[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 4, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3387-S3389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         BIPARTISAN SPORTSMEN'S ACT OF 2014--MOTION TO PROCEED

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I now move to proceed to Calendar No. 384, 
S. 2363, the Hagan sportsmen's legislation.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will report the motion.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 384, S. 2363, a bill to 
     protect and enhance opportunities for recreational hunting, 
     fishing, and shooting, and for other purposes.

  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call 
be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


                   Recognition of the Majority Leader

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized.


                                Schedule

  Mr. REID. Following my remarks and those of the Republican leader, 
the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 11 a.m., with 
the Republicans controlling the first 30 minutes and the majority 
controlling the final 30 minutes.
  At 11 a.m. the Senate will proceed to executive session and begin a 
series of up to four rollcall votes. The first three will be votes on 
confirmation of U.S. district court judges and the last vote will be a 
cloture vote on the nomination of Sylvia Burwell to be Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.
  There will be a Senators-only briefing at 5:30 p.m. today.


                   Recognition of the Minority Leader

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader is 
recognized.


                   Unanimous Consent Request--S. 2414

  Mr. McCONNELL. I had indicated to the majority leader I was going to 
have a unanimous consent request. I am going to propound that now.
  I ask unanimous consent that the Environment and Public Works 
Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. 2414, the Coal 
Country Protection Act and the Senate proceed

[[Page S3388]]

to its immediate consideration. I further ask consent that the bill be 
read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered 
made and laid upon the table.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?
  The majority leader.
  Mr. REID. Reserving the right to object, the rule will not become 
effective for a long time. The normal period of time to make comments 
when rules are being promulgated is 60 days. This one is 120 days. The 
reason for that is Members of my caucus want to weigh in on this to try 
to improve the suggested rule that has come from the EPA.
  I am waiting to read the proposed regulation myself, which I have not 
done. I have been briefed on it by my staff, and I will read this 
closely, as I am sure every Senator will.
  I know the importance of this issue, and I will be as cooperative as 
I feel is appropriate with the Republican leader. But at this time I 
object.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard.


                Measure Placed on the Calendar--S. 2422

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, there is a bill, S. 2422, that is at the 
desk and due for a second reading.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will read the bill by 
title for the second time.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2422) to improve the access of veterans to 
     medical service from the Department of Veterans Affairs, and 
     for other purposes.

  Mr. REID. I would object, Mr. President, to any further proceedings 
with regard to this bill at this time.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Objection is heard. The bill will 
be placed upon the calendar.


                             U.S. Military

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, the late military historian John Keegan once 
said:

       Soldiers, when committed to a task, can't compromise. It's 
     unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, 
     absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until 
     it's been done.

  The integrity of the American soldiers safeguards our American 
democracy. Their devotion to duty, even in the face of difficult, 
trying circumstances, is what protects this Nation.
  We have seen that up close the last 10 years or so with the war in 
Iraq and the conflict in Afghanistan. So I am very thankful for members 
of the U.S. Armed Forces and that they do not compromise their honor.
  This past weekend our military refused to abandon its duty, instead 
fulfilling its obligation to never, ever, leave a soldier behind.
  The release of American prisoner of war SGT Bowe Bergdahl was the 
culmination of heroic efforts by our military, our government, and our 
President.
  President Obama, as Commander in Chief, acted honorably in helping an 
American soldier return home to his family. Sergeant Bergdahl's release 
is the answer to many Americans' prayers. I can't imagine how relieved 
his parents and family must feel.
  It is my understanding that the wait for the parents has been really 
unrelenting and difficult. We have seen his dad with his long, flowing 
beard. He decided to grow that beard as long as his son was gone. His 
son is home now--or almost home.
  Unfortunately, though, opponents of President Obama have seized upon 
the release of an American prisoner of war, using what should be a 
moment of unity and celebration for our Nation as a chance to play 
political games.
  The safe return of an American soldier should not be used to score 
political points. When a man or woman puts on a uniform as a U.S. 
serviceman, they have America's uncompromising support.
  Only a couple of weeks ago, the junior Senator from New Hampshire 
released a statement touting her diligence in calling upon the 
Department of Defense to ``do all it can to find Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl 
and bring him home.''
  In April, the Republican leader and the junior Senator from 
Pennsylvania sponsored a resolution ``to express the sense of the 
Senate that no member of the Armed Forces who is missing in action 
should be left behind.''
  Senator Inhofe, the senior Senator from Oklahoma, even said that the 
United States ``must make every effort to bring this captured soldier 
home to his family.''
  President Obama and his team did just that. They made every effort 
and brought this young man home. The request was made by the Senator 
from New Hampshire, the Republican leader, the junior Senator from 
Pennsylvania, and the senior Senator from Oklahoma.
  Yet some of these Senators are now denouncing the very same efforts 
that secured Sergeant Bergdahl's release. It is clear they are worried 
his release could be seen as a victory for President Obama. As the 
President said, this is not a victory for him; it is a victory for the 
United States military and our country.
  Let me put that notion to rest then. It is not a victory for 
President Obama. It is a victory for our soldiers, their families, and 
our great country. No member of the Armed Forces should be left behind, 
and President Obama saw to that.
  There are questions regarding Sergeant Bergdahl's disappearance and 
whether or not military code was violated. These are issues that will 
be resolved by the U.S. Army, not Monday morning quarterbacks on 
Capitol Hill.
  But let me just say this. For the sake of argument, let's assume that 
Bergdahl did violate his sworn oath. What do we do? Do we mete out 
justice to an American soldier--us, our country? As the Chairman of the 
Joint Chiefs of Staff has said yesterday, or the day before, if he has 
done something wrong, military justice will step in and take care of 
that violation--if, in fact, there was one.
  I don't know, but certainly that is a better approach than having the 
Taliban do it. I will choose the justice system, the U.S. Army, 
American justice, every time.
  We have seen the brutality of the Taliban. Whatever the results of 
the military's inquiries, it doesn't change the fact that one more 
American soldier is home safely.
  What was the alternative?
  Would any American honestly prefer that a U.S. soldier remain in 
captivity until all the questions have been answered? Of course not. In 
the United States we rescue our soldiers first and ask questions later.
  This is what RADM John Kirby said in a quote that is so powerful:

       When you are in the Navy, and you go overboard, it doesn't 
     matter if you were pushed, fell or jumped. We're going to 
     turn the ship around and pick you up.

  That is what Rear Admiral Kirby said--again:

       When you are in the Navy, and you go overboard, it doesn't 
     matter if you were pushed, fell or jumped. We're going to 
     turn the ship around and pick you up.

  I am grateful for the many people who refused to forget about 
Sergeant Bergdahl and worked tirelessly to secure his release.
  America is glad he is home.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republican leader.


                      Coal Country Protection Act

  Mr. McCONNELL. President Obama's new energy regulations would shift 
middle class jobs overseas, splinter our manufacturing base, and boost 
energy costs for struggling families.
  The regulations could also lead to a reduction of nearly half a 
million jobs, according to an AFL-CIO union estimate. The union's 
leader characterized the job loss as ``long term and irreversible.'' He 
noted that the President's regulations would not achieve ``any 
significant reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions''--this is an 
AFL-CIO union leader--in other words, lots of pain for minimal gain.
  The President's energy regulations would hurt the poor, the 
unemployed, seniors, and especially families in Kentucky. Kentucky coal 
sector employment has collapsed by about 7,000 jobs since President 
Obama took office.
  Eastern Kentucky just saw a 3-percent reduction in coal jobs in the 
first quarter of 2014. At least three additional Kentuckians lose their 
paychecks indirectly for every mining job that is lost.
  As one coal leader noted, the administration's proposed regulations 
would only add to the economic challenges facing Kentucky--especially 
in Eastern Kentucky, which is ground zero for what is happening in coal 
country.
  The Coal Country Protection Act is cosponsored by several Senators, 
including Senator Rand Paul, and is supported by the Kentucky Coal 
Association.

[[Page S3389]]

  It would require that simple but important benchmarks be met before 
the President's new rules could take effect. No. 1, the Secretary of 
Labor would have to certify that the regulations would not generate a 
loss of employment.
  No. 2, the Director of the Congressional Budget Office would have to 
certify that the regulations would not result in any loss in American 
gross domestic product.
  No. 3, the Administrator of the Energy Information Administration 
would have to certify that the regulations would not increase 
electricity rates.
  No. 4, the Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the 
president of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation would 
have to certify that electricity delivery would remain reliable. So the 
Coal Country Protection Act is just common sense.
  Moments ago the majority leader blocked consideration of this 
measure. Unless we take this up, debate it, and pass it, the 
President's rules will cause job loss, utility rate hikes, and 
potentially brownouts. The President's regulations will actually 
increase energy prices and create job loss.
  Opponents of this bill will be supporting job loss in Kentucky, our 
economy being hurt, and seniors' energy bills spiking for almost zero 
meaningful global carbon reduction.
  So the majority leader and the Democrats in this body need to listen. 
And even if they won't, Kentuckians should know I will keep fighting 
for them.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.


                       RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the 
leadership time is reserved.

                          ____________________