[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 125 (Wednesday, July 24, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5031]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Mueller Report

  Mr. President, on another issue, all eyes are no doubt on the House 
Judiciary Committee, where, as I speak, former Special Counsel Robert 
Mueller is testifying. His testimony is unquestionably of great 
interest and importance to the Nation. But even without the special 
counsel's testimony today, Congress must grapple with the report he has 
already written.
  The principal conclusion of the first section of the Mueller report 
was that Russia interfered in our 2016 elections, in his words, in a 
``sweeping and systematic'' fashion. What he described in that section 
of his report constitutes nothing less than an attack on our democracy. 
It is almost like going to war and hurting our men and women in the 
Armed Forces.
  This administration and this Chamber frankly have done not enough--
not nearly enough--to respond to that attack and to prevent such an 
attack from taking place again.
  I know we are going to have a great deal of debate on the obstruction 
of justice--I am appalled by what the President did there--but there 
should be no debate on, A, Russian interference in our election--that 
is unequivocal--and, B, that we must do a lot more about it to prevent 
it from happening in 2020.
  The Trump administration has been horrible on this issue--
unpatriotic, un-American, and almost letting America fall prey to a 
nasty, brutal foreign power: Russia. This administration has watered 
down or failed to fully implement sanctions against Russia for what 
they did in 2016, and in the Senate, as usual, our Republican 
colleagues bow down in obeisance.
  Leader McConnell--shame on him--has stymied progress and consigned 
bipartisan bill after bill to his legislative graveyard. These are 
bipartisan bills. There are so many Republicans who want to do 
something here. Leader McConnell doesn't. And that has nothing to do 
with Democrat, Republican, liberal, conservative; that has to do with 
patriotism and defending America. Bipartisan bills to harden our 
election structure are languishing. The Republican majority has even 
blocked Democratic requests to provide additional election security 
funding to the States.
  Just yesterday, the FBI Director confirmed that President Putin 
remains intent on interfering in our elections, and we haven't done 
enough to deter that. Next to the brazenness of President Putin's 
assault on our democracy in 2016, the response of the Republican 
majority in the Senate has been tepid.
  I know there were great divisions about certain parts of the Mueller 
report. We are seeing it in the hearings going on now. But there can be 
no division--and I haven't heard any Republican on that panel so far 
contest the fact that Russia interfered in our elections in a strong 
way in 2016. Why aren't we doing something about it now? Let's forget 
the political divisions. Let's forget the pettiness of President Trump, 
who says: Well, my election may not be legitimate if I admit that the 
Russians interfered.
  President Trump, the Russians have interfered, and every American 
knows it. Let's not let it happen in 2020. Let's work together on this. 
It is vital to the future of American democracy.
  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. ALEXANDER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.