Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate 20240712

Advantage, we hope the republican majority on the Homeland Security committee has not become a sympathetic audience and a potential Entrance Point to foreign influenced campaigns wittingly or unwittingly. What a disastrous and disgraceful fate of affairs. The senate should pass this resolution today. I yield the floor to my colleague from oregon. Wyden wyden mr. President. Mr. Wyden mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for oregon. Mr. Wyden mr. President , i rise in support for this resolution, the democratic leader. We are calling for an end to a horribl horribly flawed investigation, attempts to poison it with disinformation and to sew distrust are an established matter of fact. And it is especially troubling because for periods over the last year, two Senate Committees have conducted an investigation involving the ukraine, former Vice President biden and his son hunter. Homeland security and Government Affairs committee, led by our colleague from wisconsin, chairman johnson, and our colleague from iowa, chairman grassley of the finance committee, which i am the ranking democrat. My staff has joined in interviews and received documents pertinent to the investigation. Given my finance committee role, my position on the Senate Intelligence committee, im unable to discuss classified information or details of an ongoing inquiry. However, i can discuss Public Information about the spread of russian propaganda and the pathway its following from russian agents through the United States senate to the American People. The russian government is again interfering in our election. This has been confirmed by our Intelligence Community. Its interference Campaign Includes disinformation about Vice President biden and the work he was doing to fight corruption in ukraine. To spread this information, russia enlists the help of characters like andrei der kech. Derkach has been identified by american counterintelligence as an active agent for russian intelligence. This agent, instead of being treated as a foreign enemy, has met personally with the president s lawyer, rudy giuliani, to further his task of undermining elections in america. Im not sure, colleagues, what you should call an american who aids a russian agent but counselor to the president is certainly not it. In august the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center issued a threat assessment on foreign threats to our election. It identify derkach as someone who was involved with attempting to denigrate biden. Senator schumer and i along with several of our democratic colleagues, urging the Treasury Department to issue sanctions against derkach. It did so the following week and describing his role in what i called a covert influenced campaign on cultivating a false initiative concerning u. S. Officials in the upcoming 2020 president ial election, unquote. Telezhenko is another giuliani associate, who according to press accounts, american counterintelligence has identified as a conduit for russian attacks on our election. He has also been a star witness in the johnson and grassley investigation. Derkach and teleshanko have edited portions of bidens telephone in the course of ois anticorruption work, somewhere release some were released on the same day. Teleshenko is promising further releases. He also said he forwarded 100 emails to staff on senator johnsons committee and answered their questions. Now, our colleague from south carolina, senator graham, was involved in the earliest stages of the johnsongrassley inquiry in 2019, but in february of 2020, chairman graham said and i quote, i called the attorney general this morning and richard burr, then of course chairman of the intelligence committee, and they told me take very cautiously anything coming out of the ukraine against anybody. The disinformation that these two have spread, derkach and teleshengo have spread, largely a collection of unproven allegations and wild conspiracy theories have made it to many Media Outlets in the country all too willing to spread the product of russian intelligence. Its been circulated by the president s own legal team. From there that disinformation became the basis of much of the work of the johnsongrassley inquiry. Ill have more to say on the details of that investigation in the days ahead, but for now ill say this. Chairman johnson has repeatedly claimed in the media that he has uncovered new and damaging information about Vice President bidens activity in the ukraine. This is simply not true. Nothing i have seen, not one bit of evidence, could lead to the conclusion that Vice President biden did anything wrong in ukraine. What i have seen is a monthlong investigation that still has no legitimate basis burning through an incredible amount of manpower and taxpayerfunded resources. Neither of these committees, by the way, under the rules of the senate, has any jurisdiction over our diplomatic ties with the ukraine. It has no legislative purpose. This investigation, as ive pointed out on a number of indications, also occasions also is happening under a clear double standard that has favored republicans in the senate and stonewalls oversights by democrats. That is a sign that the flimsy accusation made against the president cant stand up to Vice President cant stand up to real scrutiny. The real nature of this inquiry has been clear all along. It began during the impeachment trial and the investigation almost seemed to die out when the trial ended. It only returned and, again, these are facts all of these are facts. It only returned when the Vice President established himself as a democratic frontrunner. Chairman johnson sent a letter to his committee announcing the intention to kick start the investigation with a subpoena. So now what im going to do is outline what senator johnson said in his own words because i think that is also very important as senators consider this resolution. These are senator johnsons words specifically. My colleague said in march, if i were a democratic primary voter id want these questions satisfy i will answered before i cast my final vote. The chairman said in august, and i quote, i would think it would certainly help donald trump win reelection and certainly be pretty good i would say evidence about not voting for Vice President biden. He said in september, and i quote, stay tuned. In about a week were going to learn a whole lot more of Vice President bidens unfitness. Furthermore, the chairman, in my view, looking again at the Public Record cannot credibly take issue with the work the Vice President was doing because he supported it publicly at the time. In june 2014, at a Foreign Relations committee on the ukraine, chairman johnson stated, quote, if we have to tie aid or help to make sure anticorruption laws are passed, i think we should do it. In 2016 chairman johnson wrote a letter with bipartisan members of the group to former poroshenko. The letter reads, succeeding in this these reforms that putin it also offers a stark alternative to the authoritarianism and oligarch president tism in russia. We presentism in russia. We ask that you address the concerns and were talking about the minister of economic development. We ask you to press ahead with urgent reforms to the Prosecutor Generals Office in judiciary. So these are the words, colleagues, the words of the chairman of the committee. Thats why senator schumer and i believe this investigation, the johnsongrassley investigation, is baseless. We have brought forward a resolution that we believe is important to defending our democracy. It comes down to a question of what we want campaigns and elections to be all about. In my view, and i have always said this right at the core of my being, i want elections about our best ideas. Thats why i serve on the finance committee, to try to come up with the best ideas in health care, and taxes and trade and the like. Elections ought to be about our best ideas and having real debates and not attacking the other side with farfetched foreign misinformation. Especially at a time when the American People are dealing with the crushing weight of one crisis stacked on another. 200,000 americans have died of covid19. I couldnt disagree more with the president s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. Weve seen so much economic hurt, and i championed on the floor and for a while we had bipartisan support, for basically bringing unemployment into the relevant century and getting an extra 600 per week to people and covering gig workers and all kinds of other people. Yet, still, the economys collapsed and millions are out of work. My oregon neighbors, a number of them have seen their communities reduced to ashes, somehows and thousands ,000s and thousands have been lost. Theres been a National Outcry against racism and violence against black americans. Our elections are supposed to be about those kinds of issues. And in all of them, what i have tried to do is devote my Public Service to bringing people together, getting parties to find Common Ground on the best ideas of how to make changes in these areas. Now, that sure seems to me to be what the senate should be all about rather than baseless attacks and foreign disinformation. I urge my colleagues to support the resolution that senator schumer and i have championed. It is long past time for this badly flawed investigation by our colleagues to end, and as if in legislative session, mr. President , i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of a resolution opposing efforts to launder russian disinformation through the congress, which is at the desk. I further ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer is there objection . A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from wisconsin. Mr. Mr. Johnson mr. President , i want to point out the fact that this is this is not a violation of rule 19, its coming pretty darn close. What you just witnessed is democrats doing what they do so well, accusing the other side of doing exactly what they do only ten times or 100 times worse. Earlier i chaired a business meeting in the Homeland Committee and Government Affairs committee that precipitated, made necessary by the fact that the Ranking Member of my committee had a ri dish lus ridiculous interpretation of the rules. Based upon the subpoena authority i received on june 4, the Ranking Member said in order to schedule a subpoena or schedule a meeting, a disposition, i had to come back for another vote. So during my Opening Statement of that business meeting, having just described that level of meddling which, by the way, the Ranking Member also provided that ridiculous interpretation to our witness and the witness jonathan weiner, an individual who decided to not cooperate with the department of justice Inspector General on his report on the fisa abuse, he decided to not show up for his deposition that previously had been scheduled. So having just explain thad in my Opening Statement, i would like to read the next part which describes the did you plicity and hypocrisy of the democrats. I said the most recent example of this hypocrisy was a letter in classified addendum created by a senior democrat leader that accused senator grassley and me the presiding officer the chair will remind senators that rule 19 provides that and i quote no senator in debate shall directly or indirectly by any form or words impugn to another senator or other senators any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a senator. End quote. A senator i appreciate the warning. The presiding officer the senator is recognized. The most is created by senior democrat leaders accused senator grassley and me of relying on foreign disinformation. A senator this quo intelligence product, unquote, which was full of falls allegations, was produced, classified, and then leaked to the grass more than a week before senator grassley or i were given access to it. Many in the media dutifully reported this hot tip. Democrats then used those media reports to repeat, distort, and embellish the false charges. This coordinated smear thats what you have to call it a coordinated smear which continues today on the floor of the senate culminated in an august 7 opinion piece in the Washington Post submitted by senator richard blumenthal. But john radcliff, the director of national intelligence, quote, i can assure it did not create the classified addendum nor did we authorize its release. The foreign information we were falsely accused of reflg we have a misprint here. The foreign information we were falsely accused of reflg comes from Andrii Derkach who since has been sanctioned by the Treasury Department. Although neither senator gratly nor i ever ought, received or used any information from mr. Derkach, the media has continued to report otherwise for weeks despite our repeated and unequivocated denials. It is true that a chart produced by mr. Derkach is now part of our investigatory record. Not because of me or senator grassley but because so as was the case in the 2016 election, the only foreign disinformation being used to interfere in this investigation has been introduced by democrats against republicans. And not republicans. Given all the concern expressed by democrats over foreign disinformation its notable we have not heard the same concern over the steele dossier containing information. My chief counsel during the course of this investigation uncovered it in classified footnotes to the department of justice Inspector General fisa report. We also know the f. B. I. Was aware of this as early as 2016. Think about that. The f. B. I. Knew the russian disinformation was contained in the steele dossier as early as august of 2016 and yet they continued the investigation. Then the investigation spilled over into special counsel and disrupted americans government and politics for years. We also know the steele dossier was bought and paid for by the d. N. C. And clinton campaign. So apparently democrats are willing to look the other way when they pay for or use disinformation against republicans. Mr. Johnson so i read that in my Opening Statement in our business meeting today earlier. As i look at this resolution, the last whereas talks about an investigation that alleges the same discredited claims by derkach. I dont know who derkach is. As i said earlier, senator grassley and i have repeatedly, unequivocally denied we did not slis tat. We did not accept solicit. We did not accept any information from mr. Derkach whatsoever. Yet democrats persist in pushing this false allegation. As a matter of fact, im not sure our committee has alleged anything yet. About the only thing ive alleged is the glaring and obvious conflict of interest. Here ive got to step up. Ive got to get a little history about ukraine. In february of 2014, ukrainians, courageous ukrainians, basically two factions, one that wanted to integrate closer with the west and younger ukrainians who wanted to rid themselves of the corruption of the soviet legacy. Joined together in massive protests. On approximately february 20, 21, over 80 ukrainians were slaughtered by snipers protesting to rid ukraine of corruption and increase their ties to the west. Less than two responsibilities later two months later, and i ask my colleagues, is this anything from russian sources . Two months later, heres the series of events that occurred. On april 16, 2014, Vice President biden met with his sons Business Partner devon archer at the white house. Thats kind of a big deal. Anybody meeting with the Vice President of the white house. Hunter bidens Business Partner got to do that. Five days later, Vice President biden visited ukraine and described him as the public face of the administrations handling of ukraine. The next day, april 22, archer joined the board of burisma. Again burisma is this Company Owned by what george kent from the state department called an odious oligarch. Hard to say ukrainian names. Six days later after archer joined the board, british seized 20 million fro. 15 days later on may 13, hunter biden joined the board of burr reece pa and over the burisma and over the course of the next four to five years hunter and his firms were paid more than 3 million for his and archers board participation. Now, again, ukrainian had just gone through a revolution. Their leadership was desperate for u. S. Support. We all have to believe that an odious oligarch would have made the ukrainian officials well aware of the fact the son of the Vice President of the United States, the public face of the administrations handling of ukraine, was sitting on his board. So what kind of signal did that send to ukrainians who were trying to stand up and being pressured by u. S. Officials to rid their country of corruption . It basically said if you want u. S. Support, dont touch burr reece pa. Burisma. The fact of the matter is when all was said and done, burisma and mykola was never held to account. The investigation, the prosecution of him was ceased, never occurred. Now in terms of russian disinformation, these false charges, these wild claims against me and senator grassley, i was way ahead of the curve when it came to russian disinformation. Back in 2015 as chairman of the european subcommittee of the senate Foreign Relations committee, i held three hearings focusing on what russia does to destabilize the politics in countries. Around attempted coup in montenegro, other places in eastern europe. So im well aware of what russia is doing, well aware. I dont condone it. I condemn it. Im not having any part of pushing it but i have to say for all the crocodile tears the democrats shed in terms of russian disinformation, the effects on our politics, i would argue the russian disinformation that has been perpetrated on our politics and the effect it has on the election pales, pales in comparison to the false allegations, for example, that russia colluded with the trump campaign, that was promoted by democrats for years. Culminating in a special counsel and finally an impeachment. How democrats have used and how the media has promoted and carried the democrats all this time have had a far greater fact, by ormds of magnitude in orders of magnitude in terms of destabilization and affecting the politics and elections. Thats basically the truth. I would ask my colleagues, i would ask the American Public to take a look at what has been happening here. The false allegations, the basic playbook the democrats engage in time and time again create a false narrative, create a false intelligence product, accuse the other side of the things that you are doing tenfold. Thats whats happening here. I personally am tired of it. As a result, mr. President , i object. The presiding officer the objection is heard. Mr. Wyden the senator fro m. President . The presiding officer the senator from oregon. Mr. Wyden im very disappointed that my colleague has objected. And i just want to make a brief response reflecting on my role as a Senior Member of the select committee on intelligence. Again, as i indicated earlier, i cant get into anything classified or sources and methods. But i just want before we leave this subject to remind the senate that the Russian Disinformation Campaign is going on now. Its not some abstract issue. The Russian Disinformation Campaign is going on now. The russians have attempted to rewrite the history of the 2016 campaign. It is the conclusion of the Intelligence Community this is not democrats. Its not republicans. Its the Intelligence Community that they are trying to interfere again. This time in the 2020 election, including with these attacks on Vice President biden and theyre saying this now. And active russian agents like mr. Derkach apparently are having press conferences. Ive heard a report that he may have had one today. So members of the senate, again this is a as a matter of fact of Public Record this is a matter of Public Record, conspiracies and lies again and again including in classified settings, and i would only ask as i wrap this up, i would only ask that members of this Great Institution reflect on that. Mr. President , i yield the floor. A senator mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from wisconsin. Mr. Johnson a quick response. Because in my other paper here i did not have the full quote from john radcliff. I would like to read it now. This is referring to the intelligence product that senior democrat leaders created, leaked to the press, accusing senator grassley and i falsely of receiving information from Andrii Derkach. John radcliff, the director of intelligence said, quote i can confirm they did not create the classified addendum to the letter nor did we authorize its creation. It was not consulted prior to its creation and subsequent release to the entire membership of the u. S. House of representatives. He said by no means it reflects the full and complete analysis of the i. C. One thing i would ask consent to enter into the record is an article that was published today by john solomon talking about the extensive, extensive contacts by members of the Obama Administration in terms of the n. S. C. And the state department and the ambassador with andre telizhenko. Its right here. We have a nice picture of house member abrams as well. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Johnson the same person theyre saying is this dangerous russian agent they were using extensively throughout the Obama Administration to set up contacts. They actually had the ability to go to meetings in the white house and he attended those. This is a person that now they are saying because we spoke to him and got a little bit of information from him, we are dealing in russian disinformation. Well, if they have that level of concern, why did democrat employ him for over a year and why did democrats deal with him in so so frequently during the Obama Administration. With that i yield the floor, mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from missouri. Mr. Blunt mr. President , as we all know and i american whos watched the news over the summer knows, theres been a terrible increase in crime in americas cities. Assaults, shootings, murders have been far higher this year, and my home state has not been safe from this trend. In fact, in st. Louis, missouri, there were 55 murders in the month of july. That compares to 22 murders a year earlier in july, which we thought were way too many then. In kansas city, missouri, homicides in the First Six Months this year were about 40 higher than they were last year. One of the kansas city victims was a 4yearold boy named legend talifaro. He was murdered in the early hours of july 29, mr. President , while he was asleep. A 4yearold boy murdered while he was asleep by random shooting, violence going on outside his home. So early in july, the Justice Department launched an effort in kansas city that has become a National Effort but which they called operation legend, named for little legend talifaro. Under operation legend, federal Law Enforcement officers are working alongside local police to solve crimes, to make arrests, to track down fujitives, to prepare cases for trial so criminals can be held accountable. Now, the key phrase there is alongside. Federal agents arent going on and taking arent going in and tacking over the police and taking over the police department. Theyre going in to add assistance to the police department. On that topic, there was no immediate raid of trafficking centers or drug gangs or anything like that. I frankly thought the Justice Department was wrong in not announcing earlier to federal officials and local officials what they were going to do and when they were going to do it. But i think weve worked with them to see that that isnt going to continue to be the case. And, in fact, in early august, the they made a similar determination to go in to kansas city. Now, one of the advantage i mean, into st. Louis. One of the advantages of having you federal officers work with the local police in these cases, one, they bring a whole lot more intensity to the moment. With the extra help suddenly something becomes possible that wasnt possible before. Also, many of the people arrested can face federal charges as well as other sentences. Certainly in our state, in kansas city and missouri both, the two different u. S. Attorneys offices have done a great job working with local officials before this but also looking at what other federal charges might be placed to take some of the load off the local prosecutor and also to get another way to get these people off the street. By september is the operation led by september 1, the operation led to the arrest of many people, more nan 1 see of the 355 people have been charged with in federal court. In st. Louis where we, as i said before, the government decided to bring operation legend to st. Louis, the Justice Department made that decision in early august, and in st. Louis, by september 1, there were already 359 arrests and 128 of those people arrested were looking at federal charges as well. In addition to st. Louis and kansas stirks the department of justice has launched operation legend in seven other cities. This is not a federal overreach. It is not the federal government again taking over local Law Enforcement, but its the first its not the first step toward martial law. Its not a crackdown on peaceful protest. It is a cooperative effort with cities that have been suffering from increases in violent citement under this operation, officers have arrested nationwide more than 2,000 people, including 163 people for murder, and one of the people arrested, mr. President , was the alleged killer of 4yearold legend taliferro. The rise of violence in cities this year and particularly the cities im talking about that have been benefited i had think from operation legend has been incredible bring rapid and unbearably destructive, not to mention totally unacceptable. Its taken a toll on lives unlived, families torn apart, communities terrorized, people wondering whats going to happen when they or their children walk out the front door or play in the backyard or, like little legend, are sound asleep in their bed. Nothing we do can fully heal the damage certainly that these victims of Violent Crime and their families have suffered, but we can get the justice that both the victim and people who care about them deserve. We may have a lot of disagreements in the congress, but i hope we can agree that violent criminals belong behind bars. I hope we can all agree that all parents deserve a safe neighborhood where they can raise their children. I hope we can all agree that the police do a difficult and dangerous job, and they deserve support and all the support and appreciation we can give them. Not long ago, legend taliferro spoke about her son and the pain of losing him. She said, quote, he was a ball of joy. I want his legacy to live on, and i want us to continue to fight against violence and also to get justice for my son and others. Thats the end of that mothers quote, but its not the end of a life that mother will now live without her son or the life he didnt get to live, and there are too many lives that didnt get to be lived, too many lives lost through needless violence. Operation legend gives local Law Enforcement the valuable support they need to get violent criminals off the street. Again, it was named for an innocent 4yearold boy. It could have been named for any of the thousands of other victims of violent criminals in dozens of other cities this year. It could have been named for st. Louis Police Officer tamirez volhanon killed in the line of duty last i dont wantst month. It could have been named for the twosters in california that had the twosters in california that had a sneak attack as they were setting, trying to secure the local Transportation Center just in the last couple of days. Its a tragedy that it had to be named for anyone. While some people have sought to defund the police and to disparage the police, operation legend is successful because it supports the police. These are some of the hardest jobs in america, second only to the families of people who care deeply about their loved one whos decided to serve in that job to protect us all. American communities are safer because of operation legend. They will be safer as we continue to work toward greater and more Effective Community policing. They will be safer when people who are violent criminals are no longer Walking Around to perpetuate further violence. And i salute the Justice Department for their efforts and the local departments who have reached out and taken advantage of the moment to get something done that they were not able to get done by themselves. And id yield the floor. Mr. Scott mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from florida. Mr. Scott mr. President , when i was growing up, i was raised to believe in the American Dream. My mom taught me that we were blessed because god and our founders created the greatest country ever, where anything was possible. We werent allowed to complain. Debt, big government, socialism, and communism were bad. College was for a betterpaying job. And church on sundays was absolutely not optional. While i didnt always appreciate my tough love, my way or the highway mom growing up, i now thank god every day for my mom and this country. She gave me the opportunity to experience every lesson this country every lesson this country had to offer before i was 20. Sadly, the values that i grew up with are becoming a way of the past, but i believe these values, these virtues can and should be part of our countrys future. The left has worked hard over the last 50 years to discredit the values of america of the america i was raised with and the values of america that i want my grandchildren to grow up with. In recent weeks weve seen the democrats try hard to paint our president and the entire Republican Party as darkness. But let me tell you what darkness would actually look like in america. What if our country turned the keys over to the far left and turned it away from capitalism in favor of socialism . Well, the data is already in on this. The result would be the same as throughout history socialism would destroy our economy and cause widespread poverty and oppression. Darkness. What if our country just gave up on the ballot to protect the battle to protect innocent human life and agreed with the Political Party that proudly embraces the killing of the unborn at any time for any reason . Darkness. What if we decide to change our first amendment, editing out our freedom of speech and freedom of religion, forcing christian and jews to retreat from the Public Square and silencing any who dare to speak up . Darkness. What if america did what every authoritarian government in history has done and must eventually do disarm the American People . Darkness. What if we did he funded our Police Forces across the country, even just partially . What would happen to Public Safety . How would life in our cities be affected . Turn on your tv for the answer. Darkness. What if we allowed people to throw homemade bomb at police and burn down police stations and then pretend that these violent demonstrations are peaceful . Darkness. What if we enacted the Green New Deal literal darkness. What if we let china, a communist one that systematically imprisons and murders its own citizens, take advantage of American Workers and put them out of work . Darkness. What if we teach your kids that america is a bad country with an evil history that must be erased and that america is fundamentally a morally bankrupt country . Darkness. Republicans are fighting for issues that the American Public care about. People want good jobs, a good education for their kids, and they want to live in safe communities. Republicans are working to defend our Law Enforcement, invest in our military, secure the border, and stop illegal immigration. Republicans are standing up to dictators in latin america and to communist china. After the democrats have appeased them for decades. Heres the fundamental difference between democrats and republicans democrats want to control your life. Republicans want to i have go you a life. Republicans want to give every american the opportunity to live their version of the American Dream. Governments dont do that. Politicians dont do that. The American People are dreamers. And if we get government out of their way, the innovation you determination, and entrepreneurial spirit of the American People and American Business will shine bright. Thank you. I yield the floor. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from indiana. Mr. Young i rise today to discuss a dangerous path the National Democrats are spiraling down and to caution our country men not to follow them. Radicals on the far left have hijacked an otherwise righteous cause and are in command of a once proud Political Party that traces its heritage back to jefferson and madison. The violence the radicals have unleashed threatens lives and the cancel culture theyve imposed curtails liberty and their misguided means of equating economic equality endangers the pursuit of happiness. Joe biden, nancy pelosi and their handpicked Democratic Candidates are empowering the radical wing of todays National Democratic party. The same people responsible for the chaos now in full display across our country. National leaders of the Democratic Party offer them sanctuary. They make excuses for radicals destructive behavior, the way an embarrassed parent does for a miss chief yus child mischievous child. To them. The roots occurring from the riots occurring are peaceful protests. Promises to Defund Police departments are just ways of reimagining police, whatever that means. Its the same sleight of hand that turns governmentrun health care into medicare for all who want it. Now most democrats wont publicly embrace the socialist policies the mob hollers for because they know the American People wont buy it, but once in power theyll be all too happy to implement these radical policies. And that means a mainstream National Democratic agenda that will abolish and Defund Police departments, take away onthejob insurance, pack the Supreme Court of the United States, raise taxes, give washington, d. C. And puerto rico the same number of United States senators that the state of indiana has, eliminate the legislative filibuster and, therefore, the rights of the minority within this institution, and spend trillions of dollars on new Government Programs that americans dont need or want. You know, they are allies, the destroyers and these National Democrats i reference. Only they cant be straight with the American People about their alliance. And their leaders just cant seem to summon the simple moral clarity that says racism is evil and so is using it to justify violence and vandalism. Now blessedly, in my state local democratic elected officials have had enough. In fact, in recent weeks several hoosier Public Servants have left their party, and theyve become republicans. Now to clearly understand the choice before us, we need only listen to their explanations why. This is brian snedecore, who just switched from a democrat to republican. He says, i must be true to my god, my family, myself, and those that have supported and believed in me. I want hobart to be a place for business to come and the American Dream to be achieved. And then we have dave wedding, a county sheriff who also just became a republican. Sheriff wedding says im tired of seeing fires set in our streets. Im tired of people defying god, our church, our police, our government, and everything we stand for. I happen to believe that every regular american feels the same way, and theyll look to us to protect the American Dream and put out the fires, literal and figurative, in our streets. So the choice that each of us must make in coming weeks is pretty darned clear. Law and order or anarchy. An economy thats growing or employers and workers which are grounded. Citizens who are free and flourishing or subjects dependent on government. What the radicals dont understand is that though we were born by revolution, the history of america is one of steady progress, a determined march together for the common good and towards an ever better union. We have to lead that march. So when farleft democrats offer dangerous ideas and unfulfillable promises, republicans will counter with innovative thinking and resultsdriven policies. We will create ways to help every american access Affordable Health care, afford a college education, advance their careers, raise a family and buy a home that they can call their own. Republicans will play a part in the reinvigoration of economically disadvantaged areas, both rural and urban. Ours is an america where everyone lives free of fear and is able to speak their mind and where citizens, no matter their color or their zip code, can climb as high and fly as far as their ambition and ability allows. Their way leads to a dead end. Ours to an endless frontier. They tear down. We will build. The path forward is clear. Thank you, mr. President. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for iowa. Ms. Ernst mr. President , id like to thank my colleagues for joining me on the floor today. It is clear that america is facing two separate, very different paths. Last thursday the democrats in this chamber blocked muchneeded assistance to families and Small Businesses struggling to make ends meet amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and they did it for one reason only politics. Our friends across the aisle didnt want to provide 15 billion in child care, more than 250 billion of Additional Paycheck Protection Program loans for Small Businesses, 105 billion for schools, and 20 billion for farmers. Well, this aid is vital to my fellow iowans. It would have helped families and communities all across the nation in red and blue states. Theres no denying the damage being caused by this pandemic is real. Businesses are being shut down, schools are being closed, and lives are being lost. Yet, this toll is apparently not enough for the other side to set politics aside, even momentarily to come together and help our fellow citizens with their daily struggles. This senseless obstruction is living iowa families to fend for themselves is leaving iowa families to fend for themselves when they most need a helping hand. And in so many ways this is representative, this represents the distinct difference between the two Political Parties at this very moment. While Senate Republicans are leading efforts to get america back up and running and guarantee opportunities for everyone, democrats are embracing obstruction and anarchy. Following the murder of george floyd by minneapolis police, my friend, senator tim scott of south carolina, introduced legislation to tackle Police Reform in a meaningful way. The bill he proposed would have enacted long overdue policies such as finally making lynching a federal crime, ending the use of police choke holds, expanding the use of body cameras by Law Enforcement, and increasing other forms of transparency and accountability. Yet despite the impassioned pleas of americans across the country demanding justice for george floyd and other African Americans who have died in police custody. Democrats blocked the senate from even debating senator scotts thoughtful Police Reform bill this past summer. Shouldnt we all agree regardless of our party affiliation, shouldnt we all be able to agree that Congress Needs to take action to guarantee that no american should fear walking on the streets, especially in their own neighborhood . That guarantee should include people of color, peaceful protesters, as well as our Law Enforcement officers doing their jobs. As a consequence of the democrats obstruction, the streets in some of americas great cities have descended into a state of chaos and lawlessness , immersed in violence and vandalism, arson, and murder. When taxpayers turn to their elected leaders, whether for assistance to provide for their families during a pandemic, for protection from unfair policing practices, or for simple safety when walking down the street, the democrats have responded with silence and inaction. Even when i attempted to call up a bill to reauthorize the violence against women act, a bill that is very personal to me that also had bipartisan support, the democrats objected to that bill as well. And the same was true for my commonsense bill, sarahs law, that would hold Illegal Immigrants who harm or murder an american citizen accountable. Its no wonder folks across this country are so frustrated with washington and fed up with politicians. Well, folks, just one friendly reminder, our countrys direction will soon be decided by her people. America must now choose between two paths to take into the future, and that choice could not be starker. At a time when we need leadership and reassurance, the democrats are instead offering obstruction, lockdowns, and anarchy. Our friends across the aisle are actually promising, folks, they are promising to increase taxes on hardworking americans, and even promising to defend the police. Thats right, folks. You get to pay more taxes in exchange for less safety and security. That doesnt sound like a good deal to me. And speaking of bad bargains, you can expect the democrats to pass their Green New Deal if they are given the chance. This radical environmental plan would destroy our very way of life in iowa. The road map offered by republicans is much brighter, to say the least. Reopening america safely. Real reforms to End Excessive use of force by police without putting the safety of everyone at risk by defunding the police. Building upon the successful progrowth policies that created the greatest economy and historically low unemployment rates for every demographic. And bringing the jobs that were exported under the Previous Administration back to america, and ending our dependency on foreign nations like red china. Folks, with our country and the world facing one of the greatest health and economic emergencies in history, we simply cannot risk our recovery on the radical designs of the democrats. Lets pursue the path towards a renewed United States of america that guarantees safety and greater opportunities for every citizen to pursue the American Dream. And with that, mr. President , i yield the floor. A senator mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from illinois. Mr. Durbin mr. President , im going to make a unanimous consent request in just a moment. But i would like to preface it to explain what it is so that as we explain it after the consent is objected to, it will be clear. There exists in the nation of venezuela today an incredible political situation. Ive been there to see it. Theres a dictator in charge and life on the street is deadly. So deadly that millions of venezuelans are fleeing the country as fast as possible. Theres a limitation on food and medicine. Theres so much suffering and starvation and deprivation that these people have given up everything and are just leaving. The United States knows that, under this leader maduro. And its reached the point that its dangerous, physically danger you so much so that we have a warning to american travelers not to go to venezuela, to stay away because its too dangerous. And yet the thousands of venezuelans now legally in the United States under temporary protected status are facing a deadline from the Trump Administration where they must return to this deadly, dangerous situation. The same state department that warns americans not to travel to venezuela is now trying to force those venezuelaians here as students and others and t. P. P. Protectees to go back to this deadly situation. Senator menendez and i and others think that it just makes sense for us to give these people a shelter until it is safe for them to return to their home. And thats what this request is about. As if in legislative section i ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of h. R. 549 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. Further, that the bill be considered read a third time, passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer is there objection . Mr. Thune reserving the right to object on behalf of my colleague, senator lee, who cannot be here to object on his own because hes chairing an Energy Subcommittee hearing, i object. The presiding officer objection is heard. Mr. Durbin mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from illinois. Mr. Durbin mr. President , i know the senator from south dakota is making an objection on behalf of senator lee, and ive been called to do the same thing from time to time, so i wont assign any political blame to him. But i will say this is a serious mistake and a deadly mistake thor these venezuelans. This is an issue which in many parts of america is red hot. Those of venezuelan ancestry or those who are here on t. P. S. Status cannot understand what just happened. They want to stay here safely. They dont want to be forced to return to this nation under this dictator that is such a dangerous place. A number of times in the last year senator menendez, who is on the floor with me here, has joined with me on behalf of the venezuelan people. President trump boasts that he supports these people. While the country remains a dicta editorial nightmare, grant venezuelans temporary status known as t. P. S. It is the kind of mo of a selfconfident nation, one that really cares about humanity, would demonstrate real leadership and accept. T. P. S. Is a temporary immigration status provided to foreign nationals if returning to their country poses a serious threat to their safety, for any variety of reasons an environmental disaster, armed conflicts. By every objective measure, the situation in venezuela today is deadly and dangerous. It is not a permanent immigration status were seeking for these venezuelans, just a measure of american decency and solidarity with those who might be in the u. S. When a calamity occurs in her to home country. Prior administrations of both Political Parties have granted people from countries facing these circumstances relief. This situation in venezuela is dire. Currently the United States is working with regional partners to foster an end to the disastrous dictatorship clinging to power in venezuela. I was there is just before the sham 2018 election. What i saw was heartbreaking. People starving and fainting at work from malnutrition, hospitals without power or basic medicines. I visited a Childrens Hospital, catholic Childrens Hospital in caracas. They told me they didnt have the basics to treat these children antibiotics, cancer drugs unavailable. Millions were throwing this country and still are as refugees into neighboring countries. Brutal political repression. If you disagree with maduro publicly, be prepared to go to prison. Staggering government corruption and dismantling of the countrys democracy. And now the tragic impact of coronavirus has hit as well. Ive supported this administrations efforts to work with other nations to support the interim presidency of president guaido. I am deeply concerned about the people amid this suffering and think to what he is up against. Here is a man who at any moment could face imprisonment or worse. After nearly two years since the president ial election, Nicolas Maduro is now planning another illegitimate election instead of finally holding a fair, credible, president ial contest. I asked president guaido, i said, recent there going to be any International Observers of this election in november . He said, yes. I said who . He said, the russians. What a coincidence, their observing our election, too. While venezuela has fallen from President Trumps attention, one simple step he could take is to grant t. P. S. To the venezuelans here in the United States. He repeatedly refuses travel warnings to americans dont go close to venezuelans, but to the venezuelans, you have to go home. The president has refused because the defendant his antiimmigration cruelty has no limits. Despite the chestthreemartini lunching to audiences in l ifful about taking on venezuelan dictators, President Trump has in fact turned his back on the venezuelans in the United States who truly need his protection. Nobody should be surprised, as former National Security advisor john bolton wrote in his book, the president praised maduro as, quote, smart and tough. And hes waffled on any coherent policy in the region and told bolton not to get too deeply involved. President trump cant have it both ways. Ive met many venezuelans in my home state of illinois. I can tell you, theyre desperately worried about being forced to return to the chaos, violence, and hopelessness of the current venezuela. The Trump Administrations travel advisory says it all. Do not travel to covid19 due to covid19, crime, civil unrest, poor health infrastructure, kidnapping and detention of u. S. Citizens. Violent crimes such as Armed Robbery and carjacking is common. Yet the republicans come to the floor and object to our efforts to protect the venezuelans who are doing their best to avoid what i just read as a warning to american travelers. Just today u. N. Investigators released findings saying that under maduro, venezuela has committed violations amounting to crimes against humanity. Now, how can this president and his state department possibly force people to return to venezuela under these conditions . And now with maduro detaining returning venezuelan refugees and calling them bioterrorists, the idea of going back is even more dangerous. Since the white house wouldnt act, more than a year ago the house under democratic control passed a bipartisan bill granting t. P. S. To venezuelans by a margin of 272158. Senator menendez, senator rubio, and i introduced a similar national bill. But the majority leader, Mitch Mcconnell, still refuses to bring up any bill that just might not please President Trump. Even ones that supposedly he has publicly supported. Senator menendez and i have tried to call up the house bill for passage, facing objections just as we did today from Senate Republicans who refuse to stand up to this president s failure on this and other policies. Last july Senate Republicans objected because they said they wanted to debate it in the Judiciary Committee. Well, 12 months have passed. Plenty of opportunities. Our venezuela t. P. S. Bill was referred to the committee in february of 2019. Yet there has been no action, no hearing, no markup. The Immigration Committee is no, sir overloaded with work. Under chairman cornyn, we have had exactly one subcommittee meeting in the past year and a half. It hasnt held a single hearing in year and the senate Judiciary Committee hasnt considered a single immigration bill. This administration can grant t. P. S. Without congressional action, but it refuses. Senate republicans could pass bipartisan house bill to grant venezuelan t. P. S. They refuse as well. Let it be clear the real failure to help venezuelans in the United States rests on their shoulders. The president and the republican majority in the senate. The venezuelan policy like so many others with with this administration and its senate enablers is only there to serve the president President Trump and no one else. I made my offer and hoped that we could knack. It failed. I thing my colleagues who joined me in this effort. The presiding officer the senator from new jersey. Mr. Menendez first i ask unanimous consent that there may be portions that i may say a few words in spanish which i will provide a translation for the clerk. So i ask unanimous consent to be able to do that. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Menendez mr. President , were here today to once again join senator durbin, whos been on the floor with me or i with him i dont know how many times now as it relates to this issue. Were here to urge the senate to have immediately approve legislation that would designate venezuelans for temporary temporary protected status. Theres some 200,000 venezuelans that are currently living in the United States. Theyre unable to return home safely, and they would benefit from t. P. S. We should be doing the right thing. We should be upholding American Values and offer them protection. But once again our republican colleagues have blocked our efforts. We know whats at stake. Venezuela continues to experience the worst humanitarian crisis in our hemisphere. Its people continue to suffer food and medicine shortages. The levels of criminal violence akin to a conflict zone and grave human rights abuses under the maduro regime. If that were not enough, venezuelaians also face the alarming spread of covid19 with a Public Health system in ruins. For seven years, maduros devastating abuses against the venezuelan people have left them with little choice but to stay and suffer or flee and have a chance at surviving. Flee the political persecution, flee the oppression. In maduros venezuela, families struggle to feed themselves, children tragically die of treatable diseases, more than half of all venezuelan doctors have fled the country, and 40 of hospitals lack electricity and 70 lack regular access to water. The Senate Republicans want to leave venezuelans in the United States at risk of deportation back to maduros nightmare rather than take action. Meanwhile, the maduro regime is using the spread of covid19 to tighten further its control. Last month Human Rights Watch reported that dozens of journalists, Health Care Workers, human rights lawyers and political opponents have been detained or prosecuted for merely criticizing or questioning the regimes official statistics on the pandemic. Take the case of evan, a human rights attorney who expressed concern on facebook about, quote, Quarantine Centers set up by the regime. In response, Police Officers handcuffed him to a metal tomb in a prison yard under the sun for hours and left him without access to a bathroom for over a day causing him to become sick with bladder pain. Evan remains under house arrest without access to his criminal file and no due process. Just today senator durbin said the United Nations released a report finding that maduros yearslong campaign of torture amounts to crimes against humanity. [speaking spanish] but President Trump and Senate Republicans refuse to provide humanitarian protection to venezuelans in the United States. The extraordinary conditions in venezuela have forced more than five million venezuelans to flee their country in search of protection. Last year i traveled to the border city between colombia and vensz venezuela and saw the refugees and migrants who cross every day. Ill never forget their stories, stories of heartbreak and suffering from people leaving everything they have ever known their homes, their loved ones behind in an attempt to survive. We have applauded venezuelas neighbors, including colombia, ecuador, peru, brazil, for welcoming venezuelans refugees and migrants despite having far fewer resources than the United States. Yet the Trump Administration failed to ensure america lives up to its history as a beacon of freedom and hope around the world. Today many venezuelans in the United States who would be eligible for t. P. S. Are stuck in immigration detention. The Trump Administration and the Republicanled Senate have failed to grant them t. P. S. , leaving them facing uncertainty and fear of deportation. And many others who have come, venezuelans who have come to seek political asylum have been turned back and deported back to countries like mexico, with all the risks that those border cities present, not even given a chance to make their political asylum claim. So make no mistake, the Trump Administration has all the authority it needs to designate venezuela immediately. It doesnt need this legislation. But the president has chosen not to. Thats why we introduced legislation that would grant t. P. S. To our venezuelan brothers and sisters, and the house already passed a similar bill. Now ive had other issues here in the senate where ive had to do this before, and ill do it again. Im not going to relent in our effort to grant venezuelans the protections they deserve. Every time my republican colleagues want to stop our nation from ultimately making progress, weve had to shame them in submission, and this is no different. Im not going to stop until the United States truly stands in solidarity with the venezuelan people. If you dont want to give them t. P. S. , let them make their claims for political asylum. But then you take them and turn them away before they can make a case for political asylum. And we know, god, that theres a good case for political asylum coming out of venezuela. And then weve had colleagues in the past, senator scott from florida has come and objected to our t. P. S. Proposal for venezuelans, suggesting that we have to change all of t. P. S. Because in fact its not, it has become more than a temporary protected status. Guess what . The ninth Circuit Court actually made a decision which i disagree with, but we call attention to the act that comes on the heels of a disappointing ninth Circuit Decision issued on monday that says that the Trump Administrations cruel efforts to strip protections from over 300,000 current t. P. S. Holders is permissible. So, there goes the argument that t. P. S. Is permanent. No, the president could have granted it, and he could end it when he feels the conditions in venezuela no longer should give the opportunity for venezuelans to continue to have temporary protected status. So that argument is out of the way. And as you heard, debate this in the Judiciary Committee . You had over a year since we started this to debate it. Youre in the majority. You control the committee. You control the subcommittee. You could have had the debates. We dont come to the floor lightly to seek unanimous consent. We do it after waiting a considered time for the debates to take place, the debates you said you wanted, but it hasnt come. There are people living, working, and raising families legally in the United States from venezuelan backgrounds, and yet the president is doing everything he can to line them up for deportation. Of those at risk, 130,000 essential workers who have sacrificed their health during this pandemic to ensure all americans have access to health care, food, and basic necessities are among them. The administrations efforts are also endangering over 273,000 u. S. Citizen children who call a t. P. S. Holder mom or dad. Thats right. In the midst of a deadly pandemic, this administration wants to deport the parents of hundreds of thousands of American Children or force these families to relocate their children to unstable, wholly unfamiliar countries. This callous disregard for t. P. S. Holders and the greater immigrant community has to stop. We shouldnt wait for the ninth Circuit Decision to be appealed. We have to create a permanent solution for t. P. S. Holders who become integral to our communities and deserve a pathway. The senate should take up and not only give t. P. S. But pass the American Dream and promise act, h. R. 6, that passed the house with bipartisan support more than a year ago. What are we waiting for . [speaking spanish] thank you, mr. President. I yield the floor. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from maryland. Mr. Van hollen thank you, mr. President. Im pleased to join with my colleagues, senator menendez and senator durbin, in urging the United States senate to do the right thing and grant protective status to venezuelans in this country at this moment. I want to thank them for their continued leadership on this issue and making sure that we have immigration policies that live up to what this country has always stood for. As my colleagues have pointed out, venezuela is suffering a dire humanitarian crisis under the dictatorship of nicholas maduro. Its economy has collapsed. Its medical system is in free fall. And theyre governing through a reign of terror. Even before covid19 struck, venezuelans were facing shortages of food, of water, of gasoline and other lifesaving items. The pandemic has taken a very bad situation and made it much worse. In fact, desperate. An estimated twothirds of physicians in venezuela lack access to basic sanitary equipment like gloves, masks, soap, or goggles. And only 25 of the doctors have reliable Running Water in their hospitals and clinics. But on top of this desperate economic situation, you have the political tyranny and terror that has been imposed by the maduro regime. In fact, as my colleagues pointed out just this morning u. N. Investigators found that Venezuelan Security forces and ally groups have committed systemic human rights violations, including killings and torture amounting to crimes against humanity. Reasonable grounds exist to believe that president maduro and his interior and defense ministers ordered or contributed to these crimes against humanity that are documented in the u. N. Report. And the u. N. Factfinding mission has said that other National Jurisdictions and the International Criminal court should consider prosecutions. So you have a desperate situation, and President Trump claims to support the people of venezuela facing this tyranny and this desperation. In fact, as senator durbin said, he has on numerous occasions said he was sympathetic, that he wants to help. Heres what he said last year. Quote, to the venezuelans trapped in this nightmare, please know that all of america is behind you. Thats what senator trump said. And yet, he has refused to use his authority to take action to grant venezuelans here in the United States that temporary protective status. He wants to send them back to what he describes as a nightmare, a nightmare thats getting worse by the day, as documented by the u. N. Report. He wants to send them back to a place where the u. N. Has just found the government implicated in crimes against humanity. Because the president refuses to do what he says, refuses to actually take actions to help, the house passed legislation to grant venezuelans t. P. S. My colleagues, senator menendez and senator durbin, have introduced that legislation here in the senate. Im proud to cosponsor that. But as were saying here today, the fastest thing to do is just take up the house bill and pass it. And its incredibly disturbing that our republican colleagues would get up and block a vote on that action on the very day when the government in question, the government of venezuela is found to have committed crimes against humanity, this senate, the majority in this senate says, well, dont worry about that. If youre here in the United States, were going to insist that you go back home. Were going to insist that you go put yourself and your family back in danger. Thats what our Senate Republican colleagues are saying by blocking the vote on this house t. P. S. Measure. Forcing innocent people to go home to what the president himself described as a nightmare. As my colleagues have said, and we know, this is part of an anti an inhumane, antiimmigration agenda from this administration, from the muslim ban to ending daca to the termination of t. P. S. From any other populations, this president has separated families and instilled fear in our communities. Senator menendez referenced the ninth Circuit Court decision from earlier this week, upholding on a 21 vote the president s decision to rescind t. P. S. Protections for over 400,000 individuals who are here working in our communities, living here legally with their families, many of them here for over 20 years. As he said, 130,000 of them on our front lines as essential workers. More than 10,000 of them medical professionals, putting themselves at risk to help others throughout our communities and our country. These are individuals who are our neighbors, Small Business men and women, theyre contributing to our communities and our country, and the president has said he wants to deport them. 400,000 people, despite this hour of peril both here and even more so in the countries they would be required to return to. Mr. President , thats why we have to pass the secure act to provide stability and security to those who are on t. P. S. Thats why we have to pass the American Dream and promise act that the house passed last year. And that is why we need to grant t. P. S. To venezuela. So as my colleagues say, this country can do what president s from both Political Parties have done in the past, and members of the house and senate from both Political Parties have done in the past, which is to live up to the idea that we are a place of refuge for those who are facing political persecution at home. And i dont how much more clearly you can define political persecution than by a finding by the United Nations that the government of venezuela is committing crimes against humiditiy humanity against the people of venezuela and we have seen our republican colleagues once again block this investigation that would allow our country to live up to its tra diftion doing tradition of doing the right thing. Senator menendez, i look forward to joining him as we press this issue. I guess the only good news is it seems to be getting a little harder, republican colleagues, who wants to come here in the light of day to object to it. I hope in the coming days that number will be zero and we can actually pass this important piece of legislation. And i yield the floor. The presiding officer the clerk will report the dugan nomination. The clerk nomination, the judiciary, david w. Dugan, of illinois, to be United States district judge for the Southern District of illinois. The presiding officer under the previous order, postcloture time has expired. The question is on the nomination. Is there a sufficient second . There appears to be. The clerk will call the roll. Vote vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . Seeing none, the khweis are 5, the nays are 41. The nomination is confirmed. The presiding officer under the previous order, all precloture time is expired. The question is on the mcglynn nomination. The yeas and nays is there a sufficient second . There appears to be. The clerk will call the roll. Vote vote . Vote the presiding officer are there any members in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . Seeing none, the yeas are 55, the nays are 41, and the nomination is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motions to reconsider are considered made and laid upon the table and the president will be immediately notified of the senates action. The clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. The clerk cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22, do hereby bring to a close debate on of iain d. Johnston of illinois to be United States district judge for the Northern District of illinois. Signed by 17 senators. The presiding officer by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. The question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of iain d. Johnston, of illinois, to be United States district judge for the Northern District of illinois shall be brought to a close . The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. The clerk will call the roll. Vote vote vote the presiding officer are there any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not, the yeas are 81, the nays are 15. The motion is agreed to. The clerk will report the nomination. The clerk the judiciary, iain d. Johnston of illinois to be United States district judge for the Northern District of illinois. Mr. Boozman mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from arkansas. Mr. Boozman mr. President , Health Care Workers have long been regarded as some of our nations most critical and courageous servants. During this time of challenges and uncertainty, this that is never been more accurate. Each day our Health Care Professionals make tireless sacrifices to protect and serve our country. Even if it means risking their own lives to take care of others. People like jennifer candle, a registered nurse with White River Health system, are a great example. Shes recognized as the inhouse expert for all covid19 testing. She has taken ownership of the community driveup testing appeared worked with the Arkansas Department of health to organize community testing. Rickey rob i. S. P. , a registered nurse at the Baptist Health Hot Spring County has volunteered to work extra hours, offered to operate the drivethru screening and volunteered to treat covid19 patients. And laura turkneta, a nurse at Baptist Health conway has been dependable, flexible with the hours she works to support the needs of different shifts. She provides Compassionate Care with a positive attitude. I was honored to personally thank frontline workers like them and so many others for the Critical Care theyre providing during visits to medical facilities across arkansas during the instate work period. The work these frontline workers and their colleagues do has become much more difficult. We are grateful for all they do and represent. Congress overwhelmingly supported the men and women of the medical community who are treating covid19 patients and working to find a cure to address the Public Health crisis with the passage of the cares act. This critical relief was a necessary lifeline for hospitals to continue providing services to meet the demands of communities. Helping our doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals stay safe while providing care and treatment for patients. There is more that we can do to support health care and ensure patients get reliable care. Listening to the needs of hospitals is incredibly important in many efforts to assist these vital facilities protect the jobs they create and empower their ability to serve communities and patients all across arkansas. Insight from the Health Care Community is a valuable resource that helps shape the policies that directly impact their mission, along with continuing to provide Critical Resources like p. P. E. , there are three things arkansas Health Care Professionals recommend we can do to improve services. First of all, expand broadband so more patients can take advantage of telehealth. Make expanded Telehealth Services to medicare permanent, and finally provide certainly for the 340b Drug Discount Program. Telehealth has become vital to providing effective care for patients during this Public Health emergency. Access to medical providers without leaving home offers convenience and safety against potential exposure to covid19. Having the option for virtual doctors visits can be a challenge, particularly for rural areas where Broadband Connectivity is limited. This emergency is amplified the need for this connection, but too often providers in Rural Communities are unable to meet the increased demand for telehealth efforts and services. My colleagues and i have introduced legislation to help Health Care Providers expand telehealth benefits and improve access to broadband. The Health Care Broadband expansion during covid19 act would bolster funding for providers in rural areas to increase connectivity. This bill would help more patients get the care that they need. We have a unique opportunity to see how the modifications and updates we need to make Health Programs during this Health Emergency so that they can be beneficial for the long term. The cares act provided the department of health and Human Services with the authority to waive telehealth requirements for medicare during this emergency. Providers and patients have adapted expanded telehealth opportunities. We can continue to strengthen this access by making these services permanent. Earlier this summer i joined a Bipartisan Group of senators urging our nations Top Health Agencies to make permanent changes to telehealth requirements for medicare that congress authorized in the cares act. Last month President Trump issued an executive order to improve Mental Health care in Rural America by expanding telehealth resources and services. The president s action included a proposal to parts of the medicare telehealth coverage. This is a step in the right direction. I look forward to working with the administration to implementing a rule that will enhance the delivery of health care to medicare patients. When arkansas hospital administrators shared their concerns over eligibility in the 340b program, i signed on to support senator thunes bill to provide certainty to current participants. As hospitals paused elective procedures and admissions decreased for medicare and medicaid patients, administrators hospitals that their hospitals would no longer be eligible for the 340b program increased. These are among the key metrics used for the program. The Drug Discount Program provided flexibility to Arkansas Hospitals to help lower drug prices. Extending eligibility so they can care for lowincome patients is critical. These are three measures we can take to help patients continue to get quality, reliable care. We must remember that like our valued Health Care Workers, we play an Important Role in fighting the virus. By following the guidance and recommendations laid out by our Public Health officials we can help our medical heroes and make a positive impact to prevent the spread of covid19. And with that, mr. President , i yield the floor. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the democratic whip. Mr. Durbin mr. President , its been exactly 90 days since the Supreme Court rejected President Trumps effort to end deportation protection for dreamers. Dreamers of course are young immigrants who came to the United States as children, toddlers, infants, grew up in this country believing they were part of america only to learn when they were old enough to be told and as teenagers that they were undocumented through no fault of their own. In an opinion by chief Justice John Roberts the Supreme Court held that the president s attempt to rescind the deferred action for childhood arrivals, known as daca, was, quote, arbitrary and capricious. It was ten years ago that i joined with thenrepublican senator dick lugar of indiana on a bipartisan basis to call on president obama to use his Legal Authority to protect dreamers from deportation. President obama heard our call. He responded by creating the daca program. Daca provides temporary protection from deportation to dreamers on a twoyear basis renewable if they register with the government, pay a fee, and pass criminal and National Security background checks. More than 800,000 dreamers came forward to sign up for daca. Daca unleashed their full potential. Now they could see there might be a future. They began to contribute to our country as soldiers, teachers, Small Business owners. More than 200,000 Daca Recipients are essential, Critical Infrastructure workers. Thats not my choice of words. Its the definition of President Trumps department of Homeland Security. 200,000 Daca Recipients, essential, Critical Infrastructure workers. Among these essential workers, 41,700 Daca Recipients are in health care. Theyre doctors, intensive care nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists. But despite this incredible story of these innocent children coming to the United States, not having a legal status in this country for fear of deportation, still determined to be part of americas future, and the fact that they would serve our country as essential workers and Health Care Workers despite all of that, on september 5, 2017, President Trump repealed daca. Hundreds of thousands of dreamers faced losing their work permits and being deported to countries they may not even remember. Federal courts stepped in, ordered the Trump Administration to continue daca for dreamers who had already received this protection. However, dreamers who had not already received daca were blocked from applying for this protection for nearly three years while the case languished in court. The center for American Progress estimates that approximately 300,000 dreamers have been unable to apply for the program because the case was in court. On june 19, the day after the Supreme Court rejected President Trumps repeal of daca, i led a letter from 43 Democratic Senators to the president. We called on the president to follow the law, to immediately comply with the Supreme Courts decision and reopen daca for those who were eligible to apply. Its three months now. We havent received any response from President Trump, and the Trump Administration refuses to reopen daca. In july a federal judge issued an order for the Trump Administration to begin receiving new applications for daca. Instead the acting and let me underline acting department of Homeland Security secretary chad wolf issued a memo saying d. H. S. Will, quote, reject all initial requests for daca. Lets be clear, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected President Trumps repeal of daca. That means daca returns to its original status and the Trump Administration, under the court order, must reopen the program, and they must do it now. Instead mr. Wolf is saying that d. H. S. Will turn away 300,000 applicants who are dreamers and eligible for daca but have not had a chance to apply. Its important to note that the Nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has concluded that acting secretary wolf is illegally serving. This calls into serious question any Legal Authority he claims to issue a memo refusing to reopen daca. This administration which is telling america they are dedicated to law and order is in open defiance of the Supreme Court. The stakes are high. Both for the rule of law and just as important, the lives of dreamers. To ignore this is to ignore a legitimate order of the highest court in the land. Republicans and democrats in congress should come together to compel this president to follow the law and immediately comply with the Supreme Courts mandate. June 4 last year, the house of representatives passed h. R. 6, the dream and promise act. This legislation would give dreamers a path to citizenship, my goal for years. It passed on a strong bipartisan vote. Its been pending in the senate, sitting on the desk of republican leader Mitch Mcconnell for more than 12 months. On june 19, a day after the Supreme Court decision, i sent a letter, again signed by all 47 democrats, calling on senator mcconnell to immediately give us a vote on the dream and promise act. Its been three months, still no reply. The dream and promise act also would provide a path to citizenship to 400,000 immigrants who have been living in the United States under temporary protected status. More than 90 of them are originally from el salvador, honduras and haiti. Most have lived in the United States for over 20 years. As with daca, t. P. S. Recipients must register with the government, pay a fee and clear criminal and National Security background checks. Like Daca Recipients, t. P. S. Recipients are making important contributions to america. More than 130,000 t. P. S. Holders are essential, Critical Infrastructure workers. 11,600 are Health Care Workers. My friend and the senator from arkansas just came to the floor and laud our Health Care Heroes across america in the hides of this pandemic. Ive given that same speech. I think we all have and we mean it. But did you ever stop and think how many of those Health Care Workers are Daca Recipients, dreamers, t. P. S. Holders, socalled immigrants that we want to reject and remove from this country . We praise them on one hand. We tell them to get the heck out of the United States on the other. How can that be consistent . Two years ago i negotiated Bipartisan Legislation with a path to citizenship for daca and t. P. S. Recipients. President trump profanely dismissed our bill in an Oval Office Meeting that has become infamous. Instead the president is trying to rescind t. P. S. Protections and deport hundreds of thousands of immigrants from our country. A federal judge concluded the president probing the law and broke the law and blocked his effort to end t. P. S. Earlier this week in a divided decision, two republicanappointed judges ruled the other way and lifted the injunction. This decision makes it even more important that the Senate Immediately consider the dreams and promise act. Over the years since i introduced the dream act, i decided that the only way to tell the story of this bill is to tell the story of the dreamers. Ive come to the floor 125 times to tell their stories. Today, 126. I want to tell you the story of these two people. I start with esmerlda tovar mora. In this photo shes with her husband. Esmerelda is the 12th dreamer. Came to the United States from mexico at the age of two, so she obviously had no voice in that decision. She grew up in Hutch Hutchinson kansas. She sent m me a letter. Growing up in the United States has been the only thing ive known. Pledging allegiance to the American Flag and singing the National Anthem on a daily basis made me blief i was truly american. In high school she was president of the key club, sang in the church choir and graduated magna cum laude. She was convinced she wanted a career in health care. Thanks to daca, she was able to work as a waitress to support herself through college. She is now a case manager at a Mental Health center and medication aide in an alzheimers ward in hutchinson, kansas. Shes married to michael mora. Specialist mora serves in the Kansas National guard. He recently returned from a ninemonth tour in the middle east. National guardsman serving in the middle east serving in a country that will not recognize his wife as a citizen. Let me introduce you to someone else. This is special. This beautiful little girl is esmereldas and michaels daughter rose of she just turned 4. Shes on the front line of the coronavirus pandemic and she said, weve been on lockdown since march 30, my patients are scared an lonely. Many asked me to call them grandma or grandpa. A little crumb of comfort at a time when the world around them has gone crazy. Im happy to be their adopted granddaughter, she says, it eases the pain of scrubbing my hands until they are raw and the anxiety i could infect my family. It makes me feel good to be appreciated in hutchinson. Because now i have an added stress. The United States government wants to deport me. I want to thank esmerelda for her service. She is truly an immigrant health hero. Had she a she is a daca health hero. She is putting her and her family at risk to protect others. Americans, loving members of family who may be their last day on earth. She should not also have to worry about whether shes going to be deported and her family torn apart. Isnt it enough that her husband is serving our country to prove how much this family loves america . Will we be stronger as a country if we tell esmerelda to leave or if she becomes an american citizen and continues to work on the front lines of the covid19 pandemic. I dont think the answer is even hard. I think its clear. Esmerelda and hundreds of thousands of other dreamers and t. P. S. Holders are counting those of us in the senate to solve the crisis that President Trump created. Im sorry the Senate Republicans are ignoring President Trumps defiance of the Supreme Court and refusing to bring the dream and promise act to the floor. As long as im a United States senator, ill be coming to fight for esmerelda and all immigrants. It would be an american tragedy to deport this brave and talented Health Care Worker in the midst of this pandemic. We must assure that esmerelda and hundreds of others in our essential workforce are not forced to stop working when we need them more than ever. And we must give them a hans, just a chance a chance, just a chance, to earn their way to citizenship. Mr. President , its been my honor to represent esmerelda and the hundreds of thousands of dreamers over the years. Theyve never disappointed me never. Many times we brought to the floor of the senate the dream act, bills containing the dream act. Weve managed to pass them a few times but never at the same time as the house. So theyve never become law. So for decades, literally for decades, these young people have waited for their chance. Theyve done everything they could possibly do to prove that they love this country. What will it take to convince my colleagues . What will it take to convince them that losing this beautiful young woman with this pretty little girl rose and telling this man who served our country in the Kansas National guard on a ninemonth tour of duty in the middle east, what will it take to convince my Senate Colleagues these are worthy people to become american citizens . Some of us just lucked out. Woe were born here we were born here. There was never a moment where we made a decision. We were americans from the start. But for others they had to prove their way into this country. Hasnt this beautiful young woman proven her way into america . Hasnt she told us why she should be given the right to become, a great honor, a citizen of the United States of america . I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call a senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from florida. Mr. Scott mr. President , the brave men and women of our Law Enforcement the presiding officer senator, we are in a quorum call. Mr. Scott i ask i ask unanimous consent to vitiate the quorum call. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Scott thank you. Mr. President , the brave men and women of our Law Enforcement are facing an onslaught of violence, harassment, and abuse. They deserve better. These selfless individuals are true heroes who put their lives on the line every day to protect our communities. Right now, as Hurricane Sally moves across floridas panhandle in alabama, causing massive flooding and storm surge, Law Enforcement officials are working tirelessly to keep people safe. Theyre going out into these extremely dangerous conditions to rescue those in need. We can never truly repay them for their service and their sacrifice. Throughout my eight years as governor, we lost 51 members of Law Enforcement in the line of duty. And you wouldnt believe the bravery of these individuals and the strength of the families and communities that support them. As governor and now as u. S. Senator, supporting and investing in our Law Enforcement has always been a top priority. Because of our efforts, florida now has a 40year low in our crime rate. Americans are moving to florida in droves. Not just for low taxes and great weather, but because we have safe communities, and thats thanks to our hardworking Law Enforcement. Thats why its so disturbing to see the harassment, the insults, and abuse from the liberal mob. I remember what it was like for american soldiers coming back from vietnam. Whether you agreed or disagreed with that work, the abuse and insults directed at our military men and women was disgusting and disgraceful. Were saying the same thing today directed at our men and women in blue. Its just as disgraceful. The radical left wants to defund the police. The most dangerous policy idea of my lifetime. Think about that for a minute. If we defund the police, who do you call when your house gets broken into . Who is going to control the streets to prevent Drug Trafficking and violence . Who is going to investigate murders and rapes and assaults and robberies . Whos going to protect our schools . We only have to turn on our tvs for the answer. Over the past several months, rioters and thugs filled with hate inspired by this goal of defunding the police have turned their words into violent action in cities across this great country. Throwing homemade bombs at officers and setting fire to police stations. We have watched democrat mayors and governors turn their back on law and order and try to pretend that these violent demonstrations are somehow peaceful and their partners in the media have helped. This past weekend, we saw another horrific act of senseless violence as two sheriffs deputies in los angeles were ambushed by a deranged gunman. In the evening, rioters surrounded the hospital where the deputies were fighting for their lives and chanted we hope they die. We hope they die . We should all be denouncing this heinous act, all of us, and praying for the speedy and full recovery of the deputies. And we should all be denouncing the cruel, heartless, and, frankly, pathetic disregard for human life that was clearly evident from these protesters. This antipolicemen talt is raging in American Cities and threatening the future of america as we know it. Our Law Enforcement officers dedicate their lives to protecting our communities, and we cant let these acts of violence continue. We can all agree that reforms need to be made, that its that is why its so unbelievable that my democratic colleagues refuse to even debate the Police Reform bill by senator scott from south carolina. Instead of actually doing something and having a chance at providing healing to our nation, Senate Democrats turn their back on our Law Enforcement. But we cant let the radical left use the crimes of a few bad actors to demonize good, hardworking Police Officers. Officers like Sergeant Adrian rodriguez and Sergeant James henry of the Lakeland Police department. They began the departments Neighborhood Program over six years ago, and lead two outstanding teams of officers that do everything from read to local kindergarten classes to assist the swat team with the service of highrisk drug wars. No matter the assignment, their teams work nonstop to build Community Pride in the Citizens Police department. Or officer Jimmy Bissell of the Tampa International Airport Police department. He is dedicated to bettering his community and supporting individuals who experience homelessness. He trains his colleagues on how to connect Homeless Individuals with resources and services they need. Or like corporal Margo Ferguson of the tampa police department. Courtmartial rally ferguson spent years of her career defending and protecting children by investigating crimes in the departments sex crimes and child abuse unit. Working tirelessly to hold offenders accountable. And during the pandemic, she has been working with her fellow officers and local schools to disdisburse to families who might need a helping hand. Or officers like detective Michelle Mahoney of the departments refuse to lose program which works to engage the Faithbased Community with youth offenders to help them succeed and stay on a good path, Offering Services like tutoring, employment, and Mental Health help. She is known for her empathy, understanding, and compassion for her community. Instead of attacking and defunding the police and starving these hardworking men and women of the resources they need to do their jobs, we need to do the opposite. We need to fund the police. We need to recognize and support the individuals who have worked so hard to make our nation the safe america we know and love. We need to reject dangerous proposals that threaten our communities and strip the safety we hold dear. Its time to stand up and say enough. Defunding the police is unamerican. And the antithesis of the values that make america great. Police officers across the country risk their lives every day to keep people safe, and they deserve our appreciation. They uphold their oath to serve and protect. Today im introducing a Senate Resolution to condemn the widespread violence, the hatred, the vilification of our Law Enforcement, and express our unwavering support for the brave men and women in uniform who protect us. I am proud to have senator daines here today and thank him for his unwavering commitment to Law Enforcement and for joining us today. We ask that all of our colleagues join us in support. To the sheriffs, police chiefs, sheriffs deputies, Police Officers, highway patrol, state troopers, federal marshals, and many other Law Enforcement officials serving in florida and across our country, thank you. Its time to you get the respect you deserve, and i wong less. Mr. President , at this time id like to yield to my colleague from montana. Mr. Daines i want to thank the senator from florida for yielding his time. He is not only the senator from florida but he is also a former governor. Mr. President , im here today to talk about the brave men and women of Law Enforcement in montana and across this nation. These men and women, many of whom are my friends, are the best of the best. Montana heroes literally putting their lives on the line every day to protect or families, our moms, our dads, our kids. And they dont do it for the pay or the accolades. They do it to serve their communities, to keep us safe. Because the men and women wearing that badge accept that every time they leave home to go to their shift and give their loved ones a kiss goodbye, they may never come back home. That is courage. My home county sheriff in montana, sheriff brian gukin. Just a little over a week ago, we had a huge, Massive Wildfire that struck the bridgers just north and east of bozeman in my hometown for 56 years. Huge plumes of smoke, great big fire. 11,000 acres. They rushed into the fire and evacuateds, evacuated the residents there. 28 homes were destroyed. Not a Single Person lost their life. And i can tell you why. Because it was the actions of the sheriffs department, the firefighters, and other agencies. This courage is something we should celebrate every day. This is something we should defend every day, including right here on the floor of the United States senate, but sadly some people have other ideas. And the way that members of our Law Enforcement are being treated right now around this country is atrocious. Its disturbing. Just this past weekend for members of lmplets a. s Law Enforcement lmplets a. s l. A. s Law Enforcement, a man and woman were ambushed, shot point blank. Many have seen the horrifying videos. And if that wasnt sickening enough to see that there were violent protesters storming the hospital that they were being treated at and chanting let them die. There are no words to describe the outrage of whats happening here. This