[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12866-12867]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             ADDRESSING CRITICAL MATTERS FACING OUR NATION

  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I join many of my colleagues who have 
come to the floor to implore the leadership and my colleagues on the 
other side of the aisle to work with us to address critical matters 
facing our Nation. From failing to provide the necessary funding to 
combat the Zika virus and our Nation's opioid epidemic to failing to 
even consider a candidate for the Highest Court in the land, or 
legislation to curb gun violence and address college costs and the 
student debt crisis--we must act on all of these measures, and we must 
do it promptly.
  We are entrusted by the American people to find solutions for 
difficult, hard-to-fix problems, not to ignore them at almost every 
turn. I have heard from people of all persuasions, reaching out, urging 
Congress to take action. So I come here today to remind my colleagues 
across the aisle, and my colleagues within my caucus, that we all must 
do our job. That message has come through loud and clear from the 
American public, and we have to put those words into action.
  For more than 8 months, we have seen, for example, the harmful 
effects of the Zika virus. We have seen its heartbreaking impact on 
newborns, women, and families and deepened our understanding of the 
suffering this virus causes. Pregnancies have been lost. We have seen 
children born with permanent birth defects that could have been 
avoided. And recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 
has said that the disease can enter people's eyes, causing serious 
vision impairment.
  It has been over 6 months since the President requested $1.9 billion 
in emergency funding to fight the Zika virus. It has been 4 months 
since the Senate passed a compromise measure to provide $1.1 billion 
for a comprehensive response to Zika and to speed up development of a 
vaccine by a strong bipartisan vote of 68 to 29.
  Instead of the other body passing this measure, the majority in both 
bodies agreed upon a bill that uses this public health crisis as an 
opportunity to attack the Environmental Protection Agency and make cuts 
to the Affordable Care Act, veterans' health care, and other 
provisions. This approach seeks to drain funds from critical health 
needs, which have not abated, as a way to pay for the Zika emergency. 
Indeed, it is an emergency that requires an emergency response.
  In light of this failure, the administration shifted all the funds it 
could to the Zika efforts. As the head of the Centers for Disease 
Control has noted, these funds are now running out. It is urgent that 
we pass a measure like the one we already did that gives the public 
health community the resources it needs to prevent further infections, 
treat those who have been affected, and develop vaccines to limit 
future outbreaks.
  Unfortunately, Congress has taken a similar approach of delay to the 
opioid epidemic, severely underfunding efforts to combat this crisis. 
Like many Americans, I have seen the devastating impact the opioid 
crisis continues to have on our Nation. Indeed, since 2010, we have 
lost more than 1,000 Rhode Islanders to accidental drug overdoses, 
including more than 230 overdose deaths in 2014--an increase of 73 
percent since 2009. Nationally, drug overdoses have exceeded car 
crashes as the number one injury-related death. Two Americans die of 
drug overdoses every hour.
  Action is urgently called for, and I commend my colleague from Rhode 
Island, Senator Whitehouse, who spearheaded passage in this body of the 
bipartisan Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, or CARA. However, 
CARA provides authority only for a response plan to address this 
complex challenge; it does not adequately fund this effort. For this 
law to work, we need real dollars to deliver lifesaving prevention and 
treatment services. It is critical that we provide robust resources to 
confront this epidemic and ensure that people have access to the 
treatment they need. Unfortunately, that has not happened. We cannot 
fight the opioid crisis with words. We need dollars, as well as words.
  Those across the aisle have also fallen short on their responsibility 
by refusing to hold so much as a hearing on President Obama's 
nomination of Chief Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. This 
body has a constitutional obligation to advise and consent on the 
President's nominees. When we fail in that obligation, we undermine the 
stability of our system of justice and endanger Separation of Powers.
  Since the stunning announcement by the majority leadership that no 
hearing would be held on a replacement, the Supreme Court has 
deadlocked on five major questions of law. These are legal issues that 
directly impact millions of Americans in terms of labor force 
protections, business interests, and civil rights. These issues are 
more important than political gamesmanship, and they need resolution 
now.
  If this obstructionism continues, American families and businesses 
will face growing legal uncertainty as disputed Federal laws apply 
differently across States. This damage to our legal system is 
unprecedented and could take years to undo. I urge my colleagues to do 
their job and allow a vote on Chief Judge Garland's nomination.
  The majority has also thwarted efforts to address the continuing 
epidemic of gun violence in our country. This year, nearly as many 
Americans will lose their lives to guns as will be killed in automobile 
accidents. Sadly, the number of gun deaths continues to grow, fueled by 
easy access to lethal firearms.
  This body could take action to limit the devastation to families in 
our communities brought about by military-grade firearms that are too 
easily accessed. It is my hope that through an honest, open dialogue, 
we can bridge the divide and pass legislation--such as closing the 
terror gap--in order to keep our families and communities safe from the 
threat of gun violence.
  Another area that I want to emphasize is college affordability, where 
inaction has exacerbated a crisis in which sending a child to college 
can often put families hopelessly in the red.
  We all understand that education is the engine that pulls this 
economy forward, fulfills individual aspirations, and makes America 
what it is. The United States invented modern public education and led 
the world in access to higher education for generations. It is a great 
irony that we are falling behind.
  Rising college costs and student loan debt are putting America at 
risk. And too many institutions lack accountability, putting profit 
before providing a quality education to students. We need to revamp our 
system for financing college, and we need to help families currently 
struggling under the weight of student loan debt.
  Many of my colleagues, and I have joined them, have put forth 
commonsense proposals to allow families to refinance student loans at 
today's low rates; to ensure that all Americans have access to tuition-
free community college; to strengthen the Pell grant and reduce the 
reliance on student loans; and to ensure that States and institutions 
live up to their shared responsibilities in providing high quality

[[Page 12867]]

and affordable higher education. These solutions are badly needed, and 
the majority needs to work with us to do our job and not leave students 
and families behind.
  It is a great honor to serve the people of Rhode Island, and I know 
all of my colleagues in the Senate feel the same way about their 
respective States. Congress has always faced an array of complex and 
varied challenges. We must come together and find sincere solutions to 
improve our country.
  I say to my colleagues: It is long past time to get to work, to do 
your job, and to act on these pressing problems. They cannot wait any 
longer.
  With that, Mr. 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. COONS. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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