Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate 20240713

Vote the presiding officer any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not the yeas are 72. The nays are 18. The nomination is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table and the president will be immediately notified of the senates action. A senator mr. President . The presiding officer the senator for south dakota. Mr. Thune i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Thune mr. President , every american has had to deal with annoying and Illegal Robocalls. All of us have been ininterrupted at one point or time announcing we won a prize or needing important banking information so that our account wont be closed. These calls are a major nuisance but of course theyre not just a nuisance, mr. President. Too Many Americans fall victim to sophisticated robocall scammers and have their money or identity stolen. These individuals can spend months or years struggling to get their life back after falling prey to these scammers. There are currently laws and fines in place to prevent scam artists from preying on people through the telephone but unfortunately these measures have not been sufficient. In many cases robocall scammers build the current finds into the cost of doing business. The federal Communications Commissions enforcement efforts are hampered by a tight time window for pursuing violators. Ive been working on this issue since my time as chairman of the commerce committee. At the end of last year i introduced the telephone robocall abuse criminal enforcement and deterrence act or the trade act with my colleague. The senate bill passed in may and last week it was passed by the house of representatives. The act provides tools to discourage illegal rebow calls, protect consumers and crack down on offenders. Criminal prosecution of illegal robocallers can be difficult. Scammers are frequently based abroad, can quickly shut down shop before authorities can get to them. But i believe e. P. W. Need to make sure there is a credible threat of criminal prosecution and prison for those who use robocalls to prey upon the elderly and other vulnerable americans. The traced act includes a group from the department of justice, the federal Communications Commission, the f. K. C. , the Consumer Financial protection bureau, states attorneys general and others to criminally prosecute illegal robocalling. It expands the window in which the f. C. C. Can pursue scammers and levy fines from one year to four years. The bill also makes it easier for your cell phone carrier to lawfully block calls that arent authenticated. Which will help callers from getting through to your phone in the first place. It also tackles the issue of spoofed calls, where calls appear as if theyre coming from some known number. I remember an article that of the ared that scammers had successfully spoofed the number of the Watertown Police department. To anyone who received a call, it looked as if it really was the Watertown Police department calling. Traced act also addresses the issue of one of socalled scams where International Scammers try to get individuals to return their calls so they can charge them exorbitant fees. And it directs the federal Communications Commission to convene a working group to address the problem of Illegal Robocalls being made to hospitals. There are numerous stories of hospital telephone lines be flooded, disrupting critical lines of communication literally for hours. This cant be allowed to go on. Mr. President , i want to thank senator markey for partnering with me and my house colleagues for advancing this legislation. Im proud of the bipartisan support that our bill has received in both houses of the congress. One last step remains before the we can get this bill to the president s desk, and that is Senate Passage of the final bill. Im hoping we can get that done in the coming days so that we can get this bill to the president before christmas. While the traced act may not eliminate all of the robocalls that americans receive, it will go a long way toward making it safe to answer your phone again. I look forward to seeing this legislation signed into law in the very near future. Mr. President , i yield the floor and i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorumcall mr. Casey mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for pennsylvania. Mr. Casey thank you, mr. President. I would ask consent to vitiate the quorum call. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Casey and also consent to speak as if in morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Casey mr. President , i rise today to honor the life of First Lieutenant Michael Cleary from dallas, pennsylvania, 14 years since his death. Michael is one of some 288 pennsylvanians killed in action in the wars in iraq and afghanistan. First cliewnt cleary lieutenant cleary served as platoon leader of the Disposal Team and e company, first of the 15th infantry regiment, third brigade, Third Infantry Division of the United States army. On december 20, 2005, First Lieutenant cleary was killed in action while working in a bomb factory near samara, iraq. His platoon was ambushed outside the facility. He was just 24 years old. Even prior to joining the army, mike cleary was an active member of his community. He graduated from Dallas Senior High School in dallas, pennsylvania, with a and was a fouryear varsity athlete in both soccer and tennis, captain of both teams in his senior year. He received the dr. Pepper soccer m. V. P. Scholarship and a history scholarship at high school graduation, and was offered academic scholarships at gettysburg as well as dicken son and lafayette, all very strong academic institutions of Higher Education in pennsylvania. He followed his fathers footsteps and chose Hamilton College in new york. While hamilton First Lieutenant cleary participated in varsity soccer and varsity tennis. After the accept is 1, after the september 1, 2001, he wanted to join the forces but followed the advice of his mother and stayed in school. In may of 2003, he graduated from hamilton with honors of during his senior year, he was accepted into the marine flight officer program. He was notified that it would be deferred until january, not wanting to wait, Michael Cleary decided to enlist in the United States army. Three weeks after college graduation, he went to basic training and earned his airborne wings and graduated from the special air service antiterrorist course. The news of First Lieutenant clearys death came just before he was scheduled to return home during the christmas season. He was also planning to get married two months after he returned home to his high school sweetheart. First lieutenant cleary earned the following awards and decorations, the Army Achievement medal, National Defense service medal, Iraq Campaign medal, and global war on Terrorism Service medal, army service ribbon, and overseas service ribbon. His family also received First Lieutenant clearys United States Army Bronze Star and purple heart. Following his death, First Lieutenant cleary fathers jack described his last conversation with his son the day before he died and im quoting jack cleary. Jack cleary is someone ive gotten to know his his sons passing many heres what jack said at that time. Im quoting him directly. He meaning michael, was very upset that they were sending home some of his men without their awards for things like promotions, and he was fighting for his men. Thats the kind of officer he was. Michael was a fine man. He cared about all people, great and small, unquote. Jack cleary knows of what he speaks because he himself served in vietnam, and as i mentioned earlier, was also a graduate of the same college. First lieutenant Michael Clearys legacy lives on with his family. His father marianne is a member of gold star mothers where she works to support veterans, military families, and her Community Every day. John balona, Michaels College roommate, is the director and founder of the First Lieutenant Michael Joseph cleary run for the fallen, a run across america to raise awareness about the lives of those who fought to activate their memories and to keep their spirits alive. Run for the fallen supports organizations that help wounded veterans as well as the families of those killed and helps aid the healing process for those americans whose lives have been affected by war. All americans are grateful for the friends and family of Fallen Service members who not only continue the legacy of service to the nation but who take their tragedy and turn it into a force for good. First lieutenant Michael Cleary is one of so many bright, talented, and dedicated young men and women who have died in service to our country. And while i speak specifically of michael today, his story is the story of thousands of men and women across our country, hundreds of them in pennsylvania, who have given their lives in iraq and afghanistan, and also have given their lives in service of american values, values like democracy and liberty and rule of law. So as we remember Michael Cleary, we should also remember the words of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham lincoln reminded us that people like Michael Cleary gave, as lincoln said, quote, the last full measure of devotion to our country. Its at times like this when we should remember lincolns words not only those words, but also other words from the gettysburg address where he said, it is for us the living to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far to nobly advanced. That was said by Abraham Lincoln all those years ago. We must strive every day, whether were citizens or public officials, whatever our station in life, we must strive every day to complete that unfinished work that lincoln talked about. So that as we discuss major Security Issues like u. S. Withdrawal from afghanistan or combating the resurgeance of isis in the middle east or exercising oversight over u. S. Military engagingments overseas engagingments overseas and look increasingly to try to resolve complicated global crises, we must not forget that those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, particularly in the most recent wars, are those we should remember. Just consider these numbers. Americans who have lost their lives in the wars in afghanistan and iraq within an additional seven killed in Africa Command operations since 2001. That number is 6,989 americans just in those conflicts just in that time frame. This includes this 6,989 americans includes some 300 Service Members from pennsylvania, the fifth highest total of any state. Number two, over 49,000 in that time period have been wounded, including more than roughly 2,000 from pennsylvania. So 6,989 killed since 2001 nationwide and over 49,000 wounded in that time period. Third, although the administration refuses to be transparent in its deployment tracking, press reports indicate that approximately 19,000 americans are currently serving in iraq and afghanistan with an additional 65,000 serving in the persian gulf and saudi arabia. This year this year pennsylvania lost marine Sergeant Benjamin heinze of york county, pennsylvania, assigned to the 21st marine regiment, fourth marine division. He was killed by a roadside bomb on april 8 in afghanistan, along with two other marines, Staff Sergeant Christopher Slutman and hendrix. Staff Sergeant Slutman had ties to pennsylvania. While were grateful pens did not suffer pennsylvania did not suffer more life this year, any loss of life any loss of life is not only devastating but should also cause us to reconsider the nature of our military commitments overseas. These fighting men and women were born into families, not into devices and brigades. They are sons and daughters, hundreds and husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Their love for their families is matched only only by their devotion to our country. But many more bear the scars of war. Some families have lost im sorry. Some families have a loved one who served in iraq or afghanistan and were returned home but as one of the more than 49,000 who were wounded. We must not overlook the unusually High Percentage of iraq and afghanistan veterans who have died since returning home, whether from a Drug Overdose or suicide or the effects of combat. Thousands of American Families continue to pay a terrible price for the courage and dedication of their family members who gave life and limb for this country. So we have much to think about, not only on this day, but, of course, in this season this season of hope, this season of gratitude, this season of time together with our families back home. But we should especially remember those families who have loved and lost, those who have lost someone in combat, those who have lost someone who has served so nobly, served on behalf of the rest of us. At time that, mr. President , i know you have personal experience with this having served yourself, and i know that you understand this. Its an important time to remember those who have given so much for our country. So with the spirit of gratitude for their service, hope that we dont have more losses in the coming year, and with confidence that they have set a great example for us, i yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call a senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from texas. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , i would ask the quorum call be rescinded. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , the chaos here in washington, d. C. Precipitated by impeachment mania, our inability to get what should be relatively straightforward work done like the appropriations process amid all the gymnastics over the usmca, the United Statesmexicocanada agreement, and the fact we are coming down to a deadline on friday, december 20, when the current continuing resolution runs out. Because of everything thats going on, many people may have not been able to pay that much attention, and i think attention is deserved to the testimony yesterday of the department of justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz who testified in front of the Senate Judiciary committee. I know there was some News Coverage of it, but i wanted to give some reflections on the testimony that mr. Horowitz gave. First of all, the office of Inspector General is a very important one. They are the watchdog to make sure that the laws that Congress Passes and the rules of the various agencies in this case, the department of Justice Justice are complied with. Its really very, very important. With Everything Else going on, its important to have an impartial Inspector General conduct that kind of investigation and hold people accountable, something that happens not enough here in washington, d. C. But Inspector General horowitz was widely praised along with his team for producing an outstanding report, this time on the counterintelligence investigation of the Trump Administration by the obamaera Justice Department and f. B. I. This was a 480page report. Ive got a copy of it right here. Its redacted for public release, and if you look at it online, you can look under the department of justice website, you can see that some of it is redacted or black marks drawn through parts of it to protect certain classified information. But theres more than enough information contained in this report to know that the crossfire hurricane investigation into the Trump Administration by the obama Justice Department, including the comey f. B. I. , was an unmitigated disaster. Mr. Horowitz highlighted some of the truly disturbing and alarming facts about how this Russian Investigation was conducted, how it was initiated, and how it was conducted, and there were mistakes made, including some intentional misconduct which has now been referred to the Justice Department for potential investigation and even charging and prosecution, but this was a troubling report, identifying at least 17 different areas of concern. The report is full of legal jargon, government acronyms, and a long list of names that most americans probably dont recognize, but the bottom line is beneath all of this is a pattern of concerning behavior that ought to concern everyone who cares about Civil Liberties. At the core of these issues is the f. B. I. Under director comey, their abuse of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act or fisa, and i know weve heard people have heard reference to fisa, but thats short for federal Intelligence Surveillance act. In other words, when our Intelligence Services, including the f. B. I. Gather information, they cant do that on american citizens absent a showing of probable cause in front of a court. Thats a protection of our Civil Liberties. But when it comes to foreign intelligence, there is a different court, the foreign Intelligence Surveillance court, that has to assess and judge whether theyve met the appropriate legal standards. The Inspector General found that the comey f. B. I. Failed to file accurate applications to surveil an american citizen by the name of carter page. There are very exacting requirements, very technical but very important requirements that the f. B. I. Has to put together in consultation with the National Security division at the department of justice in order to go to court, the foreign Intelligence Surveillance court, and justify issuance of the authority to gather intelligence on an individual. In this case they claimed that carter page who was for a Time Associated with the Trump Campaign, they claimed that they suspected him to be an agent of a foreign power. In other words, russia. But the way these documents are prepared, the way in which this matter was pursued was hardly a stellar performance by the comey f. B. I. And ill mention that here in a moment. But if once that fisa warrant is issued as it was on an american citizen carter page, that individuals private communications are then coming to the hands of the f. B. I. As part of their investigation of a potential agent of a foreign power. As i said yesterday and reiterated in Inspector General horowitz this morning or yesterday morning, spying on an american citizen is not something to be taken lightly. None of us should view this as a trivial matter. Thats why there are such strong protections in place to prevent an abuse of power. And one of these backstops is the foreign Intelligence Surveillance court, the Specialized Court appointed by chief justice roberts, chief justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, who sit in rotation for a time to look at the governments applications for these warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. But you can imagine that when that court makes important decisions involving the National Security of the United States or the Civil Liberties of an american citizen, they need to have a full picture. They need to have the utmost candor exercised by the f. B. I. Of all the details and information surrounding the issue at hand. Again, this is no trivial matter. The courts determining whether or not the government has a compelling case to secretly spy on an americans communications. Unfortunately as we heard from mr. Horowitz, the f. B. I. Under director comey fell dramatically short of that goal. The applications for something as serious as a foreign Intelligence Surveillance warrant should be free from error let alone intentional lies. Unfortunately, inspector horowitz found again 17 different instances where the f. B. I. Agents involved in securing this fisa warrant failed that standard. First of all, the Inspector General identified seven mistakes in the original application. An additional ten in three renewals for a total of four separate warrants under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. These applications werent put together and examined by rank and file agents. These errors came from three handpicked teams that didnt raise any red flags for highlevel senior officials, something that mr. Horowitz said made him deeply concerned, a feeling i share. One of the most glaring errors was the applications reliance on a deeply flawed private intelligence report, opposition research, paid for by the Clinton Campaign and the Democratic National committee on donald trump. This was called the steele dossier, as people have heard that reference. Mr. Steele was a former Intelligence Officer that worked for the british government, British Intelligence services, but he had long since retired from his Government Service and now he was out for hire to dig up information, in this case on a political candidate in the president ial election in 2016. One of the biggest concerns weve all had since the 2016 election is russian interference in our elections. Sometimes this is called active measures where they merely try to sow discord and dissent by social media use, by propaganda, by Intelligence Services leaking information. I asked attorney general barr before the Judiciary Committee earlier this year whether he could state with confidence that the steele dossier which we know was paid for by the Democratic National committee and the Clinton Administration was not a part of this russian disinformation campaign. Ful he could say it was not. The attorney general if he could say it was not. The attorney general said no, he could not. F. B. I. Attorneys assisting in the cross fire hurricane Investigation Called it a close call on whether they had sufficient justification to ask the foreign Intelligence Surveillance court to issue a warrant so they could collect intelligence on an american citizen carter page. What made that close call . What turned a close call into a granting of that authority . Well, it was the steele dossier. It was a piece it was a hit piece, really, called by one of our intelligence agencies based on internet rumor, not based on verified information that was used by the Crossfire Hurricane Team to apply to the foreign Intelligence Surveillance court to get a warrant issued to surveil and spy on an american citizen. Although that taking a look at the real source of the steele dossier was outside the realm of the Inspector Generals duties, its worth investigating because it played a central role in the f. B. I. s fisa applications. Thats what mr. Horowitz found. Mr. Horowitz found on one occasion serious and intentional misconduct on the part of an f. B. I. Lawyer and he has now referred that lawyer for criminal prosecution. But the explanations they offered for the other errors were completely unsatisfactory and they should not be overlooked or excused. Attorney general barr echoed that in a tv interview earlier this week, and i trust him and mr. Durham to get to the bottom of it. They have more authorities than the Inspector General to compel the production of evidence and testimony much like a grand jury as opposed to what the Inspector General had which was basically a voluntary willingness of witnesses to come forward and to look at the f. B. I. s internal files. So to make matters worse, even as new and exculpatory or information that tended to show innocence came to light on carter page, this information was not reflected in what the f. B. I. Filed when they requested a foreign Intelligence Surveillance warrant from the court. You have to wonder if this level of mishandling is occurring in a high profill investigation of a president ial candidate, someone later who could come the leader of the free world, what protections are if place for average american citizens . We placed an enormous amount of trust in the United States government to keep us safe but also to respect and uphold our Constitutional Rights. So seeing these types of errors, intentional and unintentional, slipping through the cracks of such a sensitive investigation doesnt give me much confidence that its not happening in other cases. Mr. President , i see the majority leader has come to the floor. Id be happy to yield to him but i i should be able to wrap it up in a couple of minutes. So another question i ask for the Inspector General was on something called defensive counterintelligence briefings. So this is a little bit arcane but let me explain. Two different types of investigations by the f. B. I. One is of a potential criminal prosecution. Were all familiar with that. But the second role that the f. B. I. Plays is conducting counterintelligence investigations. In other words, protecting the American People and our National Security from the attempts by foreign actors, malign foreign actors to gain intelligence on the u. S. Government and the American People to our detriment to the detriment of our National Security. One of the things that Loretta Lynch who was attorney general under barack obama, one thing she said in a counterintelligence investigation, she said defensive briefings are routine. In other words, if the presiding officer was a target of a russian intelligence operation, somebody had bumped into you at the Grocery Store or shown up at your kids soccer game or perhaps shown up at your work and you began to wonder who is this person and why have they taken such interest in me, well, if the f. B. I. Discovers information which indicates this is part of a way to an effort to recruit an american citizen to become an asset for the russian Intelligence Services, what the f. B. I. Is obligated to do is to give a defensive briefing where they might tell the presiding officer or me or anybody else who might be targeted this is whats happening to you so be on your guard. Dont think this is innocent. Protect yourself and in so doing protect the United States National Security. So these briefings we learned from Loretta Lynch are routine. Theyre given routinely to political candidates, to individuals and companies that hear from the f. B. I. About those potential threats so they can take steps to protect themselves. We know that both president ial candidates in 2016, donald trump and hillary clinton, received some kind of defensive briefing in august of 2016. But the socalled defensive briefing for the Trump Campaign was unique in a number of aspects. At the same time that the f. B. I. Believed that the russians were trying to infiltrate the Trump Campaign, you would think this would be a prime opportunity to share that information with candidate trump and his campaign. So he could tell the people on his campaign be on your guard. Dont engage in any unnecessary contact with people that you dont know and who might have malign motives. The f. B. I. Could have advised the Trump Campaign about these potential threats and given them their professional advice on how to mitigate the concerns. But that didnt happen in the case of the Trump Campaign. Instead of warning the Trump Campaign about possible russian efforts, they actually inserted the f. B. I. The f. B. I. Inserted a case agent into the briefing and used that as an opportunity to collect information in support of their own criminal investigation of general michael flynn. Thats not only unfair. To insert an f. B. I. Agent in an otherwise benign setting in order to collect information on an american citizen in a criminal investigation, obviously general flynn did not know that the f. B. I. Was trying to do this under a pretext. So he could say id like to talk to a lawyer, id like to know that what i say cant be used against me in a court of law. In other words, all of the normal protections under the bill of rights you would give somebody under a criminal investigation were not afforded because of this pretext pretextual defensive briefing where the f. B. I. Agent slipped in in order to collect information. But heres the bottom line. This defensive briefing of the Trump Campaign lasted a whopping 13 minutes. Hardly enough time to convey the sort of information you would want to a political campaign. I can tell you if the f. B. I. Came to me and told me that some foreign actor was trying to infiltrate my campaign, id want to know about it and id want to tell the people who volunteered in the campaign knock it off. But President Trump when he was a candidate was not given that information or the opportunity to shut it down which he should have been. Director wray to his credit after hearing about that has accepted the recommendations of the Inspector General and has moved quickly to try to rectify some of these practices. And hes already issued corrective action on them. But this negate the fact has been harmed by the comey f. B. I. We need the American Peoples confidence that the laws that the Congress Passes, the Constitutional Rights they enjoy under our constitution and the oversight that congress performs for the f. B. I. And the Intelligence Community that they are going to be required to play by the rules of the road and not jeopardize the Civil Liberties of any american, much less a candidate for the United States presidency. Mr. President , this is something i will return to talk about more at another time. Chairman graham of the Judiciary Committee assures me that yesterdays very, very important hearing at which specter horowitz testified will not be the last hearing on this matter but merely the first so there is more to come, as there well should be. Mr. President , i yield the floor. Mr. Mcconnell mr. President. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask the chair lay before the senate a conference report accompanying s. 1790. The presiding officer the chair lays before the senate the conference report. The clerk the committee on conference on the disagreeing votes of the two houses on the amendment to the house to the bill s. 1790 to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities of the department of defense, for military construction, and for Defense Activities of the department of energy to prescribe military personnel strength for fiscal year and other that the senate receive from the disagreement the amendment of the house and agree to the same with an amendment as with an amendment and the house agree to the same, signed by a majority of the conferees on the part of both houses. Mr. Mcconnell i send a cloture motion to the desk. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22, do hereby bring to a close debate on the conference report to accompany s. 1790, an original bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 for military activities for the department of defense, for military construction, and for defense the activities for the department of energy to prescribe military strength for such fiscal year signed by 17 senators as follows mr. Mcconnell i ask the reading of the names be waived. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask the mandatory quorum call be waived with respect to the presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i have five requests for committees to meet during todays session of the senate they have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. The presiding officer duly noted. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from new mexico. Mr. Udall mr. President , for our the recognition. I mr. President , i rise to discuss congresss ongoing failure to assert our constitutional war powers. This failure is the root cause of two pressing concerns that we currently face. First, the seemingly endless u. S. Involvement in middle east wars, and, second, the very real possibility that the Trump Administration will involve us in more of them. The founders were clear in their intent. The constitution squarely places the authority to declare war, thats the phrase in the constitution, to declare war, places it clearly with congress and congress alone. The founders did this for good reason. For centuries european monarchs had drained royal coffers, levied heavy taxes and lost countless lives in wars that benefited themselves and not the people. As Elbridge Jerry from massachusetts said during the constitutional convention, after another delegate suggested giving this war power to the president , and i qot here, i never expect and i quote here, i never expected to here in a republic the motion to empower the executive alone to declare war. End quote. The founders invested this most consequential power in the legislative branch so that any decision to go to war would have broad public support. Since the republics beginning there has been a tension between the congress and the executive branch regarding the use of this power. In the modern era, the balance has been upended. Our ability and willingness to effectively check the executive on war powers is dangerously diminished. Congress has not declared war for any of our major conflicts since world war ii, but after the bloody, prolonged and politically divisive vietnam war, Congress Passed the war powers resolution of 1973, overriding the veto of president nixon. That resolution requires congress to issue an authorization for use of military force for an aumf. Immediately after 9 11, a nearly unanimous congress, myself included, authorized force against the perpetrators, al qaeda and those who harbored them, by which we meant the taliban government in afghanistan. The 2001 aumf authorized the u. S. Entering conflict in afghanistan to root out al qaeda. The taliban was expelled from power, it has been defeated, Osama Bin Laden is dead and now the 18yearold aumf has out lived its purpose. Theres a stunning Washington Post expose on the afghan war has made clear. The war in afghanistan is the longest in history but it no longer has a clear purpose. The Washington Post successfully sued for access to previously undisclosed government documents, dubbed from diplomatic and white house officials tell a shocking and tragic story. Three separate administrations have had no wellformed mission for the war but fought on anyway and repeatedly misled the American People. According to the head of the nato command in afghanistan in 2006, there was no coherent longterm strategy there. Thats his quote. The next nato commander, Army Lieutenant general dan mcneil said, and i qot here, i tried to get someone to define for me what winning meant even before i went over and nobody could. Nobody could give me a good definition of what it meant. There was no nato plan, no campaign plan, a lot of verbiage and talk but no plan. End quote. A senior diplomat under president obama said, and i quote here, if i were to write a book, its cover would be america goes to war without knowing why it does. Over and over senior officials describe the lack of strategic goals all the while the government lied to the American People claiming success when there was none. This war has costs 1 has cost 157,000 lives, more than 775,000 american troops have been deployed, 23,000 have been killed. It has cost the American People over 2 trillion. These costs are tragic, inexcusable, and its time for this war to end. But the executive branch isnt the only branch at fault. Congress has set back and let the congress stretch the aumf to debating. We ducked the debates, we ducked the hard votes. We need to change that and we can start with afghanistan. In march senator paul and i introduced the American Forces going home after Noble Service act. This act would responsibly pull our troops out of afghanistan. The act declares victory in afghanistan, acknowledging the original objectives have largely been met. It sets guidelines for the safety and safe and orderly withdrawal of troops and repeals the 2001 aumf once and for all. We should have a vote on this. But afghanistan is just the largest of our ongoing middle eastern wars. The 9 11 aumf has been used to justify military ventures all around the world, 41 times to justify military action in 14 countries. I voted for this authorization and i know full well congress did not intend that. And more unauthorized conflicts are looming on horizon. I was encouraged earlier this year when the house passed, and a majority of the senate supported, my amendment to prohibit war with iran absent congressional authorization. Tensions with iran have grown since the president withdrew from the international agreement, preventing iran from developing nuclear weapons. Its been a year and a half since the president dropped out of the agreement, claiming he could get a better deal and mounting his maximum pressure strategy. Since then, we havent gotten anywhere close to a better deal, but we have gotten much closer to war. This june we will ten minutes away from the president calling a strike on iran, ten minutes away from military escalation in the gulf. While the president s maximum Pressure Campaign has not succeeded into forcing iran into a better deal, it has succeeded in pushing iran to breach the nuclear agreement, and it has led to a cycle of violence in the region and from iran attacking commercial ships in the gulf of oh,man, oman, moving shortrange missiles into iraq and threatening troops in israel. Since may the president has increased troop presence by 14,000 in the middle east, and after initially denying it, the pentagon ising considering sending an additional 14,000 troops. The risk of war with iran is very real, whether intentionally or by mistake, miscalculation or misjudgment. And the president claims he can go to war against iran without congressional approval. In september this body held an historic vote, voting 5040 to include the udallkainepaul amendment to the National Defense authorization act to prohibit funding for war with iran without congressional authorization. We took a giant step forward to assert our constitutional authority. This amendment was germane and by rule it should have been included in the final senate ndaa, but the majority leader forced a 60vote threshold that should not have been applied. Nevertheless, the house version did include the prohibition, and with Senate Majority support, it should have been included in the conference. This week the senate and House Conference Committee just released their ndaa conference report. Im deeply disappointed they did not include our amendment. This is a major missed opportunity to take back our authority, a missed opportunity to stop the expansion of war and u. S. Interventionism in the middle east. Another terrible missed opportunity is the ndaas failure to include a provision to eliminate u. S. Support for saudi arabias disastrous war in yemen. Under the authority of the 2001 aumf, our troops are supporting saudi arabia in its war against the insurgent houthi. But the houthi are also fighting al qaeda, the actual target of the 9 11 aumf, so we are fighting a Group Fighting against al qaeda. This is a prime example of the misuse of this authorization. And the human cost is horrific. Since 2015, more than 100,000 people have been killed in yemen, including more than 12,000 yemeni citizens, more than 20 million yemenis need humanitarian aid. There is no compelling National Security interest in aiding the saudis in this war. We should not lend support to a war that the International Community recognizes as a humanitarian disaster. In april both houses voted on a bipartisan basis to remove our troops from this conflict unless congress authorized force. The president vetoed that bipartisan bill. The ndaa Conference Committee missed an opportunity to step up and direct the president to take us out of the saudiyemen conflict. Again congress is ducking its duties. For too Long Congress has hidden from making the hard decisions, from taking the tough votes. We deferred to the executive under republican and democratic administrations alike. The founders placed this power in our hands for a good reason. Those reasons are as sound today as they were two centuries ago. This is not a political issue. Its not a red or blue issue. Its not a republican or democratic issue. Its a constitutional issue. It goes to the core of our constitution and our war powers in the legislative branch and congress. Everyone here is sworn to uphold the constitution. We can do so by upholding, not running from our constitutional responsibilities. Mr. President , i yield the floor. Ms. Ernst mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Ms. Ernst mr. President , Johnny Isakson will be a legend in the United States senate. His life is marred with such Tremendous Service from his time in the Georgia Air National guard to his service in the Georgia House and senate and on to the United States house and the United States senate. Johnny has been making his home state proud every single step of the way. As a fellow veteran, i cant tell you how much i especially appreciate senator isaksons relentless and dedicated focus on veterans issues. As chairman of the Senate Veterans affairs committee, hes worked tirelessly to put our veterans first. One of the most important pieces of legislation that we worked on together was the v. A. Mission act. Veterans in iowa and in georgia are oftentimes living in rural areas or are simply homebound. So in the v. A. Mission act, i knew that johnny would be a great ally and partner to make sure we prioritized telehealth and ensuring veterans can receive necessary care closer to home. And we did just that. Folks, the mission act is truly landmark legislation that is making a difference in the lives of countless veterans across our nation. It would not have been possible without the hard work and the diligent efforts of our colleague senator Johnny Isakson. He understands the importance of building relationships and working across the aisle, putting our veterans ahead of politics and getting his job done. His determination and commitment to veterans is remarkable and ill forever be grateful for his leadership in this particular area. Ive been asked many times over what im going to miss about Johnny Isakson. And, well, folks, there is quite a lot that i will miss about johnny, but if i had to narrow it down to just a few things, id say first his joy. Johnny always, always has a smile on his face. His joy truly is contagious and its genuine. He loves serving the people of georgia, and you cant help but smile when you see Johnny Isakson. Second, his passion. And there is absolutely no doubt in anyones mind around here that senator Johnny Isakson loves his country. You can see it when he speaks on the floor of the senate and in the way he works with colleagues to ful to fulfill his dutiesa United States senator. Georgians really should be very proud of him. And then finally for me, i would have to say his encouragement. When i see johnny in the halls or in the cloakroom, he always no matter how quickly i seem to be walking, he smiles. Hell stop me and hell always speak an encouraging and very kind word. And i know thats not just with his republican colleagues but its also with our democratic friends. And while you wont see that on t v or in the headlines, its real and its Johnny Isakson. And that leads me to what i will miss most of all. Ill miss johnny, plain and simple. Hes never taken his eye off the ball. Hes been committed and hes been focused on serving the people of his home state that he loves so dearly. We will miss johnny. Hes been a tremendous colleague and a friend to all of us. Johnny, you will be missed on this floor and in these halls. And from one veteran to another, thank you. Thank you for all that youve done for our great veterans, not just in georgia, not just in iowa, but all across our nation. May god bless you, Johnny Isakson, and may god bless your family. Thank you for your service. And with that, mr. President , i will yield the floor. Mr. Cotton mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from arkansas. Mr. Cotton stephen carr has been described by friends as a gentle giant, an allamerican boy. He enjoyed hufntsing and Fishing Hunting and fishing, played offensive line at southwest university and he always knew he wanted to be a police officer. So it was a little surprised when stephen joined the Police Department two and a half years ago. Officer carr served his community with professionalism and valor for those two and a half years as a Patrol Officer in the dixon Street Entertainment district. Sadly, officer carr was in his patrol car saturday night when he was ambushed by a gunman looking for an officer to kill. Carrs fellow police heard gunshots and responded to the scene within seconds. With little regard for their own safety, they pursued the gunman down an alley. When confronted they metaphors with force and took him down. The whole incident took just minutes from start to finish. Emergency services were on the scene within an instant. But despite their best efforts, they couldnt save officer carr. He succumbed to his wounds on the scene as did his killer. Officer carr was only 27 years old. This tragedy reminds us of the terrible risks officers face every day when they put on the uniform and the badge, not knowing whether theyll be alive to take it off that night. Already this year 118 officers across america have been killed in the line of duty. Some were the victims of random tragedies. Others like officer carr were targeted by a criminal class that hates what the police represent. Law and order. Since officer carrs killing, two more officers have fallen in the line of duty. Detective joseph seals, a veteran of the new jersey Police Department was shot to death while approaching two suspected killers. Sergeant kayla sullivan, a 16year veteran of the nasa bay Police Department was struck and killed by a fleeing suspect in a vehicle. All these fallen officers will be remembered as heroes. In arkansas especially well remember officer carr whose watch ended on december 7, 2019. May he rest in peace. Mr. President , i ask consent that the following remarks be placed in a separate part of the journal. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cotton Navy First Class John William Craig of monroe, arkansas perished aboard the u. S. S. Oklahoma on december 7, 1941, a date which will live in infamy. On that day japanese bombers shattered the morning calm at pearl harbor killing petty officer craig and more than 2,000 of his brothers in arms. Nearly eight decades later, however, his remains were listed as unknown and interred at the National Memorial cemetery of the pacific in honolulu. He was reported as missing in action. But petty officer craig is missing no more. Thanks to the outstanding work of the defense p. O. W. M. I. A. Accounting agency, his remains were accounted for in 2017 and just last weekend on the 78th anniversary of the attack on pearl harbor, he arrived home in arkansas to his final resting place. Petty officer craigs burial is a long overdue moment of honor for a brave sailor and its also a moment of hope for our many military families whose loved ones havent yet been found. A reminder that our nation wont rest until every one of our missing heroes is back in our arms or laid to rest with honor. Weve now fulfilled the solemn pledge to petty officer craig and nearly 80 years after his disappearance, weve affirmed once again that the United States leaves no man behind on the battlefield. Mr. President , i ask consent that the following remarks be placed in a separate part of the journal. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cotton synthetic opioids like fentanyl til tens of thousands of americans each year. They are a terrible accelerant that has fueled the worst drug crisis in our nations history killing more people every year than died in the entire vietnam war. These drugs arent made here in the United States. No, they are flooding across our borders from overseas. Trafficbacked cartels and even unwittingly by the United States postal service. Synthetic opioids are often produced in super labs by the drug cartels that are terrorizing our border communities, but the ingredients for those drugs and sometimes the drugs themselves can be traced back to a different source, china, whose vast pharmaceutical and Chemical Industries frequently have been abused to poison our fellow citizens. The Chinese Communist party has been waging an opioid war in reverse against the United States for far too long. As tens of thousands of americans have perished if overdoses, chinese officials turned a blind eye to the drug criminals who profited off of our pain. But now desperate for a trade deal to save its sputtering economy, beijing has finally promised to crack down on fentanyl and other synthetic opioids. But we would be naive to trust any promise from Chinese Communists. Especially this one, however. Its time that we took matters into our own hands and thats exactly what we will do in the 2020 National Defense authorization act which includes my bill introduced with senator schumer to sanction foreign drug dealers in china, mexico, and elsewhere. The bill also urges the president to work with our allies to impose even tougher multilateral sanctions against foreign drug dealers. It authorizes new funding for Law Enforcement and the Intelligence Community for counterfar cattics act counternarcotic activities and commissions to find new ways to stop the flow of new drugs overseas. This bill will soon be signed by the president and become law. And this is welcome news for Law Enforcement and for families who are battling the crisis of opioid addiction and its bad news for the Chinese Communist party and foreign drug dealers around the world who are responsible for the poisoning of so Many Americans. Mr. President , i ask consent that the