Richard Durbin

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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, in June, our Nation celebrates National Immigrant Heritage Month. It is a reminder that, with the exception of Native Americans and the descendants of enslaved people, every one of us shares something in common with the families arriving in America today, and that is the fact that our own ancestors once traveled far and wide to reach this land of liberty and opportunity. In my case, it was my grandmother. The year was 1911. She was forced to flee her home in Lithuania. She boarded a ship in Germany, bound for America, carrying two things in her arms: her Catholic prayer book and my infant mother. She arrived in our country with the same hopes as every immigrant who comes to America--from the immigrant business owners in my State of Illinois and communities like Little Village to all of the immigrant farm workers who keep food on our tables. And today, the month of June is not only a chance to celebrate America's heritage as a nation of immigrants, it should also serve as a call to action for us in Congress. That is because today, June 15th, marks the 11th anniversary of a life-changing program for a group of young people who share my mother's story--the Deferred Action For Childhood Arrival Program, DACA. Back in 2010, on a bipartisan basis, the late Republican Senator Richard Lugar and I asked President Obama to use his power as President to protect from deportation hundreds of thousands of young people, many of whom arrived in our country as infants and toddlers, like my mom. And 11 years ago today, President Obama responded. He announced that he would use his executive authority to create the DACA Program. These young people are known generally as Dreamers. They have grown up alongside our kids and grandkids. They pledge allegiance, as you said so many times, to the same American flag, and many have gone on to serve our Nation as members of the United States Armed Forces, first responders, and much more. In fact, over the years, Dreamers have become a household name. They have touched the hearts of Americans because in them, we see ourselves, our own history, our own families. Dreamers have earned their place in the American story. But right now, they are still waiting on this Congress to finish the job that President Obama started with DACA. This program was always intended to be a temporary solution. The permanent solution is obvious: Enact legislation--bipartisan legislation--that was introduced more than two decades ago--the DREAM Act. It would provide a path to citizenship for Dreamers all across America. Without the protections of the DREAM Act, these young people have been forced to live a life of uncertainty. They have to renew their status every 2 years, which means they can only plan their lives in two-year installments. Today I want to tell you the story about one Dreamer. Her name is Sumbul Siddiqui. Her story is the 136th Dreamer story that I have shared on the Senate floor. Sumbul's family moved to the State of Georgia from Pakistan when she was 4 years old. With most of her relatives out of the country, she relied on her neighbors in Georgia as her chosen family. Growing up, she was a star student with no shortage of passions. She spent hours in the library getting lost in books, learned to play the viola, and fell in love with the arts. In her mind, she was just like any other kid, until she started applying to college and discovered officially, legally, she was not an American citizen. So even though Sumbul graduated from high school with the highest honors, she feared that her immigration status would prevent her from pursuing a college education. Fortunately, it did not. Instead, Sumbul was awarded a private merit scholarship to attend Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, GA. During her first year, she was accepted into the DACA Program. She worked four jobs to cover the cost of tuition and graduated still a semester early with honors. She even found time to volunteer at a free health clinic. And it was in this role, working alongside doctors in her community, that she found her professional calling: medicine. So she decided to apply to a medical school that had supported Dreamers since the beginning of DACA. I am proud to say it is the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago. You see, back in 2012, the Stritch School of Medicine made a brave commitment. They became the first medical school in America to adjust its admission policy to welcome Dreamers. And in the years since, nearly 40 Dreamers have graduated from this program at that medical school. Last month, Dr. Sumbul Siddiqui became one of those graduates. I had the honor of speaking at her commencement ceremony before she and her fellow graduating class, which included five other DACA recipients, walked across the stage to receive their medical degrees. With her medical degree, Dr. Siddiqui plans to dedicate her career to serving families in the Chicagoland area. Soon, she will begin her residency at the University of Chicago, where she will focus on supporting underserved communities. Ask yourself a basic question: Would America be better off if Dr. Siddiqui and Dreamers like her were unable to work here in the United States, when our communities are in desperate need of doctors and nurses? Of course not. Earlier this year, I reintroduced the Dream Act with my friend, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. We have been on the cusp of passing the DREAM Act for years, but time and again, Congress has failed to finish the job. Right now, this legislation is more important than ever. That is because one judge in Texas--who has repeatedly ruled against DACA-- could soon end protections for nearly 600,000 Dreamers. That would be a disaster--not just for Dreamers, but for our entire country. It is time for Congress to step up and meet our responsibility to Dreamers once and for all--as well as our responsibility for America's future--on a bipartisan basis. I think that time is already here, and I hope we will meet our obligation that is long overdue to solve this problem, not just for this wonderful young woman and the ambition she has shown to make a better life for herself, but for the future world. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Nusrat Jahan Choudhury to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Her historic confirmation will be an important step forward in this Senate's efforts to bring greater professional and demographic diversity to the Federal bench. Ms. Choudhury is a seasoned litigator who has dedicated virtually her entire career to defending the civil rights of all Americans. She attended Columbia University and Yale Law School before clerking for Judge Denise L. Cote on the Southern District of New York and for Judge Barrington D. Parker, Jr., on the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Following her clerkships, Ms. Choudhury began her career at the American Civil Liberties Union--ACLU--in New York, where she focused on racial justice and national security issues for nearly a decade. Since 2020, she has served as the legal director of the ACLU in my home State of Illinois, specializing in issues including prison reform, civil rights, and government transparency. Ms. Choudhury has spent the vast majority of her time in practice litigating in Federal court, and she has tried three cases to verdict. Her courtroom experience and commitment to ensuring equal justice under law will serve her well on the Eastern District of New York. She will also bring important diversity to the bench as the first Bangladeshi American and first Muslim woman to serve as a Federal judge. The American Bar Association rated Ms. Choudhury ``well qualified'' for the district court, and she has the strong support of her home State Senators: Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Gillibrand. I support Ms. Choudhury's nomination, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Dale Ho to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. A graduate of Princeton University and Yale Law School, Mr. Ho began his legal career as a clerk for Judge Barbara S. Jones on the Southern District of New York and Judge Robert S. Smith on the New York Court of Appeals. After working in private practice for 2 years, Mr. Ho pursued a career as a civil rights lawyer, focusing primarily on protecting Americans' right to vote. Mr. Ho has more than a decade of experience litigating long-running, complex civil matters, giving him great insight into the real-world impact of judicial decision-making and an understanding of the importance of fairly applying the law to the facts. Mr. Ho will be a valuable addition to the bench, given his underrepresented perspective as a civil rights lawyer. The American Bar Association rated Mr. Ho ``well qualified,'' and he has the strong support of his home State Senators: Mr. Schumer and Mrs. Gillibrand. As a highly skilled litigator who has experience in complex civil litigation and has a significant appellate practice, including arguing before the U.S. Supreme Court, Mr. Ho is well-positioned to serve on the Southern District of New York with distinction. I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Ho's nomination.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Patrick Casey Pitts to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. After receiving his B.A. and J.D. from Yale University, Mr. Pitts clerked on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Following his clerkship, Mr. Pitts joined Altshuler Berzon LLP, where he has spent his entire legal career. His practice focuses on advocating on behalf of employees--often from low-income, minority, and underserved communities--and unions in labor disputes. Mr. Pitts has extensive litigation experience, trying one case to judgment and litigating more than 100 matters that were resolved through a decision on the merits. And if confirmed, Mr. Pitts will bring vital demographic diversity to the Northern District of California as the only openly LGBTQ article III judge actively serving in that district. He will also bring professional diversity to the Federal bench as a lawyer who has defended the rights of employees and labor organizations. The American Bar Association rated Mr. Pitts ``qualified,'' and he has the strong support of his home State Senators: Mrs. Feinstein and Mr. Padilla. Mr. Pitts is a seasoned litigator whose credentials and experience make him an outstanding addition to the Northern District of California. I urge my colleagues to support Mr. Pitts's nomination.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, on another topic, last week, President Biden did something he has done only five times: He vetoed a resolution passed by Congress. And let me say: Thank goodness. The proposal he vetoed would have blocked the administration's student loan forgiveness program. This program will be a financial lifeline for millions of student borrowers across the country so that working Americans can start a business, buy a first home, or, simply, keep a roof over their heads. And there is one group of student borrowers in particular who are in desperate need of this financial relief: That is the hundreds of thousands of students who have been ripped off by for-profit colleges. Just listen to this: Even though for-profit colleges enroll only 8 percent of college students, they account for 30 percent of all Federal loan defaults. Thankfully, just a few weeks ago, the Biden administration took another crucial step to support these student borrowers. The Department of Education announced that it will reinstate what is known as the gainful employment rule--or the GE rule. This rule would create accountability standards for for-profit colleges to qualify for Federal student aid. If they want to receive taxpayer dollars--in the form of Federal student aid--then they need to meet their statutory obligation to prepare students for gainful employment. I don't think that is too much to ask. This GE rule is years in the making, first introduced by the Obama administration, after years of deliberation, but it was rescinded under former Secretary Betsy DeVos. As a result, executives of for-profit colleges have lined their pockets with taxpayer dollars, while students were left to fend for themselves. Let me tell you about one of these predatory for-profit schools: the American Intercontinental University. Five of its programs failed the GE rule--five--at one school, including a bachelor's degree in fashion and apparel design. The company claims it is one of their ``career- focused degree programs . . . designed to provide students with the foundational skills required to apply their creative vision in the real world.'' Sounds pretty good, doesn't it? Wrong. Because here is the reality: The total cost over 4 years is nearly $55,000. Seventy-four percent of students who attend this school borrow Federal student loans. And the median total debt is $31,000. Here is the biggest problem: The graduation rate is only 19 percent. And the students who do graduate are hardly any better off. According to the 2015 GE earnings data, the median annual earnings of a fashion and apparel design graduate were $18,896. So even if you earn your degree from this fraudulent program, you do not even have a chance to earn enough to pay off your loans. That is why it is so important that the Biden administration has proposed to reinstate the GE rule. And this new version will provide the strongest accountability and transparency framework to date. Under the proposed rule, for-profit colleges would have to prove that graduates make enough to pay back their loans. So what would happen to a school like American Intercontinental University if it does not improve its failing programs? Well, under the new GE rule, the company would lose access to Federal student aid for its failing programs. I am glad the Department of Education is holding the for-profit industry accountable for its lies and protecting students and taxpayers.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this coming Monday is Juneteenth, our newest national holiday, a day set aside to celebrate the triumph of freedom over slavery in America. The name ``Juneteenth'' is a combination of two words, ``June nineteenth.'' That was the day, in 1865, that the U.S. Army's ``General Order No. 3'' was issued, finally informing the people of Texas of the Emancipation Proclamation--and that all of the remaining enslaved people in that State were free. Sadly, on this Juneteenth--even as our Nation celebrates--we are witnessing the most concerted effort in decades to erase from our history America's long and still unfinished struggle to fully end racism, the odious lie on which slavery was built. Last year, according to the American Library Association, there were 1,269 demands to ban books in school libraries in various States. That is more than double the number of book bans sought in 2021. And it is the greatest number of book bans demanded in the 20 years that PEN America, an organization dedicated to the freedom of expression, has kept records on this troubling trend. What is the most frequent target of these new bans? Books involving, or even just mentioning, issues of race. And what are the books that these censors are demanding be pulled from the shelves of school libraries? Here are some examples: ``To Kill a Mockingbird'' is one. Another is a biography of Jesse Owens, the great American runner who won four gold medals at the Olympic Games in Munich in 1936, shattering the Nazi myth of racial supremacy. In Florida, the book banners demanded that school textbooks containing the story of Rosa Parks remove race and racism as reasons she refused to move to the back of the bus. Such efforts to erase history are an attack on the freedom to read and learn. This week, my State of Illinois became the first State in the Nation to ban this form of censorship by public libraries. I hope more States will stand up for history--and that on the eve of this Juneteenth, Americans will commit ourselves firmly to truth.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm Judge Hernan Vera to the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. With his years of experience defending equal justice under law, Judge Vera will make an excellent addition to the Federal bench. He received a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the UCLA School of Law before clerking for Judge Consuelo B. Marshall on the Central District of California. Following his clerkship, Judge Vera entered private practice and focused on complex business disputes with an emphasis on commercial civil litigation and intellectual property issues. He then spent 12 years working for Public Counsel, the Nation's largest pro bono law firm, and eventually became the firm's CEO. During his time with Public Counsel, he exclusively represented low-income clients and litigated hundreds of matters involving consumer fraud, housing, employment, and other civil rights issues. In 2020, Judge Vera was appointed to the Los Angeles Superior Court. Since his appointment to the bench, he has presided over more than 200 cases that have gone to verdict or judgment, including cases involving juvenile dependency issues and allegations of child abuse and neglect. Judge Vera has extensive litigation experience and a proven track record of independent decisionmaking on the bench. And having dedicated such a significant portion of his career to pro bono work, he will bring a unique perspective to the Central District of California. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Judge Vera ``well qualified'' for the Federal bench, and he has the strong support of his home State Senators: Mrs. Feinstein and Mr. Padilla. I urge my colleagues to support his nomination.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I would like to congratulate the Northwestern Wildcats for winning this year's National Collegiate Athletics Association--NCAA--Division I Women's Lacrosse Championship. This historic victory marks the team's first national title since 2012, nearly a decade in the making. Clinching a championship comes down to a series of moments: split- second decisions during showdowns on the field, putting in extra sprints after practice, and taking time to strategize after a close loss. For the Northwestern women's lacrosse team, this year's victory can be traced back to one moment in 2002. That was the year Northwestern started its varsity women's lacrosse program with Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller at the helm, a role she still holds to this day. A lacrosse legend in her own right, Coach Amonte Hiller has cultivated a culture of excellence at Northwestern. During her first year, Coach Amonte Hiller built an impressive team, recruiting players from across the country and adding students from around campus. Two players on the inaugural team had never even played lacrosse. Nonetheless, Coach Amonte Hiller saw something in the young team--and her instincts were right: The players, who began as freshmen, went on to finish the 2005 season 21-0. It was the first time the Wildcats were crowned national champions, but not the last. And with their victory in 2005, Northwestern became the first non-Eastern Time Zone school--male or female--to win an NCAA national championship in lacrosse. In every season that followed, Coach Amonte Hiller led the Wildcats to the NCAA finals--and secured the championship eight times. Throughout her tenure, Coach Amonte Hiller has been applauded for her recruitment efforts--searching for players across the country and shaking up the model for what collegiate lacrosse teams traditionally have looked like. While lacrosse was invented by Native Americans, collegiate teams have been predominantly White, with the majority of recruits coming from the East Coast. Instead of limiting her recruiting efforts to this area of the country, Coach Amonte Hiller has sought to discover talent from all over. In fact, one member of the Wildcats was inspired to play at Northwestern as a young athlete, after watching a fellow Black player and Texas native, who Coach Amonte Hiller had recruited, compete in the NCAA finals. And in 2011, ``ESPN The Magazine'' named Coach Amonte Hiller one of the 20 best recruiters across all college sports, joining the ranks of other NCAA championship winning coaches. Resilience can be defined as believing in the possibility of success and remaining determined to overcome any challenge. And the Wildcats rise to this year's NCAA national championship was a masterclass in resilience. Last season, after a bitter loss that knocked Northwestern out of the semifinals, alongside season-long injuries that kept key players on the sidelines, the Wildcats dusted themselves off and committed themselves to bringing home a national title. Several players even made the decision to stay on campus and play in their fifth year of eligibility as graduate students, which meant putting their postgraduation plans on hold. And it was a sacrifice worth making. The Wildcats never shied away from a challenge, and the team filled their schedule with tough, matchups. They opened the 2023 season with a game against a top-ranked team, which they lost by a single point. It was the Wildcats' first and final loss of the season, and they began a 21-game winning streak. In the championship game, the Wildcats faced Boston College. With vital contributions from both freshman players and graduate students alike, the depth of the Wildcats' bench was on full display. They finished the game with a 12-point lead. And as a result, for the first time in 11 years, the Northwestern Wildcats claimed the national title. The continued success of this program has inspired young athletes throughout the region. The expansion of lacrosse to other colleges and westward, along with the rise in demand for youth lacrosse in Illinois, is a testament to the excitement Northwestern has helped generate. Since that fateful moment in 2002, when Amonte Hiller took the reins as coach, Northwestern has emerged as a powerhouse in women's lacrosse. I would like to congratulate every member of the Northwestern Wildcats women's lacrosse team, and especially Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller for her years of leadership. This year's national championship will be Amonte Hiller's eighth national title, matching Navy coach, Cindy Timchal, for the most won championships in women's college lacrosse history. Coach Kelly Amonte Hiller and her team represent the best of Illinois. I hope their resilience, dedication, and commitment will continue to serve as an inspiration for young athletes across the country for years to come.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I further ask unanimous consent that the Blumenthal substitute amendment be considered and agreed to; that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 305.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions: S. Res. 248, 249, and 250.

Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 376, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 14; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed; that following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session and, notwithstanding rule XXII, resume consideration of the Pitts nomination until 11:30 a.m.; further, that at 11:30 a.m., the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Pitts nomination followed by an immediate cloture vote on the Ho nomination; further, that if cloture is invoked on either nomination, all postcloture time be considered expired at 2:30 p.m. and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order in which cloture was invoked; further, that the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Choudhury nomination at 5:15 p.m., and if any nominations are confirmed during Wednesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, I would like to honor an organization that generations of Illinois families have relied on: Mujeres Latinas en Accion--or Latina Women in Action. Mujeres is the longest standing Latina-led organization in the entire country. And this year, they are celebrating 50 years of empowering and emboldening Latinas across our State--as well as their families. Founded in 1973 by the late Maria Mangual, Mujeres was first established as a shelter for young women escaping violence in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago, IL. Back then, some wrote off Mujeres' work as radical and unnecessary, but these critics didn't deter Maria or the dedicated women who supported her cause from building an enduring and indispensable organization. In the five decades since, Mujeres' mission, services, and footprint have only expanded to help uplift women from all walks of life. And today, Mujeres does it all. They host support groups to help young families with parenting skills. They operate a 24-hour crisis line--and referral service--to assist survivors of domestic and sexual violence, both of which, tragically, increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have developed an education training program for women hoping to launch or expand their small businesses, as well as a community engagement and mobilization program, to amplify the voices of Latina immigrants and survivors of trauma. And, importantly, Mujeres is now a leading advocate in the effort to ensure pay equity for Latinas in the workplace. What is more, as Mujeres' mission has evolved over the years, so, too, has size of their operation. They have opened new sites beyond Pilsen, in Brighton Park and North Riverside--so they can reach even more women and families. The Brighton Park facility, which opened in 2019, was the product of a partnership between Mujeres and Esperanza Health Centers. This facility offers everything from adult medicine and women's health services, to pediatrics and psychiatry, and even behavioral health care services to residents, regardless of their economic or immigration status. Over the years, Mujeres has established itself as a vital resource for thousands of Illinois families. Every year, they provide critical care and services to more than 8,000 clients, in both English and Spanish. I am forever grateful to Mujeres for their commitment to improving, and even saving, the lives of women in Illinois. I would like to thank Amalia Rioja, who introduced me to Mujeres 25 years ago, as well as all of the trailblazers who have carried Maria Mangual's legacy forward, including Liz Prieto, Linda Coronado, Virginia Martinez, Norma Seledon, Maria Pesqueira, and Linda Xochtil Tortolero. I cannot wait to see what Mujeres accomplishes over the next 50 years.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, last week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, GEN Mark Milley, spoke at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France. In the audience were veterans--some were over 100 years old--who stormed those beaches 79 years ago on D-Day. D-Day was a critical moment in World War II. It was the beginning of the liberation of Europe, and it was the beginning of the end of Nazi tyranny. Looking out over a sea of headstones of fallen American patriots, Secretary Austin said: It's easy to forget how desperate the battle was . . . but, on D-Day, courage won out over terror, daring over cruelty, and liberty won out over tyranny. Today, that same eternal battle is being fought in another place, in Ukraine, which has begun a heroic counteroffensive to finally drive out Vladimir Putin and the Russian invaders and to preserve democracy in that nation. Next month, Senator Shaheen of New Hampshire and I will travel to the NATO summit in Lithuania. The location--in a nation that was once under Soviet occupation--is both historic and poignant. Success in Ukraine's counteroffensive and the country's long-term security will once again be on top of the NATO agenda. We also will welcome the security alliance's newest member, Finland. I hope, by the time we convene in Lithuania, Hungary and Turkey will have ratified Sweden's succession without any further delay--another plus for the future of the NATO alliance. Let me also state clearly that I believe Ukraine's future is in the European Union and the NATO alliance, and until the day that Ukraine can join NATO, the United States and other key allies must help Ukraine with security guarantees, as we do with other key non-NATO allies. It is clear that Ukraine can never trust Russia. It is in the interest of the United States and democracy itself that we ensure Ukraine can always defend itself, that any aggressor will think twice before ever again trying to threaten its people or its territory. President Biden knows what is at stake in this fight against tyranny. So do our NATO allies. And I want to particularly note Minority Leader McConnell. Echoing Ronald Reagan, Senator McConnell has spoken forcefully about the need for continued bipartisan support for Ukraine. That is the ultimate strength of the American role in the NATO alliance: that we speak with one voice. And, of course, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy understands that what is at stake in Ukraine is bigger than just his nation; it is literally a battle for freedom and democracy themselves. In his remarks at Normandy last week, Secretary Austin said: Free soldiers will fight more bravely than the armies of tyrants. He is correct, but the free people of Ukraine must not be left to fight this war alone. The United States and nations of the free world must provide the resources and equipment and training necessary for them to prevail against Putin and his cowardly enablers. The free people and soldiers of Ukraine are fighting today to preserve the peace and international order for which those young Americans gave their lives at D-Day. We must stand with them with resolve until Ukraine is free again.

Mr. DURBIN

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

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Booker) is 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. I announce that the Senator from Washington (Mrs. Murray) and the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders) are necessarily absent.

Mr. DURBIN

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, earlier this week, Apple unveiled its latest innovation, the Vision Pro. It is a mixed-reality headset that the company claims will blend together our virtual and physical worlds. Now, if you have seen this device, you might think it looks like an overpriced pair of ski goggles, but the implications for this technology are remarkable. Think about how far we have come in a few short decades. Thirty years ago, hardly anyone owned a cell phone, and even fewer were familiar with the concept of the World Wide Web; but, since then, everything has changed. We have gone from clunky desktop computers to smart phones and smart watches and now a headset that will transform your living room into a virtual playground--a virtual playground. Think about that. You can share it with just about anyone in the world--anyone--even potential sexual predators. And therein lies the problem. In the face of an unprecedented wave of technological innovation, one thing has remained the same: Our Nation's online safety laws are stuck in the last century. Over the past three decades, Congress has given tech and social media companies free rein to police themselves, and they have failed. Now our children are paying the price for these failures. It is time for Congress to step up and protect them. Today, more than one out of three teenagers say they use social media ``almost constantly.'' That is by design. Big Tech giants and online platforms, powered by advanced algorithms, are capturing the minds and eyeballs of our kids and grandkids. And the more our children scroll, the more these platforms rake in profits. Now, of course, social media can benefit everyone, including young people. They can learn new skills and hobbies and really connect with valuable friends. But as most parents, grandparents, and public health experts will tell you, social media has a dark side. Last month, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy issued an extraordinary warning--the first of its kind--to parents across America. Dr. Murthy said that social media can ``have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.'' From anxiety and depression to body image issues, social media is exacerbating the youth mental health crisis in America. But there is another far more disturbing part of this story because, when it comes to online platforms like Instagram or TikTok, only a few taps and clicks stand between our children and online predators who hope to exploit them. Just yesterday, the Wall Street Journal published a report on what they described as a ``vast pedophile network'' that has been thriving on Instagram for years--years. According to the report, Instagram not only hosts photos and videos of children being sexually exploited; it actively promotes the despicable content to other users. Predators even connect with one another through a set of grotesque hash tags that I will not repeat on the Senate floor, and the worst of these predators try to target new, unsuspecting victims and persuade them to share explicit images of themselves. Let me tell you about one of the victims. His name was James Woods. Last year James, who, at 17, was getting ready to graduate from high school, died by suicide after being targeted in a scheme known as ``sextortion.'' In James' case, he was contacted through Instagram by a user claiming to be a young woman. The conversation quickly turned sexual, and the user asked James to share explicit images of himself. Unfortunately, he complied. Moments later, he received another message, this time with a threat: Send me $6,000, or else those images will be sent to everyone you know. James was terrified. He tried to reason with this predator by sending him a $100 gift card, but the threats continued. He received 200 messages in a single day, some threatening to hurt him or kill his family. One message read: ``You might as well end it now.'' Soon after, James' father arrived home and discovered his son's lifeless body. James had his entire life ahead of him. He was a star on the school track team. He hoped to pursue a career in law enforcement. But now he is gone. You would think that Instagram, the platform through which James was exploited, would bear some responsibility--some responsibility--for this horrifying tragedy. After all, this predator used Instagram to contact James, solicit explicit images, and then threaten his life. But you would be wrong. Under our existing laws of the United States-- namely, section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, written nearly 30 years ago--platforms like Instagram have near total immunity from being held legally accountable for this type of atrocity. That has to change. Earlier this year, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I pledged that we would take vigorous action to hold Big Tech accountable and stop the online exploitation of children. As part of this effort, I introduced a bill, the Stop CSAM Act. CSAM stands for ``child sexual abuse material.'' This legislation would create a civil remedy against any online platform that facilitates the exchange of child sexual abuse materials. In other words, if the Stop CSAM Act were law today, James' parents would be able to take legal action against Instagram for failing to fulfill their basic responsibility to protect their customers. Importantly, my Stop CSAM Act is one of five pieces of legislation that has been reported out of the Judiciary Committee during this Congress to stop the exploitation of children online. Every single one of these pieces of legislation was reported from the Senate Judiciary Committee by a unanimous vote--all five. Mr. President, you personally, and my colleagues, take a look at the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. That is the most amazing display of political extremes--right and left and center, for that matter--that you will find in Congress. All members of the committee voted in favor of these five pieces of legislation to protect our kids from what is going on on the cell phones across America. We had testimony from parents--one sad story after another of children who, because of sextortion, bullying, harassment, goading, took their own lives. The mothers sat in the front row, each holding a color photo, a school photo, of their kids. With tears in their eyes, they begged us to do something to protect these kids and to protect America from this exploitation. When I read about tragedies like the death of James Woods, it is clear: We shouldn't waste another minute. I believe that we should call this measure to the floor of the Senate immediately. There is no reason to wait. In fact, there is a danger if we do. Let's see if the unanimous opinion of the Senate Judiciary Committee--Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals--can bring us to a bipartisan conclusion now. Wouldn't the American people be happy to hear that, that finally the Senate came together on a bipartisan basis to protect innocent children from sexploitation, from these child sexual abuse materials, and from the sort of situation that James Woods faced, the harassment, with no accountability for the social media platform? We need to move quickly to do this. There is no excuse. Let's not wait on some other measure. These are five good, strong bills that will say to the social media industry once and for all: You bear responsibility for what goes on. And when you are responsible for it, you can be held accountable in a court of law. Parents and victims can't do this on their own. They have learned that over and over. They need someone to help, and that would be the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives and the President. I hope every Member of the Senate will join us in protecting our kids from this new world of threats. I yield the floor.