Richard Durbin

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Amy M. Baggio to the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. Judge Baggio received her B.A., cum laude, from Wake Forest University and her J.D. from Lewis & Clark Law School. After law school, she became a public defender in Portland, where she represented clients in State court. From 2002 to 2012, she served in the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the District of Oregon in Portland. She handled both trials and appeals in that role, representing her clients in Federal district court and before the Ninth Circuit. In 2012, Judge Baggio opened a solo practice in Portland, where she worked until 2019. During her time as a litigator, she tried 12 cases to verdict, including 8 jury trials. In 2019, Judge Baggio was appointed to the Oregon State Circuit Court in Multnomah County by then-Governor Kate Brown. Judge Baggio was subsequently elected to the position in 2020. Over the past 5 years, she has handled civil, criminal, and family law matters, and she has presided over more than 40 trials. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Baggio ``well qualified'' to serve on the District of Oregon. She has deep ties to Oregon and enjoys the strong support of both of her home State Senators, Mr. Wyden and Mr. Merkley. Her extensive litigation background and experience as a State court judge will serve her well on the Federal bench. When Senator Wyden introduced Judge Baggio at her confirmation hearing, he noted that she has never had a party before her file a request for a different judge, a testament to her fairness. I strongly support this nominee, and I ask my colleagues to join me in supporting her nomination.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I was saddened to learn last week of the passing of a trailblazing former member of our Senate family. Senator Jean Carnahan was the first woman ever to represent Missouri in the U.S. Senate. She was appointed to the Senate in December 2000, after her husband, then-Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan, lost his life in an airplane crash in the closing weeks of his Senate campaign. The Carnahans' eldest son Randy and Chris Sifford, a longtime political aide to the Governor, also perished in the plane crash. It was too late to remove Governor Carnahan's name from the ballot so 1 week before the election, Missouri's acting Governor announced that he would appoint Jean Carnahan to serve in her late husband's place should the people of Missouri elect Governor Carnahan posthumously. In her first remarks in the Senate, Senator Carnahan told her new colleagues, ``I know I did not come to the U.S. Senate in the same way you did. I did not have a long-term, personal commitment to a campaign. My name has never been on a ballot. On election night there was no victory celebration. You are here because of your win; I am here because of my loss. But we are all here to do the work of this great nation.'' The first Senator to greet her after she took her oath of office was someone who also knew the searing pain of losing a spouse and child. As Senator Carnahan later recalled, then-Senator Joe Biden assured Missouri's new Senator that she could endure her crushing loss. He also shared with her the same advice that had been given to him when he was elected to the Senate shortly after his wife Neilia and baby daughter Naomi were killed in a car crash. His advice was, ``Lose yourself in the work.'' In fact, as President Biden remarked last week after Senator Carnahan died, ``she found herself'' serving the people of her State in this Senate. She was elected as a Member of the first 50/50, evenly divided Senate. The 2 years she served were some of the most tragic and turbulent in our Nation's history. They included the 9/11 terrorist attacks on America, the start of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the anthrax attack on the Senate. In a time of growing political division and acrimony, Senator Carnahan was a quiet but determined consensus seeker and a practical politician. She joined the Centrist Coalition, a bipartisan group of Senators. She focused on national security, conditions for members of the military, and military families. And she was part of the first congressional delegation to Afghanistan after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. While she had never held public office before, Jean Carnahan was not new to politics and public service; she had been serving the people of Missouri her entire adult life. She was born Jean Carpenter and grew up in a working-class section of Washington, DC. Her father was a plumber, and her mother was a hairdresser. She met her future husband, the son of a Missouri Congressman, when they were both 15 years old. They met first at church and a few days later at Anacostia High School, where they were seated next to each other. On their second date, he told her that he was going to marry her, and he was going to move back to Missouri to run for Congress. They married 5 years later. The following year, Jean Carnahan graduated from George Washington University with a degree in business and public administration, the first member of her family to graduate from high school or college. True to his word, Mel Carnahan returned to Missouri and was elected to Congress, representing the Bootheel area of southeastern Missouri. He would go on to serve two terms as a popular Missouri Governor. In their early campaigns, Jean Carnahan was her husband's speechwriter and press secretary, and she was always his best and closest political confidante. She made the position of first lady of Missouri a full-time job and developed her own slate of child- and family-centered causes. She advocated successfully for establishing daycare centers at workplaces. Her focus on childhood immunizations helped boost Missouri's childhood immunization rate from 49th in the Nation to tenth. She also led a successful effort to renovate Missouri's Governor's mansion. She also was a gifted writer, author of seven books. Weeks before the end of her time in the Senate, in another cruel twist of fate, a different plane crash claimed the lives of another beloved member of this Senate, Senator Paul Wellstone, along with his wife Sheila, their daughter Marcia, three campaign staffers, and the plane's two pilots. In the dark days that followed, no one was a greater support to the devastated Wellstone staff than Senator Carnahan and her staff. In 2002, Senator Carnahan ran in a special election to serve the remainder of what would have been her husband's 6-year term. She lost in a razor-thin vote. In her final remarks on this floor, she thanked the people of Missouri for allowing three generations of Carnahans to serve their State. She also had some wise words of advice to the Senators that served with her and those who would follow her. I think her parting words are even more important today. Senator Carnahan implored us ``[W]hen my colleagues think on the role of government, seek a balance. Seek a balance between one that does everything and one that does nothing. And where there is talk of war, let there be the free and open debate that becomes our great Nation. And when there are judges to be appointed, let them be selected for their temperament and jurisprudence and not for political ideology that satisfies a special interest group.'' She continued ``When we lay out our energy and environment policy, let it not be for short-term gain but for the well-being of our grandchildren and the survival of our planet. And when my colleagues speak of leaving no child behind, let that not be a mantra but a mission, fervent and funded. When health care is thought about, the health care needs of children, family, and seniors--and I hope that will be often--I urge my colleagues to lay aside partisanship and heed the plight of the hurting and the helpless in our society.'' We would all do well to heed her thoughtful counsel. Loretta and I offer our sincere condolences to all those who are mourning her passing and especially to her family: her daughter Robin, Missouri's former secretary of state and the current head of the Federal General Services Administration, her sons Tom and Russ, a former Missouri Congressman, and her five grandchildren. Senator Jean Carnahan was an immensely strong and brave woman who made history and made this Senate, our Nation, and her beloved State of Missouri better. She will be missed.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fetterman), the Senator from Colorado (Mr. Hickenlooper), the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Manchin), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), and the Senator from Massachusetts (Ms. Warren) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I am heartened and encouraged that there is finally a bipartisan agreement to provide Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, and Taiwan critical funding to meet their urgent national security and humanitarian needs. It should have happened months ago, but Republicans demanded that any discussion of this assistance be tied to changes in border policy here in the United States, using national security as a bargaining chip and gambling, sadly, with people's lives. The future and fate of Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific hung in the balance. Last week, the European Union reached an agreement to provide an additional $54 billion to stand by Ukraine and shore up its war-ravaged economy, bringing the total European Union support to well over $100 billion and comparable to what the United States has done. Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin continues to think he has more resolve than we do, reveling in his belief that Western democracy is unable to sustain its rejection of Russian tyranny. But more than just Putin, other destabilizing forces around the world are watching what we do, from Iran to North Korea. We must prove to them our commitment to democratic ideals. Our response to Putin's aggression has consequences--not just in Ukraine or even in Russia but global and historic consequences. In fact, NATO's Secretary General Stoltenberg recently issued a very plain warning to all of us in the West. He said: If Putin wins . . . there is a real risk that his aggression will not end there. Putin will continue to wage his war beyond Ukraine. Further, if other despots sense Western weakness, they will be emboldened to attempt their own aggression. Stoltenberg went on to say: Our support is not charity. It is an investment in our security. It is time for Speaker Johnson and Republicans to realize that bipartisanship is the only--the only--way to ensure that Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and innocent civilians in Gaza will receive critical, lifesaving assistance. Let's not flinch when it comes to standing up to such obvious threats to democracy and the rule of law. The world is watching. That is why we must pass this national security package. But this agreement also addresses our immigration policy. And let me be clear. We do need to fix our disastrous immigration laws and secure the border. That has been a fact for more than three decades. That is why I have worked for years to pass bipartisan legislation that would fix our immigration system. Leader Schumer came to the floor earlier and recalled the time when the so-called Gang of 8--four Democrats and four Republicans--worked for months to put together a measure which passed with a bipartisan rollcall on the floor of the Senate. I was honored to be part of that effort. This bill that we have before us includes important measures, such as a one-time increase in green cards and protections for the children of H-1B visa holders who age out of legal status when they turn 21. I am deeply, deeply disappointed that this bill does not include a path to citizenship for Dreamers, recipients of temporary protected status, farmworkers, or other essential people who have spent years contributing to our society. These individuals fill a critical role in America. A study showed that undocumented immigrants--undocumented immigrants--pay nearly $80 billion in Federal and $40 billion in State and local taxes every single year. Many of these immigrants were brought to the United States as children. They don't know any other home. Yet, without congressional action, they spend each day in fear of being deported. Madam President, 12 years ago, in response to a bipartisan request from myself and the late Senator Richard Lugar of Indiana, President Obama established the DACA Program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It really was a reflection of the DREAM Act, which I had introduced over 20 years ago. DACA has protected more than 800,000 young people from deportation, all of whom arrived in our country as children. These young people are known today as Dreamers. They grew up alongside our kids, and many have gone on to serve our Nation as servicemembers, doctors, first responders. They believe in the American dream. I have come to the floor of the Senate 138 times--this is it--to tell their stories. I don't think there is any more compelling argument to be made for the Dreamers and DACA than to let people know exactly who they are, what they have done, and what they dream of. This is a story of a young woman who came to America at the age of 4, Alyssandra Abrenica. She first arrived in Orange County, CA, from the Philippines, and she vividly remembers sharing a single, tiny room with all six of her family members. While attending college, Alyssandra discovered a passion for healthcare, and she applied to the only medical school which was accepting Dreamers at the time, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. In 2020, she was accepted to the school and received one of the first of the American Medical Association's DREAM MD Equity Scholarships, which is given to DACA recipients or first- generation immigrants to study medicine. DACA was always intended to be a temporary solution, and since President Obama established the program, Republicans, for reasons I cannot explain to you in any political or human terms, have waged a relentless campaign to overturn it and to deport these Dreamers back to countries they may not even remember. Last September, a Federal judge in Texas declared the DACA Program illegal. Although the decision left in place protections for current DACA recipients like Alyssandra while the appeal is pending, they live in fear the next court decision will end their careers and upend their lives. Until a permanent solution is written into law, Alyssandra's service to her community is at risk, as is the service of other Dreamers who work as teachers, doctors, engineers, and in so many more important professions. The permanent solution is enacting the DREAM Act, a piece of legislation which I have mentioned that I introduced two decades ago. It would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers across America and allow them to live stable lives and to live out the American dream, which they richly deserve. Immigrants have been a vital part of the American success story. Our Nation still needs them. If DACA is struck down, experts predict that our economy will lose over $11 billion a year in lost wages. Moreover, as we face a decreasing population and shortages of medical professionals, immigrants can help mitigate that gap. Without continued immigration, the U.S. working-age population will shrink by over 6 million by the year 2040. As Americans retire, this could lead to a 23- percent reduction in monthly Social Security payouts to retirees. Remember, these immigrants, even undocumented, and Dreamers are paying taxes and paying into Social Security for us, for our children, for the next generation. To resolve these challenges, we need to create additional lawful pathways for immigrants while also providing legal status for our undocumented population who have been here for decades. That is why good-faith efforts to reform and improve our broken immigration system cannot stop with this bill. Madam President, I think about the situation with these Dreamers and what they are facing and how many of them I have met over the years. When I first introduced the bill, they used to come up to me in Chicago, wait until it got dark outside so that no one would see them, and they would whisper to me: ``I am a Dreamer. Can you help me?'' It became a cause for me, and certainly I have worked at it. I am disappointed that I cannot tell a story of success even greater than we have achieved with DACA. But they are still waiting to hear. This bill that we are considering gives some help to what they call documented Dreamers. Here is how it works. The H-1B visa is offered to foreign experts and professionals to come to the United States and work for 3 years--renewable 3 years. They can bring their families with them. A lot of people from China, from India, and from other places come and take some critically important jobs in our economy under this program of H-1B. They are accompanied by their families. They continue to work, extending year after year, in the hopes that eventually they will become citizens themselves of the United States through what is called a green card. While they are doing this, their spouses cannot legally work in many instances, and their children are running a real risk. You see, when these kids reach the age of 21, they are no longer eligible to stay with their families. Now, these kids could have spent their whole lives in America because their families came here. They could have gone to school and succeeded over and over again. But to have a future in America, they need a green card. And if they don't get it by age 21, they are eligible for deportation. Does that make any sense at all? Well, this bill starts to solve that problem. And I certainly support the efforts to solve it and applaud those who are behind it. But the same conditions apply to Dreamers, brought here as little children. They were raised in the United States, went to school in the United States, stood up and pledged allegiance to that flag in the classroom every single morning. And they asked to be a part of our future. They did nothing wrong. They were kids when they were brought here. Why they weren't included in this bill, I don't know. I am sorry to say, I think there are a few Senators who are just dead-set on stopping the Dreamers and DACA every chance they get. What a loss that would be to America--for us to lose that talent, that drive, that determination, that important part of our future. And what a commentary it is on us as Americans that our Nation of immigrants has no room for Alyssandra and so many others who can make this a better nation. There are thousands of them. There were 800,000 under DACA, initially; and there are many more who are still eligible. I am sorry this bill does not include that provision for the Dreamers. But I will tell you this: I will fight for every opportunity I have to bring the Dream Act before the U.S. Senate in the hope that one day we will give these young people exactly what they deserve--part of America's future. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Joseph Laroski to the U.S. Court of International Trade. Mr. Laroski earned his B.S.F.S. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. After graduating, he clerked for Judge Dominick L. DiCarlo on the Court of International Trade. Following his clerkship, Mr. Laroski joined the firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom as an associate. During his time in private practice, Mr. Laroski represented a host of clients, including domestic companies, international producers and exporters, industry associations, U.S. importers, and trade unions. He has also spent 9 years in the Federal Government, serving as associate general counsel at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, advisor to the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. International Trade Commission, and Director of Police and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Police and Negotiations at the International Trade Administration. In these roles, he represented the United States in dispute settlements under free trade agreements, served as agency counsel on import injury investigations, advised senior Department of Commerce officials on trade policy matters, and oversaw negotiation and compliance efforts on international trade agreements. Over the course of his career, Mr. Laroski has handled trade matters before the International Trade Commission, the Court of International Trade, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the World Trade Organization, and regional trade agreement dispute bodies. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Mr. Laroski ``qualified.'' His extensive experience in international trade litigation, both in private practice and the Federal Government, ensures that he will be an asset to the Court of International Trade. I will vote in favor of his confirmation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Michigan (Mr. Peters) and the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Stabenow) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Lisa Wang to the U.S. Court of International Trade. Ms. Wang attended Cornell University and the Georgetown University Law Center before entering private practice in Washington, DC, as an international trade associate. Ms. Wang then spent 3 years serving in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing as a senior import administration officer before joining the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative as assistant general counsel. She went on to serve as a senior attorney in the Commerce Department's Office of the Chief Counsel for Trade Enforcement and Compliance before completing another stint in private practice. In 2021, President Biden nominated Ms. Wang to serve as an Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Enforcement and Compliance, and she was confirmed in the Senate by voice vote. At the Department of Commerce, she has led the Federal Government's efforts to maintain a level playing field for American workers and consumers by holding our partners accountable to their trade agreements. Ms. Wang was unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. Her deep knowledge of international trade law and commitment to fairness make her an excellent addition to the Court of International Trade. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for her confirmation.

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Stabenow) and the Senator from Michigan (Mr. Peters) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Kirk Sherriff to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Born in Berkeley, CA, Mr. Sherriff received his B.A. from Columbia College at Columbia University and his J.D. from Harvard Law School. After completing law school, Mr. Sherriff clerked for Judge Deborah T. Poritz of the New Jersey Supreme Court before beginning his legal career at White & Case LLP. As an associate, he focused on complex commercial litigation and on domestic and international arbitration matters. Following his time in private practice, Mr. Sherriff has spent the past two decades at the U.S. Attorney's Office--USAO--for the same district to which he is nominated, where he has handled a wide range of civil and criminal matters. Since 2015, Mr. Sherriff has been the chief of the USAO's Fresno office, where he is responsible for overseeing Federal prosecutions brought in the southern half of the Eastern District of California. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Mr. Sherriff ``well qualified'' to serve on the district court, and he has the strong support of Senators Padilla and Butler. Mr. Sherriff's deep ties to the California legal community, combined with his significant courtroom experience, make him an excellent candidate to serve on the Federal bench. I urge my colleagues to support his nomination.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Karoline Mehalchick to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Judge Mehalchick received her B.S. from Pennsylvania State University and her J.D. from Tulane Law School before clerking for Judge Trish Corbett on the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas in Scranton, PA. She then entered private practice in Clarks Summit, PA, where she maintained a general civil and commercial litigation practice, representing both plaintiffs and defendants in all stages of litigation. During her time as a litigator, she tried 10 cases to verdict, including 6 jury trials. She also argued seven appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and served as cocounsel in one case before the Supreme Court of the United States. In 2013, Judge Mehalchick was appointed as a U.S. magistrate judge on the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in Scranton. She has served as chief magistrate judge since 2021. During her decade on the bench, she has handled a wide variety of both civil and criminal matters, and she has presided over 16 trials that have gone to verdict. She has issued more than 1,200 opinions and reports and recommendations and more than 1,000 criminal orders related to pretrial detention and release. In addition to her judicial service, Judge Mehalchick also presides over the Scranton Court-Assisted Re- Entry Program--CARE Court--and serves on the Judicial Conference Committee on Codes of Conduct. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Mehalchick as ``qualified'' to serve on the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and she is strongly supported by both of her home State Senators and the Pennsylvania legal community. Her litigation background and her courtroom experience as both an advocate and as a magistrate judge ensure that she will be an asset to the district court. I am proud to support her nomination, and I ask my colleagues to join me in my support.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, tomorrow, our Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a landmark hearing. For the first time, the CEOs of five Big Tech companies will testify about the crisis of online child sexual exploitation. This continues our committee's bipartisan work to combat the dangers children face online. This has been one of my top priorities as chair of the committee. Last February, we held a hearing on kids' online safety. Six witnesses testified about online child sexual exploitation, cyber bullying, addictive online platforms, and the collection and sale of children's sensitive personal data. At the hearing, I noted there were no witnesses from the tech companies present. I promised they would have their chance. Tomorrow, the CEOs of Discord, Meta, Snap, TikTok, and X will testify. I thank my friend and fellow colleague Senator Lindsey Graham, ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee, for his bipartisan cooperation in establishing this hearing. The CEOs of Discord, Snap, and X will testify pursuant to subpoenas issued by the committee. This follows their repeated refusal to testify voluntarily. I look forward to hearing from these companies about what they are doing to make their platforms inaccessible to child sex offenders. As recently as last week, some have launched new child safety measures that are long overdue. If you were watching the playoff football games over the weekend, you heard some of these same companies advertising they have now discovered a new way to protect children. Could it have something to do with their appearance at the hearing? We will see. But it shouldn't take a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee to finally get these companies to prioritize child safety. Because these changes are half measures at best, I welcome the opportunity to question them about what more needs to be done. There have been recent troubling reports about how each of these platforms is being used by offenders to target children or trade child sexual abuse material. Some reports even detail how the platforms promote exploitive behavior. Let's be really honest about this. Some of these algorithms are more powerful than any parent--that is for sure-- and some of the techniques that are used by these platforms to encourage and lure children into situations where they are in danger are well-documented and researched. There have been recent troubling reports about these platforms being used to target kids in the most heinous ways. Some details about this show that the companies are actually promoting this kind of behavior. The National Center on Sexual Exploitation has named each of these companies to their annual ``Dirty Dozen List'' for facilitating child sexual exploitation. I am sure every Member of the Senate has heard from constituents, friends, and family members about the harm Big Tech is inflicting on our kids. Tomorrow, the Senate Judiciary Committee will demand answers. Hearings are important, but it is clear that we need legislation, because the tech industry has failed, on its own, to protect our kids. They are protecting their profits, but they are not protecting our children. Last year, the committee unanimously reported five bills to combat the crisis of online child sexual exploitation. One of the bills I introduced is my bipartisan STOP CSAM Act, which will end Big Tech's free ride and allow victims to finally hold these companies accountable for their failure to stop online child sexual exploitation. CSAM is an acronym for ``child sexual abuse material.'' Since the earliest days of the internet, companies have been allowed to act with near impunity. American families harmed by Big Tech's decisions have no means of redress. To illustrate how dangerous this is, consider a change Meta made last month that carries grave consequences for children. Every year, Meta submits tens of millions of CyberTips to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, known as NCMEC, concerning CSAM found on its platforms. Each CyberTip involves a victim of exploitation, like a child being sexually abused in a photo that has been traded endlessly online or a child who is being coerced, extorted, groomed, or sold for sexual purposes. In December, Meta announced it is rolling out end-to-end encryption by default on its Facebook and Messenger platforms. Because of this change, Meta will no longer be able to use certain tools to detect and report child exploitation. Encryption can be a valuable tool for protecting privacy, but it is alarming for a company to kneecap their own work to stop online child sexual exploitation. According to press reports, Meta employees warned internally that this would greatly diminish the company's ability to identify online child exploitation, and child protection advocates and survivors immediately sounded the same alarm. NCMEC called Meta's adoption of end-to-end encryption ``a devastating blow for child protection.'' NCMEC and other advocates are imploring Meta to pause the rollout until it demonstrates the encryption switch won't cause children harm. That is all they want: for Meta to be sure it won't hurt kids. This highlights the unacceptable situation we find ourselves in. There are no tools to hold companies accountable. Instead, survivors and advocates are left to plead with these companies to choose safety over profit. The Phoenix 11, a group of CSAM survivors, powerfully expressed their rage about this situation in a letter they recently sent to the committee. They wrote: As survivors, we bear the consequences when decisions are made that prioritize profit over children . . . If Meta no longer reports these crimes against us, we alone suffer the consequences. This is a profoundly disturbing situation. In no other sector of society would we permit one company to make an unreviewable decision that puts millions of American kids at risk. But for almost 30 years, section 230 of the Communications Decency Act has protected the tech industry from accountability for the damage it has done. You have to look far and wide to find companies or industries that are exempt from liability under the law, civilly or criminally. This is one of those. The law was enacted to allow a fledgling industry to grow, but now it has become an entitlement for the most profitable industry in the history of capitalism to line their profits at the expense of kids. Every available metric suggests that online child exploitation is getting worse. In the year 2013, NCMEC received approximately 1,380 CyberTips per day. Ten years later, in 2023, this skyrocketed to 100,000 CyberTips per day. Think about that for a second: 100,000 reports of sexual abuse per day. There has also been a dramatic increase in the number of victims per offender, who can use technology to ensnare a shocking number of children without even leaving their homes. A single defendant prosecuted in Minnesota sextorted over 1,100 children--one person, over 1,000 kids. What does that consist of? They lure these kids and groom them to the point where they send photographs of themselves that are way too candid and expose things they shouldn't. Then the person says: If you don't want me to put this on the internet, you have to pay me. This fellow had extorted in that kind of situation over 1,000 kids before he was finally brought to justice. That is the status quo that Congress protects if we do nothing. Everyone needs to do their part to stop this gross injustice. That includes Congress finally enacting legislation that holds the tech industry accountable when it fails to protect children. That is why the Judiciary Committee will hold its landmark hearing tomorrow. That is why I will continue to work to bring the Stop CSAM Act and other critical bills to protect kids to the Senate floor. Mr. President, back in the day, before I was elected to office, I was a trial lawyer in small-town America. I made a nice living. I took cases to trial of a different stripe. I am not saying that I was part of the system of justice in this country, but it turns out I was. The fact that people face accountability for their wrongdoing and could end up losing in court is another incentive to do the right thing in your life. Here we have a situation that is clearly, clearly out of control. What is happening is beyond the reach of the most conscientious parents in America. I am lucky to have some wonderful grandkids. I have two who live in New York. They are 12 years old. I am really proud of them. Their mom worries about them--and their dad as well--every single day, as they spend way too much time, by their estimation, on screens. They try to encourage them to do the right thing and make sure that they never communicate with people they don't know or provide information or anything else that they shouldn't. But the parents can't be sure that always works--nobody can. They want to do the right thing for their kids. I told my daughter I was having this hearing. She said: Dad, when you get these execs in front of you, ask them what they do to protect their own kids--their own kids who could be exploited and they wouldn't even know about it. It is a legitimate question. I don't know if I will be asking it tomorrow. It depends on the circumstances. But it is something that every family across America would like to know: What are you doing, Senator, to protect our kids? It is getting worse instead of better. Can you change the law to help us? It is up to us to decide. I hope tomorrow's hearing is the beginning of a conversation on a bipartisan basis. I yield the floor.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm U.S. Magistrate Judge Joshua Kolar to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. After receiving his B.A. and J.D. from Northwestern University, Judge Kolar worked in private practice and clerked for Judge Wayne R. Andersen on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. From 2007 to 2018, Judge Kolar was an assistant U.S. attorney in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana. He prosecuted a range of cases, including public corruption, terrorism- related offenses, violent crimes, narcotics conspiracies, and firearms offenses. Over the course of his legal career, Judge Kolar tried 16 cases to verdict and briefed or argued 20 appeals before the Seventh Circuit. In 2019, Judge Kolar was selected by the district judges of the Northern District of Indiana to be a magistrate judge, where he presides over civil and criminal cases. Since 2009, Judge Kolar has also honorably served his country as a Reservist and on Active Duty in the U.S. Navy. Judge Kolar has the strong support from his home State Senators, Mr. Young and Mr. Braun. In addition, he was unanimously rated ``well qualified'' by the American Bar Association. Taken together, Judge Kolar's service to his country in the military and as a prosecutor, his extensive appellate experience, and his service as a magistrate judge make him well-suited to serve on the Seventh Circuit with distinction. I urge my colleagues to support Judge Kolar's nomination.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Pennsylvania (Mr. Fetterman) and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Manchin) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, there are a few things that are more important to a nation's economy than its infrastructure. Most Americans rely on public transport to get from point A to point B. Passenger rail plays an important role in that responsibility. That is why am pleased that Illinoisans have had a voice in one of the largest rail networks in the country, Amtrak. Something many people don't realize is that despite being a for- profit company, Amtrak is a government entity. Because of this, with the advice and consent of the Senate, the President has the power to appoint members to Amtrak's board. Just this week, we took action in the Senate. On Tuesday, the Senate voted to confirm the mayor of Normal, IL, Chris Koos, to serve on the Amtrak board of directors, one of only eight individuals appointed by the President at any one time to serve in such a role. Chris will take the post when the former Macomb, IL, mayor, Tom Carper, departs. When Chris takes the baton from Tom, he will be taking it from a giant in the history of Amtrak. Tom Carper--same name as our colleague from Delaware--is the longest serving board member in Amtrak history. That is an amazing accomplishment and shows great personal sacrifice on his part to be part of this public responsibility. First nominated to the board of directors in 2007 under President Bush, Tom Carper joined the board in 2008 and was elected as board chairman from 2009 until his term officially expired in 2013. Tom was then reappointed in 2013 under President Obama, and he served under four different Presidents on the board of directors of Amtrak. During his tenure on the board, Tom championed issues important to Amtrak passengers across the Nation. He prioritized ensuring service to underserved communities, benefiting local economies, and improving safety and cyber security. While serving as chairman, Tom Carper took on the critical responsibility of coordinating the board and the CEO, making sure that Amtrak was responsive to the needs of its customers: the American public. Throughout his life, Tom took on many positions that show the kind of leader he really is. He was a small business owner from Macomb, IL, serving as the town's mayor for over 10 years and then as director of a regional economic development plan. From these positions, Tom gleaned firsthand knowledge about economic development in the Midwest-- knowledge he brought with him to Amtrak. Prior to that, Tom served our Nation in the U.S. Army in both Thailand and Vietnam. Tom had an acute understanding of how passenger rail service could improve lives. He used that knowledge to modernize our transportation system. Tom is a great leader and an even better person. In his role, he faithfully honored his Central Illinois roots and showed what midwestern work ethic really looks like. I want to thank Tom Carper for his years of dedicated service to America's rail infrastructure. Every American who uses Amtrak owes Tom Carper a debt of gratitude. I wish Tom the best of luck in the next well-earned chapter of his life. Luckily for Illinois and our Nation, our representation on Amtrak's board will continue with the mayor of Normal, IL, Chris Koos. A committed leader, Chris has the longest running term of any mayor in his city's history. It is only right that he will be replacing Tom's recordbreaking tenure on the Amtrak board. Chris's confirmation has been long awaited. He was first nominated in 2020. Two years later, at my recommendation, President Biden renominated Chris to the Amtrak board of directors. After more than 3\1/2\ years, finally--finally--he was confirmed. Through no fault of his own, he was caught up in some--how should I say?--strategic planning in the future of the Amtrak board, but he finally got the job. The Midwest will be well represented with Chris Koos on the Amtrak board. He has been a powerful voice in the Illinois transportation sector for years, and he has an intimate understanding of the importance of passenger rail to communities in Illinois, the Midwest, and across the country. Similar to Tom, Chris is a small business man from a midsized community. He owns a business where he sells running shoes and bicycles. From movement on foot and bike to movement by rail, I think it is safe to say Chris has a passion for supporting people on the go. That passion will allow him to tackle the challenge of serving on Amtrak's board with grace, creativity, and intelligence. Chris will be a great asset when it comes to the future of Amtrak. I am honored to call him a friend, and I congratulate him on this exciting new journey ahead. Leaders like Tom Carper and Chris Koos make me feel honored to represent the great State of Illinois. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DURBIN

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

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Gretchen S. Lund to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana. Born in Elkhart, IN, Judge Lund earned her B.A., cum laude, from Butler University and her J.D., summa cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law. After beginning her legal career as an associate attorney with Ice Miller LLP, Judge Lund clerked for Judge William T. Lawrence on the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana. Following her clerkship, she served as a deputy prosecutor with the Elkhart County Prosecutor's Office, where she handled cases assigned to the child support division. In 2006, she was elected to serve as the sole judge for the Goshen City Court, where she presided over criminal misdemeanors, infractions, and ordinance violations. In 2014, Judge Lund was elected to her current seat as the judge on Elkhart Superior Court 4. She presides over both civil and criminal matters and established the county's first drug court. Since joining the bench, she has presided over 27 jury trials, 489 bench trials, and approximately 28,000 cases that have gone to verdict or judgement. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Lund as ``well qualified,'' and she has the strong support of Senators Young and Braun. Judge Lund's significant courtroom experience and dedication to service make her an excellent nominee to the Northern District of Indiana. I will vote in favor of her confirmation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin), the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Klobuchar), and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Wisconsin, (Ms. Baldwin), the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Klobuchar), and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from Wisconsin (Ms. Baldwin), the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Klobuchar), and the Senator from Minnesota (Ms. Smith) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that we move immediately to the vote that has been scheduled for 2:15.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, during this week when we remember the staggering number of loved ones we have lost to gun violence, I want to acknowledge a spiritual and community leader who is working to end the terrible cycle of gun violence in Chicago. Pastor Chris Harris is pastor of Bright Star Church in Chicago's storied Bronzeville neighborhood and senior pastor of St. James Church in the City's historic Roseland-West Pullman community. He is a leader of creative vision, compassion, and action. And when it comes to ending gun violence, Pastor Harris has no time for hand-wringing or finger- pointing or political scapegoating. One of his frequent admonitions is: ``Say nothing about violence and trauma until you do something about violence and trauma.'' As one of the most passionate and charismatic leaders in our community, both his words and his actions have helped to turn lives around. Fifteen years ago, Pastor Harris founded a nonprofit organization called Bright Star Community Outreach. Its purpose is not simply to help heal victims of gun violence, but to prevent gun violence by treating its deep and often complex causes, including poverty, lack of opportunity, despair, and trauma. Bright Star Community Outreach does this by offering a myriad of services, from afterschool programs to job counseling, financial literacy classes, and workshops on homebuying and entrepreneurship. As Pastor Harris often says, ``The best violence prevention program is access to good schools and good jobs,'' the kinds of jobs you can raise a family on. Bright Star also offers counseling and other forms of support to help heal from the trauma that is often at the root--not only of gun violence but also addiction and so many other deadly ills. And he has been at the forefront of this field, being involved in Federal grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Over the years, Bright Star Community Outreach has grown from Pastor Harris and a few volunteers to now 115 employees. They are working directly with Chicago Public School students to understand their needs and experiences. I have visited their programs many times, and I am always inspired by the work they do. And when I set out to introduce legislation to address the role that trauma plays in fueling our cycle of violence, Pastor Harris was one of my first calls. His guidance helped shape the legislation I have worked on for nearly a decade, parts of which have become law and are funding school mental health efforts in Chicago. Recently, Pastor Harris decided to step back as executive director. He will remain CEO of BSCO, and he will have a bit more time to focus more on his many other duties. The new executive director of Bright Star Community Outreach is LaKreisha Kindred. She is a lifelong Chicagoan with a background in the financial industry--and a member of the famed Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. I wish her well. And I want to say to my friend Pastor Chris Harris, thank you for your unflagging efforts to save lives and bring new hope to the city of Chicago.