Tammy Baldwin

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I have come to the floor to address a very important choice for this Senate and, frankly, for President-Elect Trump. The time is now for Donald Trump to take a stand in support of American workers by calling on Republican leadership in Congress to support strong ``Buy American'' requirements in the Water Resources Development Act, also known as the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act. Just 1 week ago in Cincinnati, OH, President-Elect Trump said his infrastructure plan would follow two simple rules: ``Buy American and hire American.'' I support that position, strongly, but unfortunately the Republican establishment in Washington didn't hear him. They have removed my ``Buy American'' standard from this very important water infrastructure legislation, and Trump Tower has gone silent on this topic since last Thursday. I believe the iron and steel used in water infrastructure projects should be made in America and that taxpayer dollars should go to support American jobs and manufacturers, not be spent on Chinese or Russian iron and steel. My provision to require this was included in the version of the bill that passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support on a vote of 95 to 3. However, Speaker Ryan and House Republicans removed this ``Buy American'' reform from the Water Infrastructure Improvements Act, and there hasn't been a peep or a tweet from President-Elect Trump. It is clear to me, and it should be clear to President-Elect Trump as well, that congressional Republicans are allowing corporate lobbyists, working on behalf of companies who import steel from Russia and China, to write the rules in Washington. Importers of cheap foreign steel from China and Russia have sought to eliminate or loosen these rules for their own benefit. According to media reports, including the Wall Street Journal, the importers and their foreign suppliers have hired the Washington, DC, lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs to lobby the Republican leadership in the House against my ``Buy American'' standard, which would provide a long-term and solid commitment to American workers. The firm's strategy relies upon, oh, that old revolving door--the firm employs former House Speaker John Boehner and several former top Republican aides--to gain access and influence over Congress. These reports suggest that corporate lobbyists are using their influence over Congress to support clients that do business with Russian and Chinese steel companies at the expense of American workers. That is why I am calling on President-Elect Trump to turn his words in Cincinnati, spoken just a week ago, into action and to join me in demanding that Republican leaders in Congress restore our strong ``Buy American'' standard in the final water infrastructure bill. Together, with Senators Brown and Casey, we offered an amendment to restore this ``Buy American'' reform, and today we are demanding a vote. I come to the floor today to ask Majority Leader McConnell for that vote. American manufacturers and steelworkers, like the men and women at Neenah Foundry in Wisconsin who helped build our Nation's water infrastructure, support our amendment, and they deserve a vote and a solid commitment from us on a strong ``Buy American'' standard. Many people in the United States have seen this iconic symbol. Neenah Foundry--which supports the strong ``Buy American'' amendment-- manufactures, among other things, these manhole covers that we see all over. Let us not ever see this. President-Elect Trump has said that we need to ``drain the swamp,'' and that he will take on lobbyists and special interests that are writing the rules and rigging the game in Washington against American workers. If he is serious about ``draining the swamp'' and supporting American workers, it is time for him to end his silence and speak out publicly supporting and restoring this ``Buy American'' standard to the water infrastructure bill that is before the Senate today. It is time for a vote on a ``Buy American'' standard that respects and rewards American manufacturers and American workers. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Chris Ahmuty as he retires from the American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin after 24 years of advocacy and leadership. Since 1992, Chris has dedicated his professional and personal life to creating a stronger and more equal Wisconsin. Chris was born in New York City and spent his childhood and adolescent years in Derby, NY. Growing up, Chris's grandfather, Frederic P. Lee, played a significant role in shaping his future. Based in Washington, Frederic was an active contributor to the political reform movement in Montgomery County, MD, throughout the 1940s and 1950s. Frederic's commitment to public service and family values had a tremendous impact on Chris, eventually leading him into a career in advocacy. Chris's career with the ACLU did not begin with a full time job, but rather a volunteer position. After moving to Milwaukee to attend graduate school, Chris held a variety of jobs, including a position at the Milwaukee County Historical Society. However, following in his grandfather's political footsteps, he began to spend his free time volunteering for the ACLU. Soon after, in 1982, he became the executive assistant to the ACLU Wisconsin executive director, Eunice Edgar. Founded in 1920, the American Civil Liberties Union continues its mission to preserve individual rights and liberties. Since becoming executive director of the Wisconsin chapter in 1992, Chris has personally embodied this mission both in his work and in the community. Over the course of his tenure, the Wisconsin chapter has grown from 4 full-time employees to 12, including 2 full-time staff attorneys. According to those who work most closely with him, Chris's leadership style is rooted in his familial values and strong belief in the importance of civil liberties. He recognizes that change will not occur over a single day or week, but over a long period of time with the help of perseverance, patience, and a strong will. Chris is a staunch advocate who has fought to end racial segregation in schools, uphold a woman's right to choose, and preserve every individual's First Amendment rights. Under his leadership, ACLU Wisconsin also fought hard to challenge the State's voter ID laws, which threaten to disenfranchise or discourage Wisconsin voters. Chris has spent his career giving a voice to those who might otherwise not be heard. Chris's commitment to the people of Wisconsin goes beyond the impact he has had at the ACLU. He has served on advisory committees for the Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance and on the Legal and Policy Committee of the Wisconsin Relay of Electronic Data, helping develop privacy standards for Wisconsin healthcare. Lastly, Chris has served on the board of the Milwaukee Turners for over 10 years as a way of honoring his German heritage and helping mold the next generation of leaders. For the many years I have known Chris, he has been a respected leader, a passionate advocate, and a cherished friend. His patience, character, and drive make him a wonderful ally and a fearless protector of the rights of all Wisconsin residents. Although he is retiring from the ACLU, I know he will continue to spend his days fighting for equality. I am so pleased to join with others in expressing gratitude for his leadership and recognizing his accomplishments. I wish him and his partner, Bob, all the best in the next chapter of their lives together.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor the life and legacy of Eric Von Broadley, known throughout the country as Eric Von, whose untimely passing at the age of 58 has left the Milwaukee community without one of its most thoughtful African-American leaders. Over the last three decades, Eric Von has been a bridge builder, a healer, and an important voice in Milwaukee's African-American community. Eric was a 25-year veteran of the radio industry, starting his career as a disc jockey and then moving into news as a reporter and anchor. He served as the business manager for Radio One in Washington, DC. Then, when his career took him from Washington, DC, to Milwaukee, he became the director of operations for the former 1290 WMCS radio. It did not take long before local news programs sought out his gravitas as a commentator. Eric became a regular panelist on Wisconsin Public Television's Interchange and the cohost of ``Black Nouveau.'' Milwaukee ABC network affiliate, WISN Channel 12, turned to Eric's influence in the community to motivate people to vote in local and national elections. Eric became a special assignment reporter and cohost of ``It's Your Vote,'' a weekly political affairs show which featured candidate forums, debates, and voter education information. Beyond broadcast journalism, Eric was the managing partner of the public relations firm he founded, Von Communications. In addition, Eric Von and his wife, Faithe Colas, cofounded an online health magazine committed to improving the health of African-American men, known as Brain, Brawn & Body. Eric was a fearless opinion leader. As a broadcast journalist, he spoke frankly and from the heart on the day's most controversial social and political issues. He was brave enough to take on the stereotypes and misconceptions that divide Milwaukee and do it in a way that earned the respect of even his strongest detractors. And in a city where inflammatory talk radio is prevalent, his was a voice of reason in the debate over inequality and injustice. He was known for speaking the truth about Milwaukee's racial divide and using his platform as a vehicle for positive change. Just last month, I had the honor of speaking with Eric about the recent unrest in Milwaukee's Sherman Park neighborhood that was tied to lack of job opportunities in the central city. We discussed how we could work together to bring healing to the city, and we promised to speak again soon to find solutions that will build a stronger Milwaukee community. Eric Von was the loving husband of Faithe Colas; father of Erica Broadley, Bria Culp, and Paige Colas; and grandfather to Domonic Patten and Erielle Taylor. He leaves behind a host of family and friends that truly loved him and will miss him dearly. As we honor the life of Eric Von Broadley, I join with mourners across the Milwaukee community in pledging to continue Eric's fight for equal opportunity and to honor his legacy of action.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 100th anniversary of the Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee. Over the past 100 years, the club and its members have served the families and children of Milwaukee through countless hours of service and commitment meant to better the community. This year, as they celebrate their 100th anniversary, I wish to honor their philanthropic achievements and dedication to this great Wisconsin city. Founded in 1916 as a charter club, the Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee was the 23rd chapter founded in the United States and is now one of 8,309 worldwide. Although one of many around the globe, the Milwaukee Club has set itself apart through its 100-year tradition of service and advocacy on behalf of Milwaukee children. One of the first projects members embraced in 1917 was providing coal for families in need. In 1939, they opened a Gaenslen School for handicapped children, and 20 years later, in 1959, they established a Boy Scout troop for 30 handicapped boys. Continuing their aid to children, in 1977, the club started a Children's Center for Curative Rehabilitation. Elsewhere in their community, they sponsored and directed Milwaukee's first river clean-up in 1982 and established the Kiwanis Landing community fishing area in 2010. The common thread in all these important programs was creating opportunities for children, regardless of their circumstances. In all their efforts, Kiwanis members strive to improve the quality of life for all Milwaukee residents. In 2015, they conducted vision tests at 37 Milwaukee public schools, serving 5,550 children. Additionally, they served meals to more than 750 children and their families at the Ronald McDonald House. The Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee has spent countless hours tutoring children in Milwaukee public schools, as well as helping guide college students in organizing volunteer programs at three local colleges. Throughout the year, the club collects items such as hats, mittens, gloves, and personal hygiene products for homeless children, and they work to replenish local food banks. In honor of their 100th anniversary, the club has taken on additional service projects that revolve around the number 100, including providing 100 Thanksgiving meals, donating 100 backpacks to children in foster care, planting 100 native trees, donating 100 flowering mums to single mothers, and donating 100 U.S. flags to schools and nonprofits. It is heartwarming to think of the vast number of children and families club members have helped during their 100 years of service They deserve to be proud of the significant difference they have made in the lives of individuals in need and the collective impact they have had on their community as a whole. The Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee is a truly wonderful, deserving organization. Members work hard every day to help the world become a better place--one child at a time. I am excited to see what the future holds for this exemplary organization and the families it serves.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, before I returned home for the August recess, I came to the floor to call on the Senate to take up pending judicial nominations. Once again, today I join my colleagues in calling for action on the crisis that is facing our Federal courts. We had an unusually long recess--what is called the August recess, but it actually started in mid-July. We have a brief period of time when we are back in session before we are about to have yet another recess prior to the elections. I understand the Senate has been in session fewer days than the Senate has been in session in some decades--60 years. I feel it necessary that we step up and deal with this crisis in the Federal courts and do our jobs. I call on my colleagues in the majority to do our jobs. The obstruction that we have seen with regard to filling judicial vacancies is harming our Federal courts and our Nation, our economy, and individuals who come before those courts to seek justice. In this current Congress, only 22 judges have been confirmed by the Senate. As we have discussed today, we currently have 90 vacancies on the Federal courts. Thirty-two--one-third--have been declared judicial emergencies. Yet before the Senate right now, we have Presidential nominees for these vacancies--27 in number--that are available for our consideration. Each of those names has garnered a bipartisan majority from the Judiciary Committee. A bipartisan majority has supported those Presidential nominees. Each and every one of them deserve a vote in the full Senate. The American people fully deserve a functioning Federal judiciary--whether the Supreme Court, our circuit courts, or the district courts. From my home State of Wisconsin, we have a longstanding vacancy on the Seventh Circuit Court. This longstanding vacancy is absolutely unacceptable. This traditional Wisconsin seat on the Seventh Circuit Court has been vacant for more than 6 years. This is the longest Federal circuit court vacancy in the country. Today marks the 2,435th day--that is 6 years and 8 months--of this vacancy. The people of Wisconsin and our neighbors in Illinois and Indiana deserve a fully functioning court of appeals. During this long vacancy, the Seventh Circuit has been considering issues that face people of our State as well as our country. These issues include women's health, labor rights, campaign finance, marriage equality, and, most recently, voting rights. These are important issues, and the people of Wisconsin deserve better than an empty seat when judgments are being made on such consequential issues. We have a highly qualified nominee for this seat. Don Schott was nominated by the President on January 12. He has strong bipartisan support. Both Senator Johnson and I have returned our blue slips, a part of the process to advance one of these nominees. A bipartisan majority of the Wisconsin judicial nominating commission recommended and supported his consideration by the President. Don Schott also received the support of a bipartisan majority of the Senate Judiciary Committee when they voted to advance his nomination. Don Schott is very well qualified. He has the experience and the temperament to be an outstanding Federal court judge on the circuit court, and his nomination deserves a vote. The people of the State of Wisconsin deserve to have this traditionally Wisconsin seat filled. Nine judicial nominees who have been previously approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee prior to Don Schott still haven't had their up-or-down vote either by the Senate, and they deserve it. As is the tradition of this body, we vote on these nominees in the order they appear in the Executive Calendar. As such, I will request that the Senate Republican leader schedule votes on each of these nominees, as well as on Don Schott. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations: Calendar Nos. 359, 362, 363, 364, 459, 460, 461, 508, 569, 570, 571, 572, 573, and 597; that the Senate proceed to vote, without intervening action or debate, on the nominations in the order listed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any related statements be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Ms. BALDWIN. I know of no further debate on the bill. The bill was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading and was read the third time.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 508, S. 1935.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I further ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute be agreed to.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I would like to engage in a colloquy with the Senator from Michigan, Ms. Stabenow, who serves as the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry and is a lead sponsor of the GMO labeling bill, S. 764, approved by the Senate on July 7, 2016. I would like to seek a clarification regarding the intent with regard to a provision in the bill that relates to consistency with the Organic Foods Production Act and related rules and regulations. Specifically, section 293(f) of the bill states that: ``[t]he Secretary shall consider establishing consistency between-- (1) the national bioengineered food disclosure standard established under this section; and (2) the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) and any rules or regulations implementing that Act. `` Given this provision, I would like clarification from my colleague that nothing in this legislation would require USDA to change the Organic Foods Production Act rules or regulations to comport with the new bioengineered food disclosure standard and definitions created by S. 764, as passed by the Senate on July 7, 2016.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, Congress is taking a critical first step to combat our country's opioid crisis and a major step in providing safer, more effective, and higher quality care for America's veterans. I want to speak about my bipartisan Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act, which is included in the final version of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, known as CARA. This bipartisan legislation reforms opioid prescribing and pain care at the VA. These bipartisan reforms to veterans health care that I authored, along with my colleague Senator Shelley Moore Capito, should unite us all. They represent our responsibility to honor and care for those who have served and sacrificed for our Nation, and their families--and all our families. This bipartisan legislation is named in honor of Wisconsin Marine Veteran Jason Simcakoski. On August 30, 2014, Jason tragically died. He died in Wisconsin's Tomah Veterans Affairs Medical Center of mixed-drug toxicity. At the time of his death, Jason was on 14 different prescription drugs, including opioids. Jason's heartbreaking story is just one example of the overprescribing and pain care problem within the VA in Wisconsin and across the country. I believe the VA's overreliance on opioids has resulted in getting our veterans hooked rather than getting them the help they need, and it is our job to act now to address this epidemic. At this time last year, I joined Senator Capito on the Senate floor to introduce our bipartisan measure in honor of Jason and the entire Simcakoski family. I was proud to work closely with the Simcakoski family, as well as medical professionals and veterans service organizations, to craft these reforms to prevent Jason's tragedy from happening to any other veteran or their family. This legislation, shortly to be approved by the U.S. Senate, will provide safer and more effective pain management services to our Nation's veterans by strengthening and updating VA opioid prescribing guidelines. It will enhance education and training and expand access to opioid alternatives. It will create an independent Office of Patient Advocacy at the VA to give veterans and their families a stronger voice in their care. The bill strengthens VA hiring practices to help prevent bad doctors from treating veterans. It will hold VA accountable for providing quality care to our veterans by strengthening opioid oversight and reporting. The story of Jason's bill is a story of Congress doing the job that we were elected to do by the families of our States and the communities we represent. The Simcakoski family called on us to stand up for our brave men and women in uniform, and we took action. For more than a year, I have worked across the aisle with Senator Capito and leaders of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee to advance my reforms in the Senate. The House of Representatives did their part by moving forward with a House companion measure based on our bill. When it came time for my colleagues to agree on the final package that we have before us today, I worked with the Simcakoski family to ensure that it reflected the strongest possible response to the opioid overprescribing and pain management problems at VA. I thank my colleagues--particularly the 20 Senators who cosponsored the bill--for their work and help in passing the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act today. I thank my partner in this bipartisan endeavor, Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia. I wish to express my sincere appreciation for Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Isakson and Ranking Member Blumenthal and their staffs for their commitment to combating opioid abuse at the VA. I thank Leader Reid and Senators Murray, Schumer, Leahy, Wyden, Alexander, and all the members of the conference committee for their steadfast support of these reforms. And importantly, I want to thank and recognize all of their staffs and my staff for their tireless work through late nights and weekends to get this bill to the finish line. This legislation is informed by the collaborative efforts of a broad range of outside health and veterans organizations, and I am grateful for their expert contributions. I cannot forget the incredible work of Senate legislative counsel-- specifically Tom Heywood for his expert drafting, redrafting, and redrafting, and technical expertise on this bill. Today we send major veteran reforms--my Jason Simcakoski Opioid Safety Act--to the President's desk for his signature. I am proud that Congress put aside differences and joined together to help fix what has been broken and help restore the sacred trust with our veterans and their families. The Simcakoski family has inspired us by showing tremendous courage and strength in sharing their tragic story of loss and in working to make a difference in the lives of other veterans and their families. I believe that today's passage of the Jason Simcakoski Memorial Opioid Safety Act marks one of Congress's great accomplishments--to provide our veterans and their families with the care they have earned and deserve. My closing message comes from Jason's widow Heather. Heather said: When I look back at the past, I want to know we made a difference. I want to believe we have leaders in our country who care. I want to inspire others to never give up because change is possible. I want to say to Marv and Linda, Jason's parents; to Heather and Anaya, Jason's wife and daughter; and to Jason: Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for demanding that we stand together to enact the strongest opioid safety reforms for veterans and their families. You have inspired true change. This change will save lives, and you have given us all hope for a brighter future. Mr. President, I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I would like to bring attention to the estimated 5 million Americans suffering from gastroparesis in observance of National Gastroparesis Awareness Month in August. Gastroparesis is a chronic medical condition in which the stomach cannot empty properly in the absence of any observable blockage. The condition can affect people of all ages, but it is four times more likely to affect women than men. The symptoms of gastroparesis, which include nausea, vomiting, and inability to finish a normal-sized meal, can be debilitating and sometimes life threatening. The condition can lead to malnutrition, severe dehydration, and difficulty managing blood glucose levels. While there is no cure for gastroparesis, some treatments, such as dietary measures, medications, procedures to maintain nutrition, and surgery, can help reduce symptoms. Unfortunately, gastroparesis is a poorly understood condition, and so patients often suffer from delayed diagnosis, treatment, and management of this disorder. As such, further research and education are needed to improve quality of life for this patient population. I want to recognize the important efforts of the International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, IFFGD, an international organization based in my home State of Wisconsin, as well as other patient organizations, in providing education and support to help those affected by gastroparesis. I urge my fellow colleagues to join me in recognizing August as National Gastroparesis Awareness Month in an effort to improve our understanding and awareness of this condition, as well as support increased research for effective treatments for gastroparesis. Furthermore, I encourage the Department of Health and Human Services to recognize and include Gastroparesis Awareness Month in their list of National Health Observances. Thank you.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, the American public is well aware that there is a vacancy on our U.S. Supreme Court and, in addition, that there is obstruction going on in terms of our path to do what the Senate is supposed to do--confirm a President's nomination to the Supreme Court. Because it is the Supreme Court, because that term has come to an end and we have seen a number of 4-to-4 ties, because of the consequence and the gravity of what it is that the Supreme Court does, that has garnered a lot of attention. It has resulted in the calling for the Republicans in the Senate to do their job, to not obfuscate and declare that they won't hold hearings or won't schedule a vote on President Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland. As a consequence, that vacancy may persist for well over a year when all is said and done. I rise today to draw attention to the fact that that is not the only judicial vacancy we have here in the United States of America. We currently have 83 vacancies in the Federal courts, and 29 of those vacancies have been declared judicial emergencies, meaning that the continuing vacancy has caused serious problems and concerns, so they are deemed judicial emergencies. Currently, because of the work that has been done by individual Senators, consulting with the President, and what the President has done in terms of forwarding nominees to the Senate so that we can exercise our role of advice and consent, so we can hold votes on confirmations, and because of the work of the Senate Judiciary Committee, currently there are 24 judicial nominees on the Executive Calendar. All of them--every one of them--have garnered majority support of the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in order to advance to the Executive Calendar. Every one of them is deserving of a full Senate vote. I rise to draw attention to one particular vacancy; that is, a vacancy on the Seventh Circuit Court. One of Wisconsin's seats on the Seventh Circuit has been vacant for more than 6\1/2\ years. Let me repeat that. It has been vacant for more than 6\1/2\ years. Currently, and not surprisingly, it is the longest Federal circuit court vacancy in the country. Today marks 2,378 days that this circuit court seat has been vacant. The people of Wisconsin and our neighbors in Illinois and Indiana deserve a fully functioning appeals court. We have a highly qualified nominee who deserves a vote from this body. Don Schott was nominated by the President on January 12 to fill this Seventh Circuit Court vacancy. He has strong bipartisan support. Both Senator Johnson and I have returned our blue slips. Bipartisan majorities of the Wisconsin judicial nominating commission have given their support to Don Schott and have voted to advance his nomination, a bipartisan group of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted to advance his nomination, and a bipartisan group of former Wisconsin bar presidents support him. Don Schott has the experience, qualifications, and temperament to be an outstanding Federal judge. He was rated unanimously ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. In talking to people in Wisconsin about this nomination, I have heard only tremendous praise for Don Schott. This nomination deserves a vote. As such, I rise today to urge the majority leader, the Republican leader, to schedule a vote on Don Schott, as well as all of the other judicial nominees who are on the Executive Calendar. The American people deserve a fully functioning Federal judiciary. I yield the floor.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Madam President, last week--let's start with last weekend--Americans woke to the news of a horrific mass murder in Orlando, FL. The gunman, a U.S. citizen inspired by terrorists, legally purchased a weapon of war and turned it upon members of the LGBT community on Latin night at a nightclub in Orlando, FL--49 dead, 53 wounded. Senators returned from their home States last week to express thoughts and prayers and to observe moments of silence. Many of us resolved that while important, those sentiments were not enough and that we needed to follow up those thoughts, those prayers, and those moments of silence with action. I joined with my colleagues on the floor when Senator Murphy of Connecticut held the floor for 15 hours to draw attention to two commonsense amendments that would have limited that easy access to a weapon of war by closing a loophole that allows so many of our firearms purchases to occur without a proper background check and to close something we are calling the terror gap, which would allow the FBI the authority to deny gun purchases to people who are on a watch list, suspected of connections with terrorism. Those measures gained a vote in the Senate last night, but both failed to advance. I don't think we can simply say that we tried and continue to accept shootings like the one in Orlando as the new normal and then move on to other business--especially, I might add, with our procedural posture right now, as the Senate has before it at this period in time the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, a measure in which we can prioritize our response to this tragedy and the preceding tragedies through amendments perfecting the measure before us. Americans are demanding more. We can't just carry on as usual in the wake of these enormous domestic tragedies. Wisconsinites are demanding more. Just in this last week, I received heartbreaking communications from my constituents asking us to act. I will briefly share two of them. A young mother wrote to me: I am a young mother of two young children and every day that they go to school I say a silent prayer that they come home safely to me, that no one decides to walk into their school or onto their bus with a gun and an intent to kill. Another young person wrote to me: As a young LGBTQ person, I am devastated by this attack on my community. I am scared that this attack happened in what was supposed to be a safe place, a free space in a world that is often hostile for LGBTQ people. I am scared for my safety and for the safety of my community. I am also angry. I am angry that the United States is the only country where shootings like this regularly occur, and I am angry that our government is not doing enough to prevent this kind of violence. The attack in Orlando was, as I mentioned, an act that allegedly was inspired by maybe ISIL or other terrorist groups, but it was also an act of hate, a hate crime. I have filed an amendment with my colleagues, Senator Mikulski of Maryland and Senator Hirono of Hawaii, to increase funding to strengthen the prevention of hate crimes and the enforcement of our hate crimes laws and our civil rights laws. The amendment is now cosponsored by 18 other Members of the Senate. I think it is important to understand what a hate crime is. A hate crime is an underlying criminal act--so it is not about hate thought or hate speech--wherein the victim of the crime or victims of the crime are targeted based on a particular characteristic. Sometimes we hear about hate crimes committed against the LGBT community because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but hate crimes are often perpetrated against people on the basis of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. Hate crimes targeted against people based on their characteristics are done so because not only are the victims victimized, but it sends a message of terror and hate throughout a community to all people who share characteristics with the victim or who love people who share the characteristics of the victim. They are terrifying, and they deserve, as we have chosen to do in the United States, to be treated very specifically as hate crimes. It is only recently that the United States recognized hate crimes against members of the LGBT community or against women or people with disabilities with the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. There are too many of these hate crimes in the news these days. We are still grieving the massive numbers of dead and injured in Orlando. It was not all that long ago that Charleston had a mass murder in a church. The African-American community was targeted. In Wisconsin, in another place of worship, in a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, WI, a gunman came and targeted the congregation during Sunday worship. In America, hate crimes overall are declining. That is good news, and that says something about what we can do together when we pass strong laws and try to prevent these crimes, educate, and enforce our laws. But I am sad to share that while overall our hate crimes are declining, those against some groups--most notably Muslims and members of the LGBT community--are on the rise. LGBT people are more likely than any other group to be targeted for hate violence, and LGBT people of color, particularly transgender women of color, are at the very greatest risk. The amendment I have offered, along with my colleagues, Senators Mikulski and Hirono, would provide, in the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill, additional funding for the Civil Rights Division to focus on hate crimes prevention on the one hand but also enforcement and prosecution of those crimes when they occur. This amendment will provide important tools to the Justice Department that they need to combat discrimination and crimes of hate in communities across the country. I am pleased to have a large number of human rights organizations in this country endorse this as an important step forward. We need to take action. We need to do more to address terrorism, to address gun violence, and to address hate crimes. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to join me in calling for a vote on this amendment and supporting it when we get that opportunity. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Thank you. Through the Chair, I would like to ask the Senator from Connecticut a question, actually about a number of things--about the need for us to stand united as a country in the fight against hatred and terrorism and easy access to what are really weapons of war. It is about 6 hours ago that I came to the floor to participate in this very important discussion.

Ms. BALDWIN. Through the Chair, I would like to ask a question about the tragic massacre in Orlando. I wanted to lead into that by first of all thanking and deeply appreciating the work and efforts of my colleague from Connecticut who has come to the floor so many times to talk about the lives and the identities and the legacies of the people who have lost their lives to gun violence and the families who are there to remember them. I remember so profoundly the massacre at Newtown. Senator Murphy brought photographs of all of the victims and their families and told their stories at length on this Senate floor. As weeks and months persisted here in the U.S. Senate and no action was taken to do commonsense things to make access to these weapons more difficult, the Senator from Connecticut started coming to the floor and talking about some of the people we don't read about because the media doesn't rush to the scene when somebody dies in a drive-by shooting or in a place that doesn't garner the attention and the spotlight the way the massacre and tragedy in Orlando has. I thank the Senator from Connecticut for his perseverance, and I am so proud to join him this afternoon in this insistence for action. I am in such strong agreement with the Senator from Connecticut about the need to close what we call the terror gap and strengthen our background check laws because what we have seen over the last weeks and certainly on Sunday in the early morning is the nexus of hate and terror and easy access to weapons of war by people who should not have them. I can't tell you how many times I have penned the words ``You are in my thoughts and prayers'' and spoken the words ``You are in my heart, in my thoughts, and in my prayers.'' I can't tell you how many times I have joined--either in my former service in the House of Representatives or here in the Senate--in a moment of silence. Silence is not enough. Thoughts and prayers are important, but they are not enough. We have to act. I join many of my colleagues here tonight in the effort toward securing a vote by this Senate to make it harder--just a little bit harder--for people who hate and people involved in terrorism to get a hold of weapons of war. We have an opportunity because we have a bill before us. It is the Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill. I have the honor of serving on the Senate Appropriations Committee and being a member of the subcommittee. This is the moment, this is the bill, and this is our opportunity. I am not saying that had this been in law a year ago, a month ago, a week ago, that this wouldn't have happened, but our silence is unacceptable, and we must act. We are better than this as a country. I can't tell you how many times I have woken up or heard midday of another mass killing--a crowd around the television set, hungry for news, wanting to know about who perished, who is in the hospital, and when is it enough. When are we going to act? In the political world, we also, regrettably, fall into our--I don't know what to call it--comfort zone. Let's only talk about this as a terrorist incident, or let's only talk about this as a hate crime, or let's only talk about this in terms of gun violence. This is all of the above. We have to come together. We have to be united. We have to be strong in order to respond. I also have to speak as a member of the LGBTQ community. This last Friday, I had the honor of going to the opening ceremonies at the Pridefest in Milwaukee, WI. They were celebrating their 30th year of Pridefest. In preparing for what I was going to say at that opening ceremony, I reflected on how different things were 30 years ago, in 1986. That was actually the year I was first elected to local office. I didn't have a lot of colleagues who were in the LGBT community in America, let alone the world, at that point in time. Boy, we have changed. We have seen such progress. After celebrating the opening of Pridefest in Milwaukee, I woke up on Sunday morning, as we all did, to this horrific tragedy in Orlando. A hate crime is a crime that targets a particular audience, a particular group in order to send terror throughout that community--not just the victims but all who share characteristics with the victims. And in a month--June--which is Pride Month, when we usually celebrate how far we have come over oppression, over discrimination, over hate crimes, to wake up and see this was truly unspeakable. Back to the legislating we do on the Senate floor, I will be supporting a number of amendments on this appropriations bill--the one that I came to ask Senator Murphy about but additionally an amendment that would add resources to the Department of Justice to help prevent and investigate and enforce our Nation's hate crimes laws. I hope those also will earn votes. I will be supporting the amendment of a colleague, Senator Casey from Pennsylvania, relating to including misdemeanor hate crimes in the list of offenses that should prohibit individuals from being able to acquire or possess weapons of war. Back to our focus right now, our focus right now is on getting a vote on closing the terror gap, getting a vote on making sure that background checks occur with regard to every purchase so that you can't be rejected from purchasing a weapon and then run to the Internet and purchase a weapon that way or run to a gun show and purchase a weapon that way outside of the background check system. One of the things that are so important is when the Senator from Connecticut came to the floor and showed the faces and read the names and told the stories of the victims of gun violence, massacres in Connecticut and in locations all over the United States. I have been so moved as I have had the opportunity to see the media begin to share with us information about the names and the lives of the 49 victims of this hateful attack. Through the Chair, I want to ask Senator Murphy a question about the 49 victims of this tragedy. Luis Daniel Conde was 39 years old, and Juan P. Rivera Velazquez was 37 years old. Luis, originally from San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico, was with his loving partner, Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, at Pulse. Both men were killed in the shooting. Luis was known by his loved ones as a fun- loving person with a great sense of humor. Juan, also originally from Puerto Rico, was the owner of the D'Magazine Salon and Spa in Kissimmee, FL. Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez was 31, and Oscar A. Montero was 26. Simon was a manager at McDonald's who was well loved. He was known for bringing in cakes to celebrate the birthdays of each and every employee. Simon and his partner Oscar were killed just after returning home from vacation in Niagara Falls. Christopher Andrew Leinonen was 32 years old, and Juan Ramon Guerrero was 22 years old. Christopher Andrew, who went by Drew, was with his partner Juan Ramon at the time of the shooting. Both men died. Drew had a bachelor's and master's degree from the University of Central Florida and founded a gay-straight alliance at his high school. Akyra Monet Murray was 18 and a recent graduate of West Catholic Preparatory High School in Philadelphia, where she was a top student and a top athlete on the women's basketball team. She had recently signed to play at Mercyhurst University in Pennsylvania. Jean Carlos Mendez Perez was 35, and Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon was 37. Jean and Luis were loving partners. Both men were killed in the shooting. The families of both men took to Facebook to share their love and sadness. Edward Sotomayor, Jr., was 34 years old. Edward handled brand management for ALandCHUCK.travel, an agency that plans vacations for the LGBTQ community. On hearing the news of Edward's death, his boss, Al Ferguson, spent time with Edward's family at the hospital. He died while urging his partner to exit the club doors to get to safety. Leroy Valentin Fernandez. Leroy was 25 years old. He was a leasing agent at an Orlando apartment complex and a vibrant performer who loved Beyonce, Adele, and Jennifer Lopez. His friend described her grief as ``it just feels very quiet now.'' Rodolfo Ayala was 33 years old. Rodolfo was a biologics assistant at the OneBlood donation center, a donation center that has been working to supply blood to the survivors of the shooting. His friend described him as compassionate and said he loved his career. Brenda Leigh Marquez McCool was 49 years old. Brenda was a two-time cancer survivor and real estate agent. She was the mother of 11 and was at Pulse with one of her sons for a night of dancing. Angel Luis Candelario-Padro was 28 years old. He moved to Orlando from Chicago and started a job as an ophthalmic technician only 4 days before the shooting. He was from Guanica, Puerto Rico, and described himself online as ``adventurous, easy going and responsible.'' Antonio Davon Brown was a captain in the U.S. Army Reserve. He had previously been a member of the Army Officers Training Corps at Florida A&M University. He was 29 years old. Stanley Alamodovar III, age 23. Originally from Massachusetts, Stanley worked as a pharmacy technician in Claremont, FL. Friends have been taking to social media to comment on his ``bubbly'' and ``down to earth'' personality. Amanda Alvear was 25 years old. Amanda was a beloved sister and godmother. Before the shooting, Amanda posted videos to Snapchat, showing herself and a friend, Mercedez Marisol Flores, dancing and enjoying themselves at Pulse. Mercedez was another victim of the shooting. Darryl Roman Burt II, age 29. Darryl was a financial aid officer at Keiser University and a passionate volunteer. The president of the Jacksonville Jaycees, which Darryl was a member of, described him as ``always interested in a positive impact on the people's lives in the community.'' Juan Chavez-Martinez was 25 years old. Juan, a Davenport resident, was known by his colleagues as a kind and loving person. Facebook lists his hometown as Huichapan, Mexico. Cory James Connell was 21 years old and well loved. His teachers described him as ``their all-time favorite'' student. His brother took to Facebook to share his grief: ``The world lost an amazing soul today. God just got the best of angels.'' Anthony Luis Laureano Disla was 25 years old. He was a graduate of the University of the Sacred Heart in Santurce, Puerto Rico, where he studied education. He was also a well-known drag artist in Orlando, performing as Alanis Laurell. Deonka Deidra Drayton, age 32. Deonka, known as Dee Dee, was working at Pulse when the massacre occurred, according to a family member. ``Senseless,'' her aunt wrote on Facebook. ``Rest in peace Dee Dee. You know this Auntie will miss you.'' Mercedez Marisol Flores was 26 years old. Mercedez was at Pulse with her friend, Amanda Alvear, when the shooting occurred. She was a student at Valencia Community College and worked at the local Target. Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz was 22 years old. Peter worked at UPS and spent his high school years in New Jersey. On Facebook, his mother thanked everyone for reaching out and expressed ``deep and immense pain'' at the loss of her son. Miguel Angel Honorato was 30 years old. He was a resident of Apopka, FL. Miguel worked for FajitaMex Mexican catering. On Facebook his brother wrote: ``I can't face the fact that my blood brother is gone. May your soul rest in peace Brother. I love you so much.'' Javier Jorge-Reyes was 40 years old. Javier, of Orlando, worked as a supervisor at Gucci. He was originally from Guayama, Puerto Rico, and studied at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon. Said one Facebook friend: ``Your energy and love of life and of all things beautiful was infectious. . . . You were one of a kind.'' Jason Benjamin Josaphat was 19 years old. He was an ambitious young man with many passions--computers, athletics, and photography. Jason's uncle described him as ``very excited about his journey.'' Eddie Jamoldroy Justice was 30 years old. He was an accountant and loved to make other people smile. He was able to text his mother right before he died on Sunday night. He said that he loved her and to call the police. Alejandro Barrios Martinez, age 21. A Cuban news source identified Alejandro and spoke with his family and friends who described him as ``always very positive.'' He was able to contact his family at Pulse before he died. Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, age 25. Gilberto studied health care management at Ana G. Mendez University and worked as a sales associate at Speedway. He was originally from Manati, Puerto Rico. K.J. Morris was 37 years old. K.J. was a bouncer at Pulse, known for her excellent dancing and amazing smile that could light up a room. She previously lived in Massachusetts. Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, age 20. Omar loved to dance and dreamed of becoming a performer. He grew up in Nashville, TN, and worked at a local Target and Starbucks. Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, age 36. Originally from Puerto Rico, Eric worked at Party City and Sunglass Hut. He had been married for about a year. On Sunday morning, his husband frantically called friends and family when he couldn't connect with Eric. Joel Rayon Paniagua was 32 years old. He loved dancing and is remembered as humble and cheerful. He was also a religious man and attended church in Winter Garden. Enriquo L. Rios, Jr., age 25. Enriquo was from Brooklyn, NY, and was vacationing in Orlando at the time of the attack. He had been working as a coordinator at True Care Home Health Care and studied social work at St. Francis College. His mother said her family has been ``torn apart.'' Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rossado was 35 years old. He was the father of a young son and worked as an entertainer at Splash Bar in Panama City Beach, FL. He was a mentor to many of his coworkers who described him as ``quick with a smile.'' Shane Evan Tomlinson, age 33. Shane was a gifted singer who performed as the front man for the band Frequency. He had a vibrant and charismatic stage presence. He was at Pulse following a performance at a local club. Martin Benitez Torres was 33 years old and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he studied at Ana G. Mendez University System. He was in Orlando visiting his family. Franky Jimmy De Jesus Velazquez, age 50. Franky was a visual merchandiser at Forever 21 and studied at InterAmerican University in Puerto Rico. His family took to Facebook to share their love of Franky saying: ``What happened in Orlando affects all of us because it is an act of hate against the freedom to be who you are.'' Luis S. Vielma was 22 years old. He was a student at Seminole State College and worked as an operator for Universal Studios' Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. Jerald Arthur Wright. Jerald was 31 and was employed at Walt Disney World and was well loved by both of his families--his biological one and his Disney family. He was at Pulse to celebrate a friend's birthday. Tevin Eugene Crosby. Tevin was a Michigan native and 25 years old. He was the ambitious owner of Total Entrepreneurs Concepts. He was visiting Orlando after traveling to watch his nieces and nephews graduate. Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega. Jonathan was 24 and worked for a Spanish TV network as a producer of a popular children's talent competition. He was a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists in Puerto Rico before he moved to Florida. Jean Carlos Nieves Rodriguez was 27 and was a manager at a local McDonald's. He was known for being incredibly dependable. His closest friends describe him as ``just a caring, loving guy--just like a big teddy bear.'' Yilmary Rodriguez Sulivan, age 24. Yilmary was a wife, a sister, and a mother of two sons, Jariel and Sergio. Her sister described her as the most loving and caring person you could ever meet, saying her smile lit up the room and her laughter brought a smile to your heart. Frankie Hernandez Escalante, 27. Frankie was a loving big brother who taught his little sisters how to walk in heels and do their hair and makeup. Frankie had a tattoo on his upper right arm reading ``love has no gender.'' Frankie moved to Orlando from Louisiana. Enrique L. Rios, Jr., age 25, who I spoke of before. Enrique, from Brooklyn, NY, was vacationing in Orlando at the time of the attack. He had been working as a coordinator at True Care Home Health Care and studied social work at St. Francis College. His mother describes that their family has been ``torn apart.'' There are three more names that I will read and tell you just a little bit about who lost their lives in that massacre early Sunday morning in Orlando. Paul Terrell Henry was 41. Paul was planning to return to college. He was a Chicago native and loved dancing and playing pool. He had two children, including a daughter who had just graduated from high school. Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24. Christopher worked at a local bank and was known for having a positive outlook on life. He was very close to his family and told family members earlier in the weekend that he planned to go to Pulse with friends. Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, age 25. Geraldo, known as ``Drake Ortiz'' to his closest friends, was originally from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He studied law at the Universidad del Este en Carolina. Now, through the Chair, I would like to ask Senator Murphy a question about the 45 victims of this tragedy. As someone who has come to this floor and read the names, shared the images, and told the stories of so many in our country who have lost their lives to gun violence, does the Senator from Connecticut agree that the time to act is now, and that our thoughts and prayers for their deaths are important, but not enough? (Mr. SASSE assumed the Chair.)

Ms. BALDWIN. Yes.

Ms. BALDWIN. One of the things I did was read through the names and tell a little bit about each of the 49 victims of the shooting in Orlando. I am not going to do that again, but I do want to display their beautiful faces because I do think telling these stories is such an important part of creating the resolve we need as a nation, as a nation united to take action. Not to repeat too much of what I said earlier this evening, but our thoughts and prayers are no longer enough. It gets me thinking about what will it take, how many mornings do we have to wake up to news of a shooting in an elementary school or college campus, a theater where people are gathering for a chance to escape and enjoy a movie, or as we learned last Sunday morning, a nightclub during June, which is Gay Pride Month, where people were celebrating the accomplishments of a movement and enjoying themselves and recognizing that we still live in a world with discrimination but feeling safe among friends, colleagues. It was an act of hate. It was an act inspired by terrorists and terrorism, and it couldn't have happened without such easy access to a weapon of war. We offer our thoughts and prayers, but our thoughts and prayers simply are not enough. Again, it makes me think of what will it take? I am ashamed it has taken us this long. Earlier I read some names. Now I am going to share a list of catastrophic events. Each one brought terror to a community, brought grief and sadness to families, and they have been reduced to ways of referring to them much in the way that we decided to call the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, 9/11. If you just look back a decade, and this is not a database of all of them, but it is a database of many of the mass killings in our country: the Amish school shooting in Lancaster County, PA, in 2006, killed 6, wounded 5; the Trolley Square shooting in Salt Lake City, UT, in 2007, killed 6, injured 4. You heard Senator Kaine talking moments ago about the Virginia Tech massacre in Blacksburg, VA, in 2007, 33 dead, 23 wounded; the Crandon shooting in Crandon, WI, in 2007, 6 dead, 1 wounded; the Westroads Mall shooting in Omaha, NE, in 2007, 9 dead, 4 wounded; the Kirkwood City Council shooting in Kirkwood, MO, in 2008, 6 dead, 2 wounded; the Northern Illinois University shooting in DeKalb, IL, in 2008, 6 dead, 21 wounded; the Atlantis Plastics shooting in Henderson, KY, in 2008, 6 dead, 1 wounded; the Carthage nursing home shooting in Carthage, NC, 8 dead, 3 wounded; the Binghamton shooting in Binghamton, NY, in 2009, 14 dead, 4 wounded; the Fort Hood massacre, Fort Hood, TX, in 2009, 13 dead, 30 wounded; the Coffee shop police killings in Parkland, WA, in 2009, 4 dead, 1 wounded; the Hartford beer distributors shooting in Manchester, CT, in 2010, 9 dead, 2 wounded; the Tucson shooting in Tucson, AZ, 6 dead, 13 wounded, including my dear former colleague in the House of Representatives, Gabby Giffords; the IHOP shooting in Carson City, NV, in 2011, 5 dead, 7 wounded; the Seal Beach shooting in Seal Beach, CA, in 2011, 8 dead, 1 wounded; the Su Jung Health Sauna shooting in Norcross, GA, in 2012, 5 dead, 0 wounded; the Oikos University killings in Oakland, CA, in 2012, 7 dead, 3 wounded; the Seattle Cafe shooting in Seattle, WA, in 2012, 6 dead, 1 wounded; the Aurora theater shooting in Aurora, CO, in 2012, 12 dead, 58 wounded; the Sikh temple shooting in Oak Creek, WI, in 2012, 7 dead, 3 wounded; the Accent Signage Systems shooting in Minneapolis, MN, in 2012, 7 dead, 1 wounded; the Newtown school shooting in Newtown, CT, in 2012, 28 dead, 2 wounded; the Mohawk Valley shootings in Herkimer County, NY, in 2013, 5 dead, 2 wounded; the Pinewood Village Apartments Shooting, Federal Way, Washington, in 2013, 5 dead, 0 wounded; the Santa Monica rampage in Santa Monica, CA, in 2013, 6 dead, 3 wounded; the Hialeah apartment shooting in Hialeah, FL, in 2013, 7 dead, 0 wounded; the Washington Navy Yard shooting in Washington, DC, in 2013, 12 dead, 8 wounded; the Alturas tribal shooting in Alturas, CA, in 2014, 4 dead, 2 wounded; the second Fort Hood shooting--I can't believe I have to say that--in Fort Hood, TX, 3 dead, 12 wounded; the Isla Vista mass murder in Santa Barbara, CA, in 2014, 6 dead, 13 wounded; the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting in Marysville, WA, in 2014, 5 dead, 1 wounded; the Trestle Trail bridge shooting in Menasha, WI, in 2015, 3 dead, 1 wounded; the Charleston church shooting, Charleston, SC, in 2015, 9 dead, 1 wounded; the Chattanooga military recruitment center shooting in Chattanooga, TN, in 2015, 5 dead, 2 wounded; the Umpqua Community College shooting in Roseburg, OR, in 2015, 9 dead, 9 wounded; the Colorado Springs shooting rampage in Colorado Springs, CO, in 2015, 3 dead, 0 wounded; the Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs, CO, in 2015, 3 dead, 9 wounded; the San Bernardino mass shooting in San Bernardino, CA, in 2015, 14 dead, 21 wounded; the Kalamazoo shooting spree in Kalamazoo, MI, in 2016, 6 dead, 2 wounded; the Excel Industries mass shooting in Hesston, KS, in 2016, 3 dead, 14 wounded; the Orlando nightclub massacre in Orlando, FL, this past Sunday, 49 dead, 53 wounded. What will it take? How many times do we have to wake up to these tragedies? I have the honor of representing the State of Wisconsin, and as you heard me read through that list, you heard that my home State, which I love, is not immune to these acts of violence. I just want to talk about some of the mass shootings in Wisconsin in recent years. In November of 2004, during hunting season in Sawyer County, six hunters were killed and two were wounded. In March of 2005, a gunman burst into the Church of Living God congregation during church services and fired 22 rounds, killing 7, including the pastor and his family. In June 2007, five people were killed by a gunman, including twin infants, their mother, and two other victims in Delavan, WI. In October of 2007, six young adults were killed during a party in Crandon, WI. In August of 2012, a gunman killed six and wounded four, including an Oak Creek police lieutenant, when he opened fire at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin during Sunday morning services. He had a semiautomatic pistol, and as I mentioned, murdered worshippers before he was killed by the police. He also injured four others, including one of the responding police officers, whom he shot 15 times. The victims of the Sikh Temple shooting were Satwant Singh Kaleka, age 65, and founder of that Sikh Temple; Paramjit Kaur, 41 years old; Prakash Singh was 39 years old; Sita Singh was 41 years old, Ranjit Singh, age 49; Suveg Singh, age 84. Just a couple months after the Sikh Temple shooting in Oak Creek, WI, a gunman killed three and wounded four when he opened fire inside a salon and spa in Brookfield, WI. The shooter was the estranged husband of an employee and entered the Azana Spa in Brookfield armed with a .40-caliber handgun and murdered three people, including his wife, and injured four others, including a pregnant woman. The victims of the Azana Spa shooting were Zina Haughton, age 42, the shooter's estranged wife. According to witnesses, she heroically tried to stop her husband from harming others before being killed. Cary Robuck, age 32, and Maelyn Lind, age 38, were also victims. In June of 2015 in Wisconsin a gunman killed three, including two men and an 11-year-old girl, on the Trestle Trail bridge in Menasha, WI. We also had some success in thwarting what could have been horrendous mass killings in our State. In late January 2016, a plan for a mass shooting at a Masonic temple in Milwaukee was thwarted by the intensive work of the FBI, and the plotter was arrested and criminally charged. I think it is important to note that while I have talked about these mass shootings, these mass casualty events, we lose so many Americans on a daily basis to violence in our communities, and it is an epidemic. Since those shootings in Orlando on Sunday morning, throughout the country we have seen at least that many deaths due to gun violence. In Milwaukee, the local newspaper has taken to creating a homicide tracker. They are literally counting the homicides because they are so rampant. So far this year, their homicide tracker notes 51 homicides. This is just in one city in Wisconsin. Eighty-two percent of those homicides were caused by people using guns rather than other means. I just want to tell you one more name and one more story. In May, last month, a little girl in Milwaukee named Zalayia Jenkins approached a patrol officer and asked if they could keep her safe. The next week, 1 day before Zalayia's tenth birthday, she was shot by a stray bullet while watching television inside her house. She died 11 days later. Whether these murders were perpetrated in violent communities, whether they are the acts of terror and terrorists, whether they are hate crimes, the fact remains that we have to tackle this. When will be the time? The time is now. It is amazing for me to see so many of my colleagues on the floor of the Senate as the hour nears midnight in Washington, DC. We have a bill before us in the Senate that is the appropriate opportunity to take up this measure offered by my colleague from Connecticut and another colleague, Senator Feinstein from California. It is the Commerce- Justice-Science appropriations bill. We can't let another moment pass without a vote, without doing everything within our power to make the world a little safer, to do more than hold these victims and their families in our thoughts and prayers. Thoughts and prayers are no longer enough. Earlier today my colleague from Connecticut talked about the power of this moment and how people are taking to social media and urging their elected officials to listen and act. I want the people's voice to be heard. I want it to be so deafening that our colleagues who suggest that the American public for some reason isn't behind this--we know the opposite to be true. We know how much support there is for universal background checks and for doing something as common sense as making sure that people who are on the terror watch list are not eligible to purchase guns, something as simple as allowing the FBI to deny a firearm sale to somebody who is not able to fly on a commercial plane because they are being investigated for terror. In addition to tweeting, I ask Senator Murphy, what would he urge people to do right now to help us act?

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today, I wish to commemorate Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know, the live, 2-hour weekly Wisconsin public radio program as it nears the end of production after a tremendously entertaining 31-year run. Michael, a Milwaukee native, University of Wisconsin graduate, and self-described ``kosher beefcake,'' created one of the most successful programs in WPR history. Broadcasting live from their radio home at Monona Terrace in my hometown of Madison, WI, Michael and his team have found a home on Saturday morning in the hearts of millions of people. They have brought their listeners a uniquely Wisconsin blend of humor, taking us on a trip into the Whad'Ya Know world of comedy, satire, quizzes and interviews. From covering ``all the news that isn't'' to delighting audiences across the country on his road show tours, Michael has established this show as a reason to get out of bed early on Saturday and a good excuse to put off shoveling snow. I am pleased to honor the work of Michael Feldman and all who have contributed to the success of Whad'Ya Know. They should all be proud of the joy they have brought to so many. When asked about the show, Michael has commented, ``It may be called Michael Feldman's Whad'Ya Know?, but it really has been Everybody Who Listens And Comes To The Shows's Whad'Ya Know?'' With that being said, after Whad'Ya Know airs its final broadcast on June 25, 2016, Wisconsinites across the State will be missing a longstanding part of our community. We may laugh a little less, but we will never forget all the smiles he put on people's faces. It has been my delight to be a featured guest on Whad'Ya Know several times, and I will appear for the last time on June 11, 2016. I wish Michael and the entire Whad'Ya Know staff all the best for their remaining shows and for their future plans. With the end of this show, there is only one question left to ask and one answer to give: Well, whad'ya know? Not much, you?

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, it is no secret we are living in a dangerous time. We face a variety of threats to our security at home and abroad. We all agree we need to make investments in a strong military to protect and defend our national security. We have also come together in agreement on the need to take on our national security challenges and our challenges here at home in a balanced way. The bipartisan budget agreement that we passed into law last year was far from perfect, but it provided much needed certainty for our economy by preventing the ongoing threats of a government default or a government shutdown. It restored investment in both our national and our economic security, ensuring that every dollar of investment in defense was matched by a dollar of investment in a stronger economy and a stronger middle class. A balanced approach has served us well. It was a necessary compromise grounded in fairness that should guide our bipartisan work going forward. I understand that the chairman would like to give the Defense Department $18 billion more than they currently have from the American taxpayer, but I also know the American people need stronger investments in the challenges they face each and every day just trying to get ahead. If we are going to spend more on our military, then it is only fair that we also invest more in education, in job training, and workforce readiness to raise incomes and create a stronger economy for all. If we are going to spend more on the Pentagon, then it is only fair we also invest more in putting people to work and rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and transportation and water infrastructure. I also know we have unfinished business in the Congress to bolster our vulnerable cyber security and to boost TSA security and to better support our law enforcement needs. We also have a responsibility to act on the public health crisis posed by Zika. We simply must do more and approve the necessary funding to prevent, protect, and respond to this serious and dangerous threat. We need to provide relief to the people in Flint, MI, who are still suffering from the impacts of lead contamination. I understand the military has asked for more helicopters and more fighter jets, but I also know that the American people need Washington to be stronger partners in the fights we are confronting in communities across our country today. That is why I am pleased to support Senator Reed's amendment to invest $18 billion to help our middle class, to keep our country safe, and to respond to the Zika virus, lead contamination, heroin, opioids, and the crisis that we are facing with drug abuse throughout our Nation. As I have traveled in Wisconsin, it is clear that we face a heroin and opioid epidemic. I know that many of my colleagues in the Senate face that same crisis in their home States. In Wisconsin, it is a big problem, and it demands a bold response from Washington. We are in the midst of a crisis that is touching far too many across our State. I have heard stories from family members who have tragically lost loved ones to addiction, and I have heard from people who are on the path of recovery. At one of my community meetings in Pewaukee, a father came up to me to courageously share a story of tragically losing his youngest son to addiction right after Christmas a couple of years ago. Recently, I heard from Leonard, from Colfax, WI, whose grandson Nathan was killed in a car accident when he was just 16 years old. The driver of the other car was under the influence of heroin at the time. I have also heard from a mother from South Milwaukee whose son suffered from addiction for 20 years. While he is now in recovery, at one point she found him on their bathroom floor, unconscious from a heroin overdose. Another mother from Mukwonago wrote to tell me that her own son's life was saved by paramedics who administered the drug naloxone during his overdose, allowing him to survive. The message is clear. Families simply cannot afford to wait any longer for help from Washington. It should not be easier for Wisconsinites to get their hands on opioids or heroin than it is for them to get treatment for their addiction. Today, as we consider increasing our spending for our military, let's not forget American law enforcement, first responders, health care providers, and citizens fighting on the frontlines to combat our opioid and heroin crisis. Let's not forget those struggling to get sober and to stay healthy. As communities continue to confront this epidemic on a daily basis, Washington needs to step up and needs to be a strong partner with State, local, and nonprofit efforts. The first place we can start is by making emergency investments for prevention, crisis intervention, treatment, and recovery efforts. I was proud to support bipartisan legislation that provides this funding because these resources are vital as we continue to respond to this national emergency. Unfortunately, this funding was blocked by congressional Republicans. This epidemic knows no political party, and it should be an issue that unites us all. We must do more because fighting this nationwide epidemic is a shared responsibility. Everyone has a role to play in addressing this crisis, and Congress should be no exception. The communities we represent need the resources necessary to win this fight. From talking to the people I work for in Wisconsin, I know that the opioid and heroin epidemic is a problem that neither law enforcement nor the health care system can tackle alone. The Federal Government cannot solve this problem by itself, just as we cannot expect State and local communities to address it by themselves. Together we must continue our fight and rise to this challenge. Let's work together to help our communities recover from this epidemic and stay healthy. The Senate will soon vote on the Reed amendment. This amendment would provide $1.1 billion to respond to the opioid and heroin crisis. The amendment would invest a total of $18 billion, equal to the amount of funding that my Republican colleague, Chairman McCain, is proposing to spend on the Department of Defense. The vote is about fairness and priorities. I believe that, if we are going to provide more funding to the Pentagon, we should also invest in our middle class, ensure our security here at home, and step up to the plate and provide the resources Americans need to respond to the serious emergencies they face here at home. I yield back the remainder of my time. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Carl Gulbrandsen on his retirement from the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, or WARF. After 19 impressive years at the foundation, 16 years as managing director, Carl committed his career to ensuring the success of WARF and its mission to support, aid, and encourage UW-Madison research by protecting its discoveries and licensing them for use around the world. Carl's journey began when he enlisted in the military during the last years of the Vietnam war. Carl was stationed at a medical post in Germany, leading him to later obtain a Ph.D. in physiology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1978. That same year, he began law school, as his medical background ignited an interest in the law and its impact on medical regulations. After serving as a litigation lawyer at the firm of Ross and Stevens for several years, Carl decided to expand his legal practice, taking the patent law exam in 1985. Carl's first case secured a patent for vitamin D metabolism, a discovery made by Heinrich Schnoes and Hector DeLuca of UW-Madison's biochemistry department, who went on to become WARF's most prolific patent holder. Guided by his academic background, Carl's patent litigation career flourished. Carl firmly believed in the ``Wisconsin Idea'': the scientific research and work done at the University of Wisconsin should benefit the State as a whole. After a decade working in private practice, Carl joined WARF in 1997 as a legal adviser. In 2000, Carl took over as managing director, determined to create a transparent organization known for its deep and broad ranging expertise. Over the last 16 years as managing director, Carl's leadership has often called for grace under fire. In 1998, Dr. James Thomson's breakthrough research on human embryonic stem cells was considered one of the discoveries of the century, while at the same time sparking controversy and debate over the ethics of stem cell use. Carl's leadership ensured WARF's success amidst controversy, allowing researchers to continue their important research. Today, Dr. Thomson's work continues through the nonprofit WiCell Research Institute, which provides stem cell resources to more than 300 labs worldwide, assisting scientists in the discovery of new breakthroughs in stem cell applications. Under Carl's direction, WARF achieved significant global impact and continues to give back to the UW community and the Wisconsin economy as a whole. Since 2000, WARF's endowment has doubled to $2.86 billion, enabling it to gift $895 million to the UW-Madison, ensuring its continued success as a top research institution. Additionally, Carl helped establish WiSys Technology Foundation to guarantee that the impressive scientific advances at campuses throughout the UW System go beyond campus laboratories and into the marketplace. As his tenure as managing director comes to a close, Carl's work and expertise has firmly established WARF as one of the Nation's most respected scientific organizations. Under his leadership, WARF helped shape stem cell policy, brought forth new cancer therapies, and created countless technologies that will improve and even save lives. Although I am sure he will be missed by colleagues and those whose lives he has impacted, I am excited that he will have the opportunity to pursue other goals. I wish him, his wife, Mary, and their family well as they write the next chapter of their lives.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I rise today to celebrate the life and work of Mary Babula. For 44 years, Mary was a tireless and passionate advocate for children and early childhood educators and a valued resource for policymakers. I was fortunate to work closely with Mary throughout my time in local and State government and later as a Member of the House of Representatives. Beyond our professional work together, Mary was a friend and also a mentor. I first met Mary in the 1980s when I was serving on the Dane County Board of Supervisors and concurrently in an appointed position on the Community Coordinated Child Care board of directors. Mary was at once an advocate for children and for the predominantly female professionals who teach and care for them. She understood that our children would only have safe, stimulating, and nurturing experiences in childcare settings if we invested in their training, credentialing, and adequate compensation. Those who are entrusted with the care of children while their parents are engaged in work or study deserve that high value. Mary was a passionate leader in that regard. Mary Babula organized early childhood educators to be effective voices on their own behalf. Whether it was lobbying for tuition assistance funding for low-income parents to be able to be afford high- quality childcare or rallying for worthy wages, Mary wanted early childhood educators to be seen, heard, and respected. A Wisconsin native, Mary Babula attended the University of Wisconsin- Madison and graduated with a degree in social work, later receiving a graduate degree in continuing and vocational education. She began her work with children as a part-time volunteer at a Madison daycare center while in college. She later worked as a teacher and director at Christian Day Care Center in Madison. In 1971, Mary began working with the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, otherwise known as WECA, and later became the organization's executive director. During her years at WECA, Mary led the organization through a wide variety of instrumental changes. The establishment of the Federal child care and development block grant signaled new opportunities for WECA to increase its direct impact on childhood education and development. Through this program, WECA managed quality-improvement grants and established the Wisconsin Child Care Improvement Project. This project spurred the development of Child Care Resource and Referral agencies throughout Wisconsin, which provided parents a clear and responsible guide when selecting child care. In the 2000s, WECA began to administer the REWARD Wisconsin Stipend Program, supported a mentoring program, and led efforts that resulted in the development and beginning of YoungStar, an important program that continues to serve as Wisconsin's childcare quality rating and improvement system. Her efforts and initiatives at WECA continue as her legacy. Mary's passion for her children, caregivers, and educators extended well past the walls of WECA. She was eager to work with elected officials at the State, local, and Federal level to lend her expertise and knowledge. I had the privilege of working closely with Mary on numerous occasions and often sought her input on childcare issues as important legislation advanced through Congress. Beyond her work with children, Mary brought her energy and dedication to numerous community groups, including Womonsong, Friendship Force, and the Wisconsin Women's Network. I am fortunate to have known Mary as an advocate, as a friend, and as a mentor. I never let her small stature fool me. She had a soft yet powerful voice when it came to ensuring that the youngest and most vulnerable members of our community received a very strong start in life. Thousands of Wisconsin families can trace the early education of their children directly back to her advocacy. She leaves behind a huge and powerful legacy. Mary Babula passed away late last year. She is survived by her life partner, Mary Mastaglio, her mother Miriam, and three sisters. Many family members and friends join in celebrating her life and legacy. I yield back the remainder of my time. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Larry MacDonald as he retires from the city of Bayfield, WI, after an impressive 20 years as the city's mayor. Since his election in 1994, Larry has dedicated himself to improving the city of Bayfield and making it a wonderful destination in northwestern Wisconsin. Larry was born in Munich, Germany, to American parents. After growing up in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota, Larry and his wife, Julie, moved to Bayfield in 1989. They opened Cooper Hill House B&B, contributing to Bayfield's tradition of welcoming visitors from across the State to beautiful Bayfield County. The MacDonalds also opened the Apostle Islands Outfitters that, for close to two decades, supported Bayfield and the city's practice of providing outstanding outdoor recreation opportunities to residents and tourists alike. While he has served as mayor for 20 years, Larry's career in public service began as a casual interest in local government. However, as a proactive politician, a committed environmentalist, and a savvy businessman, Larry's casual interest quickly grew into a remarkable passion for his work and dedication to his city. Over the past two decades and despite an ill-fated attempt at retirement in 2004, Larry has influenced all aspects of the Bayfield community. The city of Bayfield is the smallest city in Wisconsin, but one of our most popular destinations. A beautiful city located on Lake Superior, Bayfield draws visitors from across the State. When others would be daunted, he faced head-on the challenges of a local economy based on tourism, working with local organizations and listening closely to his community. Larry also dedicated his career to maintaining the natural beauty of Lake Superior and the Apostle Islands through his work as a board member of the Alliance of the Great Lakes and the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. As mayor, he led the city to be one of the first in the Nation to adopt an eco-municipality resolution, thereby codifying its commitment to sustainability, setting an example for others to follow, and preserving Bayfield's natural resources for generations to come. Larry's involvement in the community goes beyond his work as mayor. His many civic contributions include roles as master of ceremonies for the Bayfield Apple Festival for many years, an avid participant in the Big Top Chautauqua annual Pie & Politics event, and a regular contributor to the Bayfield School Reading Days. Larry's influence can be seen throughout the city, whether it is through his community work, the time he has spent working at his family's business interests, or simply enjoying the city. However, when he looks back on his many roles in life, his greatest accomplishment will be his 20 years of service as mayor. Larry himself describes it as the best job he ever had. While he attributes his success to the Bayfield community, the city council and his dedicated staff, Larry's success comes from his own will. His investment in his staff, his honesty and involvement, and his personal touch are what spurred Bayfield residents to return him to office year after year. Although in retirement he will no longer be in the mayor's office, Larry's legacy will remain. Over the past 20 years, Larry has impacted Bayfield residents and the community around him through his dedication, honest nature, and kind heart. I am so pleased to join others in recognizing Larry's success and accomplishments. I wish him, his wife, Julie, their children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren all the best in the next chapter of their lives together.

Ms. BALDWIN

Ms. BALDWIN. Mr. President, I come to the floor today on Equal Pay Day to stand up and speak out about an issue that impacts women and families in every State across this great country. I rise to give voice to the fact that there is paycheck inequality for working women across this country, and it is time that we do something about it. Working women make up over 50 percent of our workforce, and they are working harder than ever to get ahead. But far too many are barely getting by, and far too many women and children are living in poverty. In Wisconsin, the economy is lagging behind other States. Household incomes are falling and communities across our State are experiencing job loss and layoffs. In fact, recent reports have concluded that poverty in Wisconsin has reached alarming levels. The least we can do is to level the playing field and give women a fair shot at getting ahead, because they deserve equal pay for equal work. So I am proud to join several of my colleagues today to deliver a call for action to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act. I would like to share the story of Shannon. Shannon is a single mother of three from Two Rivers, WI. She is working hard to support her family. In order to help her family get ahead, Shannon has continued her education to advance her career as an interpreter in a school. But she faces the grim reality that women teachers are often paid less than their male counterparts. It is not just teaching. When we look at men and women working equivalent jobs across different industries, women are making less than their male counterparts across the country. This paycheck inequality is holding women back, and it is holding our entire economy back. Closing the gender pay gap would give Shannon and her family more financial freedom to better deal with the daily issues that working moms face. Whether it is an unexpected car problem or children outgrowing their clothing and their shoes, whether it is help to pay off student loan debt or the ability to save a little bit of their paycheck to ensure that their kids have a chance for a higher education, working families across America need paycheck fairness to ensure they have a fair shot at getting ahead. Millions of American women get up every day to work hard for that middle class dream--a good job that pays the bills, health care coverage you can rely on, a home that you can call your own, and a secure retirement. But instead, gender discrimination in pay is holding women and their families back. Let's pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and strengthen families and our economy by providing working women with the tools they need to close the gender pay gap. By taking action, we will show the American people our commitment to building an economy that works for everyone, not just those at the top. Before I yield, I wish to take a moment to thank and recognize the senior Senator from Maryland, Barbara Mikulski, for her tremendous leadership on this issue. It has been an honor to serve alongside such a champion for women and families, and I am looking forward to continuing this particular fight together and winning this fight together. I thank the Presiding Officer, and I yield back.