[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 106 (Thursday, June 17, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4630-S4633]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 274--DESIGNATING JULY 24, 2021, AS ``NATIONAL DAY OF 
                         THE AMERICAN COWBOY''

  Mr. BARRASSO (for himself, Mr. Tester, Ms. Lummis, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. 
Cramer, Mr. Thune, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Risch, Mr. Crapo, Mr. Inhofe, and 
Mr. Marshall) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on the Judiciary:

                              S. Res. 274

       Whereas pioneering men and women, recognized as 
     ``cowboys'', helped to establish the American West;
       Whereas the cowboy embodies honesty, integrity, courage, 
     compassion, respect, a strong work ethic, and patriotism;
       Whereas the cowboy spirit exemplifies strength of 
     character, sound family values, and good common sense;
       Whereas the cowboy archetype transcends ethnicity, gender, 
     geographic boundaries, and political affiliations;
       Whereas the cowboy, who lives off the land and works to 
     protect and enhance the environment, is an excellent steward 
     of the land and its creatures;
       Whereas cowboy traditions have been a part of American 
     culture for generations;
       Whereas the cowboy continues to be an important part of the 
     economy through the work of many thousands of ranchers across 
     the United States who contribute to the economic well-being 
     of every State;
       Whereas millions of fans watch professional and working 
     ranch rodeo events annually, making rodeo one of the most-
     watched sports in the United States;
       Whereas membership and participation in rodeo and other 
     organizations that promote and encompass the livelihood of 
     cowboys span every generation and transcend race and gender;
       Whereas the cowboy is a central figure in literature, film, 
     and music and occupies a central place in the public 
     imagination;
       Whereas the cowboy is an American icon; and
       Whereas the ongoing contributions made by cowboys and 
     cowgirls to their communities should be recognized and 
     encouraged: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates July 24, 2021, as ``National Day of the 
     American Cowboy''; and
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
     the day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 F_____
                                 

     SENATE RESOLUTION 275--ACKNOWLEDGING AND APOLOGIZING FOR THE 
 MISTREATMENT OF, AND DISCRIMINATION AGAINST, LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, 
 AND TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS WHO SERVED THE UNITED STATES IN THE ARMED 
       FORCES, THE FOREIGN SERVICE, AND THE FEDERAL CIVIL SERVICE

  Mr. KAINE (for himself, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Markey, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. 
Wyden, Mr. Booker, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Warner, Mr. Casey, Mr. 
Whitehouse, Mrs. Shaheen, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Feinstein, Ms. Rosen, Mr. 
Coons, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Merkley, and Mr. Cardin) submitted the 
following resolution; which was referred

[[Page S4631]]

to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.:

                              S. Res. 275

       Whereas the Federal Government discriminated against and 
     terminated hundreds of thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, 
     and transgender (referred to in this preamble as ``LGBT'') 
     individuals who served the United States in the Armed Forces, 
     the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service (referred 
     to in this preamble as ``civilian employees'') for decades, 
     causing untold harm to those individuals professionally, 
     financially, socially, and medically, among other harms;
       Whereas Congress enacted legislation, led oversight 
     hearings, and issued reports and public pronouncements 
     against LGBT military service members, Foreign Service 
     members, and civilian employees;
       Whereas the policy that led to the discharge and systematic 
     screening of gay, lesbian, and bisexual military service 
     members was codified in a 1949 decree by the newly-
     consolidated Department of Defense, which mandated that 
     ``homosexual personnel, irrespective of sex, should not be 
     permitted to serve in any branch of the Armed Forces in any 
     capacity and prompt separation of known homosexuals from the 
     Armed Forces is mandatory'';
       Whereas the Federal Government maintained policies to drive 
     hundreds of thousands of LGBT military service members, who 
     honorably served the United States in uniform, including many 
     who were fighting in wars around the world, from its military 
     ranks;
       Whereas, in 1993, Congress enacted the National Defense 
     Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (Public Law 103-160; 
     107 Stat. 1547), which contained the so-called ``Don't Ask, 
     Don't Tell'' policy that prohibited lesbian, gay, and 
     bisexual military service members from disclosing their 
     sexual orientation while they served in the Armed Forces;
       Whereas, despite the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy, LGBT 
     military service members continued to be investigated and 
     discharged solely on the basis of the sexual orientation of 
     those military service members;
       Whereas historians have estimated that at least 100,000 
     military service members were forced out of the Armed Forces 
     between World War II and 2011 simply for being LGBT, while 
     countless others were forced to hide their identities and 
     live in fear while serving;
       Whereas, although the ``Don't Ask, Don't Tell'' policy was 
     intended to allow qualified citizens to serve in the Armed 
     Forced regardless of their sexual orientation, the policy was 
     inherently discriminatory against LGBT military service 
     members because it prohibited those service members from 
     disclosing their sexual orientation;
       Whereas, with the enactment of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell 
     Repeal Act of 2010 (10 U.S.C. 654 note; Public Law 111-321), 
     Congress joined military leaders in acknowledging that 
     lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service members serve the 
     United States just as bravely and well as other military 
     service members;
       Whereas the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010 (10 
     U.S.C. 654 note; Public Law 111-321) and the 2016 policy 
     shift of the Department of Defense, which permitted 
     transgender individuals to enlist and openly serve in the 
     Armed Forces, has made the Armed Forces stronger and more 
     effective;
       Whereas military leaders have likewise acknowledged that, 
     in addition to lesbian, gay, and bisexual military service 
     members, transgender service members also serve the United 
     States just as bravely and well as other service members;
       Whereas, under the pressures of the Cold War, and at the 
     instigation and lead of Congress, the Federal Government also 
     pursued anti-LGBT policies, which resulted in tens of 
     thousands of LGBT civilian employees being terminated;
       Whereas the Department of State began investigations into 
     employees for alleged homosexual activity as early as the 
     1940s;
       Whereas following Senator Joseph McCarthy's targeting of 
     gay employees in the Department of State in 1950, the Senate 
     held hearings on ``The Employment of Homosexuals and other 
     Sex Perverts in the Government'', which--
       (1) led to the issuance of a widely read report that 
     falsely asserted that gay people posed a security risk 
     because they could be easily blackmailed; and
       (2) found that gay people were unsuitable employees because 
     ``one homosexual can pollute a Government office'';
       Whereas, in response to Senator McCarthy's allegations 
     against gay people, the Department of State increased its 
     persecution of lesbian, gay, and bisexual employees;
       Whereas more than 1,000 Department of State employees were 
     dismissed due to their sexual orientation, and many more 
     individuals were prevented from joining the Department of 
     State due to discriminatory hiring practices;
       Whereas thousands of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals 
     served honorably in the Department of State as Foreign 
     Service officers, Foreign Service specialists, civil 
     servants, and contractors, upholding the values, and 
     advancing the interests, of the United States even as the 
     country discriminated against them;
       Whereas the effort to purge gay and lesbian employees from 
     the Federal Government was codified in 1953 when President 
     Dwight D. Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10450 (18 Fed. 
     Reg. 2489; relating to security requirements for Government 
     employment), which--
       (1) defined ``perversion'' as a security threat; and
       (2) mandated that every civilian employee and contractor 
     pass a security clearance;
       Whereas, over many decades, the Federal Government, led by 
     security officials in the Federal Bureau of Investigation, 
     the Civil Service Commission (referred to in this preamble as 
     the ``CSC''), and nearly every other agency of the Federal 
     Government, investigated, harassed, interrogated, and 
     terminated thousands of lesbian, gay, and bisexual civilian 
     employees for no other reason than the sexual orientation of 
     those employees;
       Whereas these discriminatory policies by the Federal 
     Government, the largest employer in the United States, 
     encouraged similar efforts at the State and local level, 
     particularly in higher education and the private sector;
       Whereas, in 1969, the United States Court of Appeals for 
     the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in Norton v. Macy, 417 
     F.2d 1161 (1969) that--
       (1) ``homosexual conduct'' may never be the sole cause for 
     dismissal of a protected civilian employee; and
       (2) the potential embarrassment stemming from the private 
     conduct of a civilian employee may not affect the efficiency 
     of the Federal civil service;
       Whereas, despite the decision in Norton v. Macy, the CSC 
     continued its efforts to rid the Federal Government of gay, 
     lesbian, and bisexual employees until 1973, when the United 
     States District Court for the Northern District of California 
     ruled in Society for Individual Rights, Inc. v. Hampton, 63 
     F.R.D. 399 (1973) that the exclusion or discharge from 
     Federal civil service of any lesbian, gay, or bisexual person 
     because of prejudice was prohibited;
       Whereas many Federal Government agencies, including the 
     National Security Agency, the Central Intelligence Agency, 
     and the Department of State, none of which were subject to 
     the rules of the CSC, continued to harass and seek to exclude 
     lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals from their ranks until 
     1995, when President Bill Clinton issued Executive Order 
     12968 (50 U.S.C. 3161 note; relating to access to classified 
     information), which barred the practice of denying a Federal 
     Government security clearance solely on the basis of sexual 
     orientation;
       Whereas transgender military service members, Foreign 
     Service members, and civilian employees continued to be 
     harassed and excluded from Federal civil service until 2014, 
     when President Barack Obama issued Executive Order 13672 (79 
     Fed. Reg. 42971; relating to further amendments to Executive 
     Order 11478, Equal Employment Opportunity in the Federal 
     Government, and Executive Order 11246, Equal Employment 
     Opportunity), which prohibited the Federal Government and 
     Federal contractors from discriminating on the basis of 
     sexual orientation or gender identity;
       Whereas, on January 9, 2017, Secretary of State John Kerry 
     issued a formal apology for the pattern of discrimination 
     against LGBT Foreign Service members and civilian employees 
     at the Department of State;
       Whereas, despite persecution and systematic mistreatment by 
     the Federal Government beginning in the early 1940s though 
     the 1990s, including what historians have labeled as the 
     ``Lavender Scare'', LGBT individuals have never stopped 
     honorably serving the United States;
       Whereas LGBT individuals continued to make significant 
     contributions to the United States through their work as 
     clerks and lawyers, surgeons and nurses, Purple Heart 
     recipients and Navy Seals, translators and air traffic 
     controllers, engineers and astronomers, teachers and 
     diplomats, rangers and Postal Service workers, and advisors 
     and policy makers;
       Whereas other countries throughout the world, including 
     some of the closest allies of the United States, have 
     apologized for similarly discriminating against LGBT military 
     service members, Foreign Service members, and civilian 
     employees; and
       Whereas, in order for the United States to heal and move 
     forward, the Federal Government must accord all LGBT 
     individuals who were discriminated against by, wrongfully 
     terminated by, and excluded from serving in the Armed Forces, 
     the Foreign Service, and the Federal civil service the same 
     acknowledgment and apology: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,

     SECTION 1. ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

       The Senate--
       (1) acknowledges and condemns the discrimination against, 
     wrongful termination of, and exclusion from the Federal civil 
     service, the Foreign Service, and the Armed Forces of the 
     thousands of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender 
     (referred to in this section as ``LGBT'') individuals who 
     were affected by the anti-LGBT policies of the Federal 
     Government;
       (2) on behalf of the United States, apologizes to--
       (A) the affected LGBT military service members, Foreign 
     Service members, veterans, and Federal civil service 
     employees; and
       (B) the families of those service members, veterans, and 
     Federal civil service employees; and
       (3) reaffirms the commitment of the Federal Government to 
     treat all military service

[[Page S4632]]

     members, Foreign Service members, veterans, and Federal civil 
     service employees and retirees, including LGBT individuals, 
     with equal respect and fairness.

     SEC. 2. DISCLAIMER.

       Nothing in this resolution--
       (1) authorizes or supports any claim against the United 
     States; or
       (2) serves as a settlement of any claim against the United 
     States.
  Mr. KAINE. Mr. President. Senator Baldwin and I are pleased to 
introduce a resolution that acknowledges and apologizes for the 
mistreatment of and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and 
transgender (LBGT) individuals who have served our nation as civil 
servants or members of the Armed Forces and Foreign Service. This 
systemic mistreatment and discrimination of members of the LGBT 
community began as early as the 1940s and continued well into the 1990s 
and is often termed as the Lavender Scare by historians. During this 
time, it is estimated that 100,000 service members were forced out of 
the Armed Forces between World War II and 2011. In addition, more than 
1,000 State Department employees were dismissed due to their alleged 
sexual orientation, and many more were prevented from serving due to 
discriminatory hiring practices.
  Policies such as the 1949 decree by the Department of Defense 
mandating that ``homosexual personnel, irrespective of sex, should not 
be permitted to serve in any branch of the Armed Forces'' led to the 
mass discharge and systemic screening of gay, lesbian, and bisexual 
military service members. Similar policies within the State Department 
followed led to mass dismissals and terminations of Foreign Service and 
civil service employees. Subsequently, policies were enacted across the 
Federal government targeting members of the LGBT community. To this 
day, historians do not know the exact number of people impacted. 
However, despite these harmful and discriminatory policies, LGBT people 
continued to faithfully serve and make significant contributions to the 
United States, many of whom became clerks and lawyers, surgeons and 
nurses, Purple Heart recipients and Navy Seals, translators and air 
traffic controllers, engineers and astronomers, teachers and diplomats, 
and rangers and postal workers.
  It is time to acknowledge the harm caused to these Americans, their 
families, and our country by depriving LGBT people of the right to 
serve as federal civil servants, diplomats, or in the Armed Services. 
This Senate resolution takes a stand on the side of respect for LBGT 
Americans who have served our nation and reaffirms our commitment to 
treat all public servants with fairness and equality, regardless of 
their sexual orientation or gender identity. I'm proud to introduce 
this Senate resolution during Pride Month to reaffirm our nation's 
commitment to treat everyone, including LGBT Americans, with equal 
respect and fairness. I will continue working toward advancing equality 
for all LGBT people in Virginia and across our nation.
  Thank you, Mr. President.
                                 F_____
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 276--CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA GATORS 
FOR WINNING THE 2021 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION 
                      I MEN'S TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. RUBIO (for himself and Mr. Scott of Florida) submitted the 
following resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 276

       Whereas, on May 22, 2021, the University of Florida Gators 
     Men's Tennis Team (referred to in this preamble as the 
     ``Gators'') won the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association (referred to in this preamble as the ``NCAA'') 
     Division I Men's Tennis Championship;
       Whereas the 2021 NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship 
     is the first NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship the 
     Gators have won;
       Whereas the Gators defeated Baylor University's Men's 
     Tennis Team in the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis Championship;
       Whereas this marks the 42nd national title for the 
     University of Florida Gators Athletics programs;
       Whereas men's tennis is the 15th sport in which the 
     University of Florida has won a national title;
       Whereas the University of Florida is 1 of 2 programs in the 
     Nation to win at least 1 national championship in every fully 
     contested season since the 2008-2009 season;
       Whereas the championship victory clinching match was won by 
     Ben Shelton, son of Gators Head Coach Bryan Shelton;
       Whereas Gators player Blaise Bicknell--
       (1) holds a perfect record in dual matches in his career; 
     and
       (2) is the fourth player in Gators history to go undefeated 
     in dual matches;
       Whereas Gators Head Coach Bryan Shelton--
       (1) is the fifth coach across all NCAA sports to coach a 
     men's and women's national championship winning team; and
       (2) the first coach in NCAA history to lead a men's program 
     and women's program to a NCAA Division I Tennis Championship; 
     and
       Whereas the following entire Gator roster and coaching 
     staff contributed to the NCAA Division I Men's Tennis 
     Championship victory: Associate Head Coach Tanner Stump, 
     Volunteer Assistant Coach Scott Perelman, and student 
     athletes Andy Andrade, Brian Berdusco, Blaise Bicknell, Josh 
     Goodger, Will Grant, Lukas Greif, Johannes Ingildsen, Sam 
     Riffice, Ben Shelton, and Duarte Vale: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the University of Florida Gators Men's 
     Tennis Team and the students, alumni, faculty, staff, and 
     trustees of the University of Florida, for winning the 2021 
     National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Men's 
     Tennis Championship; and
       (2) respectfully directs the Secretary of the Senate to 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the President of the University of Florida, Kent Fuchs;
       (B) the Athletic Director of the University of Florida, 
     Scott Stricklin; and
       (C) the Head Coach of the University of Florida Gators 
     Men's Tennis Team, Bryan Shelton.
                                 F_____
                                 

  SENATE RESOLUTION 277--CONGRATULATING THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI 
   REBELS WOMEN'S GOLF TEAM ON WINNING THE 2021 NATIONAL COLLEGIATE 
       ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION DIVISION I WOMEN'S GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

  Mr. WICKER (for himself and Mrs. Hyde-Smith) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 277

       Whereas, on Wednesday, May 26, 2021, the University of 
     Mississippi Rebels Women's golf team won the 2021 National 
     Collegiate Athletic Association (referred to in this preamble 
     as the ``NCAA'') Division I women's golf championship at 
     Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona;
       Whereas, on winning the 2021 NCAA Division I women's golf 
     championship, the University of Mississippi women's golf team 
     became the first women's team in University history to win an 
     NCAA national championship;
       Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team 
     claimed the first NCAA national championship in a team sport 
     for the University since the football team won the 1962 NCAA 
     Division I football championship;
       Whereas the appearance of the University of Mississippi 
     women's golf team in the NCAA Division I women's golf 
     championship was the first appearance in an NCAA national 
     championship game for an athletics team of the University 
     since 1995;
       Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team 
     defeated the second place Oklahoma State University Cowgirls 
     4-1 in match play;
       Whereas Chiarra Tamburlini secured a 6-and-5 win, the 
     largest margin of victory in NCAA championship match history;
       Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team was 
     under the leadership of 2020 Southeastern Conference 
     (referred to in this preamble as the ``SEC'') Coach of the 
     Year Kory Henkes and Assistant Coach Zack Byrd;
       Whereas Coach Kory Henkes has led the University of 
     Mississippi women's golf team to incredible success during 
     her 6 seasons at the helm, including last season, when she 
     led the program to 4 team tournament titles and set the 
     record for most wins in a single season;
       Whereas Julia Johnson was named a first-team All-American 
     and first-team All-SEC;
       Whereas Kennedy Swann was named second-team All-SEC, with 
     the national championship bringing her career record in match 
     play to 10-2;
       Whereas members of the University of Mississippi women's 
     golf team have been honored by various awards throughout the 
     2020-2021 season, including the selection of Julia Johnson to 
     represent the United States in the Arnold Palmer Cup;
       Whereas the University of Mississippi now boasts 26 total 
     NCAA national championships;
       Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team was 
     ranked 5th in the United States by Golfweek and the Golfstat 
     Team Rankings;
       Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team, 
     composed of Julia Johnson, Kennedy Swann, Chiarra Tamburlini, 
     and teammates McKinley Cunningham, Ellen Hume, Ellen 
     Hutchinson-Kay, Andrea Lignell, Macy Somoskey, and Smilla 
     Sonderby displayed outstanding dedication, teamwork, and 
     sportsmanship throughout the 2020-2021 season; and

[[Page S4633]]

       Whereas the University of Mississippi women's golf team has 
     brought great pride and honor--
       (1) to the University of Mississippi;
       (2) to loyal fans of the University of Mississippi; and
       (3) to the entire State of Mississippi: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) congratulates the University of Mississippi women's 
     golf team, including the athletes, coaches, faculty, 
     students, and alumni of the University of Mississippi, on 
     winning the 2021 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     Division I women's golf championship;
       (2) recognizes the University of Mississippi for its 
     excellence as an institution of higher education; and
       (3) respectfully requests that the Secretary of the Senate 
     transmit an enrolled copy of this resolution to--
       (A) the Chancellor of the University of Mississippi, Dr. 
     Glenn Boyce;
       (B) the Athletic Director of the University of Mississippi, 
     Keith Carter; and
       (C) the head coach of the University of Mississippi women's 
     golf team, Kory Henkes.
                                 F_____
                                 

   SENATE RESOLUTION 278--RECOGNIZING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNITED 
 SPINAL ASSOCIATION, A LEADING NATIONAL ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION THAT IS 
 DEDICATED TO PROMOTING THE INDEPENDENCE AND ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF 
 LIFE OF ALL PEOPLE LIVING WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES AND NEUROLOGICAL 
DISORDERS, INCLUDING VETERANS, AND PROVIDING SUPPORT AND INFORMATION TO 
    THEIR LOVED ONES, CARE PROVIDERS, AND PERSONAL SUPPORT NETWORKS

  Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. Moran) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to.:

                              S. Res. 278

       Whereas, in 1946, a group of returning veterans from World 
     War II in New York, New York, formed the organization now 
     known as United Spinal Association to address the needs of 
     paralyzed veterans;
       Whereas, in 1948, members of this organization advocated 
     for and secured the first accessible housing bill in the 
     United States (the Act of June 19, 1948 (62 Stat. 500; Public 
     Law 80-702)), which provided Federal funds for the building 
     of accessible homes for paralyzed veterans;
       Whereas, in 1968, members of this organization advocated 
     for the passage of the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968 (42 
     U.S.C. 4151 et seq.), which guarantees equal access to 
     federally-funded buildings and facilities for wheelchair 
     users and all people of the United States with disabilities;
       Whereas, in 1970, James J. Peters, who would later lead 
     United Spinal Association, exposed the deplorable conditions 
     that paralyzed Vietnam veterans faced at the Bronx Veterans 
     Administration Hospital with an article in LIFE magazine, 
     leading the Veterans Administration to establish a national 
     spinal cord injury service office to address the needs of 
     paralyzed veterans and the renovation of the Bronx Veterans 
     Administration Hospital, which was later named for Peters;
       Whereas, in 1985, New York City settled a lawsuit initiated 
     by United Spinal Association, agreeing to make all city 
     buses, key subway stations and commuter rail stations, and 
     all new transit stations accessible to wheelchair users, and 
     New York City established a paratransit system for people 
     unable to use mass transit, leading to a model that would be 
     incorporated as part of the transportation provisions of the 
     landmark Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. 12101 et 
     seq.);
       Whereas, regardless of a person's level of abilities, 
     United Spinal Association seeks to build an inclusive world 
     that--
       (1) removes barriers, particularly for wheelchair users;
       (2) embraces the talents of all people with disabilities to 
     achieve their full potential; and
       (3) provides people with disabilities equal opportunities 
     to pursue their interests and dreams;
       Whereas United Spinal Association continues to support and 
     advocate on behalf of more than 2,000,000 people in the 
     United States living with spinal cord injuries or 
     neurological disorders, as well as veterans, through--
       (1) proven programs and services, and nurturing innovative 
     self-reliance, advocacy, and leadership;
       (2) empowering its members, their loved ones, care 
     providers, and stakeholders with resources, one-on-one 
     assistance, and peer support;
       (3) promoting independence through employment opportunities 
     and inclusion into mainstream society; and
       (4) advocating for greater disability rights, including 
     access to health care, rehabilitation, mobility equipment, 
     transportation, community services, and the built 
     environment; and
       Whereas the legacy of James J. Peters, who once described 
     the straightforward strategy in advocating for people in the 
     United States with disabilities as simply refusing to accept 
     no for an answer, is alive and well throughout United Spinal 
     Association: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that throughout 75 years of service, United 
     Spinal Association has made significant contributions to the 
     lives of people in the United States with disabilities, 
     including veterans;
       (2) honors United Spinal Association for its continued role 
     in supporting and advocating for people with spinal cord 
     injuries and neurological disorders, as well as all veterans; 
     and
       (3) commemorates 2021 as the 75th anniversary of the 
     founding of United Spinal Association.
                                 F_____
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 279--DESIGNATING JUNE 21, 2021 THROUGH JUNE 25, 2021, 
              AS ``NATIONAL CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION WEEK''

  Ms. ROSEN (for herself and Mr. Cassidy) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.:

                              S. Res. 279

       Whereas, according to a 2017 projection, the United States 
     will face a shortage of 1,800,000 cybersecurity workers by 
     2022;
       Whereas recent cyberattacks on the United States have 
     highlighted the cybersecurity workforce shortage in the 
     United States that--
       (1) poses a threat to the national security of the United 
     States;
       (2) jeopardizes the economy of the United States;
       (3) puts the digital privacy of the United States at risk; 
     and
       (4) threatens the critical infrastructure of the United 
     States;

       Whereas expanding cybersecurity education opportunities is 
     important to address the cybersecurity workforce shortage and 
     prepare the United States for ongoing and future national 
     security threats;
       Whereas cybersecurity education can provide learning and 
     career opportunities for kindergarten through grade 12 
     students across the United States, as well as bolster the 
     capacity of the domestic workforce to defend the United Sates 
     and secure the economy of the United States;
       Whereas, in 2020, introduced as part of the Providing 
     Resources for Ongoing Training and Education in Cyber 
     Technologies Act of 2020 and enacted as part of the William 
     M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for 
     Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283), Congress authorized 
     the Cybersecurity Education Training Assistance Program, a 
     Department of Homeland Security initiative to provide 
     cybersecurity career awareness, curricular resources, and 
     professional development to elementary and secondary schools; 
     and
       Whereas ensuring access to cybersecurity education for all 
     students in the United States regardless of race, ethnicity, 
     socioeconomic status, or geographic location will expand 
     opportunities for good-paying jobs in high-demand fields: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) designates June 21, 2021 through June 25, 2021, as 
     ``National Cybersecurity Education Week'';
       (2) encourages the people of the United States to 
     acknowledge the importance of cybersecurity education;
       (3) encourages educational and training institutions to 
     increase the understanding and awareness of cybersecurity 
     education at such institutions; and
       (4) commits to--
       (A) raising awareness about cybersecurity education; and
       (B) taking legislative actions to address cybersecurity 
     education expansion and address the cybersecurity workforce 
     shortage.

                          ____________________