[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 121 (Thursday, July 18, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4937-S4938]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.

                             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 the nomination 
     of Brian C. Buescher, of Nebraska, to be United States 
     District Judge for the District of Nebraska.
         Mitch McConnell, Roger F. Wicker, Pat Roberts, Chuck 
           Grassley, John Cornyn, Tom Cotton, David Perdue, Ron 
           Johnson, Joni Ernst, Mike Braun, Martha McSally, John 
           Boozman, Richard Burr, Lindsey Graham, Shelley Moore 
           Capito, Johnny Isakson, Thom Tillis.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions be waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. 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. LEE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.


                 Unanimous Consent Agreement--H.R. 1327

  Mr. LEE. Mr. President, the men and women who responded to the 
horrific events of September 11, 2001, are among the great heroes of 
American history. Whether fighting the deadly flames, rescuing people 
who were injured or dying, or removing the destructive debris from the 
9/11 attack sites, the 9/11 volunteers and rescue workers displayed the 
courage and the sacrificial service that has earned them universal 
respect and admiration.
  Tragically, their heroism came at a cost. Their heroism, at exactly 
these same dangerous sites we are describing, earned them, in addition 
to great respect, also health challenges in the years since.
  In 2001, in response to those challenges, Congress established the 
September 11th Victim Compensation Fund to compensate both the 
survivors of the attacks and also the residents who lived near the 
site. It was authorized for 2 years, and it paid out about $7 billion 
in benefits and then closed.
  In 2011, Congress revived and expanded the program to cover a larger 
universe of victims and responders, and it authorized that fund to 
spend $2.7 billion over 5 years.
  In 2015, citing a growing need, Congress reauthorized the fund for 
another 5 years and an additional $4.6 billion. Of that $7.4 billion 
authorized since 2011, the fund has now paid out $5.2 billion.
  With money getting tight, in February of this year, the fund began 
temporarily reducing the claimants' benefits until Congress 
reauthorized and replenished it until such time as we can make those 
beneficiaries whole.
  I support that effort. I support it wholeheartedly. The bill before 
us today authorizes the program not for 2 years, as it was in 2001, or 
for 5 years, as we did in 2011 and 2015, no, it authorizes the program 
for an additional 72 years and does not specify a dollar amount.
  In Washington, this is a recipe for trouble. As we all know, finite 
authorizations are how Congress ensures that taxpayer money actually 
gets to its intended beneficiaries and not simply lost in government 
bureaucracy somewhere. It is how we make sure this is about protecting 
those who are supposed to benefit rather than government bureaucrats 
themselves.
  Since 2011, the 9/11 victims fund has always had finite 
authorizations, and, by all accounts, it has had an excellent record of 
avoiding waste and abuse. These two things are not coincidental. They 
go together, and 9/11 survivors and first responders deserve no less 
moving forward. They deserve no less than to make sure the program 
created in their honor for their benefit, in fact, benefits them. This 
is why I would like to offer a simple amendment to this bill that would 
authorize $10.2 billion in additional funding for the 9/11 victims fund 
over the next 10 years. That is the amount the Congressional Budget 
Office has estimated is necessary for covering all valid claims between 
now and 2029.
  My amendment would further authorize an additional $10 billion beyond 
that time. My amendment would not block or delay the bill's 
consideration, let alone its passage.
  This is something we could vote on in a matter of minutes, 15 minutes 
or so, and then move on to final passage. We could, in fact, accomplish 
this today before we adjourn for the weekend. This is, in fact, what I 
prefer. I think finishing our work on this bill to protect victims and 
first responders is worth 15, 20, 30 minutes of our time. That is what 
I prefer.
  I have had conversations with my colleagues, including colleagues 
across the aisle. In order to accommodate requests from some of my 
colleagues, I have agreed, with their mutual assent, to negotiate a 
different arrangement--one that would make sure we get to final passage 
on this bill and that we consider my amendment and that of Senator 
Paul's within the next few days.

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