Kirsten Gillibrand

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Senator Booker, I have been listening to this debate all night, and I have got to say, you are on fire. And you are on fire because the American people are very, very angry about what is happening. They are not happy with what this administration has done. It is contrary to what was promised. It is contrary to what was expected. And I know we are going to talk about national security in a few minutes, but can I ask a question about one of the topics you talked about last night? Because it was exactly what my constituents were talking to me about yesterday. So I was in New York yesterday, and we talked about these cuts to Social Security. I have to say, I was stopped by a gentleman who worked at Amtrak and said: Madam Senator, Madam Senator, I just want to thank you for protecting my Social Security. That has never happened to me before. Never happened at Amtrak to be stopped by someone who worked there to thank me for one thing I had done that day. But I am telling you, Senator Booker, when Elon Musk starts firing people in Social Security and tells the Social Security Administration, ``You cannot answer the phone,'' what are our mothers and fathers and grandmothers and grandfathers supposed to do? Many of them are not readily available to be on a computer. Many of them can't ask their question online. And, worse, Elon Musk is expecting them to show up in person at a Social Security office. How many of our older Americans are not able to drive anymore or are uncomfortable driving? How many of our older Americans feel uncomfortable getting in the subway to get to a Social Security Administration because there are stairs or because the lighting is not good enough? These are the challenges that our older Americans have, and so I just want to talk about the things you told us last night about the risk to Social Security. Social Security is our seniors' money. It is not the government's money. It is their money. So what happens when you make it hard for a senior to call and make sure their check is on the way or their check never showed up, and they can't find it? For a lot of older Americans, that Social Security check is the only money they have for that month. It pays for food, right? It pays for heating bills. It pays for their medicine. It pays for the rent. It pays for everything they need to survive. And Elon Musk's office doesn't believe anybody should be answering the phones. Who is he to tell America how to run its Social Security Administration when our seniors need those checks? They have crippled the phone service, even though--get this one--they can't answer the phone, crippled the phone service. You can only make an appointment on the phone. So how are you supposed to make an appointment if you are going to go in? I mean, that is absurd. They plan to cut 7,000 staff. That is a lot of staff.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Senator Booker, would you yield for a question?

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I would like to take a moment to honor the late Dr. Hazel Dukes, who died earlier this month. Hazel was not just my mentor and longtime friend, she was an extraordinary advocate for members of the African-American community across New York State. When I was first appointed to the Senate, Hazel took me under her wing. She helped me learn how to do my job well and how to serve my constituents effectively. Hazel was a wise and generous soul. She was a trailblazer in the civil rights movement and the longstanding president of New York's NAACP. She fought housing discrimination on Long Island and was a tireless advocate for equal educational opportunities. Hazel's leadership shaped the NAACP, and she inspired future generations nationwide. Hazel was truly a treasure, and I was devastated to learn of her passing. Her legacy will live on in the fight for justice she waged and the lives that she changed. May we honor her by continuing the work she so fiercely championed. Hazel, we will miss you very much, and we will always remember you. May God bless you and keep you. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I want to tell you about an extraordinary woman, my senior adviser Geri Shapiro. Geri is in the final stages of a long battle with cancer, and so I wanted to express my deepest gratitude and thanks for her service to my office and to all of New York State. Geri joined my staff in 2009 after having served as Hillary Clinton's Westchester regional director. But she is so much more than just a member of my staff, she is one of my closest confidants, mentors, and friends. She is truly one of a kind. Geri is an institution in Westchester County, New York. She knows everybody, and everyone knows her name. Everyone knows that when Geri gives her word, it is as good as gold. She is an expert in so many important areas of policymaking. And the depth of knowledge she brings to any conversation is as impressive as her ability to make people feel at ease. My staff, most of whom are decades younger, adore her energy and her spirit. Geri is also one of the kindest people you are ever going to meet. She cares deeply about all of her fellow New Yorkers. But don't let that fool you; she is also tough as nails. Geri tells it like it is and doesn't pull punches. She is fearless and formidable. And her family calls her ``the expediter'' because she gets things done. With Geri on your side, you know you can't lose. A long-time resident who grew up in New Rochelle, Geri's first career as a homemaker and a mom, she devoted much of her time to caring also for her aging parents. During that time, she took courses at Columbia University and became a stockbroker to support her ailing father's business. She also volunteered at her daughter Leslie's school where she served as Edgemont PTA president. In 2000, Geri was inspired to volunteer for Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign because she admired Hillary's passion for healthcare. Hillary immediately recognized Geri's talent and hired her as her Westchester regional director when Geri was already 59 years old. In Geri's own words, it gave her a whole new meaning to the term ``late bloomer,'' and she credits Hillary's young staffers for helping her learn the ropes. To this day, Geri is among the oldest members of staff in Congress. She is proof positive that you can do amazing things at any age. I first met Geri when I also volunteered on Hillary Clinton's Senate race. When I became Senator, I asked her to continue to serve as my Westchester County expert. I remember meeting her at the train stop in Westchester early in my Senate tenure and knowing then and there that I would have a friend for life. Since then, Geri has led our community outreach in Westchester and has become a deeply valued member of our team. She is my go-to expert when it comes to anything related to Indian Point nuclear facility. She knows the ins and outs of policymaking and procedure better than most, and she has become an invaluable source for people working on nuclear energy regulation, especially with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and its Indian Point decommissioning process. But if it is not nuclear policy, it is something just as important, like her leadership on my aging working group or her work with healthcare and disability advocates. Geri understands the substance of the work, and she knows how to channel her experiences into bigger causes. But what really sets her apart is that she understands how much relationships matter. Whether you are a neighbor, a CEO, a friend, a high-ranking elected official, Geri is the first person you turn to. Her instincts are spot on. She connects with people in ways that few others can, and she always brings a human touch to everything she does. She mentors my staff on the importance of public service and the power of grassroots organizing. She emphasizes what it means to connect with a community and to understand the needs of our constituents, and she gives everything her full attention and effort and leads by example in everything she does. She clearly sees her work not just as her job but as her personal calling. Throughout my Senate career, Geri has not only been an outstanding strategic and political advisor, but also a dear, dear friend. She gives me heartfelt advice when I need it most and shows thoughtfulness and generosity to everyone who knows her. She is hard working, she is caring, and the most dedicated Senate staffer that I know by her years served and service given. When Geri speaks, people listen. And when she gives advice, you know it comes from a place of deep knowledge and careful thought. New York and this Nation need more leaders like Geri Shapiro. When asked what motivates her, Geri says: Do good. Feel good--a maxim that is evident in everything that she has ever done. She is truly an inspiration to everyone who knows her, and I am so grateful for everything she has done for Westchester, for our great State, and for our country. Thank you, Geri. We love you, and we will always remember how you made us feel.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Thank you so much, Senator Warren, for your unbelievable tenacity and clear-eyed and thoughtful remarks. I yield the balance of my postcloture debate time on the Vought nomination to Senator Schumer.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. For older New Yorkers, I vote no.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I ask unanimous consent that the bills be considered read a third time and passed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, if you have ever had kids, you know how important it can be to encourage their education. But with many competing priorities, you sometimes need to use creative strategies to inspire success. That is something that Holcombe Rucker did. Rucker was a Black World War II veteran and teacher in the 1940s in Harlem. He started a small outdoor basketball team for Black youth and encouraged his players to maintain good grades and decorum. Some say he is the father of outdoor organized basketball for youth and helped give thousands of kids better pathways to higher learning. Holcombe Rucker grew up a poor parentless kid from 141st Street. He served in the Army during World War II before earning his bachelor's degree from City College. He then taught English at a Harlem junior high school, while also serving as a recreation director for both the St. Phillip's Church Community Center and the city parks department. When Rucker formed his youth basketball tournament in the late 1940s, however, he didn't get much support from city recreational leaders. So he often paid out of his own shallow pockets to provide refreshments and T-shirts and other essentials for players. Rucker would even share his lunch with his students, often coming home to his wife with an empty stomach. Rucker believed education and supervised recreation could make an enormous difference in the lives of his students. It is no surprise then why many of his players saw him as a father figure and credited him with helping to set them on a better path. As Rucker's summer tournaments grew in popularity, parks department officials finally moved them to a more desirable location. That would ultimately become the Holcombe Rucker Park. The court attracted the city's most talented young basketball players, including future professional basketball stars like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain, and Julius ``Dr. J'' Erving. I want to thank Congressman Espaillat for championing this bill, and I am proud to lead the effort in the Senate to designate this park, which is located on 155th Street, on the banks of the Harlem River, as the ``Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site.'' This bill would allow for an educational exhibit, a plaque or another marker to be installed that would help memorialize the legacy of Mr. Rucker for generations to come. I want to thank Senator Rubio for his assistance. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6852 and the Senate proceed to an en bloc consideration of the following bills: H.R. 8012, which was received from the House and is at the desk; and H.R. 6852.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendments, where applicable, be agreed to; the bills, as amended, if amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, notwithstanding rule XXII, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc: Calendar No. 630, S. 4607; Calendar No. 589, S. 2742.

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

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, during World War II, Fort Ontario was the only U.S. refugee shelter for people fleeing the Holocaust. Let me say it again. Fort Ontario was the only U.S. refugee shelter for people fleeing the Holocaust. It gave them a safe haven. It gave them strength. It gave them hope that when they needed it the very most, we were there. And it was one of the first places where American residents would ever hear firsthand accounts about what happened during the Holocaust. In fact, there are still residents in this and other communities today who remember the experiences of living in or outside of Fort Ontario at a time when nearly 1,000 Holocaust refugees were living there and receiving medical care, food, and education. Located along Lake Ontario in Oswego, NY, the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Center was supposed to be the first of many temporary relief camps across the United States during World War II, but it was the only one that came to fruition. For years, I have been working with the local community members to honor and preserve it. I have visited them. I have heard their stories. I have learned about the importance of the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter to them and their families and the larger community. This site has long played an extraordinary role in our Nation's history, and its story deserves to be part of the National Park System. Establishing the Fort Ontario Holocaust Refugee Shelter National Historic Park would give this site permanent protection, and it would help to make sure it is preserved and enshrined in the site's legacy of hope, compassion, and resilience for future generations. I want to thank Congresswoman Tenney and former Congressman Katko for helping lead this effort. And I also want to thank Senator Hawley for his partnership and the Senate for passing this bill. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

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

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I also want to recognize the Reverend Adolphus C. Lacey for not only offering that beautiful prayer but for his extraordinary leadership and advocacy in Brooklyn, NY, and beyond. He is the senior pastor at Bethany Baptist Church in Brooklyn. He is a pastor, theologian, and activist who has served as the spiritual adviser to the New York Justice League. He is also a member of the East Brooklyn Congregations in the National Action Network and also a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. He is an extraordinary public servant who has dedicated himself to lifting up other communities, to lifting up his community, to lifting up those who need a voice. And I am so grateful for his shining presence, for the light he is bringing to this community, as he brings to all of New York. I yield the floor.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleague for his kindness in letting me go ahead. Mr. President, as Israel's war with Hamas drags into another month, I know it can feel hopeless to know that with every passing day, the chances that we will get these hostages home safely are dwindling. But above all, we must not abandon them. We must not abandon hope. We must tell their stories and do everything we can to bring them home. I recently met a woman, Yarden. Her little sister, Romi, is a hostage. She said that early on the morning of October 7, she woke up to the sound of her sister's phone call. At first, Yardan was confused. She knew her sister was supposed to be having the time of her life at the Nova music festival. Instead, Romi was calling her, scared to death. She said a lot of missiles were being fired, but there was no shelter at the open-air festival. Romi and her best friend Gaya tried to drive away, but they got stuck in a traffic jam. Suddenly, they saw people shouting and running: Get out of the car. There are terrorists. Run for your lives. They hid in a bush as gunshots sounded. Over the phone, Yarden asked Romi if there were police anywhere around her. ``Yes,'' Romi whispered. ``There is one policeman''--just one policeman facing a multitude of terrorists. Another friend, Ben, came to rescue the girls with his car, and the group began to drive away, picking up another man, Ofir. For 10 minutes, the group thought they would be safe, but then Romi called her mother. She said: Mom? We were ambushed. They are shooting at us. Ben is most likely dead. Gaya was shot, and she is not responding. Ofir is wounded badly. I was shot in my arm. If no one comes quickly, I will be dead. Romi was on the phone with her mother and sister for 4\1/2\ hours that day, including at the moment she was captured. Her family says that she has asthma and chronic sinusitis, and they worry that she could be struggling to breathe without her inhaler. They worry that her gunshot wound is not being properly treated. And they are worried that she doesn't have food, fresh water or fresh air. Romi's sister Yarden says she gets nauseated when she thinks about her sister. She gets nauseated when she uses the bathroom or takes a shower because she doesn't know whether her sister can do that safely. She misses Romi desperately and describes her as a magnificent young woman. A natural leader and advocate for justice, Romi loves dancing and traveling and hanging out with her friends. Her family says that everyone who meets her falls in love with her immediately; that she is her family's private sunshine and the glue that holds them together. Romi, like all the people still in Hamas captivity, deserves to live her life to the fullest. She deserves to have her story told. And so we have to keep telling it--and never abandon hope--for her, her family, or for the thousands of other lives who have been affected by this horrific, horrific crisis. I yield the floor.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, this is my 10th floor speech since the October 7 attack. Ten times I have stood here and told the hostages' stories. Ten times I have expressed their families' endless pain. But for every minute that I have stood here, the hostages and their families have lived lifetimes, an eternity in each moment. I have met so many families whose entire universe has been paralyzed. I have met mothers who are despondent, fathers who are desperate. They are living between hope and despair. They are asking themselves: Is my father alive? Is my daughter being raped every day? Is my husband being mistreated? Is my sister being fed? I recently met a family who says several of their loved ones were kidnapped by Hamas. Two escaped, and one was released, but one, 39- year-old Carmel Gat, is still being held captive. She is an occupational therapist by training. Carmel had recently returned from a 3-month trip to India and was staying with her parents in Kibbutz Be'eri. On the morning of October 7, terrorists broke into her home. They took her mother to a street corner in the kibbutz and brutally murdered her. A few minutes later, they put Carmel into a car and drove her by that corner. That is how she learned her mother was killed. Released hostages who were with her told Carmel's family about the cruelty and the viciousness of the guards, but they also told them how brave Carmel was, defending and caring for the children being held in captivity, keeping them safe, teaching them how to turn within themselves, to meditate, to do yoga, to breathe, to give them some tools just to survive. Carmel was expected to be released on the eighth day of the November cease-fire, but just a few hours before it was her time to come home, the deal collapsed. Her family said they still haven't heard anything about her condition--whether she is alive, whether she is suffering, whether she will come home. Carmel is just one of the roughly 130 people still being held hostage by Hamas, including as many as 6 Americans. But she, like every other person whose life has been torn apart by this conflict, is not a statistic. She is a daughter. She is loved. Our hearts are with her, and we will not rest until she is home. I yield the floor.

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

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, 19-year-old Karina Ariev is a gentle and humble girl. Her loved ones say she often has a wide smile and is always ready to help those around her. Nineteen-year-old Agam Berger is a gifted violinist who volunteers to help disadvantaged populations. Like Karina, she also enjoys helping others and is an optimist who is always smiling. Naama Levy is a soft-spoken, athletic, and determined girl. She is compassionate and understanding, with a passion for helping those in need. As a mom, I cannot fathom the anguish these parents are facing. I know every other Senator here cannot fathom the anguish they are facing. All of us must do everything we can to bring them home. I yield the floor.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent for 60 more seconds to finish my remarks.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, it has now been more than 100 days since scores of innocent people were kidnapped by Hamas. More than 2,500 hours of fear, starvation, and torture; of parents, grandparents, teenagers, children suffering some of the most unimaginable horrors and wondering if they will ever see their loved ones again. This is my ninth time coming to the Senate floor to tell their stories, to express their pain. But for every day that I have come here, for every hour, for every minute the hostages and their families have lived eternities. Last week, I met the mother of a woman, a 19-year-old daughter named Daniela. She was kidnapped from the Nahal Oz. She showed me the before and after pictures of her daughter. On the morning of October 7, Daniela's mother woke up to the sound of sirens. She texted her daughter to ask her what was happening. Daniela responded ``Mom, pray for me'' and explained that there was ``lots of shooting everywhere and bombs.'' The last anyone heard from her was 7:45 a.m. Daniela's mother says her daughter was injured in the leg and taken into Gaza, after she saw 16 of her friends slaughtered. She was wearing pale pink Mickey Mouse pajama bottoms and can be seen in a Hamas video with three other girls. Their hands are tied behind their backs; their clothing and faces smeared with blood and tears; sheer terror in their eyes. The same Hamas video also shows Liri Albag, another teenage hostage whose parents I met in Israel. Like Daniela, Liri was abducted from Nahal Oz. She is among the youngest female hostages remaining in Gaza. The last her family heard from her was 6:30 in the morning on October 7. Liri's mother thought her daughter had ended up in one of the hospitals but soon learned from a Hamas video that she was among those kidnapped. Liri's father says that for the families of these hostages, the uncertainty and fear are killing them. Her mother says she cannot breathe because she does not know if her daughter is breathing. Daniela, Liri, and three other teenaged girls--19-year-old Karina Ariev, 19-year-old Agam Berger, and 19-year-old Naama Levy--were last seen by several abductees who have since been released. One woman said some of the girls were badly injured but weren't receiving proper medical care. She said that when the girls were sad or crying, their captors would sexually abuse them. She relayed their accounts of sexual abuse at gunpoint on a regular basis. She said the girls told her they could cope with their disabilities but not with the way they were constantly violated. One of the earliest images that we saw during the October 7 attack was of Naama Levy being dragged by her hair, her hands tied behind her back, thrown into a truck, blood streaming down her face, streaming down her arms, streaming down her back, her sweatpants covered in blood. No one deserves this kind of torture. No one should have to endure such unimaginable abuse--not for 1 day, not for 100 days, not ever. According to her loved ones, Daniela is a girl who spreads light wherever she goes. She is a talented musician who writes songs, plays the piano, and dreams of becoming a famous singer. Her mom says she pictures Daniela walking through the door and coming home. She implores parents worldwide to imagine their own children in such peril. Liri is an optimist who puts others before herself. She has lots of friends and loves to travel, to take pictures of her trips, and sing. Her family says she is such a strong girl who enjoys exploring life but that every minute is like an hour without her. Nineteen-year-old Karina Ariev is a gentle and humble girl. Her loved ones say she often has a wide smile and is always ready to help and support those around her. Nineteen-year-old Agam Berger--

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

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to display photos of Gad Haggai and Judih Weinstein.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam President, as people around the world gathered last week to ring in the new year, it was a heartbreaking moment for families of the remaining Israeli hostages, whose loved ones have been forced to begin a new year in Hamas captivity. Over the past month, I was devastated to learn that two of the hostages whom I have spoken about have since died. Israeli-American Judih Weinstein and Gad, her husband, both died from injuries they sustained on October 7. Their bodies are still being held in Gaza. Gad was a retired chef, a jazz musician, and a gifted flautist. A father of four and a grandfather of seven, he was a man full of humor who knew how to make other people laugh. Gad's wife Judih was a person of peace. A New York native, she loved making puppets and teaching English to children with special needs. She was a wellness expert who used meditation and mindfulness techniques to help those traumatized by years of rocket fire. She was also a pacifist who advocated for Palestinian rights. In one of the poems she wrote and shared on social media, Judih described herself as a ``lone pilgrim, enveloped by ancestors''--listening to a ``flute's homage beckoning [her] on.'' The deaths of Judih and Gad are a sad conclusion to a long and horrifying saga. It is also a disturbing reminder of the perils faced by other hostages. I recently returned from a congressional delegation trip to Israel, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan, and I can tell you that the suffering and the grief the Jewish people and innocent Palestinian people have faced daily are truly devastating. The collective anguish, fear, and horror is palpable. The path to peace--with all hostages being returned, the rebuilding of a Palestinian state without Hamas, and with the support and investment of the Arab and Muslim world--is now more urgent than ever. When meeting the families of the hostages, the urgency and anguish in their eyes was devastating. To know that your loved one could be suffering unspeakable horrors and that they may be on the edge of death and feel powerless to stop it is a pain that no family member should ever be forced to bear. They have spent every living day and moment since October 7 fighting to get their loved ones home. This nightmare must end now. One of the families I met with told me about their loved one, Doron. A 30-year-old veterinary nurse, she hid under the bed in her apartment as Hamas terrorists rampaged her kibbutz. The last her family heard from her was from a voice message in which she said: They've arrived, they have me. Doron has a stomach condition, and her family worries her health will deteriorate without her daily medication. They worry about rape and sexual violence and sexual torture. They worry she will not survive the horrors of her captivity. I also met again with the families of Itay Chen and Omer Neutra--two New Yorkers who are being held hostage by Hamas. Itay is a 19-year-old boy who was born in New York City and is now serving with the IDF. He was supposed to return home to his family shortly after October 7 to celebrate his brother's bar mitzvah. Omer Neutra is also a New Yorker, the grandson of Holocaust survivors, and an avid athlete. He loves the New York Knicks. He deferred his acceptance to Binghamton University to spend a gap year in Israel before he joined the IDF. On the day of the attack, he was working as a tank commander while defending the Gaza border. He was last seen on a video as being forcibly removed at the hands of Hamas terrorists. In addition to these two New Yorkers, I also met with the family of another American hostage, Hersh Goldberg-Polin. He had his lower arm blown off by a hand grenade. His mother says his injuries could easily have resulted in his bleeding to death and wonders: Is he alive? Is he suffering? Does he ever have a chance of coming home? These are just a few of the roughly 130 people still being held hostage by Hamas, including 8 Americans. With every day that goes by, the danger to them only grows. I hope that in this new year we can secure their safe return, their release, and their coming home to their families before it is too late. I suggest the absence of a quorum.