Transcripts For CSPAN2 US Senate 20160426 : vimarsana.com

CSPAN2 US Senate April 26, 2016

The cattle upon a thousand hills. We confess that we often forget that righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to people. We thank you for your mercies that come to us new each day. May we live lives of gratitude because of your generous kindness. Today use our senators as instruments of your glory. Fill them with your peace, as they keep their minds fixed on you. Lord, bless our nation. Make it a beacon of freedom and righteousness in these challenging times. We pray in your holy name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our flag. 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. Mcconnell mr. President . The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Mcconnell when the new majority resolved to get the senate back to work, we knew wed have to get committees functioning again first. We believe that would be critical to helping members on both sides rediscover their voices and find Common Ground and then develop real stakes in the outcome. That certainly what weve seen this appropriations season. The Appropriations Committee has held dozens of hearings already. Its marked up funding bills at a steady clip, and its sending good legislation to the floor. One of those bills is the Energy Security and Water Infrastructure appropriations measure which is before us now. This legislation is important for american energy, for american waterways and ports, and for american commerce and safety. It will also maintain our Nuclear Deterrence posture by ensuring Nuclear Stockpile readiness which is important for national security. Id like to recognize the bill managers for their diligent work to bring this legislation to the floor for consideration. Id also like to recognize the leadership of the Appropriations Committee foits work in for its work in getting this process moving. By returning to regular order, weve opened up the process and empowered senators both those who sit on the Appropriations Committee and those who do not to have more of a say in the appropriations legislation. Thats important because these funding bills can affect each of our states. The progress weve seen already is encouraging. It shows whats possible when the senate gets back to a productive legislative process. Mr. Reid mr. President . The presiding officer the democratic leader. Mr. Reid i appreciate the good work, the exemplary work done on the energy and water appropriations bill by senators feinstein and alexander. I managed that legislation for many, many years. Most of the time is was with Pete Domenici from new mexico. I was the chair most of the team but not all the time, but it didnt matter. Our job was to move the bill forward. People dont realize about this most important bill is that most of the funding is not energy and water as we look at it. Its defense related. Making sure our Nuclear Weapons are safe and reliable and things of that nature. Making sure our National Labs are funded. So i appreciate their good work. Its been very, very good and i appreciate it. Last night the republican leader has filed cloture. Now, cloture was filed not because of any on our side. We should finish the work on the bill tomorrow or maybe thursday but im glad were going to get itone. Its an extremely important piece of legislation. Im glad we started here. Im glad to hear my friend, the republican leader, talking about the appropriations process moving forward. But we have to understand we have a lot more bills to go. This is only one. One out of many, one out of a dozen. But i want to be clear about something else, something that is vitally important, something thats imperative. The senate must do something now to address the outbreak of the zika virus. Were not going to interfere with the energy and water appropriation bill, but we must do something to confront this scourge thats facing our country and the western part of the world. Anyone whos followed the news over the past few months has undoubtedly heard about the spread of this zika. Zika is a virus spread by mosquitoes in warmer, tropical areas. We have warmer areas in the United States, not tropical but warm and they breed mosquitoes. Zika has been linked to Many Health Problems but most notably a terrible birth defect called microencephaly. Weve all seen the pictures of these babies with these small heads caused by a mosquito bite. Dr. Anthony fossy from the National Institutes of health, hes the leader of the institute dealing with Infectious Disease, came to the capitol last thursday and briefed us about this thing called zika. He described how dangerous it is. He was accompanied by senators for Disease Control by the centers for Disease Control. He of course represents the National Institutes of health. We had the secretary of health and Human Services there. They are there to tell us how serious this situation is, how dangerous it is. There are a number of problems as a result of this virus, but the one thats been most illustrated is the fact that the in infants the skull doesnt fully form so the skull never completely pushes out to form around the brain. So when theyre born es these babies have tiny born, these babies have tiny, undeveloped skulls. Sometimes the skulls collapse. Aside from their damaged brains and skulls, these babies also have, of course, developmentally delays. Earlier this year a baby in hawaii was born with this disease. But, mr. President , sadly the worst is on its way. Were seeing cases of this cyrus all over the continental United States. These have been linked to travel transmitted from someone who has traveled to zika affected areas. Most americans are afraid to travel abroad. Im sorry to say rightfully so for fear of the mosquitoes carrying zika, sceek d. A. Will infect zika will infect you. Zika is already upon us. In florida, puerto rico, and it will spread to other places. These mosquitoes can breed in something smaller than a bottle cap and water. Puerto rico is battling local transmission of the virus as we speak. As of last friday, the island already had more than 500 confirmed cases of zika and one this five Puerto Ricans are concerned they could have been infected. Our fellow american citizens in puerto rico have limited funding to fight this growing epidemic. Weve heard about the financial problems theyre having. The puerto rican government doesnt have even enough money to pay contractors to empty septic tanks in schools which are breeding grounds for mosquito larva capable of producing billions of mosquitoes, not millions but billions. Experts tell us it wont be long before mosquitoes carrying zika are affecting people here in the continental United States. We cant wait for that to happen before we act. This is an emergency situation if anything ever before. The senate must do something now to counter the spread of this virus. The white house has taken money asked for money two months ago but during that period of time, they took money from the ebola funding which is also vitally important. Thats basically were doing pretty well stopping the spread of that. But taking that money away, well be right back with the problem with ebola if its not replaced. We have a bill ready to go. Senator nelson of florida who is going to field this as feel this as much as any senator in the country has provided a bill to give the president the money hes asked for, 1. 9 billion of emergency supplemental appropriations. Democrats believe that this 1. 9 billion is a good start. Our nations Public Health and Infectious Disease experts say this is roughly how much money they need to fight this virus. We would be irresponsible not to provide this money and do it now. Senator nelsons bill will bolster our defense against zika by Funding Development of vaccines, Mosquito Control methods and testing and services to those who are infected. So i say to my republican colleagues, i say to the republican leader, if we want to wait till more babies are born with these permanent disabilities, these disabilities caused by a virus that we could help prevent, then for how many. Do we want to wait till people in the United States suffer from paralysis because by the syndrome linked to zika. It a he already been two months its already been two months since the president requested the funding. The longer we wait the worse it will be. States are already scrambling to address zika. There is a story all over the country but one in the Washington Post which highlighted the danger of inaction. And i quote, cities and states are preparing for possible zika outbreak ths spring. Some are losing millions of federal dollars that local Officials Say they were counting on, not only for ontheground efforts to track and contain the spread of the mosquito borne virus but also to respond to other emergencies that threaten Public Health. Los angeles county, for example, says it onts be able to fill 17 vacancies at its Public Health laboratory. Michigan is concerned about fighting. Minnesota plans to reduce its stockpile of certain medications needed to treat First Responders during emergencies. The across the board funding cuts are part of a complicated shift of resources that the Obama Administration blames on congress for its refusal to approve the white houses 1. 9 billion emergency request to combat zika. The president is right. Hes pointing the finger where it belongs, right here when congress. So i implore my republican colleagues, i implore my friend, the republican leader, lets act now. Weve done the work. We have the ability to provide what experts need to fight this devastating virus. Lets get it done. For more than a week weve heard about republican the appropriation folks working toward an agreement. I have yet to see it. Ive heard about it. If the republican leader and the appropriations haven a alternative, they should bring it to the floor now. Democrats are happy to work toward a solution but we have to get started. We need to get the expert give the experts the resources they need to prevent the spread of zika. Its not acceptable to do nothing. The senate should not leave this week without addressing legislation that fights zika. We cant go on break without taking care of this emergency. When the senate finishes its work on energy and water, we must move to the zika legislation. The National Institutes for health, centers for Disease Control, entire health and Human Services cabinet office, they need congress to send the funding necessary to start working on a solution to zika. Now, mr. President , very brief briefly, on another issue. I ask that it appear in a separate place in the record. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Reid Benjamin Franklin said, quote, when the well is dry and we know the worth of water. Close quote. The drought is here. Its been going on for 15 to 20 years in the western part of the United States. Were all over the west perilously close to running dry. Its as dangerous as its been in our lifetime. The states of california, arizona, nevada, colorado, utah, wyoming we dont have these huge rivers like we see west of the mississippi. We have basically the little Colorado River. It is a tiny little river. It has in the past become mighty, but very short periods of time. That little river is called upon to respond to everything. One of the things thats happening is lake powell, the largest manmade lake in america, is going dry. Theres no end in sight. This drought has dropped lake mead, which is the resource for water that goes every place in the west. The water in california they get most of the water out of the colorado. It all comes off the lake mead. The lake mead levels have dropped to levels not seen since the great depression. Thats when, of course, the lake was formed. It hasnt been full in over three decades. To make matters worse, el mean o was supposed to ease the pain. It hasnt. Only a little billet more. Only a little bit more. Some say that up to 50,000 people rely on the colorado requirement we know that the state of california has already 40 Million People who depend on it as much as any other source of water. We have to work to reverse Current Trends or water shortage will become the new normal. The federal government should and can work with states on solutions that will make our precious Water Supplies more sustainable. We need to Work Together as the states of california, arizona, nevada, utah, and even wyoming, which is a long ways away, have worked to solve the issues. Today the Senate Continues work on the energy and water bill. Later well consider three amendments. One is the reidheller amendment. Our amendment would build on the spirit of collaboration by trying to address the fact that we need to stretch every drop of water as far as itll go. This legislation isnt for any one city or region. It will help every state that relies on the Colorado River system. I hope this amendment will pass. I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. President , would the chair announce the business of the day. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of h. R. 2028, which the clerk will report. The clerk calendar number 96, h. R. 2028, an act making appropriations for energy and Water Development for the fiscal year ending september 30, 2016, and for other purposes. The presiding officer yoshed the time until 11 00 a. M. Will be equally divided between the two managers and their designees. Mr. Reid i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call the presiding officer the assistant minority leader. Mr. Durbin i ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business. The presiding officer the senate in a quorum call. Mr. Durbin i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be suspended. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Durbin and i ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business. The presiding officer is there objection . Mr. Reid to what . Mr. Durbin speaking in morning business. Mr. Reid okay, just give us a couple minutes more. Mr. Durbin okay. I yield the floor and i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer is there objection . Objection is heard. The clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Durbin mr. President . The presiding officer the assistant democratic leader. Mr. Durbin i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be suspended. The presiding officer there objection . Without objection. Mr. Durbin i ask unanimous consent to speak in morning business. The presiding officer is there objection . Without objection. Mr. Durbin mr. President , by now weve all seen reports of the damage thats done by the zika virus. Weve seen the damage it can do to newborn unphants. Infants. Its been clinically linked to birth defects in pregnant women. Since the start of the outbreak, nearly 900 americans in 41 states and washington, d. C. , and three United States territories including over 80 pregnant women have already contracted zika. In my state of illinois, 13 people have tested positive, including at least two pregnant women. But because we have the best scientists and researchers in the world at the center for Disease Control and prevention, we know more today about the virus and prevention measures than we did when most of us first heard the word zika a few months ago. We know that mosquitoes spread the disease. We know that the arrival of warm weather signals the start of mosquito season. But america is currently unprepared to deal with an outbreak of this dangerous virus. We must improve vector control. We must expand access to family planning, education, contraception, and we must accelerate efforts to develop a vaccine as quickly as humanly possible. The center for Disease Control desperately needs funding to deal with this crisis, and they need it now. Before the summer months, when mosquitoes spread north across the United States. Congress has failed to even consider president obamas emergency zika funding request. What on earth is congress waiting for . Last week Senate Democrats sent a letter to Republican Leadership calling for immediate action to pass the zika supplemental request. I hope this call for action will be heard by all my republican colleagues, but i especially hope that it resonates with my colleagues from the Southern States. These are the states that are most likely to be hit first and hardest by the zika mosquito virus. Florida, mississippi, louisiana, texas, alabama, arkansas the list goes on. In the absence of congressional action, immediate congressional action, the administration has been forced to divert funding

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