[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1010-S1011]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS
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By Mr. DURBIN (for himself, Mr. Cassidy, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr.
Coons, Mr. Scott of Florida, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Kaine, Mr.
Whitehouse, and Ms. Cortez Masto):
S. 614. A bill to designate the area of Sumner Row between 16th
Street and Northwest and L Street Northwest in Washington, District of
Columbia, as ``Alexei Navalny Way''; to the Committee on Homeland
Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of
the bill be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be
printed in the Record, as follows:
S. 614
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) The administration of President Vladimir V. Putin of
the Russian Federation has engaged in transnational
repression, assassinations of political opponents, poisoning
and other attempted murders of political opponents,
journalists, and human rights defenders, systemic human
rights abuses, and unprovoked military attacks against and
deployments to neighboring countries.
(2) The administration of President Vladimir V. Putin of
the Russian Federation has carried out arrests and detentions
of individuals who peacefully seek democratic freedoms or
oppose his repression, corruption, and invasion of Ukraine.
(3) Alexei Navalny was a Russian political dissident and
activist dedicated to promoting democratic freedoms and
fighting corruption in Russia.
(4) On February 16, 2024, the Russian prison where Alexei
Navalny was being held after his conviction on fabricated
charges in February 2021 announced that he had died a day
after he was seen in good health.
(5) Alexei Navalny had a history of exposing the widespread
corruption that sustained
[[Page S1011]]
the Putin regime by enriching its enablers. He was recognized
and awarded on numerous occasions for his work fighting
corruption and promoting democratic ideals. Those
recognitions and awards include the 2015 Prize of the
Platform of European Memory and Conscience, a nomination for
the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, the 2021 Boris Nemtsov Prize for
Courage, the 2021 Moral Courage Award by the Geneva Summit
for Human Rights and Democracy, the 2021 Knight of Freedom
Award by the Casimir Pulaski Foundation, and the 2021
Sakharov Prize by the European Parliament.
(6) Alexei Navalny and fellow dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza
endured several poisonings and other attempts on their lives
carried out by Putin's government.
(7) Renaming the street near the official residence of the
Russian Ambassador to the United States serves as a
continuing expression of solidarity between the people of the
United States and the people of the Russian Federation, who
are engaged in a sustained, peaceful, and patriotic struggle
for fundamental freedoms.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF ALEXEI NAVALNY WAY.
(a) Designation of Way.--
(1) In general.--The area of Sumner Row Northwest between
16th Street Northwest and L Street Northwest in Washington,
District of Columbia, shall be known and designated as
``Alexei Navalny Way''.
(2) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation,
document, paper, or other record of the United States to the
area referred to in paragraph (1) shall be deemed to be a
reference to ``Alexei Navalny Way''.
(b) Signs.--The District of Columbia shall construct 2
street signs--
(1) that contain the phrase ``Alexei Navalny Way'';
(2) one of which shall be placed immediately above existing
signs between 1135 16th Street Northwest and 1119-1125 16th
Street Northwest;
(3) one of which shall be placed on a sign post at 1555 L
Street Northwest; and
(4) that are similar in design to the signs used by the
District of Columbia to designate the location of Metro
stations.
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By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Sanders, Mrs.
Murray, Ms. Warren, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. King, Mr. Schatz, Mr.
Blumenthal, Mr. Kaine, and Mr. Fetterman):
S. 624. A bill to amend title 5, United States Code, to achieve
parity between the cost-of-living adjustment with respect to an annuity
under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the
Civil Service Retirement System, and for other purposes; to the
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the Equal
COLA Act, which I introduced today.
The Federal Government's workforce is central to protecting our
national security and delivering critical services to hundreds of
millions of Americans. As such, it is essential that the Federal
Government attract and retain an effective workforce and, once their
service is complete, ensure retirees receive the dignified retirement
that they deserve. It is clear that now more than ever, Congress must
step up and support our Federal workforce.
Unfortunately, in 1986, Congress created a two-tiered system that now
prevents nearly 800,000 retired Federal employees from receiving a full
cost-of-living adjustment when consumer prices increase more than 2
percent from year to year.
In January, some Federal retirees received a 2.5-percent COLA.
However, other Federal retirees received only a 2.0-percent increase
due to this policy, which fails to protect retired employees living on
a fixed income. I believe all Federal retirees who have worked in
service to our country should receive a full adjustment to their
benefits each year that is consistent with national economic trends.
That is why I am proud to reintroduce this legislation to fix this
unfair system and ensure that all retired Federal employees receive
full retirement benefits that keep up with the cost of living.
I hope my colleagues will join me in support of this bill to ensure
that retired Federal employees no longer pay the price of a misguided
law and that their benefits fully keep pace with the cost of living.
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