thank Senator Daines and Senator Gardner for their leadership in making sure that we keep up our end of the bargain with the generations of Americans who came before us and those yet to come. I am also grateful for Senator Alexander, Senator Portman, and our Democratic colleagues, Senators Manchin and Warner, for helping to assemble this bipartisan bill. I will be proud to speak for Kentucky and to vote for it. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2901-7	null	808
formal	terrorism	null	Islamophobic	Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Floridians will never forget the horrific events of June 12, 2016. Four years ago, our State, Nation, the city of Orlando, and Hispanic and gay communities were attacked, and 49 innocent and beautiful lives were lost. It was an evil act. It was an act of terrorism designed to divide us as a nation and strike fear in our hearts and minds, but we didn't let it because Floridians are resilient. We came together, and we supported each other. The weeks following the attack will always stay with me--days spent in hospitals with families, at funerals, at wakes with loved ones, and countless events throughout the community. As a father and grandfather, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. It was heartbreaking. Yet, in this horribly dark time, the selfless courage of so many--from community members, to law enforcement, to healthcare workers--provided a sense of hope. This incredible strength, love, and bravery uplifted the community and helped us repair and rebuild. On the fourth anniversary of this unthinkable tragedy, the State of Florida comes together to honor the lives lost too soon, and we vow to always stand up and fight against evil and hatred in this world. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 614, submitted earlier today.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCOTT of Florida	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2910	null	809
formal	Chicago	null	racist	Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, even during this pandemic, people have been forming lines--6 feet apart and masked--at the corner of Emerson and Green Bay Road in Evanston, IL, to pick up Hecky's Barbeque. They come for the pulled pork, chicken wings, and especially the sauce. And for years, Hecky Powell was there with his family's recipes, his hard work, his smile, and his wisdom. Sadly, on May 22, Hecky passed away from pneumonia after a diagnosis of COVID-19. He used to say that people kept coming in for the sauce--that is what made the food great. Well, part of what made Evanston great was Hecky. For 37 years, he brought good barbeque, leadership, and kindness to Evanston, and today we pay tribute to him. Harry William ``Hecky'' Powell was born in 1948 at Cook County Hospital.Verna, his mom, had to give birth there because there was no room at the Community Hospital of Evanston, the only hospital in town that accepted Black patients. Hecky was one of nine siblings. He had a successful career in public service, serving as the director of several nonprofit agencies. One day, Hecky got an idea for a restaurant. He was dating Cheryl Judice, a sociologist who would later become his wife. They didn't know much about food, but Hecky's mom did. Verna had lost her job at a restaurant, and his dad was unemployed at the time. So when the restaurant next to Hecky's office went on the market, he figured he would buy it, and his parents could actually run the restaurant. On October 13, 1983, Hecky's Barbeque opened up with only $100 in the register. Many of the first recipes came from Verna and his Creole grandmother's native New Orleans. Everyone enjoyed Hecky's. Chicago Bears legend William ``The Refrigerator'' Perry was an early customer, drawn to the sauce-drenched ribs, fries, and two slices of Wonder Bread. Chicago Bulls great Scottie Pippen had Hecky's cater the team's private plane on occasion. When the Northwestern Wildcats faced off with the University of Southern California Trojans in the Rose Bowl in 1996, then-mayor Lorraine Morton and Hecky bet the mayor of Pasadena that the Wildcats would win. The Trojans won 41 to 32, and Hecky made ribs and chicken for the entire Pasadena City Council. But it was more than a restaurant. Hecky used his place to help high school kids learn responsibility and social skills, giving many of them their first jobs. He worked long hours, starting early in the morning, but he always had fun. No task was too small. He was cook, cleaner, and manager alongside his mother and the kids he was mentoring. Hecky was a champion for local youth. In 1994, he founded the Forrest E. Powell Foundation. Named after his father, the foundation offers grant and scholarship opportunities. In 2016, he started the Evanston Work Ethic Program, which helps young people prepare for vocational or trade school. In 2011, Hecky left work early, thinking he had the flu. He made light of it, but his wife knew better. He later was diagnosed with liver failure and told he had 6 to 7 months to live. Hecky resolved that he was going to be fine and against tough odds, he lived to receive a liver transplant in 2015 and was able to get his life back. Hecky then joined the Northwestern Medicine Transplant Advisory Council Board to help people get their own lives back too. For all this work, Hecky received the key to the city of Evanston in 2014, Abner Mikva Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and the street in front of the restaurant was officially renamed ``Hecky Powell Way.'' A person did not know Evanston until they experienced it with Hecky. When the COVID-19 pandemic reached Evanston, Hecky stepped up. Hecky's kept the whole staff on payroll and donated meals to hospital workers, shelters, and the Evanston Fire Departm. Hecky, as the unofficial mayor of Evanston, was the face of the community poster that read ``No Mask, No Sauce.'' Evanston has lost a true leader of the community. He was kind and generous without ever asking anything in return. I was honored to count Hecky as a friend and enjoyed many great times together with him. Squeezing in a stop at Hecky's was part of every Evanston visit. This June 19, people will celebrate with Hecky's Juneteenth Strawberry pop. For years, Hecky was part of the Jubilee, celebrating the arrival of news in Galveston, TX, that the Civil War was over and President Lincoln had issued his Emancipation Proclamation. He was Evanston's biggest supporter of making Juneteenth a holiday. This year, Evanston has its first Juneteenth Parade, and Hecky was going to be a big part of it, so it is fitting that the community will be dedicating part of the celebration to him. Hecky is survived by his wife Cheryl, seven children, Sharmin, Terry, Dawn, Joy, Hecky Junior, Jason, and Gigi, as well as his mother and seven siblings.	2020-01-06	Mr. DURBIN	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2928-2	null	810
formal	Chicago	null	racist	Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, today I rise to acknowledge the service of Mr. Darrell R. Willson, who is retiring as the Administrator of the National Gallery of Art in July after a 50-year career serving the public. Mr. Willson has spent the three past decades with the gallery overseeing the backbone of its operations--protecting and preserving its historic buildings, working to expand its footprint, and ensuring that it maintains a world-class staff. As an executive officer of the institution, he has worked closely with gallery leadership, executive branch officials and Congress--including with the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations--to ensure that the gallery has had the people and resources it needs to fulfill its mission. During his tenure, the gallery has completed more than $400 million worth of renovations to the East and West Buildings and welcomed visitors to new public spaces such as the Sculpture Gallery and the Andrew W. Mellon Memorial Fountain. In short, his work has provided the gallery with a stunning backdrop to showcase its collection of more than 150,000 sculptures, paintings, drawings, and photographs to the American public. His work with the National Gallery of Art is not the only contribution on Mr. Willson's resume that deserves recognition. Prior to joining the gallery, Mr. Willson worked for a decade at the Art Institute of Chicago, rising through the ranks to becom executive director of protective services. He also served the public as a local law enforcement official with the Waukegan, IL, police department. And of course, these positions are all in addition to his most important role--his service as a husband, a father, and a grandfather. Mr. Willson deserves to take great pride in all of these important accomplishments--especially his tireless work in support of our Nation's great arts and cultural institutions--as he retires from the gallery. On behalf of the Senate, I send him our thanks and warmest congratulations for a job well done.	2020-01-06	Mr. UDALL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2930-2	null	811
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. UDALL. Mr. President, I pay tribute today to Joe Vandever, Sr., who was one of the last surviving Navajo Code Talkers. Joe was born February 5, 1923, into the Red Running Into the Water People clan, born for Two Who Came to the Water clan. He passed away 5 days shy of his 97th birthday, on January 31, 2020, in Haystack, NM. Joe enlisted in the Marines when he was 19. He went through boot camp at Camp Pendleton and spent 6 months of intensive training learning the code and how to operate communications equipment to become a Navajo Code Talker. Navajo Code Talkers transmitted key military information through a code based on the Navajo language that the Japanese never broke. They participated in every major Marine operation in the Pacific theater and gave the Marines a critical advantage throughout the war. However, when they returned, they couldn't talk about their work, which remained classified until 1968. In 2001, Navajo Code Talkers, including Joe, received the Congressional Silver Medal. Joe epitomized the bravery and skill of the Navajo Code Talkers. Joe's Navajo name means ``going places,'' and he certainly did during the war. Serving in the 6th Marine Division from 1943 to 1946, Joe was stationed on 16 battleships--serving from Samoa to Guadalcanal to Guam to Japan to China. Joe translated messages from Navajo to English and set up communications posts on the frontlines. Joe was a spiritual man, and he provided spiritual support for others in his Marine division. He liked to tell a story about how he knew he would come home from the war. Before he left, he had been blessed in a ceremony. When he was in Guam, a bird he called a sheep-face bird--which was a Cassin's kingbird--came to him. There were no sheep-face birds in Guam, and that bird gave Joe a sign he would return home safely. And he did. After he returned, Joe honored his Navajo traditions as a medicine man. He held many different jobs over the years--working at an oil refinery, in construction, and as a miner, prospector, farmer, and chauffeur. For 14 years, he was employed at the Gallup Indian Medical Center as a custodian. Joe was fiercely proud of the Navajo language. According to Joe, ``Our language is powerful,'' and ``we [won]the war with our tongue.'' He wanted younger generations to learn the language and counseled them: ``Don't ever leave your language.'' Joe was a loving family man. After the war, he came home and married Bessie, to whom he was married for 73 years, until she passed away on September 24, 2019. He and Bessie had 9 children, 36 grandchildren, 55 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. He inspired them and encouraged them to pursue higher education, and he was beloved by them all. Joe lived a long life, and a good life--with kindness, optimism, good humor, integrity, and commitment and love for family and community. His light will continue to shine bright in his children and his future generations. I am honored to pay tribute to Joe Vandever who faithfully served our Nation and his family and Tribe.	2020-01-06	Mr. UDALL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2930	null	812
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. ROUNDS. Mr. President, today I recognize Lee Axdahl for his years of leadership to the State of South Dakota and our Nation as a strong advocate for highway safety. Lee has always been a leader. Before becoming involved in highway safety, he had a successful career in radio broadcasting where he won numerous broadcast journalism awards, owned several radio stations, and served as president of the South Dakota Broadcasters Association. Lee got his start in highway safety in 2007 when he began working at the South Dakota Office of Accident Records as the statistical program manager. In 2010, when I was working as Governor of South Dakota, I appointed Lee to serve as director of the South Dakota Highway Safety Office. He was subsequently reappointed by Governors Dennis Daugaard and Kristi Noem. Under Lee's leadership, South Dakota has experienced record-low traffic fatality levels, including a 22-percent decline in 2019. Under his leadership, the State of South Dakota has secured a record five highway safety programming commendations in its most recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Management Review. Over the years, Lee has worked to implement the State's award-winning ``Grim Reaper'' public awareness campaign and advocated for expansion of South Dakota's innovative 24/7 sobriety program to reduce impaired driving. He also modernized South Dakota's crash reporting abilities by adopting an electronic system, which has improved data submission periods from more than 4 months to less than 7 days. Lee's impact on highway safety has extended beyond South Dakota. He has served on the board of directors and executive committee of the Governors Highway Safety Association--GHSA--most recently having served as its treasurer. In this role, he has mentored new highway safety directors from other States by offering insight into the successes of South Dakota. Additionally, he has served as the Federal Reauthorization Subcommittee chair for the GHSA, where he improved the Nation's transportation policy in the FAST Act. I commend Lee Axdahl for his service to South Dakota and our Nation. I wish him the best in his future endeavors.	2020-01-06	Mr. ROUNDS	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2931	null	813
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-4807. A communication from the Secretary of Energy, transmitting, pursuant to law, a legislative proposal to implement an essential benefit for the Federal agents currently employed in the Office of Secure Transportation (OST) at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4808. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the fiscal year 2019 Annual Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Assessments from the Secretaries of Defense and Energy, the three national security laboratory directors, and the Commander, United States Strategic Command (OSS-2020-0399); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4809. A communication from the Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Emergency Management Priorities and Allocations System (EMPAS)'' (RIN1660-AB04) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4810. A communication from the General Counsel of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Federal Home Loan Bank Housing Goals Amendments Final Rule'' (RIN2590-AA82) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4811. A communication from the Chief of the Publications and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Guidance Under Section 6033 Regarding the Reporting Requirements of Exempt Organizations'' ((RIN1545-BN28) (TD 9898)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4812. A communication from the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Agency's Semiannual Report of the Office of Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4813. A communication from the Chairman, Board of Governors, United States Postal Service, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Postal Services' Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4814. A communication from the Chair of the Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Inspector General's Semiannual Report for the six- month period from October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4815. A communication from 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-AF49) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4816. A communication from 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 ``Tribal Transportation Program; Inventory of Proposed Roads'' (RIN1076-AF45) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4817. A communication from 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 ``Education Contracts Under Johnson-O'Malley Act'' (RIN1076-AF24) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4818. A communication from 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 ``Standards, Assessments, and Accountability System'' (RIN1076-AF13) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4819. A communication from the Chairman of the Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 49 CFR Part 1250'' ((RIN2140-AB44) (Docket No. EP 724 (Sub-No. 5)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4820. A communication from the Attorney-Advisor, Office of General Counsel, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, six (6) reports relative to vacancies in the Department of Transportation, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2931-6	null	814
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-4807. A communication from the Secretary of Energy, transmitting, pursuant to law, a legislative proposal to implement an essential benefit for the Federal agents currently employed in the Office of Secure Transportation (OST) at the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4808. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, the fiscal year 2019 Annual Nuclear Weapons Stockpile Assessments from the Secretaries of Defense and Energy, the three national security laboratory directors, and the Commander, United States Strategic Command (OSS-2020-0399); to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4809. A communication from the Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Emergency Management Priorities and Allocations System (EMPAS)'' (RIN1660-AB04) received during adjournment of the Senate in the Office of the President of the Senate on May 28, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4810. A communication from the General Counsel of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Federal Home Loan Bank Housing Goals Amendments Final Rule'' (RIN2590-AA82) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4811. A communication from the Chief of the Publications and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Guidance Under Section 6033 Regarding the Reporting Requirements of Exempt Organizations'' ((RIN1545-BN28) (TD 9898)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 9, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4812. A communication from the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Agency's Semiannual Report of the Office of Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4813. A communication from the Chairman, Board of Governors, United States Postal Service, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Postal Services' Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4814. A communication from the Chair of the Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Inspector General's Semiannual Report for the six- month period from October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4815. A communication from 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-AF49) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4816. A communication from 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 ``Tribal Transportation Program; Inventory of Proposed Roads'' (RIN1076-AF45) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4817. A communication from 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 ``Education Contracts Under Johnson-O'Malley Act'' (RIN1076-AF24) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4818. A communication from 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 ``Standards, Assessments, and Accountability System'' (RIN1076-AF13) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Indian Affairs. EC-4819. A communication from the Chairman of the Office of Proceedings, Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Petition for Rulemaking to Amend 49 CFR Part 1250'' ((RIN2140-AB44) (Docket No. EP 724 (Sub-No. 5)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 4, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4820. A communication from the Attorney-Advisor, Office of General Counsel, Department of Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, six (6) reports relative to vacancies in the Department of Transportation, received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2931-6	null	815
formal	based	null	white supremacist	By Mr. THUNE (for himself, Mr. Braun, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Rounds, and Ms. Ernst): S. 3938. A bill to extend Federal guidance concerning the use of certain alcohol-based hand sanitizer during the coronavirus public health emergency, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.	2020-01-06	The RECORDER	Senate	CREC-2020-06-11-pt1-PgS2934	null	816
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, today I rise to honor and pay tribute to my friend, neighbor, and mentor Tom Johnson, who passed away on June 8, 2020, after a 6-year fight with cancer. Tom served as the Hennepin County attorney for 12 years, and after I took over as county attorney years later, I would often turn to him for advice. Tom was always willing to help and to offer his wisdom, humor, and always patient kindness. It is only fitting that Tom was working up until his final days as to how to improve the lives of others by proposing ideas on criminal justice reform. In fact, just 1 week before hedied, Tom attended a virtual board meeting of the Minnesota Justice Research Center, which he founded and which was dedicated to pursuing fair treatment for those in the criminal justice system. Tom was a groundbreaking leader on criminal justice reform for decades and a fierce advocate for ending the racial disparities that have plagued our judicial system. Last Christmas, Tom wrote his own obituary, in which he said that nothing had given him more satisfaction than ``calling attention to the unacceptable racial disparities in the justice system and their cost to society.'' His voice and wisdom on these issues will be deeply missed in this moment as we try to end systemic racism in our country with systemic change. Put simply, Tom always did good, from his critical work on domestic abuse, to his focus on race and justice, to his principled stand against the death penalty. He simply loved public service. Tom was elected to the Minneapolis City Council at just 28 years old, and he once wrote that he used to wander around city hall thinking ``If the public only knew how little I know.'' But despite, or perhaps, because of his humility, Tom got things done. Tom fought for truth-in-housing inspections and campaign finance disclosures and for a prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation. He founded CornerHouse, an advocacy center for child victims of sexual abuse. Tom was a tireless advocate and champion for all Minnesotans, but none gave him more joy than his beloved family, including his wife Victoria and his children Jill, Ben, Hunter, and Kayla. He was so proud of all they had achieved--and rightfully so. When reflecting on his legacy to the Star Tribune in 2015, Tom suggested that many of today's problems could be solved if people just worked harder at getting to know people from different races and cultures. As he told the paper, things like ``socializing after work. Asking how things are going and really listening to the answer. Helping a young person make the connections that lead to a first job,'' were the keys. We would all be wise to honor Tom's legacy by heeding that advice.	2020-01-06	Ms. KLOBUCHAR	Senate	CREC-2020-06-12-pt1-PgS2956-2	null	817
formal	welfare	null	racist	Mr. SULLIVAN (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Cramer, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Tester, Mrs. Blackburn, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Loeffler, Mrs. Capito, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Hoeven, Ms. Smith, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Reed, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Wicker, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Lankford, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Roberts, Mr. Portman, Mr. Cruz, and Mr. Braun) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 618 Whereas the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, who proudly serve the United States-- (1) risk their lives to protect the freedom, health, and welfare of the people of the United States; and (2) deserve the investment of every possible resource to ensure their lasting physical, mental, and emotional well- being; Whereas, since the events of September 11, 2001, nearly 2,800,000 members of the Armed Forces have deployed overseas and served in places such as Afghanistan and Iraq; Whereas the current generation of men and women in the Armed Forces has sustained a high rate of operational deployments, with many members of the Armed Forces serving overseas multiple times, placing those members at high risk of enduring traumatic combat stress; Whereas, when left untreated, exposure to traumatic combat stress can lead to severe and chronic post-traumatic stress responses, which are commonly referred to as post-traumatic stress disorder (referred to in this preamble as ``PTSD'') or post-traumatic stress injury; Whereas many men and women of the Armed Forces and veterans who served before September 11, 2001, live with mental health needs from post-traumatic stress and remain at risk for responses to that stress; Whereas many post-traumatic stress responses remain unreported, undiagnosed, and untreated due to a lack of awareness about post-traumatic stress and the persistent stigma associated with mental health conditions; Whereas post-traumatic stress significantly increases the risk of post-traumatic stress responses, including anxiety, depression, homelessness, substance abuse, and suicide, especially if left untreated; Whereas the Secretary of Veterans Affairs reports that-- (1) between 11 and 20 percent of veterans who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom have post-traumatic stress in a given year; (2) approximately 12 percent of veterans who served in the Persian Gulf War have post-traumatic stress in a given year; and (3) approximately 30 percent of veterans who served in the Vietnam era have had post-traumatic stress in their lifetimes; Whereas public perceptions of post-traumatic stress as a mental health disorder create unique challenges for veterans seeking employment; Whereas the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans service organizations, and the private and public medical community have made significant advances in the identification, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of post-traumatic stress and the symptoms of post- traumatic stress, but many challenges remain; Whereas increased understanding of post-traumatic stress can help eliminate stigma attached to the mental health issues of post-traumatic stress; Whereas additional efforts are needed to find further ways to eliminate the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, including-- (1) an examination of how post-traumatic stress is discussed in the United States; and (2) a recognition that post-traumatic stress is a common injury that is treatable; Whereas timely and appropriate treatment of post-traumatic stress responses can diminish complications and avert suicides; Whereas post-traumatic stress-- (1) can result from any number of stressors other than combat, including rape, sexual assault, battery, torture, confinement, child abuse, car accidents, train wrecks, plane crashes, bombings, natural disasters, or global pandemics; and (2) affects approximately 8,000,000 adults in the United States annually; Whereas traumatic events such as the COVID-19 pandemic could-- (1) increase the number of individuals impacted by post- traumatic stress; or (2) exacerbate the responses of post-traumatic stress; Whereas the diagnosis of PTSD was first defined by the American Psychiatric Association in 1980 to commonly and more accurately understand and treat survivors of physical and psychological trauma, including veterans who had endured severe traumatic combat stress; Whereas the word ``disorder'' can perpetuate the stigma associated with combat stress, so the more general term ``post-traumatic stress'' is often preferred; and Whereas the designation of a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month and a National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day raises public awareness about issues relating to post-traumatic stress, reduces the stigma associated with post-traumatic stress, and helps ensure that individuals suffering from the invisible wounds of war receive proper treatment: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates-- (A) June 2020 as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Month''; and (B) June 27, 2020, as ``National Post-Traumatic Stress Awareness Day''; (2) supports the efforts of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Defense, and the entire medical community to educate members of the Armed Forces, veterans, the families of members of the Armed Forces and veterans, and the public about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of post-traumatic stress; (3) supports efforts by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and the Secretary of Defense to foster-- (A) cultural change around the issue of post-traumatic stress; and (B) understanding that personal interactions can save lives and advance treatment; (4) welcomes the efforts of the National Center for Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Department of Veterans Affairs and local Vet Centers (as defined in section 1712A(h) of title 38, United States Code) to provide assistance to veterans who are suffering from the effects of post-traumatic stress; (5) encourages the leadership of the Armed Forces to support appropriate treatment of men and women of the Armed Forces who suffer from post-traumatic stress; (6) recognizes the impact of post-traumatic stress on the spouses and families of members of the Armed Forces and veterans; and (7) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate transmit a copy of this resolution to-- (A) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and (B) the Secretary of Defense.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-15-pt1-PgS2975-2	null	818
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Collins, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Ernst) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 621 Whereas, in 2006, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse proclaimed June 15th of each year as ``World Elder Abuse Awareness Day''; Whereas approximately 55,000,000 residents of the United States, or about 1 in every 6 individuals, have attained the age of 65 on the 15th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2020; Whereas elder abuse can come in many different forms, often manifesting as physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and social media abuse; Whereas elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation have no boundaries and cross all racial, social, class, gender, and geographic lines, according to the Elder Justice Coalition; Whereas more than 1 in 10 individuals in the United States over the age of 60 have been subjected to abuse each year, with many such victims enduring abuse in multiple forms, according to the American Journal of Public Health; Whereas most reported cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults take place within private homes, and approximately 90 percent of the perpetrators in elder financial exploitation cases are family members or other trusted individuals, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association; Whereas research suggests that elderly individuals in the United States who experience cognitive impairment, physical disabilities, and isolation are more likely to become the victims of abuse than those without disabilities; Whereas other risk factors for elder abuse can include low social support, poor physical health, and experience of previous traumatic events, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse; Whereas close to half of elderly individuals who suffer from dementia will experience abuse during their lifetime, according to the Department of Justice; Whereas only a small fraction of elder abuse cases are reported to the authorities; Whereas there is a need to increase funding for adult protective services programs with the capacity to aid victims, investigate reports of abuse, and actively prevent future victimization, particularly during the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic, as the social isolation of elderly individuals due to stay-at-home orders only increases the risk of abuse and neglect; Whereas the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has fueled demand for programs such as State long-term care ombudsman programs, which help prevent elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, where infection prevention and control deficiencies pose persistent challenges; Whereas 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Elder Justice Act (subtitle H of title VI of Public Law 111-148) and the 3rd anniversary of the passage of the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (Public Law 115-70); Whereas public awareness of elder abuse has the potential to increase the identification and reporting of this crime by the public, professionals, and victims, and can act as a catalyst to promote issue-based education and long-term prevention; and Whereas private individuals and public agencies in the United States must work together at the Federal, State, and local levels to combat abuse, neglect, exploitation, crime, and violence against vulnerable adults, including vulnerable older adults, particularly in light of limited resources for vital protective services: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates June 15, 2020, as ``World Elder Abuse Awareness Day''; (2) recognizes judges, lawyers, adult protective services professionals, law enforcement officers, State long-term care ombudsmen, social workers, health care providers, advocates for victims, and other professionals and agencies for their efforts to advance awareness of elder abuse; (3) encourages members of the public and professionals who work with older adults to act as catalysts to promote awareness and long-term prevention of elder abuse-- (A) by reaching out to local adult protective services agencies, State long-term care ombudsman programs, and the National Center on Elder Abuse; and (B) by learning to recognize, detect, report, and respond to elder abuse; and (4) encourages those Federal agencies with responsibility for preventing elder abuse to fully exercise such responsibilities to protect older adults, whether living in the community or in long-term care facilities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-15-pt1-PgS2976-3	null	819
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Collins, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Casey, and Ms. Ernst) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 621 Whereas, in 2006, the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse proclaimed June 15th of each year as ``World Elder Abuse Awareness Day''; Whereas approximately 55,000,000 residents of the United States, or about 1 in every 6 individuals, have attained the age of 65 on the 15th anniversary of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day in 2020; Whereas elder abuse can come in many different forms, often manifesting as physical, sexual, or psychological abuse, financial exploitation, neglect, and social media abuse; Whereas elder abuse, neglect, and exploitation have no boundaries and cross all racial, social, class, gender, and geographic lines, according to the Elder Justice Coalition; Whereas more than 1 in 10 individuals in the United States over the age of 60 have been subjected to abuse each year, with many such victims enduring abuse in multiple forms, according to the American Journal of Public Health; Whereas most reported cases of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of older adults take place within private homes, and approximately 90 percent of the perpetrators in elder financial exploitation cases are family members or other trusted individuals, according to the National Adult Protective Services Association; Whereas research suggests that elderly individuals in the United States who experience cognitive impairment, physical disabilities, and isolation are more likely to become the victims of abuse than those without disabilities; Whereas other risk factors for elder abuse can include low social support, poor physical health, and experience of previous traumatic events, according to the National Center on Elder Abuse; Whereas close to half of elderly individuals who suffer from dementia will experience abuse during their lifetime, according to the Department of Justice; Whereas only a small fraction of elder abuse cases are reported to the authorities; Whereas there is a need to increase funding for adult protective services programs with the capacity to aid victims, investigate reports of abuse, and actively prevent future victimization, particularly during the ongoing COVID- 19 pandemic, as the social isolation of elderly individuals due to stay-at-home orders only increases the risk of abuse and neglect; Whereas the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has fueled demand for programs such as State long-term care ombudsman programs, which help prevent elder abuse and neglect in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, where infection prevention and control deficiencies pose persistent challenges; Whereas 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of the passage of the Elder Justice Act (subtitle H of title VI of Public Law 111-148) and the 3rd anniversary of the passage of the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act (Public Law 115-70); Whereas public awareness of elder abuse has the potential to increase the identification and reporting of this crime by the public, professionals, and victims, and can act as a catalyst to promote issue-based education and long-term prevention; and Whereas private individuals and public agencies in the United States must work together at the Federal, State, and local levels to combat abuse, neglect, exploitation, crime, and violence against vulnerable adults, including vulnerable older adults, particularly in light of limited resources for vital protective services: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates June 15, 2020, as ``World Elder Abuse Awareness Day''; (2) recognizes judges, lawyers, adult protective services professionals, law enforcement officers, State long-term care ombudsmen, social workers, health care providers, advocates for victims, and other professionals and agencies for their efforts to advance awareness of elder abuse; (3) encourages members of the public and professionals who work with older adults to act as catalysts to promote awareness and long-term prevention of elder abuse-- (A) by reaching out to local adult protective services agencies, State long-term care ombudsman programs, and the National Center on Elder Abuse; and (B) by learning to recognize, detect, report, and respond to elder abuse; and (4) encourages those Federal agencies with responsibility for preventing elder abuse to fully exercise such responsibilities to protect older adults, whether living in the community or in long-term care facilities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-15-pt1-PgS2976-3	null	820
formal	religious liberty	null	homophobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, this week, like most weeks for a month and a half now, has brought a study in contrasts to the U.S. Capitol. Over in the Democratic-led House of Representatives, the lights are off. The doors are locked. There is nobody home. With our country facing a once-in-a-century pandemic, a historic economic disruption, a major discussion of racial justice, and all of the other important business we were already set to tackle this year before all of this, the Speaker of the House has mostly kept her Chamber on the longest running spring break in human history--lots of talk about supposed priorities but few votes; lots of partisan attacks leveled at the Republicans from a distance but little action. Over here in the Senate, the story has been very different. We are holding hearings. We are legislating. We are confirming nominees. With precautions, we are manning our posts for the country. Tomorrow, the Senate will begin considering the President's nomination of Judge Justin Walker to fill a vacancy on the DC Circuit--the second most important Federal bench in the country. As my fellow Kentuckians and I can attest, Judge Walker is exactly the kind of individual our country deservesto have in such a role. He graduated from Duke summa cum laude and then from Harvard Law magna cum laude. He clerked on the DC Circuit himself for an impressive young judge named Brett Kavanaugh and then on the Supreme Court. He has built a national reputation as a leading academic scholar of the law. It is no wonder that even the ABA rates him ``well qualified.'' He has quickly made a name for himself as a district judge. A few weeks ago, when the mayor of Louisville tried to cancel drive-in Easter services with disparate restrictions that did not apply equally to other parking lots, Judge Walker won national attention for his eloquent defense of religious liberty. This subject becomes more important by the day. The American people deserve to have strong respect for their First Amendment rights, including their rights of religious exercise and conscience, on one of our country's highest courts. So I look forward to continuing to detail our Kentucky pride for Judge Walker as this week unfolds, and I will take great pride in voting to advance his nomination and to confirm him.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-16-pt1-PgS2981-8	null	821
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-4821. A communication from the Director of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Capital Rule: Revised Transition of the Current Expected Credit Losses Methodology for Allowances; Correction'' (RIN3064-AF46) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4822. A communication from the Director of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Interim Final Rule - Regulatory Capital Rule: Temporary Exclusion of U.S. Treasury Securities and Deposits at Federal Reserve Banks from the Supplementary Leverage Ratio for Depository Institutions'' (RIN3064-AF44) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 11, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4823. A communication from the Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to transactions involving U.S. exports to Turkey; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4824. A communication from the Chairman and President of the Export-Import Bank, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to transactions involving U.S. exports to various countries; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4825. A communication from the Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commission's Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4826. A communication from the President and Chief Executive Officer, National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to Fiscal Year 2020 emergency funding in the CARES Act; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-16-pt1-PgS3012	null	822
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. COONS (for himself and Mr. Rubio) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations: S. Res. 624 Whereas Yevgeniy Prigozhin is a Russian national who has maintained close personal ties with Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin since the early 2000s; Whereas Yevgeniy Prigozhin is the presumed financier of the Wagner Group, also known as the Private Military Company (PMC) Wagner, a Russian mercenary organization staffed by current and former military and intelligence officers, and is the financier of the Internet Research Agency and other organizations engaged in online influence operations; Whereas entities such as Wagner have been linked to the Government of the Russian Federation and are used to conduct military action, subversive operations, and disinformation campaigns on the Government's behalf while giving it an appearance of plausible deniability; Whereas the Wagner Group was involved in the Russian Federation's military takeover and illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region in February and March 2014, and in the subsequent insurgencies in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk; Whereas the Wagner Group has been providing military support to the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria since 2015, fighting alongside its forces and helping it recapture significant parts of the country; Whereas, on February 7, 2018, the Wagner Group led an armed assault on United States troops near the city of Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria, prompting a United States counterattack, in what the Washington Post has described as ``the deadliest United States-Russia clash since the Cold War''; Whereas the Wagner Group has supported Khalifa Haftar and his ``Libyan National Army'' by providing mercenaries, artillery, tanks, drones, and ammunition in violation of a United Nations arms embargo, with Yevgeniy Prigozhin personally attending a meeting between Haftar and Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow on November 7, 2018; Whereas a United Nations report made public on May 6, 2020, concluded that the Wagner Group has operated up to 1,200 military contractors in Libya, including snipers and specialized military teams, serving ``as an effective force multiplier'' for Haftar's army; Whereas Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated entities have been tied to influence operations on behalf of the Government of the Russian Federation in Africa, with entities associated with Prigozhin reportedly operating in at least 20 countries, including the Central African Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, and Sudan; Whereas about 235 Russian military and private security personnel have deployed to the Central African Republic since 2017, some of whom are reportedly employed by the Wagner Group, and some of whom provide personal security for President Faustin-Archange Touadera; Whereas Russian national Valery Zakharov, who is reportedly a former intelligence official, has served as a top national security advisor to Central African Republic President Faustin-Archange Touadera since at least 2018; Whereas, in July 2018, Russian journalists Orkhan Dzhemal, Kirill Radchenko, and Alexander Rastorguyev were murdered in the Central African Republic while working on a documentary about the activities of the Wagner Group in that country; Whereas neither the Government of the Central African Republic nor the Government of the Russian Federation are conducting credible and thorough investigations into the murder of these 3 journalists; Whereas, according to an investigation by the London-based Dossier Center, the journalists had been tracked by officers of the Central African Republic gendarmerie who were in close communication with Russian nationals with ties to Prigozhin, including Alexander Sotov, who in turn was reportedly in contact with Zakharov; Whereas companies owned by Yevgeniy Prigozhin reportedly had made regular payments to senior Central African Republic officials, including the Police Chief and the Minister of National Security; Whereas, on December 20, 2016, the Department of the Treasury designated Yevgeniy Prigozhin under Executive Order 13661, ``Blocking Property of Additional Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine,'' ``for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services in support of, senior officials of the Russian Federation''; Whereas, on June 20, 2017, the Department of the Treasury designated the Wagner Group under Executive Order 13660, ``Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Ukraine,'' ``for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine''; Whereas, on March 15, 2018, the Department of the Treasury designated Yevgeniy Prigozhin, his affiliated entities, including the Internet Research Agency, and his subordinates under Executive Order 13694, ``Blocking the Property of Certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber- Enabled Activities,'' for being ``involved in interfering with [United States] election processes or institutions''; Whereas, on February 16, 2018, the Department of Justice announced the indictment of Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his affiliated entities, including the Internet Research Agency, for engaging in ``operations to interfere with the United States political system, including the 2016 United States presidential election'' and conducting ``information warfare'' against the United States; Whereas, on September 20, 2018, the Department of State added Prigozhin, his affiliated entities, including the Internet Research Agency, and the Wagner Group to the list of persons identified as part of, or operating for or on behalf of, the defense or intelligence sectors of the Government of the Russian Federation under section 231 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (22 U.S.C. 9525); Whereas, on September 30, 2019, under Executive Order 13848, the Department of the Treasury took additional steps to increase pressure on Prigozhin by designating physical assets--3 aircraft and a yacht--and 3 associated front companies of his; Whereas, on February 15, 2019, Gavin Williamson, then- United Kingdom Defense Secretary, said that the ``clandestine use of proxies, mercenary armies like the infamous and unaccountable Wagner Group, allows the Kremlin to get away with murder while denying the blood on their hands''; Whereas, on December 13, 2018, John Bolton, then-Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, affirmed that ``the predatory practices pursued by China and Russia. . . in Africa. . . pose a significant threat to United States national security interests''; and Whereas General Stephen J. Townsend, Commander of the United States Africa Command, on April 2, 2019, expressed great ``concern'' about the Wagner group, and, on January 30, 2020, noted that private military contractors such as Wagner, are ``leading the fight in Libya against the UN-backed and U.S.-recognized Government of National Accord'': Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that-- (1) the activities of Russian national Yevgeniy Prigozhin, his affiliated entities, and the Wagner Group pose a threat to the national interests and national security of the United States; and (2) the President, in addition to maintaining sanctions on Yevgeniy Prigozhin, his affiliated entities, and the Wagner Group, should work with Congress to develop and execute a strategy drawing on the multiple instruments of United States national power available to the President, to counter the malign influence and activities of Prigozhin, the entities linked to him, and the Wagner Group.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-16-pt1-PgS3013-2	null	823
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on an entirely different matter, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Over the last several months, our country has been shaken by the killings of more Black Americans at the hands of law enforcement. The people of this country have called for change. The United States of America is not a fundamentally racist country. We are the greatest Nation in world history built on the promise of liberty and justice for all, but our founding promise was stained by the sins of slavery and racial prejudice. Generations of Americans have spent more than a century working to remediate that stain. We fought a Civil War. Black Americans led a movement that won historic Supreme Court wins and landmark Federal legislation. We have squeezed racist lies out of mainstream society and relegated them to a pathetic fringe. But the events of the last few weeks have reminded this country that the stain is not totally gone. We have a lot more work to do. While the far left has tried to exploit America's pain and anger to push insane policies like defunding or disbanding all police or nonsense claims like the assertion that enforcing laws is inherently racist, the rest of the country has been busy uniting around some commonsense truths. When Black Americans tell us they do not feel safe in their own communities, we need to listen. When American citizens lack faith in our justice system from start to finish, we need to respond. When the equal protection of the laws feel to some Americans like a contingency of demographics and not a universal fact of life, we need to act. That is what this Senate Republican majority is doing today. We are acting. Sadly, the junior Senator from South Carolina is no stranger to this subject himself. Senator Scott has led the construction of a strong proposal that will increase transparency, grow accountability, and advance the cause of police reform without lashing out at the lion's share of brave law enforcement officers who serve bravely and well. Later today, he will introduce this new legislation, and it will be the very next bill we consider here on the Senate floor. We will be turning to this bill next week. Senator Scott's JUSTICE Act provides solutions that are as sober, as serious, and as significant as this watershed moment demands. Faced with the fact that policing is primarily a local and State, rather than a Federal, concern, our colleague has nevertheless found a variety of levers that Congress can pull to advance and incentivize and insist on the changes that we need to see. We need to encourage police departments across America to implement practical reforms like ending choke holds, training their officers to deescalate tense situations, and having prior disciplinary records play a greater role in hiring. His bill does that We need to increase accountability so that bad officers are easy to spot and good officers' good names stay clear. This bill does that. It will get more body cameras on the streets, help ensure they are used properly, and disseminate new best practices for discipline, suspension, or dismissal when necessary. We also need more transparency so communities have greater visibility into local law enforcement. This bill does that too. We will require full reporting to the FBI when a local officer has used force or discharged his or her weapon. In a subject that has tragically become a major focus for my hometown of Louisville, KY, we address no-knock warrants as well. We will require new transparency and new reporting from State and local authorities so surrounding communities and the Federal Government can all better understand how, when, and why this practice is used. These are just some of the major parts of our colleague's legislation. The JUSTICE Act will also finally make lynching a Federal crime. It will close the consent loophole by forbidding law enforcement from taking advantage of people in their custody and more. This legislation is a substantial effort to help our Nation make major headway on substantial challenges. I am grateful to Senator Scott for his leadership. I appreciate the contributions of Chairman Lindsey Graham, Senators Capito, Cornyn, Lankford, and Sasse. The Democratic-led House of Representatives is, of course, out of town. They have had time to issue partisan attacks from long distance but have yet to take up any police reform legislation in the weeks since the deaths of Ms. Taylor and Mr. Floyd. The action is in the Senate. The leadership is in the Senate. Now, over the past several days, some of our Senate Democratic colleagues have undertaken to attack this new legislation before they have even read it and before it was even released--while it was still being compiled, as a matter of fact. Let me make this perfectly clear. Senate Republicans are interested in making a law. We want to enact needed reforms. We want to make policing in America better. We have just demonstrated on the CARES Act and, once again, on the Great American Outdoors Act, that we can act together and achieve bipartisan support. This is another one of those issues that needs to be addressed--needs to be addressed now and can only be addressed in the Senate if both sides are willing to work together. Needless to say, if we are going to make law on this issue in the Senate, it will have to be a bipartisan effort. I hope and expect that there will be opportunities for amendments from both sides. I hope we can step up, stand together, and work in good faith to turn this impressive starting point into law for our country. We will have the chance next week, so let's don't waste it.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3026-3	null	824
formal	single	null	homophobic	Justice Act Last week, my friend and colleague Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina announced that he was leading a working group with the goal of drafting a comprehensive police reform bill.You all know what happened next. He spoke about it just a few hours ago, but I think it is important to get on the record just one more time today that he deserves our thanks, and he deserves credit. Before Senator Scott had a chance to write a single word of his bill, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle were ready to shut it down. It was stunning. Let me read you a few of these statements. Someone said they suspect it ``is going to be window dressing.'' Another said: ``It's so far from being relevant to really the crisis at hand.'' Another: ``This is not a time for lowest common denominator, watered down reforms.'' And then there was another unfortunate comment for which an apology was offered late today, and that apology was accepted. All of this is disappointing. It is hurtful, yes, but disappointing because this is a time when we have to carry on. We have to move forward. Senator Scott announced the introduction of the JUSTICE Act. I am honored to be a cosponsor of that legislation, and I think it is imperative that we move forward with our discussions and our deliberations just as we would with any other bill. This Chamber is going to find a way to move forward with suggestions, but, above all, I urge my colleagues to consider some of the words that have been said. I urge them to take those words to heart, and I urge them to remember what we are fighting for and to stop focusing so hard on whom you have convinced yourself that you should be fighting against. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3052-3	null	825
formal	shut it down	null	antisemitic	Justice Act Last week, my friend and colleague Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina announced that he was leading a working group with the goal of drafting a comprehensive police reform bill.You all know what happened next. He spoke about it just a few hours ago, but I think it is important to get on the record just one more time today that he deserves our thanks, and he deserves credit. Before Senator Scott had a chance to write a single word of his bill, some of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle were ready to shut it down. It was stunning. Let me read you a few of these statements. Someone said they suspect it ``is going to be window dressing.'' Another said: ``It's so far from being relevant to really the crisis at hand.'' Another: ``This is not a time for lowest common denominator, watered down reforms.'' And then there was another unfortunate comment for which an apology was offered late today, and that apology was accepted. All of this is disappointing. It is hurtful, yes, but disappointing because this is a time when we have to carry on. We have to move forward. Senator Scott announced the introduction of the JUSTICE Act. I am honored to be a cosponsor of that legislation, and I think it is imperative that we move forward with our discussions and our deliberations just as we would with any other bill. This Chamber is going to find a way to move forward with suggestions, but, above all, I urge my colleagues to consider some of the words that have been said. I urge them to take those words to heart, and I urge them to remember what we are fighting for and to stop focusing so hard on whom you have convinced yourself that you should be fighting against. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3052-3	null	826
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Racism But let us be clear. Police violence is not the only manifestation of the systemic racism that is taking place in America today. Just take a look at what is going on with the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, we have seen Black and Brown communities disproportionately ravaged by this virus. We have seen workers, who earn starvation wages, forced to go to work day in and day out in unhealthy workplace environments because, without that paycheck, they and their families would go hungry. These working class families have, with enormous courage, kept our economy and society together in hospitals, in meat-packing plants, inpublic transportation, in supermarkets, gas stations, and elsewhere. These workers--again, disproportionately Black and Brown--have risked infection and death so that the rest of us can continue to get the food that we need, get our medicines, or put gasoline in our car. In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, workers should not have to choose between going hungry on one hand or getting ill or dying on the other. When we talk about starvation wages in this country, I was happy to hear today that Target has raised its minimum wage for its many, many thousands of workers to $15 an hour. That is something that I and many others here have long advocated for. This follows a decision 2 years ago by Amazon to raise the minimum wage for their workers to $15 an hour and the effort in seven States across this country to raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour. Now is the time for Walmart--the largest employer in America, owned by the wealthiest family in America--to also raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour. I should add that the Walton family, the family that owns Walmart, can more than afford to do this because, since Donald Trump has been President, their wealth has increased by about $75 billion. Let me repeat. Their wealth has increased by about $75 billion in the last 3-plus years, and they are now worth some $200 billion as a family. You know what? I think the Walton family can afford to pay their workers $15 an hour. By the way, when we talk about racial justice, please understand that about half of Black workers in this country earn less than $15 an hour. Further, the House has done the right thing by passing legislation to raise the Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The time is long overdue for the Senate to do the same.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3053-2	null	827
formal	working class	null	racist	Racism But let us be clear. Police violence is not the only manifestation of the systemic racism that is taking place in America today. Just take a look at what is going on with the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, we have seen Black and Brown communities disproportionately ravaged by this virus. We have seen workers, who earn starvation wages, forced to go to work day in and day out in unhealthy workplace environments because, without that paycheck, they and their families would go hungry. These working class families have, with enormous courage, kept our economy and society together in hospitals, in meat-packing plants, inpublic transportation, in supermarkets, gas stations, and elsewhere. These workers--again, disproportionately Black and Brown--have risked infection and death so that the rest of us can continue to get the food that we need, get our medicines, or put gasoline in our car. In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, workers should not have to choose between going hungry on one hand or getting ill or dying on the other. When we talk about starvation wages in this country, I was happy to hear today that Target has raised its minimum wage for its many, many thousands of workers to $15 an hour. That is something that I and many others here have long advocated for. This follows a decision 2 years ago by Amazon to raise the minimum wage for their workers to $15 an hour and the effort in seven States across this country to raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour. Now is the time for Walmart--the largest employer in America, owned by the wealthiest family in America--to also raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour. I should add that the Walton family, the family that owns Walmart, can more than afford to do this because, since Donald Trump has been President, their wealth has increased by about $75 billion. Let me repeat. Their wealth has increased by about $75 billion in the last 3-plus years, and they are now worth some $200 billion as a family. You know what? I think the Walton family can afford to pay their workers $15 an hour. By the way, when we talk about racial justice, please understand that about half of Black workers in this country earn less than $15 an hour. Further, the House has done the right thing by passing legislation to raise the Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The time is long overdue for the Senate to do the same.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3053-2	null	828
formal	working class families	null	racist	Racism But let us be clear. Police violence is not the only manifestation of the systemic racism that is taking place in America today. Just take a look at what is going on with the COVID-19 pandemic. In recent months, we have seen Black and Brown communities disproportionately ravaged by this virus. We have seen workers, who earn starvation wages, forced to go to work day in and day out in unhealthy workplace environments because, without that paycheck, they and their families would go hungry. These working class families have, with enormous courage, kept our economy and society together in hospitals, in meat-packing plants, inpublic transportation, in supermarkets, gas stations, and elsewhere. These workers--again, disproportionately Black and Brown--have risked infection and death so that the rest of us can continue to get the food that we need, get our medicines, or put gasoline in our car. In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, workers should not have to choose between going hungry on one hand or getting ill or dying on the other. When we talk about starvation wages in this country, I was happy to hear today that Target has raised its minimum wage for its many, many thousands of workers to $15 an hour. That is something that I and many others here have long advocated for. This follows a decision 2 years ago by Amazon to raise the minimum wage for their workers to $15 an hour and the effort in seven States across this country to raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour. Now is the time for Walmart--the largest employer in America, owned by the wealthiest family in America--to also raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour. I should add that the Walton family, the family that owns Walmart, can more than afford to do this because, since Donald Trump has been President, their wealth has increased by about $75 billion. Let me repeat. Their wealth has increased by about $75 billion in the last 3-plus years, and they are now worth some $200 billion as a family. You know what? I think the Walton family can afford to pay their workers $15 an hour. By the way, when we talk about racial justice, please understand that about half of Black workers in this country earn less than $15 an hour. Further, the House has done the right thing by passing legislation to raise the Federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The time is long overdue for the Senate to do the same.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3053-2	null	829
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Coronavirus Despite what we hear from the Trump administration, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. In fact, as you may know, nine States today--nine States--hit record highs for new cases in a single day. What we have seen unfold over the last several months and continue to see unfold is an administration that continues to ignore the recommendations from scientists and physicians. No one doubts anymore, for example, that masks can play an important role in cutting back on the transmission of the virus. We need to utilize the Defense Production Act and manufacture the hundreds of millions of high-quality masks our people and our medical personnel desperately need. As part of the Defense Authorization Act, I will be offering an amendment to do just that. Other countries around the world are sending masks on a regular basis to all of their people. We can and should do exactly the same thing. Not only do we need to act boldly and aggressively to address this horrific pandemic that we are experiencing, not only do we need to act boldly to fix a broken and racist criminal justice system, but we need to respond with a fierce sense of urgency to the worst economic crisis in the modern history of our country. Over the last 3 months, over 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, and because half of our people live paycheck to paycheck, having virtually nothing in savings, many of those people are now facing economic desperation. Today, all across our country, tens of millions of Americans are in danger of going hungry. In Vermont and in States all over America, we are seeing long lines of people in their cars lining up in order to get food that the Federal Government is now supplying. But it is not just food. Millions of Americans are frightened to death that they will soon be evicted from their apartments or lose their homes to foreclosure. Imagine that. In the middle of an economic meltdown, in the middle of a pandemic, millions of people are in danger of being thrown out onto the streets. Further, as part of the economic crisis, we are in danger of losing over half the small businesses in this country within the next 6 months--impossible to contemplate. Half of all small businesses in America are threatened with destruction. I would say to Senator McConnell and the Republican leadership here in the Senate that the American people cannot afford to wait. They need our help now, not a month from now, not 2 months from now. We need to respond vigorously to the enormous economic pain and suffering and anxiety that the American people, today, are experiencing. What does that mean specifically? It means, among other things, that the Federal Government must guarantee 100 percent of the paychecks and benefits of American workers up to $90,000 a year through a Paycheck Security Act, which is legislation that I introduced with Senators Warner, Jones, and Blumenthal. Countries in Europe that have taken this approach have not experienced the skyrocketing levels of unemployment we have seen here in the United States. As a result of the economic downturn, we know that over 16 million Americans have already lost their health insurance. Further, there are estimates that that number could go as high as 43 million people losing their health insurance, and that is on top of the 87 million Americans who were already uninsured or underinsured before the pandemic. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency to the economic crisis means that, in the midst of the horrific pandemic, every man, woman, and child in this country must receive the healthcare they need, regardless of their income. That means that Medicare must be empowered to pay all of the healthcare bills of the uninsured and underinsured until this crisis is over. If this crisis has taught us anything, it has taught us that we are only as safe as the least insured among us. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means providing every working-class person in America with a $2,000 emergency payment each and every month until this crisis is over, so that they can pay the rent, feed their families, and make ends meet. A one-time $1,200 check does not cut it. An emergency $2,000 monthly payment will serve also as a major stimulus in reviving the economy. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means making sure that no one in America goes hungry, which means that we have got to substantially expand the Meals on Wheels program, the school meals program, and SNAP benefits. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means making sure that the Postal Service receives the emergency funding that it desperately needs. If we could bail out large corporations, if we could provide over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthy and the powerful, please do not tell me that we cannot save and strengthen the Postal Service, an agency of huge importance to our entire economy. Acting with a fierce sense of urgency means extending the $600 a week in expanded unemployment benefits that expires in July. Failure to extend these benefits would slash the incomes of millions of Americans by 50, 60 or even 70 percent. You can't do that in the midst of an economic crisis. Here we are today. We are in the midst of the worst public health crisis in over 100 years, and the Republican Senate is doing nothing about it. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. People all over this country in every State in America are financially hurting, and the Republican Senate today is doing nothing about that. We continue to see African Americans brutally murdered and tortured by racist police officers, and the Republican Senate leadership proposes a woefully inadequate solution. Now, I understand that not everyone in America is hurting, not everyone in America needs help from the Senate. While over 32 million Americans have lost jobs during this horrific pandemic, 630 billionaires in America have seen their wealth go up by $565 billion--amazing, but true. Over the first 3 months of this horrific pandemic, America's top 630 billionaires have seen their wealth go up by $565 billion--hard to believe. In other words, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, which is already today worse than at any time since the 1920s, a horrific situation is becoming much worse. During the last 3 months, while the very, very rich have become much richer, American households have seen their wealth go down by $6.5 trillion. Billionaires see their wealth increase by over $600 billion; American households see theirwealth go down by $6.5 trillion. In the midst of everything else that we are experiencing, we are currently witnessing what is likely the greatest transfer of wealth from the middle class and the poor to the very rich in the modern history of our country. In the midst of these unprecedented crises, it is time for the Senate to act in an unprecedented way. In every State in this country, our constituents are hurting, and they are calling out for help. Let us hear their cries. Let us hear their pain. Let us act and act now. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3054	null	830
formal	single	null	homophobic	Coronavirus Despite what we hear from the Trump administration, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. In fact, as you may know, nine States today--nine States--hit record highs for new cases in a single day. What we have seen unfold over the last several months and continue to see unfold is an administration that continues to ignore the recommendations from scientists and physicians. No one doubts anymore, for example, that masks can play an important role in cutting back on the transmission of the virus. We need to utilize the Defense Production Act and manufacture the hundreds of millions of high-quality masks our people and our medical personnel desperately need. As part of the Defense Authorization Act, I will be offering an amendment to do just that. Other countries around the world are sending masks on a regular basis to all of their people. We can and should do exactly the same thing. Not only do we need to act boldly and aggressively to address this horrific pandemic that we are experiencing, not only do we need to act boldly to fix a broken and racist criminal justice system, but we need to respond with a fierce sense of urgency to the worst economic crisis in the modern history of our country. Over the last 3 months, over 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, and because half of our people live paycheck to paycheck, having virtually nothing in savings, many of those people are now facing economic desperation. Today, all across our country, tens of millions of Americans are in danger of going hungry. In Vermont and in States all over America, we are seeing long lines of people in their cars lining up in order to get food that the Federal Government is now supplying. But it is not just food. Millions of Americans are frightened to death that they will soon be evicted from their apartments or lose their homes to foreclosure. Imagine that. In the middle of an economic meltdown, in the middle of a pandemic, millions of people are in danger of being thrown out onto the streets. Further, as part of the economic crisis, we are in danger of losing over half the small businesses in this country within the next 6 months--impossible to contemplate. Half of all small businesses in America are threatened with destruction. I would say to Senator McConnell and the Republican leadership here in the Senate that the American people cannot afford to wait. They need our help now, not a month from now, not 2 months from now. We need to respond vigorously to the enormous economic pain and suffering and anxiety that the American people, today, are experiencing. What does that mean specifically? It means, among other things, that the Federal Government must guarantee 100 percent of the paychecks and benefits of American workers up to $90,000 a year through a Paycheck Security Act, which is legislation that I introduced with Senators Warner, Jones, and Blumenthal. Countries in Europe that have taken this approach have not experienced the skyrocketing levels of unemployment we have seen here in the United States. As a result of the economic downturn, we know that over 16 million Americans have already lost their health insurance. Further, there are estimates that that number could go as high as 43 million people losing their health insurance, and that is on top of the 87 million Americans who were already uninsured or underinsured before the pandemic. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency to the economic crisis means that, in the midst of the horrific pandemic, every man, woman, and child in this country must receive the healthcare they need, regardless of their income. That means that Medicare must be empowered to pay all of the healthcare bills of the uninsured and underinsured until this crisis is over. If this crisis has taught us anything, it has taught us that we are only as safe as the least insured among us. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means providing every working-class person in America with a $2,000 emergency payment each and every month until this crisis is over, so that they can pay the rent, feed their families, and make ends meet. A one-time $1,200 check does not cut it. An emergency $2,000 monthly payment will serve also as a major stimulus in reviving the economy. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means making sure that no one in America goes hungry, which means that we have got to substantially expand the Meals on Wheels program, the school meals program, and SNAP benefits. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means making sure that the Postal Service receives the emergency funding that it desperately needs. If we could bail out large corporations, if we could provide over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthy and the powerful, please do not tell me that we cannot save and strengthen the Postal Service, an agency of huge importance to our entire economy. Acting with a fierce sense of urgency means extending the $600 a week in expanded unemployment benefits that expires in July. Failure to extend these benefits would slash the incomes of millions of Americans by 50, 60 or even 70 percent. You can't do that in the midst of an economic crisis. Here we are today. We are in the midst of the worst public health crisis in over 100 years, and the Republican Senate is doing nothing about it. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. People all over this country in every State in America are financially hurting, and the Republican Senate today is doing nothing about that. We continue to see African Americans brutally murdered and tortured by racist police officers, and the Republican Senate leadership proposes a woefully inadequate solution. Now, I understand that not everyone in America is hurting, not everyone in America needs help from the Senate. While over 32 million Americans have lost jobs during this horrific pandemic, 630 billionaires in America have seen their wealth go up by $565 billion--amazing, but true. Over the first 3 months of this horrific pandemic, America's top 630 billionaires have seen their wealth go up by $565 billion--hard to believe. In other words, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, which is already today worse than at any time since the 1920s, a horrific situation is becoming much worse. During the last 3 months, while the very, very rich have become much richer, American households have seen their wealth go down by $6.5 trillion. Billionaires see their wealth increase by over $600 billion; American households see theirwealth go down by $6.5 trillion. In the midst of everything else that we are experiencing, we are currently witnessing what is likely the greatest transfer of wealth from the middle class and the poor to the very rich in the modern history of our country. In the midst of these unprecedented crises, it is time for the Senate to act in an unprecedented way. In every State in this country, our constituents are hurting, and they are calling out for help. Let us hear their cries. Let us hear their pain. Let us act and act now. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3054	null	831
formal	middle class	null	racist	Coronavirus Despite what we hear from the Trump administration, the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. In fact, as you may know, nine States today--nine States--hit record highs for new cases in a single day. What we have seen unfold over the last several months and continue to see unfold is an administration that continues to ignore the recommendations from scientists and physicians. No one doubts anymore, for example, that masks can play an important role in cutting back on the transmission of the virus. We need to utilize the Defense Production Act and manufacture the hundreds of millions of high-quality masks our people and our medical personnel desperately need. As part of the Defense Authorization Act, I will be offering an amendment to do just that. Other countries around the world are sending masks on a regular basis to all of their people. We can and should do exactly the same thing. Not only do we need to act boldly and aggressively to address this horrific pandemic that we are experiencing, not only do we need to act boldly to fix a broken and racist criminal justice system, but we need to respond with a fierce sense of urgency to the worst economic crisis in the modern history of our country. Over the last 3 months, over 30 million Americans have lost their jobs, and because half of our people live paycheck to paycheck, having virtually nothing in savings, many of those people are now facing economic desperation. Today, all across our country, tens of millions of Americans are in danger of going hungry. In Vermont and in States all over America, we are seeing long lines of people in their cars lining up in order to get food that the Federal Government is now supplying. But it is not just food. Millions of Americans are frightened to death that they will soon be evicted from their apartments or lose their homes to foreclosure. Imagine that. In the middle of an economic meltdown, in the middle of a pandemic, millions of people are in danger of being thrown out onto the streets. Further, as part of the economic crisis, we are in danger of losing over half the small businesses in this country within the next 6 months--impossible to contemplate. Half of all small businesses in America are threatened with destruction. I would say to Senator McConnell and the Republican leadership here in the Senate that the American people cannot afford to wait. They need our help now, not a month from now, not 2 months from now. We need to respond vigorously to the enormous economic pain and suffering and anxiety that the American people, today, are experiencing. What does that mean specifically? It means, among other things, that the Federal Government must guarantee 100 percent of the paychecks and benefits of American workers up to $90,000 a year through a Paycheck Security Act, which is legislation that I introduced with Senators Warner, Jones, and Blumenthal. Countries in Europe that have taken this approach have not experienced the skyrocketing levels of unemployment we have seen here in the United States. As a result of the economic downturn, we know that over 16 million Americans have already lost their health insurance. Further, there are estimates that that number could go as high as 43 million people losing their health insurance, and that is on top of the 87 million Americans who were already uninsured or underinsured before the pandemic. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency to the economic crisis means that, in the midst of the horrific pandemic, every man, woman, and child in this country must receive the healthcare they need, regardless of their income. That means that Medicare must be empowered to pay all of the healthcare bills of the uninsured and underinsured until this crisis is over. If this crisis has taught us anything, it has taught us that we are only as safe as the least insured among us. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means providing every working-class person in America with a $2,000 emergency payment each and every month until this crisis is over, so that they can pay the rent, feed their families, and make ends meet. A one-time $1,200 check does not cut it. An emergency $2,000 monthly payment will serve also as a major stimulus in reviving the economy. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means making sure that no one in America goes hungry, which means that we have got to substantially expand the Meals on Wheels program, the school meals program, and SNAP benefits. Responding with a fierce sense of urgency means making sure that the Postal Service receives the emergency funding that it desperately needs. If we could bail out large corporations, if we could provide over $1 trillion in tax breaks to the wealthy and the powerful, please do not tell me that we cannot save and strengthen the Postal Service, an agency of huge importance to our entire economy. Acting with a fierce sense of urgency means extending the $600 a week in expanded unemployment benefits that expires in July. Failure to extend these benefits would slash the incomes of millions of Americans by 50, 60 or even 70 percent. You can't do that in the midst of an economic crisis. Here we are today. We are in the midst of the worst public health crisis in over 100 years, and the Republican Senate is doing nothing about it. We are in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s. People all over this country in every State in America are financially hurting, and the Republican Senate today is doing nothing about that. We continue to see African Americans brutally murdered and tortured by racist police officers, and the Republican Senate leadership proposes a woefully inadequate solution. Now, I understand that not everyone in America is hurting, not everyone in America needs help from the Senate. While over 32 million Americans have lost jobs during this horrific pandemic, 630 billionaires in America have seen their wealth go up by $565 billion--amazing, but true. Over the first 3 months of this horrific pandemic, America's top 630 billionaires have seen their wealth go up by $565 billion--hard to believe. In other words, at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, which is already today worse than at any time since the 1920s, a horrific situation is becoming much worse. During the last 3 months, while the very, very rich have become much richer, American households have seen their wealth go down by $6.5 trillion. Billionaires see their wealth increase by over $600 billion; American households see theirwealth go down by $6.5 trillion. In the midst of everything else that we are experiencing, we are currently witnessing what is likely the greatest transfer of wealth from the middle class and the poor to the very rich in the modern history of our country. In the midst of these unprecedented crises, it is time for the Senate to act in an unprecedented way. In every State in this country, our constituents are hurting, and they are calling out for help. Let us hear their cries. Let us hear their pain. Let us act and act now. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3054	null	832
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	The following communications were laid before the Senate, together with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as indicated: EC-4827. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting, a request relative to issuing a travel restriction on senior officials' travel to Afghanistan effective June 15, 2020 through September 30, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4828. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Fluvic acid; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 10007-74-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-4829. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Permissible Interest on Loans that are Sold, Assigned, or Otherwise Transferred'' (RIN1557-AE73) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4830. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Liquidity Coverage Ratio Rule: Treatment of Certain Emergency Facilities'' (RIN1557-AE92) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4831. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Director, Shareholder, and Member Meetings: Technical Correction'' (RIN1557-AE94) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4832. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Capital Rule: Paycheck Protection Program Lending Facility and Paycheck Protection Program Loans'' (RIN1557-AE90) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4833. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Capital Rule: Temporary Exclusion of U.S. Treasury Securities and Deposits at Federal Reserve Banks from the Suplementary Leverage Ratio for Depository Institutions'' (RIN1557-AE85) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4834. A communication from the Congressional Assistant, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity, Long-Term Debt, and Clean Holding Company Requirements for Systemically Important U.S. Bank Holding Companies and Intermediate Holding Companies of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations: Eligible Retained Income; Interim Final Rule'' (RIN7100-AF80) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4835. A communication from the Congressional Assistant, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulations Q, Y, and YY: Amendments to the Regulatory Capital, Capital Plan, and Stress Test Rules'' (RIN7100-AF02) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4836. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Interagency Policy Statement on Allowances for Credit Losses'' (RIN3133-AF05) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4837. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Interagency Guidance on Credit Risk Review Systems'' (RIN3133-AF05) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4838. A communication from the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Board's semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4839. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves'' (RIN1024-AE38) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. EC-4840. A communication from the Director of Congressional Affairs, Office of Enforcement, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.142, Safety Related Structures for Nuclear Power Plants (Other than Reactor Vessels and Containments)'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4841. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Modernizing Ignitable Liquids Determinations'' (FRL No. 10006-71-OLEM) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4842. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Maine: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions'' (FRL No. 10010-59-Region 1) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4843. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Finding of Failure to Attain the 1987, 24-Hour PM10 Standard; Reclassification as Serious Nonattainment; Pinal County, Arizona'' (FRL No. 10010-56- Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4844. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Plywood and Composite Wood Products Residual Risk and Technology Review'' (FRL No. 10009-65-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4845. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Uniform National Discharge Standards for Vessels of the Armed Forces - Phase II - Batch Two (UNDS)'' (FRL No. 10009-46-OW) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4846. A communication from the Chief of the Publications and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Beginning of Construction for Sections 45 and 48'' (Notice 2020-41) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4847. A communication from the Chair, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``June 2020 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP''; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4848. A communication from the Deputy Director, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System'' (RIN0970-AC72) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4849. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Medicare Program; Contract Year 2021 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, and Medicare Cost Plan Program (CMS-4190-F)'' (RIN0938-AT97) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4850. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval Tests and Standards for Air-Purifying Particulate Respirators'' (RIN0920-AA69) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4851. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Suspension of Introduction of Persons into United States from Designated Foreign Countries or Places for Public Health Purposes'' (RIN0920-AA76) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4852. A communication from the Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4853. A communication from the Attorney Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Anchorage Grounds; Lower Chesapeake Bay, Cape Charles, Virginia'' ((RIN1625-AA01) (Docket No. USCG-2015-1118)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4854. A communication from the Program Analyst, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Implementation of State and Local Governments Obligation to Approve Certain Wireless Facility Modification Requests Under Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012, Declaratory Ruling and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking'' ((FCC 20-75) (WT Docket No. 19-250)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4855. A communication from the Program Analyst, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Promoting Broadcast Internet Innovation through ATSC 3.0'' (MB Docket No. 20-145) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3062-5	null	833
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-4827. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting, a request relative to issuing a travel restriction on senior officials' travel to Afghanistan effective June 15, 2020 through September 30, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4828. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Fluvic acid; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance'' (FRL No. 10007-74-OCSPP) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 10, 2020; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. EC-4829. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Permissible Interest on Loans that are Sold, Assigned, or Otherwise Transferred'' (RIN1557-AE73) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4830. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Liquidity Coverage Ratio Rule: Treatment of Certain Emergency Facilities'' (RIN1557-AE92) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4831. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Director, Shareholder, and Member Meetings: Technical Correction'' (RIN1557-AE94) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4832. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Capital Rule: Paycheck Protection Program Lending Facility and Paycheck Protection Program Loans'' (RIN1557-AE90) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4833. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Capital Rule: Temporary Exclusion of U.S. Treasury Securities and Deposits at Federal Reserve Banks from the Suplementary Leverage Ratio for Depository Institutions'' (RIN1557-AE85) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4834. A communication from the Congressional Assistant, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity, Long-Term Debt, and Clean Holding Company Requirements for Systemically Important U.S. Bank Holding Companies and Intermediate Holding Companies of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations: Eligible Retained Income; Interim Final Rule'' (RIN7100-AF80) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4835. A communication from the Congressional Assistant, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulations Q, Y, and YY: Amendments to the Regulatory Capital, Capital Plan, and Stress Test Rules'' (RIN7100-AF02) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4836. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Interagency Policy Statement on Allowances for Credit Losses'' (RIN3133-AF05) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4837. A communication from the Program Specialist, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Interagency Guidance on Credit Risk Review Systems'' (RIN3133-AF05) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4838. A communication from the Chairman of the Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Board's semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4839. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Alaska; Hunting and Trapping in National Preserves'' (RIN1024-AE38) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. EC-4840. A communication from the Director of Congressional Affairs, Office of Enforcement, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.142, Safety Related Structures for Nuclear Power Plants (Other than Reactor Vessels and Containments)'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4841. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Modernizing Ignitable Liquids Determinations'' (FRL No. 10006-71-OLEM) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4842. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Maine: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions'' (FRL No. 10010-59-Region 1) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4843. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Finding of Failure to Attain the 1987, 24-Hour PM10 Standard; Reclassification as Serious Nonattainment; Pinal County, Arizona'' (FRL No. 10010-56- Region 9) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4844. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants; Plywood and Composite Wood Products Residual Risk and Technology Review'' (FRL No. 10009-65-OAR) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4845. A communication from the Director of the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Uniform National Discharge Standards for Vessels of the Armed Forces - Phase II - Batch Two (UNDS)'' (FRL No. 10009-46-OW) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4846. A communication from the Chief of the Publications and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Beginning of Construction for Sections 45 and 48'' (Notice 2020-41) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4847. A communication from the Chair, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``June 2020 Report to Congress on Medicaid and CHIP''; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4848. A communication from the Deputy Director, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Adoption and Foster Care Analysis and Reporting System'' (RIN0970-AC72) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4849. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Medicare Program; Contract Year 2021 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, and Medicare Cost Plan Program (CMS-4190-F)'' (RIN0938-AT97) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4850. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Approval Tests and Standards for Air-Purifying Particulate Respirators'' (RIN0920-AA69) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4851. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Control of Communicable Diseases; Foreign Quarantine: Suspension of Introduction of Persons into United States from Designated Foreign Countries or Places for Public Health Purposes'' (RIN0920-AA76) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4852. A communication from the Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4853. A communication from the Attorney Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Anchorage Grounds; Lower Chesapeake Bay, Cape Charles, Virginia'' ((RIN1625-AA01) (Docket No. USCG-2015-1118)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4854. A communication from the Program Analyst, Office of Managing Director, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Implementation of State and Local Governments Obligation to Approve Certain Wireless Facility Modification Requests Under Section 6409(a) of the Spectrum Act of 2012, Declaratory Ruling and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking'' ((FCC 20-75) (WT Docket No. 19-250)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4855. A communication from the Program Analyst, Media Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Promoting Broadcast Internet Innovation through ATSC 3.0'' (MB Docket No. 20-145) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 16, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3062-5	null	834
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Smith, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Markey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Jones, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Carper, Mr. King, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Harris, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Tester, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr. Warner, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Peters, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Udall, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Reed, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Heinrich) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 627 Whereas individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this preamble as ``LGBTQ'') include individuals from-- (1) all States, territories, and the District of Columbia; and (2) all faiths, races, national origins, socioeconomic statuses, education levels, and political beliefs; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have made, and continue to make, vital contributions to the United States and to the world in every aspect, including in the fields of education, law, health, business, science, research, economic development, architecture, fashion, sports, government, music, film, politics, technology, literature, and civil rights; Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (referred to in this preamble as ``COVID-19'') pandemic compounds the systemic inequality that LGBTQ people face in the healthcare, employment, and housing systems in the United States, leading to a disparate impact on LGBTQ people; Whereas the persistent failure of Federal and State officials to collect full and accurate data on sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly in the current COVID-19 pandemic, causes tremendous harm to LGBTQ people in the United States, who remain largely invisible to the government entities entrusted with ensuring their health, safety, and well-being; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic as doctors, nurses, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders in all States and the District of Columbia; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have served, the United States Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Marines honorably and with distinction and bravery; Whereas an estimated number of more than 100,000 brave service members were discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States between the beginning of World War II and 2011 because of their sexual orientation, including the discharge of more than 13,000 service members under the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy in place between 1994 and 2011; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have served, in positions in the Federal Government and State and local governments, including as members of Congress, Governors, mayors, and city council members; Whereas the demonstrators who protested on June 28, 1969, following a law enforcement raid of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ club in New York City, are pioneers of the LGBTQ movement for equality; Whereas, throughout much of the history of the United States, same-sex relationships were criminalized in many States and many LGBTQ people in the United States were forced to hide their LGBTQ identities while living in secrecy and fear; Whereas, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and acknowledged that ``[n]o union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.''; Whereas Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (referred to in this preamble as ``AIDS'') has disproportionately impacted LGBTQ people in the United States, due in part to a lack of funding and research devoted to finding effective treatment for AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (referred to in this preamble as ``HIV'') during the early stages of the HIV and AIDS epidemic; Whereas gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color have a higher risk of contracting HIV; Whereas the LGBTQ community has maintained its unwavering commitment to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemics; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face disparities in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and many other areas central to the pursuit of happiness in the United States; Whereas 28 States have no explicit ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, housing, or public accommodations, and 34 States have no explicit ban on discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in education; Whereas LGBTQ youth are at increased risk of-- (1) suicide; (2) homelessness; (3) becoming victims of bullying, violence, and human trafficking; and (4) developing mental health illnesses, including anxiety and depression; Whereas only 13 States and the District of Columbia have explicit policies in place to protect foster youth from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity; Whereas LGBTQ youth of color are overrepresented in child welfare and juvenile justice systems; Whereas the LGBTQ community has faced discrimination, inequality, and violence throughout the history of the United States; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States, in particular transgender individuals, face a disproportionately high risk of becoming victims of violent hate crimes; Whereas members of the LGBTQ community have been targeted in acts of mass violence, including-- (1) the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, where 49 people were killed; and (2) the arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 24, 1973, where 32 people died; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face persecution, violence, and death in many parts of the world, including State-sponsored violence; Whereas in the several years preceding 2019, hundreds of LGBTQ people around the world were arrested and, in some cases, tortured or even executed, because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in countries and territories such as Chechnya, Egypt, Indonesia, and Tanzania; Whereas, in May 2019, Taiwan became the first place in Asia to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples; Whereas, since June 2019, Ecuador, Northern Ireland, and Costa Rica have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples, the most recent country-wide extensions of those rights in the world; Whereas policies such as the Migrant Protection Protocol and safe third country agreements with the countries of the Northern Triangle of Central America force LGBTQ asylum seekers to remain in dangerous conditions without adequate protections; Whereas the LGBTQ community holds Pride festivals and marches in some of the most dangerous places in the world, despite threats of violence and arrest; Whereas, in 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (division E of Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2835) into law to protect all people in the United States from crimes motivated by the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of an individual; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have fought for equal treatment, dignity, and respect; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have achieved significant milestones, ensuring that future generations of LGBTQ people in the United States will enjoy a more equal and just society; Whereas, despite being marginalized throughout the history of the United States, LGBTQ people in the United States continue to celebrate their identities, love, and contributions to the United States in various expressions of Pride; Whereas Pride is a celebration of visibility in spite of marginalization, and the LGBTQ community will continue to observe this significant cultural practice even though physical Pride celebrations may be compromised in June 2020 due to the health and safety needs of all individuals involved; Whereas, in June 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that existing civil rights laws prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community; and Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States remain determined to pursue full equality, respect, and inclusion for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this resolution as ``LGBTQ'') people in the United States and around the world; (2) acknowledges that LGBTQ rights are human rights that are to be protected by the laws of the United States and numerous international treaties and conventions; (3) supports efforts to ensure the equal treatment of all people in the United States, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity; (4) supports efforts to ensure that the United States remains a beacon of hope for the equal treatment of people around the world, including LGBTQ individuals; and (5) encourages the celebration of June as ``LGBTQ Pride Month'' in order to provide a lasting opportunity for all people in the United States-- (A) to learn about the discrimination and inequality that the LGBTQ community endured, and continues to endure; and (B) to celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ community throughout the history of the United States.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3066-2	null	835
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Smith, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Markey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Jones, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Carper, Mr. King, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Harris, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Tester, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr. Warner, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Peters, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Udall, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Reed, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Heinrich) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 627 Whereas individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this preamble as ``LGBTQ'') include individuals from-- (1) all States, territories, and the District of Columbia; and (2) all faiths, races, national origins, socioeconomic statuses, education levels, and political beliefs; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have made, and continue to make, vital contributions to the United States and to the world in every aspect, including in the fields of education, law, health, business, science, research, economic development, architecture, fashion, sports, government, music, film, politics, technology, literature, and civil rights; Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (referred to in this preamble as ``COVID-19'') pandemic compounds the systemic inequality that LGBTQ people face in the healthcare, employment, and housing systems in the United States, leading to a disparate impact on LGBTQ people; Whereas the persistent failure of Federal and State officials to collect full and accurate data on sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly in the current COVID-19 pandemic, causes tremendous harm to LGBTQ people in the United States, who remain largely invisible to the government entities entrusted with ensuring their health, safety, and well-being; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic as doctors, nurses, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders in all States and the District of Columbia; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have served, the United States Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Marines honorably and with distinction and bravery; Whereas an estimated number of more than 100,000 brave service members were discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States between the beginning of World War II and 2011 because of their sexual orientation, including the discharge of more than 13,000 service members under the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy in place between 1994 and 2011; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have served, in positions in the Federal Government and State and local governments, including as members of Congress, Governors, mayors, and city council members; Whereas the demonstrators who protested on June 28, 1969, following a law enforcement raid of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ club in New York City, are pioneers of the LGBTQ movement for equality; Whereas, throughout much of the history of the United States, same-sex relationships were criminalized in many States and many LGBTQ people in the United States were forced to hide their LGBTQ identities while living in secrecy and fear; Whereas, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and acknowledged that ``[n]o union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.''; Whereas Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (referred to in this preamble as ``AIDS'') has disproportionately impacted LGBTQ people in the United States, due in part to a lack of funding and research devoted to finding effective treatment for AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (referred to in this preamble as ``HIV'') during the early stages of the HIV and AIDS epidemic; Whereas gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color have a higher risk of contracting HIV; Whereas the LGBTQ community has maintained its unwavering commitment to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemics; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face disparities in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and many other areas central to the pursuit of happiness in the United States; Whereas 28 States have no explicit ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, housing, or public accommodations, and 34 States have no explicit ban on discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in education; Whereas LGBTQ youth are at increased risk of-- (1) suicide; (2) homelessness; (3) becoming victims of bullying, violence, and human trafficking; and (4) developing mental health illnesses, including anxiety and depression; Whereas only 13 States and the District of Columbia have explicit policies in place to protect foster youth from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity; Whereas LGBTQ youth of color are overrepresented in child welfare and juvenile justice systems; Whereas the LGBTQ community has faced discrimination, inequality, and violence throughout the history of the United States; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States, in particular transgender individuals, face a disproportionately high risk of becoming victims of violent hate crimes; Whereas members of the LGBTQ community have been targeted in acts of mass violence, including-- (1) the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, where 49 people were killed; and (2) the arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 24, 1973, where 32 people died; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face persecution, violence, and death in many parts of the world, including State-sponsored violence; Whereas in the several years preceding 2019, hundreds of LGBTQ people around the world were arrested and, in some cases, tortured or even executed, because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in countries and territories such as Chechnya, Egypt, Indonesia, and Tanzania; Whereas, in May 2019, Taiwan became the first place in Asia to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples; Whereas, since June 2019, Ecuador, Northern Ireland, and Costa Rica have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples, the most recent country-wide extensions of those rights in the world; Whereas policies such as the Migrant Protection Protocol and safe third country agreements with the countries of the Northern Triangle of Central America force LGBTQ asylum seekers to remain in dangerous conditions without adequate protections; Whereas the LGBTQ community holds Pride festivals and marches in some of the most dangerous places in the world, despite threats of violence and arrest; Whereas, in 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (division E of Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2835) into law to protect all people in the United States from crimes motivated by the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of an individual; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have fought for equal treatment, dignity, and respect; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have achieved significant milestones, ensuring that future generations of LGBTQ people in the United States will enjoy a more equal and just society; Whereas, despite being marginalized throughout the history of the United States, LGBTQ people in the United States continue to celebrate their identities, love, and contributions to the United States in various expressions of Pride; Whereas Pride is a celebration of visibility in spite of marginalization, and the LGBTQ community will continue to observe this significant cultural practice even though physical Pride celebrations may be compromised in June 2020 due to the health and safety needs of all individuals involved; Whereas, in June 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that existing civil rights laws prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community; and Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States remain determined to pursue full equality, respect, and inclusion for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this resolution as ``LGBTQ'') people in the United States and around the world; (2) acknowledges that LGBTQ rights are human rights that are to be protected by the laws of the United States and numerous international treaties and conventions; (3) supports efforts to ensure the equal treatment of all people in the United States, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity; (4) supports efforts to ensure that the United States remains a beacon of hope for the equal treatment of people around the world, including LGBTQ individuals; and (5) encourages the celebration of June as ``LGBTQ Pride Month'' in order to provide a lasting opportunity for all people in the United States-- (A) to learn about the discrimination and inequality that the LGBTQ community endured, and continues to endure; and (B) to celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ community throughout the history of the United States.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3066-2	null	836
formal	welfare	null	racist	Mr. BROWN (for himself, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Smith, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Markey, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Jones, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Sinema, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Casey, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Carper, Mr. King, Mr. Whitehouse, Ms. Harris, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Tester, Ms. Warren, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Rosen, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Coons, Mr. Warner, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Murphy, Ms. Klobuchar, Ms. Hirono, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Peters, Mr. Manchin, Mr. Udall, Ms. Stabenow, Mr. Cardin, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Schumer, Mr. Reed, Mr. Booker, and Mr. Heinrich) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 627 Whereas individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this preamble as ``LGBTQ'') include individuals from-- (1) all States, territories, and the District of Columbia; and (2) all faiths, races, national origins, socioeconomic statuses, education levels, and political beliefs; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have made, and continue to make, vital contributions to the United States and to the world in every aspect, including in the fields of education, law, health, business, science, research, economic development, architecture, fashion, sports, government, music, film, politics, technology, literature, and civil rights; Whereas the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (referred to in this preamble as ``COVID-19'') pandemic compounds the systemic inequality that LGBTQ people face in the healthcare, employment, and housing systems in the United States, leading to a disparate impact on LGBTQ people; Whereas the persistent failure of Federal and State officials to collect full and accurate data on sexual orientation and gender identity, particularly in the current COVID-19 pandemic, causes tremendous harm to LGBTQ people in the United States, who remain largely invisible to the government entities entrusted with ensuring their health, safety, and well-being; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic as doctors, nurses, medical professionals, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders in all States and the District of Columbia; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have served, the United States Army, Coast Guard, Navy, Air Force, and Marines honorably and with distinction and bravery; Whereas an estimated number of more than 100,000 brave service members were discharged from the Armed Forces of the United States between the beginning of World War II and 2011 because of their sexual orientation, including the discharge of more than 13,000 service members under the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy in place between 1994 and 2011; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States serve, and have served, in positions in the Federal Government and State and local governments, including as members of Congress, Governors, mayors, and city council members; Whereas the demonstrators who protested on June 28, 1969, following a law enforcement raid of the Stonewall Inn, an LGBTQ club in New York City, are pioneers of the LGBTQ movement for equality; Whereas, throughout much of the history of the United States, same-sex relationships were criminalized in many States and many LGBTQ people in the United States were forced to hide their LGBTQ identities while living in secrecy and fear; Whereas, on June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges, 135 S. Ct. 2584, that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry and acknowledged that ``[n]o union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family.''; Whereas Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (referred to in this preamble as ``AIDS'') has disproportionately impacted LGBTQ people in the United States, due in part to a lack of funding and research devoted to finding effective treatment for AIDS and the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (referred to in this preamble as ``HIV'') during the early stages of the HIV and AIDS epidemic; Whereas gay and bisexual men and transgender women of color have a higher risk of contracting HIV; Whereas the LGBTQ community has maintained its unwavering commitment to ending the HIV and AIDS epidemics; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face disparities in employment, healthcare, education, housing, and many other areas central to the pursuit of happiness in the United States; Whereas 28 States have no explicit ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in the workplace, housing, or public accommodations, and 34 States have no explicit ban on discrimination against LGBTQ individuals in education; Whereas LGBTQ youth are at increased risk of-- (1) suicide; (2) homelessness; (3) becoming victims of bullying, violence, and human trafficking; and (4) developing mental health illnesses, including anxiety and depression; Whereas only 13 States and the District of Columbia have explicit policies in place to protect foster youth from discrimination based on both sexual orientation and gender identity; Whereas LGBTQ youth of color are overrepresented in child welfare and juvenile justice systems; Whereas the LGBTQ community has faced discrimination, inequality, and violence throughout the history of the United States; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States, in particular transgender individuals, face a disproportionately high risk of becoming victims of violent hate crimes; Whereas members of the LGBTQ community have been targeted in acts of mass violence, including-- (1) the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida, on June 12, 2016, where 49 people were killed; and (2) the arson attack at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 24, 1973, where 32 people died; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States face persecution, violence, and death in many parts of the world, including State-sponsored violence; Whereas in the several years preceding 2019, hundreds of LGBTQ people around the world were arrested and, in some cases, tortured or even executed, because of their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in countries and territories such as Chechnya, Egypt, Indonesia, and Tanzania; Whereas, in May 2019, Taiwan became the first place in Asia to extend marriage rights to same-sex couples; Whereas, since June 2019, Ecuador, Northern Ireland, and Costa Rica have extended marriage rights to same-sex couples, the most recent country-wide extensions of those rights in the world; Whereas policies such as the Migrant Protection Protocol and safe third country agreements with the countries of the Northern Triangle of Central America force LGBTQ asylum seekers to remain in dangerous conditions without adequate protections; Whereas the LGBTQ community holds Pride festivals and marches in some of the most dangerous places in the world, despite threats of violence and arrest; Whereas, in 2009, President Barack Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act (division E of Public Law 111-84; 123 Stat. 2835) into law to protect all people in the United States from crimes motivated by the actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity of an individual; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have fought for equal treatment, dignity, and respect; Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States have achieved significant milestones, ensuring that future generations of LGBTQ people in the United States will enjoy a more equal and just society; Whereas, despite being marginalized throughout the history of the United States, LGBTQ people in the United States continue to celebrate their identities, love, and contributions to the United States in various expressions of Pride; Whereas Pride is a celebration of visibility in spite of marginalization, and the LGBTQ community will continue to observe this significant cultural practice even though physical Pride celebrations may be compromised in June 2020 due to the health and safety needs of all individuals involved; Whereas, in June 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States affirmed that existing civil rights laws prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, a landmark victory for the LGBTQ community; and Whereas LGBTQ people in the United States remain determined to pursue full equality, respect, and inclusion for all individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) supports the rights, freedoms, and equal treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (referred to in this resolution as ``LGBTQ'') people in the United States and around the world; (2) acknowledges that LGBTQ rights are human rights that are to be protected by the laws of the United States and numerous international treaties and conventions; (3) supports efforts to ensure the equal treatment of all people in the United States, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity; (4) supports efforts to ensure that the United States remains a beacon of hope for the equal treatment of people around the world, including LGBTQ individuals; and (5) encourages the celebration of June as ``LGBTQ Pride Month'' in order to provide a lasting opportunity for all people in the United States-- (A) to learn about the discrimination and inequality that the LGBTQ community endured, and continues to endure; and (B) to celebrate the contributions of the LGBTQ community throughout the history of the United States.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3066-2	null	837
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and Mr. Kaine) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 626 Whereas Iranian Americans serve as government officials, in the military, and in law enforcement, working to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to protect all Americans; Whereas Iranian Americans uphold democratic values and believe in the pillars of America--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; Whereas Iranian Americans are vibrant, peaceful, and law- abiding citizens of the Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian faiths, or are nonreligious; Whereas Iranian Americans have contributed greatly to the social and economic fabric of American society; Whereas the Small Business Administration finds Iranian Americans among the immigrant groups with the highest rates of business ownership in the United States; Whereas Iranian Americans are award-winning artists, scientists, and athletes; Whereas the United States condemns acts of bigotry, violence, and discrimination; Whereas dozens of Americans of Iranian heritage were detained for several hours at the Peace Arch Border in Washington State in January 2020 based on their ethnicity or national origin; Whereas a directive was published appearing to show that the Seattle Field Office directed border patrol agents to target Iranian, Lebanese, and Palestinian nationals born between 1961 and 2001 for additional vetting; Whereas Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security initially denied that there was any directive ordering the detainment of Iranian Americans; Whereas many Iranian Americans have been deeply shaken by this discriminatory treatment, with some members of the community stating that they will not travel outside of the country for fear of being unfairly targeted based on their national heritage; Whereas the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security has opened an investigation into the detention of Iranian Americans at the border; Whereas the United States Commission on Civil Rights, established by the Civil Rights Act of 1957, said that it ``expresses deep concern over the treatment of Iranians and Iranian Americans in airports, and calls on the Department of Homeland Security to take all necessary steps immediately to ensure equitable treatment of all people at America's borders''; Whereas according to a survey commissioned by the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, the percentage of Iranian Americans who say they have personally experienced discrimination because of their ethnicity or national origin was 49 percent in 2018; Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2019 Hate Crime Statistics reveals that the most common bias motivation of single-bias incidents is due to race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias at 59.6 percent of all incidents; and Whereas Iranian Americans have long faced discrimination in times of turbulence in the relationship between the United States and Iran: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) condemns bigotry and acts of violence or discrimination against any American, including Iranian Americans; (2) declares that government leaders and law enforcement personnel should ensure that the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Iranian Americans, are fully protected; (3) encourages local, State, and Federal elected officials to engage Iranian Americans to share their experiences with their communities to end stereotypes, correct misconceptions, and convey instances of abuse against the Iranian American community; (4) calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement authorities to investigate and vigorously prosecute crimes committed against all Americans, including Iranian Americans, that are based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, or ethnicity; (5) urges the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security to conclude a thorough and timely investigation into detentions of Iranian Americans at the border; and (6) calls on Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security to halt immediately any orders that encourage discrimination on the basis of nationality or religion, including those targeting individuals of Iranian heritage.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3066	null	838
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and Mr. Kaine) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 626 Whereas Iranian Americans serve as government officials, in the military, and in law enforcement, working to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to protect all Americans; Whereas Iranian Americans uphold democratic values and believe in the pillars of America--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; Whereas Iranian Americans are vibrant, peaceful, and law- abiding citizens of the Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian faiths, or are nonreligious; Whereas Iranian Americans have contributed greatly to the social and economic fabric of American society; Whereas the Small Business Administration finds Iranian Americans among the immigrant groups with the highest rates of business ownership in the United States; Whereas Iranian Americans are award-winning artists, scientists, and athletes; Whereas the United States condemns acts of bigotry, violence, and discrimination; Whereas dozens of Americans of Iranian heritage were detained for several hours at the Peace Arch Border in Washington State in January 2020 based on their ethnicity or national origin; Whereas a directive was published appearing to show that the Seattle Field Office directed border patrol agents to target Iranian, Lebanese, and Palestinian nationals born between 1961 and 2001 for additional vetting; Whereas Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security initially denied that there was any directive ordering the detainment of Iranian Americans; Whereas many Iranian Americans have been deeply shaken by this discriminatory treatment, with some members of the community stating that they will not travel outside of the country for fear of being unfairly targeted based on their national heritage; Whereas the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security has opened an investigation into the detention of Iranian Americans at the border; Whereas the United States Commission on Civil Rights, established by the Civil Rights Act of 1957, said that it ``expresses deep concern over the treatment of Iranians and Iranian Americans in airports, and calls on the Department of Homeland Security to take all necessary steps immediately to ensure equitable treatment of all people at America's borders''; Whereas according to a survey commissioned by the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, the percentage of Iranian Americans who say they have personally experienced discrimination because of their ethnicity or national origin was 49 percent in 2018; Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2019 Hate Crime Statistics reveals that the most common bias motivation of single-bias incidents is due to race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias at 59.6 percent of all incidents; and Whereas Iranian Americans have long faced discrimination in times of turbulence in the relationship between the United States and Iran: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) condemns bigotry and acts of violence or discrimination against any American, including Iranian Americans; (2) declares that government leaders and law enforcement personnel should ensure that the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Iranian Americans, are fully protected; (3) encourages local, State, and Federal elected officials to engage Iranian Americans to share their experiences with their communities to end stereotypes, correct misconceptions, and convey instances of abuse against the Iranian American community; (4) calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement authorities to investigate and vigorously prosecute crimes committed against all Americans, including Iranian Americans, that are based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, or ethnicity; (5) urges the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security to conclude a thorough and timely investigation into detentions of Iranian Americans at the border; and (6) calls on Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security to halt immediately any orders that encourage discrimination on the basis of nationality or religion, including those targeting individuals of Iranian heritage.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3066	null	839
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. BLUMENTHAL (for himself and Mr. Kaine) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 626 Whereas Iranian Americans serve as government officials, in the military, and in law enforcement, working to uphold the Constitution of the United States and to protect all Americans; Whereas Iranian Americans uphold democratic values and believe in the pillars of America--life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; Whereas Iranian Americans are vibrant, peaceful, and law- abiding citizens of the Baha'i, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and Zoroastrian faiths, or are nonreligious; Whereas Iranian Americans have contributed greatly to the social and economic fabric of American society; Whereas the Small Business Administration finds Iranian Americans among the immigrant groups with the highest rates of business ownership in the United States; Whereas Iranian Americans are award-winning artists, scientists, and athletes; Whereas the United States condemns acts of bigotry, violence, and discrimination; Whereas dozens of Americans of Iranian heritage were detained for several hours at the Peace Arch Border in Washington State in January 2020 based on their ethnicity or national origin; Whereas a directive was published appearing to show that the Seattle Field Office directed border patrol agents to target Iranian, Lebanese, and Palestinian nationals born between 1961 and 2001 for additional vetting; Whereas Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security initially denied that there was any directive ordering the detainment of Iranian Americans; Whereas many Iranian Americans have been deeply shaken by this discriminatory treatment, with some members of the community stating that they will not travel outside of the country for fear of being unfairly targeted based on their national heritage; Whereas the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security has opened an investigation into the detention of Iranian Americans at the border; Whereas the United States Commission on Civil Rights, established by the Civil Rights Act of 1957, said that it ``expresses deep concern over the treatment of Iranians and Iranian Americans in airports, and calls on the Department of Homeland Security to take all necessary steps immediately to ensure equitable treatment of all people at America's borders''; Whereas according to a survey commissioned by the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans, the percentage of Iranian Americans who say they have personally experienced discrimination because of their ethnicity or national origin was 49 percent in 2018; Whereas the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2019 Hate Crime Statistics reveals that the most common bias motivation of single-bias incidents is due to race, ethnicity, or ancestry bias at 59.6 percent of all incidents; and Whereas Iranian Americans have long faced discrimination in times of turbulence in the relationship between the United States and Iran: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) condemns bigotry and acts of violence or discrimination against any American, including Iranian Americans; (2) declares that government leaders and law enforcement personnel should ensure that the civil rights and civil liberties of all Americans, including Iranian Americans, are fully protected; (3) encourages local, State, and Federal elected officials to engage Iranian Americans to share their experiences with their communities to end stereotypes, correct misconceptions, and convey instances of abuse against the Iranian American community; (4) calls upon local, State, and Federal law enforcement authorities to investigate and vigorously prosecute crimes committed against all Americans, including Iranian Americans, that are based on actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, or ethnicity; (5) urges the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties in the Department of Homeland Security to conclude a thorough and timely investigation into detentions of Iranian Americans at the border; and (6) calls on Customs and Border Protection in the Department of Homeland Security to halt immediately any orders that encourage discrimination on the basis of nationality or religion, including those targeting individuals of Iranian heritage.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-17-pt1-PgS3066	null	840
formal	beta	null	white supremacist	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 4494. A letter from the Assistant Secretary, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Department of the Navy, Department of Defense, transmitting a notice to Congress of the anticipated use of Selected Reserve units that will be ordered to active duty under the authority of Title 10 U.S.C. 12304b, pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 12304b(d); Public Law 112-81, Sec. 516(a)(1); (125 Stat. 1396); to the Committee on Armed Services. 4495. A letter from the OSD FRLO, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Indebtedness of Military Personnel [Docket ID: DOD- 2020-OS-0036] (RIN: 0790-AK33) June 4, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Armed Services. 4496. A letter from the Chief Counsel, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Final Flood Elevation Determinations [Docket ID: FEMA- 2020-0002] received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4497. A letter from the Chief Counsel, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Suspension of Community Eligibility [Docket ID FEMA-2020- 0005; Internal Agency Docket No.: FEMA-8629] received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4498. A letter from the Chief Counsel, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Suspension of Community Eligibility [Docket ID FEMA-2020- 0005; Internal Agency Docket No.: FEMA-8627] received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4499. A letter from the Chief Counsel, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Suspension of Community Eligibility [Docket ID FEMA-2020- 0005; Internal Agency Docket No.: FEMA-8625] received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4500. A letter from the Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's interim final rule -- Liquidity Coverage Ratio Rule: Treatment of Certain Emergency Facilities (RIN: May 3064-AF51) received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4501. A letter from the Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's interim final rule -- Real Estate Appraisals (RIN: 3064-AF48) received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4502. A letter from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's final rule -- Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans; Interests Assumptions for Paying Benefits received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4503. A letter from the Assistant Secretary, Employee Benefits Administration, Department of Labor, transmitting the Department's notification of relief -- Extension of Certain Timeframes for Employee Benefit Plans, Participants, and Beneficiaries Affected by the COVID-19 Outbreak received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education and Labor. 4504. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's interim final rule -- Approval Tests and Standards for Air-Purifying Particulate Respirators [Docket No.: CDC-2020-0036; NIOSH- 335] (RIN: 0920-AA69) received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4505. A letter from the Section Chief, Diversion Control Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Schedules of Controlled Substances: Removal of 6B(beta)- Naltrexol From Control [Docket No.: DEA-492] received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4506. A letter from the Director, Regulations Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Vermont; Infrastructure State Implementation Plan Requirements for the 2015 Ozone Standard [EPA-R01-OAR-2020-0057; FRL-10009-47- Region 1] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4507. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Louisiana; Infrastructure for the 2015 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards [EPA-R06-OAR-2019-0211; FRL-10008-61-Region 6] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4508. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Kentucky; Infrastructure Requirements for the 2015 8-Hour Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard [EPA-R04-OAR-2019-0217; FRL-10009-27-Region 4] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4509. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's direct final rule -- Texas: Final Approval of State Underground Storage Tank Program Revisions and Incorporation by Reference [EPA-R06-UST-2018-0704; FRL-10009-03-Region 6] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4510. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Small Manufacturer Definition Update for Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) [EPA-HQ-OPPT-2018- 0321; FRL-10008-14] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4511. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Chlormequat Chloride; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0297; FRL-10008-50] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4512. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Fenpyroximate; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0386; FRL-10009-14] received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4513. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Ea peptide 91398; Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2018-0686; FRL-10007- 57] received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4514. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality State Implementation Plans; Provo, Utah Second 10- Year Carbon Monoxide Maintenance Plan [EPA-R08-OAR-2019-0696; FRL-10009-49-Region 8] received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4515. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Washington; Northwest Clean Air Agency [EPA-R10-OAR-2020-0108; FRL-10009- 59-Region 10] received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4516. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; OR; Emission Standard Definition Rule Revision [EPA-R10-OAR-2019-0640; FRL-10007-75-Region10] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4517. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans that was declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 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. 4518. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to Burundi that was declared in Executive Order 13712 of November 22, 2015, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95-223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 4519. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to Nicaragua that was declared in Executive Order 13851 of November 27, 2018, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95- 223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 4520. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to the situation in and in relation to Syria that was declared in Executive Order 13894 of October 14, 2019, 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. 4521. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to North Korea that was declared in Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008, 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. 4522. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting notification of the continuation of the national emergency with respect to the actions and policies of certain members of the government of Belarus and other persons to undermine democratic processes or institutions of Belarus, originally declared in Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, is to continue in effect beyond June 16, 2020, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 116--132); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. 4523. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting continuation of the national emergency with respect to North Korea, originally declared in Executive Order 13466 on June 26, 2008 is to continue in effect beyond June 26, 2020, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94- 412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 116--133); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. 4524. A letter from the Senior Advisor, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting a notification of an action on nomination, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105- 277, 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4525. A letter from the General Counsel, Office of Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President, transmitting two notifications of a vacancy, a designation of acting officer, and a nomination, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105-277, 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4526. A letter from the Senior Advisor, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting a nomination of an action on nomination and a discontinuation of service in acting role, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3349(a); Public Law 105-277, 151(b); (112 Stat. 2681-614); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4527. A letter from the Acting Chief Privacy and Civil Liberties Officer, Department of Justice, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Federal Bureau of Investigation National Crime Information Center (NCIC), JUSTICE/FBI-001 received June 11, 2020, 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. 4528. A letter from the Legal Yeoman, Office of Regulations and Administrative Law, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Security Zone; Potomac River, Montgomery County, MD [Docket No.: USCG-2017- 0448] (RIN: 1625-AA87) received May 28, 2020, 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. 4529. A letter from the Attorney Advisor, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Anchorage Grounds; Lower Chesapeake Bay, Cape Charles, VA [Docket Number: USCG-2015- 1118] (RIN: 1625-AA01) received May 28, 2020, 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. 4530. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting notification to Congress that the President has designated Jason Kearns as Chairman and Randolph J. Stayin as Vice Chairman of the United States International Trade Commission, effective June 17, 2020, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 1330(c)(1); June 17, 1930, ch. 497, Sec. 330(c)(1) (as amended by Public Law 95-106, Sec. 1); (91 Stat. 867); to the Committee on Ways and Means. 4531. A letter from the Chief, Trade and Commercial Regulations Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Announcement of Vessel Manifest Confidentiality Online Application and Update of Mailing and Email Addresses for Submission of Vessel Manifest Confidentiality Certifications (RIN: 1651-AB36) received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Homeland Security. 4532. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting an Executive Order blocking property of certain persons associated with the International Criminal Court, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1703(b); Public Law 95-223, Sec. 204(b); (91 Stat. 1627) and 50 U.S.C. 1621(a); Public Law 94- 412, Sec. 201(a); (90 Stat. 1255) (H. Doc. No. 116--134); jointly to the Committees on Foreign Affairs and the Judiciary, and ordered to be printed.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgH2401-8	null	841
formal	terrorists	null	Islamophobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the Senate has been confronting issues of historic importance on the homefront. Just since March, we sent historic resources to the healthcare fight against COVID-19 on an overwhelming bipartisan basis. We passed the largest rescue package in American history on a bipartisan basis. We just passed a generational bill for our public lands, also on a bipartisan basis. Yesterday, the junior Senator from South Carolina introduced a major proposal to reform policing and promote racial justice. If our colleagues across the aisle can put politics aside and join us in a real discussion, then on this issue, too, we should be able to make law on a bipartisan basis. The Senate has led and is leading the way toward serious solutions. At the same time, developments around the world continue to remind us that the safety and interests of the American people are also threatened from beyond our shores. Just 2 weeks ago, I explained how the Chinese Communist Party has used the pandemic they helped worsen as a smokescreen for ratcheting up their oppression in Hong Kong and advancing their control and influence throughout the region. It hasn't stopped. At sea, they have stepped up their menacing of Japan near the Senkaku Islands. In the skies, Chinese jets have intruded into Taiwanese airspace four separate times in a matter of days. On land, for the sake of grabbing territory, the PLA appears to have instigated the worst violent clash between China and India since those nations went to war way back in 1962. Needless to say, the rest of the world has watched with grave concern this violent exchange between two nuclear states. We are encouraging deescalation and hoping for peace. The world could not have received a clearer reminder that the PRC is dead set on brutalizing people within their own borders--challenging and remaking the international order anew in their image, to include literally redrawing world maps. Of course, this is not exactly breaking news to any of us who have been paying attention. Earlier this year, the Senate passed legislation to give the administration new tools to directly punish the CCP for its egregious--egregious treatment of the Uighur people and the modern-day gulags it has constructed there in the Xinjiang Province. The President signed it into law yesterday. Going back to the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act, which I wrote back in 1992, the Senate has maintained a keen interest in the freedom and autonomy of our friends in that city. Unfortunately, Beijing has continued to tighten its grip there as well.More and more Hongkongers find themselves facing an agonizing decision: Can they remain in the city they love or must they flee elsewhere if they want their children to grow up free? As I have said often, every nation that cares about democracy and stability has a stake in ensuring that Beijing's actions in Hong Kong carry consequences. I encourage the administration to use the tools Congress has given it and to work with like-minded nations to impose those costs, but punishing the PRC cannot be our only priority. We also need to actively help the people of Hong Kong. Led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the United Kingdom says they are preparing to offer visas to potentially millions of Hongkongers. In addition to funding democracy programming and supporting legal assistance, we must also consider ways to welcome Hongkongers and other Chinese dissidents to America. Chinese Americans have formed part of the backbone of our Nation for about two centuries. Against headwinds of racial prejudice, Chinese immigrants literally helped build modern America as we know it. Generations of Chinese Americans have enriched our society and fueled our economic prosperity. Not surprisingly, I am particularly partial to the Secretary of Transportation, whose parents fled Communist rule. She has served her country across four Presidential administrations, including as the first Chinese American to ever serve in a President's Cabinet. If some of the same brave Hongkongers who have stood up for liberty waving our American flag and singing our American national anthem would like to come here and join us, we should welcome them warmly. Of course, this Senate is not only acting with respect to China. Earlier this year, at my urging, the Senate enacted the Caesar Syria Civilian Protection Act, and this week, the administration is using these tools to impose painful new sanctions on the brutal regime of Bashar Assad. With the help of Russian airpower, Iranian advisers, and manpower from Hezbollah terrorists, Assad has recaptured military control of most of the territory he had lost during 9 years of civil war, but he has effectively destroyed his own country in an effort to save his regime. Assad faces renewed protests across the country, infighting within his regime and family, and a Syrian economy that is in free fall. Because of this Congress and this administration, the cashflow to these butchers is going to shrink, and the price that leaders and businessmen in Tehran, Beirut, Cairo, Moscow, and Beijing will have to pay to do business with the regime will grow. These new steps will help us achieve our objective: creating leverage for diplomats and our partners on the ground to negotiate a political solution and finally end the war. To maintain this pressure, we should keep our limited physical presence in Syria. We should work to bring our NATO ally Turkey back onto the right side, and we should preserve the deterrence that President Trump has rebuilt against Iran, to keep checking their influence in Syria and throughout the Middle East	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3073-6	null	842
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on one final matter, later today, the Senate will confirm Judge Justin Walker of Kentucky to join the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, as I have noted in just the last several weeks, Judge Walker has given the Senate several new reasons to support his nomination to the second most important Federal bench. In testimony before our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, he demonstrated an impressive grasp of legal precedent. At his current post as district judge for the Western District of Kentucky, he eloquently applied this understanding to uphold Americans' religious liberty, and he earned the approval of the American Bar Association with a rating of ``well-qualified.'' But, of course, Judge Walker's credentials were already sterling. Long before this nominee began practicing and then applying the law, he was collecting plaudits for his excellence at studying it. Judge Walker, as I mentioned before, graduated from Duke University summa cum laude, and Harvard Law School magna cum laude. Those credentials can easily lead someone to an elite law firm in a big city, but instead, it led Judge Walker to clerkships for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh and then-Justice Anthony Kennedy. He then went back home to the University of Louisville Law School. He quickly became a star faculty member, producing distinguished scholarship on a wide range of legal issues. Once Judge Walker took his current seat on the bench for the Western District of Kentucky, he wasted no time building an equally strong reputation for the fairness and open-mindedness that Americans deserve from their judges. In one letter to our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, 100 practicing lawyers from across Kentucky said: If Judge Walker is confirmed, we could give our clients an assessment of him for which any judge should strive: he is sharp, fair, and will follow the law. In another letter, 16 different State attorneys general told us: As someone from outside the Beltway with a commitment to the rule of law, we know that Judge Walker will listen to the arguments of advocates appearing before him, that he will weigh the facts against the law as it is written (and not as he wishes it to be), and that he will fairly decide those cases based upon controlling precedent. These glowing assessments are not from elite corporate counsel or frequent flyers on the DC Circuit. These are from men and women across Kentucky and across America who have seen this man work and watched his career. Republican Presidents have a proud tradition of looking beyond Washington to freshen up the DC Circuit with diverse perspectives from across America. President Nixon thought this crucial court could use the expertise of a Texan and a Minnesotan. President Reagan chose legal minds from Colorado and North Carolina. President Bush 41 chose a South Carolinian, and President Bush 43 a Californian. So when the Senate confirms Judge Walker to this vacancy, we will not just be promoting a widely admired legal expert and proven judge to a role for which he is obviously qualified, we will also be adding to a time-honored tradition of finding men and women from all across the country to help ensure that this enormously consequential bench here in our Nation's Capital is refreshed with talent from all parts of America. My fellow Kentuckians and I are sorry to part with this son in the Bluegrass, but mostly we are proud because Judge Walker will be putting his legal brilliance and his exceptional judicial temperament to work not just for his home State but for our entire Nation and in even more consequential ways. I look forward to voting to confirm Judge Justin Walker, and I urge each of my colleagues to do the same.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3074	null	843
formal	Reagan	null	white supremacist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on one final matter, later today, the Senate will confirm Judge Justin Walker of Kentucky to join the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. Now, as I have noted in just the last several weeks, Judge Walker has given the Senate several new reasons to support his nomination to the second most important Federal bench. In testimony before our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, he demonstrated an impressive grasp of legal precedent. At his current post as district judge for the Western District of Kentucky, he eloquently applied this understanding to uphold Americans' religious liberty, and he earned the approval of the American Bar Association with a rating of ``well-qualified.'' But, of course, Judge Walker's credentials were already sterling. Long before this nominee began practicing and then applying the law, he was collecting plaudits for his excellence at studying it. Judge Walker, as I mentioned before, graduated from Duke University summa cum laude, and Harvard Law School magna cum laude. Those credentials can easily lead someone to an elite law firm in a big city, but instead, it led Judge Walker to clerkships for then-Judge Brett Kavanaugh and then-Justice Anthony Kennedy. He then went back home to the University of Louisville Law School. He quickly became a star faculty member, producing distinguished scholarship on a wide range of legal issues. Once Judge Walker took his current seat on the bench for the Western District of Kentucky, he wasted no time building an equally strong reputation for the fairness and open-mindedness that Americans deserve from their judges. In one letter to our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, 100 practicing lawyers from across Kentucky said: If Judge Walker is confirmed, we could give our clients an assessment of him for which any judge should strive: he is sharp, fair, and will follow the law. In another letter, 16 different State attorneys general told us: As someone from outside the Beltway with a commitment to the rule of law, we know that Judge Walker will listen to the arguments of advocates appearing before him, that he will weigh the facts against the law as it is written (and not as he wishes it to be), and that he will fairly decide those cases based upon controlling precedent. These glowing assessments are not from elite corporate counsel or frequent flyers on the DC Circuit. These are from men and women across Kentucky and across America who have seen this man work and watched his career. Republican Presidents have a proud tradition of looking beyond Washington to freshen up the DC Circuit with diverse perspectives from across America. President Nixon thought this crucial court could use the expertise of a Texan and a Minnesotan. President Reagan chose legal minds from Colorado and North Carolina. President Bush 41 chose a South Carolinian, and President Bush 43 a Californian. So when the Senate confirms Judge Walker to this vacancy, we will not just be promoting a widely admired legal expert and proven judge to a role for which he is obviously qualified, we will also be adding to a time-honored tradition of finding men and women from all across the country to help ensure that this enormously consequential bench here in our Nation's Capital is refreshed with talent from all parts of America. My fellow Kentuckians and I are sorry to part with this son in the Bluegrass, but mostly we are proud because Judge Walker will be putting his legal brilliance and his exceptional judicial temperament to work not just for his home State but for our entire Nation and in even more consequential ways. I look forward to voting to confirm Judge Justin Walker, and I urge each of my colleagues to do the same.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3074	null	844
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Nomination of Justin Reed Walker Madam President, of course, while Democrats are glad that Leader McConnell felt the pressure and heeded our call to put policing reform on the floor next week, it will not be before the Republican leader asks us to confirm two more hard rightwing judges to the Federal bench. Today, the Senate will vote on Justin Walker, a 38-year-old with less than ayear's worth of experience as a district court judge, to sit on the second highest court in the country for the rest of his life. The temerity of doing that--he was on the court for just a few months, but he is friends with Leader McConnell, so he gets rushed to this very high court without the necessary experience and maturity of judgment. The Republican Senate approved his nomination to the district court on October 24 last year, after the ABA rated him ``not qualified.'' Now, 8 months later, Leader McConnell wants to give Justin Walker, a former intern of his, a promotion to the DC Circuit. Even in his extremely limited time as a jurist, Walker made news by calling the Supreme Court's decision to uphold our healthcare law ``catastrophic'' and ``an indefensible decision.'' I would like Leader McConnell to go home to Kentucky and tell the citizens of Kentucky why he nominated someone who wants to repeal our healthcare law when the COVID crisis is hurting people there as it is everywhere else. In the middle of a national healthcare crisis, the Republican Senate majority is poised to confirm a judge who opposes our country's healthcare law. There is no reason to do this nomination now. There is no stunning number of vacancies on the DC Circuit. We are in the middle of a global pandemic and a national conversation about racial justice and police reform. This is about the Republican leader and his relentless pursuit of a rightwing judiciary. Usually my friends on the other side of the aisle vote in lockstep on these judges, so it is an indication of Mr. Walker's caliber, or lack thereof, that at least one Senate Republican has announced opposition to his nomination. After Mr. Walker--again, before we move to policing reform--Leader McConnell will put forward the nomination of Mr. Cory Wilson to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Even by the very low standards of Trump's nominees to the Federal bench, Mr. Wilson is appalling. He called our Nation's healthcare law ``illegitimate'' and ``perverse'' and advocated the repeal of Roe v. Wade. Worse still, Mr. Wilson strongly supported restrictive voting measures, including voter ID laws and is opposed, in this day and age, to minority voting rights. There will be a massive split screen in the Senate next week. As we prepare to debate legislation to reduce racial bias and discrimination in law enforcement, Senate Republicans will push a judge who has a history of fighting against minority voting rights. The hypocrisy is glaring. It is amazing to me--the temerity sometimes that the majority leader shows in talking about trying to bring racial justice and putting on the bench someone who has fought against racial justice in terms of voting rights throughout his career. Again, the hypocrisy is glaring.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3075-5	null	845
formal	welfare	null	racist	Equality Act Mr. President, I come to the floor on another issue of freedom. President Johnson said: Freedom is a right to share, share fully and equally, in American society. . . . It is the right to be treated in every part of our national life as a person equal in dignity and promise to all others. It was 1996 when Senator Ted Kennedy brought the issue of ending discrimination in employment to the floor of the Senate. In that year, not solong ago, virtually everything was simple majority in the Senate, as designed by our Founders, as written in the Constitution. The vote failed 49 to 50 because Senator David Pryor was at the hospital attending to his son, the future Senator Mark Pryor, who had cancer. It was a moment when the Senate nearly took a big stride forward in ending discrimination in employment in America against our LGBTQ community. Then, in November 2013, I brought to the floor the same bill, ENDA, ending discrimination in employment. This Senate voted in a bipartisan majority to end that discrimination. In fact, the vote was 2 to 1--64 to 32. Yet that bright moment here in the Senate, where we stood for the vision of freedom, was not acted on by the House, and the bill did not make it to the President's desk. Now we stand here today, in 2020, and the Supreme Court on Monday in Bostock v. Clayton County, in a 6 to 3 decision, has proceeded to act to end discrimination in employment. In writing the opinion, Justice Gorsuch said: ``In Title VII''--referring to the 1964 Civil Rights Act--``Congress outlawed discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.'' He wrote: ``Today, we must decide whether an employer can fire someone simply for being homosexual or transgender.'' Everyone looked to the next paragraph and what would the answer be? Gorsuch wrote this: The answer is clear. An employer who fires an individual for being homosexual or transgender fires that person for traits or actions it would not have questioned in members of a different sex. Sex plays a necessary and undisguisable role in that decision, exactly what Title VII forbids. Well, let the bells of freedom ring here in this Chamber and across America. On Sunday of this last week, the day before the Supreme Court decision, discrimination in employment against gay, lesbian, and bisexual Americans was still legal in 29 States--a majority of States in our country--and, on Monday, that discrimination ended. It is now illegal in all 50 States of America, in all territories of America to discriminate on the basis of who you are or whom you love. The Court took a long, powerful stride toward the vision carved above the doors of the Supreme Court: ``Equal Justice Under Law.'' No longer can a mental health counselor named Gary Bostock be fired from his job at child welfare services department for playing in a gay softball league. No longer can a skydiving instructor named Donald Zarda be fired because he is gay. No longer can a police officer in southern Oregon named Laura Elena Calvo--with a sterling 16-year record of promotions, commendations for pulling people from burning cars, delivering babies on the side of the road, saving lives and more--be fired because she was a transgender woman. Employment discrimination ends in America. Let us savor that victory for freedom. Let us celebrate that victory for equality and opportunity. It is a long, powerful stride forward on the march for freedom. But a long stride forward in a march, however significant, does not mean that the march is over because, as wonderful as that victory on Monday was, as wonderful it is to have discrimination end in employment across the land, we still have a long way to go before LGBTQ Americans are treated in every part of our national life as people equal in dignity and promise to all others. The protections on Monday involve employment, but those protections do not extend to the titles of the 1964 Civil Rights Act that address other issues--issues of education, issues of public accommodations--and they don't extend to credit, financial transactions, transactions covered by the CREDIT Act. They don't extend to jury service. They don't extend to Federal funding of programs, meaning it is legal for States to discriminate or cities to discriminate or counties to discriminate on the basis of Federal law against participation in Federal programs. It is unbelievable that we are still in that state, but that is where we are. That is where we are right now, with discrimination ended in employment but not ended in all of these other categories. There are a couple of possible paths forward. One is litigation that continues on the same premise on which the Supreme Court acted on title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and that means litigation in each of these categories, case after case, slowly making its way through the courts, slowly making it to the Supreme Court, meaning discrimination continues year after year while the courts deliberate on this. I have heard a number of Senators say the Court acted, but Congress should have done it. Well, now we have the opportunity to do it. We have the opportunity to do it by putting the Equality Act on the floor of this Senate, putting it on the floor of the Senate today, having a debate today, and having a vote today on whether to extend the very premise at the heart of the Supreme Court's decision in employment to all of the other key areas of discrimination that is still suffered across this land. Let us put the Equality Act on the floor. Let us debate it. Let us pass it to fulfill the vision Thomas Jefferson put forward when, in the words crafted for the Declaration of Independence: ``We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.'' Let us put the Equality Act on the floor of the Senate. Let us debate it, and let us pass it to act on the premise that Senator Ted Kennedy expressed: ``The promise of America will never be fulfilled as long as justice is denied to even one among us.'' Let us put the Equality Act on the floor of the Senate and debate it and pass it to fulfill the promise of freedom, the promise of freedom that President Johnson so well expressed in ``the right to be treated in every part of our national life as a person equal in dignity and promise to all others.'' We have the power to ring the bells of freedom here in this Chamber. Let us not miss this opportunity. I am so pleased to be here with my colleagues who have fought for this vision of freedom and equality and opportunity--my colleague Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin and my colleague Cory Booker from New Jersey, who have been champions in leading this fight--a fight envisioned now by a tremendous number of Senators endorsing and cosponsoring the Equality Act. Let us put that act on the floor I yield to my colleague from Wisconsin.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3077-2	null	846
formal	based	null	white supremacist	JUSTICE Act In the context of police reforms, our friend Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina has introduced a bill which I have cosponsored, as have many other Members of the Senate. It is called the JUSTICE Act, and it will reform our police departments to provide much-needed transparency and accountability. It takes aim at a number of practices and policies that have led to a number of tragic deaths, that have united these nationwide protests and captured our conscience. To prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place, this bill emphasizes things such as deescalation training. As I looked at the video of the two police officers in Atlanta, waking up somebody asleep in a fast-food line, then interrogating him for 45 minutes before it then broke out into a violent confrontation, I thought they could have used some deescalation training. Maybe, just maybe, a life would have been saved. Maybe they would have said: Give us your car keys, take a cab, go home, and sleep it off. But that is not what happened. We also need training for police officers that otherwise haven't had that training or don't know to know when they need to intervene when they see another officer exert excessive force. We need more transparency--things like body cameras--and we need more information on things like use of force and no-knock warrants so that we can hopefully come up with a set of best practices that police departments all across the country should employ. To gain a better understanding of the problems that exist throughout our criminal justice system--and this is just one of them--the bill establishes two commissions, one to perform a top-to-bottom review of our criminal justice system and another to study the challenges facing Black men and boys. This legislation would also make lynching a Federal crime, it takes aim at the dangerous practice of choke holds, and it strengthens minority hiring. I could go on and on, but I believe these changes have the potential to create real and lasting change in America's police departments and begin to repair the broken relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Beyond the merits of the bill itself, there is another quality worth noting, and that is it includes a number ofmeasures that have bipartisan support. In other words, there is a lot of overlap between what Democrats want to do and what Republicans want to do. We have to just learn how to take yes for an answer. We all want to get 100 percent of what we want, but as a practical matter, you need to follow the 80/20 rule sometimes. That is, if you can get 80 percent of what you want, that Republicans and Democrats can agree on, then you need to grab it. That is what we need to do here, not focus on the differences, but focus on the commonality, on the overlap. By the way, when I first got to the Senate, Teddy Kennedy was one of the great liberal lions here. I asked one of my conservative colleagues, the senior Senator from Wyoming who worked very productively with him, how they did it, one of the most liberal Members of the Senate, one of the most conservative Members of the Senate. Senator Enzi, our friend from Wyoming, said: It is easy. It is the 80/20 rule. That is how they were so productive. That is how they got so much done. They didn't focus on what separated them; they focused on what they shared in common, and that is what we need to do particularly now at this time to demonstrate to America that we hear you, we understand the reason for the protests. We understand the reason for concern, and we share your anguish when innocent lives are lost. Madam President, as we prepare to debate the JUSTICE Act on the floor next week, finding that common ground is more important than ever, but I am worried that the same old partisan dysfunction which hijacks so many good ideas here in the Congress may dominate over our need to actually pass legislation. I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will allow us to get on the bill, and hopefully, we will have an amendment process that will allow them to contribute, maybe even make the bill better. That is what we should do. That is what we used to do in the Senate. We had debates, we offered amendments, and then we voted. We didn't shut it down before we even got it started, which is what I know--at least based on press reports--Senator Schumer, Senator Harris, and others are considering doing, voting no and not allowing us to get on the bill in the first place. Well, this is an important moment. We will begin debating this legislation on the floor of the Senate next week, and we will demonstrate whether we have risen to the challenge, whether we have set aside political and partisan differences in order to find the common good or not, so I hope our discussions will prove more productive than what we have seen reported so far. As we continue to try our best to deliver for the American people, I encourage all of us to remember the importance of the 80/20 rule. There is a lot more that unites us than divides us. I know the news, social media, and maybe in our debates we seem to focus on who divides us, but that is not who we are, what divides us. We are what unites us. There is a lot more that unites us. Tomorrow, I will be privileged to be in the city of my birth, Houston, TX, with Mayor Sylvester Turner and a number of community leaders for a roundtable to talk about these very issues. I was in Dallas last week doing the same thing with my friend, the mayor, Eric Johnson, and it really a great opportunity to do something that Members of the Senate don't do enough, myself included, and that is to listen. I am excited to report on what we are doing here, but more importantly, I am eager to spend some time listening and learning from the people closest to the problem and then bringing that knowledge back here to the floor of the U.S. Senate so that we can deliver real results for the American people.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3087-2	null	847
formal	shut it down	null	antisemitic	JUSTICE Act In the context of police reforms, our friend Senator Tim Scott from South Carolina has introduced a bill which I have cosponsored, as have many other Members of the Senate. It is called the JUSTICE Act, and it will reform our police departments to provide much-needed transparency and accountability. It takes aim at a number of practices and policies that have led to a number of tragic deaths, that have united these nationwide protests and captured our conscience. To prevent these tragedies from happening in the first place, this bill emphasizes things such as deescalation training. As I looked at the video of the two police officers in Atlanta, waking up somebody asleep in a fast-food line, then interrogating him for 45 minutes before it then broke out into a violent confrontation, I thought they could have used some deescalation training. Maybe, just maybe, a life would have been saved. Maybe they would have said: Give us your car keys, take a cab, go home, and sleep it off. But that is not what happened. We also need training for police officers that otherwise haven't had that training or don't know to know when they need to intervene when they see another officer exert excessive force. We need more transparency--things like body cameras--and we need more information on things like use of force and no-knock warrants so that we can hopefully come up with a set of best practices that police departments all across the country should employ. To gain a better understanding of the problems that exist throughout our criminal justice system--and this is just one of them--the bill establishes two commissions, one to perform a top-to-bottom review of our criminal justice system and another to study the challenges facing Black men and boys. This legislation would also make lynching a Federal crime, it takes aim at the dangerous practice of choke holds, and it strengthens minority hiring. I could go on and on, but I believe these changes have the potential to create real and lasting change in America's police departments and begin to repair the broken relationship between law enforcement and the communities they serve. Beyond the merits of the bill itself, there is another quality worth noting, and that is it includes a number ofmeasures that have bipartisan support. In other words, there is a lot of overlap between what Democrats want to do and what Republicans want to do. We have to just learn how to take yes for an answer. We all want to get 100 percent of what we want, but as a practical matter, you need to follow the 80/20 rule sometimes. That is, if you can get 80 percent of what you want, that Republicans and Democrats can agree on, then you need to grab it. That is what we need to do here, not focus on the differences, but focus on the commonality, on the overlap. By the way, when I first got to the Senate, Teddy Kennedy was one of the great liberal lions here. I asked one of my conservative colleagues, the senior Senator from Wyoming who worked very productively with him, how they did it, one of the most liberal Members of the Senate, one of the most conservative Members of the Senate. Senator Enzi, our friend from Wyoming, said: It is easy. It is the 80/20 rule. That is how they were so productive. That is how they got so much done. They didn't focus on what separated them; they focused on what they shared in common, and that is what we need to do particularly now at this time to demonstrate to America that we hear you, we understand the reason for the protests. We understand the reason for concern, and we share your anguish when innocent lives are lost. Madam President, as we prepare to debate the JUSTICE Act on the floor next week, finding that common ground is more important than ever, but I am worried that the same old partisan dysfunction which hijacks so many good ideas here in the Congress may dominate over our need to actually pass legislation. I hope our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will allow us to get on the bill, and hopefully, we will have an amendment process that will allow them to contribute, maybe even make the bill better. That is what we should do. That is what we used to do in the Senate. We had debates, we offered amendments, and then we voted. We didn't shut it down before we even got it started, which is what I know--at least based on press reports--Senator Schumer, Senator Harris, and others are considering doing, voting no and not allowing us to get on the bill in the first place. Well, this is an important moment. We will begin debating this legislation on the floor of the Senate next week, and we will demonstrate whether we have risen to the challenge, whether we have set aside political and partisan differences in order to find the common good or not, so I hope our discussions will prove more productive than what we have seen reported so far. As we continue to try our best to deliver for the American people, I encourage all of us to remember the importance of the 80/20 rule. There is a lot more that unites us than divides us. I know the news, social media, and maybe in our debates we seem to focus on who divides us, but that is not who we are, what divides us. We are what unites us. There is a lot more that unites us. Tomorrow, I will be privileged to be in the city of my birth, Houston, TX, with Mayor Sylvester Turner and a number of community leaders for a roundtable to talk about these very issues. I was in Dallas last week doing the same thing with my friend, the mayor, Eric Johnson, and it really a great opportunity to do something that Members of the Senate don't do enough, myself included, and that is to listen. I am excited to report on what we are doing here, but more importantly, I am eager to spend some time listening and learning from the people closest to the problem and then bringing that knowledge back here to the floor of the U.S. Senate so that we can deliver real results for the American people.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3087-2	null	848
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. CRUZ. Mr. President, today's decision from the U.S. Supreme Court in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California is disgraceful. Judging is not a game. It is not supposed to be a game. But, sadly, over recent years, more and more Chief Justice Roberts has been playing games with the Court to achieve the policy outcomes he desires. This case concerned President Obama's Executive amnesty--amnesty that President Obama decreed directly contrary to Federal law. He did so with no legal authority. He did so in open defiance of Federal statutes. Of course, he was celebrated in the press for doing so. Obama's Executive amnesty was illegal the day it was issued and not one single Justice of the nine Supreme Court Justices disputed that--not a one. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the majority opinion, joined by the four liberal Justices on the Court. This is becoming a pattern. The majority assumes that DACA--Obama's Executive amnesty--is illegal, and then bizarrely holds that the Trump administration can't stop implementing a policy that is illegal. Think about that for a second. In fact, it is even worse. The majority explicitly concede, of course, the administration can stop an illegal policy. ``All parties agree''--that is a quote--``all parties agree that DHS may rescind DACA.'' OK. Easy. Everyone agrees. DHS can rescind DACA. Right? Not so fast. A clever little twist. The majority says: Do you know what? The agency's legal explanation wasn't detailed enough. Yes, you have the authority to do it. Everyone agrees. There is no argument that you don't have the authority to do it, but we are checking your homework and, you know, the memo you wrote explaining it just didn't have all the detail we need. Just a touch more, so start over. What is interesting is that is exactly the sleight of hand that Chief Justice Roberts did almost exactly a year ago today in another case where the Chief joined with the four liberals from the Court and struck down another one of the Trump administration's policies. In that case a year ago, the Commerce Department, which is charged by the Constitution with conducting a census every 10 years--the Commerce Department wanted to ask a commonsense question in the course of the census: Are you a citizen of the United States? That is a question that has been asked in nearly every census since 1820. It ain't that complicated, asking someone in the course of a census: Are you a citizen? But in today's politically fraught world, the Democratic Party has decided they are the party of illegal immigration, as is the press. And so what did John Roberts do a year ago? Same thing. He wrote an opinion saying: Of course, the Commerce Department has the authority in the census to ask if you are a citizen. Of course. We have done it since 1820. For those who are math impaired, that is 200 years ago. Steadily since then, every 10 years, over and over and over again, but no, no, no, no--John Roberts, little twist of hand. Do you know what? The Commerce Department didn't explain their reasoning just clearly enough. We looked at their memo announcing it, announcing that they were making a policy decision that they have unquestioned legal authority to do, that the Bill Clinton administration had asked that question, but John Roberts and the four liberals are going to strike it down because they say it wasn't explained clearly enough. This is a charade. Last year, they pretended it was just about the agency could go back and do it again. They knew full well there wasn't time to do it again; that they had to start the census, and so they got the result they wanted. They didn't like, as a policy matter, asking this. There was no legal reason, no legal authority to strike it down, so they played a little game: Go back and start over. Of course, now we are doing the census without asking that question. That is the same game here today in DACA. They don't like the policy so they say: Just go back and do it over. Just give a little more explanation. Just start over. Everyone knows the game they are playing. They are hoping that in November, in the election, that there is a different result in the election; that there is a new administration that comes in that decides amnesty is a good thing, and so this sleight of hand is all about playing policy. Five Justices today held that it was illegal for the Trump administration to stop breaking the law. That is bizarre. The reasoning is because the Obama administration violated Federal immigration laws, for now--wink, wink, let's pretend, because that is what they are doing, is pretending--Trump has to continue violating the law and behaving illegally. Chief Justice Roberts knows exactly what he is doing. We saw earlier this week a decision rewriting title VII of our civil rights laws--rewriting title VII, the prohibition on sex discrimination, on discrimination against women or against men, rewriting it to add ``sexual orientation or gender identity.'' Now, as a policy matter, there are a lot of people who support that. Indeed, legislation to do that has passed the House of Representatives twice. It has passed this body once. But the Court just rewrote it. The Court just engaged in legislation, plain and simple, as Justice Alito powerfully wrote in dissent. By the way, Chief Justice Roberts, again in the majority, assigned that majority. This is gamesmanship. Chief Justice Roberts knows exactly what he is doing. The fact that elites in Washington don't see a problem with illegal immigration doesn't answer the reality for millions of working men and women who do, and these kinds of games ultimately make a mockery of the rule of law. They make a mockery of the Constitution and Bill of Rights. It is the same legerdemain we saw Chief Justice Roberts do several years ago upholding ObamaCare, where, again, just with a little flip of the wrist, he changed a penalty into a tax. That is not clever; that is lawless. This decision today was lawless; it was gamesmanship; and it was contrary to the judicial oath that each of the nine Justices has taken	2020-01-06	Mr. CRUZ	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3092-2	null	849
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, we are in the midst of one of the greatest public health crises in our Nation's history. Over 2 million Americans have been infected by the COVID-19 virus. Over 115,000 Americans have died. Sadly, infections are still trending upward in many States. And what is the response of the Republican majority in the U.S. Senate to this public health crisis? This week, the majority leader, Senator McConnell has scheduled a vote on his family friend and former intern, Justin Walker, to be a judge on the DC Circuit, the second highest court in the land. Colleagues, let's be honest. You cannot say with a straight face that Justin Walker, a 38-year-old with no practical courtroom experience and a few months' time on the district court bench, is the best person for the job of DC Circuit judge. He is not, and we know it. So why is he getting this nomination? I believe there are two main reasons: because Justin Walker is a protege of Senator McConnell and because he is an outspoken critic of the Affordable Care Act. Justin Walker has made clear that he is willing to toe the Republican party line of hostility to Obamacare. Before he was confirmed as a district judge last October in a party-line vote, he called the NFIB case that upheld the ACA's constitutionality an ``indefensible decision.'' And in March, while he was a sitting judge, he cracked jokes about his opposition to the ACA at his ceremonial investiture. These comments apparently put him on the fast-track for a promotion to the DC Circuit. I find it astonishing that Senate Republicans have rubberstamped so many nominees who have written articles or spoken publicly about their hostility to the ACA, nominees like John Bush, Steven Grasz, James Ho, David Porter, Neomi Rao, Mark Norris, Michael Truncale, and Sarah Pitlyk, not to mention Chad Readler, who filed the brief for the Trump Justice Department in the Texas v. U.S. case that called for striking down the entire ACA, including its protections for Americans with preexisting conditions. Chad Readler was nominated to the 6th Circuit within a day of filing that brief. It is a pattern. And right after the vote on Justin Walker, Senator McConnell wants to vote on yet another nominee with a record of outspoken hostility to the ACA; 5th Circuit nominee Cory Wilson of Mississippi has repeatedly spoken, written, and tweeted criticisms of the ACA. In one of Wilson's newspaper columns, he wrote ``for the sake of the Constitution, I hope the Court strikes down the law.'' In another column, he described the ACA as ``big, intrusive government'' and as ``perverse'' and ``illegitimate.'' And he has tweeted negatively about the ACA more than 30 times. Justin Walker's and Cory Wilson's public statements clearly show that they have already made up their minds about the Affordable Care Act's merits and its constitutionality. And yet, they have been unwilling to recuse themselves from ACA cases that might come before them if they are confirmed. This is important because the ACA has been under constant attack in the Federal courts. The Republican Party, from President Trump on down, has been obsessed with trying to get the ACA struck down as unconstitutional. There is a case pending before the Supreme Court right now where Republican officeholders and the Trump administration are trying to strike down the entire ACA. That would strip away health insurance and preexisting condition protections for millions of Americans. Even in the middle of a pandemic, the Republican Party is not stopping its attack on the Affordable Care Act. They failed to overturn the ACA in Congress, of course. But clearly, Republicans are determined to attack it through the courts, no matter how many Americans might lose their coverage and protections. Make no mistake, the nominations of Justin Walker and Cory Wilson are part of the Republican assault on the Affordable Care Act. And the American people are watching. I oppose these nominees.	2020-01-06	Mr. DURBIN	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3092-3	null	850
formal	urban	null	racist	Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, on Tuesday, just a few days ago, I convened a hearing of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and we were focused on the impacts of COVID-19 and how this pandemic has impacted our Nation's energy industry. We had a lot of discussions about the impact of COVID on the Nation, on our economy, and I think it is probably fair to say that every facet of our society has been impacted, but it is certainly clear to me as a Senator for the State of Alaska and as chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee that the energy sector has suffered perhaps uniquely and I think acutely. We have seen limits on business and travel and social activities, and we think about those limitations, the far-reaching consequences they have on our Nation's energy producers, whether it is those who produce oil and gas, coal, renewables, advanced technology such as nuclear power, and all those who help us produce our energy and use our energy more efficiently, all aspects have been impacted. At the hearing, we had some pretty good testimony that our witnesses were able to explain and quantify some of those impacts. We heard that U.S. oil production has declined by almost 2 million barrels per day. Spot prices for liquefied natural gas have effectively collapsed, creating challenges for export projects. Domestic electricity consumption is projected to decline by 5.7 percent this year, largely due to the closure of businesses and, of course, the shelter-in-place orders. It is not just the oil and gas sector. The renewable energy sector has also faced substantial supply chain disruptions. The efficiency sector has faced health and safety restrictions in homes and buildings. Overall, we were told that the energy industry has lost an estimated 1.3 million jobs since early March, including more than 600,000 jobs associated with clean energy. It is a good reminder in terms of where we have seen this direct impact and the impact on jobs, but our hearing was also a reminder that the energy industry can be a key leader, be a sector that can really help lead our Nation's economic recovery. When you think about energy itself, this is a finished product. It is a feedstock. It is a raw material. It is an input. It is an output. It is value added, a natural resource, tradeable commodity, a precious asset. It is clearly critical infrastructure and emergency reserves. It is financial, collateral, and competitive exports. It is a source of high-paying and high-skilled jobs in its own right. I think we recognize that current low prices are good for us. We are seeing our families pay less and, thus, they can devote to other priorities. The underlying message here is the energy industry is an important component to how we move to this phase of economic recovery. What can we do to help this industry and, thus, the broader economy recovery? It was interesting because we had a panel of five witnesses before us. Several of those witnesses all pointed to the same piece of legislation as one of the answers as to how we can help the economy recover, and that is a bill that those of us on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee developed throughout last year. We called it the American Energy Innovation Act. We refer to it as our energy bill. It will ensure that the United States remains a global energy leader while strengthening our national security, investing in clean technologies, and securing our Nation's supply chain. It is a pretty wide-ranging bill. It covers everything from energy efficiency to renewables. We have a strong focus on carbon capture. The big anchor piece is energy storage. Advanced nuclear plays a key role and also vehicle technologies. We focused on mineral security and recognizing the key aspects of secure supply chains, grid and cyber security, workforce modernization. Really, it is all areas that will work to help our economy, boost our international competitiveness, and protect human health and the global environment. At the hearing on Tuesday, one of our witnesses described this energy bill, our American Energy Innovation Act, as ``foundational.'' I really think it is foundational. Where are we with this foundational energy bill that has been the work of such a good, strong collaborative committee process? It was clearly timely for the Senate to be considering this in this year--certainly before the pandemic--and it is even more critical, more timely that we consider it now. When we had an opportunity to bring this to the floor earlier, there was a desire and an interest in making sure that we were focusing on our clean and renewable energy sector. We do that within that bill. It has been interesting because in the past several weeks, we have heard calls from Members of this body to prioritize a robust clean energy recovery plan. There was a letter from 24 Members of the Senate who urged Senate leadership to ``prioritize a robust clean energy recovery plan.'' In their letter, they call for investments in renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency, clean vehicles, clean and efficient infrastructure, clean fuels, and workforce development. That sounds pretty much like what we included within our American Energy Innovation Act. I sent many of them just a quick letter detailing how our bill really does accomplish just that, including the specifics that focus on each of these priorities, and encourage them to help me pass it. As you may recall, we had the American Energy Innovation Act on the Senate floor at the end of February just before the pandemic took hold. Again, I mentioned the collaborative process that went into building that bill. We spent a lot of time in the Energy Committee working through a lot of the issues that had some conflict and to reduce that conflict so we could get a good, strong bipartisan product. As a consequence, we have a bill that contains the priorities for more than 70 Senators. It is supported by more than 200 organizations. We incorporated 18 amendments on the floor working through that process. The Senate ultimately denied cloture on March 9. This was just before the shelter in place and the work from home orders began. We hit a wall there. The unfortunate reality is we hit that wall. We were derailed with this important legislative effort not because of an impasse that we had with the contents of our bill, but it was an unrelated dispute from another committee. It was not something that, as chairman, I could have anticipated. There was no warning that it was going to be an issue for our bill. In fairness, we didn't have any power as the Energy and Natural Resources Committee to work it out for this other committee. We were hamstrung by it. Effectively, what happened then was a year of good, strong committee work by the Energy Committee is now being held hostage in a fight in another committee. I have been patient with this, but I would remind colleagues that we are not getting any more extra legislative days being added. The clock is ticking here. This is a matter that, again, when this came before us while we were on this floor trying to work out the last of the amendments, this came up at the last minute, and we were promised a resolution at that time. We will have this fixed in a month. Well, it has been over 3 months now since this became an issue. Again, we have lost valuable time. This issue from the EPW Committee is holding back a strong, bipartisan bill that would allow us to modernize our Nation's energy policies for the first time in more than a dozen years. In a week where I have certainly been reminded about the importance of energy and, again, heard good, strong support for our energy bill, I would tell my colleagues that we need to redouble our efforts on this to advance this bill. We need to unlock this energy bill, which is a good bill that is ready to go, from the complications that have been created within another committee. I like to pride myself on being a pretty good team player around here. I want to give people space to work their issues out, but I think it is time, again, for those who are able to hold the key to this to help us unlock this so we can move a significant priority--not just for the Energy and Natural Resources Committee but a significant priority for every Member in this Chamber because it doesn't make any difference if you are a Republican or a Democrat, if you come from an urban area or a rural area, when it comes to the strength of our Nation's economy, the foundational interest here, the foundations rest solidly on energy. So an opportunity to update and modernize our energy policies in a way that benefits us all is something that I would hope we can all agree to. I want to get this bill moving. We had a win this week that originated in the Energy and Natural Resources Committee when it comes to some of our land and conservation measures. The Great American Outdoors Act passed by a strong margin. It was the work of a lot of good people, but both measures, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well as the Restore Our Parks Act, began with thegood work of a committee working together to move those pieces of legislation through the committee process. It is not perfect, in my view, but I knew these were good policies that many Members across both sides of the aisle wanted to place a priority on. Let's figure out how we can make something like that happen. I am proud of the fact that we can move good initiatives through this committee. I will just remind you we have another good initiative that we are ready to go on	2020-01-06	Ms. MURKOWSKI	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3095-2	null	851
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I previously notified the Chamber of my objection to the nominations of Marshall Billingslea, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and Christopher C. Miller, of Virginia, to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. On June 12, 2020, I received two letters: one from the Department of State, which contained a copy of recent correspondence between the administration to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, CIGIE, requesting that CIGIE investigate specific allegations into the conduct of the State Department Inspector General, State IG, Steve Linick, and another separate letter from the White House Counsel concerning the removal of Intelligence Community Inspector General, IC IG, Michael Atkinson. Without making comment regarding the veracity of the allegations made against Mr. Linick, I believe that these letters fulfill the President's requirement to provide Congress reasons for the removal of the IC IG and the State IG, as required by the Inspector General Reform Act. It is for this reason that I withdraw my objection to both Mr. Billingslea and Mr. Miller. The letter from the White House Counsel regarding the removal of the IC IG repeats a previous letter from the White House which stated that the President had lost confidence in the IC IG. However, the White House Counsel enclosed with that letter a transcript of President Trump providing his reasons for removing Mr. Atkinson to the press and has informed me that those reasons represent the President's official explanation of Mr. Atkinson's removal to Congress. I believe that this transcript and its transmittal to Congress has fulfilled the statutory notice requirement of the Inspector General Reform Act. It is for this reason that I withdraw my objection to Mr. Miller. Here follow my comments to the President, including my actions and rationale: although the Constitution gives the President the authority to manage executive branch personnel, Congress has made it clear by law that should the President fire an inspector general, there ought to be a good reason for it. No such reason was provided when the President informed Congress of the removal of Mr. Atkinson on April 3, 2020. Thus, in a bipartisan letter on April 8, 2020, my colleagues and I reminded the President of his requirement under the statute to provide reasons for removing an IG. On May 15, 2020, the President notified Congress of his intent to remove Mr. Linick. This notification also lacked reasons for the removal spurring my solo letter on May 18, 2020, again reminding the President of his requirement to provide reasons. After a delay, and a personal call with the White House Counsel, I was promised a response to my letters that would fulfill the statutory notice requirement. On May 26, 2020, I received a response from the White House Counsel explaining the President's Constitutional removal authority, which I never questioned. However, the letter still contained no reason for the removals as required by law. This failure to comply with the statute prompted my objection to both Mr. Miller and Mr. Billingslea on June 4, 2020. On June 6, 2020, I asked the White House to provide written reasons for the removals. We discussed several issues. I took this opportunity to talk to the White House and I told them that I needed reasons for the firing of IGs to be submitted in writing. On June 12, 2020, I received the enclosed letter from the State Department which finally fulfills the executive branch's legal requirement to provide Congress reasons for an IG's removal with regard to Mr. Linick. Here is my view on the firing of Mr. Linick. The State Department's correspondence with CIGIE provided four reasons for Mr. Linick's removal, all involving the investigation of the leak of information to a news reporter pertaining to an IG report, which the reporter claims to be based on information garnered from ``two government sources involved in carrying out the investigation. The letter to CIGIE requests that they begin an investigation into Mr. Linick's alleged transgressions, including his: 1) ``failure to formally refer to CIGIE . . . the investigation of [the] leak''; 2) ``hand selection'' of the Department of Defense OIG to conduct the leak investigation; 3) ``non-compliance with State Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) email policies''; and 4) refusal to supply Department of State leadership with a copy or summary of the leak investigation report despite ``repeated requests'' from State Department leadership. These claims are as of yet unverified but the President has offered an additional briefing on the matter from State Department officials. I am in the process of schedulingsuch a briefing and reviewing the additional relevant information. After reviewing the provided rationale, I have several concerns. Chief among them is that CIGIE does not traditionally conduct investigations into agency or OIG leaks. It reviews allegations against individuals but not IG offices and generally lacks the funds and resources to conduct work outside of their narrow scope. As a matter of course however, IGs do traditionally check each other's work, and CIGIE often suggests that allegations against IGs or their offices be referred to peer IGs. This is done when crucial IG independence must be maintained but the appearance of conflicts of interest may arise. It would also not be uncharacteristic for an IG to safeguard the office's statutorily required independence by potentially refusing to provide internal information to its parent agency. In short, although it would make little sense for CIGIE to conduct the leak investigation in the manner desired by the State Department, it would not be outside the bounds of precedent for one office of inspector general to conduct an investigation into another. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to verify the allegations regarding Mr. Linick, as I noted earlier, the President retains the constitutional authority to manage executive branch personnel. My objection to these nominees was designed to prompt compliance with the IG Reform Act, which the President has now done with regards to Mr. Linick. Therefore, I am withdrawing my objection to Mr. Billingslea. On June 12, 2020, I received the enclosed letter from the White House Counsel which finally fulfills the executive branch's legal requirement to provide Congress reasons for an IG's removal with regard to Mr. Atkinson. As it pertains to Mr. Atkinson: Even though the President satisfied the requirements of the law, I do not agree that the provided reasons merited Mr. Atkinson's removal. In the provided transcript the President states, ``I thought [ Atkinson] did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible . . . But ask him, `Why didn't you go and see the [transcript of my phone call with the Ukrainian president]?' There was no rush. [Atkinson] said, `Oh we'd have to rush it.' '' I infer from this statement that the reason(s) that the President removed Mr. Atkinson was because of the speed with which he sought to bring the whistleblower information to Congress and/or his role generally in the impeachment process. With respect to this objection concerning Mr. Atkinson's supposed haste, it is necessary to review the IC IG's responsibility under the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The act provides the IC IG only 14 days to determine if an ``urgent concern'' ``appears credible'' and transmit that information to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI. Notably, the law also does not require that a full investigation of a whistle blower's allegations be completed before the information is provided to Congress. Reading such a requirement into the law could result in critical and relevant information not reaching the ODNI or Congress in a timely manner, and could pose a chilling effect on whistleblowers' willingness to report urgent concerns and other issues of waste, fraud, and abuse in the intelligence community. That being said, I understand and appreciate the President's irritation with this IG's action being a factor in the House of Representative's impeachment. In those remarks, the President also said that ``they give this whistleblower a status that he doesn't deserve . . . . And, frankly, somebody ought to sue [him].'' To the extent that the President is referring to Mr. Atkinson's determination that the whistleblower allegation at issue amounted to an urgent concern under the law, there remains a significant difference of legal opinion on this matter. The President's position is supported by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, and Presidents routinely follow the legal determinations of that office. However, whether or not the whistleblower's allegation meets the legal definition of an ``urgent concern'' under the law, I obviously do not agree that person should be sued or otherwise retaliated against. My objection to these nominees was designed to prompt compliance with the IG Reform Act, which the President has now done with regards to Mr. Atkinson. Therefore, I am withdrawing my objection to Mr. Miller. Although some may want to believe that this is a new issue unique to this administration, it certainly is not. In July of 2009, then President Obama removed the Corporation for National and Community Service--CNCS--Inspector General, Gerald Walpin, from his post in a very similar manner and also did not provide reasons for removal. This began a bout of negotiations that resulted in not only the hold of several Presidential nominees but also a bicameral congressional investigation into the matter. In that case, I similarly pushed for compliance with the statute, held up a nominee to obtain information, and disagreed with the stated reasons for Mr. Walpin's removal. In the end, Mr. Walpin was never reinstated. Given the misinterpretation of the statute by successive administrations from both political parties, it is apparent that Congress must clarify the statute to ensure inspectors general are able to continue operating without undue interference. So I am introducing a bipartisan bill today to accomplish just that. (At the request of Mr. Durbin, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)	2020-01-06	Mr. GRASSLEY	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3097-2	null	852
formal	safeguard	null	transphobic	Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I previously notified the Chamber of my objection to the nominations of Marshall Billingslea, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security and Christopher C. Miller, of Virginia, to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. On June 12, 2020, I received two letters: one from the Department of State, which contained a copy of recent correspondence between the administration to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency, CIGIE, requesting that CIGIE investigate specific allegations into the conduct of the State Department Inspector General, State IG, Steve Linick, and another separate letter from the White House Counsel concerning the removal of Intelligence Community Inspector General, IC IG, Michael Atkinson. Without making comment regarding the veracity of the allegations made against Mr. Linick, I believe that these letters fulfill the President's requirement to provide Congress reasons for the removal of the IC IG and the State IG, as required by the Inspector General Reform Act. It is for this reason that I withdraw my objection to both Mr. Billingslea and Mr. Miller. The letter from the White House Counsel regarding the removal of the IC IG repeats a previous letter from the White House which stated that the President had lost confidence in the IC IG. However, the White House Counsel enclosed with that letter a transcript of President Trump providing his reasons for removing Mr. Atkinson to the press and has informed me that those reasons represent the President's official explanation of Mr. Atkinson's removal to Congress. I believe that this transcript and its transmittal to Congress has fulfilled the statutory notice requirement of the Inspector General Reform Act. It is for this reason that I withdraw my objection to Mr. Miller. Here follow my comments to the President, including my actions and rationale: although the Constitution gives the President the authority to manage executive branch personnel, Congress has made it clear by law that should the President fire an inspector general, there ought to be a good reason for it. No such reason was provided when the President informed Congress of the removal of Mr. Atkinson on April 3, 2020. Thus, in a bipartisan letter on April 8, 2020, my colleagues and I reminded the President of his requirement under the statute to provide reasons for removing an IG. On May 15, 2020, the President notified Congress of his intent to remove Mr. Linick. This notification also lacked reasons for the removal spurring my solo letter on May 18, 2020, again reminding the President of his requirement to provide reasons. After a delay, and a personal call with the White House Counsel, I was promised a response to my letters that would fulfill the statutory notice requirement. On May 26, 2020, I received a response from the White House Counsel explaining the President's Constitutional removal authority, which I never questioned. However, the letter still contained no reason for the removals as required by law. This failure to comply with the statute prompted my objection to both Mr. Miller and Mr. Billingslea on June 4, 2020. On June 6, 2020, I asked the White House to provide written reasons for the removals. We discussed several issues. I took this opportunity to talk to the White House and I told them that I needed reasons for the firing of IGs to be submitted in writing. On June 12, 2020, I received the enclosed letter from the State Department which finally fulfills the executive branch's legal requirement to provide Congress reasons for an IG's removal with regard to Mr. Linick. Here is my view on the firing of Mr. Linick. The State Department's correspondence with CIGIE provided four reasons for Mr. Linick's removal, all involving the investigation of the leak of information to a news reporter pertaining to an IG report, which the reporter claims to be based on information garnered from ``two government sources involved in carrying out the investigation. The letter to CIGIE requests that they begin an investigation into Mr. Linick's alleged transgressions, including his: 1) ``failure to formally refer to CIGIE . . . the investigation of [the] leak''; 2) ``hand selection'' of the Department of Defense OIG to conduct the leak investigation; 3) ``non-compliance with State Department Office of Inspector General (OIG) email policies''; and 4) refusal to supply Department of State leadership with a copy or summary of the leak investigation report despite ``repeated requests'' from State Department leadership. These claims are as of yet unverified but the President has offered an additional briefing on the matter from State Department officials. I am in the process of schedulingsuch a briefing and reviewing the additional relevant information. After reviewing the provided rationale, I have several concerns. Chief among them is that CIGIE does not traditionally conduct investigations into agency or OIG leaks. It reviews allegations against individuals but not IG offices and generally lacks the funds and resources to conduct work outside of their narrow scope. As a matter of course however, IGs do traditionally check each other's work, and CIGIE often suggests that allegations against IGs or their offices be referred to peer IGs. This is done when crucial IG independence must be maintained but the appearance of conflicts of interest may arise. It would also not be uncharacteristic for an IG to safeguard the office's statutorily required independence by potentially refusing to provide internal information to its parent agency. In short, although it would make little sense for CIGIE to conduct the leak investigation in the manner desired by the State Department, it would not be outside the bounds of precedent for one office of inspector general to conduct an investigation into another. Although I have not yet had the opportunity to verify the allegations regarding Mr. Linick, as I noted earlier, the President retains the constitutional authority to manage executive branch personnel. My objection to these nominees was designed to prompt compliance with the IG Reform Act, which the President has now done with regards to Mr. Linick. Therefore, I am withdrawing my objection to Mr. Billingslea. On June 12, 2020, I received the enclosed letter from the White House Counsel which finally fulfills the executive branch's legal requirement to provide Congress reasons for an IG's removal with regard to Mr. Atkinson. As it pertains to Mr. Atkinson: Even though the President satisfied the requirements of the law, I do not agree that the provided reasons merited Mr. Atkinson's removal. In the provided transcript the President states, ``I thought [ Atkinson] did a terrible job. Absolutely terrible . . . But ask him, `Why didn't you go and see the [transcript of my phone call with the Ukrainian president]?' There was no rush. [Atkinson] said, `Oh we'd have to rush it.' '' I infer from this statement that the reason(s) that the President removed Mr. Atkinson was because of the speed with which he sought to bring the whistleblower information to Congress and/or his role generally in the impeachment process. With respect to this objection concerning Mr. Atkinson's supposed haste, it is necessary to review the IC IG's responsibility under the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The act provides the IC IG only 14 days to determine if an ``urgent concern'' ``appears credible'' and transmit that information to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, ODNI. Notably, the law also does not require that a full investigation of a whistle blower's allegations be completed before the information is provided to Congress. Reading such a requirement into the law could result in critical and relevant information not reaching the ODNI or Congress in a timely manner, and could pose a chilling effect on whistleblowers' willingness to report urgent concerns and other issues of waste, fraud, and abuse in the intelligence community. That being said, I understand and appreciate the President's irritation with this IG's action being a factor in the House of Representative's impeachment. In those remarks, the President also said that ``they give this whistleblower a status that he doesn't deserve . . . . And, frankly, somebody ought to sue [him].'' To the extent that the President is referring to Mr. Atkinson's determination that the whistleblower allegation at issue amounted to an urgent concern under the law, there remains a significant difference of legal opinion on this matter. The President's position is supported by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel, and Presidents routinely follow the legal determinations of that office. However, whether or not the whistleblower's allegation meets the legal definition of an ``urgent concern'' under the law, I obviously do not agree that person should be sued or otherwise retaliated against. My objection to these nominees was designed to prompt compliance with the IG Reform Act, which the President has now done with regards to Mr. Atkinson. Therefore, I am withdrawing my objection to Mr. Miller. Although some may want to believe that this is a new issue unique to this administration, it certainly is not. In July of 2009, then President Obama removed the Corporation for National and Community Service--CNCS--Inspector General, Gerald Walpin, from his post in a very similar manner and also did not provide reasons for removal. This began a bout of negotiations that resulted in not only the hold of several Presidential nominees but also a bicameral congressional investigation into the matter. In that case, I similarly pushed for compliance with the statute, held up a nominee to obtain information, and disagreed with the stated reasons for Mr. Walpin's removal. In the end, Mr. Walpin was never reinstated. Given the misinterpretation of the statute by successive administrations from both political parties, it is apparent that Congress must clarify the statute to ensure inspectors general are able to continue operating without undue interference. So I am introducing a bipartisan bill today to accomplish just that. (At the request of Mr. Durbin, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)	2020-01-06	Mr. GRASSLEY	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3097-2	null	853
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-4856. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Modification of DFARS Clause `Notification of Anticipated Contract Termination or Reduction''' (RIN0750-AK56) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4857. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Repeal of Annual Reporting Requirements to Congressional Defense Committees'' (RIN0750-AK91) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4858. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Market Research and Consideration of Value for the Determination of Price'' (RIN0750-AK65) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4859. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Justification and Approval Threshold for 8(a) Contracts'' (RIN0750-AK93) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4860. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Qualifications Requirements for Contracting Positions'' (RIN0750-AK99) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4861. A communication from the Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Home Mortgage Disclosure (Regulation C)'' (RIN3170-AA76) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4862. A communication from the Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Remittance Transfers under the Electronic Fund Transfer Act (Regulation E)'' (RIN3170- AA96) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4863. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a notification of the designation of Jason Kearns as Chairman and Randolph J. Stayin as Vice Chairman of the United States International Trade Commission, effective June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4864. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2021; Notice Requirement for Non-Federal Government Plans'' (RIN0938-AT98) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4865. A communication from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency'' (RIN0938-AU31) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 15, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4866. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008, with respect to North Korea, received in the office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4867. A communication from the Chairman, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report entitled ``June 2020 Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System''; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4868. A communication from the Secretary of the Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Service Contracts'' (RIN3072- AC80) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4869. A communication from the Secretary of the Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Interpretive Rule on Demurrage and Detention Under the Shipping Act'' (RIN3072-AC76) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 17, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. EC-4870. A communication from the Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the 58th Annual Report of the activities of the Federal Maritime Commission for fiscal year 2019; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3099-5	null	854
formal	public school	null	racist	Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Collins, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Jones, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Manchin, Ms. Smith, Mr. Carper, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 630 Whereas the bald eagle was chosen as the central image of the Great Seal of the United States on June 20, 1782, by the Founding Fathers at the Congress of the Confederation; Whereas the bald eagle is widely known as the living national symbol of the United States and for many generations has represented values, such as-- (1) freedom; (2) democracy; (3) courage; (4) strength; (5) spirit; (6) independence; (7) justice; and (8) excellence; Whereas the bald eagle is unique to North America and cannot be found naturally in any other part of the world, which was one of the primary reasons the Founding Fathers selected the bald eagle to symbolize the Government of the United States; Whereas the bald eagle is the central image used in the official logos of many branches and departments of the Federal Government, including-- (1) the Executive Office of the President; (2) Congress; (3) the Supreme Court of the United States; (4) the Department of Defense; (5) the Department of the Treasury; (6) the Department of Justice; (7) the Department of State; (8) the Department of Commerce; (9) the Department of Homeland Security; (10) the Department of Veterans Affairs; (11) the Department of Labor; (12) the Department of Health and Human Services; (13) the Department of Energy; (14) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (15) the Central Intelligence Agency; and (16) the United States Postal Service; Whereas the bald eagle is an inspiring symbol of the spirit of freedom and the sovereignty of the United States; Whereas the image and symbolism of the bald eagle has-- (1) played a significant role in art, music, literature, architecture, commerce, education, and culture in the United States; and (2) appeared on United States stamps, currency, and coinage; Whereas the bald eagle was endangered and facing possible extinction in the lower 48 States but has made a gradual and encouraging comeback to the land, waterways, and skies of the United States; Whereas the dramatic recovery of the national bird of the United States is an endangered species success story and an inspirational example to other environmental, natural resource, and wildlife conservation efforts worldwide; Whereas, in 1940, noting that the bald eagle was threatened with extinction, Congress passed the Act entitled ``An Act for the protection of the bald eagle'', approved June 8, 1940 (16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.), which prohibited killing, selling, or possessing a bald eagle, and a 1962 amendment to that Act expanded protection to the golden eagle (referred to collectively in this preamble as the ``Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act''); Whereas, by 1963, there were only an estimated 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles remaining in the lower 48 States, with loss of habitat, poaching, and the use of pesticides and other environmental contaminants contributing to the near demise of the national bird of the United States; Whereas, in 1967, the bald eagle was officially declared an endangered species under Public Law 89-669 (80 Stat. 926) (commonly known as the ``Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966'') in areas in the United States south of the 40th parallel due to the dramatic decline in the population of the bald eagle in the lower 48 States; Whereas the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) was enacted in 1973, and in 1978, the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species throughout the lower 48 States, except in the States of Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, in which the bald eagle was listed as a threatened species; Whereas, in July 1995, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service announced that in the lower 48 States, the bald eagle had recovered sufficiently to change the status of the species from endangered to threatened; Whereas, by 2007, bald eagles residing in the lower 48 States had rebounded to approximately 11,000 pairs; Whereas, on June 28, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), but the bald eagle continues to be protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), section 42 of title 18, United States Code (referred to in this preamble as the ``Lacey Act''), and the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.); Whereas Challenger, the trained, educational bald eagle of the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, was invited by the Secretary of the Interior to perform a free- flight demonstration during the official bald eagle delisting ceremony held at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, District of Columbia; Whereas experts and population growth charts estimate that the bald eagle population could reach 15,000 pairs, even though a physical count has not been conducted by State and Federal wildlife agencies since 2007; Whereas caring and concerned agencies, corporations, organizations, and people of the United States representing Federal and State governments and the private sector passionately and resourcefully banded together, determined to save and protect the national bird of the United States; Whereas the recovery of the bald eagle population in the United States was largely accomplished through-- (1) the dedicated and vigilant efforts of Federal and State wildlife agencies and nonprofit organizations, such as the American Eagle Foundation; (2) public education; (3) captive breeding and release programs; (4) hacking and release programs; and (5) the translocation of bald eagles from places in the United States with dense bald eagle populations to suitable locations in the lower 48 States that had suffered a decrease in bald eagle populations; Whereas various nonprofit organizations, such as the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University in the State of Alabama, contribute to the continuing recovery of the bald eagle through rehabilitation and educational efforts; Whereas the bald eagle might have been lost permanently if not for dedicated conservation efforts and strict protection laws such as-- (1) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (2) the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; (3) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.); (4) the Lacey Act; and (5) the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.); and Whereas the sustained recovery of the bald eagle population will require the continuation of recovery, management, education, and public awareness programs to ensure that the population numbers and habitat of the bald eagle remain healthy and secure for generations to come: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates June 20, 2020, as ``American Eagle Day''; (2) applauds the issuance of bald eagle commemorative coins by the Secretary of the Treasury to generate critical funds for the protection of the bald eagle; and (3) encourages-- (A) educational entities, organizations, businesses, conservation groups, and government agencies with a shared interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate and develop educational tools for use in the public schools of the United States; and (B) the people of the United States to observe American Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies and other activities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3107	null	855
formal	public schools	null	racist	Mr. ALEXANDER (for himself, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Blackburn, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. Boozman, Mrs. Capito, Ms. Collins, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Jones, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Manchin, Ms. Smith, Mr. Carper, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to: S. Res. 630 Whereas the bald eagle was chosen as the central image of the Great Seal of the United States on June 20, 1782, by the Founding Fathers at the Congress of the Confederation; Whereas the bald eagle is widely known as the living national symbol of the United States and for many generations has represented values, such as-- (1) freedom; (2) democracy; (3) courage; (4) strength; (5) spirit; (6) independence; (7) justice; and (8) excellence; Whereas the bald eagle is unique to North America and cannot be found naturally in any other part of the world, which was one of the primary reasons the Founding Fathers selected the bald eagle to symbolize the Government of the United States; Whereas the bald eagle is the central image used in the official logos of many branches and departments of the Federal Government, including-- (1) the Executive Office of the President; (2) Congress; (3) the Supreme Court of the United States; (4) the Department of Defense; (5) the Department of the Treasury; (6) the Department of Justice; (7) the Department of State; (8) the Department of Commerce; (9) the Department of Homeland Security; (10) the Department of Veterans Affairs; (11) the Department of Labor; (12) the Department of Health and Human Services; (13) the Department of Energy; (14) the Department of Housing and Urban Development; (15) the Central Intelligence Agency; and (16) the United States Postal Service; Whereas the bald eagle is an inspiring symbol of the spirit of freedom and the sovereignty of the United States; Whereas the image and symbolism of the bald eagle has-- (1) played a significant role in art, music, literature, architecture, commerce, education, and culture in the United States; and (2) appeared on United States stamps, currency, and coinage; Whereas the bald eagle was endangered and facing possible extinction in the lower 48 States but has made a gradual and encouraging comeback to the land, waterways, and skies of the United States; Whereas the dramatic recovery of the national bird of the United States is an endangered species success story and an inspirational example to other environmental, natural resource, and wildlife conservation efforts worldwide; Whereas, in 1940, noting that the bald eagle was threatened with extinction, Congress passed the Act entitled ``An Act for the protection of the bald eagle'', approved June 8, 1940 (16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.), which prohibited killing, selling, or possessing a bald eagle, and a 1962 amendment to that Act expanded protection to the golden eagle (referred to collectively in this preamble as the ``Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act''); Whereas, by 1963, there were only an estimated 417 nesting pairs of bald eagles remaining in the lower 48 States, with loss of habitat, poaching, and the use of pesticides and other environmental contaminants contributing to the near demise of the national bird of the United States; Whereas, in 1967, the bald eagle was officially declared an endangered species under Public Law 89-669 (80 Stat. 926) (commonly known as the ``Endangered Species Preservation Act of 1966'') in areas in the United States south of the 40th parallel due to the dramatic decline in the population of the bald eagle in the lower 48 States; Whereas the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) was enacted in 1973, and in 1978, the bald eagle was listed as an endangered species throughout the lower 48 States, except in the States of Michigan, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington, and Wisconsin, in which the bald eagle was listed as a threatened species; Whereas, in July 1995, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service announced that in the lower 48 States, the bald eagle had recovered sufficiently to change the status of the species from endangered to threatened; Whereas, by 2007, bald eagles residing in the lower 48 States had rebounded to approximately 11,000 pairs; Whereas, on June 28, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service removed the bald eagle from protection under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), but the bald eagle continues to be protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.), section 42 of title 18, United States Code (referred to in this preamble as the ``Lacey Act''), and the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.); Whereas Challenger, the trained, educational bald eagle of the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, was invited by the Secretary of the Interior to perform a free- flight demonstration during the official bald eagle delisting ceremony held at the Jefferson Memorial in Washington, District of Columbia; Whereas experts and population growth charts estimate that the bald eagle population could reach 15,000 pairs, even though a physical count has not been conducted by State and Federal wildlife agencies since 2007; Whereas caring and concerned agencies, corporations, organizations, and people of the United States representing Federal and State governments and the private sector passionately and resourcefully banded together, determined to save and protect the national bird of the United States; Whereas the recovery of the bald eagle population in the United States was largely accomplished through-- (1) the dedicated and vigilant efforts of Federal and State wildlife agencies and nonprofit organizations, such as the American Eagle Foundation; (2) public education; (3) captive breeding and release programs; (4) hacking and release programs; and (5) the translocation of bald eagles from places in the United States with dense bald eagle populations to suitable locations in the lower 48 States that had suffered a decrease in bald eagle populations; Whereas various nonprofit organizations, such as the Southeastern Raptor Center at Auburn University in the State of Alabama, contribute to the continuing recovery of the bald eagle through rehabilitation and educational efforts; Whereas the bald eagle might have been lost permanently if not for dedicated conservation efforts and strict protection laws such as-- (1) the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.); (2) the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act; (3) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.); (4) the Lacey Act; and (5) the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 (16 U.S.C. 3371 et seq.); and Whereas the sustained recovery of the bald eagle population will require the continuation of recovery, management, education, and public awareness programs to ensure that the population numbers and habitat of the bald eagle remain healthy and secure for generations to come: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates June 20, 2020, as ``American Eagle Day''; (2) applauds the issuance of bald eagle commemorative coins by the Secretary of the Treasury to generate critical funds for the protection of the bald eagle; and (3) encourages-- (A) educational entities, organizations, businesses, conservation groups, and government agencies with a shared interest in conserving endangered species to collaborate and develop educational tools for use in the public schools of the United States; and (B) the people of the United States to observe American Eagle Day with appropriate ceremonies and other activities.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-18-pt1-PgS3107	null	856
formal	terrorism	null	Islamophobic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 4533. A letter from the Program Analyst, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Land Uses; Special Uses; Streamlining Processing of Communications Use Applications (RIN: 0596-AD38) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Agriculture. 4534. A letter from the Acting Associate General Counsel for Legislation and Regulations, Office of the Deputy Secretary, Department of Housing and Urban Development, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Streamlining Administrative Regulations for Multifamily Housing Programs and Implementing Family Income Reviews Under the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act [Docket No.: FR 5743-F-05] (RIN: 2502-AJ36) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4535. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's interim final rule -- Director, Shareholder, and Member Meetings [Docket No.: OCC-2020-0020] (RIN: 1557-AE94) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4536. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's correcting amendment -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Revised Transition of the Current Expected Credit Losses Methodology for Allowances [Docket ID: OCC-2020-0015] (RIN: 1557-AE87) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4537. A letter from the Secretary, Division of Trading and Markets, Securities and Exchange Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Amendments to the National Market System Plan Governing the Consolidated Audit Trail [Release No.: 34-88890; File No.: S7-13-19] (RIN: 3235-AM60) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4538. A letter from the Chairman, Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, transmitting the Council's 2019 Annual Report to Congress, pursuant to Sec. 1006(f) of U.S.C. 3305, the Financial Regulatory and Interest Rate Control Act of 1978; to the Committee on Financial Services. 4539. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting a renewed determination that a public health emergency exists nationwide as a result of the consequences of the opioid crisis effective April 13, 2020, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 247d(a); July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title III, Sec. 319(a) (as amended by Public Law 107-188, Sec. 144(a)); (116 Stat. 630); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4540. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Energy, transmitting proposed legislation to amend Sec. 621(d) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7231(d)); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4541. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Indoxacarb; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA- HQ-OPP-2019-0384; FRL-9995-89] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4542. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Minnesota; Revision to the Minnesota State Implementation Plan [EPA-R05-OAR-2018- 0839; FRL-10007-92-Region 5] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4543. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final authorization -- Florida: Final Authorization of State Hazardous Waste Management Program Revisions [EPA- R04-RCRA-2019-0673; FRL-10008-85-Region 4] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4544. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Flonicamid; Pesticide Tolerances [EPA- HQ-OPP-2019-0250; FRL-10009-26] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4545. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality Implementation Plans; Pennsylvania; Regulatory Updates to Allegheny County Nonattainment New Source Review (NNSR) Permitting Requirements for 2012 Annual Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) [EPA-R03-OAR-2019-0469; FRL-10009-51-Region 3] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4546. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Wisconsin; Redesignation of the Newport State Park Area in Door County to Attainment of the 2015 Ozone NAAQS [EPA-R05-OAR-2020-0042; FRL-10009-61-Region 5] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4547. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; GA; 2010 1-Hour SO2 NAAQS Transport Infrastructure [EPA-R04-OAR-2019-0329; FRL- 10009-69-Region 4] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4548. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's withdrawal of direct final rule -- Air Plan Approval; New Hampshire; Negative Declaration for the Oil and Gas Industry [EPA-R01-OAR-2020-0029; FRL-10010-00-Region 1] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4549. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- Air Plan Approval; Texas; Approval of Substitution for Dallas-Fort Worth Area Transportation Control Measures [EPA-R06-OAR-2020-0229; FRL 10009-40-Region 6] received May 22, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4550. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to the situation in or in relation to the Democratic Republic of the Congo that was declared in Executive Order 13413 of October 27, 2006, 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. 4551. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to significant narcotics traffickers centered in Colombia declared in Executive Order 12978 of October 21, 1995, 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. 4552. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to the Central African Republic that was declared in Executive Order 13667 of May 12, 2014, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1641(c); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 401(c); (90 Stat. 1257) and 50 U.S.C. 1703(c); Public Law 95-223, Sec 204(c); (91 Stat. 1627); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 4553. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a six-month periodic report on the national emergency with respect to Yemen that was declared in Executive Order 13611 of May 16, 2012, 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. 4554. 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. 4555. A letter from the Secretary, Department of the Treasury, transmitting a semiannual report detailing telecommunications-related payments made to Cuba pursuant to Treasury Department licenses during the period from July 1 through December 31, 2019, pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 6004(e)(6); Public Law 102-484, Sec. 1705(e)(6) (as amended by Public Law 104-114, Sec. 102(g)); (110 Stat. 794); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. 4556. A letter from the Director, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia, transmitting the Agency's FY 2019 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. 4557. A letter from the Deputy Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting the Department's Inspector General Semiannual Report to Congress for the period October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020, pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4558. A letter from the Chairman, Federal Maritime Commission, transmitting the Commission's FY 2019 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. 4559. A letter from the Interim Federal Co-Chair, Denali Commission, transmitting the Commission's 2020 Semi-Annual Inspector General report, pursuant to Sec. 5(b) of the Inspector General Act of 1978; to the Committee on Natural Resources. 4560. A letter from the Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting a comprehensive report of actions taken from 2012-2018 to conclude new cultural property agreements with Belize, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Libya, and to extend agreements with Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Colombia, Cyprus, El Salvador, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Italy, Mali, Nicaragua, and Peru, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2602(g)(1); Public Law 97-446, Sec. 303(g)(1); (96 Stat. 2354); to the Committee on Ways and Means. 4561. A letter from the Director, Regulations and Disclosure Law Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's temporary final rule -- Temporary Postponement of the Time To Deposit Certain Estimated Duties, Taxes, and Fees During the National Emergency Concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Outbreak [USCBP-2020-0017; CBP Dec.: 20-05] (RIN: 1515-AE54) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Ways and Means. 4562. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Energy, transmitting proposed legislation to amend Sec. 4601(c) of the Atomic Energy Defense Act (50 U.S.C. 2701); jointly to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Armed Services.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2020-06-22-pt1-PgH2411-9	null	857
formal	safeguard	null	transphobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, while the House continues to be absent, the Senate continues to be open for business. While taking smart precautions, Senators have stood with all the other essential workers who are continuing to man essential posts. So as our Nation continues to work through medical, economic, and social challenges of historic proportions, the Senate has been able to lead on serious action to help our Nation heal. The killings of Black Americans, such as Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, have rightly accelerated the national conversation on policing and racial justice. Large majorities of Americans support new steps that would help the vast majority of good, decent, and brave law enforcement officers re-earn the trust of Black Americans for their vital institutions. We need to be a country where communities of color feel confident that the police are there to safeguard their rights to equal justice and equal protection under law and not to infringe on those rights. To that end, while the Constitution means many of the specifics of police reform are primarily State and local issues, there is an enormous appetite in the Senate to incentivize change and move toward greater progress using Federal policy. The junior Senator from South Carolina has led the development of a strong new proposal. The JUSTICE Act is informed by data, by the facts, by stories from across America, and, sadly, by his own lived experience. It enjoys the support of 46 cosponsors already. The legislation Senator Scott has put forward identifies productive ways that Congress can encourage and incentivize smart police reform efforts in communities all across our country. Recognizing the urgent need for greater accountability, it supports expanded use of body cameras and expanded review and disciplinary measures to back them up. Recognizing the need for more transparency, it steps up efforts to establish the records of police activities and requires full Federal reporting of all incidents involving the discharge of a service weapon. The bill takes immediate action to help end departments' reliance on choke holds and to facilitate enhanced training for deescalation. It includes further steps to protect the physical safety of people in custody and to finally--finally make lynching a Federalcrime. It lays out new requirements for departments to explain their policies on how, when, and why no-knock warrants are used. On behalf of the many people looking for answers in my hometown of Louisville, I am, unfortunately, especially interested in that provision. In recent weeks, the Democratic leader and many of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have insisted--insisted--over and over and over again that they wanted to consider legislation on this subject prior to the Fourth of July. My friend the Democratic leader repeatedly expressed how eager--eager he was to consider these issues here on the Senate floor, but now we read this: ``Senate Democrats are agonizing over what to do about Senate Republicans' police reform proposal.'' What is there to agonize over? And we read this: ``[The] Senate Democratic leader . . . faces a tough call on whether to let a Republican-backed police reform bill advance on the Senate floor.'' ``Agonizing''? ``Tough call''? It seems to me that proceeding to consider Senator Scott's legislation, proceeding to take up the subject on the Senate floor, would only be an agonizing prospect if Members were more interested in making a point than in actually making a law. For anyone who actually wants to legislate, it shouldn't be a difficult call to vote to begin considering Senator Scott's legislation. It will be exactly the vote which this moment demands. Last week, I understand the Speaker of the House herself said: ``We'd like to end up in conference'' on police reform legislation. The only way to do that would be if the Senate passed a bill. Even the Speaker does not seem to understand why Senate Democrats would block this Chamber from even considering the JUSTICE Act. Senator Scott and Senate Republicans are interested in making a law. The President and the administration want to make a law, and even the Democratic House leadership apparently would be happy to see a conference committee. So maybe the only group left in Washington who are reportedly agonizing over whether to block discussion of police reform or to let it proceed seem to be our Senate Democratic colleagues. I hope that whatever strange political calculations are making this difficult for our friends across the aisle will yield to common sense and to the American people's hunger for progress. We are going to find out when we vote later this week.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-22-pt1-PgS3113-6	null	858
formal	blue	null	antisemitic	U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman Mr. President, on another matter--there are so many matters and so much trouble this administration is in that it is hard to count, and you would probably need several hours to document and talk about them all--last Friday night, Attorney General Barr claimed that Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, was ``stepping down.'' A short time later, Mr. Berman revealed that the Attorney General was lying and that he was not, in fact, stepping down. Over the past 2 days, this sordid, ham-handed plot by President Trump and Attorney General Barr to oust a well-respected U.S. attorney played out in public view. But for Mr. Berman's principled stand, the White House and the DOJ would have subverted the chain of succession in the Southern District of New York to install a pliant U.S. attorney from New Jersey in Mr. Berman's place. Thankfully, due to Mr. Berman's courage, that plan was thwarted, and Mr. Berman's deputy will take over the leadership of the Southern District and continue its important work. She has a fine reputation as a prosecutor and someone of integrity. People of integrity don't seem to be welcome in this administration. Then the DOJ announced that the President intended to nominate the sitting SEC Chairman, Jay Clayton, to replace Mr. Berman. As the Senator from New York, I will not return a blue slip on Mr. Clayton's nomination. Regardless, Jay Clayton should withdraw his name from consideration and refuse to be an accomplice to this scheme. There appears to be no legitimate motive to fire Mr. Berman, which leaves the obvious question: Were President Trump and the Attorney General trying to remove him for a corrupt motive? Was it because Mr. Berman, in the Southern District of New York, was pursuing criminal investigations into President Trump and his associates? The President certainly has a pattern of firing government watchdogs who are investigating his misconduct or that of his associates. We need an immediate, top-to-bottom investigation into what transpired with the plot to dismiss Mr. Berman. So I have demanded that the Office of Professional Responsibility at the Department of Justice work with the Justice Department's inspector general to determine whether there were corrupt motives for Mr. Berman's dismissal and, if so, discipline the officials involved no matter who they are or how high up they go. These two offices jointly investigated the firing of U.S. attorneys in 2006 during the Bush administration and should do so again. The Committee on the Judiciary here in the Senate, led by Chairman Graham, must also investigate what happened here, using its subpoena power, if necessary. Senator Graham seems to be investigating President Obama and Vice President Biden with 53 subpoenas. He certainly must have time to investigate a serious problem that has come before us right now. After all, the abject refusal of Senate Republicans to hold President Trump accountable for his assault on the rule of law in the country is what has gotten us here in the first place. The Senate Republicans refused to stand up to the President when he fired the FBI Director for investigating his campaign. They refused to stand up to the President when he made a national emergency in order to steal funds for the border wall. They refused to stand up to the President when he dismissed not one or two or three but four inspectors general. They also refused to stand up to the President when he tried to bully a foreign power into helping him in his reelection. Every time the President breaks a window, the Senate Republican majority dutifully sweeps up the glass. Every blue moon or so, a Republican Senator will issue a mild rebuke of the President's behavior or will pen a strongly worded letter, but the response is never commensurate with the offense. As a result, President Trump knows there is no line he can't cross. He and his Attorney General can fire a sitting U.S. attorney without cause, perhaps for investigating criminal wrongdoing by the President or his associates, and the Senate Republicans would hardly bat an eye. Will Senate Republican Senators ever say, ``Enough''	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-22-pt1-PgS3115-2	null	859
formal	voter fraud	null	racist	Nomination of Cory T. Wilson Mr. President, finally, today, Leader McConnell will move forward with the nomination of Mr. Cory Wilson to serve as a lifetime appointment on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Wilson is an avowed opponent of the Nation's healthcare law, calling it illegitimate and perverse. Even worse, Wilson has a lengthy record of supportfor policies that suppress voting rights in the State legislature, and in the Mississippi secretary of state's office, he pushed for restrictive voter ID laws. He criticized the Voting Rights Act and peddled unproven claims about voter fraud. In 2011, he said the NAACP's concerns about voter suppression in Mississippi were ``poppycock.'' We are in the middle of a national conversation about police reform and systematic racial justice. Leader McConnell talks about it on the floor, and at the same time, he has the temerity to push a judge with demonstrated hostility to voting rights, a man who criticized the greatest advance in civil rights legislation in the past century, for a seat on the circuit court, in which people of color make up 55 percent of the population. The nomination is so appalling in general that, at this particular moment, several Democrats, myself included, have taken the unusual step of writing Leader McConnell today to request that he withdraw Mr. Wilson's nomination. I believe, if there is sincerity in the remarks here about healing racial wounds, then the withdrawal of Mr. Wilson will occur, plain and simple. It would be disgraceful for the Senate to approve a nominee who has long trivialized voter disenfranchisement and racial discrimination at the ballot box. Leader McConnell should halt any further work on Mr. Wilson and, instead, work with the administration and civil rights groups to find a nominee who will actually protect voting rights on the Fifth Circuit. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-22-pt1-PgS3115-3	null	860
formal	based	null	white supremacist	By Mr. DURBIN: S. 4034. A bill to expand eligibility for and provide judicial review for the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program, provide for compassionate release based on COVID-19 vulnerability, shorten the waiting period for judicial review during the COVID-19 pandemic, and make other technical corrections; to the Committee on the Judiciary.	2020-01-06	The RECORDER	Senate	CREC-2020-06-22-pt1-PgS3127-2	null	861
formal	based	null	white supremacist	By Mr. DURBIN: S. 4034. A bill to expand eligibility for and provide judicial review for the Elderly Home Detention Pilot Program, provide for compassionate release based on COVID-19 vulnerability, shorten the waiting period for judicial review during the COVID-19 pandemic, and make other technical corrections; to the Committee on the Judiciary.	2020-01-06	The RECORDER	Senate	CREC-2020-06-22-pt1-PgS3127-3	null	862
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Boozman, Mr. Peters, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Carper, Ms. Collins, Mr. Markey, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Fischer, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Moran, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Sinema, and Mrs. Blackburn) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary: S. Res. 634 Whereas, in 1777, before the passage of the Bill of Rights, 10 sailors and Marines blew the whistle on fraud and misconduct that was harmful to the United States; Whereas the Founding Fathers unanimously supported the whistleblowers in words and deeds, including by releasing government records and providing monetary assistance for the reasonable legal expenses necessary to prevent retaliation against the whistleblowers; Whereas, on July 30, 1778, in demonstration of their full support for whistleblowers, the members of the Continental Congress unanimously passed the first whistleblower legislation in the United States that read: ``Resolved, That it is the duty of all persons in the service of the United States, as well as all other the inhabitants thereof, to give the earliest information to Congress or other proper authority of any misconduct, frauds or misdemeanors committed by any officers or persons in the service of these states, which may come to their knowledge'' (legislation of July 30, 1778, reprinted in Journals of the Continental Congress, 1774-1789, ed. Worthington C. Ford et al. (Washington, DC, 1904-37), 11:732); Whereas whistleblowers risk their careers, jobs, and reputations by reporting waste, fraud, and abuse to the proper authorities; Whereas, in providing the proper authorities with lawful disclosures, whistleblowers save the taxpayers of the United States billions of dollars each year and serve the public interest by ensuring that the United States remains an ethical and safe place; and Whereas it is the public policy of the United States to encourage, in accordance with Federal law (including the Constitution of the United States, rules, and regulations) and consistent with the protection of classified information (including sources and methods of detection of classified information), honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, and other crimes to the appropriate authority at the earliest time possible: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) designates July 30, 2020, as ``National Whistleblower Appreciation Day''; and (2) ensures that the Federal Government implements the intent of the Founding Fathers, as reflected in the legislation passed on July 30, 1778 (relating to whistleblowers), by encouraging each executive agency to recognize National Whistleblower Appreciation Day by-- (A) informing employees, contractors working on behalf of the taxpayers of the United States, and members of the public about the legal right of a United States citizen to ``blow the whistle'' to the appropriate authority by honest and good faith reporting of misconduct, fraud, misdemeanors, or other crimes; and (B) acknowledging the contributions of whistleblowers to combating waste, fraud, abuse, and violations of laws and regulations of the United States.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-22-pt1-PgS3128-2	null	863
formal	politically correct	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, 2 weeks ago, I argued that civil discourse in America faces a crossroads. A major newspaper had buckled under pressure from the social media mob. They apologized profusely for publishing a policy argument from a U.S. Senator and made personnel changes to prove their penitence. I said that we could either recommit to our tradition of seasoned debate or let an angry mob run our culture. Recent days have reminded us that it is not just our present-day debates that far-left radicals want to overwhelm. They also want to rewrite the past. Back in 2017, when people wondered whether our important conversations over Confederate monuments would give the far left a broader taste for pulling down statues, major newspapers and media figures literally mocked that concern. They said there were obvious differences between rebel generals and our Nation's Founders. They said nobody would come gunning for Washington or Jefferson. Well, the far left missed the memo. A few days ago, in Portland, OR, a mob graffitied a statue of our first President, pulled it down, and burned an American flag over his head. This is George Washington. Another Washington statue was defaced in Baltimore. A statue of Thomas Jefferson was ripped down in Portland also. This is the general and first President who built our Nation and the author of the Declaration of Independence--genius statesmen who helped begin this grand experiment that hasbrought freedom to hundreds of millions and saved the world a few times for good measure. Yet, a crazy fringe is treating their monuments like vanity statues of tinhorn tyrants. Our Founding Fathers are being roped to the ground like they were Saddam Hussein. The list goes on: Saint Junipero Serra, the missionary settler whom Pope Francis celebrated here in Washington a few years ago to bipartisan applause, sided with native people over soldiers; Ulysses S. Grant, the general who crushed the Confederacy, the President who used Federal force to fight the Klan. They, too, have been placed on the historical hit list for this new Red Guard that nobody elected. There are more monuments toppled up and down the west coast. There could be no clearer sign that these far-left radicals have severed any connection to the righteous cause of racial justice. They have literally tried to succeed where Robert E. Lee failed and bring General Grant to the ground. Like any cultural revolution, this far-left anger is sparing some heroes of their own. I understand that in Seattle, a large statue of Vladimir Lenin stands quite untouched. Apparently, people claim with a straight face that this Communist statue has survived because it is located--wait for it--on private property. So the Founding Father of the mass-murdering Soviet Union watches over Seattle streets, but our own Founding Fathers are dragged in the dirt. A small slice of our national elite has spent years cooking up highfalutin theories to justify the cheapest, basest forms of anti-Americanism. The absurd claim that America's deepest founding principle is bigotry has escaped the ivory tower and begun seeping into society. The United States of America can and should have nuanced conversations about our complex past. We can and should have discussions about our future. We can and should have peaceful protests. But this lawlessness serves none of that. It is just an alliance of convenience between angry criminals who think it is fun to wreak havoc and a slice of elite society that profits off saying that our country is evil and deserves the abuse. Enough. Enough. The vast majority of Americans know full well that imperfect heroes are still heroes, that our imperfect Union is still the greatest Nation in world history. Americans know that our imperfect Framers built our Nation on moral truths that fueled improvement beyond anything their generation could have built themselves. The American people know this. They also know that we cannot let angry mobs carrying ropes act outside the rule of law. It was central to the 14th Amendment and the civil rights movement that law enforcement and local authorities may not do their jobs selectively. If ``equal protection of the laws'' means anything, it means mayors and Governors cannot selectively stand down because they would rather not pay the political price for confronting a particular mob. But that is precisely what we are seeing in Democratic-governed cities all across our country. In Seattle, for weeks now, a mayor has let bands of people ban police from several square blocks. People have been shot. A teenager has died. But, apparently, stopping this insanity has been deemed less politically correct than letting it continue. Night after night, Governors and mayors have stood down and watched criminals spray paint churches and topple statues. Public order is now totally optional and depends on the lawbreaker's politics. Here in Washington, last night, local police protected one monument from a memorial-hunting mob over near the White House. It is past time for that courage to be replicated in every city, every night, until Americans have the peace and the rule of law that all of our citizens deserve. It is no surprise that people who want to say our country is intrinsically evil are so frantic to erase history that they will break the law to do it. Erasing history is the only way their claims could carry any water. Americans know that an imperfect nation built by imperfect heroes is still the most perfect Union the world has ever seen. We are proud to build statues of the geniuses who fought to found this country. We are proud to build statues to the leaders who have preserved it. We are proud to build statues of prophetic civil rights leaders who made the country confront gross injustice. We thank God that all kinds of imperfect people have made us a more perfect Union. When the dust settles, it is never--never--the mobs or bullies whom we honor. It is the brave leaders who confront them	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3131-8	null	864
formal	Baltimore	null	racist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, 2 weeks ago, I argued that civil discourse in America faces a crossroads. A major newspaper had buckled under pressure from the social media mob. They apologized profusely for publishing a policy argument from a U.S. Senator and made personnel changes to prove their penitence. I said that we could either recommit to our tradition of seasoned debate or let an angry mob run our culture. Recent days have reminded us that it is not just our present-day debates that far-left radicals want to overwhelm. They also want to rewrite the past. Back in 2017, when people wondered whether our important conversations over Confederate monuments would give the far left a broader taste for pulling down statues, major newspapers and media figures literally mocked that concern. They said there were obvious differences between rebel generals and our Nation's Founders. They said nobody would come gunning for Washington or Jefferson. Well, the far left missed the memo. A few days ago, in Portland, OR, a mob graffitied a statue of our first President, pulled it down, and burned an American flag over his head. This is George Washington. Another Washington statue was defaced in Baltimore. A statue of Thomas Jefferson was ripped down in Portland also. This is the general and first President who built our Nation and the author of the Declaration of Independence--genius statesmen who helped begin this grand experiment that hasbrought freedom to hundreds of millions and saved the world a few times for good measure. Yet, a crazy fringe is treating their monuments like vanity statues of tinhorn tyrants. Our Founding Fathers are being roped to the ground like they were Saddam Hussein. The list goes on: Saint Junipero Serra, the missionary settler whom Pope Francis celebrated here in Washington a few years ago to bipartisan applause, sided with native people over soldiers; Ulysses S. Grant, the general who crushed the Confederacy, the President who used Federal force to fight the Klan. They, too, have been placed on the historical hit list for this new Red Guard that nobody elected. There are more monuments toppled up and down the west coast. There could be no clearer sign that these far-left radicals have severed any connection to the righteous cause of racial justice. They have literally tried to succeed where Robert E. Lee failed and bring General Grant to the ground. Like any cultural revolution, this far-left anger is sparing some heroes of their own. I understand that in Seattle, a large statue of Vladimir Lenin stands quite untouched. Apparently, people claim with a straight face that this Communist statue has survived because it is located--wait for it--on private property. So the Founding Father of the mass-murdering Soviet Union watches over Seattle streets, but our own Founding Fathers are dragged in the dirt. A small slice of our national elite has spent years cooking up highfalutin theories to justify the cheapest, basest forms of anti-Americanism. The absurd claim that America's deepest founding principle is bigotry has escaped the ivory tower and begun seeping into society. The United States of America can and should have nuanced conversations about our complex past. We can and should have discussions about our future. We can and should have peaceful protests. But this lawlessness serves none of that. It is just an alliance of convenience between angry criminals who think it is fun to wreak havoc and a slice of elite society that profits off saying that our country is evil and deserves the abuse. Enough. Enough. The vast majority of Americans know full well that imperfect heroes are still heroes, that our imperfect Union is still the greatest Nation in world history. Americans know that our imperfect Framers built our Nation on moral truths that fueled improvement beyond anything their generation could have built themselves. The American people know this. They also know that we cannot let angry mobs carrying ropes act outside the rule of law. It was central to the 14th Amendment and the civil rights movement that law enforcement and local authorities may not do their jobs selectively. If ``equal protection of the laws'' means anything, it means mayors and Governors cannot selectively stand down because they would rather not pay the political price for confronting a particular mob. But that is precisely what we are seeing in Democratic-governed cities all across our country. In Seattle, for weeks now, a mayor has let bands of people ban police from several square blocks. People have been shot. A teenager has died. But, apparently, stopping this insanity has been deemed less politically correct than letting it continue. Night after night, Governors and mayors have stood down and watched criminals spray paint churches and topple statues. Public order is now totally optional and depends on the lawbreaker's politics. Here in Washington, last night, local police protected one monument from a memorial-hunting mob over near the White House. It is past time for that courage to be replicated in every city, every night, until Americans have the peace and the rule of law that all of our citizens deserve. It is no surprise that people who want to say our country is intrinsically evil are so frantic to erase history that they will break the law to do it. Erasing history is the only way their claims could carry any water. Americans know that an imperfect nation built by imperfect heroes is still the most perfect Union the world has ever seen. We are proud to build statues of the geniuses who fought to found this country. We are proud to build statues to the leaders who have preserved it. We are proud to build statues of prophetic civil rights leaders who made the country confront gross injustice. We thank God that all kinds of imperfect people have made us a more perfect Union. When the dust settles, it is never--never--the mobs or bullies whom we honor. It is the brave leaders who confront them	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3131-8	null	865
formal	based	null	white supremacist	The Equality Act Madam President, this morning I would like to turn to another issue that should concern all of us and that deserves our attention. On December 17, 1990, Genora Dancel and Ninia Baehr walked into the Hawaii Department of Health in Honolulu to apply for a marriage license. They had met earlier that year in a Honolulu parking lot and felt an immediate connection. Their first date lasted for 9 hours. They eventually fell in love and got engaged, despite knowing that the law prohibited their marriage. They faced a choice: Give up their dream of getting married or take their fight to court to demand that they be treated equally. Although, up to that point, Ms. Dancel had led a private life and her family was unaware of her sexual orientation, for her the choice was clear. She later recalled: ``I had been discriminated against and was living as a second-class citizen. All of that, emotionally, came to mind. For me it was a no-brainer decision. This was something I had to fight for, and I had to do my part.'' The courts in Hawaii agreed with Ms. Dancel and Ms. Baehr. On May 5, 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a historic decision that changed the course of the LGBTQ rights movement. It ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the equal protection clause of the Hawaii constitution unless the State could prove a compelling State interest. This ruling sparked a chain reaction that eventually resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which affirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry. It was a hard-won victory for the LGBTQ community in its long fight for equality. In July 2017, the Trump administration sought to undermine this victory for equality. It intervened in a court case to argue that LGBTQ individuals are not protected from employment discrimination based on their sexual orientation. This position directly contradicted the position of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which had made clear in 2015 that discrimination based on sexual orientation was illegal. Last Monday, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's efforts and held that the Federal civil rights statute prohibiting employment discrimination--title VII--does protect LGBTQ individuals. While the decision was another major victory for equality, the fight is far from over. The Trump administration has not only sought to undo protections for LGBTQ individuals before the court, but Donald Trump and Senator McConnell have also been busy working to undermine LGBTQ equality through the judges--the judges whom this Senate confirms--themselves. Over the past 3 years, Donald Trump and Senator McConnell have been busy packing the court with judges who have demonstrated hostility toward the rights of LGBTQ individuals. In fact, so far, about 40 percent--40 percent--of Trump's circuit court judges have anti-LGBTQ records, and another one, Cory Wilson, is set to be confirmed this week. As a State legislator, Wilson voted for a bill that would allow businesses and people to deny services to LGBTQ individuals. The Human Rights Campaign called that bill ``the worst anti-LGBTQ state law in the U.S.'' Another example: Recently confirmed to the Ninth Circuit, Trump Judge Lawrence VanDyke previously claimed that ``same-sex marriage will hurt families, and consequentially children and society.'' His actions have reflected these views. He has opposed same-sex marriages and supported businesses that discriminate against same-sex couples. Similarly, Trump Judge Stephen Menashi in the Second Circuit and Trump Judge Andrew Brasher, Eleventh Circuit, have argued for the right of businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. With the Federal courts stacked with Trump judges like these, it is critical that Congress act now to fully enshrine equality and protections for LGBTQ individuals into law. The Supreme Court has now made clear that employers cannot discriminate against LGBTQ people in the workplace. But other legal protections against discrimination, such as in healthcare, education, housing, and financial credit, are at risk of being eroded by the Trump administration and Trump judges. In fact, the Trump administration is doing just that. Just 2 weeks ago, it finalized a rule that eliminated nondiscrimination protections under Federal law for LGBTQ people receiving healthcare and obtaining health insurance. Last month, the Trump administration issued a letter ruling that title IX requires schools to ban transgender students from participating in school sports based on their gender identity. In 2002, Congress renamed title IX in honor of my friend, Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink. Patsy was a champion for gender equality and nondiscrimination and would certainly be appalled by the Trump administration's interpretation of title IX. The Trump administration has already banned most transgender people from serving in the military. It has rescinded protections for transgender students that allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity. The Trump administration's attacks against LGBTQ equality make it all the more urgent that Congress needs to make explicit that Federal law protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. More than a year ago, the House did that by passing the Equality Act with bipartisan support. The Equality Act would prevent the Trump administration from exploiting any ambiguity in the law by adding clarifications in existing civil rights laws to make explicit that sexual orientation and gender identity are prohibited bases for discrimination. This includes the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and other civil rights statutes. The Equality Act would also amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public places and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, the Equality Act would update the types of public spaces and services covered under current law to expressly include stores, shopping centers, online retailers, banks, and places that provide legal services, transportation services, and other types of services. The Equality Act is a critical safeguard against an administration determined to erode the rights of LGBTQ people. The Senate must do its job and pass the Equality Act without delay. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3138	null	866
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	The Equality Act Madam President, this morning I would like to turn to another issue that should concern all of us and that deserves our attention. On December 17, 1990, Genora Dancel and Ninia Baehr walked into the Hawaii Department of Health in Honolulu to apply for a marriage license. They had met earlier that year in a Honolulu parking lot and felt an immediate connection. Their first date lasted for 9 hours. They eventually fell in love and got engaged, despite knowing that the law prohibited their marriage. They faced a choice: Give up their dream of getting married or take their fight to court to demand that they be treated equally. Although, up to that point, Ms. Dancel had led a private life and her family was unaware of her sexual orientation, for her the choice was clear. She later recalled: ``I had been discriminated against and was living as a second-class citizen. All of that, emotionally, came to mind. For me it was a no-brainer decision. This was something I had to fight for, and I had to do my part.'' The courts in Hawaii agreed with Ms. Dancel and Ms. Baehr. On May 5, 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a historic decision that changed the course of the LGBTQ rights movement. It ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the equal protection clause of the Hawaii constitution unless the State could prove a compelling State interest. This ruling sparked a chain reaction that eventually resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which affirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry. It was a hard-won victory for the LGBTQ community in its long fight for equality. In July 2017, the Trump administration sought to undermine this victory for equality. It intervened in a court case to argue that LGBTQ individuals are not protected from employment discrimination based on their sexual orientation. This position directly contradicted the position of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which had made clear in 2015 that discrimination based on sexual orientation was illegal. Last Monday, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's efforts and held that the Federal civil rights statute prohibiting employment discrimination--title VII--does protect LGBTQ individuals. While the decision was another major victory for equality, the fight is far from over. The Trump administration has not only sought to undo protections for LGBTQ individuals before the court, but Donald Trump and Senator McConnell have also been busy working to undermine LGBTQ equality through the judges--the judges whom this Senate confirms--themselves. Over the past 3 years, Donald Trump and Senator McConnell have been busy packing the court with judges who have demonstrated hostility toward the rights of LGBTQ individuals. In fact, so far, about 40 percent--40 percent--of Trump's circuit court judges have anti-LGBTQ records, and another one, Cory Wilson, is set to be confirmed this week. As a State legislator, Wilson voted for a bill that would allow businesses and people to deny services to LGBTQ individuals. The Human Rights Campaign called that bill ``the worst anti-LGBTQ state law in the U.S.'' Another example: Recently confirmed to the Ninth Circuit, Trump Judge Lawrence VanDyke previously claimed that ``same-sex marriage will hurt families, and consequentially children and society.'' His actions have reflected these views. He has opposed same-sex marriages and supported businesses that discriminate against same-sex couples. Similarly, Trump Judge Stephen Menashi in the Second Circuit and Trump Judge Andrew Brasher, Eleventh Circuit, have argued for the right of businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. With the Federal courts stacked with Trump judges like these, it is critical that Congress act now to fully enshrine equality and protections for LGBTQ individuals into law. The Supreme Court has now made clear that employers cannot discriminate against LGBTQ people in the workplace. But other legal protections against discrimination, such as in healthcare, education, housing, and financial credit, are at risk of being eroded by the Trump administration and Trump judges. In fact, the Trump administration is doing just that. Just 2 weeks ago, it finalized a rule that eliminated nondiscrimination protections under Federal law for LGBTQ people receiving healthcare and obtaining health insurance. Last month, the Trump administration issued a letter ruling that title IX requires schools to ban transgender students from participating in school sports based on their gender identity. In 2002, Congress renamed title IX in honor of my friend, Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink. Patsy was a champion for gender equality and nondiscrimination and would certainly be appalled by the Trump administration's interpretation of title IX. The Trump administration has already banned most transgender people from serving in the military. It has rescinded protections for transgender students that allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity. The Trump administration's attacks against LGBTQ equality make it all the more urgent that Congress needs to make explicit that Federal law protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. More than a year ago, the House did that by passing the Equality Act with bipartisan support. The Equality Act would prevent the Trump administration from exploiting any ambiguity in the law by adding clarifications in existing civil rights laws to make explicit that sexual orientation and gender identity are prohibited bases for discrimination. This includes the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and other civil rights statutes. The Equality Act would also amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public places and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, the Equality Act would update the types of public spaces and services covered under current law to expressly include stores, shopping centers, online retailers, banks, and places that provide legal services, transportation services, and other types of services. The Equality Act is a critical safeguard against an administration determined to erode the rights of LGBTQ people. The Senate must do its job and pass the Equality Act without delay. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3138	null	867
formal	safeguard	null	transphobic	The Equality Act Madam President, this morning I would like to turn to another issue that should concern all of us and that deserves our attention. On December 17, 1990, Genora Dancel and Ninia Baehr walked into the Hawaii Department of Health in Honolulu to apply for a marriage license. They had met earlier that year in a Honolulu parking lot and felt an immediate connection. Their first date lasted for 9 hours. They eventually fell in love and got engaged, despite knowing that the law prohibited their marriage. They faced a choice: Give up their dream of getting married or take their fight to court to demand that they be treated equally. Although, up to that point, Ms. Dancel had led a private life and her family was unaware of her sexual orientation, for her the choice was clear. She later recalled: ``I had been discriminated against and was living as a second-class citizen. All of that, emotionally, came to mind. For me it was a no-brainer decision. This was something I had to fight for, and I had to do my part.'' The courts in Hawaii agreed with Ms. Dancel and Ms. Baehr. On May 5, 1993, the Hawaii Supreme Court issued a historic decision that changed the course of the LGBTQ rights movement. It ruled that denying same-sex couples the right to marry violates the equal protection clause of the Hawaii constitution unless the State could prove a compelling State interest. This ruling sparked a chain reaction that eventually resulted in the U.S. Supreme Court's 2015 decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which affirmed the right of same-sex couples to marry. It was a hard-won victory for the LGBTQ community in its long fight for equality. In July 2017, the Trump administration sought to undermine this victory for equality. It intervened in a court case to argue that LGBTQ individuals are not protected from employment discrimination based on their sexual orientation. This position directly contradicted the position of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which had made clear in 2015 that discrimination based on sexual orientation was illegal. Last Monday, the Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's efforts and held that the Federal civil rights statute prohibiting employment discrimination--title VII--does protect LGBTQ individuals. While the decision was another major victory for equality, the fight is far from over. The Trump administration has not only sought to undo protections for LGBTQ individuals before the court, but Donald Trump and Senator McConnell have also been busy working to undermine LGBTQ equality through the judges--the judges whom this Senate confirms--themselves. Over the past 3 years, Donald Trump and Senator McConnell have been busy packing the court with judges who have demonstrated hostility toward the rights of LGBTQ individuals. In fact, so far, about 40 percent--40 percent--of Trump's circuit court judges have anti-LGBTQ records, and another one, Cory Wilson, is set to be confirmed this week. As a State legislator, Wilson voted for a bill that would allow businesses and people to deny services to LGBTQ individuals. The Human Rights Campaign called that bill ``the worst anti-LGBTQ state law in the U.S.'' Another example: Recently confirmed to the Ninth Circuit, Trump Judge Lawrence VanDyke previously claimed that ``same-sex marriage will hurt families, and consequentially children and society.'' His actions have reflected these views. He has opposed same-sex marriages and supported businesses that discriminate against same-sex couples. Similarly, Trump Judge Stephen Menashi in the Second Circuit and Trump Judge Andrew Brasher, Eleventh Circuit, have argued for the right of businesses to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals. With the Federal courts stacked with Trump judges like these, it is critical that Congress act now to fully enshrine equality and protections for LGBTQ individuals into law. The Supreme Court has now made clear that employers cannot discriminate against LGBTQ people in the workplace. But other legal protections against discrimination, such as in healthcare, education, housing, and financial credit, are at risk of being eroded by the Trump administration and Trump judges. In fact, the Trump administration is doing just that. Just 2 weeks ago, it finalized a rule that eliminated nondiscrimination protections under Federal law for LGBTQ people receiving healthcare and obtaining health insurance. Last month, the Trump administration issued a letter ruling that title IX requires schools to ban transgender students from participating in school sports based on their gender identity. In 2002, Congress renamed title IX in honor of my friend, Congresswoman Patsy T. Mink. Patsy was a champion for gender equality and nondiscrimination and would certainly be appalled by the Trump administration's interpretation of title IX. The Trump administration has already banned most transgender people from serving in the military. It has rescinded protections for transgender students that allowed them to use bathrooms corresponding with their gender identity. The Trump administration's attacks against LGBTQ equality make it all the more urgent that Congress needs to make explicit that Federal law protects against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. More than a year ago, the House did that by passing the Equality Act with bipartisan support. The Equality Act would prevent the Trump administration from exploiting any ambiguity in the law by adding clarifications in existing civil rights laws to make explicit that sexual orientation and gender identity are prohibited bases for discrimination. This includes the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Fair Housing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Jury Selection and Services Act, and other civil rights statutes. The Equality Act would also amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to prohibit discrimination in public places and services and federally funded programs on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity. In addition, the Equality Act would update the types of public spaces and services covered under current law to expressly include stores, shopping centers, online retailers, banks, and places that provide legal services, transportation services, and other types of services. The Equality Act is a critical safeguard against an administration determined to erode the rights of LGBTQ people. The Senate must do its job and pass the Equality Act without delay. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3138	null	868
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Justice in Policing Act Mr. President, I rise today on another matter, and that is to urge the Senate to consider meaningful, comprehensive legislation to make systemic changes to our justice system that will save lives--save lives in the Black community and save lives in all communities of color that have experienced injustice for far too long. I am deeply concerned that the bill on the floor this week fails to meet this moment. It has been nearly 1 month since George Floyd was murdered in my State. We all watched as his life evaporated before our eyes. It was a horrible thing. People who watched it, whether they were in law enforcement or whether they were just regular citizens who saw this, it hit home to many of them for the first time--and many of them, sadly, in the African-American community for many, many times before that--how truly unjust this is and how immoral this is. His death was horrifying and inhumane, and it galvanized a nationwide movement for justice. As Members of the U.S. Senate, we have a responsibility to respond to that call with action, and that means, when you have systemic racism, that you must address it with systemic change. Some of that is happening in our State and local governments. That is a good thing. But some of that must also happen here. This is not just an issue for one city or one State--my home State--nor is it an issue at just the local level. There is a lot of work that needs to be done at the local level, and that has been acknowledged by mayors and police chiefs across the country. There is also really important work that we must do here. I was proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Justice in Policing Act, led by Senators Booker and Harris, which makes comprehensive changes to our justice system that are long overdue. These reforms--including police officers being held accountable for misconduct, reforming police practices, and improving transparency--will be good for our Nation. The Justice in Policing Act will help to prevent more tragedies like those we have seen--prevent murders. It is widely supported by groups like the NAACP, the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, and the National Urban League. The House is expected to pass the bill this Thursday. Then it comes over here. But instead of taking up that bill, the Justice in Policing Act, Leader McConnell has brought a different bill to the Senate floor: the JUSTICE Act. My problem with it is, despite the name and despite a lot of the words that we are hearing on the other side, it doesn't get us to where we need to be. In this moment, as people are still marching and demanding change, we cannot confront these urgent issues with half measures or equivocation. I have serious concerns that this bill does not respond to the nationwide call for justice. Unlike the Justice in Policing Act that is going to pass the House, the bill we are considering here in the Senate lacks critical reforms to strengthen Federal pattern-and-practice investigations, a reform that is urgently needed after we all saw the video of the police officers standing right next to each other with George Floyd pinned down--pinned to the ground. I have called on the Department of Justice, with 26 other Senators, to conduct a full-scale investigation into the patterns and practices of the Minneapolis Police Department, and any bill that we consider should make sure the Civil Rights Division has the authority and the resources they need to conduct a thorough investigation. By the way, our calls have still gone unheeded. During the Obama Justice Department time period, 25 of these cases--pattern-and-practice investigations--were brought. During the Trump Justice Department time period, just one unit of the Springfield, MA, Police Department went through a pattern-and-practice investigation. I don't know what more proof we need than the fact of the video and the fact that there were other officers standing nearby, the fact that we have called for this with 26 Senators but, still, we await any final word from the Justice Department. They have informed us that they are still looking at this, but in the meantime, our Department of Human Rights in the State of Minnesota is stepping in to fill the void. I don't think that is the ideal way to do it. You would like a Justice Department that has experience doing this in other jurisdictions, but our State's Department of Human Rights is now stepping in and conducting its own pattern-and-practice investigation. The bill on the floor fails to help States conduct their own investigations, as I just mentioned, to address systemic problems in culture, training, and accountability at police departments, like what the Minnesota Department of Human Rights is now conducting. By the way, with the proper resources and the experience they are gleaning from former Justice Department officials and the like, this is one way to handle some of this, in addition to the Justice Department. At a time when our Justice Department has failed to take up these investigations, this provision that is in the Justice in Policing Act is even more critical. We must also take action to put an end to practices that unnecessarily put people's lives at risk. I worked with Senator Gillibrand and Senator Smith of my State on provisions in the Justice in Policing Act to ban Federal law enforcement officers from using choke holds and other neck restraints and to prohibit States from receiving certain Federal funding unless they have passed laws to ban these practices. We have used this method in the past, and if there is significant funding attached to it, States will react. The bill on the floor this week from our Republican counterparts only bans certain types of choke holds--those that restrict airflow but not blood flow--and only in certain situations. This does not go to the point that we need it to go to get the kind of systemic change we need in our criminal justice system. Critically, the Republican proposal does not include necessary changes to hold individual officers accountable for misconduct, like making records of police misconduct public. Real change comes with accountability and, as drafted, the Republican bill does not provide it. That is why it is opposed by civil rights and criminal justice groups, and it is why the attorney for George Floyd's family--and I had the honor of speaking with George Floyd's family--has said that this bill is ``in direct contrast to the demands of the people.'' So where do we go from here? Well, we can start by calling up the bill that will be coming over from the House. We can start by agreeing to work together. Let's have a bipartisan process to develop the consensus bill that we need based on the bill that is going to be coming over from the House. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I have seen what happens when we work together to get something done. That is how we passed the FIRST STEP Act, which passed the Senate with a vote of 87 to 12 by reaching across the aisle and by actually doing something--not just a bill full of platitudes or studies but actually doing something, which is what the people are calling out for now. By the way, there are a lot of good police officers out there, including ones who work around us, and when you put strong standards in place, they meet those standards. To allow that conduct that we saw on that video to go without national changes to our policing would be just to say, well, it is just this incident in Minnesota, which, of course, is being prosecuted by our attorney general, Keith Ellison. That is how you could resolve it if you thought it just happened once and it just happened in one State, but we know that is not true, my colleagues. We know that is not true. That is why it is so important to take action and pass the actual bill. We already started this process in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Last week, we held a hearing on these issues. We heard testimony from local leaders like St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and law enforcement officers from across the country. I heard a lot of agreement among many of those who testified--not all of them but many of them: support for banning choke holds, establishing a national use-of-force policy--these are police chiefs--creating a public database of public misconduct, and ensuring independent investigations of police-involved deaths, something I pushed for in my former job. You cannot have the police department that the officer works for investigating this conduct. That is wrong, as I said publicly years ago. There are areas where we can find agreement, but we have to mean it. Chairman Graham said at the hearingthat he hopes the Judiciary Committee could consider what has been proposed and ``come up with something in common.'' Well, we start with the bill that is going to be coming over from the House, the bill that has been sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Senators Booker and Harris. Instead, Leader McConnell is asking us to consider a bill that was drafted in their caucus, yes, but without the input of so many of us who have seen firsthand the damage that has been done here. He is, then, moving that bill directly to the floor instead of letting the Judiciary Committee consider it. I think that fails to make the kind of meaningful change we need in our system. This is a moment for urgent action, but it is also a moment for fundamental change. If we respond to all of those people out there and the family of George Floyd--whom I got to meet and sat across the pews from at that memorial service--if we respond with silence, then we are complicit. If we respond as the President has suggested, with dominance and by waving a Bible in front of a church for a photo op, then we are monsters. If we respond with action--meaningful action--colleagues, then we are lawmakers, and that is what the people of our State sent us to do. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3147-2	null	869
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to the nomination of Cory Wilson to a Mississippi seat on the Fifth Circuit. Judge Wilson has a troubling record on a number of critically important issues. That record makes clear Judge Wilson is far outside of the judicial mainstream. I believe that record is and should be disqualifying. First, Judge Wilson has a long record of working to undermine voting rights. He has been a longtime proponent of voter ID laws--which disproportionately harm communities of color, students, voters with disabilities, and the elderly--and has made false claims about the prevalence of voter fraud. He has likewise expressed opposition to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and has made unsubstantiated claims that voter suppression is nonexistent. As I have noted before, Judge Wilson's troubling record on votingrights is highly relevant to his nomination. The Fifth Circuit is a majority-minority circuit; 55 percent of those who live in the circuit are people of color. The Senate should not confirm a nominee who would work to further restrict the right to vote from the bench. Second, Judge Wilson has been a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act. He referred to the ACA's passage as ``perverse'' and ``illegitimate.'' He called upon the Supreme Court to strike down the law, writing: ``For the sake of the Constitution, I hope the Court strikes down the law and reinvigorates some semblance of the limited government the Founders intended.'' As of June 22, more than 120,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, and nearly 2.3 million have been infected. Now is not the time to advance a judicial nominee whose opposition to the ACA would strip tens of millions of Americans of healthcare, including those with preexisting conditions. Third, Judge Wilson has made extreme partisan comments that call into question his ability to rule fairly and impartially. In op-eds in a Mississippi newspaper, he likened President Obama to ``a fit-throwing teenager'' and called him ``King Barack'' and ``President Make-Believe.'' In tweets that he has kept public even while serving as a State court judge, Judge Wilson called Hillary Clinton ``Crooked Clinton'' and said she was ``criminal and clueless.'' He also called Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a ``claptrap.'' The Senate should not confirm a nominee who cannot be trusted to put aside extreme partisanship to rule in an unbiased and impartial manner. Fourth, Judge Wilson has sought to undermine the rights of LGBT Americans. In 2016, while serving in the Mississippi legislature, Judge Wilson supported HB 1523, a bill providing legal cover for businesses to deny services to individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. In a 2012 op-ed, Judge Wilson argued that ``gay marriage is a pander to liberal interest groups and an attempt to cast Republicans as intolerant, uncaring and even bigoted.'' Judge Wilson's past support for anti-LGBT legislation and his comments demeaning the fight for marriage equality raise questions about his ability to rule objectively on any case implicating LGBT rights. Finally, Judge Wilson has been an ardent opponent of women's reproductive rights, making it abundantly clear that he supports ``the complete and immediate reversal of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions.'' Judge Wilson will be the 200th Article III judge appointed by this President and confirmed by this Senate. Unfortunately, Judge Wilson's record of hostility to voting rights, the ACA, the rights of LGBT Americans, and women's reproductive rights is not unique to him. In fact, it is clear that so many of this administration's judicial nominees have been selected precisely because of those viewpoints. This is not something to celebrate. After all, those who have gained healthcare because of the ACA deserve the security of knowing their coverage is not at risk from the Federal judiciary. And those who seek to vindicate their rights--to vote, to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions, and to be free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity--deserve a judiciary that will rule fairly and impartially. I will vote against Judge Wilson's nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Thank you.	2020-01-06	Mrs. FEINSTEIN	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3154-2	null	870
formal	voter fraud	null	racist	Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise today in opposition to the nomination of Cory Wilson to a Mississippi seat on the Fifth Circuit. Judge Wilson has a troubling record on a number of critically important issues. That record makes clear Judge Wilson is far outside of the judicial mainstream. I believe that record is and should be disqualifying. First, Judge Wilson has a long record of working to undermine voting rights. He has been a longtime proponent of voter ID laws--which disproportionately harm communities of color, students, voters with disabilities, and the elderly--and has made false claims about the prevalence of voter fraud. He has likewise expressed opposition to enforcement of the Voting Rights Act and has made unsubstantiated claims that voter suppression is nonexistent. As I have noted before, Judge Wilson's troubling record on votingrights is highly relevant to his nomination. The Fifth Circuit is a majority-minority circuit; 55 percent of those who live in the circuit are people of color. The Senate should not confirm a nominee who would work to further restrict the right to vote from the bench. Second, Judge Wilson has been a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act. He referred to the ACA's passage as ``perverse'' and ``illegitimate.'' He called upon the Supreme Court to strike down the law, writing: ``For the sake of the Constitution, I hope the Court strikes down the law and reinvigorates some semblance of the limited government the Founders intended.'' As of June 22, more than 120,000 Americans have died from COVID-19, and nearly 2.3 million have been infected. Now is not the time to advance a judicial nominee whose opposition to the ACA would strip tens of millions of Americans of healthcare, including those with preexisting conditions. Third, Judge Wilson has made extreme partisan comments that call into question his ability to rule fairly and impartially. In op-eds in a Mississippi newspaper, he likened President Obama to ``a fit-throwing teenager'' and called him ``King Barack'' and ``President Make-Believe.'' In tweets that he has kept public even while serving as a State court judge, Judge Wilson called Hillary Clinton ``Crooked Clinton'' and said she was ``criminal and clueless.'' He also called Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a ``claptrap.'' The Senate should not confirm a nominee who cannot be trusted to put aside extreme partisanship to rule in an unbiased and impartial manner. Fourth, Judge Wilson has sought to undermine the rights of LGBT Americans. In 2016, while serving in the Mississippi legislature, Judge Wilson supported HB 1523, a bill providing legal cover for businesses to deny services to individuals on the basis of their sexual orientation. In a 2012 op-ed, Judge Wilson argued that ``gay marriage is a pander to liberal interest groups and an attempt to cast Republicans as intolerant, uncaring and even bigoted.'' Judge Wilson's past support for anti-LGBT legislation and his comments demeaning the fight for marriage equality raise questions about his ability to rule objectively on any case implicating LGBT rights. Finally, Judge Wilson has been an ardent opponent of women's reproductive rights, making it abundantly clear that he supports ``the complete and immediate reversal of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions.'' Judge Wilson will be the 200th Article III judge appointed by this President and confirmed by this Senate. Unfortunately, Judge Wilson's record of hostility to voting rights, the ACA, the rights of LGBT Americans, and women's reproductive rights is not unique to him. In fact, it is clear that so many of this administration's judicial nominees have been selected precisely because of those viewpoints. This is not something to celebrate. After all, those who have gained healthcare because of the ACA deserve the security of knowing their coverage is not at risk from the Federal judiciary. And those who seek to vindicate their rights--to vote, to make their own reproductive healthcare decisions, and to be free from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity--deserve a judiciary that will rule fairly and impartially. I will vote against Judge Wilson's nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same. Thank you.	2020-01-06	Mrs. FEINSTEIN	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3154-2	null	871
formal	Reagan	null	white supremacist	Mr. RUBIO (for himself, Mr. Menendez, and Mr. Scott of Florida) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.: S. Res. 637 Whereas the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act (Public Law 98- 111) passed by a wide margin in the House of Representatives on September 29, 1983, and passed unanimously by voice vote in the Senate on September 12, 1983; Whereas, upon signing the Radio Broadcasting to Cuba Act into law on October 4, 1983, President Ronald Reagan said that the law ``responds to an important foreign policy initiative of my administration: to break Fidel Castro's monopoly on news and information within Cuba'', further explaining that the purpose of providing impartial news to the Cuban people was so that they ``will be in a better position to make Cuba's leaders accountable for their conduct in foreign policy, economic management, and human rights.''; Whereas radio service into Cuba was named ``Radio Marti'' after renowned 19th century Cuban patriot Jose Marti; Whereas, on May 20, 1985, the 83rd anniversary of Cuba's Independence Day, Radio Marti began its first broadcast into Cuba; Whereas, in 1990, Congress passed and President George H.W. Bush signed into law the Television Broadcasting to Cuba Act (Public Law 101-246), which expanded broadcasting to include television, and ``Television Marti'' commenced broadcasting later that year; Whereas President William Jefferson Clinton signed into law the Omnibus Consolidated Rescissions and Appropriations Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-134), which required the relocation of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting from Washington, D.C., to South Florida; Whereas the Office of Cuba Broadcasting was relocated to Miami, Florida in 1998, ahead of schedule and under budget; Whereas United States broadcasts to Cuba were initiated to pierce the Castro regime's information blockade and to provide timely, accurate, uncensored, and reliable information to the Cuban people; Whereas the Office of Cuba Broadcasting at the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) oversees Radio and Television Marti; Whereas Radio and Television Marti are multimedia hubs of news, information, and analysis that provide the people of Cuba with interactive programs 7 days a week through satellite television, shortwave and AM radio, and digital platforms, including its website, flash drives, emails, DVDs, and SMS text; Whereas Radio and Television Marti aim to inform and engage the people of Cuba by providing credible news and information rooted in respect for fundamental freedoms, democratic principles, and universal human rights; Whereas the Office of Cuba Broadcasting facilitates critical technology services, allowing Cubans across provinces to connect, and linking Cuban pro-democracy activists with an expanding worldwide network of activists engaged in their own struggles for freedom and human rights in their respective countries; Whereas, on July 14, 2011, independent journalist and former political prisoner Jose Daniel Ferrer said, ``the particular stories, the news selected for A Fondo [a joint Voice of America and Radio Marti program], is what gives the show its quality, very professional. I listened to the show in prison on a daily basis.''; Whereas Karen Caballero of Radio and Television Marti received the David Burke Award in 2012 for her inspired coverage of the ``Lights of Liberty Flotilla'', a small group of boats with a mission to sail across the Florida Strait to bring attention to the solidarity between Cuban exiles and those on the island, and to the human rights abuses perpetrated by the regime in Cuba; Whereas, on August 13, 2013, Afro-Cuban activist and former political prisoner Jorge Luis Garcia-Perez stated, ``In the 17 years that I spent behind bars, Radio Marti was, at times, my `everything'. It was my lifeline.''; and Whereas, in 2017, Television Marti's ``Alas de Libertad'' (Wings of Freedom), which documented the activities of the Brigade 2506 Air Force division during the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, received the Suncoast Regional Emmy Award from The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate-- (1) celebrates the 35th anniversary of Radio Marti and the 30th anniversary of Television Marti; (2) recognizes the vital role that independent broadcasting to Cuba has served in providing uncensored, reliable, and accurate information to the Cuban people for the past 35 years; (3) honors the journalists, programming editors, technical support, and many other employees at Radio and Television Marti, administered through the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, who commit to high journalistic standards, tenacity, and providing unbiased, objective information to the Cuban people; (4) remembers the deep and lasting contributions that the free flow of information, including broadcasting, to Cuba has provided to the Cuban people in bolstering Cuba's pro- democracy movement; and (5) reaffirms the importance of the United States strengthening policies in support of promoting democracy, promoting freedom of the press, and supporting the transmission of external, reliable, objective information to some of the most repressed parts of the world.	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3159	null	872
formal	urban	null	racist	Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I have 5 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: committee on banking, housing, and urban affairs The Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. committee on health, education, labor, and pensions The Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing. committee on the judiciary The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, a 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing. select committee on intelligence The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed hearing. subcommittee on regulatory affairs and federal management The Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing.	2020-01-06	Mr. CORNYN	Senate	CREC-2020-06-23-pt1-PgS3159-3	null	873
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 4563. A letter from the President and Chairman, Export- Import Bank, transmitting the Bank's statement with respect to transactions involving exports to Turkey, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 635(b)(3); July 31, 1945, ch. 341, Sec. 2 (as added by Public Law 102-266, Sec. 102); (106 Stat. 95); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4564. A letter from the President and Chairman, Export- Import Bank of the United States, transmitting a report involving U.S. exports to various countries, pursuant to 12 U.S.C. 635(b)(3); July 31, 1945, ch. 341, Sec. 2 (as added by Public Law 102-266, Sec. 102); (106 Stat. 95); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4565. A letter from the Secretary, Department of Energy, transmitting proposed legislation to implement an essential benefit for the Federal agents currently employed in the Office of Secure Transportation at the National Nuclear Security Administration; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4566. A letter from the Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's Office of Inspector General's Semiannual Report to Congress for the 6- month period ending March 31, 2020, pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4567. A letter from the Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Farm Credit Administration, transmitting the Administration's semiannual report prepared by the Inspector General for the period of October 1, 2019 through March 31, 2020, pursuant to Sec. 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4568. A letter from the Chairman of the Board, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to Congress, pursuant to the Inspector General Act of 1798, as amended; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2020-06-24-pt1-PgH2418	null	874
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, in a few hours, the Senate will confirm Judge Cory T. Wilson to join the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Yet again, President Trump has sent up an outstanding nominee for this important vacancy. Judge Wilson holds degrees from the University of Mississippi and Yale Law School. He has held a prestigious clerkship, found success in private practice, and spent years in public service as a lawyer and a judge. The American Bar Association rates Mr. Wilson ``well qualified.'' Once we confirm Judge Wilson today, the Senate will have confirmed 200--200--of President Trump's nominees to lifetime appointments on the Federal bench. Following No. 200, when we depart this Chamber today, there will not be a single circuit court vacancy anywhere in the Nation for the first time in at least 40 years. There will not be a single circuit court vacancy anywhere in the Nation for the first time in at least 40 years. As I have said many times, our work with the administration to renew our Federal courts is not a partisan or political victory; it is a victory for the rule of law and for the Constitution itself. If judges applying the law and the Constitution as they are written strikes any of our colleagues as a threat to their political agenda, then the problem, I would argue, is with their agenda	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-24-pt1-PgS3161-6	null	875
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, on another matter, today was supposed to bring progress for an issue that is weighing heavily on the minds of Americans. In the wake of the killings of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, following weeks of passionate protests from coast to coast, the Senate was supposed to officially take up police reform on the floor today. Instead, our Democratic colleagues are poised to turn this routine step into a partisan impasse. Frankly, to most Americans, the situation would sound like a satire of what goes on in the Senate: a heated argument over whether to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to a proposal--a heated argument over whether to invoke cloture on a motion to proceed to a proposal. We are literally arguing about whether to stop arguing about whether to start arguing about something else. I can stand here for an hour and extol the virtues of Senator Tim Scott's JUSTICE Act. His legislation has already earned 48 cosponsors because it is a straightforward plan based on facts, based on data, and based on lived experience. It focuses on improving accountability and restoring trust. It addresses key issues like choke holds and no-knock warrants. It expands reporting, transparency in hiring, and training for deescalation. I am proud to stand with this legislation, but the reality is that nobody thought the first offer from the Republican side was going to be the final product that traveled out of the Senate. What is supposed to happen in thisbody is that we vote or agree to get onto a bill, and then we discuss, debate, and amend it until at least 60 Senators are satisfied, or it goes nowhere. It goes nowhere at the end until 60 Senators are satisfied. So what are they giving up? Nothing. They don't want an outcome. The vote we will take in a few hours is just the first step. We aren't passing a bill. We aren't making policy decisions. It is just a procedural vote to say that police reform is the subject the Senate will tackle next. That is all it says--that police reform is the subject the Senate will tackle next. Alas, our Democratic colleagues have suddenly begun to signal they are not willing to even begin the discussion on police reform. They are threatening to block the subject from even reaching the Senate floor. Yesterday, in a letter to me and on the floor, the Democratic leader and the junior Senators from New Jersey and California put forward an argument that was almost nonsensical. First, they explained a number of policy differences they have with Senator Scott's proposal. No problem there. The Senate has a handy tool for settling such differences; it is called legislating. We take up bills. We debate them. We consider amendments from both sides. And only if and when 60 Senators are satisfied can we even vote on passage. But this time, Senate Democrats say the legislative process should not happen. This time, the Democratic leader is saying he will not let the Senate take up the subject of police reform at all--at all--unless I pre-negotiate with him in private and rewrite our starting point until he is satisfied. This last-minute ultimatum is particularly ironic given the weeks of rhetoric from leading Democrats about how very urgent--how very urgent--it was that Congress address police reform and racial justice. For weeks, the Democratic leader has blustered that the Senate simply had to address this issue before July 4. Well, that is what the vote this morning is about. Last week, Speaker Pelosi said: ``I hope there's a compromise to be reached in the Congress. . . .'' because ``How many more people have to die from police brutality?'' So, as recently as last week, leading Democrats called it a life-or-death issue for the Senate to take up the subject this month. Well, here we are. Here we are. We are ready to address it. But now, in the last 48 hours, this bizarre, new ultimatum. Now they don't want to take up the issue. They don't want to debate. They don't want amendments. They will filibuster police reform from even reaching the floor of the Senate unless the majority lets the minority rewrite the bill behind closed doors in advance. Let me say that again. They will filibuster police reform from even reaching the floor unless the majority lets the minority rewrite the bill behind closed doors in advance. Yesterday, the Speaker of the House told CBS News that because Senate Republicans do support Senator Tim Scott's reform bill, we are all--listen to this jaw-dropping comment--``trying to get away with murder . . . the murder of George Floyd.'' That is the Speaker of the House accusing Senate Republicans of trying to get away with murder. Are you beginning to see how this game works? Two weeks ago, it was implied the Senate would have blood on our hands if we didn't take up police reform. Now Democrats say Senator Scott and 48 other Senators have blood on our hands because we are trying to take up police reform. What fascinating times we live in. Armies of elites and Twitter mobs stand ready to pounce on any speech they deem problematic. Yet unhinged comments like these get a complete free pass--a complete free pass. When our country needs unity, they are trying to keep us apart. When our Nation needs bipartisan solutions, they are staging partisan theater. This is political nonsense elevated to an art form. In a body that has amendments and substitute amendments, it is nonsense to say a police reform bill cannot be the starting point for a police reform bill. It is nonsense for Democrats to say that, because they want to change Senator Scott's bill, they are going to block the Senate from taking it up and amending it. If they are confident in their positions, they should embrace the amendment process. If they aren't confident their views will persuade others, that just underscores why they don't get to insert these views in advance--in advance--behind closed doors. No final legislation can pass without 60 votes. If Democrats do not like the final product, it will not pass. The only way there is any downside for Democrats to come to the table is that they would rather preserve this urgent subject as a live campaign issue than pass a bipartisan answer. The majority has done everything we can to proceed to this issue in good faith. I have fast-tracked this issue to the floor this month, as our Democratic colleagues said they wanted until 48 hours ago. I have expressed my support for a robust amendment process, as our Democratic colleagues said they wanted until 48 hours ago. So make no mistake about it: Senate Republicans are ready to make a law. We are ready to discuss and amend our way to a bipartisan product, pass it, and take it to conference with the House. The American people deserve an outcome, and we cannot get an outcome if Democrats will not even let us begin--not even let us begin. I hope our colleagues reconsider and let the Senate consider police reform later today. If they do not, the next time another appalling incident makes our Nation sick to its stomach with grief and anger yet again, Senate Democrats can explain to the Nation why they made sure the Senate did nothing	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-24-pt1-PgS3161-7	null	876
formal	Baltimore	null	racist	Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Mr. President, I rise in opposition to proceeding on S. 3985, the JUSTICE Act, and want to briefly explain why. On May 25, a Minneapolis police officer kneeled on the neck of George Floyd for almost 9 minutes. Mr. Floyd repeatedly said he could not breathe and pleaded for officers to stop. The officers ignored his pleas and continued to kneel on his neck until his body went limp. George Floyd's alleged crime? Using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy groceries during a global pandemic. As a nation, we have seen far too many unarmed Black men and women killed by police. Rayshard Brooks was shot twice in the back while running away from Atlanta police. The police had been called because he had fallen asleep in his car and was blocking a fast-food drive-thru. Breonna Taylor, an emergency medical worker, was shot eight times by Louisville police while asleep in her home. Eric Garner was choked to death by an NYPD officer for selling cigarettes. Freddie Gray was killed after being taken into custody by Baltimore police for possessing a knife. Walter Scott was shot in the back by North Charleston police after being stopped for a bad brake light. Stephon Clark was killed by Sacramento police in his grandmother's backyard for breaking windows. And Michael Brown was shot six times by Ferguson police while his hands were raised in the air. Over the past month, millions of people--of all races, ages, and backgrounds--have taken to the streets throughout the Nation to protest these killings and to demand real police reform. We need to respond with legislation that truly meets this moment, a bill that actually holds law enforcement agencies and offices accountable under the law. The Republican JUSTICE Act is nowhere near enough. It simply does not impose accountability on law enforcement. Specifically, it does not create a national use of force standard. For example, in California, lethal force may only be used to prevent an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury to the officer or to another person. It does not end racial profiling; in other words, it does not stop police from using race to target individuals, a practice I would hope that everyone agrees must cease. It does not prohibit no-knock warrants in drug cases, the very type of warrant that led to the death of Breonna Taylor. It does not reform qualified immunity, a legal defense that has allowed officers to avoid accountability even when they have broken the law. Instead of fixing these problems, the JUSTICE Act collects more information and data on problems we already know exist. We do not need more information. We need to address the underlying issues of systemic racism and police use of force. That is where the Justice in Policing Act comes in. Senator Booker and Senator Harris introduced this bill earlier this month. It should be our starting point. The bill makes meaningful reforms. For example, it requires that police departments banchoke holds and carotid holds in order to receive Federal funds. It prohibits the use of racial profiling by police officers. It creates a national police misconduct registry that would collect disciplinary or termination history of officers so potential employers would know of an officer's past misconduct. It gives subpoena authority to the Justice Department to conduct ``pattern or practice'' investigations. It eliminates the defense of ``qualified immunity'' so that police officers can be held civilly liable under the law for misconduct. And it amends Federal criminal law so officers can more effectively be charged for violating people's constitutional and legal rights. Meaningful reform is long overdue, and rather than rushing a weak bill to the floor, the Senate Judiciary Committee should take up the Justice in Policing Act as soon as possible. This is how the Senate is supposed to work. We should not be trying to address this important issue by rushing an insufficient bill to the floor. Now is the time for leadership, courage, and real police reform. Thank you.	2020-01-06	Mrs. FEINSTEIN	Senate	CREC-2020-06-24-pt1-PgS3201-2	null	877
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Mr. ENZI. Mr. President. I rise today to recognize the distinguished career and retirement of Kim Cawley after 34 years of service at the Congressional Budget Office. Kim has been Chief of the Natural and Physical Resources Cost Estimates Unit for more than 20 of those years, also spent over a decade as one of CBO's energy analysts. He is one of that agency's experts on the Nuclear Waste Fund, the treatment of Federal loans and loan guarantees, and the budgetary effects of Federal insurance programs. It is hard to overstate Kim's role in analyzing the budgetary impacts of an incredibly broad swath of legislation over the past three decades. He has been instrumental in providing objective, carefully researched estimates of thousands of pieces of legislation that the Congress has considered, debated, and enacted since the mid-1980, including bills dealing with flood insurance, compensation for victims of asbestos and oilspills, Federal property sales, and infrastructure financing, to name just a few. Kim has worked tirelessly with Members of Congress and our staff on both sides of the aisle throughout those years. During many hours of discussion and patient explanation, he could be counted on to be forthright and fair. He embodied CBO's commitment to nonpartisan analysis and helped the Congress understand the intricacies of such complex laws as the Federal Credit Reform Act, the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act, and the 9-11 Victims Compensation Act. Kim has been a mentor and guide to dozens of CBO analysts. Thanks to hisguidance and training, a generation of CBO analysts think harder, dig deeper, and ask more probing questions when analyzing the estimated the costs of legislation. Kim set high standards for himself and for the Natural Resources Unit, and we are confident that they will continue to provide timely and thorough analyses for the Congress thanks to what they have learned under Kim's leadership. I, along with House Budget Committee Chairman John Yarmuth, wish to thank Kim for his years of dedicated service to the Congress and extend to him our best wishes for a well-deserved retirement.	2020-01-06	Mr. ENZI	Senate	CREC-2020-06-24-pt1-PgS3202-4	null	878
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-4871. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Department of Defense (DoD) Guidance Documents'' (RIN0790-AK97) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4872. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program Reforms'' (RIN0720-AB75) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4873. A communication from the Federal Register Liaison Officer, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``TRICARE Coverage and Payment for Certain Services in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic (Interim Final Rule)'' (RIN0720-AB81) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4874. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General John C. Thomson III, United States Army, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4875. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Eric J. Wesley, United States Army, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4876. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Daniel J. O'Donohue, United States Marine Corps, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4877. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Charles W. Hooper, United States Army, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4878. A communication from the Secretary of Defense, transmitting a report on the approved retirement of Lieutenant General Stephen M. Twitty, United States Army, and his advancement to the grade of lieutenant general on the retired list; to the Committee on Armed Services. EC-4879. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, with respect to Belarus; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. EC-4880. A communication from the Director of Congressional Affairs, Office of Research, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.100, Seismic Qualification of Electrical and Active Mechanical Equipment and Functional Qualification of Active Mechanical Equipment for Nuclear Power Plants'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4881. A communication from the Director of Congressional Affairs, Office of Research, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.142, Safety Related Structures for Nuclear Power Plants (Other than Reactor Vessels and Containments)'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4882. A communication from the Director of Congressional Affairs, Office of Research, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Regulatory Guide (RG) 1.233, Revision 0, Guidance for a Technology-Inclusive, Risk- Informed, and Performance-Based Methodology to Inform the Licensing Basis and Content of Applications for Licenses, Certifications, and Approvals for Non-Light Water Reactors'' received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works. EC-4883. A communication from the Chief of the Publications and Regulations Branch, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Revenue Procedure: COVID-19 Relief Under 7701(b)'' (Rev. Proc. 2020-20) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Finance. EC-4884. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Allocation of Assets in Single-Employer Plans; Benefits Payable in Terminated Single-Employer Plans; Interest Assumptions for Valuing and Paying Benefits'' (29 CFR Part 4022 and 4044) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 18, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions . EC-4885. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Adjustment of Civil Penalties for Inflation'' (RIN1212-AB45) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 18, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4886. A communication from the Assistant General Counsel for Regulatory Affairs, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Eligibility of Students at Institutions of Higher Education for Funds under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act'' (RIN1840-AZ04) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 22, 2020; to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. EC-4887. A communication from the Inspector General of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Inspector General's Semiannual Report to Congress for the period from October 1, 2019, through March 31, 2020; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. EC-4888. A communication from the Deputy Bureau Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Rural Digital Opportunity Fund Phase I Auction Scheduled for October 29, 2020; Notice and Filing Requirements and Other Procedures for Auction 904'' ((RIN3060-AK57) (WC Docket Nos. 19-126 and 10-90)) received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 23, 2020; to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation	2020-01-06	Unknown	Senate	CREC-2020-06-24-pt1-PgS3203-5	null	879
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 a recorded vote or 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-2020-06-25-pt1-PgH2503	null	880
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 7120) to hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct in court, improve transparency through data collection, and reform police training and policies, offered by the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Stauber), on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The Clerk will redesignate the motion. The Clerk redesignated the motion.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2020-06-25-pt1-PgH2504	null	881
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 4569. A letter from the OSD FRLO, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting the Department's final rule -- TRICARE Coverage and Payment for Certain Services in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic [Docket ID: DOD-2020-HA- 0040] (RIN: 0720-AB81) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Armed Services. 4570. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's Major interim final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Revised Transition of the Current Expected Credit Losses Methodology for Allowances [Docket ID: OCC-2020-0010] (RIN: 1557-AE82) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4571. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's interim final rule -- Real Estate Appraisals [Docket No.: OCC-2020-0014] (RIN: 1557-AE86) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4572. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Transition for the Community Bank Leverage Ratio Framework [Docket ID: OCC-2020-0017] (RIN: 1557-AE89) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4573. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's interim final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Temporary Changes to the Community Bank Leverage Ratio Framework [Docket ID: OCC-2020- 0016] (RIN: 1557-AE88) received June 1, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4574. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's Major interim final rule -- Liquidity Coverage Ratio Rule: Treatment of Certain Emergency Facilities [Docket No.: OCC-2020-0019] (RIN: 1557-AE92) received June 16, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4575. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's Major interim final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Paycheck Protection Program Lending Facility and Paycheck Protection Program Loans [Docket No.: OCC-2020-0018] (RIN: 1557-AE90) received June 16, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4576. A letter from the Program Specialist, Chief Counsel's Office, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Department of the Treasury, transmitting the Department's Major interim final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Temporary Exclusion of U.S. Treasury Securities and Deposits at Federal Reserve Banks From the Supplementary Leverage Ratio for Depository Institutions [Docket No.: OCC-2020-0013] (RIN: 1557-AE85) received June 16, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4577. A letter from the Compliance Specialist, Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, transmitting the Department's withdrawal of final rule -- Partial Lists of Establishments that Lack or May Have a ``Retail Concept'' Under the Fair Labor Standards Act (RIN: 1235-AA32) received May 28, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education and Labor. 4578. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office for Civil Rights, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Nondiscrimination in Health Education Programs or Activities, Delegation of Authority (RIN: 0945-AA11) received June 16, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4579. A letter from the Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communication's Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Creation of Interstitial 12.5 Kilohertz Channels in the 800 MHz Band Between 809-817/854-862 MHz [WP Docket No.: 15-32] (RM-11572] received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4580. A letter from the Deputy Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Improving Public Safety Communications in the 800 MHz Band [WT Docket No.: 02- 55] received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4581. A letter from the Director, Office of Congressional Affairs, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, transmitting the Commission's Major final rule -- Revision of Fee Schedules; Fee Recovery for Fiscal Year 2020 [NRC-2017-0228; Docket No.: PRM-171-1; NRC-2019-0084] (RIN: 3150-AK10) received June 24, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4582. A communication from the President of the United States, transmitting notification of the continuation of the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans originally declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001, is to continue in effect beyond June 26, 2020, pursuant to 50 U.S.C. 1622(d); Public Law 94-412, Sec. 202(d); (90 Stat. 1257) (H. Doc. No. 116--135); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed. 4583. A letter from the Director, Office of Government Ethics, transmitting the Office's final rule -- Technical Updating Amendments to Executive Branch Financial Disclosure and Standards of Ethical Conduct Regulations (RIN: 3209-AA52) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform. 4584. A letter from the Director, Office of Government Ethics, transmitting the Office's final rule -- Post- Employment Conflict of Interest Restrictions; Revision of Departmental Component Designations (RIN: 3209-AA44) received June 11, 2020, 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. 4585. A letter from the Regulations Coordinator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Medicare Program; Contract Year 2021 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, and Medicare Cost Plan Program [CMS-4190-F] (RIN: 0938-AT97) received June 16, 2020, 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-2020-06-25-pt1-PgH2513	null	882
formal	anointed	null	religious	Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, the American people have been asked to swallow a number of contradictions over the past few weeks. I have already discussed some of them here on the floor. Many citizens were told by their mayors that small religious services were just too dangerous. At the same time, massive political protests were not just allowed but encouraged. Americans have been told they should very carefully distinguish good people from bad apples if they are talking about protests and riots, but they must not make the same distinction if they are talking about the police. Recently, the country was informed by hysterical journalists that a rational policy essay from our colleague Senator Cotton was just too inflammatory to publish, but the Speaker of the House can say Senator Tim Scott and his 48 cosponsors are ``trying to get away with . . . the murder of George Floyd,'' and Democrats just cheer her on--cheer her on. Americans have been ordered to rethink and relearn our Nation's history by a movement that is itself so historically illiterate that they mistake George Washington, Ulysses S. Grant, and a 19th-century abolitionist for enemies of justice and destroy their monuments. One common thread seems to connect all this: The far left wants you to play by one set of rules if you think like they do and a completely different set of rules if you dare to think anything else. Well, yesterday here in the Senate, the latest absurdity was added to the list. Our Democratic colleagues tried to say with straight faces that they want the Senate to discuss police reform while they blocked the Senate from discussing police reform. They declared that Senator Scott's bill, which contains many bipartisan components, which literally contains entire bills written by Democrats, was beyond the pale. Senator Scott offered a wide-open, bipartisan amendment process, and they walked away. Over in the House, when Democrats shoot down every Republican amendment in committee and allow zero amendments on the floor, you can bet it will be anointed a big, big success. Now, as an aside, I could not help but notice that in the Democratic leader's lengthy remarks yesterday morning, he did not once address or acknowledge the junior Senator from South Carolina as the author of the JUSTICE Act--not one time. Not one time did the Democratic leader address Senator Tim Scott as the author of the legislation he was trashing. I cannot see why the Democratic leader talks right past Senator Scott as if he were not leading this discussion, as if he were barely here. All I can say is that it was jarring to witness, especially in a national moment like this. Senator Scott was the leader of the working group. He wrote the bill. He has been studying and working on and living these issues since long, long before the Democratic leader came rushing to the microphones on this subject a few weeks ago. I can certainly take all the angry comments my colleague from New York wants to throw my way. I don't mind. But if he would like to learn something about the substance of this issue, he might want to stop acting like Senator Scott hardly exists and learn from the expert who wrote the bill. The American people know you do not really want progress on an issue if you block the Senate from taking it up. They know that most police officers are brave and honorable and that most protesters are peaceful. They know our country needs both. We need both. The American people know they don't need history lessons from common criminals who are dragging George Washington through the dirt. They know prayer is no less essential than protest. They know that a politician who compares a policy disagreement to a brutal murder has just permanently forfeited the moral high ground to the grownups who want solutions. Some forces are desperate to divide our country any way they possibly can, but if people of good will and common sense stick together, the radical nonsense will not stand a chance.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-25-pt1-PgS3277-7	null	883
formal	based	null	white supremacist	Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, in the short history of Alaska as a State in our Union, there have been a handful of people--Bill Egan, Elizabeth Peratrovich, Jay Hammond, Wally Hickel, Ted Stevens--whose lives formed the fibers that wove Alaskans together. Another of those leaders passed recently. Byron Mallott stands among the best of us. Born in the small town of Yakutat, AL, to the Kwaash Ke Kwaan clan of the Tlingit, in 1943 when Alaska was still a territory, he went on to an amazing life and career. His father was the long-time mayor of Yakutat, and when he died unexpectedly, Byron returned home from college, campaigned to take over the job, and won the election in 1965 at the age of 22. He then went on to serve the State's first Governor, Bill Egan, as the commissioner of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs. When Egan lost his reelection campaign, Byron went back home to Yakutat and served on the city council. In 1968, he ran for a seat in the State house, losing by only 23 votes. In 1969, U.S. Senator Mike Gravel hired Byron to work on his staff in Washington, DC, where he had a hand in drafting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the foundational legislation that continues to define our State and the relationship with Alaska Natives. After ANCSA was signed into law, Byron spent 20 years working for Sealaska Corporation, 1 of 12 Native corporations which was created by the law. Sealaska is based in Juneau, and its shareholders are primarily Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Over the course of his tenure with Sealaska, Byron was a director, chairman, and then spent a decade as president and CEO of the corporation. He helped fulfill the vision of ANCSA by supporting not just the economic vitality of the Native people in the region, but a cultural renaissance as well. His additional business experience was extensive. Byron was a director of several commercial banking institutions, including 6 years on the Seattle Branch Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, multiple years as a director of the Alaska Air Group, and on the board of the National Alliance for Business. He also served as president of the Alaska Federation of Native, a brief stint as the mayor of the city and borough of Juneau, and executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. But Byron was far more than a summation of his resume, impressive though it was. He was a good man and a good friend. When I made the decision to run as a write-in candidate in 2010, I called to ask him to be the cochair of that campaign. His response was instant, ``Yes, absolutely.'' When I said I was making the announcement in an hour, he said, ``I'll be there.'' There was no hesitation, no concern that he was a lifelong Democrat, supporting a long-shot Republican candidate. He exemplified in the best way Ted Stevens' philosophy: To hell with politics, do what is right for Alaska. With Byron's help, I was able to make history by winning the second write-in campaign for U.S. Senate in the country's history. I don't know if I would have been successful without him. In 2014, Byron made history himself when he won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Alaska, then sacrificed his own ambition by joining with the Independent candidate for Governor to create a Unity Ticket. Byron agreed to serve as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor, with Bill Walker leading the ticket. Again, we did what he felt was right for Alaska, rather than his person political gain. The Unity Ticket won the 2014 election, but faced some serious challenges, with low oil prices and a tough deficit situation. The fiscal crisis unfortunately dominated the 4 years of the Walker-Mallott administration and created rough political seas for them to weather, necessitating some hard decisions. Through it all, Byron continued to do what he had always done, work for Alaska and Alaskans. In the end, Byron held himself strictly accountable, which is something few people do, especially in politics. A friend of mine, Dr. Rosita Worl, says that the Tlingit mourn the passing of a leader by noting, ``In our forest, a great tree has fallen.'' That is a fitting metaphor for Byron, who stood strong for decades, serving as both shelter and a guide for people in Alaska. Byron was a strong and proud man, not in a boastful way, but as a true leader whose passion allowed him to put all Alaskans first. His heart was Alaska, and mine is stronger for having been blessed to call him my friend. I will miss him. Alaska will miss him.	2020-01-06	Ms. MURKOWSKI	Senate	CREC-2020-06-25-pt1-PgS3307	null	884
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, in the short history of Alaska as a State in our Union, there have been a handful of people--Bill Egan, Elizabeth Peratrovich, Jay Hammond, Wally Hickel, Ted Stevens--whose lives formed the fibers that wove Alaskans together. Another of those leaders passed recently. Byron Mallott stands among the best of us. Born in the small town of Yakutat, AL, to the Kwaash Ke Kwaan clan of the Tlingit, in 1943 when Alaska was still a territory, he went on to an amazing life and career. His father was the long-time mayor of Yakutat, and when he died unexpectedly, Byron returned home from college, campaigned to take over the job, and won the election in 1965 at the age of 22. He then went on to serve the State's first Governor, Bill Egan, as the commissioner of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs. When Egan lost his reelection campaign, Byron went back home to Yakutat and served on the city council. In 1968, he ran for a seat in the State house, losing by only 23 votes. In 1969, U.S. Senator Mike Gravel hired Byron to work on his staff in Washington, DC, where he had a hand in drafting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the foundational legislation that continues to define our State and the relationship with Alaska Natives. After ANCSA was signed into law, Byron spent 20 years working for Sealaska Corporation, 1 of 12 Native corporations which was created by the law. Sealaska is based in Juneau, and its shareholders are primarily Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Over the course of his tenure with Sealaska, Byron was a director, chairman, and then spent a decade as president and CEO of the corporation. He helped fulfill the vision of ANCSA by supporting not just the economic vitality of the Native people in the region, but a cultural renaissance as well. His additional business experience was extensive. Byron was a director of several commercial banking institutions, including 6 years on the Seattle Branch Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, multiple years as a director of the Alaska Air Group, and on the board of the National Alliance for Business. He also served as president of the Alaska Federation of Native, a brief stint as the mayor of the city and borough of Juneau, and executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. But Byron was far more than a summation of his resume, impressive though it was. He was a good man and a good friend. When I made the decision to run as a write-in candidate in 2010, I called to ask him to be the cochair of that campaign. His response was instant, ``Yes, absolutely.'' When I said I was making the announcement in an hour, he said, ``I'll be there.'' There was no hesitation, no concern that he was a lifelong Democrat, supporting a long-shot Republican candidate. He exemplified in the best way Ted Stevens' philosophy: To hell with politics, do what is right for Alaska. With Byron's help, I was able to make history by winning the second write-in campaign for U.S. Senate in the country's history. I don't know if I would have been successful without him. In 2014, Byron made history himself when he won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Alaska, then sacrificed his own ambition by joining with the Independent candidate for Governor to create a Unity Ticket. Byron agreed to serve as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor, with Bill Walker leading the ticket. Again, we did what he felt was right for Alaska, rather than his person political gain. The Unity Ticket won the 2014 election, but faced some serious challenges, with low oil prices and a tough deficit situation. The fiscal crisis unfortunately dominated the 4 years of the Walker-Mallott administration and created rough political seas for them to weather, necessitating some hard decisions. Through it all, Byron continued to do what he had always done, work for Alaska and Alaskans. In the end, Byron held himself strictly accountable, which is something few people do, especially in politics. A friend of mine, Dr. Rosita Worl, says that the Tlingit mourn the passing of a leader by noting, ``In our forest, a great tree has fallen.'' That is a fitting metaphor for Byron, who stood strong for decades, serving as both shelter and a guide for people in Alaska. Byron was a strong and proud man, not in a boastful way, but as a true leader whose passion allowed him to put all Alaskans first. His heart was Alaska, and mine is stronger for having been blessed to call him my friend. I will miss him. Alaska will miss him.	2020-01-06	Ms. MURKOWSKI	Senate	CREC-2020-06-25-pt1-PgS3307	null	885
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, in the short history of Alaska as a State in our Union, there have been a handful of people--Bill Egan, Elizabeth Peratrovich, Jay Hammond, Wally Hickel, Ted Stevens--whose lives formed the fibers that wove Alaskans together. Another of those leaders passed recently. Byron Mallott stands among the best of us. Born in the small town of Yakutat, AL, to the Kwaash Ke Kwaan clan of the Tlingit, in 1943 when Alaska was still a territory, he went on to an amazing life and career. His father was the long-time mayor of Yakutat, and when he died unexpectedly, Byron returned home from college, campaigned to take over the job, and won the election in 1965 at the age of 22. He then went on to serve the State's first Governor, Bill Egan, as the commissioner of the Department of Community and Regional Affairs. When Egan lost his reelection campaign, Byron went back home to Yakutat and served on the city council. In 1968, he ran for a seat in the State house, losing by only 23 votes. In 1969, U.S. Senator Mike Gravel hired Byron to work on his staff in Washington, DC, where he had a hand in drafting the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the foundational legislation that continues to define our State and the relationship with Alaska Natives. After ANCSA was signed into law, Byron spent 20 years working for Sealaska Corporation, 1 of 12 Native corporations which was created by the law. Sealaska is based in Juneau, and its shareholders are primarily Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian. Over the course of his tenure with Sealaska, Byron was a director, chairman, and then spent a decade as president and CEO of the corporation. He helped fulfill the vision of ANCSA by supporting not just the economic vitality of the Native people in the region, but a cultural renaissance as well. His additional business experience was extensive. Byron was a director of several commercial banking institutions, including 6 years on the Seattle Branch Board of Directors of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, multiple years as a director of the Alaska Air Group, and on the board of the National Alliance for Business. He also served as president of the Alaska Federation of Native, a brief stint as the mayor of the city and borough of Juneau, and executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund Corporation. But Byron was far more than a summation of his resume, impressive though it was. He was a good man and a good friend. When I made the decision to run as a write-in candidate in 2010, I called to ask him to be the cochair of that campaign. His response was instant, ``Yes, absolutely.'' When I said I was making the announcement in an hour, he said, ``I'll be there.'' There was no hesitation, no concern that he was a lifelong Democrat, supporting a long-shot Republican candidate. He exemplified in the best way Ted Stevens' philosophy: To hell with politics, do what is right for Alaska. With Byron's help, I was able to make history by winning the second write-in campaign for U.S. Senate in the country's history. I don't know if I would have been successful without him. In 2014, Byron made history himself when he won the Democratic nomination for Governor of Alaska, then sacrificed his own ambition by joining with the Independent candidate for Governor to create a Unity Ticket. Byron agreed to serve as the candidate for Lieutenant Governor, with Bill Walker leading the ticket. Again, we did what he felt was right for Alaska, rather than his person political gain. The Unity Ticket won the 2014 election, but faced some serious challenges, with low oil prices and a tough deficit situation. The fiscal crisis unfortunately dominated the 4 years of the Walker-Mallott administration and created rough political seas for them to weather, necessitating some hard decisions. Through it all, Byron continued to do what he had always done, work for Alaska and Alaskans. In the end, Byron held himself strictly accountable, which is something few people do, especially in politics. A friend of mine, Dr. Rosita Worl, says that the Tlingit mourn the passing of a leader by noting, ``In our forest, a great tree has fallen.'' That is a fitting metaphor for Byron, who stood strong for decades, serving as both shelter and a guide for people in Alaska. Byron was a strong and proud man, not in a boastful way, but as a true leader whose passion allowed him to put all Alaskans first. His heart was Alaska, and mine is stronger for having been blessed to call him my friend. I will miss him. Alaska will miss him.	2020-01-06	Ms. MURKOWSKI	Senate	CREC-2020-06-25-pt1-PgS3307	null	886
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Murphy of Florida). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules on which the yeas and nays are ordered. The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later time.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Murphy of Florida)	House	CREC-2020-06-26-pt1-PgH2544	null	887
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Himes). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 51) to provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the Union, offered by the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Keller), on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The Clerk will redesignate the motion. The Clerk redesignated the motion.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Himes)	House	CREC-2020-06-26-pt1-PgH2555	null	888
formal	extremist	null	Islamophobic	Under clause 3 of rule XII, 176. The SPEAKER presented a memorial of the Senate of the State of Michigan, relative to Senate Resolution No. 122, to unequivocally condemn and denounce the violent actions of extremist organizations as unacceptable and to memorialize the Congress of the United States to redouble its efforts, using all available and appropriate tools, to combat the spread of all forms of domestic terrorism; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2020-06-26-pt1-PgH2593-3	null	889
formal	terrorism	null	Islamophobic	Under clause 3 of rule XII, 176. The SPEAKER presented a memorial of the Senate of the State of Michigan, relative to Senate Resolution No. 122, to unequivocally condemn and denounce the violent actions of extremist organizations as unacceptable and to memorialize the Congress of the United States to redouble its efforts, using all available and appropriate tools, to combat the spread of all forms of domestic terrorism; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2020-06-26-pt1-PgH2593-3	null	890
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 1425) to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to provide for a Improve Health Insurance Affordability Fund to provide for certain reinsurance payments to lower premiums in the individual health insurance market, offered by the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden), on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The Clerk will redesignate the motion. The Clerk redesignated the motion.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgH2664-2	null	891
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 5332) to amend the Fair Credit Reporting Act to ensure that consumer reporting agencies are providing fair and accurate information reporting in consumer reports, and for other purposes, offered by the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Riggleman), on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The Clerk will redesignate the motion. The Clerk redesignated the motion.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore	House	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgH2665	null	892
formal	XX	null	transphobic	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. DeGette). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on the bill (H.R. 7301) to prevent evictions, foreclosures, and unsafe housing conditions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, and for other purposes, offered by the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Huizenga), on which the yeas and nays were ordered. The Clerk will redesignate the motion. The Clerk redesignated the motion.	2020-01-06	The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. DeGette)	House	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgH2667	null	893
formal	Federal Reserve	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 4601. A letter from the OSD FRLO, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting the Department's final rule -- TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program Reforms [DOD-2018- HA-0062] (RIN: 0720-AB75) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Armed Services. 4602. A letter from the Congressional Assistant II, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's Major final rule -- Regulations Q, Y, and YY: Regulatory Capital, Capital Plan, and Stress Test Rules [Docket No.: R-1603] (RIN: 7100-AF02) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4603. A letter from the Congressional Assistant II, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's Major final rule -- Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity, Long-Term Debt, and Clean Holding Company Requirements for Systemically Important U.S. Bank Holding Companies and Intermediate Holding Companies of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations: Eligible Retained Income [Regulation YY; Docket No.: R-1706] (RIN: 7100-AF80) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4604. A letter from the Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Revised Transition of the Current Expected Credit Losses Methodology for Allowances; Correction (RIN: 3064-AF46) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4605. A letter from the Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Temporary Exclusion of U.S. Treasury Securities and Deposits at Federal Reserve Banks From the Supplementary Leverage Ratio for Depository Institutions (RIN: 3064-AF44) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4606. A letter from the General Counsel, Federal Housing Finance Agency, transmitting the Agency's Major final rule -- Federal Home Loan Bank Housing Goals Amendments (RIN: 2590- AA82) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4607. A letter from the Compliance Specialist, Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Fluctuating Workweek Method of Computing Overtime (RIN: 1235-AA31) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education and Labor. 4608. A letter from the Director, Regulations Policy and Management Staff, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Tobacco Products; Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements; Delayed Effective Date [Docket No.: FDA-2019-N-3065] (RIN: 0910-AI39) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4609. A letter from the Director, Regulations Policy and Management Staff, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Food Additives Permitted in Feed and Drinking Water of Animals; Silicon Dioxide [Docket No.: FDA-2019-F-3911] received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4610. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid (ACC); Temporary Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0367; FRL-10009-44] received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4611. A letter from the Program Analyst, Office of Managing Director, Performance Evaluation and Records Management, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate the Use of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating with Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in Frequency Bands Allocated to the Fixed Satellite Service [IB Docket No.: 17- 95]; Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion with Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations [IB Docket No: 18-315] received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4612. A letter from the Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Bureau of Indian Affairs/ Indian Education, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Standards, Assessments, and Accountability System [190D0102DR/DS5A300000/ DR.5A311.IA000119] (RIN: 1076-AF13) received June 12, 2020, 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. 4613. A letter from the Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Tribal Transportation Program; Inventory of Proposed Roads [201A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G] (RIN: 1076-AF45) received June 12, 2020, 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. 4614. A letter from the Agency Representative, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Patent Term Adjustment Reductions in View of the Federal Circuit Decision in Supernus Pharm., Inc. v. Iancu. [Docket No.: PTO-P-2019- 0019] (RIN: 0651-AD38) received June 12, 2020, 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. 4615. A letter from the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Disclosure of Information in Litigation received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Homeland Security.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgH2671-4	null	894
formal	the Fed	null	antisemitic	Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from the Speaker's table and referred as follows: 4601. A letter from the OSD FRLO, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense, transmitting the Department's final rule -- TRICARE Pharmacy Benefits Program Reforms [DOD-2018- HA-0062] (RIN: 0720-AB75) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Armed Services. 4602. A letter from the Congressional Assistant II, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's Major final rule -- Regulations Q, Y, and YY: Regulatory Capital, Capital Plan, and Stress Test Rules [Docket No.: R-1603] (RIN: 7100-AF02) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4603. A letter from the Congressional Assistant II, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's Major final rule -- Total Loss-Absorbing Capacity, Long-Term Debt, and Clean Holding Company Requirements for Systemically Important U.S. Bank Holding Companies and Intermediate Holding Companies of Systemically Important Foreign Banking Organizations: Eligible Retained Income [Regulation YY; Docket No.: R-1706] (RIN: 7100-AF80) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4604. A letter from the Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Revised Transition of the Current Expected Credit Losses Methodology for Allowances; Correction (RIN: 3064-AF46) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4605. A letter from the Director, Office of Legislative Affairs, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's final rule -- Regulatory Capital Rule: Temporary Exclusion of U.S. Treasury Securities and Deposits at Federal Reserve Banks From the Supplementary Leverage Ratio for Depository Institutions (RIN: 3064-AF44) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4606. A letter from the General Counsel, Federal Housing Finance Agency, transmitting the Agency's Major final rule -- Federal Home Loan Bank Housing Goals Amendments (RIN: 2590- AA82) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Financial Services. 4607. A letter from the Compliance Specialist, Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor, transmitting the Department's Major final rule -- Fluctuating Workweek Method of Computing Overtime (RIN: 1235-AA31) received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Education and Labor. 4608. A letter from the Director, Regulations Policy and Management Staff, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Tobacco Products; Required Warnings for Cigarette Packages and Advertisements; Delayed Effective Date [Docket No.: FDA-2019-N-3065] (RIN: 0910-AI39) received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4609. A letter from the Director, Regulations Policy and Management Staff, Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Food Additives Permitted in Feed and Drinking Water of Animals; Silicon Dioxide [Docket No.: FDA-2019-F-3911] received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4610. A letter from the Director, Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's final rule -- 1-Aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic Acid (ACC); Temporary Exemption from the Requirement of a Tolerance [EPA-HQ-OPP-2019-0367; FRL-10009-44] received June 11, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104- 121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4611. A letter from the Program Analyst, Office of Managing Director, Performance Evaluation and Records Management, International Bureau, Federal Communications Commission, transmitting the Commission's final rule -- Amendment of Parts 2 and 25 of the Commission's Rules to Facilitate the Use of Earth Stations in Motion Communicating with Geostationary Orbit Space Stations in Frequency Bands Allocated to the Fixed Satellite Service [IB Docket No.: 17- 95]; Facilitating the Communications of Earth Stations in Motion with Non-Geostationary Orbit Space Stations [IB Docket No: 18-315] received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. 4612. A letter from the Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Bureau of Indian Affairs/ Indian Education, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Standards, Assessments, and Accountability System [190D0102DR/DS5A300000/ DR.5A311.IA000119] (RIN: 1076-AF13) received June 12, 2020, 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. 4613. A letter from the Director, Office of Regulatory Affairs and Collaborative Action, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Tribal Transportation Program; Inventory of Proposed Roads [201A2100DD/AAKC001030/A0A501010.999900 253G] (RIN: 1076-AF45) received June 12, 2020, 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. 4614. A letter from the Agency Representative, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Patent Term Adjustment Reductions in View of the Federal Circuit Decision in Supernus Pharm., Inc. v. Iancu. [Docket No.: PTO-P-2019- 0019] (RIN: 0651-AD38) received June 12, 2020, 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. 4615. A letter from the Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, transmitting the Department's final rule -- Disclosure of Information in Litigation received June 12, 2020, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 801(a)(1)(A); Public Law 104-121, Sec. 251; (110 Stat. 868); to the Committee on Homeland Security.	2020-01-06	Unknown	House	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgH2671-4	null	895
formal	terrorist	null	Islamophobic	Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on a completely different matter, on Thursday I noted that in recent weeks the Air Force has scrambled jets to intercept intrusions by Russian military aircraft near U.S. airspace in Alaska. Well, on Saturday it happened again. According to the Defense Department, Russian reconnaissance planes entered the Alaska Air Defense Identification Zone and lingered for 8 hours. Obviously, this is just the latest in a series of escalations from Putin's regime. Meanwhile, China has resumed its submarine intrusions into Japanese contiguous zones and picked deadly fights with India at high altitude. North Korea State media has stepped up its unhinged, anti-American rhetoric, reportedly declaring over the weekend that nuclear war was ``the only option left.'' And Iran has issued a warrant for the arrest of the President of the United States because we took the mullahs' top terrorist off the battlefield back in January. Our adversaries are as intent as ever on undermining peace; disrupting commerce; and threatening American citizens, our interests, and our allies wherever and whenever possible. So this year's National Defense Authorization Act is as urgent and important as it has been for 60 consecutive years. Thanks to Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed, the legislation we will consider is already the product of exhaustive bipartisan effort. It includes 229 bipartisan amendments adopted by our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee. It may include more amendments before we finish with it here on the floor. But the primary missions of the legislation are already clear. On the homefront, it will increase pay for servicemembers; reform the military housing and healthcare systems; and increase transparency in Pentagon budgeting, hiring, and acquisition. Around the world, it will make clear our commitments to our allies in Europe and the Pacific, invest in key technologies from biotechnology to hypersonics, and make sure that our men and women in uniform have the tools to remain the greatest fighting force in world history. I am grateful to our committee colleagues for giving the Senate the opportunity to set strong priorities for our national defense. Our job now is to follow their example, work together in a bipartisan way, and pass the NDAA on behalf of our men and women in uniform and the Nation they protect.	2020-01-06	Mr. McCONNELL	Senate	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgS3628	null	896
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this morning, the Supreme Court struck down a Louisiana law that would have restricted abortion providers so severely that Louisiana would have been left with only a single clinic. These types of laws have popped up in State after State as a backdoor means of banning abortions--if not in law then in practice--an insidious campaign to undermine the rights of women to make their own medical decisions. Today's ruling is a thunderbolt of justice for millions of American women who were at risk of having their constitutional rights invalidated by a reactionary State legislature, as there are many throughout the country. After surprising but very welcome rulings on DACA and LGBTQ rights 2 weeks ago, the Supreme Court has once again made the right decision. The Supreme Court is entering Buffalo Springfield, territory: ``There's something happening here.'' Truthfully, today's ruling should not have been a surprise. The Louisiana law violated the Court's precedent. In 2016, the Court struck down a Texas law that was virtually identical to the one in Louisiana. The newest addition to the Supreme Court, however, despite promising the Senate that he would respect precedent, dissented from the majority's ruling today. Justice Kavanaugh told Senators he believed Roe v. Wade to be settled law, but in the very first ruling on a related issue, he decided that the Court's precedent was wrong, and Roe v. Wade could be greatly undermined. Thankfully, Kavanaugh's view was not in the majority. Today, America can breathe a sigh of relief that the Supreme Court kept the floodgates firmly shut against this particular attempt to nullify the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgS3629-2	null	897
formal	blue	null	antisemitic	Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, finally, on COVID-19, unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to surge in several States. Florida, Texas, and Arizona are reporting new highs in case numbers. Last Friday, there were 45,000 new cases nationwide--the most in a single day. As the public health crisis continues, our country is facing one of the greatest economic challenges since the Great Depression. Over one-fifth of the workforce has requested unemployment assistance. State and local Tribal governments are on life support and have laid off over 1.6 million workers. Our perennially underfunded schools are fighting an uphill battle to prepare for the fall. As Americans struggle to make rent payments and face potential evictions, as our healthcare and childcare systems face unprecedented burdens, Senate Republicans have been missing in action. Senate Republicans equal MIA. Over a month ago, Leader McConnell said that Senate the Republicans ``have yet to feel the urgency of acting immediately.'' It seems like he really meant it. It has been nearly 3 months since we passed the CARES Act on a bipartisan basis, 96 to 0, and over 45 days since the House passed the Heroes Act--legislation that would deliver sorely needed resources to States, essential workers, American families, and our healthcare system, but Leader McConnell continues to say that Republicans ``need to assess the conditions in the country'' and insists thatany future emergency relief bill will be written in his office. Assess the conditions of the country when we have more unemployment than any time since the Great Depression? When a pandemic is killing tens of thousands of Americans monthly, ignore that and assess the conditions? And then for Leader McConnell to say the bill will be written in his office, has he learned any lessons on COVID 2, COVID 3, COVID 3.5, the Justice in Policing Act? When you try to do something major on a partisan basis, nothing happens, and America desperately needs something to happen. Leader McConnell knows he has to negotiate if he wants to pass legislation. He has been around here a long time. He knows that. His refusal to engage in bipartisan talks on policing reform shows that maybe our Republican friends are not interested in passing bipartisan legislation, but that is what needs to happen--bipartisan negotiations on policing reform and bipartisan negotiations on COVID. This morning, Speaker Pelosi and I sent a letter to Leader McConnell urging him to join Democrats at the negotiating table for the next round of COVID-19 relief legislation. We are on the precipice of several deadlines: For millions upon millions of Americans, another rent payment is due this week. States are planning their budgets right now before the new fiscal year on July 1. The emergency boost in unemployment will run out by the end of next month. This week, Senate Democrats will force action on the floor on some of the most urgently needed measures to help working Americans, starting this evening, when Democrats will ask consent to pass crucial Federal support for State, local, and Tribal governments. I will have more to say about this issue this evening, but I do want my Republican colleagues to hear the words of State and local officials across the country. Today, the Big 7 national associations representing Governors, mayors, State legislatures, counties, and city managers--all bipartisan groups, with many Republican Members coming from the deepest red States to the darkest blue--wrote the Senate a letter pleading--pleading for Federal support and warning of dire consequences of delay. These are the seven organizations representing Governors and legislatures and counties and towns and cities. Here is what they write: Previous federal bills responding to COVID-19 provided important support . . . yet none allow for the replacement of billions of lost revenue due to COVID-19. More robust and direct stimulus is needed for State and local governments to both rebuild the economy and maintain essential services in education, health care, emergency operations, public safety and more. Months have gone by and our communities continue to suffer. Americans have a history of standing together in times of crisis and must do so now. Republican colleagues, please listen to those words. Leader McConnell, please listen. These are your own States that are included here. They are demanding relief. To say we still don't see an urgent need, to say maybe we will get around to it in a month, to say the legislation will be written in McConnell's office--all setting up for failure and the desperately needed lack of relief that America needs. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgS3629-4	null	898
formal	single	null	homophobic	Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, finally, on COVID-19, unfortunately, COVID-19 continues to surge in several States. Florida, Texas, and Arizona are reporting new highs in case numbers. Last Friday, there were 45,000 new cases nationwide--the most in a single day. As the public health crisis continues, our country is facing one of the greatest economic challenges since the Great Depression. Over one-fifth of the workforce has requested unemployment assistance. State and local Tribal governments are on life support and have laid off over 1.6 million workers. Our perennially underfunded schools are fighting an uphill battle to prepare for the fall. As Americans struggle to make rent payments and face potential evictions, as our healthcare and childcare systems face unprecedented burdens, Senate Republicans have been missing in action. Senate Republicans equal MIA. Over a month ago, Leader McConnell said that Senate the Republicans ``have yet to feel the urgency of acting immediately.'' It seems like he really meant it. It has been nearly 3 months since we passed the CARES Act on a bipartisan basis, 96 to 0, and over 45 days since the House passed the Heroes Act--legislation that would deliver sorely needed resources to States, essential workers, American families, and our healthcare system, but Leader McConnell continues to say that Republicans ``need to assess the conditions in the country'' and insists thatany future emergency relief bill will be written in his office. Assess the conditions of the country when we have more unemployment than any time since the Great Depression? When a pandemic is killing tens of thousands of Americans monthly, ignore that and assess the conditions? And then for Leader McConnell to say the bill will be written in his office, has he learned any lessons on COVID 2, COVID 3, COVID 3.5, the Justice in Policing Act? When you try to do something major on a partisan basis, nothing happens, and America desperately needs something to happen. Leader McConnell knows he has to negotiate if he wants to pass legislation. He has been around here a long time. He knows that. His refusal to engage in bipartisan talks on policing reform shows that maybe our Republican friends are not interested in passing bipartisan legislation, but that is what needs to happen--bipartisan negotiations on policing reform and bipartisan negotiations on COVID. This morning, Speaker Pelosi and I sent a letter to Leader McConnell urging him to join Democrats at the negotiating table for the next round of COVID-19 relief legislation. We are on the precipice of several deadlines: For millions upon millions of Americans, another rent payment is due this week. States are planning their budgets right now before the new fiscal year on July 1. The emergency boost in unemployment will run out by the end of next month. This week, Senate Democrats will force action on the floor on some of the most urgently needed measures to help working Americans, starting this evening, when Democrats will ask consent to pass crucial Federal support for State, local, and Tribal governments. I will have more to say about this issue this evening, but I do want my Republican colleagues to hear the words of State and local officials across the country. Today, the Big 7 national associations representing Governors, mayors, State legislatures, counties, and city managers--all bipartisan groups, with many Republican Members coming from the deepest red States to the darkest blue--wrote the Senate a letter pleading--pleading for Federal support and warning of dire consequences of delay. These are the seven organizations representing Governors and legislatures and counties and towns and cities. Here is what they write: Previous federal bills responding to COVID-19 provided important support . . . yet none allow for the replacement of billions of lost revenue due to COVID-19. More robust and direct stimulus is needed for State and local governments to both rebuild the economy and maintain essential services in education, health care, emergency operations, public safety and more. Months have gone by and our communities continue to suffer. Americans have a history of standing together in times of crisis and must do so now. Republican colleagues, please listen to those words. Leader McConnell, please listen. These are your own States that are included here. They are demanding relief. To say we still don't see an urgent need, to say maybe we will get around to it in a month, to say the legislation will be written in McConnell's office--all setting up for failure and the desperately needed lack of relief that America needs. I yield the floor.	2020-01-06	Mr. SCHUMER	Senate	CREC-2020-06-29-pt1-PgS3629-4	null	899

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.