Dick clark and john culver. Berkeley would go on to represent iowas sixth Congressional District for six terms. From 1975 to 1987. And i presume he would have served a lot longer if his health had held out, even though he lived another 30 lets see, you add it up, about another 32 years after that. Although berkeley and i didnt share the same political points of view, we did share a common approach for representative government, meaning with dialogue and feedback that was very necessary from our iowans if we were going to represent them properly, and most often the forum for that was our respective town hall meetings. Throughout our Service Together in congress, party labels didnt displace our ability to work with and for iowans. As one example, during the farm crisis of the 1980s, which is much worse than this farm crisis we have right now, we used our voices to raise Public Awareness and steer help to struggling farm communities in our home state. We did Everything Possible to shape farm policy and restore hope to thousands of farm families coping with doubledigit inflation and with the farm debt crisis. As a federal lawmaker, berkeley took his oversight work seriously. Even though i take oversight seriously, i didnt do it quite the way he did, kind of an unorthodox approach, he would just venture willynilly into a federal bureaucracy here or a federal bureaucracy over there. He took the liberty of dropping in in person at these agencies, and he did it in a way of going up to people and saying, whats your job . I dont know exactly the questions he asked, but knowing berkley the way i do, i think he probably wanted to have a very calm conversation with them to determine what they did and maybe even see if they were doing it right, and particularly if theyre spending the taxpayers money right. So he wanted to do this to keep tabs on how these federal employees in these various bureaucracies were serving the nation, and particularly serving iowans. Now thats what id call an intheflesh gut check, a very different type of oversight that i have done. Berkley was born in spirit lake, iowa, and i presume spent his entire life in spirit lake, iowa, until he spent some retirement time in florida and the period of time he was in the military. Spirit lake, iowa, is a closeknit Farming Community in dickinson county. His neck of the woods is located in the iowa great lakes region, a regional destination for fishing, boating, and outdoor recreation. And ill bet the presiding officer has been there many times. The area is fondly known as the university of okobogee, where generations of families go year after year to vacation and enjoy life. And, by the way, the university is not really a university but is very much a selling point from an Economic Development point of view for that part of the state and has worked very successfully. So as i just described to you, this is where berkleys insatiable work ethic took root. It guided him for his nearly 100 years of life on earth. Through philanthropic good works, he leaves behind a legacy of conservation, stewardship, and historic preservation. With his wife, he helped launch the okobogee foundation more than three decades ago. Since then the foundation has awarded millions of dollars to scores of nonprofit organizations in that lakes region of iowa. Berkley believed in paying it forwards, next. He cared deeply about giving back to his community for future generations to enjoy. As you would expect an iowan to do, he rolled up his sleeves, opened his wallet and pitched in to make a difference. By my measure, he represents a life well lived and lived life well. As i mentioned earlier, berkley and eleanor became steadfast friends with barbara and this senator. He shared an abiding Mutual Respect and cherished their gracious regard for that friendship. After the Berkley Bedells moved to florida in retirement, barbara and i enjoyed an annual gift each february from the bedells. Very simple annual gift, but one that had a lot of meaning to it, more than the material that it represented, because they sent us a box of oranges from their home state of sunshine, just as regular as a clock we received these over many, many years. Through these many years, their annual christmas letter was something that we look forward to, and many years they even thanked us with personal notes for our friendship in that very letter. Berkley also stayed in touch with a friendly valentine note each year to my wife barbara. With berkleys passing, we are saddened to know that these tokens of friendship now come to an end. Berkleys story is an inspiration for younger generations of americans pursuing their dreams. Its never too early to dream big. So this was how Berkley Bedell was dreaming as a 16yearold he became an entrepreneur. Berkley launched a fishing tackle business called Berkley Fly Company with his brother jack. Im told he started the company with 50 from paper route money. He started tying fly fishing lures in his bedroom. Pouring years of sweat equity into the family business, boosted the local economy, and created jobs in his beloved iowa great lakes. His tenacious leadership developed a strong workforce for what was then called berkley industries. Today that company, which is now called pure fishing, is one of the leading fishing tackle manufacturers in the world. At 98 years young, berkley didnt let age slow him down by any stretch of the imagination. He remained active in Public Policy making and immersed in electoral politics in iowa. And usually at least once a year called on me in my Hart Office Building here in washington to tell me about some legislative issue he was interested in, and we worked together on some of those legislative issues. You know, everything here in washington is so political, so this may sound very unusual, and maybe today it is unusual. But despite our different political philosophies, he was a democrat, im a republican, we both appreciate how crucial it is to engage the next generation in civic life. Berkleys leadership and legacy will be remembered for generations to come. Im proud to call him a very good, good friend. Barbara and i extend our condolences to sons ken and tom and daughter jo ann. Your dad made a big footprint in his lifes journey. As my former colleague in the house of representatives, berkley later became my constituent when i was elected to serve here in the United States senate. I never have known Berkley Bedell to stop advocating for his community and for the good of our nation. It became berkleys lifelong hallmark to leave gods green earth better than he found it for generations to come. So i wish godspeed to my good friend, Berkley Bedell, who joins his beloved wife eleanor in eternal life. I yield the floor. And i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call the presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley i ask the calling of the quorum be suspended. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley i ask to speak for two minutes. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley last week the world bank adopted a plan for lending more than 1 billion annually to china despite our objection, meaning the United States objections. China is the worlds secondlargest economy, and its per capita income is well above the level at which countries are supposed to graduate from needing world bank assistance. Americas tax dollars should not be used even indirectly for lending to wealthier countries, particularly when they violate human rights. China seeks legitimacy to International Institutions for its bad practices, including its own predatory lending through belt and road initiatives. Despite what the recent World Bank CountryPartnership Framework says, china is not an example of a developing country should follow. Sum up on that point, china is the secondlargest economy in the world, and they still want to be considered a developing country. And lastly use some taxpayers dollars to accomplish that goal of lending around the world for greater influence for the communists. We should not stand as taxpayers for that to happen. Mr. President , on another point, this past weekend marked the 78th anniversary of japans attack on pearl harbor, a raid that plunged the United States into world war ii. Almost 2,500 u. S. Soldiers lost their lives that day. I am proud of the many iowans who have served and sacrificed for our great country. Earlier this year three of these people who died there returned to iowa to be laid to rest. Robert f. Bennett, william l. Kavidra, and burt k. Mckeanan. Today i honor them and all of our Service Members for their sacrifice serving our people, protecting the Constitutional Rights of freedom and liberty we have. I yield the floor. Mr. Durbin mr. President. The presiding officer the assistant minority leader. Mr. Durbin id ask consent that the short statement im about to make about congressman bedell be placed in the record immediately after the senator from iowas remarks. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Durbin thank you. I was in my office and learned by his floor speech from senator grassley about the passing of Berkley Bedell and i wanted to add my voice to his. A wonderful man. I served with him in the house of representatives. Storm lake i believe spirit lake was his home in iowa. A real knowledgeable man when it came to issues of agriculture and i didnt learn until many years later he was a very successful businessman, in the fishing tackle business, if i remember, in sporting goods. He had many interests. He was a spirited, friendly, good person who worked hard at his job and was a credit to the u. S. House of representatives, regardless of party. And i think that senator grassleys remarks reflect that. Im going to miss his annual christmas card. His wife passed away as well. And they would send a big card, an oversized card and i looked forward to it. I thank my friend senator grassley from iowa for paying tribute to him. Now in a separate place in the record with unanimous consent. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Durbin mr. President , im going to take a chance thb afternoon and this afternoon and vote for one of the president s nominees. Some of my colleagues said im making a big mistake, but i hope im not. His name is mr. Hahn. He is a doctor, an oncologist, and he has been named to serve as the food and Drug Administration commissioner. This is a relatively small agency by federal standards that has a majorsized impact on the lives of americans and beyond. I think its one of our most important agencies. It regulates so many things relating to safety and the quality of life. And dr. Hahn would come to this position at an as you pishus auspicious moment in our history. We are now battling a vaping epidemic across america. The presiding officer and i have worked on this together. And i thank him for his leadership in this regard. I asked dr. Hahn questions. I had him in my office and i had him on the phone last night and he is patient about answering my questions. I asked him about the vaping epidemic that we face. He readily concedes this is something that he feels very strongly about. The latest disclosure about youth cigarette and tobacco report suggests that 22 or more of students across the United States are using ecigarettes or vaping. I asked some High School Students yesterday who said, youre wrong be, its over half. They are using juul, vaping, these flavors and developed nicotine addictions that has been controlling in their lives and affected the way they feel and perform as students. And thats why its so important from my point of view for dr. Hahn to make this a major priority. He assured me that he would. He reminded me he is a lung cancer doctor, and we had a long conversation about my father who died of that disease and tobacco and the impact it had on his life. And i felt sincerity on the part of the doctor when he was discussing this with me. He talked about working with dr. Azar who has been a ally in this area about controlling vaping devices and cigarettes. He said regardless of how i voted for him, he looked forward to working with me. Im going to vote for him as the new f. D. A. Commissioner. Its a leap of faith because im not certain where the president of the United States is at this moment. The presiding officer was in a meeting at the white house last week and i commend him for the questions he asked there, hoping to hold the president and the first lady with their promise to take on the epidemic of vaping and ecigarettes. I dont know at this moment if hes going to continue in that effort or whether the vaping industry has diverted him to a different point of view. Dr. Hahn may find himself in a compromised position soon and i told him as much. If it comes to the point where the president has abandoned his position on vaping and, im afraid dr. Hahn will wear the collar for some of the things that follow. Even though he may not agree with the president , he will be working for the president as part of his administration. I know dr. Hahn said to me he doesnt want to be the head of the f. D. A. That saw this epidemic grow dramatically when it comes to vaping. I will give him my vote and do it with the hope that he has a persuasive vote with dr. Azar to move in the right direction. I applauded President Trump, which is unusual from my side of the aisle when he decided take action against ecigarettes. I hope he will resume this effort. I hope the first lady, who rarely gets engaged in issues, but seems to feel very strongly about this will join us in persuading the president to keep true to his promise of septembe. I so so i will support mr. Hahns nomination. I would like to make a statement in a separate place in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Durbin last friday night was an amazing evening. I went to the Fellowship Baptist Church on the south side of chicago and there was a Memorial Service for the longtime pastor of that church, reverend clay evans. He said friday night is for the politicians for the government people. A lot of people showed up on friday night because a lot of us considered clay evans to be a friend. He was more than a friend, he was a legend. The reverend died peacefully in his home at the age of 94. If you ever had the good fortune to witness him preach, youre lucky. With his rowing sermons and the ship, which is what he called the legendary, which was the fellowship baptist choir behind him, he was mesmerizing. His singing could bring you to your feet. His sunday services were so moving and uplifting that the legendary sam cook would come and attend for inspiration. Even in chicago, the birth place of modern black gospel music, james clayton, reverend evans stood out. It wasnt just his beautiful voice that drew people in, he was a man of moral courage. He persuaded Martin Luther king to come to chicago and use it as his base. It was not a popular position at the time, believe me. Chicago power brokers, fearful of the unrest in the streets warned black ministers dont let dr. King into your churches. Many of them listened to that warning and turned him away. Not clay evans. He invited dr. King to his church and opened his droor to southern breadbasket and persuaded other chicago ministers and churches to join him. He paid pa price for it. Offers of loans, Construction Loans he needed to build his church were withdrawn when he made this controversial decision, Building Permits were withheld for several years, but chicago, over time, became more just thanks to the work of reverend evans, dr. Martin luther king, and the man whom he ordained, the reverend Jesse Jackson, and many others, operation breadbasket opened up thousands of jobs for black chicagoans in previously all White Grocery chains. Recently reverend evans told a reporter that he is dedicated to freedom and equality. For him faith was not just what you believed, it the way you lived. Clay evans born in 1925, large churchgoing family in brownsville, tennessee. His family were share croppers, he was one of nine kids. At night he liked to listen to jazz music on the radio he moved to chicago in 1945, part of the great migration that enriched that city in so many ways. The most successful man he knew in brownsville, tennessee, was an undertaker and thats what he thought he would become but he couldnt afford the tuition for school. He worked in a pickle factory, as a window washer, drove a truck delivering pies. He was working in a brass rail Cocktail Lounge in Downtown Chicago had he prompted him to join in song an marveled at his voice. He might have been a successful nightclub performer, but he attended the baptist tins ought to and ordained a reverend. He went to the university of chicago divinty school. He founded his church in 1958 and served as pastor for 42 years. He used radio and later tv to bring his ministry to homes throughout the south and to introduce gospel music throughout the nation. The Fellowship Baptist Church quickly became one of the most influential churches in chicago. He helped launch the careers of nearly 90 up and coming ministers, including the first woman to be ordained a baptist minister in the city of chicago. He ordained Jesse Jackson and in 1971, the two he could founders founded cush. He would say, its no secret what god could do. He helped to increase hope in chicago and far beyond. I remember as a downstate congressman, i made my early trips to chicago to meet the movers and shakers, reverend clay evans was hien the list. As luck w