Last week working on a public lands package that would permanently fund the land and Water Conservation fund with a vote to move forward on that this afternoon at 5 30 p. M. Eastern, live coverage here of the u. S. Senate on cspan2. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. Dr. Black, the chaplain of the senate, will open the senate with prayer. The chaplain let us pray. O god, our righteousness. As each new day seems to bring the unexpected, we thank you for your power that keeps us from stumbling on lifes road. Today, give our lawmakers the wisdom to find in you their refuge and strength. Lord, as they face complex challenges, may they plead to you for guidance and fellowship. Remind them that in the multitude of counselors, there is safety. May our senators plant seeds of righteousness in order to reap a harvest of goodness and grace. May they make you the foundation of their hope and joy as you empower them to meet every trial without weariness. And lord, have mercy upon the loved ones of Rayshard Brooks and the many others who are buffeted by the winds of despair. We pray in your sovereign name, amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Mr. Grassley mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley one minute for morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley this time of year, for the last roughly 30 years, the world has announced a laureate. The laureate announced this year is dr. Retton lahr. He will receive the prize for his work on oil health at the annual ceremony that has taken place in des moines for the last 30 years in october. Often called the nobel prize for agriculture, the World Food Prize is awarded for Exceptional Achievement that advance Human Development by increasing the quantity, quality, availability or access to food. The award was created by an iowan, dr. Norman borloch, which is credited with saving more lives than any other person who ever lived through his pioneering work in developing new, more productive plant varieties, and particularly plant varieties free of disease. The green revolution sparked by dr. Borloch made it possible for indiana why to feed its people. Now dr. Lahl, also of india, is being recognized for his work which will be of interest to iowans and others around the world. As he says in other words, dr. Lahl says, quote, achieving hungerfree humanity, soil degradation neutrality, negative emission farming and pollutionfree water are among the principal challenges which can never be ignored. Sustainable management of soil and agriculture is also essential to keeping Global Temperatures within the safe range and restoring environment. And if people want to know who dr. Borlaug is, he is one of the two statues that iowa has put in statuary hall. He is one of five people in our country that has received both the nobel peace prize, the congressional gold medal, and president ial medal of freedom. I yield the floor. Mr. Mcconnell mr. President. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell three months ago, the first states were implementing stayathome orders as the new Coronavirus Spread throughout our country. Three months ago, george floyd was still alive, and the killing of Breonna Taylor in louisville had just begun to reignite a National Discussion around policing. Our country has confronted what feels like several years worth of upheaval in just three months. Small businesses and Child Care Centers are trying to figure out how to safely reopen. Schools and universities are trying to plan for the fall. Health care professionals and essential workers are continuing to man their posts, help strangers, and keep our country going. Peaceful protesters have continued to express outrage over the killings of black americans and our Nations Police officers. Overwhelmingly, good, decent, and brave people who put everything on the line for their neighbors have continued to faithfully serve under trying circumstances. These are the kinds of challenges our nation should meet with unity, like when the senate wrote and passed a historic cares act unanimously in march. But unfortunately in some corners of the country, our nations Strategic Reserve of anity of sanity appears to have run a little low. We have seen previously protests hijacked by violent riots. Apparently, rioters thought the best way to argue against a Strong Police force was to terrorize innocent people and Small Businesses for nights on end. Then completing the absurd cycle, we have seen the far left hold up these riots as proof we should defund or disband the police in this country, as though the vast majority of americans would not interpret the anarchy in precisely the opposite way. As i noted last week, we have seen some bigcity mayors use Health Restrictions to construct constitutionally dubious double standards where massive protests are blessed and encouraged, but small, careful Church Services are still banned. In seattle, we have seen the local officials cede several square blocks to a ragtag band of it demonstrators that call themselves the capitol hill autonomous zone. Fear of the far left has literally caused local officials to let a chunk of their own city devolve into a nogo zone for their own cops. Leftwing Media Outlets have been quick to shower praise on this lunacy and short to stop arson and other unchecked times. Other courses called it liberated streets. As if spray painted, boarded up businesses were the equivalent of the Normandy Landing . Amidst all of this, mr. President , our democratic counterparts over in the house of representatives have continued to keep their doors locked and lights off, but here in the senate, we came back in session over a month ago. We have taken smart precautions, but we have not let the peoples business come to a halt. Our committees have been overseeing the cares act and working on other essential business like the National Defense authorization act. Our colleagues are considering what else might help the country reopen, like strong Legal Protections for schools, colleges, employers, and health care workers. Under the leadership of senator tim scott, our conference is developing a serious proposal to reform Law Enforcement in smart ways without lashing out needlessly and counterproductively at the First Responders who are a credit to their communities. And just this week on the floor, we will complete a major piece of legislation that will benefit generations to come. Thanks to a number of our colleagues, particularly the junior senators from colorado and montana, the senate is poised to take historic action for the future of the nations public lands. I havent been the only one coming to the floor to highlight how my constituents prize our States National parks, wildlife refuges and other managed areas for recreation and for many livelihoods. We kentuckians are proud that our commonwealth is home to one of the National Park services crowning jewels at mammoth cave. Were proud of our Historic Sites like millsprings battlefield and our wildlife refuges at the clarks and green rivers. And im proud that the senate this week will provide permanent, steady support to maintain these treasures for generations to come. As weve heard, the same is true for colorado where entire regional economies have driven by Outdoor Recreation and alpine wonderlands. And from montana, where federal and state management work hand in hand with local sportsmen and native american tribes to preserve millions of acres of pristine big sky wilderness. And for West Virginia where 54 of 55 counties have benefited from the land and Water Conservation fund investment. And for ohio where the cuyahoga valley puts parkland in the back yards of millions of people. The list goes on and on. Public lands hold a unique place in the life of every state in america, from their Natural Beauty to their use for recreation to therapistal roles in local economies. In the Communities Just outside the gates, public lands drive over 40 billion in Economic Activity every year, and they play a big part in the entire Outdoor Recreation industry that creates hundreds of billions of dollars in National Prosperity every year. So once again, im grateful to our colleagues who have stewarded the Great American outdoors act thus far. As senator gardner and senator daines for their leadership, to senators manchin, portman, warner for their efforts as well to steer this strong bipartisan product toward the finish line. I look forward to continuing to advance this legislation today and passing it this week. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h. R. 1957, which the clerk will report. The clerk calendar number 75, h. R. 1957, an act to amend the Internal Revenue code of 1986, and so forth and for other purposes. Mr. Mcconnell i note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call mr. Schumer mr. President . The presiding officer the democratic leader. Mr. Schumer i ask unanimous consent the quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer now, mr. President , this morning, the long march for equality for lgqt americans took a step forward. The Supreme Court landed down a landmark decision that federal employment discrimination protections do in fact extend to lgwtq americans. Believe it or not, before today, it was allowed, the federal government did not say you could prevent let me say that in a different way. Believe it or not, before today, it was not a settled legal matter that you could sue your employer for firing you solely on the basis of Sexual Orientation or sexual identity. In 2020 in america it was still okay to discriminate against people because of their Sexual Orientation or identity. Is that unbelievable . 21st century, was still allowed. Well, now it isnt because of the Supreme Court. And they deserve credit for that case. And one of the cases that formed the basis of todays ruling originated in my home state of new york where a skydiving instructor was fired for admitting his Sexual Orientation. So today the Supreme Court did the right thing and ruled that Workplace Discrimination on the basis of Sexual Orientation is just as unlawful as discrimination on the basis of gender, race, or religion. Of course, the ruling in no way diminishes our efforts here in congress to pass the equality act led by my colleague senators merkley, baldwin, and booker. That would be the greatly great leap forward on equality were all looking for. It passed the house over a year ago but its been gathering dust and leader mcconnell in leader mcconnells legislative graveyard. Senate republicans are still not in the 21st century. They must think its okay to discriminate against people because of their orientation or identity. Unbelievable. Unbelievable. But maybe now the fact that even a few justices appointed by republican president s believe that it was again the law, maybe that will prick the hearts of our republican colleagues and leader mcconnell and theyll allow a vote on the equality act here on the floor. But even without the senate and its backward ways, it is clear that the country is moving in the right direction. Now, mr. President , these are not ordinary times in america. For 21 Straight Days hundreds of thousands of americans have taken to the streets to protest Police Violence and racial injustice. The clashes between police and Peaceful Protesters over the past few weeks in which some Police Departments have responded with overly aggressive tactics have only articulated further the need for bold and widereaching reform of police practices. Being killed by police is now the sixth leading cause of death for young black men in america. Let me repeat that. Let me repeat that. Being killed by police is now the sixth leading cause of death for young black men in america. And thats why the house and senate have drafted legislation the justice and policing act that would deliver comprehensive reform to Police Departments, including a ban on choke holds, a ban on noknock warrants in federal drug cases, a ban on racial profiling and limits on the transfer of military equipment to Police Departments. Our bill would make it a lot easier to hold Police Accountable in court for misconduct and institute several reforms to prevent that misconduct in the first place. Only a few months ago the justice and policing act might seem controversial, but in the wake of such obvious injustice recorded on iphones throughout the country, there is now broad and deep support for the policies we democrats are pushing in the justice and policing act. A recent reuters poll reported listen to this 82 of americans including seven in ten on republicans want a ban want to ban police from using choke holds. 83 of americans, including seven in ten republicans want to ban racial profiling. 92 of americans, including nine in ten republicans want police to wear federal police to wear body cameras. 91 of americans, including nine in ten republicans, support allowing independent investigations of Police Departments that show patterns of misconduct. And 75 of americans, including six of ten republicans, support allowing victims of Police Misconduct to sue Police Departments for damages also known as qualified immunity reform. Now is the time to seek bold and broadscale change, not change around the margins. Now is the time for wholesale reform, not piecemeal reform. The justice and policing act takes a comprehensive approach, but at the moment our republican colleagues seem to be on a path towards taking a much, much narrower, less inclusive approach. That is wrong. Some Senate Republicans have endorsed individual proposals in our bill, like qualified immunity reform and bans on choke holds. But it looks like these policies may not be included in a republican bill. While our bill recognizes that a strong federal response is necessary to bring change to every Police Department in america, the republicans, it seems, are going to leave much of the task up to the states. If history has taught us anything, particularly when it comes to civil rights, its that progress on civil rights has been stunted, slowed down and sometimes stymied by letting states take the lead. Let me repeat to my republican colleagues. We need comprehensive and bold reform, and we need a commitment from the republican leader to consider broad, Strong Police reform, the justice and policing act on the floor of the senate before july 4. Again, i ask our republican leader, ive asked before, allow the justice and policing act to be on the floor. We can debate it. We can amend it. Some of you may not vote for it. But the nation is crying out for a debate on a comprehensive and strong approach, not to cherrypick one or two times, say, see, weve done our job and go home. This has been a pervasive and deep problem in america for decades and centuries. To now give it short shrift, to try and get off the hook would be so wrong at the moment when americans are calling for, the vast majority of Republican Voters are calling for it. Do we have any courage here, any strength to face the issue headon at a time and at a moment when we can do it . I hope our republican friends will summon that courage, that strength, and that desire to bring real, strong, and comprehensive reform. The time for waiting is over. Meaningwhile, a Global Pandemic continues to assail our country and economy. The covid19 pandemic did not disappear while the nation rightfully turns its attention to the issues of Racial Justice. In fact, just as the country was preparing for the early staples of reopening, a number of cases began to spike again in a number of states. Hats a has activated arizona has activated emergency plans. Over the weekend, florida reported its highest single day of cases. 22 states are reporting increases in the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus. After those numbers had been declining. The experts tell us it is not simply because there is no testing. There is also more cor