[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 10, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S119-S122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Funding the Government

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, just last week we began the second 
session of the 115th Congress. We are now safely into 2018, and we 
should be talking about what we can accomplish for the American people 
in the new year. We simply face a long list of unfinished business from 
2017--last year--and, unfortunately, we have a very short window in 
which to get it done.
  We are 4 months into fiscal year 2018, and we still don't have a 
budget deal. I am vice chairman of the Appropriations Committee. We 
should have had this done long before now. Our agencies are operating 
under last year's funding levels. They have little flexibility to 
handle the problems they face today.
  We still haven't reauthorized the Children's Health Insurance 
Program, what we call CHIP, so that puts the healthcare of 9 million 
children at risk. These are American children.
  Nearly 800,000 Dreamers live under uncertainty and fear of 
deportation, living in the country they have known most of their lives. 
I don't know how anybody, Republican or Democrat, could call this 
acceptable.
  Now, I know the Republicans control the House, they control the 
Senate, and they control the White House. They are in charge. They have 
to show responsibility and show leadership on these issues, but instead 
of addressing these issues, last year the Republican leadership spent 
time rolling back sensible regulations designed to protect the American 
consumer, designed to protect our environment, and designed to protect 
people from harassment in the workplace. They rolled those all back, 
and then they passed a massive tax cut for big corporations and the 
wealthiest of Americans.
  We Democrats have been calling for bipartisan budget talks since 
June--7 months ago. We have passed three continuing resolutions since 
September of last year to give us more time to strike a deal on the 
budget and Dreamers and CHIP and disaster funding. These are just to 
name a few, but they are enormously important to the people who are 
experiencing the disasters or who have children who need healthcare or 
who are Dreamers. Yet, on the 102nd day of the fiscal year, there are 
only 9 days until the next fiscal cliff, and we don't have a budget 
deal.
  President Trump said months ago that the country could use a good 
government shutdown. I don't agree with

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him, but I am beginning to think that is exactly what his party is 
angling for--a manufactured crisis to distract from the fact that they 
are not doing their job.
  The Washington Post seemed to confirm this last December, when it 
reported the President privately told people that a government shutdown 
would be good for him politically. In all of my years in the Senate--I 
have been here under Republican and Democratic Presidents alike--I have 
never heard such damaging rhetoric come from the President of the 
United States.
  Nobody wants a government shutdown--nobody. It is devastating to 
people not only throughout the government but to people throughout the 
whole country. However, that seems to be what they are vying for.
  For months, I have been calling for a bipartisan budget deal that is 
based on parity--equal increases for defense and nondefense programs--
that would provide relief from sequestration. I agree with the 
Republicans and Democrats who say military readiness has suffered under 
sequestration but so has our Nation's economy, so has our educational 
system, so has our infrastructure, and so has our care for our 
veterans.

  If we want to combat the problems caused by sequestration, we have to 
raise the caps on both sides of the ledger. Fixing one side of the 
equation will not address the needs of our Nation and, even worse, will 
actually shortchange our military.
  If we don't invest in our economy, if we don't invest in the 
education of our youth, the military will not have expert, qualified 
soldiers, the men and women on whom they rely. If we don't invest in 
our diplomacy, our Nation and the world become less safe. If we don't 
improve our cyber security defenses and our physical infrastructure, we 
become soft targets for those who would do us harm, both in this 
country and outside this country. If we don't care for our veterans, we 
are not going to have young men and women who are willing to serve.
  This week, the majority leader came to the floor making the case for 
increased defense spending. He asked us to listen to our nonpartisan 
military leaders about what they think is needed to keep this country 
safe. I couldn't agree more.
  To that end, I have two letters signed by a combined 560 retired 
admirals, generals, and other former military members. I ask unanimous 
consent to have these letters printed in the Record following my 
remarks.
  I have no idea what these admirals', generals', and others' political 
parties are, but they make the case that we have to increase our 
investment in domestic priorities--including education and childcare, 
as well as diplomacy--if we are going to keep our country safe and 
support our military. Secretary of Defense Mattis said even more 
bluntly: If we do not fully fund the State Department, we should be 
prepared to buy more ammunition for our military.
  The wisdom of our military leaders notwithstanding, Republicans 
appear to be dug in. They claim equal increases for both defense and 
nondefense programs would add too much to our deficit and burden our 
children. It is one over the other. It is hard to have somebody say 
that with a straight face in the wake of the President signing a tax 
bill to add $1.5 trillion to our Nation's debt and to benefit primarily 
large corporations and the wealthiest Americans. You can't make the 
argument that we can't afford to take care of our domestic needs. It is 
simply not credible.
  Budget negotiations are not the only place where Republicans haven't 
engaged in a productive way. President Trump's decision to end the DACA 
Program has put nearly 800,000 Dreamers in this country in an untenable 
position. The decision was as cruel as it was senseless. It may make a 
tweet that people look at, but if you are one of those Dreamers and you 
are on your way to school and are expecting a scholarship to college 
and you don't know if you are going to be in this country tomorrow, 
that is not a tweet.
  The President should have worked with Congress. He should have found 
a permanent legislative solution while keeping DACA protections in 
place. I believe he terminated the program under false pretenses, 
yielding to xenophobic voices in his administration, and last night a 
Federal judge issued an order that said just that: Terminating DACA was 
not required under the law--far from it. But a court order that only 
temporarily halts the administration from dismantling DACA provides 
little comfort to Dreamers. They live each and every day uncertain of 
the future and with fear of deportation.
  Now, I have heard Members of the Senate trying to decide at what time 
we are going to finish voting for the week. Their big fear is this: Are 
we going to make our flight home?
  Dreamers have to worry if their flight is going to be out of this 
country and back to a country they don't even know. They worry if they 
will have to leave the country they know and love.
  Dreamers are Americans in every way, except on paper. They were 
brought here as children, through no fault of their own. They are law-
abiding members of our community. They attend school. They serve as 
doctors and teachers. They defend our homeland as brave men and women 
in uniform.
  This is a crisis of the President's own making. Now, Congress needs 
to pick up the pieces. I hope, after the meeting yesterday, we will be 
allowed to pick up the pieces. We have spent months trying to find a 
path forward, but you can't find one if the administration keeps moving 
the goalposts.
  We need to address the fate of the Dreamers now. You can take a poll 
in this country. The American people want us to. Also, look at the 
broad bipartisan support on display yesterday at the White House. 
Republicans and Democrats want to fix the mess that the President 
created. A solution should be within our grasp.
  The White House has made unreasonable demands, such as $18 billion of 
American tax dollars to build a wall on the southern border, in 
exchange for Dreamers. The $18 billion wall is last century's solution. 
It does nothing for this century.
  If they really believe Mexico is going to pay for it, I have a 
solution. Open a bank account and, as Mexico sends us money, then use 
it to build a wall. Don't ask the American taxpayers, who are strapped 
at home, to pay for something the President says the Mexicans will pay 
for. Open an account, find out if they are telling the truth, let the 
money come into the account, and then build it.
  But, worse, don't use the Dreamers as negotiable commodities. They 
are not commodities. They are human beings. They are people who deserve 
to have their dreams. Let's pass a bill--we could do it this week--
protecting Dreamers now. Republicans control the House, the Senate, and 
the White House. This is their government.
  We have a week and a half before the next continuing resolution 
expires. We have a lot to do. Let's get serious. Let's get to work. I 
am willing to work here every day, every night, right through the 
weekend. Let's get it done. We are not doing it for us. We are doing it 
for all the American people. Let's do it for all the American people--
not for special interests, not for one party. Let's do it for all the 
American people. It could be done, if we want to.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                                               Mission: Readiness,


                                 Council for a Strong America,

                                                     May 30, 2017.
       Members of Congress: As retired admirals and generals, we 
     know from our experience that no matter how much we spend to 
     build our military and procure the latest and greatest 
     technology, we will never be a secure nation if we do not 
     have qualified and skilled men and women to fill the ranks of 
     our Armed Forces. Therefore, investing in education for our 
     youngest children, which is the foundation of our future 
     national security, is essential. Accordingly, we urge 
     Congress to prioritize investments in early childhood 
     programs, including funding for Head Start, the Child Care 
     and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), and Preschool 
     Development Grants in FY18 Labor, Health and Human Services, 
     Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
       Mission: Readiness is the national security organization of 
     retired top military leaders that recognize the strength of 
     our military depends on our people. The stunning fact is that 
     today, 71 percent of young adults ages 17 to 24 cannot 
     qualify for military service because they are too poorly 
     educated, medically or physically unfit, or have a 
     disqualifying record of crime or drug abuse. if these issues 
     are not addressed, the Nation risks a shortage of qualified 
     recruits--one that will leave the country vulnerable for 
     years to come.

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       Mounting research shows that the early years of life have 
     an incredible impact on educational attainment, behaviors and 
     health. High-quality early interventions can help vulnerable 
     children succeed in school, stay on the right side of the law 
     and achieve a healthy weight in the long-term. These outcomes 
     open the doors for many career paths, including military 
     service.
       Long-term studies of early education programs show 
     impressive differences in children's educational outcomes. A 
     recent analysis of Head Start outcomes, comparing siblings 
     who did versus did not attend the program, found participants 
     showing increased probability of graduating from high school, 
     attending college, and receiving a postsecondary credential. 
     High-quality state preschool programs have also demonstrated 
     lasting effects on students' elementary-school performance. 
     New Jersey's preschool program, for example, found that 
     children in the program were three-quarters of a year ahead 
     in math and two-thirds of a year ahead in literacy in the 
     fourth and fifth grades.
       While Congress faces tough spending choices ahead to secure 
     and protect our Nation, we know that the backbone of our 
     military is, and will always be, our women and men in 
     uniform. As a matter of national security, in order to grow 
     the pool of eligible recruits, Congress must prioritize 
     investments in early childhood programs, including funding 
     for Head Start, the Child Care and Development Block Grant 
     (CCDBG), and Preschool Development Grants.
       Signed by a combined 424 retired admirals, generals, and 
     other former military members.
                                  ____

                                                February 27, 2017.
     Hon. Paul Ryan,
     Speaker of the House,
     House of Representatives.
     Hon. Nancy Pelosi,
     Minority Leader,
     House of Representatives.
     Hon. Mitch McConnell,
     Majority Leader,
     U.S. Senate.
     Hon. Chuck Schumer,
     Minority Leader,
     U.S. Senate.
       Dear Speaker Ryan, Minority Leader Pelosi, Majority Leader 
     McConnell, and Minority Leader Schumer: As you and your 
     colleagues address the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018, 
     we write as retired three and four star flag and general 
     officers from all branches of the armed services to share our 
     strong conviction that elevating and strengthening diplomacy 
     and development alongside defense are critical to keeping 
     America safe.
       We know from our service in uniform that many of the crises 
     our nation faces do not have military solutions alone--from 
     confronting violent extremist groups like ISIS in the Middle 
     East and North Africa to preventing pandemics like Ebola and 
     stabilizing weak and fragile states that can lead to greater 
     instability. There are 65 million displaced people today, the 
     most since World War II, with consequences including refugee 
     flows that are threatening America's strategic allies in 
     Israel, Jordan, Turkey, and Europe.
       The State Department, USAID, Millennium Challenge 
     Corporation, Peace Corps and other development agencies are 
     critical to preventing conflict and reducing the need to put 
     our men and women in uniform in harm's way. As Secretary 
     James Mattis said while Commander of U.S. Central Command, 
     ``If you don't fully fund the State Department, then I need 
     to buy more ammunition.'' The military will lead the fight 
     against terrorism on the battlefield, but it needs strong 
     civilian partners in the battle against the drivers of 
     extremism--lack of opportunity, insecurity, injustice, and 
     hopelessness.
       We recognize that America's strategic investments in 
     diplomacy and development--like all of U.S. investments--must 
     be effective and accountable. Significant reforms have been 
     undertaken since 9/11, many of which have been embodied in 
     recent legislation in Congress with strong bipartisan 
     support--on human trafficking, the rights of women and girls, 
     trade and energy in Africa, wildlife trafficking, water, food 
     security, and transparency and accountability.
       We urge you to ensure that resources for the International 
     Affairs Budget keep pace with the growing global threats and 
     opportunities we face. Now is not the time to retreat.
       cc: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.
       cc: Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
       cc: National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster.
       Signed by a combined 121 retired admirals, generals, and 
     other former military members.

  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, my colleague from Vermont, Senator Bernie 
Sanders, wrote what I feel was a terrific op-ed about why we should not 
and do not need to close down the government, why we can do our work 
and why we should, and that people rely on us, too.
  Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the op-ed be printed in 
the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                [From the Washington Post, Jan. 8, 2018]

                 It's on Republicans To Stop a Shutdown

                          (By Bernie Sanders)

       I do not know why President Trump and the Republican 
     Party--which controls the White House, the Senate and the 
     House--are so willing to shut down the government. Maybe they 
     think it will be good for them politically. Maybe they 
     believe the chaos created by a government shutdown would be a 
     welcome distraction from the ongoing Russia investigation 
     being conducted by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. 
     Whatever the motives of the Republican leadership, one thing 
     is clear: A government shutdown would be disastrous for the 
     American people.
       A shutdown would harm tens of millions of working-class 
     families who would be unable to access vital services. It 
     would disrupt the lives of hundreds of thousands of federal 
     employees who would not receive the paychecks they expected. 
     It would endanger members of the U.S. military who are 
     putting their lives on the line defending our nation.
       Congress has a responsibility to the American people to 
     prevent a shutdown and work in a bipartisan manner to reach a 
     fair budget agreement that addresses the very serious 
     problems facing the working people of our country.
       Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-
     Ky.) ratcheted up threats of a government shutdown last week 
     by insisting on ending the long-standing, bipartisan 
     agreement over parity for defense and non-defense spending. 
     This principle of parity is enormously important for working 
     families and is something that cannot be terminated. If we do 
     not act, funding for education, child care, health care, 
     nutrition assistance, affordable housing and other important 
     domestic programs will be at a 40-year low as a percentage of 
     our economy.
       As the middle class continues to shrink, cuts to non-
     defense spending would cause even worse economic pain to 
     working families, the elderly, children, the sick and the 
     most vulnerable. Meanwhile, as Trump and the Republicans 
     demand an unbelievable $100 billion increase in military 
     spending over the next two years, the Defense Department has 
     been inoculated from budget cuts over the past several years 
     because of the Overseas Contingency Operations loophole--a 
     special account not subject to spending caps established by 
     Congress in 2011.
       Providing parity in these budget negotiations means, among 
     other things, fully funding--without offsets--the Children's 
     Health Insurance Program for 9 million kids and community 
     health centers for 27 million Americans. It means increased 
     funding for the Social Security Administration and the 
     Veterans Administration so they can provide guaranteed 
     benefits to seniors and veterans who have earned them. It 
     means keeping our obligations to more than 1.5 million 
     workers and retirees who are about to lose a large part of 
     the pensions they were promised. It means addressing the 
     crisis of student debt, expanding child care, improving our 
     crumbling infrastructure in rural America and protecting our 
     national parks. It means providing help in the national 
     struggle against opioid and heroin addiction.
       Furthermore, as part of the budget negotiations, we must 
     also provide adequate disaster relief to Texas, Florida, 
     Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, as well as assistance to 
     the Western states recovering from terrible wildfires.
       Finally, Trump added even more fuel to the fire when he 
     decided to use 800,000 ``dreamers'' as a bargaining chip for 
     an $18 billion wall that the overwhelming majority of 
     Americans do not want. These dreamers are young people who 
     have lived in this country for almost their entire lives. 
     They go to school. They work. They serve in the U.S. 
     military. The United States is their home; they know no 
     other. For Trump and the Republican leadership to allow their 
     legal status to expire, and to subject them to deportation, 
     would be one of the cruelest acts in modern American history. 
     It must not be allowed to happen.
       This is not just my viewpoint. It's what the American 
     people want. A recent Quinnipiac University poll showed that 
     77 percent of the American people, including a large majority 
     of Republicans, support providing legal protections for the 
     dreamers. The Republican Congress must act. A clean Dream Act 
     must be signed into law as part of any budget agreement.
       The American people are increasingly disgusted with a 
     government that protects the interests of the wealthy and the 
     powerful, while ignoring the needs of the vulnerable. The 
     U.S. government must do more than provide huge tax breaks to 
     billionaires, callously deport young people, greatly expand 
     military spending, end net neutrality, deny the reality of 
     climate change and threaten to cut Social Security, Medicare, 
     Medicaid, education and nutrition programs. We must pass a 
     budget agreement that addresses the needs of Americans and 
     not just billionaire campaign contributors.

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  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.