[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 144 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5968-S5971]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (H.R. 5325) making appropriations for the
Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2017, and for other purposes.
Amendment No. 5082
(Purpose: In the nature of a substitute)
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a substitute amendment at the
desk that I ask the clerk to report.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell], for Mr. Cochran,
proposes an amendment numbered 5082.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
(The amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of
Amendments.'')
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Amendment No. 5083 to Amendment No. 5082
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have an amendment that is at the desk
that I ask the clerk to report.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] proposes an
amendment numbered 5083 to amendment No. 5082.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the
amendment be dispensed with.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The amendment is as follows:
At the end add the following:
This Act shall take effect 1 day after the date of
enactment.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Amendment No. 5084 to amendment No. 5083
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the
desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] proposes an
amendment numbered 5084 to amendment No. 5083.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike ``1 day'' and insert ``2 days''.
Amendment No. 5085
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have an amendment to the text
proposed to be stricken.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] proposes an
amendment numbered 5085 to the language proposed to be
stricken by amendment No. 5082.
The amendment is as follows:
At the end add the following:
This Act shall take effect 3 days after the date of
enactment.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Amendment No. 5086 to Amendment No. 5085
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the
desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] proposes an
amendment numbered 5086 to amendment No. 5085.
[[Page S5969]]
The amendment is as follows:
Strike ``3 days'' and insert ``4 days''.
Motion to Commit with Amendment No. 5087
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a motion to commit H.R. 5325
with instructions, which is at the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the motion.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] moves to commit
the bill to the Appropriations Committee with instructions to
report back forthwith with an amendment numbered 5087.
The amendment is as follows:
At the end add the following:
This Act shall take effect 5 days after the date of
enactment.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask for the yeas and nays on that motion.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Amendment No. 5088
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have an amendment to the instructions
at the desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] proposes an
amendment numbered 5088 to the instructions of the motion to
commit H.R. 5325.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike ``5'' and insert ``6''.
Mr. McCONNELL. I ask for the yeas and nays on that amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
There appears to be a sufficient second.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
Amendment No. 5089 to Amendment No. 5088
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a second-degree amendment at the
desk.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
The Senator from Kentucky [Mr. McConnell] proposes an
amendment numbered 5089 to amendment No. 5088.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike ``6'' and insert ``7''.
Cloture Motion
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk for
the substitute amendment.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
Cloture Motion
We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the
provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate,
do hereby move to bring to a close debate on Senate amendment
No. 5082 to H.R. 5325, an act making appropriations for the
Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2017, and for other purposes.
Mitch McConnell, Mike Rounds, Thad Cochran, John Cornyn,
Daniel Coats, Roger F. Wicker, Thom Tillis, John
Barrasso, Lamar Alexander, John Hoeven, Pat Roberts,
Orrin G. Hatch, Susan M. Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Steve
Daines, Tom Cotton.
Cloture Motion
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I have a cloture motion at the desk for
the underlying bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
Cloture Motion
We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the
provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate,
do hereby move to bring to a close debate on H.R. 5325, an
act making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other
purposes.
Mitch McConnell, Mike Rounds, Thad Cochran, John Cornyn,
Daniel Coats, Thom Tillis, Roger F. Wicker, John
Barrasso, Lamar Alexander, John Hoeven, Pat Roberts,
Orrin G. Hatch, Susan M. Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Steve
Daines, Tom Cotton.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the
mandatory quorum calls under rule XXII be waived for these cloture
motions.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, there have been broad requests for a
clean continuing resolution. So that is what I have just offered. It is
a result of many hours of bipartisan work on both sides of the aisle.
It is a fair proposal. It funds all current government operations
through December 9, while also providing funding for the new
legislation we have just passed overwhelmingly and that the President
has signed. That is legislation to address the heroin and prescription
opioid epidemic as well as the TSCA bill.
It contains a sufficient downpayment on flood relief for many States,
including Maryland, West Virginia, and Louisiana, and, of course, it
includes important resources to support our veterans and combat Zika.
These are resources needed to help develop a vaccine and promote
mosquito control.
Members will have the next 4 days to review before any votes are
taken in relation to the issue. Further, we expect the President to
either sign or send up the veto message on JASTA by tomorrow. Beginning
the process on the clean CR today will ensure that there is adequate
time to finish before the override vote and before the current
government funding runs out next week. Then we can turn to the veto
override.
I look forward to continuing with bipartisan cooperation so we can
complete our important work on Zika, veterans funding, and the clean CR
that will fund the government through December 9.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Maryland.
Ms. MIKULSKI. Mr. President, I rise as the ranking member on the
Appropriations Committee. I want to say to my colleagues on both sides
of the aisle that over the past few weeks, we Democrats have negotiated
with the Republicans to come up with a responsible continuing funding
resolution that keeps the government open through December 9, giving
Congress time to complete an appropriations process.
Our goal was to respond to compelling urgent needs: Zika, Flint,
floods in Louisiana, and also our national security as well as those
things that are important to the economy of the United States of
America. We wanted to be sure it did not include any poison pill riders
but did contain the continuing funding for veterans and military
construction. Our negotiations have been cordial and productive. I
compliment the other side of the aisle on their professionalism and on
their civility.
We are now down to a handful of issues, but they are down to the real
issues. The majority leader has filed a Republican-only bill with a
substitute that has now been placed before the Senate today. We
Democrats cannot vote for that substitute and urge others to vote
against it.
We want to be sure we avoid a government shutdown and a government
showdown and continue the constructive talks that we have had, but the
substitute offered by the Republican majority leader falls short. What
is wrong with the bill before us?
One, it fails to help the people of Flint, MI; 100,000 people in
Flint, MI, are still waiting for their water to be clean and safe;
9,000 children have already had lead exposure that can cause permanent
and irreversible damage. It tells Michigan to keep waiting in line.
We know the people of Louisiana have been hit by terrible floods. We
don't want to just give lip service in response to their needs but
Louisiana is not the only ``need'' in America. We believe the people of
Flint, MI--the people of Flint who have been waiting for more than 1
year--should be included in this continuing resolution.
I want to be clear. We do want to help the people of Louisiana, but
we also want to help the people of Flint. The other side of the aisle
says Flint can be handled 2 months from now with a bill called WRDA--
the water resources development bill. The House has made no commitment
to help Flint in that bill. They haven't even brought WRDA to the floor
for action.
The people of Flint need help now. They actually needed help 9 months
ago. Remember, they are in a jackpot because of flawed budget cuts and
our failure to enact a comprehensive infrastructure bill where cities
like Flint, Baltimore, and so on could do something about their aging
water infrastructure and at the same time create American jobs in our
own urban communities.
[[Page S5970]]
The Senate passed Flint funding on the WRDA bill 95 to 3 last week.
So why wait? It is paid for. We have a framework for proceeding. Let's
just do it. Also, while Democrats continue to fight for Flint, we will
not stand by on partisan policy riders such as the SEC political
disclosure to a 10-week continuing funding resolution.
I know the 135,000 Marylanders who work for the Federal Government
want to stay on the job. I want them to know we are working very hard
to keep the government open and to avoid a shutdown or a slamdown. We
need to make sure we help our veterans. We need to make sure we have
the funds to fight Zika and the terrible challenge of children being
born with the most horrific and lifelong--as short as their little
lives might be--permanent handicaps, and we want to help Flint. Most of
all, we know that in a trillion-dollar budget that funds both domestic
and military, we have a framework to move ahead.
Very serious work has been done on national security: the funding of
the Department of Defense, the funding of other agencies that
contribute to our national security, whether it is the State Department
and diplomatic efforts, whether it is Homeland Security. Didn't they do
a good job responding last weekend to the challenges in New York? In
every community we face these.
At the same time, when you look at the Labor-HHS, an agency such as
the National Institutes of Health, we want them to keep the lights on
so they can keep the light of hope going on to make sure we find cures
for disease. We will say more about this.
We appreciate the majority leader for continuing conversation with
us. We are a work in progress. Let's get back to work. Let's continue
to make progress. We have taken steps forward. Let's not take steps
sideways or take steps backward. Let's continue making progress. Let's
get rid of the poison pill riders. Let's come to an agreement on how we
can help Louisiana and help Flint and resolve some of these other
issues.
Mr. President, we look forward to more conversation, more
constructive conversation, and our side of the aisle stands ready to
engage in those conversations and negotiations. I urge my colleagues to
be on standby and to wish us well so we keep doing the job we were
elected to do.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Supporting Our Nation's Law Enforcement Officers
Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, today I want to talk about the brave men
and women who put their lives on the line each day to keep us safe--law
enforcement officers. Last month I spent much of my time meeting with
various law enforcement agencies across Arkansas. In the wake of the
shooting in Dallas and other violence against police officers, I wanted
Arkansas' law enforcement officers to know that I support them and that
Arkansans support them. I wanted to learn a little more about what life
looks like from their perspective.
From the North Little Rock Police Department, to the Prosecuting
Attorneys Association, to the Federal prison in Forrest City, to the
Arkansas Sheriffs' Association in Northwest Arkansas--each of these
meetings left me confident in our State's law enforcement officers and
provided me with valuable insight into the law enforcement community.
Police officers in Arkansas and across the country have a difficult
job, one that is unlike any other career. In the Army, my soldiers and
I fought overseas to keep our country safe, but at the end of our
tours, we went home, and many of us transitioned to other safer jobs.
But for law enforcement officers, there is no end to the tour. They put
their lives on the line every single day to keep us safe. We owe them a
debt of gratitude, and we ought to find ways to support our officers
more and ensure that their communities and the country as a whole have
a better understanding of their hard work and sacrifice.
Each of the law enforcement groups I met had a similar message: Law
enforcement officers need support, cooperation, and assistance. They
need support from their communities and their leadership at every
level--local, State, and Federal. They need to know that we are on
their side, and in the face of controversy, they need to know they have
leaders who will be a steady hand.
Given the controversy surrounding law enforcement recently, it is
easy to take a different view, but most officers, like most soldiers
with whom I served in the Army, are committed to upholding the
discipline and integrity of their force. They want those who violate
policy and especially the law to be held accountable, but they also
want those decisions made in a factual, unbiased way.
To keep us safe, law enforcement officers also need the cooperation
and assistance of those they are sworn to protect. They know this will
help them not only to investigate and punish crime but also, and more
importantly, to stop crime before it happens. They have a constant and
regular presence which serves not only to deter the criminal element
but also to reassure and gain the support of the vast majority of law-
abiding Arkansans who are going to provide the tips or help smooth the
waters in moments of tension.
So how do we achieve these things? I believe there are a few simple
steps. First, take a moment to recognize our law enforcement officers
and the vital work they do. So many officers commented to me how
thankful they were to see yard signs announcing support for the police
or when someone picked up their lunch or just said a simple thank you.
Law enforcement is a tough job and it can be a little strange.
Officers dedicate their lives to protecting law-abiding citizens, who
are the vast majority of all Americans. Yet they have to spend much of
their time around the tiny minority and the criminal element to protect
those law-abiding citizens. Therefore, it means a lot when they hear
from you.
Second, law enforcement agencies ought to continue their outreach
efforts to the communities they serve. On a visit to the Jonesboro
Police Department, Chief Rick Elliot told me: ``It all gets back to
community relations and outreach.'' I was struck by how many of our
police officers in Arkansas work to become integral parts of their
communities.
In El Dorado, the police department recently shared a video of an
officer singing and dancing with local kids at the area Boys & Girls
Club. The Little Rock Police Department announced an upcoming ``Coffee
with a Cop'' event, which will allow Arkansans to come and meet their
police officers in a casual setting. A school resource officer in
Morrilton made State and national news last month for starting ``Cop
Car Karaoke'' to get to know his students better. I could go on.
But let's be honest. These aren't the stories dominating the
headlines. These days, it seems like the police make the news most
often when there is an officer involved in use of force, like in
Ferguson or now in Charlotte, or when cops are gunned down in the line
of duty, like in Dallas and Baton Rouge. Sadly, these stories often
have a racial element, too, which, of course, drives more media
coverage. We haven't seen a story like this in Arkansas lately, but the
law enforcement officers with whom I spoke all knew it could happen at
any time. That is one reason why they stressed community engagement so
much, especially in Black neighborhoods where tensions can run the
highest.
So the final step, after citizens and law enforcement officers do
their part, is for elected leaders and community leaders to do ours.
Too often, leaders jump to conclusions after an officer-involved use of
force, not least so they can jump in front of a television camera. But,
as we have seen in Ferguson and Baltimore, for example, first
impressions can often be wrong. One thing I learned in the Army is that
first reports often, even usually, are wrong or at least incomplete.
Our leaders shouldn't fan the flames of racial tension and divide our
communities before all the facts are known. After all, there is always
a neutral, impartial inquiry following an officer-involved use
[[Page S5971]]
of force, especially a shooting. Our leaders ought to let those
inquiries occur in a calm, dispassionate setting and call upon all
other citizens to do the same. They certainly should never condone
rioting.
When the use of force is justified, we ought to support the officer,
and when it is not, the public demands accountability.
During my visits around the State, I met with several veteran
officers, but I also spoke with many new recruits and newly hired
officers. You might expect these rookies to be discouraged by anti-
police protests and the recent assassinations of law enforcement
officers. On the contrary, they said they were more motivated than ever
to prove themselves to the people they serve and to honor the
sacrifices of those officers killed in the line of duty. We are lucky
to have men and women like them.
As I left my meeting with the officers at the Arkansas State Police
Headquarters in Little Rock, I stopped to pay my respects at the Hall
of Honor, a memorial dedicated to the troopers who lost their lives in
the line of duty. Toward the back of the room, above a small star for
each lost trooper, inscribed in the wall are the words ``In Valor There
is Hope.'' These words are particularly poignant right now.
I am grateful for every officer at every department and agency who
displays professionalism and courage in the face of danger every day.
In their valor, the American people do, indeed, find hope.
Thank you.
God bless our men and women in blue.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Tribute to Emily Winterson
Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, today I rise to celebrate the retirement
of Emily Winterson, an immigration specialist in my Boston office, who
has served the people of Massachusetts and the United States for over
32 years.
Emily began working in the Senate on March 7, 1984, and has worked
for four consecutive Massachusetts Senators since then. First, Emily
worked in the office of Senator Ted Kennedy for over 20 years. When
Senator Kennedy passed, she stayed on to work for Senator Paul Kirk,
then Senator Scott Brown, and now she has been on my team in the Boston
office since I was sworn in.
As my colleagues know well, there are two parts to a Senate office.
The side the Nation hears about most often and is in the news is the
legislative work we do right here in Washington. But there is an
equally important side to our work, and that is the help we provide
back home. We would not be able to offer this critical help without
devoted people like Emily Winterson. Emily has committed entirely to
this work, and she has touched the lives of countless families across
the State of Massachusetts. With her years of expertise and her
relentless determination, she has helped people navigate our complex
immigration system, and she does it all with exceptional humility and
grace.
When someone has a last-minute passport problem and may not be able
to make the trip with the group from the temple or the church, Emily
has been the one to cut through the redtape. When a student needs a
visa to be able to attend one of our great universities, Emily is
there. When extraordinary musicians or performers from around the world
needed help getting into the country, Emily was there. When families
needed her most, when foreign adoptions were tangled up and families
were divided or stranded, Emily was there. When sick children needed to
get medical care at world-class hospitals in Boston and around our
State, Emily was there. No matter the issue, Emily always knew the
right people to call to get results in government offices both here and
abroad--and they all knew Emily.
There are too many stories to count, but I want to tell just one. A
young woman came from China to the United States to study medicine at
Boston University. While she was here, she was diagnosed with leukemia.
She had no family in America and she desperately needed help getting a
visa for her sister to come to the United States to help take care of
her. As have so many others, she reached out to Emily for help.
Now, Emily was able to get the visa for her sister to come and to
support her through a long and very difficult treatment, but the story
doesn't stop there. Without any form of financial support and unable to
work, the young woman faced eviction. Together with the help of
Catholic Charities, Emily helped secure the funds needed to help her
get caught up on her rent.
During all of this, the young woman's student visa expired, which
left her ineligible for health care. Once again, Emily got to work and
was able to obtain deferred action on her visa. Emily even helped her
find an apartment near the hospital when she was being treated, and in
her usual ``do more than anyone would expect,'' Emily even helped her
furnish the place.
Still, the young woman's health worsened. As she was nearing her
final days, her last wish was to see her mother, whom she had not seen
for 12 years during her studies. Again, Emily concentrated all of her
efforts on securing an expedited visa for her mother so she could be
with her before she passed. Because of Emily's tireless work, this
young woman, far from home, spent her final days with the support and
care of her mother and her sister.
Emily was there for her through thick and thin. When this young woman
needed help and had no one to turn to, Emily was there. With steadfast
commitment, Emily fought for her.
Now, this is just one of many stories that together form the fabric
of Emily's life work. At a time when many Americans feel that
government is not working for them, a system that too often overlooks
those in need, Emily is a shining example of the powers of public
service. She embodies the link between government and the people. She
has dedicated her working life to making government fulfill its most
fundamental mission--improving the lives of the people it serves.
Emily Winterson has shown us all that when we take time to listen to
someone's story, when we have the compassion to care about their
troubles and the determination to fight on their behalf, we have the
power to improve each other's lives. This is government by the people
and for the people. Emily is American politics at its best. This is the
legacy that Emily leaves behind.
We will all miss her greatly. Although we are sad to see Emily leave,
we could not be happier for her as she begins her much earned
retirement in October. I know she is looking forward to gardening, to
working on her memoirs, and to spending more time with her children and
her grandchildren.
So, Emily, on behalf of the people fortunate enough to work alongside
you, for the State of Massachusetts and for the thousands of people you
have served, thank you. We wish you the best as you move into the next
chapter of your life.
Thank you, Mr. President.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________