Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate 20240712

Vote vote the presiding officer are there any other senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 47, the nays are 44. The motion is agreed to. Cloture having been invoked, the senate will resume executive session to consider the vought nomination. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for arkansas. Mr. Cotton whats happening at this moment in hong kong is a tragedy, a crime, and an affront to the civilized world. In a year in which so much has happened we may look back in the near future and view this moment in hong kong as the single biggest moment of the year. The presiding officer will the senator suspend. The senate will be in order. Members take their conversations off the floor. The senator for arkansas. Mr. Cotton mr. President , whats happening in hong kong right now is a tragedy, as it crime, its an affront to the civilized world. In an eventful year with so much happening every single day, we may look back in the near future and say this moment in hong kong was the most important event of the year. Its not getting enough attention because the Chinese Communist party is using the pandemic as a cover for its crime. Under the cover of night they have enacted a security law that threatens to sweep aside the traditions and freedoms that made that city such a special place. While the Chinese Communist party hasnt yet rolled in the tanks as it did in tiananmen square, the effects of this law are no less chilling to democracy. The security law imposes broad prohibitions on what it calls subversive activities. What kind of activities . Activities like waving flags or chanting a slogan like hong kong independence or hong konger build a nation. In other words, the security law criminalizes basic elements of peaceful protests and Democratic Change that hong kongers have used for years, and that set them apart from their fellow citizens on the mainland. The new law also erodes the rights of the accused that are essential for a fair legal system. The Chinese Communist party isnt interested in rights or fairness. Its interested in control, total control and this law exerts total control over the people of hong kong. Under the new law protesters accused of crimes like separatism or collusion can be smuggled away to Mainland China to be tried in communist courts. These socalled crimes dont even have to be committed in hong kong in order to be punished. Expatriots could be accused living overseas or here in america. Simply meeting with a United States senator like me or senator mcconnell or senator schumer or senator van hollen could hand a hong konger in prison for a lifetime. The Chinese Communist party thus extends its iron rule beyond its own shores to our free soil. Those convicted under the new law could face life in prisonment alongside many of the uighurs and other persecuted individuals from the Chinese Communist party has already disappeared. Indeed the crackdown is under way. The Chinese Communist agents in hong kong rounded up 300 protesters this week for what it called unlawful assembly. Some of the protesters were arrested under the supposed authority of the new security law. Their fate at this moment is unknown. The takeover of hong kong may seem like an event far away especially when we have so many problems here at home but the same could have been said after the Second World War when stal aind the soviet secret police dropped an iron curtain over eastern europe. Czechoslovakia and poland are far away but the oppression showed the world what was at stake between freedom and communism. We face the same sort of titanic struggle today and its not limited to hong kong. All across the periphery, the Chinese Communist party is acting aggressively. Its essentially invaded india and killed 20 indian soldiers. In the South China Sea, it is attacked or otherwise threatened develops from vietnam, malaysia and the philippines has increasingly encroached on taiwanese and japanese airspace. But in hong kong the security law proves most clearly that the Chinese Communist party will not abide by its commitments whether to its own people or to foreign nations. There was actions this week beijing effectively torn up the joint declaration it made with britain to govern the peaceful handover of hong kong as cynically as china has broken its commitment to the United States, to the world health organization, the World Trade Organization and others. And and, of course, this law exposes the hideous nature of communism which is so paranoid and insecure it cant tolerate even a tiny outpost of freedom within its borders. No wonder, freedom is an attractive, precious, and contagious thing. The way of life enjoyed by the citizens of hong kong could give the wrong ideas to the one billion chinese yearning for freedom elsewhere in the country. And nothing could be more threatening to the Chinese Communist partys rule. So now the partys begun the takeover that hong kongers have long feared. Those of us with freedom to speak and act on their behalf must do so now as one of the great citadels of asia slips into the totalitarian darkness. While dark days may lay ahead for hong kong, one day the future will return a sunny highlands of freedom to that small citadel. Mr. President , i yield the floor. Mr. Sullivan mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for alaska. Mr. Sullivan mr. President , thank you. And im here to come to the floor to talk about one of the favorite things i get to do all week, and thats talk about some alaskans who will making a difference, what we call our alaska indian of the alaskan of the week. And it means i get to speak about my state. Usually an individual, maybe a couple of people. But every now and then, mr. President , i like to mix things up, keep people on high alert because the people im going to talk about in alaska are the ultimate people, americans on high alert. So as opposed to recognizing one or two, im going to recognize a bunch of alaskans, an Impressive Group who work day and night not only to keep alaska safe but to keep america safe. And theyll be doing it this weekend, fourth of july, 247, seven days a week, 365 days a year, always on high alert. Mr. President , as were heading into the fourth of july weekend and russia is once again in the news and weve been debating the National Defense authorization act here on the senate floor, very critical bill im fully supportive of that funds our military, pay raises for our troops, i thought it would be very appropriate to highlight the hundreds of men and women in my state who stand watch and patrol the Northern Skies of alaska and america to protect our nation. They are unsung heroes. You dont hear a lot about them in the news, but we certainly appreciate them and i think all senators and all americans do, which is why i want to talk about them today. These brave Service Members who fly and maintain our f22 raptors, this amazing Stealth Fighter, our e3 centuries, which are known as awax which is known as the quarterback in sky as quarterback, our alaska guard kc135, our brave Alaska Rescue Coordination Center who operate hh66 pave hawk helicopters and h130 Hercules Aircraft should we need a search and rescue members. And our active duty guardsmen who maintain and monitor threats from other countries, for our country particularly threats coming from russia. These brave men and women, mr. President , hundreds of them, are keeping guard day and night over the Northern Skies of america. And when the russians fly their bear bombers and fighter jets into or near american airspace, these intrepid americans are on duty to ensure that our f22s are there to intercept and greet the russian pilots and their aircraft who threaten to move into our air Defense Identification Zone adi discharges as we call it. So they are there waiting, intercepting. Intercepting russian bombers. These airmen keep us all safe. And as i mentioned, mr. President , they are all worthy of the great title alaskans of the week. Now, mr. President , before i get into exactly what these men and women do to guard our nation and they do it round the clock, doing it right now, by the way; theyre going to be doing on the 4 Homeland Security of july, by the way id like to talk a little bit about russia and our close geography. There are actually places in alaska where you really can see russia from your house. Russia and alaska are divided by the Bering Strait, which is about 55 miles at its narrowest point. In the middle of the Bering Strait sit two islands big diamide, which is actually russian territory, and little diamide, which is part of alaska, part of america. They are less than two and a half miles apart from each other. Nearly touching. In the words of a New York Times reporter,it is the place where the quote, two great continental powers reaches across the map and all but touch, like the outstretched figures in michelangelos creation of adam. A little dramatic, but you get the point. Little diamede and little diameed. Now during the cold washings the alaska siberia frontier was called not the iron curtain by the ice curtain. Which we needed to stay closed. Much preparation was put into keeping russia from invading or infiltrating the United States from its northern flank, from the arctic, from alaska. In the early cold war years, our government recruited and trained fishermen, busch pilots, trappers and many, many in our patriotic native alaskan communities to stand guard for america during the cold war. And so many alaskans did this. For decades, patriotic duty guarding the northern flank of our great nation. There were the great eskimo scouts of the Alaska National guard who knew the land better than anyone else could and so patriotic for their love of this nation. Its still unclear how Many Russians were able to get to our lands, but storeries do abound stories do abound. Stories abound in alaska. Strangers speaking russian, showing up in communities unannounced. Five men emerging from the water in wetsuits over olivedrab uniforms, the color of the soviet special forces. Go to any one of our native american alaskan communities, and today youll still hear such stories. But something that is very clear and very wellknown is that between 1961, the United States military intercepted thousands of longrange soviet bombers and Reconnaissance Aircraft when they were moving into american airspace. We used our aircraft back then, the f101, f102, f15s, and f16s. Our aircraft were superior to the russians and that was one of the reasons we won the cold war. But, mr. President , this is still going on today. Its still a threat. The russians continue to flex their military muscle from ukraine to siberia and have added some new blackjack bomb others to the mix and their su35 fighters, and they still come close to american airspace via flights near alaska, and thats where our f22s and those who support them come in. Mr. Sullivan just in the last six months, our alaskan f22s, shown here, mr. President , have intercepted ten russian bear bombers. So were starting to see cold war levels of intrusions into american airspace and, of course, our patriotic men and women young men and women by the way flying these great aircraft going after these big bear bombers, ten Missions Already and its just july 2. So what are they up to . The air force general tear rein oshawn necessaricy who commands norad linked up the pickup and uptick in Russian Military flights off alaskas coast to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and russias testing of our military readiness. Theyre testing us, mr. President , but we are ready for them. In essence, thats what weve been doing all week debating, getting ready to vote on for final passage the National Defense authorization act, which is all about our militarys readiness. And again in alaska 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, our brave men and women are guarding the northern flank of america. This is how Lieutenant Colonel david detulla, commanderrer of the 425th fighter squadron, the bulldogs, describes it. Quote, the russians will fly their bombers and fighters across the Bering Strait and they will test our airspace. They will try to see if they can come into american airspace. And if they were going to get into it, we are going to every time, before they get there, respectfully say, hello . Were here and were flying with live ammunition. He said the goals is to make sure that the russians know they are there to protect our nation. And try to deescalate. By the way, colonel detulla is a former air force fellow in my office and a great air force leader, just like his dad. As an aside, pilots in the military have what are called call signs, which are essentially their pilot nicknames. As a map, i know many pilots by their call signs. Lieutenant colonel detullas call sign is ghost. Maybe thats because he is a Stealth Fighter pilot able to sneak up on bear bombers like this without being seen and even heard. But ive also heard maybe its because when its time to pay the tab at the bar, he doesnt seem to be around. Thats just kidding there, concerns detulla, ghost. I cant think of a better call sign for an f22 Stealth Fighter pilot in alaska. And we are very, very proud of ghost in the Sullivan Senate office. So, mr. President , heres how it works. Heres what these brave young men and women in the u. S. Air force do to protect our nation. We have 15 longrange radar sites across the great state of alaska. Constantly feeding information to the 176th air Defense Squadron who analyze that information. By the way, i have the honor and pleasure next week of hosting the secretary of the air force in alaska. And she will be able to see our great military members, and we will go out and actually see some of these radar sites. When our military noticed troublesome activity, they send out a bonerattling alarm, whats called the clacksum to the alert cell. This is a group of pilots and maintainers who are always ready theyre like firemen, they literally have a pole where they come down, scramble to get to their aircraft, what they call a hotcocked armed f22 at the ready. As these pilots literally race to their jets, so, too, does the air crew of the awacs, the longrange eyes and ears for the f22s and they launch very quickly. Simultaneously this is taking place at jbear at anchorage. About 135 miles northern at another air force in anchorage, a unit of the Alaska National guard launches the kc135 tankers to meet the f2 2s as theyre going to intercept the russians to be able to top off the fuel tanks when theyre in the air and then refuel them on the way back. All part of one big mission. Thats what theyre doing. All told, mr. President , there are hundreds of alaskans in the air, on the ground, involved in operations like this every single time it happens. And as i mentioned, its happening a lot twice a month in the last half year. Patriotic young men and women always prepared to defend our country in the sky 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So one thing i wanted to do for this alaskan of the week, mr. President , is remind americans when theyre celebrating the 4th of july, which is a great thing to do, remember these dedicated warriors will be onguard protecting our nation. When youre barbecuing, celebrating america, think about with what theyre doing. If you see a video of the f22s flying, it is impressive. But we also have to remember that there are real pilots in those planes, and this mission look how close they are can be very dangerous. Think of this. Just give a sense of all this works. It is the middle of the night. The clackson goes off. It is winter in alaska, dark, 20 below zero. A pilot hustles to her airplane yes, her. We have f22 female pilots. One call sign contra, who we were just discussing what a great job she does in my office recently. She gets in the aircraft, flies nearly 600 miles. Sometimes certainly faster than the speed of sound to reach the rough bering sea to intercept a russian bear bomber like this in the middle of the night. Probably had to refuel on the way there. Sometimes russian pilots can get aggressive. According to ghost, we do not respond aggressively in turn. We are respectful. We are tough. We are professional. The russians know it and the russians know that theyre up against the best air force in the world. Armed and ready, and so the russians usually behave. But this can be a stressful mission. And as i mention. , its happened 12 ten times already in the last six months. But its so critical for our nation. So many Young Alaskans are involved in this. Mr. President , our men and women in the military represent the very best of this country. Brave, strong, committed, devoted to our country, devoted to democracy, devoted to the republic. Thats why what weve been doing all week and when we come back from our 4th of july work period, well be continuing to work on and pass the National Defense authorization act. For them. And on this 4th of july holiday, as i mentioned, i hope we can take the time to thank them and to remember those who have served before, knowing that when youre spending time with friends and family this holiday, dozens of airmen in alaska are on alert and ready to go do this mission in a moments notice. We have to remember also, mr. President , that the freedoms we are celebrating this weekend have been secured at a price. There is no Independence Day without the u. S. Military and our courageous veterans past and present. And its not just about protecting our nation. Think about this, mr. President. American Service Members have done more to liberate men and women across the globe from tyranny and oppression, hundreds of millions of people literally, probably more than any other force in human history. And that includes those who are currently serving. Think about that when youre celebrating the 4th of july. Can any other country say that . Think about the other big countries in the world china, russia, germany have they been forces to liberate . The fact is those are the kinds of countries who have tried to dominate hundreds of millions. And as my friend from arkansas just mentioned, china is doing it again in hong kong as we speak. So, yes, our nation has challenges right now, no doubt about it. But i think the vast majority of us recognize the obvious fact. We are the greatest country in the world and have stood for liberating not just americans, but hundreds of millions around the world. My view is were the greatest country in the history of the world. And one reason is because of those who stand guard to protect us and our freedoms and our liberty. So big thank you to those who fly and maintain our f22 rafters, awacs, our hh60s, h130s. All the vif duty members and guardsmen all the active duty members and guardsmen who on the 4th of july who were ready to celebrate will be ready to do their mission on a moments notice. Ill be with my wife and daughter as we always do to celebrate not only americas birthday but my wife. Mr. President , we will be toasting brave young men and women who are doing this for our country and i want to encourage the rest of americans to do the same. And to the raptor pilots and maintainers and everybody who support them, thanks for what youre doing. And most importantly, could be graduate layingses on being our alaskans congratulations on being our alaskans of the week. I yield the floor. The presiding officer the senator from tennessee. Mr. Alexander thank you, mr. President. Its my honor to be here today to see a marine presiding officer, marine making the speech. Were grateful for senator sullivans service to our country and his service in the senate as a diligent, patriotic, hardworking, goodhumored member of this senate. Im glad i had a chance to hear his remarks. I went for my 50th birthday trying to think of where to go in the world for my 5th birthday, and i went to anchorage, alaska, to go fishing. I had a wonderful time and great memories. He represents a really terrific state. Mr. Sullivan i want to thank my good friend from tennessee for those kind comments. Mr. Alexander thank you. Mr. President , just three and a half months ago a sneaky, dangerous virus turned our country and the world upside down. Its hard to believe it was just three and a half months ago, midmarch, we were headed toward march madness in basketball, and our economy was roaring, that unemployment rates in about every category were about as low as they had been in a long, long time. America felt really good about itself. And by the time we got to the 4th of july it would have been a terrific celebration, and then here came this dangerous, sneaky virus and turned our lives and those of countries all over the world upside down. I want to comment this afternoon on some aspects of where we are in terms of covid19 based upon five congressional hearings this month that ive either chaired or attended in our Health Committee or the one i participated in today in senator blunts Appropriations Committee on health. Of course senator murray of Washington State is the ranking democrat on both of those committees. Of course much of the talk is about vaccines. Even though weve, even though weve appropriated 3 trillion and an astonishing another 3 trillion in credit, thats not going to really solve the problem. This disease, this virus, the only cure for it is tests, treatments, and vaccines ultimately. Its appropriate that we talk about vaccines because our country is moving more rapidly than it ever has to produce a safe and effective vaccine for a new virus. As dr. Francis collins, the head of the National Institutes of health, told our subcommittee this morning, usually it takes historically five to ten years to create a vaccine, and here the goal of the administrations warped speed effort to create a vaccine is to have 300 million doses ready by the first of this coming year. In other words, six months from now. Thats their aspirational goal. Theyre not sure theyll get there. But you dont get anywhere if you dont set high goals. We know that as a country. So theyve set an enormously ambitious goal and weve taken steps like none before. Such as congress has set aside money and approved starting to build a vaccination plant before we know it works. We dont dough that before we know its safe but we do it before we know its worked. And we can be sure in some cases were going to lose that money. But its better to cut six months or a year off the amount of time before the vaccine comes in order to take that financial risk. I think all of us would agree with that. But today instead of talking about vaccines, which are next years solution, let me talk about two aspects of covid19 that are this years solution. In fact, this falls solution. One is tests, diagnostic tests to find out whether you have the disease or not. And one is treatments. Medicine that can be given to you to reduce the chances that you might be thats appropriate in the first place because not, in not very many weeks america is headed back to school and to college. In metro nashville, tennessee, Public School begins august 4. All across the country most colleges and schools will be back in business by labor day. There are 75 Million Students, mr. President , who were casualties of covid19. They were sent home from school or college, 100,000 Public Schools, 35,000 private schools, 6,000 colleges in midmarch. Graduations were canceled. Sports championships, onceinalifetime events were canceled. Parents who were working and in our country today, twothirds of married parents with children work outside the home. Most Single Parents work outside the home. Suddenly their children were home. Teachers werent really prepared for such wholescale remote teaching. Parents werent prepared for homeschooling. So ever since midmarch, students have been in limbo. So what were looking forward to is doing whatever we can to help make sure that that, those 75 Million Students and schools and colleges can go back to school and college this fall and go back safely. Thats the importance of tests and treatments. Thats the first. Theres another one. This is not a trivial one. This is a sportshungry country. We love our sports. Everybody has got a different sport they like. And the question i asked dr. Collins this morning was, are we going to have enough covid19 tests so we might watch some football this fall or some basketball this winter . Because i read that the National Hockey league is going to test every player every day in the National Hockey league. Well, thats not recommended by the centers for disease control. Its not the standard for widespread testing at schools and Colleges Even though the president of Brown University told our committee she would like to test every student on their way back to brown. But the fact of the matter is if were going to have, if were going to be able to go back to school, back to college, back to work, out to eat, maybe even watch a sports game, maybe even in some cases attend a sports game, were going to need a lot more quick, reliable tests. Let me talk about those for just a moment in terms of going back to school and going out to eat and perhaps being able to watch a little football this fall. A witness testified this month before our committee that our country has done 30 million tests, more than any other country. Were doing that at about the rate of 500,000 tests a day. He says well have four to five times that many in september. Now i hear about problems in this place or that place about people not getting a test or that it takes too long for the result to come back from the lab, but the fact of the matter is whats going on now is every state in the country is developing a plan for july through december on how many tests indiana, tennessee, alaska might need, working with the federal government and the federal government is then p supplying tennessee with what tennessee needs. Our state, for example, which is one of the states in the top ten of frequent testing, the governor said if you want a test, you can have a test. Go down to your Public Health department and you get one for free. Whether theyll be able to continue that, well see. But thats what were doing today. But despite that, when 75 Million Students try to go back to school and college, i imagine principals and administrators will want to test teachers frequently, older people frequently, some classese class, if one student gets sick, maybe everybody in the school, in elementary school, if several students get sick. Parents and grandparents have the children bring home the disease. So were going to need a lot more tests which is why senator blunt and others worked together for what we call the shark tank at the National Institutes of health. Mr. President , this is an unprecedented effort at the National Institutes of health, led by dr. Francis collins, who led the human genome project and is one of the most distinguished scientists in our country, this is a project to see if we can find a new way to create tens of millions of diagnostic tests that are what they call point of care tests. And that means that you can take them instantly, you can get a result within an hour or so, that theyre inexpensive and that theyre reliable. You dont have to ship them off. Probably you get them by saliva, so you might put a lollipop in your mouth and let that saliva on a lollipop in one way or another indicate whether you have a positive or negative result. Dr. Collins goal and he said this is a very aspirational goal but his goal is to able to produce a million of those tests a day by labor day. Now, mr. President , this would change our lives in a large number of ways. This would mean that the brown president could surely test every student not just once when they came back, but more often. It would mean that many sports teams could test every player every day if thats what it required. It would mean that we probably have more tests than we needed. And what would that do . It would, one, help contain the disease so we can identify who has this disease so we can quarantine them and the people theyve exposed instead of quarantining all of us and keeping us from going back to school, out to eat and to work. It would contain the disease and it would build confidence. If you know that if youre a worker in a plant with 500 people and you know that six people have had to be tested because they were, were tested and they were positive, youre going to worry about that. But if you know you can get a free test today and get the result in an hour any time you want it, i believe youre going to have more confidence in going to work or going to school or going out to eat, or even playing on a football team, whether youre in college or in high school. So were pulling for dr. Collins shark tank and his effort to produce these new way of testing, an we have had an unprecedented outpouring of these. Most of them come from smaller companies. They are down to 26 i believe is the number. They are putting them through this rigorous test. His goal is a million new tests a day. Thats important for principals to know and teachers to know and those who are hoping to play a little football and watch a little basketball this fall, that there might be plenty of tests, plenty of quick, reliable tests to help you contain the disease in your community and to be confident that youre at a safe place. And then whats the second thing that we could expect . We heard about treatments. Senator kennedy of our senate says in a his inimitable way, people arent scared of the virus because they are afraid they might get sick. They are afraid they might die. And they might, particularly if they are of a vulnerable population or older age. There is no medicine for this virus, or at least there wasnt until recently. Now there is one, remedesivir which the United States has bought huge amounts of which has shown to reduce by 32 which dr. Fauci testified to yesterdae amount of time it takes you to recover from covid19. Then according to the experts who testified there are other plasma medicines and steroids that have shown to be helpful. That exists today. So if youre a parent or a grandparent or a teacher or administrator worried about children going back to school, youre probably not very worried about the children catching covid19 because generally speaking they havent seemed to get sick from covid19, all around the world. Its been older people who do. But the children might come home and bring it to the parent or the grandparent. This is a sneaky, dangerous virus. You can give it to somebody without showing any symptoms of having it. But if you get it, there are already two or three treatments that your doctors, your hospital can prescribe to shorten the time that you recover and to reduce the chance that you might die. And dr. Collins said that by the time we get to the fall, he expects there will be more of these treatments approved by the f. D. A. They are different kinds of treatments. He didnt go into all the specifics, but one kind he mentioned was the socalled antibody cocktail. This was developed during the time of ebola, and it was approved by the f. D. A. , and it helped us get rid of the ebola disease before it came to the United States and caused a lot of trouble here. But the ebola disease this antibody cocktail, Monoclonal Antibody is the longer name of it, is not approved it. Its not proved to be safe or effective yet. But because it was once before, there is a cautious optimism that it will be approved for covid19, a version of it, and that those will be ready by the fall. That if it does work out that this treatment is safe and effective and approved by the food and drug administration, there are several companies that have these antibody cocktails, and they should be able to manufacture large numbers of them. So i guess my point, mr. President , is we talk a lot about vaccines, we spend every day hearing about the deaths, the hospitalizations and whats going on in this spike or that spike, but as we think about 75 Million Students going back to school and college, going back to work, whether we will see some football or maybe basketball later, the two aspects that are immediate to determine that are tests and whether the shark tank will produce enough of them and treatments, and both seem to be a good possibility of being there for us in the fall. We had a hearing last week, mr. President , that focused on this question. How do we sustain what we built in this pandemic . In fact, one senator lectured me a little bit and said why are we worrying about this pandemic . Were in the middle of this one. And my answer was because for the last 20 years, we forget about forgot about the last pandemic as soon as it was over. And then we got to the next pandemic and we werent as ready as we should be. We have had four president s and several congresses that have passed nine laws to try to get us ready, and then here comes this sneaky, dangerous virus, and we find some gaps in our preparation. Not President Trumps gap, not president obamas gap. Its our gap because we didnt do some of the things we should do. And one of the things i believe each of us should do in this senate is be willing this year, this summer to take the lessons we have learned and sustain what we have built, not just to complete our work on this pandemic, but to be ready for the next one. For example, do we have enough manufacturing capacity for the vaccines in the United States . Well, we didnt. Now were building it. Are we going to sustain it . Number two, what about our stockpiles . We filled them up, and then they were depleted. The stockpile here, the stockpile in the states, hospitals, they needed money, they sold off their stocks. And so they were depleted. Are we going to we have now built them up, but are we going to sustain that for the next pandemic or just say okay, we have beat covid, lets go on and worry about Something Else . Or what about data . Were not getting all the data we want in the way we should be getting it from the centers for disease control. Are we just going to forget that or are we going to do something about that now . Hospital preparedness. Hospitals werent really ready. Now, they did a magnificent job of getting ready, but we lagged on hospital preparedness. We have built that up again. Are we going to sustain it or are we going to let it drop off once more . Or our state and local Public Health. Almost all of our Public Health efforts in this country are state and local. Were not a small European Company where everything is centralized. Were a complicated, diverse country where parts of indiana are very different than parts of tennessee and alaska or new york or wherever were from. As governor leavitt who testified before us said, for 30 or 40 years, we have gradually disinvested in our Public Health system. Are we just were now building that up, but are we going to sustain it. So thats my hope, mr. President , that when it comes to building up this manufacturing capacity here in the United States, increasing our stockpiles to the levels they should be, beginning to collect the data in the way it needs to be, preparing our hospitals to receive patients, building up our state and local our state and local Public Health, are we going to sustain that while we have our eye on the ball, are we going to do what we have done for the last 20 years and slide off into a short memory . Senator bill frist, who was majority leader of this body, said that he made 20 speeches in 2005 and 2006 about what we needed to do to be prepared for the next pandemic, which he said is surely coming. They did some things, but most of the things that he said needed to be done werent done. We could do them today if we would just have the resolve to do it. Governor leavitt has said that before a pandemic, those who do what he and senator frist did, which is to say we need to do all these things, are called alarmists, and then after a pandemic or in the middle of it, they are called inadequate to the task. Then there is the last point id like to make. Its about politics. The covid19 virus, this sneaky, dangerous enemy is a science matter, not a political matter, but it has become too much of a political matter. Take the issue of masks. We got into a situation have gotten into a situation where whether you wear a mask depends on your attitude toward President Trump. For Many Americans, it seems if youre protrump, you dont wear a mask, and if you dont like trump, you do wear a mask. I suggested that the president might occasionally wear a mask just to signal to the his followers that its a good idea, recommended by every Single Health expert to wear a mask, certainly for the protection of everybody else. Another way to say it is our Athletic Director at the university of tennessee said if you really, really want to watch some football, wear a mask. What he means by that, it would help contain the disease in our area so the Football Players could play safely. Yesterday, the president made it clear. He said masks are good. And hes happy to wear them when he needs to. Of course, the fact is he doesnt need to most of the time. Hes tested every day, people around him are tested. He, as im not wearing one right now, he is speaking most of the time, but there are times when i wear my mask. When i leave the floor, i wear the mask. When i go back down the hall, i wear the mask. When im in a smaller room, less than six feet away from somebody, i wear a mask. And i expect others to do that as well. We know every expert who testified in the six hearings i attended this month said there are three things to do wear a mask, wash your hands, and stay six feet apart when you can. If all of us did those things, we are much more likely to be able to go back to school, back to college, back to work, out to eat, and maybe even watch a little football. Vanderbilt university did a survey in the middle of may, and it was surprising what they found. Most of the attitudes of people in tennessee werent about male versus female or east versus west or any other difference. It was about republican or democrat. Republicans didnt want to wear a mask very much. Democrats mostly did. Republicans didnt want to were eager to go out to eat. Democrats were a little slow. Republicans werent as worried about catching the disease. Democrats were pretty worried. The debate got too politicized. I thank President Trump for what he said yesterday. Hes got 70 million or 80 Million People that are social media followers. If they get the idea that wearing a make America Great again mask is good for the country, i bet millions will make it, and if they do, the country will be safer, the economy will be better, and we we will be able to go back to school and do the other things that we want to do. So, mr. President , i ask consent that it be placed in the record my Opening Statement from our hearing yesterday. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Alexander i thank senator blunt and senator murray for their cooperation this month in this series of six hearings that we have had on covid19. And i think its very important for the American People to know that while the vacciners down the while the vaccine is down the road, the tests are coming, the fast tests, and the treatments are coming, and they should be here by the fall. Thats what the experts say. Thats not what i say. Thats what the experts who testified before us say. And the experts all said the following if you want to contain the disease, if you want to go back to school and back to college and back to work and out to eat and maybe even see a little football, stay six feet apart, wash your hands, and wear a mask. I thank the president. I yield the floor. Mr. Alexander i notice the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call . Mr. Portman i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Portman im on the floor today to talk about the annual National Defense authorization act to support Service Members and their families. This is one of the few things actually that the senate usually passes and does so on a bipartisan and im hopeful well do it again. Its because republicans and democrats alike know it is imperative to give the men and women in the Armed Services to give them the resources they need to carry out their critical missions. I am here to ensure that they get compensated for the hard work and sacrifice they make. It has an across the board 3 increase. As we celebrate 244 years of freedom, i think its appropriate that we demonstrate our support for the brave men and women in uniform whose sacrifices have ensured the liberty we are celebrating. Im pleased theres a lot in here important to the people i represent in ohio. At Wright Patterson air forces base in ohio, the bill authorizes 23. 5 million for important work on a new hydrofuel system for the Defense Logistic agency. It will make a big difference for the airmen and civilians who rely on d. L. A. For their equipment and resources. Theres also 35 million for enhanced Energy Efficiency at the national air and space intelligence center, nasa, were so proud to have nasa in ohio. And hopefully the Space Command will end up in ohio as well. Theres also 15 million in the bill for a new Guard Readiness Center which will serve as a staging area for the ohio National Guard which is increasingly being called upon. I will visit with our guard members next week and i look forward to it. Another initiative that has a big impact on my state is authorizing 1. 4 billion to upgrade and modify abrams tanks and 847 billion to upgrade the striker vehicles and to support the armys in a niewfer shortrange air defense program. This is all really great news for our men and women in uniform. Why . Because they are going to get from lima, ohio, the best equipment in the world to be able to protect themselves an keep the peace. These abrams an striker vehicles are the most advanced and lethal tanks on the battlefield today. Of course this isnt just a big win for the military. Its also great for the joint systems manufacturing center. Which i call the tank plant. I always have. Its in lima, ohio, and its the only facility in the world that can do what they do. Certainly the only facility in the United States that has the capacity and hightrained personnel capable of producing abrams tanks and striker armored vehicles. Its a Strategic Asset for our country an source of employment for truly understanding engineers, welders, other technicians. I love going to the plant and talking about what they do. A lot of them are veterans and all of them believe that they are part of the effort. The Obama Administration, by the way, nine years ago wanted to shutter this plant. They said we wont need the plants in the future and wanted to shut down the line which would have cost millions of dollars to mothball and to start again. Thank goodness we didnt do that. We fought hard against it i recognize that it was the wrong decision and fought against it every step of the way. I remember some of the taxpayer groups were saying this is somehow inappropriate to keep funding going when the Obama Administration says its not necessary. Well, it was guess. It was necessary then, and, boy, its certainly necessary now and we saved the taxpayers a lot of money by not shutting it down. We provided enough funding to keep it open partly by ig by bringing in foreign sales and i used it get other countries to use our tank. We reversed the years of backlog maintenance recently and ensure our workers have a safe environment in which to work. So so its doing well now. The lines are humming. Thank goodness we kept it open. In 2018 i had the opportunity to be the first member of congress to see the first model of the strikers. They have a 30millimeter turet. It is a wheeled armored vehicle. That 30millimeter replaced the 50 caliber machine gun. The 30millimeter canner is much more effective, particularly in europe given the threat we face there. So whether its in eastern europe, in the Baltic States or prepositioned in germany for the possibility of having to respond, this is what our military wants, its what our army wants and we have to provide our service men so they can deter aggression from russia and others and keep our allies safe and this includes ewe ukraine. Ukraine has been in the head iens a lot over the last headlines a lot over the last several months. I had the opportunity to be on the front lines in ukraine, what is called the line of contact. Let me tell you, its not a cold war. Its very much a hot war. I know here on this side of the atlantic what is happening in ukraine can seem like a half world away and maybe doesnt affect us, but its not far away. And it does affect us. Its very relevant. In a sense its where the modern battle is taking place between two very different ideologies, one of freedom and democracy and wanting to connect to the west, and thats modern ukraine, thats what president gliew glens i ask wants to do and the other is the oligarchy. In ohio we have a vibrant Ukraine Community and they want to see their home country defend itself and promote the platform of freedom, transparency, and free markets. I met with president zelensky several times and im encouraged by his commitment and passion to keeping ukraine on the right track, including fighting corruption and we have to continue as a country to ensure that that elimination of corruption continues in ukraine. I was pleased to see that ukraine was recently designated as a nato enhanced opportunity partner and one day i hope to welcome them as a full member of nato. We are passing a unanimous, i hope, consent resolution in this body with regard to this issue. We need to be sure and let ukraine know that we support them. For the past four years ive worked to include provisions in the ndaa, thats this defense bill were working on now, that helps expand military assistance to ukraine and builds on the Ukraine Military Security Assistance initiative. This year i was pleased that the bill again authorizes 250 in lethal and nonlethal aid to ukraine, that includes 25 million in increased assistance, thats an increase of 75 million from last years budget. Were doing more to help allow ukrainians defend themselves. This year we have the prom to require the departments of state an defense to include a Multiyear Strategy to support the development of ukraines military forces increasing its capability and capacity and providing a Resource Plan for security and assistance. I had the opportunity today to speak to general dayton who will be nominated by the president to be the next ambassador to ukraine. This is a guy who has done a terrific job working with the Ukrainian Military to modernize their military, to ensure there is more transparency, civilian control and be sure that they are following the model that will allow them to be successful in recruiting and in fighting against the russian threat. So theres a lot to like in the ndaa. And ive introduced some amendments that i hope will be included as well. Ill continue to advocate for ohio and for the men and women who keep us safe every day. I look forward to voting on the bills passage here in the senate soon so, again, our troops who give us so much, so much of themselves just to be able to keep us safe have the resources that they need, the best equipment, have the highest level of readiness to be able to fulfill that mission to keep the peace and to continue to secure our liberties. Mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that in a separate part of the journal, the next floor speech will be contained. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Portman im here on the floor today to talk about some recent troubling statistics that ought to serve as a call to action for every single one of us. Last friday in observance of world drug day, the United Nations office on drugs and crime released its annual rural drug report detailing the impact of drug use and trafficking across the world. It paints a grim picture. It reminds us that america has a unique addiction crisis, especially as it relates to opioids. The report says in recent years the United States has lost more men, women, and children to Drug Overdosed deaths, 60,000 people a year, than the next 20 countries combined. Let me say that again. The United States has lost more people to Drug Overdose deaths than the next 20 countries combined. That is unacceptable. This is in comparison to the United States to other countries is a reminder that we have got to do better and we can do better. Even more concerning to me is the recent data were now receiving about whats happening as a result of the current coronavirus pandemic. It was bad enough as the world drug report shows but now during the last few months during this pandemic, things have gotten worse. The Overdose Detection Mapping Program as a collaborative federal organization to track overdose data from 3,300 emergency agencies. According to the data by the washington post, fatal and nonfatal overdoses were 18 higher in march of this year as compared to march of 2019. 29 higher this april compared to a year ago and 42 higher this may than a year ago may 2019. These are overdoses being tracked through e. M. S. , hospitals, emergency rooms. This is really concerning. One of the findings of this u. N. Report is the most dangerous class of drugs is opioids, including painkillers, heroin and fentanyl. These drugs cause twothirds of the Overdose Deaths in the world according to the u. N. Recent data shows that fentanyl use in particular has gone up in the United States during this pandemic. Especially when its laced with other drugs like heroin, meth, cocaine. As many of my colleagues know, one of my Top Priorities here in congress for the last several years has been to combat the opioid addiction crisis that hit my home state of ohio so hard. This new information about the resurgence of addiction is particularly discouraging because in recent years we made great progress. We finally afternoon years and years of increased Overdose Deaths every single years, finally in the last few years we had begun to see a reversal of that and here we have in this pandemic the opposite happening. In 2017 ohios overdose opioid death rate was three times of the national average. We were one of the top three in the country. Nearly 100 ohioans die, surpassing car crashes as our countrys top killer among young people and for ohio overall the states number one killer. That next year in 2018, we were one of the leaders in turning the tide with a 22 reduction in one year in Overdose Deaths. That was the same year, by the way, when nationally Overdose Deaths also declined for the First Time Since 1990. Think about that from 1990 to 2018 it increased every year and finally we saw a reduction and in ohio a significant reduction. Over the last couple of years prior to the coronavirus, we continued to make steady progress. Not 22 , but we made steady progress in declining. We achieved these strives in part thanks to legislation we passed here in this congress, a significant commitment of new resources by the republicans and democrats here on this floor and by the administration. The kara act and cures act provided local and state governments and nonprofit groups with resources to help use proven prevention, treatment, and recovery programs effectively. I was author of that legislation. We spent four years putting it together, National Folks coming in from all over the country helping us and we put together that actually made sense and it was actually working. We ensured that our First Responders and the front lines of this crisis had what they needed including naloxone, with can reverse the effects of an overdose. This kind of continued support was critical for the communities to make the progress they made to combat this disease and i helped to lead the effort at the federal level but at the state and local level everything kicked in including so many volunteers and families. And its made a difference, but these new reports show that now were going the other way. Weve got a long way to go in this fight against addiction crisis in america. And im afraid were in danger now of taking a step backed. Thanks to the coronavirus our lives have changed in so many ways. Many individuals have lost their jobs or radically changed the way they work the unfortunately the disruptions have extended to the Addiction Treatment as well. As states have begun to order a suspension of elective procedures, this happened back in march and ape. In april. People were not able to get elective surgeries in hope thes and there was a shift toward telehealth to help preserve the p. P. E. For frontline workers. Many patients and caregivers who relied on facetoface interaction and aroundtheclock care to be able to stay the course on recovery from drug addiction and from Mental Health issues have lost vital access to care. And i think thats one of the reasons we see this uptick. Some have fallen off their treatment plans. Some have relapsed. Unfortunately, this is happening right now as we talk. If we combine that with the feelings of isolation so many people feel being quarantined or being isolated, the feeling of frustration and despair Many Americans have felt with these economic crises, youve got a prescription for opioid deaths. Officials in Hamilton County where im from say there were over 42 deaths in may. At least 32 people died in june. In cuyahoga, our states most populous area, the home of cleveland, the medical Examiners Office has reported 235 Drug Overdoses in 2020. At least 56 cocaine and heroin and fentanyl overdoses in may. Remember we talked about how the deaths kept going up year after year and 2017 was the peak. Then they went down. This year already in cleveland were back up to where we were in 2017. The columbus Coroners Office has had to move to a space three times larger than its old office to accommodate the increases in overdoses, in Overdose Deaths. Were not alone in this uptick. According to the centers for optimal living, 30 states have seen an uptick in Overdose Deaths during this pandemic. The federal response to the coronavirus pandemic has included certain measures to ensure those suffering from addiction can continue to get the care they need and im glad we were able to provide some provisions both in the cares legislation that was passed p a month ago but also the other legislation we passed around that time. We have done things to cut the red tape to and expand the telehealth and options for opioid treatment as well as increasing the number of alter National Delivery methods for those quarantined at home. These reforms have been helpful in offering a lifeline for those working hard to stay sober and clean and in some instances according to addiction and Mental Health leaders from across the state, these reforms have even allowed Addiction Specialists to reach new patients who are hesitant to come to the Doctors Office sometimes due to the stigma that attaches to addiction. These arent perfect because the numbers show that addictions are actually up. But ultimately they have been helpful. Were going to have to find a way to get a handle on this coronavirus pandemic, in a way that we can resume these traditional inperson Addiction Treatment services that have helped so many recover from the disease. We are going to have to ensure that we can get away from some of this isolation and sense of despair that people feel. One thing we do know is that the benefits of telehealth for treating addiction are real, and i think we should act now and in this next covid19 bill that were talking about passing next month or maybe even later this month, that legislation in my view should include provisions that allow providers to have the flexibility to continue to offer alternative forms of care via telehealth to people. So that the providers are readily adapt in the event that another pandemic or another disaster causes us to shift back to virtual care. So we need to continue telehealth now, provide the reimbursement but also ensure shah it is going to be there for the future because it is working. I am committed to working with my colleagues on Bipartisan Solutions to the challenges weve talked about today. Yesterday i introduced legislation called the telehealth response for eprescribing Addiction Services treatment act, or treats, to make permanent a number of temporary waivers for Telehealth Services and bolster Telehealth Options for Addiction Services. The bill is going to do a couple things. First, it will allow for a patient to be prescribed lowerscheduled drugs likecy box inon their first visit. Current law calls for you to go to an inpatient visit. But this has been a deterrent to patients in crisis. So our bill is important. By the way, it also limits abusive practices by limiting telehealth visits to those who have both audio and Video Capabilities to be able to interact with the treatment providers to reduce fraud and abuse. When its your first visit. And wed also prohibit prescribing schedule ii drugs that are more prone to be abused. Its important to continue this telehealth when the other options arent there. Second, our bill would allow for medicare to bill for audioonly or telephone telehealth visits if it is not the patients first visit. Inperson visits or telehealth visits are important and i think it is foreign have that on the first visit because they can allow for more robust checkups and evaluation. But due to distance or access to broadband, these types of appointments arent always possible. We still need to focus on safety and rebust Treatment Options but mo reasonable doubt to balance the need patients, we are prepared to allow our seniors to use phones when they do not have access to the internet. Theres no question that the greatest priority facing our country at this moment is this unprecedented coronavirus pandemic. But this new u. N. Report and the rising number of overdoses in ohio and around the country show that theres even more at stake here than we realize. We know of the direct impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, but losing ground on addiction and Behavioral Health is one of the indirect casualties. Not only Must Congress ensure our Addiction Health services have the resources they need to adapt to this new reality, but weve also got to redouble our efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus so we dont lose ground on this addiction crisis. Just as we were making progress. So that we dont keep more americans from achieving their godgiven potential. Mr. President , i would like that one more statement be in a separate part of the journal. I ask unanimous consent. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Portman i hadnt planned to talk about this but i was watching the floor earlier today when there was aest heated discussion on the senate when there was a heated discussion on the senate floor about the chaos and violence we have seen on the streets of many of our great cities. The Peaceful Demonstrations that developed really spontaneously after the tragic death of george floyd and other injustices delivered a powerful message about the need to address racial disparities, about the need for Police Reforms and the right to demonstrate peacefully must be protected. But the looting, the desecration of monuments, the arson, and the destruction of property, including Small Businesses in some of these communities of color it breaks my heart to see some of these Small Business owners talk about what theyre going through the injuries to our Law Enforcement officers who are just doing their jobs, doing what theyre asked to do in a professional way, and of course the selfappointed statue destroyers that we have seen, this lawlessness in too many instances must not be tolerated. Those who have exploited the situation sand the Peaceful Demonstrations to foment this violence are undermining the cause of the peaceful marchers. And further dividing an alreadypolarized country. Mr. President , i yield back my time. I suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call s quorum call mr. Van hollen mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from maryland. Mr. Van hollen thank you. The presiding officer were in a quorum call. Mr. Van hollen mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be suspended. Promise without objection. Mr. Van hollen thank you. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Van hollen thank you, mr. President. I come to the floor today to discuss what i believe is an important and consequential matter at this moment, the way ahead for u. S. Relations with our friend and partner israel. The pending legislation before us includes a plan to codify and extend a multiyear commitment of american Security Assistance to israel. Specifically it would codify a memorandum of Understanding Reached during the Obama Administration to provide 38 billion over ten years in Security Assistance to israel. Thats 3. 8 billion a year. That is a significant promise. In fact, on an annual basis, that 3. 8 billion represents over half of current u. S. Foreign military funds around the world. So its a big commitment, especially at a time when we are struggling to invest in supporting our workers, our businesses, and our economy here at home during this global pandemic. But while it is a sizable commitment, it is one i have supported because israel is a close ally and friend that lives in a very dangerous and volatile part of the world. It is surrounded on many fronts with enemies who would like to destroy it, including iran, hamas, and hezbollah. Moreover, israel and the United States have a variety of shared interests. And most importantly, in my view, the United States has an enduring obligation to support a secure homeland for the jewish people. After the horrors of the holocaust. So under normal circumstances i would not even come to the senate floor today. I have consistently supported the Security Assistance, and i still do. So why am i here today . Im here because while i remain strongly committed to the security of israel and providing Security Assistance, im also strongly opposed to Prime Minister netanyahus declared intention to unilaterally annex parts of the west bank. Starting this month. The unilateral annexation of parts of the west bank would totally undermine what has been, at least until the Trump Administration, bipartisan american policy in support of a twostate solution that would ensure the security and the rights of both israelis and palestinians. Under the leadership of president harry truman, the United States championed the establishment of the state of israel as a homeland for the jewish people, and that remains a steadfast american commitment. But the right to a secure homeland for the jewish people does not include the right to unilaterally annex territories on the west bank and deny the Palestinian People a viable state and homeland of their own. So i will say it again. The United States should support and continue to support the legitimate security needs of israel, but we also need to stand up for a just twostate solution to the israelipalestinian conflict and for the rule of law and International Order that the United States has championed ever since the end of world war ii. Now, as i said before, the bill before us would codify and extend the memorandum of understanding between the United States and israel on Security Assistance signed on september 14, 2016. Mr. President , you can be sure that that memorandum of understanding for Security Assistance never contemplated israel annexing parts of the west bank. In fact, the opposite is true. Part of the american rationale for providing israel with robust military assistance has been to give israel the confidence to seek a secure peace based on a twostate solution. Here is what National Security advisor susan rice said in the treaty room at the white house at the time of signing that m. O. U. She first pointed out that it represented, quote, the single largest pledge of military assistance to any country in u. S. History, unquote. She reinforced the message that the United States remains committed, absolutely committed to israels security. And then she said this quote thats also why we continue to press for a resolution to the israelipalestinian conflict, two states or two peoples living side by side in peace and security. As the president she was referring to president obama. As the president has said, the only way for israel to endure and thrive as a jewish and Democratic State is through the realization of an independent and viable palestinian state, end quote. Thats what she said at the signing of the same m. O. U. That we would be codifying in the bill before us. And lest anyone think that was simply the position of a democratic president and a democratic administration, it was not. Susan rice and Condoleezza Rice have more in common than just their last names. Secretary of state Condoleezza Rice attended a signing ceremony for the previous memorandum of understanding that took place on january 16, 2009. And on that occasion, she, too, highlighted the need to achieve, quote, a twostate solution building upon previous agreements and obligations, unquote. She said, quote, the twostate solution, which is the only way ultimately to secure a future for israelis and palestinians alike over the long term, end quote. So, mr. President , the Bush Administration and the Obama Administration at the signing of the memorandums of understanding for Security Assistance both said the only way forward was through a viable twostate solution that recognized the rights, dignity, and aspirations of both peoples. Now, the unilateral annexation of west bank land that Prime Minister netanyahu has proposed would blow away, would destroy any real prospects for a viable twostate solution. It would make a mockery of the statements made by both National Security advisor susan rice and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. It would make a mockery of the tenets of a bipartisan u. S. Foreign policy up until the Trump Administration. And make no mistake, those most in favor of unilateral annexation are those most opposed to any viable twostate solution. Now, mr. President , i am under no illusions that a viable twostate solution is a nearterm prospect. Its not right around the corner. The Palestinian Authority has been weak and until recently, because of the onesided actions of the Trump Administration, has decided not to negotiate. But even though the nearterm chances of the negotiated twostate solution remain remote, we must preserve, we must preserve that option, and preserving that option means strongly opposing the unilateral annexation of west bank territory. Now, mr. President , the unilateral annexation by israel of all or any part of the west bank will unleash a cascade of harmful consequences. One, if we become complicit in this action, it will harm our National Security interests and credibility by undermining the fundamental principles of International Law that we, the United States have championed since the end of world war ii. Two, it will further isolate israel in the International Community and many countries, including in europe are likely to respond with different forms of sanctions. Some are already moving in that direction. Three, it will harm both our position and israels interests in the middle east by weakening allies like jordan and threaten to unravel the warming relationships israel has built with the sunni gulf states that counter iran. The bottom line unilateral annexation will greatly strengthen the hand of our common enemy. Iran, hamas, and hezbollah, and hurt friends like jordan. Four, it will harm israels security by completely undermining the credibility of the Palestinian Authority and its capacity to effectively govern the palestinian areas on the west bank. Five, unilateral annexation will ultimately lead to one of two outcomes. Either all the people in the annexed areas will be extended equal democratic rights and israel will risk losing its jewish identity or palestinians on the west bank will be relegated to small, disconnected enclaves with no viable future. What two former israeli Prime Ministers have warned is, quote, slipping toward apart toward apartheid, unquote. Sixth, if the current netanyahu government heads down the road of permanently denying the Palestinian People their right to selfdetermination and denies them their basic human rights, then israel will increasingly alienate itself from america. That is not in the interests of either of our two countries. So those are at least six of the harmful results of unilateral annexation. Mr. President , im going to elaborate on each of those points. Number one, any american acceptance of unilateral annexation will undermine the very principle of International Law that we have fought to uphold in the International Community since the end of world war ii. The United States has been the architect of the rulesbased International Order, as reflected in the u. N. Charter of 1945, as well as the declaration on principles of International Law based on the u. N. Charter that were signed in 1970 and found in many other universally agreed to documents and commitments. It is well established that one country cannot take territory gain from another in war. Now, i know the Trump Administration has done all sorts of mental and verbal gymnastics to abandon this longheld American International principle to create an exception for israel. But they look very foolish. We all recognize that some of the territory proposed to be annexed by Prime Minister netanyahus plan would ultimate ly be included within israels official boundaries. Through a process of negotiations. Land swaps have been a regular feature of the talks. But there is a world of difference between a negotiated settlement and one imposed by illegal unilateral annexation. If we, the United States, aid and abet this effort, we will lose all our credibility in condemning other instances of unilateral annexation. I have with me a raft of angry statements from senators of both parties made here on the floor of the senate, outraged by russias unilateral annexation of crimea, outraged by russias efforts to extend its sovereignty over other parts of ukraine. Secretary pompeo stating, quote, the United States does not end will not ever recognize moscows annexation of crimea. And i agree. He was right to say it. We on the senate floor were right to say those things. Those were violations of International Law. In fact, not only did we condemn those actions, we rallied other countries to impose sanctions on russia. But what will secretary pompeo say next time . What is mr. Pompeo going to say if turkey, which currently occupies northern cyprus, should decide one day that it will unilaterally annex that territory . That would give turkey more direct claims to the undersea gas fields between cyprus and israel. What about chinas claims to the islands of the South China Sea or other disputed territories in many parts of the world that are claimed by multiple parties . Mr. President , the whole reason to abide by a rulesbased system is to say not only no to your adversaries, you must also say no to your friends. Otherwise, its not a rulesbased system at all. Its the global jungle. Thats why president eisenhower said no both to our british and israeli friends when they tried to seize the suez canal in 1956. If we accept Prime Minister netanyahus unilateral annexation, we will not have any credibility the next time around when an adversary does so. In fact, heres what president eisenhower had to say at that time. Quote there can be no peace without law, and there can be no law if we were to invoke one code of international conduct for those who oppose us and another for our friends. Thats what president eisenhower said. And, of course, it makes sense. On february 20, 1957, president eisenhower broadcast an address to the American People about the need for israel to withdraw from territories it captured during the 1956 war. And in that case, he said we would not consider occupation of another country as, quote, a peaceful means, unquote, or proper means to achieve justice and conformity with International Law, unquote. And, mr. President , this is a wellestablished principle that the United States has championed in the international arena. Two, the unilateral annexation of parts of the west bank will further isolate israel and europe and across the world. The e. U. s Foreign Policy chief Joseph Burrell said recently that annexation, quote, would inevitably have significant consequences, unquote, for the e. U. s relationship with israel, and already an array of european parliaments are preparing responses, including sanctions. In a joint Statement Issued on june 24 by the current and incoming e. U. Members on the u. N. Security council thats germany, belgium, france, estonia, and ireland together with the u. K. And norway, they together said, quote, we share the u. N. Secretarygenerals assessment that if any that if any israeli annexation of the occupied west bank, however big or small, is implemented, it would constitute a clear violation of International Law. Unquote. They went on to say, quote, that following our obligations and responsibility under International Law annexation would have consequences with our close relationship with israel and would not be recognized by us. Unquote. None of this should be surprising. Unlike the Trump Administration, they are being consistent in how they react to violations of International Law applying the same standards to adversaries and friends alike. Israel has often often been unfairly singled out and unfairly treated and criticized at the United Nations and the United States has properly exercised his veto against israel for unfair treatment. In this case, if israel moves forward with unilateral annexation, strong opposition at the u. N. Would not be the result of the world treating israel differently or unfairly, it would be a selfinflicted wound. And, again, the Trump Administration may shield Prime Minister netanyahus government from inaction, but dont count on future administrations to defend illegitimate actions. Three, unilateral annexation will undermine our security interests in the middle east and those of israel. It will put our friends in the region in great jeopardy and weaken our coordination with the gulf states against iran. King abdullah of jordan very recently emphasized that annexation is, quote, unacceptable. Unquote. And recently warned the senate of a, quote, massive conflict, unquote, if unilateral annexation proceeds. And heres what the widely respected retired Israeli Defense force Major General amos gillead said on june 8 when asked about annexation. Quote, its a disaster, why do we need it . It is unnecessary. It is a threat to israel. We might endanger our Security Cooperation with jordan so invaluable that most israelis cant even imagine, unquote. Arab leaders from the gulf states who have been strengthening cooperation with israel in recent years issued similar warnings. The ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the United States, ambassador alataba headlined a recent article. Quote, its either annexation or normalization, unquote. He said, and i quote, once it is clear that there is no longer a realistic chance of a viable, sovereign state of palestine being created, it becomes more difficult for arab leaders to justify publicly their plans to further develop strategic cooperation with israel. Unquote. Now, i know its fashionable in some places these days to discount to discount these warnings from arab leaders. After all, its true, theyve cried wolf before when it comes to following through on their warnings about certain israeli actions. Were told, dont worry. Dont worry. They dont really mean it. They are just making these pronouncements to placate the arab streak. Maybe so, but there is a point when the arab street will rebel, when it will explode, and that may be the day when israel signals that it will unilaterally annex territory in the west bank and eliminate any prospects for a peaceful twostate solution. And what will be the result . The result will be to strengthen iran, to strengthen hamas, to strengthen hezbollah, handing them a very potent weapon against israel and the United States. They will say theyve been proved right. That israel never intended to negotiate a just settlement and that the United States has been explicit. Complicit. Four, unilateral annexation will jeopardize israeli and american cooperation with the Palestinian Authority to provide security and stability in the west bank. Unlike hamas, the Palestinian Authority long ago recognized israels right to exist as part of a dialogue for peace and a just settlement. As former i. D. F. Major general gillead has pointed out, the leader of the Palestinian Authority, president abbas, quote, believes that terror does not serve the best interest of the palestinians, unquote. He went on to say, quote, we have a very satisfactory Security Cooperation relationship with the p. A. And he predicts, and i quote, the moment there is unilateral annexation, the p. A. , the Palestinian Authority, will lose its legitimacy. If they do, sooner or later they will not be able to show their forces their faces in the palestinian street. And who will pay the price . Our soldiers. Thats what he says. A respected group known as the commanders for israel security, a group of over 220 retired israeli generals and equivalentranked individuals expressed similar fears saying that the prospect of unilateral annexation like the coronavirus was an Ominous Development and the risks of the Palestinian Authority and its security agencies. Mr. President , hamas has always argued that the Palestinian Authority had been played the fool when it recognized israels right to exist. Theying a used that israel would never agree to existence if they first recognized israel. If israel proceeds with unilateral annexation, the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority will be diminished and hamas will be the beneficiary. Five, unilateral annexation and the abandonment of any viable twostate solution will lead to one of two possible outcomes. Neither of them meeting the goals of one of the parties. These two different paths have been described by israel leaders themselves. Heres the way former israel Prime Minister and defense minister barack explained the situation in a horatz interview in 2017. He said, quote, if we keep controlling the whole area from the mediterranean to the river jordan where some 13 Million People are living, eight million israelis, fivele million palestinians, if only one entity rained over this reigned over this area, it would inevitably either nonjewish or nondemocratic. Thats from a former israeli Prime Minister. In the event of a scenario in which palestinians living in an annexed area, barack predicted israel would become a bionational state. The second option, if you abandon a twostate solution, according to the former Prime Minister, the second option is the current path, he said. Quote, a slippery slope toward apartheid. Unquote. Because those two outcomes are undesirable, he pointed out that israel has a, quote, compelling and imperative to have a solution for two states. Another former israeli Prime Minister amiewd omar repeatedly warned that israel is on a path to apartheid if the twostate solution collapses. He said if that happens, israel would, quote, face a south africanstyle struggle for equal voting rights, and as soon as that happens, the state of israel is finished. Unquote. Just recently in the New York Times, former israeli ambassador to the United States, ambassador marador said, quote, if we take steps that makes separation from the palestinians impossible, we may destroy the root of the entire zionist enterprise. Unquote. Mr. President , number six. I believe unilateral annexation will have all the harmful impacts i have discussed here on the senate floor today. And many more that so many israelis have warned about. I hope i hope Prime Minister netanyahu will pull back from the brink. I hope and pray but hope and prayer are not a policy. In normal times an american president from either Political Party would have made clear that such action is unacceptable to the United States of america. But these are not normal times. We actually have an American Ambassador in israel now who is promoting this unilateral annexation plan and who opposes a twostate solution. Heres what now ambassador friedman said back in november 2016. Quote, there has never been a twostate solution, only a twostate narrative. He describes it as, quote, an illusion that serves the worst intentions of both the United States and the palestinian arabs. It has never been a solution, only a narrative. But even a narrative itself now needs to end. Unquote. Thats from the current u. S. Ambassador back in 2016. Back in 2016, our current ambassador also said that hes in favor of extending permanent israel control and sovereignty over the entire area from the jordan river to the mediterranean sea. Clearly snuffing out any prospects for a twostate solution and a viable way forward. Mr. President , ultimately, of course, the government of israel will make its own decisions, and then we here in the United States will have to make ours. The United States must have a position that reflects our values and our ideals. Our ideals of democracy, of human rights, of equal justice and rule of law and selfdetermination. God knows we are far from perfect here and we can see that clearly during this moment of National Reckoning around Racial Justice and equity. But we have set those principles as our goals, as our north star, and until this Trump Administration came along, we have also made human rights and the right of selfdetermination a key pillar of our bipartisan american Foreign Policy. Its those principles that have led us to support a secure and democratic israel as the home for the jewish people and the establishment of a separate viable state as the homeland for the Palestinian People. The American People support a twostate solution and significantly the American Jewish committee in the 2019 survey of American Jewish opinion shows overwhelming support for a twostate solution among the American Jewish community and a large majority who say israel should be willing to dismantle all or some of the settlements as part of a peace agreement. And the next generation, this Younger Generation of americans and of American Jews is even more focused on issues of human and Political Rights for all peoples, israelis and palestinians. Mr. President , there are many who have said that the possibility of a twostate solution disappeared long ago with the expansion of settlements and outposts and the network of roads and checkpoints. They have called the prospects for a twostate solution a delusion, a mirage. Yet, even as the facts on the ground have made a twostate solution heard harder to realize, many of us continue to see that as the vision for the future, one that brings hope to both peoples. But make no mistake, the unilateral annexation of parts of the west bank would be the final nail in the coffin of that idea. So what happens then . What do we do . Once any remaining hope for that vision is extinguished, i think were in unchartered territory. As president obama noted in one of his speeches, quote, the situation for the Palestinian People is intolerable, unquote. And he drew parallels to the struggle of African Americans for full and equal rights. Secretary of state john kerry has said, quote, if the choice is one state, israel can either be jewish or democratic. It cannot be both. You would have millions of palestinians permanently living in segregated enclaves in the middle of the west bank with no real Political Rights, separate legal education, transportation systems, vast income disparities under a Permanent Military occupation that deprives them of the most basic freedoms. Separate and unequal is what you would have, said former secretary kerry. Nelson mandela often talked about the need to ensure a secure state of israel as a homeland for the jewish people and the rights of the Palestinian People. He said, quote, we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the palestinians, unquote. There is a memorial statue to nelson mandela. So what do we do . What do those of us who are committed to a vibrant, secure, and democratic israel that is a home for the jews but are also concerned about the abandonment of the vision of a twostate solution that also respects the aspirations and rights of the palestinians . As i said at the beginning of these remarks, i have strongly supported Security Assistance for israel, and i continue to do so. I also pointed out that National Security advisor susan rice and secretary of state Condoleezza Rice both indicated in their comments at the signing of the m. O. U. s for Security Assistance that a viable twostate solution was the only their words only way to permanent peace. So for all the reasons that i have stated today, i do not believe that the United States government, the United States taxpayers should be aiding and abetting Prime Minister netanyahus plan to unilaterally annex the west bank. The American Government and the american taxpayer must not facilitate or finance such a process. Thats why today a group of 12 senators have filed an amendment to the bill to make that position clear. The position that we fully support the robust 38 billion Security Assistance to israel but also make it clear that those funds should not be used to facilitate and promote unilateral annexation. Now, there are many who say that this does not go far enough, and there are others who oppose annexation but say, pass the Security Assistance without making any statement about annexation or without taking any action. To them, im reminded of former Israeli Defense minister and commander moshidims statement saying, quote, our american friends offer us money, arms, and advice. We take the money. We take the arms, and we decline the advice, unquote. We are friends, the United States and israel. We have many common interests, but we will also have our differences. And this is a moment when, yes, we should provide the Security Assistance, the military assistance, but in doing so, we should also make clear that it should not be used in any way to promote unilateral annexation. Our view in filing this amendment is that the only way to reconcile our strong support for a safe and secure israel and our commitment to establishment of two states for two peoples living side by side is what weve proposed. Mr. President , i hope and pray that Prime Minister netanyahu will not move forward with his unilateral annexation plan. I hope we should continue to say that the u. S. Israel relationship is built not only on shared interests but also on shared values. Mr. President , i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call quorum call quorum call the presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask that the senate proceed to calendar number 750 and all of the nominations on the secretarys desk 525, 1526, 1795 through 1798,le 1805, 1924 through 1926, 1952, 1865, 1867 through 1874, 1876 through 1897, 1954 through 1963, that the nominations be confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no sint veeng action or dean intervening action or debate all en bloc. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations, executive calendar 504, 505, 506, 509 and 702. The presiding officer without objection. The clerk will report the nominations en bloc. The clerk nomination, Defense Nuclear facility safety board, joseph brews hamilton to be a member, jesse hill riverson to be a member, thomas a. Summers of virginia to be a member, Joyce Louise Connery of virginia to be a member, department of defense, thomas a. Summers of pennsylvania to be a member. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent the senate vote on the nominations in bloc en bloc, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified of the senates action. The presiding officer without objection. The presiding officer the questions on the nomination en bloc. All in favor say aye. Opposed, no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The nominations are confirmed en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following nominations executive calendar 754, 755 and 756. The presiding officer without objection, the clerk will report the nominations en bloc. The Clerk Department of justice, ellen mccurty to be United States marshal, thomas l. Foster of virginia to be United States marshal, tirece miller to be the marshal for the Western District of tennessee. Mr. Mcconnell i ask that the senate vote for the nominations en bloc, and if confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, the president be immediately notified of the senates action. The presiding officer without objection. The questions on the nominations en bloc. All in favor say aye. All opposed, no. The ayes appear to have is it. The ayes do have it. The nominations are confirmed en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent that the majority leader and the senior senator from kansas be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions through monday july 20, 2020. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the senate, the president of the senate, the president pro tem and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make it nominations for conferences authorized by law con concurrent action of the two houses or by order of the senate. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask that the senate proceed to s. 4209 introduced earlier today. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk s. 4209, a bill to amend title 9 of the Social Security act and so forth. The presiding officer without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent the senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate Resolutions which were submitted earlier today, s. Res. 648, 649, and 450. The presiding officer without objection, the senate will proceed to the resolutions en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i know of no further debate on the resolutions. The presiding officer if theres no further debate, the questions on the resolution en bloc. All in favor say aye. All opposed, no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The resolutions are agreed en bloc. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table all en bloc. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent that the filing deadline for firstdegree amendments with respect to the cloture motions filed during todays session be filed by 5 00 p. M. Monday, july 20, that no seconddegree amendments be in order to 2252, 2411, 1788, 1729, and 1972 as inside. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell i have two 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. Mr. Mcconnell at the request of my democratic colleagues, im going to rule 14, house relief reform bill. I understand there is a bill at the desk and ask for its first reading. The presiding officer the clerk will read the title of the bill for the first time. The clerk h. R. 7120, an act to hold Law Enforcement accountable for misconduct in court and so forth. Mr. Mcconnell i now ask for a second reading and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule 14, i object to my own request. The presiding officer objection having been heard, the bill will receive its next reading on the next legislative day. Mr. Mcconnell i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn to convene for pro formerra sessions only with no business conducted on the following dates and times and following each pro forma session the Senate Adjourn until the next pro forma session, monday july 6, 11 15 a. M. , thursday, july 9 at 10 00 a. M. , monday, july 13, at 5 30 p. M. , thursday, july 16, at 10 30 a. M. When the Senate Adjourns on thursday, july 16, it convene at 3 00 p. M. , monday july 20, following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. Further, upon the closing of morning business, the senate proceed to executive session to resume the vote nomination, finally notwithstanding the rules of provision rule 22, the confirmation vote on the vote nomination occur at 5 30 p. M. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell if theres no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. The presiding officer the senate standsthe presiding offit objection. Mr. Toomey thank you, mr. President. Mr. President. Thank you mr. President. Im here in the senate floor with my colleague or maryland here in part to condemn chinese, his partys actions, their process while hong kong into the mainland and silence did dissent of the people of hong kong but im also here to do something about this. For decades hong kong has been one of the most successful thriving societies on the planet. An indispensable part of their success has been their freedom could hong kong is enjoyed a vibrant free press, free speech, freedom to worship and an independent judiciary and a partially democratic electora