For later today at 1 30 p. M. Eastern. We also expect more floor speeches on policing reforms after Senate Republicans introduced their bill yesterday. Now, live to the senate floor. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr black, will open the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, our hearts are steadfast toward you. Lead us safely to the refuge of your choosing, for you desire to give us a future and a hope. Lord, provide us with grateful hearts to appreciate your mercies that are new each day. Today, give our senators the power to do your will, as they realize more fully that they are servants of heaven and stewards of your mysteries. Give them your perspective on their daily tasks and every decision they must make. Remind them that people usually dont care how much you know until they know how much you care. May faithfulness to you become the litmus test by which they evaluate each action. We pray in your powerful 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 madam president. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley i ask permission for one minute in morning business. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley once again im proud to come and tell you something about the history of iowa, and i do this during a hectic time of covid19 crisis. That crisis has been for american occasional system quite an impact. So at this time its important to highlight some successes. The 20182019 school year saw the highest fouryear Graduation Rate in iowas history, and that percentage was at 91. 6 . In 2017, iowa had the highest Graduation Rate in the entire country, and with this achievement we appear ready to do it again. During my time representing iowa in the United States senate, i have been in many of our states classrooms, seeing first hand the dedication of iowas educators. I would like to congratulate all of those involved with iowa schools on their fantastic work and do it and congratulate them for doing it at all times. But over the past few months in particular because of all the situations theyve run into because of the virus pandemic. I yield the floor. Mr. Mcconnell madam president. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell the senate has been confronting issues of historic importance on the home front. Just since march we sent Historic Resources to the health care fight against covid19 on an overwhelming bipartisan basis. We passed the largest rescue package in American History on a bipartisan basis. We just passed a generational bill for public lands also on a bipartisan basis. Yesterday the junior senator from South Carolina introduced a major proposal to promote Racial Justice. If our colleagues across the aisle can put politics aside and join us in a real discussion, then on this issue too we should be able to make law on a bipartisan basis. The senate has led and is leading the way towards serious solutions. But at the same time, madam president , developments around the world continue to remind us that the safety and interest of the American People are also threatened from beyond our shores. Two weeks ago i explained how the Chinese Communist party have used the pandemic they helped worsen as a smoke screen for ratcheting up their oppression in hong kong and advancing their control and influence throughout the region. It hasnt stopped. They have stepped up their menacing of japan. In the skies chinese jets have intruded into taiwan airspace, on land for the sake of graping territory, the p. L. A. Has incident debated the worst clash since they went to war way back in 1962. Needless to say the rest of the world has watched with grave concern this Violent Exchange between two nuclear states. We are encouraging deescalation and hoping for peace. But the world could not have seen a clearer reminder that the p. L. C. Is dead set on challenging and remaking the National Order to include literally redrawing world maps. Of course, this is not exactly breaking news to any of us who have been paying attention. Earlier this year the Senate Passed legislation to give the Administration New tools to directly punish the c. C. P. For its egregious treatment of the uighur people rand the modern day gulag it has constructed there. The president signed it into law yesterday. And going back to the u. S. Hong kong policy act which i wrote back in 1992, the senate has maintained a keen interest in the freedom and autonomy of our friends in that city. Unfortunately, beijing has continued to tighten its grip there as well. More and more hong kongers facing an agonizing disis. Can they remain in the city they love or must they flee elsewhere if they want their children to grow up free . As ive said often, every nation that cares about democracy and stability has a stake in ensuring that beijings actions in hong kong carry consequences. So, i encourage the administration to use the tools congress has given it and to work with likeminded nations to impose those costs, but punishing the p. R. C. Cannot be our only priority. We also need to actively help the people of hong kong. Led by the Prime Minister boris johnson, the United Kingdom says they are willing to offer visas to millions of hong kongers, in digs to supporting assistance, we must consider ways to welcome hong kongers to america. Chinese americans have formed part of the backbone of our nation for about two centuries. Against headwinds of racial prejudice, chinese immigrants helped build modern america as we know it. Generationings of Chinese Americans have enriched our society and fueled our economic prosperity. Not surprisingly, im particularly partial to the secretary of transportation whose parents led communist rule. She has served her country across four president ial administrations including as the First Chinese american to ever serve in a president s cabinet. If some of the same brave hong kongers who have stood up for liberty waved our American Flag and singing our American National anthem would like to come here and join us, we should welcome them warmly. Of course, the senate is not only acting with respect to china. Earlier this year at my urging the Senate Enacted the civilian protection act and this week the senate is the administration is using these tools. With the help of russian air power, iranian advisors and manpower from hezbollah terrorists, assad has military control of most of the territory he lost during nine years of civil war. But he has effectively destroyed his own country in an effort to save his regime. Assad faces renewed protest across the country, infighting within his regime and family and a syrian economy that is in free fall. Because of this administration and this congress, the cash flow to these butchers is going to shrink, and the price that leaders and businessmen in beirut and cairo will have to do to pay business with the regime will grow. These new steps will create leverage for our diplomats and our partners on the ground to create a political solution and finely end the war. To maintain this pressure, we should keep our physical presence in syria. We should work to bring our nato ally turkey back on the right side and pursue the deterrent that President Trump has built against iran to keep checking their influence in syria and throughout the middle east. Now, one final matter. Later today the senate will confirm judge Justin Walker, of kentucky, to join the d. C. Circuit court of appeals. Now, as ive noted in just the last several weeks, judge walker has be given the Senate Several new reasons to support his nomination to the secondmost important federal bench. In testimony before our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, he demonstrated an impressive grasp of legal precedent. At his current post, as district judge for the Western District of kentucky, he eloquently applied this standing to uphold americans religious liberty and he earned the approval of the American Bar Association with a rating of well qualified. But, of course, judge walkers credentials were already sterling. Long before this nominee began practicing and then applying the law he was applauded for his excellence at studying it. Judge walker, as i mentioned before graduated from Duke University summa cum laude, harvard magnum cum laude. He led clerkships for judge Brett Kavanaugh and Anthony Kennedy 57bd then back home to the university of louisville law school. He quickly became a star faculty member producing distinguished scholarship on a wide range of legal issues and once he took his current seat on the bench for the Western District of kentucky, he wasted no time to build an equally strong reputation for the fairness and openmindedness that americans deserve from their judges. In one letter from colleagues on the Judiciary Committee, 100 practicing lawyers from across kentucky said, quote, if judge walker is confirmed, we could give our clients an assessment for him for which any judge hes tried. He is sharp, fair, and will follow the law. In another letter, 16 different state attorneys general told us, as someone outside the beltway with a commitment to the rule of law, we know judge walker will listen to the advocates appearing before him, that he will weigh the facts against the law as it is written and not as he wish its to be and that he will fairly decide these cases based upon controlling precedent. These glowing assessments are not from elite corporate counsel, these are from men and women from across kentucky and across america who have seen this man work and watch his career. Republican presence have a proud tradition of looking beyond washington to freshen up the d. C. Circuit with diverse perspectives from across america. President nixon thought this Crucial Court could use the expertise of a texan and minnesotan. President reagan chose legal minds from colorado and North Carolina. President bush 41 chose a south carolinian. And president bush 43, a californian. So when the Senate Confirms judge walker to this vacancy, we will not just be promoting a wildly admired legal expert and proven judge to a role for which he is obviously qualified, we will also be adding to a timehonored tradition of finding men and women from all across the country to help ensure that this enormously consequential bench here in our nations capitol is refreshed with talent from all parts of america. My fellow kentuckians and i are sorry to part with this son of the bluegrass, but mostly we are proud because judge walker will be putting his legal brilliance and his exceptional judicial temperament to work, not just for his home state, but for our entire nation. And in even more consequential ways. I look forward to voting to confirm judge Justin Walker, and i would urge each of my colleagues to do the same. I understand there is a bill at the desk due a second reading. The presiding officer the clerk will read the title of the bill for the second time. The clerk s. 3985, a bill to improve and reform policing practices, accountability, and transparency. Mr. Mcconnell in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule 14, i would object to further proceedings. The presiding officer objection is heard. The bill will be placed on the calendar. Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. The clerk nomination, the judiciary, Justin Reed Walker of kentucky to be United States circuit judge for the District Of Columbia circuit. Mr. Mcconnell i notice the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Schumer madam president. The presiding officer the democratic leader. Mr. Schumer are we in a quorum . I ask unanimous consent the quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer madam president , i cried tears of joy a few minutes ago when i heard the decision of the Supreme Court on daca. These wonderful daca kids and their families have a huge burden lifted off their shoulders. They dont have to worry about being deported. They can do their jobs, and i believe i do believe this someday, someday soon, they will be american citizens. I have met so many of these beautiful children and their families. Now many have grown up. They came to america as little kids, and all they want to be is americans. They work hard. I met many i met some of them during the covid crisis in new york, risking their lives to deal with the Health Care Crisis we had. I have seen them enlist in the armed forces and go to college, and some of our best colleges and law schools and climb that american ladder that has been around for so many years, and some people want to rip away. So this is a wonderful, wonderful day, for the daca kids, for their families, and for the american dream. We have always believed in immigration in america. We have had some dark forces oppose it in recent years, but we believe in it. Its part of our soul. Every one of us cares about immigrants, and so many of us are descendants of immigrants. Wow. What a decision. And let me say this. In these very difficult times, the Supreme Court provided a bright ray of sunshine this week. With the decision on monday preventing discrimination in employment against the Lgbtq Community, and now with this daca decision. To me, frankly, the courts decisions were surprising but welcome and gives you some faith that the laws and rules and mores of this country can be upheld. Wow. The decision is amazing. I am so happy for these kids and their families. I feel for them, and i think all of america does. Now, on some other issues. But again, i cannot the Supreme Court. Who would have thought would have so many good decisions in one week . Who would have thought . Wow. Okay. Now lets get to some other very important issues as well. Two weeks ago, the house and Senate Democrats introduced a bill, the justice in policing act, to bring Sweeping Change to the Nations Police departments. The bill would comprehend would bring comprehensive and enduring reforms. The most forceful set of changes to policing in decades. The House Judiciary Committee approved the legislation yesterday, and it will pass the full house next week. Here in the senate, republicans led by put forward their own proposal yesterday, led by the senator from South Carolina. We welcome our republican colleagues to this discussion. Its something they have resisted for so long. But merely writing a bill, any bill is not good enough at this moment in American History. Its too low a bar to simply say well write any old bill. And thats good enough isnt good enough for so many people, many of whom are marching in the streets to get real justice. We dont just need any bill right now. We need a strong bill. We dont need some bipartisan talks. We need to save black lives and bring long overdue reforms to institutions that have resisted them. And the harsh fact of the matter is the legislation my republican friends have put together is far too weak and will be ineffective at rooting out this problem. The republican bill does nothing to reform the legal standards that shield police from convictions for violating americas Constitutional Rights. It does nothing on qualified immunity which shields even police who are guilty of violating civil rights from being sued for civil damages. The republican bill does nothing to encourage independent investigations of Police Departments that have patterns and practices that violate the constitution. The republican bill does nothing to reform the use of force standard, nothing on racial profiling, nothing on limiting the transfer of military equipment to local Police Departments. And what the republican bill does propose does not go far enough. Unlike the justice in policing act which bans noknock warrants in federal drug cases, the republican bill only requires data on noknock warrants. Breonna taylor, First Responder in louisville, kentucky, was asleep in her bed when she was killed by police who had a noknock warrant. More data would not have saved Breonna Taylors life. Unlike the justice in policing act which bans choke holds and other tactics that have killed black americans, the republican bill only purports to ban choke holds by withholding funding from departments that dont voluntar