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06/15/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2964-7 | nan | nan | The following communications were laid before the Senate, together
with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as
indicated:
EC-4302. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Threatened Species Status for Streaked Horned Lark with
Section 4(d) Rule'' (RIN1018-BE76) received in the Office of
the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee
on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4303. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Revision of the Critical Habitat Designation for the Jaguar
in Compliance With a Court Order'' (RIN1018-AX13) received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4304. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Threatened Species Status with Section 4(d) Rule for Panama
City Crayfish and Designation of Critical Habitat''
((RIN1018-BC14) (RIN1018-BD50)) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4305. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Adding Rice's Whale to and Updating Three Humpback Whale
Entries on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife''
(RIN1018-BG58) received in the Office of the President of the
Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works.
EC-4306. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Designation of Critical Habitat for Big Sandy Crayfish and
Guyandotte River Crayfish'' (RIN1018-BE19) received in the
Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4307. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Endangered Species Status for Peppered Chub and Designation
of Critical Habitat'' (RIN1018-BD29) received in the Office
of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4308. A communication from the Senior Wildlife
Inspector, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``2022 Inflation Adjustments for Civil Monetary
Penalties'' (RIN1018-BF67) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4309. A communication from the Regulations Officer,
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled
``National Bridge Inspection Standards'' (RIN2125-AF55)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
8, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4310. A communication from the Regulations Officer,
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled
``Diversion of Highway Revenues; Removal of Obsolete
Regulation'' (RIN2125-AG04) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4311. A communication from the Supervisor, Human
Resources Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, nine (9) reports
relative to vacancies in the Environmental Protection Agency,
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May
26, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4312. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: RFS Annual
Rules'' ((RIN2060-AV11) (FRL No. 8521-01-OAR)) received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4313. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``ILLINOIS: Final Authorization of State Hazardous
Waste Management Program Revisions'' (FRL No. 9898-01-R5)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4314. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality
Implementation Plans; Delaware; Removal of Stage II Gasoline
Vapor Recovery Program Requirements and Revision of Stage I
Gasoline Vapor Recovery Program Requirements'' (FRL No. 9701-
01-R3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate
on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4315. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Redesignation of the Ohio
portion of the Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky Area to Attainment
of the 2015 Ozone Standard'' (FRL No. 9532-02-R5) received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4316. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Maryland; Nonattainment New
Source Review Requirements for 2015 8-Hour Ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standard'' (FRL No. 9465-02-R3) received
in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022;
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4317. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; California; Mojave Desert Air
Quality Management District, Placer County Air Pollution
Control District; Correcting Amendment'' (FRL No. 9453-02-R9)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4318. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; California; San Joaquin Valley
Unified Air Pollution Control District; Open Burning'' (FRL
No. 9246-02-R9) received in the Office of the President of
the Senate on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works.
EC-4319. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Determination to Defer Sanctions; Air Plan
Approval; California; San Diego County Air Pollution Control
District'' (FRL No. 9870-03-R9) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4320. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
New York; Ozone and Particulate Matter Controls Strategies''
(FRL No. 9439-02-R2) received in the Office of the President
of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4321. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
Montana; Thompson Falls PM10 Nonattainment Area Limited
Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request'' (FRL No. 9579-
02-R8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate
on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4322. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
Montana; Whitefish PM10 Nonattainment Area Limited
Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request'' (FRL No. 9595-
02-R8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate
on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4323. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Kentucky; Source Specific
Changes for Jefferson County'' (FRL No . 9775-02-R4) received
in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022;
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4324. A communication from the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to
law, a report entitled ``Stormwater Infrastructure Funding
and Financing'' ; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4325. A communication from the Senior Policy Regulatory
Coordinator, Administration for Children and Families,
Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting,
pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Paternity
Establishment Percentage Performance Relief'' (RIN0970-AC85)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
9, 2022; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4326. A communication from the Chairman, Medicare
Payment Advisory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report entitled ``June 2022 Report to the Congress: Medicare
and the Health Care Delivery System'' ; to the Committee on
Finance.
EC-4327. A communication from the Commissioner, Social
Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to OMB M-22-
08, a determination that the Administration does not
administer any financial assistance programs for
infrastructure as defined under the Act; to the Committee on
Finance.
EC-4328. 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 ``Treatment of Amounts
Paid to Section 170(c) Organizations under Employer Leave-
Based Donation Programs to Aid Victims of the Further Russian
Invasion of Ukraine'' (Notice 2022-28) received in the Office
of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Finance.
EC-4329. 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 ``Extension of
Temporary Relief from the Physical Presence Requirement
Through December 31, 2022, for Spousal Consents Under
Qualified Retirement Plans'' (Notice 2022-27) received in the
Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Finance.
EC-4330. A communication from the Board of Trustees of the
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Funds, transmitting, pursuant to
law, the Board's 2022 Annual Report; to the Committee on
Finance.
EC-4331. A communication from the Board of Trustees of the
Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical
Insurance Trust Funds, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Board's 2022 Annual Report; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4332. A communication from the Secretary of the Senate,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of the receipts and
expenditures of the Senate for the period from October 1,
2021 through March 31, 2022, received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 15, 2022; ordered to lie on
the table.
EC-4333. A communication from the Secretary of Commerce,
transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to actions
that the President has taken concerning Federal recognition
of an international exposition; to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
EC-4334. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official,
Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting,
pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Determination Under
Sections 506(a) (1) and 614(a) (1) of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 to Provide Military Assistance to Ukraine''; to
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
EC-4335. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official,
Office of Legislative Affairs, Department of State,
transmitting, pursuant to law, a notification of intent to
provide military assistance to Ukraine, including for self-
defense and border security operations; to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
EC-4336. A communication from the Acting Assistant
Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration,
Department of Labor, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
report of a rule entitled ``Annual Information Return/
Reports'' (RIN1210-AB97) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
EC-4337. A communication from the Chairman, Federal
Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Commission's Semiannual Report of the Inspector General and a
Management Report for the period from October 1, 2021 through
March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4338. A communication from the Secretary of
Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Department's fiscal year 2021 annual report relative to the
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and
Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4339. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for
Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's Semiannual
Report of the Inspector General for the period from October
1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4340. 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, 2021 through March 31,
2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
EC-4341. A communication from the Chair of the Federal
Trade Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Commission's Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for
the period from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 and
the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the report; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4342. A communication from the Deputy Secretary of
Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's
Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period
from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4343. A communication from the Secretary of Labor,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's Semiannual
Report of the Inspector General for the period from October
1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4344. A communication from the Director of
Congressional Affairs, Federal Election Commission,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commission's Semiannual
Report of the Inspector General for the period from October
1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4345. A communication from the Chairman of the Railroad
Retirement Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Board's
Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period
from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4346. A communication from the Secretary of Labor,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation's Office of Inspector General's Semiannual Report
to Congress and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Management's Response for the period from October 1, 2021
through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4347. A communication from the Chairman, National
Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak, transmitting,
pursuant to law, the Inspector General's Semiannual Report to
Congress for the period from October 1, 2021 through March
31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4348. A communication from the Administrator,
Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to
law, the Agency's Semiannual Report of the Office of
Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2021 through
March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4349. A communication from the Commissioner of the
Social Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to
law, the Administration's Semiannual Report of the Inspector
General for the period from October 1, 2021 through March 31,
2022 and the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the report;
to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
EC-4350. A joint communication from the Chairman and the
General Counsel, National Labor Relations Board,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Office of Inspector
General Semiannual Report for the period of October 1, 2021
through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4351. A communication from the Director, Office of
Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Office of Inspector General's Semiannual Report and the
Management Response for the period of October 1, 2021 through
March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4352. A communication from the Associate General
Counsel for General Law, Department of Homeland Security,
transmitting, pursuant to law, two (2) reports relative to
vacancies in the Department of Homeland Security, received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 6, 2022; to
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4353. A communication from the Director, Office of
Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President,
transmitting, Government-wide legislative proposals to
strengthen the agility and efficiency of Federal acquisition
processes while increasing use of products and construction
materials made in America; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4354. A communication from the Chairman of the Council
of the District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report on D.C. Act 24-434, ``Fiscal Year 2022 Revised Local
Budget Adjustment Temporary Act of 2022''; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4355. A communication from the Chairman of the Council
of the District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report on D.C. Act 24-435, ``Removal and Disposition of
Abandoned and Other Unlawfully Parked Vehicles Reform
Amendment Act of 2022''; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4356. A communication from the Chairman of the Council
of the District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report on D.C. Act 24-436, ``Department of Motor Vehicles
Extension of Deadlines Amendment Act of 2022''; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
| Federal Reserve | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2964-7 | nan | nan | The following communications were laid before the Senate, together
with accompanying papers, reports, and documents, and were referred as
indicated:
EC-4302. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Threatened Species Status for Streaked Horned Lark with
Section 4(d) Rule'' (RIN1018-BE76) received in the Office of
the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee
on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4303. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Revision of the Critical Habitat Designation for the Jaguar
in Compliance With a Court Order'' (RIN1018-AX13) received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4304. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Threatened Species Status with Section 4(d) Rule for Panama
City Crayfish and Designation of Critical Habitat''
((RIN1018-BC14) (RIN1018-BD50)) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4305. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Adding Rice's Whale to and Updating Three Humpback Whale
Entries on the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife''
(RIN1018-BG58) received in the Office of the President of the
Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and
Public Works.
EC-4306. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Designation of Critical Habitat for Big Sandy Crayfish and
Guyandotte River Crayfish'' (RIN1018-BE19) received in the
Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4307. A communication from the Chief of Domestic
Listing, Fish and Wildlife Services, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants;
Endangered Species Status for Peppered Chub and Designation
of Critical Habitat'' (RIN1018-BD29) received in the Office
of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4308. A communication from the Senior Wildlife
Inspector, Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the
Interior, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``2022 Inflation Adjustments for Civil Monetary
Penalties'' (RIN1018-BF67) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4309. A communication from the Regulations Officer,
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled
``National Bridge Inspection Standards'' (RIN2125-AF55)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
8, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4310. A communication from the Regulations Officer,
Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled
``Diversion of Highway Revenues; Removal of Obsolete
Regulation'' (RIN2125-AG04) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4311. A communication from the Supervisor, Human
Resources Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, nine (9) reports
relative to vacancies in the Environmental Protection Agency,
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on May
26, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4312. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) Program: RFS Annual
Rules'' ((RIN2060-AV11) (FRL No. 8521-01-OAR)) received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4313. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``ILLINOIS: Final Authorization of State Hazardous
Waste Management Program Revisions'' (FRL No. 9898-01-R5)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4314. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Air Quality
Implementation Plans; Delaware; Removal of Stage II Gasoline
Vapor Recovery Program Requirements and Revision of Stage I
Gasoline Vapor Recovery Program Requirements'' (FRL No. 9701-
01-R3) received in the Office of the President of the Senate
on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4315. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Ohio; Redesignation of the Ohio
portion of the Cincinnati, Ohio-Kentucky Area to Attainment
of the 2015 Ozone Standard'' (FRL No. 9532-02-R5) received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to
the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4316. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Maryland; Nonattainment New
Source Review Requirements for 2015 8-Hour Ozone National
Ambient Air Quality Standard'' (FRL No. 9465-02-R3) received
in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022;
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4317. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; California; Mojave Desert Air
Quality Management District, Placer County Air Pollution
Control District; Correcting Amendment'' (FRL No. 9453-02-R9)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4318. A communication from the Acting Director of the
Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; California; San Joaquin Valley
Unified Air Pollution Control District; Open Burning'' (FRL
No. 9246-02-R9) received in the Office of the President of
the Senate on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment
and Public Works.
EC-4319. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Determination to Defer Sanctions; Air Plan
Approval; California; San Diego County Air Pollution Control
District'' (FRL No. 9870-03-R9) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4320. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
New York; Ozone and Particulate Matter Controls Strategies''
(FRL No. 9439-02-R2) received in the Office of the President
of the Senate on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on
Environment and Public Works.
EC-4321. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
Montana; Thompson Falls PM10 Nonattainment Area Limited
Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request'' (FRL No. 9579-
02-R8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate
on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4322. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Approval and Promulgation of Implementation Plans;
Montana; Whitefish PM10 Nonattainment Area Limited
Maintenance Plan and Redesignation Request'' (FRL No. 9595-
02-R8) received in the Office of the President of the Senate
on June 7, 2022; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4323. A communication from the Associate Director of
the Regulatory Management Division, Environmental Protection
Agency, transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of a rule
entitled ``Air Plan Approval; Kentucky; Source Specific
Changes for Jefferson County'' (FRL No . 9775-02-R4) received
in the Office of the President of the Senate on June 7, 2022;
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
EC-4324. A communication from the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to
law, a report entitled ``Stormwater Infrastructure Funding
and Financing'' ; to the Committee on Environment and Public
Works.
EC-4325. A communication from the Senior Policy Regulatory
Coordinator, Administration for Children and Families,
Department of Health and Human Services, transmitting,
pursuant to law, the report of a rule entitled ``Paternity
Establishment Percentage Performance Relief'' (RIN0970-AC85)
received in the Office of the President of the Senate on June
9, 2022; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4326. A communication from the Chairman, Medicare
Payment Advisory Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report entitled ``June 2022 Report to the Congress: Medicare
and the Health Care Delivery System'' ; to the Committee on
Finance.
EC-4327. A communication from the Commissioner, Social
Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to OMB M-22-
08, a determination that the Administration does not
administer any financial assistance programs for
infrastructure as defined under the Act; to the Committee on
Finance.
EC-4328. 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 ``Treatment of Amounts
Paid to Section 170(c) Organizations under Employer Leave-
Based Donation Programs to Aid Victims of the Further Russian
Invasion of Ukraine'' (Notice 2022-28) received in the Office
of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Finance.
EC-4329. 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 ``Extension of
Temporary Relief from the Physical Presence Requirement
Through December 31, 2022, for Spousal Consents Under
Qualified Retirement Plans'' (Notice 2022-27) received in the
Office of the President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the
Committee on Finance.
EC-4330. A communication from the Board of Trustees of the
Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Federal
Disability Insurance Trust Funds, transmitting, pursuant to
law, the Board's 2022 Annual Report; to the Committee on
Finance.
EC-4331. A communication from the Board of Trustees of the
Federal Hospital Insurance and Federal Supplementary Medical
Insurance Trust Funds, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Board's 2022 Annual Report; to the Committee on Finance.
EC-4332. A communication from the Secretary of the Senate,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the report of the receipts and
expenditures of the Senate for the period from October 1,
2021 through March 31, 2022, received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 15, 2022; ordered to lie on
the table.
EC-4333. A communication from the Secretary of Commerce,
transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to actions
that the President has taken concerning Federal recognition
of an international exposition; to the Committee on Foreign
Relations.
EC-4334. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official,
Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting,
pursuant to law, a report entitled ``Determination Under
Sections 506(a) (1) and 614(a) (1) of the Foreign Assistance
Act of 1961 to Provide Military Assistance to Ukraine''; to
the Committee on Foreign Relations.
EC-4335. A communication from the Senior Bureau Official,
Office of Legislative Affairs, Department of State,
transmitting, pursuant to law, a notification of intent to
provide military assistance to Ukraine, including for self-
defense and border security operations; to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
EC-4336. A communication from the Acting Assistant
Secretary, Employee Benefits Security Administration,
Department of Labor, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
report of a rule entitled ``Annual Information Return/
Reports'' (RIN1210-AB97) received in the Office of the
President of the Senate on June 8, 2022; to the Committee on
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
EC-4337. A communication from the Chairman, Federal
Maritime Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Commission's Semiannual Report of the Inspector General and a
Management Report for the period from October 1, 2021 through
March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4338. A communication from the Secretary of
Transportation, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Department's fiscal year 2021 annual report relative to the
Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and
Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act); to the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4339. A communication from the Assistant Secretary for
Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's Semiannual
Report of the Inspector General for the period from October
1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4340. 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, 2021 through March 31,
2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
EC-4341. A communication from the Chair of the Federal
Trade Commission, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Commission's Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for
the period from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022 and
the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the report; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4342. A communication from the Deputy Secretary of
Defense, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's
Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period
from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4343. A communication from the Secretary of Labor,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Department's Semiannual
Report of the Inspector General for the period from October
1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4344. A communication from the Director of
Congressional Affairs, Federal Election Commission,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Commission's Semiannual
Report of the Inspector General for the period from October
1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4345. A communication from the Chairman of the Railroad
Retirement Board, transmitting, pursuant to law, the Board's
Semiannual Report of the Inspector General for the period
from October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4346. A communication from the Secretary of Labor,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation's Office of Inspector General's Semiannual Report
to Congress and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
Management's Response for the period from October 1, 2021
through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4347. A communication from the Chairman, National
Railroad Passenger Corporation, Amtrak, transmitting,
pursuant to law, the Inspector General's Semiannual Report to
Congress for the period from October 1, 2021 through March
31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4348. A communication from the Administrator,
Environmental Protection Agency, transmitting, pursuant to
law, the Agency's Semiannual Report of the Office of
Inspector General for the period from October 1, 2021 through
March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4349. A communication from the Commissioner of the
Social Security Administration, transmitting, pursuant to
law, the Administration's Semiannual Report of the Inspector
General for the period from October 1, 2021 through March 31,
2022 and the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the report;
to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental
Affairs.
EC-4350. A joint communication from the Chairman and the
General Counsel, National Labor Relations Board,
transmitting, pursuant to law, the Office of Inspector
General Semiannual Report for the period of October 1, 2021
through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security
and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4351. A communication from the Director, Office of
Personnel Management, transmitting, pursuant to law, the
Office of Inspector General's Semiannual Report and the
Management Response for the period of October 1, 2021 through
March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
EC-4352. A communication from the Associate General
Counsel for General Law, Department of Homeland Security,
transmitting, pursuant to law, two (2) reports relative to
vacancies in the Department of Homeland Security, received in
the Office of the President of the Senate on June 6, 2022; to
the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4353. A communication from the Director, Office of
Management and Budget, Executive Office of the President,
transmitting, Government-wide legislative proposals to
strengthen the agility and efficiency of Federal acquisition
processes while increasing use of products and construction
materials made in America; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4354. A communication from the Chairman of the Council
of the District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report on D.C. Act 24-434, ``Fiscal Year 2022 Revised Local
Budget Adjustment Temporary Act of 2022''; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4355. A communication from the Chairman of the Council
of the District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report on D.C. Act 24-435, ``Removal and Disposition of
Abandoned and Other Unlawfully Parked Vehicles Reform
Amendment Act of 2022''; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
EC-4356. A communication from the Chairman of the Council
of the District of Columbia, transmitting, pursuant to law, a
report on D.C. Act 24-436, ``Department of Motor Vehicles
Extension of Deadlines Amendment Act of 2022''; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2968-2 | nan | nan | At the request of Mr. Johnson, the name of the Senator from South
Carolina (Mr. Graham) was added as a cosponsor of S. 111, a bill to
establish the Federal Clearinghouse on School Safety Best Practices,
and for other purposes.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2972 | nan | nan | 23, 2022, AS ``NATIONAL PELL GRANT DAY''
Mrs. MURRAY (for herself and Mr. Blunt) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Health, Education,
Labor, and Pensions:
S. Res. 676
Whereas June 23 is the 50th anniversary of the signing of
the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-318, 86
Stat. 235) by President Richard Nixon;
Whereas that Act established within the Higher Education
Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001 et seq.) the Basic Educational
Opportunity Grant, later named the Federal Pell Grant
(commonly known as the ``Pell Grant'') in honor of its
sponsor Senator Claiborne Pell;
Whereas, 50 years ago, Senator Pell stated that ``for it's
through this Act that the dream of access, and opportunity
for college education becomes a reality. It's in this Act
that we say a lack of financial wealth should not, and will
not, stand in the way of a person who has the talent, the
desire and the drive to reach out for a college education.'';
Whereas, today, the Pell Grant program, which helps low-
income students pursue higher education goals, maintains
bipartisan support in Congress and with the public;
Whereas, each year, Pell Grants help nearly 7,000,000
students, approximately 40 percent of undergraduate students,
pursue and succeed in higher education;
Whereas Pell Grants help students from all 50 States, the
District of Columbia, and the territories of the United
States and from rural areas to cities to everywhere in
between;
Whereas the Pell Grant program is well-targeted to meet the
needs of students with demonstrated financial need, with the
vast majority of Pell Grant recipients having family incomes
of $40,000 or less;
Whereas extensive research shows that the Pell Grant
program increases college enrollment and completion among
low- and moderate-income students;
Whereas Pell Grants are critical for students from
historically underrepresented backgrounds, including 58
percent of Black students, 47 percent of Hispanic students,
51 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native students, 48
percent of first-generation students, 52 percent of students
who are parents, and 39 percent of students who are veterans
of the Armed Forces;
Whereas each eligible student may use a Pell Grant at the
institution of their choice, which includes public, private,
2-year, and 4-year institutions;
Whereas the Pell Grant program is a proven investment to
boost future economic mobility, with college graduates paying
more in taxes and earning more in after-tax income than high
school graduates; and
Whereas, over the past 50 years, the Pell Grant program has
helped more than 80,000,000 students in the United States:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Federal Pell
Grant program on June 23, 2022;
(2) expresses support for the designation of June 23 as
``National Pell Grant Day''; and
(3) encourages the people of the United States to celebrate
National Pell Grant Day by--
(A) recognizing the more than 80,000,000 individual low-
and middle-income students who have benefitted from the
Federal Pell Grant program since its establishment; and
(B) celebrating the success stories of such students, and
ensuring the same access for future students.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Mr. SULLIVAN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2976-5 | nan | nan | Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, I am going to talk a little bit about
the bill that we have been debating here all week on the Senate floor,
the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our PACT Act of 2022.
Now, it is a very important bill. It is named after Sergeant First
Class Robinson, an Ohio National Guard soldier who died in 2022 as a
result of service-connected toxic exposure.
This bill that we are going to be voting for final passage on
tomorrow would deliver immediate access to healthcare for toxic-exposed
veterans, direct the VA to evaluate diseases for presumption of service
connection, and streamline the process for toxic-exposed veterans
seeking disability compensation for their illness that they gained
while serving overseas defending our Nation.
I have supported the intent of this bill for years, and I intend to
vote in favor of this bill tomorrow when it comes up for final passage.
There is nothing, in my mind, that is more important than taking care
of our veterans, but I do want to raise some concerns about how we got
to this point, the process of this bill, which, in my view, undermined
the likelihood of this massive new program being implemented in a way
that benefits all American veterans so we can take care of all American
veterans.
Let me explain. Since my time here in the Senate, I have focused on
these issues. I serve on the Veterans' Affairs Committee that was
responsible, in large measure, for many aspects of this bill. I serve
on the Armed Services Committee. I still serve in the military myself,
in the Marine Corps Reserves, and I am honored to represent the State
in our great Nation, Alaska, that has more veterans per capita than any
State in the country.
So veterans and military affairs and their families have been a core
focus of mine since I arrived in the Senate in 2015. And in particular,
I have been focused on this issue of toxic exposure of our service men
and women during wartime. In fact, one of my commitments as a candidate
for the U.S. Senate in 2014 was to work to ensure passage of the Blue
Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act, which I cosponsored when I got here
and was signed into law in 2019.
That was an outstanding commitment to our Vietnam veterans exposed to
Agent Orange during their time, but it was belatedly fulfilled--years,
even decades, after their service in Vietnam.
And I took lessons from that. As a matter of fact, I think many
Senators took lessons from that, that when the next generation of
veterans served overseas and were exposed to toxins during their
service, that we needed to act.
So that is what I have done in my career here. I have worked, taking
the Vietnam veteran experience, particularly with Agent Orange, to make
sure we don't repeat that--the mistakes of Agent Orange where those
exposed to toxic substances overseas during their service and later
came down with diseases and suffered, that we needed to take care of
them.
We know that toxic exposure during military service can add serious
complications to a veteran's health, years and even decades after their
service has concluded.
And there is science that can correlate certain diseases and symptoms
to exposure. That is the model that we want. Veterans suffering from
potential exposure understand too well that getting the VA to even
recognize and concede exposure can remain a challenging bureaucratic
and incredibly frustrating process that leads to denials often from the
bureaucracy.
So early in my time here, I have been a relentless advocate on these
issues. I will give you a few examples.
I introduced with Senator Manchin of West Virginia the Veterans Burn
Pits Exposure Recognition Act, which was previously passed out of
committee in the Veterans' Affairs Committee and enjoys broad
bipartisan support. Close to half of the Senate--Democrats and
Republicans--was cosponsors of our bill, and almost all of the Senate
Veterans' Affairs Committee were.
This bill would recognize and concede exposure to toxic substances
for those veterans who were deployed in areas where burn pits were in
use: in Iraq, in Afghanistan, in Uzbekistan--all of these different
areas and more.
This bill would do away with the paperwork that made it almost
impossible to prove exposure by these veterans. It put the onus on the
VA and that bureaucracy.
When crafting this bill with Senator Manchin, our offices worked
extensively with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and many of the
veterans service organizations, particularly the Disabled American
Veterans organization; and we worked with the VA on the language to
make sure we were not getting ahead of the science, making sure that
what was exposed and what were the diseases connect with science--not
always easy, but the VA does have expertise in that area.
I then cosponsored with Senator Blumenthal the K2 Veterans Advocacy
Act. This bill moved the needle on three things that are known
systematically now: that toxic substances at the base that we call K2
in Uzbekistan, the medical conditions that K2 veterans have--and they
are serious; something really bad was going on at the K2 base in
Uzbekistan--and the links between the two.
Now, we worked with the Trump White House before President Trump left
office in 2020, before our bill passed here on the Senate floor, to get
them to issue an Executive order for the VA to essentially do those
things for K2 veterans.
I introduced and had passed the bipartisan Burn Pits Accountability
Act with Senator Klobuchar, which directs the Pentagon to include
empirical health assessments and evaluation of whether a servicemember
has been exposed to open burn pits or toxic airborne chemicals in their
deployments. This bill was included in the fiscal year 2020 National
Defense Authorization Act.
And I sponsored the Pandemic Care For Burn Pits Exposure Act of 2020
to ensure that servicemembers and veterans with previous exposure to
burn pits received the care they needed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am listing these bills and the work and time and the bipartisan
nature of them because on the Veterans Affairs' Committee there has
been no issue I have been more focused on.
We are going to take the lessons from Vietnam, Agent Orange, and not
say: You are going to wait three or four or five decades while you die
of cancer.
And I am committed to this issue, and I have been. But I am also
committed to passing legislation that is worthy of all veterans that we
are serving. So I have had some reservations about the current bill and
the process by which it has come to the Senate floor, because the
process has thwarted opportunities to make this a better bill, to make
it serve our veterans in a better, holistic way.
And, again, this is an issue I have been focused on since my first
days in the U.S. Senate.
So what are the issues?
Well, as I mentioned, some of the things in there--a lot of the
things in this bill are very necessary. The bill that I just mentioned
that I cosponsored with Senator Manchin, the Veterans Burn Pits
Exposure Recognition Act, was incorporated into the PACT Act that we
will be voting on tomorrow, the Sergeant Robinson Honoring our PACT
Act.
In fact, many bipartisan bills from the Veterans' Affairs Committee
were included in this bill that we are going to be voting on tomorrow.
But ultimately, what we had going on in the Veterans' Affairs
Committee was an agreement that when we brought this big bill--and it
is big--to the Senate floor, we would have the ability to bring
amendments to try to improve it, to try to make it better for all
veterans in the entire VA system, a system that we know has challenges
implementing sweeping mandates from Congress.
This is a sweeping mandate from Congress that we are voting on. As I
mentioned, the issue of toxic exposure, which I have been focused on
since my first year here in the U.S. Senate, has always been a
bipartisan bill. Four bills I just mentioned that I have led on have
all had Democratic cosponsors leading with me as well. But what
happened this week and last week was the bipartisan nature of trying to
tackle one of the biggest issues facing our veterans was shut down. For
whatever reason, and I don't know why--somebody should ask the majority
leader--all the amendments that we were going to bring to the floor to
make this bill better were shut down. We have not had one amendment on
this comprehensive bill, and, like I said, a number of us have been
focused on this issue for years.
What were we trying to do with these amendments? We are trying to
make this a better bill. Bring your ideas to the floor, debate them,
vote on them. Why wouldn't we want to do that? Why wouldn't we want to
do that? Don't we owe it to all of our veterans to do that?
My primary concern, as I have mentioned, is making sure that not just
the constituency impacted by this legislation, which we need--those
exposed to toxic exposure primarily from burn pits are taken care of--
but that the whole VA system remains robust and strong. And I think
some of the amendments--I know some of the amendments that we were
going to bring--as a matter of fact, on the Veterans' Affairs Committee
there was a commitment to make sure we were bringing these amendments
to the floor--would have made this bill better.
What are the biggest concerns? Well, I pressed the Secretary of the
VA just yesterday in his testimony before the Veterans' Affairs
Committee on one of the biggest concerns I have and one of the biggest
concerns many Senators have and one of the biggest concerns our
Veterans' Affairs Committee has, and it is this: This bill that I will
be supporting tomorrow is estimated to bring an additional 2.5 million
claims to the VA--2.5 million.
My question to the Secretary was simple but really important: Mr.
Secretary, is the VA system ready to absorb the roughly 2\1/2\ million
additional claims that are likely to be generated in the next 3 years
by the PACT Act? Are you ready?
We have some ideas and amendments that we think can make it ready.
But again, for whatever reason, the majority leader didn't want to hear
about those.
In an already stretched VA, with a huge backlog already and
challenges as we speak, the Secretary testified about them yesterday,
about hiring qualified medical personnel across the country but
especially in my State, in Alaska. The concern that I raised with the
Secretary yesterday, the concern that we are trying to address with the
amendment process here on the Senate floor is this: When you bring that
many into a system that is not ready, you can collapse the whole
system. You can collapse the whole system.
And then every veteran loses. A young marine with his legs amputated
after an IED explosion in Afghanistan who needs help, he is going to be
delayed. A Vietnam veteran who needs
care, he is going to be delayed. A Gulf war veteran, she is going to be
delayed. If you are collapsing the whole system, every veteran loses.
Every veteran loses.
Now, I have actually seen this in my State. And I know the Presiding
Officer's State has had some challenges with the VA. Several years ago,
I held a field hearing in Arizona on some of the challenges in the VA,
but I have seen the system collapse in Alaska. In 2015, my first year
in the U.S. Senate, due to legislation that had been passed the year
before, we essentially had the system in Alaska collapse. Somehow, some
way, legislation and ideas from the VA thought it was really smart to
remove the ability to actually make appointments for veterans in Alaska
not by officials from the VA who live in Alaska but somewhere in the
lower 48--I think it was Louisiana or somewhere--not a good idea. The
whole system cratered. I have seen it. And no veteran benefits. No one
benefits.
In my first year here in 2015, it was my No. 1 priority to get the VA
to fix the broken system in Alaska, and we have made huge progress. But
I have seen it firsthand. When a system that is supposed to take care
of veterans craters, of course, every veteran suffers.
So we don't want that to happen with the implementation of this
important bill. And the Secretary of the VA assured me, assured Senator
Tillis in questioning yesterday, that this won't happen, that the
system won't be overburdened, that they are prepared for this.
Well, I hope he is right. I have my doubts, but I hope he is right.
But here is the point: A bipartisan amendment process, particularly
from Senators--I will give you one example. Senator Moran, ranking
member on Veterans' Affairs, has been working this issue like me for
years. Particularly from Senators who actually know the issue, a
bipartisan amendment process would have helped ensure that this
possibility would be much less.
I will give you a couple of examples of what, for whatever reason,
the majority leader didn't want to bring up on this important
legislation. We had amendments to make sure that the VA didn't get
ahead of the science. You need to connect the science and exposure to
the disease. That is simple. That is what is expected--it is not
simple. It is a complicated process, but it is just the rigor of a bill
that you want to make sure that those who are exposed and sick and with
a disease are the ones who get the care.
Right now, in this bill, there are 23 respiratory illnesses and
cancers that will be added to the list of presumptive ailments that
will allow a veteran to be diagnosed with toxic exposure and qualify
for benefits and any other disease the Secretary of the VA determines
is warranted based on a positive association with certain substances,
chemicals, or airborne hazards. Some of those 23 presumptives, as we
are calling them, are based on science. Some aren't. I have asked the
VA; I have asked the Secretary: Hey, where did we get these 23? The
answer, I am still waiting for.
That is what the amendment process is for, to make sure this bill has
rigor to take care of all veterans.
Let me mention another amendment offered by Senator Moran, an
amendment that he was promised to get a floor vote on that didn't
happen and I think would have made the bill stronger. It would have
preserved the Trump-era gains on community care access standards and,
importantly, serve as a relief valve for veterans to receive care as
millions are going to be added into the system. So, again, if you have
2\1/2\ million additional claims and the VA is overwhelmed and now
there is a giant backlog for everybody, this amendment would have said:
Well, the veterans in the system can go out and get community care.
That is a good idea. It is actually how it works in Alaska because we
don't have a full-service VA hospital, one of only three States in the
country. But that is a really smart idea, a safety valve. If the system
looks like it is going to crater because it is overwhelmed, hey, let
some doctors in town help the veterans. We couldn't bring that
amendment up.
So I pressed the VA Secretary on this because I have seen it when a
system collapses, and my veterans were really hurt in Alaska when it
did--the VA system in my State. And I am going to take his word for it
now that the VA can handle 2\1/2\ million more claims in the next 3
years. But I am going to be watching like a hawk--watching like a hawk
in my oversight role. Like I said, there is nothing I care more about
than our veterans, our military, and their family members. We had the
opportunity on an important bill that I will be supporting to make it
better. And we sat in the Senate all week and didn't bring up one
amendment to even try.
The Secretary is assuring us. OK. All good. Good to go. Well, some of
us had ideas to make sure it would have been better to go. We couldn't
bring them up.
I hope there aren't problems with this implementation. If the system
is in danger of collapsing as a result of this bill, I hope that
whoever is majority leader at that time--2, 3, 4 years from now--
understands that the care for all veterans is what the VA is all about,
and I hope if we need it, we will have the opportunity to bring good
ideas to the Senate floor to fix these kind of things because veterans
are not a partisan issue in the Senate. They are not. I have seen it my
whole career here. I sit on the committee. I sit on the Armed Services
Committee. But for whatever reason, our ability, in a bipartisan way,
to try to improve this bill that we are going to vote on tomorrow was
not granted to other Senators. And I think that was a missed
opportunity because I think we would have made this a better bill.
I yield the floor. | based | white supremacist |
06/15/2022 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2978 | nan | nan | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I want to give today's reality check.
The Federal Reserve today raised interest rates 75 basis points--three-
quarters of a point--with a statement they may come back and do that
again in another month.
A point and a half in 2 months is a pretty dramatic effect. It is
going to be a situation where many people, 40 and younger, are about to
face interest rates they have never faced in their lifetime. The cost
of buying a car that is already high is about to get higher. The cost
of buying a home that is already really high is about to get much
higher.
Inflation is now at 8.6 percent. A lot of people are beginning to
feel what that really means. This is not some strange anomaly. This is
inflation over the last decade. It has bounced around about the same
level, basically, for a decade until right there--March of 2021--and
then it just skyrockets at that point.
This is the reality that we are facing at this point. What does
inflation really look like when you say it is 8.6 percent? Well, people
know what that feels like. The cost of eggs has gone up 32 percent in
the past year--32 percent for eggs. The cost of milk is up 16 percent;
the cost of butter, also 16 percent; the cost of coffee, 15 percent;
the cost of baby formula, if you can find it, is up 13 percent.
And gas prices? Oh, hello. Gas prices--that really has had an effect.
This is gas prices since January of 2017. Again, we look, and it stays
about the same until January of 2021. I wonder what happened then.
And then look at this.
Then, with the conversation about gas prices that, per the
administration lately, has been about, ``Well, it is all Putin's
fault,'' well, here are the rising gas prices since President Biden's
inauguration--right there--and right there is the war that began in
Russia. So this little increase right here is the part that is actually
there.
This is our consumer price inflation. This is on gas prices. It is
the same thing. To be able to see this flat line on gas prices, that
spike--that is the invasion of Ukraine happening right there--and to be
able to see what has been added onto it since then. So this is not just
about the invasion in Ukraine. This has been ongoing since late January
2021.
The challenge now is, Is this something intentional or is this
something accidental? Quite frankly, I think it is a bit of both.
We all remember very well this moment during the Presidential
campaign. It was when President Biden was
campaigning, and he walked over to a young lady on the campaign stop
and said:
[L]ook in my eyes. I guarantee you . . . we are going to
end fossil fuel.
I guarantee you.
That was this moment that happened here.
This was not something totally accidental. It was a drive to say, We
have got to shift to solar; we have got to shift to wind; we have got
to shift to hydro; we have got to shift to other things; we are going
to get rid of fossil fuels; and we are going to accelerate that as fast
as possible.
I have to tell you that I live in a State in which we use a lot of
wind power. We use a lot of solar power. We use hydropower. We have a
very diverse energy portfolio. But right now, the people in my State
are paying much higher prices for gasoline, much higher prices for
natural gas, and much higher prices for electricity because the
policies that have been put in place are driving up the costs, and
people feel it.
This is what it looks like at this point. This is the last 24 months
of retail average prices--right there, January 2021--and then to be
able to see what is happening with prices all over the country.
Now, the administration's response, just in the past couple of weeks,
has been this statement.
President Biden has said:
My administration will continue to do everything it can to
lower prices for the American people.
I love the words ``continue to do'' in there. They are going to
continue to do everything that they can. They are going to keep doing
these things that clearly have driven up prices overwhelmingly for the
American people.
It was, let's say, Putin's fault. It has been the oil companies'
fault. It has been the refineries' fault. That is the new one that he
actually just put out in the last 24 hours--that it is all the fault of
the refineries that are just taking in too much profit.
The challenge has been an ongoing attack on American energy from the
very beginning. Literally, on day 1, when President Biden canceled the
Keystone Pipeline, he started his process of fulfilling his promise
that he made during the campaign: ``I guarantee you I am going to end
fossil fuels.'' So day 1 was canceling the Keystone Pipeline and
getting crude oil from Canada--about 800,000 barrels a day. What he
didn't announce on this day is that we still have to have that same
800,000 barrels a day from somewhere because it is heavy crude. We
purchase some of our heavy crude from other places, so we still have to
get it. His announcement, though, on day 1 was, We are not going to get
it from Canada.
What people don't realize is that this announcement on day 1 was, We
are not going to get it from Canada. We are going to get it from
Russia.
How did that foreign policy work out? Terribly.
On day 1: We are not going to get oil from Canada. We are going to
get it from Russia. We are going to get it from other places instead.
He put a moratorium on new Federal oil and gas leasing. That
moratorium, by the way, still stays in place in multiple areas, and 24
percent of our oil and gas in the United States comes from Federal
lands and waters--24 percent. So what this did was say, for the future
of how we are going to develop, we are not going to develop in those
areas anymore. I am going to cut off 24 percent of the supply coming
in. Again, this goes back to his campaign promise of ``I guarantee you
I am going to end fossil fuel.''
He declined to defend the gulf lease sale 257. That is offshore.
Basically, an environmental group went in and sued and said: We don't
think they followed the process.
The administration was, like, We are not going to challenge that. We
are going to let the environmental group just take this whole thing
down, and we are not going to increase our supply of oil coming from
the gulf.
He limited the seismic studies necessary for new production in the
gulf.
What does that matter?
Well, he has opened up some areas and said: You can drill for more
oil in these areas. Oh, but, by the way, you are allowed to do that,
but if you want to do seismic testing before you do it--which is a
standard that you have to do seismic testing--oh, we are not doing any
more seismic testing this whole year. We are not going to allow you to
actually prepare a site. We are just going to tell you that you can do
it.
That is this mode that the administration is in: Produce more oil,
but I am not going to actually allow you to do that with the
permitting.
He has failed to implement a 5-year offshore leasing program.
What difference does that make?
By law--by law, now--the administration is required to be able to put
a 5-year offshore leasing proposal in place. The current one expires on
June 30 of this year. That is days away. There is no present plan in
place to be able to replace it.
In fact, I personally asked Secretary Haaland, the Secretary of the
Interior, and she said: ``We plan by June 30--the deadline to have a
new one in place--to be able to put out a comment of what we could do
if we do a new plan.''
I said: ``When will that be complete?''
Her response to me was, ``We don't have a deadline as to when that
will be complete.''
So, what is required by law to have a plan for how we are going to do
offshore leasing, they are going to, instead, by the day it should be
in place, begin discussing when they might do it in the days ahead.
Again, it goes back to: We are going to talk about it, but we are
actually not going to put this lease sale plan in place.
He canceled a lease sale in Alaska's Cook Inlet, which is where oil
comes from. He closed off half of the National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska to any future energy development.
He pushed regulations that would slow or halt a buildout of natural
gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas export infrastructure. This is
a FERC piece. They actually put a new leader in place in that spot, and
then the first action they took was to make putting pipelines that were
heading to the gulf to be able to sell natural gas to Europe harder to
do and more expensive to do. If we wanted to put natural gas pipelines
across our country, he would also make it more expensive and more
complicated. So, literally, as the price is going up for natural gas,
he has made it even more expensive to be able to transport natural gas
and harder to be able to sell it to our allies.
He proposed new financial regulations designed to drive investment
for traditional energy projects. This body will remember nominees who
were put up by the Biden administration to go to the Federal Reserve
who stated out loud that their goal of going to the Federal Reserve was
to cut off access to capital for any kind of energy development that
was a fossil fuel. They are literally saying: You can't get loans and
money to get access to that.
So they will make it harder to actually move it when you get it, if
you can get it at all on Federal lands; and they will make it harder to
be able to get access to capital.
He has also proposed raising taxes on oil and gas development. Do you
remember my comment--or his comment, actually--saying he is going to
continue to do everything he can to lower the prices of energy for the
American people? Well, what he has actually done is he has proposed a
whole new set of taxes on all energy companies. In fact, even recently,
there was a conversation about a windfall profits tax on energy
companies.
Now, here is the basic economics that this group knows well: If you
tax it more, you get less of it. If you get less of it, the price goes
up. This is not hard. This is basic economics. Yet this administration
has proposed multiple new taxes in their budget that they just put out
in the previous month. At the same time, he said: I am going to
continue to do what I can to lower prices, at the same time he put out
proposals to dramatically increase oil and gas costs.
Nominate anti-traditional energy activists for key posts. We have
seen that. He has turned to hostile nations like Iran and Venezuela to
meet the U.S. energy demand instead of turning to U.S. producers.
It has been interesting. I have heard several people say: Well, we
have got high numbers of production of oil and gas here in the United
States. But the fact is, we are still a half a million barrels less now
of production than what we were prepandemic. We have not caught up on
actual production here; and the Biden administration has made it even
harder to go get it.
While the Biden administration is planning a trip to Saudi Arabia to
talk to them about getting more oil, our friends in Canada are saying:
Why don't you come to Canada and talk to us about production? We can
increase supply to the United States.
American producers are saying: We can increase supply to the United
States if you will lift regulations, allow us to get permits, stop
making it harder to move it, stop making it more expensive to get it,
and stop adding more taxes onto us. We can produce more in the United
States.
Listen, the price of oil right now is about $117 a barrel. There is
plenty of incentive to go get it, but the administration continues to
make it harder and harder and harder and more and more unpredictable to
actually go get it, so folks are not going to get more. While the Biden
administration blames speculators on Wall Street and rich oil companies
and everyone else, the basic facts are that the administration's
policies are what are driving this problem.
Are there solutions to this? Of course, there are. There are ways to
be able to resolve this. We can restart Federal leasing onshore and
offshore. I am not talking about having massive rigs everywhere. We do
oil drilling and gas drilling better than anyone else in the world.
While the administration is going over to Saudi Arabia to go get oil
to be able to use in the United States, don't we think that we produce
it cleaner than Saudi Arabia does? What in the world?
If we are going to need to use it, then why aren't we producing it
here in the United States? If this is all about a global climate
challenge, then why aren't we focused on production here rather than
running overseas and trying to be able to get it there?
Restart the permitting process. Restart the leasing onshore and
offshore. Stop all of the regulations that are designed to limit and to
punish oil and gas production--the administration just did a moratorium
on this; it would make a significant difference--actually put in
timelines for permitting and litigation.
Again, I have mentioned Canada several times, but if there is a mine
that is going in in Canada for things like lithium and other things
that we need and the whole world needs--they have deadlines and
timelines to be able to do that--it takes about 5 years to be able to
do a mine in those areas. It takes 15 years to be able to do that in
the United States, if you can get it done at all, because there are no
timelines and deadlines.
It is the same thing with the production of oil and gas. When there
is this constant litigation challenge all of the time, it makes it more
difficult to go get it.
People need to be engaged in the process. The community needs to be
heard--Tribes, local governments. People need to be heard and consulted
in the process. But with no deadlines out there, there is no incentive
to be able to actually go after it.
Promote projects that enhance mutual security like the Keystone
Pipeline and like other pipelines. We learned, when there was a
security problem on the Colonial Pipeline--coming out last year to
North Carolina--and North Carolina suddenly didn't have refined
products, gasoline, the whole east coast discovered: We are dependent
on one pipeline--one.
If that one pipeline actually has a structural failure, what happens
to the east coast? Listen, you can multiply that all over the country.
While this administration fights every pipeline company that is
trying to put in a pipeline, they increase our risk of having a major
problem and large sections of the country losing access to energy. They
are gambling with our future at this point, while we are watching
prices exceed $5 a gallon. Focus on the solutions that don't raise
taxes on energy or limit U.S. energy production.
I did have to laugh last week when the President made a speech and
said he was working on bringing down the cost of energy. So the
announcement was, I am going to bring down the cost of energy by
dropping tariffs on solar panels coming from the Far East.
Talk about out of touch. That is out of touch. That is out of
touch. Because, if we are going to produce solar panels, then why
aren't we incentivizing the production of solar panels here in America
rather than encouraging the production of solar panels overseas in the
Far East? How in the world is dropping tariffs on solar panels from the
Far East going to help folks filling up their tank with gas next week?
The President said he was going to solve energy issues and the price
at the pump by increasing the amount of ethanol that we would use.
Remember that one? That was about 5 months ago. He said that we would
just have more ethanol. He went to Iowa and made a big announcement: We
will just do more ethanol. And the prices continue to be able to
skyrocket and rise.
The President then came on and said: All right, we still have a
higher and higher and higher price. So the ethanol whole thing didn't
work when he put that out here, and so he came back and said: We are
going to do this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We are going to release a
million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Remember
that announcement? That announcement was made right about there on this
chart. That is when that announcement was made.
How is it going for gas prices since his announcement that we are
going to release a million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum
Reserve? It still continues to be able to rise.
These prices aren't based on short-term input from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve. They are based on long-term supply. That is basic
economics.
Now the talk has been a temporary gas tax holiday: We will do a
temporary gas tax holiday, and that is going to give people relief.
Can I remind everyone that we are over $5 a gallon? The temporary gas
tax holiday would drop the price 18 cents. Eighteen cents is what it
would drop the price. We are not trying to get an 18-cent drop. We are
trying to get it back to where it was over here, or how about over
here, where we were at $2 a gallon, not 18 cents. Besides the fact, if
you drop the price by 18 cents just for this year, it puts a $20
billion hole in our infrastructure--in our building for bridges and
highways and roads--to get an 18-cent bump.
There has also been the proposal out there that he is going to take
over refineries. That was today. Again, it seems like every week there
is a new thing that they throw out. Now it is a letter that he sent to
the major refineries. In the letter that the President sent to the
major refineries, he wrote:
[M]y administration is prepared to use all reasonable and
appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency
authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the
near term . . . to ensure that every region of this country
is appropriately supplied.
Great. So the President is going to go into the refineries, and he is
going to take them over. The same administration that is managing our
baby formula is now going to manage our refineries. That is going to
work out terrific.
Our refineries right now are running at 95-percent capacity--95
percent. The interesting thing about our refineries is that America has
not built a new refinery since 1977. And just in the past 3 years, we
have lost almost a million barrels a day of refining capacity in the
United States from refineries shutting down.
Maybe the better question the President could ask is ``How do we
start increasing our ability to refine,'' not how is he going to take
over refineries and run it himself.
We have a major structural problem right now. This is just evidence
of what is going on across the whole economy.
There are answers. There are solutions. But they are not raising
taxes, and taking over refineries, and putting oil out from the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or running to Saudi Arabia. That is not
going to solve our energy problems.
And I can assure us, we are not going to solve our 8.6-inflation rate
until we solve the price of energy, because the price of energy is
baked into every single product that we buy--everything. And if this
doesn't get solved, this doesn't get better.
Mr. President, do what needs to be done to increase supply in America
so that the price will go down. We all believe--we all believe--that,
in the decades ahead, we are going to have more electric vehicles; we
will have more renewable energy. We all believe that. But 98 percent of
the vehicles on the
road right now run on oil and gas, and fulfilling your promise--your
promise--that you are going to get rid of fossil fuels right now by
making it harder to do pipelines, harder to get capital, harder to do
permitting, and more complicated regulations is causing this mess.
Thirty years from now, we may all be driving electric vehicles--great.
We don't today. Today, we need solutions for how we are going to move
in the country. That involves increasing supply. That will get down
inflation. That will help us as a nation.
With that, I yield the floor.
| based | white supremacist |
06/15/2022 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2978 | nan | nan | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I want to give today's reality check.
The Federal Reserve today raised interest rates 75 basis points--three-
quarters of a point--with a statement they may come back and do that
again in another month.
A point and a half in 2 months is a pretty dramatic effect. It is
going to be a situation where many people, 40 and younger, are about to
face interest rates they have never faced in their lifetime. The cost
of buying a car that is already high is about to get higher. The cost
of buying a home that is already really high is about to get much
higher.
Inflation is now at 8.6 percent. A lot of people are beginning to
feel what that really means. This is not some strange anomaly. This is
inflation over the last decade. It has bounced around about the same
level, basically, for a decade until right there--March of 2021--and
then it just skyrockets at that point.
This is the reality that we are facing at this point. What does
inflation really look like when you say it is 8.6 percent? Well, people
know what that feels like. The cost of eggs has gone up 32 percent in
the past year--32 percent for eggs. The cost of milk is up 16 percent;
the cost of butter, also 16 percent; the cost of coffee, 15 percent;
the cost of baby formula, if you can find it, is up 13 percent.
And gas prices? Oh, hello. Gas prices--that really has had an effect.
This is gas prices since January of 2017. Again, we look, and it stays
about the same until January of 2021. I wonder what happened then.
And then look at this.
Then, with the conversation about gas prices that, per the
administration lately, has been about, ``Well, it is all Putin's
fault,'' well, here are the rising gas prices since President Biden's
inauguration--right there--and right there is the war that began in
Russia. So this little increase right here is the part that is actually
there.
This is our consumer price inflation. This is on gas prices. It is
the same thing. To be able to see this flat line on gas prices, that
spike--that is the invasion of Ukraine happening right there--and to be
able to see what has been added onto it since then. So this is not just
about the invasion in Ukraine. This has been ongoing since late January
2021.
The challenge now is, Is this something intentional or is this
something accidental? Quite frankly, I think it is a bit of both.
We all remember very well this moment during the Presidential
campaign. It was when President Biden was
campaigning, and he walked over to a young lady on the campaign stop
and said:
[L]ook in my eyes. I guarantee you . . . we are going to
end fossil fuel.
I guarantee you.
That was this moment that happened here.
This was not something totally accidental. It was a drive to say, We
have got to shift to solar; we have got to shift to wind; we have got
to shift to hydro; we have got to shift to other things; we are going
to get rid of fossil fuels; and we are going to accelerate that as fast
as possible.
I have to tell you that I live in a State in which we use a lot of
wind power. We use a lot of solar power. We use hydropower. We have a
very diverse energy portfolio. But right now, the people in my State
are paying much higher prices for gasoline, much higher prices for
natural gas, and much higher prices for electricity because the
policies that have been put in place are driving up the costs, and
people feel it.
This is what it looks like at this point. This is the last 24 months
of retail average prices--right there, January 2021--and then to be
able to see what is happening with prices all over the country.
Now, the administration's response, just in the past couple of weeks,
has been this statement.
President Biden has said:
My administration will continue to do everything it can to
lower prices for the American people.
I love the words ``continue to do'' in there. They are going to
continue to do everything that they can. They are going to keep doing
these things that clearly have driven up prices overwhelmingly for the
American people.
It was, let's say, Putin's fault. It has been the oil companies'
fault. It has been the refineries' fault. That is the new one that he
actually just put out in the last 24 hours--that it is all the fault of
the refineries that are just taking in too much profit.
The challenge has been an ongoing attack on American energy from the
very beginning. Literally, on day 1, when President Biden canceled the
Keystone Pipeline, he started his process of fulfilling his promise
that he made during the campaign: ``I guarantee you I am going to end
fossil fuels.'' So day 1 was canceling the Keystone Pipeline and
getting crude oil from Canada--about 800,000 barrels a day. What he
didn't announce on this day is that we still have to have that same
800,000 barrels a day from somewhere because it is heavy crude. We
purchase some of our heavy crude from other places, so we still have to
get it. His announcement, though, on day 1 was, We are not going to get
it from Canada.
What people don't realize is that this announcement on day 1 was, We
are not going to get it from Canada. We are going to get it from
Russia.
How did that foreign policy work out? Terribly.
On day 1: We are not going to get oil from Canada. We are going to
get it from Russia. We are going to get it from other places instead.
He put a moratorium on new Federal oil and gas leasing. That
moratorium, by the way, still stays in place in multiple areas, and 24
percent of our oil and gas in the United States comes from Federal
lands and waters--24 percent. So what this did was say, for the future
of how we are going to develop, we are not going to develop in those
areas anymore. I am going to cut off 24 percent of the supply coming
in. Again, this goes back to his campaign promise of ``I guarantee you
I am going to end fossil fuel.''
He declined to defend the gulf lease sale 257. That is offshore.
Basically, an environmental group went in and sued and said: We don't
think they followed the process.
The administration was, like, We are not going to challenge that. We
are going to let the environmental group just take this whole thing
down, and we are not going to increase our supply of oil coming from
the gulf.
He limited the seismic studies necessary for new production in the
gulf.
What does that matter?
Well, he has opened up some areas and said: You can drill for more
oil in these areas. Oh, but, by the way, you are allowed to do that,
but if you want to do seismic testing before you do it--which is a
standard that you have to do seismic testing--oh, we are not doing any
more seismic testing this whole year. We are not going to allow you to
actually prepare a site. We are just going to tell you that you can do
it.
That is this mode that the administration is in: Produce more oil,
but I am not going to actually allow you to do that with the
permitting.
He has failed to implement a 5-year offshore leasing program.
What difference does that make?
By law--by law, now--the administration is required to be able to put
a 5-year offshore leasing proposal in place. The current one expires on
June 30 of this year. That is days away. There is no present plan in
place to be able to replace it.
In fact, I personally asked Secretary Haaland, the Secretary of the
Interior, and she said: ``We plan by June 30--the deadline to have a
new one in place--to be able to put out a comment of what we could do
if we do a new plan.''
I said: ``When will that be complete?''
Her response to me was, ``We don't have a deadline as to when that
will be complete.''
So, what is required by law to have a plan for how we are going to do
offshore leasing, they are going to, instead, by the day it should be
in place, begin discussing when they might do it in the days ahead.
Again, it goes back to: We are going to talk about it, but we are
actually not going to put this lease sale plan in place.
He canceled a lease sale in Alaska's Cook Inlet, which is where oil
comes from. He closed off half of the National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska to any future energy development.
He pushed regulations that would slow or halt a buildout of natural
gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas export infrastructure. This is
a FERC piece. They actually put a new leader in place in that spot, and
then the first action they took was to make putting pipelines that were
heading to the gulf to be able to sell natural gas to Europe harder to
do and more expensive to do. If we wanted to put natural gas pipelines
across our country, he would also make it more expensive and more
complicated. So, literally, as the price is going up for natural gas,
he has made it even more expensive to be able to transport natural gas
and harder to be able to sell it to our allies.
He proposed new financial regulations designed to drive investment
for traditional energy projects. This body will remember nominees who
were put up by the Biden administration to go to the Federal Reserve
who stated out loud that their goal of going to the Federal Reserve was
to cut off access to capital for any kind of energy development that
was a fossil fuel. They are literally saying: You can't get loans and
money to get access to that.
So they will make it harder to actually move it when you get it, if
you can get it at all on Federal lands; and they will make it harder to
be able to get access to capital.
He has also proposed raising taxes on oil and gas development. Do you
remember my comment--or his comment, actually--saying he is going to
continue to do everything he can to lower the prices of energy for the
American people? Well, what he has actually done is he has proposed a
whole new set of taxes on all energy companies. In fact, even recently,
there was a conversation about a windfall profits tax on energy
companies.
Now, here is the basic economics that this group knows well: If you
tax it more, you get less of it. If you get less of it, the price goes
up. This is not hard. This is basic economics. Yet this administration
has proposed multiple new taxes in their budget that they just put out
in the previous month. At the same time, he said: I am going to
continue to do what I can to lower prices, at the same time he put out
proposals to dramatically increase oil and gas costs.
Nominate anti-traditional energy activists for key posts. We have
seen that. He has turned to hostile nations like Iran and Venezuela to
meet the U.S. energy demand instead of turning to U.S. producers.
It has been interesting. I have heard several people say: Well, we
have got high numbers of production of oil and gas here in the United
States. But the fact is, we are still a half a million barrels less now
of production than what we were prepandemic. We have not caught up on
actual production here; and the Biden administration has made it even
harder to go get it.
While the Biden administration is planning a trip to Saudi Arabia to
talk to them about getting more oil, our friends in Canada are saying:
Why don't you come to Canada and talk to us about production? We can
increase supply to the United States.
American producers are saying: We can increase supply to the United
States if you will lift regulations, allow us to get permits, stop
making it harder to move it, stop making it more expensive to get it,
and stop adding more taxes onto us. We can produce more in the United
States.
Listen, the price of oil right now is about $117 a barrel. There is
plenty of incentive to go get it, but the administration continues to
make it harder and harder and harder and more and more unpredictable to
actually go get it, so folks are not going to get more. While the Biden
administration blames speculators on Wall Street and rich oil companies
and everyone else, the basic facts are that the administration's
policies are what are driving this problem.
Are there solutions to this? Of course, there are. There are ways to
be able to resolve this. We can restart Federal leasing onshore and
offshore. I am not talking about having massive rigs everywhere. We do
oil drilling and gas drilling better than anyone else in the world.
While the administration is going over to Saudi Arabia to go get oil
to be able to use in the United States, don't we think that we produce
it cleaner than Saudi Arabia does? What in the world?
If we are going to need to use it, then why aren't we producing it
here in the United States? If this is all about a global climate
challenge, then why aren't we focused on production here rather than
running overseas and trying to be able to get it there?
Restart the permitting process. Restart the leasing onshore and
offshore. Stop all of the regulations that are designed to limit and to
punish oil and gas production--the administration just did a moratorium
on this; it would make a significant difference--actually put in
timelines for permitting and litigation.
Again, I have mentioned Canada several times, but if there is a mine
that is going in in Canada for things like lithium and other things
that we need and the whole world needs--they have deadlines and
timelines to be able to do that--it takes about 5 years to be able to
do a mine in those areas. It takes 15 years to be able to do that in
the United States, if you can get it done at all, because there are no
timelines and deadlines.
It is the same thing with the production of oil and gas. When there
is this constant litigation challenge all of the time, it makes it more
difficult to go get it.
People need to be engaged in the process. The community needs to be
heard--Tribes, local governments. People need to be heard and consulted
in the process. But with no deadlines out there, there is no incentive
to be able to actually go after it.
Promote projects that enhance mutual security like the Keystone
Pipeline and like other pipelines. We learned, when there was a
security problem on the Colonial Pipeline--coming out last year to
North Carolina--and North Carolina suddenly didn't have refined
products, gasoline, the whole east coast discovered: We are dependent
on one pipeline--one.
If that one pipeline actually has a structural failure, what happens
to the east coast? Listen, you can multiply that all over the country.
While this administration fights every pipeline company that is
trying to put in a pipeline, they increase our risk of having a major
problem and large sections of the country losing access to energy. They
are gambling with our future at this point, while we are watching
prices exceed $5 a gallon. Focus on the solutions that don't raise
taxes on energy or limit U.S. energy production.
I did have to laugh last week when the President made a speech and
said he was working on bringing down the cost of energy. So the
announcement was, I am going to bring down the cost of energy by
dropping tariffs on solar panels coming from the Far East.
Talk about out of touch. That is out of touch. That is out of
touch. Because, if we are going to produce solar panels, then why
aren't we incentivizing the production of solar panels here in America
rather than encouraging the production of solar panels overseas in the
Far East? How in the world is dropping tariffs on solar panels from the
Far East going to help folks filling up their tank with gas next week?
The President said he was going to solve energy issues and the price
at the pump by increasing the amount of ethanol that we would use.
Remember that one? That was about 5 months ago. He said that we would
just have more ethanol. He went to Iowa and made a big announcement: We
will just do more ethanol. And the prices continue to be able to
skyrocket and rise.
The President then came on and said: All right, we still have a
higher and higher and higher price. So the ethanol whole thing didn't
work when he put that out here, and so he came back and said: We are
going to do this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We are going to release a
million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Remember
that announcement? That announcement was made right about there on this
chart. That is when that announcement was made.
How is it going for gas prices since his announcement that we are
going to release a million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum
Reserve? It still continues to be able to rise.
These prices aren't based on short-term input from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve. They are based on long-term supply. That is basic
economics.
Now the talk has been a temporary gas tax holiday: We will do a
temporary gas tax holiday, and that is going to give people relief.
Can I remind everyone that we are over $5 a gallon? The temporary gas
tax holiday would drop the price 18 cents. Eighteen cents is what it
would drop the price. We are not trying to get an 18-cent drop. We are
trying to get it back to where it was over here, or how about over
here, where we were at $2 a gallon, not 18 cents. Besides the fact, if
you drop the price by 18 cents just for this year, it puts a $20
billion hole in our infrastructure--in our building for bridges and
highways and roads--to get an 18-cent bump.
There has also been the proposal out there that he is going to take
over refineries. That was today. Again, it seems like every week there
is a new thing that they throw out. Now it is a letter that he sent to
the major refineries. In the letter that the President sent to the
major refineries, he wrote:
[M]y administration is prepared to use all reasonable and
appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency
authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the
near term . . . to ensure that every region of this country
is appropriately supplied.
Great. So the President is going to go into the refineries, and he is
going to take them over. The same administration that is managing our
baby formula is now going to manage our refineries. That is going to
work out terrific.
Our refineries right now are running at 95-percent capacity--95
percent. The interesting thing about our refineries is that America has
not built a new refinery since 1977. And just in the past 3 years, we
have lost almost a million barrels a day of refining capacity in the
United States from refineries shutting down.
Maybe the better question the President could ask is ``How do we
start increasing our ability to refine,'' not how is he going to take
over refineries and run it himself.
We have a major structural problem right now. This is just evidence
of what is going on across the whole economy.
There are answers. There are solutions. But they are not raising
taxes, and taking over refineries, and putting oil out from the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or running to Saudi Arabia. That is not
going to solve our energy problems.
And I can assure us, we are not going to solve our 8.6-inflation rate
until we solve the price of energy, because the price of energy is
baked into every single product that we buy--everything. And if this
doesn't get solved, this doesn't get better.
Mr. President, do what needs to be done to increase supply in America
so that the price will go down. We all believe--we all believe--that,
in the decades ahead, we are going to have more electric vehicles; we
will have more renewable energy. We all believe that. But 98 percent of
the vehicles on the
road right now run on oil and gas, and fulfilling your promise--your
promise--that you are going to get rid of fossil fuels right now by
making it harder to do pipelines, harder to get capital, harder to do
permitting, and more complicated regulations is causing this mess.
Thirty years from now, we may all be driving electric vehicles--great.
We don't today. Today, we need solutions for how we are going to move
in the country. That involves increasing supply. That will get down
inflation. That will help us as a nation.
With that, I yield the floor.
| Federal Reserve | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2978 | nan | nan | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I want to give today's reality check.
The Federal Reserve today raised interest rates 75 basis points--three-
quarters of a point--with a statement they may come back and do that
again in another month.
A point and a half in 2 months is a pretty dramatic effect. It is
going to be a situation where many people, 40 and younger, are about to
face interest rates they have never faced in their lifetime. The cost
of buying a car that is already high is about to get higher. The cost
of buying a home that is already really high is about to get much
higher.
Inflation is now at 8.6 percent. A lot of people are beginning to
feel what that really means. This is not some strange anomaly. This is
inflation over the last decade. It has bounced around about the same
level, basically, for a decade until right there--March of 2021--and
then it just skyrockets at that point.
This is the reality that we are facing at this point. What does
inflation really look like when you say it is 8.6 percent? Well, people
know what that feels like. The cost of eggs has gone up 32 percent in
the past year--32 percent for eggs. The cost of milk is up 16 percent;
the cost of butter, also 16 percent; the cost of coffee, 15 percent;
the cost of baby formula, if you can find it, is up 13 percent.
And gas prices? Oh, hello. Gas prices--that really has had an effect.
This is gas prices since January of 2017. Again, we look, and it stays
about the same until January of 2021. I wonder what happened then.
And then look at this.
Then, with the conversation about gas prices that, per the
administration lately, has been about, ``Well, it is all Putin's
fault,'' well, here are the rising gas prices since President Biden's
inauguration--right there--and right there is the war that began in
Russia. So this little increase right here is the part that is actually
there.
This is our consumer price inflation. This is on gas prices. It is
the same thing. To be able to see this flat line on gas prices, that
spike--that is the invasion of Ukraine happening right there--and to be
able to see what has been added onto it since then. So this is not just
about the invasion in Ukraine. This has been ongoing since late January
2021.
The challenge now is, Is this something intentional or is this
something accidental? Quite frankly, I think it is a bit of both.
We all remember very well this moment during the Presidential
campaign. It was when President Biden was
campaigning, and he walked over to a young lady on the campaign stop
and said:
[L]ook in my eyes. I guarantee you . . . we are going to
end fossil fuel.
I guarantee you.
That was this moment that happened here.
This was not something totally accidental. It was a drive to say, We
have got to shift to solar; we have got to shift to wind; we have got
to shift to hydro; we have got to shift to other things; we are going
to get rid of fossil fuels; and we are going to accelerate that as fast
as possible.
I have to tell you that I live in a State in which we use a lot of
wind power. We use a lot of solar power. We use hydropower. We have a
very diverse energy portfolio. But right now, the people in my State
are paying much higher prices for gasoline, much higher prices for
natural gas, and much higher prices for electricity because the
policies that have been put in place are driving up the costs, and
people feel it.
This is what it looks like at this point. This is the last 24 months
of retail average prices--right there, January 2021--and then to be
able to see what is happening with prices all over the country.
Now, the administration's response, just in the past couple of weeks,
has been this statement.
President Biden has said:
My administration will continue to do everything it can to
lower prices for the American people.
I love the words ``continue to do'' in there. They are going to
continue to do everything that they can. They are going to keep doing
these things that clearly have driven up prices overwhelmingly for the
American people.
It was, let's say, Putin's fault. It has been the oil companies'
fault. It has been the refineries' fault. That is the new one that he
actually just put out in the last 24 hours--that it is all the fault of
the refineries that are just taking in too much profit.
The challenge has been an ongoing attack on American energy from the
very beginning. Literally, on day 1, when President Biden canceled the
Keystone Pipeline, he started his process of fulfilling his promise
that he made during the campaign: ``I guarantee you I am going to end
fossil fuels.'' So day 1 was canceling the Keystone Pipeline and
getting crude oil from Canada--about 800,000 barrels a day. What he
didn't announce on this day is that we still have to have that same
800,000 barrels a day from somewhere because it is heavy crude. We
purchase some of our heavy crude from other places, so we still have to
get it. His announcement, though, on day 1 was, We are not going to get
it from Canada.
What people don't realize is that this announcement on day 1 was, We
are not going to get it from Canada. We are going to get it from
Russia.
How did that foreign policy work out? Terribly.
On day 1: We are not going to get oil from Canada. We are going to
get it from Russia. We are going to get it from other places instead.
He put a moratorium on new Federal oil and gas leasing. That
moratorium, by the way, still stays in place in multiple areas, and 24
percent of our oil and gas in the United States comes from Federal
lands and waters--24 percent. So what this did was say, for the future
of how we are going to develop, we are not going to develop in those
areas anymore. I am going to cut off 24 percent of the supply coming
in. Again, this goes back to his campaign promise of ``I guarantee you
I am going to end fossil fuel.''
He declined to defend the gulf lease sale 257. That is offshore.
Basically, an environmental group went in and sued and said: We don't
think they followed the process.
The administration was, like, We are not going to challenge that. We
are going to let the environmental group just take this whole thing
down, and we are not going to increase our supply of oil coming from
the gulf.
He limited the seismic studies necessary for new production in the
gulf.
What does that matter?
Well, he has opened up some areas and said: You can drill for more
oil in these areas. Oh, but, by the way, you are allowed to do that,
but if you want to do seismic testing before you do it--which is a
standard that you have to do seismic testing--oh, we are not doing any
more seismic testing this whole year. We are not going to allow you to
actually prepare a site. We are just going to tell you that you can do
it.
That is this mode that the administration is in: Produce more oil,
but I am not going to actually allow you to do that with the
permitting.
He has failed to implement a 5-year offshore leasing program.
What difference does that make?
By law--by law, now--the administration is required to be able to put
a 5-year offshore leasing proposal in place. The current one expires on
June 30 of this year. That is days away. There is no present plan in
place to be able to replace it.
In fact, I personally asked Secretary Haaland, the Secretary of the
Interior, and she said: ``We plan by June 30--the deadline to have a
new one in place--to be able to put out a comment of what we could do
if we do a new plan.''
I said: ``When will that be complete?''
Her response to me was, ``We don't have a deadline as to when that
will be complete.''
So, what is required by law to have a plan for how we are going to do
offshore leasing, they are going to, instead, by the day it should be
in place, begin discussing when they might do it in the days ahead.
Again, it goes back to: We are going to talk about it, but we are
actually not going to put this lease sale plan in place.
He canceled a lease sale in Alaska's Cook Inlet, which is where oil
comes from. He closed off half of the National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska to any future energy development.
He pushed regulations that would slow or halt a buildout of natural
gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas export infrastructure. This is
a FERC piece. They actually put a new leader in place in that spot, and
then the first action they took was to make putting pipelines that were
heading to the gulf to be able to sell natural gas to Europe harder to
do and more expensive to do. If we wanted to put natural gas pipelines
across our country, he would also make it more expensive and more
complicated. So, literally, as the price is going up for natural gas,
he has made it even more expensive to be able to transport natural gas
and harder to be able to sell it to our allies.
He proposed new financial regulations designed to drive investment
for traditional energy projects. This body will remember nominees who
were put up by the Biden administration to go to the Federal Reserve
who stated out loud that their goal of going to the Federal Reserve was
to cut off access to capital for any kind of energy development that
was a fossil fuel. They are literally saying: You can't get loans and
money to get access to that.
So they will make it harder to actually move it when you get it, if
you can get it at all on Federal lands; and they will make it harder to
be able to get access to capital.
He has also proposed raising taxes on oil and gas development. Do you
remember my comment--or his comment, actually--saying he is going to
continue to do everything he can to lower the prices of energy for the
American people? Well, what he has actually done is he has proposed a
whole new set of taxes on all energy companies. In fact, even recently,
there was a conversation about a windfall profits tax on energy
companies.
Now, here is the basic economics that this group knows well: If you
tax it more, you get less of it. If you get less of it, the price goes
up. This is not hard. This is basic economics. Yet this administration
has proposed multiple new taxes in their budget that they just put out
in the previous month. At the same time, he said: I am going to
continue to do what I can to lower prices, at the same time he put out
proposals to dramatically increase oil and gas costs.
Nominate anti-traditional energy activists for key posts. We have
seen that. He has turned to hostile nations like Iran and Venezuela to
meet the U.S. energy demand instead of turning to U.S. producers.
It has been interesting. I have heard several people say: Well, we
have got high numbers of production of oil and gas here in the United
States. But the fact is, we are still a half a million barrels less now
of production than what we were prepandemic. We have not caught up on
actual production here; and the Biden administration has made it even
harder to go get it.
While the Biden administration is planning a trip to Saudi Arabia to
talk to them about getting more oil, our friends in Canada are saying:
Why don't you come to Canada and talk to us about production? We can
increase supply to the United States.
American producers are saying: We can increase supply to the United
States if you will lift regulations, allow us to get permits, stop
making it harder to move it, stop making it more expensive to get it,
and stop adding more taxes onto us. We can produce more in the United
States.
Listen, the price of oil right now is about $117 a barrel. There is
plenty of incentive to go get it, but the administration continues to
make it harder and harder and harder and more and more unpredictable to
actually go get it, so folks are not going to get more. While the Biden
administration blames speculators on Wall Street and rich oil companies
and everyone else, the basic facts are that the administration's
policies are what are driving this problem.
Are there solutions to this? Of course, there are. There are ways to
be able to resolve this. We can restart Federal leasing onshore and
offshore. I am not talking about having massive rigs everywhere. We do
oil drilling and gas drilling better than anyone else in the world.
While the administration is going over to Saudi Arabia to go get oil
to be able to use in the United States, don't we think that we produce
it cleaner than Saudi Arabia does? What in the world?
If we are going to need to use it, then why aren't we producing it
here in the United States? If this is all about a global climate
challenge, then why aren't we focused on production here rather than
running overseas and trying to be able to get it there?
Restart the permitting process. Restart the leasing onshore and
offshore. Stop all of the regulations that are designed to limit and to
punish oil and gas production--the administration just did a moratorium
on this; it would make a significant difference--actually put in
timelines for permitting and litigation.
Again, I have mentioned Canada several times, but if there is a mine
that is going in in Canada for things like lithium and other things
that we need and the whole world needs--they have deadlines and
timelines to be able to do that--it takes about 5 years to be able to
do a mine in those areas. It takes 15 years to be able to do that in
the United States, if you can get it done at all, because there are no
timelines and deadlines.
It is the same thing with the production of oil and gas. When there
is this constant litigation challenge all of the time, it makes it more
difficult to go get it.
People need to be engaged in the process. The community needs to be
heard--Tribes, local governments. People need to be heard and consulted
in the process. But with no deadlines out there, there is no incentive
to be able to actually go after it.
Promote projects that enhance mutual security like the Keystone
Pipeline and like other pipelines. We learned, when there was a
security problem on the Colonial Pipeline--coming out last year to
North Carolina--and North Carolina suddenly didn't have refined
products, gasoline, the whole east coast discovered: We are dependent
on one pipeline--one.
If that one pipeline actually has a structural failure, what happens
to the east coast? Listen, you can multiply that all over the country.
While this administration fights every pipeline company that is
trying to put in a pipeline, they increase our risk of having a major
problem and large sections of the country losing access to energy. They
are gambling with our future at this point, while we are watching
prices exceed $5 a gallon. Focus on the solutions that don't raise
taxes on energy or limit U.S. energy production.
I did have to laugh last week when the President made a speech and
said he was working on bringing down the cost of energy. So the
announcement was, I am going to bring down the cost of energy by
dropping tariffs on solar panels coming from the Far East.
Talk about out of touch. That is out of touch. That is out of
touch. Because, if we are going to produce solar panels, then why
aren't we incentivizing the production of solar panels here in America
rather than encouraging the production of solar panels overseas in the
Far East? How in the world is dropping tariffs on solar panels from the
Far East going to help folks filling up their tank with gas next week?
The President said he was going to solve energy issues and the price
at the pump by increasing the amount of ethanol that we would use.
Remember that one? That was about 5 months ago. He said that we would
just have more ethanol. He went to Iowa and made a big announcement: We
will just do more ethanol. And the prices continue to be able to
skyrocket and rise.
The President then came on and said: All right, we still have a
higher and higher and higher price. So the ethanol whole thing didn't
work when he put that out here, and so he came back and said: We are
going to do this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We are going to release a
million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Remember
that announcement? That announcement was made right about there on this
chart. That is when that announcement was made.
How is it going for gas prices since his announcement that we are
going to release a million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum
Reserve? It still continues to be able to rise.
These prices aren't based on short-term input from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve. They are based on long-term supply. That is basic
economics.
Now the talk has been a temporary gas tax holiday: We will do a
temporary gas tax holiday, and that is going to give people relief.
Can I remind everyone that we are over $5 a gallon? The temporary gas
tax holiday would drop the price 18 cents. Eighteen cents is what it
would drop the price. We are not trying to get an 18-cent drop. We are
trying to get it back to where it was over here, or how about over
here, where we were at $2 a gallon, not 18 cents. Besides the fact, if
you drop the price by 18 cents just for this year, it puts a $20
billion hole in our infrastructure--in our building for bridges and
highways and roads--to get an 18-cent bump.
There has also been the proposal out there that he is going to take
over refineries. That was today. Again, it seems like every week there
is a new thing that they throw out. Now it is a letter that he sent to
the major refineries. In the letter that the President sent to the
major refineries, he wrote:
[M]y administration is prepared to use all reasonable and
appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency
authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the
near term . . . to ensure that every region of this country
is appropriately supplied.
Great. So the President is going to go into the refineries, and he is
going to take them over. The same administration that is managing our
baby formula is now going to manage our refineries. That is going to
work out terrific.
Our refineries right now are running at 95-percent capacity--95
percent. The interesting thing about our refineries is that America has
not built a new refinery since 1977. And just in the past 3 years, we
have lost almost a million barrels a day of refining capacity in the
United States from refineries shutting down.
Maybe the better question the President could ask is ``How do we
start increasing our ability to refine,'' not how is he going to take
over refineries and run it himself.
We have a major structural problem right now. This is just evidence
of what is going on across the whole economy.
There are answers. There are solutions. But they are not raising
taxes, and taking over refineries, and putting oil out from the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or running to Saudi Arabia. That is not
going to solve our energy problems.
And I can assure us, we are not going to solve our 8.6-inflation rate
until we solve the price of energy, because the price of energy is
baked into every single product that we buy--everything. And if this
doesn't get solved, this doesn't get better.
Mr. President, do what needs to be done to increase supply in America
so that the price will go down. We all believe--we all believe--that,
in the decades ahead, we are going to have more electric vehicles; we
will have more renewable energy. We all believe that. But 98 percent of
the vehicles on the
road right now run on oil and gas, and fulfilling your promise--your
promise--that you are going to get rid of fossil fuels right now by
making it harder to do pipelines, harder to get capital, harder to do
permitting, and more complicated regulations is causing this mess.
Thirty years from now, we may all be driving electric vehicles--great.
We don't today. Today, we need solutions for how we are going to move
in the country. That involves increasing supply. That will get down
inflation. That will help us as a nation.
With that, I yield the floor.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Mr. LANKFORD | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2978 | nan | nan | Mr. LANKFORD. Mr. President, I want to give today's reality check.
The Federal Reserve today raised interest rates 75 basis points--three-
quarters of a point--with a statement they may come back and do that
again in another month.
A point and a half in 2 months is a pretty dramatic effect. It is
going to be a situation where many people, 40 and younger, are about to
face interest rates they have never faced in their lifetime. The cost
of buying a car that is already high is about to get higher. The cost
of buying a home that is already really high is about to get much
higher.
Inflation is now at 8.6 percent. A lot of people are beginning to
feel what that really means. This is not some strange anomaly. This is
inflation over the last decade. It has bounced around about the same
level, basically, for a decade until right there--March of 2021--and
then it just skyrockets at that point.
This is the reality that we are facing at this point. What does
inflation really look like when you say it is 8.6 percent? Well, people
know what that feels like. The cost of eggs has gone up 32 percent in
the past year--32 percent for eggs. The cost of milk is up 16 percent;
the cost of butter, also 16 percent; the cost of coffee, 15 percent;
the cost of baby formula, if you can find it, is up 13 percent.
And gas prices? Oh, hello. Gas prices--that really has had an effect.
This is gas prices since January of 2017. Again, we look, and it stays
about the same until January of 2021. I wonder what happened then.
And then look at this.
Then, with the conversation about gas prices that, per the
administration lately, has been about, ``Well, it is all Putin's
fault,'' well, here are the rising gas prices since President Biden's
inauguration--right there--and right there is the war that began in
Russia. So this little increase right here is the part that is actually
there.
This is our consumer price inflation. This is on gas prices. It is
the same thing. To be able to see this flat line on gas prices, that
spike--that is the invasion of Ukraine happening right there--and to be
able to see what has been added onto it since then. So this is not just
about the invasion in Ukraine. This has been ongoing since late January
2021.
The challenge now is, Is this something intentional or is this
something accidental? Quite frankly, I think it is a bit of both.
We all remember very well this moment during the Presidential
campaign. It was when President Biden was
campaigning, and he walked over to a young lady on the campaign stop
and said:
[L]ook in my eyes. I guarantee you . . . we are going to
end fossil fuel.
I guarantee you.
That was this moment that happened here.
This was not something totally accidental. It was a drive to say, We
have got to shift to solar; we have got to shift to wind; we have got
to shift to hydro; we have got to shift to other things; we are going
to get rid of fossil fuels; and we are going to accelerate that as fast
as possible.
I have to tell you that I live in a State in which we use a lot of
wind power. We use a lot of solar power. We use hydropower. We have a
very diverse energy portfolio. But right now, the people in my State
are paying much higher prices for gasoline, much higher prices for
natural gas, and much higher prices for electricity because the
policies that have been put in place are driving up the costs, and
people feel it.
This is what it looks like at this point. This is the last 24 months
of retail average prices--right there, January 2021--and then to be
able to see what is happening with prices all over the country.
Now, the administration's response, just in the past couple of weeks,
has been this statement.
President Biden has said:
My administration will continue to do everything it can to
lower prices for the American people.
I love the words ``continue to do'' in there. They are going to
continue to do everything that they can. They are going to keep doing
these things that clearly have driven up prices overwhelmingly for the
American people.
It was, let's say, Putin's fault. It has been the oil companies'
fault. It has been the refineries' fault. That is the new one that he
actually just put out in the last 24 hours--that it is all the fault of
the refineries that are just taking in too much profit.
The challenge has been an ongoing attack on American energy from the
very beginning. Literally, on day 1, when President Biden canceled the
Keystone Pipeline, he started his process of fulfilling his promise
that he made during the campaign: ``I guarantee you I am going to end
fossil fuels.'' So day 1 was canceling the Keystone Pipeline and
getting crude oil from Canada--about 800,000 barrels a day. What he
didn't announce on this day is that we still have to have that same
800,000 barrels a day from somewhere because it is heavy crude. We
purchase some of our heavy crude from other places, so we still have to
get it. His announcement, though, on day 1 was, We are not going to get
it from Canada.
What people don't realize is that this announcement on day 1 was, We
are not going to get it from Canada. We are going to get it from
Russia.
How did that foreign policy work out? Terribly.
On day 1: We are not going to get oil from Canada. We are going to
get it from Russia. We are going to get it from other places instead.
He put a moratorium on new Federal oil and gas leasing. That
moratorium, by the way, still stays in place in multiple areas, and 24
percent of our oil and gas in the United States comes from Federal
lands and waters--24 percent. So what this did was say, for the future
of how we are going to develop, we are not going to develop in those
areas anymore. I am going to cut off 24 percent of the supply coming
in. Again, this goes back to his campaign promise of ``I guarantee you
I am going to end fossil fuel.''
He declined to defend the gulf lease sale 257. That is offshore.
Basically, an environmental group went in and sued and said: We don't
think they followed the process.
The administration was, like, We are not going to challenge that. We
are going to let the environmental group just take this whole thing
down, and we are not going to increase our supply of oil coming from
the gulf.
He limited the seismic studies necessary for new production in the
gulf.
What does that matter?
Well, he has opened up some areas and said: You can drill for more
oil in these areas. Oh, but, by the way, you are allowed to do that,
but if you want to do seismic testing before you do it--which is a
standard that you have to do seismic testing--oh, we are not doing any
more seismic testing this whole year. We are not going to allow you to
actually prepare a site. We are just going to tell you that you can do
it.
That is this mode that the administration is in: Produce more oil,
but I am not going to actually allow you to do that with the
permitting.
He has failed to implement a 5-year offshore leasing program.
What difference does that make?
By law--by law, now--the administration is required to be able to put
a 5-year offshore leasing proposal in place. The current one expires on
June 30 of this year. That is days away. There is no present plan in
place to be able to replace it.
In fact, I personally asked Secretary Haaland, the Secretary of the
Interior, and she said: ``We plan by June 30--the deadline to have a
new one in place--to be able to put out a comment of what we could do
if we do a new plan.''
I said: ``When will that be complete?''
Her response to me was, ``We don't have a deadline as to when that
will be complete.''
So, what is required by law to have a plan for how we are going to do
offshore leasing, they are going to, instead, by the day it should be
in place, begin discussing when they might do it in the days ahead.
Again, it goes back to: We are going to talk about it, but we are
actually not going to put this lease sale plan in place.
He canceled a lease sale in Alaska's Cook Inlet, which is where oil
comes from. He closed off half of the National Petroleum Reserve in
Alaska to any future energy development.
He pushed regulations that would slow or halt a buildout of natural
gas pipelines and liquefied natural gas export infrastructure. This is
a FERC piece. They actually put a new leader in place in that spot, and
then the first action they took was to make putting pipelines that were
heading to the gulf to be able to sell natural gas to Europe harder to
do and more expensive to do. If we wanted to put natural gas pipelines
across our country, he would also make it more expensive and more
complicated. So, literally, as the price is going up for natural gas,
he has made it even more expensive to be able to transport natural gas
and harder to be able to sell it to our allies.
He proposed new financial regulations designed to drive investment
for traditional energy projects. This body will remember nominees who
were put up by the Biden administration to go to the Federal Reserve
who stated out loud that their goal of going to the Federal Reserve was
to cut off access to capital for any kind of energy development that
was a fossil fuel. They are literally saying: You can't get loans and
money to get access to that.
So they will make it harder to actually move it when you get it, if
you can get it at all on Federal lands; and they will make it harder to
be able to get access to capital.
He has also proposed raising taxes on oil and gas development. Do you
remember my comment--or his comment, actually--saying he is going to
continue to do everything he can to lower the prices of energy for the
American people? Well, what he has actually done is he has proposed a
whole new set of taxes on all energy companies. In fact, even recently,
there was a conversation about a windfall profits tax on energy
companies.
Now, here is the basic economics that this group knows well: If you
tax it more, you get less of it. If you get less of it, the price goes
up. This is not hard. This is basic economics. Yet this administration
has proposed multiple new taxes in their budget that they just put out
in the previous month. At the same time, he said: I am going to
continue to do what I can to lower prices, at the same time he put out
proposals to dramatically increase oil and gas costs.
Nominate anti-traditional energy activists for key posts. We have
seen that. He has turned to hostile nations like Iran and Venezuela to
meet the U.S. energy demand instead of turning to U.S. producers.
It has been interesting. I have heard several people say: Well, we
have got high numbers of production of oil and gas here in the United
States. But the fact is, we are still a half a million barrels less now
of production than what we were prepandemic. We have not caught up on
actual production here; and the Biden administration has made it even
harder to go get it.
While the Biden administration is planning a trip to Saudi Arabia to
talk to them about getting more oil, our friends in Canada are saying:
Why don't you come to Canada and talk to us about production? We can
increase supply to the United States.
American producers are saying: We can increase supply to the United
States if you will lift regulations, allow us to get permits, stop
making it harder to move it, stop making it more expensive to get it,
and stop adding more taxes onto us. We can produce more in the United
States.
Listen, the price of oil right now is about $117 a barrel. There is
plenty of incentive to go get it, but the administration continues to
make it harder and harder and harder and more and more unpredictable to
actually go get it, so folks are not going to get more. While the Biden
administration blames speculators on Wall Street and rich oil companies
and everyone else, the basic facts are that the administration's
policies are what are driving this problem.
Are there solutions to this? Of course, there are. There are ways to
be able to resolve this. We can restart Federal leasing onshore and
offshore. I am not talking about having massive rigs everywhere. We do
oil drilling and gas drilling better than anyone else in the world.
While the administration is going over to Saudi Arabia to go get oil
to be able to use in the United States, don't we think that we produce
it cleaner than Saudi Arabia does? What in the world?
If we are going to need to use it, then why aren't we producing it
here in the United States? If this is all about a global climate
challenge, then why aren't we focused on production here rather than
running overseas and trying to be able to get it there?
Restart the permitting process. Restart the leasing onshore and
offshore. Stop all of the regulations that are designed to limit and to
punish oil and gas production--the administration just did a moratorium
on this; it would make a significant difference--actually put in
timelines for permitting and litigation.
Again, I have mentioned Canada several times, but if there is a mine
that is going in in Canada for things like lithium and other things
that we need and the whole world needs--they have deadlines and
timelines to be able to do that--it takes about 5 years to be able to
do a mine in those areas. It takes 15 years to be able to do that in
the United States, if you can get it done at all, because there are no
timelines and deadlines.
It is the same thing with the production of oil and gas. When there
is this constant litigation challenge all of the time, it makes it more
difficult to go get it.
People need to be engaged in the process. The community needs to be
heard--Tribes, local governments. People need to be heard and consulted
in the process. But with no deadlines out there, there is no incentive
to be able to actually go after it.
Promote projects that enhance mutual security like the Keystone
Pipeline and like other pipelines. We learned, when there was a
security problem on the Colonial Pipeline--coming out last year to
North Carolina--and North Carolina suddenly didn't have refined
products, gasoline, the whole east coast discovered: We are dependent
on one pipeline--one.
If that one pipeline actually has a structural failure, what happens
to the east coast? Listen, you can multiply that all over the country.
While this administration fights every pipeline company that is
trying to put in a pipeline, they increase our risk of having a major
problem and large sections of the country losing access to energy. They
are gambling with our future at this point, while we are watching
prices exceed $5 a gallon. Focus on the solutions that don't raise
taxes on energy or limit U.S. energy production.
I did have to laugh last week when the President made a speech and
said he was working on bringing down the cost of energy. So the
announcement was, I am going to bring down the cost of energy by
dropping tariffs on solar panels coming from the Far East.
Talk about out of touch. That is out of touch. That is out of
touch. Because, if we are going to produce solar panels, then why
aren't we incentivizing the production of solar panels here in America
rather than encouraging the production of solar panels overseas in the
Far East? How in the world is dropping tariffs on solar panels from the
Far East going to help folks filling up their tank with gas next week?
The President said he was going to solve energy issues and the price
at the pump by increasing the amount of ethanol that we would use.
Remember that one? That was about 5 months ago. He said that we would
just have more ethanol. He went to Iowa and made a big announcement: We
will just do more ethanol. And the prices continue to be able to
skyrocket and rise.
The President then came on and said: All right, we still have a
higher and higher and higher price. So the ethanol whole thing didn't
work when he put that out here, and so he came back and said: We are
going to do this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. We are going to release a
million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Remember
that announcement? That announcement was made right about there on this
chart. That is when that announcement was made.
How is it going for gas prices since his announcement that we are
going to release a million barrels a day from this Strategic Petroleum
Reserve? It still continues to be able to rise.
These prices aren't based on short-term input from the Strategic
Petroleum Reserve. They are based on long-term supply. That is basic
economics.
Now the talk has been a temporary gas tax holiday: We will do a
temporary gas tax holiday, and that is going to give people relief.
Can I remind everyone that we are over $5 a gallon? The temporary gas
tax holiday would drop the price 18 cents. Eighteen cents is what it
would drop the price. We are not trying to get an 18-cent drop. We are
trying to get it back to where it was over here, or how about over
here, where we were at $2 a gallon, not 18 cents. Besides the fact, if
you drop the price by 18 cents just for this year, it puts a $20
billion hole in our infrastructure--in our building for bridges and
highways and roads--to get an 18-cent bump.
There has also been the proposal out there that he is going to take
over refineries. That was today. Again, it seems like every week there
is a new thing that they throw out. Now it is a letter that he sent to
the major refineries. In the letter that the President sent to the
major refineries, he wrote:
[M]y administration is prepared to use all reasonable and
appropriate Federal Government tools and emergency
authorities to increase refinery capacity and output in the
near term . . . to ensure that every region of this country
is appropriately supplied.
Great. So the President is going to go into the refineries, and he is
going to take them over. The same administration that is managing our
baby formula is now going to manage our refineries. That is going to
work out terrific.
Our refineries right now are running at 95-percent capacity--95
percent. The interesting thing about our refineries is that America has
not built a new refinery since 1977. And just in the past 3 years, we
have lost almost a million barrels a day of refining capacity in the
United States from refineries shutting down.
Maybe the better question the President could ask is ``How do we
start increasing our ability to refine,'' not how is he going to take
over refineries and run it himself.
We have a major structural problem right now. This is just evidence
of what is going on across the whole economy.
There are answers. There are solutions. But they are not raising
taxes, and taking over refineries, and putting oil out from the
Strategic Petroleum Reserve, or running to Saudi Arabia. That is not
going to solve our energy problems.
And I can assure us, we are not going to solve our 8.6-inflation rate
until we solve the price of energy, because the price of energy is
baked into every single product that we buy--everything. And if this
doesn't get solved, this doesn't get better.
Mr. President, do what needs to be done to increase supply in America
so that the price will go down. We all believe--we all believe--that,
in the decades ahead, we are going to have more electric vehicles; we
will have more renewable energy. We all believe that. But 98 percent of
the vehicles on the
road right now run on oil and gas, and fulfilling your promise--your
promise--that you are going to get rid of fossil fuels right now by
making it harder to do pipelines, harder to get capital, harder to do
permitting, and more complicated regulations is causing this mess.
Thirty years from now, we may all be driving electric vehicles--great.
We don't today. Today, we need solutions for how we are going to move
in the country. That involves increasing supply. That will get down
inflation. That will help us as a nation.
With that, I yield the floor.
| single | homophobic |
06/16/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-16-pt1-PgH5643 | nan | nan | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to
the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as
follows:
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas: Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology. H.R. 3952. A bill to strengthen the role of the
Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration in order to promote scientific integrity and
advance the Administration's world-class research and
development portfolio; with an amendment (Rept. 117-373, Pt.
1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the state
of the Union.
Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 7233. A
bill to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide
for requirements under Medicaid State plans for health
screenings and referrals for certain eligible juveniles in
public institutions; and to require the Secretary of Health
and Human Services to issue clear and specific guidance under
the Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance programs to
improve the delivery of health care services, including
mental health services, in elementary and secondary schools
and school-based health centers; with amendments (Rept. 117-
374). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union.
| based | white supremacist |
06/16/2022 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-16-pt1-PgS3001-5 | nan | nan | Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, this Sunday, we commemorate the 157th
Juneteenth, a portmanteau of June and the nineteenth, which celebrates
the liberation of the last remaining enslaved Black Americans at the
end of the Civil War. This is our newest Federal holiday, which we will
observe on Monday, but African-American communities have celebrated
Juneteenth as Emancipation Day, Jubilee Day, or Black Independence Day
as far back as 1886 in Texas.
On this date in 1865, U.S. Army Major General Gordon Granger arrived
at a Confederate outpost in Galveston, TX, where he delivered the news
of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation to 250,000 still-
enslaved Texans. Many United States Colored Troops--USCT--who fought
for freedom and to preserve the Union, accompanied Granger. Lincoln had
issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which granted Black Americans
their freedom, 2 years earlier. Robert E. Lee had surrendered to U.S.
Army Lt. General Ulysses Grant 2 months earlier at Appomattox.
In my home State of Maryland, abolitionists Frederick Douglass and
Harriet Tubman paved the way for future civil rights activists by
risking their lives to help bring enslaved people to freedom. Their
work has had a profound impact on our community and on Maryland's rich
cultural history.
African-American history is American history. We all must learn the
lessons of Juneteenth and understand how our lives have been changed
because of it. We cannot celebrate the freedoms brought forth on
Juneteenth without acknowledging there was slavery in the United States
of America. Slavery is a part of American history. The Constitution
originally protected slavery through the fugitive slave clause and
three-fifths clause.
We cannot and should not hide from these facts or try to erase them
from our history books or suppress them in our classrooms.
In Maryland, we often look to the work of Justice Thurgood Marshall,
who spent his life fighting for the rights of Black Americans and
trying to reverse systemic discrimination. Marshall, arguing before the
Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education and later serving as the
first African-American Associate Justice on the Court, set a precedent
for future generations of Black men and women that even the highest
honors are within their reach. The Senate recently confirmed Ketanji
Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court.
While Thurgood Marshall was an inspiration, his work of reversing
systemic racism is far from complete. It is our responsibility as a
Nation to continue the work Justice Marshall and activists like him
started. Though we have made progress, the fight for racial justice
will never be complete until we have achieved equitable treatment for
people of all races and can truly guarantee equality of opportunity.
The pursuit of racial justice will ensure that we live up to our
Nation's promise of equality for all people, regardless of the color of
their skin.
Countering systemic racism and advancing racial justice should be a
daily occurrence. We must learn from our past, actively challenge our
own prejudices, and take conscious steps to dismantle the racist
structures embedded in our society.
On President Biden's first day in office, he signed an Executive
order entitled ``Advancing Racial Equity and Support from Underserved
Communities Through the Federal Government.'' The President directed
Federal Agencies to assess how their programs and policies might be
perpetuating systemic barriers to opportunity and to propose Equity
Action Plans that contain specific Agency commitments to redress
inequities and promote equitable outcomes in communities.
The Biden-Harris administration has already taken numerous steps to
expand opportunities for African-Americans. The Bipartisan
Infrastructure Law permanently reauthorizes the Minority Business
Development Agency for the first time and enhances its authority. The
administration has stepped up its efforts to combat racial
discrimination in the housing market and to help African-Americans get
fair treatment when it comes to staying in their homes and on their
farms and receiving disaster assistance after tragedy strikes.
In particular, as the pandemic exacerbated preexisting racial
disparities, the administration took strong steps to improve outcomes
for African-Americans with respect to education, healthcare, and
transportation.
As we commemorate this historic holiday, I encourage all Americans to
reflect on the many lessons of the story of Juneteenth and commit
ourselves to the pursuit of racial justice and reconciliation. If we do
that, individually and collectively, Juneteenth truly will become a
Jubilee.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/17/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-17-pt1-PgH5684-3 | nan | nan | Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from
the Speaker's table and referred as follows:
EC-4382. A letter from the Deputy Chief Financial Officer,
Department of Housing and Urban Development, transmitting a
report of a violation of the Antideficiency Act, pursuant to
31 U.S.C. 1351; Public Law 97-258; (96 Stat. 926); to the
Committee on Appropriations.
EC-4383. A letter from the Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta,
transmitting the 2021 management report of the Federal Home
Loan Bank of Atlanta, pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 9106(a)(1);
Public Law 97-258 (as amended by Public Law 101-576, Sec.
306(a)); (104 Stat. 2854); to the Committee on Oversight and
Reform.
EC-4384. A letter from the Chairman of the Board, Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, transmitting the Corporation's
Semiannual Report to Congress for the period October 1, 2021
through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Oversight and
Reform.
EC-4385. A letter from the Immediate Past National
President, Women's Army Corps Veterans' Association,
transmitting the Association's annual audit for the year
ending June 30, 2021, pursuant to 36 U.S.C. 3111; Public Law
98-584, Sec. 12; (98 Stat. 3099); to the Committee on the
Judiciary.
EC-4386. A letter from the Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency, transmitting the Agency's Report to
Congress on Implementing IWG Recommendations on Improving the
Consultation Process Required Under Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act for Pesticide Registration and
Registration Review; jointly to the Committees on Agriculture
and Energy and Commerce.
EC-4387. A letter from the National Commander, Civil Air
Patrol, transmitting the Civil Air Patrol's 2021 annual
report; jointly to the Committees on Armed Services and
Transportation and Infrastructure.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/21/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgH5689-9 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair
will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules
on which the yeas and nays are ordered.
The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later
time.
| XX | transphobic |
06/21/2022 | Ms. MANNING | House | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgH5711 | nan | nan | Ms. MANNING. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to
the resolution (H. Res. 720) calling for stability and the cessation of
violence and condemning ISIS-affiliated terrorist activity in northern
Mozambique, including the Cabo Delgado Province, and for other
purposes. | terrorist | Islamophobic |
06/21/2022 | The SPEAKER | House | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgH5717-4 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER. Under clause 5(d) of rule XX, the Chair announces to the
House that, in light of the administration of the oath of office to the
gentlewoman from Texas, the whole number of the House is 430.
| XX | transphobic |
06/21/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deutch) | House | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgH5717-5 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Deutch). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule
XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7777) to amend the Homeland Security Act
of 2002 to authorize the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security
Agency to establish an industrial control systems cybersecurity
training initiative, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the
yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
06/21/2022 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgS3018-2 | nan | nan | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, a little more than 2 years ago, with
Republican policies in place, American workers and families were
enjoying one of the best economic moments in a generation.
Unemployment was at a 50-year low. Inflation was very low at the same
time. Our economy was growing robustly, and workers were reaping the
benefits: Real wages were climbing. In fact, wages at the bottom of the
income distribution were growing faster than that at the top. In other
words, on our watch, working-class Americans were getting bigger
percentage raises than their bosses.
Under these conditions, the American people were looking forward to
the future. Satisfaction with the direction of our country was at a 15-
year high. Consumer confidence was hovering near its highest level
since 2000, and small business optimism had set an alltime record high.
Republican policies helped create that environment, from cutting
redtape to passing the most comprehensive tax cuts and tax reform in a
generation.
Now, Democrats said the 2017 tax bill would not strengthen the
economy and would starve the Federal Government of money, but we
Republicans knew better. And sure enough, with our tax bill in place,
Federal revenues are at historic levels. The past fiscal year's nominal
corporate tax receipts were the highest they have been since 2007.
Individual income tax receipts just hit an alltime record high as well,
and they are on pace to climb even higher this year. Overall, Treasury
Department revenues just recorded their largest 1-year surge in 44
years.
So that is what has happened since the 2017 tax reform that Democrats
literally predicted would be ``Armageddon": tax cuts for American
families, record-setting tax revenues, and the best economy for working
families in a generation prior to the pandemic. Unfortunately, most of
our Democratic colleagues have a terrible track record when it comes to
economic policies and predictions. The tax reform they called
Armageddon preceded low inflation, high employment, and robust growth.
And what about on their watch?
Democrats setting policy on party lines decided on trillions of
dollars in reckless spending. That has bought us the worst inflation in
40 years, anemic growth, and now, on top of all of that, the threat of
rising unemployment and a possible recession.
Just as Senate Democrats were preparing to dump $2 trillion in
reckless spending on our economy, the Senate Democratic leader said:
I do not think the dangers of inflation, at least in the
near term, are very real.
President Biden said:
The risk is not doing too much. The risk is not doing
enough.
Secretary Yellen said:
[T]he price of doing too little is much higher than the
price of doing something big.
Well, they were all wrong, and American families are paying dearly
for it.
The Democratic leader claimed:
The dangers of undershooting our response are far greater
than overshooting.
And:
We cannot do too little. We cannot lock our country into a
long and slow recovery.
Well, if Democrats did not want a long recovery, mission
accomplished. A long and steady recovery with stable prices, rising
real wages, falling unemployment, and strong growth would have been
exactly what the doctor ordered, but the Democrats' policies helped
take that option entirely off the table for our country.
Instead, their decisions have fueled skyrocketing prices, a decline
in Americans' real incomes, and cornered the Federal Reserve into
having to raise rates sharply and potentially stop or reverse the
recovery altogether.
So, faced with this mess, what is our all-Democratic government
planning next? Are our colleagues admitting their mistakes and trimming
back their appetites?
Unfortunately, not--just the opposite.
Even now, with the evidence of a historic, self-inflicted policy
disaster piling up all around them, Democrats are reviving talks for
yet another party-line taxing-and-spending spree this summer. Even with
the economy teetering on the brink of a recession, even with families'
real incomes already falling rapidly on their watch, Senate Democrats
are reportedly behind closed doors, dreaming up--listen to this--
historic new tax hikes to drop on top of our economy at the very worst
possible time.
The same Democrats who wanted to pass trillions more in spending last
year now want to rush through huge new tax hikes. The same party that
spent 2021 trying to inflate their way out of inflation now wants to
spend 2022 tax-hiking their way right into a recession. You could not
invent--could not invent--a worse time for Washington Democrats to pile
on new tax hikes on our country.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. | tax cut | racist |
06/21/2022 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgS3018-2 | nan | nan | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, a little more than 2 years ago, with
Republican policies in place, American workers and families were
enjoying one of the best economic moments in a generation.
Unemployment was at a 50-year low. Inflation was very low at the same
time. Our economy was growing robustly, and workers were reaping the
benefits: Real wages were climbing. In fact, wages at the bottom of the
income distribution were growing faster than that at the top. In other
words, on our watch, working-class Americans were getting bigger
percentage raises than their bosses.
Under these conditions, the American people were looking forward to
the future. Satisfaction with the direction of our country was at a 15-
year high. Consumer confidence was hovering near its highest level
since 2000, and small business optimism had set an alltime record high.
Republican policies helped create that environment, from cutting
redtape to passing the most comprehensive tax cuts and tax reform in a
generation.
Now, Democrats said the 2017 tax bill would not strengthen the
economy and would starve the Federal Government of money, but we
Republicans knew better. And sure enough, with our tax bill in place,
Federal revenues are at historic levels. The past fiscal year's nominal
corporate tax receipts were the highest they have been since 2007.
Individual income tax receipts just hit an alltime record high as well,
and they are on pace to climb even higher this year. Overall, Treasury
Department revenues just recorded their largest 1-year surge in 44
years.
So that is what has happened since the 2017 tax reform that Democrats
literally predicted would be ``Armageddon": tax cuts for American
families, record-setting tax revenues, and the best economy for working
families in a generation prior to the pandemic. Unfortunately, most of
our Democratic colleagues have a terrible track record when it comes to
economic policies and predictions. The tax reform they called
Armageddon preceded low inflation, high employment, and robust growth.
And what about on their watch?
Democrats setting policy on party lines decided on trillions of
dollars in reckless spending. That has bought us the worst inflation in
40 years, anemic growth, and now, on top of all of that, the threat of
rising unemployment and a possible recession.
Just as Senate Democrats were preparing to dump $2 trillion in
reckless spending on our economy, the Senate Democratic leader said:
I do not think the dangers of inflation, at least in the
near term, are very real.
President Biden said:
The risk is not doing too much. The risk is not doing
enough.
Secretary Yellen said:
[T]he price of doing too little is much higher than the
price of doing something big.
Well, they were all wrong, and American families are paying dearly
for it.
The Democratic leader claimed:
The dangers of undershooting our response are far greater
than overshooting.
And:
We cannot do too little. We cannot lock our country into a
long and slow recovery.
Well, if Democrats did not want a long recovery, mission
accomplished. A long and steady recovery with stable prices, rising
real wages, falling unemployment, and strong growth would have been
exactly what the doctor ordered, but the Democrats' policies helped
take that option entirely off the table for our country.
Instead, their decisions have fueled skyrocketing prices, a decline
in Americans' real incomes, and cornered the Federal Reserve into
having to raise rates sharply and potentially stop or reverse the
recovery altogether.
So, faced with this mess, what is our all-Democratic government
planning next? Are our colleagues admitting their mistakes and trimming
back their appetites?
Unfortunately, not--just the opposite.
Even now, with the evidence of a historic, self-inflicted policy
disaster piling up all around them, Democrats are reviving talks for
yet another party-line taxing-and-spending spree this summer. Even with
the economy teetering on the brink of a recession, even with families'
real incomes already falling rapidly on their watch, Senate Democrats
are reportedly behind closed doors, dreaming up--listen to this--
historic new tax hikes to drop on top of our economy at the very worst
possible time.
The same Democrats who wanted to pass trillions more in spending last
year now want to rush through huge new tax hikes. The same party that
spent 2021 trying to inflate their way out of inflation now wants to
spend 2022 tax-hiking their way right into a recession. You could not
invent--could not invent--a worse time for Washington Democrats to pile
on new tax hikes on our country.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. | tax cuts | racist |
06/21/2022 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgS3018-2 | nan | nan | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, a little more than 2 years ago, with
Republican policies in place, American workers and families were
enjoying one of the best economic moments in a generation.
Unemployment was at a 50-year low. Inflation was very low at the same
time. Our economy was growing robustly, and workers were reaping the
benefits: Real wages were climbing. In fact, wages at the bottom of the
income distribution were growing faster than that at the top. In other
words, on our watch, working-class Americans were getting bigger
percentage raises than their bosses.
Under these conditions, the American people were looking forward to
the future. Satisfaction with the direction of our country was at a 15-
year high. Consumer confidence was hovering near its highest level
since 2000, and small business optimism had set an alltime record high.
Republican policies helped create that environment, from cutting
redtape to passing the most comprehensive tax cuts and tax reform in a
generation.
Now, Democrats said the 2017 tax bill would not strengthen the
economy and would starve the Federal Government of money, but we
Republicans knew better. And sure enough, with our tax bill in place,
Federal revenues are at historic levels. The past fiscal year's nominal
corporate tax receipts were the highest they have been since 2007.
Individual income tax receipts just hit an alltime record high as well,
and they are on pace to climb even higher this year. Overall, Treasury
Department revenues just recorded their largest 1-year surge in 44
years.
So that is what has happened since the 2017 tax reform that Democrats
literally predicted would be ``Armageddon": tax cuts for American
families, record-setting tax revenues, and the best economy for working
families in a generation prior to the pandemic. Unfortunately, most of
our Democratic colleagues have a terrible track record when it comes to
economic policies and predictions. The tax reform they called
Armageddon preceded low inflation, high employment, and robust growth.
And what about on their watch?
Democrats setting policy on party lines decided on trillions of
dollars in reckless spending. That has bought us the worst inflation in
40 years, anemic growth, and now, on top of all of that, the threat of
rising unemployment and a possible recession.
Just as Senate Democrats were preparing to dump $2 trillion in
reckless spending on our economy, the Senate Democratic leader said:
I do not think the dangers of inflation, at least in the
near term, are very real.
President Biden said:
The risk is not doing too much. The risk is not doing
enough.
Secretary Yellen said:
[T]he price of doing too little is much higher than the
price of doing something big.
Well, they were all wrong, and American families are paying dearly
for it.
The Democratic leader claimed:
The dangers of undershooting our response are far greater
than overshooting.
And:
We cannot do too little. We cannot lock our country into a
long and slow recovery.
Well, if Democrats did not want a long recovery, mission
accomplished. A long and steady recovery with stable prices, rising
real wages, falling unemployment, and strong growth would have been
exactly what the doctor ordered, but the Democrats' policies helped
take that option entirely off the table for our country.
Instead, their decisions have fueled skyrocketing prices, a decline
in Americans' real incomes, and cornered the Federal Reserve into
having to raise rates sharply and potentially stop or reverse the
recovery altogether.
So, faced with this mess, what is our all-Democratic government
planning next? Are our colleagues admitting their mistakes and trimming
back their appetites?
Unfortunately, not--just the opposite.
Even now, with the evidence of a historic, self-inflicted policy
disaster piling up all around them, Democrats are reviving talks for
yet another party-line taxing-and-spending spree this summer. Even with
the economy teetering on the brink of a recession, even with families'
real incomes already falling rapidly on their watch, Senate Democrats
are reportedly behind closed doors, dreaming up--listen to this--
historic new tax hikes to drop on top of our economy at the very worst
possible time.
The same Democrats who wanted to pass trillions more in spending last
year now want to rush through huge new tax hikes. The same party that
spent 2021 trying to inflate their way out of inflation now wants to
spend 2022 tax-hiking their way right into a recession. You could not
invent--could not invent--a worse time for Washington Democrats to pile
on new tax hikes on our country.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. | Federal Reserve | antisemitic |
06/21/2022 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgS3018-2 | nan | nan | Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, a little more than 2 years ago, with
Republican policies in place, American workers and families were
enjoying one of the best economic moments in a generation.
Unemployment was at a 50-year low. Inflation was very low at the same
time. Our economy was growing robustly, and workers were reaping the
benefits: Real wages were climbing. In fact, wages at the bottom of the
income distribution were growing faster than that at the top. In other
words, on our watch, working-class Americans were getting bigger
percentage raises than their bosses.
Under these conditions, the American people were looking forward to
the future. Satisfaction with the direction of our country was at a 15-
year high. Consumer confidence was hovering near its highest level
since 2000, and small business optimism had set an alltime record high.
Republican policies helped create that environment, from cutting
redtape to passing the most comprehensive tax cuts and tax reform in a
generation.
Now, Democrats said the 2017 tax bill would not strengthen the
economy and would starve the Federal Government of money, but we
Republicans knew better. And sure enough, with our tax bill in place,
Federal revenues are at historic levels. The past fiscal year's nominal
corporate tax receipts were the highest they have been since 2007.
Individual income tax receipts just hit an alltime record high as well,
and they are on pace to climb even higher this year. Overall, Treasury
Department revenues just recorded their largest 1-year surge in 44
years.
So that is what has happened since the 2017 tax reform that Democrats
literally predicted would be ``Armageddon": tax cuts for American
families, record-setting tax revenues, and the best economy for working
families in a generation prior to the pandemic. Unfortunately, most of
our Democratic colleagues have a terrible track record when it comes to
economic policies and predictions. The tax reform they called
Armageddon preceded low inflation, high employment, and robust growth.
And what about on their watch?
Democrats setting policy on party lines decided on trillions of
dollars in reckless spending. That has bought us the worst inflation in
40 years, anemic growth, and now, on top of all of that, the threat of
rising unemployment and a possible recession.
Just as Senate Democrats were preparing to dump $2 trillion in
reckless spending on our economy, the Senate Democratic leader said:
I do not think the dangers of inflation, at least in the
near term, are very real.
President Biden said:
The risk is not doing too much. The risk is not doing
enough.
Secretary Yellen said:
[T]he price of doing too little is much higher than the
price of doing something big.
Well, they were all wrong, and American families are paying dearly
for it.
The Democratic leader claimed:
The dangers of undershooting our response are far greater
than overshooting.
And:
We cannot do too little. We cannot lock our country into a
long and slow recovery.
Well, if Democrats did not want a long recovery, mission
accomplished. A long and steady recovery with stable prices, rising
real wages, falling unemployment, and strong growth would have been
exactly what the doctor ordered, but the Democrats' policies helped
take that option entirely off the table for our country.
Instead, their decisions have fueled skyrocketing prices, a decline
in Americans' real incomes, and cornered the Federal Reserve into
having to raise rates sharply and potentially stop or reverse the
recovery altogether.
So, faced with this mess, what is our all-Democratic government
planning next? Are our colleagues admitting their mistakes and trimming
back their appetites?
Unfortunately, not--just the opposite.
Even now, with the evidence of a historic, self-inflicted policy
disaster piling up all around them, Democrats are reviving talks for
yet another party-line taxing-and-spending spree this summer. Even with
the economy teetering on the brink of a recession, even with families'
real incomes already falling rapidly on their watch, Senate Democrats
are reportedly behind closed doors, dreaming up--listen to this--
historic new tax hikes to drop on top of our economy at the very worst
possible time.
The same Democrats who wanted to pass trillions more in spending last
year now want to rush through huge new tax hikes. The same party that
spent 2021 trying to inflate their way out of inflation now wants to
spend 2022 tax-hiking their way right into a recession. You could not
invent--could not invent--a worse time for Washington Democrats to pile
on new tax hikes on our country.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. | the Fed | antisemitic |
06/21/2022 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgS3021-2 | nan | nan | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, 28 days ago, an 18-year-old young man
opened fire on students at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. He
murdered 21 people--19 children and 2 teachers. In the process, he
effectively committed suicide as well.
This was an attack that was so cruel, so brutal, and inhumane that it
has brought much of our Nation to its knees in mourning. Since the
shooting, my office has received--as I am sure many other Members of
Congress have--I have received tens of thousands of calls and letters
and emails with a singular message: Do something.
Do something. Not do nothing, but do something. Texans are disgusted
and outraged by what happened at Robb Elementary, and they want
Congress to take appropriate action to prevent the loss of more
innocent lives.
I don't want us to pass a bill for the purpose of checking a box. I
want to make sure we actually do something useful, something that is
capable of becoming a law, something that will have the potential to
save lives.
I am happy to report as a result of the hard work of a number of
Senators in this Chamber that we have made some serious progress. In
particular, over the last few weeks, Mr. Murphy, the Senator from
Connecticut; Ms. Sinema, the Senator from Arizona; Mr. Tillis, the
Senator from North Carolina; and I have searched high and low for
common ground.
Now, there are some people who would say, What is the use? Why try?
We know this is an issue that divides much of the country, depending on
where you live, and maybe even divides people living in the same
household. But I think we have found some areas where there is space
for compromise. And we have also found that there are some redlines and
no middle ground. We have talked; we have debated; we have disagreed;
and, finally, we have reached an agreement among the four of us. But,
obviously, this is not something that will become law or fail to become
law because of a small group of Senators.
The truth is we had a larger group of 20 Senators--10 Republicans and
10 Democrats--come forward and sign on to an agreed set of principles,
and I believe as Senators see the text that supports those principles,
they will see we have tried our best to be true as to what we said
those agreed principles should be.
So soon, very soon--not soon enough for me--but very soon, we will
see the text of bipartisan legislation that will help keep our children
and our communities safer.
We know there is no such thing as a perfect piece of legislation. We
are imperfect human beings. But we have to try, and I believe this bill
is a step in the right direction.
One of the pillars of this legislation is support for community-based
mental health care. Following the violent attacks, we have all heard
about missed signs, and the fact is the New York Times recently
profiled the type of young man: typically alienated, isolated, not
receiving any sort of support or medical or psychiatric care, certainly
not complying with their doctors' orders when it comes to taking their
medication that allows them to manage their mental illness challenges.
We know that this profile is one that Salvador Ramos fit, the shooter
in Uvalde. He was a deeply troubled young man. He was isolated. He was
bullied in school. He cut himself because he said he liked the way it
made him look. It made him look tough. He had a history of fighting, of
assaulting fellow students, of threatening sexual assault of young
women, and torturing and killing animals. It is a familiar profile.
This man, this young man, I think was crying out for help. But he got
no help, notwithstanding the best efforts of people around him. He shot
his own grandmother before he went to Robb Elementary School because
she wanted
him to go back to the classroom after being out of the classroom for 2
years because of COVID mitigation practices.
So our goal with this legislation is to try to help people in crisis
get treatment before they reach a point like Salvador Ramos.
Now, I want to be clear: Not everybody who is suffering a mental
health crisis is a threat to themselves and others. Matter of fact, the
opposite is true. Many people suffer in silence with their parents,
their families, their siblings, trying to help them to no avail. But
there is a small subset of people like Salvador Ramos who are a danger
to themselves and others if they don't get the kind of help they need.
So the provision of the bill which represents the single largest
investment in community-based mental health treatment in American
history is drawn from bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator
Stabenow and Senator Blunt. I think there are eight demonstration
projects around the country. We want to make this kind of access to
community-based mental health care available all across the country,
and our bill will help to do that.
It expands high-quality mental health and addiction services
nationwide through the expansion of certified community behavioral
health clinics.
Many of these providers already operate in communities across the
country, but our legislation expands the networks of clinics to deliver
even stronger and more fulsome support to our communities.
We also include provisions to expand support of care in our schools
because it is at school that many of our young people will be
identified as needing support.
Teachers actually spend more time than parents, typically, with our
school-aged children; and the supported services that will be part of
this bill will help identify students that need that help so that
intervention can come as early as possible.
As the Presiding Officer probably knows, 60 percent of gun deaths in
America are suicides--suicides. We not only want to try our best to do
things that will hopefully stop the Salvador Ramoses in the future from
hurting other people, we want to try to help them and keep them from
hurting themselves as well.
So I believe this huge investment in America's mental health delivery
system is an investment in safer and healthier communities.
Another pillar of the legislation is school safety. The Uvalde
shooter was able to enter Robb Elementary School through a door that
was not locked when it should have been. That is an obvious
vulnerability. Schools need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario,
which means evaluating physical security measures, reviewing current
protocol, adopting best practices, which are broadly available through
publications and studies by the Secret Service and other law
enforcement agencies. And they also need to be able to add or expand
the number of school resource officers as appropriate.
I have said it before, and I will say it again: No parent should have
to send their child to school fearful for their child's safety, and no
child should have to go to school and be afraid for their safety.
All of our students and teachers and the administrators and others in
our schools deserve to feel safe, and parents deserve peace of mind,
and that is what I hope these additional resources will provide.
Now, the final range portion of this bill beyond mental health and
school safety involves a range of provisions to prevent these sort of
violent attacks from occurring in the future.
Again, I believe that law-abiding citizens are not the problem. I
don't believe law-abiding citizens are a threat to public health, and
this bill honors that commitment.
So unless a person is convicted of a crime or is adjudicated mentally
ill, their ability to purchase a firearm will not be impacted by this
legislation.
Now, some have suggested provisions that I believe would infringe on
Second Amendment rights and really not get to the root of the problem.
For example, there is no particular ban on a type of gun or no
mandatory waiting periods, no background checks of intrafamily or
friend-to-friend transfer, none of these are included in the
legislation. And some of our colleagues clearly would like to see that.
But, again, that is because law-abiding gun owners are not the problem.
What we are trying to do is prevent dangerous individuals from
unleashing violence on their communities. And one way of achieving that
goal is through more robust crisis intervention programs.
Now, that is a broad term that describes a range of initiatives that
aim to reduce violence, protect the public, and connect individuals in
crisis with the help they need.
It could include something called assisted outpatient treatment,
which allows courts to order people with mental health challenges to
receive outpatient treatment to ensure they receive the care they
needed, and the court will hold them accountable to make sure they make
the doctors' appointments and take the medications they need in order
to remain productive.
But beyond AOTs--or assisted outpatient treatment--there are very
effective regimes like mental health courts, like I saw in Dallas, TX,
not that long ago.
Now, one of the things that encourages compliance is the fact that
you have a judge, somebody wearing a black robe, saying: You will do
this. And if that is what it takes, that is fine with me. But there are
also drug courts, veterans' courts, and the like which aim to treat the
root cause, not the symptom. And across the country, there are hundreds
of mental health and veterans' treatment courts and thousands of drug
court programs that have delivered incredible results.
I have been clear at the outset that I am interested in providing law
enforcement-related grants to all 50 States to put forward a range of
crisis intervention programs that the State deems best to help reduce
suicide and violence.
Now, some of our colleagues wanted to focus this money solely on the
19 States that have passed some form of red flag law, and, frankly,
that is a choice that is up to the State. But we are not introducing a
national red flag law, but we are providing the availability of law
enforcement-related grants to crisis intervention programs, whether you
adopted a red flag program or not. Perhaps you have chosen something
different. Well, this grant program will get every State funding that
implements programs that they themselves have adopted to stop
individuals in crisis from reaching the point of violence or self-harm.
If any State wants to pass a law, obviously, under our Constitution,
they have plenary authority to pass whatever crisis intervention laws
they choose to do so. But one of the things that we have agreed upon is
they have to have robust due process protections because we are talking
about a constitutional right.
So if the new law does not include due process protections, it will
not be eligible for these grants, no matter what form that crisis
intervention program takes.
Our bill also provides increased protection for domestic violence
victims. It shouldn't matter whether a person is married to their
abuser, if the abuser is convicted of domestic violence, and many
people have what I would call nontraditional relationships, whether
they are living together, they have a child together, or whether they
just have a long-term romantic or intimate relationship. Eighty-six
percent of gun-owning households support that sort of protection for
domestic violence victims, where, too often, a gun is involved.
Again, this doesn't limit law-abiding gun owners' rights unless
somebody is convicted of domestic abuse under their State laws. Their
gun rights will not be impacted.
Again, this portion of the bill includes critical due process
protections which, as we all know, is part of our Constitution. You
shall not be deprived of your rights without due process of law.
One new feature that we proposed is that those who are convicted of
nonspousal misdemeanor domestic abuse--not felony but misdemeanor
domestic violence--will have an opportunity after 5 years to have their
Second Amendment rights restored, but they have to have a clean record.
And this is an incentive, in fact, I think, for people
who have made a mistake and have committed domestic violence and
received a misdemeanor conviction to straighten up their act and to not
repeat it.
Our bill also strengthens the National Instant Criminal Background
Check System, known as NICS, to ensure it is more fulsome and accurate.
In Uvalde, this young man, Salvador Ramos, turned 18. He went in and
passed a background check. It is like he was born yesterday because
there was no way for the National Instant Criminal Background checks
system to look back on any mental health adjudications or criminal
convictions, which would have barred him from purchasing a firearm had
it occurred as an adult.
If a 17-year-old is convicted of a violent crime or adjudicated as
mentally incompetent, that information should show up in the background
check system if he tries to purchase a firearm when he turns 18.
Eighty-seven percent of gun-owning households in America support
making juvenile records available in the background check system, and
this legislation will make that possible.
Now, the States will control what information they are willing to
share, but our legislation provides an incentive for States to upload
the records that reflect on the suitability of an individual to
purchase a firearm, allow them to upload juvenile records into the
National Instant Criminal Background System to ensure that firearms are
not falling into the hands of those under 21 who would be prohibited
from purchasing that gun if they were an adult when it happened.
So I know this bill is not going to please everyone. Some think it
goes too far; others think it doesn't go far enough, and I get it. But
the nature of compromise and the nature of actually wanting to get a
result requires that everybody try to find common ground where we can,
and that is particularly hard in a 50-50 U.S. Senate.
But I believe the same people who are telling us to do something are
sending us a clear message to do what we can to keep our children and
communities safe. I am confident this legislation moves us in a
positive direction.
I want to thank all of our colleagues who have worked so hard in this
process that has gotten us this far. My understanding is that the text
will be released essentially at any moment, although the principles
upon which that text is written have been public for quite a while now.
This legislation is the product of good-faith, bipartisan
negotiations. It includes bills and ideas offered by colleagues on both
sides of the aisle, and it makes changes that are supported by vast
majorities of Americans. And I think, most importantly, it has the real
potential to become a law and to create real changes in communities
across this country--safer, healthier communities; stronger, more
secure schools; saving lives. That is what we are all about.
So I am eager to discuss more details with our colleagues as they
review the text in the coming days, and I hope we can continue to show
the same sort of good faith and the openness to other ideas that have
brought us to this point as we debate and we vote on this bipartisan
legislation.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. | based | white supremacist |
06/21/2022 | Mr. CORNYN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-21-pt1-PgS3021-2 | nan | nan | Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, 28 days ago, an 18-year-old young man
opened fire on students at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, TX. He
murdered 21 people--19 children and 2 teachers. In the process, he
effectively committed suicide as well.
This was an attack that was so cruel, so brutal, and inhumane that it
has brought much of our Nation to its knees in mourning. Since the
shooting, my office has received--as I am sure many other Members of
Congress have--I have received tens of thousands of calls and letters
and emails with a singular message: Do something.
Do something. Not do nothing, but do something. Texans are disgusted
and outraged by what happened at Robb Elementary, and they want
Congress to take appropriate action to prevent the loss of more
innocent lives.
I don't want us to pass a bill for the purpose of checking a box. I
want to make sure we actually do something useful, something that is
capable of becoming a law, something that will have the potential to
save lives.
I am happy to report as a result of the hard work of a number of
Senators in this Chamber that we have made some serious progress. In
particular, over the last few weeks, Mr. Murphy, the Senator from
Connecticut; Ms. Sinema, the Senator from Arizona; Mr. Tillis, the
Senator from North Carolina; and I have searched high and low for
common ground.
Now, there are some people who would say, What is the use? Why try?
We know this is an issue that divides much of the country, depending on
where you live, and maybe even divides people living in the same
household. But I think we have found some areas where there is space
for compromise. And we have also found that there are some redlines and
no middle ground. We have talked; we have debated; we have disagreed;
and, finally, we have reached an agreement among the four of us. But,
obviously, this is not something that will become law or fail to become
law because of a small group of Senators.
The truth is we had a larger group of 20 Senators--10 Republicans and
10 Democrats--come forward and sign on to an agreed set of principles,
and I believe as Senators see the text that supports those principles,
they will see we have tried our best to be true as to what we said
those agreed principles should be.
So soon, very soon--not soon enough for me--but very soon, we will
see the text of bipartisan legislation that will help keep our children
and our communities safer.
We know there is no such thing as a perfect piece of legislation. We
are imperfect human beings. But we have to try, and I believe this bill
is a step in the right direction.
One of the pillars of this legislation is support for community-based
mental health care. Following the violent attacks, we have all heard
about missed signs, and the fact is the New York Times recently
profiled the type of young man: typically alienated, isolated, not
receiving any sort of support or medical or psychiatric care, certainly
not complying with their doctors' orders when it comes to taking their
medication that allows them to manage their mental illness challenges.
We know that this profile is one that Salvador Ramos fit, the shooter
in Uvalde. He was a deeply troubled young man. He was isolated. He was
bullied in school. He cut himself because he said he liked the way it
made him look. It made him look tough. He had a history of fighting, of
assaulting fellow students, of threatening sexual assault of young
women, and torturing and killing animals. It is a familiar profile.
This man, this young man, I think was crying out for help. But he got
no help, notwithstanding the best efforts of people around him. He shot
his own grandmother before he went to Robb Elementary School because
she wanted
him to go back to the classroom after being out of the classroom for 2
years because of COVID mitigation practices.
So our goal with this legislation is to try to help people in crisis
get treatment before they reach a point like Salvador Ramos.
Now, I want to be clear: Not everybody who is suffering a mental
health crisis is a threat to themselves and others. Matter of fact, the
opposite is true. Many people suffer in silence with their parents,
their families, their siblings, trying to help them to no avail. But
there is a small subset of people like Salvador Ramos who are a danger
to themselves and others if they don't get the kind of help they need.
So the provision of the bill which represents the single largest
investment in community-based mental health treatment in American
history is drawn from bipartisan legislation introduced by Senator
Stabenow and Senator Blunt. I think there are eight demonstration
projects around the country. We want to make this kind of access to
community-based mental health care available all across the country,
and our bill will help to do that.
It expands high-quality mental health and addiction services
nationwide through the expansion of certified community behavioral
health clinics.
Many of these providers already operate in communities across the
country, but our legislation expands the networks of clinics to deliver
even stronger and more fulsome support to our communities.
We also include provisions to expand support of care in our schools
because it is at school that many of our young people will be
identified as needing support.
Teachers actually spend more time than parents, typically, with our
school-aged children; and the supported services that will be part of
this bill will help identify students that need that help so that
intervention can come as early as possible.
As the Presiding Officer probably knows, 60 percent of gun deaths in
America are suicides--suicides. We not only want to try our best to do
things that will hopefully stop the Salvador Ramoses in the future from
hurting other people, we want to try to help them and keep them from
hurting themselves as well.
So I believe this huge investment in America's mental health delivery
system is an investment in safer and healthier communities.
Another pillar of the legislation is school safety. The Uvalde
shooter was able to enter Robb Elementary School through a door that
was not locked when it should have been. That is an obvious
vulnerability. Schools need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario,
which means evaluating physical security measures, reviewing current
protocol, adopting best practices, which are broadly available through
publications and studies by the Secret Service and other law
enforcement agencies. And they also need to be able to add or expand
the number of school resource officers as appropriate.
I have said it before, and I will say it again: No parent should have
to send their child to school fearful for their child's safety, and no
child should have to go to school and be afraid for their safety.
All of our students and teachers and the administrators and others in
our schools deserve to feel safe, and parents deserve peace of mind,
and that is what I hope these additional resources will provide.
Now, the final range portion of this bill beyond mental health and
school safety involves a range of provisions to prevent these sort of
violent attacks from occurring in the future.
Again, I believe that law-abiding citizens are not the problem. I
don't believe law-abiding citizens are a threat to public health, and
this bill honors that commitment.
So unless a person is convicted of a crime or is adjudicated mentally
ill, their ability to purchase a firearm will not be impacted by this
legislation.
Now, some have suggested provisions that I believe would infringe on
Second Amendment rights and really not get to the root of the problem.
For example, there is no particular ban on a type of gun or no
mandatory waiting periods, no background checks of intrafamily or
friend-to-friend transfer, none of these are included in the
legislation. And some of our colleagues clearly would like to see that.
But, again, that is because law-abiding gun owners are not the problem.
What we are trying to do is prevent dangerous individuals from
unleashing violence on their communities. And one way of achieving that
goal is through more robust crisis intervention programs.
Now, that is a broad term that describes a range of initiatives that
aim to reduce violence, protect the public, and connect individuals in
crisis with the help they need.
It could include something called assisted outpatient treatment,
which allows courts to order people with mental health challenges to
receive outpatient treatment to ensure they receive the care they
needed, and the court will hold them accountable to make sure they make
the doctors' appointments and take the medications they need in order
to remain productive.
But beyond AOTs--or assisted outpatient treatment--there are very
effective regimes like mental health courts, like I saw in Dallas, TX,
not that long ago.
Now, one of the things that encourages compliance is the fact that
you have a judge, somebody wearing a black robe, saying: You will do
this. And if that is what it takes, that is fine with me. But there are
also drug courts, veterans' courts, and the like which aim to treat the
root cause, not the symptom. And across the country, there are hundreds
of mental health and veterans' treatment courts and thousands of drug
court programs that have delivered incredible results.
I have been clear at the outset that I am interested in providing law
enforcement-related grants to all 50 States to put forward a range of
crisis intervention programs that the State deems best to help reduce
suicide and violence.
Now, some of our colleagues wanted to focus this money solely on the
19 States that have passed some form of red flag law, and, frankly,
that is a choice that is up to the State. But we are not introducing a
national red flag law, but we are providing the availability of law
enforcement-related grants to crisis intervention programs, whether you
adopted a red flag program or not. Perhaps you have chosen something
different. Well, this grant program will get every State funding that
implements programs that they themselves have adopted to stop
individuals in crisis from reaching the point of violence or self-harm.
If any State wants to pass a law, obviously, under our Constitution,
they have plenary authority to pass whatever crisis intervention laws
they choose to do so. But one of the things that we have agreed upon is
they have to have robust due process protections because we are talking
about a constitutional right.
So if the new law does not include due process protections, it will
not be eligible for these grants, no matter what form that crisis
intervention program takes.
Our bill also provides increased protection for domestic violence
victims. It shouldn't matter whether a person is married to their
abuser, if the abuser is convicted of domestic violence, and many
people have what I would call nontraditional relationships, whether
they are living together, they have a child together, or whether they
just have a long-term romantic or intimate relationship. Eighty-six
percent of gun-owning households support that sort of protection for
domestic violence victims, where, too often, a gun is involved.
Again, this doesn't limit law-abiding gun owners' rights unless
somebody is convicted of domestic abuse under their State laws. Their
gun rights will not be impacted.
Again, this portion of the bill includes critical due process
protections which, as we all know, is part of our Constitution. You
shall not be deprived of your rights without due process of law.
One new feature that we proposed is that those who are convicted of
nonspousal misdemeanor domestic abuse--not felony but misdemeanor
domestic violence--will have an opportunity after 5 years to have their
Second Amendment rights restored, but they have to have a clean record.
And this is an incentive, in fact, I think, for people
who have made a mistake and have committed domestic violence and
received a misdemeanor conviction to straighten up their act and to not
repeat it.
Our bill also strengthens the National Instant Criminal Background
Check System, known as NICS, to ensure it is more fulsome and accurate.
In Uvalde, this young man, Salvador Ramos, turned 18. He went in and
passed a background check. It is like he was born yesterday because
there was no way for the National Instant Criminal Background checks
system to look back on any mental health adjudications or criminal
convictions, which would have barred him from purchasing a firearm had
it occurred as an adult.
If a 17-year-old is convicted of a violent crime or adjudicated as
mentally incompetent, that information should show up in the background
check system if he tries to purchase a firearm when he turns 18.
Eighty-seven percent of gun-owning households in America support
making juvenile records available in the background check system, and
this legislation will make that possible.
Now, the States will control what information they are willing to
share, but our legislation provides an incentive for States to upload
the records that reflect on the suitability of an individual to
purchase a firearm, allow them to upload juvenile records into the
National Instant Criminal Background System to ensure that firearms are
not falling into the hands of those under 21 who would be prohibited
from purchasing that gun if they were an adult when it happened.
So I know this bill is not going to please everyone. Some think it
goes too far; others think it doesn't go far enough, and I get it. But
the nature of compromise and the nature of actually wanting to get a
result requires that everybody try to find common ground where we can,
and that is particularly hard in a 50-50 U.S. Senate.
But I believe the same people who are telling us to do something are
sending us a clear message to do what we can to keep our children and
communities safe. I am confident this legislation moves us in a
positive direction.
I want to thank all of our colleagues who have worked so hard in this
process that has gotten us this far. My understanding is that the text
will be released essentially at any moment, although the principles
upon which that text is written have been public for quite a while now.
This legislation is the product of good-faith, bipartisan
negotiations. It includes bills and ideas offered by colleagues on both
sides of the aisle, and it makes changes that are supported by vast
majorities of Americans. And I think, most importantly, it has the real
potential to become a law and to create real changes in communities
across this country--safer, healthier communities; stronger, more
secure schools; saving lives. That is what we are all about.
So I am eager to discuss more details with our colleagues as they
review the text in the coming days, and I hope we can continue to show
the same sort of good faith and the openness to other ideas that have
brought us to this point as we debate and we vote on this bipartisan
legislation.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum. | single | homophobic |
06/15/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2964-4 | nan | nan | At 10:55 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered
by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has
passed the following bill, without amendment:
S. 4160. An act to amend title 40, United States Code, to
grant the Supreme Court of the United States security-related
authorities equivalent to the legislative and executive
branches.
The message also announced that the House has passed the following
bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:
H.R. 2773. An act to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife
Restoration Act to make supplemental funds available for
management of fish and wildlife species of greatest
conservation need as determined by State fish and wildlife
agencies, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7211. An act to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, review a final rule of
the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and for other
purposes.
The message further announced that the House has passed the following
bill, with an amendment, in which it requests the concurrence of the
Senate:
S. 516. An act to plan for and coordinate efforts to
integrate advanced air mobility aircraft into the national
airspace system, and for other purposes.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgS2962-3 | nan | nan | Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, next Tuesday, June 21, there will
be a memorial service to honor Stephen H. Sachs, who died on January 12
at his home in Baltimore at the age of 87. Steve Sachs was U.S.
Attorney for Maryland for 3 years and Maryland's Attorney General for
two terms. He was one of the finest lawyers in the Nation--a proud son
of Maryland, a proud son of Baltimore. He was an indefatigable, ever
optimistic Orioles fan. He had a brilliant intellect and a sparkling
sense of humor.
Steve was born in Baltimore on January 31, 1934. His father was
director of the Baltimore Jewish Council and a labor arbitrator, and
his mother was a homemaker. Steve received a bachelor's degree in 1954
from Haverford College and then served in the Army from 1955 to 1957.
He received a Fulbright scholarship to study at the University of
Oxford in England. He received his law degree from Yale Law School in
1960. He worked as a prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the
District of Maryland. In 1967, then-President Lyndon Johnson appointed
Steve as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, a position he
held until 1970.
Steve prosecuted cases involving white-collar crime and public
corruption. In 1968, he prosecuted Vietnam war protesters known as the
Catonsville Nine, Roman Catholic anti-war activists who broke into the
Selective Service office in Catonsville, MD, in an attempt to destroy
draft records. It was a high-profile case. The Rev. Daniel Berrigan and
his brother, the Rev. Philip Berrigan, led activists on a raid at Draft
Board 33 in Catonsville. Steve secured a guilty verdict in Federal
court for destroying government property.
Fifty years later, in a retrospective article in the ``Baltimore
Sun'', Steve wrote with a searing honesty, ``I believed then, and
believe now, that the nine were brave men and women who acted out of a
conviction that the war in Vietnam was profoundly evil. But I believed
then, and I believe now, that the conduct of the nine--particularly
their insistence that their action at Catonsville should have been
condoned because they were `right'--offends both the rule of law and a
fundamental tenet of the American democracy.'' I think that statement
captures Steve's character perfectly.
Steve was in private practice from 1970 to 1978 when he ran an
outsider campaign to become Maryland's Attorney General. He didn't
align himself with any gubernatorial candidate, which had been the
practice. He stated, ``The attorney general should be independent. The
attorney general should be the people's lawyer.'' After several public
corruption scandals, Marylanders appreciated Steve's unquestioned
integrity and were receptive to his activist, reform-oriented campaign.
He served two terms as Attorney General and practically reinvented the
position. He established a strong Consumer Protection Division within
the Office of Attorney General that assisted Marylanders against
corporate abuse. As the State's Attorney General, he argued three cases
before the U.S. Supreme Court--and won all three. Steve's 8 years as
Attorney General overlapped with my service as speaker of the house of
delegates, where I had the benefit of Steven's excellent counsel.
In 1986, Steve decided to run for Governor, but he lost the
Democratic primary to then-Baltimore mayor William Donald Schaefer.
After that defeat, Steve returned to private practice as a partner in
the Washington, DC, office of Wilmer-Hale, then known as Wilmer, Cutler
& Pickering. He retired from the firm in 1999.
Steve's political career may have officially ``ended'' when he was
just 52, but over the years, he became an elder statesman of Maryland
politics. As his former colleagues at Wilmer-Hale said, ``Steve was an
elegant writer, a powerful advocate and an extremely accomplished trial
lawyer. He was a generous partner, colleague and mentor. He taught a
generation of lawyers how to write a brief, take a deposition and try a
case . . . He was a mensch.''
Steve's passion for justice never waned. After he retired from
Wilmer-Hale, he joined the Public Justice Center, where he had a
significant impact on the development of the center's Appellate
Advocacy Project. Steve was a passionate advocate of the civil right to
counsel movement, helping to establish the National Coalition for a
Civil Right to Counsel. In 2008, then-Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley
appointed Steve to head an independent
review of the Maryland State Police, which had infiltrated activist
groups that were lawfully protesting against the death penalty and the
war in Iraq.
Steve may be gone, but his legacy is firmly established. Last Friday,
I had the honor of attending the investiture of Erek Baron as the first
Black U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland. Erek is just one of
Steve's countless proteges carrying on his mission. Erek said, ``Steve
Sachs was one of the most respected public servants in Maryland's
history and a personal mentor to me and many others.''
Deuteronomy 16:20 implores us, ``Justice, justice you shall pursue .
. .''. That was Steve Sachs' guiding principle. He did all he could to
make the world a better place. It wasn't always easy or comfortable,
but he understood the importance of justice under the law. I respected
his legal passion, and I am grateful that he shared it with generations
of Maryland attorneys as a mentor and a friend. On behalf of the
Senate, I send my condolences to his daughter Elisabeth Sachs, his son
Leon Sachs, his three grandchildren, and other family members and all
those who were fortunate to have him as a friend, colleague, or mentor
and mourn his passing.
| Baltimore | racist |
06/15/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgH5608-2 | nan | nan | Under clause 2 of rule XIV, executive communications were taken from
the Speaker's table and referred as follows:
EC-4345. A letter from the President and Chair, Board of
Directors, Export-Import Bank of the United States,
transmitting a transaction pursuant to section 2(b)(3) of the
Export-Import Bank Act of 1945, 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.
EC-4346. A letter from the Assistant Secretary for
Legislation, Department of Health and Human Services,
transmitting the Department's FY 2017 Report to Congress on
Community Services Block Grant Discretionary Activities --
Community Economic Development and Rural Community
Development Programs; to the Committee on Education and
Labor.
EC-4347. A letter from the Chair, Medicare Payment Advisory
Commission, transmitting the Commission's June 2022 Report to
the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System,
pursuant to 42 U.S.C. 1395b-6(b)(1)(D); Aug. 14, 1935, ch.
531, title XVIII, Sec. 1805(b)(1)(D) (as amended by Public
Law 111-148, Sec. 2801(b)(2)); (124 Stat. 332); jointly to
the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means.
EC-4348. A letter from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau
of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting a
Report to Congress on the Treaty Between the Government of
the United States of America and the Government of Australia
Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation (Treaty Doc. 110-10),
Section 2(8); to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
EC-4349. A letter from the Senior Bureau Official,
Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting a
Memorandum of Justification for the Drawdown Under Section
506(a)(1) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to Provide
Immediate Assistance to Ukraine; to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs.
EC-4350. A letter from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau
of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting a
Determination Under Section 506(a)(1) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (FAA) to Provide Military Assistance
to Ukraine; to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.
EC-4351. A letter from the Chair, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System, transmitting the Board's Office of
Inspector General Semiannual Report to Congress for the six-
month period ending March 31, 2022; ; to the Committee on
Oversight and Reform.
EC-4352. A letter from the Deputy Secretary, Department of
Defense, transmitting the Department's Inspector General
Semiannual Report to Congress for the period of October 1,
2021 through March 31, 2022; to the Committee on Oversight
and Reform.
EC-4353. A letter from the Chairman and Chief Executive and
Administrative Officer, Federal Labor Relations Authority,
transmitting the Authority's 67th Semiannual Inspector
General Report for the period October 1, 2021, through March
31, 2022; to the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
EC-4354. A letter from the Director, Office of Personnel
Management, transmitting the Semiannual Report of the
Inspector General and the Management Response for the period
of October 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022; to the Committee on
Oversight and Reform.
EC-4355. A letter from the Acting Commissioner, Social
Security Administration, transmitting the Administration's
Inspector General Semiannual Report to Congress from the
period October 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022; to the
Committee on Oversight and Reform.
EC-4356. A letter from the Chairman, Surface Transportation
Board, transmitting the Board's FY 2021 No FEAR Act Report,
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 2301 note; Public Law 107-174, 203(a)
(as amended by Public Law 109-435, Sec. 604(f)); (120 Stat.
3242); to the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
EC-4357. A letter from the Chairman, Board of Governors,
United States Postal Service, transmitting the Service's
Office of Inspector General Semiannual Report to Congress,
for the period October 1, 2021, through March 31, 2022; to
the Committee on Oversight and Reform.
EC-4358. A letter from the Senior Bureau Official, Bureau
of Legislative Affairs, Department of State, transmitting a
Report to Congress on the Extension of Jackson-Vanik Waiver
Authority for Turkmenistan, pursuant to 19 U.S.C. 2432(d)(1);
Public Law 93-618, Sec. 402(d)(1); (88 Stat. 2056) and 19
U.S.C. 2439(b); Public Law 93-618, Sec. 409(b); (88 Stat.
2064); to the Committee on Ways and Means.
| Federal Reserve | antisemitic |
06/15/2022 | Mr. GREEN of Texas | House | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgH5556-5 | nan | nan | Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1170, I
call up the bill (H.R. 2543) to amend the Federal Reserve Act to add
additional demographic reporting requirements, to modify the goals of
the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes, and ask for its
immediate consideration in the House. | the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgH5471-3 | nan | nan | 117-122)
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Brown of Ohio) laid before the House the
following message from the President of the United States; which was
read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed:
To the Congress of the United States:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the
President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the
Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect
beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have
sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice
stating that the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans
that was declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001, under
which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13304 of May 28,
2003, and which was expanded in scope in Executive Order 14033 of June
8, 2021, is to continue in effect beyond June 26, 2022.
The acts of extremist violence and obstructionist activity, and the
situation in the Western Balkans, which stymies progress toward
effective and democratic governance and full integration into
transatlantic institutions, outlined in these Executive Orders,
continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have
determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency
declared in Executive Order 13219 with respect to the Western Balkans.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.,
The White House, June 13, 2022.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgH5471-3 | nan | nan | 117-122)
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Ms. Brown of Ohio) laid before the House the
following message from the President of the United States; which was
read and, together with the accompanying papers, referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered to be printed:
To the Congress of the United States:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the
President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the
Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect
beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have
sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice
stating that the national emergency with respect to the Western Balkans
that was declared in Executive Order 13219 of June 26, 2001, under
which additional steps were taken in Executive Order 13304 of May 28,
2003, and which was expanded in scope in Executive Order 14033 of June
8, 2021, is to continue in effect beyond June 26, 2022.
The acts of extremist violence and obstructionist activity, and the
situation in the Western Balkans, which stymies progress toward
effective and democratic governance and full integration into
transatlantic institutions, outlined in these Executive Orders,
continue to pose an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national
security and foreign policy of the United States. Therefore, I have
determined that it is necessary to continue the national emergency
declared in Executive Order 13219 with respect to the Western Balkans.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.,
The White House, June 13, 2022.
| extremist | Islamophobic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgH5471-5 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following message
from the President of the United States; which was read and, together
with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign
Affairs and ordered to be printed:
To the Congress of the United States:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the
President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to
the Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in
effect beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision,
I have sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice
stating that the national emergency with respect to North Korea that
was declared in Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008, expanded in
scope in Executive Order 13551 of August 30, 2010, addressed further in
Executive Order 13570 of April 18, 2011, further expanded in scope in
Executive Order 13687 of January 2, 2015, and under which additional
steps were taken in Executive Order 13722 of March 15, 2016, and
Executive Order 13810 of September 20, 2017, is to continue in effect
beyond June 26, 2022.
The existence and risk of the proliferation of weapons-usable fissile
material on the Korean Peninsula; the actions and policies of the
Government of North Korea that destabilize the Korean Peninsula and
imperil United States Armed Forces, allies, and trading partners in the
region, including its pursuit of nuclear and missile programs; and
other provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies
of the Government of North Korea, continue to constitute an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States.
For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue
the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13466 with respect
to North Korea.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House, June 13, 2022.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgH5485-3 | nan | nan | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to
the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as
follows:
Mr. DeFAZIO: Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. H.R. 7211. A bill to amend the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, review
a final rule of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and
for other purposes (Rept. 117-360). Referred to the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 7072. A bill
to amend title 18, United States Code, to modify delayed
notice requirements, and for other purposes, with an
amendment (Rept. 117-361). Referred to the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. DeFAZIO: Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. H.R. 6270. A bill to direct the Secretary of
Transportation to establish a pilot program to provide grants
related to advanced air mobility infrastructure, and for
other purposes, with an amendment (Rept. 117-362). Referred
to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union.
Mr. DeFAZIO: Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. H.R. 2020. A bill to provide for an online
repository for certain reporting requirements for recipients
of Federal disaster assistance, and for other purposes (Rept.
117-363, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union.
Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 7666. A
bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize
certain programs relating to mental health and substance use
disorders, and for other purposes, with an amendment (Rept.
117-364, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union.
Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5585. A
bill to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
Health, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 117-
365). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union.
Mr. DeSAULNIER: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1170.
Resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R.
2543) to amend the Federal Reserve Act to add additional
demographic reporting requirements, to modify the goals of
the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes; providing
for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2773) to amend the
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make
supplemental funds available for management of fish and
wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined
by State fish and wildlife agencies, and for other purposes;
providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7606) to
establish the Office of the Special Investigator for
Competition Matters within the Department of Agriculture; and
for other purposes (Rept. 117-366). Referred to the House
Calendar.
| Federal Reserve | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgH5485-3 | nan | nan | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to
the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as
follows:
Mr. DeFAZIO: Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. H.R. 7211. A bill to amend the Robert T.
Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, review
a final rule of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and
for other purposes (Rept. 117-360). Referred to the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. NADLER: Committee on the Judiciary. H.R. 7072. A bill
to amend title 18, United States Code, to modify delayed
notice requirements, and for other purposes, with an
amendment (Rept. 117-361). Referred to the Committee of the
Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. DeFAZIO: Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. H.R. 6270. A bill to direct the Secretary of
Transportation to establish a pilot program to provide grants
related to advanced air mobility infrastructure, and for
other purposes, with an amendment (Rept. 117-362). Referred
to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the
Union.
Mr. DeFAZIO: Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure. H.R. 2020. A bill to provide for an online
repository for certain reporting requirements for recipients
of Federal disaster assistance, and for other purposes (Rept.
117-363, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union.
Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 7666. A
bill to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize
certain programs relating to mental health and substance use
disorders, and for other purposes, with an amendment (Rept.
117-364, Pt. 1). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House
on the state of the Union.
Mr. PALLONE: Committee on Energy and Commerce. H.R. 5585. A
bill to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency-
Health, and for other purposes; with an amendment (Rept. 117-
365). Referred to the Committee of the Whole House on the
state of the Union.
Mr. DeSAULNIER: Committee on Rules. House Resolution 1170.
Resolution providing for consideration of the bill (H.R.
2543) to amend the Federal Reserve Act to add additional
demographic reporting requirements, to modify the goals of
the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes; providing
for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2773) to amend the
Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to make
supplemental funds available for management of fish and
wildlife species of greatest conservation need as determined
by State fish and wildlife agencies, and for other purposes;
providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7606) to
establish the Office of the Special Investigator for
Competition Matters within the Department of Agriculture; and
for other purposes (Rept. 117-366). Referred to the House
Calendar.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgS2909-4 | nan | nan | The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying
report; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs:
To the Congress of the United States:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the
President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the
Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect
beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have
sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice
stating that the national emergency with respect to Belarus that was
declared in Executive Order 13405 of June 16, 2006, which was expanded
in scope in Executive Order 14038 of August 9, 2021, is to continue in
effect beyond June 16, 2022.
The actions and policies of certain members of the Government of
Belarus and other persons, and the Belarusian regime's harmful
activities and long-standing abuses, continue to pose an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the
United States. Therefore, I have determined that it is necessary to
continue the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13405 with
respect to Belarus.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House, June 13, 2022.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgS2909-5 | nan | nan | The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message
from the President of the United States, together with an accompanying
report; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs:
To the Congress of the United States:
Section 202(d) of the National Emergencies Act (50 U.S.C. 1622(d))
provides for the automatic termination of a national emergency unless,
within 90 days prior to the anniversary date of its declaration, the
President publishes in the Federal Register and transmits to the
Congress a notice stating that the emergency is to continue in effect
beyond the anniversary date. In accordance with this provision, I have
sent to the Federal Register for publication the enclosed notice
stating that the national emergency with respect to North Korea that
was declared in Executive Order 13466 of June 26, 2008, expanded in
scope in Executive Order 13551 of August 30, 2010, addressed further in
Executive Order 13570 of April 18, 2011, further expanded in scope in
Executive Order 13687 of January 2, 2015, and under which additional
steps were taken in Executive Order 13722 of March 15, 2016, and
Executive Order 13810 of September 20, 2017, is to continue in effect
beyond June 26, 2022.
The existence and risk of the proliferation of weapons-usable fissile
material on the Korean Peninsula; the actions and policies of the
Government of North Korea that destabilize the Korean Peninsula and
imperil United States Armed Forces, allies, and trading partners in the
region, including its pursuit of nuclear and missile programs; and
other provocative, destabilizing, and repressive actions and policies
of the Government of North Korea, continue to constitute an unusual and
extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and
economy of the United States.
For this reason, I have determined that it is necessary to continue
the national emergency declared in Executive Order 13466 with respect
to North Korea.
Joseph R. Biden, Jr.
The White House, June 13, 2022.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgS2910 | nan | nan | The Secretary of the Senate reported that on June 9, 2022, she had
presented to the President of the United States the following enrolled
bills:
S. 66. An act to require the Inter-Agency Task Force on
Harmful Algal Blooms and Hypoxia to develop a plan for
reducing, mitigating, and controlling harmful algal blooms
and hypoxia in South Florida, and for other purposes.
S. 1097. An act to establish a Federal rotational cyber
workforce program for the Federal cyber workforce.
S. 2201. An act to manage supply chain risk through
counterintelligence training, and for other purposes.
S. 2520. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002
to provide for engagements with State, local, Tribal, and
territorial governments, and for other purposes.
S. 3823. An act to amend title 11, United States Code, to
modify the eligibility requirements for a debtor under
chapter 13, and for other purposes.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Mr. PORTMAN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgS2915-5 | nan | nan | Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, for the 15th straight week, while the
U.S. Senate has been in session, I come to the floor to talk about what
is going on in Ukraine. This is the war that Russia continues to wage
against the people of Ukraine. I am going to talk about what has
happened in the last week--some of it is very concerning--but also
about what we can do right now to help more, to help our ally Ukraine,
to help President Zelenskyy and his duly elected government, and to
help the people of Ukraine.
Last week, I talked about a grim milestone, 100 days of this war. It
is becoming a war of attrition. The Russians expected a quick victory,
you remember. That didn't happen. Now they are grinding it out in one
area called the Donbas region. And unfortunately, they are making some
incremental progress there. In a minute, I will have a map here to show
you where the
Donbas region is. But that is where the focus is right now. That is
where the Russians are grinding it out.
The fate of Ukraine, its future, may be decided here in the next few
months or maybe even weeks, given what is happening in the Donbas. The
Russians have regrouped, and they are using their superior weapons,
particularly long-range artillery. The Ukrainians, although they are
fighting valiantly, just don't have that longer range artillery to be
able to counteract what Russia is doing. So the Russians are sitting
back with this long-range, more accurate artillery. They are hitting
Ukrainian positions, taking out Ukrainian cities, flattening them. And
then the Ukrainians can't reach them because they don't have artillery
that is long range.
There has been some Ukrainian progress in the past week. If you look
at this map, you can see that in the northeast, around Kharkiv--up
here, you see this light blue--Ukrainians have made some progress. In
fact, in one case, they actually pushed the Russians back to the
Russian border.
They also made some progress here in the south. And you see the city
of Kherson, that was one of the first big cities that the Russians took
during this most recent attack. The Ukrainians are now moving toward
that area. That is positive news.
But, frankly, one reason they are making the progress is the Russians
are all focused right here. This is the Donbas region we talked about
earlier, and this is where the Russians are making incremental progress
and killing, frankly, a lot of Ukrainian civilians but also Ukrainian
soldiers.
Russia is grinding it out, as I said earlier, meaning that they are
using their superior artillery fire. They have more troops. They have
more weapons. But the Ukrainian defenders are fighting hard. They are
making the Russians pay for every single inch of territory that is
being taken. This is particularly true in Severodonetsk, which is right
in here.
In Severodonetsk, there is an ongoing battle tonight as we talk. The
Russians are engaged in urban combat there, and the Ukrainians have
fiercely defended their homeland. But I will say, the Russians are
still advancing bit by bit, in some cases kilometer by kilometer, every
day, because they have the firepower, especially the longer-range,
accurate, and deadly artillery.
Reports yesterday indicate that unless Ukrainians can get access to
that long-range artillery themselves, Severodonetsk and the entire
Luhansk region could fall to Russia soon. Possibly within weeks. This
should alarm all of us. It should alarm the administration; it should
alarm the Congress. Because every time Russia gains more territory,
they reduce it to mostly rubble, destroy it, and then they dig in,
making it twice as hard to get that territory back.
Because the Russians have more artillery than the Ukrainians and
their weapons have longer ranges, the Russian forces concentrate their
massive firepower on Ukrainian positions from a distance, as I said,
which the Ukrainian forces cannot reach. And then they move in.
They destroy the territory. They occupy it. This disparity in the
quality and quantity of artillery has put Ukraine at a distinct
disadvantage. The good news is that we can fix this problem. We can
level this playing field and address this disparity. America and her
allies have the ability to do it, and it is urgent that we do it now.
In our inventory, we have hundreds of what are called High Mobility
Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS. It is an advanced system that is
actually superior to the Russian artillery in almost every way, more
mobility, faster reload time, more accuracy, and--more importantly--
more range.
Getting these systems, these HIMARS systems to Ukraine could be a
game changer. It could save so many lives. With these systems in the
arsenal, the Ukrainians could turn the tables on the Russians here in
the Donbas region.
They could grind the Russian advance to a halt and maybe even push
the Russian forces back, as they are doing in Kharkiv up here or down
here in the south.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration has been unwilling to act
quickly on these HIMARS. Two weeks ago, after weeks of Ukrainian
requests, echoed by some of us here in the U.S. Congress, President
Biden announced that he would provide Ukraine with some of these
systems. I was really pleased we were finally taking that step.
However, according to the Department of Defense, I now learned that
the administration is only sending four of these systems--four. The
administration has said that it is only providing Ukraine with mid-
range missiles as well, meaning Ukrainian troops will need to fire from
closer to Russian positions and put themselves at greater risk.
That announcement of our decision to send four systems will be 2
weeks old on Wednesday. We were told these systems require almost 3
weeks in training to be able to operate. That means, at best, Ukraine
will have four U.S. artillery systems operational sometime late this
week or maybe next week.
Ukraine has been fighting for its life for weeks along a massive
front line, this front line all along here. And the Biden
administration is only now sending this military support; and, frankly,
it is just not enough. Combine this with the public reporting that the
M777 howitzer promised to Ukraine months ago back in mid-April are
arriving very slowly, and you have a picture that shows that we are not
responding with urgency to the situation in Ukraine.
You don't have to take it from me. Listen to the military advisor and
President Zelenskyy's chief of staff Oleksiy Arestovych: ``If we get 60
of these [rocket artillery] systems,'' that is the HIMARS I am talking
about, ``then the Russians will lose all ability to advance anywhere,
they will be stopped [dead] in their tracks. If we get 40, they will
advance, albeit very slowly with heavy casualties; with 20, they will
continue to advance with higher casualties than now.''
So he is talking about the need for 60 or at least 40; 20 won't be
enough. Unfortunately, we are talking about four. To their credit, the
British announced last Tuesday that they will send something similar to
these multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine. It is a larger
version, actually, of the HIMARS rocket artillery system that they are
sending. I appreciate that. However, the BBC reports that they are now
only sending three, at least initially.
The world looks to America for leadership, and if America leads with
only four rocket artillery systems, the rest of the world is going to
follow with similarly modest support. I hope this will change. I hope
we will see that these numbers improve. I would like to be proven wrong
that those artillery systems are already on their way. I hope they are,
but the best information we have is that is not true.
It has been months now, and the Ukrainians cannot afford to have
imprecise and low-level assistance from the world's most powerful
military. This Congress sent $40 billion in aid to the Ukrainians, $21
billion of that was military assistance. I think we should expect and
demand that the administration utilize that funding as much as possible
and provide Ukraine with the precise and powerful military equipment it
actually needs to be able to fight this war, to stop the bloodshed, by
pushing the Russians back, $21 billion is a lot of money, let's be sure
it is spent properly.
Another Ukrainian official, Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine's Deputy head of
Military Intelligence, told a British outlet: ``Everything now depends
on what [the West] gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to
15 Russian artillery pieces.''
Ukrainians need our help. And Congress has done its job in an
overwhelming, bipartisan fashion. We should not be tentative now--not
now. Russia's brutal unrelenting rocket and missile attacks throughout
Ukraine, including attacks on schools and churches, hospitals and
apartment buildings, have killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian
civilians and soldiers, while entire cities have been laid to rubble by
the Russian barrages. While the media coverage has waned significantly
here in the United States, the people of Ukraine are still feeling the
effect and the terrible impacts of this bloody and illegal invasion of
their homeland in so many ways. One is the blockade of Ukraine's Black
Sea ports.
Since the war began, Russia has put this blockade in place preventing
the export of millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products
desperately needed, by the way, in Africa, in the Middle East, and
other developing countries.
Just this past Saturday, Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky
reported that 300,000 tons of grain were destroyed when Russia shelled
a warehouse near one of these ports.
So Russia is actually shelling grain bins to destroy the grain. Let
me be clear: Food should never be a target and should never be used as
leverage in negotiations. Malign actors around the world have used food
as a weapon--the Houthis in Yemen, Assad in Syria, and now Russia in
Ukraine.
Russia has the rest of the world hostage with its barbaric food
blockade. President Putin recently suggested that he would lift his
stranglehold on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, including Odesa, but he said
he would only do so if all the sanctions were lifted on Russia. In
other words, Russia would like to be rewarded for releasing the hostage
it has taken.
Russia must release its blockade immediately, without any conditions.
Millions of lives depend on it. I would expect the administration and
allies--including Turkey--to come up with contingency plans now, if
they don't have them already. This impacts nations in Africa, the
Middle East, East Asia, and particularly, again, these poor countries
in Africa depend on the Ukrainian grains, otherwise there will be
massive food shortages.
In Turkey, President Erdogan continues to negotiate an exit corridor
for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. I thank him for doing that.
He should continue to do so. And even in China--no friend of the United
States and a very good friend of Russia right now--President Xi Jinping
has warned of a bad winter wheat harvest. I hope he can persuade
Vladimir Putin that needlessly causing a global hunger catastrophe will
not do him any favors.
The dire warnings of global food insecurity and price hikes if this
blockade continues should concern everyone in this Congress, everyone
in America, and everyone in this administration, certainly.
The world is looking to our leadership to help solve this problem.
What we need is a creation of a humanitarian corridor that can go out,
at least through the port at Odesa through which Ukrainian agricultural
products can reach the world market.
Until then, other avenues have to be explored. When I was in Romania
2 weeks ago, the prime minister there told me that they intend to boost
their road and rail and canal infrastructure to the port in Romania to
help export as much Ukrainian grain as possible. This would help, and I
appreciate--really appreciate--the Romanian effort, but it can't match
the capacity of Odesa or these other ports in Ukraine.
At a security conference in Singapore on Sunday, Ukraine's deputy
foreign minister announced that Ukraine will, indeed, try to export its
grains through Romania as well as through Poland, as well as any place
they can get it out.
They are looking for a third route as an example through the Baltic
States, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. That is a desperate attempt by
Ukraine to try to get this grain out, but, again, it can never match
the huge volumes that can go by ship from its own ports.
As the head of the Ukraine Grain Association said last week:
I can tell you we won't find a solution [for] exports
[without Black Sea port access].
Unfortunately, I think he is right. It is clear that Russia is trying
to starve the world into pressuring Ukraine to surrender. Meanwhile,
Russia's crimes within Ukraine continue. A few days ago, Ukrainian
prosecutors announced that eight more war crimes have been filed
against Russian soldiers. These cases are part of a more than 16,000
investigation that Ukraine has opened into possible war crimes
committed during the war, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general--
16,000 investigations right now into war crimes.
In the past war crimes trials, two captured Russian soldiers were
each sentenced to 11\1/2\ years in prison in late May after pleading
guilty to shelling a town in Eastern Ukraine. And a Russian soldier was
handed a life sentence for shooting a 62-year-old Ukrainian civilian in
the head.
These heinous acts of violence are going to continue unless Ukraine
has the ability to push back. We do need more of these sentences of war
criminals to try to act as a deterrent to stop the further Russian
barbarity in Ukraine. Maybe some officers, maybe some officials in the
Kremlin looking at these war crime convictions will say, you know what,
maybe we shouldn't be attacking our peaceful neighbors and killing them
and raping them and terrorizing this country.
There is another important issue I want to mention, one that is worth
the world's attention: Ukrainian orphans. Unfortunately, there are
hundreds of Ukrainian orphans who are stuck in Ukraine or elsewhere in
Europe. A lot of these orphans have ties to America and unique ties to
about 200 American families who are ready, willing, and able to host
these children. These families have been in the process of adopting
these children for a long time, from before the invasion. Many of these
children have actually previously visited the United States to meet
with their soon-to-be adopted families.
Unfortunately, many of these children returned right before the
invasion and are unaccounted for now. Many have lost contact with their
soon-to-be families. I have constituents in Ohio, and I know hundreds
of other families across the country ready to welcome these children
into their homes.
In March, along with 26 colleagues, I wrote to the State Department,
I have yet to hear back from that letter, but we asked for two things:
one, to help identify these children, this needs to be done in
collaboration with the Ukrainian government, of course, and U.S.-based
organizations; and, two, my letter urged the administration to issue
travel visas to allow adoption-eligible kids to come live with their
American host families now.
The State Department should use its powers under the law to
immediately process nonimmigrant visas that will allow these kids with
in-process adoptions to travel to the U.S. and stay with their host
families in the United States instead of requiring these children to
remain in other locations for displaced persons in Europe or in
Ukraine.
Many of these children may be given refuge in neighboring countries.
However, I believe in the unique circumstances where children already
have established relationships with these families in the United
States, they should be able to come here and be with their host
families who can ensure the child's safety and stability.
At the same time, we could continue to work with the Ukrainian
government, which has been open to finalizing the adoptions that were
in process before the war began.
I will close with this: I have now come to the floor every week since
just before President Putin began this illegal and unprovoked invasion
against the people of a democratic Ukraine who just wanted to live in
peace with their neighbors--including Russia.
This is the fight during our generation where democracy is on the
line. I am not surprised, because I have seen the spirit and bravery of
the Ukrainian people firsthand in my many trips to Ukraine, including
meeting with Ukrainian troops on the front line before this latest
invasion. I am not surprised that they have held off Russia so far.
Their strength and resiliency is a marvel.
Again, it is not what Vladimir Putin expected. It is, frankly, not
what our own U.S. military expected. They have fought hard, and they
continue to every day. But they need more help.
Last week, I met with a great fighter in this cause, my friend Andy
Futey from Ohio, who leads the Ukrainian World Congress for the Ukraine
diaspora all over the world. He has been a strong and consistent
advocate for Ukraine and joined me at a rally, actually, at the White
House with hundreds of Ukrainian Americans a couple months ago.
When I met with Andy last week and other members of the Ukrainian
World Congress who had just returned from Ukraine, they spoke with
passion about the destruction they had seen in Ukraine, about the steep
price that the Ukrainian people have paid and continue to pay to be
able to remain free and independent.
With them was a young woman from Ukraine who was very emotional in
her
appeals, with tears, saying, America needs to do more during this hour
of need. As they made the case passionately that the U.S. needs to
continue sending weapons and artillery and sooner not later, they
talked about the need for these long-range weapons we talked about
tonight, so the Ukrainians have a fighting chance.
Every day the United States fails to sufficiently support Ukraine
only serves as a detriment to the Ukrainians, who need us to lead the
free world in helping them win this war. Brave Ukrainians are dying
every day. We just can't afford to delay.
My colleague Senator Dick Durbin and I cochair what is called the
Senate Ukraine Caucus, which we founded back in 2015. Later this week,
we will bring the caucus together to meet with the leaders in the
Ukrainian parliament, the Rada, who are here visiting Washington to
urge greater support in America for their country. We are eager to hear
what they have to say.
Many of us here in this Chamber get it. We know that America can't
afford to stay on the sidelines and be a spectator in this conflict. At
this crucial time in the battle for freedom, democracy, and the ability
for countries to have their territorial integrity respected, at this
critical hour, America cannot afford to be tentative.
We must remember the lessons of the late 1930s: that appeasing
tyrants will not satiate their desire to violently conquer and
subjugate their neighbors. Some folks in this town may not understand
that, but Ukrainians understand it. They know what it is like to live
under the thumb of authoritarians, and they broke away from that and
toward democracy, first in 1991 and again in 2014.
I was in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity, in 2014, where
Ukrainians decided for themselves that they wanted to turn away from
Russian domination and turn to us and to Europe and to pursue a hopeful
future of democracy and freedom. Now, President Putin is trying to
extinguish that hope. We must not let him.
One question that many of us have of the administration is: What is
the end goal here? Is our objective to help Ukraine grind down Russia's
military so that for some number of years it is unable to undertake
another violent campaign like this? Is our objective to topple
President Putin's regime? Or is our objective to help the Ukrainians
expel the Russian invaders from their sovereign Ukrainian territory,
including Crimea and the Donbas?
The administration dodges these questions by saying: It is up to the
Ukrainians to decide.
I understand that, but the Ukrainians have already decided. They want
their sovereign territory back--all of it. I have discussed this at
length with Ukrainians, and they have consistently said what I have
heard from their parliamentary leaders in the past and will again this
week: Nothing less than the full restoration of Ukrainian sovereign
territory is their goal.
Saying that we support Russia walking away with any Ukrainian
territory would just embolden Russia in this conflict and embolden
aggressors and authoritarians in the future.
It has now been 110 days of unrelenting Russian attacks on our ally
Ukraine, and it has been 110 days of pushing the administration to help
more. This happened with Russian oil, Russian gas exports. It happened
with trade and banking sanctions and various kinds of military
assistance. Now it is the HIMARS. They need these weapons.
America has made its stand. We are on the side of freedom over
tyranny, democracy and self-determination over authoritarianism and
conquest. The countries of the free world are with us, but more so when
we lead. Now is not the time to be tentative or equivocal. At this
critical juncture, let's work with allies to provide our democratic
brothers and sisters in Ukraine what they need to protect the homeland
and defend democracy.
I yield the floor.
| based | white supremacist |
06/13/2022 | Mr. PORTMAN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgS2915-5 | nan | nan | Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, for the 15th straight week, while the
U.S. Senate has been in session, I come to the floor to talk about what
is going on in Ukraine. This is the war that Russia continues to wage
against the people of Ukraine. I am going to talk about what has
happened in the last week--some of it is very concerning--but also
about what we can do right now to help more, to help our ally Ukraine,
to help President Zelenskyy and his duly elected government, and to
help the people of Ukraine.
Last week, I talked about a grim milestone, 100 days of this war. It
is becoming a war of attrition. The Russians expected a quick victory,
you remember. That didn't happen. Now they are grinding it out in one
area called the Donbas region. And unfortunately, they are making some
incremental progress there. In a minute, I will have a map here to show
you where the
Donbas region is. But that is where the focus is right now. That is
where the Russians are grinding it out.
The fate of Ukraine, its future, may be decided here in the next few
months or maybe even weeks, given what is happening in the Donbas. The
Russians have regrouped, and they are using their superior weapons,
particularly long-range artillery. The Ukrainians, although they are
fighting valiantly, just don't have that longer range artillery to be
able to counteract what Russia is doing. So the Russians are sitting
back with this long-range, more accurate artillery. They are hitting
Ukrainian positions, taking out Ukrainian cities, flattening them. And
then the Ukrainians can't reach them because they don't have artillery
that is long range.
There has been some Ukrainian progress in the past week. If you look
at this map, you can see that in the northeast, around Kharkiv--up
here, you see this light blue--Ukrainians have made some progress. In
fact, in one case, they actually pushed the Russians back to the
Russian border.
They also made some progress here in the south. And you see the city
of Kherson, that was one of the first big cities that the Russians took
during this most recent attack. The Ukrainians are now moving toward
that area. That is positive news.
But, frankly, one reason they are making the progress is the Russians
are all focused right here. This is the Donbas region we talked about
earlier, and this is where the Russians are making incremental progress
and killing, frankly, a lot of Ukrainian civilians but also Ukrainian
soldiers.
Russia is grinding it out, as I said earlier, meaning that they are
using their superior artillery fire. They have more troops. They have
more weapons. But the Ukrainian defenders are fighting hard. They are
making the Russians pay for every single inch of territory that is
being taken. This is particularly true in Severodonetsk, which is right
in here.
In Severodonetsk, there is an ongoing battle tonight as we talk. The
Russians are engaged in urban combat there, and the Ukrainians have
fiercely defended their homeland. But I will say, the Russians are
still advancing bit by bit, in some cases kilometer by kilometer, every
day, because they have the firepower, especially the longer-range,
accurate, and deadly artillery.
Reports yesterday indicate that unless Ukrainians can get access to
that long-range artillery themselves, Severodonetsk and the entire
Luhansk region could fall to Russia soon. Possibly within weeks. This
should alarm all of us. It should alarm the administration; it should
alarm the Congress. Because every time Russia gains more territory,
they reduce it to mostly rubble, destroy it, and then they dig in,
making it twice as hard to get that territory back.
Because the Russians have more artillery than the Ukrainians and
their weapons have longer ranges, the Russian forces concentrate their
massive firepower on Ukrainian positions from a distance, as I said,
which the Ukrainian forces cannot reach. And then they move in.
They destroy the territory. They occupy it. This disparity in the
quality and quantity of artillery has put Ukraine at a distinct
disadvantage. The good news is that we can fix this problem. We can
level this playing field and address this disparity. America and her
allies have the ability to do it, and it is urgent that we do it now.
In our inventory, we have hundreds of what are called High Mobility
Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS. It is an advanced system that is
actually superior to the Russian artillery in almost every way, more
mobility, faster reload time, more accuracy, and--more importantly--
more range.
Getting these systems, these HIMARS systems to Ukraine could be a
game changer. It could save so many lives. With these systems in the
arsenal, the Ukrainians could turn the tables on the Russians here in
the Donbas region.
They could grind the Russian advance to a halt and maybe even push
the Russian forces back, as they are doing in Kharkiv up here or down
here in the south.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration has been unwilling to act
quickly on these HIMARS. Two weeks ago, after weeks of Ukrainian
requests, echoed by some of us here in the U.S. Congress, President
Biden announced that he would provide Ukraine with some of these
systems. I was really pleased we were finally taking that step.
However, according to the Department of Defense, I now learned that
the administration is only sending four of these systems--four. The
administration has said that it is only providing Ukraine with mid-
range missiles as well, meaning Ukrainian troops will need to fire from
closer to Russian positions and put themselves at greater risk.
That announcement of our decision to send four systems will be 2
weeks old on Wednesday. We were told these systems require almost 3
weeks in training to be able to operate. That means, at best, Ukraine
will have four U.S. artillery systems operational sometime late this
week or maybe next week.
Ukraine has been fighting for its life for weeks along a massive
front line, this front line all along here. And the Biden
administration is only now sending this military support; and, frankly,
it is just not enough. Combine this with the public reporting that the
M777 howitzer promised to Ukraine months ago back in mid-April are
arriving very slowly, and you have a picture that shows that we are not
responding with urgency to the situation in Ukraine.
You don't have to take it from me. Listen to the military advisor and
President Zelenskyy's chief of staff Oleksiy Arestovych: ``If we get 60
of these [rocket artillery] systems,'' that is the HIMARS I am talking
about, ``then the Russians will lose all ability to advance anywhere,
they will be stopped [dead] in their tracks. If we get 40, they will
advance, albeit very slowly with heavy casualties; with 20, they will
continue to advance with higher casualties than now.''
So he is talking about the need for 60 or at least 40; 20 won't be
enough. Unfortunately, we are talking about four. To their credit, the
British announced last Tuesday that they will send something similar to
these multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine. It is a larger
version, actually, of the HIMARS rocket artillery system that they are
sending. I appreciate that. However, the BBC reports that they are now
only sending three, at least initially.
The world looks to America for leadership, and if America leads with
only four rocket artillery systems, the rest of the world is going to
follow with similarly modest support. I hope this will change. I hope
we will see that these numbers improve. I would like to be proven wrong
that those artillery systems are already on their way. I hope they are,
but the best information we have is that is not true.
It has been months now, and the Ukrainians cannot afford to have
imprecise and low-level assistance from the world's most powerful
military. This Congress sent $40 billion in aid to the Ukrainians, $21
billion of that was military assistance. I think we should expect and
demand that the administration utilize that funding as much as possible
and provide Ukraine with the precise and powerful military equipment it
actually needs to be able to fight this war, to stop the bloodshed, by
pushing the Russians back, $21 billion is a lot of money, let's be sure
it is spent properly.
Another Ukrainian official, Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine's Deputy head of
Military Intelligence, told a British outlet: ``Everything now depends
on what [the West] gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to
15 Russian artillery pieces.''
Ukrainians need our help. And Congress has done its job in an
overwhelming, bipartisan fashion. We should not be tentative now--not
now. Russia's brutal unrelenting rocket and missile attacks throughout
Ukraine, including attacks on schools and churches, hospitals and
apartment buildings, have killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian
civilians and soldiers, while entire cities have been laid to rubble by
the Russian barrages. While the media coverage has waned significantly
here in the United States, the people of Ukraine are still feeling the
effect and the terrible impacts of this bloody and illegal invasion of
their homeland in so many ways. One is the blockade of Ukraine's Black
Sea ports.
Since the war began, Russia has put this blockade in place preventing
the export of millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products
desperately needed, by the way, in Africa, in the Middle East, and
other developing countries.
Just this past Saturday, Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky
reported that 300,000 tons of grain were destroyed when Russia shelled
a warehouse near one of these ports.
So Russia is actually shelling grain bins to destroy the grain. Let
me be clear: Food should never be a target and should never be used as
leverage in negotiations. Malign actors around the world have used food
as a weapon--the Houthis in Yemen, Assad in Syria, and now Russia in
Ukraine.
Russia has the rest of the world hostage with its barbaric food
blockade. President Putin recently suggested that he would lift his
stranglehold on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, including Odesa, but he said
he would only do so if all the sanctions were lifted on Russia. In
other words, Russia would like to be rewarded for releasing the hostage
it has taken.
Russia must release its blockade immediately, without any conditions.
Millions of lives depend on it. I would expect the administration and
allies--including Turkey--to come up with contingency plans now, if
they don't have them already. This impacts nations in Africa, the
Middle East, East Asia, and particularly, again, these poor countries
in Africa depend on the Ukrainian grains, otherwise there will be
massive food shortages.
In Turkey, President Erdogan continues to negotiate an exit corridor
for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. I thank him for doing that.
He should continue to do so. And even in China--no friend of the United
States and a very good friend of Russia right now--President Xi Jinping
has warned of a bad winter wheat harvest. I hope he can persuade
Vladimir Putin that needlessly causing a global hunger catastrophe will
not do him any favors.
The dire warnings of global food insecurity and price hikes if this
blockade continues should concern everyone in this Congress, everyone
in America, and everyone in this administration, certainly.
The world is looking to our leadership to help solve this problem.
What we need is a creation of a humanitarian corridor that can go out,
at least through the port at Odesa through which Ukrainian agricultural
products can reach the world market.
Until then, other avenues have to be explored. When I was in Romania
2 weeks ago, the prime minister there told me that they intend to boost
their road and rail and canal infrastructure to the port in Romania to
help export as much Ukrainian grain as possible. This would help, and I
appreciate--really appreciate--the Romanian effort, but it can't match
the capacity of Odesa or these other ports in Ukraine.
At a security conference in Singapore on Sunday, Ukraine's deputy
foreign minister announced that Ukraine will, indeed, try to export its
grains through Romania as well as through Poland, as well as any place
they can get it out.
They are looking for a third route as an example through the Baltic
States, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. That is a desperate attempt by
Ukraine to try to get this grain out, but, again, it can never match
the huge volumes that can go by ship from its own ports.
As the head of the Ukraine Grain Association said last week:
I can tell you we won't find a solution [for] exports
[without Black Sea port access].
Unfortunately, I think he is right. It is clear that Russia is trying
to starve the world into pressuring Ukraine to surrender. Meanwhile,
Russia's crimes within Ukraine continue. A few days ago, Ukrainian
prosecutors announced that eight more war crimes have been filed
against Russian soldiers. These cases are part of a more than 16,000
investigation that Ukraine has opened into possible war crimes
committed during the war, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general--
16,000 investigations right now into war crimes.
In the past war crimes trials, two captured Russian soldiers were
each sentenced to 11\1/2\ years in prison in late May after pleading
guilty to shelling a town in Eastern Ukraine. And a Russian soldier was
handed a life sentence for shooting a 62-year-old Ukrainian civilian in
the head.
These heinous acts of violence are going to continue unless Ukraine
has the ability to push back. We do need more of these sentences of war
criminals to try to act as a deterrent to stop the further Russian
barbarity in Ukraine. Maybe some officers, maybe some officials in the
Kremlin looking at these war crime convictions will say, you know what,
maybe we shouldn't be attacking our peaceful neighbors and killing them
and raping them and terrorizing this country.
There is another important issue I want to mention, one that is worth
the world's attention: Ukrainian orphans. Unfortunately, there are
hundreds of Ukrainian orphans who are stuck in Ukraine or elsewhere in
Europe. A lot of these orphans have ties to America and unique ties to
about 200 American families who are ready, willing, and able to host
these children. These families have been in the process of adopting
these children for a long time, from before the invasion. Many of these
children have actually previously visited the United States to meet
with their soon-to-be adopted families.
Unfortunately, many of these children returned right before the
invasion and are unaccounted for now. Many have lost contact with their
soon-to-be families. I have constituents in Ohio, and I know hundreds
of other families across the country ready to welcome these children
into their homes.
In March, along with 26 colleagues, I wrote to the State Department,
I have yet to hear back from that letter, but we asked for two things:
one, to help identify these children, this needs to be done in
collaboration with the Ukrainian government, of course, and U.S.-based
organizations; and, two, my letter urged the administration to issue
travel visas to allow adoption-eligible kids to come live with their
American host families now.
The State Department should use its powers under the law to
immediately process nonimmigrant visas that will allow these kids with
in-process adoptions to travel to the U.S. and stay with their host
families in the United States instead of requiring these children to
remain in other locations for displaced persons in Europe or in
Ukraine.
Many of these children may be given refuge in neighboring countries.
However, I believe in the unique circumstances where children already
have established relationships with these families in the United
States, they should be able to come here and be with their host
families who can ensure the child's safety and stability.
At the same time, we could continue to work with the Ukrainian
government, which has been open to finalizing the adoptions that were
in process before the war began.
I will close with this: I have now come to the floor every week since
just before President Putin began this illegal and unprovoked invasion
against the people of a democratic Ukraine who just wanted to live in
peace with their neighbors--including Russia.
This is the fight during our generation where democracy is on the
line. I am not surprised, because I have seen the spirit and bravery of
the Ukrainian people firsthand in my many trips to Ukraine, including
meeting with Ukrainian troops on the front line before this latest
invasion. I am not surprised that they have held off Russia so far.
Their strength and resiliency is a marvel.
Again, it is not what Vladimir Putin expected. It is, frankly, not
what our own U.S. military expected. They have fought hard, and they
continue to every day. But they need more help.
Last week, I met with a great fighter in this cause, my friend Andy
Futey from Ohio, who leads the Ukrainian World Congress for the Ukraine
diaspora all over the world. He has been a strong and consistent
advocate for Ukraine and joined me at a rally, actually, at the White
House with hundreds of Ukrainian Americans a couple months ago.
When I met with Andy last week and other members of the Ukrainian
World Congress who had just returned from Ukraine, they spoke with
passion about the destruction they had seen in Ukraine, about the steep
price that the Ukrainian people have paid and continue to pay to be
able to remain free and independent.
With them was a young woman from Ukraine who was very emotional in
her
appeals, with tears, saying, America needs to do more during this hour
of need. As they made the case passionately that the U.S. needs to
continue sending weapons and artillery and sooner not later, they
talked about the need for these long-range weapons we talked about
tonight, so the Ukrainians have a fighting chance.
Every day the United States fails to sufficiently support Ukraine
only serves as a detriment to the Ukrainians, who need us to lead the
free world in helping them win this war. Brave Ukrainians are dying
every day. We just can't afford to delay.
My colleague Senator Dick Durbin and I cochair what is called the
Senate Ukraine Caucus, which we founded back in 2015. Later this week,
we will bring the caucus together to meet with the leaders in the
Ukrainian parliament, the Rada, who are here visiting Washington to
urge greater support in America for their country. We are eager to hear
what they have to say.
Many of us here in this Chamber get it. We know that America can't
afford to stay on the sidelines and be a spectator in this conflict. At
this crucial time in the battle for freedom, democracy, and the ability
for countries to have their territorial integrity respected, at this
critical hour, America cannot afford to be tentative.
We must remember the lessons of the late 1930s: that appeasing
tyrants will not satiate their desire to violently conquer and
subjugate their neighbors. Some folks in this town may not understand
that, but Ukrainians understand it. They know what it is like to live
under the thumb of authoritarians, and they broke away from that and
toward democracy, first in 1991 and again in 2014.
I was in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity, in 2014, where
Ukrainians decided for themselves that they wanted to turn away from
Russian domination and turn to us and to Europe and to pursue a hopeful
future of democracy and freedom. Now, President Putin is trying to
extinguish that hope. We must not let him.
One question that many of us have of the administration is: What is
the end goal here? Is our objective to help Ukraine grind down Russia's
military so that for some number of years it is unable to undertake
another violent campaign like this? Is our objective to topple
President Putin's regime? Or is our objective to help the Ukrainians
expel the Russian invaders from their sovereign Ukrainian territory,
including Crimea and the Donbas?
The administration dodges these questions by saying: It is up to the
Ukrainians to decide.
I understand that, but the Ukrainians have already decided. They want
their sovereign territory back--all of it. I have discussed this at
length with Ukrainians, and they have consistently said what I have
heard from their parliamentary leaders in the past and will again this
week: Nothing less than the full restoration of Ukrainian sovereign
territory is their goal.
Saying that we support Russia walking away with any Ukrainian
territory would just embolden Russia in this conflict and embolden
aggressors and authoritarians in the future.
It has now been 110 days of unrelenting Russian attacks on our ally
Ukraine, and it has been 110 days of pushing the administration to help
more. This happened with Russian oil, Russian gas exports. It happened
with trade and banking sanctions and various kinds of military
assistance. Now it is the HIMARS. They need these weapons.
America has made its stand. We are on the side of freedom over
tyranny, democracy and self-determination over authoritarianism and
conquest. The countries of the free world are with us, but more so when
we lead. Now is not the time to be tentative or equivocal. At this
critical juncture, let's work with allies to provide our democratic
brothers and sisters in Ukraine what they need to protect the homeland
and defend democracy.
I yield the floor.
| blue | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Mr. PORTMAN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgS2915-5 | nan | nan | Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, for the 15th straight week, while the
U.S. Senate has been in session, I come to the floor to talk about what
is going on in Ukraine. This is the war that Russia continues to wage
against the people of Ukraine. I am going to talk about what has
happened in the last week--some of it is very concerning--but also
about what we can do right now to help more, to help our ally Ukraine,
to help President Zelenskyy and his duly elected government, and to
help the people of Ukraine.
Last week, I talked about a grim milestone, 100 days of this war. It
is becoming a war of attrition. The Russians expected a quick victory,
you remember. That didn't happen. Now they are grinding it out in one
area called the Donbas region. And unfortunately, they are making some
incremental progress there. In a minute, I will have a map here to show
you where the
Donbas region is. But that is where the focus is right now. That is
where the Russians are grinding it out.
The fate of Ukraine, its future, may be decided here in the next few
months or maybe even weeks, given what is happening in the Donbas. The
Russians have regrouped, and they are using their superior weapons,
particularly long-range artillery. The Ukrainians, although they are
fighting valiantly, just don't have that longer range artillery to be
able to counteract what Russia is doing. So the Russians are sitting
back with this long-range, more accurate artillery. They are hitting
Ukrainian positions, taking out Ukrainian cities, flattening them. And
then the Ukrainians can't reach them because they don't have artillery
that is long range.
There has been some Ukrainian progress in the past week. If you look
at this map, you can see that in the northeast, around Kharkiv--up
here, you see this light blue--Ukrainians have made some progress. In
fact, in one case, they actually pushed the Russians back to the
Russian border.
They also made some progress here in the south. And you see the city
of Kherson, that was one of the first big cities that the Russians took
during this most recent attack. The Ukrainians are now moving toward
that area. That is positive news.
But, frankly, one reason they are making the progress is the Russians
are all focused right here. This is the Donbas region we talked about
earlier, and this is where the Russians are making incremental progress
and killing, frankly, a lot of Ukrainian civilians but also Ukrainian
soldiers.
Russia is grinding it out, as I said earlier, meaning that they are
using their superior artillery fire. They have more troops. They have
more weapons. But the Ukrainian defenders are fighting hard. They are
making the Russians pay for every single inch of territory that is
being taken. This is particularly true in Severodonetsk, which is right
in here.
In Severodonetsk, there is an ongoing battle tonight as we talk. The
Russians are engaged in urban combat there, and the Ukrainians have
fiercely defended their homeland. But I will say, the Russians are
still advancing bit by bit, in some cases kilometer by kilometer, every
day, because they have the firepower, especially the longer-range,
accurate, and deadly artillery.
Reports yesterday indicate that unless Ukrainians can get access to
that long-range artillery themselves, Severodonetsk and the entire
Luhansk region could fall to Russia soon. Possibly within weeks. This
should alarm all of us. It should alarm the administration; it should
alarm the Congress. Because every time Russia gains more territory,
they reduce it to mostly rubble, destroy it, and then they dig in,
making it twice as hard to get that territory back.
Because the Russians have more artillery than the Ukrainians and
their weapons have longer ranges, the Russian forces concentrate their
massive firepower on Ukrainian positions from a distance, as I said,
which the Ukrainian forces cannot reach. And then they move in.
They destroy the territory. They occupy it. This disparity in the
quality and quantity of artillery has put Ukraine at a distinct
disadvantage. The good news is that we can fix this problem. We can
level this playing field and address this disparity. America and her
allies have the ability to do it, and it is urgent that we do it now.
In our inventory, we have hundreds of what are called High Mobility
Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS. It is an advanced system that is
actually superior to the Russian artillery in almost every way, more
mobility, faster reload time, more accuracy, and--more importantly--
more range.
Getting these systems, these HIMARS systems to Ukraine could be a
game changer. It could save so many lives. With these systems in the
arsenal, the Ukrainians could turn the tables on the Russians here in
the Donbas region.
They could grind the Russian advance to a halt and maybe even push
the Russian forces back, as they are doing in Kharkiv up here or down
here in the south.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration has been unwilling to act
quickly on these HIMARS. Two weeks ago, after weeks of Ukrainian
requests, echoed by some of us here in the U.S. Congress, President
Biden announced that he would provide Ukraine with some of these
systems. I was really pleased we were finally taking that step.
However, according to the Department of Defense, I now learned that
the administration is only sending four of these systems--four. The
administration has said that it is only providing Ukraine with mid-
range missiles as well, meaning Ukrainian troops will need to fire from
closer to Russian positions and put themselves at greater risk.
That announcement of our decision to send four systems will be 2
weeks old on Wednesday. We were told these systems require almost 3
weeks in training to be able to operate. That means, at best, Ukraine
will have four U.S. artillery systems operational sometime late this
week or maybe next week.
Ukraine has been fighting for its life for weeks along a massive
front line, this front line all along here. And the Biden
administration is only now sending this military support; and, frankly,
it is just not enough. Combine this with the public reporting that the
M777 howitzer promised to Ukraine months ago back in mid-April are
arriving very slowly, and you have a picture that shows that we are not
responding with urgency to the situation in Ukraine.
You don't have to take it from me. Listen to the military advisor and
President Zelenskyy's chief of staff Oleksiy Arestovych: ``If we get 60
of these [rocket artillery] systems,'' that is the HIMARS I am talking
about, ``then the Russians will lose all ability to advance anywhere,
they will be stopped [dead] in their tracks. If we get 40, they will
advance, albeit very slowly with heavy casualties; with 20, they will
continue to advance with higher casualties than now.''
So he is talking about the need for 60 or at least 40; 20 won't be
enough. Unfortunately, we are talking about four. To their credit, the
British announced last Tuesday that they will send something similar to
these multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine. It is a larger
version, actually, of the HIMARS rocket artillery system that they are
sending. I appreciate that. However, the BBC reports that they are now
only sending three, at least initially.
The world looks to America for leadership, and if America leads with
only four rocket artillery systems, the rest of the world is going to
follow with similarly modest support. I hope this will change. I hope
we will see that these numbers improve. I would like to be proven wrong
that those artillery systems are already on their way. I hope they are,
but the best information we have is that is not true.
It has been months now, and the Ukrainians cannot afford to have
imprecise and low-level assistance from the world's most powerful
military. This Congress sent $40 billion in aid to the Ukrainians, $21
billion of that was military assistance. I think we should expect and
demand that the administration utilize that funding as much as possible
and provide Ukraine with the precise and powerful military equipment it
actually needs to be able to fight this war, to stop the bloodshed, by
pushing the Russians back, $21 billion is a lot of money, let's be sure
it is spent properly.
Another Ukrainian official, Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine's Deputy head of
Military Intelligence, told a British outlet: ``Everything now depends
on what [the West] gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to
15 Russian artillery pieces.''
Ukrainians need our help. And Congress has done its job in an
overwhelming, bipartisan fashion. We should not be tentative now--not
now. Russia's brutal unrelenting rocket and missile attacks throughout
Ukraine, including attacks on schools and churches, hospitals and
apartment buildings, have killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian
civilians and soldiers, while entire cities have been laid to rubble by
the Russian barrages. While the media coverage has waned significantly
here in the United States, the people of Ukraine are still feeling the
effect and the terrible impacts of this bloody and illegal invasion of
their homeland in so many ways. One is the blockade of Ukraine's Black
Sea ports.
Since the war began, Russia has put this blockade in place preventing
the export of millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products
desperately needed, by the way, in Africa, in the Middle East, and
other developing countries.
Just this past Saturday, Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky
reported that 300,000 tons of grain were destroyed when Russia shelled
a warehouse near one of these ports.
So Russia is actually shelling grain bins to destroy the grain. Let
me be clear: Food should never be a target and should never be used as
leverage in negotiations. Malign actors around the world have used food
as a weapon--the Houthis in Yemen, Assad in Syria, and now Russia in
Ukraine.
Russia has the rest of the world hostage with its barbaric food
blockade. President Putin recently suggested that he would lift his
stranglehold on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, including Odesa, but he said
he would only do so if all the sanctions were lifted on Russia. In
other words, Russia would like to be rewarded for releasing the hostage
it has taken.
Russia must release its blockade immediately, without any conditions.
Millions of lives depend on it. I would expect the administration and
allies--including Turkey--to come up with contingency plans now, if
they don't have them already. This impacts nations in Africa, the
Middle East, East Asia, and particularly, again, these poor countries
in Africa depend on the Ukrainian grains, otherwise there will be
massive food shortages.
In Turkey, President Erdogan continues to negotiate an exit corridor
for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. I thank him for doing that.
He should continue to do so. And even in China--no friend of the United
States and a very good friend of Russia right now--President Xi Jinping
has warned of a bad winter wheat harvest. I hope he can persuade
Vladimir Putin that needlessly causing a global hunger catastrophe will
not do him any favors.
The dire warnings of global food insecurity and price hikes if this
blockade continues should concern everyone in this Congress, everyone
in America, and everyone in this administration, certainly.
The world is looking to our leadership to help solve this problem.
What we need is a creation of a humanitarian corridor that can go out,
at least through the port at Odesa through which Ukrainian agricultural
products can reach the world market.
Until then, other avenues have to be explored. When I was in Romania
2 weeks ago, the prime minister there told me that they intend to boost
their road and rail and canal infrastructure to the port in Romania to
help export as much Ukrainian grain as possible. This would help, and I
appreciate--really appreciate--the Romanian effort, but it can't match
the capacity of Odesa or these other ports in Ukraine.
At a security conference in Singapore on Sunday, Ukraine's deputy
foreign minister announced that Ukraine will, indeed, try to export its
grains through Romania as well as through Poland, as well as any place
they can get it out.
They are looking for a third route as an example through the Baltic
States, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. That is a desperate attempt by
Ukraine to try to get this grain out, but, again, it can never match
the huge volumes that can go by ship from its own ports.
As the head of the Ukraine Grain Association said last week:
I can tell you we won't find a solution [for] exports
[without Black Sea port access].
Unfortunately, I think he is right. It is clear that Russia is trying
to starve the world into pressuring Ukraine to surrender. Meanwhile,
Russia's crimes within Ukraine continue. A few days ago, Ukrainian
prosecutors announced that eight more war crimes have been filed
against Russian soldiers. These cases are part of a more than 16,000
investigation that Ukraine has opened into possible war crimes
committed during the war, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general--
16,000 investigations right now into war crimes.
In the past war crimes trials, two captured Russian soldiers were
each sentenced to 11\1/2\ years in prison in late May after pleading
guilty to shelling a town in Eastern Ukraine. And a Russian soldier was
handed a life sentence for shooting a 62-year-old Ukrainian civilian in
the head.
These heinous acts of violence are going to continue unless Ukraine
has the ability to push back. We do need more of these sentences of war
criminals to try to act as a deterrent to stop the further Russian
barbarity in Ukraine. Maybe some officers, maybe some officials in the
Kremlin looking at these war crime convictions will say, you know what,
maybe we shouldn't be attacking our peaceful neighbors and killing them
and raping them and terrorizing this country.
There is another important issue I want to mention, one that is worth
the world's attention: Ukrainian orphans. Unfortunately, there are
hundreds of Ukrainian orphans who are stuck in Ukraine or elsewhere in
Europe. A lot of these orphans have ties to America and unique ties to
about 200 American families who are ready, willing, and able to host
these children. These families have been in the process of adopting
these children for a long time, from before the invasion. Many of these
children have actually previously visited the United States to meet
with their soon-to-be adopted families.
Unfortunately, many of these children returned right before the
invasion and are unaccounted for now. Many have lost contact with their
soon-to-be families. I have constituents in Ohio, and I know hundreds
of other families across the country ready to welcome these children
into their homes.
In March, along with 26 colleagues, I wrote to the State Department,
I have yet to hear back from that letter, but we asked for two things:
one, to help identify these children, this needs to be done in
collaboration with the Ukrainian government, of course, and U.S.-based
organizations; and, two, my letter urged the administration to issue
travel visas to allow adoption-eligible kids to come live with their
American host families now.
The State Department should use its powers under the law to
immediately process nonimmigrant visas that will allow these kids with
in-process adoptions to travel to the U.S. and stay with their host
families in the United States instead of requiring these children to
remain in other locations for displaced persons in Europe or in
Ukraine.
Many of these children may be given refuge in neighboring countries.
However, I believe in the unique circumstances where children already
have established relationships with these families in the United
States, they should be able to come here and be with their host
families who can ensure the child's safety and stability.
At the same time, we could continue to work with the Ukrainian
government, which has been open to finalizing the adoptions that were
in process before the war began.
I will close with this: I have now come to the floor every week since
just before President Putin began this illegal and unprovoked invasion
against the people of a democratic Ukraine who just wanted to live in
peace with their neighbors--including Russia.
This is the fight during our generation where democracy is on the
line. I am not surprised, because I have seen the spirit and bravery of
the Ukrainian people firsthand in my many trips to Ukraine, including
meeting with Ukrainian troops on the front line before this latest
invasion. I am not surprised that they have held off Russia so far.
Their strength and resiliency is a marvel.
Again, it is not what Vladimir Putin expected. It is, frankly, not
what our own U.S. military expected. They have fought hard, and they
continue to every day. But they need more help.
Last week, I met with a great fighter in this cause, my friend Andy
Futey from Ohio, who leads the Ukrainian World Congress for the Ukraine
diaspora all over the world. He has been a strong and consistent
advocate for Ukraine and joined me at a rally, actually, at the White
House with hundreds of Ukrainian Americans a couple months ago.
When I met with Andy last week and other members of the Ukrainian
World Congress who had just returned from Ukraine, they spoke with
passion about the destruction they had seen in Ukraine, about the steep
price that the Ukrainian people have paid and continue to pay to be
able to remain free and independent.
With them was a young woman from Ukraine who was very emotional in
her
appeals, with tears, saying, America needs to do more during this hour
of need. As they made the case passionately that the U.S. needs to
continue sending weapons and artillery and sooner not later, they
talked about the need for these long-range weapons we talked about
tonight, so the Ukrainians have a fighting chance.
Every day the United States fails to sufficiently support Ukraine
only serves as a detriment to the Ukrainians, who need us to lead the
free world in helping them win this war. Brave Ukrainians are dying
every day. We just can't afford to delay.
My colleague Senator Dick Durbin and I cochair what is called the
Senate Ukraine Caucus, which we founded back in 2015. Later this week,
we will bring the caucus together to meet with the leaders in the
Ukrainian parliament, the Rada, who are here visiting Washington to
urge greater support in America for their country. We are eager to hear
what they have to say.
Many of us here in this Chamber get it. We know that America can't
afford to stay on the sidelines and be a spectator in this conflict. At
this crucial time in the battle for freedom, democracy, and the ability
for countries to have their territorial integrity respected, at this
critical hour, America cannot afford to be tentative.
We must remember the lessons of the late 1930s: that appeasing
tyrants will not satiate their desire to violently conquer and
subjugate their neighbors. Some folks in this town may not understand
that, but Ukrainians understand it. They know what it is like to live
under the thumb of authoritarians, and they broke away from that and
toward democracy, first in 1991 and again in 2014.
I was in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity, in 2014, where
Ukrainians decided for themselves that they wanted to turn away from
Russian domination and turn to us and to Europe and to pursue a hopeful
future of democracy and freedom. Now, President Putin is trying to
extinguish that hope. We must not let him.
One question that many of us have of the administration is: What is
the end goal here? Is our objective to help Ukraine grind down Russia's
military so that for some number of years it is unable to undertake
another violent campaign like this? Is our objective to topple
President Putin's regime? Or is our objective to help the Ukrainians
expel the Russian invaders from their sovereign Ukrainian territory,
including Crimea and the Donbas?
The administration dodges these questions by saying: It is up to the
Ukrainians to decide.
I understand that, but the Ukrainians have already decided. They want
their sovereign territory back--all of it. I have discussed this at
length with Ukrainians, and they have consistently said what I have
heard from their parliamentary leaders in the past and will again this
week: Nothing less than the full restoration of Ukrainian sovereign
territory is their goal.
Saying that we support Russia walking away with any Ukrainian
territory would just embolden Russia in this conflict and embolden
aggressors and authoritarians in the future.
It has now been 110 days of unrelenting Russian attacks on our ally
Ukraine, and it has been 110 days of pushing the administration to help
more. This happened with Russian oil, Russian gas exports. It happened
with trade and banking sanctions and various kinds of military
assistance. Now it is the HIMARS. They need these weapons.
America has made its stand. We are on the side of freedom over
tyranny, democracy and self-determination over authoritarianism and
conquest. The countries of the free world are with us, but more so when
we lead. Now is not the time to be tentative or equivocal. At this
critical juncture, let's work with allies to provide our democratic
brothers and sisters in Ukraine what they need to protect the homeland
and defend democracy.
I yield the floor.
| urban | racist |
05/26/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-26-pt1-PgS2758 | nan | nan | Mr. DAINES (for himself, Mr. Peters, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. King, Mr.
Rounds, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Wyden, Ms. Rosen, Mrs. Capito, Mr. Padilla,
Mr. Booker, and Ms. Klobuchar) submitted the following resolution;
which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 654
Whereas hundreds of millions of individuals in the United
States participate in outdoor recreation annually;
Whereas Congress enacted the Outdoor Recreation Jobs and
Economic Impact Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-249; 130 Stat.
999) to assess and analyze the outdoor recreation economy of
the United States and the effects attributable to the outdoor
recreation economy on the overall economy of the United
States;
Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account, updated
in November 2021 by the Bureau of Economic Analysis of the
Department of Commerce, shows that outdoor recreation
generated more than $374,300,000,000 in economic output in
2020, comprising approximately 1.8 percent of the current-
dollar gross domestic product;
Whereas the Outdoor Recreation Satellite Account shows
that, in 2020, the outdoor recreation sector provided
4,300,000 jobs across the United States;
Whereas the Great American Outdoors Act (Public Law 116-
152; 134 Stat. 682) provides approximately $2,000,000,000 per
year to help eliminate the maintenance backlog on public
lands and waters and fully funds the Land and Water
Conservation Fund;
Whereas regular outdoor recreation is associated with
economic growth, positive health outcomes, and better quality
of life;
Whereas outdoor recreation activities at the Federal,
State, and local levels have seen a recent surge in
participation;
Whereas many outdoor recreation businesses are small
businesses that were heavily impacted by the COVID-19
pandemic;
Whereas outdoor recreation businesses are cornerstones of
rural communities and outdoor recreation is part of the
national heritage of the United States;
Whereas it is imperative that the United States ensure that
access to outdoor recreation is inclusive, equitable, and
available to all its people for generations to come; and
Whereas June 2022 is an appropriate month to designate as
``Great Outdoors Month'' to provide an opportunity to
celebrate the importance of the great outdoors: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates June 2022 as ``Great Outdoors Month''; and
(2) encourages all individuals in the United States to
responsibly participate in recreation activities in the great
outdoors during June 2022 and year-round.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
06/13/2022 | Mr. PORTMAN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-13-pt1-PgS2915-5 | nan | nan | Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, for the 15th straight week, while the
U.S. Senate has been in session, I come to the floor to talk about what
is going on in Ukraine. This is the war that Russia continues to wage
against the people of Ukraine. I am going to talk about what has
happened in the last week--some of it is very concerning--but also
about what we can do right now to help more, to help our ally Ukraine,
to help President Zelenskyy and his duly elected government, and to
help the people of Ukraine.
Last week, I talked about a grim milestone, 100 days of this war. It
is becoming a war of attrition. The Russians expected a quick victory,
you remember. That didn't happen. Now they are grinding it out in one
area called the Donbas region. And unfortunately, they are making some
incremental progress there. In a minute, I will have a map here to show
you where the
Donbas region is. But that is where the focus is right now. That is
where the Russians are grinding it out.
The fate of Ukraine, its future, may be decided here in the next few
months or maybe even weeks, given what is happening in the Donbas. The
Russians have regrouped, and they are using their superior weapons,
particularly long-range artillery. The Ukrainians, although they are
fighting valiantly, just don't have that longer range artillery to be
able to counteract what Russia is doing. So the Russians are sitting
back with this long-range, more accurate artillery. They are hitting
Ukrainian positions, taking out Ukrainian cities, flattening them. And
then the Ukrainians can't reach them because they don't have artillery
that is long range.
There has been some Ukrainian progress in the past week. If you look
at this map, you can see that in the northeast, around Kharkiv--up
here, you see this light blue--Ukrainians have made some progress. In
fact, in one case, they actually pushed the Russians back to the
Russian border.
They also made some progress here in the south. And you see the city
of Kherson, that was one of the first big cities that the Russians took
during this most recent attack. The Ukrainians are now moving toward
that area. That is positive news.
But, frankly, one reason they are making the progress is the Russians
are all focused right here. This is the Donbas region we talked about
earlier, and this is where the Russians are making incremental progress
and killing, frankly, a lot of Ukrainian civilians but also Ukrainian
soldiers.
Russia is grinding it out, as I said earlier, meaning that they are
using their superior artillery fire. They have more troops. They have
more weapons. But the Ukrainian defenders are fighting hard. They are
making the Russians pay for every single inch of territory that is
being taken. This is particularly true in Severodonetsk, which is right
in here.
In Severodonetsk, there is an ongoing battle tonight as we talk. The
Russians are engaged in urban combat there, and the Ukrainians have
fiercely defended their homeland. But I will say, the Russians are
still advancing bit by bit, in some cases kilometer by kilometer, every
day, because they have the firepower, especially the longer-range,
accurate, and deadly artillery.
Reports yesterday indicate that unless Ukrainians can get access to
that long-range artillery themselves, Severodonetsk and the entire
Luhansk region could fall to Russia soon. Possibly within weeks. This
should alarm all of us. It should alarm the administration; it should
alarm the Congress. Because every time Russia gains more territory,
they reduce it to mostly rubble, destroy it, and then they dig in,
making it twice as hard to get that territory back.
Because the Russians have more artillery than the Ukrainians and
their weapons have longer ranges, the Russian forces concentrate their
massive firepower on Ukrainian positions from a distance, as I said,
which the Ukrainian forces cannot reach. And then they move in.
They destroy the territory. They occupy it. This disparity in the
quality and quantity of artillery has put Ukraine at a distinct
disadvantage. The good news is that we can fix this problem. We can
level this playing field and address this disparity. America and her
allies have the ability to do it, and it is urgent that we do it now.
In our inventory, we have hundreds of what are called High Mobility
Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS. It is an advanced system that is
actually superior to the Russian artillery in almost every way, more
mobility, faster reload time, more accuracy, and--more importantly--
more range.
Getting these systems, these HIMARS systems to Ukraine could be a
game changer. It could save so many lives. With these systems in the
arsenal, the Ukrainians could turn the tables on the Russians here in
the Donbas region.
They could grind the Russian advance to a halt and maybe even push
the Russian forces back, as they are doing in Kharkiv up here or down
here in the south.
Unfortunately, the Biden administration has been unwilling to act
quickly on these HIMARS. Two weeks ago, after weeks of Ukrainian
requests, echoed by some of us here in the U.S. Congress, President
Biden announced that he would provide Ukraine with some of these
systems. I was really pleased we were finally taking that step.
However, according to the Department of Defense, I now learned that
the administration is only sending four of these systems--four. The
administration has said that it is only providing Ukraine with mid-
range missiles as well, meaning Ukrainian troops will need to fire from
closer to Russian positions and put themselves at greater risk.
That announcement of our decision to send four systems will be 2
weeks old on Wednesday. We were told these systems require almost 3
weeks in training to be able to operate. That means, at best, Ukraine
will have four U.S. artillery systems operational sometime late this
week or maybe next week.
Ukraine has been fighting for its life for weeks along a massive
front line, this front line all along here. And the Biden
administration is only now sending this military support; and, frankly,
it is just not enough. Combine this with the public reporting that the
M777 howitzer promised to Ukraine months ago back in mid-April are
arriving very slowly, and you have a picture that shows that we are not
responding with urgency to the situation in Ukraine.
You don't have to take it from me. Listen to the military advisor and
President Zelenskyy's chief of staff Oleksiy Arestovych: ``If we get 60
of these [rocket artillery] systems,'' that is the HIMARS I am talking
about, ``then the Russians will lose all ability to advance anywhere,
they will be stopped [dead] in their tracks. If we get 40, they will
advance, albeit very slowly with heavy casualties; with 20, they will
continue to advance with higher casualties than now.''
So he is talking about the need for 60 or at least 40; 20 won't be
enough. Unfortunately, we are talking about four. To their credit, the
British announced last Tuesday that they will send something similar to
these multiple launch rocket systems to Ukraine. It is a larger
version, actually, of the HIMARS rocket artillery system that they are
sending. I appreciate that. However, the BBC reports that they are now
only sending three, at least initially.
The world looks to America for leadership, and if America leads with
only four rocket artillery systems, the rest of the world is going to
follow with similarly modest support. I hope this will change. I hope
we will see that these numbers improve. I would like to be proven wrong
that those artillery systems are already on their way. I hope they are,
but the best information we have is that is not true.
It has been months now, and the Ukrainians cannot afford to have
imprecise and low-level assistance from the world's most powerful
military. This Congress sent $40 billion in aid to the Ukrainians, $21
billion of that was military assistance. I think we should expect and
demand that the administration utilize that funding as much as possible
and provide Ukraine with the precise and powerful military equipment it
actually needs to be able to fight this war, to stop the bloodshed, by
pushing the Russians back, $21 billion is a lot of money, let's be sure
it is spent properly.
Another Ukrainian official, Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine's Deputy head of
Military Intelligence, told a British outlet: ``Everything now depends
on what [the West] gives us. Ukraine has one artillery piece to 10 to
15 Russian artillery pieces.''
Ukrainians need our help. And Congress has done its job in an
overwhelming, bipartisan fashion. We should not be tentative now--not
now. Russia's brutal unrelenting rocket and missile attacks throughout
Ukraine, including attacks on schools and churches, hospitals and
apartment buildings, have killed tens of thousands of Ukrainian
civilians and soldiers, while entire cities have been laid to rubble by
the Russian barrages. While the media coverage has waned significantly
here in the United States, the people of Ukraine are still feeling the
effect and the terrible impacts of this bloody and illegal invasion of
their homeland in so many ways. One is the blockade of Ukraine's Black
Sea ports.
Since the war began, Russia has put this blockade in place preventing
the export of millions of tons of grain and other agricultural products
desperately needed, by the way, in Africa, in the Middle East, and
other developing countries.
Just this past Saturday, Deputy Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky
reported that 300,000 tons of grain were destroyed when Russia shelled
a warehouse near one of these ports.
So Russia is actually shelling grain bins to destroy the grain. Let
me be clear: Food should never be a target and should never be used as
leverage in negotiations. Malign actors around the world have used food
as a weapon--the Houthis in Yemen, Assad in Syria, and now Russia in
Ukraine.
Russia has the rest of the world hostage with its barbaric food
blockade. President Putin recently suggested that he would lift his
stranglehold on Ukraine's Black Sea ports, including Odesa, but he said
he would only do so if all the sanctions were lifted on Russia. In
other words, Russia would like to be rewarded for releasing the hostage
it has taken.
Russia must release its blockade immediately, without any conditions.
Millions of lives depend on it. I would expect the administration and
allies--including Turkey--to come up with contingency plans now, if
they don't have them already. This impacts nations in Africa, the
Middle East, East Asia, and particularly, again, these poor countries
in Africa depend on the Ukrainian grains, otherwise there will be
massive food shortages.
In Turkey, President Erdogan continues to negotiate an exit corridor
for Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. I thank him for doing that.
He should continue to do so. And even in China--no friend of the United
States and a very good friend of Russia right now--President Xi Jinping
has warned of a bad winter wheat harvest. I hope he can persuade
Vladimir Putin that needlessly causing a global hunger catastrophe will
not do him any favors.
The dire warnings of global food insecurity and price hikes if this
blockade continues should concern everyone in this Congress, everyone
in America, and everyone in this administration, certainly.
The world is looking to our leadership to help solve this problem.
What we need is a creation of a humanitarian corridor that can go out,
at least through the port at Odesa through which Ukrainian agricultural
products can reach the world market.
Until then, other avenues have to be explored. When I was in Romania
2 weeks ago, the prime minister there told me that they intend to boost
their road and rail and canal infrastructure to the port in Romania to
help export as much Ukrainian grain as possible. This would help, and I
appreciate--really appreciate--the Romanian effort, but it can't match
the capacity of Odesa or these other ports in Ukraine.
At a security conference in Singapore on Sunday, Ukraine's deputy
foreign minister announced that Ukraine will, indeed, try to export its
grains through Romania as well as through Poland, as well as any place
they can get it out.
They are looking for a third route as an example through the Baltic
States, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. That is a desperate attempt by
Ukraine to try to get this grain out, but, again, it can never match
the huge volumes that can go by ship from its own ports.
As the head of the Ukraine Grain Association said last week:
I can tell you we won't find a solution [for] exports
[without Black Sea port access].
Unfortunately, I think he is right. It is clear that Russia is trying
to starve the world into pressuring Ukraine to surrender. Meanwhile,
Russia's crimes within Ukraine continue. A few days ago, Ukrainian
prosecutors announced that eight more war crimes have been filed
against Russian soldiers. These cases are part of a more than 16,000
investigation that Ukraine has opened into possible war crimes
committed during the war, according to Ukraine's prosecutor general--
16,000 investigations right now into war crimes.
In the past war crimes trials, two captured Russian soldiers were
each sentenced to 11\1/2\ years in prison in late May after pleading
guilty to shelling a town in Eastern Ukraine. And a Russian soldier was
handed a life sentence for shooting a 62-year-old Ukrainian civilian in
the head.
These heinous acts of violence are going to continue unless Ukraine
has the ability to push back. We do need more of these sentences of war
criminals to try to act as a deterrent to stop the further Russian
barbarity in Ukraine. Maybe some officers, maybe some officials in the
Kremlin looking at these war crime convictions will say, you know what,
maybe we shouldn't be attacking our peaceful neighbors and killing them
and raping them and terrorizing this country.
There is another important issue I want to mention, one that is worth
the world's attention: Ukrainian orphans. Unfortunately, there are
hundreds of Ukrainian orphans who are stuck in Ukraine or elsewhere in
Europe. A lot of these orphans have ties to America and unique ties to
about 200 American families who are ready, willing, and able to host
these children. These families have been in the process of adopting
these children for a long time, from before the invasion. Many of these
children have actually previously visited the United States to meet
with their soon-to-be adopted families.
Unfortunately, many of these children returned right before the
invasion and are unaccounted for now. Many have lost contact with their
soon-to-be families. I have constituents in Ohio, and I know hundreds
of other families across the country ready to welcome these children
into their homes.
In March, along with 26 colleagues, I wrote to the State Department,
I have yet to hear back from that letter, but we asked for two things:
one, to help identify these children, this needs to be done in
collaboration with the Ukrainian government, of course, and U.S.-based
organizations; and, two, my letter urged the administration to issue
travel visas to allow adoption-eligible kids to come live with their
American host families now.
The State Department should use its powers under the law to
immediately process nonimmigrant visas that will allow these kids with
in-process adoptions to travel to the U.S. and stay with their host
families in the United States instead of requiring these children to
remain in other locations for displaced persons in Europe or in
Ukraine.
Many of these children may be given refuge in neighboring countries.
However, I believe in the unique circumstances where children already
have established relationships with these families in the United
States, they should be able to come here and be with their host
families who can ensure the child's safety and stability.
At the same time, we could continue to work with the Ukrainian
government, which has been open to finalizing the adoptions that were
in process before the war began.
I will close with this: I have now come to the floor every week since
just before President Putin began this illegal and unprovoked invasion
against the people of a democratic Ukraine who just wanted to live in
peace with their neighbors--including Russia.
This is the fight during our generation where democracy is on the
line. I am not surprised, because I have seen the spirit and bravery of
the Ukrainian people firsthand in my many trips to Ukraine, including
meeting with Ukrainian troops on the front line before this latest
invasion. I am not surprised that they have held off Russia so far.
Their strength and resiliency is a marvel.
Again, it is not what Vladimir Putin expected. It is, frankly, not
what our own U.S. military expected. They have fought hard, and they
continue to every day. But they need more help.
Last week, I met with a great fighter in this cause, my friend Andy
Futey from Ohio, who leads the Ukrainian World Congress for the Ukraine
diaspora all over the world. He has been a strong and consistent
advocate for Ukraine and joined me at a rally, actually, at the White
House with hundreds of Ukrainian Americans a couple months ago.
When I met with Andy last week and other members of the Ukrainian
World Congress who had just returned from Ukraine, they spoke with
passion about the destruction they had seen in Ukraine, about the steep
price that the Ukrainian people have paid and continue to pay to be
able to remain free and independent.
With them was a young woman from Ukraine who was very emotional in
her
appeals, with tears, saying, America needs to do more during this hour
of need. As they made the case passionately that the U.S. needs to
continue sending weapons and artillery and sooner not later, they
talked about the need for these long-range weapons we talked about
tonight, so the Ukrainians have a fighting chance.
Every day the United States fails to sufficiently support Ukraine
only serves as a detriment to the Ukrainians, who need us to lead the
free world in helping them win this war. Brave Ukrainians are dying
every day. We just can't afford to delay.
My colleague Senator Dick Durbin and I cochair what is called the
Senate Ukraine Caucus, which we founded back in 2015. Later this week,
we will bring the caucus together to meet with the leaders in the
Ukrainian parliament, the Rada, who are here visiting Washington to
urge greater support in America for their country. We are eager to hear
what they have to say.
Many of us here in this Chamber get it. We know that America can't
afford to stay on the sidelines and be a spectator in this conflict. At
this crucial time in the battle for freedom, democracy, and the ability
for countries to have their territorial integrity respected, at this
critical hour, America cannot afford to be tentative.
We must remember the lessons of the late 1930s: that appeasing
tyrants will not satiate their desire to violently conquer and
subjugate their neighbors. Some folks in this town may not understand
that, but Ukrainians understand it. They know what it is like to live
under the thumb of authoritarians, and they broke away from that and
toward democracy, first in 1991 and again in 2014.
I was in Ukraine after the Revolution of Dignity, in 2014, where
Ukrainians decided for themselves that they wanted to turn away from
Russian domination and turn to us and to Europe and to pursue a hopeful
future of democracy and freedom. Now, President Putin is trying to
extinguish that hope. We must not let him.
One question that many of us have of the administration is: What is
the end goal here? Is our objective to help Ukraine grind down Russia's
military so that for some number of years it is unable to undertake
another violent campaign like this? Is our objective to topple
President Putin's regime? Or is our objective to help the Ukrainians
expel the Russian invaders from their sovereign Ukrainian territory,
including Crimea and the Donbas?
The administration dodges these questions by saying: It is up to the
Ukrainians to decide.
I understand that, but the Ukrainians have already decided. They want
their sovereign territory back--all of it. I have discussed this at
length with Ukrainians, and they have consistently said what I have
heard from their parliamentary leaders in the past and will again this
week: Nothing less than the full restoration of Ukrainian sovereign
territory is their goal.
Saying that we support Russia walking away with any Ukrainian
territory would just embolden Russia in this conflict and embolden
aggressors and authoritarians in the future.
It has now been 110 days of unrelenting Russian attacks on our ally
Ukraine, and it has been 110 days of pushing the administration to help
more. This happened with Russian oil, Russian gas exports. It happened
with trade and banking sanctions and various kinds of military
assistance. Now it is the HIMARS. They need these weapons.
America has made its stand. We are on the side of freedom over
tyranny, democracy and self-determination over authoritarianism and
conquest. The countries of the free world are with us, but more so when
we lead. Now is not the time to be tentative or equivocal. At this
critical juncture, let's work with allies to provide our democratic
brothers and sisters in Ukraine what they need to protect the homeland
and defend democracy.
I yield the floor.
| single | homophobic |
06/14/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgH5506 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 4160) to amend title 40, United States Code, to grant
the Supreme Court of the United States security-related authorities
equivalent to the legislative and executive branches, on which the yeas
and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
06/14/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgH5530 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 516) to plan for and coordinate efforts to integrate
advanced air mobility aircraft into the national airspace system, and
for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were
ordered. | XX | transphobic |
06/14/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgH5531 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7211) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, review a final rule of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes, on which the yeas
and nays were ordered. | the Fed | antisemitic |
06/14/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgH5531 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7211) to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster
Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, review a final rule of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency, and for other purposes, on which the yeas
and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
06/14/2022 | Unknown | House | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgH5545-5 | nan | nan | Under clause 2 of rule XIII, reports of committees were delivered to
the Clerk for printing and reference to the proper calendar, as
follows:
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas: Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology. H.R. 6933. A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act
of 2005 to require reporting relating to certain cost-share
requirements (Rept. 177-367). Referred to the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. DAVID SCOTT of Georgia: Committee on Agriculture. H.R.
4140. A bill to make improvements with respect to the pricing
of cattle in the United States, and for other purposes; with
an amendment (Rept. 117-368). Referred to the Committee of
the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Ms. JOHNSON of Texas: Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology. H.R. 3588. A bill to coordinate Federal research
and development efforts focused on modernizing mathematics in
STEM education through mathematical and statistical modeling,
including data-driven and computational thinking, problem,
project, and performance-based learning and assessment,
interdisciplinary exploration, and career connections, and
for other purposes (Rept. 177-369). Referred to the Committee
of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
| based | white supremacist |
06/14/2022 | Mr. BRAUN | Senate | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgS2931 | nan | nan | Mr. BRAUN. Mr. President, this is one of the more enjoyable things of
being a Senator, especially when I have some friends in from Southern
Indiana up in the Gallery to see what we do here.
I rise today to offer a resolution expressing support for the Pledge
of Allegiance as an expression of patriotism and honoring the 245th
anniversary of the introduction of our United States flag.
Today we celebrate Flag Day, which was first established over 100
years ago by President Woodrow Wilson. As we pause to recognize all
that our flag represents, let us also honor those who have sacrificed
everything to defend it.
In 2002, Senator Tom Daschle raised a similar resolution with
unanimous support from the Senate. It passed on the floor uneventfully.
Today, I ask this body to reaffirm our support for the Pledge of
Allegiance.
I also rise to honor a fellow Hoosier who knew the innate value of
the Pledge of Allegiance to civic education. In 1969, Red Skelton, the
American entertainer who was well-known for the program ``The Red
Skelton Hour,'' wrote a speech on the importance of the pledge.
Reflecting on his time in Vincennes, IN, he spoke about the values
instilled by one of his high school teachers.
After the performance of the speech, CBS received 200,000 requests
for copies. The speech would go on to be sold as a single by Columbia
Records and performed at the White House for President Nixon. I think
it would honor Mr. Skelton's memory and the importance of the Pledge of
Allegiance if it were recited today on the Senate floor in the words of
Mr. Red Skelton. I have done this 2 prior years too. This should never
get old for anyone here or the American public in general.
When I was a small boy in Vincennes, [Indiana,] I heard, I
think, one of the most outstanding speeches I ever heard in
my life. I think it compares with the Sermon on the Mount,
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and Socrates' Speech to the
Students.
We had just finished reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, and
he [Mr. Lasswell, the Principal of Vincennes High School]
called us all together, and he says, ``Uh, boys and girls, I
have been listening to you recite the Pledge of Allegiance
all semester, and it seems that it has become monotonous to
you. Or, could it be, you do not understand the meaning of
each word? If I may, I would like to recite the pledge, and
give you a definition of each word:
I--Me, an individual; a committee of one.
Pledge--Dedicate all of my worldly good to give without
self-pity.
Allegiance--My love and my devotion.
To the Flag--Our standard. ``Old Glory''; a symbol of
courage. And wherever she waves, there is respect, because
your loyalty has given her a dignity that shouts ``Freedom is
everybody's job.''
Of the United--That means we have all come together.
States--Individual communities that have united into 48
great states
Remember the time when they didn't.
Forty-eight individual communities with pride and dignity
and purpose; all divided by imaginary boundaries, yet united
to a common cause, and that's love of country--
Of America.
And to the Republic--a Republic: A sovereign state in which
power is invested into the representatives chosen by the
people to govern; [us] and the government is the people; and
it's from the people to the leaders, not from the leaders to
the people.
For which it Stands.
One Nation--Meaning ``so blessed by God.''
[Under God]
Indivisible--Incapable of being divided.
With Liberty--Which is freedom; the right of power for one
to live his own life without fears, threats, or any sort of
retaliation.
And Justice--The principle and qualities of dealing fairly
with others.
For All--For All. That means, boys and girls, it's as much
your country as it is mine.
Afterward, Mr. Lasswell asked the students to recite the Pledge of
Allegiance together, with newfound appreciation for the words.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of
America, and to the Republic, for which it stands; one
nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Mr. Skelton concluded his speech by saying:
Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our
country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of
Allegiance: ``Under God.'' Wouldn't it be a pity if someone
said, ``That is a prayer''--and that it be eliminated from
our schools, too?
Just as those students that day, Mr. Red Skelton included,
recommitted to the meaning of the words of the Pledge of Allegiance, I
call upon the U.S. Senate to recommit to these words as well.
There are times today that the words of the Pledge of Allegiance are
tossed around without care. Other times, they are altered to remove
what today is deemed offensive or antiquated. But Americans should not
misuse or abuse our Pledge of Allegiance. The Pledge of Allegiance is
meant to remind Americans of our guiding principles and inspire
adherence to those ideas which make our country great: equality under
the law, recognized rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of
happiness. This is why today, on National Flag Day, I am requesting
unanimous consent from my colleagues that my resolution expressing
support for the Pledge of Allegiance is passed.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the
consideration of S. Res. 671, submitted earlier today; further, I ask
unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be
agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and
laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. | single | homophobic |
06/14/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgS2943-2 | nan | nan | Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cruz, Mr.
Marshall, Mr. Risch, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Hyde-Smith,
Mr. Boozman, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Hoeven, and Mr.
Lee) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to:
S. Res. 671
Whereas on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved
the design of a flag of the United States;
Whereas, over the years, the flag of the United States has
preserved the standards of the original design comprised of
alternating red and white stripes accompanied by a union
consisting of white stars on a field of blue;
Whereas, on May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued
Presidential Proclamation 1335, an announcement asking the
people of the United States to observe June 14 as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed
into law House Joint Resolution 170, 81st Congress, a joint
resolution designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 21, 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower
issued Executive Order 10834 (24 Fed. Reg. 6865), an order
establishing the most recent design of the flag of the United
States;
Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis
Bellamy, a Baptist minister, and first published in the
September 8, 1892, issue of The Youth's Companion;
Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words ``under God'' to
the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas, for more than 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance
has included references to the United States flag, to the
United States having been established as a union ``under
God'', and to the United States being dedicated to securing
``liberty and justice for all'';
Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting
constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of
religious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were deeply
religious;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States embodies principles intended to guarantee
freedom of religion through the free exercise thereof and by
prohibiting the Government from establishing a religion;
Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal
tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain
general references to ``God'';
Whereas, in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow,
542 U.S. 1 (2004), the Supreme Court of the United States
overturned the decision of the United States Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d
466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in which the Ninth Circuit
concluded that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by a
public school teacher violated the Establishment Clause of
the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit subsequently concluded that--
(1) the previous opinion of that court in Newdow v. U.S.
Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003) was no longer binding
precedent;
(2) case law from the Supreme Court of the United States
concerning the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States had subsequently
changed after the decision in Elk Grove Unified School
District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004); and
(3) Congress, in passing the new version of the Pledge of
Allegiance, had established a secular purpose for the use of
the term ``under God''; and
Whereas, in light of those conclusions, the United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation
of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the 245th anniversary of the creation of the
flag of the United States;
(2) recognizes that the Pledge of Allegiance has been a
valuable part of life for the people of the United States for
generations; and
(3) affirms that the Pledge of Allegiance is a
constitutional expression of patriotism, and strongly defends
the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
| blue | antisemitic |
06/14/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgS2943-2 | nan | nan | Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cruz, Mr.
Marshall, Mr. Risch, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Hyde-Smith,
Mr. Boozman, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Hoeven, and Mr.
Lee) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to:
S. Res. 671
Whereas on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved
the design of a flag of the United States;
Whereas, over the years, the flag of the United States has
preserved the standards of the original design comprised of
alternating red and white stripes accompanied by a union
consisting of white stars on a field of blue;
Whereas, on May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued
Presidential Proclamation 1335, an announcement asking the
people of the United States to observe June 14 as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed
into law House Joint Resolution 170, 81st Congress, a joint
resolution designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 21, 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower
issued Executive Order 10834 (24 Fed. Reg. 6865), an order
establishing the most recent design of the flag of the United
States;
Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis
Bellamy, a Baptist minister, and first published in the
September 8, 1892, issue of The Youth's Companion;
Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words ``under God'' to
the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas, for more than 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance
has included references to the United States flag, to the
United States having been established as a union ``under
God'', and to the United States being dedicated to securing
``liberty and justice for all'';
Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting
constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of
religious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were deeply
religious;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States embodies principles intended to guarantee
freedom of religion through the free exercise thereof and by
prohibiting the Government from establishing a religion;
Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal
tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain
general references to ``God'';
Whereas, in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow,
542 U.S. 1 (2004), the Supreme Court of the United States
overturned the decision of the United States Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d
466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in which the Ninth Circuit
concluded that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by a
public school teacher violated the Establishment Clause of
the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit subsequently concluded that--
(1) the previous opinion of that court in Newdow v. U.S.
Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003) was no longer binding
precedent;
(2) case law from the Supreme Court of the United States
concerning the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States had subsequently
changed after the decision in Elk Grove Unified School
District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004); and
(3) Congress, in passing the new version of the Pledge of
Allegiance, had established a secular purpose for the use of
the term ``under God''; and
Whereas, in light of those conclusions, the United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation
of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the 245th anniversary of the creation of the
flag of the United States;
(2) recognizes that the Pledge of Allegiance has been a
valuable part of life for the people of the United States for
generations; and
(3) affirms that the Pledge of Allegiance is a
constitutional expression of patriotism, and strongly defends
the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
| public school | racist |
06/14/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgS2943-2 | nan | nan | Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cruz, Mr.
Marshall, Mr. Risch, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Hyde-Smith,
Mr. Boozman, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Hoeven, and Mr.
Lee) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to:
S. Res. 671
Whereas on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved
the design of a flag of the United States;
Whereas, over the years, the flag of the United States has
preserved the standards of the original design comprised of
alternating red and white stripes accompanied by a union
consisting of white stars on a field of blue;
Whereas, on May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued
Presidential Proclamation 1335, an announcement asking the
people of the United States to observe June 14 as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed
into law House Joint Resolution 170, 81st Congress, a joint
resolution designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 21, 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower
issued Executive Order 10834 (24 Fed. Reg. 6865), an order
establishing the most recent design of the flag of the United
States;
Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis
Bellamy, a Baptist minister, and first published in the
September 8, 1892, issue of The Youth's Companion;
Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words ``under God'' to
the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas, for more than 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance
has included references to the United States flag, to the
United States having been established as a union ``under
God'', and to the United States being dedicated to securing
``liberty and justice for all'';
Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting
constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of
religious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were deeply
religious;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States embodies principles intended to guarantee
freedom of religion through the free exercise thereof and by
prohibiting the Government from establishing a religion;
Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal
tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain
general references to ``God'';
Whereas, in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow,
542 U.S. 1 (2004), the Supreme Court of the United States
overturned the decision of the United States Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d
466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in which the Ninth Circuit
concluded that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by a
public school teacher violated the Establishment Clause of
the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit subsequently concluded that--
(1) the previous opinion of that court in Newdow v. U.S.
Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003) was no longer binding
precedent;
(2) case law from the Supreme Court of the United States
concerning the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States had subsequently
changed after the decision in Elk Grove Unified School
District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004); and
(3) Congress, in passing the new version of the Pledge of
Allegiance, had established a secular purpose for the use of
the term ``under God''; and
Whereas, in light of those conclusions, the United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation
of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the 245th anniversary of the creation of the
flag of the United States;
(2) recognizes that the Pledge of Allegiance has been a
valuable part of life for the people of the United States for
generations; and
(3) affirms that the Pledge of Allegiance is a
constitutional expression of patriotism, and strongly defends
the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
| religious freedom | homophobic |
06/14/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgS2943-2 | nan | nan | Mr. BRAUN (for himself, Mr. Grassley, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Cruz, Mr.
Marshall, Mr. Risch, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Moran, Mrs. Hyde-Smith,
Mr. Boozman, Mr. Tillis, Mr. Hagerty, Mr. Inhofe, Mr. Hoeven, and Mr.
Lee) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and
agreed to:
S. Res. 671
Whereas on June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress approved
the design of a flag of the United States;
Whereas, over the years, the flag of the United States has
preserved the standards of the original design comprised of
alternating red and white stripes accompanied by a union
consisting of white stars on a field of blue;
Whereas, on May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued
Presidential Proclamation 1335, an announcement asking the
people of the United States to observe June 14 as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 3, 1949, President Harry Truman signed
into law House Joint Resolution 170, 81st Congress, a joint
resolution designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day;
Whereas, on August 21, 1959, President Dwight Eisenhower
issued Executive Order 10834 (24 Fed. Reg. 6865), an order
establishing the most recent design of the flag of the United
States;
Whereas the Pledge of Allegiance was written by Francis
Bellamy, a Baptist minister, and first published in the
September 8, 1892, issue of The Youth's Companion;
Whereas, in 1954, Congress added the words ``under God'' to
the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas, for more than 60 years, the Pledge of Allegiance
has included references to the United States flag, to the
United States having been established as a union ``under
God'', and to the United States being dedicated to securing
``liberty and justice for all'';
Whereas, in 1954, Congress believed it was acting
constitutionally when it revised the Pledge of Allegiance;
Whereas the United States was founded on principles of
religious freedom by the Founders, many of whom were deeply
religious;
Whereas the First Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States embodies principles intended to guarantee
freedom of religion through the free exercise thereof and by
prohibiting the Government from establishing a religion;
Whereas patriotic songs, engravings on United States legal
tender, and engravings on Federal buildings also contain
general references to ``God'';
Whereas, in Elk Grove Unified School District v. Newdow,
542 U.S. 1 (2004), the Supreme Court of the United States
overturned the decision of the United States Court of Appeals
for the Ninth Circuit in Newdow v. U.S. Congress, 328 F.3d
466 (9th Cir. 2003), a case in which the Ninth Circuit
concluded that recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by a
public school teacher violated the Establishment Clause of
the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
Whereas the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit subsequently concluded that--
(1) the previous opinion of that court in Newdow v. U.S.
Congress, 328 F.3d 466 (9th Cir. 2003) was no longer binding
precedent;
(2) case law from the Supreme Court of the United States
concerning the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to
the Constitution of the United States had subsequently
changed after the decision in Elk Grove Unified School
District v. Newdow, 542 U.S. 1 (2004); and
(3) Congress, in passing the new version of the Pledge of
Allegiance, had established a secular purpose for the use of
the term ``under God''; and
Whereas, in light of those conclusions, the United States
Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the recitation
of the Pledge of Allegiance by public school teachers: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) celebrates the 245th anniversary of the creation of the
flag of the United States;
(2) recognizes that the Pledge of Allegiance has been a
valuable part of life for the people of the United States for
generations; and
(3) affirms that the Pledge of Allegiance is a
constitutional expression of patriotism, and strongly defends
the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
| freedom of religion | homophobic |
06/15/2022 | Mr. GREEN of Texas | House | CREC-2022-06-15-pt1-PgH5556-5 | nan | nan | Mr. GREEN of Texas. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1170, I
call up the bill (H.R. 2543) to amend the Federal Reserve Act to add
additional demographic reporting requirements, to modify the goals of
the Federal Reserve System, and for other purposes, and ask for its
immediate consideration in the House. | Federal Reserve | antisemitic |
06/14/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-06-14-pt1-PgH5495-3 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the Chair
will postpone further proceedings today on motions to suspend the rules
on which the yeas and nays are ordered.
The House will resume proceedings on postponed questions at a later
time.
| XX | transphobic |
05/26/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-26-pt1-PgS2757 | nan | nan | Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Collins, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell,
Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Durbin, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla,
Ms. Rosen, Mr. Schatz, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Warner, Ms. Warren,
and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 653
Whereas the people of the United States join together each
May to pay tribute to the contributions of generations of
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who
have enriched the history of the United States;
Whereas the history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians,
and Pacific Islanders in the United States is inextricably
tied to the story of the United States;
Whereas the Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander community is an inherently diverse population,
composed of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than
100 language dialects;
Whereas, according to the Bureau of the Census, the Asian-
American population grew faster than any other racial or
ethnic group over the last decade, surging nearly 55.5
percent between 2010 and 2020, and during that same time
period, the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population
grew by 30.8 percent;
Whereas there are approximately 24,000,000 residents of the
United States who identify as Asian and approximately
1,600,000 residents of the United States who identify as
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, making up nearly 7
percent of the total population of the United States;
Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific
American Heritage Month because the first Japanese immigrants
arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the first
transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, with
substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants;
Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code,
officially designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage
Month and requests the President to issue an annual
proclamation calling on the people of the United States to
observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities;
Whereas 2022 marks several important milestones for the
Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, including--
(1) the 140th anniversary of the enactment of the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred the entry of Chinese
immigrants to the United States for more than 50 years and
spurred a series of anti-immigrant policies targeting
immigration from the Asia-Pacific region;
(2) the 40th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin, a
Chinese-American man who was beaten to death in Michigan by 2
white men angered by layoffs in the auto industry;
(3) the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Act
entitled ``An Act to designate May of each year as `Asian/
Pacific American Heritage Month' '', approved October 23,
1992 (36 U.S.C. 102); and
(4) the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Asian
American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving
Institutions program, which was authorized under the College
Cost Reduction and Access Act (Public Law 110-84; 121 Stat.
784);
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders have made significant contributions to the United
States at all levels of the Federal Government and in the
United States Armed Forces, including--
(1) Daniel K. Inouye, a Medal of Honor and Presidential
Medal of Freedom recipient who, as President pro tempore of
the Senate, was the then-highest-ranking Asian-American
government official in the history of the United States;
(2) Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American
Congressman;
(3) Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color and Asian-
American woman to be elected to Congress;
(4) Hiram L. Fong, the first Asian-American Senator;
(5) Daniel K. Akaka, the first Senator of Native Hawaiian
ancestry;
(6) Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian-American member of a
Presidential cabinet;
(7) Elaine L. Chao, the first Asian-American woman member
of a Presidential cabinet; and
(8) Kamala D. Harris, the first woman and the first Asian
American to hold the Office of the Vice President;
Whereas the 117th Congress includes a record 21 Members of
Asian or Pacific Islander descent;
Whereas, in 2022, the Congressional Asian Pacific American
Caucus, a bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating
on behalf of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders, is composed of 76 Members, and other caucuses
working on Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander issues may be established;
Whereas, in 2022, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders are serving in State and Territorial
legislatures across the United States in record numbers,
including in--
(1) the States of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; and
(2) the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
Whereas, in 2022, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders honorably serve throughout the Federal
judiciary;
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders represent more than 6 percent of Federal employees,
including hundreds of staffers of Asian or Pacific Islander
descent who serve as staff in the Senate and the House of
Representatives;
Whereas, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and
Extremism, there was a 339 percent increase in anti-Asian
hate
crimes in 2021, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
recorded a 73 percent increase in such crimes in 2020;
Whereas, since March 2020, there has been a dramatic
increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents
related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including approximately
11,000 hate incidents, including shunning, verbal and online
harassment, physical assault, and civil rights violations,
that were reported to Stop AAPI Hate from the start of the
pandemic through December 31, 2021, and countless other
incidents that have not been reported;
Whereas, according to a survey conducted during September
and October of 2021 by Stop AAPI Hate, 1 in 5 Asian Americans
(21.2 percent) and Pacific Islanders (20.0 percent) reported
experiencing a hate incident in the past year;
Whereas discrimination against Asian Americans, especially
in moments of crisis, is not a new phenomenon, and violence
against Asian Americans has occurred throughout United States
history, including--
(1) the enactment of Page Act of 1875, which restricted
entry of Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian women to the
United States and effectively prohibited the immigration of
Chinese women, preventing the formation of Chinese families
in the United States and limiting the number of native-born
Chinese citizens;
(2) the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882,
which was the first law to explicitly exclude an entire
ethnic group from immigrating to the United States;
(3) the issuance of Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which
authorized the forced relocation and incarceration of
approximately 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry during
World War II, the majority of whom were United States
citizens;
(4) the murder of Vincent Chin;
(5) the Cleveland Elementary School shooting on January 17,
1989, in which a gunman used an AK-47 to kill 5 children, 4
of whom were of Southeast Asian descent;
(6) the rise in discrimination and violence against Muslim,
Sikh, and South Asian Americans following the September 11,
2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon;
(7) the mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek,
Wisconsin, on August 5, 2012, in which a white supremacist
fatally shot 6 people and wounded 4 others;
(8) the shooting of 9 people near Atlanta, Georgia, on
March 16, 2021, at 3 separate Asian-owned businesses, in
which 8 people were killed, including 6 Asian women; and
(9) the shooting of 6 people in Laguna Woods, California,
on May 15, 2022, in which members of the Irvine Taiwanese
Presbyterian Church were targeted;
Whereas, in response to the uptick in anti-Asian hate
crimes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (Public Law 117-13; 135 Stat. 265),
which was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden on May
20, 2021;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted the
Asian-American and Pacific Islander community;
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-
19 pandemic, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have
faced among the highest infection and mortality rates out of
any racial group in several States;
Whereas more than 2,000,000 Asian-American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander first responders, health care
providers, and frontline workers are among the unsung heroes
in the Nation's fight against COVID-19;
Whereas there remains much to be done to ensure that Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have
access to resources and a voice in the Government of the
United States and continue to advance in the political
landscape of the United States; and
Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
provides the people of the United States with an opportunity
to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of,
and to understand the challenges faced by Asian Americans,
Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific American
Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the
significant contributions of Asian Americans, Native
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United
States; and
(2) recognizes that Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and
Pacific Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of
and strengthen the United States.
| Cleveland | racist |
05/26/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-26-pt1-PgS2757 | nan | nan | Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Collins, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell,
Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Durbin, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla,
Ms. Rosen, Mr. Schatz, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Warner, Ms. Warren,
and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 653
Whereas the people of the United States join together each
May to pay tribute to the contributions of generations of
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who
have enriched the history of the United States;
Whereas the history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians,
and Pacific Islanders in the United States is inextricably
tied to the story of the United States;
Whereas the Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander community is an inherently diverse population,
composed of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than
100 language dialects;
Whereas, according to the Bureau of the Census, the Asian-
American population grew faster than any other racial or
ethnic group over the last decade, surging nearly 55.5
percent between 2010 and 2020, and during that same time
period, the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population
grew by 30.8 percent;
Whereas there are approximately 24,000,000 residents of the
United States who identify as Asian and approximately
1,600,000 residents of the United States who identify as
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, making up nearly 7
percent of the total population of the United States;
Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific
American Heritage Month because the first Japanese immigrants
arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the first
transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, with
substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants;
Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code,
officially designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage
Month and requests the President to issue an annual
proclamation calling on the people of the United States to
observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities;
Whereas 2022 marks several important milestones for the
Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, including--
(1) the 140th anniversary of the enactment of the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred the entry of Chinese
immigrants to the United States for more than 50 years and
spurred a series of anti-immigrant policies targeting
immigration from the Asia-Pacific region;
(2) the 40th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin, a
Chinese-American man who was beaten to death in Michigan by 2
white men angered by layoffs in the auto industry;
(3) the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Act
entitled ``An Act to designate May of each year as `Asian/
Pacific American Heritage Month' '', approved October 23,
1992 (36 U.S.C. 102); and
(4) the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Asian
American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving
Institutions program, which was authorized under the College
Cost Reduction and Access Act (Public Law 110-84; 121 Stat.
784);
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders have made significant contributions to the United
States at all levels of the Federal Government and in the
United States Armed Forces, including--
(1) Daniel K. Inouye, a Medal of Honor and Presidential
Medal of Freedom recipient who, as President pro tempore of
the Senate, was the then-highest-ranking Asian-American
government official in the history of the United States;
(2) Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American
Congressman;
(3) Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color and Asian-
American woman to be elected to Congress;
(4) Hiram L. Fong, the first Asian-American Senator;
(5) Daniel K. Akaka, the first Senator of Native Hawaiian
ancestry;
(6) Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian-American member of a
Presidential cabinet;
(7) Elaine L. Chao, the first Asian-American woman member
of a Presidential cabinet; and
(8) Kamala D. Harris, the first woman and the first Asian
American to hold the Office of the Vice President;
Whereas the 117th Congress includes a record 21 Members of
Asian or Pacific Islander descent;
Whereas, in 2022, the Congressional Asian Pacific American
Caucus, a bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating
on behalf of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders, is composed of 76 Members, and other caucuses
working on Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander issues may be established;
Whereas, in 2022, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders are serving in State and Territorial
legislatures across the United States in record numbers,
including in--
(1) the States of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; and
(2) the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
Whereas, in 2022, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders honorably serve throughout the Federal
judiciary;
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders represent more than 6 percent of Federal employees,
including hundreds of staffers of Asian or Pacific Islander
descent who serve as staff in the Senate and the House of
Representatives;
Whereas, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and
Extremism, there was a 339 percent increase in anti-Asian
hate
crimes in 2021, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
recorded a 73 percent increase in such crimes in 2020;
Whereas, since March 2020, there has been a dramatic
increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents
related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including approximately
11,000 hate incidents, including shunning, verbal and online
harassment, physical assault, and civil rights violations,
that were reported to Stop AAPI Hate from the start of the
pandemic through December 31, 2021, and countless other
incidents that have not been reported;
Whereas, according to a survey conducted during September
and October of 2021 by Stop AAPI Hate, 1 in 5 Asian Americans
(21.2 percent) and Pacific Islanders (20.0 percent) reported
experiencing a hate incident in the past year;
Whereas discrimination against Asian Americans, especially
in moments of crisis, is not a new phenomenon, and violence
against Asian Americans has occurred throughout United States
history, including--
(1) the enactment of Page Act of 1875, which restricted
entry of Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian women to the
United States and effectively prohibited the immigration of
Chinese women, preventing the formation of Chinese families
in the United States and limiting the number of native-born
Chinese citizens;
(2) the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882,
which was the first law to explicitly exclude an entire
ethnic group from immigrating to the United States;
(3) the issuance of Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which
authorized the forced relocation and incarceration of
approximately 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry during
World War II, the majority of whom were United States
citizens;
(4) the murder of Vincent Chin;
(5) the Cleveland Elementary School shooting on January 17,
1989, in which a gunman used an AK-47 to kill 5 children, 4
of whom were of Southeast Asian descent;
(6) the rise in discrimination and violence against Muslim,
Sikh, and South Asian Americans following the September 11,
2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon;
(7) the mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek,
Wisconsin, on August 5, 2012, in which a white supremacist
fatally shot 6 people and wounded 4 others;
(8) the shooting of 9 people near Atlanta, Georgia, on
March 16, 2021, at 3 separate Asian-owned businesses, in
which 8 people were killed, including 6 Asian women; and
(9) the shooting of 6 people in Laguna Woods, California,
on May 15, 2022, in which members of the Irvine Taiwanese
Presbyterian Church were targeted;
Whereas, in response to the uptick in anti-Asian hate
crimes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (Public Law 117-13; 135 Stat. 265),
which was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden on May
20, 2021;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted the
Asian-American and Pacific Islander community;
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-
19 pandemic, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have
faced among the highest infection and mortality rates out of
any racial group in several States;
Whereas more than 2,000,000 Asian-American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander first responders, health care
providers, and frontline workers are among the unsung heroes
in the Nation's fight against COVID-19;
Whereas there remains much to be done to ensure that Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have
access to resources and a voice in the Government of the
United States and continue to advance in the political
landscape of the United States; and
Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
provides the people of the United States with an opportunity
to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of,
and to understand the challenges faced by Asian Americans,
Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific American
Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the
significant contributions of Asian Americans, Native
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United
States; and
(2) recognizes that Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and
Pacific Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of
and strengthen the United States.
| identify as | transphobic |
05/26/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-26-pt1-PgS2757 | nan | nan | Ms. HIRONO (for herself, Mr. Grassley, Ms. Baldwin, Ms. Collins, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Booker, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Brown, Ms. Cantwell,
Mr. Cardin, Mr. Carper, Mr. Casey, Ms. Cortez Masto, Ms. Duckworth, Mr.
Durbin, Ms. Hassan, Mr. Markey, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Padilla,
Ms. Rosen, Mr. Schatz, Mrs. Shaheen, Ms. Smith, Mr. Warner, Ms. Warren,
and Mr. Wyden) submitted the following resolution; which was referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary:
S. Res. 653
Whereas the people of the United States join together each
May to pay tribute to the contributions of generations of
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who
have enriched the history of the United States;
Whereas the history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians,
and Pacific Islanders in the United States is inextricably
tied to the story of the United States;
Whereas the Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander community is an inherently diverse population,
composed of more than 45 distinct ethnicities and more than
100 language dialects;
Whereas, according to the Bureau of the Census, the Asian-
American population grew faster than any other racial or
ethnic group over the last decade, surging nearly 55.5
percent between 2010 and 2020, and during that same time
period, the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population
grew by 30.8 percent;
Whereas there are approximately 24,000,000 residents of the
United States who identify as Asian and approximately
1,600,000 residents of the United States who identify as
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, making up nearly 7
percent of the total population of the United States;
Whereas the month of May was selected for Asian/Pacific
American Heritage Month because the first Japanese immigrants
arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and the first
transcontinental railroad was completed on May 10, 1869, with
substantial contributions from Chinese immigrants;
Whereas section 102 of title 36, United States Code,
officially designates May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage
Month and requests the President to issue an annual
proclamation calling on the people of the United States to
observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and
activities;
Whereas 2022 marks several important milestones for the
Asian-American and Pacific Islander community, including--
(1) the 140th anniversary of the enactment of the Chinese
Exclusion Act of 1882, which barred the entry of Chinese
immigrants to the United States for more than 50 years and
spurred a series of anti-immigrant policies targeting
immigration from the Asia-Pacific region;
(2) the 40th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin, a
Chinese-American man who was beaten to death in Michigan by 2
white men angered by layoffs in the auto industry;
(3) the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the Act
entitled ``An Act to designate May of each year as `Asian/
Pacific American Heritage Month' '', approved October 23,
1992 (36 U.S.C. 102); and
(4) the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Asian
American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving
Institutions program, which was authorized under the College
Cost Reduction and Access Act (Public Law 110-84; 121 Stat.
784);
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders have made significant contributions to the United
States at all levels of the Federal Government and in the
United States Armed Forces, including--
(1) Daniel K. Inouye, a Medal of Honor and Presidential
Medal of Freedom recipient who, as President pro tempore of
the Senate, was the then-highest-ranking Asian-American
government official in the history of the United States;
(2) Dalip Singh Saund, the first Asian-American
Congressman;
(3) Patsy T. Mink, the first woman of color and Asian-
American woman to be elected to Congress;
(4) Hiram L. Fong, the first Asian-American Senator;
(5) Daniel K. Akaka, the first Senator of Native Hawaiian
ancestry;
(6) Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian-American member of a
Presidential cabinet;
(7) Elaine L. Chao, the first Asian-American woman member
of a Presidential cabinet; and
(8) Kamala D. Harris, the first woman and the first Asian
American to hold the Office of the Vice President;
Whereas the 117th Congress includes a record 21 Members of
Asian or Pacific Islander descent;
Whereas, in 2022, the Congressional Asian Pacific American
Caucus, a bicameral caucus of Members of Congress advocating
on behalf of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders, is composed of 76 Members, and other caucuses
working on Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific
Islander issues may be established;
Whereas, in 2022, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders are serving in State and Territorial
legislatures across the United States in record numbers,
including in--
(1) the States of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California,
Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New
Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma,
Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont,
Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming; and
(2) the Territories of American Samoa, Guam, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
Whereas, in 2022, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and
Pacific Islanders honorably serve throughout the Federal
judiciary;
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders represent more than 6 percent of Federal employees,
including hundreds of staffers of Asian or Pacific Islander
descent who serve as staff in the Senate and the House of
Representatives;
Whereas, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and
Extremism, there was a 339 percent increase in anti-Asian
hate
crimes in 2021, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation
recorded a 73 percent increase in such crimes in 2020;
Whereas, since March 2020, there has been a dramatic
increase in reports of anti-Asian hate crimes and incidents
related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including approximately
11,000 hate incidents, including shunning, verbal and online
harassment, physical assault, and civil rights violations,
that were reported to Stop AAPI Hate from the start of the
pandemic through December 31, 2021, and countless other
incidents that have not been reported;
Whereas, according to a survey conducted during September
and October of 2021 by Stop AAPI Hate, 1 in 5 Asian Americans
(21.2 percent) and Pacific Islanders (20.0 percent) reported
experiencing a hate incident in the past year;
Whereas discrimination against Asian Americans, especially
in moments of crisis, is not a new phenomenon, and violence
against Asian Americans has occurred throughout United States
history, including--
(1) the enactment of Page Act of 1875, which restricted
entry of Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian women to the
United States and effectively prohibited the immigration of
Chinese women, preventing the formation of Chinese families
in the United States and limiting the number of native-born
Chinese citizens;
(2) the enactment of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882,
which was the first law to explicitly exclude an entire
ethnic group from immigrating to the United States;
(3) the issuance of Executive Order 9066 in 1942, which
authorized the forced relocation and incarceration of
approximately 120,000 individuals of Japanese ancestry during
World War II, the majority of whom were United States
citizens;
(4) the murder of Vincent Chin;
(5) the Cleveland Elementary School shooting on January 17,
1989, in which a gunman used an AK-47 to kill 5 children, 4
of whom were of Southeast Asian descent;
(6) the rise in discrimination and violence against Muslim,
Sikh, and South Asian Americans following the September 11,
2001, attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon;
(7) the mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek,
Wisconsin, on August 5, 2012, in which a white supremacist
fatally shot 6 people and wounded 4 others;
(8) the shooting of 9 people near Atlanta, Georgia, on
March 16, 2021, at 3 separate Asian-owned businesses, in
which 8 people were killed, including 6 Asian women; and
(9) the shooting of 6 people in Laguna Woods, California,
on May 15, 2022, in which members of the Irvine Taiwanese
Presbyterian Church were targeted;
Whereas, in response to the uptick in anti-Asian hate
crimes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress passed the
COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act (Public Law 117-13; 135 Stat. 265),
which was signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden on May
20, 2021;
Whereas the COVID-19 pandemic has deeply impacted the
Asian-American and Pacific Islander community;
Whereas Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific
Islanders have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-
19 pandemic, and Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have
faced among the highest infection and mortality rates out of
any racial group in several States;
Whereas more than 2,000,000 Asian-American, Native
Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander first responders, health care
providers, and frontline workers are among the unsung heroes
in the Nation's fight against COVID-19;
Whereas there remains much to be done to ensure that Asian
Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have
access to resources and a voice in the Government of the
United States and continue to advance in the political
landscape of the United States; and
Whereas celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
provides the people of the United States with an opportunity
to recognize the achievements, contributions, and history of,
and to understand the challenges faced by Asian Americans,
Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders: Now, therefore, be
it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the significance of Asian/Pacific American
Heritage Month as an important time to celebrate the
significant contributions of Asian Americans, Native
Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders to the history of the United
States; and
(2) recognizes that Asian-American, Native Hawaiian, and
Pacific Islander communities enhance the rich diversity of
and strengthen the United States.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5142 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 6961) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve hearings before the Board of Veterans' Appeals regarding claims
involving military sexual trauma, as amended, on which the yeas and
nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | Mr. NADLER | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5143 | nan | nan | Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1124, I call up
the bill (H.R. 350) to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices
within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice,
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic
terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to
prevent domestic terrorism and ask for its immediate consideration in
the House. | the Fed | antisemitic |
05/18/2022 | Mr. NADLER | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5143 | nan | nan | Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1124, I call up
the bill (H.R. 350) to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices
within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice,
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic
terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to
prevent domestic terrorism and ask for its immediate consideration in
the House. | terrorism | Islamophobic |
05/18/2022 | Mr. NADLER | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5143 | nan | nan | Mr. NADLER. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1124, I call up
the bill (H.R. 350) to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices
within the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice,
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic
terrorist activity and require the Federal Government to take steps to
prevent domestic terrorism and ask for its immediate consideration in
the House. | terrorist | Islamophobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5163-4 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7791) to amend the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 to
establish waiver authority to address certain emergencies, disasters,
and supply chain disruptions, and for other purposes, on which the yeas
and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Dingell) | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5164 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Dingell). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule
XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to recommit on
the bill (H.R. 7790) making emergency supplemental appropriations to
address the shortage of infant formula in the United States for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes, offered
by the gentlewoman from Iowa (Mrs. Hinson), on which the yeas and nays
were ordered.
The Clerk will redesignate the motion.
The Clerk redesignated the motion. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5166-2 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2992) to direct the Attorney General to develop
crisis intervention training tools for use by first responders related
to interacting with persons who have a traumatic brain injury, another
form of acquired brain injury, or post-traumatic stress disorder, and
for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were
ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5166 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (H.R. 350) to
authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of
Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and
require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic
terrorism, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | the Fed | antisemitic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5166 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (H.R. 350) to
authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of
Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and
require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic
terrorism, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | terrorism | Islamophobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5166 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (H.R. 350) to
authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of
Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and
require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic
terrorism, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | terrorist | Islamophobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5166 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (H.R. 350) to
authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices within the Department of
Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation to analyze and monitor domestic terrorist activity and
require the Federal Government to take steps to prevent domestic
terrorism, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5167 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 6943) to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 to authorize public safety officer death benefits
to officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or acute
stress disorder, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas
and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5168 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 2724) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide for peer support
specialists for claimants who are survivors of military sexual trauma,
and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were
ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5169 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 4089) to restore entitlement to educational
assistance under Veterans Rapid Retraining Program in cases of a
closure of an educational institution or a disapproval of a program of
education, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were
ordered. | entitlement | racist |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5169 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 4089) to restore entitlement to educational
assistance under Veterans Rapid Retraining Program in cases of a
closure of an educational institution or a disapproval of a program of
education, and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were
ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5170-2 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 2533) to improve mammography services furnished by
the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes, on which
the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5171 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 2102) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
direct the Under Secretary for Health of the Department of Veterans
Affairs to provide mammography screening for veterans who served in
locations associated with toxic exposure, on which the yeas and nays
were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgS2555 | nan | nan | Restaurants
Mr. President, on a different matter--the restaurants bill--tomorrow,
the Senate is going to hold a vote on legislation to help our
restaurants, gyms, minor league teams, and other small businesses that
have been utterly devastated by the COVID pandemic.
This bill, championed by my colleagues Senator Cardin, a Democrat,
and Senator Wicker, a Republican--which I very strongly support--will
help restaurants and other small businesses like gyms that were left
out in earlier rounds of emergency aid. Every proposal included in this
package is bipartisan.
Some have said: Well, COVID is over, and the restaurants are back. I
see them sort of full.
That may be true for some restaurants, but for just about every
restaurant, there is a shortage of labor, and many are only opening at
limited times. Most of the restaurants I speak to are either closed
certain days, don't serve lunches, or whatever, because they can't find
labor.
Let's not forget that many of the restaurants, particularly the
smaller ones, the nonchain ones, had to borrow during COVID, borrow
large amounts of money. They need to repay that money, and they can't
do it based on their limited incomes that are occurring right now. If
they don't get the money to pay it back, the lenders are going to
foreclose and close restaurants that are already back on the road to
prospering and recovering. That makes no sense.
We must pass this legislation. I hope we will get a good number of
our Republican colleagues to join Senator Wicker in supporting this.
Two years into this crisis, the idea that restaurant owners have all
recovered could not be further from the truth.
Restaurants are part of the fabric of every Main Street and every
tight-knit neighborhood. It is where friends run into each other on the
weekends, grab a drink after work, have lunch after church. The same
can be applied to minor league teams and local gyms and businesses that
support theaters. These are places where Americans have always come
together.
I was proud to champion the $28 billion restaurant relief in the
American Rescue Plan, but these establishments, as I mentioned, still
need our help. Tomorrow, there should be a strong bipartisan show of
support to help these businesses.
| based | white supremacist |
05/18/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgS2557 | nan | nan | Gun Violence
MR. MURPHY. Mr. President, the conventional wisdom is that one of the
adaptations that helped humans separate ourselves from all other
species is this--the opposable thumb. The theory goes that the
transformation of the thumb, able to operate by itself independently
from the rest of our fingers, allowed humans to be able to manipulate
objects with a level of precision and dexterity that was previously
unseen in the animal kingdom, and this newly nimble hand allowed humans
to, for instance, more easily catch fish and open fruit, pull out the
seeds, this newfound bounty of fats and proteins. It vaulted the human
brain into developmental overdrive.
But about 10 years ago, biologist David Carrier, a longtime student
of the evolution of the human hand, proposed a different theory. What
if the primary utility of the opposable thumb was not to do this, but
instead this. The ability to tuck your thumb into the middle of your
four fingers immediately gave humans a more effective fighting tool--
important, since we lacked tusks or fangs or claws like other animals.
Maybe the development that mattered most to human development was the
one that allowed us to become more effective fighters not just with
predators but with ourselves because from the beginning, as a species,
humans have been drawn to violence. In fact, there are few species, few
mammals, that are more violent than humans.
There is a really interesting study of intraspecies violence, meaning
when you conduct a violent act against another member of your species,
and these researchers looked at over 1,000 mammals.
What is interesting is that 60 percent of mammals actually have zero
intraspecies violence--bats and whales, they never attack each other.
That tells you something, in and of itself; that it is not endemic to
mammals to be violent.
But what the data showed is that right at the top of that list of
those 1,000 species, when it came to the rates of intraspecies
violence--humans.
Biologists trace our violence back to our earliest days. Without
those tusks or fangs, humans could really only survive by grouping
ourselves tightly together. We were quickly rewarded socially and
materially for joining up in groups.
But with resources scarce in the early human world to survive, you
had to find a group, and then you had to defend it--defend it against
other humans who were competing with you for those same resources.
Intertribal violence was epidemic in this world in the early days of
humans. In the bronze age, estimates suggest that one out of every
three humans
died a violent death at the hands of another human.
Records suggest that in pre-Columbian America, as many as one out of
four Native Americans died violently. The primary reason? Humans have
an in-group bias. To survive in those early days, we needed to group
ourselves tightly together and view with fear and skepticism members of
other outside groups who were competitors for those scarce resources.
And centuries and centuries of human development have hardwired this
in-group bias, this anxiety about out groups into our genetics.
One 2012 study determined that today, when an individual first meets
a person who is perceived to be outside of one's defined social group,
individuals demonstrate immediate, almost automatic instinct of anxiety
and a surge of intention to act on that anxiety. It is not conscious;
it is genetic.
And so if humans are hardwired to view out-group members as
suspicious and to act on those suspicions, sometimes violently, then
America was destined, by design, to be an abnormally violent place.
Now, why do I say that?
First, let's just be totally honest with ourselves. Our Nation was
founded through the use of mass-scale violence. There are lots of
people who are trying to erase these parts of our history as if there
is some weakness in admitting the truth about our past. That is
ridiculous. We should just tell the truth about our history, and the
truth is that we exterminated Native Americans in order to gain control
of this land. We enslaved millions of Africans and used daily epidemic
levels of violence--beatings, whippings, lynchings--to keep these
people enslaved. From the start, we were a nation bathed in violence,
and we became a little immune, a little anesthetized to violence in
those early days.
And our decision to build a melting pot of ethnicities and races and
religions--it is our genius, right? It is our superpower as a nation.
It is why we catapulted the rest of the world to economic and political
dominance, but it also set us up as a nation with built-in rivalries,
with easily defined groupings and easily exploited suspicions of those
who aren't part of your group.
This combination--epidemic levels of violence in our early days that
continued throughout our history and built-in tensions between easily
defined groups--ensured that America would be a place with a higher
tolerance for and a higher risk of violence.
OK. That is the end of the history lesson, but it is important to set
this frame because this generation, our generation of Americans--we
inherited this history. We can't do anything about that. We were born
into and became citizens of a nation with a past--a past that does make
us a little bit more prone to violence than other places.
The question really is simply this: What are we going to do? Do we
acknowledge this lean toward violence and take steps to mitigate it?
That, of course, would be the commonsense approach.
Instead, we have done the opposite. Throughout American history,
hateful, demagogic leaders have found political capital to be gained by
playing upon people's instinct to fear others who aren't part of their
group--again, so easy in a multicultural America. From Orval Faubus to
Richard Nixon, to Donald Trump, there is an ugly tradition in American
politics of leaders trying to drum up irrational fears of Blacks or
immigrants or Muslims, gay people or Hispanics or Jews. Racism,
xenophobia, homophobia--they have all been tools of leaders who seek to
build followings by convincing people to organize around their fear or
hatred of others.
The Buffalo shooter's manifesto is a tribute to this tradition, but
he is not alone. The FBI's latest hate crimes report shows a dramatic
spike in this country in crimes of bigotry and racism. Most alarming
was a 40-percent increase in 2020 in hate crimes against Black
Americans, foreshadowing the Buffalo attack.
And this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The most visible
political figure in America--Donald Trump--has spent the last decade
relentlessly spreading the gospel of fear and anxiety and hate. His
campaign rollout in 2015 was centered around hyping the threat to
America from Mexican immigrants. His most significant campaign policy
proposal was to ban all people from the country who practice a certain
religion.
There is a straight line from this embrace of racism and fear to the
increase in violence in this country. I know many of my Republican
colleagues don't use the same terminology, the same language that Trump
does, but they know the danger he poses to this Nation. They know that
his movement is egging on violence, and they do nothing about it. They
still accept him as the leader of the party, when they had a chance to
get rid of him after January 6. Republicans go to Florida to kiss the
ring. They appear on FOX shows that spread this message. They empower
the message.
Knowing America's natural predilection toward violence, Republicans
could have chosen to embrace leaders who seek to unite us, who would
choose to push back against this tendency for Americans to be wary of
each other. Instead, they did the opposite, and we are paying a price.
The other way that our Nation could have chosen to mitigate our
violent instincts is to make sure that when American violence does
occur, it does the least damage possible. This is commonly referred to
in public health circles as harm reduction. If you can't completely and
totally prevent the harm, then make sure that it is glancing rather
than catastrophic.
Instead, America, once again, has adopted the opposite strategy--a
strategy of harm maximization. We are, as I have told you, a
historically violent nation. We know this. And instead of trying to
mitigate for this history, we choose to arm our citizenry to the teeth
with the most dangerous, the most lethal weapons imaginable, to make
sure that when conflict does occur, it ends up with as many people
dying as possible. That is a choice that we have made.
The jumping-off point in the choice was in the mid-19th century, when
Hartford, CT, inventor Samuel Colt built the first repeating revolver,
allowing Americans to hide an incredibly lethal weapon in their coat
pocket. All of a sudden, drunken street corner arguments, which used to
result in a few awkward punches thrown, became deadly. And nearly every
other country in the high-income world at this point, in the mid-1800s,
saw this danger, and so they decided to regulate the handgun and the
weapons that came after to make sure that those arguments stayed fist
fights rather than shootouts.
But America took the other path. We let these weapons spread across
the Nation. And then, as much more deadly guns were developed for the
military, our Nation decided to go its own way again and let citizens
own and operate these weapons too.
The result is, of course, a nation that is awash in guns, with no
comparison--no comparison--in the high-income word. We have more guns
in this country on our streets than human beings, than American
citizens. So it is no wonder that in this Nation, everyday arguments
seamlessly turn into gunfights, passing suicidal thoughts result in
lives ended, and hateful racists can kill efficiently by the dozens.
I think about September 14, 2012, all the time. That is the day that
a gunman, armed with an assault weapon and 30-round magazines, walked
into Sandy Hook Elementary School and in less than 5 minutes, killed 20
kids and 6 educators. Think about that. The military weapons that this
guy was able to own legally killed 26 people in under 5 minutes. The
gun he used was so powerful that not a single child who was shot
survived. Those bullets moved so fast, so lethally through their little
bodies, it just tore them to shreds.
But on that same day in China, a similarly deranged young man entered
a similarly nondescript school and attacked almost the identical number
of people, but in that Chinese classroom, every single one of those 23
people who that man attacked survived. Why? Because in China the
attacker had a knife, not a military-grade assault weapon.
Like I said, I wish this weren't true, but our Nation has, from the
jump, been more violent than other countries. I can't, you can't, none
of us can erase this history. And I come to the floor today to be
honest about the parts of the American story that lead to these high
levels of violence that we
can control and the parts that we can't control. It is up to us whether
we want to spend every hour of every day trying to mitigate this
predilection toward violence or whether we want to choose to exacerbate
it.
Fueling the kind of racist, hateful, fear-your-neighbor demagoguery
practiced by Donald Trump exacerbates American violence. Doing nothing
year after year about the flow of illegal and high-powered weapons into
our streets exacerbates American violence. These are choices we are
making.
Kids living in fear that their classroom is the next one to get shot
up, that is not inevitable; that is a choice. Black shoppers looking
over their shoulder, wondering whether this is the day that they die,
that doesn't have to be our reality; that is a choice.
We can look into the flames of American violence, this fire that has
been burning since our inception, and we can choose to douse the fire
or we can choose to continue to pour fuel on top of it.
I yield the floor. | single | homophobic |
05/18/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgS2557 | nan | nan | Gun Violence
MR. MURPHY. Mr. President, the conventional wisdom is that one of the
adaptations that helped humans separate ourselves from all other
species is this--the opposable thumb. The theory goes that the
transformation of the thumb, able to operate by itself independently
from the rest of our fingers, allowed humans to be able to manipulate
objects with a level of precision and dexterity that was previously
unseen in the animal kingdom, and this newly nimble hand allowed humans
to, for instance, more easily catch fish and open fruit, pull out the
seeds, this newfound bounty of fats and proteins. It vaulted the human
brain into developmental overdrive.
But about 10 years ago, biologist David Carrier, a longtime student
of the evolution of the human hand, proposed a different theory. What
if the primary utility of the opposable thumb was not to do this, but
instead this. The ability to tuck your thumb into the middle of your
four fingers immediately gave humans a more effective fighting tool--
important, since we lacked tusks or fangs or claws like other animals.
Maybe the development that mattered most to human development was the
one that allowed us to become more effective fighters not just with
predators but with ourselves because from the beginning, as a species,
humans have been drawn to violence. In fact, there are few species, few
mammals, that are more violent than humans.
There is a really interesting study of intraspecies violence, meaning
when you conduct a violent act against another member of your species,
and these researchers looked at over 1,000 mammals.
What is interesting is that 60 percent of mammals actually have zero
intraspecies violence--bats and whales, they never attack each other.
That tells you something, in and of itself; that it is not endemic to
mammals to be violent.
But what the data showed is that right at the top of that list of
those 1,000 species, when it came to the rates of intraspecies
violence--humans.
Biologists trace our violence back to our earliest days. Without
those tusks or fangs, humans could really only survive by grouping
ourselves tightly together. We were quickly rewarded socially and
materially for joining up in groups.
But with resources scarce in the early human world to survive, you
had to find a group, and then you had to defend it--defend it against
other humans who were competing with you for those same resources.
Intertribal violence was epidemic in this world in the early days of
humans. In the bronze age, estimates suggest that one out of every
three humans
died a violent death at the hands of another human.
Records suggest that in pre-Columbian America, as many as one out of
four Native Americans died violently. The primary reason? Humans have
an in-group bias. To survive in those early days, we needed to group
ourselves tightly together and view with fear and skepticism members of
other outside groups who were competitors for those scarce resources.
And centuries and centuries of human development have hardwired this
in-group bias, this anxiety about out groups into our genetics.
One 2012 study determined that today, when an individual first meets
a person who is perceived to be outside of one's defined social group,
individuals demonstrate immediate, almost automatic instinct of anxiety
and a surge of intention to act on that anxiety. It is not conscious;
it is genetic.
And so if humans are hardwired to view out-group members as
suspicious and to act on those suspicions, sometimes violently, then
America was destined, by design, to be an abnormally violent place.
Now, why do I say that?
First, let's just be totally honest with ourselves. Our Nation was
founded through the use of mass-scale violence. There are lots of
people who are trying to erase these parts of our history as if there
is some weakness in admitting the truth about our past. That is
ridiculous. We should just tell the truth about our history, and the
truth is that we exterminated Native Americans in order to gain control
of this land. We enslaved millions of Africans and used daily epidemic
levels of violence--beatings, whippings, lynchings--to keep these
people enslaved. From the start, we were a nation bathed in violence,
and we became a little immune, a little anesthetized to violence in
those early days.
And our decision to build a melting pot of ethnicities and races and
religions--it is our genius, right? It is our superpower as a nation.
It is why we catapulted the rest of the world to economic and political
dominance, but it also set us up as a nation with built-in rivalries,
with easily defined groupings and easily exploited suspicions of those
who aren't part of your group.
This combination--epidemic levels of violence in our early days that
continued throughout our history and built-in tensions between easily
defined groups--ensured that America would be a place with a higher
tolerance for and a higher risk of violence.
OK. That is the end of the history lesson, but it is important to set
this frame because this generation, our generation of Americans--we
inherited this history. We can't do anything about that. We were born
into and became citizens of a nation with a past--a past that does make
us a little bit more prone to violence than other places.
The question really is simply this: What are we going to do? Do we
acknowledge this lean toward violence and take steps to mitigate it?
That, of course, would be the commonsense approach.
Instead, we have done the opposite. Throughout American history,
hateful, demagogic leaders have found political capital to be gained by
playing upon people's instinct to fear others who aren't part of their
group--again, so easy in a multicultural America. From Orval Faubus to
Richard Nixon, to Donald Trump, there is an ugly tradition in American
politics of leaders trying to drum up irrational fears of Blacks or
immigrants or Muslims, gay people or Hispanics or Jews. Racism,
xenophobia, homophobia--they have all been tools of leaders who seek to
build followings by convincing people to organize around their fear or
hatred of others.
The Buffalo shooter's manifesto is a tribute to this tradition, but
he is not alone. The FBI's latest hate crimes report shows a dramatic
spike in this country in crimes of bigotry and racism. Most alarming
was a 40-percent increase in 2020 in hate crimes against Black
Americans, foreshadowing the Buffalo attack.
And this shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. The most visible
political figure in America--Donald Trump--has spent the last decade
relentlessly spreading the gospel of fear and anxiety and hate. His
campaign rollout in 2015 was centered around hyping the threat to
America from Mexican immigrants. His most significant campaign policy
proposal was to ban all people from the country who practice a certain
religion.
There is a straight line from this embrace of racism and fear to the
increase in violence in this country. I know many of my Republican
colleagues don't use the same terminology, the same language that Trump
does, but they know the danger he poses to this Nation. They know that
his movement is egging on violence, and they do nothing about it. They
still accept him as the leader of the party, when they had a chance to
get rid of him after January 6. Republicans go to Florida to kiss the
ring. They appear on FOX shows that spread this message. They empower
the message.
Knowing America's natural predilection toward violence, Republicans
could have chosen to embrace leaders who seek to unite us, who would
choose to push back against this tendency for Americans to be wary of
each other. Instead, they did the opposite, and we are paying a price.
The other way that our Nation could have chosen to mitigate our
violent instincts is to make sure that when American violence does
occur, it does the least damage possible. This is commonly referred to
in public health circles as harm reduction. If you can't completely and
totally prevent the harm, then make sure that it is glancing rather
than catastrophic.
Instead, America, once again, has adopted the opposite strategy--a
strategy of harm maximization. We are, as I have told you, a
historically violent nation. We know this. And instead of trying to
mitigate for this history, we choose to arm our citizenry to the teeth
with the most dangerous, the most lethal weapons imaginable, to make
sure that when conflict does occur, it ends up with as many people
dying as possible. That is a choice that we have made.
The jumping-off point in the choice was in the mid-19th century, when
Hartford, CT, inventor Samuel Colt built the first repeating revolver,
allowing Americans to hide an incredibly lethal weapon in their coat
pocket. All of a sudden, drunken street corner arguments, which used to
result in a few awkward punches thrown, became deadly. And nearly every
other country in the high-income world at this point, in the mid-1800s,
saw this danger, and so they decided to regulate the handgun and the
weapons that came after to make sure that those arguments stayed fist
fights rather than shootouts.
But America took the other path. We let these weapons spread across
the Nation. And then, as much more deadly guns were developed for the
military, our Nation decided to go its own way again and let citizens
own and operate these weapons too.
The result is, of course, a nation that is awash in guns, with no
comparison--no comparison--in the high-income word. We have more guns
in this country on our streets than human beings, than American
citizens. So it is no wonder that in this Nation, everyday arguments
seamlessly turn into gunfights, passing suicidal thoughts result in
lives ended, and hateful racists can kill efficiently by the dozens.
I think about September 14, 2012, all the time. That is the day that
a gunman, armed with an assault weapon and 30-round magazines, walked
into Sandy Hook Elementary School and in less than 5 minutes, killed 20
kids and 6 educators. Think about that. The military weapons that this
guy was able to own legally killed 26 people in under 5 minutes. The
gun he used was so powerful that not a single child who was shot
survived. Those bullets moved so fast, so lethally through their little
bodies, it just tore them to shreds.
But on that same day in China, a similarly deranged young man entered
a similarly nondescript school and attacked almost the identical number
of people, but in that Chinese classroom, every single one of those 23
people who that man attacked survived. Why? Because in China the
attacker had a knife, not a military-grade assault weapon.
Like I said, I wish this weren't true, but our Nation has, from the
jump, been more violent than other countries. I can't, you can't, none
of us can erase this history. And I come to the floor today to be
honest about the parts of the American story that lead to these high
levels of violence that we
can control and the parts that we can't control. It is up to us whether
we want to spend every hour of every day trying to mitigate this
predilection toward violence or whether we want to choose to exacerbate
it.
Fueling the kind of racist, hateful, fear-your-neighbor demagoguery
practiced by Donald Trump exacerbates American violence. Doing nothing
year after year about the flow of illegal and high-powered weapons into
our streets exacerbates American violence. These are choices we are
making.
Kids living in fear that their classroom is the next one to get shot
up, that is not inevitable; that is a choice. Black shoppers looking
over their shoulder, wondering whether this is the day that they die,
that doesn't have to be our reality; that is a choice.
We can look into the flames of American violence, this fire that has
been burning since our inception, and we can choose to douse the fire
or we can choose to continue to pour fuel on top of it.
I yield the floor. | multicultural | Islamophobic |
05/18/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgS2573 | nan | nan | National Police Week
Madam President, we honor during Police Week the law enforcement
officials in our State who made the ultimate sacrifice.
This year, we will add to the National Law Enforcement Memorial the
names of 10 Ohioans who laid down their lives last year: Officer
Brandon Stalker, Deputy Donald Gilreath III, Natural Resources Officer
Jason Lagore, Officer Scott Dawley, Deputy Sheriff Robert Craig Mills,
Deputy Sheriff Boyd Blake, Corrections Lieutenant David Reynolds,
Corrections Officer Joshua Kristek, Patrolman Sean VanDenberg, and
Officer Shane Bartek. Each of these losses is a tragedy for a family,
for a community, for all of law enforcement officials in this country.
We know in too many places right now the trust between law
enforcement and the community is too often frayed or broken.
These Ohio lives are a reminder of the ideals we strive for--women
and men who are true public servants in the best sense of the word,
people who give themselves to their communities, and these Ohioans gave
so much.
Let me mention each one briefly.
Officer Brandon Stalker, a 24-year-old father of two young children,
devoted to his fiance. His first partner, Officer Brent Kieffer, said
he had a ``constant smile and unfailing sense of humor.''
He added that ``[e]very single day we went on patrol, Brandon was all
about trying to serve the community. He truly wanted to make the
community a better place.''
That comes from his patrol colleague.
Before joining the force, the Toledo native coached baseball at his
former high school and was passionate about mentoring young players.
He gave his life last January protecting his community.
Officer Stalker, rest in peace.
Natural Resources Officer Jason Lagore was a Chillicothe native,
devoted husband, and father of two sons. Those who knew him talked
about his love of his job and commitment to helping people.
When he joined the Department of National Resources in 2005, he
persuaded his bosses to let him bring in and train Ranger, his first K-
9 partner.
Over the years, he grew the program, showing that department how
successful K-9 teams could be. The department now has K-9 units all
across the State.
Lieutenant Hoffer watched his friend build the program from the
ground up. He said of Officer Lagore:
He did it all himself, and we couldn't have had a better
person. He was patient, a good all-around person, a good
officer, and he knew what he was doing.
Last February, Officer Lagore and his K-9 partner Sarge were helping
with a search operation at Rocky Fork State Park in Highland County,
southwest of Columbus, when he suffered a heart attack and fell into a
lake. He was 36 years old.
Ohio Department of National Resources posthumously honored him with
the Director's Award of Valor. Director Mertz said:
Because of his courage and bravery in the face of danger,
there is no one more deserving of this honor.
Rest in peace, Officer Labore.
Officer Scott Dawley served his hometown of Nelsonville near Athens,
a small tight-knit community. His death last August in a three-vehicle
crash responding to a call was felt across town.
One lifelong resident said of Officer Dawley:
He loved his community, and the community loved him back.
The outpouring of grief and support was overwhelming.
He had just gotten married in April, making a blended family of nine.
He was a devoted father. He coached his son's baseball team. His wife
Marissa said one of her happiest memories was watching her 9-year-old
daughter give Officer Dawley a makeover, complete with finger and
toenail polish.
Officer Dawley, rest in peace.
Officer Shane Bartek was 25 years old when he was killed during a
carjacking at a West Side apartment complex not too far from my house
on New Year's Eve, just 28 months after he joined the Cleveland
Division of Police.
His family said that from a young age, he always wanted to be an
officer. His greatest aspiration was to become a detective.
His twin sister Summer talked about how Officer Bartek loved to
participate in the annual ``shop with a cop'' event during the holiday
season, allowing a child who has been touched by law enforcement to buy
and give Christmas presents to that family.
One colleague said:
He would tell me how much he wanted to touch other people's
lives so he could actually make an impact. And he did that.
Officer Bartek, rest in peace.
Last year, we also lost six officers to COVID-19: Deputy Gilreath,
Deputy Sheriff Mills, Deputy Sheriff Blake, Corrections Lieutenant
Reynolds, Corrections Officer Kristek, and Patrolman VanDenberg.
While many of us were still social distancing and working from home,
police officers, like other essential workers--grocery store workers,
nurses, technicians, food service people, all on the frontline of our
community, all essential workers, even though many were not paid like
it--risked their own health to keep our communities safe.
We can't begin to repay the debt we owe these officers and their
families.
We can work to better support officers in the communities they swear an
oath to protect.
It is why I am working with colleagues of both parties on legislation
to support them as they do their jobs.
I joined my colleague Senator Grassley to introduce the Fighting
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act. It would increase mental health
support for police, fire, emergency medical, and 9-1-1 personnel as
they cope with the stress of responding to crisis situations.
These Ohioans deal with some of the most tense and life-threatening
situations in our communities--car accidents, fires, family disputes,
people in mental health crises.
So often our local police and fire departments don't have the
resources to offer comprehensive mental health support. The Grassley-
Brown bill will help us do that.
I also introduced the Expanding Health Care Options for Early
Retirees Act, a bill that would allow retired police officers and other
first responders to buy into Medicare beginning at age 50.
Police officers and other first responders wear their bodies out
protecting our families and communities. They should have access to
affordable healthcare when their service comes to an end.
This simple solution would ensure access to healthcare for police
officers who are forced to retire but aren't yet eligible for Medicare.
I am working across the aisle with Senator Thune and others to fix
outdated IRS rules that prevent public safety officers from making tax-
free withdrawals from retirement accounts to cover healthcare premiums.
We need to make sure police and fire can retire with dignity. Part of
dignity of work is retiring with dignity. At the very least, that means
they should be able to afford the healthcare they need.
This Police Week, let's offer more than empty words. Let's honor the
memories of these women, these men who laid down their lives in service
of their communities by getting their fellow officers the tools they
need, the training they need to do their jobs and to build trust with
the communities they are sworn to protect.
I yield the floor. | single | homophobic |
05/18/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgS2573 | nan | nan | National Police Week
Madam President, we honor during Police Week the law enforcement
officials in our State who made the ultimate sacrifice.
This year, we will add to the National Law Enforcement Memorial the
names of 10 Ohioans who laid down their lives last year: Officer
Brandon Stalker, Deputy Donald Gilreath III, Natural Resources Officer
Jason Lagore, Officer Scott Dawley, Deputy Sheriff Robert Craig Mills,
Deputy Sheriff Boyd Blake, Corrections Lieutenant David Reynolds,
Corrections Officer Joshua Kristek, Patrolman Sean VanDenberg, and
Officer Shane Bartek. Each of these losses is a tragedy for a family,
for a community, for all of law enforcement officials in this country.
We know in too many places right now the trust between law
enforcement and the community is too often frayed or broken.
These Ohio lives are a reminder of the ideals we strive for--women
and men who are true public servants in the best sense of the word,
people who give themselves to their communities, and these Ohioans gave
so much.
Let me mention each one briefly.
Officer Brandon Stalker, a 24-year-old father of two young children,
devoted to his fiance. His first partner, Officer Brent Kieffer, said
he had a ``constant smile and unfailing sense of humor.''
He added that ``[e]very single day we went on patrol, Brandon was all
about trying to serve the community. He truly wanted to make the
community a better place.''
That comes from his patrol colleague.
Before joining the force, the Toledo native coached baseball at his
former high school and was passionate about mentoring young players.
He gave his life last January protecting his community.
Officer Stalker, rest in peace.
Natural Resources Officer Jason Lagore was a Chillicothe native,
devoted husband, and father of two sons. Those who knew him talked
about his love of his job and commitment to helping people.
When he joined the Department of National Resources in 2005, he
persuaded his bosses to let him bring in and train Ranger, his first K-
9 partner.
Over the years, he grew the program, showing that department how
successful K-9 teams could be. The department now has K-9 units all
across the State.
Lieutenant Hoffer watched his friend build the program from the
ground up. He said of Officer Lagore:
He did it all himself, and we couldn't have had a better
person. He was patient, a good all-around person, a good
officer, and he knew what he was doing.
Last February, Officer Lagore and his K-9 partner Sarge were helping
with a search operation at Rocky Fork State Park in Highland County,
southwest of Columbus, when he suffered a heart attack and fell into a
lake. He was 36 years old.
Ohio Department of National Resources posthumously honored him with
the Director's Award of Valor. Director Mertz said:
Because of his courage and bravery in the face of danger,
there is no one more deserving of this honor.
Rest in peace, Officer Labore.
Officer Scott Dawley served his hometown of Nelsonville near Athens,
a small tight-knit community. His death last August in a three-vehicle
crash responding to a call was felt across town.
One lifelong resident said of Officer Dawley:
He loved his community, and the community loved him back.
The outpouring of grief and support was overwhelming.
He had just gotten married in April, making a blended family of nine.
He was a devoted father. He coached his son's baseball team. His wife
Marissa said one of her happiest memories was watching her 9-year-old
daughter give Officer Dawley a makeover, complete with finger and
toenail polish.
Officer Dawley, rest in peace.
Officer Shane Bartek was 25 years old when he was killed during a
carjacking at a West Side apartment complex not too far from my house
on New Year's Eve, just 28 months after he joined the Cleveland
Division of Police.
His family said that from a young age, he always wanted to be an
officer. His greatest aspiration was to become a detective.
His twin sister Summer talked about how Officer Bartek loved to
participate in the annual ``shop with a cop'' event during the holiday
season, allowing a child who has been touched by law enforcement to buy
and give Christmas presents to that family.
One colleague said:
He would tell me how much he wanted to touch other people's
lives so he could actually make an impact. And he did that.
Officer Bartek, rest in peace.
Last year, we also lost six officers to COVID-19: Deputy Gilreath,
Deputy Sheriff Mills, Deputy Sheriff Blake, Corrections Lieutenant
Reynolds, Corrections Officer Kristek, and Patrolman VanDenberg.
While many of us were still social distancing and working from home,
police officers, like other essential workers--grocery store workers,
nurses, technicians, food service people, all on the frontline of our
community, all essential workers, even though many were not paid like
it--risked their own health to keep our communities safe.
We can't begin to repay the debt we owe these officers and their
families.
We can work to better support officers in the communities they swear an
oath to protect.
It is why I am working with colleagues of both parties on legislation
to support them as they do their jobs.
I joined my colleague Senator Grassley to introduce the Fighting
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Act. It would increase mental health
support for police, fire, emergency medical, and 9-1-1 personnel as
they cope with the stress of responding to crisis situations.
These Ohioans deal with some of the most tense and life-threatening
situations in our communities--car accidents, fires, family disputes,
people in mental health crises.
So often our local police and fire departments don't have the
resources to offer comprehensive mental health support. The Grassley-
Brown bill will help us do that.
I also introduced the Expanding Health Care Options for Early
Retirees Act, a bill that would allow retired police officers and other
first responders to buy into Medicare beginning at age 50.
Police officers and other first responders wear their bodies out
protecting our families and communities. They should have access to
affordable healthcare when their service comes to an end.
This simple solution would ensure access to healthcare for police
officers who are forced to retire but aren't yet eligible for Medicare.
I am working across the aisle with Senator Thune and others to fix
outdated IRS rules that prevent public safety officers from making tax-
free withdrawals from retirement accounts to cover healthcare premiums.
We need to make sure police and fire can retire with dignity. Part of
dignity of work is retiring with dignity. At the very least, that means
they should be able to afford the healthcare they need.
This Police Week, let's offer more than empty words. Let's honor the
memories of these women, these men who laid down their lives in service
of their communities by getting their fellow officers the tools they
need, the training they need to do their jobs and to build trust with
the communities they are sworn to protect.
I yield the floor. | Cleveland | racist |
05/18/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgS2581-2 | nan | nan | At 11:26 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered
by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has
passed the following bills, without amendment:
S. 1760. An act to designate the community-based outpatient
clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs planned to be
built in Oahu, Hawaii, as the ``Daniel Kahikina Akaka
Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient
Clinic''.
S. 2514. An act to rename the Provo Veterans Center in
Orem, Utah, as the ``Col. Gail S. Halvorsen `Candy Bomber'
Veterans Center''.
S. 2520. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002
to provide for engagements with State, local, Tribal and
territorial governments, and for other purposes.
S. 2687. An act to provide the Inspector General of the
Department of Veterans Affairs testimonial subpoena
authority, and for other purposes.
S. 3527. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer the
name of property of the Department of Veterans Affairs
designated by law to other property of the Department.
The message further announced that the House has passed the following
bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:
H.R. 5754. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the ability of veterans to electronically submit
complaints about the delivery of health care services by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
H.R. 6376. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who
pursue programs of rehabilitation, education, or training on
at least a half-time basis, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6604. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the method by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines the effects of a closure or disapproval of an
educational institution on individuals who do not transfer
credits from such institution.
H.R. 6868. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to provide for financial assistance to fund certain
cybersecurity and infrastructure security education and
training programs and initiatives, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6871. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to provide for certain acquisition authorities for the
Under Secretary of Management of the Department of Homeland
Security, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6873. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to establish the Office for Bombing Prevention to
address terrorist explosive threats, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7153. An act to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to submit to Congress a plan to modernize the
information technology systems of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7375. An act to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to update the payment system of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to allow for electronic fund transfer of
educational assistance, administered by the Secretary, to a
foreign institution of higher education.
H.R. 7500. An act to authorize major medical facility
projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal
year 2022, and for other purposes.
The message also announced that pursuant to section 1095(b)(l)(C)-(D)
of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2022, the Minority
Leader appoints the following member to the Commission on the National
Defense Strategy of the United States: Mr. John (Jack) M. Keane of
McLean, Virginia. | based | white supremacist |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5141 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7335) to improve coordination between the Veterans
Health Administration and the Veterans Benefits Administration with
respect to claims for compensation arising from military sexual trauma,
and for other purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5140 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 5738) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
require a lactation space in each medical center of the Department of
Veterans Affairs, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Beatty) | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5139 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mrs. Beatty). Pursuant to clause 8 of rule
XX, the unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the
rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1125) condemning rising
antisemitism, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/18/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgH5138 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on passage of the bill (S. 2938) to
designate the United States Courthouse and Federal Building located at
111 North Adams Street in Tallahassee, Florida, as the ``Joseph Woodrow
Hatchett United States Courthouse and Federal Building'', and for other
purposes, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/17/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgH5080 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 1760) to designate the community-based outpatient
clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs planned to be built in
Oahu, Hawaii, as the ``Daniel Kahikina Akaka Department of Veterans
Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic'', on which the yeas and nays
were ordered. | based | white supremacist |
05/17/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgH5080 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 1760) to designate the community-based outpatient
clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs planned to be built in
Oahu, Hawaii, as the ``Daniel Kahikina Akaka Department of Veterans
Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic'', on which the yeas and nays
were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/17/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgH5082 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 5754) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the ability of veterans to electronically submit complaints
about the delivery of health care services by the Department of
Veterans Affairs on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/17/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgH5083-2 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 2687) to provide the Inspector General of the
Department of Veterans
Affairs testimonial subpoena authority, and for other purposes, on
which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/17/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgH5083 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 6604) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the method by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines the effects of a closure or disapproval of an educational
institution on individuals who do not transfer credits from such
institution, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/17/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgH5085 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 6376) to amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who pursue
programs of rehabilitation, education, or training on at least a half-
time basis, and for other purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and
nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/17/2022 | The SPEAKER pro tempore | House | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgH5086 | nan | nan | The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, the
unfinished business is the vote on the motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 7153) to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to submit to Congress a plan to modernize the information technology
systems of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and for other
purposes, as amended, on which the yeas and nays were ordered. | XX | transphobic |
05/17/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2525-2 | nan | nan | The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer:
Let us pray.
Eternal God, You are our shelter from the storm. Lord, thank You that
though wrong seems so strong, You continue to rule.
Lord, we pray for grieving families who have become the collateral
damage of domestic terrorism. We pray for sons and daughters, for
fathers and mothers, for sisters and brothers who have had their lives
maimed by the incomprehensible.
Lord, use our lawmakers as sowers of reconciliation. Where there is
hatred, may they sow seeds of love. Where there is despair, may they
sow seeds of hope. Where there is falsehood, may they sow seeds of
truth. Lord, permit this planting to produce the harvest of a more
perfect Union for this land we love.
God bless America.
We pray in Your merciful Name. Amen.
| terrorism | Islamophobic |
05/17/2022 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2525-6 | nan | nan | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, yesterday, in a bipartisan landslide,
the Senate advanced legislation to get more arms and assistance to the
innocent people of Ukraine.
Senators Collins, Cornyn, Barrasso, and I just returned last night
from Europe. Our first stop was Kyiv. It was moving to feel some of the
impacts of Putin's aggression, to see a free and independent nation
made to literally fight for its life. But it was also inspiring to
witness the bravery and the determination that have united Ukrainians
in the face of this onslaught.
Ukraine has had more than its share of domestic political differences
in recent years. Putin must have thought some Ukrainians would
welcome--would actually welcome--invading Russian forces. Instead, both
Ukrainian-speaking and Russian-speaking Ukrainians have united in
defense of their sovereign nation. Some predicted Ukraine would fold in
a few days and Russia would stroll right to Kyiv. That was wrong too.
Ukraine is tough, and Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands, with life moving
back toward normalcy despite the continued threat.
Our delegation was honored to meet with President Zelenskyy. He
expressed his gratitude to the United States for our leadership and
support on a bipartisan basis, as well as for other countries that have
stood by his people in their time of need. America is not the only free
country that has Ukraine's back. President Zelenskyy was moved by
certain European countries who have given Ukraine, in his words,
literally ``everything they had.'' Of course, other European countries
can and should do more to help Ukraine. And the administration should
lead an effort to ensure broad, sustained international support for
Ukraine.
America's support for Ukraine has highlighted the limits to our
stockpiles of certain munitions and shortcomings in our own defense
production capacity. A number of European countries have dipped even
deeper into their weapons inventories. They will need a refill as well.
As our European friends wake up from their ``holiday from history''
and increase defense spending, I hope the United States will be a
reliable supplier of advanced weaponry to our NATO allies, a textbook
win-win.
Our delegation reiterated to President Zelenskyy the bipartisan
consensus which the Senate demonstrated with last night's vote. The
United States of America has Ukraine's back and will stand with our
friends until they win.
Ukraine is not asking anybody to fight their fight for them. They are
only asking for help in getting the resources and tools they need to
defend themselves. And we and our friends and partners across the free
world will stand behind Ukraine until they achieve victory as they
define it. The outcome of this fight has major ramifications for the
West, and the Ukrainians should not be left to stand all alone.
As an overwhelming bipartisan majority of the Senate reaffirmed
yesterday, America's decision to support Ukraine is not some frivolous
act of
charity. It serves our own national security and strategic interests
for international borders to continue to actually mean something. It
serves our own security and interest to impose massive costs on Putin's
long-running campaign of violent imperialism. And it directly and
powerfully serves our national interest to deter potential future wars
of aggression before they start.
So, Madam President, I assure you that President Xi and the CCP are
watching Ukraine carefully. There is a concrete reason why democratic
Asian countries like Japan and Taiwan are rooting hard for Ukraine to
prevail. Moreover, if we are stuck in a long-term strategic competition
with China, we will want a stable, secure, and strong Europe on our
side.
Speaking of America's national interest, our delegation also visited
what we hope and expect will soon be the two newest members of the NATO
alliance. We arrived in Stockholm and Helsinki just as the leaders of
Sweden and Finland announced their nations will seek to join the
alliance that has secured peace in Europe for more than 73 years.
It was an honor to have robust discussions with Prime Minister
Andersson, Defense Minister Hultqvist, and key parliamentary leaders in
Stockholm; and President Niinisto, Prime Minister Marin, Defense
Minister Kaikkonen, and parliamentary leaders in Helsinki. I gave them
my assurance as Senate Republican leader that I fully support both
Finland's and Sweden's accession. I will do all I can to speed treaty
ratification through the Senate.
Finland and Sweden are impressive and capable countries, with
military capabilities that surpass many of our existing NATO allies. As
new members, they would more than pull their weight.
These two nations' geographic locations are strategic. They have
well-equipped and professional armed forces. Their military and high-
tech industrial bases are robust. There is already significant
interoperability that connects their defenses and NATO's. I will have
more to say on this subject in the days and weeks ahead. Finland and
Sweden would make NATO even stronger than it stands today.
Finally, it must be noted that our delegation was not the most
important group of Americans shipping out to stand with our friends in
Europe--not by a longshot. There are 100,000 American soldiers
currently stationed in Europe to bolster the peace and shore up NATO.
This includes the Kentucky-based V Corps.
And we received word just last week that 4,700 members of the 101st
Airborne from Kentucky's Fort Campbell will also travel to Europe in
the coming months. The Screaming Eagles have a long history of
defending America's national security interests in Europe. I am proud
of these brave men and women for being ready to deploy at a moment's
notice. I am proud America can make this peaceful contribution to our
allies' sovereignty and strength in Europe, and I am proud of the
entire Fort Campbell community for keeping these men and women well-
prepared for this mission.
| based | white supremacist |
05/17/2022 | Mr. McCONNELL | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2526 | nan | nan | Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, now on another matter, by early 2020,
before the pandemic, Republican policies had helped create one of the
best economic moments for working Americans literally in our lifetimes.
Unemployment was low, inflation was low, and real take-home pay was
rising steadily. In fact, we had wages rising faster for the bottom 25
percent of the wage scale than for the top 25 percent.
The incoming all-Democratic government was handed a reopening economy
and a million vaccines going into arms per day. The country was packed
with optimism and primed for a comeback. But through their far-left
policy choices, Washington Democrats have driven our economy right into
the ground. Inflation is setting 40-year records in consecutive months;
gas and diesel prices have set new all-time highs on consecutive days;
and sticker shock continues to cause headaches for Americans buying
household essentials.
One college student in California said that buying groceries has him
``taking extra loans to pay for my expenses. I'm maxing out my credit
cards.'' A woman in Virginia reports she has taken to visiting three
different food stores in one trip to make sure she is getting the best
prices on everything she needs. A warehouse worker in New Jersey says
she and her husband are spending more time hunting for coupons.
It's not a lot, but I'm trying to buy healthy things that
also fill us up.
Overall grocery prices have jumped 10 percent in the past year, just
one part of why many Americans say the Biden economy is not working for
them. Fewer than one in four American consumers say the current
economic conditions are even somewhat good, and fewer than one in five
say the Biden administration's policies have done anything to help.
Democrats made runaway reckless spending their new normal here in
Washington. So historic, painful inflation has become the new normal
for working families everywhere else.
| working families | racist |
05/17/2022 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2540-2 | nan | nan | Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I rise today in recognition of Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month. This annual recognition offers the
opportunity to celebrate the unique impact the Asian American and
Pacific Islander community has made and continues to make in the United
States.
On this heritage month, we reflect on the incredible achievements of
this minority community and honor the unique combination of traditions
and cultures that create the rich tapestry of the Asian American
Pacific Islander diaspora and experience. We also use this time to
educate ourselves on the nuances of the AAPI identity and better
understand the challenges this community faces.
In 1977, then-Representative Frank Horton of New York introduced a
resolution to designate the first 10 days in May as AAPI Heritage Week.
The month of May was appropriate because of two key anniversaries that
occurred in that month. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants
came to the United States.
On May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed,
largely due to the backbreaking work of Chinese laborers, some of whom
lost their lives in the construction.
Congress did not enact Representative Horton's initial resolution.
The following year, however, with the persistent help of then-
Representative Norman Mineta, Congress enacted a new resolution to
designate the 7-day period beginning on May 4 as Asian American Pacific
Islander Heritage Week. In 1992, Congress authorized the entire month
of May as AAPI Heritage Month, which we now celebrate.
The presence and influence of the AAPI community in the United States
has been growing steadily since the 19th century. The 1870 census
classified approximately 63,000 individuals as Asian. By 1960, when the
census allowed respondents to select their race, that number grew to
980,000. As of 2019, there are 22.4 million AAPI individuals in
America, 475,000 of whom call Maryland home.
It is important to remember that the AAPI community is not a
homogenous group. It is an incredibly diverse community, made up of a
wide array of cultures spanning many countries and territories, which
includes over 50 ethnicities, over 100 languages, and multiple
religions. Each subset draws from a unique set of traditions, and we
cannot assume they have one shared, uniform experience. We know that
the AAPI community makes up about 7 percent of our total population,
and this rich and diverse community has an outsized impact on every
pillar of our society. We cannot forget the many barriers to success
this community has overcome to reach such heights, which makes this
community's successes all the more impressive.
To understand the profound influence the AAPI community has, we need
not look further than Capitol Hill. This year, we mourned the passing
of my good friend and former colleague, Norman Mineta. A passionate
defender of justice, talented strategist, and exemplary patriot,
Representative Mineta dedicated his life to service as a mayor,
Congressman, and Cabinet member. In 1941, the U.S. Government interned
his family along with hundreds of thousands of other Japanese
Americans. Perhaps both in spite of and because of that experience,
Representative Mineta pursued a career as a public servant. During his
tenure as a legislator, he cofounded and chaired the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus.
He led the charge on the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which directed
the Federal Government to issue a formal apology to and compensate the
survivors of Japanese internment. He inspired generations of Asian
Americans to get involved in politics. We miss him, but his legacy will
live on for years to come.
As chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Committee, I am in awe of the resilience and determination we have seen
from AAPI small business owners over the past 2 years. In Maryland
alone, there are 13,375 AAPI-owned businesses, many of which include
restaurants and eateries. In fact, if you use cuisine predominance as a
barometer of cultural impact, the Asian American influence is
unparalleled.
In 2021, the New York Times published a list of the 50 most exciting
restaurants in the United States. Seventeen of the top 50 restaurants,
or 34 percent, incorporate AAPI food or have an AAPI head chef, more
than any other foreign cuisine. Through food, AAPI culture has become
inextricably linked to the American identity. In my home city of
Baltimore, a group of volunteers known as the China Collective
organizes a pop-up market named the Charm City Market. I have watched
as the event has grown in both attendance and footprint over the years,
celebrating the AAPI community's diverse food and entrepreneurship
landscape. Each year, I look forward to the market's ever-growing
celebration and empowerment of AAPI small business owners and
entrepreneurs.
Asian American Pacific Islanders also played a massive role in our
COVID-19 response, oftentimes finding themselves on the front lines as
essential workers. Despite facing racial bias and prejudice largely
attributed to Donald Trump's deliberately inflammatory use of the term
``China Virus,'' the AAPI community remained a steadfast lifeline for
Americans in need. At Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Erika Rono,
an emergency room nurse who came to the U.S. from the Philippines in
2014, continues to work every day through the harrowing realities of a
hospital overrun by COVID-19 patients. Over the past 2 years, she has
toiled day and night, putting her own life at risk, to save
Baltimoreans. We cannot thank her and her colleagues enough for their
bravery.
Despite the vital role the AAPI community plays in the U.S., they
still endure racism and discrimination. I am broken-hearted to see an
unprecedented increase in hate crimes against the AAPI community in
recent years. According to a study by the Center for the Study of Hate
and Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino, there
was a 44-percent increase in anti-Asian American hate crimes across 16
of the largest cities in the United States. In 2021, 81 percent of
Asian Americans who participated in a report by Pew Research stated
that violence against them was increasing.
One in 4 AAPI small business owners has experienced vandalism or
threats to their business at least once between 2020 and 2021, and one
in five Asian Americans worries daily about potential racial threats
and attacks. On top of this fear of retaliation, there is also concern
in the community, as with everyone else, about contracting the virus.
We must continue to do all that we can to preserve, protect, and
support the AAPI community. Last year, Congress enacted and President
Biden signed into law S. 937, the ``COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act,'' which
formally condemns anti-Asian violence and creates pathways for the
expedited reporting and prosecution of such abhorrent events at the
Federal, State, and local levels. There is no place for hate in our
society.
Today, as I think about my late, great colleague Norm Mineta and all
the Asian Americans who make America what it is today, I re-emphasize
my gratitude for the AAPI community and reaffirm my commitment to
eliminating systemic barriers to its success.
| China Virus | anti-Asian |
05/18/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-18-pt1-PgS2581-2 | nan | nan | At 11:26 a.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered
by Mrs. Cole, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has
passed the following bills, without amendment:
S. 1760. An act to designate the community-based outpatient
clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs planned to be
built in Oahu, Hawaii, as the ``Daniel Kahikina Akaka
Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient
Clinic''.
S. 2514. An act to rename the Provo Veterans Center in
Orem, Utah, as the ``Col. Gail S. Halvorsen `Candy Bomber'
Veterans Center''.
S. 2520. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002
to provide for engagements with State, local, Tribal and
territorial governments, and for other purposes.
S. 2687. An act to provide the Inspector General of the
Department of Veterans Affairs testimonial subpoena
authority, and for other purposes.
S. 3527. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
authorize the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to transfer the
name of property of the Department of Veterans Affairs
designated by law to other property of the Department.
The message further announced that the House has passed the following
bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the Senate:
H.R. 5754. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the ability of veterans to electronically submit
complaints about the delivery of health care services by the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
H.R. 6376. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
extend eligibility for a certain work-study allowance paid by
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to certain individuals who
pursue programs of rehabilitation, education, or training on
at least a half-time basis, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6604. An act to amend title 38, United States Code, to
improve the method by which the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
determines the effects of a closure or disapproval of an
educational institution on individuals who do not transfer
credits from such institution.
H.R. 6868. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to provide for financial assistance to fund certain
cybersecurity and infrastructure security education and
training programs and initiatives, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6871. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to provide for certain acquisition authorities for the
Under Secretary of Management of the Department of Homeland
Security, and for other purposes.
H.R. 6873. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to establish the Office for Bombing Prevention to
address terrorist explosive threats, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7153. An act to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to submit to Congress a plan to modernize the
information technology systems of the Veterans Benefits
Administration, and for other purposes.
H.R. 7375. An act to direct the Secretary of Veterans
Affairs to update the payment system of the Department of
Veterans Affairs to allow for electronic fund transfer of
educational assistance, administered by the Secretary, to a
foreign institution of higher education.
H.R. 7500. An act to authorize major medical facility
projects for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal
year 2022, and for other purposes.
The message also announced that pursuant to section 1095(b)(l)(C)-(D)
of the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2022, the Minority
Leader appoints the following member to the Commission on the National
Defense Strategy of the United States: Mr. John (Jack) M. Keane of
McLean, Virginia. | terrorist | Islamophobic |
05/17/2022 | Mr. CARDIN | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2540-2 | nan | nan | Mr. CARDIN. Madam President, I rise today in recognition of Asian
Pacific American Heritage Month. This annual recognition offers the
opportunity to celebrate the unique impact the Asian American and
Pacific Islander community has made and continues to make in the United
States.
On this heritage month, we reflect on the incredible achievements of
this minority community and honor the unique combination of traditions
and cultures that create the rich tapestry of the Asian American
Pacific Islander diaspora and experience. We also use this time to
educate ourselves on the nuances of the AAPI identity and better
understand the challenges this community faces.
In 1977, then-Representative Frank Horton of New York introduced a
resolution to designate the first 10 days in May as AAPI Heritage Week.
The month of May was appropriate because of two key anniversaries that
occurred in that month. On May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrants
came to the United States.
On May 10, 1869, the first transcontinental railroad was completed,
largely due to the backbreaking work of Chinese laborers, some of whom
lost their lives in the construction.
Congress did not enact Representative Horton's initial resolution.
The following year, however, with the persistent help of then-
Representative Norman Mineta, Congress enacted a new resolution to
designate the 7-day period beginning on May 4 as Asian American Pacific
Islander Heritage Week. In 1992, Congress authorized the entire month
of May as AAPI Heritage Month, which we now celebrate.
The presence and influence of the AAPI community in the United States
has been growing steadily since the 19th century. The 1870 census
classified approximately 63,000 individuals as Asian. By 1960, when the
census allowed respondents to select their race, that number grew to
980,000. As of 2019, there are 22.4 million AAPI individuals in
America, 475,000 of whom call Maryland home.
It is important to remember that the AAPI community is not a
homogenous group. It is an incredibly diverse community, made up of a
wide array of cultures spanning many countries and territories, which
includes over 50 ethnicities, over 100 languages, and multiple
religions. Each subset draws from a unique set of traditions, and we
cannot assume they have one shared, uniform experience. We know that
the AAPI community makes up about 7 percent of our total population,
and this rich and diverse community has an outsized impact on every
pillar of our society. We cannot forget the many barriers to success
this community has overcome to reach such heights, which makes this
community's successes all the more impressive.
To understand the profound influence the AAPI community has, we need
not look further than Capitol Hill. This year, we mourned the passing
of my good friend and former colleague, Norman Mineta. A passionate
defender of justice, talented strategist, and exemplary patriot,
Representative Mineta dedicated his life to service as a mayor,
Congressman, and Cabinet member. In 1941, the U.S. Government interned
his family along with hundreds of thousands of other Japanese
Americans. Perhaps both in spite of and because of that experience,
Representative Mineta pursued a career as a public servant. During his
tenure as a legislator, he cofounded and chaired the Congressional
Asian Pacific American Caucus.
He led the charge on the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which directed
the Federal Government to issue a formal apology to and compensate the
survivors of Japanese internment. He inspired generations of Asian
Americans to get involved in politics. We miss him, but his legacy will
live on for years to come.
As chairman of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Committee, I am in awe of the resilience and determination we have seen
from AAPI small business owners over the past 2 years. In Maryland
alone, there are 13,375 AAPI-owned businesses, many of which include
restaurants and eateries. In fact, if you use cuisine predominance as a
barometer of cultural impact, the Asian American influence is
unparalleled.
In 2021, the New York Times published a list of the 50 most exciting
restaurants in the United States. Seventeen of the top 50 restaurants,
or 34 percent, incorporate AAPI food or have an AAPI head chef, more
than any other foreign cuisine. Through food, AAPI culture has become
inextricably linked to the American identity. In my home city of
Baltimore, a group of volunteers known as the China Collective
organizes a pop-up market named the Charm City Market. I have watched
as the event has grown in both attendance and footprint over the years,
celebrating the AAPI community's diverse food and entrepreneurship
landscape. Each year, I look forward to the market's ever-growing
celebration and empowerment of AAPI small business owners and
entrepreneurs.
Asian American Pacific Islanders also played a massive role in our
COVID-19 response, oftentimes finding themselves on the front lines as
essential workers. Despite facing racial bias and prejudice largely
attributed to Donald Trump's deliberately inflammatory use of the term
``China Virus,'' the AAPI community remained a steadfast lifeline for
Americans in need. At Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Erika Rono,
an emergency room nurse who came to the U.S. from the Philippines in
2014, continues to work every day through the harrowing realities of a
hospital overrun by COVID-19 patients. Over the past 2 years, she has
toiled day and night, putting her own life at risk, to save
Baltimoreans. We cannot thank her and her colleagues enough for their
bravery.
Despite the vital role the AAPI community plays in the U.S., they
still endure racism and discrimination. I am broken-hearted to see an
unprecedented increase in hate crimes against the AAPI community in
recent years. According to a study by the Center for the Study of Hate
and Extremism at California State University in San Bernardino, there
was a 44-percent increase in anti-Asian American hate crimes across 16
of the largest cities in the United States. In 2021, 81 percent of
Asian Americans who participated in a report by Pew Research stated
that violence against them was increasing.
One in 4 AAPI small business owners has experienced vandalism or
threats to their business at least once between 2020 and 2021, and one
in five Asian Americans worries daily about potential racial threats
and attacks. On top of this fear of retaliation, there is also concern
in the community, as with everyone else, about contracting the virus.
We must continue to do all that we can to preserve, protect, and
support the AAPI community. Last year, Congress enacted and President
Biden signed into law S. 937, the ``COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act,'' which
formally condemns anti-Asian violence and creates pathways for the
expedited reporting and prosecution of such abhorrent events at the
Federal, State, and local levels. There is no place for hate in our
society.
Today, as I think about my late, great colleague Norm Mineta and all
the Asian Americans who make America what it is today, I re-emphasize
my gratitude for the AAPI community and reaffirm my commitment to
eliminating systemic barriers to its success.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
05/17/2022 | Mr. REED | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2541 | nan | nan | Mr. REED. Madam President, today I wish to recognize the dedicated
public service of Michele Mackin, who retired on April 30 as managing
director for contracting and national security acquisitions with the
Government Accountability Office.
For 34 years, Michele has helped Congress analyze the Federal
Government's largest acquisition programs, from the Air Force's C-17
and C-130 aircraft to the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship, Ford-class
aircraft carrier, and Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, along with scores
of other systems and related services that the Departments of Defense
and Homeland Security have procured to make our Nation safe.
She has also been a leading voice on Federal contracting issues and a
vigilant watchdog who consistently brought important issues related to
the improper use of contracts to light. In so doing, Michele has
obtained the respect of the Members of this body and the deep affection
of her colleagues, who for decades have been drawn to her fine example
of public service.
Michele has been a trusted voice on this Nation's shipbuilding
programs, and Congress has relied greatly on her clear analysis and
recommendations to guide us in our oversight role. Since first becoming
a member of the Senior Executive Service in 2013, Michele has testified
before Congress 11 times for a variety of committees--voicing concern
on the Littoral Combat Ship program, raising questions about the Navy's
acquisition strategy for the Constellation-class guided-missile
frigate, highlighting risks in the Coast Guard's Deepwater program, and
advocating for contracting and acquisition reforms at the Departments
of Navy, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs.
Michele epitomizes what Congress and the American public value about
the Government Accountability Office: the honest broker. In embracing
the idea that oversight of programs and contracts represents a sacred
trust, Michele has been a tireless, effective advocate for both the
American taxpayer and the men and women serving the government's many
and varied missions. She has inspired her teams with the notion of
stewardship that the American people should get what they have paid
for, that government should operate fairly and transparently, and
American warfighters should get the capabilities they need to defend
this great Nation.
We wish Michele a fond farewell and thank her for her distinguished
service to Congress and the American public.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
05/17/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2542-4 | nan | nan | At 2:32 p.m., a message from the House of Representatives, delivered
by Mrs. Alli, one of its reading clerks, announced that the House has
passed the following bills, in which it requests the concurrence of the
Senate:
H.R. 5658. An act to require the Secretary of Homeland
Security to submit a report on the cybersecurity roles and
responsibilities of the Federal Government, and for other
purposes.
H.R. 6824. An act to authorize the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland
Security to hold an annual cybersecurity competition relating
to offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines, and for
other purposes.
H.R. 6825. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to enhance the funding and administration of the
Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of
Homeland Security, and for other purposes.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
05/17/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2542-5 | nan | nan | The following bills were read the first and the second times by
unanimous consent, and referred as indicated:
H.R. 5658. An act to require the Secretary of Homeland
Security to submit a report on the cybersecurity roles and
responsibilities of the Federal Government, and for other
purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
H.R. 6824. An act to authorize the Cybersecurity and
Infrastructure Security Agency of the Department of Homeland
Security to hold an annual cybersecurity competition relating
to offensive and defensive cybersecurity disciplines, and for
other purposes; to the Committee on Homeland Security and
Governmental Affairs.
H.R. 6825. An act to amend the Homeland Security Act of
2002 to enhance the funding and administration of the
Nonprofit Security Grant Program of the Department of
Homeland Security, and for other purposes; to the Committee
on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
| the Fed | antisemitic |
05/17/2022 | Mr. TESTER | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2542 | nan | nan | Mr. TESTER. Madam President, I would like to share a few words
today to honor an outstanding leader and friend of mine who recently
passed away.
Mark Sweeney was a State senator for Montana's 39th District and a
candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives. Mark was the face of
public service in Montana, with an unyielding commitment to make our
State better for all of our kids and grandkids.
Born in Butte, raised in Miles City, and a longtime resident of
Anaconda, Mark was a Montanan through and through. Mark worked for
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks for 32 years until he retired as a
fisheries manager.
He started his political career as a commissioner in Anaconda-Deer
Lodge and later successfully ran for a seat in Montana's State
Legislature as a representative. He was elected to the State senate in
2020.
During his career, Mark was a tireless advocate for public lands and
public access, working with sportsmen and women around Montana to
protect our greatest treasures for future generations. When Mark talked
about running for office, he focused on how he would improve the lives
of his fellow citizens, and he worked with anyone and everyone,
regardless of whether they agreed or disagreed with him.
Mark was a fierce advocate for working families across Montana. He
believed in the power of public education to lift folks up and
prioritized the creation of good-paying jobs, especially for young
people, that would keep them living and working in Montana.
Mark was an effective policy-maker who made it a priority to balance
conservation and responsible development in our communities. Mark's
lifelong commitment to bettering our State and preserving our public
lands for generations wasn't something he preached; it was something he
lived every day.
I want to express my deepest sympathy to Mark's wife, Sue, his
children, Shannon and Jordan, stepchildren, Carly and Brandi Johnson,
and grandchildren, Wes and Brooks, as well as the rest of the Sweeney
family. Those who knew Mark will remember him as not only a dedicated
public servant, but as a family man and a dear friend. His friendly
demeanor and sense of humor will be sorely missed.
Mark has left a lasting legacy on us all, but especially his family
and friends, his colleagues in the State legislature, and those he
represented in the State of Montana. He will not be forgotten.
| working families | racist |
05/17/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2548-2 | nan | nan | Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mr. Johnson)
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee
on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 638
Whereas, on February 18, 2022, the United States and
Moldova marked 30 years of diplomatic relations;
Whereas, on February 24, 2022, armed forces of the Russian
Federation began an illegal, unjustified, and unprovoked
attack on Ukraine with missile strikes against densely
populated urban areas, including Kyiv, the capital of
Ukraine, and the regional hubs of Odesa and Mykolayiv, which
lie close to Moldova;
Whereas Moldova is a country of approximately 2,600,000
people that relies heavily on remittances sent to Moldova by
the Moldovan diaspora;
Whereas, in 2011, the Government of Moldova passed a law
entitled ``Law on Integration of Foreigners in the Republic
of Moldova'', which provided refugees and beneficiaries of
humanitarian protection access to social security, primary
and secondary education, medical insurance, cultural
integration support, language classes, and employment
counseling;
Whereas, prior to the most recent invasion of Ukraine by
President Vladimir Putin, the Government of Moldova assessed
that the infrastructure in Moldova could accommodate not more
than 15,000 refugees;
Whereas, only one day after the commencement of the
unconscionable attack on Ukraine by President Putin, the
people of Moldova welcomed more than 16,000 refugees;
Whereas, since 2014, more than 450,000 refugees fleeing the
invasion of Ukraine by President Putin had entered Moldova
and more than 100,000 of such refugees chose to remain in
Moldova;
Whereas, by March 7, 2022, 89 percent of Ukrainian refugees
arriving in Moldova were women and children;
Whereas, by March 9, 2022, an estimated 6 out of every 100
people in Chisinau, the capital of Moldova, were refugees;
Whereas, by April 26, 2022, refugees comprised more than 16
percent of the population of Moldova;
Whereas the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Representative for Central Europe Roland Schilling said,
``The attitude of Moldovan authorities is really
impressive'', and noted that ``local communities came to help
refugees, feeding them, supporting them'' at the border;
Whereas the Government of Moldova has created ``green
corridors'' to facilitate the crossing of refugees from
Ukraine to Romania and other countries in the European Union;
Whereas, over the past year, the Government of Moldova and
civil society have embarked on meaningful reform of the
justice system and promoted good governance and economic
stability in Moldova;
Whereas, on March 3, 2022, Moldova formally submitted its
application to join the European Union, signaling a
commitment to democratic values and the rule of law;
Whereas, on March 16, 2022, the European Union announced
that Moldova and Ukraine had completed the emergency
synchronization process with the Continental European Grid,
operated by the European Network of Transmission System
Operators;
Whereas, as of April 21, 2022, the United States has
provided more than $25,000,000 to support humanitarian
operations in Moldova;
Whereas, on April 22, 2022, a senior military official of
the Russian Federation indicated that the Russian Federation
intended to conquer southern Ukraine and join that territory
with Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova; and
Whereas, in late April and early May 2022, reports of
unexplained explosions in Transnistria elevated concerns that
the Russia Federation could expand its war into Moldova: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) commends the people of Moldova for their hospitality
and extraordinary efforts hosting more than 100,000 refugees
fleeing Ukraine;
(2) condemns provocation and aggressive action by the
Russian Federation in the Transnistria region of Moldova;
(3) reaffirms the sovereignty of Moldova and supports the
choice of the Government of Moldova to further integrate with
structures of the European Union;
(4) calls on the United States Government to continue to
provide meaningful financial and technical support to
Moldova;
(5) calls on international partners to join the United
States in providing swift and immediate humanitarian aid to
Ukrainians in Moldova;
(6) calls on the United States Government to continue
working with the European Network of Transmission System
Operators, the Government of Moldova, and the Government of
Ukraine to complete full synchronization of the electricity
grids of Moldova and Ukraine with the Continental European
Grid; and
(7) expresses support for the ongoing efforts by the
Government of Moldova to reform the justice sector, promote
good governance, and bolster the energy security of Moldova.
| urban | racist |
05/17/2022 | Unknown | Senate | CREC-2022-05-17-pt1-PgS2549 | nan | nan | Mr. GRASSLEY (for himself and Ms. Ernst) submitted the following
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:
S. Res. 639
Whereas Ames Laboratory was established by the Atomic
Energy Commission on May 17, 1947, as a National Laboratory;
Whereas Ames Laboratory originated as the Ames Project at
Iowa State College, later known as Iowa State University,
which, under the leadership of Frank Spedding and Harley
Wilhelm, contributed valuable scientific and production
assistance to the Manhattan Project, including--
(1) a unique method of purifying uranium metal;
(2) substantial quantities of purified uranium metal to the
first human-made self-sustaining nuclear chain reaction; and
(3) 2,000,000 pounds of purified uranium in assistance of
the war efforts of the United States during World War II;
Whereas Ames Laboratory (as the Ames Project at Iowa State
College) was recognized on October 12, 1945, for its
contributions to the defense of the United States during
World War II with the award of the Army-Navy ``E'' flag for
Excellence in Production, the only educational institution to
be so honored;
Whereas the science and technology developments of Ames
Laboratory have contributed to the advancement of human
understanding and the benefit of society over 7 \1/2\
decades, including--
(1) the discovery, design, and mastery of rare earth and
other materials that helped advance early progress of the
Atomic Age;
(2) globally recognized expertise in the properties of rare
earth elements and their importance in technologies such as
data-storage, wind power, lighting, and batteries;
(3) the invention of lead-free solder, which removed toxic
lead from electronic manufacturing processes;
(4) the understanding of quasicrystals, including work by
scientist Dan Shechtman, winner of the 2011 Nobel Prize in
Chemistry;
(5) national and international leadership in critical
materials important for United States manufacturing;
(6) the development of analytical equipment to enable the
mapping of the human genome;
(7) the development of analytical instrumentation that can
detect parts per trillion of atoms, molecules, and compounds;
(8) the discovery and development of catalysts leading to
cost-effective biofuel production;
(9) the development of metal and alloy powder synthesis to
accelerate the adoption of 3D printing and enable clean
energy technologies;
(10) the discovery of the first giant magnetocaloric
material and demonstration of magnetic refrigeration;
(11) the discovery of chemical processes to convert plastic
waste into valuable resources; and
(12) ground-breaking advances in the understanding of
superconductors and topological semimetals;
Whereas Ames Laboratory is the home of the Materials
Preparation Center, a research facility globally recognized
for its unique capabilities in purification, preparation, and
characterization of metals, alloys, and single crystals;
Whereas Ames Laboratory is the home of the Critical
Materials Institute, an Energy Innovation Hub that provides
the United States with vital supply chain expertise in rare
earth and other critical materials, including--
(1) diversifying supplies of rare earth and other critical
material resources;
(2) developing substitutes for high-demand materials; and
(3) driving recycling and reuse;
Whereas Ames Laboratory is a leader in technology transfer,
with 257 issued United States patents and licensed
innovations resulting in worldwide sales of more than
$3,000,000,000 and returning royalty revenue of nearly
$78,000,000; and
Whereas Ames Laboratory has nurtured more than 2,500
graduate students in its history, mentoring the scientific
leaders and innovators of tomorrow through education and
outreach programs designed to train and inspire young minds
for the discoveries of the future: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate congratulates Ames Laboratory for
75 years of outstanding service to the Department of Energy,
the United States, and the world in fulfilling its mission as
a National Laboratory dedicated to discovery and innovation
in the chemical and materials sciences.
| single | homophobic |