Transcripts For CSPAN2 U.S. Senate U.S. Senate 20240713 : vi

Vote the presiding officer any senators in the chamber wishing to vote or change their vote . If not the yeas are 72. The nays are 18. The nomination is confirmed. Under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table and the president will be immediately notified of the senates action. A senator mr. President . The presiding officer the senator for south dakota. Mr. Thune i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Thune mr. President , every american has had to deal with annoying and Illegal Robocalls. All of us have been ininterrupted at one point or time announcing we won a prize or needing important banking information so that our account wont be closed. These calls are a major nuisance but of course theyre not just a nuisance, mr. President. Too Many Americans fall victim to sophisticated robocall scammers and have their money or identity stolen. These individuals can spend months or years struggling to get their life back after falling prey to these scammers. There are currently laws and fines in place to prevent scam artists from preying on people through the telephone but unfortunately these measures have not been sufficient. In many cases robocall scammers build the current finds into the cost of doing business. The federal Communications Commissions enforcement efforts are hampered by a tight time window for pursuing violators. Ive been working on this issue since my time as chairman of the commerce committee. At the end of last year i introduced the telephone robocall abuse criminal enforcement and deterrence act or the trade act with my colleague. The senate bill passed in may and last week it was passed by the house of representatives. The act provides tools to discourage illegal rebow calls, protect consumers and crack down on offenders. Criminal prosecution of illegal robocallers can be difficult. Scammers are frequently based abroad, can quickly shut down shop before authorities can get to them. But i believe e. P. W. Need to make sure there is a credible threat of criminal prosecution and prison for those who use robocalls to prey upon the elderly and other vulnerable americans. The traced act includes a group from the department of justice, the federal Communications Commission, the f. K. C. , the Consumer Financial protection bureau, states attorneys general and others to criminally prosecute illegal robocalling. It expands the window in which the f. C. C. Can pursue scammers and levy fines from one year to four years. The bill also makes it easier for your cell phone carrier to lawfully block calls that arent authenticated. Which will help callers from getting through to your phone in the first place. It also tackles the issue of spoofed calls, where calls appear as if theyre coming from some known number. I remember an article that of the ared that scammers had successfully spoofed the number of the Watertown Police department. To anyone who received a call, it looked as if it really was the Watertown Police department calling. Traced act also addresses the issue of one of socalled scams where International Scammers try to get individuals to return their calls so they can charge them exorbitant fees. And it directs the federal Communications Commission to convene a working group to address the problem of Illegal Robocalls being made to hospitals. There are numerous stories of hospital telephone lines be flooded, disrupting critical lines of communication literally for hours. This cant be allowed to go on. Mr. President , i want to thank senator markey for partnering with me and my house colleagues for advancing this legislation. Im proud of the bipartisan support that our bill has received in both houses of the congress. One last step remains before the we can get this bill to the president s desk, and that is Senate Passage of the final bill. Im hoping we can get that done in the coming days so that we can get this bill to the president before christmas. While the traced act may not eliminate all of the robocalls that americans receive, it will go a long way toward making it safe to answer your phone again. I look forward to seeing this legislation signed into law in the very near future. Mr. President , i yield the floor and i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorumcall mr. Casey mr. President. The presiding officer the senator for pennsylvania. Mr. Casey thank you, mr. President. I would ask consent to vitiate the quorum call. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Casey and also consent to speak as if in morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Casey mr. President , i rise today to honor the life of First Lieutenant Michael Cleary from dallas, pennsylvania, 14 years since his death. Michael is one of some 288 pennsylvanians killed in action in the wars in iraq and afghanistan. First cliewnt cleary lieutenant cleary served as platoon leader of the Disposal Team and e company, first of the 15th infantry regiment, third brigade, Third Infantry Division of the United States army. On december 20, 2005, First Lieutenant cleary was killed in action while working in a bomb factory near samara, iraq. His platoon was ambushed outside the facility. He was just 24 years old. Even prior to joining the army, mike cleary was an active member of his community. He graduated from Dallas Senior High School in dallas, pennsylvania, with a and was a fouryear varsity athlete in both soccer and tennis, captain of both teams in his senior year. He received the dr. Pepper soccer m. V. P. Scholarship and a history scholarship at high school graduation, and was offered academic scholarships at gettysburg as well as dicken son and lafayette, all very strong academic institutions of Higher Education in pennsylvania. He followed his fathers footsteps and chose Hamilton College in new york. While hamilton First Lieutenant cleary participated in varsity soccer and varsity tennis. After the accept is 1, after the september 1, 2001, he wanted to join the forces but followed the advice of his mother and stayed in school. In may of 2003, he graduated from hamilton with honors of during his senior year, he was accepted into the marine flight officer program. He was notified that it would be deferred until january, not wanting to wait, Michael Cleary decided to enlist in the United States army. Three weeks after college graduation, he went to basic training and earned his airborne wings and graduated from the special air service antiterrorist course. The news of First Lieutenant clearys death came just before he was scheduled to return home during the christmas season. He was also planning to get married two months after he returned home to his high school sweetheart. First lieutenant cleary earned the following awards and decorations, the Army Achievement medal, National Defense service medal, Iraq Campaign medal, and global war on Terrorism Service medal, army service ribbon, and overseas service ribbon. His family also received First Lieutenant clearys United States Army Bronze Star and purple heart. Following his death, First Lieutenant cleary fathers jack described his last conversation with his son the day before he died and im quoting jack cleary. Jack cleary is someone ive gotten to know his his sons passing many heres what jack said at that time. Im quoting him directly. He meaning michael, was very upset that they were sending home some of his men without their awards for things like promotions, and he was fighting for his men. Thats the kind of officer he was. Michael was a fine man. He cared about all people, great and small, unquote. Jack cleary knows of what he speaks because he himself served in vietnam, and as i mentioned earlier, was also a graduate of the same college. First lieutenant Michael Clearys legacy lives on with his family. His father marianne is a member of gold star mothers where she works to support veterans, military families, and her Community Every day. John balona, Michaels College roommate, is the director and founder of the First Lieutenant Michael Joseph cleary run for the fallen, a run across america to raise awareness about the lives of those who fought to activate their memories and to keep their spirits alive. Run for the fallen supports organizations that help wounded veterans as well as the families of those killed and helps aid the healing process for those americans whose lives have been affected by war. All americans are grateful for the friends and family of Fallen Service members who not only continue the legacy of service to the nation but who take their tragedy and turn it into a force for good. First lieutenant Michael Cleary is one of so many bright, talented, and dedicated young men and women who have died in service to our country. And while i speak specifically of michael today, his story is the story of thousands of men and women across our country, hundreds of them in pennsylvania, who have given their lives in iraq and afghanistan, and also have given their lives in service of american values, values like democracy and liberty and rule of law. So as we remember Michael Cleary, we should also remember the words of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham lincoln reminded us that people like Michael Cleary gave, as lincoln said, quote, the last full measure of devotion to our country. Its at times like this when we should remember lincolns words not only those words, but also other words from the gettysburg address where he said, it is for us the living to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far to nobly advanced. That was said by Abraham Lincoln all those years ago. We must strive every day, whether were citizens or public officials, whatever our station in life, we must strive every day to complete that unfinished work that lincoln talked about. So that as we discuss major Security Issues like u. S. Withdrawal from afghanistan or combating the resurgeance of isis in the middle east or exercising oversight over u. S. Military engagingments overseas engagingments overseas and look increasingly to try to resolve complicated global crises, we must not forget that those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country, particularly in the most recent wars, are those we should remember. Just consider these numbers. Americans who have lost their lives in the wars in afghanistan and iraq within an additional seven killed in Africa Command operations since 2001. That number is 6,989 americans just in those conflicts just in that time frame. This includes this 6,989 americans includes some 300 Service Members from pennsylvania, the fifth highest total of any state. Number two, over 49,000 in that time period have been wounded, including more than roughly 2,000 from pennsylvania. So 6,989 killed since 2001 nationwide and over 49,000 wounded in that time period. Third, although the administration refuses to be transparent in its deployment tracking, press reports indicate that approximately 19,000 americans are currently serving in iraq and afghanistan with an additional 65,000 serving in the persian gulf and saudi arabia. This year this year pennsylvania lost marine Sergeant Benjamin heinze of york county, pennsylvania, assigned to the 21st marine regiment, fourth marine division. He was killed by a roadside bomb on april 8 in afghanistan, along with two other marines, Staff Sergeant Christopher Slutman and hendrix. Staff Sergeant Slutman had ties to pennsylvania. While were grateful pens did not suffer pennsylvania did not suffer more life this year, any loss of life any loss of life is not only devastating but should also cause us to reconsider the nature of our military commitments overseas. These fighting men and women were born into families, not into devices and brigades. They are sons and daughters, hundreds and husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Their love for their families is matched only only by their devotion to our country. But many more bear the scars of war. Some families have lost im sorry. Some families have a loved one who served in iraq or afghanistan and were returned home but as one of the more than 49,000 who were wounded. We must not overlook the unusually High Percentage of iraq and afghanistan veterans who have died since returning home, whether from a Drug Overdose or suicide or the effects of combat. Thousands of American Families continue to pay a terrible price for the courage and dedication of their family members who gave life and limb for this country. So we have much to think about, not only on this day, but, of course, in this season this season of hope, this season of gratitude, this season of time together with our families back home. But we should especially remember those families who have loved and lost, those who have lost someone in combat, those who have lost someone who has served so nobly, served on behalf of the rest of us. At time that, mr. President , i know you have personal experience with this having served yourself, and i know that you understand this. Its an important time to remember those who have given so much for our country. So with the spirit of gratitude for their service, hope that we dont have more losses in the coming year, and with confidence that they have set a great example for us, i yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call a senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from texas. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , i would ask the quorum call be rescinded. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn mr. President , the chaos here in washington, d. C. Precipitated by impeachment mania, our inability to get what should be relatively straightforward work done like the appropriations process amid all the gymnastics over the usmca, the United Statesmexicocanada agreement, and the fact we are coming down to a deadline on friday, december 20, when the current continuing resolution runs out. Because of everything thats going on, many people may have not been able to pay that much attention, and i think attention is deserved to the testimony yesterday of the department of justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz who testified in front of the Senate Judiciary committee. I know there was some News Coverage of it, but i wanted to give some reflections on the testimony that mr. Horowitz gave. First of all, the office of Inspector General is a very important one. They are the watchdog to make sure that the laws that Congress Passes and the rules of the various agencies in this case, the department of Justice Justice are complied with. Its really very, very important. With Everything Else going on, its important to have an impartial Inspector General conduct that kind of investigation and hold people accountable, something that happens not enough here in washington, d. C. But Inspector General horowitz was widely praised along with his team for producing an outstanding report, this time on the counterintelligence investigation of the Trump Administration by the obamaera Justice Department and f. B. I. This was a 480page report. Ive got a copy of it right here. Its redacted for public release, and if you look at it online, you can look under the department of justice website, you can see that some of it is redacted or black marks drawn through parts of it to protect certain classified information. But theres more than enough information contained in this report to know that the crossfire hurricane investigation into the Trump Administration by the obama Justice Department, including the comey f. B. I. , was an unmitigated disaster. Mr. Horowitz highlighted some of the truly disturbing and alar