Kirsten Gillibrand

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I rise to offer an amendment to Senator Cornyn's bill, S. 178, the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act. Under current law, there are many trafficking victims who, even after gaining freedom from their captors, have to live their lives stuck with a criminal record because of things they were forced to do in captivity. Imagine being freed from the hell of sexual slavery only to find yourself unable to get a job or stable housing because the law considers you a criminal. My amendment, the Federal Criminal Procedure Post-Conviction Relief For Victims of Trafficking Act, would vacate the criminal convictions of trafficking victims who were forced to break the law while they were trafficked. It would expunge the criminal records of trafficking victims and it would give trafficking victims a chance to restart their lives without stigma and without a criminal record. These boys and girls were snatched into captivity. They were forced into sexual slavery, and they were denied the freedom to make their own decisions, including the chance to say no to committing a crime. These victims are not criminals. Their bodies are scarred. Their memories are shaken by trauma. The least Congress can do is give them the dignity of a clean record and a new chance to lead a fulfilling life. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment. I also wish to urge my colleagues to support a bill Senator Rubio and I introduced called the Strengthening the Child Welfare Response to Trafficking Act. This bill would require each State to develop a plan to protect young victims of labor and sex trafficking from falling back into captivity after they have escaped. As it stands now, many of the various services and programs that are meant to keep children from these dangerous, oppressive cycles are failing to do their jobs. Instead of being protected and comforted as victims of violent crime, young trafficking survivors are sent into the juvenile justice system and treated as criminals--as if it were their own fault and their own choice that they were held in captivity and forced into exploitation. This is just not the case. This bill would give American children better trained protective service workers, better lines of communication between victims and protective services, and better data on where trafficking crimes are actually occurring, how often, and whom traffickers are targeting. I commend my colleagues for bringing this issue of human trafficking so boldly to the Senate floor, and I encourage everyone in this Chamber to support these legislative efforts to solve our country's trafficking problem. I yield the floor.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I also rise to speak about human trafficking, and I associate myself with the comments of Senator Heitkamp. Human trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery that is alive, active, and must be stopped. Many of the stories we hear from traffic survivors sound more like plots in a horror movie than real life in the United States of America, but these stories are not fiction. Over and over we hear stories about young Americans forced into captivity, about young Americans forced into sexual exploitation, about young Americans who have no freedom to say no to a violent pimp but are still tagged with prostitution charges before they even turn 18. Human trafficking is a crime that rips families apart, breaks down the trust in our communities, and shatters young American lives. It is long overdue for Congress to pay close attention to this issue, and I commend my fellow female Senators for bringing this issue so boldly to the floor of the Senate. Today I will talk about what Senator Heitkamp talked about--the vulnerabilities that led to these young boys and girls becoming trafficked and how vulnerable they remain even after they have managed to escape from their pimps and their captivity. In small towns and big cities, thousands of Americans are trafficked each year. Every single institution these boys and girls ever relied on simply failed them, failed to protect them. Their families failed to protect them. Their schools failed to protect them. The foster system they were given to failed to protect them. Our laws are failing to protect them. Last month alone, in Rochester, NY, the U.S. attorney announced the arrest of seven people on trafficking charges. Their victims were as young as 14 years old. The U.S. attorney said: ``The victims in many cases were singled out because they were identified as being vulnerable.'' We have the responsibility in Congress to end these crimes against the most vulnerable among us. We should pass Senator Leahy's Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, which would provide real help to runaway youth, who are especially vulnerable to this exploitation. We should support Senator Klobuchar's Stop Exploitation Through Trafficking Act, which would stop the prosecution of minors who have engaged in commercial sex acts. We should pass Senator Cornyn's Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, which would support programs for survivors of human trafficking and child pornography and ensure that the johns who are buying trafficking victims are actually prosecuted in Federal court. We need a law that would vacate the criminal convictions of trafficking victims because these girls and boys are not criminals; they are not prostitutes; they are victims who deserve a chance to lead a fulfilling life. I will be introducing an amendment to Senator Klobuchar's bill that would vacate the criminal convictions of trafficked victims who were forced to break the law while they were trafficked. No victim of human trafficking should have to go through life--even after gaining their freedom from their trafficker--with prostitution charges on their record. We have an obligation to protect the most vulnerable Americans, and this vacatur amendment would help us do just that. I know that if Congress does its job and does everything it can to help victims of human trafficking, thousands of young women and men in this country will have a chance to live a fulfilling life. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I wish to pay tribute to Dr. Olivia J. Hooker, a leader whose commitment to service has lifted the lives of many Americans. As the first African American woman to serve in Active Duty in the U.S. Coast Guard, and as a survivor of the Tulsa Race Riots and founder of the Tulsa Race Riot Commission, Dr. Hooker is a pioneer and role model for all to follow. I am especially proud to recognize Dr. Hooker on her centennial birthday. During this momentous occasion, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Olivia J. Hooker, whose strength and spirit have enriched our society. Dr. Hooker was born in Oklahoma in 1915. In 1921, her community in Tulsa was destroyed in the worst race riot in United States history. The Tulsa Race Riot caused over 300 fatalities, as well as the burning of over 1,000 homes and businesses. Following the riot, Dr. Hooker helped found the Tulsa Race Riot Commission. The commission served to draft recommendations for restitution. The advocacy of Dr. Hooker and her allies led them to testify before the Oklahoma State Legislature and U.S. Congress. Dr. Hooker attended The Ohio State University after her family moved to Columbus, OH. After earning a bachelor's degree, Dr. Hooker applied to join the Navy, but was denied because of her race. Dr. Hooker then applied to join the Coast Guard, and became the first African American female to serve there. In 1942, Federal legislation created the U.S. Coast Guard Women's Reserve--the program known as SPAR. Dr. Hooker separated from the Coast Guard at the rank of petty officer 2nd class, with a Good Conduct Medal. Dr. Hooker went on to earn her master's degree from Teachers College at Columbia University, and then a doctorate in psychology from the University of Rochester. Dr. Hooker had a long, remarkable career as a professor in New York. After retiring at the age of 87, she continues to inspire and support women joining the military, and believes our country prospers because of its diversity. Dr. Hooker broke barriers in our Nation. Her story inspires many people who have faced adversity and discrimination. Dr. Hooker's legacy, accomplishments, and spirit will live on in our Nation.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I rise to urge my colleagues to do the right thing and pass a bill that would fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, without the politically driven riders that are the focus of this debate. Protecting our country from terrorist attacks should be our top priority in Congress and we should not be playing games with Homeland Security funding. That is the least our constituents expect of us. I know that for many of my colleagues the question of immigration is a very contentious one and an important one worthy of debate. We should have that debate without risking the safety of our families by once again putting an immigration bill on the floor of the Senate. But this funding bill for such a vitally important part of our national security is simply not the place for an ideological debate. If we fail to pass and fund the Department of Homeland Security, the consequences for our safety could potentially be devastating. Take for example the Urban Areas Security Initiative. This is the program that helps our cities pay for things such as surveillance equipment, secure communications systems, training for law enforcement personnel, all in order to increase our security and prevent terrorism. These grants ensure that all of the places terrorists have targeted and will continue to target are able to effectively prevent those violent acts from happening. New York City is my home State. It is the No. 1 terror target in the Nation. It relies on the urban security program to keep its millions of residents and tourists safe. It also relies on our Homeland Security network to stop the plans of would-be terrorists. Since 9/11, New York City has thwarted at least 16 terrorist attacks, and it has done so because of the constant support the Department of Homeland Security provides. If we cannot pass this bill, the Urban Areas Security Initiative and the extensive network of security systems in New York City would lose their funding, and every visitor to an urban area in this country, including right here in Washington, DC, would be less safe. If we cannot pass this bill, not only would our security suffer, but the inspectors at our ports would not be paid, our security personnel would not be paid, and our Border Patrol agents would not be paid. If we don't pass this bill, then we have failed at our most solemn responsibility, to keep the American people safe. I urge all my colleagues to please put politics aside, vote to pass a bill free of divisive policy riders and fully fund the Department of Homeland Security. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the rest of my time. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the Keystone XL Pipeline Act. As it stands now, gas companies in this country do not have to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act-- the law that keeps our tapwater clear, safe, and clean. For decades now, this loophole has exempted hydrofracking and gas storage companies from this law, even though every other energy industry, including oil and coal industries, is legally obligated to comply. If big coal can comply with this law, so can gas companies. This special exemption is unfair, it is unnecessary, and it is unsafe. My amendment would finally remove it from the law. I urge my colleagues not to let this chance pass us by. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I rise today to propose three important amendments to S. 1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act. First of all, I want to make it very clear that I strongly oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline plan. I have serious concern about the effects this project would have on our health and safety; I have serious concerns about the environmental impact; and I am skeptical of the real, permanent jobs it could create. This project has many risks and very few advantages, and I will be voting against it. But if this legislation does pass the Senate, we should at least try to make it a better bill. There is no excuse why we cannot turn the Keystone XL Pipeline Act into an opportunity to protect our clean drinking water and ensure that polluters have to pay to clean up their own messes. First, I have offered amendment No. 48, which would remove the Halliburton loophole from the Safe Drinking Water Act and finally require gas storage and gas drilling companies to comply with our clean water laws. Every other industry has to do it. Our farmers have to do it. Construction companies have to do it. Yet our gas companies have been exempt for years. It should give my colleagues pause that fracking companies are allowed to ignore our clean water laws when they pump chemicals deep into the ground. In this country, when we turn on the tap for a glass of water, we need to know that our drinking water is safe. So let's be fair and hold the gas industry to the same environmental and public health standards as everyone else. Second, I worked with Senator Menendez on amendment No. 65, which would make oil companies financially responsible for the damages they cause when they spill on our land and leak into our waterways. Under current law, when an onshore oilspill occurs, the company that causes the spill is only liable for $350 million in damages, including cleanup and compensation. Yet a major oilspill into a river or lake, such as the one this week in Montana, could easily result in damage well above that arbitrary limit. Hard-working taxpayers should never be stuck paying for an oil company's mess, and local property and businesses should not have to slog through endless litigation just to get the compensation they deserve from a negligent oil company. This amendment would finally place the burden on companies to clean up after themselves. Third, I have proposed amendment No. 76, which would allow our homeowners and business owners whose property has been damaged by natural disaster to use Federal disaster assistance funds to upgrade their property's energy efficiency. Under current law, the disaster assistance can only be used to replace what was lost even if that property was antiquated and not up to current standards. We need to have much more forward-looking policies that actually make sense. Due to the effects of climate change, we have seen a growing number of natural disasters in recent years, from blizzards, to hurricanes, to raging fires, to endless droughts. When we pick up the pieces after a major storm, we want to make sure that when we rebuild, we rebuild in the smartest way possible, and that includes not only protections against the next disaster but also proactive measures to save energy, reduce emissions, and lower costs. As I said, I don't support the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline, but if this new Congress is intent on sending this bill to the President, then we need to make sure the bill keeps our drinking water safe, holds companies accountable for their own messes, and encourages efficiency in our economy. Thank you, Mr. President. I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I wish to speak about the life and extraordinary legacy of former New York State Governor Mario M. Cuomo. Governor Mario Cuomo inspired a generation of Americans to be unafraid of idealism. He was a role model for Americans with big dreams, and he was a champion for the causes and values that we cherish in this country. He was a tenacious competitor on the baseball diamond, the basketball court, and in the halls of the capitol in Albany, but it wasn't merely the abstract desire to win that drove him. The quest for justice and fairness in our country motivated him to act, and he used his pulpit as a public servant to push for a better world for all Americans. Throughout his career, he spoke powerfully to us about the value of equality, and the visionary words of his most famous speech, the Tale of Two Cities, still hold true today, decades later. Governor Cuomo was a brilliant and generous mentor, and I was honored that he took a risk and helped me when I was an untested Congressional candidate a decade ago. Whenever we met, he was always kind, thoughtful, and always generous. I know that Mario Cuomo's most cherished title wasn't Governor--it was husband and father. He took these roles as seriously as his governorship, and it is clear that he succeeded in both. He loved his wife and children, and he instilled in his sons and daughters an unwavering commitment to service. Mario Cuomo was one of the great, motivating, and inspirational leaders of our time, and I will always be grateful to him for his leadership, his service, and his inspirational mentorship. He was a friend that my family and I truly admired.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. The DOD just reported that in 2014 almost the same number of servicemembers--19,000--reported unwanted sexual contact as in 2010. Still, fewer than 3 out of 10 are willing to report. The overall percentage of those who are reporting openly and seeking justice is declining, and a striking 62 percent retaliation rate went unchanged from 2012. Despite retaliation having been made a crime in last year's NDAA, the Pentagon reports no indication of progress on that front. Despite the Pentagon's spin, these numbers do not show an increased trust in a system that simply isn't working for the men and women in uniform. I wish to draw attention to comments made earlier this year by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, GEN Martin Dempsey. He said: We are currently on the clock, if you will . . . the President of the United States said to us in December, you know what, you've got about a year to review this thing and show me you can make a difference . . . we understand that just because Senator Gillibrand's vote was defeated yesterday doesn't mean that a year from now it may not be reintroduced, and if we haven't been able to demonstrate making a difference, you know, then we deserve to be held to the scrutiny and standard. There is no other mission in the world for our military where this much failure would be allowed. Based on General Dempsey's own timeline, our men and women in uniform deserve a vote on this broadly bipartisan reform because the military has not been able to demonstrate that they have made a difference; therefore, they should be held to the scrutiny this year. Throughout last year we continued to see the evidence of how much further we have to go to solve the problem of sexual assaults in our military. We saw BG Jeffrey Sinclair--one of the highest ranking officers ever charged with sexual assault--walk away with a slap on the wrist, reportedly over fears that the commanding officer had rejected a plea deal on lesser charges for political reasons despite stated concerns over evidence. That case brings up the very important issue of undue command influence--another reason why an independent justice system is needed. We should all be able to agree that our brave men and women in uniform deserve blind justice. The scale should not be tipped in either direction--in favor of a victim or an accused. Why should our servicemembers enjoy a lesser standard of justice and fairness than you and I, whose freedoms they risk everything to protect? According to a recent story in the New York Times, an attendee of a sexual assault prevention seminar was asked if things were improving. She said: We all laughed. Sinclair was happening then. He proved that it was a joke. The Times also chronicled the story of a survivor they called Kris, from Ellsworth Air Force Base. On April 12, 2013, about two dozen male officers of the 37th Bomb Squadron gathered at a strip club at the beginning of a pub crawl--including her commander. She was assaulted later that night. According to the Times: What Kris encountered since reporting the assault was the same kind of cold-shouldered skepticism on the part of her commander that Christensen had seen in a vast majority of sexual assault cases--behavior that was supposed to have changed with the military's recent vows to support those who reported sex crimes. Further, she was retaliated against, which is now supposed to be a crime, and was told by a commander, ``It's illogical for you to think that there won't be negative consequences to your reporting.'' She said: ``I was put on a shelf.'' Why in the world would we want this commander who takes his team to a strip club and retaliates against a sexual assault victim to have the authority to decide if a crime was committed? It is insane, and it is beneath our military members. I could read many more troubling cases, but perhaps the most eye- opening instance showing the ongoing lack of accountability was revealed in testimony by a witness at a court-martial on September 24, 2014--just 2 months ago. In this case, former Fort Leonard Wood drill sergeant Angel Sanchez was found guilty on multiple accounts of sexually assaulting female trainees. According to the witness, the command sergeant major at Fort Leonard Woods said--and remember this was just 2 months ago--``If any more sexual assault cases come forward'' the whole company of soldiers won't graduate--not ``I don't want to see any more sexual assaults''; rather, ``I don't want to see any more reports.'' Here is how we really know the system is broken: When a cadet is instrumental in obtaining the first sexual assault convictions in over a decade at the Air Force Academy, he is expelled. When a chief prosecutor is too good at his job and briefs Members of Congress, he is retaliated against and forced out. When a survivor comes forward, she is put on a shelf. Time is short, but there is more than enough left for this Congress to actually do its job. We should not have more calls for just a little more time. The DOD has failed on this issue for over 20 years now, and the scandals of the last 12 months and the latest data show they still don't get it. As USA Today said: Over the decades, sexual scandals have spurred cycles of Pentagon apologies, congressional handwringing, half-baked attempts at action and nibble-around-the-edges changes. Isn't it time that women and men who serve their country so nobly have a justice system that will serve them when they are victims of crime? I agree. Congress should vote to remove the chain of command from these crises before year's end. Our servicemembers deserve no less. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, after consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 644, S. 2992, the Military Justice Improvement Act, that there be up to 1 hour equally divided between the proponents and opponents of the bill prior to a vote on passage of the bill; that the vote on passage be subject to a 60-affirmative vote threshold; finally, that there be no amendments, points of order, or motions in order to the bill.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I wish to clarify a few things that are very misleading about this debate. First of all, we are not making commanders less responsible. They are the only ones who can prevent retaliation from happening, whether it is by them or lower ranks, and they are failing in that right now. The only difference this bill makes is that 3 percent of commanders--the highest ranking commanders, generals--will no longer make this decision, but instead trained military prosecutors should make that decision. Ninety-seven percent of commanders' jobs do not change. They have to train their forces, bring them into battle, instill order and discipline, and make sure these victims are not retaliated against, and that is where they are failing. We are making commanders more responsible, not less responsible. What I want is not the most victim-friendly place in the world. I want no victims, and that is where we are failing. I yield the floor.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I ask for 1 minute.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

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

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I am proud to join this fight for paycheck fairness, an effort led by the dean of the women in the Senate, the first Democratic woman ever elected to the Senate in her own right, and the longest serving woman in Congress today--Senator Barbara Mikulski. This is the same fight many of our own mothers and grandmothers fought, equal pay for equal work. The promise made by the Equal Pay Act 50 years ago, literally half a century ago, continues to be broken every single day in this country. When that happens, it doesn't just hold back women individually, it holds back entire families. It holds back the entire American economy. Today women make up more than half of America's population and nearly half the workforce. Women are outearning men in college degrees and advanced degrees and a growing share of primary household earners. But to this day men are still outearning women for the exact same work. On average, women earn 77 cents for every $1 a man earns and even less for women of color. African-American women earn 69 cents on the dollar and Latinas earn just 58 cents on the dollar. In the years leading to the Equal Pay Act, only about 11 percent of families relied on women as the primary wage earner for kids under 18-- just 11 percent. Today 40 percent of primary or sole wage earners are women: 40 percent of families with kids under 18 who rely on women to pay the bills, balance the family finances, make the tough choices around the kitchen table, and provide for their kids. But you would not know this by looking at America's workplace policies. They are stuck in the past. They are stuck in the ``Mad Men'' era. Congress and State capitols have simply failed to keep up with the pace of the new economy and the face of the modern American workplace. This has to change. How can two-income families and sole female- breadwinning households get ahead when they are shortchanged every single month? If we want a growing economy and a thriving middle class, pay women fairly. It is that simple. When women earn equal pay, America's GDP could grow by up to 4 percent. It is common sense, and it is the right thing to do to strengthen our economy and to strengthen our families. So today, on Equal Pay Day, let's get this done. Let's pass the Paycheck Fairness Act and give America's women the fair shot they deserve to earn their way ahead in today's economy.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, I wish to start by thanking Senator Mikulski for championing the reauthorization of the Child Care and Development Block Grant Program, which is a bipartisan bill that reflects the values of this country. It serves more than 1.5 million children nationwide every month, including over 120,000 children in New York State alone. I also thank Chairman Harkin for his leadership in bringing this important legislation through the committee and to the floor. Everywhere I go in my State of New York I listen to families. I hear the exact same sense of struggle from every single one of them, that they are doing everything they can do to get by, to provide for their kids and give them the best possible chance to succeed. But no matter how hard they work, making ends meet is difficult. Their day-to-day expenses keep going, while their paychecks either stay the same, or, sadly, are diminished. As a result, too many families feel they cannot get ahead. So for our economy to get going again, it has to face the reality that the face of the American workforce has changed. We still have workplace policies that reflect the realities of decades ago, in the 1950s and 1960s. But in fact, today, 48 percent of the workforce in my State are women. In order for us to unleash the full potential of our economy, we have to recognize that women are the new more often breadwinners of too many families. They are the primary income earners for a growing share across America. For that reason, we have to focus on an immovable reality for working mothers. That is childcare. Today, more women are going back to work sooner after having a child, creating a greater demand for affordable childcare that allows them to stay in their jobs. In 2012 New York ranked the second least affordable State in the Nation for full-time daycare for an infant, according to a report by Child Care Aware. A two-parent family in New York spends an average of 16.5 percent of their annual income to care for an infant. For a single mom in New York, the cost was greater than 57 percent of her income. If you cannot afford childcare, as many middle-class families cannot, and you do not have a family option, the choice you are left with is to leave your job and stay home to care for your child. That means less income for working families, more women leaving the workforce and a weaker middle class. It does not have to be this way. We can keep more working mothers in their jobs and more children in quality daycare when we make it affordable. Our policies must reflect today's reality that women have to work for a living. It is not a lifestyle choice for most working mothers, it is a fact of survival. That is why I support Senator Mikulski's outstanding bill, because it will make daycare more affordable for millions of children every single year. It is also why I am a cosponsor of Senator Boxer's amendment that will double the childcare tax credit families can take to cover the cost of childcare and make it refundable. Making the tax credit refundable would help those who are working and struggling the most but do not earn enough to use the tax credit. It means more savings going right back into the pockets of working families. I also have an amendment that will make middle-class tax cuts better for childcare expenses. It will let them deduct the cost of childcare as a business expense. This proposal, called childcare deduction, will allow you to deduct up to $14,000 for two kids or more. That makes perfect sense, because in New York, the average daycare for a toddler is $12,000; for an infant it is almost $15,000. This will go a long way to making sure our hard-working middle-class families have the funds they need to provide for their kids. I yield the floor.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Mr. President, climate change is real and it is here. Rising sea levels, disappearing coastlines, longer droughts, colder winters, hotter summers, and massive so-called storms of the century are occurring routinely, such as Hurricanes Irene and Lee and, of course, Superstorm Sandy that devastated the Northeast. But powerful special interests and too many politicians who should simply know better would have us believe that it is a hoax or that any reasonable action would kill jobs. I, for one, refuse to believe that somehow harmful pollution is the only way to grow and sustain our economy. I, for one, know for a fact that what is good for our environment can be good for business when we act responsibly. It is time to invest in clean energy with wind, solar, biofuel, and other sources of energy that do not pollute our environment and contribute to climate change. We have everything it takes from sustainable resources, American innovation, and manufacturing know-how to produce new sources of clean energy that are made here in America. That is how we can cut our dependence on costly foreign oil and make us more secure; that is how we can spark new businesses, new jobs, and a stronger middle class, all while protecting the air we breathe and the water we drink and preserving all the beauty of our most cherished places for the next generation.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND

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

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I rise today to speak about the need to strengthen our military and stand by our brave men and women in uniform by passing the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act. I start by thanking all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for the seriousness with which they have approached this issue and the effort they have put into looking at the solution survivors of sexual assault in the military are asking for. I specifically thank my friends from Missouri and New Hampshire for their determination and leadership in fighting for victims of sexual assaults in our military. I look forward to voting for their bill on the floor today. I defer the colloquy to Senator Inhofe.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield 10 minutes to Senator Collins.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield time to the Senator from Iowa.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield to the Senator from Montana, followed by the Senator from Kentucky.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield time to the Senator from California.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield my time to the Senator from New Hampshire.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. Madam President, I yield my time to the Senator from Nevada.

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I yield 5 minutes to the Senator from Hawaii. (Mrs. GILLIBRAND assumed the Chair.)

Mrs. GILLIBRAND. I ask that I be notified when 7 minutes remains.

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