All at once. This period has challenged all of us physically, economically and emotionally. While we have a long way to go, were seeing incremental signs of progress. Last week, new york city once the epicenter of covid19 cases reported no coronavirus deaths the First Time Since march 11th. Our economy is experiencing positive improvement as well, fridays jobs reports showed that unemployment rose by two excuse me showed that employment rose by 2 1 2 Million People in may, an absolutely astonishing and record breaking figure. I think thats the first time thats happened since 1934. Unemployment dropped to 13. 3 . Still way too high, but a sharp contrast from the expectations and projections of economists. And while were seeing the needle move in the right direction in our fight to defeat the coronavirus and restore our economy, the third in this trio of crises is much more complex. The murder of george floyd has sparked passion and anger throughout our country and galvanized people of all skin colors, backgrounds and ages to demand action. In big cities and small towns alike, weve seen peaceful marches and powerful demonstrations calling for an end to Racial Injustice that has existed, sadly, since our countrys inception. One of the largest protests in the country happened last week in there floyds hometown of houston, texas where i was born and where he will be buried tomorrow. An estimated 60,000 people gathered to march in his honor and demand justice. The first step in justice for george floyd and now that all four officers involved in his death had been arrested and charged is for the criminal Justice System to work. But these four arrests do not arrest the larger problems that exist in our society, the lack of trust, the sense that justice is not equal, in fact, theyve only shined a brighter light on the systemic problems that we need to do our best to try to address. Making lasting changes will not be quick or easy. At the rally in houston, several of mr. Floyds family members spoke and one said, this is going to be more like a marathon. I think thats pretty realistic. Its going to take some time and it will be the results of difficult discussions, but necessary discussions that are happening in homes, workplaces and buildings like this all across the country. No one has all the answers, but theres a lot we can learn. First by simply listening to one another. Earlier today, i was able to speak to George Floyds family and do just that, listen. They have gone through unemergenu unimaginable pain over the last two weeks and i told them im committed to making sure that george floyd receives justice. I said in my experience during times like this, the best comfort you can offer to someone who has lost a loved one is that their death will not be in vain. That something goodwill come out of it. We know some of the most important reforms that need to be made in our Justice System. The tragic events of minneapolis, louisville, and around the country have renewed and transformed policing practices and repair the divide that exists between some communities and the police. Of course, much of that will take place at the local and state level. It is, in fact, the city council and mayors who hire the police chief and make sure that theyre running their programs and their departments with integrity and professionalism. Thats where most of the important decisions about daytoday policing and procedures are made. One example in my state is the sandra bland act which Governor Abbott signed into law in 2017. The namesake of that bill was a black woman who was found dead in a county jail days after being arrested during a routine traffic stop. The law passed in other honor made a number of changes, including requiring deescalation training for Law Enforcement officials. Much like weve done in the Mental Health space. The individual Police Departments are the ones that make decisions about specific practices, responsible of course to their city leadership. Such as banning knee holds or choke holds. There are important conversations taking place in texas and across the country how we can effectively promote and improve police practices, and begin to repair the damaged relationship between our minority communities and our police. And to strengthen that work, there are steps we can take here in washington d. C. And i know many of us are engaged in active discussion about whats the best way to create real change and i know its a priority for members on both sides of the aisle. One proposal ive mentioned is a bipartisan bill that i introduced with senator gary peters of michigan and chairman Lindsey Graham last year. This bill actually had 20 bipartisan cosponsors. It was endorsed not only by the urban league and the naacp, but the major Police Organizations in this country as well and it passed unanimously in the senate. Unfortunately, we ran out of time in the house, so it did not actually become law. Not yet. This legislation creates a National CriminalJustice Commission much like the 9 11 commission that would review our criminal Justice System rit large from top to bottom. Something that has not happened since 1965. In 18 months the commission would report back to us and make recommendations for changes that could be passed by considered and passed by the congress. This would allow us to systematically look at what is working and what isnt. And what needs to be done to modernize our criminal Justice System, including repairing the broken relationship between Law Enforcement and some of our minority communities. The review that took place in 1965 produced 200 specific recommendations and its past time to once again, to take stock of the successes and failures of our criminal Justice System. As i mentioned the bill that passed the Senate Unanimously had 20 bipartisan cosponsors and supported by the National Association of Police Organizations and Major City Chiefs Association and the National Urban league. I believe this type of legislation would give us the basic frame work for the lasting changes that were all after. It would be an umbrella commissioned under which a lot of very specific and granular issues could be debated and voted on and if meritorious, pass and become a part of the law. I hope it will become a part of our conversation that were having in the coming days and weeks, rooting out Racial Injustice that has existed for generations will require longterm bipartisan commitment here in congress and in homes and institutions across the country. I do believe, madam president , its simply wrong to paint all police and all Law Enforcement as somehow racially biased. I think thats not deserved and i think its just flat wrong and irresponsible. Clearly when there are cases of abuse, where even a Police Officer crosses the line, they need to be held accountable and we need to be focused on identifying those individuals not only in prosecuting them, but sending a message that that sort of action will not be tolerated in a civilized society. And we need to regain the confidence of all of our people of all colors that the police are our friend and a necessary part of our ordered liberty. Without order you have anarchy. Only with order, fair, fair laws justly administered on an equal basis can we enjoy the liberty that is part of our birth right here in america. So im committed to being part of the solution and im eager to roll up my sleeves with all of our colleagues and get to work. Mr. President , a week ago, i did a Television Interview and Race Relations in america. I had happened to talk a little about what happened in tulle at that in 1921 when the worst race massacre occurred in tulsa in